Sunday 7th January 2018

Gunmen Abduct Cameroon Separatist Leader in Abuja Southern Cameroon’s separatist leader, Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe, has been abducted in Nigeria.

A statement signed by Secretary of Communications and IT, Federal Republic of Ambazonia, Chris Anu, said Tabe was abducted by

“gunmen from la Republic du Cameroun at about 19:30 pm in Nera Hotels, (Ekwueme Road), Abuja Nigeria on January 5, 2018.”

The statement said the Federal Government of Nigeria had been notified of the incident

and was currently investigating the situation. THISDAY could however not get official reaction on the abduction from officials of the foreign ministry or security agencies at the time of going to press.

Tabe heads the Interim

Government of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, after the Anglophone Southern Cameroon declared independence from Republic of Cameroon, which is the francophone part of the country, last year. In November, he

named a series of secretaries into the interim national government. But the declaration of independence has not been recognised by the United Nations or any country.

Abducted along with Tabe, according to the statement,

were Dr. Nfor Ngala Nfor, who is the chairman of the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC), Dr. Fidelis Nde Che, Dr. Henry Kimeng, Prof. Awasum, Dr. Cornelius Continued on page 8

Catholic Bishop's President Differs with Buhari on Restructuring… Page 10 Sunday 7 January, 2018 Vol 22. No 8298

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Oyegun: How We Will Sell APC in 2019 Absolves party of blame in board appointments controversy Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said yesterday in Abuja that the party would deploy its achievements as selling points in the 2019 general elections.

Odigie-Oyegun stated this when he hosted correspondents at his residence. He also said APC was not to blame for the mix-up in the list of heads and members of boards of federal parastatals recently released by the federal government, which Continued on page 8

MARITAL BLISS… L-R: Former Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Miss Chioma Achebe; Dr Uchechi Iweala; and Chairman of Innoson Motors, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, during the traditional marriage ceremony of Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala’s son, Uchechi, and Chioma in Umuahia… recently

Despite Security Deployment, Herdsmen Killings in Benue State Continue 10 killed in Adamawa Paul Obi in Abuja, George Okoh in Makurdi and Daji Sani in Yola In spite of security deployment by the federal government to

prevent further attacks by Fulani herdsmen on communities in Benue State, there was a fresh attack yesterday in which several people were killed.

The latest attack was reported

in Ukemberagya and Tswarev wards, in Gaambe-Tiev Logo Local Government Area of the state.

Similarly, herdsmen attacked six villages of Tambo, Tambo

Jumo, Luru, Bakule, Jifan, and Bakopi in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Friday night, killing 10 persons, while several others were injured and houses and

valuables were destroyed.

The Nigerian Bar Association and Nigeria Union of Journalists condemned the killings and destructions by herdsmen and criticised President

Muhammadu Buhari for not doing much to halt them.

The early morning attack on Benue communities took Continued on page 8

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ÍżËœ ͺ͸͚΀ Ëž T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

PAGE EIGHT OYEGUN: HOW WE WILL SELL APC IN 2019 had names of dead persons.

Underscoring the intense political activities expected this year in the build up to the poll next year, the APC national chairman said the party would be prompt and vigorous in its preparation for the election.

He said, "I will resume on Monday and we are going to hit the ground running. We all know that this year is obviously going to be an active year for elections."

Odigie-Oyegun disclosed that the preparation process would start with the party’s national convention this year to elect a new leadership, after

the state congresses. He said APC’s selling point ahead of 2019 was its achievements in the various sectors, including power, rail infrastructure and agriculture.

The APC chairman stated, “I can say emphatically that the polity is settling down.

I can say that the economy is recovering strongly and is clearly out of recession. I can say emphatically that in the practical areas that promote development, as distinct from roads, the policy of the party and its implementation are firmly well-grounded, whether you are talking of power supply without which no nation can

develop, it has stabilised. “There is still room for improvement. I am not saying that the problem has been entirely solved, but the commitment to the completion of the Mambila Power plant, which will contribute a third or half of our needs, is a major step forward. The bringing back on steam of projects that had been abandoned in the sector has contributed to raising the generation capacity to what it is today, about 6,000 to 7,000 megawatts.

"Also the strengthening of the distribution facilities is ongoing, so power will continue to grow both in terms generation

capacity and ability to deliver it to consumers. What, indeed, the Buhari administration has achieved is that it has stabilised the situation. It has started the process of substantial growth in power generation and distribution sectors.

"Secondly, it has started the revolution of developing functional railway transportation. It is railway transport that can kick start a meaningful industrial development in any nation.�

Odigie-Oyegun absolved APC of responsibility for the inclusion of dead persons in board appointments, but reiterated the presidency’s

excuse that the list of the appointees was prepared since 2015. He explained, “We have followed the issue of board appointments and I think that issue has raised a lot controversy already. The only thing I want to add is that it is pretty obvious that the party was not involved in the final stages of the compilation of that list.

"Yes, we sent at the initial stage and I am talking of a period of two years ago. We demanded for every state to make 50 nominations which were sent to the committee in charge of the list for the purpose. They completed the

initial exercise that time but since then a lot has happened.

People have changed parties, people have died, we have three new governors that were not there when the list was compiled. Therefore, it was clear that there was obvious need for us to look at the final outcome of the exercise.

"But we were not fortunate to participate in that final stage, otherwise, it is quite clear such would not have occurred. It is my sincere hope that we will be fully involved in the review that has to now take place and any other exercise moving forward from this date.�

approaching rainy season.

The statement called on all Southern Cameroonians to remain calm as it pursues investigations into the abduction. “We call on Nigerian authorities to address

this issue immediately and ensure that the Cameroon Government does not do any harm to them. We also call on the Nigerian authorities to investigate this threat against its sovereignty by La

Republique du Cameroon. “We call on the Nigerian government to guarantee the security of the more than 20,000 Southern Cameroonian refugees in various camps in Nigeria,� the statement further added.

Police should ensure the safety of lives and property and ensure visible policing across the affected communities.

"To ensure this, the Police and the military have agreed that there would be no reoccurrence of the crisis and killings and all those fingered in the killings are arrested.

"So the search for the masterminds of the killings has started, already we have increased the manpower of the command and other agencies and deployments to the flash points have started.

"The tactical unit has moved to Benue we have strengthened the communication unit and we have also agreed to increase our logistics support in the state with the deployment of helicopters and support staff for surveillance of the state.

"So we also have a mandate to ensure that the grazing law of the state is fully implemented and anyone found or caught violating or encouraging the breach of the law would be arrested and made to face justice.

"I can assure you that in no distant time, all those fingered in the killings are arrested and if it is established that anyone of those being mentioned as being responsible for the killings is truly involved we will have them arrested without delay."

The police in Benue state have arrested six herdsmen who were involved in the invasion of the two local government areas in Benue state and arraigned them before a Makurdi Chief Magistrate Court presided over by Isaac Ajim.

The six accused persons, who were arraigned for criminal conspiracy, mischief by fire, anti open grazing, causing hurt with dangerous weapons and culpable homicide include Ibrahim Saleh, Jibrin Adamu, Magaji Yau, Ibrahim Abubakar, Useni Bala, Sabin Yau while Ibrahim Mallam was also arraigned for grazing on Governor Ortom's farm along Naka Road in Makurdi.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), on December 31, 2017 at about

11:50pm, he Menga Mgande of Akor village in Guma local government area reported to the police at Gbajmba that on the same date at Aboh 3:pm, a group of Fulani herdsmen attacked heir village , shooting sporadically and in the process, killed 19 persons by severally injuring them with deep cuts all over their bodies.

It added that during police investigation, six accused including Ibrahim Saleh, Jibrin Adamu, Magaji Yau, Ibrahim Abubakar, Useni Bala, Sabin Yau were arrested and further investigation into the matter revealed that the suspects had destroyed houses, crops and burnt down many buildings.

The accused were also arraigned for openly rearing their cows within farmlands at Akor village in Guma Local Government Area thus contravening section 97, 329, 333 and 222 of the penal code law of Benue State and section 19(2)(3) of the open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law of Benue State 2017.

Given spate of killing, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Makurdi branch and the Nigeria Union of Journalists Benue State Council have chided President Mohammadu Buhari for his total lack of concern for the killing of Benue people by suspected Fulani herdsmen on New Year day.

At a news conference in Makurdi yesterday, the Makurdi Branch chairman of the Association, Emmanuel Agbakor, noted with grave concern that the right to life provided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was the most primary duty of any government be it local, state and federal.

"We chide and absolutely deprecate the total lack of concern exuded by the president respecting the killing of Benue people. We condemn in strong terms, the recurring invasion of our dear state by suspected Fulani herdsmen and the concomitant nonchalant cum indifferent posture of the federal government concerning the problem", he stated.

GUNMEN ABDUCT CAMEROON SEPARATIST LEADER IN ABUJA Kwanga, Mr. Tassang Wilfred, Barrister Eyambe Elias, Dr. Ojong Okongho and Barrister Nalowa Bih. The statement said Tabe and his team were in a “high command meeting in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory

of Nigeria at the time the Cameroon gunmen showed up at the hotel. The meeting started at around 5pm, Nigerian time. At around 7:30pm, the gunmen came into the hotel and abducted all of them including the

President.�

It also said the meeting was scheduled to discuss the Southern Cameroon's Refugee crisis in Nigeria and to galvanise relief support for housing, medical and feeding in anticipation of the

DESPITE SECURITY DEPLOYMENT, HERDSMEN KILLINGS IN BENUE STATE CONTINUE residents of the wards by surprise as according to an eyewitness, the herdsmen, who came with sophisticated weapons, shot anyone at sight.

"So far Verinumbe Dantsoho Mbaamase

corpses of Mr. Jam, Mr. Pinega (Mbavuur) of were discovered

at Toradi village while those of Evangelist Kwaghkighir Ukende, Mr. Iana Kpenger and Mr. Mnenge Ayaibo were picked at Channel One settlement all in Tswarev district," the eye witness, Joseph Anawa, narrated.

The combined forces of the military and the Nigeria Police had been deployed to Benue villages following killings by herdsmen recently.

The soldiers were on ground at strategic locations with armoured personnel carrier (APC) tanks while the police in coordination with the intelligence team, Special Forces team, took over the airspace with their surveillance helicopters. But the herdsmen were said to have defied the heavy presence of the security personnel.

Anawa explained that soldiers deployed from Anyiin were pursuing the herders with an APC tank, the former continued shooting.

On the number of exact deaths, the eye witness said since the attack was still ongoing, the exact number of casualties could not be ascertained.

The militia, he disclosed, had attacked Tse Toradi, Channel One, Akenawe, Meeme among other colleges.

'This is the second time in one week that these terrorists will be unleashing mayhem on the people of Tswarev community. The other day was Tuesday 2/1/18 in the night and today again Friday 5/1/18 in the day time' The Benue Police Command has confirmed the killings.

According to the Benue Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Iyamu, the police got the information and had since deployed a mobile police unit 4 reinforcement led by the area commander of Katsina Ala to halt the attack.

"A report was received today

that suspected herdsmen entered Tse Akombo village in Mbaniage district and killed the following persons, Terhile Tyozua 45 yrs (2); Mlahaga Tse 65yrs (3) Chiangi Tyozua 40 yrs & (4)one other name, not yet known but was said to be a visitor, while the following were killed Tsemba, Kwaghe Baki Age 70 yrs, Suushater Kwaghve 7yrs, Tortue Tsehemen 52 yrs, Tsav Zahemen 38yrs, Aondohemba Shaku 25 yrs, Francis 22 yrs," the police stated.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Logo LGA, Mr. Richard Nyajo, has disclosed that the number of death in the renewed attack was on the high side as many people, including women and children, were missing. While several others have been displaced, corpses of those killed have been taken to Katsina Ala and Gboko.

'We can only know the magnitude of the killings in a few days time," he said.

Another source disclosed 49 were killed in the attack.

In Adamawa, an eyewitness revealed that the herdsmen, well- armed in their thousands stormed the villages at about 9 pm on Friday and continued their rampaging until 12 pm without any resistance from any quarters.

He said the development resulted to the killing of 10 persons while several persons sustained different degrees of injuries and houses , valuables, properties worth million of naira were destroyed.

The eyewitness further explained that the incident started last week, when the herdsmen encroached into the farms of some farmers in Tambo village with their cows and when the farmers accosted them, they started shooting at the farmers and as a result killed one and injured four persons.

He noted that the development attracted many farmers in the neighbouring villages, who teamed up to chase the herdsmen in fierce battle out of their farms and returned to bury their loss and took the injured persons for

treatment to the Specialist Hospital in Yola, the state capital.

The source said every villager thought they had fled and would not return, adding that, "until yesterday while we were preparing to go to bed, when we heard gunshots and most of us fled for our lives to hide inside nearby bush.�

According to him, “Presently as l am speaking to you right now, about 3,000 armed herdsmen are standing at the outskirt of our villages preparing to return for another battle.�

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Jimoh Moshood, has said the "Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, had ordered commissioners of police in charge of Benue, Rivers and other contiguous states to the two states and their supervising assistant inspectors general of police and their personnel to be on red-alert with immediate effect to nip in the bud and prevent further attacks on innocent Nigerians by suspected herdsmen and other criminal elements in the mentioned States.

"To this end, the Deputy Inspector General of Police Operations has been dispatched by the IGP to Benue State to muster, coordinate and supervise the implementation of the new security strategies put in place by the Force to put an immediate end to the senseless killings and violence unleashed on innocent Nigerians by suspected herdsmen and other criminal elements in the two States."

"Police Aerial Surveillance Helicopters, Five (5) Units of Police Mobile Force; Police Special Forces have been deployed along with additional conventional Police Personnel, the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD) and Special Police Joint Intelligence and Investigation Teams to Benue and Rivers State to work with the Police Personnel on the ground.

Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID) Personnel.

"This is to bring new impetus to the efforts of the Force to nip in the bud further attacks in the mentioned states.

"In Benue State, eight suspected herdsmen arrested at the scene of the killings are currently being prosecuted, six of them were remanded to Prison custody while the other two suspects arrested at a different scene of crime are being arraigned in court, " Moshood explained.

He added that, "the Assistant Inspectors General of Police in Zone 4 Makurdi and Zone 6 Calabar have been mandated by the Inspector General of Police to convey stakeholders meetings in the affected states and also supervise the Police investigation and intelligence teams, and other Police Special Squads deployed by the IGP to the two States.

"While the Nigeria Police Force deeply commiserates with the Governments and People of Benue and Rivers States over the recent killings, the Force calls for calm and support for the police personnel deployed to sustain the normalcy that has been restored in the affected States.

"The Force implores the people to be vigilant and security conscious. They should promptly report suspicious acts or persons to the nearest Police detachment or station for prompt action to avert untoward incidents.

"The Force remains steadfast in its renewed commitment to ensure law and order and protection of lives and property of all Nigerians throughout the Country," Moshood stated.

To this end, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Mr. Habila Joshak, has undertaken on the spot assessment of the devastated communities in the state.

Joshak said, "We are all aware that lives were lost and many have been displaced, that is why the Inspector General of Police has asked me to come and asses and analyse the situation with other security agencies in collaboration with the contiguous states.

"He also directed that the

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 7, 2018

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SUNDAY COMMENT

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

T HE NIGERIAN K ILLING F IELDS The authorities could do more to contain the growing familiar menu of violence

T

he year 2018 started on a sore note following a spate of violence that took the lives of several citizens in different theatres across the country. While we commiserate with the families of the victims, we call on the authorities to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to justice. This is important, especially in a crucial election season that we are about to enter.

The madness started in Rivers, just a few minutes after the new year was ushered in, when some gunmen in Omoku in Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni local government areas of the state went on a shooting spree at the end of which no fewer than 14 persons, said to be returning home from their various places of worships, were mown down. At about the same time, scores of gunmen also invaded Arak village in Sango local government of Kaduna State, killing the traditional ruler, Dr Gambo Makama and his pregnant wife.

In Ilorin, Kwara State, several persons were injured following an attack on both Christian and Muslim worshippers who were marking the New Year.

However, perhaps the most bestial of these violent acts were those that drew both the ire and tears of the Benue State Governor, Mr Samuel Ortom. On New Year day, some suspected herdsmen invaded five communities in Benue State, killing no fewer than 20 of the villagers who were returning from the New Year eve service. Despite some hollow promises from Abuja, the Benue killings have continued in what is fast becoming a premeditated genocide that can only breed reprisal attacks and an endless spiral of bloodletting.

While we condemn in the strongest terms the growing brutality targeted at innocent Nigerians, we are worried that these incessant attacks can only worsen the general feeling of insecurity. As we had cause to point out recently, perhaps aside the 30-month civil war, Nigeria has never been so threatened by security challenges as it is today. But this culture of impunity persists because the relevant security agencies have not succeeded in apprehending the entrepreneurs of violence so as to bring them to justice. The authorities must therefore see the tragedies as a challenge not only to our corporate existence but also to the future of a country that is fast becoming a killing field.

I

The culture of impunity persists because the relevant security agencies have not succeeded in apprehending the entrepreneurs of violence so as to bring them to justice

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

n a 2013 report titled “Leave Everything to God: Accountability for Inter-Communal Violence in Plateau and Kaduna States, Nigeria”, released by the United States’ Human Rights Watch, the federal government was accused of ignoring every “horrific sectarian violence” even when children and women were victims.

The report put much of the blame for the culture of impunity in the country on “an already broken criminal justice system” while “the Nigerian authorities have taken no meaningful steps to address underlying grievances” or bring to justice those responsible for the bloodshed.

However, Human Rights Watch did not only identify the problems, it also proffered some solutions that have largely been ignored. The group urged the federal government to ensure that mass killings were swiftly and properly investigated; and shun discriminatory policies that helped fuel ethnic tensions and treat inter-communal violence as a criminal, rather than political, problem. “Nigerian authorities can and should take urgent steps to ensure that the perpetrators of communal violence, including mass murder, are investigated and prosecuted, and that victims are provided restitution or compensation for their enormous losses,” the report said.

Not only were the suggestions never heeded, the challenge of the moment is that the federal government is most often seen as either taking sides in some of these conflicts while the responses of the security agencies do not help to allay the fears of the affected people. But perhaps greater danger lies in the fact that even if people got killed, as we have witnessed in recent days, Nigerians move on - unperturbed. This is fast depicting us as a people who place little or no premiums on human lives.

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.

NIGERIA AND THE MANY UNRESOLVED ISSUES

I

t has become a cliché for people around the globe to declare an improved way of approaching life every beginning day of the year. It is popularly tagged “new year resolution”. Everybody wants to be a better human being and the new year is always dotted with resolutions, promises and a long to-do list. The previous year is always a lesson for the new year.

The challenges of 2018 are certainly a derivation of how 2017 impacted on people. Some people argue that it is better to enter the new year on a clean slate, allowing elements to decide than to create boundaries with foundation destined to crumble hours after they are built.

Most people resolve to change personal lifestyle, so many careless on changing the social, political and economic affairs of their country. They fail to understand that most of their resolutions may be festooned on the fulcrum of unresolved issues around the corridors of power.

Former President of the United

States of America, John F. Kennedy once asserted that “ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country”. Whatever the grains of his submission, wisdom in that quotation is instructive for Nigerians as it regards our reasoning, approach in choosing and maintaining leaders. The year 2018 must witness a new psychical disposition where Nigerians must stop expecting meaning out of nothing. One can only demand for good leadership if the person voted has the capacity to deliver. From antecedents, Nigerians are known for wailing, languishing under a clueless leader, at the end, they will go out there and vote the person back. The year 2018 is another chance for Nigerians to either sail to shore or smash against rocks.

While we make personal commitments to ourselves, we must realise that our politicians will never change from their exponential demand to take from

our commonwealth to feed several generations from their loins. They will only make laws at the National Assembly to favour themselves. Their bank accounts in local and foreign financial institutions will continue to grow at the detriment of infrastructural developments. Our politicians will remain unresolved in their cluelessness for political benefactors to make the most of a corrupt institution.

Important service based sectors like the NNPC, electricity companies, will remain in the hands of cabals and cartels to manipulate for them to ferry away our commonwealth.

We must realise that Nigerian politicians especially under the Buhari administration are resolved to be lazy.

Flying under the euphoria of change and amnesia of some Nigerians believing they have something to offer, this group of misfits couldn’t make out time to screen through a simple list of appointees, which does not need

rocket science to do. The backlash is on Mr. President who has shown full reverse throttle in cluelessness. It has indeed become so very clear that Buhari approves anything okayed by a few powerful men in his administration, no matter how ridiculous it is. The recent appointment list littered with dead men is one in a series of gaffs. That Buhari was seen as honest does not translate to him being a good leader. It’s like giving an honest man without knowledge of flying an aircraft to pilot a distressed one.

The system will never change from what President Buhari met on ground because most Nigerians are so focused making personal resolutions instead of strategic, joint arrangement to take bold steps towards changing the corrupt system. We must decide if we are really comfortable with a government so consistent with blackmail, propaganda, blame game and administrative cluelessness. The lies are legendary just as the exponential corruption among government officials and political appointees. A molecular example is peddled propaganda

that VAT earnings amounts to N2trn, FIRS collected up to N2.3trn, Customs and NPA raised more than a trillion naira. Adding all the repatriated funds, there shouldn’t be any reason why only 20% performance of a budget put at N7trn.

The year 2018 must herald real change.

Nigerians must be resolved to remove misfits from leadership. This must be done without ethno-religious undertone. Buhari has expended his goodwill. Obviously he is under the control of some forces he cannot move against. Nigerians must also resolve to refuse handouts from corrupt politicians.

It is time to also realise that politicians feel pressured by executive beggars to steal.

Once the begging stops, demands to explain wealth increases, then accountability sets in. The need to also remove emphasis on ethnic-based support for corrupt leaders must be on top to do list of 2018 and beyond.

We seem to hate politicians from other regions, but we condone “our own” on same corrupt superhighway.

Israel Ebije, ebijeo5@gmail.com

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ANUARY 7, 2018

SUNDAYNEWS

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

NDLEA Seizes 272kg of Cannabis

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Osun State Command, has seized 272 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) and arrested one suspect in connection with it. The State Commandant, Samuel Egbeola made this known in a statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo on Saturday. He said the cannabis, stored in 19 sacks, was ÝÏÓäÏÎ ÙØ ËØßËÜã Ͳ ËÞ ÐÏáËÜË ÞÙáؘ ÞËÕßØ×ÙÝË ËÝÞ ÙÍËÖ Government area of the state. Emphasising the agency’s commitment to making the state a crime-free one, Egbeola called for more support from the citizens. “The intelligence on this seizure was given by good people of the state and áÏ ÝÙÖÓÍÓÞ ÐÙÜ ×ÙÜÏ ÙÐ ÞÒÓÝ ÐÜÙ× ÞÒÏײ ØàÏÝÞÓÑËÞÓÙØ ÒËÝ commenced. We are always ready to achieve our mandate of making the state a drug free state,” he added.

CELEBRATING MAJOR MILESTONES Celebrants, Alhaji Teslim Sanusi and wife, Alhaja Modinat Abiola Sanusi, flanked by their children at the 70th birthday of Alhaja Sanusi and 50th wedding anniversary of the couple in Lagos…recently

Wife of Boko Haram Factional Leader Killed by Military t As Air Force, Army inflict heavy casualties on terrorists Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri, Paul Obi in Abuja and Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Nigerian troops have recorded a milestone in the ongoing war against Boko Haram, with the killing of one of the wives of a factional leader of the terrorist group, Mamman Nur in an attack on their enclave.

Earlier report had stated that Mamman Nur, next in order of notoriety to feared leader, Abubakar Shekau, was fatally injured in the ongoing onslaught on the enclaves of the insurgents around Lake Chad.

Also, as a result of the heavy military bombardment, many insurgents have been killed even as many have fled across the Nigerian border to Niger, to take advantage of the fran-

cophone country’s amnesty arrangement.

In a statement on Friday night, the military said: “Troops of operation Lafiya Dole have continued the onslaught on Boko Haram terrorists’ enclaves in the Lake Chad region where a factional leader of the group Mamman Nur has suffered grave injury, while one of his wives has been killed in the battle.”

The statement signed by Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, Deputy Director Public Relations, Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole also disclosed that: “More also, about 250 foot soldiers from the Albarnawy camp have surrendered to Nigerien authorities due to the devastating artillery and aerial bombardments by

Operation Lafiya Dole troops.”

Nwachukwu said: “Many of the insurgents who fled the onslaught are now taking advantage of the ‘Amnesty’ offered by the Nigerien government by surrendering to Nigerien Forces.

He said: “Among the insurgents fleeing from the ongoing offensive are senior and junior commanders in the Albarnawy faction who are now attempting to melt into other communities in and around Kano, Geidam and Gashua axis unnoticed.

“One of such fleeing commanders is Bana Bafui.

Members of the general public, particularly in Kano, Geidam, Gashua, Hadeja and the northern part of Jigawa are therefore enjoined to be vigilant and watch out for strange faces suddenly appearing in their

communities and promptly report same to security agencies.”

The military spokesman added that: “Additionally, about 700 insurgents have also surrendered to troops in the general area of Monguno following troops’ clearance operations.”

He promised that: “The ongoing onslaught will be tenaciously sustained,” and recalled that the federal government of Nigeria has since provided a window of opportunity through the ‘Operation Safe Corridor’ programme to insurgents who surrender willingly to be deradicalised and rehabilitated.

He said: “About 300 insurgents who willingly surrendered are currently benefiting from this programme.”

He called on all Boko Haram

Catholic Bishops’ President Differs Ngige: FG Has Created 8m Blue with Buhari on Restructuring Collar Jobs in Less than 3 Years Paul Obi in Abuja

The president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Ignatius Kaigama yesterday differed withPresidentMuhammaduBuhari over his national broadcast stance that restructuring was not important and that process of governance was more imperative.

Kaigama, who is also the ArchbishopofJos,toldTHISDAY that the position of the President runscontrarytothegeneralpublic opinion on restructuring.

Thebishopexpressedconcern withthePresident’spositioninthe nationwide broadcast on New Year day, where he stated in the broadcastthathis“firmviewisthat ourproblemsaremoretodowith process than structure.”

The clergyman rather maintained that given the precarious situationinwhichNigeriahasnow found herself, re-examining the workabilityofexistingstructures hasbecomeimminentifthecountry is to develop.

Kaigama explained that since most of those clamouring for restructuring are not calling for the separation of the country,

there is every need to support restructuring of the country.

TheCBCNPresidentheldthatif thedebateonrestructuringmust be sustained, “we must proceed fromapremisethatisveryclear.”

Kaigamacontendedthathehas often “been against multiplying countriesoutofNigeria,asitwon’t bring any good to us.

“But if having restructuring meanstore-examinehowthings are done in the country in terms ofallocationofresources,appointmentsinnationaloffices,appointments that should be spread not justlimitedtoaparticularzone,if restructuringmeansjustice,then, we should all go for it.”

He added that “if restructuring means spending less on governance, then, there is every needtore-examinethestructures.

If restructuring means reducing drasticallythecostofgovernance, then, there is no option than to embracerestructuringifwereally meant well for Nigeria.”

Hearguedthatitisincumbent ontheleadershiptobeopentodivergentopinionontherestructuringdebate,insofarastheunityof Nigeria is not put at stake.

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has said the president Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government created over eight million jobs in less than three years.

Ngige said the jobs were mostly blue collar jobs, which he said, comprises the main hub inemploymentgenerationtoday.

He said farming, carpentry, brick-laying,tilingandmanyothers constitute the blue collar jobs which the federal government is now using to redeem youths from joblessness occasioned by lack of white collar jobs.

The minister, who spoke to journalistsweekendatIfitedunu, Anambra State after the ground breaking ceremony of a specialist skill acquisition centre, said becauseofthehugeemployment potential in the blue collar jobs, the federal government decided to build centres where it would give youths of all educational qualification different levels of training that would help them secure jobs.

He said, “There are no white

collar jobs any longer. If you are waiting for one, you will wait for a long time.

“People are now finding employment in the blue collar jobs, and it is even more profitable.

Howmanyofyouareawarethat the day pay for carpenters and other artisans have increased?

In Abuja they collect as high as N10,000. If they get jobs even if it is five times a month, do you know how much that is? How manywhitecollarjobspaythat?”

Ngige said the unavailability of artisans was because most of them have gone to farm, and there was need to train a new generation of tillers, builders, and people in other crafts.

“In farming alone, this government has generated lots of jobs. You eat Anambra rice here, otherseatAbakalikirice,inAbuja I eat Kano rice and even Imo too has come up with their. All these bring employment”, he said.

Speaking on the Ifitedunu specialist skill acquisition centre, the minister said the centre was budgetedforin2017budget,and was again captured in the 2018 budget.

insurgents to abandon the futile struggle and take advantage of the Safe Corridor programme by surrendering willingly to troops in any location nearest to them.

He said: “We guarantee their safety and incorporation into the programme for deradicalisation and rehabilitation.”

Meanwhile, the combined forces of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Nigerian Army yesterday inflicted heavy casualties on the side of Boko Haram terrorists (BHT) in the North-east.

NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya explained that “the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole and its Nigerian Army (NA) counterparts commenced combined clearance operations of discovered Boko

Haram Terrorists locations in the Sambisa general area.

“On the first day of the combined clearance operations, the Air Task Force conducted intensive bombardments on selected BHT locations, preparatory to the commencement of the operation.

“Previous Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions by NAF platforms had revealed the presence of BHT in Njimia, in the Sambisa general area, from where the insurgents launched attacks on own surface forces.

“Accordingly, NAF fighter aircraft were detailed to attack the location and each of the aircraft took turns to attack structures occupied by BHT elements in the settlement.

The air attacks set several BHT structures ablaze and destroyed them.”

UN Produces Guidelines to Help Cabin Crews Identify, Report Human Trafficking Abimbola Akosile

The United Nations is taking the global combat against human trafficking into the skies as the organisation’s human rights office and its Montreal-based civil aviation agency begin putting the final touches on training guidelines that could help airline cabin crew spot possible victims.

Human trafficking is consideredthethirdmostlucrativeillegal activity on the planet – after the illegalsaleofarmsanddrugs–and itsclandestinenaturemakesitdifficulttoquantifywithprecision.In 2017,theUNInternationalLabour Organisation (ILO) estimated that some 40.3 million people worldwide were subjected to forcedlabourandmodernslavery.

Men,womenandchildrenare recruited,transferred,harboured or received, through the use of forceordeception,tobeexploited into prostitution rings, forced labour, domestic servitude or the removaloftheirorgans,according to a release by the global body.

Withallthisinmind,theOffice

oftheUNHighCommissionerfor HumanRights(OHCHR)isworking with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) todevelopguidelinesforairlines operators to train cabin crews in identifying and reporting trafficked individuals.

“Cabin crew members are in a unique situation where they can observe passengers over a certain period of time, allowing themtousetheirobservationskills to identify a potential victim of trafficking,”thedocumentreads.

In an interview with UN News, Youla Haddadin, Advisor on Trafficking in Persons with OHCHR, said cabin crew and flight attendants develop strongobservationskillsandthe jointly-developedguidelinescan drawonthoseskillsandprovide cabincrewwiththereportingand response procedures if they are facedwithapotentialtrafficking situation.

“The indicators can be used when cabin crew are trying to identify potential victims or persons accompanying them.”

T H I S D AY ˾ SUNDAY JANUARY 7, 2018

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͵˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ SUNDAY JANUARY 7, 2018

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ÍľËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś Ëž THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

OPINION Using Technology To Track Constituency Projects Funds ConsTrack’s mobile app will trigger citizens’ interest and participation in constituency projects across the country, writes Jennifer Onyejekwe

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n democratic countries where constituency project systems are practiced, they are implemented to bring needed infrastructure and development to communities. Constituency projects were created by the Nigerian National Assembly in response to demands by their constituents around development and the lack of federal presence in communities. Projects are nominated into the national budget by a legislator and will be executed by the legislator rather than through a government agency or ministry, which ordinarily has the mandate to execute community development projects.

In Nigeria, constituency projects serve as a promise kept by legislators, made during election campaigns to bridge development gaps for their people. Unfortunately, constituency projects have stirred more controversy, with accusations and counter-accusations of questionable practices around their implementation, so much that former President Olusegun Obasanjo declared in August 2017 that constituency projects by lawmakers in Nigeria were shrouded in corruption.

Since 1999, national and state legislators across Nigeria’s 36 states and federal capital territory (FCT) have continued to influence the inclusion of billions of naira into the annual budget for the purpose of constituency projects, which is not in the purview of the legislative arm to implement. In Nigeria’s constitution, all development projects related to infrastructure in the country are carried out by different levels of the executive arm of government. This leads to a face-off between the two arms of governments on project execution. The 2017 Nigerian budget had more than N100 billion ($278 million) set aside for constituency projects but fewer than 41 per cent of these projects were executed.

Despite the deficit of laws or frameworks governing how constituency projects are to be implemented, especially in the areas of abandoned, duplicated, or poorly executed projects, lawmakers are further proposing N1.4 trillion ($3.9 billion) in the 2018 budget. The deficit created by abandoned or unexecuted constituency projects is easily perpetrated due to the lack of citizen inclusiveness and transparency in

the conceptualisation, design, and execution of the projects by legislators.

The challenges with constituency projects are further exacerbated by the absence of legislation to regulate the scheme at the federal level and in 35 states of the country. Only Lagos State currently has an enabling law for constituency projects, although the National Assembly is currently considering a bill on it. The vicious circle of corruption in the constituency projects scheme is a reflection of the questionable opacity surrounding the finances and budget of the legislature, which gave rise among others to the call for an open National Assembly using the hashtag #OPenNASS. It is against this background that Order Paper NG, a grantee of the USAID Strengthening Advocacy and Civic Engagement (SACE) project, launched ConsTrack, a constituency project tracking platform and mechanism which builds the capacity of communities and agencies to serve as constituency projects trackers and monitors. By doing so, we hope to influence the establishment of clear enabling legislation; reduce corruption, wastage, duplication, and abandonment of projects; and align projects more closely with the need of the people.

Corruption thrives in secrecy, but with ConsTrack, there will be increased citizen participation in deciding what sort of constituency projects they desire and in monitoring projects’ implementation in a transparent manner

ConsTrack is a mobile app which aims to trigger and sustain citizens’ interest, engagement, and participation in constituency projects across the country by being a verifiable, viable, and versatile authentication platform. ConsTrack is still at its developing stage and will be piloted in three states in Nigeria. Information on the status of constituency projects in communities will be uploaded on the platform

by ConsTrack monitors within communities. The information is verified independently by community members and shared with legislators and other stakeholders. It is an evidence- and data-gathering platform for all stakeholders to verify the status of projects beyond contractor or the awardee reports.

The aim of developing ConsTrack is to empower citizens to drive transparency and accountability in the constituency projects scheme. It is a fact-checking, monitoring, and verification mechanism woven around the Freedom of Information Act and citizen engagement. This platform will provide citizens the ability to interrogate and productively engage their representatives in the Senate, House of Representatives, and state houses of assembly across the country on projects of interest to them.

Activating ConsTrack will promote sustained citizen engagement, which will ultimately spur reforms in the implementation of the constituency projects scheme to allow for much-needed inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability on constituency projects. Corruption thrives in secrecy, but with ConsTrack, there will be increased citizen participation in deciding what sort of constituency projects they desire and in monitoring projects’ implementation in a transparent manner. Such interactions will shine a spotlight on elected representatives, thereby incentivising them to provide more transparent and accountable representation in constituency project selection and execution. ––Onyejekwe is the senior public awareness and communication advisor for the USAID Strengthening Advocacy and Civic Engagement Programme in Nigeria

When Judges Imperil Democracy Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu argues that the ruling by the Federal High Court that a certiďŹ cate of return be issued to Obiora Okonkwo is in order

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lusegun Adeniyi’s Verdict, published January 4, 2018 in THISDAY and captioned ‘When Judges Imperil Democracy’, creates the impression that Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court Abuja over-reached himself when he entered judgment in a suit brought before him by Dr. Obiora Okonkwo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a certificate of return to Okonkwo to enable him be sworn-in as senator representing Anambra central at the Senate.

The article tends to suggest that the judgment was clandestine.

It also creates the innuendo that politicians from Anambra State are shadowy in their use of the judiciary. Those suggestions are misplaced as neither Justice Tsoho nor the judgment beneficiary, Dr. Okonkwo, engaged in any shadowy dealings in the pursuit of the case and the judgment. Let’s look at the case progression first.

Dr. Okonkwo contested in the primary election of the PDP conducted to elect a candidate for the 2015 National Assembly election.

The primary was held in December 2014. Others who contested the primary election were Senator Annie Okonkwo, Sylvester Okonkwo, Uche Ekwunife and Kodilichukwu Okonkwo. Some 294 delegates were accredited for the election with Okechukwu Akachukwu as returning officer. Chairman of the PDP Primary Election committee was Mr. Alaye Tremie Jnr. Other members were Prof. Carl Okezie, Chief Obinna Nwachukwu, Sen. Bala Adamu and Rodney Ambaiowei.

However, aggrieved that despite polling 204 valid delegate votes to come tops Uche Ekwunife was announced winner instead, Dr. Okonkwo, a 1998 Doctor of Philosophy (distinction) degree holder in political science from Moscow, approached the courts with an originating summon on December 22, 2014. His suit bordered on a pre-election issue and has nothing to do with post-election contests.

He sued PDP, its national chairman (Adamu Muazu as he then was), INEC and Uche Ekwunife. The suit was marked FCH/ABJ/ CS/1092/2014. His basic reliefs were to the effect that it was he, and not Ekwunife who won the primary election and ought to be returned as winner. He also filed an affidavit of urgency seeking expeditious determination of the matter. If that was done before March 2015, and a judgment was given upholding his prayers and evidenced, Ekwunife would not have been on the ballot for PDP. Dr. Okonkwo’s case is a pre-election matter which is considered foundational, and more important, than post-election cases.

Reasons the matter delayed in court and reached judgment only

in December 2017, is best known to the judiciary. In the course of adjudication on the matter, three judges of the Federal High Court washed their hands off and returned the case file to the Chief Judge of the FHC for reassignment. The judges include Justice A.R Mohammed, Justice Okon Abang and Justice Quadri.

Several preliminary objections in the suit were also entertained and defeated. So, Justice Tsoho was the fourth judge to entertain the matter in the Federal High Court. All the judges are still in the employ of the FHC and can be reached. Processes in the matter are now public documents and can be assessed by a conscious seeker of truth.

The matter also reached the Supreme Court twice and Appeal Court three times. Several of the aspirants also filed applications to be joined in the matter. Their applications were defeated.

Several Senior Advocates of Nigeria, including J.N. Owonikoko, Alex Izinyon, Wole Olanipekun, Patrick Ikwueto, etc., have been involved in this matter at different stages for the different parties.

That the matter is not known to the media, or to other political parties in the Anambra Central conundrum, does not make it shadowy neither does it make the Anambra politician such a desperate fellow that would seek to use judges to imperil democracy. Unless it is being suggested that anyone who is aggrieved, like Dr. Okonkwo was, must not to seek redress in court.

An interesting aspect of the matter is that INEC was always in court. INEC remained impartial in the trial process and also told the court that the matter bordered on an internal affair of PDP to which it had no say but to submit itself to the judgment of court. There was however a turn of events in December when the matter came up before Justice Tsoho at the Federal High Court, to whom it was assigned after a tour of the Court of Appeal.

On December 13, 2017, all the defendants appeared before Justice Tsoho. When the matter was called up, Counsel to Ekwunife informed the court that she was no longer interested in defending the suit and that she had, by way of an affidavit filed in court, decided to withdraw her defence of the matter and would submit to judgment. INEC, through its counsel, also informed the court that it will submit to judgment as, in fact, it had nothing to do with the matter but, as an impartial umpire, would obey whatever orders the court made. PDP also entered the same submissions and asked the court to enter judgment based on reliefs sought

by Okonkwo; and also grant the consequential orders. In other words, all the defendants submitted to consent judgment.

Relief and consequential orders which Okonkwo asked from

the court were: That Dr. Okonkwo is the validly nominated candidate of the PDP at the December 7, 2014 PDP primary election to nominate its candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District at Ekwueme Square Awka, Anambra State, whose political party contested and won the National Assembly election that was held on March 28, 2015. That INEC, the third defendant/respondent cancels the certificate of return (if any is subsisting) issued to the fourth defendant/respondent (Chief Mrs. Uche Ekwunife).

That INEC issues a certificate of return to Dr. Obiora Okonkwo forthwith as the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial district of Anambra State. That the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria swears in the plaintiff (Dr. Obiora Okonkwo) forthwith as the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial district of Anambra State in the Senate of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That arrears of emoluments, salaries and other perquisites of office be paid to the plaintiff/ applicant (Dr. Okonkwo) from December 7, 2015 up to the date he is sworn in as senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial district.

On this note, Sebastine Hon SAN, lead counsel for Dr. Okonkwo, informed the court that when defence withdraws and submits to judgment, the court was bound to give judgment in accordance with plaintiff reliefs. He cited several authorities to back his arguments. He also cited Supreme Court authorities to support argument that victory in an election does not belong to an individual but to the political party.

In this instance, he argued strongly that though the Election Petition Tribunal disqualified Ekwunife as PDP’s candidate, on the strength of an election petition by APGA, the tribunal did not at any point invalidate result of the March 2015 senatorial election for Anambra central. According to the senior advocate, the result which was also validated by the Tribunal when it ordered a recount, is still intact and valid and ought to be enjoyed by Dr. Okonkwo, if the court upholds argument that he was indeed the validly nominated candidate of the PDP. In pronouncing Dr. Okonkwo the actual candidate and ordering that he be sworn-in, the Federal High Court was guided by superior authorities in the matter, especially decided Supreme Court judgments in Jev v Iyortyom (2016) All FWLR (Pt.837) 760 S.C.; Gbileve v Addingi (2014) 16 NWLR (Pt. 1433) 394 S.C.; Amaechi v INEC (2008) All FWLR (Pt. 407) 1 S.C. ––Uchegbu, a journalist, wrote from Lagos

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 7, 2018

LETTERS A PASSIONATE APPEAL TO AISHA BUHARI, DOLAPO OSINBAJO

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ear mothers of Nigeria, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari and Mrs. Dolapo Yemi Osinbajo.

My name is Zanab Kaka Saliu. I am a girl-child and a citizen of Nigeria.

After much struggles and toiling, I graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in the year 2010 in Political Science with Second Class (Hons) Lower Division (2.2). After searching for jobs in Nigeria for nearly six (6) years, I found one in the Nigeria Police Recruitment Exercise of 2016 and was denied the opportunity by the authorities of Police College, Jos to this day which necessitated my complaints to various quarters and to you.

Dear mothers, my plight started thus: I applied as directed by the Nigeria Police Recruitment Exercise of 2016 in Nigeria.

I complied with all criteria, rules and regulations to

Aisha Buhari

the letter by going through all the hurdles in the rain, in the cold, in the sunshine and passed through the most difficult parts of Police Medical Exercise and was successful. My

name, Zanab Kaka Saliu, (Female), Identity Number: KGS/CASP/BO1002F, Kogi State, was number Sixteen (16) on the list of Successful Candidates for the Recruitment of General

Duty Candidates for the 2016 Police Recruitment Exercise, Kogi State Cadet ASP 1-17 as published on Page 45 of Leadership Newspaper of Saturday, December 24, 2016.

We were therefore, directed to report on 31/12/2016 being Saturday, at Police College, Jos. My parents got me prepared and I arrived Jos on the 30/12/2016 being a Friday but, was told to wait outside the Police College, which I considered to be an abuse of the rights of a Girl-Child by the College till the next day, which was the actual resumption day. I got a hotel accommodation near the Police College, Jos and shared the hotel room with friends that had come for the same Police College resumption to save cost. The following day, Saturday 31/12/2016, which was the actual resumption day, became another story all together again. The big blow came

It’s Time To Redeem The Nation

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s all of you may be aware, our dear country Nigeria is currently faced with myriads of challenges that have constantly threatened if not betrayed the very creeds upon which our nation was established.

Between 1960 and now, Nigeria has passed through different stages of social, economic, and political change. One thing that has however remained consistent through the vicissitudes of our national history is the harsh consequences of the fatal decisions we the Nigerian people, as well as our greedy leaders, have made up to this moment.

Ever since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999, we the Nigerian people have been trapped in a catastrophic cycle of deeply entrenched elite conspiracy that has so far made our national development very difficult to achieve. On one hand, I believe that the men and women of unequaled consciousness amongst us will agree that the 16 years of trusting the People’s Democratic Party to bring succour to the suffering people of Nigeria brought us nothing but acute suffering and unthinkable looting of our commonwealth.

And on the other hand, the All Progressives Congress which was elected on a widespread opinion that succour had finally found the suffering people of our nation - has equally proven to be inefficient, confused, abusive, delusional, haughty, and disrespectful. If there is at all anything to learn from our nation’s contemporary history on political developments, it is simply the fact that our current political representatives are not the solution that our nation badly requires at this time. It is known

to every fact-loving person that recent developments have been absolutely unfavourable to the common people of our nation, including me. Unemployment has now hit the second highest of all time at 18.8%. In the same vein, the total unemployment and underemployment rate has gone up from 37.2% to 40%. Youth Unemployment has risen to 33.1% and 20.2% for those aged below 25 and 35 respectively. Many of our women have no jobs to support their family and instead of accelerating, the economy has continued to decelerate. As if these are not enough, the Fulani herdsmen crisis has continued to grow unabatedly just as the Boko Haram insurgents have unceasingly, almost on a daily basis carried out brutal attacks on those the current administration has described as “soft targets”.

The number of beggars on the streets is increasing by the day whilst the rate of suicide is uncontrollably on the surge.

Sadly, corruption has also become a legal tender. No doubt, Nigeria has now become synonymous with the apothegm ‘one-day-one-problem’.

Sadly, at the receiving end of these heart-wrenching developments are the common people of our nation and the youths in whose hands lie the present and future of our nation. These developments cannot be wished away as mere coincidence.

They point to the stark absence of visionary and competent leadership in our nation. It is therefore important that those who constitute the larger chunk of Nigeria’s population - the youths, stepped up to the plate to bring Nigeria out of this exacerbating state of underdevelopment. Meanwhile, let me

quickly state that the woes that the Nigerian people are faced with today are not antithetical to the woes of our ancestors under the colonial masters. We have since 57 years ago moved away from the downright evil, oppression, rape, mental and physical enslavement, confusion, hatred, and pain inflicted on us by the colonial masters to the infliction of all these disorders on us by our own brothers and sisters.

Obviously, our leaders have failed to learn from the white men the good things they do for themselves but have adopted only the vicious things the white men did and to a large extent, are still doing to us. The looting and mental and physical enslavement that has now become a tradition with our leaders is an ancient trend that they learned from the colonial masters. I am sure in their mind, they would often ask themselves: if the colonial masters could have done it, why can’t we?’ - a very faulty and backward way of thinking.

What this teaches us, however, is that our colonial masters have now changed from the white folks to our black brothers and sisters. Since the second quarter of 2017, a very slim number of genuinely patriotic Nigerians have been at the trenches actively calling for a rude reawakening of our consciousness as a people.

And it would be a colossal lapse in judgment if we fail to identify with these change agents who are driven only by the love of fatherland and a strong desire to bring an end to the consistent rape of our collective dignity.

From the ‘resume or resign’ campaign to the demonstrations of protest on the brutality of SARS operatives in Nigeria, activists of the OurMumuDonDo

Movement have proven to every right-thinking Nigerian that we have a chance to redeem our nation. Important to note is the unbending resolve of these activists who have chosen to speak at a time when silence is considered golden.

Even more important to note, and quite astonishing, I must say, is the compelling reasons for which these activists have chosen to speak - the common malaise besetting all of us as a people; the detrimental impact of failures in leadership positions on the Nigerian people; our shared suffering and predicaments; the incessant looting of our commonwealth; and the stomach-churning apathy with which most members of the third estate in our society have reacted to these anomalies.

Despite this seemingly unending streak of bleak and gloom in our society, I strongly believe that there is hope and we have a rarefied option to redeem our nation once and for all. I believe that now, more than 2017 or any other time for that matter, we can unlearn the evil things that we have learned from the white-men. I believe that we can eliminate from our environment the wickedness that is completely antithetical to our creation as black people and as Nigerians.

What we must do is create a new society where our specialness as black people would inspire greatness in our society. We must create a new Nigeria where only the best of us get the chance to lead. For no matter how long we postpone the revolution that our country currently demands, it shall come to pass one day, certainly not too long from now.

–––Adebayo Raphael, National Publicity Secretary, OurMumuDonDo Movement

when I was asked along with some others to go back home after spending all the money we had on feeding and paying hotel bills for close to a week in Jos Police College environment. It was as if my world had come to an end when the Commandant of the Police College, Jos said we should go home and wait for a new date of resumption because our names were on the Reserve List.

The new date has not been announced till today. It’s been a traumatic experience for me.

From Saturday, 31/12/2016 when I was sent back home as a candidate on Police College Recruitment Reserve List to the passing out of my colleagues which was concluded recently, nothing was heard from the Jos Police College. Where then is my hope? The passing out of my colleagues without me is the core reason of this complaint to you. But I have the belief and hope that you will assist me by ensuring that this injustice to a girl-child is addressed so that I can be called back to the Police College, Jos. Over the past months, my parents ran from pillars to poles to ensure that my strong desire to build a career in the Nigeria Police Force and serve my nation through this noble force was not frustrated. The former Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, the Rt. Hon. Umar Ahmed Imam, in his usual magnanimity and passion, intervened by writing a letter dated May 12, 2017 to the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Kpotun Idris on the plight and right of a Girl-Child (Zanab Kaka Saliu) with Reference Number: KGS/ CASP/BO 1002F, who had gone through the whole process of Police Recruitment Exercise and was successful but turned back at the point of resumption on the ground

that her name was on the reserve list and her date of resumption would be communicated to her, which never happened. Nothing was heard from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to date. Nothing was heard from the Police College, Jos to date; and nothing was heard from my State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who I first complained to through the internet (Social Media) on my denial of resumption at Police College, Jos on Saturday 31/12/2016 after my name was listed as a successful candidate.

My dear mothers, I plead for your kind intervention on compassionate ground.

You are my last hope aside Allah/God. I am at your mercy today as we all shall one day be at the mercy of Almighty Allah/God. Please urgently intervene in what I consider a denial of my right as Nigerian citizen and the worsening of my plight as a Girl-Child who struggled through University Education and graduated with Second Class Lower Division (2.2) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2010.

I have been surviving through the magnanimity of my parents seven years after graduation.

Police authorities have made another announcement on recruitment of almost 5,000 in 2018. What is my fate as a successful candidate placed on reserve list? Am I to go and resume at the Nigeria Police College, Jos since I have gone through the last hurdles and was successful? Or to repeat another Police Recruitment Exercise all over again?

Waiting patiently for your urgent and kind intervention. I still have hope in this great country.

Thank you my dear mothers.

Your daughter, ––Zanab Kaka Saliu from Lokoja.

NIGERIAN CITIES AS SEWERS

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hy should anyone complain that President Donald Trump of the U.S. was left frustrated to complain that Nigerians “won’t return to their huts in Africa?” In fact, he was even charitable to use the word “hut” because I think “hovel” would have best described the types of accommodations we are forced to live in our towns and cities.

Governments across all levels have failed over the years to invest in decent housings for their citizens

so Nigerians are forced by circumstances that are pathetic to construct hovels with raw sewage for company. We have not heard the last from Mr. Trump yet; recall that the American hiphop artist Rick Ross once remarked that Lagos is “full of shit.”

Now, we should be honest and accept that not only Lagos but all Nigerian towns and cities are veritable sewers.

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

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍľËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

INTERNATIONAL

Making America Great Again and Global Security in 2018: The Lessons for Nigeria

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aintenance of international peace and security has always remained the cardinal objective of the United Nations since its founding in 1945.

However, peace must first exist internationally before it can be maintained. In the same vein, security cannot be maintained if it does not exist already. Most unfortunately, there is no global peace as at today. Even though the word, ‘international,’ has different usages in terms of scope (plurilateral, bilateral, trilateral, multilateral, etc), and therefore generally implies a global conception, there is no region of the world where there are no crises and conflicts.

The fact that there was no inter-state war in the period from 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989, gives a wrong impression that there was no world war or that there was global peace. True, there was no international or inter-state war but that did not mean that there was no world war. World war existed only on piecemeal basis in the name of intra-state or civil war. This is so because the internal conflicts were not only many, but were also on the increase..

Put differently, there are not only several civil wars, but also increasing threats of global war to the extent that the year 2018 may become the most devastating in terms of violent effects in the event of outbreak of a nuclear war. Slave trading has re-emerged inAfrica through Libya. It is no longer enslavement of the black man by the white colonialists, it is now commercial enslavement of the black man by theArab Libyans onAfrican soil.

Western Europe, particularly the European Union, is fraught with the crises of European unity, unwanted immigration of foreigners to Europe and unwanted struggle for self-determination within the concert of Europe. The ultimate objective of the making of European unity right from 1951 till date is being challenged by Brexit and the struggle for self-identity of the Catalans in Spain. The processes of final withdrawal of United Kingdom from the European Union have begun. Even within the United Kingdom, the Scottish are already at logger head with the London authorities on the need for Scotland to also break away from the union.

In theAmericas, the relationship between the United States and Mexico is far from being warm. The relationship became worse since the election and presidency of Donald Trump. United States’ relationship with North Korea is already pointing to the possibility of an unprecedented nuclear war. The threat of nuclear war was first manifested in 1962 with the Cuban nuclear crisis in which the former Soviet Union tried to mount nuclear arms in Cuba, but with the ultimate objective of targeting the United States. This was a manifestation of the Cold War. The 14-day crisis was well managed by the US and there was no nuclear war.

The Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombing by the United States did not fit well to be described as a nuclear war. Japan attacked US Pearl Harbour with conventional weapons, and for that matter, without provocation and before the United States ever decided to enter into the Second World War on the side of theAllied Powers. In reaction, and in the spirit of legitimate self-defence, the United States used what it had, atomic weapons, which had never been used before the case of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The devastating effect of the US attack compelled the Japanese to immediately surrender without reservation. Consequently, there was neither an atomic nor nuclear war up till this day.

Today, the whole world is currently watching a nuclear cinema in which North Korea and the United States are the main actors, blowing the trumpet, singing and dancing, as well as dictating the tunes. China and Russia are the ones beating the drums and operating as umpires. The European Union, which is waiting to replace the US as the new centre of global power is the leading group of spectators.

The European Union, as well as China and Russia are all engaged in strategic calculations to also replace the United States as the first global power.And most unfortunately, President Donald Trump is myopically facilitating it with his policy of MakingAmerica GreatAgain by engaging in a manu militari cow boy policies. This type of policy is most unhelpful to the cause of the great people ofAmerica.

In the Middle East, the Israelo-Arab dispute over a homeland for the Palestinian people has not allowed for peace to reign, not to talk about maintaining it. Many reasons can be adduced for this. First, the Arabs have always exaggerated and miscalculated in terms of policy making. When the Balfour Declaration of 1917 was to be translated into action at the end of World War II, the Israelis (Jews) accepted to be reconstituted into a State of Israel. TheArabs rejected the offer and opted to carry war to the borders of the new State. Rightly or wrongly,

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Trump

the State of Israel began to exist in consonance with the Biblical provisions as provided for in the Book of Zacharia, Chapter 2.

Three points are noteworthy in this chapter. Verses 1 and 2 remind us of how Zacharia saw a man ‘with a measuring line in his hand.’ The measuring line was to ‘measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.’ In Jerusalem, the House of the Lord is to be built and the various dimensions and descriptions of the walls and household items are contained in Chapters 40-46 of the Book of Ezekiel. Perhaps more interestingly, there is supposed to be an area of Jerusalem that has to be set aside as holy and for which there are well prescribed regulations as also provided for in Chapter 45.

Verse 1 of Chapter 45 says. ‘moreover, when ye shall divide by lot the land for inheritance, ye shall offer an oblation unto the Lord, an holy portion of the land: the length shall be the length of five and twenty thousand reeds, and the breadth shall be ten thousand. This shall be holy in all borders thereof round about.’ Apart from the area required for sanctuary, ‘five hundred in length, with five hundred in breadth, square round about, and fifty cubits round about for the suburbs thereof (vide verse 2), there is also ‘the length of five and twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand’ which shall be the ‘sanctuary and the most holy place.’And most importantly, verse 4 says ‘the holy portion of the land shall be for the priests, the ministers of the sanctuary, which shall come near to minister unto the Lord; and it shall be a place for their houses, and an holy place for the sanctuary.’ On the basis of these biblical provisions, is the 1917 Balfour Declaration in fulfilment of the foregoing predictions? If they are, who owned the territory of Palestine before its partitioning? If part of the territory of Palestine has been carved out and given to the Jews, why is there no unanimity of purpose in ensuring that the Palestinians are also given a homeland for the purposes of a State of Palestine? In light of the foregoing biblical references, is Israel right or wrong to shift its capital to Jerusalem? If there had not been war in 1948 which enabled Israel

Today, the whole world is currently watching a nuclear cinema in which North Korea and the United States are the main actors, blowing the trumpet, singing and dancing, as well as dictating the tunes. China and Russia are the ones beating the drums and operating as umpires.The European Union, which is waiting to replace the US as the new centre of global power is the leading group of spectators. The European Union, as well as China and Russia are all engaged in strategic calculations to also replace the United States as the ďŹ rst global power.And most unfortunately, President Donald Trump is myopically facilitating it with his policy of Making America Great Again by engaging in a manu militari cow boy policies.This type of policy is most unhelpful to the cause of the great people of America

to forcefully occupy the western part of Jerusalem, and if there had not been the Yom Kippur war of 1973, which again enabled Israel to forcefully occupy Eastern Jerusalem, would there have been any basis for consideration of Jerusalem as capital of Israel? TelAviv has been playing host to all diplomatic missions in Israel, including that of the United States. What now prompted the United States to want to move its diplomatic mission from TelAviv to Jerusalem? The United States is nothing more than an agent provocateur in this case.

Asecond reason ofArab miscalculation is the underestimation of the capacity and capability of Israel. TheArabs always think in terms of military capability and therefore always looking at the small territorial size of Israel. Unfortunately, the United States is always giving active support to the Israelis, thus implying that anyArab attack is necessarily also an attack on the United States and its allies. This point raises the third reason: the role of the United states as a mediator in the resolution of the Israelo-arab conflict. Peace has not and cannot be forthcoming with the United States acting as a mediator in whatever capacity because of its partisan interests.

Afourth reason is the perception of theArab’s mania of handling the Palestinian question byAfrican leaders. For instance, Nigeria spearheaded the pro-Arab lobby in favour of the Palestinian struggle.

In fact, in solidarity with Egypt as anAfrican country, Nigeria strained diplomatic ties with Israel. However, when Egypt was to solve the problem, she struck a deal with the United States and Israel in Camp David, but without informing Nigeria or carrying her along. Even though Nigeria has consistently been supporting the Palestinian struggle, many policy makers who are in support of Israel now do so because of how Nigerians are being mistreated in theArab world.

Reports of enslavement of Nigerians in Libya now strengthen their position further more.

In essence, the point being made here is that the world of today is that of no peace. Peace has been overtaken by international terrorism, and particularly by state terrorism. It is within the context of this global insecurity that the US President, Mr. Donald John Trump, wants to makeAmerican great again. Can he makeAmerica great again by removing the foregoing threats to global security or by deepening the threats? How does he want to makeAmerica great again? This question is quite pertinent at this juncture because there have been various manufactured goods, varying from birthday gifts to birthday gag gifts, specially produced to makeAmerica Great since 1927. Being an acknowledged business man, does Donald Trump intend to come up with new economic products in makingAmerica GreatAgain? In fact, what are the dynamics of ‘greatness’ in the context of a nation state?

Making America Great Again: the Donald Trump’s Experience

‘The genesis of ‘MakingAmerica GreatAgain’ (MAGA) is traceable in recent times to the 1980 Donald Reagan’s presidential campaign when he said ‘Let’s MakeAmerican GreatAgain.’ By that time, the United States had a battered economy that was largely characterised by stagflation. Consequently, MAGAwas to serve as a springboard for purposes of Reagan’s electioneering.

In 1992, Wikipedia has it that Bill Clinton used the phrase during his presidential campaigns but not as a slogan of the campaign and that Hilary Clinton used the phrase during her 2008 presidential primary campaign, but criticised it in her 2016 presidential campaigns as a racist ‘dog whistle’.

For Donald Trump, MAGAis a different kettle of fish entirely. In December 2011 when Donald Trump was contemplating running for the White House, he said he must leave all his options open, because above all else, ‘we must makeAmerica GreatAgain.’ In making America Great, he started by printing on his campaign caps, MAGA. Thereafter, on November 7, 2012, ‘the day after Barack Obama won his re-election against Mitt Romney’ Donald Trump formally began to use the expression, but generally, without the word ‘again,’ that is, ‘Make America Great.’ But considering that this new expression implied thatAmerica was never great, Donald Trump went back to the old expression, MAGA, and registered it as a trade name, claiming not to know about an earlier usage of the expression by Donald Reagan.

As noted by Wikipedia, ‘on November 12, he signed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office requesting exclusive rights to use the slogan for political purposes. It was registered as a service mark on July 14, 2015, after which Trump formally began his 2016 presidential campaign and demonstrated that he was using the slogan for the purpose stated on the application.’ This was how MAGAhas been popularised, especially through the social media by selling Donald Trump’s campaign hats on which MAGAis printed in white letters and sold for each $25 on its website.

And perhaps more of concern here is that, following the election of Donald Trump, his presidential transition was established at ‘greatagain.gov,’ while Donald Trump himself noted that his January 2020 re-election campaign would be ‘keepAmerica Great,’ which was the tagline for a film called, ‘The Purge: Election Year.’Alawyer has been directed to also register this as a trade mark. In this regard, will there be a good basis for the re-election of Donald Trump come 2020? For purposes of electoral campaigns, yes, ‘KeepingAmerica Great’ cannot but remain relevant. It will be needed as a tool of campaign. However, whatever the tools of campaign would be in 2020, there is no dismissing the problems of how US foreign policy is conducted and managed under Donald Trump, and especially the animosities that have come to characterise the United States foreign relations.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

17

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 7, 2018

BUSINESS

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

Investors Expect N189 Billion from Bonds Maturing in 2018 LAST WEEK Economy The Central Bank of Nigeria released its Purchasing Managers Index survey for December, which indicated continuous expansion of economic activities during the month. The report showed that the Manufacturing PMI and Non-Manufacturing PMI rose to the highest levels in morethanthreeyears.TheManufacturing PMI rose to 59.3 per cent and the NonManufacturingPMIroseto62.1percent duringthemonth.Thereportalsoshowed that30outofthe34subsectorssurveyed bytheapexbankrecordedexpansion,up from27subsectorsthatrecordedexpansion in November. The Manufacturing and Non-Manufacturing PMI report on businessesisbasedonsurveyresponses on the changes in the level of business activitiesinthecurrentmonthcompared with the preceding month.

Lagos state rail project under construction

Bamidele Famoofo

No fewer than 11 bond instruments with tenors ranging between five and 10 years are due for maturity in 2018.

THISDAY investigations revealed that redemption period starts from February to December, 2018.

The estimated value expected to be redeemed to investors in 2018 stands at N189billion.

This figure excludes the value of two Federal Government Bonds billed to mature in the investment year.

Breakdown of the maturing bonds, which include a Supra-National Debt listed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, state and local debts floated by three state governments in Nigeria and four corporate bonds, showed that investors will get returns on investment (ROI) or coupon ranging between five per cent and 16 per cent.

The bonds listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and FMDQ OTC Exchange for trading was mainly dominated by state governments. Three state governments, namely, Delta, Niger and Ekiti, whose bonds will mature in different months in 2018, accounted for about 56 per cent of the N189billion billed to be redeemed in 2018.

Delta State, a major oil-producing state in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria borrowed N50billion from investors at 14 per cent coupon rate. It represents 26.5 per cent of the estimated value to be redeemed in 2018. Delta State is expected to fully pay back the borrowed money with interest to investors

ECONOMY

who invested in its bond instrument by September 30, 2018.

Niger State, another issuer in Nigeria’s North-central region followed Delta State with a N30 billion borrowing, representing about 16 per cent of the total value expected to be redeemed in 2018. Niger State also offered investors a 14 per cent coupon rate to attract them to its offer while Ekiti State, which is due to redeem N25billion at 14.5 percent coupon will do so on December 9, 2018.

United Bank of Africa (UBA) Plc is the biggest bond issuer expected to redeem its N35billion seven-year tenor bond by September 30, 2018. The corporate bond/debenture debt issued by one of the oldest financial institutions in Nigeria was at a coupon rate of 14.0 percent.

Other Corporate issuers that are expected to redeem their Corporate Bond/Debenture Debt in 2018 are La Casera Company Plc, Dana Group Plc and Tower Fund Plc. Corporate Bonds issued by four companies that will be redeemed in 2018 amounted to N72billion, which represents 38.1 percent of N189 billion expected to be redeemed in the bond market in 2018. The Dana Group Plc will pay back N13billion to investors while La Casera Plc will redeem N15billion. At full issuance, Tower Fund Plc will refund N9 billion to subscribers.

Besides, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) will redeem its N12billion supranational debt by February 11, 2018.

The Debt Management Of-

fice (DMO) has said it would repay N198.032 billion worth of Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTBs), which will mature in December 2017 to investors.

According to the DMO, “The N198.032 billion comprises of N131.415 billion and N66.617 billion of NTBs which will mature on December 14, 2017 and December 21, 2017 respectively. Before now, the practice has been to rollover NTBs at maturity.”

It will be recalled that the government had announced plans to refinance some maturing domestic debts with The bonds listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and FMDQ OTC Exchange for trading was mainly dominated by state governments

external borrowings as part of its overall debt management strategy of reducing debt service costs. Other objectives of this strategy are to free up space in the domestic market for other borrowers and achieve a more sustainable debt portfolio mix of 60 percent domestic and 40 per cent external.

“In addition, the redemption over time will help reduce the refinancing risk associated with short-term borrowings through NTBs with tenors of 91, 182 and 364 days. As at September 30, 2017, NTBs accounted for 30.23 per cent of the FGN’s domestic debt of N12.5 trillion compared to the DMO’s target of a maximum of 25 per cent”, a statement from DMO disclosed.

The NTBs will be redeemed

primarily using proceeds of the USD500 million raised through a Eurobond Issuance by Nigeria in November 2017. Nigeria had issued a dual-tranche USD3 billion Eurobond in November 2017, out of which USD2.5 billion is to part-finance the deficit in 2017 Appropriation Act and the balance of USD500 million is for the refinancing of domestic debt.

“By redeeming the N198.032 billion NTBs, the government is not only implementing its debt management strategy but also providing liquidity to the financial system to enable the private sector access credit from banks and issue securities in the domestic market to raise funds. The DMO expects operators in the market to use this opportunity to develop the other segments of the debt capital market such as Corporate Bonds,” the DMO noted.

The strategy of enabling the private sector to access funds and possibly at a lower cost than hitherto possible is consistent with the government’s policy of a private sector-led growth.

Meanwhile, Fitch Rating, an international financial rating agency based in London has warned that the Nigerian financial institutions, banks especially will witness a slowdown in profit as the focus of Nigerian government to finance its budget is shifting more to foreign borrowings at the detriment of NTBs. “Our 2018 rating outlook for the Nigerian banking sector is negative, reflecting continued fragility in the operating environment and the Negative Outlook on the sovereigns ‘B+’ rating,” Fitch said.

Fuel Oil marketers agreed with the federal government to allow the pump price of petroltoremainatN145perlitre,reversing their previous stance on the pricing of the commodity. Chairman, Depot and PetroleumProductsMarketersAssociation, Dapo Abiodun, had stated that the marketerscouldnolongerimportpetrolat acontrolledpriceofN145perlitre.Butit wasgatheredinAbujathatthemarketers reversedtheirstanceatthemeetingofthe adhoccommitteesetupbythePresidency to try to get the oil marketers to restart the importation of refined petroleum products. Sources at the meeting said a communiqué on the resolutions would be made public soon, but noted that the marketers also appealed to the federal government to grant them tax holidays and other incentives that would help cut their costs when they resume fuel importation.

SEC The Securities and Exchange CommissionsaidinvestorsintheNigeriancapital market were to pay for the registration and enrolment of their shares,. Acting Director General of SEC, Abdul Zubair, said this followed the expiration of the December 31, 2017 deadline for free registration offered to investors to regularise their investment portfolios.

Zubair,whowaspresentinganupdateon on-goingcapitalmarketinitiativesbythe regulatory authorities, said all investors that were yet to enrol their stocks in the market would henceforth pay N150 for every investment to be registered. Prior to the deadline, the SEC boss said the commissionspentaboutN3.15millionto underwritetheregistrationoftheshares of about 2.1 million investors who had so far registered under the scheme.

“With effect from January 1, 2018, the SEC will no longer underwrite the cost of regularising investors’ shares in the stock market,” Zubair said.

Telecoms Industrystakeholderswarnedthatunless thebarriersimpedingtelecomsexpansion inthecountrywereremoved,theplanned rolloutofbroadbandinfrastructurebythe licensedInfrastructurecompanies,InfraCos, would continue to suffer setbacks.

They said they were convinced that the samechallengesbedevillingthetelecoms operators would continue to slowdown the activities of InfraCos who had since beenlicensedbytheNigerianCommunications Commission to rollout broadband infrastructure across the country.

18

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 7, 2018

BUSINESS/INDUSTRY

A margarine manufacturing plant

Nigeria’s Manufacturing Sector: From Inertia to Nine Consecutive Months of Growth In a sign of positive economic outlook, the real sector records growth for nine uninterrupted months since emerging from inactivity, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index published by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Bamidele Famoofo reports

S

ince the second quarter of 2017, when Nigeria, largest economy in Africa, exited its worst recession in 20 years, the manufacturing sector of the economy has not stopped to grow. This cheery news is contained in the Purchasing Managers’ Index report of the Central Bank of Nigeria for December 2017. The PMI report released recently by the CBN indicated that the manufacturing sector expanded every month for nine months, beginning from April 2017.

The PMI is used to measure the health of the manufacturing sector. It is based on five major indicators: new orders, inventory levels, production, supplier deliveries, and the employment environment.

Report According to the report, the economy as at December 2017, recorded an appreciable increase in all the parameters, except one in December 2017.

“The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (Manufacturing PMI) in the month of December, 2017, stood at 59.3 index points, indicating expansion in the manufacturing sector for the ninth consecutive months.” the CBN said.

According to the report, “A composite PMI above 50 points indicates that the manufacturing/ non-manufacturing economy is generally expanding, 50 points indicates no change, and below 50 points indicates that it is generally contracting.”

The Manufacturing PMI showed that 15 of the 16 subsectors of the Nigerian economy in the review period reported growth in the following order: petroleum and coal products; textile, apparel, leather and footwear; cement; transportation equipment; paper products.

The other subsectors that recorded growth in December are food, beverage and tobacco products; furniture and related products; plastics and rubber products; non-metallic mineral products; printing and related support activities; appliances and components; chemical and pharmaceutical products; fabricated metal products; primary metal and electrical equipment. However, the computer

and electronic products sector contracted in the review month.

The PMI report showed that the production level index for the manufacturing sector grew for the tenth consecutive month in December 2017, standing at 63.2 points. The index indicated an increase in production in the current month, when compared to its level in the preceding month. Eleven of the 16 manufacturing subsectors recorded increase in production level; three remained unchanged, while the remaining two recorded declines in production level during the review month.

At 60.0 points, the new orders index grew for the nine consecutive month, indicating increase in new orders in December 2017. Thirteen subsectors reported growth; two remained unchanged while one contracted in the review month.

The report showed that manufacturing supplier delivery time index stood at 57.4 points in December 2017, indicating faster supplier delivery time for the seventh consecutive month. Eleven subsectors recorded improved suppliers’ delivery time, one remained unchanged while four subsectors recorded delayed delivery time.

The employment level index in December 2017 stood at 53.9 points, indicating growth in Nigeria’s employment level for the eighth consecutive month. Of the 16 subsectors, nine subsectors increased their employment level; three remained unchanged, while four subsectors reduced their employment level in the review month.

Similarly, the Manufacturing sector inventories index grew for the ninth consecutive months in December 2017. At 61.1 points, the index grew at a faster rate when compared to its level in the previous months. Eleven of the 16 subsectors recorded growth, three remained unchanged while two subsectors recorded decline in raw material inventories.

The growth recorded in the manufacturing sector was replicated in the non-manufacturing sector as composite PMI for the non-manufacturing sector stood at 62.1 points in December 2017, indicating expansion in the non-manufacturing

PMI for the eighth consecutive month.

The report showed that 15 of the 18 nonmanufacturing subsectors recorded growth in the review month. Arts topped the list of growth among subsectors in the non-manufacturing subsectors, followed by entertainment and recreation.

Agriculture; transportation and warehousing; utilities; water supply, sewage and waste management; finance and insurance; health care and social assistance; real estate, rental and leasing; wholesale trade; accommodation and food; electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; educational services; construction; information and communication and professional, scientific, and technical services are other sectors that expanded in a declining order.

“The management of companies remained unchanged, while the public administration and repair, maintenance/washing of motor vehicles… subsectors recorded contraction in the review period,” the report revealed.

The report showed that business activities in Nigeria expanded in December, 2017. “At 67.4 points, the business activity index grew for the nine consecutive month, indicating expansion in business activity in December 2017. The index grew at a faster rate, when compared to its level in the previous month, indicating improvements in business activities in the current month. Sixteen subsectors recorded growth in business activity, one sector remain unchanged, while one declined in the review month.”

Also at 62.2 points, new orders index grew in December 2017 for the ninth consecutive months.

Of the 18 subsectors, 15 reported growth; one remained unchanged while two recorded declines.

The employment level Index for the nonmanufacturing sector stood at 55.7 points, indicating growth in employment for the eighth consecutive month. Eleven subsectors recorded growth in the review month; three remained unchanged while four recorded declines. Also at 62.9 points, non-manufacturing inventory index grew for the eighth consecutive month, indicating growth in inventories in the review period. Sixteen subsectors

recorded higher inventories, while two subsectors recorded lower inventory in November 2017.

Forex Policy Economic analysts have attributed the growth in the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors of the economy in the last nine months to the bold initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria to tackle the challenges of the drowning naira against the dollar in the face of dwindling oil price and shortfall in production due to security challenges in the Niger Delta.

The CBN released a new foreign exchange policy in February to stem the widening gap between the inter-bank foreign exchange and parallel market rates. To ease the difficulties encountered by Nigerians in obtaining funds for foreign exchange transactions, the CBN provides direct additional funding to banks to meet the needs of the citizens for personal and business travel, medical needs, and school fees.

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

Similarly, Nigeria’s Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation, declined for the tenth consecutive time in December, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. CPI decreased to 15.90 per cent, making it 0.01 per cent lower than the 15.91 per cent recorded in October 2017.

Also, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product grew in the third quarter of 2017 by 1.40 per cent in real terms, NBS said in its report released in November 2017. In a report titled “Nigeria Gross Domestic Product Report”, the NBS noted that the development represents the second consecutive positive growth since the emergence of the economy from recession in the second quarter of 2017.

The report explained that the growth was 3.74 per cent points higher than the rate recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2016, put at –2.34 per cent. It also revealed that the figure was higher by 0.68 per cent points than the rate recorded in the second quarter of the same year, put at 0.72 per cent.

19

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 7, 2018

BUSINESS/POWER

Finding Solution to Perennial System Collapse Nigeria experienced two major failures in its electricity supply system within 16 hours last week, plunging the whole country into darkness, and exposing serious system susceptibility to shocks. Chineme Okafor reports

O

n Wednesday, January 3, the nationwide blackout that was first witnessed the day before continued following a second system collapse on a transmission line at 14.19 hours. The blackout started with the shutdown of some major gas power generation plants after a section of the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System was reportedly burnt by a raging bush fire.

It defied attempts by the Transmission Company of Nigeria to restore the system to normalcy using other generation sources.

System collapses or voltage collapse includes a series of events that results in voltage instability and which could eventually lead to a blackout or an unusually low voltage level in power system. They can be from both technical and non-technical issues.

Shutdown So, when the national grid collapsed on Tuesday night on account of the fire incident which was reported by the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company Limited on an axis of the ELPS, about five power plants were shut down because gas supplies to them were cut off and they couldn’t generate electricity. The plants were the 1,320MW-capacity Egbin power station in Lagos; 676MW-capacity Olorunsogo NIPP station; 338MW-capacity Olorunsogo I power station; 450MW-capacity Omotosho NIPP station; and the 338MW-capacity Omotosho I station.

Collectively, they have an installed generation capacity of 3,122MW, but were not exactly generating that much at the time of the fire outbreak, which reportedly spread from Abakila in Ondo State.

However, their shutdown was heavy enough to interrupt the productivity of the grid because Nigeria’s power grid is interconnected and would often experience shocks from such developments at various ends, either in terms of technical or non-technical faults.

Shortly after the first collapse, TCN sent out another notice of a second system failure. It said this occurred when the Odukpani-Ikot Ekpene 330kV transmission line tripped, cutting off electricity generation and transmission from the Odukpani power station to the grid.

TCN, in a statement by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, however, assured Nigerians that restoration of the grid had reached an advanced stage, and that it had commenced investigations to determine the exact cause of the system disturbance. It said,“The system disturbance happened at a time when work on the Western Gas Pipeline (Ecscavos-Lagos Pipeline System) by the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company Limited, which caused a system collapse at about 21.17 hours on Tuesday, was yet to be completed. The grid would have withstood the Odukpani infraction, if generation along Lagos region was available.”

TCN also explained that the NGPTC, the gas supply and marketing subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, had indicated that a contractor had been mobilised to repair the affected segment of the Escravos-Lagos pipeline, so that gas supply to the Omotosho, Egbin, and Olorunsogo I and II thermal power stations could be restored.

“According to NGC, work would be carried out day and night and is expected to be completed within 24 hours,”TCN assured in the statement.

Perennial Issue Considering Nigeria’s challenges with a vulnerable electricity grid, the two collapses served as reminders that the grid was still unstable and this needs the continuous reinforcement TCN said it had embarked on.

Just like it was in 2017, when data from the National Control Centre, Osogbo, showed that a partial system collapse was recorded on January 12 about 8.41am, and which resulted to loss of

Power transmission facility in Nigeria power supply to Lagos, Osogbo, Jebba, Kainji and Shiroro, and another on January 15, following tripping of the Ugwuaji/Makurdi 330kV line 1 at the Ugwuaji transmission station, the collapse of January 2 and 3, were reflective of the past issues Nigeria’s power system had contended with.

As at the end of 2016, data from the sector’s statistics website, nesistats.org, indicated that 11 total and two partial system collapses were recorded within that year. Similarly, the TCN, according to a second quarter 2017 report from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, which was released in September, recorded 15 system collapses. In the report, the TCN recorded five system collapses in the first quarter of 2017 and 10 system collapses in the second quarter of 2017, with the first five been total collapses of the transmission grid, while eight out of the 10 system collapses in the second quarter were total collapses and two partial collapses.

Cause Though, system collapses could originate from several causes, the obvious cause in the case of Nigeria has been the frequent loss of generation capacity and instability in the transmission network.

The frequent trip of power plants from gas supply shortages cause a mismatch between production and load transmission. This puts a strain on other generators, resulting in under-frequency in the system.

Another example is an overload of the transmission system caused by congestion, which forces an overloaded power line to trip and result in increased loading of other lines and additional trips, which in the end result in total collapse due to the high impedance in the weakened grid.

To address this, TCN stated in its statement that it had the support of the Ministries of Power and Finance, and had embarked on the implementation of a Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme aimed at expanding, rehabilitating and stabilising the national grid. It appealed to Nigerians to be patient with it on this.

Findings THISDAY gathered that the affected stations were generating about 1,200MW at the time of the fire incident, and that before the Tuesday incident, a peak generation of 4,685.3MW was recorded and wheeled out to the grid on Monday, while the lowest generation on the same day was 3,667.5MW. According to records, at 06:00 hours on Tuesday, a total of 3,749.90MW was generated and transmitted to the grid for distribution to the 11 distribution companies, while efforts by TCN to sustain minimal supply after the closure of the Escravos pipeline, using generation from the hydroelectric power stations and other gas-fired plants located outside of the South-west, failed at exactly 14.19 hours

The latest incidents have exposed the continued vulnerability of the country’s power system to shocks.

Thus, beyond fixing the recent system failures, Nigeria would need to take conscious steps to overcome the challenge of disruptive shocks on its electricity supply system to optimise the benefits of on-going power generations efforts

on Wednesday, when the country was plunged into total darkness.

According to a TCN source, officials of the company worked hard to restore the system with generation from the hydro stations and other plants, but the efforts failed.

NNPC‘s Response The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, which owns and operates the ELPS, Dr. Maikanti Baru, reportedly ordered an immediate assessment of the damage caused by the fire in order to effect necessary repairs. Baru’s instructions were contained in a statement by the Group General Manager, Public Affairs of NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu.

That statement noted that the affected pipeline also feeds the West Africa Gas Pipeline System.

“The incineration of the ELPS, which was built in 1989, was suspected to have been caused by a bush fire on January 2, 2018 at Abakila in Ondo State,” the statement said.

NNPC added that its firemen were drafted to the scene and were able to contain the fire from the point of leakage on the pipeline, stating, however, that the fire could not be extinguished due to the high pressure on the line. It said,“To put out the fire, the line would need to be isolated and depressurised, which might lead to the complete shutdown of the pipeline segment for repair works to be carried out.

“The exercise will affect gas supply to customers in Ondo, Ogun and Lagos states, with subsequent shutdown of the following power plants with a combined generating capacity of 1,143MW: Egbin, Lagos, Olorunshogo, PEL Olorunshogo, Ogun, Paras Power Plant, Ogun and Omotosho plant, Ondo State.”

The latest incidents have exposed the continued vulnerability of the country’s power system to shocks.

Thus, beyond fixing the recent system failures, Nigeria would need to take conscious steps to overcome the challenge of disruptive shocks on its electricity supply system to optimise the benefits of on-going power generations efforts.

20

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 7, 2018

BUSINESS/AVIATION

Breaches at Lagos Airport Runway: Nigeria Risks Losing Safety Certifications Thefts on taxing aircraft, which have been reported at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in the last three weeks, if unchecked, may lead to withdrawal of safety and security certifications awarded Nigeria by international aviation agencies.

Chinedu Eze reports

N

igeria’s status in global aviation may be downgraded if it is confirmed that bandits access the runway of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and burgle taxiing airplanes, and the government is doing little to permanently stop the breach. First, the U.S. Transport Security Administration will review its certification of the airport, which if withdrawn would make it unsafe for Delta Air Lines to fly to the Lagos airport. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration will review its audit of the Nigeria’s aviation sector. If the FAA certification is withdrawn, Nigeria would lose Category 1 Safety Status, which means no U.S. airline would fly to Nigeria and Nigerian airlines would not be allowed to fly to the U.S. Besides, the International Civil Aviation Organisation would review Nigeria’s safety and security status and may downgrade the country, too.

Doubt For now, however, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, which is in charge of the 22 airports in the country owned by the federal government, has expressed doubt about the occurrence of the reported thefts. FAAN said it had set a committee to investigate whether the incidents actually happened.

In early December 2017, there were reports that a private jet was attacked on the runway18R of the airport by unknown bandits when taxiing to the hangar of Evergreen Apple Nigeria (EAN) Ltd. The jet was said to be arriving from Istanbul between 2110 and 2130hrs after landing in Lagos.

The pilot of the flight was Captain Emma Heering, who reportedly discovered that the rear door of the aircraft was opened while taxiing to the hangar of EAN. After this first incident, many in the industry, including operators of the private terminals, doubted whether such incident actually happened. An operator of the major private terminal facility told THISDAY that he doubted the possibility of such theft and noted that when the aircraft landed, the engine was still running and it was still moving fast on ground. At that point, he said it would be very unlikely that anyone could burgle the aircraft on the taxiway. The operator queried the motivation of the pilot, who claimed that the aircraft was burgled. He concluded that, possibly, the pilot might be trying to make insurance claims, insisting, however, that the government must investigate the report.

Second Incident About two weeks later, another theft was reported on the airport’s runway, and this time, it involved two known Nigerian musicians, Tiwa Savage and Wizkid.

A private jet conveying the two artists, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun aka Wizkid and Tiwa Savage, from Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, was allegedly robbed while taxiing on the runway. Sources at the airport informed THISDAY that the aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 605 jet with registration number T7-A00, arrived Lagos about 8:33pm on December 26 and was slowly taxiing to the arrival hangar when the cargo compartment was burgled. Reports said the jet had slowed to allow an Ethiopia Airlines cargo plane with registration number ET-ARH to push back for takeoff.

“The pilot of the business jet, Captain Cloud Cote, noticed the cargo door had been opened by burglars and promptly notified the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria security. But the burglars had disappeared before FAAN officials could make it to where the attack took place,” a source said.

It was reported that upon arrival, the pilot discovered that two of the music artists’ bags had been stolen by the airport bandits.

Denial FAAN management, in reaction, issued a statement signed by its spokesman, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, denying the possibility of such theft and said that it

Runway lights at Murtala Muhammed International Airport was not possible for anyone to burgle an aircraft in motion. It said because aircraft are highly technical machines, it was practically impossible for anyone without the requisite training and competence to operate or tamper with the baggage compartment.

“It would be recalled that two incidents of alleged poaching were recently reported, the latest being that which occurred on a chartered flight from Uyo to Lagos on December 26, 2017,” FAAN said in the statement.

of the country, Maiduguri, to Lagos. They came and changed money in the morning so we carried them back. So there were bags of money in the cargo compartment. That time, hoodlums will stay at the end of the runway; when the airplane taxied and while they waited for takeoff clearance, they would open the cargo compartment and take the bags.

This was happening in the 90s. I remember I had to go down one day to close the cargo compartment because somebody had opened it.”

Similar Incidents But the doubt as to whether the thefts happened was deflated by past experiences by pilots who operated through the Lagos airport. A seasoned pilot, aeronautical engineer, and senior official of one of the aviation agencies, who preferred anonymity, confirmed to THISDAY that similar incidents had happened to him in the aircraft he operated as he was about to fly from Lagos to Abuja some years ago.

Also the CEO of Aero Contractors and seasoned pilot, Captain Ado Sanusi, who spoke to THISDAY in his personal capacity said so many thefts were recorded in the 1990s, which prompted the federal government then to issue a shoot on sight order. The order helped to end the nefarious activity. Sanusi said at that time Lagos airport was categorised as one of the most dangerous airports in the world and the U.S. notified its citizens that travelling to Lagos was dangerous and they might lose their belongings on such trips.

According to Sanusi, “The problem is that we forget a lot in this country. This was happening regularly in the 90s. There were a lot of times in the international runway at Lagos airport when airplanes were opened and bags were thrown out from the luggage hull. This was in the 90s. I could remember Air Gabon. That was a very classical case.

The cargo compartment was opened and bags were thrown out.

“I will tell you my personal experience, still in the 1990s. I was a flight engineer on a Kabo flight, going from Lagos to Kano. It was the last flight going around 7pm. During that time, because of our poor banking system then, people carried money in bags.

We usually brought people from the North-east part

‘Sabotage’ Despite the confirmations, some aviation insiders have continued to doubt the veracity of the claims of theft on the runways. They say the reports are an attempt to sabotage the federal government’s decision to certify Quits Aviation Nigeria as the only business jet terminal designated for Customs, Immigration and security processes, where every business jet on arrival or take off must go through for security checks.

A source told THISDAY, “The reports are aimed at tarnishing the image of the airport to mar business aviation services at the Lagos airport. We do not believe that people can steal from a moving aircraft and why is it that these reports started coming out after government accredited Quits Aviation as official business jet terminal?”

Threat Sanusi told THISDAY that those who stole from taxiing airplanes were people familiar with the operational system of the airports and warned against indiscriminate issuance of On Duty Card

by FAAN. He also said that the airports were very porous.

Sanusi stated, “You can secure your airport with criminals inside. You can secure your airport but you can give your ODC to criminals to have access to the airport. If this allegation is true, I appeal to the federal government not to take it lightly because this is a serious security breach. Today we learnt they are removing bags but tomorrow we don’t know what they will be putting into the aircraft.

This will go a long way to destroy everything the federal government is fighting against.

“I don’t think we should sweep this case under the carpet. The international community will be looking up to what we have done or we are going to do.

If we are saying that it is not possible for that to happen, they will know that we are talking rubbish.

This is because they know that it is possible to do it. It has been done in other countries where taxiing airplanes’ cargo compartments were opened and drugs taken and thrown out before the airplanes got to Customs.”

For aviation security expert and CEO of Centurion Securities, Group Captain John Ojikutu (retd), the runway burglaries constitute an aviation/airport security breach, which should not involve the police. Ojikutu said the incidents should be investigated only by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, stressing that the police have no role in aviation security defence layers.

“The airport operators – FAAN – and the aircraft operator are not ready to expose their security lapses and negligence, hence, the denials both ways to cover it further. They are bringing in the police in a matter of aviation regulation violation, not civil offense violation,” Ojikutu said.

Solution Sanusi said the solution to the runway theft problem was a holistic review of FAAN’s ODC issuance procedure, noting that the agency must vet the ODC it issues to people.

Sanusi said, “They should have a very powerful control of ODC. They have to know the people they are giving the card. That is number one. Number two, they should have CCTV all over the airport.

FAAN should have personnel on ground looking at all these things. That is the way it is done. They should be able to see the aircraft from everywhere and they should be ready with their strike team.

The strike team can be directed to take action once the security system has been compromised.

“They should do shoot on sight and the whole thing will just stop. But now, more than half of the airport is not monitored. CCTV is now very cheap, so it can easily be procured. Three, there should be a comprehensive look at the procedure followed to allow people enter the airport. You have to know from where they access the airport.

21

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 7, 2018

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'ůŽďĂů ƋƵŝƚLJ DĂƌŬĞƚ ZĞǀŝĞǁ ĂŶĚ KƵƚůŽŽŬ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ŐůŽďĂů ĞƋƵŝƚLJ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ǁĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐ ϭϰ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϭϲ

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ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ƌĞǀĞƌƐĞĚ ĂƐ ƐĞůů ŽīƐ ŝŶ E' D ĚƌĂŐŐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ŝŶĚĞdž ϮϬďƉƐ ůŽǁĞƌ͖ Ğdž( E' D͕ ƚŚĞ ^/ ǁŽƵůĚ ŚĂǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞůLJ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƐŵĂůů ĂŶĚ ŵŝĚ(ĐĂƉ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ͘ KŶ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ŝŶĚĞdž ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ϭ͘ϯй ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ƌĂůůLJ ŝŶ 'h Z Edz͕ E/d, ĂŶĚ h ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƚƌĞŶĚ ǁĂƐ ĞdžƚĞŶĚĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ &ƌŝĚĂLJ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ^/ ŐƌĞǁ ϲϰďƉƐ͘

^ĞĐƚŽƌ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ t(Ž(t͘ dŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚĞdž ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ĐŚĂƌƚ͕ ƵƉ ϲ͘ϯй t(Ž(t ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ 'h Z Edz ;нϱ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ E/d, ;нϴ͘ϴйͿ͘ dŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ƚƌĂŝůĞĚ͕ ŝŶĐŚŝŶŐ ϰ͘ϳй ŚŝŐŚĞƌ͕ ďƵŽLJĞĚ ďLJ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ D E^ Z ;нϭϲ͘ϲйͿ ĂŶĚ // K ;нϵ͘ϲйͿ͘ dŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ƐƵŝƚ͕ ĐůŝŵďŝŶŐ ϯ͘ϱй t( Ž(t ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƵƉƟĐŬƐ ŝŶ t W K ;нϭϭ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ EE ;нϰ͘ϲйͿ͘ ůƐŽ͕ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ ŝŶ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;нϮ͘ϰйͿ͕ E'&>KhZ ;нϭϱ͘ϮйͿ͕ ^ W> d ;нϯ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ &KZd ;нϱ͘ϴйͿ ƉƵƐŚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ;нϭ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ;нϭ͘ϬйͿ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϱ͘ϰdž ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐ ϱϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϬ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ ǁĞƌĞ ^d Z>/E' ;нϯϬ͘ϲйͿ͕ & D ;нϮϴ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ / DKE ;нϮϲ͘ϬйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ DK /> ;(ϭϮ͘ϲйͿ͕ E D ;(ϳ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ E /D d, ;(ϰ͘ϬйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞƌƐ͘ &ŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ Ă ďƌŽĂĚůLJ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ ƐŽŵĞ ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ ĞĂƌůLJ ƚƌĂĚĞƐ ŶĞdžƚ ǁĞĞŬ͘

&ŽƌĞŝŐŶ džĐŚĂŶŐĞ DĂƌŬĞƚ ZĞǀŝĞǁ ĂŶĚ KƵƚůŽŽŬ ƚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ƚŚĞ E ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ŝƚƐ ŝŶƚĞƌǀĞŶƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ &y DĂƌŬĞƚ ǀŝĂ ^ĞĐŽŶĚĂƌLJ DĂƌŬĞƚ /ŶƚĞƌǀĞŶƟŽŶ ^ĂůĞƐ ;^D/^Ϳ͕ ŽīĞƌŝŶŐ h^ΨϭϬϬ͘Ϭŵ ƚŽ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂŶƚƐ ŽŶ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ ŝŶ Ă ďŝĚ ƚŽ ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶ ƐƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ĞdžĐŚĂŶŐĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͘ ,ĞŶĐĞ͕ ƌĂƚĞƐ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ Ăƚ ƐŝŵŝůĂƌ ůĞǀĞůƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ &ƌŝĚĂLJ͘ KŶ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ E ƐƉŽƚ ƌĂƚĞ ƐƚŽŽĚ Ăƚ EϯϬϲ͘ϬϬͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ ;ƐĂŵĞ ĂƐ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ &ƌŝĚĂLJͿ͖ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ Ă ϱŬŽďŽ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ǁĂƐ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ

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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 ˾ JANUARY 7, 2018

ĚĂLJ ĂŶĚ ƌĂƚĞƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ Ăƚ ƚŚŝƐ ůĞǀĞů Ɵůů ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ĐůŽƐŝŶŐ Ăƚ EϯϬϱ͘ϵϱͬ h^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ͘ >ŝŬĞǁŝƐĞ͕ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƌĂůůĞů ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͕ ƌĂƚĞƐ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ Ăƚ Eϯϲϱ͘ϬϬͬ h^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ ĂŶĚ ƐƚĂLJĞĚ ŇĂƚ ŽŶ Ăůů ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĚĂLJƐ͘

ŵŽŶƚŚ ĂŶĚ ĞdžƚĞƌŶĂů ƌĞƐĞƌǀĞƐ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ Ăƚ h^Ψϯϵ͘ϭďŶ ;ϬϰͬϬϭͬϮϬϭϴͿ͘

ĂŶĚ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭϯ͘ϵй ŽŶ &ƌŝĚĂLJ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϰϴďƉƐ t Ž t͘

,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ E & y ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͕ ƌĂƚĞƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĚĂLJ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ Ăƚ EϯϲϬ͘Ϯϴͬ h^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŶŐ ϴϴ ŬŽďŽ ƚŽ Eϯϲϭ͘ϭϲͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ ďLJ ŵŝĚǁĞĞŬ͘ dŚŝƐ ĚŽǁŶƚƵƌŶ ǁĂƐ ƌĞǀĞƌƐĞĚ ŽŶ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ E & y ƌĂƚĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ Ăƚ EϯϲϬ͘ϳϱͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ͕ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ĐůŽƐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ Ăƚ EϯϲϬ͘ϯϰͬ h^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝŵƉůŝĞƐ Ă ϲ ŬŽďŽ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ͘ ZĞůĂƚĞĚůLJ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ŝŶ ƚŚĞ /Θ ǁŝŶĚŽǁ ƐŽŌĞŶĞĚ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐ ƚŽƚĂů ǀĂůƵĞ ŽĨ ƚƌĂŶƐĂĐƟŽŶƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ƚŽ h^Ψϯϵϰ͘ϲŵ ;ĂƐ Ăƚ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJͿ͕ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƟŶŐ Ă Ϯ͘ϳйĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ h^ΨϰϬϱ͘ϳŵ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŽƌ ǁĞĞŬ͘

ŐŐƌĞŐĂƚĞ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ LJĞĂƌ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ Ăƚ EϰϬϬ͘ϳďŶ ǁŚŝůĞ DŽŶĞLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌĂƚĞƐ ʹKƉĞŶ ƵLJ ĂĐŬ ;K Ϳ ĂŶĚ KǀĞƌŶŝŐŚƚ ;KsEͿ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ŝŶ ƐŝŶŐůĞ ĚŝŐŝƚ Ăƚ ϰ͘ϳй ĂŶĚ ϱ͘ϱй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƟŶŐ ĂŶ ϴϰďƉƐ ĂŶĚ ϭϬϬďƉƐ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ &ƌŝĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ĐůŽƐĞ͘ dŚĞ ƉĞdž ďĂŶŬ ƌĞƐƵŵĞĚ ƉƌŝŵĂƌLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĂůĞƐ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ǁĞĞŬ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ LJĞĂƌ͕ ŵŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƵƉ Ă ƚŽƚĂů ŽĨ Eϭϱϳ͘ϲďŶ ;d ďŝůůƐͿ ĂŶĚ Eϭϲϭ͘ϱďŶ ;KDKͿ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ͘ Ɛ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ͕ ĂŐŐƌĞŐĂƚĞ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ďĂůĂŶĐĞ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ʹ ĂůďĞŝƚ ƐƟůů ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ͕ ďƵƚ ŝŶĐŚĞĚ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ŽŶ ƐƵďƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ĚĂLJƐ ĂƐ KDK ƌĞƉĂLJŵĞŶƚƐ ǁŽƌƚŚ Eϭϵϯ͘ϲďŶ ďƵŽLJĞĚ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞůƐ ƚŽ Eϲϲϭ͘ϳďŶ ďLJ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ĐůŽƐĞ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ K ĂŶĚ KsE ƌĂƚĞƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŝŶ ƐŝŶŐůĞ ĚŝŐŝƚƐ Ăůů ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ƐĂǀĞ ĨŽƌ &ƌŝĚĂLJ͕ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ Ă ďĂŶĚ ŽĨ ϯ͘ϳй ϱ͘ϱй͘ LJ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ŵŽŶĞLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌĂƚĞƐ ũƵŵƉĞĚ ƚŽ ϭϴ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ ϭϵ͘Ϭй ĂƐ ƚŚĞ E ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĞĚ KDK ƐĂůĞƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŵŽƉƉĞĚ ƵƉ EϮϲϬ͘ϱďŶ͖ ŚĞŶĐĞ ƌĂƚĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ϭϰ͘ϱ ƉĞƌĐĞŶƚĂŐĞ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ĂƉŝĞĐĞ t Ž t͘

&ŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĐĞƐƐĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ d ŝůůƐ WD ŝŶ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ ϮϬϭϳ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ͛Ɛ WD ǁĞƌĞ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĂƐ Ăůů ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŽǀĞƌƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞĚ͘ dŚĞ E ŽīĞƌĞĚ Eϭϭ͘ϴďŶ͕ Eϯϯ͘ϵďŶ ĂŶĚ Eϭϭϱ͘ϴďŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ϵϭ ĚĂLJ͕ ϭϴϮ ĚĂLJ ĂŶĚ ϯϲϰ ĚĂLJ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĞƌĞ ŽǀĞƌƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞĚ ďLJ Ϯ͘ϭdž ;EϮϰ͘ϯďŶͿ͕ ϭ͘ϯdž ;Eϰϰ͘ϵďŶͿ ĂŶĚ Ϯ͘ϳdž ;Eϯϭϵ͘ϮďŶͿ ŝŶ ƚŚĂƚ ŽƌĚĞƌ͘ ůůŽƚŵĞŶƚ ůĞǀĞůƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƐĂŵĞ ĂƐ ŽīĞƌĞĚ͕ ŝƐƐƵĞĚ Ăƚ ƐƚŽƉ ƌĂƚĞƐ ŽĨ ϭϮ͘ϱй͕ ϭϯ͘ϵй ĂŶĚ ϭϰ͘ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ʹ Ă ϰϬďƉƐ͕ ϭϬϳďƉƐ ĂŶĚ ϭϮϳďƉƐ ĚƌŽƉ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ WD ĂƵĐƟŽŶ ŚĞůĚ ŝŶ EŽǀĞŵďĞƌ͘

dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ &D Y Kd ĨƵƚƵƌĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ǁĂƐ ŵŝŶŝŵĂů ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐ ŶŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϭϮ Kd ĨƵƚƵƌĞƐ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚ ŶĞǁ ƐƵďƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶƐ͘ Ɛ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ͕ ƚŽƚĂů ǀĂůƵĞ ŽĨ ŽƉĞŶ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EĂŝƌĂ ƐĞƩůĞĚ Kd ĨƵƚƵƌĞƐ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƐƚŽŽĚ ŇĂƚ Ăƚ h^Ψϯ͘ϯďŶ ŽŶ &ƌŝĚĂLJ͕ ƐĂŵĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŽƌ ǁĞĞŬ͘ EŽŶĞƚŚĞůĞƐƐ͕ ƚŚĞ E'h^ WZ ϮϬϭϴ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŽƚĂů ǀĂůƵĞ ŽĨ h^Ψϲϱϲ͘ϵŵ Ăƚ Ă ƌĂƚĞ ŽĨ Eϯϲϭ͘ϲϰͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐĞŶƚůLJ ŝƐƐƵĞĚ E'h^ ϮϬϭϴ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ůĞĂƐƚ Ăƚ h^ΨϭϬ͘Ϭŵ Ăƚ Ă ƌĂƚĞ ŽĨ EϯϲϮ͘ϬϬͬh^Ψϭ͘ϬϬ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŶĂŝƌĂ ƚŽ ƚƌĂĚĞ Ăƚ ƐŝŵŝůĂƌ ůĞǀĞůƐ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ E ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶƐ ŝƚƐ ǁĞĞŬůLJ ŝŶƚĞƌǀĞŶƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ &ŽƌĞŝŐŶ džĐŚĂŶŐĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͘ dŚŝƐ ǀŝĞǁ ŝƐ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚĞĚ ďLJ ƌŝƐŝŶŐ ĐƌƵĚĞ Žŝů ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĂǀĞ ƐƚĂLJĞĚ ŽǀĞƌ h^ΨϲϬ͘Ϭͬď ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƐƚ

DŽŶĞLJ DĂƌŬĞƚ ZĞǀŝĞǁ ĂŶĚ KƵƚůŽŽŬ

ǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƌĂƚĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ dƌĞĂƐƵƌLJ ďŝůůƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚƌĞŶĚĞĚ ůŽǁĞƌ ŽŶ ϯ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϰ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ͕ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƟŶŐ Ă ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ͘ ǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƌĂƚĞ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ Ăƚ ϭϰ͘ϱй ;Ă ϱďƉƐ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ &ƌŝĚĂLJͿ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐŽƵŐŚƚ ƚŽ ĨƌĞĞ ƵƉ ĨƵŶĚƐ ŝŶ ĂŶƟĐŝƉĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ d ŝůůƐ WD ƚŽ ďĞ ŚĞůĚ ŵŝĚ ǁĞĞŬ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐŽŶĚĂƌLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƉŝĐŬĞĚ ƵƉ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƌĂƚĞ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ϱďƉƐ ĂŶĚ ϰϲďƉƐ ůŽǁĞƌ ŽŶ tĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ

EĞdžƚ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ĂŶ KDK ŵĂƚƵƌŝƚLJ ŽĨ EϯϬϵ͘ϭďŶ ŝƐ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŽ Śŝƚ ƚŚĞ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ͖ ŚĞŶĐĞ ŵŽŶĞLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌĂƚĞƐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐŝŶŐůĞ ĚŝŐŝƚ ďĂŶĚ͕ ďĂƌƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƵŵƉƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĂŐŐƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ KDK ŵŽƉ ƵƉƐ ďLJ ƚŚĞ E͘ DŽƌĞ ƐŽ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ Ă ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐŽŶĚĂƌLJ d ŝůůƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƵŶƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵů ďŝĚƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ WD ŚĞůĚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ ŵƵůů ŽǀĞƌ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐŽŶĚĂƌLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͘

ŽŶĚƐ DĂƌŬĞƚ ZĞǀŝĞǁ ĂŶĚ KƵƚůŽŽŬ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ďŽŶĚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ŝŶ Ϯ ŽĨ ϰ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ͘ dŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ Žī ŽŶ Ă ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ŶŽƚĞ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ƌŽƐĞ ϳďƉƐ ƚŽ ϭϰ͘ϭй ŽŶ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƐĞůů ŽīƐ ŝŶ ƐŚŽƌƚ ĂŶĚ ůŽŶŐĞƌ ƚĞŶŽƌĞĚ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ŶŽƚĂďůLJ D z ϮϬϭϴ ;ƵƉ ϳϱďƉƐͿ ĂŶĚ D Z , ϮϬϯϲ ;ƵƉ ϳϯďƉƐͿ ďŽŶĚƐ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚƵƌŶĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƚŚĞ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ĚĂLJ͕ ǁŝƚŚ LJŝĞůĚƐ ĨĂůůŝŶŐ ϴďƉƐ ƚŽ ϭϰ͘Ϭй ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐŽƵŐŚƚ ĨŽƌ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ D Z ,

ϮϬϯϲ ;ĚŽǁŶ ϮϳďƉƐͿ ĂŶĚ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ϭϰďƉƐ ŽŶ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ ƚŽ ϭϯ͘ϵй ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ďƵLJ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ :h>z ϮϬϮϭ ;ĚŽǁŶ ϱϱďƉƐͿ͕ : E ϮϬϮϳ ;ĚŽǁŶ ϰϲďƉƐͿ ĂŶĚ D Z , ϮϬϯϲ ;ĚŽǁŶ ϯϯďƉƐͿ͘ ǀĞƌĂŐĞ ďŽŶĚ LJŝĞůĚ ĞŶĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ŽŶ Ă ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŶŽƚĞ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭϯ͘ϳй ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝŵƉůŝĞƐ Ă ϰϬďƉƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ t Ž t͘ ^Ƶď ^ĂŚĂƌĂŶ ĨƌŝĐĂ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚƐ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ LJĞĂƌ ŽŶ Ă ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŶŽƚĞ͕ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐĞĂƌĐŚ ĨŽƌ ŚŝŐŚ LJŝĞůĚ ĞŵĞƌŐŝŶŐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ͘ ĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ĨĞůů ϮϲďƉƐ͕ ϯϴďƉƐ͕ ϯϲďƉƐ͕ ϮϭďƉƐ͕ ϮϳďƉƐ͕ ϮϱďƉƐ͕ ϰďƉƐ ĂŶĚ ϮϯďƉƐ t Ž t ŽŶ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ͕ 'ŚĂŶĂŝĂŶ͕ 'ĂďŽŶĞƐĞ͕ /ǀŽƌLJ ŽĂƐƚ͕ <ĞŶLJĂŶ͕ ĂŵďŝĂŶ͕ ^ĞŶĞŐĂůĞƐĞ ĂŶĚ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĂƚ ŽƌĚĞƌ͘ EŽŶĞƚŚĞůĞƐƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ^Khd, &Z/ ϮϬϰϭ ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ /sKZz K ^d ϮϬϮϴ ;нϮ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ E/' Z/ ϮϬϰϳ ;нϮ͘ϱйͿ ŚĂĚ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƐƚ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ͘ &ŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ Ă ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ LJĞĂƌ ĨŽƌ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞƐ͕ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ǁĞĞŬ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ LJĞĂƌ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ŽŶ Ăůů ĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞƐ ĨĞůů t Ž t͘ dŚĞ &/ >/dz ϮϬϭϴ ;ĚŽǁŶ ϯϱďƉƐ t Ž t ƚŽ ϯ͘ϭйͿ ǁŝƚŶĞƐƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ďƵLJ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ͕ ƚƌĂŝůĞĚ ďLJ K E< E/' Z/ ϮϬϮϭ ;ĚŽǁŶ ϮϳďƉƐ t Ž t ƚŽ ϵ͘ϲйͿ͘ zĞĂƌ ƚŽ ĚĂƚĞ ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŽŶ Ăůů ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ŝƐ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĞŶ͕ ǁŝƚŚ E/d, ϮϬϮϮ ;нϬ͘ϵйͿ ĂĚǀĂŶĐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ͘

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23

MARKET NEWS

Investors Swoop on Banking Stocks, Sterling Bank Rises 31% Goddy Egene Investors sustained demand for banking stocks at the equities  market in the first week of the 2018, making the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)  Banking Index to gain 6.32 per cent.

Banking stocks had closed 2017 as investors most favourites with Banking Index rising   73.3 per cent on bargain hunting.  And when the market opened for 2018, the high demand for banking stocks was

sustained as the sector dominated the  top  price gainers in the week fetching investors significant capital gains.

Sterling Bank Plc led the price gainers with 30.5 per cent, followed by FCMB Group Plc with 28.4 per cent, while Diamond Bank Plc chalked up 26 per cent.

Skye Bank Plc garnered 22 per cent.

Analysts have said investors are taking position to reap better returns on investment in the sector

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

following anticipated improved financial results.

In 2017, for instance, 12 banking stocks appreciated, while only three lost value.

Fidelity Bank (+192.86 per cent)Â Â topped the gainersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; chart in the banking sector while recording the third highest return in the entire market. On its trail were Stnabic IBTC Holdings Plc (+176.67 per cent), FBN Holding Plc (+162.69 per cent), UBA (+128.89 per cent) and Access Bank Plc (78.02 per cent).

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 04-Jan-2018, unless otherwise stated.

 On the other hand, Jaiz Bank , Wema Bank Plc  and Unity Bank Plc were the only counters with negative annual returns as their share price recorded respective declines of 49.60 per cent, 3.70 per cent and 3.64 per cent in that order.

Analysts at Meristem Securities Limited said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Active investor participation was seen in the sector, as investors reacted to the inflow of favourable news within the space in a bid to position

adequately for short-term and long-term profits.

The sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance was largely anchored by investorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; reaction towards the financial performance and corporate benefits of sector companies. We also note the impact of portfolio rebalancing activities and the year-end rally on the sector, as this drove most counters to their year-highs. In the coming year, we envisage increased participation within the space as we note that the

sector is highly suited for speculative trading as well as long-term investments.â&#x20AC;?

Looking into 2018 at  financial performance of companies in the sector,  the analysts in 2018,  they  envisage a moderation in profit growth on the back of a decline in asset yield. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Therefore, even though we expect a positive return at the end of the year, we do not envisage gains as sizeable as that recorded in 2017,â&#x20AC;? they said.

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 183.05 183.09 43.87% Nigeria International Debt Fund 238.80 238.84 12.69% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.82 0.83 -0.03% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 -2.89% 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 17.58% 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 18.77 19.33 2.71% ARM Discovery Fund 397.70 409.69 2.22% ARM Ethical Fund 27.88 28.72 2.03% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.25% 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 155.68 156.78 2.63% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 16.11% 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 1,155.63 1,156.79 7.82% FBN Heritage Fund 141.40 142.80 8.97% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 16.40% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $113.63 $113.74 1.11% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $113.00 $113.11 1.11% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 175.85 178.46 1.21% 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 1.42 1.45 52.66% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.99 2.99 16.44% 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 3,022.39 3,061.11 37.37% Coral Income Fund 2,473.74 2,473.74 18.67% 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 16.70% 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 17.00% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.10 2.13 25.06%

Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 18.33% 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 0.20% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,056.47 1,056.47 0.39% 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 15.05 15.17 6.65% 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 1.28 5.78% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.05 11.13 0.20% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 15.07% 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 129.39 131.63 27.66% 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 19.13% 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 2,272.84 2,287.84 24.18% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 177.98 177.98 15.60% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.02 1.04 33.77% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 221.00 221.00 18.25% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 182.16 184.49 40.30% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 16.80% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,829.54 9,949.92 29.66% 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 19.30% United Capital Bond Fund 1.57 1.57 28.26% United Capital Equity Fund 0.92 0.93 36.13% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 15.30% 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 12.90 13.09 2.35% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.53 13.69 2.19% Zenith Income Fund 19.11 19.11 1.02%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 132.64

1.01% 6.99%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

11.88 148.88 111.63

11.98 151.84 113.68

-1.97% 50.36% 47.28%

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

4.83 9.85 17.89 19.77 149.13

4.87 9.93 17.99 19.99 151.13

74.29% 39.89% 50.94% 23.86% 17.38%

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.

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WEEKLY PULL-OUT

07.01.2018

FOLARIN FALANA

MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE WITH FALZ THA BAHD GUY

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Falz performing â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Soldierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with Simi

FOLARIN FALANA

MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE WITH FALZ THA BAHD GUY Vanessa Obioha reports that Folarin Falana, better known as Falz Tha Bahd Guy, first headline concert which cost the princely sum of N300 million was an experience worth reliving

â&#x20AC;&#x153;T

he call-time is 8pm.

There will be no African time. Even if nobody is seated at the time, the show will kick off.â&#x20AC;? This announcement was repeated frequently by the organisers. They drummed home so hard that many left their homes early despite the agonising traffic on the streets of Lagos that f Wednesday night in December 2017.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not that entertainers and music lovers are punctual people per se, but that Livespot Entertainment, the company behind the production, has made a name for its prompt and seamless events since the maiden edition of Darey Art Aladeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Love Like a Movieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Livespot has become famous for outstanding concepts and also putting its exceptional creativity behind other productions like the children reality show â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Children Got Talentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

Yet, in a city like Lagos where traffic is a constant excuse for lateness, in addition to the fuel scarcity that compounded the situation at the time, the organisers were forced to mellow the rule. With few empty seats waiting patiently

to be occupied, they pleaded with the audience to be considerate of the latecomers who were still stuck in traffic, while DJ Crowd Kontroller and Hypeman Shody set the mood for the night with an eclectic mix of recorded music. At a point, those with the regular tickets who were already seated at the back were asked to fill the seats closer to the stage - a very good last-minute move by the organisers because this allowed the fans to connect with their idol. They were further placated with a bottle of Coke and snacks.

Judging by their happy disposition, they were content with the music. It kept them entertained.

As the minutes rolled by, more empty seats were occupied one-by-one. The Eko Convention Centre of Eko Hotels and Suites venue of the concert began to boom with happy voices and feet. Satisfied with the turn-out, the show finally kicked-off, close to two hours after the advertised time.

Truth be told, not many expected Falz the Bahd Guy to pull such a crowd at his first headline concert. At least, he is still a newbie (or is it wannabe rapper?) according to the yardsticks laid by Chocolate City boss M.I in

his diss song categorising rappers. How long has Falz been in the industry? Three years!

With three albums to show for it and an Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, a BET award, alongside huge followership on social media.

Who exactly is Falz to stage one of the most trending shows of 2017?

Notwithstanding, Falz answered these boggling questions and stunned the doubtingThomases by having the time of his life at the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Falz Experienceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. From the moment he made his grand entrance to the stage through the roof to the subsequent performances that earned him a standing ovation, there was no questioning of his artistry. His talents spoke freely of their capabilities. Interspersed by a movie titled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bad Guysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, with a storyline that revolved round his two alter egos - â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Brother Tajuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Barrister Folarinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, and featured Nollywood actress Adunni Ade, former Big Brother Nigeria housemates, Bisola and Soma, Frank Donga and Gregory Ojefua, the concert highlighted his three distinctive passions: acting, music and comedy. The series of interconnected skits showed Falz as Folarin the Barrister and Brother Taju in various costumes ranging from an average lawyer to a

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;white garmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; prophet.

Born Folarin Falana to prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), and his wife Funmi who is also a lawyer and rights activist, Falz was expected to be a practising lawyer.

But he realised on time that the courtroom was not his ideal office and went against his parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wishes. The Falanas are popular in the legal field so having the only son veering into the creative industry was not something that augured well with them.

Falzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foray into the creative industry didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t start overnight. It is a calling that he embraced while still in secondary school. In a 2016 interview with THISDAY Glitterati, Falz revealed that though there was a piano in their house, it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily steer the passion for music in him. Of both parents, his mother had difficulty accepting his decision to pursue music. He recalled an incident where his mother had paid a surprise visit to his school only to find him singing a new song which he penned to his female fans. The situation turned out worse as the song contained some lewd lyrics. His enraged mother landed a dirty slap on his flustered face, ruining his party.

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Falz and Ycee perform ‘Something Light’

Falz performing ‘Ello Bae’ with Kaffy

After much stalling, his parents finally caved in to his desires. Interestingly, Falz didn’t just storm into a studio to record music.

He had a carefully crafted script to launch his career in music. What he did was to create a funny persona and uploaded comedy skits on his Instagram page. His hat-trick was an affected Yoruba accent tinged with colloquial expressions, enhanced by his unique pair of framed spectacles without lens, similar to that of a popular Yoruba actor.

Over a short period of time, this character gained the required attention. It created the opportunity he desired to introduce his music.

His first major hit that shot into the spotlight was the single ‘Marry Me’ featuring Yemi Alade which earned him a nod in the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.

Today, his parents are exceptionally proud of him for adding a distinct eminence to their name. They were very much in the hall to support him. Also present at the concert was Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Lagos State, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, and Richard Mofe-Damijo among others.

With his record label Bahd Guys Entertainment on board, the movie and the performances were delicately synced to tell a delightful tale dripping with themes on love, fame and wealth. The show started with the movie showing Falz lookalikes playing his alter egos. There was the naïve barrister who was deceived by the con prophet, Brother Taju. The same Barrister again was hypnotized with the charms of his deceitful and greedy wife Constance, as well as being lured to the concert ground by Brother Taju who was mistaken for the real Falz. If not that Falz introduced the lookalikes in the audience,

there was a high possibility that most people would have left the concert with the thought that Falz played the three roles through the help of a magician who carefully directed the script. The striking resemblance could even earn the duo an inheritance in the Falana family.

The story led to a short-lived performance. The introduction of a multimedia device enabled the producers to switch from a live performance to a recorded show alternatingly. While the movie was comical, it also carried a message for those who undermined his skills, particularly the court scene where he clapped back at M.I. by pleading guilty for breaking the rules of the hip-hop world.

Each of his performance was a theatrical display - from the various costumes he donned, the large group of dancers that stormed the stage with choreographed steps to the performing artistes who were featured in his songs. For instance, for his ‘Soldier’ duet with Simi - a group of dancers which had Chigul and Simi stormed the stage - Falz imitated the marching routine of soldiers, adding his own comical spice to it which elicited laughter from the audience. An earlier performance with Phyno had Chigul chasing Falz away in an attempt to ban the evil spirit of Karishika - a popular Nollywood movie in the 90s. Karishika was also the title of the song. No one could miss the eye-catching dramatic act from Yemi Alade when they performed ‘Single and Searching’. Another funny moment was when a young man ran onto the stage with a hen in hand in response to Falz ‘Bring the Chic In’, a line from his feature in Reekado Banks’ ‘Celebrity Girlfriend’ hit.

Other collaborative acts at the event

included Davido, Ycee, Ajebutter, Wande Coal, Chyn, Poe and Reminisce. Each of these performers was loudly cheered as they waltzed onto the stage. For most performances with fellow artistes, Falz changed outfits, with every costume contributing to the storytelling of the entire concert. Every part of The Falz Experience, including the fashion and the styling, was clearly thought out and deserves commendation.

In more ways than one, the show was immersive; starting from the point of arrival where members of the audience were given his signature framed glasses without lens and a copy of his latest album ‘27’ to the creatively scripted cinematic show that glued the audience to their seats all through the night.

His name was written all over the musical experience. Of course, the clinical precision of the show was made possible by Livespot.

In fact, Falz Experience bore similar patterns to Darey’s ‘Love Like a Movie’. From Falz’s entrance through the roof, which reminded many of a similar grand entrance by Darey, to the storyline, everything brought back memories of ‘Love Like a Movie’. The grand entrance from the roof looking all sporty in a comfortable fitting black hoodie to perform ‘La Fete’ signaled what the rest of the show was going to look like-filled with surprises.

Perhaps, it was Livespot’s way to make it up to its teeming fans after depriving them of Darey’s theatrical show last year. If the production bore similarities, it, however, did not leave any room to compare the artistry of Darey and Falz. They are two worlds apart.

But ‘Love Like a Movie’ is not the only entertainment event that resonates with the Falz show. The choice of the phrase, ‘The Experience’ also rings a bell and brings to mind the biggest gospel music concert in

Africa hosted by Pastor Paul Adefarasin’s House on the Rock Church.

Expectedly, the stage was aesthetically designed to highlight the glitz and glamour of such event. However, the three huge screens on stage were not effectively used. They would have been better deployed for extra viewing than the visual effects -which were mostly clips from music videos. As seamless as the show was, it suffered a microphone mishap during Simi and Falz performance of ‘Chemistry’.

Apart from this, Falz Experience was an experience worth reliving.

A major point of fascination about the Falz show was the huge entertainment he presented to the audience. On his own, Falz has so much to offer he would have still had a brilliant show without the extra hands on stage. So entrenched and large was his presence that the attendance of equally (if not more) famous celebrities did not shift the focus from him. His showmanship was exceptional. He was able to weave a peculiar magic that had the audience eating right out of his hands. Whatever he asked them to do, they indulged him willingly, after all they were there to celebrate his ‘Soft Work’ as well as tell him ‘Weh Done Sir’ for keeping them entertained.

If Falz thought the show would be successful, perhaps he did not ascribe that degree of success to it. One could not miss the look of astonishment and gratitude on the face of the rapper as he looked round the filled hall.

Perhaps, he did not believe that he could pool such a crowd. He repeatedly expressed his gratefulness while acknowledging his parents, family, friends, and sponsors who footed the N300 million concert. Now, he can also thump his chest that he shut down Eko Hotels too.

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Overscenes

with LEKAN FATODU 08060140882

â&#x20AC;ŚHappenings in the Diaspora

British-Nigerian Sade Agboola Sets up All-female Taxi Firm Lekan Fatodu

T

alkingaboutahighdriveforoutstanding entrepreneurial endeavour, a BritishNigerian woman, Sade Agboola has set up a women-only drivers taxi company in London.

The single mother of one started the innovative means of daily commuting to offer women a safe and reliable alternative to minicab services and public transport in London.

Agboolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s company, Annisa car, which will only be accepting women and children as passengers, will commence operations within the South of London with plans to extend its services across other parts of the city of London in due course.

The entreprenuerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s idea of public commuting is coming at a time when Uber, the popular ridehailing mobile-technology-enabled cab service, faces serious challenges in London.

Transport for London (TFL), the entity that regulates all transport activities in London, banned Uber in October from operating within the city citing the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ineffectual approach to reporting criminal offences and its way of carrying out background checks on drivers.

Though Uber has appealed the TFLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision in court which is yet to deliver a ruling, the emergence of services like Agboolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Annisa car that promises better security and safety presents another headache for Uber in London.

Agboola was expectedly ecstatic as she shared her thoughts on the birth of the enterprise and the value that is on offer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is quite entrepreneurial but I never thought

Agboola about it like that, I had the idea a couple of years ago and since December 2016 Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doing a lot of research and work to put it together. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have been amazed that no one else has thought of this idea before. Also a lot of mums have children and struggle to get back into work or find a job that gives them that flexibility and hopefully by having women-only drivers and guardians we can provide a flexible and supportive environment for them.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whether people choose to work with us full or part-time is up to them, but we will be offering holiday pay for people working on a freelance basis so they know we support them.â&#x20AC;?

Meanwhile the business has already been attracting considerable patronage with some of the passengers already leaving positive reviews on the new taxi companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website for excellent service delivery.

Taofik Adegbite, Diaspora Returnee, Breaking through Tremendously

M

ost Nigerians abroad who are keen on returning home are usually frightened by three demons: poor power supply, bad roads and insecurity.

Those amonsgt the diaspora-based Nigerians who are considering setting up businesses in Nigeria have additional nightmares such as demotivating government policies, conflicting regulations and multiple taxation amonsgt other negativity that constantly torment their souls.

However, despite these unnerving realities, some Nigerians donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind taking the menacing plunge.

Taofik Adegbite is one of these ultimate risk takers.

Imbued with the ubiquitous narrative that upon all the troubles that characterized Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s system, there are also countless opportunities for those who can face the fire and count on some sort of serendipity, Taofik left his abode in London and returned to Nigeria to start a business.

Today, that risky decision continues to tremendously pay off for Taofik and his two friends,

Biodun Odunsi and Baji Nyam, with whom he founded the leading Nigerian oil services company, Marine Platforms.

Presently, Marine Platforms boast of multi-milliondollar assets including two multi-purpose field and ROV support vessels which are symbolically branded African Inspiration and African Vision; a workforce of over 120; impressive global oil clientele

and astounding annual turn-over through which the company makes significant contribution in tax payment to the Nigerian government.

Taofikâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s astonishing accomplishment is already a reference point in high places. He was featured as the lead personality in the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sky is Big Enoughâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; television advert produced by Skye bank to highlight the strides of successful entrepreneurs. The highly intellectual businessman was also the â&#x20AC;&#x153;poster boyâ&#x20AC;? as the bank used the same material in several national newspapers.

Similarly, major stakeholders in the Nigerian oil and gas industry like Chevron, Shell and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring and Board (NCDMB), have consistently made reference to Taofik and his company, Marine Platforms, as an example of how local capacity should be encouraged, supported and given opportunity so as to have many Nigerians acquire necessary skills and technical know-how to help in improving different sectors of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy.

Truly, Nigeria needs more of Taofikâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ilk. Likewise, he needs to do more to inspire more of his likes.

That will be a win-win at the end of the day.

YES of Course!

Founder of UK-based BEN TV, Alistair Soyode, Gears up for 2019

F

ounder of Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first ethnic television station, BEN TV based in London, Mr. Alistair Soyode has got a big plan up his sleeves for the coming 2019 general elections in Nigeria.

Anyone who is familiar with Alistairâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mode of operation and passion can tell that he is always committed to problem-solving social initiatives and investments.

The former President of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDEO), Europe, is one of the leading voices behind the call to the Nigerian government for the inclusion of Nigerians living abroad in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electoral process through what is called Diaspora Voting.

The serial entrepreneur has also offered perspectives on policies at different government levels both in the UK and Nigeria and has set out groups such as the Diaspora Mentoring Corps all of which are geared towards enabling Nigeria to make the best use of the capacity of its vast Diaspora population and helping Diasporans to connect with greater opportunities.

Recently Alistair has been involved with a new project called YES Nigeria Movement and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been said that this latest initiative came about essentially for the 2019 elections.

Presently, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been confirmed that the YES movement runs a Whatsapp group which has many brilliant Nigerians from different professional backgrounds as members and their usually profound discussions in the group have been on the quality of leadership for elective positions in the coming general elections and the need to strengthen the capacity and independence of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electoral body, INEC. Though it has been suggested that the influential founder of BEN TV will be setting up structure in Nigeria soon for serious political action and also throw his hat in the ring for a contest, Alistair is yet to confirm or deny this growing insinuations.

Whether this is the real situation or not, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s present state calls for as many capable Nigerians as possible, home and away, to build important structures and also put themselves forward for elective positions. Enough of the recruitment of mediocrity in Nigerian leadership!

Emergency! Nigerian Doctors Seek Better Treatment Abroad

W

hen recently a friend told me that someone very close to him, a qualified medical doctor, took the muchtalked about dangerous Libya Mediterranean Sea route to Europe,

my heart sank.

He said the fellow was, at the time we spoke, somewhere in Italy, the first European point of call for any migrant lucky enough to cross the treacherous sea before embarking on another risky arrangement to a more desirable European country. And that is if heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not first

arrested and subsequently deported by the Italian authorities straight to any African country depending on the passport found on him.

Remember, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still public outrage on the horrendous encounters of young Nigerian women and men; both skilled and unskilled, who were trapped in Libya while trying to cross the sea to Europe.

Recently, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) revealed that more than 40,000 of its 75,000 registered doctors ply their trade abroad, and that 70 percent of doctors in Nigeria were considering leaving the country. Who knows how many amongst this lot are contemplating

another treacherous journeys to escape the frustration in Nigeria?

We are all aware of the terrible circumstances of non-payment of salaries, poor working environments, hospitals without basic medical equipment and medications and lack of electricity that are compelling these medical professionals to seek better lives abroad.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s however not too late for the Nigerian government to halt this anti-development exodus through pragmatic reforms aimed at addressing the shortcomings in the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health sector.

Apart from the Western nations, India and China are major references in terms of the

management of their health sectors and the attractive packages that are available for the countriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; health workers. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why the two countries have continued to produce more brilliant doctors and even attract more of their native doctors in diaspora.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big lesson for Nigeria in that. Even if Nigeria is not yet ready to attract the pool of its brilliant medical practitioners spread in different countries around the world, she should make efforts and do all that is necessary to persuade and encourage the doctors at home to stay put. Doing that, she will be saving the lives of many citizens and even protecting the economic life of the nation.

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

FULFILLING LIFEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PURPOSE PAGE 66

07.01.2018

COLOURS, PAINTS

THE ARTIST...

Ovraiti in his studio

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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JANU ͵˜ ͰͮͯͶ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

ARTS & REVIEW\\VISUAL ARTS

COLOURS, PAINTS THE AR Even as he dons the colourist toga, Sam Ovraiti asserts himself simply as an artist and shuns al on him. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

I

t stuck rather too easily, the word “colourists”. And, strange enough, hardly anyone among the local cognoscenti seemed to question its provenance or appropriateness.

Instead, it has been accepted as a fact – or, even as a dogma – when alluding to graduates of Auchi Polytechnic’s art department.

But then, who cares if its mastermind failed to delve deeply enough into the concept?

Nonetheless, Sam Ovraiti – as an alumnus and a former lecturer of the institution – proudly bears the “colourist” label as a badge of honour. This is even when his legendary predilection for pastel colours proclaims the contrary.

“The use of colours has become the primary intent for my painting,” he enthused that sunny and somnolent New Year Day afternoon in his studio in the Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos.

Even so, the 56-year-old has become a captive of the very stereotype he had been trying so hard to stave off. A decade ago at this same venue, the artist had vehemently shrugged off the “water-colourist” label. For prior to that encounter, local art writers had lapped it up as a favourite byword for the artist.

“I’m an artist, not a water-colourist,” he had emphasised.

Whatever he calls himself now seems tangential to the main issue.

This is since the spotlight falls on his technique, which appears to have lapsed into a comfort-zone.

“Essentially, when you develop to a point that your work can be recognisable, it always remains the same. The difference is in the mood in which you find yourself.”

This should justify the blur of sameness which pervade the paintings adorning the studio walls, shouldn’t it? After all, Ovraiti’s patented figurative – and sometimes stylised – paintings have earned him a seat of honour among the leading lights of the contemporary Nigerian art scene.

His creative moods, he added, are formed by a gamut of new experiences. These new experiences are in turn called forth by sights, sounds, interactions and new materials, among others. As for his overall creative activity, it is no longer based on what has been said or on what the society has imagined for him. It is now based on what he has decided or come to know as the truth.

“I’m a colourist.” That c-word again! “My colours have remained the same.” The focus is on the colours themselves and not on the mediums – watercolour, acrylic, oil, pastel and tempera etc. Ultimately, he sees colours as the eloquent heralds of the Source of all existence.

Colours also cooperate with his forms, which could be intelligibly figurative, playfully stylised or esoterically abstracted. As an unapologetic purveyor of beauty, he manipulates these forms to suit his purpose which is to spread happiness.

“As children, our art practice is total abstraction. As we begin to grow, we are educated to begin to understand perspective. Education teaches us the way and we gradu-

Above and Below: Ovraiti's paintings

ally begin to imbibe the symbols of the Western world...”

The artist evolves as he imbibes newer trends and experiences. Soon, he begins to grapple an identity-crisis. Who, or what really, is he? “I’m not an impressionist. Yet, I am. I’m not a fauvist. Yet, I am. I’m not a cubist. Yet, I am...”

From out of the furnace of these

influences, the artist forges a new identity for himself. Thus, he explained what he called “selective presentation” in his paintings: “Certain informations were not necessary for my message to be passed.”

Displaying three large-sized paintings in his Women of Honour

series, he added: “I didn’t need [to show] the hands, fingers … to create a picture [in these paintings].”

“The idea [behind these paintings] is to represent the collective oneness of women,” he further explained. “In the Women of Honour series, I look at togetherness. Essentially, we are one.

The differences are the expressions of our oneness.”

More works soon emerged from one of the studio’s inner rooms. Among them were works, whose forms have receded into hardly decipherable smudges. Forms which could pass for figures. Some were hazy, lucid and intense...depending on the artist’s prevailing mood. “I work according to the present,” he said.

Two works, titled “Paradox of Indecision” I and II, looked different from the others. They had none of the numbing predictable features his works have been renowned for. In each of the works, separate old drawings of his were superimposed on mixed-media materials on a canvas.

These mixed-media materials not only enhanced them but also added layers of texture to their backdrop.

They were, for this reason, dated 2005 -2017.

“I don’t want to be boxed up into a stereotype. I’m not a water-colourist.

I am an artist and possibly something else.”

The widely-exhibited and collected artist wakes up each morning with a to-do list tugging away at his consciousness. “I have a programme for myself,” he said.

The to-do list, which serves as a prompter, are posted behind his studio’s entrance door.

“Do two pastel figure drawings daily,” says one.

“Work TWO, Start TWO, Finish Two, Stretch TWO daily,” urges another.

65

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž U ÍľË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

ʜ ˺˺

RTIST... Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x2013;

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Write three pages on each of your five titles daily,â&#x20AC;? adds yet another. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Use the time you use for gisting (talking),â&#x20AC;? advises the final one.

Of course, these are mere prompters meant to get him into the mood to paint. Curiously, he needs no prompter to get him to read.

For reading, he explained, comes naturally to him. The book-stuffed shelves occupying his studioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wall spaces are eloquent testimonials of this. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As you wake up with each of these before your eyes, you get inspired,â&#x20AC;? he said.

As a postscript to these prompters, he reminds himself of his target, which is to â&#x20AC;&#x153;SELL, SELL, SELL 10 [works] WEEKLYâ&#x20AC;?.

Art, Ovraiti declared, is good for the soul. So, whoever contemplates an art work feeds his soul. Yet, he added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The artist must make plans to sell his works.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Artists can create for the enjoyment of people, but they must also create what is useful,â&#x20AC;? he continued. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Art must render some kind of service and move beyond being a mere decoration on the wall. It must be something people should look upon to be inspired and educated.â&#x20AC;?

In this increasingly commercialised world, the artist cannot afford not to be concerned about the business aspect of his work. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As an artist, you are the producer of your product and any producer who does not protect his product is short-changed.â&#x20AC;?

Among his planned projects for the year is a training programme for younger artists, which he hopes would equip them for more rewarding career as artists.

The Inverted Pyramid; Adapted from a novel by Emeka Dike

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JANUARY 7, 2018 ˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

ARTS & REVIEW\\LITERARY CAFÉ

FULFILLING LIFE’S PURPOSE A review of THE PRIMORDIAL LAWS OF CREATION (2017) by Stephen M. Lampe Moji Laniyan

R

eaders of any or all of Stephen Lampe's earlier books,-- The Christian and Reincarnation, Building Future Societies: The Spiritual Principles, and Thinking About God- Reflections on Conceptions and Misconceptions, will not be disappointed in the title of his latest work which is an outright proof of Lampe's special trademark that is a trade-off between analysis of earthly matters and promotion of spirituality. Though the title may involuntarily differentiate between a serious reader and the superficial one, it embodies a topic with a difference. And by dint of the book's sub-title- Keys to Joyous Achievement of Life's Purposes, it is an attempt on a reformation in all features of living.

The quote on the back cover of the 136-page book is an appropriate preview-- “The Primordial Laws of Creation are the eternal principles by which we should always have lived and by which we must live. They constitute both the infallible basis for a comprehensive understanding of the World and the solid and sure foundation for all right reforms, irrespective of sector.

Without the right application of these Laws, human civilisation would continue to walk into the embrace of retrogression and perhaps catastrophic collapse.”

In the same vein, the colour of the book's cover- indigo, holds up a mirror to the book's subject- matter and gives the promise that the tone of the book will be full of colour because indigo is a colour that appears between blue and violet in a primary rainbow, and comprising both its neighbours, is seen in colour psychology as the colour of perception and believed to have a lot of spiritual meaning.

Attempting a placement for the distinct book The title warrants the book being placed highly, not only for the vastness and importance of the theme, also because it is a rare subject- matter. The author admits the theme's attributes when, for openers, he gives quotations from the same source that pinpoint the theme of discussion and goes on to reveal his appreciation of and complete dependence on the sage opinion of his source: “It is obvious that the Primordial Laws of Creation by their very origin and nature can be comprehensively known only by those who existed at the very beginning. Creatures in Subsequent Creation, such as earthmen, may recognize fragments of the Primordial Laws only if they strive strenuously to observe everything around them in the right way. But they can only be known in their comprehensiveness through revelation. This revelation, along with other spiritual knowledge, came through Abd-ru-shin (whose civil name was Oskar Ernst Bernhardt) in his unique work ‘In the Light of Truth’, The Grail Message. What I present here represents in a sense an oversimplification of the subject – only my own limited understanding of the work whose depth and scope are so stupendous that it would be foolish for anyone to claim complete understanding of it. Therefore, those seriously interested in this subject, and in spiritual knowledge generally, should endeavour to study Abd-ru-shin's work and should not be content with the understanding of another person. I consider the work as the Alpha and Omega of spiritual knowledge.”

Apparently due to the crucial issue, right from its beginning and all through it, the book addresses itself to the main item of the synopsis – our great need for knowledge of the topic. Two examples are hereby given: The preface delivers Lampe's neutral view on the existence of personal responsibility and influences a categorical notion that his book will capture exactly the ethos of mankind in general: “Built into creation is a ‘manual’ to facilitate for all creatures attainment of their individual and collective purposes...

As with earthly manufacturers' manuals, the endeavour to study, understand and adjust to the dictates of the ‘manual’ is exclusively for our benefits. We would not thereby be doing the Creator any favour.

“The Primordial Laws of Creation are in a

sense the manual that the Creator has branded into Creation and which work automatically. They indicate the paths we must follow on earth as well as in other parts of Creation and provide the foundation for the explanations of all life's mysteries.

Recognition of these Primordial Laws is the most urgent need for all of us human beings, especially in these increasingly uncertain and tumultuous times. These Laws transcend religion and they impact everyone automatically regardless of belief or unbelief.”

Secondly, the first page of Chapter One leads us purposely into the purport of the book: “The Primordial Laws of Creation are activated by the Power of God and constitute the Will of God. The development of Creation, including the coming into existence of all the invisible and visible worlds and creatures therein, followed the pattern (or blue print) dictated by the Primordial Laws.”

The book's content Understandably, the Primordial Laws seem to be a closed book to many of us, necessitating Lampe's work which promises from starting point to be an open book by virtue of its easily understandable wordings. Frank points are nevertheless expressed as early as the preface when the author throws the book at us: “If we ignore the Primordial Laws of Creation, we arraign all the forces of Creation against us and continually invite disharmony, chaos, and failures in all aspects of human existence.”

The three sub-sections of Chapter One buttress up the author's choice of topic. The following extracts prove this. “‘The desire to understand the world and the desire to reform it are the two great engines of progress, without which human society would stand still or retrogress"- Bertrand Russell (1872-1970 :The Basic Virtues of Bertrand Russell 1903-1959, by Robert E. Egner and Lester E. Denonn.)”

“Knowledge of the spiritual nature of the human being, the purpose of human existence, the eternal principles by which human beings should live, and general commitment to such principles constitute the medicine for humanity's multifarious ailments.”

'The Primordial Laws take fully into account thoughts, motives, and volitions in addition to actions and words of human beings...Unlike earthly judges, the servants of the Creator who uphold His Will in Creation are supremely capable of monitoring and acting on a person's thinking, motives, and volitions and ensuring appropriate consequences.”

Chapters Two to Eight discuss in detail “the following interrelated and mutually complementary Laws: The Law of Movement; The Law of Attraction of Homogeneous Species; The Law of Reciprocal Action; The Law of Gravitation and The Law of Balance.” He also mentions “briefly the Law of the Cycle, which is closely similar to the Law of Reciprocal Action.” Chapter Nine contains the author's concluding remarks.

Lampe gives the broad outlines of the subject and his great precision in explaining same is exhibited in these extracts: *The Law of Movement- “The stationary rock is composed of chemical compounds which are themselves made up of protons, neutrons, electrons, etc., all of which are in constant movement, quite apart from the fact that the rock is being carried along in all the motions of the earth, the solar system, and the galaxy of which the earth is

a part. The same can be said of the human body, dead or alive.” *The Law of Attraction of Homogeneous Species- “The proverb ‘Birds of a feather flock together’ hints at this Law... This Law manifests itself in the relationships among people, among animals, and even in the natural communities of plants.' *The Law of Reciprocal Action- “Whatever we sow, we are obliged to reap... The interval between sowing and reaping depends on what is sown.” *The Law of Gravitation- “Whatever is really light rises easily, whereas that which is heavy tends to fall.” *The Law of Balance- “There is a problem when accounts cannot be balanced. We speak of ‘balanced diets’, referring to the necessity to eat different kinds of food items in appropriate portions to ensure good health. Breathing out is balanced with breathing in.” *The Law of the Cycle- “In the World of Matter, whatever has a beginning must have an end and the end must always flow back into the beginning.”

According to Lampe, real understanding and proper interpretation of the Primordial Laws is essential to adhering to them. He gives expressive examples by way of assistance: “There are birds which can no longer fly because their wings have deteriorated on account of failure to use them over thousands of years...

The human spirit is subject to this same Law of Adaptation...we have lost most of our spiritual abilities and hardly appreciate a spiritual outlook on life. This condition is responsible for many of the problems confronting the human race, and the problems that await many in the Beyond after physical death.”

“The human being is not a whole species but only a splitting which carries within itself the desire for union...However, the thoughts, deeds, and volitions of human beings are whole species that attract homogeneous species...If people were not evil and did no evil, there would be no gathering of the evil-minded; that is, there would

be no hell...God did not create hell.”

“It is the inner state of the individual and not the proclaimed faith that determines what is eventually reaped...It is through the operation of the Law of Reciprocal Action that God metes out ‘vengeance’ and ‘recompense’ and not through personal intervention in the lives of individuals.”

“Evil doing, bad thoughts, wrong aspirations and attitudes make the spirit heavy. Such heaviness causes it to sink, to fall away in a direction opposite from that of its origin...Noble actions, thoughts, and attitudes make the spirit light, so that, once it has shed the physical body, it rises automatically toward its spiritual origin, its home.”

“Human beings are endowed with the intellect so that in every life on earth they have a counterpoise pulling downwards to balance the upward-striving spirituality...

Sadly the intellect has become overcultivated and no longer serves as the tool of the spirit.’

“The human spirit originated from the Spiritual Realm as an unconscious spirit germ (or spirit seed) and journeys to the World of Matter in which through appropriate experiencing it acquires consciousness, self-consciousness, and inner maturity...If a human being were to fail to achieve full maturity by the time the World of Matter is due to disintegrate, it would be caught up in the disintegrating process...That is spiritual death, which is also called eternal damnation.”

Principles of Lampe's book Definitely not a catchpenny title, there is no reason in principle why countless principled people won't pick up Lampe's book for it is highly relevant and of lasting value. It is serious literature, far from mere entertainment, and shows the author has a perspicacious analysis of the topic, presented perspicuously. His clear language, a consequence of his simple vocabulary and vivid examples underlies the power to hold our attention beyond the reading. Recognisably due to the vast topic, he treats some issues only briefly; undoubtedly, he fully briefs us on the main subject-matter, the Primordial Laws of Creation -henceforth the correctives to the existing human-made laws that the author reminds us “do not always promote justice...Indeed, quite often, they are exploited by lawyers to set free people who have actually committed crimes.”

Lampe's conclusion is appropriate to the subject as it offers conclusive proof of the obligation to embrace the Primordial Laws: “In our era, many cycles are coming to a close for individuals as well as for groups...There is a shortening of the cycle of sowing and reaping...It is for this reason that we are witnessing an astounding multiplicity and convergence of bewildering events in political, economic, social, and other spheres of life, humanmade as well as natural (such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc.)...These events are associated with the World Judgment and are a clarion call to rethink the meaning of life and to pay much greater attention to the Will of God that manifests in the Primordial Laws of Creation.”

Existence and Lampe's realistic views Each owes himself or herself, irrespective of earthly position, the duty to make the most of this fascinating and inspiring work that clearly shows the author's lofty goal which beckons us to follow suit. There is a lot of sense in what the thought-provoking book presents. Our most important step is to borrow freely from Lampe, derive further knowledge on this all-important subject through his sole source. There is no better time than the present. For starters, let's reflect on Lampe's final quote: --Laniyan is the Co-ordinator, Ephesus Literary Bureau, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria (See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 7, 2018

CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

Bloody Start in Benue, Kaduna, Rivers!

In three states of Rivers, Kaduna and Benue, people were welcomed into the New Year in the pool of their own blood, writes Olawale Olaleye

Ortom

N

ot even the thoughts that the nation’s security architecture had been struggling within its limited resources to protect lives and properties suggested that such mindless killings of people would herald the New Year in any part of the country, to say the least, Rivers, Kaduna and Benue

States.

Although the security situation in these three states had long demanded special attention given what was obtainable in the last two and a half years, the little effort since sunk in had yielded some commendable results, thus completely leaving out any inkling of the recent killings.

Starting with the situation in Rivers State, the oil-producing state had barely known peace since the change of guards in 2015. With rising insecurity exacerbated by cultism and the battle of rival gangs, the relative peace known in the state during the immediate past regime of Rotimi Amaechi had long been thrown to the dogs. Yet, no help has come to specifically address the situation as one demanding special attention.

It was therefore not unexpected that some people turned the New Year celebration into a killing spree as they opened fire indiscriminately on people returning from church in the early hours of Monday, where they had gone to usher in the New Year at a cross-over service.

The incident, which occurred at Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni (ONELGA) Local Government Area of the state, claimed about 21 lives, according to reports. But the Police spokesperson in the state, Omoni Nnamdi, who confirmed the incident, said it was difficult for

El-rufai

Wike

them to give the exact number of people killed in the shooting.

That was Rivers State. A similar incident took place in Southern Kaduna, also on New Year’s Day, during which a traditional ruler, the Etum Numana, Mr. Gambo Makama, and his pregnant wife were reportedly shot dead. His palace and car were also set ablaze. His son was,however, lucky as he survived the attack with gunshot injuries.

The killing of the traditional ruler and his wife has reportedly brought to 10, the number of persons killed by unknown gunmen in Southern Kaduna in the last one week. Yet, no arrest has been made so far.

The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Aliyu Mukhtar, said as much but contended that the Police were on the trail of the gunmen.

A certain report had it that the traditional ruler had travelled to his village to celebrate the New Year, when gunmen, said to be wearing masks, invaded the palace few minutes after midnight and opened fire on them. While the chief and his pregnant second wife reportedly died on the spot, the son sustained injuries and was rushed to a hospital. The armed men immediately fled into the bush.

On Monday night, many people were equally killed in separate attacks on two villages in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Chairman of the council, Emmanuel Adamu, said the attacks were carried out simultaneously, describing it as unfortunate.

Again, on New Year’s Day, another 50 people including members of the Benue State Livestock Guards were reportedly killed in what was described as coordinated attacks on Tom-Atar and Umenge, Akor villages in Guma, Governor Samuel Ortom’s

home town and Ayilamo, Turan, Ngambe-Tiev in Logo Local Government areas of Benue State by suspected herdsmen.

The attacks, according to reports, started late on New Year’s Day and continued till the early hours of Tuesday, leaving in its wake, a totally decimated community. The governor, Ortom has since called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and protect his people from the herdsmen, who are overrunning many of Benue’s communities.

Truth is that the president needn’t be reminded that security was one of the key campaign promises upon which he rode to power. His claim to having a good understanding of what the security problems were and the capacity to contain them earned him the admiration which translated into votes for him.

Unfortunately, the administration has been grappling with security challenges almost from the first day it assumed office. From the increasing insurgency to herdsmen attacks, armed robbery, kidnapping and ritual killings not to mention inter-communal clashes, security in the Buhari era has been a deterioration of what used to be in time past.

Even more disturbing is that outside of the growing insurgency, which is not a regular security challenge, the security situation in the country is not insurmountable. What has been lacking, however, is leadership and the capacity to deploy skills and resources to good use.

What happened in Rivers, Kaduna and Benue is a clarion call, disturbing enough to warrant emergency intervention were it a civilised clime. Government must learn to buckle up, rise up to the challenge and give hope to the hopeless that have remained the easy and soft targets for these anti-social disturbances.

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

Shall the Military Wake Up Now?

S

Buratai

ometime in December last year, Boko Haram terrorists ambushed a convoy of Nigerian troops on MaiduguriDamboa Highway on a certain Sunday, killing at least 10 soldiers. According to reports, the terrorists had planted mines on the highways on the fringes of Sambisa Forest, killing 10 soldiers and wounding others.

Such attacks on the Nigerian military

by the sect members are becoming an everyday affair as they now take the battle to military bases, abducting and killing Nigerian soldiers. This is not good news.

The time for the Nigerian military to wake up from their slumber is now.

More than enough damage has been done to both the psyche of the soldiers and the image of the country. Government should stop self-adulation over ‘technical defeat’ of the terrorist group and address what the real challenge is.

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CICERO/INTERVIEW

Masari

Masari: A New Katsina is Emerging Though currently isolated from the scourge of insurgency, ravaging the North-east of the country, Katsina had all the conditions needed for it to slip into a social crisis of unimaginable proportions. Bubbling with a high population of idle uneducated and unskilled youths who had easy access to illicit drugs pouring in through its porous border with Niger Republic, any one could see that the state was a disaster waiting to happen.

The glimpses were emerging from the spate of violence masquerading as cattle rustling until Aminu Masari came. Elected governor of the state in 2015, he tells Bolaji Adebiyi, Peter Ishaka, Charles Ajunwa and Ibrahim Shuaib in this interview, his efforts to redirect Katsina to the path of growth and development

W

e could see a number projects have been completed and some others ongoing.

Given the economic meltdown in the country, how did you cope?

I think it has proved that paucity of funds is not the only problem. The problem in this country has been poor leadership. From what we met on the ground and from what we have discovered, we believe that with good leadership, all these things are possible and they are doable. Really, there is no magic other than prudence on our part. Pricing is equally important, in terms of costing of projects and the insistence on doing good quality job. For example, we met on the ground single coat roads. Once a stone goes out and rain falls, the road starts to develop pot holes. We decided to double coat, expand the shoulders from 7.3 to 10.3 and tarred them so that ordinary parking will not cause the roads to start breaking. We believe, that in the next two, three years we can do the asphalting comfortably because by then the road would be properly settled. Meanwhile, we did not put pressure on any contractor so that the contractor has no reason to compromise either the standard or quality of the work. From my little experience, with a small amount of money you can achieve a lot once you are determined and there is prudence in the use of those resources. So, I think we didn’t play any magic. It’s not about magic. There is no magic in it. My understanding is that the problem is that of leadership.

Katsina State, is among the four states in the federation that pays salaries as at when due without waiting for the release of federal allocation. What has been your strategy?

Well, my strategy has been to always safe one month salary in the treasury. So, don’t wait for the federal allocation, I pay before the federal allocation comes. Then whenever the federal allocation comes, I safe for the following month and whatever is left is what we use it for our developmental projects.

But your state is not rich. How do you balance the recurrent and capital expenditure?

You see, the revenue base is very poor. It is among the poorest in the country because the structures that would bring us revenue were not developed. This is an agrarian state. It has

been so even when it was a province in Northern Nigeria. It was dependent on agriculture and livestock. So, the main sector that sustained the state when it was a province was neglected.

Where can you then get revenue? Our revenue, therefore, became dependent on the monthly federal allocation. You know in 1979, the PRP (Peoples Redemption Party) government abolished the poll tax. When (Gen. Muhammadu) Buhari came he introduced development levy. But when (General Ibrahim) Babangida came, he abandoned it. Nothing else really, except those who go for direct assessment, probably when they are looking for contract or they are looking for one opportunity or the other that requires tax clearance certificate. The only people who pay tax regularly are civil servants and public office holders, who earn salaries, and a few government contractors. This is the only source of revenue because the structures that could broaden the revenue base were neglected. That’s why we are trying as much as possible to develop the agricultural sector. We believe if we do that, we will start to see an increase in revenue because there will be much money in the hands of people and once there is money in the hands of people the quality of lives will improve. And we can make money from other sources. By developing agriculture, we are developing businesses that could be taxed. We have attracted so many investors, especially in the agriculture business sector.

When they start, we believe that a lot of money will come in by way of taxes. Really, unless you develop the infrastructure that will bring in revenue, it would be difficult to raise money. It’s now that we are developing infrastructures that will make the state less dependent on federal allocation. There was a time we were totally dependent on agriculture. But we can re-enact it. It’s not difficult.

What it requires is determination and understanding of the people and it’s doable.

In specific terms, to what extent have you been able to develop the agricultural sector in such a way that it could yield revenue for all?

We covered a lot of areas during the dry season farming through the Anchor Borrower programme, which over 9,000 of our farmers participated. During the rainy season Anchor Borrower programme, over 6,000 farmers also participated. In both, we made fertiliser and improved seeds available to the farmers.

You would notice that there was no fertilizer selling ceremony this

year. This is because we believe it’s unnecessary. Fertiliser should be available at all times in any shop and in any farm centre. Today, I can comfortably tell you that I have sufficient fertiliser, over 26,000 metric tonnes that will take care of 2018 farming season. I have it, I have paid for it. It’s here in my store. Today we have over four companies that are interested in establishing agro-based industries.

OLAM has come, they want to establish a farm and poultry business here in Katsina. We are also developing an Economic Park along Lakagi corridor to Jibia. We are paying the consultant over N200 million and by this time next year, we are going to start the infrastructure along that route. That road takes you to all the countries in West Africa, and it’s an economic corridor identified by the World Bank. It has even attracted certain funding from the World Bank for those companies that are interested in it. We are also talking to BUA, they are also interested in building a textile park along this route because we are all eying this West African market through Jibia which is the nearest to any part of West Africa. We believe that in the next five years, God willing and with all the structures in place, I think we will start to depend less to the federation account.

When we visited Daura and Katsina General Hospitals, we saw a lot of upgrading and expansion taking place there.

What really do you intend to achieve with these?

Well, when we came on board we found out that our healthcare system had completely collapsed. There was no trace of the huge money that was said to have been spent on the sector.

So we resolved to bring our premier hospitals, namely Katsina General Hospital, Daura General Hospital and Funtua General Hospital, to a level that they will provide minimum requirement of a general hospital, which they were not providing before. We are upgrading their infrastructure and equipment. We employed about 690 new staff, including doctors, nurses and midwives, medical laboratory scientists, technicians and others. We also engaged 12 consultants to visit the hospitals. We have spent over N700 million on hospital equipment for the three hospitals. Now we have bought MRI Scanner for the three hospitals so that nobody goes to Kano for scanning again. So our plan, is to make sure that in the next few years any person who leaves Katsina for medical vacation, is doing it by choice. But the majority of the local people now have access to good Medicare. We are also upgrading

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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 ˾ JANUARY 7, 2018

CICERO/INTERVIEW t MASARI: A NEW KATSINA IS EMERGING tContinued from Pg. 68 three more general hospitals: Tankia, Musawa and Malunfashi. Tankia is about 70 per cent done now, Musawa is about 50 per cent and Malunfashi that just started is about 20 per cent completed. In 2018, we are bringing in three more general hospitals- Dunsuma, Kpare and Jibia into the renewal programme. We intend to have 11 comprehensive general hospitals.

We are now establishing a medical school and NUC has come, they have made their first visit.

This year we will start construction and we believe our students will start enrolment next academic year. We are working with the Islamic Development Bank, they are financing about 103 healthcare centres in 34 local governments. Our intention is to have one in each of the 361 wards in the state. I think if we are able to provide education, health, water, agriculture, it with enhance the limitless capacity of our people.

Talking about education, we see you tend to prioritise girl education. Are you leaving the boys out?

No. You know here, you have to address the culture, tradition and religion of each locality. And here, segregation is an issue. The moment the children start to grow, at certain age, you have to separate the boys from the girls, particularly in the boarding schools. The first task we identified, which we are doing, is the renovation, upgrading and rehabilitating of all our boarding schools for boys and girls. We have priority for the girls because of their nature.

I think of all the boarding schools for girls only Rugogo and Kofi are yet to be completed. Others have been done them. In terms of standard boarding school in this country, we are proud to say, we have provided the basic requirements and we are still doing more to decongest the classes and to decongest the dormitories.

When we came on board, we discovered that dormitories that were designed for 72 students accommodate 150. I want you to imagine grown up girls of 15 to 18 cramped on a bed, which is not more than a metre width. You know these are school girls, some of these vices start from boarding schools. Why? Because they are cramped into one place each one holding another the same for the boys. That was what we met on the ground. Some of the schools you cannot take your child into them. Why? Because the people who were supposed to be looking after most of these institutions, their children are attending private schools either in faraway Kaduna or even out of the country. We met a situation where even headmasters’ children do not attend the schools they head. We had deficiency of 1, 376 classes when we came and we need more than 15,000 teachers to bridge the gap. So, we are not discriminating between the boys and the girls but we are more sensitive to the girls because of their nature and we want to promote girl-child education. You know, the participation of women here is very low, so we have deliberate policy to increase girl education because demographically in Katsina, the females are more in number than the males.

You have this policy where public officers and officials send their children to public schools. How successful has that policy been?

Well, I know all our officers who are residents of Katsina with their families have their children are in public schools. So far, it has been very successful because everybody is now focused on making sure that the public schools their children are attending are given attention. This way, other children also benefit. When we were growing up, we attended the school with the children of the Emirs, district heads and the few ministers we had in Northern Nigeria.

They were all in public schools and if you were better than them at that time you were better. So nobody discriminated against you, whether you were the son of a farmer or a local trader. I think the policy is working.

Katsina had a high crime rate, particularly among the youths. Are you in a position to say that has gone down?

There was a time in 2014 when over 140 persons were killed in two local governments in the southern part of the state by cattle rustlers.

This occurred on a day former President Goodluck Jonathan was visiting the state. It was that bad. We took concrete measures to stem the drift to anarchy. First, we had to open up some of our villages by constructing roads to them so that the security agencies could access them if

Masari help is needed. But we realised that the security problem could not be solved by Katsina alone because of the vast forests on its boarders with Zamfara, Kebbi, Kaduna and Niger Republic.

We had to liaise with my brother governors to bring the criminality under control. We are grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari who ordered the military and other security agencies to give us maximum support. We formed a security team consisting, the Army, the Airforce, the Police, the Civil Defence and the Customs who jointly patrolled our over 220km-forest boarder. As you know, it came at a huge cost to us. Then, we interacted with the leaders of Miyetti Allah Fulani Breeders Association. We were lucky that the person who was elected their chairman was a civil servant, a graduate and an assistant director. So through him we were able to reach the Fulani for discussions. I was surprised that 95 per cent of them living in the forest were not criminals but were forced to live there because at a time they being killed. So no Fulani could to town and farmer to venture into the forest. I directed my SSG (Secretary to the State Government) to meet with security chiefs and go into the forest to meet with the Fulani. They were eventually able to persuade to come to Katsina for discussions. And they finally agreed last January that they would hand over their arms and ammunitions and embrace peace. They said they wanted that their children and their people who were in detention without trial released. We said those who serving sentence should complete their sentence and that they should also return all the cattle they stole. In return, we agreed to release all their motor cycles that had been confiscated.

So, we held ceremonies here and there where they handed over 350 guns, bullets and other ammunitions. After we formed committees and instituted more permanent structures that we are servicing every month for the purpose of policing the state. We have not reached 100 per cent success but definitely we have achieved 80 per cent if not more because all the farms that were not being cultivated before are now being cultivated.

Related to the security challenge is the issue of illicit drug trafficking and use across the border into the state. Would you say this too has been curbed?

From NDLEA (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency) reports, Katsina State’s involvement is as a result of its porous land border with Niger Republic. We have more official routes than any other state and all the

land border is an open land you can cross with motor cycle, four-wheel drives, bicycles and donkeys. Drug abuse had become rampant.

The worse part of it was that some of the drugs were normal drugs that were not prohibited but when you take overdose they become prohibited. So what we did was to form six committees and a task force to tackle the problem.

We also reinforced our intelligence system and luckily one of the dealers in Katsina State was arrested along with his brothers. Our task force on a continuous basis raid and close down illegal patent medicines stores and pharmacies.

We have been able to reduce the problem but you know there is a major drug market in Kano. Most of the people dealing with illicit drugs from Katsina end up in Kano, which is a much larger market with a larger population, a bigger market serving not only Nigeria but most parts of North and West Africa. What we have appealed to traditional rulers and religious leaders to preach in their mosques and places of worship about the dangers of illicit drug use.

So, how have you been able to engage the youths?

I think there are three types of youths that we are dealing with. There are those who have the basic education who can easily be more trained to do certain things. There are those who are looking for opportunities to further their education and there are those who don’t have any form of education either Islamic or western type of education. But all of them are Katsina State indigenes they are Nigerians and they have rights that must be protected. For those that have requirement for higher education, the government is willing to support them provided they gain admission within the local institutions. We have no money to finance people going abroad. We have, however, empowered thousands of youths through training in skills acquisition and start up capital. We are still doing that, especially, for our local women who live in the rural area, who N5,000 can start a business for them. The hardest ones are those who have not gotten any form of education but luckily enough we realised that and we are trying to help them in the area of agriculture. At least, if you don’t know anything, coming from a rural community, your father must have a farm, so at least that is one trade that is common to everybody. Now, we are sending them back to our irrigation schemes. Three days ago our desk officer on empowerment came and told me that the Work Bank now has a programme for those who were not able to go to school.

Really, they are in majority because if you look at the percentage of those who go to school and you look at the percentage of those who haven’t gone to school, you find out that those who haven’t gone to school are more and you will find out that some of them will end up in urban centres and become a societal problem.

It seems in Katsina the campaigns have started, we saw billboards with your photograph and that of President Buhari reading ‘four plus four equal to eight’ (cuts in) You know politicians will always be politicians so when politicians are doing their politics it shouldn’t surprise you. It’s not only in Katsina, all over the places you go to you see people campaigning for one politician or the other. For us, it’s normal and we are used to it. So, the best person to ask is the person that put up the billboards.

A lot of discussions are going on the 2019 presidential election, what is your take on this?

Well, not only will I support President Buhari for 2019, I’m also working on it to make sure that he runs for 2019. I believe in him and I believe in his commitment to this country. I want you to imagine this country after 2015 elections without somebody like Buhari. Where will the country have been? Because the treasury was empty and insurgency of Boko Haram was frightening, nobody was sure of 2015 elections.

Before the 2015 elections, most of the people I knew that had the means had left this country.

Those who had not left the country had sent their families outside Nigeria because of the fear of violence. They knew what would have happened. But where are we today? Today, we have people who are running here to invest.

Today, we have a Nigerian Customs that is beating its chest that it realised over N1 trillion, which has never happened in the history of this country. So, we need to secure and stabilise the nation. May be somebody is there, I don’t know him. But I trust Buhari to do the job. So there is need for continuity for him to secure and stabilise this country. Unless, God forbid, we don’t want to go back to the dark days of uncertainties. People like us who have no place to go but Nigeria, were wondering what would happen to us. I have no single kobo outside Nigeria and no piece of land or property outside Nigeria, not even here in Niger Republic which is are our neighbour. So for people like us we have nowhere to go but here.

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Danjuma : When Charity Begins at Home Lindsay Barrett, Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2019;ĂŁË&#x153; ËŤ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ë? Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x2039; Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ë&#x153;ËŹ Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; Ë&#x203A; Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;ËŞĂ? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x161;ĂŁ

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s 2017 drew to a close, the observance of the 80th birthday of retired General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, GCFR, proved to be Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prestigious social event of the year. A high profile church service at Christchurch Cathedral on the Lagos Marina, followed by an all-night open air party by the ocean at the Atlantic City beachfront construction site on his birthday, December 9, emerged as venues of choice for a broad cross-section of elite guests from all over West Africa and beyond. As was to be expected, tributes and special accolades were showered on the celebrant by several important figures. However, it is quite likely that the most profoundly emotional sentiments were being felt on that day thousands of kilometres away in the town of Takum, in Taraba State, where the General was born. A few days after the celebration in Lagos, the Rufkatu Danjuma Maternity Centre, a state-of-the art maternity hospital named after his mother, was opened in Takum. This medical centre has been adjudged to be one of the best of such institutions anywhere in northern Nigeria and it now stands as a monument to a lifetime of service and devotion to the welfare of the people of his birthplace.

Visitors to Takum will not find it difficult to identify the town with its most famous son. Billboards in various quarters of the town proclaim gratitude and praise for the contributions and achievements that are credited either to him personally or to his charitable foundation. These have become landmark signposts of the universal respect that most people throughout Taraba State express for the General. He is widely regarded as the patriarch of the younger generation of leaders in the state, and political careers have been made or destroyed simply on the issue of whether the General will give his support to, or withdraw it from, some ambitious aspirants.

In spite of this, many citizens of the state say that he is noted for a firm sense of discipline, which has kept him free from being tainted by partisan loyalties in the state. He is widely regarded as having been the major sponsor of the incumbent governor of the state, Architect Darius Dickson Ishaku of the PDP, who is also from Takum.

But many people told us that aspirants in other parties must also seek his endorsement if they are to have any chance of success at the polls.

The deep loyalty and impartial respect that General Danjuma enjoys in his home state, especially in his birthplace, has evolved from a long record of commitment to the welfare and development of communities throughout the state. He was responsible as Chief of Army Staff for the installation of a major military barracks in Takum. Today, it is known as ADA Barracks, the headquarters of the 93rd Battalion of the Nigerian

Rufkatu Danjuma Maternity in Takum

Danjuma

Army.

Abubakar Adams, a journalist from neighbouring Donga who served as an official in the Ministry of Defence, has related the story of how, while the barracks had been named after the General when he retired from the army, he changed its name when he became Minister of Defence over two decades later.

Takum is now the capital of a major agricultural local government area.in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s northeastern geopolitical zone, and while neglect of some services such as

federal access roads still affect its economic viability negatively, the generalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to the provision of effective services has ensured that the town is a major urban centre.

The state governor is proud of his connection with his hometownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most illustrious scion and has attributed substantial value in his personal life and success in his corporate career to his adherence to principles that he has inherited from long interaction with General Danjuma, starting in his childhood.

General Danjuma (in white) stands next to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during the service celebrating his 80th birthday at ChristChurch Cathedral in Lagos

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍľË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

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Ishaku:LessonsILearntFromGeneralDanjuma Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State spoke with Lindsay Barrett in Takum on his deep loyalty Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2022;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; Ë&#x203A; Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ë&#x203A; âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ë?

W

hen did you ďŹ rst get to know General Danjuma?

I first knew him when I was a child growing up in Takum. His fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compound was just a short walk away from my fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home where I was born. His younger brother, Musa, was in school with my elder brother and I joined them later. His father, Kuru Danjuma, was very strict and we respected him and feared him. I first knew of the General coming home on leave as a young army officer. We knew that he had been fighting in the Congo. Whenever he came we were very excited because he used to bring army issue corned beef and distribute to us. Even then, he was regarded as something of a hero for us and we looked forward to his visits. As I grew older, I followed my father and uncle who had moved to live in Kaduna to visit him at his quarters. I saw him as also a very stern person. He almost never laughed and I regarded him as a very strict friend of the family of whom I was somewhat afraid.

In what capacity did you ďŹ rst interact with him?

My closer and more substantial interaction with him commenced after my graduation as an architect. My father used to take me to visit him when he was serving as a senior officer commanding a unit in Kaduna before the civil war, and he always had good words to say about his army officer friend.

When the military took over, he moved and the next time I remember hearing about him was when my father returned from a visit to the war front where he had gone to visit his friend. He told us that when he got to Enugu, he was told that his friend had left word at the office that he was to be brought to where he was in the battlefront. It was a very exciting adventure for him. However, it was after the war, when I graduated, that I grew closer to him. He gave me jobs to design buildings for him and I had a very important awakening when I designed a building that he felt was too elaborate. He said to me that the design was filled with too much â&#x20AC;&#x153;jigidaâ&#x20AC;? (i.e. ornamental beads worn by native girls). He then began to cancel the curves and decorations that I had included, and then he said to me, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A woman is beautiful no matter how much â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;jigidaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; she wears and if she is ugly then no amount of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;jigidaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; can make her beautiful.â&#x20AC;? That statement sank into me and reminded me of the principles promoted by the great Mies van der Rohe, the advocate of simplicity in modern construction whose seminal statement was, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Less is moreâ&#x20AC;?.

Ever since then, I learnt to avoid over-decoration in what I designed for him and that led me to design buildings that were functional but still beautiful in their simplicity. One of the most important experiences I have had with General Danjuma arose when his first house in Takum began to crack and sink. We did all we could to save it but eventually he decided to demolish it and build a new one. I assumed that the builder had been negligent and had not done a soil test. I advised him to arrest the builder and have him refund all the costs, but he told me that it was his own fault because the builder had advised him to do a soil test and he had refused. I was surprised at his willingness to admit to his own blame and learnt a valuable lesson from him through this incident. My work for him helped me to grow because he was always a very sharp and vigilant client.

Did you consider him a mentor and if so, why?

Yes, I have always considered him a mentor. A mentor is someone who gives you guidance and is always ready to advise you. General doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hide his feelings. He is brutally frank and he is always ready to own up to his own faults as well. I have never met another Nigerian who is so honest in his conduct and in expressing his opinions. Frankly, I have tried to learn from him but I must admit, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think I could ever be as disciplined and honest as he is. He does not keep grudges, but he tells you his mind without equivocation. I have learnt a lot from him about the value of diligence, patience, and talking less and acting more. Let me give you an example with the hospital he built here. I went to him a few months after I had become Governor and told him how my Bishop had made me promise to provide improved maternity wards in the state. I told him that I had been doubtful of being able to fulfill this promise even though the Bishop who had encouraged me to make it had told me to have faith. A few weeks later, the General called me to tell me that he had some friends who would like to see me. And although I missed them at the first appointment, the next time they visited they came with a fully designed plan for a maternity hospital only needing a site on which to build it.

Within the next one year, they completed the construction and we now have one of the most effectively equipped maternity hospitals in the country entirely constructed and equipped by him. This is just one example of so many incidences of how the General operates when he is convinced that there is a genuine need to be filled. This gesture by the General inspired me to put more effort into our development of another maternity centre in Wukari and after we commissioned the one in Takum I invited the General to open the one we had done in Wukari. I can tell

Ishaku

you that when he said â&#x20AC;&#x153;Well doneâ&#x20AC;? to me after that it was one of the proudest moments in my life. I have had to look for the Bishop to tell him that faith has worked. General always pushes you to do the best and he has really been a mentor to me at every stage of my life.

What aspect of his life has inďŹ&#x201A;uenced you most profoundly?

His simplicity and humility. These are the cardinal principles of his life that have impressed me most. Let me give you an example. When he retired as Chief of Army Staff, he was in Jos and I went to visit him. I was told that he went to the bank to cash a cheque. At the bank, he stood quietly in the queue awaiting his turn when someone whispered to the manager that he was there and the manager rushed out to show him special courtesy, but he refused special treatment and waited for his turn. When I got to the bank in search of him, all the people there were talking about the incident. Even today when he is travelling he avoids fuss.

Most times, he will sit quietly in a corner reading. He is almost always reading. These are attributes that make him unique among our so-called big men in Nigeria. His orientation is something we of the younger generation should imbibe, especially his discipline and willingness to listen.

Many people in Nigeria who have attained his standing and wealth do not have time to listen to anyone, but General is not like that. He is a very patient listener. I am still trying to learn this habit from him. He can listen to you for an hour without uttering a word. And when you have finished, if you are lucky and he is interested in the topic, you might get two or three words of encouragement from him.

Has your career reďŹ&#x201A;ected the lessons learnt from interaction with him?

Yes! Yes! Yes! I have already told you how as an architect I learnt restraint and functionality from him. Now as a politician what I have learnt from General is never to do anything halfway. He will make sure that whatever he embarks upon is done well. When you build a structure for him, when he inspects it, he is thorough and professional in his inspection and you will be surprised at the knowledge that he will exhibit and at the criticisms that he will make.

He is so diligent and cautious in his examination of work done for him that you are forced to be extra careful when you do his work. As a politician, too, I have tried to emulate his patience and good listening habits. I have learnt from observing him that when you listen to those who talk a lot, they often answer themselves if you are patient. I have also gained from his visionary wisdom in my political career. For example, the upgrading of our airport and opening up of air

transport to our state was encouraged by him. Once I made it plain that I was going to seek expanded investment in the state, it was General who said to me that unless we had access by air to our capital, this strategy would not take off. I took his advice and today with regular flights into Jalingo by Overland Airways, we are reaping the benefits of his suggestion. Now, we are planning to expand the marketing and distribution of our agricultural produce through the use of air traffic. All this has emerged from General Danjumaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advice, and when the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, recently commended us for our efforts at developing a vibrant investment climate, I remembered how much of our success we owed to the Generalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wise counsel.

How has Taraba State beneďŹ ted from General Danjumaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support?

The benefits that he has brought to his state in his long career are visible all over the state and are too many for us to list here. He has been a consistent provider for his people and his generousity and sacrifice are legendary. Recently, he singlehandedly funded the reconstruction and widening of three bridges leading into Takum. Those bridges had been problematic for decades but with his effort we have now been able to renovate the main roadway into the town and, thus, provide greatly improved access to the community. I believe the General can rightly be regarded as one of the founding fathers of the state and its most illustrious son to date and his support for young people who are ready to work hard and live their lives according to the tenets of honesty and moral probity has impacted greatly on its development.

What do you consider to be his most enduring legacy?

I think the work of the T.Y. Danjuma Foundation will provide a lasting legacy throughout the nation in health care, education and other important areas of endeavour. Typical of anything undertaken by the General, the foundation is doing extraordinary things quietly. I was involved with the Foundation when it was fighting the scourge of river blindness in Taraba and Edo states, two states that were said to have the highest number of cases in Nigeria. The disease has almost been totally eliminated in these locations through the efforts of the foundation. But this success has been achieved without fanfare.

The General does not seek publicity for his good deeds, but every day we see evidence of his commitment to help the helpless and less fortunate in society not only at home in Taraba State, but throughout the nation. He has actually spent the greater part of his life doing good works for society because he has been a philanthropist much longer than he had been a soldier.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͵Ë&#x153; ͰͮͯͶ

A SPECIAL REPORT

ON THE EVE OF 2019 ELECTIONS! P R O LO G U E

2

018 depicts the beginning of a crucial election year’s eve. That is under normal circumstances.

Under Nigeria’s peculiar circumstances, however, this month represents the start of the real election year, as preparations for the 2019 general election are expected to bring the whole country to a fever pitch.

Though the electoral commission has slated general elections for February 16 and March 2, 2019, election processes will begin this year with formal declaration of ambitions by aspirants and campaign for party tickets. Later in the year, parties will hold their respective primaries to elect their flag bearers. Also in the third quarter of the year, two states – Ekiti and Osun – will hold their governorship elections.

Traditionally, election eves are marked with increased spending, as politicians try to win favour with voters. This would mean different things for various sectors of the economy.

For many aspects of the extractive (primary) sector, such as oil and gas, a boom is expected in the attempt to garner more funds in the oil-dependent economy, though there is a great risk

of upsets. Manufacturing may not experience significant expansion. But the service sector would likely boom with activities.

For the Arts community, this year is expected to be a mixed bag of exciting expectations and uncertainties. In sports, Nigeria will be contesting for the FIFA World Cup with other qualified nations this June in Russia.

Several issues carried over from last year are expected to continue to trend in 2018. Such issues include the anti-corruption war, fight against insurgency, agitations for restructuring, and the detention of former National Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki and leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (INM) Ibrahim Yaqoub El Zakzaky, who had been in detention for over two years.

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JANUARY 7, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

ON THE EVE OF 2019 ELECTIONS!

ECONOMY

Seeking Economic Growth Amid Anxious Wait for 2019 2018 would be eventful for business, as stakeholders continue to strive for survival under a slow economic recovery process and brace themselves for political aftershocks.

Vincent Obia, Kunle Aderinokun, Bennett Oghifo, Emma Okonji, Chineme Okafor, Olaseni Durojaiye, Solomon Elusoji, and Bamidele Famoofo report

Fashola inspecting the construction work on Oyo – Ogbomoso road... one of the top priority projects for 2018

H

aving come out of a protracted economic crisis in 2017, regarded as worst economic situation in recent years, Nigerians look into this year with hopes and aspirations. Policy analysts and stakeholders chart the way forward for the economy as they churn out their projections. 2018 has ushered in an economy replete with hopes of better deals for Nigerians, having surmounted the challenges that bedeviled it for a long period of time. As it is, the economy appears to be recovering from the quagmire as the performance indicators are now positive and still on the upswing. After five quarters of contraction, in the second quarter of 2017, the economy exited recession, which it entered in the second quarter of 2016. Since then, the economy turned the corner, maintaining the upward streak.

The gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate rose to 1.74 per cent (year-on-year) in the third quarter of 2017 from 0.72 per cent (revised from 0.55 per cent) in the second quarter . The Q2 2017 GDP growth rate represented an increase of 2.04 per cent over the contraction of 1.49 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2016.

Similarly, the consumer price index (CPI), which measures inflation, has consistently been on the decline for 10 months.

The CPI dropped to 15.90 per cent in November from 15.91 per cent in the previous month, after it decreased from 15.98 per cent in September.

The volatility, which hitherto characterised the foreign exchange market has simmered down and stabilised. With a couple of interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the exchange rate of the dollar to the naira has not only stabilised at the inter-bank segment of the market at N360/$, it has also converged with the rate at the parallel end of the market. The ingenuity of the monetary authority led the foreign reserves to accrete to a 39-month high of $38.2 billion last December.

Now in 2018, the federal government is saddled with the responsibility to continue to keep the economy on the path of recovery, stability and growth. In fact, the economic managers have the arduous task to ensure the economy not only maintain the upward streak, but record strong and inclusive growth.

While it is apparent that politicking would characterise this year, preparatory to 2019 elections, the expectation, however, from the managers is to consolidate the gains of the out-gone year, so as to meet the set budgetary and economic targets as the government also makes frantic efforts to fulfill the campaign promises of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The federal government has proposed an appropriation of N8.6 trillion for the fiscal year, which represents an increase

of 16 percent over the 2017 budget. Nigerians would not accept any excuse for further delay in its passage into law and poor Implementation. The executive and the National Assembly should therefore quickly address the grey areas and harmonise their positions so that the appropriation bill could be passed into law.

As part of its strategy to mobilise revenue, the federal government has created Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), a tax amnesty, which is expected to rein in tax revenue from evaders. The scheme, which has a nine-month duration, commenced on May 1, 2017. By the end of the scheme, the federal government estimated that it would realise $1 billion as tax revenue hitherto hidden from government records and unpaid to the treasury.

Besides, Nigeria’s exemption from output cut when OPEC and non-OPEC members agreed to extend the cut to the end of 2018, would aid the revenue projection of government in the 2018 budget, especially as the prices of crude oil, which stood at about $64 per barrel, continue to rally and remain well above the budget oil price benchmark of $45 per barrel.

Below is a quick look at what 2018 holds for business.

OIL AND GAS The oil and gas sector witnessed topsy-turvy conditions in 2017, which were accentuated by low prices and oil production levels. There were slight increases in both price and output. But the real challenge was the country’s abysmally low refining capacity, which left it dependent on imported fuel.

The Niger Delta issue, which the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, described as “the big elephant in the room”, funding for joint venture oil exploration, and commercialisation plans for gas – all of which should be addressed by the Petroleum Industry Bill – are among matters the federal government and relevant stakeholders are expected to deal with this new year. The PIB has remained in the works for a long time and would need some accelerated push to make it a reality for the good of the country’s oil industry. This is even more urgent as the government plans to open bids for marginal oil fields in 2018.

A troubled Niger Delta would derail the government’s new joint venture funding plans, which are somewhat built on incremental production. Similarly, gas would have to be given some more attention to power the economy, considering the volatility of oil and the global push for cleaner energy sources.

In 2018, Nigeria would be expected to address the challenges in its downstream petroleum sector, which have proved intractable overtime.

POWER In 2017, Nigeria’s power sector had challenges that threatened its sustainability. It struggled to survive, but not without some defining scars that constitute a hindrance to the business end of the electricity market. In the year, revenue shortfalls that accumulated due to the refusal of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to allow the 11 electricity distribution companies charge what they feel are cost reflective tariffs for electricity supply to their customers, shot up to N460 billion. NERC has conducted up to three tariff exercises, but it has refused to allow the Discos to operate them, and this among other indecisions of the government, affected the commercial values of the market.

The government has taken significant steps to address the operational challenges of the sector – initiating among others, the Power Sector Recovery Programme with the supports of the World Bank and N701 billion financial support for electricity generation. But the government would be expected to effectively implement the PRSP in order to address the distribution and commercial ends of the power market in 2018. Many experts believe the PSRP is a remarkable policy, but its execution would determine how productive it would be in addressing the market’s troubles.

Helping the Discos get over their debt overhang would be a big boost for the sector. But 2018, being close to an election year, could make it tricky in terms of the government taking hard decisions needed to get the sector back on track.

AGRICULTURE Operators in the country’s agricultural sector have identified government’s commitment to fast-tracking the export process, deepening a seamless fertiliser distribution among farmers, as well as reviving the Export Expansion Grant as some of the issues that will help the industry’s growth in the new year. Some insist that government must also encourage operators in the sector to increase stakes in produce processing. Experts say there is a huge foreign exchange potential in agricultural produce export but government must put in place a seamless export process at the seaports to unlock the latent benefits.

“Government has promised to reform the ports as part of its ease of doing business initiative. If government can do that the country stands to reap huge foreign exchange from the export of agricultural produce. Another thing is that government should commit to reviving the Export Expansion Grant, as many exporters would leverage it

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and it would boost the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foreign exchange receipts and deepen the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic diversification initiative,â&#x20AC;? stated Managing Director of Dada Incorporated, a major trader of cashew and Cocoa exporter, Adedapo Dada.

MANUFACTURING How the manufacturing industry fares in the coming year may be dependent on the fiscal and monetary policies adopted by the federal government, particularly, as regards the cost of capital, infrastructure and the construction of the proposed industrial parks by the federal government.

The countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s power problem will also impact the performance of the sector in this year. As at May 2017, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s power generation peaked at 5,222.3 MW in December 2017, while electricity demand is expected to reach 50,000MW by 2022. Most manufacturers have resorted almost entirely to the use of generators and inverters, and this has significantly increased the cost of doing business.

Many manufacturers with large plants requiring steady power supply solely rely on their own generating sets to avoid operational losses resulting from frequent power outages.

AUTOMOBILES The countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s auto industry is expected to grow by A rice farmer weeding his farm... One of the successes of CBN Anchor Borrowersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Programme. A higher yield is about five per cent this year, after the market closed with expected this year a drop of 48 per cent in sale of brand new vehicles in the third quarter of 2017, from about 14,500 units in 2016 to about 7,000 units at the end of the third quarter of 2017.

Managing Director of Toyota Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo, gave these figures at the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quarterly review of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s auto market, held at its headquarters in Lagos recently.

According to Kunle Ade-Ojo, â&#x20AC;&#x153;In 2018, we hope to see a bit of balancing with the recovery of passenger vehicles.

This year, a lot of companies were very careful because of the economic recession. They buy vehicles that would help improve productivity of their businesses. As the economy improves, so will there be balancing of sales across the models and vehicle segments. A more realistic growth will be experienced next year. However, there are risks.

As 2018 budget is signed into law, we might begin to see some marginal activities in businesses. We are hoping that there will be an improvement generally.â&#x20AC;?

TELECOMS Occasioned by its weak financial status, and its desire to expand its network operations, Etisalat, now 9mobile, had in July 2013, took a loan from 13 local banks, worth $1.2 billion. The telecoms company, however, struggled to repay the loan, citing economic downturn of 2015-2016 and naira devaluation, which negatively impacted on the dollar-denominated component of the loan.

Its inability to repay the loan, forced it to change its brand identity from Etisalat Nigeria to 9mobile, after Shoppers in a supermarketâ&#x20AC;Ś Consumer price index (CPI) consistently declined for 10 months in 2017. This trend is the banks threatened to take over the operations of the expected to continue this year telecoms company.

The threat from the banks, triggered the withdrawal of and efficiency through its recent innovations and investments especially, has enjoyed some good patronage from both domestic and foreign investors in the outgoing year, which Emirates Telecoms Group, and the resignation of every in AI, Virtual Reality, robotics, and blockchain.

Managing Director, Accenture Nigeria, Mr. Niyi Tayo, said is a clear departure from the lull the market experienced member of the former Etisalat Board and its former recently that AI and robotics will rule the world in 2018. He in 2015 and 2016. The All Share Index stood at 37,858.33 management staff.

In order to get a credible investor that will inject the needed strongly advised organisations to act fast on developing points as at December 19, 2017, though analysts believe it funds to revamp the telecoms company, Barclays Africa their AI journey for 2018. Managing Director, Huawei may close around the 36,000 marks. Meanwhile, Foreign was appointed the financial adviser for the acquisition Nigeria, Mr. Kevin Li, advised the federal government to Direct Investment and capital inflows, which were believed of 9mobile, and five firms were shortlisted from over 16 begin aggressive investment in broadband in order to boost to boost activities in the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bourse in 2017, are likely to local and international firms that initially indicated their broadband penetration across the country, since FinTech and continue in 2018, as more FDI and capital inflow are projected by analysts.

AI largely depend on broadband accessibility. interests to acquire 9mobile.

Trading Economics in its economic forecasts on Nigeria, The final five include Teleology Holdings Limited, promoted which covers the period between 2017 and 2020, projected

by Adrian Wood, the pioneer CEO of MTN Nigeria; Smile LABOUR that FDI in Nigeria will move up to about $1.21 billion by Telecoms Holdings, with operations in Nigeria, Tanzania, 2018 promises to be a big year for Nigerian workers. In third quarter of 2018, from $852 million in Q4, 2017. It said Uganda, Congo DR and South Africa; Helios Investment Partners; Bharti Airtel and Globacom, the telecoms company 2018, it is expected that a new minimum wage will be set, though capital inflow in 2018 will fluctuate, it will close a decision that will have reverberating effects across the on a positive note in Q3, 2018. The FSDH Research unit owned and operated by a Nigerian, Mike Adenuga Jnr. Barclays Africa, which is managing the bid process, had economy. Also, the fight over the sale of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national also stated that a speedy passage of the 2018 budget with the initial mandate to complete the exercise and hand over assets will continue, as more labour unions come out to the current attractive valuation of equities in the Nigerian bourse were factors that will boost investment in the market 9mobile to its new investor or group of investors, on or protest the move.

Meanwhile, the barrage of strikes experienced through in 2018. Other factors that FSDH said will help investment before December 31, 2017. But citing delay in submission of Expression of Interest (EoI) by the bidders, Barclays wrote 2017 is not expected to subside. Although the economy in the equities market in 2018 are corporate earnings and to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the has shown some improvements since its emergence from the economic policy direction of the federal government.

Meanwhile in the money market, it is expected that fixed telecoms industry regulator, asking for extension of date recession, analysts believe governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s notorious reputation for the completion of the bid exercise, and January 16, 2018 for reneging on agreements will serve as fodder for increased income instruments will become less attractive to investors, was approved as the new date to conclude the sales and agitations. Labour movements, such as the Academic Staff as interest in treasury bills and bonds is expected to drop. handing over of 9mobile to its new owners. Citing the rise Union of Universities and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Inflation rate, which consistently dropped in the last 10 in technological activities around Financial Technology Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, are expected to return months of 2017 and stood at 15.90 per cent as at November, and Artificial Intelligence in 2017, technology experts have to the negotiating table with the federal government in the is expected to drop further, according the Central Bank of Nigeria and FSDH. FSDH puts average inflation in 2018 predicted that FinTech and AI would drive activities across new year to avert more industrial strike actions.

But, as the year winds down, analysts also predict that at 8.93%, while adjusted inflation is expected to be 10.80%. all sectors of the global economy in 2018, Nigeria inclusive.

While FinTech has brought a whole lot of disruption in the government would work to minimise such strike actions CBN expects inflation to come down to lower double digit financial services sector, using latest technology solutions to with an eye on 2019, an election year. To avoid political in 2018, but says a single digit figure is feasible in 2018.

Monetary Policy Rate is expected to remain at 14% and change the face of financial services delivery in the banking disaffection, sweet deals that benefit Nigerian workers, at sector, technology experts are using AI to create robots that least in the short term, are expected to be struck in late 2018. Cash Reserve Ratio for banks is likely to drop marginally to 21.13% by Q3, 2018, while deposit rate is projected to will deliver multi-tasking jobs in the future. improve to encourage saving. 9.82% is projected by Q3, 2018 Accenture, a global technology solution company with MARKETS as against 7.5% at the moment, as lending rate by banks presence in Nigeria, penultimate week in Lagos, showcased Activities both on the capital market and money market in is likely to drop only marginally from average 17.88% to its latest technology capabilities that will enable businesses across different sectors in the country boost their productivity Nigeria closed on a stable note in 2017. The capital market, 17.43% by Q3, 2018.

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What Analysts Say… Having come out of a protracted economic crisis in 2017, regarded as worst economic situation in recent years, Nigerians look into this year with hopes and aspirations. Policy analysts and stakeholders chart the way forward for the economy as they churn out their projections.

I

n their outlook for this year, analysts at Renaissance Capital expect the federal government stepping capital expenditure and pick-up in demand, on the back of improved FX liquidity, to help lift growth to 2 per cent in 2018 vs. our 0.7 per cent projection for 2017.

Led by Director and Sub-Saharan Africa Economist, Renaissance Capital, Yvonne Mhango, who sent an email to THISDAY, the analysts reasoned that, ”Nigeria’s recovery has largely been driven by the oil sector. Outside of agriculture, the remaining two-thirds of the economy is sluggish. Manufacturing’s return to negative growth territory highlights the fragility of this recovery.”

Noting that, “The consumer confidence index’s YtD upturn, since it bottomed in 4Q16, suggests demand is picking up, albeit off a low base,” they stated that, “The lopsidedness of the recovery implies downside risk to our 2018 forecast.”

Rencap, however, projected a monetary easing cycle. According to the analysts, “Since July, we have seen Nigeria’s monetary policy committee (MPC) become less hawkish. A couple of members voted to ease policy, in part to spur a recovery in YoY credit growth – which fell to -5.4per cent in October, vs. 21per cent a year earlier.

“However, most MPC members opted to hold the policy stance mainly because they want more time to see how various economic indicators evolve. We expect inflation to slow to an average of c.12per cent in 2018, from c.16.5per cent in 2017.

We think the MPC could start cutting the policy rate as soon as March 2018, by 1ppt, when we expect headline inflation to have moderated to c. 14per cent.”

“Arguments in favour of looser policy include the fact that inflation is not demand driven, and the likelihood that a favourable oil price will help sustain FX stability in the short term. In all, we think a 2-ppt rate cut is likely in 2018.

We believe this will complement the authorities’ efforts to lower interest rates on treasury securities, by raising the foreign debt share in public debt.

The risks to our view include a fall in oil prices and/or production, which

undermines the naira and compels the maintenance of a tight policy stance,” they added.

Similarly, RenCap estimates that in 2018, a moderate increase in import demand, on the back of improving fundamentals, partly explains its projection of a smaller current account surplus of 1.8per cent of GDP in 2018, vs. 2.4per cent in 2017E. “We see limited upside in export revenue in 2018. This because we expect oil production to stabilise at the levels it recovered to in 2017, c. 2Mbd, and for the price to also stabilise at c. $55/ bl. On the import front, we expect the pick-up to be tempered by a consumer that remains challenged.”

Rencap thinks “a stronger external sector and tighter monetary policy imply NGN appreciation risk in the near term,” believing “This risk may be contained by the central bank’s desire to build up FX reserves.”

“We assume accommodative policy in 2018, ahead of the February 2019 elections and expect the NGN to trend moderately weaker to NGN373/$1 at YE18.”

Nevertheless, the analysts foresee “unattainable fiscal targets.”

According to them, “Nigeria’s FY18 ‘budget of consolidation’ is intended to build on the gains of the FY17 ‘recovery and growth’ budget.

Indeed, growth was restored in 2Q17 and there have been developments on the infrastructure front. However, Nigeria’s fiscal (under) performance in FY17 and some assumptions that we view as unrealistic suggest that FY18 budget targets are unlikely to be met. A 30 per cent revenue increase is planned for FY18, to NGN6.6trillion, while there was a 14 per cent shortfall at 9M17. The proposed 16 per cent increase in spending may be more modest, to NGN8.6trillion.

“However, when one considers that spending was 30 per cent below target at 7M17, we think the FY18 target is unattainable. We expect revenue shortfalls to undermine plans to reduce the FY18 deficit to NGN2.0trillion (1.4 per cent of GDP, by our estimate) vs. the FY17 target of NGN2.4trillion.”

Also, in their projection, made

available to THISDAY, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) highlights some of the likely benefits and issues that may be on the front burner in 2018.

MAN President, Dr. Frank Jacobs, pointed out that, improvement in road infrastructure would enhance movement of goods and services within the regions that the projects are located. “No doubt, these projects would ensure seamless haulage with minimal damages on transit; improve economic activities, access to market; access to education and healthcare facilities, while at the same time narrow the infrastructure gap in the economy.”

Jacobs believed every Naira spent on provision of road infrastructure, “may trigger at least 5 per cent economic growth.” This, he pointed out, was “based on the report of World Economic Forum which affirmed that every dollar spent on any capital project such as road construction generates an economic return of 5-25 per cent.”

In the same vein, he said MAN estimated that, in this fiscal year, “The huge outlay of capital expenditure on infrastructure may not produce desired impact on manufacturing output, employment as well as construction and allied activities, if not properly monitored.” “Improper management of the inflation rate that may result from the likely overly increase in money circulation, especially those that are not channeled into the productive sector,” he added.

Jacobs estimated that there would be “Tighter regulatory environment as agencies would be all out to excessively drive to meet set targets and improve Internally Generated Revenue, not minding the implications on businesses - FIRS, NESREA, LIRS, NAFDAC, SON, NCS may be on the loose.”

Jacobs reasoned that, there would be a “likely loss of focus in effective implementation of policies due to excessive focus on electioneering activities.” According to him, “Nigeria may lose more on the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) front as investors react to the prevailing economic circumstances of the country and the looming

uncertainty that usually characterizes electioneering activities.”

The MAN president foresees “palpable inability to genuinely sustain the current FX supply which may lead to further depreciation of the Naira,” while also cautioning that, “Increased poor access to credit facilities would be triggered by further liquidity squeeze.”

For the CEO, Global Analytics Consulting Ltd, Tope Fasua, 2018 promises to be an interesting year, given that government is likely to try and correct the mistakes of 2016 and 2017.

Fasua believed “some of the policy options which took us into a recession have now been properly identified and mitigated.”

“This is chiefly the foreign exchange regime which outlawed an otherwise lawful and emotive segment of the economy like the payment of school fees, medicals and normal travel expenses for holiday-makers and the likes. Also, the Central Bank of Nigeria has created other clever windows by which forex user can access legitimate markets, even if at a premium. People seem not to mind, and there is now relative calm,” he pointed out.

Fasua, who said he was deeply worried by Nigeria’s spate of foreign borrowing, and indeed any borrowing at all, however, believed that, “we can be more determined about boosting domestic revenue.”

According to him, “Nigeria is hemorrhaging not only taxes, but dues, fines, levies, duties and rates due to government directly and indirectly.

Impunity has become our second name and we have many people who have become so obscenely ‘rich’ on corruption that they now believe they are above the law and bigger than the country.

These are the ones who would always beat the system and refuse to pay their obligations to society. There is a price to pay for elitism. The upshot of the approach we have taken is that the gap between rich and poor keeps expanding while government that should play the umpire is incapacitated by impunity, lackadaisical work attitude and of course, corruption.”

YVONNE MHANGO

FRANK JACOBS

TOPE FASUA

“We see limited upside in export revenue in 2018.

This because we expect oil production to stabilise at the levels it recovered to in 2017, c. 2Mbd, and for the price to also stabilise at c. $55/bl. On the import front, we expect the pick-up to be tempered by a consumer that remains challenged.”

“Tighter regulatory environment as agencies would be all out to excessively drive to meet set targets and improve Internally Generated Revenue, not minding the implications on businesses - FIRS, NESREA, LIRS, NAFDAC, SON, NCS may be on the loose.”

“The paradox of finance is that money goes where money is. With Nigeria’s rising foreign reserves (presently at $38billion, with a strong push for $40billion), we hear already that more foreign investment (perhaps of the portfolio type) has been heading Nigeria’s way.

Good enough.”

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RAZIA KHAN

EGIE AKPATA

ADETILEWA ADEBAJO

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Given the likely effort to boost growth ahead of 2019 elections, we now see the CBN front-loading policy easing in 2018, resuming its easing cycle in March, rather than May as we previously believed.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Key variables like oil price, external reserves, exchange rate and interest rates are all moving in the right direction.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;With inďŹ&#x201A;ation on the way down, and government debt service at 66per cent of revenues, the pressure is on to cut rates by the end of Q1 2018.â&#x20AC;?

The economist stated: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The paradox of finance is that money goes where money is. With Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rising foreign reserves (presently at $38billion, with a strong push for $40billion), we hear already that more foreign investment (perhaps of the portfolio type) has been heading Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way. Good enough. But increasing foreign reserves while ballooning our debt portfolio also has its blowback effects. Is this a good strategy? Are we adequately and sustainably diversifying our economy? Do we understand that economic diversification is not just about the diversification of government income or forex sources from crude oil to say solid minerals or agriculture, but how the economy can interact rigorously with itself, how Nigerians can spend their incomes on Nigerian goods and how cash flows can percolate between the rich and the poor, while lifting millions out of poverty? â&#x20AC;&#x153;2018 should be the year of deep thinking, and even deeper actions,â&#x20AC;?

Fasua concluded.

Managing Director and Chief Economist Africa, Global Research, Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan, projected that Nigerian elections, scheduled for February 2019, would be a key driver of economic activity in 2018.

Notwithstanding, she added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We expect economic growth to improve, driven by higher oil prices, more stable oil output (even given likely compliance with an OPEC production cap) and improved execution of the Federal Government (FG) budget.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;To date, a series of shocks have weighed down economic performance â&#x20AC;&#x201C; flawed FX policy choices in the immediate aftermath of the oil price decline (since rectified with reforms in April 2017); Niger Delta militancy which cut Nigerian oil output; and a slow pace of capital expenditure, given financing constraints.

We expect an improvement in each of these factors in 2018, which will help boost growth,â&#x20AC;? Khan stated.

Khan noted that Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy will recover, but â&#x20AC;&#x153;from a weaker base.â&#x20AC;?

According to her, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Despite an acceleration in y/y GDP in Q3-2017, helped by improved oil output, non-oil GDP growth has disappointed. Several key sectors (construction, manufacturing, trade, transportation and even finance) still contracted in Q3. In the first three quarters of 2017, the Nigerian economy grew only 0.43 per cent y/y.

Consequently, we lower our full-year 2017 GDP projection to only 0.7 per cent (1.2 per cent previously). We still expect a lift to economic performance in the coming years, but the current weakness will matter. We lower our 2018 and 2019

GDP forecasts to 3.0 per cent and 3.8 per cent (3.5 per cent and 4.1 per cent previously).â&#x20AC;?

But the renowned economist pointed out that the current economic weakness should spur reform efforts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the very near term, and with elections approaching, Nigeria will focus on faster implementation of fiscal expenditure.

A new approach to external borrowing should relax the financing constraint that has inhibited public investment since the oil price shock. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also believe that Nigeria will make an even greater effort to maintain relative FX stability (and have recently changed our forecasts accordingly), allowing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to embark on accelerated and front-loaded policy easing, to boost private-sector lending.

Nigeria will rely more heavily on external borrowing, borrowing an additional USD 2.5billion in 2018 (in addition to any budget financing), to retire maturing T-bills and drive down the high cost of domestic debt service.â&#x20AC;?

In addition, realising that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weak domestic demand and sluggish implementation of the capital budget have contributed to weak import demand,â&#x20AC;? Khan said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Consequently, we revise our C/A forecasts. We now see a surplus of c.1 per cent of GDP in 2017 (0.6 per cent previously).â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;In 2018, this should return to a deficit of 0.8per cent (previously 1.2per cent) as the pace of capital expenditure steps up.

The CBN will use external borrowing to build its FX reserves, in order to reassure on the sustainability of its stable FX policy, even as it embarks on more aggressive easing. The gap between the USD-NGN (Nigerian naira) rate at the CBNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s special intervention auctions and the investors and exporters (I&E) window has narrowed substantially. However, we see little additional effort to harmonise Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s different FX rates, suggesting that the implicit fuel subsidy (derived from a more favourable FX rate of c.305 for fuel importers) will likely remain in place,â&#x20AC;? she noted.

Considering that 2018 is a pre-election year, Khan projected that the government would do a lot of spending and cut rates.

According to her, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigeria has promised a record budget for 2018, with plans to increase spending to NGN 8.6tn. To date the slow pace of budget execution has been a significant factor in negative money-supply growth.

This may change in 2018, with the hope (subject to parliamentary cooperation) that the budget will be approved early on in the year. While press reports have focused on the outsized nature of the budget (nominally up 16per cent

y/y), in real terms this does not signify much of an increase. Our concerns are two-fold: (1) how much of the NGN 8.6trillion spending plan will actually be implemented and (2) whether the revenue assumptions stack up.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigeria has long promised to focus on non-oil revenue mobilisation. The 2018 budget assumes non-oil revenue of NGN4.2trillion, and oil revenue of NGN 2.4trillion, delivering a fiscal deficit of NGN 2trillion (down, ostensibly, from 2017â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s NGN 2.4trillion). To date, however, non-oil revenue has disappointed. Nonoil revenue receipts in 2016 and 2017 failed to keep pace even with NGN depreciation, suggesting little-to-no structural improvement in tax collection.

In our view, the proposed higher rate of tax on luxury goods and hoped-for revenue momentum under the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Schemeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even factoring in an aspirational USD1 billion for the latter â&#x20AC;&#x201C; are unlikely to provide the scale needed for a sustainably wider tax base. Nigeria is likely to undershoot substantially its non-oil revenue assumption for 2018, unless there are further tax reforms,â&#x20AC;? she added.

Khan also projected that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;With oil revenue based on output (including condensate) of 2.3mb/d and a price of USD 45/bbl (we expect an average price of USD 61/bbl in 2018), oil revenue should outperform budget assumptions. Based on this, and the slow pace of spending execution so far, we lower our budget deficit forecasts to 3.6per cent and 3.2per cent of GDP in 2017 and 2018 (4.4per cent and 4.0per cent earlier).

The economist foresees accelerated and front-loaded easing.

According to her, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Given the likely effort to boost growth ahead of 2019 elections, we now see the CBN frontloading policy easing in 2018, resuming its easing cycle in March, rather than May as we previously believed.

Higher oil prices, and faster FX reserves accumulation are likely to make the CBN more comfortable that the risks to FX stability can be contained. We now see 400bps of easing in 2018, with cuts of 100bps each at the March, May, July and September meetings, taking the MPR to 10per cent by end-2018 (11per cent previously). Indeed, the recent marginal reduction in OMO yields may be an early sign of this future easing intent. Five new members will be appointed to the MPC from January, likely adding a dovish bias. Supported by a favourable base, we expect inflation to reach single digits from mid-2018.â&#x20AC;?

Nevertheless, Khan said the CBN would be expected to clarify on the extent of its deficit financing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The authorities

intend to reconcile data, netting off what is already in the Treasury Single Account held at the CBN from the support otherwise provided as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ways and meansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; financing to the FG. Despite inflationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s downward stickiness to date, this should create more confidence in future price stability, as it becomes clear that there is no excessive monetisation of the deficit.â&#x20AC;?

However, Director, Union Capital Markets Ltd, Egie Akpata, believed the Nigerian economy would likely perform better in 2018 than it did in 2017.

According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Key variables like oil price, external reserves, exchange rate and interest rates are all moving in the right direction.â&#x20AC;?

Akpata expects the interest rates to keep falling into Q1 2018 and remain relatively low till the second half of the year when they will start to trend upwards.

He expressed concern that, the reaction of foreign portfolio investors to the election build up will have an impact on actions of the CBN as far as interest rates are concerned. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Going into the election, the government will increase spending and the CBN is likely to be forced to mop up this liquidity by offering increasingly higher rates.â&#x20AC;?

But he added that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is unlikely that interest rates on treasury bills will reach the peak yield of 23per cent experienced this year but year-end rates will be substantially higher than the single digit rates in January.â&#x20AC;?

Besides, Akpata stated: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would expect an increase in corporate bond issuances in 2018 than we had in 2017. SEC regulations will limit the number of states that can access the bond market for relatively low priced money. However, in an attempt to time the market bottom a number of corporate issuers will end up waiting too long and missing the opportunity to issue at a decent rate.â&#x20AC;?

In his own analysis, CEO, The CFG Advisory Ltd, Adetilewa Adebajo, noted that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;While 2017 will see three consecutive growth number the growth of 0.8 percent projected by the IMF, it is still nowhere close to the population growth of 3 percent and the sustainable growth target must be above 6 per cent.

The bank lending portfolio has not grown in the last one year as banks prefer to mop deposit and invest in treasury bills giving Nigerian banks the largest deposit to loan spreads in the world.â&#x20AC;?

Adebajo, who believed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Without meaningful bank lending, full economic recovery will remain a mirage,â&#x20AC;? projected that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;With inflation on the way down, and government debt service at 66per cent of revenues, the pressure is on to cut rates by the end of Q1 2018.â&#x20AC;?

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ON THE EVE OF 2019 ELECTIONS!

POLITICS

Saraki

Buhari

Secondus

Mahmood

Odigie-Oyegun

People, Issues, Events that Will Shape 2018 Carried over from last year, below are some of the people, issues and events that are likely going to characterise 2018. Olawale Olaleye writes

L

ast year posed a lot of challenges, both for the leadership and the led. Although nothing completely out of reckoning, what was clearly missing in many instances has been a “blue sea leadership”, which unfortunately remains the bane of Nigeria’s development and nationbuilding. But because the challenges of 2017 were somewhat overwhelming, it left behind some of its character traits as the markers that the 2018 might have to deal with.

With these defining elements and familiar character traits of the present leadership, projections into the New Year might be easy.

But whilst some of these markers are not established as fait accompli, their existence lends credence to how the New Year could largely pan out and of course, give room for some of the extrapolations that would follow in their wake.

THE 2018 BUDGET To kick-off the New Year, expectations are

high that the 2018 budget would kick-in early enough. This is also in view of President Muhammadu Buhari’s intention to return the country to the January-December budget cycle, when he presented his 2018 budget in good time last year.

Although reactions from the National Assembly have been one of mixed feelings, the lawmakers, who had initially commended the president’s move, later discovered that some of the assumptions may not be realistic.

But whatever happens at the end of the day, an early approval of the budget is expected to further boost economic activities as early as possible. Therefore, the year is going to start with issues around the budget – legislative debate, passage of the appropriation bill and signing of the bill into law.

EKITI AND OSUN GOVERNORSHIP ELECTIONS It is public knowledge that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the dates for the 2019 elections, billed to hold on February 16 and March 2 of

next year respectively. But preceding the national elections in 2019 are two major governorship elections this year, holding in Ekiti and Osun States respectively. While the Ekiti election is scheduled to hold on July 14, 2018, that of Osun holds on September 22, 2018.

Without any jot of doubt, the elections of Ekiti and Osun would be a major pointer to the 2019 polls. Whilst these elections would provide a good platform for the two major political parties to reposition and assert themselves ahead of 2019, it would also clearly set the tone for what to expect at the general election.

RISING INSECURITY It is a no-brainer that security challenges would be one of the very ugly and seemingly helpless trends to define the 2018. And as expected, two unfortunate incidences had already happened in the New Year – in Benue and Rivers States – with scores dead.

The news that the US had elected to help the country fight insurgency is elating. Sadly, it is just one leg to the multi-faceted security

challenges the country currently faces.

From herdsmen attacks to armed robbery, kidnapping and ritual killings – insecurity is one obnoxious marker carried over, not just from 2017 but many years back.

POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS Towards the end of last year, President Buhari, after series of meetings with party men and stakeholders, promised to make more appointments and possibly expand his cabinet size just to contain the growing discontents in the party and government. Unfortunately, the first set of appointments made days ago by the president was fraught with errors of attention to details. About eight dead persons’ names were on a list said to have been put together over two years ago.

Although the presidency had apologised and promised to address the errors, it is expected, however, that more appointments would come in being the year preceding the elections of 2019 and the likelihood for government to want to patronise all the relevant tendencies is high.

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ON THE EVE OF 2019 ELECTIONS!

POLITICS

Magu

Buratai

Dasuki

El-Zakzaky

Fayose

Aregbesola

PDPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S RECONCILIATION EFFORT The new leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party led by Mr. Uche Secondus is expected to firm up its reconciliation efforts in the New Year following the aftermath of the December 9, 2017 national convention.

It is true that the reconciliatory panel led by the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, recorded significant progress last year as some of the aggrieved chairmanship aspirants had agreed to let go and join hands with the new leadership.

But the hope of a peaceful reign, at least for now, may have been jeopardised by the recalcitrant few, who had gone ahead to set up a new PDP, because they were not happy with the handling of the convention that produced the Secondus-led leadership.

Efforts to contain the brewing in-house tension will dominate some of PDPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities in the new year.  PRESIDENTIAL GLADIATORS With just about a year to next year â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s general election, one of the developments likely to typify the political space is the emergence of more and more presidential hopefuls in the thinking that President Muhammadu Buhari is beatable if the current mood of the nation is anything to ponder. Although the president is yet to formally indicate his intention to seek re-election or not, there are clear signals that he might likely run. But that has still not stifled those also eyeing his job. So, there would be more gladiators hopping on the turf as the 2019 elections draw close.  SARAKIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TRIAL Better described as a cat with unlimited lives, the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, is one man, who has proven to be

a hard nut to crack. From landing into an insidious crisis immediately after he won his election as Senate president, the senate president has fought many successful battles. From the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Saraki weathered the storm of alleged political persecution and still standing tall. However, with last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Appeal Court ruling which agreed with the judgment of the CCT and struck out 15 of the 18-count charge dismissed by CCT, the retrial of the three other charges is certainly going to continue this year, whether or not it would remain a distraction to his personal cause and career.  THE CHIBOK GIRLS Four years after their abduction from Chibok, Borno State, there are still over a hundred girls still stuck with their abductors in different parts of northern Nigeria and across the bordering countries.

The promised rescue of the Chibok girls was a major campaign tool for the APC in 2015 and one unfortunate factor that undid the PDP. As it is, it remains one issue that the APC would have to deal with in this New Year and during the elections. And with about 106 girls so far released, rescued or found wandering, government has promised to put in more effort for their release in this Year.  KANU AND PARENTS STILL MISSING Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has been missing since his family house in Arochukwu, Abia State was raided by the military in September of 2017. The recriminations that trailed his whereabouts have left

everyone even more clueless.

But particularly disturbing is that it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just Kanu that is missing, his two parents who are traditional rulers in their community, also disappeared with him.

Certainly, news of his whereabouts will continue to make headlines this year.  DASUKI AND EL-ZAKZAKYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DETENTION Two people â&#x20AC;&#x201C; former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki and leader of the Shiite Muslim group, Sheikh Ibrahim El-zakzaky â&#x20AC;&#x201C; had been in detention since Buhari assumed office and on different charges. While Dasuki is kept in detention on charges of corruption relating to arms deal under President Goodluck Jonathan, El-zakzay is being held behind bars for allegedly disturbing the peace of his community after his group had a bloody clash with the military. In spite of the different court orders approving their release, the Buhari government has remained adamant. They are both in their third year in detention and it is almost certain that their matter would continue to be an issue this year.  THE RESTRUCTURING DEBATE One of the debates that shaped political discourse last year was the need for restructuring, a development that has been more or less forced on the government of the day as the ruling party was compelled to set up a committee led by the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-rufai, an opponent of restructuring, to ponder the idea and how best the APC could help structure it. Unfortunately and perhaps, because of the disposition of El-rufai, not much

progress has been made as far as the restructuring debate is concerned. But clearly, it is not going away anytime soon and would remain one of the discussions to define 2018, going forward.  THE WAR ON CORRUPTION The fight against corruption was and remains one of Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign jokers.

There is no gainsaying the fact that corruption is endemic and also systemic.

It was no wonder that many trusted Buhari with the promise to decimate the scourge if elected president in 2015.

But almost three years after assuming office, the fight against graft  has continued to be trailed by allegations of persecution and selective prosecution.

The war against corruption hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t yielded as much as expected. But the political season is here again. Thus, how the concerned government agencies like the EFCC and ICPC handle matters of corruption will be an issue in the New Year as 2019 inches closer.  APCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ELUSIVE CONVENTION For almost two years, the APC has consistently failed to hold a national convention being a major prerequisite in political party administration. Although for the obvious fear of a likely backlash, the party is believed to have stylishly avoided holding the exercise. But, as it is, the party can no longer run away from it.

Whether or not the APC likes it, a national convention is inevitable this year and the outcome, to a very serious degree would shape a lot of things in the party, including the poorly managed but present and palpable malcontents in the party.

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JANUARY 7, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

ON THE EVE OF 2019 ELECTIONS!

ARTS

A Whiff of Expectations For the Nigerian arts world in 2018, it’s a mixed air of exciting expectations and uncertainties, writes Yinka Olatunbosun

T

he past year offered a few clues as to what to expect in 2018. A number of annual art traditions were broken while some laudable comebacks were recorded. A few art events are struggling to keep the fire burning. Let’s skip the pages to the part where celebrations are inevitable.

For the art community, it will be a great sin against the memory of highlife legend, Rex Lawson to forget the man behind his signature conga beats- Chief Tony Odili.

Arguably the oldest music artist in Nigeria, Odili turns 90 this January. The sad news is that he lives in penury since the death of his former band leader, Lawson, especially when he sustained a major injury after a fatal boat mishap on his hands. But the good news is that is he alive and active with the drums and there are plans to celebrate the man this year.

The British Council Nigeria usually sets the pace in making theatre come alive every March with the Lagos Theatre Festival.

In the meantime, the cultural institution beckons at two West African artists for an international residency program that will last for several months.

Also, the biggest visual art event of the year, Art X holds a certainty spot on the art calendar. The audience will be larger.

To accommodate a bigger audience for the talk sessions, Art X may be looking at expanding the venue with satellite venues in view.

Keeping up with the April global tradition in music, the Lagos International Jazz Festival is expected to return with an iconic musician at the centre of celebration and unexpected headliners. Last year, the fuji music King, Abass Akande Obesere was a pleasant surprise. The headliners are usually confirmed about two months to the show.

With Felabration, the 2017 edition is yet to get a competition. This year, Fela’s 80th posthumous birthday will be celebrated in filmography, lectures, contests, performances and studio albums by new generation of artists.

Inside the literary art, the Lagos Book and Art Festival will honour another distinguished Nigerian, who is either an artist or an author who has contributed to the development of arts in Nigeria. In Abeokuta, the literati will gather for the annual literary feast, Ake Book and Art Festival. While some meal tickets from the previous editions still occupy the corners of our bags, it is expected that the stakeholders in the media who have effectively contributed to the knowledge economy over the years will be part of this edition.

Music will offer more exciting collaborations and rivalries. Although the previous year ended with the surprise reunion of Wizkid and Davido on stage, breaking the jinx of two rivers that never mix, it is expected that there will be some lingering “beef’’ such as Paul and Peter of P-square if the fundamentals principles of private and public image in music artistry are not applied. The Music Society of Nigeria (MUSON) is expected to bring more to the table this year with the annual concert and talk sessions.

While still holding true to the culture of promoting pure classical music, MUSON will show a more contemporary tilt with very promising headliners, depending on the availability of sponsors. One of the concerns of MUSON Concert organisers is that classical music does not readily get sponsorship as popular music.

Meanwhile, the show is an eye-opener on the undocumented number of Nigerians who relish classical music.

In photography, there will be more contests, photo festivals and workshops.

National Art Theatre

With LagosPhoto serving as the touchbearer, other photography events will sustain the burning flame in emerging and established photographers. From selfies to showbiz, this industry is to be taken seriously just as the documentary film in Nigeria has been. Typically, the IREP Documentary Film Festival holds a monthly film screening in Lagos in collaboration with the Goethe Institute Nigeria. The frequency of screenings had reduced in the previous year but with the week-long film festival, movie buffs will discover new truths in films that are presented at the festival with a usual venue- Freedom Park.

Also, the Vision of the Child is a visual art event that unearths hidden artistic talent in children. In the previous edition, it included a writing contest with a theme selected by the convener and Nobel Laureate, Prof.

Wole Soyinka. This unfailing tradition continues this year.

For the theatre, uncertainty trails the existence of the National Theatre as calls are rising for its sale following the years of misuse and neglect by its management.

While the number of artists in Nigeria is on the rise, the lack of proper venues built for performing arts is worrisome. Instead of revitalizing the once cultural hub with all year performances, the National Theatre has effectively served as a local pub, with large vacant auditorium at each entrance surrounded by thorn-filled grasses waiting to be pruned.

In recent years, the National Gallery of Arts, domiciled in the National Theatre Complex offered no show. It is very disappointing for any tourist who expects to be guided by a poster announcing the shows for the season but meets only an obituary of an artist whose funeral has long been forgotten. Worse still, the heavy presence of trucks inward Eko Bridge and Ijora axis is making the National Theatre inaccessible and obviously, the sale of the edifice is not the solution to this and other lingering infrastructural and logistical challenges that may have contributed to the fall of the National Theatre from the place of glory.

The greatest optimism in Nigerian theatre tradition comes from the private sector. In the past year, Nigeria theatre became a major cultural export with Kakadu the musical, WAKAA and Saro the musical in international shows.

This year, more international shows are expected to hold in London and other major cities in the world while

Fela and his queens

Live painting at Art X Lagos

new theatre venues are expected to be launched in Lagos. The return of Terra Kulture as Terra Arena is still a talk-ofthe-town as many theatre performances had been produced on the stage.

While the anticipation of a new contemporary museum of arts is high, it can be said that the construction of the Omooba Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Contemporary Arts at the Pan-Atlantic University, Ibeju-Lekki is close to

completion and may be open to the public this year. Shyllon, a very famed Nigerian art collector in Nigeria is donating some of the works in his private collection to this unique museum.

Next year, the Living Legend Project will celebrate the Obi of Onitsha at its 10th year anniversary edition. The founder of the project, Olu Ajayi also promised to take art to his hometown, Ososo, Edo State for youth empowerment.

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SPORTS

Russia World Cup Set to be Highlight of Nigerian Sports in 2018 Demola Ojo

I

tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another World Cup year and this time more than in recent years, Nigerians are optimistic of a successful outing, probably better than any other edition. This, despite the fact Nigeria have been drawn in a group some pundits see as the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;group of deathâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; alongside two time champions and last editionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finalists Argentina, a very talented Croatia side and giant killing Iceland.

The optimism stems from the way the Eagles navigated their qualification for global sportsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; premier event: Nigeria came top in a group that included African champions Cameroon, a tough Zambian side that eventually finished second, and a highly â&#x20AC;&#x201C;rated Algeria side that were number one in Africa at the time of the draw. The Eagles were so good that they could afford to qualify even after they were penalised three points for fielding an ineligible player in their last game against Algeria.

If the World Cup is the highlight of the year, the match against Argentina â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the last of the group stages â&#x20AC;&#x201C; will be a fitting climax and a marker of how much the Eagles have progressed in recent years.

For the umpteenth time, both teams have been drawn together in the same group, with Argentina superstar and Barcelona stalwart, Javier Mascherano describing the fixture as a World Cup Clasico.

The match slated for June 26 at the St Petersburg stadium would be the fifth time in six World Cups that Nigeria would be playing the South American giants. In 1994, a Diego Maradona inspired team came froma goal down to win 2-1 courtesy of a Claudio Cannigia brace. In 2002, Gabriel Batistuta made the difference with a lone goal. In 2010, it was a Gabriel Heinze goal that separated both teams while Lionel Messi helped his team defeat the Eagles 3-2 in 2014.

In fact the only occasions the Eagles have won have been in friendly games. The most recent â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a friendly in Russia last month â&#x20AC;&#x201C; gives cause for optimism. A young Nigerian team came from two goals down to beat a strong Argentine team 4-2. Lionel Messi was the only superstar to miss the game for the Argentines.

The rivalry between both countries goes beyond the senior level though. Argentina prevailed over Nigeria in the final game of the FIFA Under 21 tournament in 2005, in what was Lionel Messiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (and Mikel Obiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) breakout tournament. ZThree years later at the Beijing Olympics, the same players were central characters as the Argentines won gold at the expense of their Nigerian counterparts with the same scoreline as in 2005: 1-0.

Incidentally, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest success onn the global football stage was against Argentina. The victorious Olympic team of 1996 won the gold medal match against a star-studded Argentina 3-2, after previously dispatching Brazil 4-3 in an epic semi-final. It is safe to say (and concur with sports experts) that the June 26 game at the Russia 2018 World Cup would be one of the most anticipated

The match slated for June 26 at the St Petersburg stadium would be the ďŹ fth time in six World Cups that Nigeria would be playing the South American giants

Nigeria vs Argentina bound to be the highpoint of sports in 2018

in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sports calendar. Already, the match has been touted as one of the top ten games to see in the competition.

Staying with football, 2018 might be the year when a Nigerian player goes on to be the very best on the continent if they continue their upward trajectory. The World Cup would be an oppoprtunity for Premier League stars like Victor Moses and Alex Iwobi to increase their stock as they play central parts in the fortunes of their respective teams, Chelsea and Arsenal. Both have become central to their teams exploits and just need to step up a notch to be genuine global superstars.

A few youngsters to look out for include Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Osimhen, Ola AIna and possibly, Tosin Adarabioyo.

They are indicative of a bright future for Nigerian football.

Moving away from football, Nigfterians can look forward to the exploits of world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua.

Admittedly, Joshua fights under the British flag, the country he represented and won ogold for at the London 2012 Olympics. However, Joshuaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s penchant to identify with the nation of his birth has made hime a Nigerian hero and every staep he makes in 2018 will be keenly followed, supported and applauded in Nigeria.

The WBA and IBF champion is bound take centre stage in2018 with defences of his title and unification bouts in the works. Three names that are on the shortlist of possible contenders include WBO champion, Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Joseph Parker, which is seen as the most likely fight to take place.

However, the boxing World is smacking its lips at the prospect of Joshua taking on WBC champion, Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Deontay Wilder, who has a record of 38-0 with 37 knockouts. The fearsome boxer has been making the right noises and calling Joshua out in a fashion that suggests a face-off is just a matter of time.

Meanwhile, former champion, jthe undefeated Tyson Fury who has just been cleared to resume his boxing career after being stripped of his titles is waiting the wings. The towering boxer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at 6ft 9inches â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is seen as the greatest threat to

Joshuaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dominance as long as he gets back in shape. According to Fury, all he has to do to regain his belts is to outbox â&#x20AC;&#x153;a bunch of bodybuildersâ&#x20AC;?.

TO kick off the excitement this year would be the Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic participation at the Winter Olympics in the relatively little known sport of bobsled.

The trio of Segun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga completed the required races to qualify for the PyeongChang Olympics in South Korea, becoming the first Africans to do so.

They were former US-based sprinters who through personal efforts defied all odds to make it to the competition. Through massive campaigning and marketing, they crowd-funded the $150, 000 required to fund their efforts in the races.

Now they are stars in their own right and their stock can only increase when the competition commences; regardless of their performance at the Olympics, they have made history and a are source of pride and inspiration to their fellow citizens, especially women.

The participation of the bobsled team at the Olympics will be keenly followed

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T H I S D AY ˾ SUNDAY JANUARY 7, 2018

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SUNDAYSPORTS

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

Barcelona Buy Coutinho from Liverpool for £142m

B

arcelona will sign Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho in a £142m deal, one of the most expensive transfers of all time. The Reds are expected to receive £105m up front - a British record - for the 25-year-old Brazil international, with the rest in realistic add-ons.

The playmaker will sign a five-and-half year deal at the Nou Camp and will have a buyout clause of 400m euros (£355m). He joined Liverpool from Inter Milan for £8.5m in January 2013, The final deal will be eclipsed only by the £200m Paris St-Germain paid Barcelona for Neymar last summer, and the £165.7m Kylian Mbappe will cost PSG at the end of his initial loan spell from Monaco.

Coutinho stayed behind on Merseyside while final negotiations were concluded as his Liverpool team-mates flew to Dubai for a mid-season break.

“In the next hours we will inform you of the details of the player’s arrival and presentation,” the Spanish club said in a statement yesterday.

Liverpool rejected three Barca bids and a transfer request from the player during the summer transfer window.

The last of Barcelona’s three bids was £118m - which included add-ons totalling in excess of £30m based on Coutinho winning the Ballon d’Or and other built-in clauses.

Coutinho only signed a new five-year deal, which did not include a release clause, with the Anfield club last January.

“It is no secret that Philippe has wanted this move to happen since July, when Barcelona first made their interest known,” said Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

“Philippe was insistent with me, the owners and even his team-mates this was a move he was desperate to make happen.”

Klopp said the club had “hoped” they would be able to persuade the player to stay, adding: “The club did everything within our means to convince Philippe that remaining part of Liverpool was as attractive as moving to Spain.

“It is with great reluctance that we - as a team and club - prepare to say farewell to a good

Coutinho

friend, a wonderful person and a fantastic player in Coutinho.

“The relationship we have for him means with a heavy heart we wish him well.”

The player has a minor thigh injury and missed the club’s past two games, including Friday’s FA Cup third-round win against Everton.

He will not be eligible to play for Barcelona in their Champions League last-16 tie against Chelsea, having already played a key role in Liverpool’s qualification for the knockout phase.

Coutinho’s name briefly appeared on a Nike advert for Barcelona shirts last week before being removed. When Rafael Benitez introduced new signing Philippe Coutinho to the Italian media in the summer of 2010, he declared the Brazilian “the future of Inter Milan”.

Former Liverpool team-mate, and now Barcelona colleague, Luis Suarez said he gave the Reds “faith in having the ball”. He said: “His technical ability is so good. You knew that he wouldn’t lose it, you knew that he would produce something special with it, that he would always chose the right pass.”

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, who coached Coutinho when he was on loan at Espanyol, said the Brazilian “has a special magic in his feet”, adding: “Philippe has a special magic in his feet. I do think he has that same quality that Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi have.”

Former striker Careca compared Coutinho’s creative ability to that of another Brazil legend: “He reminds me of Zico.”

Federer, Bencic Win Hopman Cup for Switzerland Switzerland’s Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic beat Germany’s Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber to win the Hopman Cup for the first time since 2001.

Federer went a set down to Zverev in the opener, but the 19-time Grand Slam champion recovered to win 6-7 (4-7) 6-0 6-2 and give Switzerland a 1-0 lead.

Kerber then beat Bencic 6-4 6-1 to level the tie, before the Swiss team took the doubles match 4-3 (5-3) 4-2.

“I am so thrilled, so happy - Belinda you played amazing,” said Federer.

Bencic added: “This is a dream come true for me and I couldn’t wish for a better partner. I’ll never forget this week, it’s absolutely incredible.

“I so enjoyed being back. It’s a great preparation for the Australian Open.”

Federer was joined by Martina Hingis when Switzerland last won the trophy in Perth 17 years ago, while the last German triumph came in 1995.

“It’s amazing,” he added. “My week with Martina Hingis at the time is a little like what it must be like for Belinda. I didn’t know then what my career was going to be like.”

WORLD’S BIGGEST TRANSFERS

£200m - Neymar (Barcelona to Paris StGermain) 2017 £165.7m - *Kylian Mbappe (Monaco to PSG - *loan deal with option to buy) 2017 £142m - Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool to Barcelona) 2018 £135.5m - Ousmane Dembele (Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona) 2017 £89m - Paul Pogba (Juventus to Manchester United) 2016

NEWS XTRA

Delta Council Poll Causes Heavy Gridlock on Niger Bridge Omon Julius-Onabu in Asaba and David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka It was a harrowing experience for travellers heading from South-east and South-south to other parts of the country on Saturday as they were stuck on the Onitsha end of the River Niger Bridge for several hours due to the closure of the bridge for the Delta State local government election.

Most of the stranded travellers were holidaymakers who were

returning to their bases in other parts of the country.

THISDAY reporter who monitored the traffic gridlock noted that movement on the bridge was restricted at exactly midnight Friday. And by midday on Saturday, the gridlock had stretched several kilometers.

Anambra State government, which had envisaged the distruptions that the closure of the bridge would cause travellers, had on Friday issued a travel advice to its

indigenes returning to their bases to use alternative routes.

The state government in a release by Mr. Tony Nnachetta, Commissioner for Information and Communication Strategy, had warned that, “As a result of local government elections which is scheduled to hold this Saturday, 6th January 2018 in Delta state, the Delta state government has announced that curfew will be in place in the state effective midnight on Friday.

“The curfew will affect movements into and out of Delta State including its borders and connecting roads with Anambra State.

“Ndi Anambra are therefore advised to take note of this development and make adequate travel arrangements to avoid being stranded, as they make plans to return to their various places of residence after the Christmas and New Year celebrations.”

A similar statement by the Federal

Road Safety Corps had also notified motorists that, ”Elections will be conducted in 25 local government areas of Delta state on 06/01/18.

There will be restrictions on vehicular movement from 6:00hrs to 15:00hrs.”

The FRSC statement also said, “The roads will be closed at the boundaries between Edo and Delta States as well as between Delta and Anambra States respectively from 6:00hrs till 15:00hrs. Motorists from Edo axis are advised to go through

Warri- East-West roads – PortharcourtAnambra.

“Similarly, motorists from Anambra are advised to go through Enugu- Ajaokuta – Okene – Akure – Ibadan.”

Human and vehicular traffic traffic started building up as early as 7am, at the Onitsha end of the bridge.as security personnel who manned the bridge refused them access as they insisted that movement had been restricted.

4 Feared Dead in Prophecy: Ajose Warns Buhari, Dawn Attack in Taraba Tinubu to Adhere to Medications The Taraba Police Command has confirmed the burial of four persons on Saturday in Jalingo following a dawn attack by an armed militia on three Fulani communities in Lau Local Government Area of the state.

But a resident of one of the affected communities said 15 people were buried at Jalingo cemetery.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP David Misal, said those that carried out the attacks were yet to be identified, adding that no arrest has been made. The spokesman called for calm and assured residents that security agencies were investigating the incident with a view to arresting and prosecuting the culprits.

The News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN) gathered that the attack was launched at about 6 a.m on Jan. 6. The villages attacked by the suspected militia were Babagasa, Donadda and Katibu, which shared common boundary with Adamawa.

A resident of Katibu, Mallam Bello Isa, who narrowly escaped the attack, told NAN that many people in his village were killed and houses set ablaze. Isa explained that so far bodies of 15 persons killed in the attacks were recovered and buried at about 10 a.m at the Jalingo Cemetery.

He said many people including women and children were still missing, adding that security agents were yet to be deployed to the area.

“The armed militia whom we

identified as Bachama and Nyandang, came to our village at about 6 a.m today and said their cows were stolen, and before we could reply them, they started shooting and setting our houses ablaze.

“We are residents of the area and have no any misunderstanding with our neighbours who are Nyandang but we are Fulani by tribe but not herders, yet we came under attacks for no offence,” Isa said.

A resident of Donada village, Malam Kallamu Mohammed, who also escaped with gun shots, said they were surrounded by the militia whom they also suspected to be Bachama and Nyandang, early Saturday morning.

Abimbola Akosile

A former chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ikeja chapter and General Overseer of Prophetic Prayer Ministries International Bishop Theophilus Ajose has warned President Muhammadu Buhari to adhere strictly to his medication as prescribed by his doctors otherwise his health would deteriorate in 2018, which may lead to further complications.

According to his new year prophecies which he tagged, “2018 - Year of enforcement of Divine prophecies and a new world order’’, Bishop Ajose maintained that some of Buhari’s trusted aides

shall betray him in 2018.

He urged President Buhari to pray against food poisoning and betrayal from within his “loyalists; adding that there shall be series of resignation from his cabinet and government officers of his government in the second and third half of 2018.”

For former governor of Lagos state, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ajose said the story of party and loyalists betrayals shall continue to trail him. He, however, urged the APC National Leader to pray to the Lord for divine wisdom so that he would not continue to be used as a political scaffold.

Speaking on Tinubu further, the

bishop said, “He should protect his family from politics and political arrows if he must enjoy the peace he desperately needs at this latter part of his life and destiny. He also needs to watch his health seriously in 2018.”

Ajose said in spite of present economic crisis, 2018 shall usher in a period of prosperity and wealth more than the world has ever known since the time of King Solomon!

He said “two of Nigeria’s elder statesmen shall “go home” in 2018.

The world and the nation shall miss them. A great world leader shall die in the first half of 2018. A governor shall be impeached in the second half of the year.”

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High Life

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...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich and famous

Fola Adeola Hits 64

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ike the North wind blowing across the Atlantic, Tajudeen Fola Adeolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s astounding records manifest as inscriptions teaching all and sundry the pathway to being an illustrious mogul and distinguished gentleman. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simply breathtaking the way in which his records speak for him. Thus, no amount of celebration would be too much or preparation too grand to appreciate the eminence of the corporate guru, a man of remarkable renown. Fola himself understands this much; that is why he is leaving no stone unturned to celebrate his 64th birthday in a few days time, precisely on January 10. Like a dome of multi-coloured glass, the life and times of Fola, former MD of

Guaranty Trust Bank, illuminate enlightening anecdotes for anyone who cares enough to view it. The anecdotes are as timeless as they are golden, thus as he turns 64 on January 10, family, friends and loyalists of Adeola are pulling all the stops to make his forthcoming anniversary a grand celebration. In 2002, Fola voluntarily retired from Guaranty Trust Bank after 12 years, successfully handing over to his deputy, Tayo Aderinokun. Since then, Fola has served as the chairman or board member of a range of institutions including UTC, ARM, Lotus Capital, Eterna Oil, CardinalStone Partners Limited, Tafsan Breweries (board member) and Credit Registry Services.

Fola Adeola is also the chairman of Main One Cable Company Limited.

Fola Adeola

Funnily enough, angels fly because they take themselves lightly. They do not think too much of themselves, so does Titilola. Like an angel, she takes herself very lightly despite her social standing. There is no gainsaying she affects demeanour and tact alien to Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s league of leading women among the upper class; she wears her badge of temperance and humility in the shape of a bow of ribbon.

EL-ALANSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; WONDER! AMAZING FOOTPRINT OF CONSTRUCTION GENII, ANDRE GEDAY AND ALEX NADER

Bimbo Philip

BFF...FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN BIMBO PHILIP AND TITI ADENUGA The people we get along with, trust and feel simpatico with are the strongest links in our networks.

Ask UK-based, Bimbo Philip, the beautiful wife of Folarin Philip, she knows. There is no union of hearts that does not meet its end; friends after friends leave each other, but comrades in true spirit stay. With them, the deep, tightly woven fabric of affection glistens even with wear and the inescapable vicissitudes of companionship and emotional life. This much is exemplified in the enviable friendship between Titilola Adenuga, the joyfully beautiful wife of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s richest billionaire extraordinaire, and Bimbo Philip.

Little wonder you see both of them together like Siamese twins. Few

Titi Adenuga

women are wrought like these two beautiful women. They garnish love with meekness and extend sweet, silky hands of affection to their loved ones. Titilola does not discriminate in love and generosity to Bimboâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children. There is no gainsaying Bimbo who works with the government in London exemplifies a totally modern yet timeless construct of audaciousness and femininity, which manifests as a blend of dashing individuality, genius and noble pedigree. Folk who are familiar with her beginnings and ascent earnestly attest to her industry. She worked hard to attain her current status and she is far removed from the contemporary alpha female stereotype that glorifies flamboyance, self-aggrandizement and narcissism above substance.

House Number 4, Bourdillon Road looks like the footprint of a gigantic hound, the proof of greatness of irrefutable genius. The structure looms majestically under the azure sky; although it is currently at its 15th floor, builders and minders of the project are eager to raise it to its 25th floor. Predictably, the edifice has become the major attraction in the highbrow Ikoyi neighbourhood; construction gurus and laymen troop to the site to study it, marvel and take pictures. Everybody is in agreement concerning the genius that went into the project from inception hence they continually give kudos to the brains behind the project; Andre Geday and Alex Nader. The name of their company is EL-ALAN Construction Company (Nigeria) Limited. They are notable for mind blowing projects and their intention to never cut corners. Andre has been the Managing Director of EL-ALAN since inception. Prior to joining the Company, he was operations manager, project manager and site supervisor at NICOHO Limited. He is also a director of VACC Technical Limited, Soft Solutions Nigeria

Limited, Panther Investments Nigeria Limited, Provast Limited and Alan Caray Limited. Andre graduated from Nottingham University, England (1979) with a BSc in Production Engineering. He also holds an MSc in Construction Management from the University of Loughborough, England. Alex Nader on the other hand, has been the contracts director of EL-ALAN since inception. Prior to joining the Company, he was site engineer at NICOHO Limited. Alex is also a director of VACC Technical Limited, Soft Solutions Nigeria Limited, Panther Investments Nigeria Limited, Provast Limited and Alan Caray Limited. Alex graduated from the Engineering University of ESIB, Lebanon (1981) with a MSc in Civil and Structural Engineering. ELALAN was founded in April 1982 as a private limited liability company; today, the company is one of the fastest growing and most dynamic construction and civil engineering companies in Nigeria. For over three decades it has delivered high quality integrated construction solutions.

Not only is its 25-floor edifice one of its many breathtaking projects across the country, pundits aver that it is one of a very rare kind given its build quality and immensity.

AGONY OF A FATHER! OKOROCHAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FIRST SON SLUMPS, FLOWN ABROAD FOR TREATMENT But for patronising fate, Aham Okorocha, would have suffered that short, transitory spasm which consequence manifests as death.

Few nights ago, he evaded the long, cold clasp of death. Yes, its often said, decay and disease are never beautiful they bring perfect misery

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HIGHLIFE

Dear God, Shame My Husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Enemies!

Ayo Fayoseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wife Blows Hot Ëž Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C; Ă&#x2122;Ă Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2022;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D;ËŞĂ? ĂĄĂ&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D;ËŞĂ? Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă?

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he is the rampart that stabilises his floundering ship amid a sea of storms. According to very close friends, political associates and family, Feyisetan, wife of Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, is the only reason God showers his infinite mercies on the controversial governor and chieftain of the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Democratic Party (PDP). And in true consonance with their claims, the wife of Ekiti governor recently lent her voice in support of her embattled husband.

On Tuesday, she threw caution

to the wind and prayed publicly to God, asking Him to shame all the people working against her husband. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to plead with everyone, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hunt for the downfall of this government, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even try it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;God is looking at you, and God is watching. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hunt for the failure of continuity.

Why? Because our God is God of continuity, our leader is carrying the unusual grace; if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be disgraced, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hunt for the downfall of this government, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hunt for the failure of continuity, I have said my own.â&#x20AC;?

to the fairest of mortalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; imperfect body and soul, like the translucent tear of the shellfish and the hectic glow of high fever. Ask Governor Rochas Okorocha, he knows better now. It almost snuffed life out of his Son, Aham, and cast his family in the vicious grip of inconsolable grief some days ago. About the same period President Muhammadu Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son was hospitalised after a bike accident, the first son of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state, Aham Brendan also took ill and flown overseas for urgent medical attention. This was disclosed last Sunday afternoon at Uburu, Ebonyi State at the country home of former governor of old Abia State and serving minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, during an all-important South-East zonal meeting of the All Progressive Congress (APC). It was observed that the Imo state chairman of the APC,

Chief Hilary Eke, was the only state chairman of the party missing at the event while Governor Okorochaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conspicuous absence was excused by the host, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. While presenting his goodwill message to the party leaders, Onu explained the absence of Okorocha, saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had been in communication with Governor Okorocha and he had assured me that he would attend this meeting but sometime last week, the governor called me to explain that he may not be able to attend after all as his son had taken ill and had been hospitalized in London.â&#x20AC;? Also, Government House sources, however, confirmed that during the Christmas week, Aham Okorocha, a first Class Engineer, had slumped and had to be rushed to a hospital and subsequently flown overseas for treatment. He was accompanied by the governor and the Imo First lady.

Feyisetan Fayose

LUCKIEST DUDE EVER! FEMI PEDROâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S POLITICAL RESURGENCE Former Deputy Governor of Lagos, Femi Pedro, is gradually inching his way back to political reckoning. The former Chief Executive Officer of First Atlantic Bank was drafted from the banking industry to become deputy governor of Lagos State after the then governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, caused his former deputy, Kofoworola Bucknor, to be impeached. But power has a way of intoxicating people so badly that they misbehave at the peril of everything they ever worked for. In the run up to the 2007 elections, Pedro parted ways with Tinubu over his ambition to succeed the latter. At that time however, Tinubu had pitched his tent with the candidature of former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

Pedro was far too sulked into his own self-importance to heed any advice

against quarrelling with Tinubu. He defected to the Labour Party and later resigned as deputy governor to concentrate on his governorship ambition. He lost abysmally. But the lessons were not learnt. By 2011, Pedro had defected to the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Democratic Party, PDP, where he hoped to realise his ambition. He did not even win at the primaries, which was won by then unknown Ade Dosunmu. Since then, he has been in a political limbo of sort. Luckily enough for him, when he approached the leadership of the All Progressivesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Congress, APC, to admit him into their fold, he was warmly received.

Just as the days of old, Pedro is back to being at the right hand of Tinubu wherever he goes. Sources whisper that the prayers of Pedro who was just angling to get a political appointment that would re-launch him, has been answered. He was appointed as the chairman of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria.

FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY...HOW PR OFFICERS BETRAY BANK CHIEFS, COMPANY CEOS FOR MONEY

Okorocha and Aham

Femi Pedro

There is a Judas in every firm, an Iscariot, betrayer of trust in trying times. In trust, he excites treason. And there is no meaner portrait of him than the ubiquitous Corporate Affairs Manager or Director, Public Relations.

The latter, with studied sly, ensnaring wiles and subterfuge, betrays the trust of his employer and on a whim. Thus many a company CEO (Chief Executive Officer) has been destroyed and reduced to nothing by the leader of the internal PR unit.

Knowing the importance of their office to every organisation, Corporate Affairs Managers exploit their privileged position

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HIGHLIFE

Why Folashade Tinubu-Ojo Opted for Motherhood through Surrogate Mom Ëž Ă&#x2122;ĂĄ Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;ËŞĂ? ʨĂ&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x153; ĂĄĂ&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă?Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D;ËŞĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17D;

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newborn brings joy to matrimony.

Ask Sade TinubuOjo; having been denied the joy an infant brings to wedlock for too long, the first daughter of Bola Tinubu, All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader and two-time governor of Lagos, put her hopes in surrogacy. Her final resort has paid off, and the surrogate mom she contracted to carry an egg fertilized with her husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sperm, has finally put to bed, blessing her home with a bouncing baby boy.

After many attempts of having a baby via other reproductive means, Shade and her husband decided to try the route of surrogacy. She contracted another woman to bear in her womb, an egg that had been fertilised by her husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sperm.

The pregnancy reached full term this month and the baby was born on December 25, Christmas day. Speculations that Shade isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the actual birth to advantage. Often times, they surreptitiously release damaging information about their employers and company CEOs to the press.

Then they urge the journalists and bloggers to paint the social space red with scandalous and sensational news pertaining to the scoop. They empower shady pressmen on their payroll to blackmail their bosses and extort money from them in exchange for silence over the scandalous stories.

It is however, interesting to see the PR managers lie to their bosses and collect huge sums of money, often running into millions, to reach out to the journalists and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;killâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;stopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the publication of damaging news about the victims.

It is an open secret that this racket persists by the designs of corrupt company PR officers. Findings revealed that senior bank chiefs across the country are often on the receiving end of the swindle. Several bank chiefs have lost their homes and suffered damaging dents to their reputation as a result of the devious exploits of their Corporate Affairs Managers. Consequently, pundits aver that bank chiefs and private firmsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CEOs should take precautionary measures to protect themselves from their companiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; PR directors. The latter are also known to request kickbacks from journalists and media advert executives whenever they give out advertisements to the media.

5 YEARS AFTERâ&#x20AC;Ś.EHIME AIKHOMUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WIDOW, TITI, REMARRIES Ehime Aikhomu, the son of late

mother of the child rent the air following a PM News report confirming presence at the commissioning of the Johnson, Jakande, Tinubu (JJT) Park three weeks ago without any visible trace of pregnancy. Folasade reportedly cut the tape for the commissioning of the project in the presence of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and other dignitaries within and outside Lagos. Folasade who is currently the leader of market men and women in Nigeria, welcomed her son together with her ecstatic husband. Shade and her hubby have been married for many years and had been waiting for a child. The naming ceremony of the baby has been fixed for Monday, January 1, 2018.

Now that Shade has eventually achieved her wish to become a mother, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hope she becomes the greatest mother ever.

Perhaps she would seek to have more children; after all, it is said that no woman ever wishes to give up motherhood after having once tasted its fruits.

Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, who died with 152 others in the ill-fated Dana aircraft crash, is probably happy that his widow Titi has found someone else and moved on with her life. Whatever the case with the dead and apparently forgotten dude whose wife has moved on, his friends and family would never forget how his widow, Titi, looked distraught in the wake of his death.

So devastated was Titi that hardly anyone imagined that she would get over her beloved husband, Ehime, so soon and thereafter remarry five years after. The marriage ceremony which was well attended by Titiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friends and family generated a buzz in high society as everyone marveled at her rapid evolution from a distressed widow to a beautiful bride. It would be recalled that when Ehime plunged into eternal sleep, Titiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sad, heartrending tears and lamentation evoked pity from friends and family who spared no niceties in eulogising her late husband.

Titiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes were bloodshot as she succumbed to grief and the immense weight of her loss. Those who could among her loved ones fought back tears and those who couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t joined the widow in wailing.

Everybody attested to Ehimeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sweet nature and the enviable love he shared with Titi. Not a few people acknowledged that throughout his life, Ehime retained his essential humility and a sense of perspective and proportion. He was as gracious as he was polite and he never shied from becoming the life of the party in every social gathering, be it a club, family reunion or any other social function.

Folashade Tinubu-Ojo

The coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friends and family understood the depth of their love for each other hence they tried to make sense of the magnitude of pain and loss Titi was forced to bear at the sudden departure of her husband.

Watching his wife, Titi, bemoan her fate, you could feel and touch her grief. Fast forward to 2017, a few weeks ago to be precise, and you have a colourful picture of Titi laughing heartily and swaying to the melody of her newfound love, in the arms of another man with whom she currently shares a pulse.

WILL DAPO OJORA HEED HIS FRIENDSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CALL? Dapo Ojora dreads the limelight as the buffalo dreads the gnat. The high society socialite and scion of the prestigious Lagos family, the Ojoras, keeps a wide berth from publicity and the social scene even as you read.

Thus with the demeanor of a hermit, he evades the brilliant blaze of media mention and klieg lights. But what could be responsible for the once bubbly socialiteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sudden withdrawal from the social scene?

Findings revealed that Dapo decided to take a long break from the social scene immediately after he survived a bike accident. It would be recalled that he gave his family, friends and other loved ones a terrible scare in the wake of the ghastly accident; too many of them feared he would not survive the deadly crash but he did. And ever since, Dapo beat a retreat from the public.

He withdrew into his shell, carefully shunning every attempt by his friends and family to lure him out of his cocoon of anonymity.

At the moment, Dapo is showing extreme restraint, preferring to live as a recluse. Findings revealed that, in the wake of the accident, he awakened to several of lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bitter truths. He realised that were it not for the grace of God, he would have crossed to yonder. Suddenly, he attained a rude understanding of the transience of life: you are here today, you could be gone the next second.

But his friends, family and business associates can hardly wait to have him re-emerge on the social scene. To too many of them, street life has become a very boring party without Dapo. Perhaps Dapo will do their bidding. Until then he would remain very committed to his intimate romance with solitude.

Dapo Ojora

Sunday January 7, 2018

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UT H

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Price: N400

MISSILE CAN to FG

“While the government has taken the battle to Boko Haram, the Indigenous People of Biafra, the Badoo Boys, the Niger Delta Avengers and other groups, the government has not shown any willingness to checkmate the murderous Fulani herdsmen.” – President of Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, berating the federal government for allegedly treating killer herdsmen with kid gloves.

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

The President Nigeria Badly Needs

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igerians were created for elections. We live for elections.

We breathe elections. As one election is rounding off, we are already discussing the next one. In fact, before one election holds, we start doing permutations on the one after it. We are preparing for the 2019 presidential election, but already discussing 2023. Elections offer us the biggest excitement, like a kid and his candy. Who should we vote for? Whose turn is it? What are the cold calculations? It is not completely a bad idea to be in love with elections — that is a major pillar of democracy. The citizens are able to exercise their power of choice. To be excited about elections is in fact lovely.

However, for us Nigerians, elections are not seen as a means to an end; elections are an end in themselves. That is the impression I get all the time. The excitement should be about how elections can help us choose leaders that can take Nigeria out of the inglorious club of backward nations. The excitement should be about visions, about goals, about capacity. How can the ordinary people enjoy quality healthcare, sound education, constant power, excellent roads, clean water and assured security? How can food and shelter become affordable for the majority of our people? How can poor Nigerians begin to live like proper human beings?

I have taken time to study Nigerian leaders, both elected and unelected, from pre-Independence era till date. I studied not just presidents and heads of state but also premiers, ministers, governors, commissioners, heads of agencies, council chairpersons and councillors. I saw patterns. I saw characteristics. I saw high points.

I saw low points. And I drew a number of conclusions. I will be discussing some of these conclusions in a series of articles. My aim today is fairly clear — I want to douse the perennial ecstasy about elections. We need to pay more attention to the purpose than the act. We are obsessed more with form than substance. We love rhyme more than reason.

Obviously, elections in themselves do not make a good or bad leader. You can vote for whoever you like — it is what the leader has in his head that will make the difference to the fortune of the country. Election-time rhetoric and sentiments serve a purpose, I won’t deny that, but they play very little role in the success or failure of a leader. So as we do analyses and permutations on who will win north-central and south-south in 2019, and where the running mate should come from, can we spare a moment to ask ourselves this question: where did previous permutations land us? Has Nigeria been getting better with every new permutation and excitement?

This is my digression today. The leaders Nigeria needs, the leaders we badly need, the ones we really, really need, are those who have a good mental picture of what the society should look like. That is the starting point. I have said this a zillion times: development does not happen by accident. We won’t stop importing petroleum products by accident.

Our hospitals will not become centres of excellence by co-incidence. Our highways will not become smooth and safe through a miracle. The countries we admire today are a product of vision — that mental picture of what you want to be. Human beings sat down, drew up plans, implemented the plans and began to see results.

If, therefore, Mr. Lakasegbe wants to be president (or governor) with the single mind of making the society a better place, everything

Buhari he does will be towards bringing this picture to reality. To what do I liken this? Let’s say you want to build a house. You have a mental picture of a five-bedroom storey building with a swimming pool and a garden, all rooms en suite and all that. You engage an architect and tell him what you want. He gives you a design. The quantity surveyor prepares the budget. You draw up milestones. You begin to engage the hands that will translate the design to a physical structure. Everything you do will be how to bring the house down from your head to the ground.

For Mr. Lakasegbe, ethnicity or religion wouldn’t matter so much to him in putting together his team to deliver his vision of Nigeria.

Who voted for him and who didn’t vote for him wouldn’t be an item on his mind. The single mind would be like: I want Nigeria to be at a minimum of 30% level of South Korea in my first term and 60% if I get a second term. He will know that to be like South Korea, there are fundamental and foundational things that must be in good shape in critical sectors. He will automatically know that certain things are non-negotiable — education, healthcare, security, rule of law and physical infrastructure, such as roads and power.

In picking his core team, he will go for those who can make the dream come true, not people he owes favours. In building your house, you can afford to do favours in hiring labourers, but you cannot do favours in engaging engineers and builders. That is your core team. Good enough, there is no state, ethnic group or religion in Nigeria that does not have competent and qualified people, so Lakasegbe can still achieve balancing without sacrificing merit.

Every decision, every policy will be geared towards realising the vision — not moving away from it. Even when he wants to adjust his plans to accommodate new realities, the single mind remains to achieve this vision.

Anyone in the team who is not helping the vision will be shown the exit door. Remember, the mental picture will get distorted if his helpers are not on the same page with him.

Pruning and weeding is a continuous, natural process. Remember, too, that he must assess his goals and milestones to be sure the vision is on course. He will not steal or waste resources — or look the other way — because he surely knows every kobo is vital to the realisation of the vision. The determination

to deliver on the vision, in spite of challenges and hindrance, will continue to be the biggest motivation. You don’t stop building a house because some “omo onile” are disturbing you.

This vision will be marketed as a national vision, as everybody’s vision, not his sole property. Selling the vision, planting the vision and sustaining the vision include having all hands on deck. Many leaders fail when they make themselves the Alpha and Omega of the vision. At that point, they fail to groom successors — they see themselves as the only one who can do it and tend to want to perpetuate themselves in power. Lakasegbe’s vision should be such that if he will do only one term, whoever succeeds him can carry on. A country like the UK has changed prime ministers several times in 11 years, yet the system is unshakable. That’s how to build a proper system!

In the history of Nigeria, we have not lacked visionary leaders. And that is a ray of hope.

However, there has always been a major failing somewhere. Some got consumed by personal ambition, arrogance or greed. Some did not know how to play politics pragmatically in order to take hold of power at higher levels and be in a position to help change the country.

Some were so self-centred they wanted to be all-in-all and therefore failed to groom a pool of successors — or help their mentees gain political power. At the end, Nigeria loses. We plan, we implement haphazardly, we fail. We take one step forward and two backward.

I am sorry to disappoint you if what you were expecting was an analysis of presidential candidates and my recommendation for 2019. I am aware that there are hot debates over President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, etc. I have passed that stage. I am no longer excited by all the permutations we do every four years. I am a young man but I can claim to have seen it all. My personal resolve, after experiencing so many disappointments, is that I will, in my little corner, continue to constructively engage with whoever holds power. They must use it in the interest of Nigeria’s progress.

I throw this challenge at the civil society: a lot of non-partisan work needs to be done in-between elections to hold the elected to account. We currently don’t do this well.

We fall asleep after each election, waiting for the next one. The pressure to deliver is not really there for our leaders. Maybe we make an assumption that they know what to do and are deliberately failing. Well, if they don’t know, we have to put them on the right track. If they fail, we will all suffer the consequences. We usually say if a leader performs poorly, voters should get rid of him in the next election. Good point, but we also assume that a new leader will do better. I am no longer that optimistic.

I have resolved to encourage those in power to have a vision and a plan — if they never had any — and to pursue this with a single mind, though tribes and tongues may differ. Visioning is no magic. It is about using your brain, or borrowing other people’s brains. I insist that permutations at election times are secondary to development. I hope that in my lifetime, I will witness a Nigerian election in which our dominant ecstasy will be about visions and not emotions. I have resigned from the committee of those celebrating false dawns and getting excited over new rhetoric and new rhyme and new permutations. Once beaten, twice beaten, thrice beaten — I’m done.

And Four Other Things…

KILLING FOR FUN The Yoruba will say “if your dress harbours lice, your nails will continue to be stained with blood”. The ethno-religious killings in northern Nigeria have their roots in a history of intractable mutual hate and suspicion.

Recently, though, things have been getting out of hand, usually between the herders, who are mainly Fulani Muslim, and farmers or local populace in mostly Christian areas. It is a case of aggression and reprisal — laced with accusations and counteraccusations of genocide. More is expected of President Buhari in tackling the gruesome bloodbath.

I can see anger and disappointment everywhere over the less-than-decisive measures. Puzzling.

ON THE RICE As usual, the one thing that drew big reaction from the New Year speech of President Buhari was his stand on restructuring. But he said something bigger that would put food on our table: Nigeria will become selfsufficient in rice this year. In simple English, we will stop importing rice. This should come with value addition, jobs and conservation of our currency reserves. Nigeria was one of the biggest importers of rice, meaning we were busy creating jobs in Thailand and Vietnam who did not even have embassies in Nigeria. Buhari must, however, remember to give credit to Presidents Obasanjo, Yar’Adua and Jonathan who planted and watered the rice policy. Fairness.

RAILING AT BEN BRUCE A tweet by Senator Ben Murray Bruce on the new Kaduna–Abuja train service has caused a storm. He said it was “entirely” the handiwork of President Jonathan.

Governor Nasir el-Rufai countered, saying President Obasanjo initiated it. Both men are somewhat correct. Obasanjo conceived it (along with the Kano-Lagos rail). Yar’Adau stopped the project because initial payments were made from the excess crude account without appropriation or engineering design. Jonathan then did most of the work. President Buhari is completing it. Jonathan certainly deserves big credit.

But I think we should be more worried that it took 12 years to deliver on a 200-kilometre rail. Shame.

LIBEL HANDCUFFS Nigeria is the only country in the world where someone is arrested and handcuffed over an allegation of libel. A blogger was arrested on New Year’s Eve by the police over a publication considered libellous to the inspector-general. As a trained journalist, I know the implications of libel and I am worried by the amount of libel we publish everyday in Nigeria (I dare say no media outlet is exempt).

But to the best of my knowledge, libel is a civil matter in civilised societies. It is only in banana republics that the criminal libel law is applied to the personal affairs of a public official. Nigeria is becoming a disgrace. This madness must stop. Immediatel

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