Sunday 27th May 2018

CBN Takes New Measures to Improve FX Liquidity Banks now to sell fx to customers and non-customers Kunle Aderinokun The Central Bank of Nigeria has rolled out fresh measures to improve foreign exchange liquidity and ensure that eligible travellers are able to access foreign

currency. A statement by the apex bank’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mr Isaac Okorafor, made available to THISDAY yesterday said all Deposit Money Banks had been mandated to buy and sell for-

eign currency to travellers (both customers and non-customers) upon presentation of relevant valid travel documents such as visa and tickets over the counter, adding, that all travellers would be attended to immediately at the bank’s counters.

“Any contravention will be sanctioned by the CBN,” he warned. According to him, “All BDCs shall henceforth access dollars from the CBN on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It is compulsory that all BDCs ac-

cess currency at least three times weekly. Any BDC that fails to access the FX window at least three times weekly shall have their license reviewed by the CBN. Compliance is Compulsory.” The new directive is in fur-

therance of the CBN’s series of measures at sustaining forex liquidity in the economy. For instance, the apex bank had some time ago in a bid to ease travelers’ burden directed banks to open outlets at major airports to sell forex.

FG Carries over N538bn Unspent 2017 Capital Vote to 2018 Budget ... Page 8 Sunday 27 May, 2018 Vol 23. No 8438

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Obasanjo, ADC, 30 other Parties in Alliance Deal Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC),

have said that they would unveil their plans to rescue Nigeria at a public event next month. Obasanjo had led prominent members of his political movement, Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM),

including former governors, Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Lagos and Osun states), and Donald Duke (Cross River State), to address a press conference in Abuja last week, saying that they had col-

lapsed their structures into ADC. The National Chairman of ADC, Okey Nwosu, who spoke in a telephone interview with THISDAY yesterday, said the party was adopting a three-pronged

approach of merger, alliance, and fusion with like-minded political parties and organisations to ensure that it secures victory at the 2019 polls. He said ADC was pursuing another alliance with

about 30 other registered political parties operating under the auspices of the Coalition for a New Nigeria (CNN). Cosntinued on page 8

Buhari Moves to Combat Violence against Children Saraki calls for release of Leah Sharibu, Chibok girls Deji Elumoye, Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Abimbola Akosile in Lagos As the world marks Children’s Day today, President Muhammadu Buhari last night in Abuja tasked the security operatives, families, civil society organisations, traditional rulers, and religious bodies to rise up against increasing violence against children. The president’s charge was preceded by a call by Senate President Bukola Saraki, who took the opportunity of the day’s celebrations to renew the widespread calls for the immediate release of the lone Dapchi schoolgirl, Leah Sharibu, and the remaining Chibok girls still being held in captivity by Boko Haram insurgents. In his Children’s Day speech made available to journalists late last night, Buhari said the increasing spate of violence against children was unacceptable and that decisive steps must be taken to ensure the protection of children in homes, schools, markets and worship centres. According to him, the federal government, in its own effort to protect children from abuse and exploitation, has directed

the management of all federal government schools to put in place adequate measures that will guarantee the security of their students. He also said various states of the federation and management of all public and private schools should put the machinery in place for the protection of students. Buhari advised parents to ensure that they send their children, especially the girl child, to school, observing that girl child education stems the tide of maternal mortality and child marriage. He further tasked security agents to increase their efforts towards the protection of children. "In our efforts to protect our children from abuse, exploitation and trafficking as well as provide safe, non-violent inclusive and effective learning environment in our schools, this administration has directed the management of all Federal Government Colleges and advised all state owned schools across the country to provide adequate measures of safety and security for their students,” he said. In his own goodwill message Continued on page 8

SELFIE AT TECH FOR GOOD SUMMIT… Chairman, Heirs Holdings Ltd, Mr. Tony Elumelu, and Facebook Incorporated Chief Executive, Mark Zuckerberg, during the Tech for Good summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris…recently

THISDAY Editorial Board Intervenes…Pages 77-84

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FG Carries over N538bn Unspent 2017 Capital Vote to 2018 Budget Achieves 73.5% implementation Revenue shortfall, late passage of budget adversely impacted execution, says Budget DG Kunle Aderinokun With barely a week to the end of the lifespan of the 2017 budget, the federal government has achieved an unprecedented 73.5 per cent implementation of the appropriation, deciding to carry over the remaining 26.5 per cent to the 2018 fiscal year. The 2018 appropriation bill was transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari last Friday night for assent. A document obtained by THISDAY from a reliable presidency source showed that out of the N2.029 trillion allocated to capital projects (exclusive of FGN special intervention projects) in the 2017 Appropriation Act, N1.491 trillion had been released to Ministries, Departments and Agencies as at May 21, 2018, representing 73.522 per cent implementation. The unspent N538 billion, the source said, would be carried over to 2018 fiscal year, which is expected to start on June 5 or the date the president assents to the

appropriation bill. The National Assembly had in May 2017 passed the N7.44 trillion appropriation bill, which comprised N2.987 trillion recurrent (non-debt) expenditure and N2.177 trillion capital expenditure. The N2.177 trillion capital vote was inclusive of N150 billion for FGN Special Intervention Programme. The document containing the details of the capital releases , prepared by the Federal Ministry of Finance, showed that power, works and housing ministry, which was allocated N650.074 billion, being the chunk of the total capital budget, had received N506.935 billion, representing 77.981 per cent for its projects. Transportation took N125.974 billion (52.118 per cent) out of N241.709 billion for projects, while agriculture and water resources got a release of N129.664 billion (62.309 per cent) out of N208.099 billion earmarked for projects in the ministries. Furthermore, the federal gov-

ernment stated in the document that it released N149.798 billion out of the budgeted N271.089 billion to defence and security for capital projects, representing 55.258 per cent. Besides, N81.456 billion was released for projects in health and education ministries, which represents 72.235 per cent of N112.766 billion allocated in the budget. Justice and social capital projects got N26.060 billion (59.444 per cent) out of N43.839 billion earmarked in the Appropriation Act, while N130.568 billion (95.594 per cent) out of N136.585 billion was released for administration projects. Others got N31.782 billion (58.305 per cent) out of N54.765 billion, while N309.490 billion (99.824 per cent) out of N310.037 billion was released for capital supplementation. The Budget Office of the Federation noted in its Draft Budget Implementation Report for the third quarter of 2017, “Greater portion of government’s avail-

able budgetary resources were directed to structural reform of the economy and the provision of critical infrastructure in the roads, power, housing, rail and aviation sectors as well as the provision of physical and food security. “In view of this, a total of N2,174.50 billion was allocated to capital spending in the 2017 budget. MDAs’ Capital Vote Utilisation: the late passage of the 2017 Appropriation Bill, the extension of the implementation of the 2016 capital budget to 5th May, 2017, the shortfall in expected revenue as well as the increasing non-discretionary expenditures of government affected the implementation of capital projects for 2017 budget in the third quarter of the year.� Essentially, the report stated that data from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation on 2017 Capital Performance for MDAs as at September 30, 2017, showed that only N377.02 billion was released and cash backed to MDAs for their 2017

capital projects and programmes. The budget implementation report for the second quarter of 2017 also showed that a total of N96.35 billion was released for capital expenditure in the second quarter of 2017 under the 2016 budget. Cumulatively, it added, N59. 45 billion capital expenditure was expended under the 2016 budget during the first half of 2017. “Funds were, however, not released for capital projects/programmes under the 2017 budget. This was due to the extension of 2016 capital budget implementation to 5th May, 2017, the late passage of the 2017 budget as well as the need for MDAs to finalise their procurement processes,� the budget office explained in the report. In the preface to the report, Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, Mr. Ben Akabueze, noted, “Despite the socioeconomic challenges that continued to face the Nigerian economy, government was able to deliver N370.13 billion capital budget

expenditure in the third quarter of 2017.� This, he pointed out, “significantly contributed to the positive GDP growths witnessed in the second and third quarters of the year after a spell of five consecutive negative growths. The sustenance and consolidation of these reform initiatives are, therefore, the driving force of the 2017 budget implementation.� Akabueze added, “The execution of the 2017 budget in the third quarter of the year was very challenging in numerous fronts, mainly due to the extension of the 2016 capital budget to 5th May, 2017, effectively halting the execution of the 2017 capital budget until the tail-end of the second quarter of the fiscal year. “The execution of the 2017 budget was also adversely impacted by the late passage of the budget as well as the shortfall in expected oil and non-oil revenue receipts. However, the government had continued to meet its non-discretional expenditures.�

Presidential Advisory Committee: Buhari Has Taken Corruption Fight to Greater Heights Admits corruption within anti-graft agencies Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja Three years down the line, Executive Secretary of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, says President Muhammadu Buhari has set a huge record in the fight against corruption and remained focused. Owasanoye said in an interview with THISDAY that corruption was not at the same level it was when Buhari came in. The PACAC head, however, admitted that there were bad eggs within the anti-corruption agencies, which the appropriate authorities in government were dealing with in order to sanitise the system. Explaining his perception of the Buhari government in terms of transparency and accountability, the renowned expert in international economic law, human development and social justice activism said, “Three years down the line, the intensity of the focus, from the part of the president, has not diminished. “So, that tells you that the government is determined, as long as it has the opportunity to continue to rein in corruption; and I think that the government is doing well and corruption is not at the same level at which it was in the past, unless we want to be uncharitable.

“Corruption is not at the same level; indeed, some of the people who are highly critical of the government are doing so today because a number of the avenues that they used to feast on government have been closed.� The executive secretary added that even if one found any “humongous� case of corruption under this administration, it's very unlikely that its approval can be traced the president, which he said was the case in the immediate past. He said that explained why a number of people currently being prosecuted said they got approvals from the former president to do what they did. Further explaining how things had changed from the past, Owasanoye stated, “I heard it on good authority that a certain highly respected statesman, elderly person visited President Buhari recently and he was waiting to see him at the Waiting Room, and the place was very quiet. “He was just there with one of the aides of Mr. President; and this same person just said that a few years ago he came there to see a former president, and the Waiting Room was like a market; he said there were all manner of people who were there waiting to cut one deal or the other.

“The second example that I regularly use is that one of the things we have found out in this assignment, and based on things that were revealed by anti-corruption agencies, is that in the past, a number of the big corruption scams got their approval right from the top; but not now.� He stated that those were examples that might be very obvious to the public that had helped the committee to evaluate and come to the conclusion that, surely, things were different. The executive secretary said he wouldn't be in the government if he did not think that the Buhari government meant well and was determined to tackle corruption. According to him, “I had been offered place in government before now; but I didn't accept it. I didn't accept it because I was not sure that there was the determination and the political willingness to make changes, no matter how small. “I think that the government means well and the government is determined. When we started, a number of people wished us well, and people who were concerned as well felt that the whole thing was a flash in the pan. And they asked, Bolaji why did you accept this appointment? They had argued that the whole thing would not last; that it was a campaign gimmick.

But three years down the line the government has remained focused.� Asked whether he was worried that some persons within the anti-corruption agencies had become part of the problem, he said there were bad eggs in every institution and that the anti-corruption agencies were not excluded. Owasanoye stated, “We have heard some of the complaints and reports that anti-corruption agencies themselves were corrupt or have been compromised; they have to be dealt with; and when those reports came up, we give them feedbacks that enable them take the necessary measures. “One of the examples that are very prevalent is that when they recover assets they re-loot them. That is an allegation. When we started our assignment, as a think tank, we responded to it. We recommended to the government that the core mandate of anti-corruption agencies was to recover the asset, not to manage or hold it. “One of the things that we recommended was that there should be an asset recovery account for the government, so that anytime you recover money, you put it there. That is going on as we speak. Two, when you recover physical assets, like car, jewellery and all that, it has to be not only

BUHARI MOVES TO COMBAT VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN in Abuja, Saraki called for the release of all school girls under the captivity of the insurgents. He said, "We make an unequivocal call for the release of all Nigerian children in captivity. We remember Leah Sharibu and the other Dapchi girls as well as those Chibok girls still in captivity, on this symbolic day. We affirm their right to freedom, to live carefree with their loved ones, to go to school, and for their dreams to remain intact.� The senate president’s call coincided with the United Nations Children’s Fund’s pledge to partner with the federal government to end violence against children in Nigeria. Saraki urged all relevant authorities not to relent in the efforts to see that Sharibu and all who are held captive are returned safe and unharmed.

"We must intensify efforts for the release of our children, even as we felicitate with the families of all who have been released," the senate president said. Saraki also emphasised that the safety of Nigerian children was non- negotiable, noting that the Children’s Day gives the country an opportunity to celebrate the young ones and to fully consider the important place they occupy in the heart of the nation. He insisted that no Nigerian child should go to bed hungry, just as due attention must be paid to their health as part of the vision to make the country stronger. According to him, "This is also a day to rededicate ourselves to the cause of children. It is a day to recommit ourselves to doing all in our power to ensure that children are protected

and empowered to aspire to be great in life, and to remove all impediments in their way.� UNICEF, FG Pledge to End Violence Meanwhile, UNICEF has pledged its commitment to end violence against children in Nigeria. UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Isiye Ndombi, gave the assurance in an interview in Abuja yesterday. Ndombi decried violence against children in the country and promised that the organisation was determined to mobilise the will and resources to tackle all forms of violence against children wherever it occurred. He described violence against children as pervasive, adding that it occurs in the home, school, work place and “online.� According to him, perpe-

trators often include the very people children are expected to trust – parents, caregivers and other family members, friends, teachers, and intimate partners. He said, “We are currently re-analysing the 2014 Violence Against Children Survey (VACS) findings to gain an even deeper understanding of the drivers of violence against children. “We are also supporting our government partners to launch our National Plan of Action to End VAC by 2030, alongside a national Social Norms Change Strategy. We are supporting the government to track and monitor reported cases to end the menace.� Ndombi noted that violence against children affected them for life, saying that the marks are sometimes visible bruises and broken bones.

recorded and accounted for, it has to be managed by a central asset management committee.. He explained further that one of the strategy documents that his committee designed was a framework for management of recovered stolen assets, saying the framework itself is an inter-agency agenda designed to remove some of the opportunities for abuse that had been prevalent in the past. Owasanoye explained, “All the anti-corruption agencies are represented in the interagency committee that were recommended. Again, the intelligence committee is situated

in the Ministry of Finance because the Minister of Finance, which by law is actually the custodian of government assets. “You recall that President Buhari recently, I think it was in Jigawa State or somewhere in the North, made a statement that the assets should be publicly auctioned so that everybody will know exactly what has happened to them. We have heard those allegations of corruption within the agencies; and we've responded to them by creating and designing a framework that removes opportunities and the possibilities for any corrupt practices.�

OBASANJO, ADC, 30 OTHER PARTIES IN ALLIANCE DEAL Nwosu said, "We have started the reorganisation of the party, and by June, we are going to address the nation on the way forward and the promise ADC has for Nigerians. "By June, we are going to address the nation on the way forward and what ADC has in stock for Nigeria and Africa.� He said CNM had fully integrated into the structures of ADC and that both were now one entity. According to him, "We are just working on a document to create a continental brand from the ADC, a model political party like no one before.� On what would be the fate of the present leadership of ADC since the entrants would be interested in playing key leadership roles, Nwosu said he would not mind giving a chance for a party structure to emerge if that would help the party succeed in its mission to rescue the country from its present bad situation. He said, "Our party had its last national convention in 2015 and at that time, we said the founding national executives could continue in their offices until such a time that the party will start to take a real life. With this fusion we are undergoing now and the membership we have, I feel we are taking a new life. So any moment from now we are going to fix our convention. "The most important thing for people like me is that I have founded a party that eminent Nigerians approve as a proper vehicle to address the inadequacies

that brought about the political situation in our country. "So I am fulfilled and I am like a missionary on a mission of nation-building. Position doesn't matter to me and most members of the party. My preoccupation from now on is how to move this party to the Villa and state government houses in Nigeria." On whether more political bigwigs are expected to toe the line of Obasanjo to join the ADC, Nwosu said though the party had a good number of top politicians, both serving and former government functionaries that had shown readiness to join ADC, the emphasis of the new movement was the grassroots. Equally reacting to speculations that many governors and legislators were eager to join forces with ADC, Nwosu said, "Those are strategic matters, they would unfold at the appropriate time. We are planning and I think what makes us different is that we have sent letters to governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, and if they can adapt to ADC ways, we will receive them "We are a grassroots party and that is where our strength lies. We have always had a challenge of not having enough resources to show what we are capable of doing. Even in some places where we have won elections, the people in government tend to take the powerful influence of state structures to take the victories away. But I think with the influx of influential personalities that situation will end.

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SUNDAY COMMENT

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

ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSES AT IDP CAMPS The government may do well to investigate the claims

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n what has become a familiar game, the presidency last week dismissed the Amnesty International (AI) latest report alleging human rights violation by the Nigerian military, including the rape of women and girls at the internally displaced persons’ (IDPs) camps in the country. “It ignores the fact of the existing mechanisms put in place by the military, as a self-correcting step and the high-level committee constituted by the presidency to examine any such claims,” countered Aso Rock while the Defence Headquarters accuses AI of a plot to destabilise the country. Titled “They betrayed us”, AI reported “how the Nigerian military and Civilian Joint Task Force (Civilian JTF) have separated women from their husbands and confined them in remote ‘satellite camps’ where they have been raped, sometimes in exchange for food.” However, since these allegations of gross violations of human rights against our military are almost always dismissed and hardly ever investigated, a culture of impunity is fast becoming the order of the day, not only within the armed forces but in the country as a whole. That cannot be a right approach to dealing with what has become a serious problem that sullies the image of our country. We therefore urge President Muhammadu Buhari to adopt an open mind in dealing with the allegations contained in the AI report. While we support our armed forces and commend them for their sacrifices, the authorities should not dismiss these allegations which many Nigerians believe to be true. “We expect the

Beyondthe shamethatrape inflictsonthe victim,nothing canbemore traumaticthan foraperson livingunder distresstobe subjectedto suchblatant criminality

usual: denial, refusals and accusations of sabotaging the military, but we hope they will disappoint us and acknowledge these crimes instead,” argues Amnesty Nigeria’s director, Osai Ojigho who added, “these accusations are not new. But what we see here is a total lack of accountability, as well as a total lack of respect for the rule of law and human rights.”

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S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI DEPUTY EDITORS VINCENT OBIA, OLAWALE OLALEYE MANAGING DIRECR 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, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS ERIC OJEH, PATRICK EIMIUHI ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

o say that these allegations are not new is to state the obvious. In 2013, for instance, the AI issued two reports on Nigeria one of which riled the military authorities and helped to cause further friction between them. The first, “Our Job is to shoot, kill and maim,” was a catalogue of the atrocities of Boko Haram insurgents while the second, “Stars on their shoulders, blood on their hands,” revealed some of the extra-judicial killings by the Nigerian troops. However, it is not only the AI that has been reporting human rights abuses by the military and the security agencies, especially in the management of the IDP camps. In January 2015, a report published by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) with support from Ford Foundation, detailed several cases of sexual exploitation of women and girls in exchange for food as well as trafficking of children at some of the IDP camps. So alarmed were many Nigerians that the federal government responded with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) constituting a committee to probe the allegation at the time. If the committee ever submitted a report, Nigerians are yet to be informed of its findings. Therefore, dismissing the AI report and launching baseless accusations would not help in resolving the crisis of confidence that is fast eroding the credibility of our armed forces. We believe it is more productive for the federal government to investigate the claims, especially given the serious issue of rape of women and forcing them to trade their dignity for food. Beyond the shame that rape inflicts on the victim, nothing can be more traumatic than for a person living under distress to be subjected to such blatant criminality. As we have stated several times on this page, no one expected that the relief camps across the country to be a model for shelter and security. But that cannot be an excuse for bad behaviour from our military men. Unfortunately, these infractions will continue for as long as we have internal security challenges that necessitate the drafting of soldiers for a role that is constitutionally that of the police.

SUNDAY PHOTO

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah; Mrs. Sally Udo-Udoma; Mr. Anyanti Udo Udoma; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Mr. Udoma Udo Udoma; and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), at the funeral service for Inam Udo Udoma, brother of Budget and National Planning minister, at Methodist Cathedral of Peace and Excellence, Opebi, Lagos...Friday PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

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SUNDAYNEWS

News Editor Abimbola Akosile E-mail: abimbola.akosile@thisdaylive.com, 08114495306 (sms only)

NERC: No Huge Increase in Electricity Tariff t Says Discos must demonstrate greater operational efficiency Chineme Okafor in Abuja

Ahead of the biannual review of electricity tariffs in the country, which is expected in June, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has said there will not be any big increase in bills paid by electricity consumers. ThenewlyinauguratedChairman of NERC, Professor James Momoh,statedthisinaninterview with THISDAY at the weekend in Abuja, saying NERC would only endorse minor changes in powercostthatwouldalsobetied

toimprovementsinservicequality andoperationalefficiencyonthe part of the 11 electricity distribution companies in the country. He disclosed that a team of experts had been constituted bythecommissiontodetermine theactualcostsofproducingand supplyingelectricitytoNigerians. Under the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005, NERC established a methodology for determining electricity tariffs in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry and subsequently issuedatarifforder,theMulti-Year

TariffOrder,whichsetsouttariffs for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in the country. Momoh said regarding the imminent review of the electricity charges, “There are three timescales for doing this. There are things we will do in a hurry tomakesuretheMYTOchanges. I am not sure we are going to encourage a big change that will get the economy of the country in trouble and customers will be upset. No, I don’t think that will bewhatwewillrecommend.We

aregoingtolookatitproperlyand maybe do a little change, which isjustsosmall,sothateverybody will be happy. “Then we will ask for targets, wewillaskDiscostoincreasetheir efficiencies and invest more in technology,andwewillencourage newoptionssothatwewon’trely more on the Discos. Embedded generation, eligible markets, are the things we will encourage. “We will divide our solutions indifferenttimescalesandovera longtime,themarketwillbecome competitive. There will be a sys-

CIBN INVESTITURE L-R: Past President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Mr. Laoye Jaiyeola; General Manager, Wealth Management and Financial Institutions, Sterling Bank Plc, Mojisola Bakare; President/Chairman of Council, CIBN, Dr. Uche Olowu, and his wife, Beatrice during the investiture of new CIBN council members in Lagos…recently

tematicchangeinthesystemand it will not be in June everything will change.” Commenting on the power cost debate, where Discos have persistently called for increment, which has been opposed by consumers, Momoh stated, “Between 2015 and 2017, there was no commission and, therefore, no leadership to contribute to the debate. Now, we have a commissionandachairman.We aregoingtoengage,eventhough mycolleagueshavebeenengaging in terms of providing leadership to the industry, to make sure that the cost of power is understood and made clear to the customers, Gencos, Discos and TCN. “Itisanon-goingdiscussionand we will like to be a regulator that mediatesbetweenthecustomers and operators.” Momoh added, “Again, we might ask for subsidy from the governmenttothemarkettomake sure that nobody is left out,” alluding to existing subsidisation ofpowerconsumptionforcertain categoriesofconsumers,particularly, the underprivileged. Against the background of complaints about the lack of transparencyinthedetermination of the consumption subsidy, the NERC chairman promised that thecommissionwouldmakethe processofcalculatingtariffsclearer to Nigerians. He said, “Cost reflective tariff is a big statement that has not been definedwell in Nigeriaand I want to define it one more time in Nigeria. I have put together four engineers in NERC and they are calculating very quickly what it coststogenerate(forinstance)one

kilowatt of power to 180 million people, what will it cost for 50 million people to use it, and the mathematicswillunfoldthetruth. “We need to understand if it means,doIhavetopaytheactual price of power that accounts for losses,guaranteesefficiencyand reliability, because we have to be on both sides of the coin. “Wehavetobalancetheequation–whatamIwillingtopay?It cannotbeaone-sidedmarket,we havetoagreeinaforumwherethe customer,Gencos,andDiscoswill beassembledandwewilldiscuss whatitcoststogeneratepowerin Nigeria given our incomes. “I don’t want customers to go back to candles and diesel, I want everyone to use electricity and that is why I will appeal to everybody to talk straight about losses and how to reduce them. I don’twanttopayforlosses–what we call ATC&C losses – we need to minimise our leakages. “If we reduce leakages, find cheaper sources of energy and open up competition, hopefully everybody will come in and at that point you will be forced to minimise wastes and leakages as a service provider. “Wearegoingtobearinmind that there is a constant we will add and that is, we don’t want operators to be out of business, we want them to make money, but don’t make so much money that you will be out of business, and don’t put all your energy in tryingtocollectmoneyfromsmall customers who are just turning ontheirlightbulbsandwatching televisiononly.Let’sencouragebig businesses that will be happy to paymoreandwillturntheenergy into money.”

Tackle Issues Surrounding Insurgency, ECOWAS Tells Nigeria Alex Enumah in Abuja

The ECOWAS Parliament has appealed to Nigeria to put measures in place to address the issue that surround insurgency in the North-east. Chairman, ECOWAS Parliament delegation to North-east Nigeria,Mr.IbrahimSadiq,made the appeal when he presented the report on the fact-finding mission to the region. At the plenary in Abuja weekend, he also urged the

government to tackle issues that border on climate change tofindsolutiontoenvironmental challenges it posed. Hesaidalthoughgovernment made efforts to create access in the place to facilitate return of people to their homes; humanitarianchallengeswereenormous for those returning. Accordingtohim,“thebiggest challenge in Gwoza is the high number of people returning to the area, and they have no water, no toilet facilities and no rooms

for them to sleep in. “WesawtheInternationalOrganisation for Migration (IOM) erectingalotoftents,butbecause there is no road to Gwoza, a lot of the roads had been blocked. “The road from Maiduguri to BamahadbeenblockedandYola has been blocked, there was no way water could reach the IDPs there and if there is no drinking water, there is no sanitation. “Such can lead to diseases, we also went to Banki, border betweenNigeriaandCameroon

and the Nigerian IDP Camp is morevulnerabletotheinsurgent group than the Cameroonian. “I will recommend that Nigeria do not return to where it was beforeonthisissueofinsurgency. There are other issues of climate change, Lake Chad receding from25,000kmtoabout2500km of the lake that is a very serious environmental challenge that should be addressed”, he added. He identified high poverty levels, insufficient food supply, malnutrition, inadequate medi-

cal assistance and limited access to secondary education as some ofthe findingsbythe delegation. He recommended that there should be access to land for IDPs and returnees to ensure sustainable farming, regular and sufficient supply of food to prevent malnutrition. Heurgedgovernmenttoliaise withhumanitariancommunity, to facilitate and tackle medical cases, provide durable shelter and subsidise secondary school education for IDPs in camps.

He, however, suggested that there should be continuous joint factfindingtoDamask(Nigeria), Diffa and Tillaberi (Niger) and Gao (Mali), to ensure access to information on conditions of refugees and IDPs. The presentation of the report wasonside-lineoftheFirstOrdinarySessionofECOWASParliament,whichstartedfromMay10 to30.Thereportwasbasedonthe UNRefugeeAgency–ECOWAS Parliament fact finding mission to the north-east Nigeria.

Strike: JOHESU Holds Emergency Meeting over Court Injunction

JAMB Conducts Exams for 16 Shettima Creates Agencies, Assures on Transparency Neighbourhood Watch

Paul Obi in Abuja

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has restated its commitment to operate a transparent system in conducting examinations in the country. JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, stated this at the 2018 Nigerian Police recruitment examinations, conducted at the JAMBComputerBasedTest(CBT) centre at Bwari in the FCT. According to him, “the board is committed to ensuring and delivering a transparent system that works when enforced. We have conducted exams for about 16 agencies this year.” Oloyedesaidtheboardconducts examinationsforbothprivateand governmentorganisationsbecause ofitswell-establishedfacilityand guarantee to deliver. “Wehavesomanypeoplewho believeinus;agencieswhopatron-

Following the issuance of a restraining order and injunction by the National Industrial Court, asking the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) to suspend its nationwide indefinite strike, the union yesterday summoned an emergency meeting of its members to take action on the court order. The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, and Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, had earlier called on JOHESU to respect the NIC order pending the quashing of the injunction by a superior court of jurisdiction. JOHESU, in response had denied any knowledge of

any such injunction by the National Industrial Court, debunking reports that the health workers union had been served the court order. Though JOHESU would not categorically say they have called off the strike, the union Chairman, Biobelemoye Josiah told journalists in Abuja that “an Order of Interim Injunction compelling the JOHESU to immediately resume duties was just served on JOHESU at 5.39pm today (yesterday). “We have the greatest respect and regard for the judiciary of our country Nigeria. It has always proved to be the bulwark of our democracy, the last hope of the common man and the flagship of the vanguard for law and order in human society.”

iseus,particularly,thosewhowant to do things transparently. If you want to set rules and want it to be enforcedtransparently,JAMBwill giveyoutheservicesatacostyou cannotgetanywherebecausewe useanalreadyestablishedfacility for that. “Weensureasetstandard.We haveconductedexamsforabout16 agenciesthisyearandmaybegin anotheroneinsomefewweeks,” he said. On the police recruitment, the registrarsaidover37,000candidates were assessed at 156 CBT centres nationwide. He said the candidates, who wrote the examinations at no cost to the board would not have acut-offmarkforassessment,addingthatthetypeofquestionsthey answeredwasatthediscretionof the board.

Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri

Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima yesterday created ‘The Neighbourhood Watch’ to checkmate insecurity in the state. According to him, the outfit wouldbesaddledwithpreventing securitybreachesintheirimmediateenvironment.Hesaidthestate wasestablishingapilotschemefor MaiduguriMetropolitanCouncil andJerelocalgovernment,bothof whichcompriseofMaiduguricity, the state capital. Hesaidthiswasinfulfilmentof oneoftheconstitutionalobligations as a government as contained in section14subsection2paragraph A of the 1999 constitution of the FederalRepublicofNigeria,which provided that: “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primarypurposeofgovernment.”

The governor said during the launchofthescheme,thattherole CivilianJTFhasplayedincomplementingtheeffortsoftheNigerian ArmedForcesintherestorationof peaceinthestatedeservedtribute and commendation. Hesaiditwasinrecognitionof thevoluntaryeffortsandsacrifices oftheCivilianJTFthatgavebirthto theNeighbourhoodWatch,which is now bound by law. He said all the recruited CJTF shouldrestrictthemselvesonlyto their respective neighbourhood withoutanyinterferencewiththe otherneighbourhoods toensure issuesofdrugabuse,burglary,theft, vandals and other crimes were checkedbasedontheestablished mechanismdrawnfortheCJTFto operatebyarrestingandhanding over culprits to the nearest police stationorlawenforcementagents.

T H I S D AY ˾ SUNDAY MAY 27, 2018

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OPINION Pension Reform And Tardiness of Accrued Rights Lack of prompt payment of entitlements by government is adversely aecting the smooth running of the new contributory pension scheme, writes Paddy Ezeala

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t has been reiterated several times that the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) is arguably the most successful initiative of the federal government since the return to democratic governance in 1999. The plight of pensioners under the previous Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS); before the enactment of the Pension Reform Act in 2004, is not worth recalling. However, it is worth emphasising that while the DBS accumulated a deficit of more than N2 trillion before 2004, the CPS since then has amassed the sum of N7.8 trillion as Funds under Management (FUM). Comparison of the two schemes with regard to effectiveness and functionality in Nigeria is akin to evaluating the contrast between night and day. There is no doubt that the CPS has given rise to a pension industry that has the potential to be central to Nigeria’s economic development. The federal government continues to fall back on accumulated pension funds to support infrastructural development while the industry itself has been generating job opportunities. The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has been doing a great job of strictly regulating the new pension industry and making it impervious to abuses. While the pension industry is obviously gaining ascendancy, it is important to plug all the holes that make unfettered rendition of pension administration tedious or even impracticable. It is important to point out these impediments and address them conclusively in order to forestall a reversal of the gains of the industry. Apart from the threat of some failed legislative manipulations to accommodate some interests and the large scale ignorance of the workings of the scheme even in high places, another sore point is the lateness in the payment of accrued rights to retiring or retired workers. While accrued rights are largely entitlement of workers before the advent of the private sector – driven contributory pension scheme, its late payment by especially, the various tiers of government renders pension administration cumbersome or even impossible. This is because accrued rights have to be lumped into Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) before lump sum and programmed withdrawals could be worked out for retirees. Most, if not all retirees from government establishments for now have their entitlements straddle both the DBS and the CPS. It is worth re-noting that lack of prompt payment of entitlements by government is adversely affecting the

smooth running of the new contributory pension scheme. Those who do not understand these intricacies would conclude that the new pension scheme is not as rosy as being touted. For a proper understanding of the quagmire in which Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) somehow find themselves, more light should be shed on accrued rights or benefits. Accrued rights is a total amount of a pension plan as on a specified date. They are usually in agreement with the terms of the pension plan and are based on the participant’s salary package and length of service. In Nigeria, it is not different. It is a term used to describe what the government owes its workers who have been in service before the commencement of the Pension Reform Act, 2004 (Reviewed in 2014). It is recognised as an amount acknowledged through the issuance of Federal Government Retirement Benefits Bonds. When the government employee retires, the bonds are liquidated and added to the retiree’s balance in his/her Retirement Savings Account (RSA) managed by a PFA. It is the addition of these two that makes up the retiree’s entitlement. Sometimes, the government finds it difficult to cash back retirement benefits bonds domiciled in the Central Bank. For instance, the federal government unpaid Pension Accrued Rights for the period covering May, 2017 to April, 2018 stand at N97.55 billion. The major challenge now is that, as a measure to ensure that the government settles the ever mounting backlog of accrued rights, PFAs are not allowed to grant access to RSAs until the government releases accrued rights. This implies that in the contributory pension scheme, government retirees can only get their entitlement when their accrued

Serving the government and retiring is not a crime and therefore not punishable. The federal government should prioritise payment of retirees’ entitlements and facilitate the work of pension fund administrators

rights are released by the government. Pension reform in Nigeria has been informed by the desire of the federal government to ultimately improve the welfare of retirees and eliminate institutional corruption and unnecessary bureaucracy or red tape. The huge pension funds now available to support economic development are icing on the cake. The plight of pensioners in Nigeria across board before the CPS was so bad that workers received condolence visits to their homes once their retirement took effect. It is therefore unthinkable and unacceptable that any impediment to the smooth rendition of the new pension scheme could be tolerated. It is true that we are emerging from economic headwinds that affected every sector. It is also a known fact that economic downturns, apart from bringing enormous stress on available resources, most times negatively affect the real value of currencies. It then becomes a double tragedy for a retiree awaiting his entitlements when currency is plunging and the return on investment is below inflation rate. The economic scenario and on ground reality are not such that workers should retire and wait for months or years before getting their entitlements. Pension administration should be viewed holistically by the various tiers of government, most especially, as the country has very poor social security foundation and warped reward system. Serving the government and retiring is not a crime and therefore not punishable. The federal government should prioritise payment of retirees’ entitlements and facilitate the work of pension fund administrators. The government should look beyond payment of contractors when the need arises to inject liquidity and reflate the economy. Payment of retirees’ entitlements is also a way of circulating liquidity. While the federal government struggles to offset the backlog of pension liabilities that it is burdened with, most state governments are completely unperturbed. Some have neither promulgated the necessary pension laws that would enable them key into the contributory pension scheme nor addressed the years-long accumulated pension liabilities; not even monthly pension is paid as and when due. ––Ezeala, FIMC, CMC, a communication, development and management specialist, wrote from Enugu

Building Our Children For The Future Muhammad Ajah argues the need for parents and teachers to properly guide our children

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hen I recently visited a private primary school, I attended a social studies class of children between the ages of five and seven. I was impressed by the high level of intelligence displayed by the children. They were very hopeful that their futures are bright. I could see it in the way they responded to questions. Every question received quite impressive answers. And for every question, all the children raised their hands, an indication that their teachers were up and doing. But I was dumbfounded by the reaction of these young sinless creatures towards governance. I sat and listened as the teacher taught his subject and then threw a question to the floor after the lesson: “Ok, what do you want to be in future?� The children competed to be recognised and heard. “I want to be a pilot�, one said. “I want to be an engineer�, another replied. “I want to be a banker�, the third said. “I want to be a farmer�, the fourth proclaimed. The children went on one by one choosing different professions even as some of them contested for already mentioned ones including being doctor, nurse, teacher, business personality, captain, soldier, footballer, and so on. I doubt if I heard anyone say police. I could not understand why. I paid keen attention to the mind-boggling revelations from these future leaders almost with hidden tears. The teacher asked them to clap for themselves and there was a thunderous sound as all were satisfied to have made the best choice for their future. Some of the more vibrant children made further explanations before or after making their choice profession. Some of them said it was their father who told them what they would be; some said it was their mothers; some said it was their uncles, aunties. However, few said that they were influenced by what they heard or watched on the television especially movies. It was quite clear that something had influenced a lot of choices. But there was a surprise. A surprise, indeed! I was given the opportunity to address the children. I thanked them for such wonderful careers they have made for their futures. I praised the teacher for being wonderful in his profession, including the techniques he employed. Then, I told them that none made the choice of some critical professions in Nigeria. They were astonished and they looked at one another as if to disprove me. So, I threw the question to the floor: “Who wants to be a politician?� There was complete silence initially. Most of them did not raise their hands apparently because they did not understand the work of a politician. It was clear that they knew the duties attached to the

professions they had chosen. The four children who raised their fingers had different views on why they would be politicians. The first said: “I want to be a politician so that I can be very rich�. The second replied: “I want to be a politician so that I will own plenty houses and cars�. The third said: “I want to be a politician so that I will have power and body guards�. And the fourth, to the surprise of everybody in the class, replied: “Uncle, I don’t want to be a politician because they are thieves.� After some efforts to convince the child against such perception, he said that sometimes when they watched the TV at home, his father would shout: “These politicians have come again! They are thieves! They are liars! I don’t like these people.� The little boy said that some other times, the father would switch off the TV or walk away into his room. Then I asked the second question: “Who wants to be the president of Nigeria?� All the children raised up their fingers except the same boy who abhors to be a politician. When asked why, he said “My parents told me that our presidents do not fulfil promises. They tell lies and steal the money of our country. But my parents and my teachers tell us to fulfil promises, to be truthful and sincere and not to steal. So, I will not disobey my parents�. The class teacher and I were speechless. The teacher smiled softly apparently proud of the child’s courage and intelligence. Then I threw the third question: “Who wants to be a lawyer?� Though it was already chosen, I wanted to be sure of the number of children interested in the profession. Only very few raised up their fingers. I turned round and asked one of those who refused to raise her finger and she replied: “I heard that a lawyer tells lies because he can free a thief at the court. I also learnt that many of them collect bribe to do cases at the court. It is not a good conduct�. That was the perception of the little girl. I want to relate this experience in a children’s class to the reality in our politics. When a child begins to suspect the misconduct of its parents, it is only a diehard inhuman parent that will resist to change his/her way. Every responsible parent wants the child to be good. Today, Nigerian children are feeling the heat in their country and therefore are asking their parents, uncles and aunties to retract their steps and march on the path that will guarantee their future. Imagine what a little child perceives of a Nigerian politician! This is in a school of the privileged because I am pretty sure that the smartness I saw in the children could not be of the learners in our public schools. It is possible that some of the parents of those

children were politicians. However, I did not ask the professions of their parents in order not to disabuse them before their highly positive-minded children. Summarily from the retorts of the children, they hated politics because of corruption. It is as if corruption is an indispensable part of Nigerian politics, as if there is no saint amongst Nigerian politicians. By the way, the children may have been influenced. Yet, innocence perceives better than contaminated and overburdened brain. And if truth was to be, there is nothing less than the reality that politicians are the primary cause of Nigeria’s woes. I picked special interest in the reaction of the parent who watched the television with his child. He shouted that the politicians are always bereft of the truth. They tell lies and make promises that are never fulfilled. I am sure that is the position of millions of Nigerian parents. That is the influence of parents over their children. But what positive effects have these influences had on the children who grow to replace their parents. If there had been good impacts of the parents on their children since, at least 1960 when Nigeria got her independence, things would have changed. This bad perception by the modern Nigerian would have not been. From all the responses of the children, the three arms of government which have proven to be responsible for Nigeria’s underdevelopment are detested by the children. Some detest to be lawyers who constitute the Judiciary and the lawmaking organ of the government. Some hate to be president because of the unholy acts associated with the position in Nigeria. And all being politicians, they have put Nigeria in its present condition. Our children must be taught well in public schools. Teachers in public schools must be cared for. I hope one day to visit a selected public school and relate my experiences with the children. Parents must inspire their children to aim high in life but practically display this by the way they chase legitimate livelihood. Children are very quick to learn. They copy everything within their reach. They are true reflections of their parents. In the simplest term, they are “carbon copies� of their parents or homes. Parents are the best models for them. It is said that charity begins at home. If parents and teachers can properly guide and build the children with the intention of building a good future society, Nigeria will be good in a not-distant time. That is our wish for our country. ––Ajah is an advocate of humanity, peace and good governance in Abuja

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 27, 2018

LETTERS

TELEVISION REVOLUTION IN AFRICA

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e all are familiar with Uber, the worldfamous ride-sharing company, and how it has revolutionised the transportation industry globally. A revolution similar to Uber’s took place in Africa decades ago, but in the continent’s television industry. That revolution in the African television industry was sparked by MultiChoice which, through a series of innovations, brought about fundamental changes in TV broadcasting on the continent. Television broadcasting is no longer how we used to know it, changing completely from what it was when it debuted in Africa with the establishment of the Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) in Ibadan by the government of Nigeria’s defunct Western Region. Years after its debut in Nigeria and adoption by other African countries, television broadcasting relied-and still largely does-on analogue technology among other infrastructural challenges. The technology limited the reach of broadcasters, a challenge the introduction of cable television, even with its superior technology, could not surmount. The technology used in cable television broadcasting limits its signal to cities or neighbourhoods where the provider is able to run cable into homes. Satellite trans-

Lai Mohammed

mission technology, on the contrary, primarily requires an unobstructed view of the sky from the subscriber’s location, which allows for uninterrupted network coverage and continual connection via an antenna and satellite dish. Its reach is, therefore, limitless and not affected by whether the subscriber’s location is rural or urban in nature. At infancy, television programming quality was basic. Indigenous content creators, for example, had little institutional and financial support to create compelling content, especially with

continent-wide appeal. Efforts to remedy the situation began in 1985, when a group of South African media companies, including Naspers (the parent group of MultiChoice), converged and launched M-Net, Africa’s first pay-television channel. M-Net then began providing television viewers in South Africa with an alternative that enabled them subscribe to a pay-television service offering top-class programming. This was matched with service. To expand its operations beyond South Africa, split M-Net into two companies

in 1992, with one dedicated to delivering video entertainment channels, while the other focused on subscriber management and signal distribution. MultiChoice Africa grew out as the subscriber management arm. By 1996, Multichoice had established operations in Nigeria (1995), Namibia, Botswana, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Zambia, with franchises launched in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Angola, Ethiopia and Mozambique. It currently operates in 47 countries. Like Uber, the driver of MultiChoice’s operations was technology. In 1995, it launched DStv and by 1996, pioneered wholly digital television broadcasting in Africa. Through digitisation, it addressed issues such as poor audio-visual quality and patchy television signals associated with analogue technology. Using its vast network of satellites, MultiChoice was able to reach most of the continent’s remote regions with high-quality broadcast and deliver a multi-channel offering catering to the diverse cultures and tastes. In 2003, it launched the Dual View decoder, a world-first, which enabled the viewing of two different channels on two different television sets using one satellite link. Two years later, it launched the Personal Video Recorder (PVR), which allows the subscriber to record, rewind, forward and pause

AMBODE AND LAGOS’ PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NARRATIVES

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n assumption of office in May 2015, the Akinwunmi Ambode-administration was confronted with a huge traffic situation that was further compounded by the activities of criminals taking advantage of the situation to rob commuters and others. The unyielding traffic jams created a cacophony of noise that made many to forget that traffic congestion has been a growing problem which successive administrations in the state have had to contend with right from the ‘80s when government resorted to issuance of “Odd” and “Even” numbers to allow motorists ply certain routes within specified periods. The LASTMA, LAGBUS, LAMATA, Traffic Radio, BRT system among others all came on board as part of efforts to ensure sanity and safety on Lagos roads. In response to the situation, the state government identified that the situation required strategic and creative intervention that would not only be diagnostic and curative, but backed by proper policy articulation and focused implementation which must offer immediate, short and permanent resolution of the unenviable traffic nightmare.

The Traffic Summit held in November 2015 at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, was an integral part of the policy response of the state government to the traffic gridlock challenges. It was the administration’s determination that the summit should set a new course for an aggressive public transportation template as the pathway to the much desired improved and modernised transportation system befiting of the state, capable of driving rapid economic growth and which will make mobility predictable, safer and comparable to the best transportation systems in other mega cities. The submissions of the summit were very holistic, detailing far-reaching policy recommendations and an elaborate implementation strategies backed by a robust funding circle. It was the dedication of the Ambode administration to the full implementation of the summit’ recommendations that is today changing the transportation narratives of the state for good. Lagos is currently pursuing an integrated affordable multi-modal transport system that will ensure that citizens arrive their destinations in the least possible time frame, using the state public transport

in concord to a former Mayor of Bogota postulation that, ‘a developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transport’. Consequently, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and Lagos Bus Services Limited (LBSL) have been working assiduously on the gradual re-fleeting of the 14-18-seater yellow mini bus with a 40-passenger medium and 80-passenger high capacity buses to reduce the number of buses plying the state’s roads, improve ecology of the state through reduction in carbon emission, improve the travel time and activate publicprivate partnership (PPP). This will likewise encourage many more people to leave their cars at home and use the buses thereby reducing traffic congestion. The prototype bus have been identified, inspected and approved while contract for supply of the first set of buses has been awarded. With the take-off of the 820 high capacity buses from the Ikeja Bus Terminal in September, Lagos seems set to alter its transportation landscape. The buses may also become the biggest money spinner for the Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration.

broadcasts. Next to follow were the High-Definition PVR decoder and HD channels in 2008. The same year, it introduced Xtraview on DStv, the first in Africa. Xtraview allows the subscriber to link two or three decoders under the same subscription. With the growing global trend of viewing video content on the internet, MultiChoice, began syndicating its content for viewing on electronic devices via the internet. In 2008, it launched DStv Mobile (the Drifta and Walka) and in 2010, launched DVB over IP (Digital Video Broadcast over Internet Protocol) as well as the DStv On-Demand service. Through these, subscribers could demand and watch programmes from their DStv account via the internet on their phones, tablets and computers. In 2013, MultiChoice launched the DStv Explora, a decoder that enables the subscriber record television programmes for later viewing, pause live television programming for up to two hours and provides access to the DStv BoxOffice and DStv Catch Up. With the latter, subscribers can rent the most recent local and international blockbuster movies, while the former, a Video on Demand Service (VoD), also available

Apple phones or tablet devices, enables the subscriber to view a selection of content at personal convenience. In 2014, MultiChoice launched the DStv Now app. With an internet connection, a subscriber can watch live television and have access to the latest Catch Up content on a computer, Android or iOS tablet or smartphone. A year later, it launched Showmax, an internet-based VOD with a vast collection of top-rated movies and series available to its premium subscribers. To widen access to satellite television across Africa, MultiChoice, in 2011, launched GOtv, an affordable Digital Terrestrial (DTT), which delivers content via network towers rather than satellite, has provided assistance to many African countries in their respective marches to migration to digital broadcasting from the analogue platform. The path opened has since been followed by other broadcasters on the continent, who are unlikely to be displeased that they had such a pathfinder, which has used- and still doestechnological innovation to add value to the entertainment industry and to the benefit of its subscribers. –Titus A. Anaekwe, an engineer and public commentator, wrote from Abuja

POLISARIO-HEZBOLLAH COLLUSION AND WEST AFRICA

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he collusion between Plisario and Hezbollah is worrisome because of the porous borders in West Africa. The To guard against indisconflict in Western Sahara has criminate parking of the buses gradually shifted largely due to when the project kicks off, six support from Iran, Hezbollah bus terminals and depots, to Polisario. This shift in power complementary infrastrucbalance is a strategic threat tural facilities for the smooth to West Africa because it will operation of the programme, create an opportunity for Iran are being developed in the to further its military presence Ikeja axis. Terminals and in Africa and use it as a staging depots` which are at various ground for any future military completion levels are also activity against some countries being developed at Agege, in Africa most especially West Ishaga, Iyana Ipaja, Idumota, Africa as well as to produce and and on the Island by the Centransport advanced military tral Mosque. Others are located capabilities for Hezbollah in at Maryland, Oworonshoki, Africa. Oyingbo, Ojota and Yaba. The Hezbollah threat to The premier bus terminal of Africa has expanded not only the project was inaugurated in quantity but also in quality. by President Muhammadu In recent years, the group’s Buhari on March 29, 2018. operational artillery reach has Another major feature of grown. Polisario and Hezbolthe bus reform project is its job lah are similar militant groups creation component as drivers sharing “the same political and bus attendants, who will and military ideology. The two be professionally trained and militant groups’ rapprochewell kitted, will be deployed on ment likely serves much the air-conditioned buses. As grander geopolitical interests the project has factored in their of bigger global players. The regular maintenance, other purpose of the Hezbollah corporate bodies, aside the bus is not to decorate Western operating companies would Sahara. Hezbollah is both a be involved in its sub-activities creation and client of Iran and, such as ticketing, vulcanising, more specifically, of its Islamic cleaning/washing, etc., to Revolutionary Guard Corps. complement the efficiency of Its ideology mimics the twin the buses. pillars of religious rule and export of revolution that is the ––Rasak Musbau, Lagos basis of the Iranian theocracy. State Ministry of Informa- The Iranian government may consider the Hezbollah arsenal tion and Strategy, Ikeja, as a forward deployment of Lagos

its own capability, just as the Soviet Union once stationed its missiles in Cuba. Violent extremist organisations like Hezbollah- Polisario have expanded their ambitions, capacities, and geographical reach into the Sahel and West Africa, extending an arc of Instability across an area of strategic interest for the United States and its allies. Boko Haram, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and other terror groups present a continuing threat to the stability of the region. As they come under increasing pressure from French and regional security forces, their future evolution is uncertain, but they have proven their ability to adapt and rebound in the face of previous setbacks. Given Hezbollah’s militant history throughout the Middle East, the Hezbollah-Polisario connection carries grave implications for the region and should be met with a strong domestic and international response. al-Qaeda and ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Many are now likely to join an expanding terrorist network in West and Central Africa. The region is likely to be hit by a severe wave of Hezbollah-Polisario fighters while al-Qaeda expands into other states such as Niger, Burkina Faso and Nigeria. “Niger has become a new source for recruits, and Ansarul Islam, an al-Qaeda franchise, is now active in Burkina Faso. As it stands, Gulf countries –– ––Inwalomhe Donald, Benin City

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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 ˾ MAY 27, 2018

BUSINESS

Editor Vincent Obia 08054681757 Email vincent. obia @thisdaylive.com

LAST WEEK Power

Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge train service...inaugurated in July 2016, 10 years after the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo signed an agreement with the Chinese company, CCEC, for the construction of a standard gauge rail network across the country. Work is still ongoing on the rest - LagosKano, Port Harcourt-Maiduguri, and Lagos-Calabar lines

Experts Advise Excess Oil Proceeds be Spent on Infrastructure, Savings Kunle Aderinokun Crude oil prices have been on the rise for some time and are expected to maintain the upward streak for a while. Brent crude surged to $80 per barrel recently, a level never achieved since 2014. Increased geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, plunging Venezuelan production, and the return of United States’ sanctions on Iran, which are expected to keep exports lower amid tighter market, have been adduced as some of the factors causing the rise in the oil prices. Analysts have predicted that the black gold would be sold for $100 per barrel in 2019, if these prevailing factors become more manifest or have overarching effects on the oil market. Taking cognisance of the rising fortunes of oil, the major revenue earner for Nigeria, the National Assembly, which passed the 2018 appropriation bill recently after increasing expenditure by N500 billion, to N9.12 trillion, had predicated the oil price benchmark on $51 per barrel, up from $45. The 2017 budget, which would cease to run on June 5, was based on an oil price benchmark of $44.5 per barrel. Brent crude currently hovers around $80 per barrel, with the likelihood of rising higher, thus, translating to oil boom for Nigeria and other oil exporting countries. The fund in the excess crude account, which totalled $1.8 billion as at April 23, is expected to swell with continued rise in oil prices. The International Monetary Fund, which had foreseen what is happening today and the future, had at this year’s spring meetings of the Bretton Woods institutions cautioned Nigeria and other oil exporting countries to utilise the opportunity created by the prolonged stability in crude oil prices to reform their economies. IMF

said the countries would not be so lucky, if crude prices plunge again. According to the Economic Counsellor and Director of the Research Department, IMF, Maurice Obstfeld, who spoke at the launch of the World Economic Outlook, the IMF had been warning for a while that the current cyclical upswing offered policymakers an ideal opportunity to make longer-term growth stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive. Obstfeld had pointed out that the “present good times” would not last for long, stating that “sound policies can extend the upswing while reducing the risk of disruptive unwinding”. He urged policymakers in Nigeria and other oil exporting countries to rebuild fiscal buffers, enact structural reforms, and steer monetary policy “cautiously in an environment that is already complex and challenging.” Responding to the IMF, Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun had assured that Nigeria already had a plan to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the upswing in crude oil prices to rebuild fiscal buffers against a rainy day. “We are going to use this opportunity to rebuild our fiscal buffers. Oil prices are positive, but we are going to continue to keep our benchmark conservative to allow us to rebuild reserves so that we don’t have any reversal in our growth direction. And to do that, we must continue to focus on domestic revenue mobilisation.” Adeosun had noted. Nevertheless, economic experts and market analysts have offered suggestions on what to do with the excess proceeds accruing from crude sales in the light of the continued rise in prices. Director-General, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Professor Akpan Ekpo, said,

Mhango said, “Saving some of the windfall revenue would also help smooth government spending, when oil revenues do fall.” CEO, Global Analytics Consulting, Tope Fasua, who recalled, “We’ve seen in times past that we cannot set store on crude oil prices,” cautioning, “Just as the prices are again on the rise, they could crash as easily.” Fasua argued, “On one hand we are borrowing massively, so we cannot advise that we save the proceeds and just keep admiring fat balances that are countered The revenue should be by even more massive borrowing.” He ploughed into funding advised the federal government thus, “I believe we should use the proceeds for infrastructure in the country. Furthermore, targeted projects to be coordinated by the federal government through the states and our debt-servicing down to the local governments. is too high. It is also “The government should put the money important to make in the hands of Nigerians by creating some savings for the sustainable jobs for the youths. Our next rainy day phase of development will actually come from the ground up. This is another opFurthermore, our debt-servicing is too portunity to do the right thing. An aspect high; hence it may be necessary to reduce of the windfall should be leveraged for the debt burden. It is also important to critical, bankable infrastructure.” make some savings for the rainy day To Director, Union Capital Market through putting some of the windfall in Limited, Egie Akpata, the budget benchthe sovereign wealth fund. mark of $51 per barrel seems conservative “Finally, efforts to diversify the economy based on the oil price today. But, Akpata away from oil must continue unabated. We said, “The budget is based on assumed must change the structure of the economy output that is substantially higher than to that of production and earn revenue, the current 2.07 million barrels per day including foreign exchange from sources being produced.” other than oil. Windfall or not.” He argued, “Effectively, the accretion Similarly, Director and Sub-Saharan to excess crude account might not be as Africa Economist, Renaissance Capital, high as expected.” who is also Head of Research, SSA Yvonne Akpata believed in an ideal world, the Mhango, advised, “Investing the windfall excess funds should go into the sovereign oil revenue in infrastructure would support wealth fund for very long-term, profitable efforts to diversify the economy, to limit investment. “Other responsible oil exporters its vulnerability when the oil price cycle have sovereign wealth funds that are large turns.” enough to be called upon in times of need.

“The rise in oil price resulting in improved reserves is both a blessing and a challenge (not a curse).” Noting, however, that dependence on an exogenous source of revenue to finance development is not sustainable, Ekpo stated, “The surge should be seen as a windfall and utilised as such.” According to the professor of Economics, “The revenue should be ploughed into funding infrastructure in the country. I am referring to power, road (new construction, repairs and maintenance) and railways.

Twenty-two companies scaled the first hurdle in the selection process for firms interested in the meter procurement initiative approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission under the Meter Asset Provider Regulations 2018. A statement by the electricity sector regulator on Wednesday said applications submitted by the companies received the “No Objection” certification from the commission. MAP is intended to close the wide metering gap in the Nigerian electricity supply industry within three years. The statement signed by the commission’s spokesperson, Usman Arabi, said the “No Objection” certification qualified intending investors to participate in the meter procurement process. Companies granted “No Objection” certification include Huawei Technology Company Nigeria Limited, Bilview Energy Limited, Chintech Electro Nigeria Limited, Holley Metering Limited, Meron Nigeria Limited, Integrated Power Limited, MBH Power Limited, Trimani Engineering Limited, Sapropel Energy Resources Limited, and Megawatt Distribution International Limited.

Volatility

Speakers at a roundtable in Lagos on “savings and stabilisation mechanism,” organised by the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation’s Oil Tracking Initiative, said Nigeria required a strong savings and stabilisation instrument to absorb volatility in crude oil prices. One of the key speakers, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, a former education minister, said Nigeria lost the opportunity to save in the five cycles of oil boom experienced from the early 70s to 2014 due to corruption and mismanagement.

Infrastructure

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said the federal government had invested close to $10 billion in infrastructure development in the last three years. He said the investment, which focused on roads, power, and a new national rail network, was unprecedented. Osinbajo stated this in Abuja at a session of the Direct Investors Summit Nigeria, organised by Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission.

DMO

The federal government made N50.45 billion from its May bonds auction, lower than the N70 billion it targeted, the Debt Management Office said. According to the auction result obtained from the DMO website on Thursday in Abuja, the federal government made N3.50 billion from a five-year bond at 12.75 per cent. It also made N8.54 billion from a seven-year bond at 13.53 per cent, and N38.50 billion from its 10-year bond at 13.98 per cent, bringing the total amount realised from the May auction to N50.45 billion. The DMO added that N14.99 billion of the 13.53 per cent for March 2025 and N14.99 billion of the 13.98 per cent for February 2028 were allotted on a non-competitive basis. Nigeria issues sovereign bonds monthly to support the local bond market, create a benchmark for corporate issuance, and fund its budget deficit.

18

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 27, 2018

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Analysts: Rates Retention Would Reduce Inflation, But Hurt Manufacturers Olaseni Durojaiye looks at the outcome of the last Monetary Policy Committee meeting and how stakeholders are taking it

Emefiele (5th right) and other members of the Monetary Policy Committee

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here were expectations that the last meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee that ended in Abuja on Tuesday would decide to reduce the monetary policy rate, which is the benchmark interest rate. Being what dictates lending rates for deposit money banks, many operators, especially in the real sector, continued to nurse the hope that the rates would be reviewed downwards, even as that hope had been dashed at previous meetings. Retention As it turned out, the MPC retained all the policy rates at their current level in order to maintain tight monetary stance. Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Godwin Emefiele announced the decision of the committee at the end of a two-day meeting held in Abuja. Emefiele explained that eight out of the nine members of the committee that attended the meeting agreed to maintain the current monetary policy stance. According to him, apart from the Monetary Policy Rate, which was retained at 14 per cent, the committee also retained the cash reserves ratio at 22.5 per cent. The committee has maintained this rate for two consecutive years. Also retained are the Liquidity Ratio, which was left at 30 per cent, and the Asymmetric Window, which was left at +200 and -500 basis points around the MPR. Mixed Grill The committee had In July 2016 hiked interest rates to combat rising inflation at that time. The MPC has retained the MPR at 14 per cent for 11 consecutive times, with operators across different sectors of the economy lamenting the high cost of credit, which they said was militating against growth in the non-oil sector. In arguing for a southward review of the lending rate, proponents have repeatedly said there is need to stimulate businesses in the non-oil sector, adding that one of the key roadmaps to doing so is access to affordable credit. Their argument has always been that unless

non-oil businesses are stimulated to stand firmly and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s GDP, growth in the system would slow down. However, the flipside of the argument remains the need to protect foreign portfolio investment. Rate retention, proponents argue, would protect portfolio investment, maintain the fragile balance in the volatile FX market, and sustain the steady decline in inflation rate. Analysts The decisions reached at the latest meeting of the MPC have continued to elicit reactions from operators in the economy. Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Muda Yusuf, in an interview with THISDAY, argued that portfolio investments were not the best. “We should focus more on domestic investors and Foreign Direct Investment from monetary policy perspective,” he stated. Yusuf along with President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Dr. Frank Jacobs, who both canvassed lowering of the MPR, believed lowering the rate would trigger growth in the real sector, and boost employment generation potentials of the sector with its attendant economic benefits for the economy. Jacobs expressed displeasure at the retention noting, “The decision would adversely affect the manufacturing sector.” Yusuf was, however, not surprised about the MPC decision. “It was predictable and not surprising. The key variables suggested there will be no change, inflation is still at double digits, unemployment is

still high while growth rate is declining in some key sectors with potential for employment generation and poverty alleviation,” he explained. In its own reaction, a research analyst at the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Rotimi Oyelere, explained, “The MPC missed the opportunity to lower the benchmark lending rate in its first MPC meeting for the year. The economy could absorb such adjustment to find new equilibrium for rates with minimal distortion to investment and growth. Already, Gross Domestic Product growth slowed in Q1 2018 compared with Q4 2017. “Looking at all scenarios to economic growth for the Nigeria economy in the near term, holding the key monetary rates appears most cautious against the backdrop of the delayed passage of the 2018 budget. Moreover, there is a need to curtail inflationary pressure that will come with election spending that is about to kick start.” Oyelere further explained, “In an economy where unemployment is rising, it is imperative to reflate the economy by lowering lending rates to make credit affordable to the productive/real sector, like agriculture and manufacturing, which create plenty of the jobs in Nigeria. However, there is a need to keep real interest rate in the positive territory to sustain the momentum of savings and portfolio investments at least in the near term. “This is critical at this time because a dull or potentially bearish market could fuel foreign portfolio investment apathy, making returns on investment subdued.

The MPC missed the opportunity to lower the benchmark lending rate in its first MPC meeting for the year. The economy could absorb such adjustment to find new equilibrium for rates with minimal distortion to investment and growth

This will result in massive capital flight and investment withdrawers by foreign portfolio investors who are waiting on the side-line. This will, therefore, have a pass on effect on foreign exchange availability and trigger another around of exchange rate crisis.” Another economist and policy analyst at NESG, Wilson Erumebor, said the MPC’s decisions were based on the need to be cautious with the economy at this time when there is some improvement in macro-economic indicators, including external reserves, progressively dwindling inflation rate, among others. Erumebor said, “The decision of the MPC is a good move at the moment given the recent inspiring GDP figures; inflation figure is still high but dropping as well as improvements in external reserves at $48.5 billion. Given the above macro indicators, what the CBN has done is to adopt a cautious, wait and see approach, and tries to understand how the key indicators will be for the next six months. “The option open to the CBN is to increase, reduce, or retain the MPR. Reducing the rate at this time would have negative impact on the FX rate, create some nervousness and expedite current investment flight. The other option is to increase lending rate, but that is already high and doing so will increase lending rate.” However, Jacobs told THISDAY, “We’re very disappointed at the retention of the rate. We’ve always advocated a reduction in the lending rate, especially to the manufacturing sector, and we have made our position know through the National Industrial Council and the Presidency. The continuous retention of the rate is affecting the manufacturing sector adversely.” But Erumebor insisted that the CBN was also cautious not to trigger inflation. According to him, by the time the budget is passed, it will trigger a lot of spending and that will raise some inflationary pressures. “These are some of the concerns and the CBN has to be alert to some of these concerns for the good of the economy,” he said.

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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 ˾ MAY 27, 2018

BUSINESS/ENERGY

Ajumogobia

Baru

Executive Secretary, NEITI, Waziri Adio

NNPC: Lurching from Operational Losses to Non-remittance of Funds Chineme Okafor reports on the issues of operational transparency that have dogged the NNPC

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he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has not made a profit on its operations in the last few years. This is according to NNPC’s monthly operational reports. Month after month, the national oil company and sole manager of Nigeria’s oil and gas resources has churned out figures of losses from its operations. The 30th edition of the monthly report revealed that NNPC recorded a trading deficit of N83.99 billion between January 2017 and January 2018. It showed that in January 2017, NNPC made a loss of N14.25 billion from its operations; in February - N14.12 billion; March - N5.62 billion; April - N5.27 billion; May - N3.55 billion; and N5.19 billion in June. The corporation continued to operate without profit in July, when it had a deficit of N11.87 billion; N5.74 billion in August; N2.81 billion in September; N0.41 billion in October; N6.79 billion in November; N6.81 billion in December; and N1.56 billion in January 2018. The sustained operational losses of the corporation, which include the indirect funding of subsidy on petrol consumed in the country, have made it difficult for NNPC to fulfil its fiduciary responsibilities to the Nigerian nation. The financial pressure has led to situations where NNPC is accused by state governors of paying a meagre oil tax and failing to remit royalties to the federation account. Query Prompted by the poor remittances to the federation account, state governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) accused the NNPC of failing to remit oil royalties as stipulated by the extant laws guiding the oil industry. The governors had after a recent meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja, claimed that NNPC had consistently failed to remit as royalty to the federation account, between 17 and 24 per cent of the value of each barrel of crude oil produced in Nigeria. Through their chairman who is also the governor of Zamfara State, Mr. Abdulaziz Yari, the governors said NPPC had violated the Petroleum Act, which requires it to pay royalties to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and remit the remaining amount to the Federation Account. They also dismissed claims by the corporation that the volume of petrol consumed in the country had increased from about 35 million litres per

day to 60 million litres per day, insisting that such excuse for poor remittance to the federation account was untenable. “This is the second time we are meeting with NNPC in respect of remittances into the federation account,” said Yari. “And, governors and the federal government are not satisfied with the way remittances are being made because there are so many questions raised on Nigeria, most especially on the 425,000(sic) barrels domestic and 180,000 barrels component of Nigeria from the joint venture partners.” The NGF chairman explained, “We met last week the NNPC and we came and briefed our chairman of the National Economic Council. We raised three issues – one, the issue of royalties. Each and every barrel taken out of the country, there is either 17 or 24 per cent of it as royalty and there is 17 or 20 per cent as tax. “So, our main concern is that the DPR said the NNPC is not remitting any payment of royalty, what they do is that they transmit direct from the NNPC to the federation account, which is not allowed by the law.” Yari said, “According to the law that established the DPR, section 196 of the Act said all the royalty should be paid to DPR and then transmitted to the federation account.” He added, “At the same time, NNPC is making payment on behalf of Nigeria on cash-call contribution and also the NNPC is making payment of cash call arrears of Nigeria’s contribution. But, our main concern is that in 2015, they said about $16.8 billion, which was outstanding, was not paid by the last administration and they negotiated it down to $5.1 billion according to them. “What we said specifically is that they should bring to us how much they have paid from 2015 to date and what is outstanding. And we directed them to stop payment until the claims are proven and then we can give further directives. That too was achieved.” On the astronomical rise in petrol consumption, Yari stated, “Many of our international partners

are saying that even if we are feeding Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana and Niger, we cannot consume more than 35 million litres per day. So, we are wondering where the 60 million litres is coming from. We are trying to sort that one out, that one is not yet resolved. “But, we are now taking a very hard decision, that because NNPC said the reason why they were lifting 60 million per day is because our borders are porous. So, we have taken the decision that any filling station that is 10 kilometres on the border side should be closed by the DPR. And, then we will do recertification according to the needs.” Lack of Transparency The complaints of the governors have once again raised the issue of transparency in the operations of NNPC. Earlier in the year, the capacity of NNPC to contribute to Nigeria’s economic development was called to question by a high-level extractive industry advocacy organisation, the Nigerian Natural Resource Charter (NNRC). NNRC told THISDAY that the level of operational secrecy in NNPC was a huge barrier to the growth of Nigeria’s economy. NNRC stated that the operational costs of the NNPC, which are deducted at source before payment into the federation account, had not been transparent. NNRC’s concerns were equally contained in the various reports the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) had produced on NNPC’s management of Nigeria’s oil and gas resources and revenues. At the then Lagos workshop titled “Assessing petroleum sector wealth: NNPC’s contributions to the economy,” Chairman of the Expert Advisory Panel of NNRC, and a former Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, stated that when compared with other national oil companies such as Petronas of Malaysia, Sontrach of Algeria and Sonangol of Angola, the contributions of the NNPC to the economic growth of Nigeria was adversely affected by the lack of transparency in its operations.

Certainly no organisation can optimise its performance in contributing to a 21st century economy if its activities and decisions are not open and transparent

Ajumogobia stated, “Nigeria’s economic growth and diversification in order to reduce our dependence on crude oil exports, is still however crucially dependent on the growth and efficiency of the oil and gas sector, which is to partially fund and drive the diversification. We literally have to drill our way out of our current economic predicament. “Thus, NNPC, if the existing structure remains, has a critical role to play in furthering a sustainable economic growth trajectory for Nigeria.” He added, “It is therefore appropriate to inquire into how the corporation’s stated vision of becoming a world-class oil and gas company is to be achieved if it is being undermined by external rather than internal factors of competence and commitment. Can such a vision, indeed, be achieved if NNPC is not insulated from political interference, as the NLNG incorporated joint venture appears to have been?” Ajumogobia said, “Certainly no organisation can optimise its performance in contributing to a 21st century economy if its activities and decisions are not open and transparent.” An industry operator, who spoke to THISDAY anonymously, stated that NNPC’s losses and remittance capacities could not be separated. He said, “Apart from operating surplus, the other remittances that have to be paid by NNPC to the government include taxes paid to FIRS and royalties paid to DPR. Irrespective of whether it makes a loss or profit, these two payments must be made. “So, to cap it off, there are three major payments – taxes, royalties, and operating surplus or profit which is paid to the federation account. “In an ideal world, it should pay all taxes which include Petroleum Profit Tax to FIRS who will then transmit to the federation account. But it appears what they do in reality is just to bypass FIRS and pay what they like into the federation account. “It also appears to be the same thing with royalties. DPR does not receive the royalties; they pay whatever they like into the federation account. “In my opinion, they have been financing this loss by withholding some of the royalty and tax payments that are due to DPR and FIRS. However, we are not sure about it because they have not been transparent about tax and royalty payments, as well as how they finance the losses.” THISDAY contacted the Group General Manager, Public Affairs of the NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, to provide some clarifications on the remittances but he did not respond to calls to his mobile phone.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍşÍżËœ ͺ͸͚΀

MARKET NEWS

Ikeja Hotel Shares Gain 45% as Investors Increase Demand Goddy Egene Shareholders of Ikeja Hotel Plc last week enjoyed capital growth of 44.9 per cent in their investment after the trading suspension placed on the stock in November 2016 was lifted by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). The stock, which remained static throughout the suspension period, jumped from N1.78 to N2.58 last week as investors renewed demand for the equity. The NSE had

suspended trading in the shares of Ikeja Hotel Plc following a dispute among the majority shareholders of the company. According to the NSE was to safeguard shareholders of the company as the dispute had negatively impacted the company’s governance structure. In order to ensure that company did not go under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) appointed a board led by Mr. Anthony Idigbe as chairman. After

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return. An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

a period of 18 months, the NSE lifted the suspension last Monday. The exchange said the suspension was lifted after the company provided a status update to the market at a ‘Facts Behind the Restructuring session in Lagos last Friday. Executive Director, Regulation, NSE, Tinuade Awe had said the new board had complied with the necessary regulatory requirements and restored the company to the path of recovery. “We are satisfied with the

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 24-May-2018, unless otherwise stated.

work the Ikeja Hotels have done till date this is an appropriate time to lift the suspension on the trading of the shares of the company. The company had its AGM to clear the backlog of certain AGMs. It was this consideration that led the quotation committee of NSE to decide that it is an appropriate time to lift the suspension,� Awe said. Apart from Idigbe, other members of the board of Ikeja Hotels Plc are: Alex Thomopolus, Waheed Olagunju, Toke Alex

Ibru, Fadeke Alamutu, Kunle Aluko, Ufuoma Ibru and Abatcha Bulama. Idigbe sad a forensic audit of the company would be carried out soon and the management will strive to sustain investors’ confidence. He said the management had been able to settle all the conflicts with the old management, while ensuring that both the management and shareholders operate in the same direction. Ikeja Hotel Plc was

incorporated as Properties Development Limited (PDL) on November 18, 1972 with a view to providing world-class hotel and catering services to meet the needs of an everincreasing number of local and international business and leisure travellers entering the city of Lagos. Today, Ikeja Hotel boasts of direct or indirect ownership and control in Sheraton Lagos Hotel, Sheraton Abuja Hotel, and Federal Palace Hotels & Casino.

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 N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 0.84 0.85 1.80% ACAP Income Funds 0.66 0.66 9.06% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.35% 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 19.47 20.05 6.55% ARM Discovery Fund 411.49 423.90 5.77% ARM Ethical Fund 29.01 29.89 6.19% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.47% 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 157.26 158.37 3.67% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.06% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Paramount Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Women's Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 N/A N/A N/A 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 13.13% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.14 1.17 8.96% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.12 1.15 7.99% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,153.22 1,153.92 0.45% FBN Heritage Fund 149.53 150.83 7.26% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.31% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $113.56 $113.95 0.51% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $113.38 $113.77 0.45% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 177.88 180.58 10.57% FIRST CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcamltd.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Equity Fund 1.40 1.42 6.99% Legacy Debt Fund 3.04 3.04 5.30% 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 N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 13.87% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 102.42 103.33 2.41% 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 13.10% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.23 2.25 5.65% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.51% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 119.92 120.31 4.27%

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 1.19 1.21 3.69% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,067.06 1,067.06 5.85% 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 N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1.34 1.36 12.39% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.76 11.82 6.54% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 13.53% 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 128.64 131.03 -0.07% 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 1.58 1.58 6.13% 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 2,406.86 2,427.01 7.31% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 184.52 184.52 4.57% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.08 1.09 7.43% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 235.05 235.11 6.73% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 185.90 187.85 3.76% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.69% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,233.64 10,372.70 5.83% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.09 1.09 3.07% 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 1.34 1.35 0.38% United Capital Bond Fund 1.65 1.65 5.33% United Capital Equity Fund 0.97 0.99 5.78% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.79% United Capital Eurobond Fund 105.94 105.94 2.95% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.14 1.15 4.84% 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 13.33 13.53 6.87% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.86 14.02 5.48% Zenith Income Fund 20.18 20.18 6.65% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.91%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 135.24 51.22

1.01% 2.10% 0.77%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.67 154.59 116.34

12.77 157.82 118.47

4.50% 8.21% 6.47%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

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

4.99 9.46 18.39 20.49 145.07

5.03 9.54 18.49 20.69 147.07

5.15% -1.16% 4.94% 4.17% 6.02%

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

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍşÍżËœ ͺ͸͚΀

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NEWS Ishaku: Army Lacks Fair-mindedness to Stop Killings t Wants an independent judicial panel set up Wole Ayodele in Jalingo

Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku has declared that the Nigeria Army under General Tukur Buratai lacks the fairmindedness to do what is right to protect victims of herdsmen massacres in several states across the country.

The governor, who stated this while reacting to the report of the military panel set up by the Chief of Army Staff to investigate the allegations of collusion with bandits leveled against the military by General T. Y. Danjuma, stressed that the Chief of Army Staff and his

men also lack the courage and capacity required to stop the massacres; not only in Taraba but also in Benue, Adamawa, Kaduna, Plateau, Zamfara and Kogi States. In order to really ascertain the culpability or otherwise of the army in the killings as alleged by Danjuma, Ishaku

also demanded the setting up of an independent judicial panel to conduct thorough and unbiased investigation into the allegations. In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Bala Dan Abu, Ishaku stated “the verdict of proof of the fact

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that is now public knowledge that the Army under General Tukur Buratai lacks the fairmindedness, courage and capacity to do what is right to protect victims of the herdsmen massacres committed not only in Taraba State but also in Benue, Adamawa, Kaduna, Plateau, Zamfara and Kogi.� Describing Danjuma’s allegation as frank, factual and courageous, Ishaku maintained that the allegation was a true reflection of the alleged criminal acts of collusion by the army in the heinous herdsmen killing of innocent people in the North East and central parts of Nigeria, including Taraba state. Rejecting the report of the military panel headed General John Nimyel in its entirety, Ishaku stated that “the committee is an extension of the Army’s bias which it exhibited and has continued to exhibit over the crises�. “With the verdict, the Army has proved the appropriateness of the popular axiom that one cannot and should not sit in judgment in a case in which he’s also the accused�, he added. In its report, which was made public by the Chief of Army Staff, the committee dismissed Danjuma’s allegation against the Army and commended the Army for being professional in the dis-

charge of its duties. Besides, the committee indicted the Taraba state government of undue interference and politicisation of the crisis in the state, which, according to the committee, were largely communal and perennial. The governor insisted that the outcome of the so-called investigation by the military panel can only surprise the outlandish optimist, saying the people of Taraba and all other Nigerians who have followed the Army’s shocking acts of looking the other way while the massacres raged in these parts of the country do not belong to that group of optimists. “We in Taraba State and all other Nigerians who have followed the Army’s shocking acts of looking the other way while the massacres raged in these parts of the country do not belong to that group of optimists. “Therefore, we are not surprised by the verdict of ‘not guilty’ which the army panel returned in favour of the army. The case of the Army’s culpability in the killings is very widely known and acknowledged within and outside the shores of this country. It is on record that even Amnesty International had reason to condemn the Army’s lukewarm attitude to the killings in the past�, he added.

APC’s Incompetence Holding Nigeria Down, Says PDP Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) is proving to be the clog in Nigeria’s collective quest for national cohesion, happiness and economic prosperity as a people. The opposition party said APC had demonstrated that it was never a political party designed for governance and development, but a con-

traption for oppression and vendetta. In a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said “there are plans by APC to extend the clampdown on opposition leaders to regular citizens, who have seen through their lies and deception and are in open agitation to vote them out in 2019. “We note that since the recent boast by President

Muhammadu Buhari on his abuse of rights as a military ruler, there has been an escalation of clampdown on citizens, particularly, the opposition, in various parts of our country. “It is also instructive to note that since it came to power by deceit and propaganda in 2015, the APC has done nothing except actions and comments that promote hatred, violence and daily bloodletting among Nigeri-

ans; causing of disharmony among arms and tiers of government in addition to undermining our democratic and security institutions. “It is also on record that the APC has not formulated any clear-cut programme for good governance; it has never called its government to order in their recklessness, particularly, on the documented abuse of human rights and violation of our constitution and democratic order.�

PDP accused APC of not intervening in the bloodletting in various parts of the country, brought about by “its incompetent and insensitive administration. It has remained aloof, giving credence to allegations that such disturbances serve its purpose of promoting confusion to frustrate the conduct of credible, free and fair general elections. “Despite attempts in blaming past administra-

tions, it has since become clear that the on-going barefaced looting of our national treasury, particularly through the sleazy oil subsidy regime under President Buhari’s supervision, coupled with government’s gross incompetence and official highhandedness, are directly responsible for the economic hardship and escalated violence in our nation today,� the spokesman added.

Propetrol to Open S’African Branch, New Outlet in P/H

Stolen Mace: IGP Transfers National Madonna University Students’ Assembly DPO Debate Ends in Style

Demola Ojo

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

A leading indigenous oil firm, Propetrol Limited, has revealed its intention to expand its operations internationally, just as it concludes plans to open another retail outlet under its Propel brand in Port Harcourt. Speaking with THISDAY weekend, Propetrol’s MD/ CEO Harry Ebohon said, “Sometime ago, we announced plans to partner an international bunker trading company. However, we have already made moves not just to partner but to acquire a company based in South Africa. “We’re in the process of concluding that and we’ll soon be opening shop in South Africa. There are opportunities we’ve identified

in South Africa that we believe we can take advantage of.� Ebohon also disclosed that Propetrol would commence operations in more markets outside the shores of Nigeria. “We have a very global perspective as far as our business is concerned. Our plan is to also open shop in some specific markets outside Nigeria where we have identified opportunities. “By the last quarter of this year, we will be providing some of the services we render here in South Africa and one or two other locations that we will reveal later,� he said. However Propetrol is pushing on with the opening of another Propel station in Port Harcourt, which will be its 20th outlet.

The on-going investigation by the National Assembly into the April 2018 invasion of the Senate by hoodlums may have claimed its first casualty, as the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has reportedly transferred the Divisional Police Officer, Abdul SuluGambari, to Adamawa State. Sulu-Gambari, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) and son of the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, was the head of the police division in charge of the National Assembly at the time the hoodlums invaded the Senate and forcefully took away its mace. Both chambers of the federal legislature had subsequently instituted a joint investigative committee, headed by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na Allah, to unravel

the circumstances of the invasion, which coincided with the defiance by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of his suspension by the Upper Chamber. Sulu-Gambari, who had been invited by the committee to testify, had told the panel about his investigation into the matter, saying a number of arrests had been made even as interrogation of suspect was continuing. The committee had subsequently expressed its angst over the failure of the police to produce the suspects to testify before it. THISDAY reliably gathered that the police hierarchy was unhappy with the DPO’s testimony, which it believed implicated the security organisation, suggesting that he did that to help his kinsman, Senate President Bukola Saraki, who also hails from Ilorin.

Emmanuel Onumah

The second stage of the Madonna University (Okija campus) 2017/2018 inter-departmental students debate has ended, with Mass Communication, Law, Philosophy and Accountancy departments qualifying for the final round of the exercise. The last of the second stage of the competition ended recently, with Mass Communication department and Law faculty qualifying for the final round of the exercise, leaving behind English and Literary Studies and International Relations. The first phase of the second round was held two weeks ago, wherein Philosophy and Accountancy departments emerged, also leaving behind two other departments. Speaking on the essence of the exercise, Coordinator

of the Madonna University Debate competition, Dr. Tony Nkemakolam described it as a purely academic exercise, even as he urged the participants to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship. Adding his voice, Chaplain and Administrator of Madonna University, Okija campus, Rev. Francis Nwachukwu commended the decorum that characterised the exercise, while urging the students to see it as a challenge to develop their skills and intellect. He however urged all to practice love for one another and imbibe discipline, even as he charged the students to take their studies very seriously to justify the huge investments on them by their parents. He further advised them to always be good ambassadors of the University wherever they find themselves.

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍľËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

22

Fidelity Bank is arguably the best Bank in Nigeria that supports Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). ,WœV ÀDJVKLS SURJUDPPH WKH 60( )RUXP RQ 5DGLR KDV EHFRPH D PRVW VRXJKW DIWHU SODWIRUP IRU information and knowledge sharing among small businesses. As part of activities marking the 250th episode; the programme which has featured people and organizations within the SME ecosystem, had during the week, the MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo as Special Guest. Find below the Q &A on the programme which aired on Inspiration 92.3 FM on Tuesday May 22, 2018. Question: Congratulations on the 250th

Awolowo, ED/CEO of the Nigerian Exports

episode of the forum, why the unwavering

Promotion Council (NEPC) for the good job

focus on SMEs?

he has been doing at the NEPC. We also appreciate the leadership of the Enterprise

Answer: Long ago, Fidelity Bank realized that

Development Center (EDC) of Lagos Business

SMEs are critical to the growth and development

School who have been very strong partners in

of the Nigerian economy particularly when you

our quest to develop SME Exporters. Indeed,

consider the fact that we have a huge number of

we are currently in partnership with the NEPC

SMEs in the country playing in various sectors.

and the Lagos Business School (LBS) to run

Indeed, one cannot ignore the role of SMEs in

periodically, the Export Management Programme

any economy but in Nigeria as it is elsewhere,

(EMP) to help aspiring and existing exporters

the mortality rate of SMEs is still quite high and

build requisite capacity to play in the non-oil

so as a bank we decided to carve a niche

exports space.

for ourselves, banking the segment and have

The programme commenced its sixth stream

dedicated significant resources and time to their

on the 23rd May, 2018. Once existing and

development over the years.

aspiring exporters go through this programme

We have continued to support them with our capacity building and hand holding support platforms backed by our tailored transactions and financing platforms. As it is, our SME banking play so far, has been a huge success story and we are convinced that the decision we took years ago to strategically focus on banking the segment has not only yielded results but has taken us to sustainably higher levels.

Question: What has been the unique approach and strategy that the bank has put in place to serve Nigerian SMEs?

Answer: We decided to differentiate ourselves given that everybody talks about support for SMEs and so at the beginning of this strategic focus on SMEs which is well over 5 years now, we asked ourselves what it was about SMEs and their challenges and we realized that poor knowledge of business management, book-keeping, poor access to finance, etc., were among the key challenges faced by SMEs. Therefore, we decided to start with capacity building in key business management areas to give support to what we had planned. We set up a specific division in the bank headed by a General Manager who was reporting to an Executive Director, all dedicated to serving SMEs.

We called it, very deliberately, the Managed

branches and ask for help as regards specialist

SMEs Division and what they do is provision of

SME Banking services support that we provide

capacity building support in the main, and provision

and are good at, and I can tell you that a lot of

of tailor-made, low cost transactions and financing

people have found solutions and it gives us joy to

services support to the different MSME segments.

realize that we are doing the right thing because

On account of this undiluted focus by us on the

we keep our word, we cannot just promise and

segment backed by our specific interventions in

not keep it. Of course, we are always going to

various SME locations across the country, we

get dissatisfied customers but every now and

have had success stories from each part of the

then we try to make sure we do what we say

country and from the results so far, we have not

we will do and that has led us to greater heights.

made mistakes.

To further demonstrate the seriousness we attach to this programme, I anchored a number of the

Question: 250 live episodes have been

series we did on the entertainment sector. In fact,

recorded since the inception of the Fidelity

I never knew I could do it as it was an experience

SME Forum, our flagship radio programme

that redefined me and I learnt a lot.

for SMEs and there is a huge followership as people have testified to the impact of this Show

Among so many things that SMEs face like

on their lives, what has been your involvement

poor access to funding, how has Fidelity Bank

and what has been the impact of this forum

addressed these challenges and what form

on Nigerians?

of partnerships has the bank put in place, as regards the SME segment?

Answer: It is simply amazing, the huge number of people that tune into this show, every week

The access to funding challenge for SMEs is

and it gladdens our hearts when people tell us

one challenge that we have taken head on, in

that the Fidelity SME Forum taught them one or

Fidelity Bank and we realized very early that we

two things that have helped their businesses. This

will require partnerships with SME development

Forum has led people to our offices to find out

focused organisations to be able to record the kind

more about our SME capacity building offerings

of progress we desire both on the core capacity

and about our other tailored offerings for SMEs.

building end and on the funding lines end. In

It has also helped people to walk into our

this respect, I will like to specially thank Segun

for instance, they become better equipped and positioned for funding support by various debt and equity finance providers. Indeed, we had to bring all parties who have a role to play in the programme under reference, together, to underscore our seriousness as regards the fact that, Nigeria must begin to move away from this oil economy. In fact, we believe we should be exporting and not just importing so manufacturing and other allied production activities can ramp up in the domestic economy and amongst other things, increase the number of jobs available. The joyful thing about this EMP is that after the programme, you will see ordinary Nigerians come together, form a group and begin to export. I will like to share the story of a team that came together after their time on the Export Management programme facilitated by NEPC. They formed a co-operative and exported Hibiscus. Recall that here, the common use people put Hibiscus to, is to make zobo and other drinks. However, who would have thought that people will earn foreign exchange from exporting Hibiscus? This further demonstrates that our strategic focus on SMEs is exciting for us because it goes beyond banking and shows we are helping in different ways to develop the economy. It is something we will continue to do without any iota of doubt.

T H I S D AY ˾ SUNDAY MAY 27, 2018

23

For funding, a lot of SMEs don’t know

to reach these organizations.

supported a rice milling entrepreneur in Kano,

where to go as they see funding as one

Therefore, this two-day event is

when no other institution found them attractive.

walking into a bank to get money. However,

aimed at bringing the demand

Today they are one of the largest rice mills in

that is the traditional way because as at today,

and supply sides of the SME

Nigeria. In the West, we have impactful results in

there are individuals and organisations-angel

Funding equation together on

supporting cocoa business from the field through

investors, Private Equity and Venture Capital

one platform, to connect.

the value chain in Ondo state e.tc. The number of

Firms, Foundations, individuals, etc. who have

Although the Fair will be a

SME s we have supported across country and the

passion for developing SMEs. These people/

pre-registered event, participa-

results we have seen gives us hope that Nigeria

organizations abound but a lot of SMEs do

tion is free and the participating

can be great again, in non-oil economy if other

not know that they exist and so at Fidelity,

SME funding organisations will

hindrances are addressed.

because we wanted to be a step ahead of

have booths where they will be

Currently, we are partnering with the Bank of

others, we sat down and asked ourselves how

exhibiting their financing offerings

Industry (BOI) to extend what we have done. In

we can help people, I mean SMEs who do

and meeting and speaking to

this connection, we have procured a secretariat for

not have access to regular finance and how

SMEs who may be interested

LEPMAAS, the Leather Products Manufacturers’

does an individual who started a cassava

in any of their offerings on display.

partnerships with these fund providers so that

Association of Abia State to aid the institution of

business know that he/she can get low-cost

On day one of the event, we will have sector each year, we will have more and more SMEs

structures by BOI to manage low-cost loans they

funding? Of course, we have partnerships with

targeted focus discussion sessions with panelists getting connected to fund providers and hopefully,

will be disbursing to members of the association

the Bank of Industry, BOI, CBN and lately,

drawn from a retinue of model entrepreneurs who getting funded, with multiplier positive effects on

through us. Some of the SMEs who have been

the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) and

wil share their experiences and insights on how they the economy.

impacted positively by these interventions of ours over

SMEDAN in the area of provision of cheap,

positioned their businesses to attract and get funding.

As it is, the planned SME Funding Fair is

the years, have come on this Show to share their

off- balance sheet funding for SMEs where

On same day, we will also have sector targeted something we want to create that will become

experiences. Even in the entertainment industry just

we pass on the funds we get from all of these

focus discussion sessions with panelists drawn from a legacy even after some of us have left the bank.

like some other sectors where we have intervened,

agencies to eligible SMEs. Also, we actively

amongst experienced fund providers-private equity

we have continued to record impact.

do on- balance sheet funding for SMEs as

firms, venture capital firms, incubators, accelerators,

part of our regular, day-to-day business. All

individual and institutional investors, etc who have of people who would want to partake in this

considered, providing cheap, tailored funding

actually funded SMEs and still do. These fund programme?

for SMEs is one responsibility we will continue

providers will be sharing what the supply side of

to discharge no matter the odds.

the SME funding equation requires from/looks out

Question: How would you limit the number Question: When is the planned SME Funding Fair billed to hold?

Answer: People will be required to register and

Answer: It will hold early September, specifically

for in SMEs they are looking to fund. During these once we have the number of people the venue

5th and 6th September, 2018. We have commenced

focus sessions, participating SMEs who are not can accommodate for this year, we will close

preparations and planning, to make the Fair a

People talk about trade fairs and some other

attending particular focus sessions will also have registration so that we can bring to bear, the kind

success and we will keep all stakeholders abreast

kind of fairs and for the first time in Nigeria,

opportunities to have one-on-one interactions with of impact we anticipate. This is because at the

of developments.

Fidelity Bank sat back and wondered how we

funders, moderated by Fidelity Bank. Also, towards end of the day, no matter what you do for SMEs,

could further help SMEs have access to funding

the end of the first day, there will be guided pitching impact is important. We plan to provide more

Question: What is your message to aspiring

on a broad note in addition to the windows/

by pre-select SMEs to funders who will be exhibiting details on the Fair in the course of an elaborate

entrepreneurs who are interested in growing

options I discussed earlier.

at the Fair. They will pitch to these providers and press conference we plan to convene very soon,

their businesses?

Tell us about the forthcoming Fidelity SME Funding Fair

Typically, most people start businesses with friends

we are estimating that about half a billion naira on the Fair. After this, registration will begin.

and family contributing and often, this funding is not

will be made available to SMEs through these

Success stories of SME Forum

structured and does not support such businesses

organizations. The pitching will continue the next

We had people in Onitsha who started producing

up. There are challenges but they are surmountable

to desired levels and for some, it could be lower

day both at the guided level and in the form of water on a low scale and when CBN launched

once there is clarity of focus and the will to execute.

than what they need and so what we have done

a grants competition as pre-selected SMEs are the N220billion MSME Development Fund, we

However, do not follow your passion blindly particularly

is to plan a two-day SME Funding Fair.

positioned to ‘sell’ their businesses to financiers, took them to that opportunity and today they are a

as we have platforms in our SME banking area

are asked questions while low-cost funding is big water producing company using sophisticated

in the bank that can work with you to turn your

extended to those found eligible and qualified.

entrepreneurial passion, in a very guided manner,

With the Funding Fair, we are trying to create a market place where providers of funding to SMEs and the SMEs who need funding can connect

machines and producing under the best hygienic

The two-day SME Funding Fair being planned practices.

Answer: Follow your passion and do not give

into reality. Indeed, when we talk about capacity

seamlessly in pursuit of the easy-access-to-funding-

has not happened in this market before and

We also have our people from the Managed

building and financial education for SMEs, if you

by-SMEs objective.

we are hoping that we will record tremendous SMEs Division of the bank who spent two weeks

do not understand, feel free to walk into any of our

At Fidelity Bank, we thought this was some

success because after then, we will make it a at the Leather Works market/clusters in Aba, Abia

branches or contact the Managed SMEs Division

platform to create at this time considering that

yearly affair because as you know, you cannot state to profile the market, identify their key capacity

directly, for answers to any questions you may

a lot of local and international organizations that

finish providing the funding needed by SMEs in building needs and minister to them. Today, that

have or enquiries you may want to make about

provide financing beyond the regular banks and

Nigeria with just a two-day event. Therefore, we cluster is attracting serious funding and support

our SME Banking offerings. You will sure walk

development finance institutions, have the money

believe that once we create the awareness and from various quarters. In the northern part of our

away satisfied that you came to us.

but do not know how to reach the SMEs. Similarly,

start the conversation on this all-important SME country we are also very active; for instance, we

the SMEs have needs but do not know how

funding imperative, we will then have ongoing

Thank you.

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WEEKLY PULL-OUT

PRAIZ

RICH, FAMOUS BUT SINGLE

Vanessa Obioha spends a leisurely afternoon with winsome balladeer, Praiz, who is living the reality of one of hit songs, ‘Rich and Famous’

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here is this general perception that runners-up at music reality shows (eventually) become more successful than the winners. This is true to an extent, going by the number of reality show winners who fade into oblivion, while the competitors who trailed them, power on into the big league. The likes of Darey Art Alade, Omawunmi and Timaya found fame without clinching the top prize. The same may be said of Praiz who emerged second runner-up of the MTN Project Fame West Africa Season 1. To all intents and purposes, he now lives the reality of the prediction in his 2012 hit track, ‘Rich and Famous’. His face is now on magazine covers. He is renowned as a celebrity. What is more, he has awards and international recognition. Materially, he has done well. He lives in an expansive and tastefully decorated house. His climb up the success ladder in music has been steady. It was not a flash in the pan. He didn’t seek the easy way by deviating to commercial music as many struggling artistes are

Continued on Pg. 31

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Praiz with his fans

PRAIZ

RICH, FAMOUS BUT SINGLE tempted to when every other thing fails. Instead, he stuck to his R’n’B style, a unique trait that endeared fans to him during the reality show days. Apart from Darey and Banky W, Praiz is another loyal R’n’B musician. Of course, once in a while, he samples other genres but never loses his tenor. His vocal texture has been compared to award-winning American singer, John Legend. He has also scored a few successes by being invited as a judge on MTN Project Fame. His ‘Stupid Song’ that featured alternative singer, Bez was the first African track to be premiered on BET 106 & Park TV show. He even got an International Day named after him in Michigan, USA. Part of the Praiz winning formula comes from his personality. Winsome and humble are the two terms that easily come to mind when describing him. He exudes a genial aura even on a first encounter. This particular afternoon, we were at the office of X3M Music in Opebi-Lagos. He has been with the label for over eight years. The interview was scheduled for 11am, but Kogi state-born Praiz arrived earlier and didn’t throw tantrums for having to wait. He was wearing a very big smile when he finally strode into the lounge for the interview, looking very cool and casual in his jeans and jacket. He went around shaking hands with everyone before any introductions were made. He briefly stepped outside to greet other people, creating a sense of camaraderie. By the time we were ready to chat, I was taken aback by his outburst. “I know you. We meet again,� he said laughing heartily like a child who just saw a long lost friend. I wasn’t really expecting that kind of gesture but it was a good and encouraging sign that I was engaging with a willing and friendly subject. We kicked-off on his recent Headies Award for Best Vocal Performance in the male category, the same category he won in the 2013 edition of the event. “It’s been like one, two, three, four, five years later,� he laughed, counting off the fingers of his hand. “I’m always having nominations.�

The song that fetched him that award in 2013 was the popular ‘Rich and Famous’ where he sang about the glowing life of a superstar-no more lining up outside a club, waking up in fancy clothes, paparazzi stalking him, girls falling all over him because he is rich and famous. However, the song that clinched his second award at the glittering event was dissimilar to the jazzy life he painted in ‘Rich and Famous’. ‘Folashade’, the winning song is a melodic love song about his exgirlfriend. “Folashade was inspired by my last relationship. The thing with me is I love to write songs based on true life experiences because a lot of people will be able to connect with it. I remember going into the studio, I was really really...� He paused briefly as if deliberating if he wanted to reveal this piece of information. “Let me put it this way, I was heartbroken, so I went into the studio and started making the beat. I produced it myself. I started pouring out words. I said this is my next single. The way we put it out got people in suspense. The creative direction was very different. People loved it because it was different and unexpected.� For someone whose love life has been kept out of public glare, this piece of news was quite revealing. “I think when there is a third party in a relationship, there is a problem. I (will) rather just keep my love life between me and the person I’m in a relationship with. That doesn’t mean I am not proud of the person. I believe in PDA (public display of affection). When we are out together, I let you know, but I won’t bring my love life to my business.� The lyrics of the song are an emotional plea for the lady to return to him but in reality, the two are not on speaking terms although the lady knows the song was about her. “I don’t know how she knew but she called me and said ‘I know this song is about me’. We don’t talk anymore but she recently found out that the song won an award for me.� Describing his past relationship as being unhealthy, Praiz said he values his peace of mind more than anything else.

“Sometimes you try to make things work and then it is not working, even when you try to maintain friendship after breaking up just for peace to reign, and yet, you guys are still fighting and quarrelling over things. That doesn’t make sense. We can be friends and live happily without the drama,â€? he said with a hint of frustration in his voice. Raising his hand in an almost helpless manner, he told me, “I’m a happy person. I love to be happy. I have many obligations in life already. I don’t need further drama. It was just best to cut off ties... There are two things I don’t joke with and they are peace of mind and happiness. I won’t say I am perfect, but I am always ready to learn, to work on myself.â€? Now single, rich and famous, Praiz has been under pressure to get married, mainly from his parents. They want their famous son to settle down. All of these gets to him sometimes. “It’s not like I don’t want to get married. The time has to be right. It’s not something you rush into. It is good to get married when you are young, but a lot of people get married when they are young and in six months, the marriage has packed up because a lot of people don’t believe in courtship. They think courtship is a waste of time. I believe in getting to know the person before I spend my life with her. Likewise, I expect the person to know me well; my likes and dislikes. To be honest, I feel lonely sometimes, I wish I have a girlfriend.â€? Despite his parents’ insistence that he starts a family, Praiz has devised a way to circumvent the question each time it pops up. “Anytime I go home, they bring it up but I always find a way to change the conversation,â€? he said amusingly. “The last time I was with my dad, we were just having a conversation on a neutral topic, something away from relationship and then he goes ‘Praiz you know the Bible says’, I’m like, ‘Daddy, wait first, I just got into town. I just landed‌’â€? he burst into laughter. “I knew what direction he was going the moment he started quoting the

Bible. I know my dad very well. I just have to let him know that we couldn’t have that conversation. I avoid that space.� So far, the celebrity singer has stayed away from scandals. The only blight on his spotless banner was an unfortunate case of mistaken identity last year when officials of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) thought he was a fraudster on the prowl, mainly because he spotted a beard and a gold necklace. Though the beard contributed to that ugly incident, the singer is still grooming his facial hair proudly. “It is my brand. People easily notice me because of my beard even if I disguise my looks with a hoodie, people will see that beard and easily recognise me.� Praiz’s relationship with his record label has been one of a kind. In his own words, ‘they are family.’ “The thing that has kept me in X3M is the bond. It’s more than just business. It’s a family thing. They believed in me when nobody did. Two years after Project Fame, they brought me on board because they believed in what I do. It’s been eight years and counting.� He recently signed an artiste, Dapo, one of the contestants at the last edition of MTN Project Fame under his management company. This move, according to the singer, did not ruffle any feather at his record label. Rather, he was lauded by his boss, Steve Babaeko who he described as someone with his best interest at heart. With this award and the success of his EP ‘2mins’, Praiz is confident that 2018 is a good year. His other plans for the year include more tours and wider promotion for his music. As we round up the interview, I tried to find out if he was in touch with some of the contestants in the first season of MTN Project Fame West Africa. “Yes. I speak to Annette. I also speak sometimes to Bisola and Iyanya,� he chuckled. On my way out, I made a mental count of how many times the singer whose real names are Praise Ugbede Adejo laughed in the duration of the interview. One, two, three, or five times?

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High Life

͎͎͜;ʹ͜͜ͳ;ͳͰ

˛˛˛ Ă—Ă‹Ă¤Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă?ÞãÖĂ?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ËŞĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă’ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă&#x;Ă?

If Rolls Royce Makes the Man, Kennedy Uzoka Would Be a Monster Now... Ëž Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă?ËŞĂ? ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂžĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă–Ă&#x;âĂ&#x;ĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ?

K

ennedy Uzoka is a dandy soul. Beneath his expensive suits and unassuming demeanour lies a posh and groovy character. But despite his inclinations for luster, he understands that vanity is the ugliest armour a Midas could wear hence he aspires to humility even under the full weight of privilege and his epic stature. The Managing Director (MD) of United Bank of Africa (UBA), understands and covets the beauty of being draped in the ďŹ nery that constricts the heart and soul hence his predilection for expensive cars, suits, jewelry and among other treats. Yet Kennedy would rather be seen as a pure and modest man than a tiresome magpie, forever looking down on the world, thinking how ugly and despicable his fellow men are. Despite his privileged status, Kennedy maintains a quiet life. The maverick bank chief, who is reputed for his disciplined banking culture, eortlessly exudes dignity and class; he projects a rare image emblematic of the nucleus and undying essence that symbolized business and social capital before contemporary celebrities were born. Kennedy lives like a man of true character and quiet nobility thus you can only see him aunt his expensive toys, like his state of the art Rolls Royce, when he cruises to church on Sundays;

LOVE ACTUALLY‌ASTA, NEW WIFE OF IGP IDRIS, PUTS TO BED

Where there is no love, there is no ardor. But where love exists, passion becomes a given and even the most wretched homestead becomes Eden. There is love in the heart and home of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris. The number one law enforcer is extremely joyous at the moment; he is swaddled in the ecstasy of requited love, like a newborn cradling in his mother ’s warmth. IG is very much in love with his new wife, Asta, a Deputy Superintendent of Police. And he is never too shy to express his heartfelt adoration of his

Ibrahim Idris

even though he owns the latest edition of the posh automobile, Kennedy is very modest about his dazzling piece of steel. He doesn’t attempt to hurl it in the face of peers or rival bank chiefs even as several fake billionaires with outrageous debt burdens, aunt lesser versions of the car with vulgar zeal. Kennedy apparently detests mindless ostentation but he is never apologetic for being successful and rich. Hence while he keeps a very low proďŹ le in the social arena, he lives like royalty in his private palace. You could be forgiven for likening his life to the charmed existence of Saudi’s Crown Prince or the Prince of Dubai; Kennedy’s mansion at Osborne Foreshore, Ikoyi dazzles like pure emerald, particularly with its litter of expensive cars, which would deďŹ nitely make Skymit Motors and Mandilas among others, go green with envy. Besides his amazing business ethic, modesty, expensive suits and toys, the children and wife of the UBA chief are sources of unmitigated joy to him; this explains his decision to give them the best of everything but with caution. While other bank chiefs and lesser billionaires ply their kids with choice cars and expensive gifts, Kennedy aspires to give them the best Ivy League education. He understands that the world is controlled by men and women with sound education hence he educates his children in some of the best schools in London, United Kingdom. heartthrob. Interestingly, some days ago, Asta gave birth to a baby girl in a private hospital in Abuja. This good news is coming in the wake of a ‘doctored’ video clip doing the rounds, where he was seen struggling to read his speech. However, love finds you in unlikely places and vice versa. Ask DSP Asta. The police woman has found love in the manners and heart of her superior boss. Now each day unfolds to her as nectar unfurls to the sweet-tongued butterfly.

GONE WITH THE FOUNDERS! SILVER SPOON CHILDREN COULD NOT SAVE THEIR LATE FATHERS’ BUSINESS EMPIRE

Great dynasties have been seen to collapse after the death of their founders. In the face of such abject reality, many superrich patriarchs today, struggle to reinvent measures by which their fortune would not be squandered by prodigal family members soon after they depart the world of the living. Today, the desire of most superrich patriarchs is to raise children and grandkids that would work hard to improve upon and sustain their family wealth. As much as it would be advisable for some patriarchs to take extreme measures such as willing off all of their fortune to charity or leaving an errant heir with lots of conditions attached to their inheritance, the dread of having their family engage in interminable disputes maliciously

Kennedy Uzoka

garlanded with expensive lawsuits, instills fear into the heart of many family heads. History is littered with foremost families’ sob stories; particularly the descent of dynasties that disappeared with the death of their founders. Many notable Nigerian families have been seen to experience such a decline in fortune no sooner than their patriarchs died. Some of them include the Abiola family. Few years after Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O) Abiola died, the family of the late businessman, philanthropist and politician engaged in protracted dispute over the illegitimate sale of some of the property he left behind. M.K.O’s flourishing business empire eventually suffered an awful decline soon after his death. Examples of his failed business concerns include the Concord Group of Newspapers, Abiola Farms, Concord Airlines, Abiola Bookshops, Wonderloaf, and Radio Communications Nigeria Limited to mention a few. Then, there were the Odutolas. The Odutola Business Empire was the fruit of the dreams and industry of two blood brothers; Alhaji Jimoh Odutola and Timothy Adeola Odutola. Although the brothers allegedly laid the foundation for modern commerce and industry in Nigeria, their legacy failed to survive because none of their children was interested in revivifying their businesses, which started to decline, even before their demise.

Other failed dynasties include that of Sir Joe Nwankwo, industrialist and politician whose beverage factory, which produced GINA soft drink, perished alongside his other businesses soon after his death. A good number of reasons have been adduced for this malaise afflicting many superrich households particularly deceased patriarchs’ inability to evolve reliable succession plans capable of serving generations of their lineages, long after their demise. Others are Chief Adebowale, Sir Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Lawrence Omole, Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony, Igwe Mathais Ugochukwu and J. K. Ladipo. In the late 1960s, the name Chief Israel Adebajo was synonymous with Stationery Stores Football Club. Alhaji Haruna Kassim, Alhaji Baballe Ila, Alhaji Mamman Goda, Alhaji Adamu Muri and Alhaji Sule Garo. Borno State has the likes of Alhaji Mai Deribe, Alhaji Umar Ali, Alhaji Inuwa Usman and Alhaji Ali Koloko. While Jos, Plateau State also boasts of names like Danboyi Zang, Alhaji Ali Illya, Alhaji Bakari and Alhaji Namata.

BABY BOY FOR FAMOUS BLOGGER, LINDA IKEJI‌ ORDERS BENTLEY MULSANNE TO CELEBRATE

What started as a mere hobby or well, a pastime in the absence of a worthwhile business to do has become a phenomenal multi-billion media empire for Linda Ikeji. The

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HIGHLIFE

Power Horse! ‌How Oba Tejuoso Tamed His Three Wives

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t is a testament to both their charisma and the wonder they project when you come upon them in private or public places that His Royal Highness, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, Osile of Oke-Ona, Abeokuta’s wives inspire your awe and admiration. The trio comprising Olori (Queen) Omolara, Yetunde and Olabisi, continually parade themselves with irreproachable seemliness, honor and Êlan emblematic of their husband’s high traditional office and crown. Watching the trio from a distance exerts a wondrous reaction from the looker. Meeting them in person is even more intriguing and educative than meeting many other high society socialites. When you see the Tejuoso queens in person, all the deep-seated warnings and punditry about the perils of polygamy and how it ruins the lives of almost every individual involved in it begin to dissipate like margarine in the Saharan sun. The Tejuoso queens effortlessly repudiate every negative and widespread notion of polygamy, remoulding thoughts and reenlightening minds to reconsider long-held notions about polygamy. You could be forgiven for thinking that the three queens of the Ogun State monarch are blood sisters. And that is because they indeed, carry on like siblings. They attend every high profile social occasion dressed in similar and very expensive attires and jewelry. Like identical triplets, they mingle and groove with unparalleled earthiness and poise which gives you the feeling that you are in the presence of royalty and at once an unusual trio amidst the 37-year-old former model, former modelling agent and former author among other ventures stunned the world in 2015 when she announced the purchase of a mansion in the upscale and conveniently expensive Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos for a sum in the range of N650million. That is how wealthy the Imo State native has become in less than a decade of starting her blog. She has gone from a broke entrepreneur, a devil-may-care content aggregator to become Africa’s preeminent blogger, a role model to millions of African youths; an opinion moulder and a full-fledged media mogul. Linda lives the dream today. However, last Sunday, the blogosphere was on fire, literally though. Linda

Oba Tejuoso and his three oloris

hordes of Nigeria’s super upper class. But as a sociopolitical phenomenon, they are a three-forone package, members of a joint matrimony and sisterhood that continually dispels the threat of rancor even as they share the same bed. Other questions bordering on whether their public display of love

and unity is a performance, a mere ruse, are promptly dismissed by an answer that the unity and affection they display publicly doesn’t amount to a quarter of the love and harmony by which they relate at home. Left to the three, they are all the King’s favourite as Oba Tejuoso exhibits no preference for one Olori over the others. Theirs is, by all accounts, one

of those complementary marriages in which not the two parts but four parts come together to form an even stronger bond as a whole. Family is very important to the queens, and they absolutely rely on each other to create that stable home life. Subsequently, they have become such a normal, close-knit family, it’s almost abnormal.

Ikeji is pregnant for unknown man. A buildup to the blogger ’s gradual transition into a family life happened on Sunday in a viral show of her baby bump. According to her, “Imagine that in a few months, I will look down at a baby, and it won’t be a neighbor ’s child, a friend’s child, a sister ’s child, but my own child, my own flesh and blood, carried in my womb. My own son. It’s surreal. I can’t get over it. You guys think DJ Khaled is obsessed with his son, Asahd? Wait until this one gets here. He’s not even here yet and I already ordered a Bentley Mulsanne for us. I swear! Lol. Like, I can’t keep calm. Oh and please, nannies, stay away from me. I’ve got this covered! Thank you. Lol. Sometimes when I’m lying down and I feel him moving around inside me (he’s so hyper already, constantly moving around‌lol), I just get up and cradle my tummy and smile. Lol. I can’t wait for these months to go by so I can meet him. My own son!â€? However, Linda has not revealed the man responsible for the pregnancy.

Daddy, pretty easy and so much fun for a young lady. Add to the mix, unrestricted access to gold and platinum credit cards and the innumerable possibilities presented by the sugar daddy’s ownership of a private jet, and you have a gleeful, girly paramour whose joy knows no limits. A private jet is no doubt a game-changer, it presents the girl, lady or sugar baby, if you like, cozy prospects, like the possibility of flying by private jet to Europe just to spend some days in an exclusive sauna or salon getting her hair and nails done. One Lagos sugar baby even has a bank account set up where her much older companion deposits $10,000 a month to cover “incidentals� like Chanel bags, Hermes belts and the latest Louboutins. Although some would readily cite falling in love truly with her rich old lover but that is simply one defense that could hardly stand the test of doubts and intolerant criticisms by less permissive and conservative sections of the contemporary society. Nonetheless, it is noteworthy that the rules of dating and marriage are changing and Nigerian ladies would not be caught napping in the global dash for the sugar daddy with the deep pocket. But are there other reasons responsible for the trend? Why do very young ladies, Nigerian ladies in particular, now prefer the comfort of the love and company of older men beyond the lure of the latter ’s

comforting and very intimidating bank account? A careful look around the contemporary Nigerian society will reveal different manifestations of love and relationships between the older men and younger women. Today, a lot of young girls prefer the rich older men with big names to younger dudes who are still struggling. The contemporary young woman who has dated quite a few younger men knows that there are some things that an older man or her sugar daddy would do for her that a younger lover just won’t do to make her happy. But why is that? The answer is simple: having spent lots of years of learning, living, and growing up with women, a mature sugar daddy gradually comes by the knowledge of how to charm a younger lady or sugar baby in ways that an immature, inexperienced young man can’t. In a nutshell rich, powerful older men use what they know and possess to connect with beautiful, young women by doing some things to keep her interested and ready to commit. A sugar daddy could keep a young woman in his room and play with her all day, but he knows that she will eventually get bored, so he knows at some point he has to offer her more than just sex. So he makes plans for the two to go touring, shopping, vacationing and meeting with family and friends once he becomes serious with her. More importantly, the rich, older lover unlike the younger man who is trying to make ends meet paycheck to

OLD WINE TASTES BETTER

Ëž ËŠ ËŞ

Linda Ikeji

Full-length mink coats, a new Mercedes Benz 4matic or Range Rover Evoque and a tastefully furnished apartment or mansion in highbrow Banana Island, Victoria Island, Lagos makes falling in love with an older man a.k.a Sugar

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The End‌Who Will Save Bash Ali? Ëž Ă‹ĂŽËœ ÚÓÞÓĂ?Ă&#x;Ă– ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ËŞĂ? ÙÖÎĂ?Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂ™Ă˘Ă?Ăœ

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f Bash Ali were a bird, he would probably be a nightingale. If he were a nightingale, would he, like the sonorous bird, piteously die of shame because another bird sings better? Driven by his declining stature and loss of relevance – unlike the country’s soccer stars – to the Nigerian state, Ali has descended into a desperate strait. Thus his desperation to vent and reenact the impossible, like the proverbial soldiers starving to death in the battle trench; as the drought persisted, the latter abandoned prayers, marched up the hills and began to shoot at passing clouds to hurt the heavens for abandoning them. Like the metaphorical nightingale and desperate soldiers, is Ali at his tethers end? To most boxing purists, Bashiru Lawrence Ali a.k.a Bash Ali, a World Boxing Federation (WBF) cruiserweight champion has finally transcended his vanity and the patchiness of his fame to descend and wallow in infamy. There is no gainsaying Ali has gone fallen from grace to grass. While the cruiserweight champion’s athleticism and natural punching power brought him acclaim early in his career, it is his regression from a well-rounded and promising boxer into some sort of a national joke that has defined his legacy.

paycheck already has money. In fact, he is stupendously rich enough that he is ever willing to share his wealth without losing his cool or feeling like he can’t afford to maintain a relationship with his younger lover. This is a relief to a young woman who may have had a history of walking on eggshells with a young man who acted selfishly, rude and even obscenely frugal when it came to generosity.

SECOND TIME’S A TREAT‌ON PASTOR FEMI PAUL’S MARITAL SECRET

“He loves his bonds, who, when the first are broken, submit his neck unto a second yoke,� said Robert Herrick, late English poet. Herrick’s muse at the moment of deep introspection dwelt on the logic and vanity of a second marriage. You never can tell what he would say about Pastor Femi Paul’s decision to walk down the marital aisle for the second time. And since he married Evelyn, the second woman

Today, Ali is no longer an imposing physical specimen as he was in his youth; he can no longer defeat opponents using an array of skills: a stiff jab, left jab, haymaker, combination punching and evasiveness. He has lost form but the aging pugilist desperately hangs on to the glories of his youth; for ten years running, he has been desperately seeking government aid to stage a comeback fight and thus register his name indelibly in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest boxer to ever win a fight with a younger opponent alive. Ali’s fall from grace to grass no doubt resonates the tragedy of a contrived metaphor. It echoes the metaphorical “death� of the champion who was frequently discussed in the world’s many barbershops and sports bars only to be referenced too early as a burnt out boxing has-been. While it becomes increasingly too difficult to look at what he has become now and not feel a pang of sadness for him, the cruiserweight title holder weaves in his own honour, a colourful tale of fame, knockouts and record breaking title defenses. It’s a fascinating yarn from a distance but up-close, it rankles like some grade C-movie tale of a washed up cruiserweight echoing refrains from A-list mobie titled: “Requiem for a Heavyweight.� of his dreams, the founding Pastor of Grace Assembly Church has been over the moon. Since he took Evelyn as his wife, Pastor Paul has spared no expense to give her the best of everything money can buy. Pastor Paul got married to his the woman of his heart many years ago in a secret wedding. The marriage triggered uproar within the Christian community as not a few people wondered why he chose to ignore the Christian doctrine, which forbids a married man from walking down the aisle with another woman unless the first woman is dead. It is interesting to know that Pastor Paul’s first wife is still alive; they were neither separated from each other nor divorced then. That was then! However, the self-styled man of God practices what he refers to as “Intelligent Christianity;� which is akin to taking God at His Word and applying it correctly, and not twisting it sentimentally to suit one’s whims. The lawyer-turned-pastor flaunts enviable academic laurels, and a vast work experience in legal practice, shipping, oil and gas. He started billboard evangelism in 2004 by writing thought-provoking messages on billboards and stationing them in strategic places across the country.

FROM LAGOS TO NETHERLANDS... LOUIS EKERE STRIKES GOLD

Femi Paul

Becoming an entrepreneur is not mere lip service; it takes consistent effort and focus to grow from just being an entrepreneur with interest in a particular business to becoming a respected and renowned empire builder. Nigeria is blessed with many of such men who started from the scratch, kept their nose to the grindstone and turn seemingly insignificant ideas into behemoth industries. Louis Ekere, popularly known as Dr. Brown, is one of the

Bash Ali

risk-taking individuals that would be sent to Mars and still treat it as a stepping stone to Saturn – the quality of constant invention and self-improvement that has earned him worldwide acclaim and prosperity. However, his company, Homeland Integrated Offshore Services Ltd has taken a huge step further in its quest to render globally competitive services to its clientele in Nigeria when it signed a multi-million dollars ship building deal with Damen Shipyard of the Netherlands on Wednesday. The representatives of Damen Shipyards- The Netherlands were in Homeland Lagos office for the milestone ship signing ceremony. Being one of the most ample projects ever signed by Homeland, the scope and activities are significantly enormous with huge job creation prospects both at initiation and upon completion of the project. The signing ceremony, which had Mr. Harm Blaaw, Eline Holters and Francesco Verschuren representing Damen Shipyards, was witnessed by the representatives of the legal firm of Lexavier Partners, led by Chuka Agbu (SAN). The visibly elated Chief Executive Officer of Homeland, Dr. Louis Ekere thanked the management of Damen for the continued collaboration, business cooperation and knowledge exchange between both companies which dates back to 6 years. He affirmed Homeland’s commitment to continuing to work with Damen Shipyards who are the foremost ship builders in Europe. The Ships on completion and delivery will be used to support offshore drilling and exploration services and will add significant value to the International Oil Companies’s operating in the Niger Delta. Homeland Integrated Offshore

Services Limited support international oil companies working in Nigeria’s offshore oil and gas fields by providing engineering, procurement, construction, installation and security services. The oil and gas servicing company has expertise in offshore maritime security services, Automated Gas Oil (AGO) delivery services, Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) services as well as other Oil production support services. It is one of the few indigenous Private Maritime Security Companies, (PMSC), with a valid MOU with the Nigerian Navy. The company own and operate fitfor -purpose ballistic security patrol vessels manned with Government security forces for the protection of offshore international oil facilities and the Nigerian waterways. Homeland has won multiple awards for its excellent services, one of which was from the United States of America Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security Services.

Louis Ekere

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

DATE NIGHT KILLS ITS OWN AMBITION PAGE 67

27.05.2018

ONE DAY, SINMIDELE ADESANYA DARED TO DREAM... Adesanya

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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ARTS & REVIEW\\ART PERSONALITY

ONE DAY, SINMIDELE ADESANYA DARED TO DREAM... Turning her passion into a dream come true 25 years ago was for Sinmidele Adesanya the first step to further forays into the international art scene, Okechukwu Uwaezuoke writes

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irst, there were the stirrings of a longing. Or a dream. And this dream borne was aloft on the wings of a genuine passion for the visual arts. Indeed, it had to be passion. For, what else would explain the fact that Sinmidele Adesanya, even with a masters degree in law, regularly organised salons and exhibitions of artworks alongside her professional legal practice? “Mydrim”, the name she eventually chose for her gallery, was the outcome of a word play. “It was 'my dream' to set up an art gallery and when eventually I did, the name emanated from a play on words,”she explains. The gallery’s emergence into the Lagos art scene happened sometime in December 1992. Then, only few art galleries existed. There were indeed many “very small 'art shops' and art studios scattered all over the country,”Adesanya recalls. Among the galleries, only three stood out from the lot as doing serious art business. But then, only one of these three galleries has survived till date. “I had heard of the galleries set up by ladies like Mrs Emily Imokhuede and Mrs Duro Emmanuel, which had all closed down before I set up.” Thus, the birth of Mydrim Gallery was at a period when art practice was not exactly experiencing a golden age. Still, this did not blunt Adesanya’s enthusiasm. Her optimism spurred her on and sustained her during what she described as “long tough but enjoyable journey”. The gallery, tucked away somewhere from where the narrow Norman Williams Streets begins to loop its way around an agglomeration of buildings in the South-west Ikoyi neighbourhood, had to contend with the Mammon-driven philistinism of Lagos. It became one of the few islets of creativity in this surging sea of stifling materialism and general apathy. “Mydrim has been a part of the success stories of many artists,” Adesanya resumes. “We were there with many artists in their early days and we created a platform to showcase their works.” Included among these many artists were El Anatsui, Abiodun Olaku, Bunmi Babatunde, Rom Isichei, Segun Adejumo, Aimufia Osagie, Bede Umeh and Olumide Oresegun. “We thank God we have built enduring relationships. We have overcome many challenges. Our story is one of dedication and perseverance. When many galleries were closing down, to the glory of God we weathered the storm.” Above all, the gallery’s primary vision, which includes developing an awareness and appreciation of the visual arts in Nigeria, is being fulfilled. In its 25 years of existence, a couple of art spaces had joined it along Norman Williams Street only to close down a few years after. Three others have since sprung up in other locations along the same street. Meanwhile, new talents swarmed into the already talent-glutted scene as the number of aficionados increased spectacularly. To meet the demands of a growing, but competitive, art market, Mydrim Gallery had to step up its game with other activities besides organising art exhibitions. It, for instance, collaborated with the renowned international Nigerian-born curator Bisi Silva to organise Institute of Visual Arts and Culture (IVAC) lectures series in the early 2000s. It was one of these lectures that brought the British-born artist and curator of Caribbeandescent, Eddie Chambers, to Nigeria. Another IVAC lecture featured the United States-based Nigerian artist, art historian, art curator and blogger Chika Okeke-Agulu, whose lecture, titled “What Is Wrong with Installation Art?” caused so much disquiet in a mainly conservative Lagos art scene. Even in the exhibition circuit, the gallery

Interior of Mydrim Gallery

Another view of Mydrim Gallery's interior

spawned memorable shows like the Living Masters exhibition in 2007 (sponsored by Guaranty Trust Bank and declared open by the Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka at Terra Kulture in Victoria Island, Lagos), the medium-specific annual pastel exhibitions and a highprofile photography exhibition that glimmered with such leading lights as Don Barber, Philip Trimnell and Tam Fiofori, among others. Besides collaborating annually with the Terra Kulture as TKMG to organise art auctions, it organised the Nigeria at 50 photography exhibition and curated the Eko Art Expo at the instance of the Lagos State Government and more recently, in 2015, represented the continent at the modern art section of the International Art Dubai Fair. Adesanya described the Art Dubai Fair as an “amazing experience”. For her, it was very exciting – perhaps, also fulfilling – to represent Africa at the modern section of the art fair. “We featured the works of one of our renowned artists Dr Bruce Onobrakpeya. His works generated a lot of interest, the Sheiks revisited our stand and took pictures. We were featured in four newspapers and a few magazines in the Arab middle belt region. It was a rewarding experience for the artist and the gallery.” Now at 25, the gallery is planning another Masters

exhibition. This exhibition, which consolidates on the memories of the previous Living Masters exhibition held over a decade ago, will feature the works of Yusuf Grillo, Gani Odutokun, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Kolade Oshinowo, Jimoh Akolo, El Anatsui, Abayomi Barber, Jimoh Buraimoh, David Dale, Nike Davies-Okundaye, Bisi Fakeye and Muraina Oyelami and will hold for two days, on Sunday June 3 and Monday June 4 at Desiderata, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos. Adesanya, as the curator, explains: “A Nigerian proverb says, ‘A river that does not know its source will soon run dry.’ This exhibition is a display of the works of 12 of Nigeria’s masters such that art lovers, artists and art students know the source, that is, some of the artists who steered the course and remained committed and focused to developing the visual arts in Nigeria in the face of monumental challenges.” She argues that the younger generation of artists are leveraging on the sacrifices made by these masters of Nigerian art scene, hence they deserve to be acknowledged for paving the way for others. These masters represent the

leading art movements/schools in Nigeria, namely, Zaria School, the informal Osogbo Art tradition, Yaba School and Nsukka School. “We researched on those who had contributed significantly to the development of the arts at the time,”Adesanya discloses. “A number of them like Isiaka Osunde and Yusuf Grillo were no longer actively working. It was very fulfilling to get them to work again and to celebrate them.” When the idea of the Living Masters exhibition was being conceived over a decade ago, the plan was that it would be a two-part series. “It has taken us 11 years to organise the second part. Unfortunately, we lost two of the masters Isiaka Osunde and Bisi Fakeye during this period.” As for the forthcoming Masters exhibition, it is banking on the support of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) and Custodian and Allied Insurance PLC for the opening ceremony of its twoday event. For a discussion session, dubbed “The Masters Session”, during which the University of Port Harcourt-based Professor Frank Ugiomoh will deliver a paper, Union Bank is footing the bills. Also at the same session, Lagos-based artists Duke Asidere and Taiye Idahor will be part of a panel of discussants at the event, which will also feature an interactive session of the masters with selected young artists and students. Meanwhile, the exhibition’s preview – sponsored by the law firm Templars – was held on Wednesday. For the contemporary Nigerian art scene, Adesanya sees a bright future. That, she says is clearer than ever before. Her reasons: “Our art is sought after all over the world. Our objective to create an awareness and appreciation of what we have is being fulfilled. Social media have contributed immensely to the awareness of what we are doing in Nigeria. You can't talk about contemporary art in Africa, in the world without mentioning Nigeria. The gallery’s role is being redefined. It’s a very good feeling and I give glory to the Almighty God.” Besides, Mydrim Gallery owes its ascent up the ladder-rungs of reckoning to its integrity in relating to its coterie of artists.

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DATE NIGHT KILLS ITS OWN AMBITION Oris Aigbokhaevbolo

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he boy meets girl-whoturns-out-to-be-a-psycho storyline has had various appearances on the big screen. Perhaps the iconic appearance is Fatal Attraction, where Michael’s Douglas’s boy happens to be married and Glenn Close’s girl takes his betrayal a little too much to heart. Last year Rita Dominic featured in one such movie, the awful The Guest. This year, Daniel Oriahi has made a movie along that line. It isn’t quite as terrible as The Guest. But that is not exactly endorsement. When we meet the couple who for the next hour will more or less keep us company onscreen, they are having a dinner at a highbrow restaurant. Accordingly, Lota and Femi talk highbrow stuff, Greek mythology forming the foundation of their conversation. Femi (played by Deyemi Okanlawon looking off-putting in close-ups) appears to believe the average Nigerian girl isn’t interested in such discussions, and is so surprised by Lota that he is almost certainly aroused. As an opener, the scene is both good and bad. Many of today’s Nollywood films would use a Nigerian pop song as soundtrack here, but Oriahi uses silence in patches. The effect is we know that what is important is the dialogue between these two, the way lovers of a certain temperament use talk as foreplay. Unfortunately, this insight into the nature of heterosexual passion isn’t sustained. On the bad side, the scene is too much on the nose. Screenwriter Kehinde Joseph Anthony perhaps read too many books on the importance of foreshadowing, so when Lota says she admires the goddess Nemesis, it is clear she is concealing something up her elbow-length sleeves. And if that fails to clue in the viewer, Adesua Etomi, as Lota, decides to switch face from joy to Nollywood movie-malevolence. You might know the look: it consists of eyes widening and cheeks folding as the score becomes ominous. It is an unexpected irony that this opening scene does foreshadow two things wrong with this film: The actors are not sure if they are in a romantic comedy or in a thriller, and the film’s lighting and cinematography fails to set an adequately eerie atmosphere for what follows. You get the idea that while obviously indebted to Hollywood, at this point Date Night can’t quite choose whether to be guided by the spirit of Alfred Hitchcock or by the hands of Judd Apatow. Lota and Femi skip dinner and head home to Femi’s house. Femi, of course, is thinking of sex, and gives some speech about liking that a woman who knows what she wants, as she is said to have wooed him a day before we meet them. This idea of female empowerment, too, becomes a thing to be used by the film as it kicks into the gear with Lota’s first strike. With years of female subjugation as part of the history of Nollywood, it feels about right that this one time a woman gets to strike righteously—but in trying to transfer this specific gender politics to a physical exchange between Lota and Femi, the film stretches its own believability. On one occasion, the rather reedy Etomi envelopes Okanlawon and it’s a bit of a mystery that he doesn’t fling her to the afterlife with one reasonably bulky arm. To be fair, there is a bit of guile involved in the exchanges, but there are also too many physical confrontations between the film’s centre characters. But the actors don’t recognise the incredulity of their situation. In fact to

their detriment, Etomi and Okanlawon come to think they are in a movie better than the one we are watching. Okanlawon overacts; in a key scene, Etomi overlaughs. For his part, Oriahi overindulges his actors. And yet, there are clever bits, as in one scene where a character says, "the status quo is not moving the story any further", clearly meant to serve as a wink to the alert viewer during a narrative impasse. There is also some psychological basis for behaviour towards the end. It involves a parent—you know like Norman Bates in Hitchcock’s Psycho. This is tied in with a literary plot point involving a number of novels including the Philip Roth novel Portnoy’s Complaint. This bit will gladden the heart of book lovers, but the way Chidiogo Enwegbara’s story goes about introducing these books leaves a lot to be desired. It doesn’t help that Date Night finally kills its own ambitions with one of the most ridiculous resolutions in a New Nollywood film. Oriahi is a student of cinema, visible in how much his films refer to his global predecessors. There is Hitchcock here, as there was Martin Scorsese in his previous

A scene from the movie film Taxi Driver (Oko Ashawo). But he might need to also become master of his own filmmaking. To do that, he would have to reject scripts like Date Night—or

else rewrite the whole thing himself. ––Aigbokhaevbolo, the West African Editor of MusicInAfrica, writes from Lagos

The Inverted Pyramid; Adapted from a novel by Emeka Dike

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CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

Generals in theTrenches as Buhari Jabs Obasanjo President Muhammadu Buhari and one of his predecessors, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, have gone ballistics over their differences, preparatory to the 2019 elections, writes Abimbola Akosile

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ince his letter to President Muhammadu Buhari in January, titled: ‘The Way Out: A Clarion Call for Coalition for Nigeria Movement,’ former President Olusegun Obasanjo has not hidden the fact that he’d taken a position as far as the 2019 election is concerned. The former president, who is hitherto one of the few Nigerians with enviable access to Aso Rock, the seat of power, was unequivocal in his letter, where he pointedly asked Buhari to shelve the idea of seeking re-election in the nation’s interest. In following this up, Obasanjo had immediately set up a group, Coalition for Nigeria Movement. This was soon given immense boost with several consultations with some of the critical stakeholders in the country, with whom Obasanjo discussed the inanities of the Buhari administration and the implications of allowing him continue in office. Weeks after, Obasanjo’s coalition movement adopted a political party, African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform to challenge the status quo in 2019. From that juncture, he elevated the debate as purely issue and contextbased, often openly calling out Buhari as unfit, in what can also be categorised as character debate. Curiously, the Buhari had ignored Obasanjo all the while he was attacking him. Aside the response done to his January letter by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, which was well tempered by all standards and utterly atypical of the disposition of the administration, Buhari definitely maintained silence while the former president sustained his offensive. Unexpectedly, however, Buhari broke his silence last week, perhaps, realising it was no longer golden as he too threw jabs at Obasanjo, accusing him of “bragging” that he spent $16 billion on the power sector without anything to show for it. “You know the rail was killed and one of the former heads of state between that time was bragging that he spent more than $16 billion, not naira, on power. Where is the power? Where is the power? And now, we have to pay the debt.” Quite expectedly, Obasanjo fired back, describing Buhari as ignorant and that it was doubtful the president had a proper understanding of the issues before he made what he dismissed as ‘the unfounded allegation.’ “We recommend that the president and his co-travelers should read Chapters 41, 42, 43 and 47 of ‘My Watch; for Chief Obasanjo’s insights and perspectives on the power sector and indeed, what transpired when the allegation of $16 billion on power projects was previously made. “If he cannot read the three-volume book, he should detail his aides to do so and summarise the chapters in a language that he will easily understand,” Akin Osuntokun, a director in the former president’s CNM said in statement last week. Naturally, the disagreement between the two generals was soon taken up by their supporters as some form of proxy war, particularly on the social media. It is also interesting to note that the vigour with which Obasanjo canvassed for Buhari at the expense of his then estranged

Buhari and Obasanjo godson, former President Goodluck Jonathan, is the same he is out against Buhari. Both retired generals of the army and former heads of state. Obasanjo has had the privilege of also leading as a civilian president while Buhari is currently serving out his first term of four years. What this means is that they are both grounded in the art of war and perhaps, understand the consequences of the choices they have made. Much as it is not going to be easy for the both of them as they try hard to undo each other, it needs no further telling that their choices would have its devastating effect on the country and her people. The other point is that Obasanjo’s capacity to mobilise the international community on local matters as well as stir instructive debate cannot be underestimated, an edge which appears to

have bolstered his courage about his capacity to show Buhari the way out in 2019. But the president does not appear bothered, whatever is considered his limitation, and has shown increasing determination to give his second term project all the required push. Besides, a taciturn Buhari can be mean if and when he chooses to fight back, the reason this battle of the general should worry the discerning. Although the plight of the president might have been compounded by the growing clamour that he should stand down his re-election bid, the argument that it is his right and choice also suffices. From the northern leaders to their youths, the Christian Association of Nigeria and of course, other stakeholders and interest groups, Buhari’s re-election bid appears unpopular, but he has resolved to take his chances, the very reason 2019 promises to throw up a lot of upsets.

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

Is Buhari Bad Business for Graft?

I Magu

n one of its eerie moments, the presidency, last week said President Muhammadu Buhari was bad business for corrupt politicians. What this meant, according to them, was that only the corrupt few have found something obnoxious about the Buhari administration. But if you flipped this, isn’t it an irony that the president has remained a very good business for some of his aides and cabinet members, who have been accused at different times for corruption-related matters but chose

to look the other way? Even those indicted for corruption have not been tried, because he’s believed to have provided the much needed shield. How a president, who employs double standards in treating people, either for where they come from or their political affiliation, can be described as such remains to be seen in the fullness of time. In all of this, what is certain is that propaganda, which has formed the selling point of this government, is not sustainable in the long run.

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BRIEFINGNOTES

Odigie-Oyegun

Tinubu

Baraje

APC: Fighting the Raging Fire As simmering tensions within the ruling party bubbled to the surface in the recent congresses, creating a groundswell of discontent, the party’s damage control has kicked in, but how far can it go? Vincent Obia asks

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ancorous but done at last, the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress feels a sense of relief after penultimate Saturday’s state congresses, which complete the process of electing officials at the local chapters of the party. The ward, local government, and state congresses, as well as the national convention of APC had been postponed at least twice. But on May 5, APC conducted ward congresses nationwide to elect officers at the lowest electoral divisions. It held local government congresses on May 12 and state congresses on May 19, in a build-up to the national convention now proposed for June 23. Releasing the timetable for the congresses on April 27, APC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi had said, “The date for the national convention in June will be announced later.” But the feeling that APC is ready to smash a jinx that has stood since 2014, when the party held its last national convention, is unmistakable. Lauding the successful conduct of the ward congresses in Lagos on May 5, APC National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, said, “I am very happy and proud of our party. We are demonstrating to the people across the country that we are a law-abiding political party; that we believe in the tenets of democracy and that we demonstrate the openness in the congresses across the country, particularly, I can speak emphatically on Lagos.”

Parallel Congresses However, a defining character of the congresses, which now headlines reports on it, is the issue of parallel voting and factionalisation. This appears to be quelling the fire of excitement around the exercise. In the first major sign of trouble at the start of the congresses, the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, shunned the ward congress at his Ward 2, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State on May 5. Odigie-Oyegun was conspicuously absent during the nationwide exercise that was marred by protest, boycott, and parallel voting. The local government congresses on May 13 did not do any better, as rising bitterness within APC degenerated to violent incidents, some of which turned bloody. Parallel elections took place in many states, including Enugu, Adamawa, and Edo. A notorious culmination of the simmering rage in APC came with the state congresses on May 19. Ten states hosted parallel congresses, with members working at cross-purposes to elect parallel state executive committees. The states include Lagos, Kwara, Delta, Rivers, Ondo, Enugu, Kogi, Bayelsa, Oyo, and Ebonyi. There were also boycotts, all of which ended in the exacerbation of internal divisions within state chapters of the party in about 21 of the 36 states. Tenure Elongation Debate The basic factor in the parallel congresses, apparently, is a contest between those who want the tenure of Odigie-Oyegun to be extended by one year and those who oppose the idea. The tenure elongation move, which has now been dropped – at least officially – had been pushed as a means of maintaining the delicate balance in APC and avoiding the divisions that usually accompany elections. A strong lobby within the party had floated the idea of keep-

ing the Odigie-Oyegun-headed National Working Committee, whose tenure officially ends on June 13, 2018, until after the next general elections. The National Executive Committee of the party decided on February 27 to adopt the idea. And President Muhammadu Buhari initially bought into the idea, which was widely seen as part of his strategy for an easy win of the APC presidential ticket ahead of the 2019 general election. But the tenure elongation idea became contentious, leading to the establishment of a technical committee headed by Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong to look into the issue and make recommendations. The Lalong committee rejected tenure extension, but recommended waivers for Odigie-Oyegun and other members of the NWC to enable them contest their positions again without having to resign first as provided by the APC constitution. However, the tenure elongation movement has remained a strong force within the party. Despite pronouncements about an elective convention, this force loomed large on the congresses, and its shadow still looms over the party. The key feature of the congresses was parallel voting, split into factions, and emergence of parallel executive committees at the ward, local government, and state levels. Basically, the whole division boils down to the pro and anti-tenure elongation tendencies. For instance, in Rivers State, the battle is between the transport minister, Chibuike Amaechi, and Senator Magnus Abe. Amaechi is a supporter of Odigie-Oyegun’s tenure extension and Abe is for the new entrant into the national chairmanship race, former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole. The same thing plays out in Imo, Ekiti, Lagos, Kwara, etc. In Adamawa State, the governor, Jibrilla Bindow, is on one side supporting Odigie-Oyegun, and the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, is on the other side. Interestingly, the current SGF, Boss Mustafa, who is Lawal’s first cousin, is also in the governor’s group.

Response APC’s efforts to quell the raging internal dissensions seem to rest in large part on promoting half-hearted measures that demonstrate no real interest in immediate result. The party set up appeal committees to address grievances arising from the various congresses. But the panels seemed doomed from the start. Abdullahi said after the state congresses, “I have received requests from some of our colleagues on the issue of so-called parallel congresses in a couple of states. “The party position is that there is no such thing as parallel congress. The only congress recognised by the party is that conducted in accordance with the party constitution, which was organised by the congress committee charged by the party to organise such congress. “We, therefore, regard any so-called parallel congresses as exercise in futility and attempt to cause confusion in the party. “We wish to reiterate that any party member who has any genuine grievances regarding the congresses should channel such through the appeals committee in their respective states.” It is doubtful if this counsel made a lot of sense to aggrieved APC members.

New PDP There is also the challenge of nPDP. They are former members of the Peoples Democratic Party currently in APC, who are now feeling marginalised in the ruling party. On May 9, the group listed some grouses, which they gave APC seven days to redress, in a letter whose tone sounded like the last words of a political bloc on its way out of an alliance. The letter addressed to Odigie-Oyegun demanded an urgent meeting with the group, stressing, “Given the constraining factor of available time and in the interest of our great party, it is strongly advised that the said urgent meeting be held not later than seven days from the date of the receipt of this letter.” The APC leadership acquiesced, and on May 21, the NWC held a closed-door meeting with the nPDP members, led by its former national chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, and its former secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola. APC Deputy National Chairman, Senator Shuaibu Lawal, led other NWC members to the meeting. Details of the discussion have not been made public, but it appears to be the beginning of a long negotiation that may last well into the general election.

Lingering Discontent Odigie-Oyegun is presiding over the efforts to douse the raging fire in APC for now. But many believe the crisis will stay beyond him. He does not have a magic wand to resolve the crisis, neither does anyone else. If he is replaced after the APC national convention, there would definitely be a lot of realignments and shift in the pattern of the disagreements. There are many waiting in the wings to be part of the new alliances. In Rivers State, for instance, it is difficult to see the APC crisis being resolved before the convention, when a new leadership is expected to emerge, which is why Abe seems to have the upper hand. What he has done is to go to court to stall the congress process. He succeeded to a large extent, as he secured a court injunction stopping the congresses in the state, even though APC in the state went ahead with the elections. Once Odigie-Oyegun is out of the way and Oshiomhole comes in, Abe seems certain to gain control of the party in Rivers State. A similar scenario would play out in many states.

People Power However, contrary to the belief in some quarters that APC may implode from the weight of its present crisis, a party chieftain who prefers anonymity, says, “I think the masses are really asserting themselves in terms of determining who would lead them. “These are normal things. In a democracy all these quarrels happen. We shouldn’t see it as something extraordinary. It is even good for our democracy that people have the courage to challenge their leaders. “With what is happening, in time, the days of godfathers will go.” But the APC crisis looks set to linger till the general elections. It is, certainly, not something Odigie-Oyegun is in a position to resolve. Because of this, some people would leave the party, and others would come in as the country approaches 2019.

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L-R: Former PDP presidential aspirant, Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa-Balewa; former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Cross Rivers State governor, Donald Duke; and Coordinator, Coalition for Nigeria Movement, Omoruyi Edoigiwerie, during the launch of the movement in Abuja...recently

2019: Can Opposition Alliance Gel? The proposed alliance of political parties ahead of the 2019 general election is reminiscent of 2013, when the merger that gave birth to the All Progressives Congress eventually ousted a sitting president, writes Shola Oyeyipo

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n 2011, when Dr. Goodluck Jonathan vied for the office of the president after completing the remainder of the tenure of his former boss, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, he got massive support among Nigerians. But by the end of his first term, he had lost the goodwill, such that Nigerians wanted him out at whatever cost. His problem actually started in January 2012, after the announced increase in the pump price of petroleum products. He didn’t recover from the shock that followed that insensate decision, even though it was the way to go if a majority of the problems plaguing the petroleum sector must been sufficiently addressed. However, relying on the angst against the administration by 2015, when the former president made a run for a second term, some of the strongest opposition parties went into a merger that provided the platform upon which President Muhammadu Buhari contested and won the election. In Nigeria, a ruling party and an incumbent president are hard to defeat, but the coming together of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigerian Peoples’ Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and some part of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in February 2013, proved that wrong, because the incumbency weight was demystified – a sitting president was removed by popular vote. Again, as the country inches towards another general election next year, a similar scenario is playing out. Already, a coalition of 42 registered political parties operating as ‘Committee of Concerned Political Parties’ is already considering the possibility of presenting a joint presidential candidate to contest against Buhari. And like Jonathan, Buhari too is carrying with him the burden of a fast eroding goodwill among the electorate, but the big question is: can the alliance being proposed be effective enough to remove him from office? Leader of the coalition, Onwubuya Breatforth, expressed optimism that the ongoing negotiations would sack the ruling APC in 2019. “We are not forming a merger but we are going to field and support only one presidential candidate. We are talking with different stakeholders and political parties including the PDP.” Already, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Accord, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Social Democratic Party, Democratic Peoples Party (DPP),

and All Progressives Alliance (APA), have been named as part of the alliance talk and they are hoping to sign a memorandum of understanding to enable them work together soon. While there have been a plethora of opinions for and against Buhari’s second term ambition, some factors remain constant in evaluating the potency of the gangups against him, particularly when examined within the context of how Jonathan was stopped. No doubt, the president has recorded successes in such areas as food supply, security and a recuperating economy, revamping of the agricultural sector leading to 90 per cent reduction in rice and beans importation, exiting worst recession in decades, stabilising the naira against the dollar, increased investment inflows, with Nigeria’s stock market emerging one of the best performing in the world. Further still, the federal government launched a 701 billion Naira Intervention Fund (Payment Assurance Programme) to support power generation companies. Nigeria also rose to 24th place on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings, and earned a place on the list of top 10 reformers in the world. The country’s foreign exchange reserves grew by $12 billion, reaching the highest level since 2014 and an additional $250m was added to the Sovereign Wealth Fund. What more, Nigeria’s trade balance is now in surplus. Nigeria successfully issued two Eurobonds (US$4.5bn), a Sukuk Bond (N100 billion), a Diaspora Bond (US$300m), and the first Sovereign Climate Bond in Africa, raising billions of dollars for infrastructure spending. The successes enumerated above and several others, including but not limited to the launch of a tax amnesty scheme, implementation of a whistle blowing programme, Social Investment Programme – an ambitious social welfare programme, curbing Boko Haram in the North-east and the fact that the Nigerian Customs Service recorded its highest ever revenue collection, to the tune of one trillion naira mark. But despite these and the pretence among the president’s handlers, truth is that the challenges of declining political influence and competitive advantages of opponents in his aspirations to lead Nigeria for another term swell by the day. Notwithstanding some of the arguments against former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s unveiled opposition to Buhari’s second term ambition, he is one opposition too many.

This is because working against Buhari, hand in glove with the likes of former military president, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, former Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Danjuma, and other notables, the president has a huge task in his comeback bid. Already, the former leader has launched what he tagged Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) and there are ongoing widespread consultations with the hope to form a formidable force to wrest power from the ruling APC in 2019 poll. Not only has CNM fused into African Democratic Congress (ADC), reliable feelers are of the view that the political pressure group is not unaware of the ongoing alliances among political parties. At some point, the CNM said it would pursue its agenda to remove President Buhari under the alliance. Apart from that, there will not be any alternative to APC and Buhari without a formidable opposition party. Similar thing happened during the last presidential election. Without the merger that gave birth to the APC, Jonathan would have had a smooth sail to second term. Therefore, if there is no strong opposition party with an acceptable candidate, Buhari might easily return to office in 2019. What this means is that with the alliance talks and other political movements being canvassed, not only will the build-up to the 2019 general election be intriguing, the contest will be stiff, because some of those who willingly supported Buhari in 2015 are not just urging him to drop his ambition, they are prepared to vote against him. For example, the Christian bloc has vowed to mobilise faithful to reject the president in 2019. The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) declared that killings by herdsmen across the country will cost President Buhari his second term bid. Like many other Christian leaders, the General Overseer of the Charismatic Renewal Ministries (CRM), Dr. Cosmas Ilechukwu, made this known, when reading the communiqué issued at the end of the CRM Annual Leaders’ Retreat at the headquarters of the church in Owerri. The youth bloc that is already warming up for leadership, the restructuring advocates, the poor and downtrodden, the northern leaders and youths as well as many others, who are disenchanted about the APC leadership from which they had expected so much, will surely vote for their preferred candidates on alternative platforms.

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CICERO/INTERVIEW

How We Will Rescue Osun State, Says Ogunbiyi Regarded in the insurance industry world as an innovative leader and well- grounded scholar, who identifies opportunities and creates great and highly beneficial values from them through entrepreneurship, Akinade Ogunbiyi, wants to use his successful experience in the world of business to help Osun State navigate its way out of the woods. He speaks to news reporters last week on how he intends to do it on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. Abimbola Akosile was there

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he way the country is today, regarding security vis-à-vis the herdsmen and other crimes, it’s as if people are raising their hands in helplessness. Looking at the security architecture of Nigeria and based on your own experience and exposure, how do you think this herdsmen issue can be solved, bearing in mind that two priests among others, that were killed were just buried recently. It is really sad and inexplicable at this modern age that this is happening in Nigeria. I am sorry to say, yes, I am gunning for a political position, because I am convinced that leadership can make the difference in everything. They will tell you that people is the most important when it comes to factors of production. But, I tell you, it is having the right people, not just people, but the right people. I don’t know how a country so blessed when you see the biblical country flowing with milk and honey, I have not seen any country in the world that fits into that description but God just decided that we won’t have the right leadership. Fulani herdsmen (or killer herdsmen as they are called), communal clashes here and there, religious war, for crying out loud, we have to talk about what people need. I will be 56 in the next couple of weeks. We grew up in this country. I am a village boy to the core. My primary, secondary, modern school, my university, everything was in the village. My father’s best friends, especially in my town, Ile-Ogbo, were from the Hausa community. My father was a herdsman. They thrived and they lived in harmony. You find Igbo community; you find in virtually every locality within the South-West. You say Kano is a no man’s land just as they say Lagos is a no man’s land and you get to Kano in those days and you find every ethnic group represented and they lived as if they were in Umahia or Ile-Igbo. You get to Kaduna, it is the same thing. Is it not the same country? It is all about leadership. You have leaders who have the capacity to lead well but they choose to do other things. This leadership issue we are talking about, they have the capacity to do the right thing, but they’ve decided to do otherwise. You said your father was a herdsman…? Yes! My father was a herdsman. I grew up to know him as a herdsman. He would go - and buy with his friend from Ijebu - they would go to Kano and buy herds of cattle, 400 to 600, 1000; the two of them, they would trek, 90 days, 100 days to lead the cattle down to Oyo. There was no harassment in my locality; there were herdsmen. The three localities that make up Iwo land, Aiyedire Local Government, Iwo Local Government, and Olaoluwa Local Government, we had herdsmen. We never had these issues. If you come to my farm, about 25 kilometers from my village, you will see 7 or 8 year-old boys, two of them controlling about 400 herds of cattle. They pass through farms, they know when to stop them; they know when they see virgin land, they know when they see free grazing land. So, what’s the way forward? This is just political. The day our leaders would come together and say heck, we are one and let us line up as one. What else do we talk about? We are using ethnicity to divide ourselves. What do you say of India, a country of 1.3billion population; over 300,000 ethnic groups and their ethnic groups are as much as their religious beliefs. It is unfortunate. I can only appeal to our leaders. When people fail to give the deliverables that are needed for the common man to live a decent, peaceful life, they will look for alternative to engage us. This is exactly what is happening. You’re a private sector individual going into politics, how do you hope to deal with the violence associated with political activities? Am I going there to go and fight anybody? I spend an average of N50m every year, picking people from the streets, supporting indigent students, talent hunting. If you take these ones off the streets, who will the politicians use to engage in violent acts? And what do they give to them. If you give anybody N200 in my village, that is a lot of money. Our parents gave us quality education from their merger resources. When our leaders have failed to give us the deliverables to ensure a decent quality of life, they find something to engage us. Unfortunately, because of poverty in the land, they are able to use people to perpetuate violence. We have always had people show so much commitment and passion about how to develop the nation when they are coming into politics, they espouse the same passion you are exhibiting now, but as soon as they get there, they, like you said, know what to do, but they refuse to do it. Why is this so and what do you think you will bring that will be more beneficial to the people.

man of Osun State. For the past eight years, it has not been what it ought to be. They always say if it is not broken, don’t try to fix it. But what did you describe now, you said Osun is indebted. We don’t even know how much the debt is: Some say it is N400b, some say its N200b. The government itself said it is N143b. But for eight years, this is the best that government can give. There is nothing bad in borrowing, the question is, what did you use the fund to do? We know that Osun State is heavily indebted. And luckily for all of us, there is no hidden place any longer. Debt management office, every month, they publish the statistics. So, there is nothing that is hidden. Not everybody would ride a car in his life time. Not everybody would build a house in his lifetime. Not everybody would buy bicycle or wear rubber slippers in his life time. But good leadership dictates that everybody must have access to the basic needs of life in order to live a decent life. My parents, your parents, under the leadership of some people, they had access to that and we are what we are today. Let me take health care for example. My mother gave birth sixteen times. She got married 1944 to my father, before then she was married to somebody else where she had given birth ten times. What do you think was responsible, poverty! When her in-laws advised that you have suffered enough with us, why not go and try another man, may be through another man, God would grant you grace of another child. 1944, she married my father and with my father, she gave birth six times before remaining the just two of us. Let me tell you Ogunbiyi something about health facility. 1962 they set up Iwo Medical There are a thousand and one people like me who are very Centre, General Hospital. My mother said she had forgotten passionate about leadership and know what to do. But it is either about child bearing. She was just nurturing the only one remainthey are not bold and courageous enough when they get there ing, my sister, when she saw her pasturing tummy and thought or they get there using the wrong platform. Nigerian politics is it was fibroid. She said there was nothing they didn’t do to dominated by some clear factors, god fatherism and monetizaabout my pregnancy until February 1962 when the Iwo Medical tion. No matter what, no matter how principled you are, if you Centre was established and my father said, ‘let’s take you to the use the wrong platform to get into political office, unfortunately, clinic in Iwo’. The reason was that she was pregnant but our you become crippled from day one. people thought it was fibroid so they attempted to dissolve it Yes, I am gunning for this, but I can tell you by the special not knowing that it was pregnancy. They took her there where grace of God, though monetization and god fatherism are in she was told that she was 6 ½ months pregnant. And here I am politics, but here I stand on God and what I represent as Akin today, to the glory of God, employing over 5000 people, creating Ogunbiyi; what I represent to my God, what I represent to value here and there. That is the power of a good health facility my family, that is what I am taking to politics. As long as that when made available to the people and the people will always independence is maintained. As long as you are able to align pray. They have done, their best, let posterity judge them. I your thought, focus and energies to the goals of helping the am fully aware of the challenges on ground but my life has people make a decent living, you will surly deliver. We can been that of entrepreneurship. I always start from ground zero. complain and complain, good people had gone into politics The grace of God is more than sufficient, we have more than but the platform of getting there is the issue. Somebody said to enough resources in Osun. I am not saying it is going to be me that if you want to run for gonernorship of Osun State, do easy. It is going to be tough. But where there is a will, there is a you have N3b to N5b to throw away? I said I am not going way. I know how to create wealth. I know how to drive value. into politics because I want to go and throw N5b away. If I I am going to take Osun as a country that is indebted and has need to spend N5b, I want to know why I am spending N5b. nothing and then start from ground zero. Look around, can you Remember that what I know how to do best is to sell pure see greens everywhere. Green means life. Green means wealth. water N10, N10; buy a bag for N10 and find a way to sell and Mineral resources are there. The 4m people of Osun is a market make N100. I am not used to free money. If I have to spend N5b on its own. So, there is work to be done. For somebody like me, to make it happen, it has to be N5b that I can walk away from by the grace of God, it is going to be tough but there is light at if something else happens. I am not desperate. It is not the N5b the end of the tunnel. Coming back to the platform, I am not just I am relying on one god father to give to me and tie my hands. new in politics. I may not have been out there in the open but If I win it and spend N5b it is not an investment that I want to I have been in PDP from God knows when. I have impacted recoup; whatever I am deploying to get to the office, they are the party. There are so many reasons why the country is going part of the sacrifice, I think the society needs scarificd. And that through what it is going through now. We thank God for the is part of the problem of this country - people are not ready to crisis in PDP. Now, we have the benefit of a standard and which make sacrifices. is the standard of APC coming into government. Failure isn’t a bad thing. But for the discerning eye, failure is an opportunity You spoke about platform and you are using the PDP to start all over more intelligently. This is what PDP is presently platform; looking at the state of the party as of today is. I was part and parcel of resolving the crisis of PDP in Osun in Osun State, how confident are you that is the right State. Without peaceful platform, no matter how well meaning, platform? Looking at the economy of Osun today because there is nothing you can do. PDP has got its act right especially it is heavily indebted, will you still be able to work within in Osun. And Osun is like the new foundation the PDP at the that kind of environment? national level is going to ride on. We have learnt our lesson from I will start from the second question one of the things that our mistake. (See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com) spurred me into taking this decision is because of the common

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M ͺͿ˜ ͺ͸͹΀ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

PERSPECTIVE

Celebrating Lagos at 51 Akinwunmi Ambode

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xactly a year ago, Lagos State turned 50. Nigerians came out in larger numbers to participate in the one-year long celebration of the coming of age of the State of aquatic splendor. The celebrations culminated in a spectacular show on 27 May, 2017 at the grounds of Eko Atlantic. It has been one year now since those celebrations took place. We look back today, one year after, and see a Lagos that is remarkably different at 51. Infrastructure development continues to be in the front burner of our administration. From Abule Egba to Ajah, from Epe to Badagry; Lagos resounds with an endless run of repaired and newly constructed roads and bridges. From Alapere to Okokomaiko, Agege to TBS, the city breathes with lay-bys that have drastically whittled hours spent in agonizing traffic jams across the State. From Agege to Yaba, Ojodu Berger to Lekki, Lagos stares with shimmering streetlights that adorn the most populous black city in the world with glee. The pace of development in Lagos State since last year, and indeed since we came on board, is modestly noticeable. Yet during our campaign, our resonant message was that Lagos must work for all. We said it then and has continued to reiterate it since assuming powers that ours would be government of inclusion; where every hard working Nigerian would have a place to call home. Our message of hope knows no difference between federal and state roads: for the reclusive child of fate there are no federal or State Lagosians. All roads in Lagos, as with all other infrastructure, belong to the people. Through the years, we have steadily repaired our State, modernizing and retooling things to the point where we now talk about turning Lagos into a Smart City. In every way, our infrastructure is improved. Our roads are better, our mass transportation has expanded, hospitals give Ambode better care to the sick and afflicted, education is improving and more affordable housing is being constructed before our very eyes. The face of Badagry is changing. The makeover of Oshodi will cause you to marvel at the transformation that can take place even in densely populated urban space when there is the political will and determined creativity to give the people the infrastructure they deserve. We are improving and expanding the Airport Road so that a trip to and from the airport no longer takes more time than your flight itself. The Lekki-Epe axis was once an isolated, inactive tract of land. Now it bustles with energy, activity and prosperity due in large measure to the roads and other infrastructure our State has constructed. We have and will continue to build bridges linking parts of Lagos that have not been linked before so that commerce, transport and communication among Lagosians will be facilitated. We aim to make this state fully integrated so that one part is well connected to any other. All of this work is underpinned by the belief that Lagos belongs to all of us. Lagos is not an exclusive club. It is an inclusive family.

Available statistics from the United Nations confirmed the fact that an average of 86 people enter into Lagos every one hour which is the highest in the world, while the population of the State was now around 24million, with attendant impact on infrastructure and other social amenities. And the significance of Lagos to the overall economy of Nigeria itself is not what anyone would want to toy with. There is therefore the need for a pragmatic approach by a visionary government to put machinery in place to tackle the future challenges. That is what our government has been doing in the last three years and the desire destination in the nearest future is to make Lagos the third largest economy in Africa. As a government, we are conscious of the fact that infrastructure, security, stability and partnership with all stakeholders are fundamental ingredients for tourism development. We have channeled a lot of resources into creating an enduring infrastructural architecture for the business of tourism to thrive. In order to do this successfully, we must first build a solid infrastructural architecture that

will endure. It must be safe and secure; it must provide functional and diverse venues for the arts, culture, festivals, creative industry, recreation and wildlife; and it must constantly and productively engage with its critical stakeholders. The Tourism Master Plan is focused on Six key sectors; Culture and Heritage, Film, Art and Entertainment, Business Tourism, Nature and Adventure, Medical and Wellness, Beach and Leisure. Qualitative education is one of the cardinal duties a government must render to its people and the importance our government attaches to education is reflected in the 12.07% of the total 2018 Budget allocated to Education. This allocation is surpassed by only that of Economic Affairs and General Public Services. Our State has always been a trailblazer in various spheres of life and in order to consolidate on the economic gains made so far, the education of our youth is paramount. We seek the cooperation of all Lagosians to ensure we eradicate illiteracy in the State, groom the next generation of leaders and captains of industry as well as position our State as the standard bearer for the nation in the provision of qualitative tertiary education. On security, we believe that the continued prosperity of our State can only be achieved under a well-secured and peaceful environment, hence our strong financial investment on security architecture, modern equipment, vehicles and welfare to enhance the fighting capacities of our security agencies. We have inspired Lagosians to pay taxes. In truth, Nigerians do not like paying taxes, not because they are naturally averse to taxes, but because they have been taken for a ride for too long. We have demonstrated our readiness to judiciously and efficiently manage the state resources for the benefit of the generality of our people. The positive response of our people has shown that when a government wins the confidence of her people, they will respond with decisive performance of their civil obligations. This is the essence of the social contract we made with Lagosians when we resumed on 29 May, 2015. The social contract of inclusive governance and purposeful leadership is what we are renewing with our people today that Lagos is 51; and in this month that our governance of Lagos clocks three years. We wish to assure Lagosians that our government is one that listens. Our administration does not play the Ostrich that buries its head in the sand. Ours is a responsive government that promises and delivers on inclusiveness. Yes, it’s not a perfect state because we believe there will always be challenges, but with God and all our citizens on our side we would always triumph. I will readily admit that I am not infallible and it is an evident truism that I exhibit a different DNA and leadership style which some might not be alienable to, but we have kept faith with our cardinal principles by consistently delivering the goods/services and making our people happy. The future of Lagos State is bright and secured. Happy Anniversary!!! ––Ambode is Governor of Lagos State

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž AY 27, 2018

PERSPECTIVE

Approaching 2019 with Trepidations Tunji Olaopa

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s 2019 perches on the horizon, the year holds so much significance for Nigeria. It may not be a landmark year, yet it has all the potentialities to become one. It is not any less important especially as the country holds another general election. However, so much is attached to the year and it would be wrong to just assume that all is well even as the build-up to the election picks up traction by the day. The commentaries on the state of the nation, from different quarters, show that the entrainment that should come with the approaching polls are absent, especially as Nigerians continue to grapple with diverse and excruciating challenges, that have characterized the nation for a very long time. Although it is normal to expect that these challenges be sufficiently addressed, in one way or the other, the people seem to be losing it with the leadership. There is a widely held disenchantment by the populace, even as the political class seem far removed from the genuine aspirations of the people they govern. It speaks of a burning Rome while Emperor Nero fiddles. Issues concerning the Nigerian polity came to the fore at the recent Book Reading event organised by the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP) on Olusegun Adeniyi’s ‘Against the Run of Play: How an incumbent President was defeated in Nigeria’. The event which was the 8th in the series attracted a rich turnout of Nigerians from different walks of life and served as a veritable platform for the packed audience to critically re-examine the 2015 general elections, analyse the present state of the nation as well as the build-up to the 2019 general elections. More than ever, there is the need for a better managed Nigeria that is premised on strong ideals. Opinions on the true state of the nation may be as diverse as the number of people whose opinions are sought but not a few would surmise that the Nation is floundering, on the precipice of failure. This did not start today, some would argue, yet the present stewards have not shown enough will power to stem the inexorable tide of decadence. We may not be witnessing the end of democracy in Nigeria but it has indeed taken a barrage of savage blows to the point that what we have in the country can hardly pass for democracy. Like one of the speakers said at the forum, “there is a season of fear and decline covering the entire country�. This fear, he added, is borne out of anxiety over what may become of the soul of this nation. Nigeria, in his view, has come to be identified with so many inanities and sadly, these have become the easy to recall identity of Nigeria today. Truly, the government, not too far back, announced that the nation had successfully navigated the challenging waters of economic recession and had come out of it. This was cheery news by all reasoning especially when considered against the backdrop of the difficulties and gloom of the realities of economic recession.

Olaopa The announcement of the end of economic recession by the Minister of Finance, Ms. KemiAdeosun was good but it would be foolhardy to rejoice that the worst is over. The incontrovertible fact is that ours is a country still fully in recession. The forum averred that the country is still firmly in the grips of the monster called recession. This recession concerns our democracy, democratic institutions and cultures, social values, governance and moral values amongst others. Though democracy is simply defined as a government of the people, by the people and for the people, democracy in present day Nigeria is experientially a form of government that is of the people, by some anti- people agents and for the anti-people agencies. This is so because there has been a total erosion of the core societal values that should support and give strength to the system. The fallout is that you have institutions and systems with appearances and nuances of the real thing but are very far from the right things. We have what someone called ‘democratism’ instead of democracy and this uses the appearances and nuances of democracy to subvert democracy. Ours has become a nation trumping ‘institutionalism’ instead of institutions. We celebrate ‘electoralism’ instead of election. What all these say is that the people have been stripped of their power and handed the short end of the stick. Power in Nigeria is

no longer sociable and it is not a democracy when power is not with the people. It therefore becomes imperative to reconnect with the social context and give power its real meaning in the context of democracy, and that is by returning the power to the people and not the other way round. As 2019 takes a firm shape, the forum agreed on some apparent historical juxtaposition that cannot be ignored. Just as some of these came to life, and had strong bearings on the 2015 elections that produced the change of guards, they are already assuming the same shapes and shades in the build up to 2019. This involve same set of actors, replicated patterns and occurrences that underlie our democratic processes and tend to portray us, albeit erroneously as an unaffected people, unchanged situation without any new thing. It was the position of the forum that the political class strives to cast the Nigerian populace in the same mode of permanence and business as usual. The season of letter writings are here. The political realignment with the last minute pulling out and new formations are nothing new. Even the grievances and woes of defeats at the parties’ congresses and primaries are all familiar scripts; pre 2015 and now pre 2019. The forum affirmed that history has an uncanny way of repeating itself. It added that the political class, especially the government of the day, may just be playing the ostrich by burying its head in the sand and wishing away many hard realities. The lessons from the 2015 elections and the intractable factors that led to the defeat of then President Goodluck Jonathan by President MuhammaduBuhari is still very fresh. However, the present government of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has imprudently made itself a slave of history as it is luxuriously swimming in the same waters that drowned the PDP government in 2015. The social capital of the PDP government that was irresponsibly wasted over the years had the same imprints of Boko Haram crisis, political rascality and carelessness of its members, egoistic conducts, dissociation with the populace amongst others and many more and today, three years into the promised change, it is still the same six and half a dozen that we are witnessing. It is public knowledge that Africa’s ‘emerging liberal democracy’ owes so much to the hawkish influence and interest of the international community especially the West. It is more interesting in Nigeria where an overt or covert involvement of the Western interests can make the difference in who ends up to take the oath of office at the Eagle Square, Abuja on May 29th, 2019. The tactical severance from former President Jonathan by the West in 2015 made it easy for President Buhari to ride to power. The recent meeting between President Buhari and President Donald Trump of the United States at the White House, may be an added power to the spine of the present government, but it would not be a safe bet because these Western powers are only interested in the promotion and protection of their interests and, no one is indispensable in order to achieve this, even at the eleventh hour. –– Olaopa is the Executive Vice Chairman, Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP)

Investing in the EarlyYears of a Child – the Elixir to Nigeria’s Challenges Amaka Momah-Haruna

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lobal Economists have predicted that the 21st century will be led by countries that have begun investing in children that are in their early years. Nigeria can be amongst this league of nations if it begins to make strategic long-term investments in children in their early years (0-5 years), which spans the period of pregnancy till when the child transitions to Primary 1. It goes without saying that the whole span of childhood is important, however science has shown that these early years are a crucial period because 90% of the total brain development occurs before the age of five. Therefore, developmental delays and deficiencies experienced in this period are difficult, if not impossible to compensate for later in life. On May 23rd, the Nurturing Care Framework was launched at the World Health Assembly- this framework which is built upon state of the art evidence, states categorically that young children require Nurturing Care – care which ensures health, nutrition, responsive-care giving, safety and security and early learning to reach their developmental potential. In simple terms, between the ages of 0-5 years, a child needs equal exposure to all these components to lay the foundation for future productivity in adulthood. In this regard, the status quo indicates that Nigeria is significantly behind its peers. Every year, Nigeria loses approximately 900,000 children and women of childbearing age. This makes the country the second largest contributor to under–five and maternal mortality in the world. 43% of children in Nigeria under five years of age suffer from chronic malnutrition (Stunting). This translates to approximately 13 million children that will die or not develop to their full potential. Despite the wealth of evidence on the critical importance of early learning for long-term cognitive development, only 35.6% of children age 3-5-year-olds are attending an organized early childhood education program. Approximately 1 in 10 children experience their first incident of physical violence such as choking or being threatened with a gun or knife at 5 years or younger. Furthermore, 1.4 million IDP children urgently require child protection services in the North East due to the insurgency and civil unrest. This situation is aggravated by

the fact that the sectors with direct impact on early childhood development (ECD) outcomes - Education, Health and Women & Social Affairs often operate in silos with limited inter-sectoral collaborations and linkages that would enable them leverage on each other’s platforms to improve ECD outcomes. Beyond the ethical issues of human rights, investing in young children is one of the smartest investments that a country can make. In several countries, the rate of return on investments on early childhood interventions have been shown to have benefit-cost ratio as high as $ 17 for every $1 spent. The short-term benefits such as enhanced school readiness and retention and improved physical & mental health ensure that in the long-term, the country has a highly-skilled productive workforce. Therefore, it is an essential element towards breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty. In this regard, leading economic experts are increasingly advocating for increased global investment in “cerebral infrastructure� in comparison to physical infrastructure such as roads and buildings. Globally, several countries have placed early childhood development high on their national development agenda through the enactment of enabling policies and legislation. These range from high income countries such as Sweden with one of the lowest under-5 mortality rates and best learning outcomes in the world to lower middle-income countries such as Cuba where children have significantly better health outcomes and advanced language development in comparison to its surrounding richer neighbors. Cuba particularly stands out because, early on, the government acknowledged the need to integrate education, health, child protection and social protection services. To achieve this, it established a national ECD program termed ‘Hullios’ which over the last 35 years has provided children under six and their families a system of integrated services that aims to ensure the maximum development of each child’s potential. The key strength of this program, is its emphasis on leveraging on existent platforms whereby in early childhood education institutions, children are provided with quality health and nutrition services. There is also emphasis on the mandatory one- year maternal leave to encourage exclusive breast feeding which has been shown to have a significantly beneficial effect on the child’s mental intelligence. These countries have been able to successfully achieve this

because their welfare policies emphasize the civic role of the state in facilitating the quality of life and well-being for its citizens. In its current state, the Nigerian Child-Care system presents a significant number of opportunities that can be better harnessed to improve child development outcomes. For example, the recent expansion of the pre-primary education provides an excellent platform for parental education on caregiver-child interactions that can improve the child’s cognitive and socio-emotional development. It also provides a platform to increase a young child’s access to essential health and nutrition services that will ensure that a child attending pre-primary school is also being properly nourished as this significantly impacts intellectual development and in turn educational progress. Secondly, the platform that routine ante-natal care provision provides across the 30,000 Primary Health Care Centers in Nigeria could be better leveraged to provide expectant mothers with information and services on nutrition and stimulation practices that will benefit her child. Furthermore, the mechanisms being utilized to increase access to immunization for children 0-9mths can be better harnessed to provide birth registration services, which target the same age-group and in the long term, can contribute significantly to improving the very low (23%) birth registration rates in the country. Birth Registration can help protect against violation of rights, such as child labor or early marriage. Nigeria, as a nation has shown some commitment to improving the lives of its young children by the development of the National Multi-Sectoral Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy (2009). However, while the policy successfully defined key sectoral priorities and strategies, it failed to create a multi-sectoral framework with actions that could create linkages and guide inter-sectoral collaborations therefore, the functioning of this structure and the implementation of the policy has been poor. In this regard, there is a need to review this policy to ensure that its strategies are reflective of current evidence, that it has a truly multi-sectoral approach to early childhood development and that there is strong political leadership at the highest level. ––Momah-Haruna is Consultant, Early Childhood Development World Bank – Africa Early Years Fellowship Nigeria

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ 27, 2018

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž MAY 27, 2018

IMAGES

T L-R: Minister of Budget and National Planning, Mr. Udoma Udo Udoma, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN)

he funeral service of Inam Udo Udoma, was held at the Methodist Cathedral of Peace and Excellence, Awuse Estate Opebi, Ikeja. Guest were later hosted to a reception at Harbour Point, Wilmot Road, Victoria Island Lagos. Here are some of the guests that graced the event. Photographs: Etop Ukutt

L-R: First son of the deceased, Inam Udu-Udoma, and the widow, Mrs. Aderonke Udo-Udoma

L-R: Toyin Marineho, Usoro Udo -Udoma and Olamide Ejorh

L-R: Mr. Udeme Ufot and Mr. Ukoh Udom (SAN)

Representative of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Ekong Sampson, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah

Mr. Odein Ajumogobia (SAN) with wife, Awuneba

Mr. and Mrs. Atedo Peterside

L-R: Mrs. Eno Udoma- Eniang, Mrs. Angela Adebayo and Mrs. Sally Udoma

L-R: Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour and Atonte Diete- Spiff

77

M ͺͿ˜ ͺ͸͹΀ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

*****************SPECIAL EDITION*****************

The Morning Shows the Day... EDITORIAL BOARD Chairman Olusegun Adeniyi Members Kayode Komolafe Chidi Amuta Tokunbo Adedoja Peter Ishaka Sonnie Ekwowusi Tony Uranta Bisi Ogunbadejo Iyobosa Uwugiaren Alex Otti Okey Ikechukwu Angela Attah Eugenia Abu Akin Osuntokun Kashim Ibrahim Imam Bolaji Adebiyi

LEADERS & COMPANY LIMITED Editor-in-Chief/Chairman Nduka Obaigbena Group Executive Directors Eniola Bello

Perspectives from THISDAY Editorial Board

T

here are so many versions of the story that the easy conclusion to draw is that it is a myth but it is nonetheless a compelling one as it applies to leaders in all spheres of life. In the version that is common, an outgoing leader of a country hands over to his successor who assumes office to find a note on the desk which reads: “To my successor, I have left three letters in the top drawer of this desk. When you find yourself in a very difficult situation and many of the citizens are turning against you, open the first letter and it will help you to navigate the challenge. Later, when you find yourself in a more difficult situation, open the second letter. And if the problem persists, then open the third letter and it will resolve everything.” Six months into his tenure, according to the story, this particular leader felt that many of the citizens had started complaining about the state of the nation and the personal challenges they were going through. In trying to find a solution, the leader remembered the letters left by his predecessor and when he opened the drawer, he noticed that they were numbered 1, 2, and 3. Since the instruction was that they be opened in ascending order, he picked letter number one. When he tore it open, he found a one-liner message: “Blame everything on your predecessor.” Following that instruction, the leader sent out his men to go all out with the message that his predecessor spent his years in office not only stealing all the money but also doing nothing and that the people should know who to hold responsible for all their woes. The idea worked like magic because his country men and women shifted attention to the failings of his predecessor and the leader believed the problem had been solved. But not long after, citizens started to complain that they could not see any appreciable difference in their lives. Again, the leader remembered the letters. In desperation, he opened the drawer and pulled out letter number two which stated: “Blame the media”. With that, the media handlers of his government and other hired propagandists went out on the offensive against the media whose men were blamed for inventing stories to damage the administration while ignoring the progress being made by his government. There were also allegations that many of the journalists were working for the displaced politicians hence it was ‘corruption fighting back’. This strategy also worked for a few months until the disenchantment with the government grew to a level in which some people were clamouring for the leader to step aside. Now certain he had a solution, the leader opened the drawer, took the third and final letter, only to find this message: “Time for you to write three letters.” The moral of the story is that blaming predecessors and the media for inability to meet popular expectations will get a leader only so far because a time would always come when the people would demand that a government they elected should take responsibility for its failings. Unfortunately, that is one lesson the current administration in Nigeria has failed to learn in the past three years. From President Muhammadu Buhari to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (especially the latter) to Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed, there seems to be no appreciation of the fact that placing blame doesn’t fix any problem. Besides, they also fail to get the message that Nigerians voted out President Goodluck Jonathan because they were not satisfied with both his performance and their material condition. To therefore imagine that only megawatts of excuses would do is to misunderstand the essence of the mandate secured by the political strange bedfellows who congregated to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013. In a democracy, when new leaders are elected, especially from the opposition, conventional wisdom teaches that they do an evaluation of the critical challenges on ground and then begin to proffer solutions. Leaders who are desirous of making a difference in the lives of their people know that they do not have the luxury of time to whine about how their predecessors screwed up because what that exposes is their bankruptcy of ideas. It is against the foregoing background that Tuesday marks the third anniversary in office of President Buhari who came to power on the wave of a popular mandate that saw him defeat an incumbent. And in continuation of a tradition we started in 2011 (although we skipped last year in deference to the health challenge that made the president stay out of the country for months), members of the editorial board are given a platform to air their personal views on the state of the nation under President Buhari. While as a board we are restrained in the editorial positions we take on issues, in this edition, members who choose to write do so in their own voices. In a ‘Dilemma for Optimists’, CHIDI AMUTA argues that while Buhari’s distinctive vision and leadership style can no longer be in doubt, the essential outlines of that leadership derive from a past that most Nigerians would rather forget while TOKUNBO ADEDOJA believes that even when major successes have been achieved in the battle against Boko Haram in the Northeast, a new frontier of insecurity featuring marauding armed herdsmen storming communities and inflicting pains, deaths and destructions, has emerged. Meanwhile, PETER ISHAKA expresses serious concerns that as we prepare for a general election next year, not many Nigerians think the country is on the right track. Living in denial, according to TONY URANTA, has become the default pastime of the Buhari administration to the collective detriment of the nation, even when there are obvious lessons to learn from the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Dissecting the economy, ALEX OTTI contends that ordinarily, the year before election is normally slow with governance but strong with political activities but that the situation is now compounded by a late budget. On his part, IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN argues that going by his policies and programmes in the past three years, the president has not demonstrated that the democratic credentials sold to Nigerians before the 2015 general election were genuine. President Buhari, also in the estimation of SONNIE EKWOWUSI, has not met the expectations of most Nigerians while ANGELA ATTAH and OKEY IKECHUKWU examine the past three years of the administration and draw their own conclusions. As usual, BISI OGUNBADEJO speaks to the Nigerian condition in his cartoon. However, it is important to stress that the editorials published in THISDAY six days in a week (except Saturday) represent the position of the newspaper and are always constructive both in the choice of issues and in the framing of arguments--all in a bid to serve as a check on the power of those in authorities at all levels, and in both the private and public spheres, without losing sight of our diversity as a nation. But what we publish in this edition are the personal opinions of some members of the Board as they reflect on the challenge of leadership in Nigeria in the past three years under President Muhammadu Buhari. Olusegun Adeniyi Chairman, Editorial Board

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž AY 27, 2018

*****************SPECIAL EDITION*****************

A Dilemma for Optimists Chidi Amuta

I

n the campaign for the 2015 presidential election, Buhari’s image technicians unconsciously prefigured what was to come. They dressed the man up to be all things to all men. It is hard to forget images of Buhari in an ill-fitting three-piece suit behind a desk in an executive office lavishly draped in national and APC flags. Someone in the campaign had apparently crossed the line between political theatre and outright comedy. A business friendly Buhari was a curious oddity. Other lavish costumes and adornments followed, obviously aimed at reestablishing the man’s multicultural possibilities and nationalistic image. But soon after he won the election, Buhari quickly shed the deception of political costumes and the attempt by others to brand him. The authentic native son re-emerged in his favorite Bedouin tunic and has since stamped his curious style, for good and for ill, on the Nigerian landscape. President Buhari’s distinctive leadership style and informing impulses can no longer be in doubt. The essential outlines of that leadership, I daresay, derive from a nightmarish past that most Nigerians would rather forget but chose to forgive. Undoubtedly, President Buhari has a retrospective fixation, constantly relishing his brief tenure as military fascist as his brightest legacy in our history. Against the background of President Goodluck Jonathan’s lack luster performance, Mr. Buhari was coming into office in 2015 shrouded in a larger than life messianic mythology. He had briefly headed an unsmiling military junta that abducted fleeing politicians in Western capitals, publicly flogged people in queues for scarce basic goods, jailed politicians and journalists for minor infractions and marketed an ancient pastoral economic style and vision. Buhari’s glorious past is the ancient world of state control of the economy and export of primary produce. His golden age is that brief regrettable dark spot in national history when sirens tore through the night as the goons of state knocked on nearly every door with pre-signed detention orders. It was that period when no debate was allowed except the deafening rants of regime apologists. No dissent was brooked and freedom of assembly was treasonable. In that world, to be a politician was anathema as errors of commission or omission earned people the equivalent of several life times in jail. In that dark valley of our national history, to be a journalist was dangerous since the state defined what was the truth, how and when best to tell it. The populist mythology around that despotic interregnum appeals mostly to two groups of Nigerians: a small group of elite ideological simpletons and a vast army of unschooled and desperately poor young Nigerians who see Buhari’s famed ascetic discipline as the antithesis of recurrent recklessness among successive political leaders. Therefore, at his 2015 inauguration at Eagle Square, the multitude thought they heard Buhari say he would solve all the nation’s problems in four years. While public expectation was effusive, Buhari was economical with his promises. He identified security, the economy, agriculture and corruption as his cardinal priorities. It is only fair, therefore, that he be judged more by what he freely promised rather than an agenda foisted on him either by an irrational mob in their moment of frenzy or an elite consumed in populist mythology. Based purely on this limited agenda, it would be uncharitable to dismiss the last three years under Buhari as wasted. While the fear towards the end of the Jonathan administration that the country could melt down and disintegrate largely remains, the clear and present danger that Boko Haram could sack the entire northern half of the country has fizzled. The insurgency has largely dissipated and can no longer hold territory let alone foist its pet Caliphate on any expanse of national space. Yet, its ability to dispatch hapless kids as suicide bombers remains potent. It is now largely a roving gang of armed thugs and unruly zealots, which can no longer make and post propaganda videos at will. Yet Boko Haram remains a potent threat more as an occasional security irritant, Its periodic attacks is a rude interruption and frequent reminder to a government that prematurely celebrates the defeat of the ragged and rugged insurgents. It is becoming a political tool and an instrument of blackmail and extortion through dubious abductions and ransoms. Recently, Boko Haram terrorists brazenly invaded a girls high school in little known Dapchi, a dusty small town in the northern state of Yobe and carted away 110 girls aged between 11 and 19 reportedly in three trucks branded with sectarian graffiti. The operation, quite reminiscent of the assault on Chibok over four years ago, defied the bragging and propaganda of Nigeria’s overstretched security forces. For a government, which has insisted that it has defeated Boko Haram, the Dapchi abductions and mass kidnapping was hard to understand. Happily however, the drama ended with the equally dramatic negotiated return of all the girls but for the lone Christian, Leah Shuaibu. Perhaps the remaining Chibok girls and the plight of Leah indicate that Boko Haram remains dangerous work in untidy progress. To his credit, Buhari’s style of governance has largely reflected his personal austerity and aversion to flamboyance. The old concept of government as a bazaar of wasteful expenditure is somehow in abeyance. The garish ostentation and authorized hooliganism, which hitherto characterized government officials, has gone underground for now at least. But not much has changed in terms of emplacing institutional regulations to make a future return to previous prodigality more difficult. A belated but sensible economic growth and recovery blueprint (EGRP) was deployed and activated towards the end of the administration’s third year in office. Many doubt why a government would wake up only in its twilight months to the necessity of an economic development and manage-

The garish ostentation and authorized hooliganism, which hitherto characterized government officials, has gone underground for now at least. But not much has changed in terms of emplacing institutional regulations to make a future return to previous prodigality more difficult

ment document. Sensible as the document may look in most parts, many still doubt the ability of the Buhari government to effectively implement the policy measures it stipulates given the limited time it has left and the low executive capacity of its major drivers of the economic policy. The belated launch of the economic plan is akin to a pilot filing a flight plan just before landing at his destination. There is evidence of renewed interest in the rehabilitation of decayed national infrastructure. Highway rehabilitation and railway expansion have in recent months witnessed increased tempo of activities even if funding remains erratic. The economic performance of the administration remains largely woeful if measured by the declining quality of life and general performance of key indices. While some stability has returned to the foreign exchange market, the rates remain high relative to what they were in 2015. Nevertheless, foreign reserves have only recently been on the increase as a result of recent increases in oil prices as well as serial government default in funding capital spending on infrastructure projects, preferring to leverage improving foreign reserves for more foreign loans. Local and international alarm bells on the dangers of increasing foreign borrowing have fallen on deaf ears in a government whose most visible economic policy designers are either lawyers or mid capacity economists assisted by foreign consultants. In the interim, the things that matter to people have in the last two years been receding. Arguably, the last three years have witnessed the highest migration of Nigerians into poverty. Many jobs have been lost while living costs have escalated as the exchange rate has stabilized at a rate twice the worst of the Jonathan years. The usual visible markers of economic recovery or basic well-being have evaporated. Few new homes are being built by honest Nigerians; hardly any new private cars are being registered; retail traffic is only beginning to tick up even as inflation begins to drop in relative terms. The rate of savings is near nil as most fixed incomes have been eroded by exchange rate and recessionary pressures on other essential family bills. While the Buhari led APC government has muddled along, it has come under a heavy barrage of criticism by both opposition politicians and the national elite of disappointed and baffled former Buhari supporters. This combination of criticism has forced the administration into an unproductive defensive posture, blaming its poor perception on the views of opposition politicians. But major international assessments of the performance of the Buhari administration have been less than flattering. Amnesty International has accused the Nigerian government of gross human rights abuses ranging from extra judicial killings by the military and police to outright cruelty in the treatment of accused persons and the underprivileged. Similarly, Transparency International has ranked Nigeria 148 out of 180 countries in its 2017 annual corruption perception index. The International Police Organization has followed suit by adjudging the Nigeria Police as the worst police force in the world. On the eve of president Buhari’s state visit to Washington in April, 2018, the United States State Department handed down a searing indictment of the Buhari administration on literally all the planks that brought the president to office- security, corruption, the economy, governance. That did not however stop Buhari from visiting Donald Trump for a back sapping session aimed literally at find an alternative market for US agricultural exports. Similarly, a recent CNN documentary on modern slavery has identified Nigeria’s Edo state as a leading source of much of the Europe human trafficking that feeds the infamous Libyan slave auctions with human cargo. Underneath that documentary are loud suggestions that the human trafficking from Nigeria is spurred by unemployment, desperate poverty and hopelessness bred by flawed governance. There is a lively debate as to whether President Buhari’s style of leadership is sufficiently responsive and proactive to carry the burden of Nigeria’s complex polity and its equally daunting problems. The president’s executive capacity has proved rather sluggish and tardy. It took him a hefty nine months to appoint a cabinet, over two and half years to appoint boards of government owned companies and two years to appoint ambassadors and mission heads. Even where strategic appointments have been made, the president has tended to be nativist and parochial in key appointments while representing the rest of the country for statistical purposes to fulfill constitutional requirements. With Buhari, one looks in vain for the informing ideas behind Buhari’s sense of national mission. Even more wanting is a vision of Nigeria that fires his repeated interest in the office of president, hence his repeated contests for a job he lost in a coup in 1985. Even his pet anti-corruption obsession has so far ended up as just that: a personal obsession. No one has ever heard the president proffer any informed insight into the social and economic basis of corruption. For him, corruption begins and ends with his political opponents while he seems indifferent to the proven malfeasance of his closest staffers and associates. At moments when decisiveness and strength were needed in national leadership, Mr. Buhari proved inexplicably weak or was away in a London hospital. For a president part of whose claim to political relevance and pre-eminence is a background in the military and security forces, the current state of insecurity in the country is embarrassing. The prevalence of armed killer gangs all over the country and the random mass killings of innocent citizens

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M ͺͿ˜ ͺ͸͹΀ ˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

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Insecurity and the New Frontiers Tokunbo Adedoja

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hen candidate Muhammadu Buhari stood at the podium to address an expectant audience at the Chatham House in London in February 2015, he knew that was a rare opportunity to gain global acceptance for his presidential bid. He was not oblivious of the fact that his speech could define how his aspiration would be perceived by a foreign audience keenly interested in Nigerian elections. He also knew that those words could make or mar his chances among undecided voters back home. With this in mind, he carefully chose his words, focusing on the most challenging issues, chief among which was the dire security situation in our country. At that time, elections had just been postponed for six weeks to enable the military degrade Boko Haram, a terrorist group that had been waging a deadly campaign of death and devastation on communities in the Northeast. The attacks of the terror group were deadly and large cities in the zone were threatened daily by suicide bombers and IEDs planted in markets and other crowded areas like motor parks. There were also daring attacks on military formations, including an Army Division in Maiduguri, where Boko Haram terrorists stormed and freed their members in detention. The nation’s airforce could not operate unchallenged in Nigerian airspace as military aircraft were shot down in the Northeast by insurgents using anti-aircraft guns. Camps for internally displaced people popped up in several states, creating a huge humanitarian crisis for government and international humanitarian agencies. No fewer than 270 young girls preparing for their final examinations were abducted from their school in Chibok and displayed as slaves in video clips released by the terror group. The horizon was bleak and the situation was depressingly alarming. Candidate Buhari seized the opportunity of his presentation at the Chatham House to do a quick review of the grisly security situation in the country and noted that there was a genuine cause for worry, both within and outside Nigeria. “Boko Haram has sadly put Nigeria on the terrorism map, killing more than 13,000 of our nationals, displacing millions internally and externally, and at a time holding on to portions of our territory the size of Belgium,” he told his audience, noting that “apart from the civil war era, at no other time in our history has Nigeria been this insecure.” Touting his pedigree as a retired general and a former commander in chief of the armed forces, he told his audience that Nigerian soldiers were capable, brave, well-trained, patriotic and ever ready to serve the country. He cited their exploits in many peace-keeping operations around the world including in Burma, DR Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Darfur. He blamed their inability to tackle the insurgency on the failure of Nigeria’s leadership to provide the support and incentives needed and the lack of will to rally a multi-dimensional response to the insurgency, thus making the country to be dependent of its neighbours to tackle the problem. Against this background, candidate Buhari made a solemn pledge: “Let me assure you that if I am elected president, the world will have no cause to worry about Nigeria as it has had to recently; that Nigeria will return to its stabilising role in West Africa; and that no inch of Nigerian territory will ever be lost to the enemy because we will pay special attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service, we will give them adequate and modern arms and ammunition to work with, we will improve intelligence gathering and border controls to choke Boko Haram’s financial and equipment channels, we will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development plan promoting infrastructural development, job creation, agriculture and industry in the affected areas. We will always act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester, and I, Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front and return Nigeria to its leadership role in regional and international efforts to combat terrorism.” That pledge was warmly received by a world that had become alarmed by how Nigeria was dangerously tottering on the precipice. Among the undecided voters back home, Buhari’s words were also very reassuring. He rode, literarily, into the election on the wave of the positive reviews of his speech at the Chatham House, making history as the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent president in Nigeria. Three years down the line, President Buhari has tried to fulfill that solemn pledge. At his inauguration on 29th May 2015, he ordered the relocation of the military command and control centre to the Northeast, the epicenter of the anti-terror war. By that order, defence chiefs relocated to Borno for a more effective coordination of the campaign against the insurgents. Army Chief, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, visited troops at the battle front to boost their morale. The military became more proactive, launching relentless attacks on territories held by Boko Haram and dislodging the terror group from villages, towns and local governments in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, the three most affected states. Apart from personally visiting the war theatre to boost the morale of the troops, Buhari, at regional level, cultivated warm relations with neighbouring leaders and brought them back into the regional coalition against the terror group that had become largely ineffectual because of Nigeria’s inability to provide the required leadership. The revival of that coalition made it possible for the multinational joint task force to wage war against Boko Haram terrorists from the borders of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and

While there are strong indications that the terror group still holds territories from where it launches attacks and keeps hostages, despite government’s claim that no Nigerian territory is occupied by Boko Haram, the portion of land it currently occupies is a far cry from the situation three years ago when about 17 local governments were fully under its control

Nigeria - pushing them into Sambisa Forest, their operational base. A major onslaught was later launched by Nigerian troops on Sambisa Forest where Boko Haram had made its headquarters. The insurgents were dislodged from Camp Zero, their command post. With the successful prosecution of the military campaign in Sambisa Forest, government declared it had technically defeated Boko Haram. But the terror group has continued to carryout deadly attacks on chosen targets from the fringes of Sambisa Forest. While there are strong indications that the terror group still holds territories from where it launches attacks and keeps hostages, despite government’s claim that no Nigerian territory is occupied by Boko Haram, the portion of land it currently occupies is a far cry from the situation three years ago when about 17 local governments were fully under its control. Buhari’s efforts at fulfilling his promise are also evident in the procurement of hardware for the military, upon which the successes recorded on the battlefront are hinged. In the past three years, the Nigerian Airforce took delivery of aircraft from Pakistan and Russia, while the army received mine-resistant armoured-protected vehicles donated by the US. The Buhari administration also ordered 10 SU-30 fighter jets from Russia and 12 Tucano aircraft from US. Even though Boko Haram has been greatly degraded, the terror group still remains a potent threat to lives and property in the Northeast. This year alone, scores of people have been killed in suicide bomb attacks and direct gunfire from Boko Haram terrorists. The Rann attack in March claimed the lives of three UN aid workers and 10 Nigerian security personnel. Multiple attacks launched on Maiduguri by the terror group on Easter Day claimed 29 lives and injured 89 people. A suicide bomb attack on Konduga fish market in Borno, in February, claimed 22 lives while 28 people were injured. On 19th February, Boko Haram terrorists invaded Dapchi, a town in Yobe State, and abducted 110 school girls unchallenged. The ease with which the terror group drove in and out of Dapchi showed how Boko Haram terrorists could still operate at will. These are just few of the several attacks carried out by the terror group in 2018. Attacks launched between 2015 and 2017 were deadlier, with higher casualties. While successes have been achieved in the battle against Boko Haram in the Northeast, a new frontier of insecurity has been opened in another part of the country. This new frontier features marauding armed herdsmen storming communities and inflicting pains, deaths and destructions. Taraba, Benue, Plateau, Zamfara, Kogi and Kaduna are among the states where these armed bandits have wreaked havocs. The global Terrorism Index 2015 named Nigeria’s Fulani militants the fourth deadliest terrorist group in the world, coming after Boko Haram, ISIS and al-Shabab. They have lived up to their inglorious reputation. In Benue for example, 73 people were killed in Logo and Guma local governments by armed herdsmen on New Year Day. Another 24 people way killed in a community in Okpokwu local government in March. Just last month, two priests and 17 parishioners were killed in a community in Gwer East local government during morning mass. Such gruesome killings take place regularly in Southern Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara, Plateau and Kogi, where farmers-herdsmen clashes are daily occurrences. In Taraba, there were reports of attacks on Fulani settlements on the Mambila where scores of people were killed. These wanton killings have continued to attract condolence messages from around the world and the displacement of people from their communities has continued to drain the resources of international humanitarian agencies. Though the herdsmen-farmers crisis had been on for decades, it became deadlier in the past three years due to the failure of government to quickly address the underlying factor – the scramble for land for grazing and farming. While the herdsmen demanded the retention of grazing routes which had been in existence for decades, farmers insisted that animal rearing should be treated as economic venture and ranching should be adopted to protect their farms from destruction by cattle. For months, rather than provide a solution that would allay the fears of herders and farmers, government dilly-dallied and allowed unhealthy debates over grazing routes and ranching to fester. Through impolitic remarks of top officials of the federal government, a pernicious indication was given that government prefers grazing to ranching. This was further compounded by the fact that the President and a majority of his security chiefs share the same ethnic background and religion with the herdsmen, consequently driving the debate into a dangerous terrain. This made it difficult for the administration to be seen as impartial arbiter. Also of late, in the Birnin Gwari axis (an area between Kaduna, where there are several military institutions and Abuja, the seat of government) traveling has become a risky venture as bandits continue to ambush travellers in scores and herd them into the forest as hostages. Unarguably, there is a relentless war against Boko Haram, the terror group has been substantially degraded and occupied territories have been reclaimed. But the group’s campaign of death and destruction is still on and the new threat posed by armed bandits operating in the Middle Belt region have continued to retain Nigeria on the terror map. Three years after Buhari’s pledge at the Chatham House and innumerous assurances, the road to a secured nation is still long and the world has not stopped worrying about Nigeria.

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So Far, So Underwhelming

Peter Ishaka

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ast Tuesday, thousands of Catholics and others, wielding placards, staged a protest in the wake of indiscriminate killings of innocent men and women by herdsmen across the nation. It was perhaps the first of its kind by the Church in Nigeria and indicative of a simmering discontent. The protest was evidently planned to coincide with the mass burial of two slain priests –Rev. Fathers Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha who were brutally murdered along with 17 worshippers last month at Mbalom in Benue State. Crestfallen Benue State governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, who has buried almost 500 innocent victims this year, and conducting the third mass burials for victims of herdsmen brutality, asked the audience, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo: “What was the offence of the priests and the parishioners?� Indeed, what was their offence? Nigeria has degenerated to the level where life is meaningless, where people are killed without reasons, where crimes are committed and no one is punished, and where government’s response had been underwhelming. Yet, when President Muhammadu Buhari assumed power three years ago, he pledged to secure the nation. But perhaps not since the civil war have streets and communities seen such bloodshed. From the brutal insurgency of the militant Islamic sect Boko Haram to the herdsmen-farmers’ crisis to armed robberies, kidnappings and free-wheeling banditry, Nigeria is has unwittingly become a nation at war with itself. No one is safe. No place is sacred. The tragic end of the priests and the parishioners could have been anyone else, and across the nation. Thousands of men, women and children have been killed at homes, farms, on the streets and in the oddest of all places – in the place of worship. Benue State unfortunately has a disproportionate share of the tragedy. The criminal herdsmen exercise a murderous grip on many communities in the state. But what is most tragic about the crisis of the herdsmen and farmers is the inability of the administration to offer leadership. It acts as if it is answerable to no one. Its wooden response or indeed widespread indifference to the crisis has given wings to general unease, despair and a heightened sectarian tension and indeed a deeply divided country. The murderers, until very lately, seemed untouchable. The parlous security environment is aggravated by the increasing underwhelming battle against the rebels in the North east. The common refrain by the administration since December 2015 that Boko Haram has been “technically defeated� is more a product of hope rather than evidence. It was a decision based on incomplete information. Since 2016, the militant group has been wreaking havoc in many communities in the North east, killing, maiming and laying waste farmlands. Hundreds of people have been killed this year alone through suicide bombers and coordinated attacks on communities. Millions are living in emergencies as thousands of families are still being displaced. The insurgents with taste for teenage girls are still holding onto more than 100 girls from Chibok and were even bold enough to repeat the Chibok abduction at Dapchi, Yobe State more recently. Even if all the girls except Leah Sharibu, a Christian, had been released, that Dapchi happened in the first place is an admission that the government

is yet to live up to its rhetoric – that Chibok would never happen - again! Besides, that the administration is asking for $1 billion approval from the Excess Crude Account to fight Boko Haram apart from the hefty budget for the ministry in charge is a poignant reminder that the long-drawn and costly war is far from over. Even if the rebels have been weaned largely of their territorial ambitions, there is still plenty of work to be done. As Mr Fayose, governor of Ekiti State rightly put it, we can’t spend a billion dollar on a defeated group. The insurgents, indeed, still have a significant foothold in the Northeast and sowing fear all over. A combination of factors is making life much more difficult for many Nigerians. Even if we admit that the administration took office against a dismal backdrop, with oil crashing for as low as $30 a barrel, its management more or less worsened and indeed contracted the economy. The naira has lost more than half its value; many companies shed and are still shedding weight, tossing many of their employees into the streets. Many jobs have vanished. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, unemployment rate has increased 18.8 per cent in the third quarter of 2017 from 16.20 per cent in the second quarter of 2017. Even the most purblind could see that the level of poverty among Nigerians has grown and still growing. And despite the administration’s criticism of past governments in terms of power supply, it has not made any significant difference, judged by its performance in the last three years. Access to electricity power is a growing pain: despite the so-called increased megawatts, the Discos are still rolling out blackouts every day of the year, thus limiting access to opportunities. Education is still in a state of emergency, to borrow the words of those who man the important ministry. To be sure, the country has made some progress in some areas of health. For instance, there has been some progress in tackling malaria even if it still kills about 800 Nigerians daily; and a relatively impressive record in polio eradication. The Buhari administration has also invested in road and rail infrastructure with some appreciable results. Despite these successes, Nigeria is in a health emergency. The country is among the worst place in West Africa to be a poor child or mother and the situation may be getting worse. Even in the core anti-graft battle, President Buhari is yet to live up to his rhetoric. There is no doubt that some improvements have been made, particularly with regard to the impunity with which many in the past looted the treasury. But the successful efforts are on small scale, restricted more or less to the political opposition and foes, and which has earned it endless cynicism. The state oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), is still the by-word for corruption. There are many privileged insiders. This is not helped by the concentration of many top security positions and others in the north – what former President Olusegun Obasanjo called “nepotic� circle, and thus sowing mistrust and making the governing of an already fragmented country much more difficult. As we for a general election next year, not many Nigerians think the country is on the right track. The confidence is lacking. We are in a desperate state, which is not good enough. It is not a heartening example of leadership.

A Dilemma for Optimists Cont’d from Pg. 78 by gunmen of curious identity ought to keep Mr. Buhari and his security chiefs awake at night. By a curious sense of priority, President Buhari has visited more foreign capitals than state capitals in Nigeria. While these trips may be necessitated by the president’s personal definition of national interest, it is hard to defend the preference for foreign trips over touching base with fellow Nigerians whose votes earned him the tenancy of Aso Rock. Even more worrisome is the fact that three years after assuming the presidency, the Buhari administration has not found it necessary to review Nigeria’s foreign policy let alone outline a new foreign policy to contextualize the president’s numerous foreign visits. Arguably, a good number of the foreign trips undertaken by the president could have been performed by his foreign minister. Yet, there are fresh imperatives in the new world on which Nigeria ought to provide leadership and direction, which should fuel a new foreign policy. There is a new Trans-Mediterranean slave trade with mostly Nigerians on sale; there is human trafficking again richly supplied by Nigeria; there are new trends in Africa’s trade with the world and among African countries; there is terrorism and there is global youth employment and empowerment etc. In the hands of a more reflective and creative party and government, the APC’s ‘Change’ mantra ought to power a total turnaround of Nigeria’s leadership and politics. The irony however is that President Buhari is not in tune with the changes that have occurred in the nation. The nation itself has vastly changed; its demographics have changed with the youth now in majority; the perceptions of the people have changed just like the indices of our nationalism have vastly been altered. Most of all, the profile of leadership that the people now expect, going forward, has changed. To have remained frozen in an untenable past is perhaps President Buhari’s greatest disservice to both his own legacy and the Nigerian nation.

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Still, A Very Fragile Economy Alex Otti

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n a paper I presented at the Vanguard Economic Discourse on 10th March 2017 titled, ‘Stagflation, Fragility and the Arrested Development of the Nigerian Economy’. I observed as follows: “We have argued that recession is a temporary situation that can easily be reversed once the economy becomes GDP positive. If for instance, oil prices suddenly recover and we begin to see pre 2014 prices again, we will be out of recession in a jiffy. If for some reason we reduce imports either by fiat or by accident and begin to spend less foreign exchange or if foreign exchange supply increases for some strange happenstance either by reason of increased exports or inflow of foreign investment, recession will abate. “If we increase spending in real terms, either by reducing interest rates or by borrowing, recession would give way. The government may also choose to reduce taxes and tariffs to leave more money in the hands of people and business. The same effect will be witnessed if government finds a way of paying salaries and domestic debts owed to local contractors. An expansionary government spending policy by way of issuing fiscal stimulus package will put more money in the economy, encourage consumption, jump start production, and create jobs. All these will cure recession, but the fundamental problems with the economy will remain and recession can happen again if any of the challenges that led us here shows up again and the bad news is that they are bound to show up again.� We all recall that the economy had technically gone into recession by the end of the second quarter of 2016. This was the first time that Nigeria was going into a recession in over 25 years. Between 2005 and 2015, the county’s GDP grew at an annual average rate of around 5.7%. The sad reality of this growth was that it was driven mainly by crude oil production and export. We didn’t require a soothsayer to tell us that we were going to face dire consequences in the event of crude oil price decline. So, when oil prices eventually tumbled sometime in 2015, our economy literally went into a tailspin. Like we had warned above, getting out of recession was not rocket science. One or two of the conditions we stated had happened and after five consecutive quarters of GDP decline, the economy recorded a real GDP growth rate of 0.55% (revised to 0.72%) at the end of the second quarter 2017. The growth was sustained in Quarter 3 as GDP growth rate touched 1.40%. By the last quarter of 2017, growth rate had increased to 2.11%. The average growth rate for 2017 therefore, was 0.8%. As at the end of the first quarter of 2018, the discomfiting realization came that the economy was still in the doldrums. It was reported that economic growth had slowed down for the first time post-recession to 1.95%. The reason for this decline was basically because other than oil, every other sector in the economy underperformed. So, if not for both the improvement of the volume of export of crude from average daily output of 1.95m to 2m barrels in the first quarter and oil price increases, the growth rate would have come in at significantly lower levels. Meanwhile, please bear in mind that oil continues to account for close to 70% of government revenue. Granted that government has been making efforts at diversifying the economy, particularly in the area of Agriculture, the results have not been very encouraging. The Oil sector continues to dominate the economy, growing by about 15% in the first quarter of 2018 while in the non-oil sector, growth stood at a miserly 0.76%. The resumed dominance of oil can be seen from the fact that the sector’s contribution to GDP had increased steadily from 7.35% in the 4th quarter of 2017 to 9.61% in the 1st quarter of 2018. As the oil sector continued to grow, the non-oil sector contracted from 92.65% of GDP in the 4th quarter of 2017 to 90.4% in the first quarter of 2018. We must at this juncture bring into the discussion, the number of people who are supposed to share in the GDP and of course, in its growth or decline. According to recent figures from the National Population Commission, Nigeria has a population of 198m people. This figure is not too far away from the United Nations estimate of 195m people. The United Nations goes further to state that the country’s population is growing at close to 3% per annum. On the face of that therefore, to maintain the same level of GDP per head which economists call GDP Per Capita, Nigeria’s economy must grow at no less than 3% per annum. When therefore we see numbers like 1.95% GDP growth, it simply means that population growth is outpacing economic growth by over 100 basis points. Any wonder why the misery index and poverty index have continued to head in the wrong direction? GDP per Capita for 2018, as estimated by the International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook is around $2,108, placing Nigeria in the 143rd position out of the 191 countries ranked. This is a decline from the 2017 actual position of 137th even though at lower GDP per capita of $1994. Meanwhile, inflation remains at double digits of 12.48% as at April 2018. Even though this was an improvement on the 16% rates we witnessed a year ago, this figure remains very high for a depressed economy like ours. Unemployment officially hovers around 19%, though analysts strongly believe that this number is significantly understated and there is anecdotal evidence to support same. It has, however, not been all bad news for the economy. In the first

there are other risks to which the managers of the economy must pay attention in the remaining part of the year and going into 2019. Being an election year, there must be a concerted effort not to heat up the system as to scare both the international economy and foreign investors. Every effort must also be made to enthrone at least a semblance of stable macroeconomic environment

place, some stability has been achieved in the exchange rate management system though there are still worries about the persisting multiple exchange rate regime which creates room for manipulations and round tripping. There has also been stability in interest rates as the Monetary Policy Committee of the CBN kept policy rates steady at 14% after its latest meeting. This is the10th consecutive time that the rate had remained unchanged at 14%. Even though experts argue that for an economy just recovering from recession, interest rates should be low enough to encourage spending and stimulate the economy, the CBN insists that lower policy rates will not only put pressure on the foreign exchange market, but will also discourage savings and therefore push inflation up. Accretion to foreign reserves has also been on the upward swing, moving from less than $26b early 2016 to over $47b as at April this year. This is also on the back of increased foreign investment inflow in the wake of oil price recovery. Most importantly, the administration rolled out a clear road map for the management of economic recovery and growth as contained in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). We hope that the administration will live up to its words by ensuring that the plan is implemented. Having said all these, the year 2018 is a year to watch for obvious reasons. Unfortunately, we seem to have started on a sad note with respect to the budget. It is a known fact that the year before election is normally slow with governance but strong with political activities. As we enter the second half of the year, political activities, starting with the primaries and campaigns, will take centre stage. Meanwhile, the National Assembly only passed a budget of N9.12t (circa $30b) just on 16th May 2018, a clear six months after it received the document from the Minister of Budget and Planning in November 2017. This is a very sad commentary for the ruling APC government in particular and the country in general. With only six months, it would be foolhardy to expect full implementation of this budget by year end. Beyond these, I believe there are other risks to which the managers of the economy must pay attention in the remaining part of the year and going into 2019. Being an election year, there must be a concerted effort not to heat up the system as to scare both the international economy and foreign investors. Every effort must also be made to enthrone at least a semblance of stable macroeconomic environment. Election spending must be managed in such a manner that its impact on inflation, exchange rate, budget deficit and foreign investment would be neutral. The temptation to invade the treasury and cart away money in the guise of funding elections must be resisted. Uncertainties, particularly those related to succession, will definitely affect the direction of the economy. Insecurity and insurgency remain major risks that managers of the economy cannot afford to overlook. The Boko Haram attacks and the incessant herdsmen attacks on farmers and defenseless villagers alike, will continue to take its toll on stability in the polity, if not contained. I make bold to say that the country could withstand profligacy in the past because the economy was strong, it may not be able to do the same in a fragile economy, just managing to recover at a very slow pace. It is therefore my considered opinion that we should resist the temptation to behave once again like the oil sheiks of the Middle East, who by the way, have fewer mouths to feed. On account of the fact that the economy remains fragile and is still dependent on oil, we cannot assume that the latest moderate oil price recovery has come to stay. In fact, it is still possible to see oil prices go back to 2015 and 2016 levels. All that needs to happen is for the Organisation of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) to renounce production cuts or for the US to pump more Shale oil into the market. It is also possible for the US to change gear on Iran and withdraw the sanctions and one would then see production increase and price drops. Finally, if for some reason our trade partners, including China, India and the UK, begin to face economic challenges, their consumption of oil will be the first casualty. Once demand falls like economists would postulate, prices will fall likewise. Still on Crude Oil, even if the international prices do not drop, we still face the risk of a drop in production. In the light of this, we must not take the present relative peace in the Niger Delta for granted. Government must continue to engage to prevent disruptions that may lead to shut-ins and lower production figures that will dent our revenue projections. Again, with oil price discovery, the debate on petroleum subsidy must be brought back to the table. This is because subsidy will definitely increase. Until this matter is resolved, the effect of subsidy cannot be overlooked. There are also debates about the power tariffs. These debates must also be addressed and positions taken to manage the risks associated with them. I consider all these important if we are to avoid the euphoria of celebrating our exit from recession and doing things that may eventually lead us back to recession or even depression. We had warned earlier that our exit from recession will not make fundamental changes in the economy, given that the structure of the economy remains fundamentally flawed. Our economy remains a mono product economy,

Cont’d on Pg. 82

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How Do We Rate the President? Sonnie Ekwowusi

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glance at President Buhari’s scorecard in the last three years reveals that despite his good intentions, he has not managed to measure up to popular expectation. Let us begin from the economy. It must be understood that the Buhari government inherited a fragile economy. Besides, the crude oil price had slumped to $65 per barrel at the swearing-in of President Buhari. But as Mr Bill Gates rightly observed on his recent visit to Nigeria, the economy under Buhari is not positively impacting on the lives of many Nigerians. Writhing under the pains of suffocating policies, many multinationals shut down theiA glance at President Muhammadu Buhari’s scorecard in the last three years reveals that despite his good intentions, he has not measured up to popular expectation. Let us begin from the economy. It must be understood that the Buhari government inherited a fragile economy. Besides, the crude oil price had slumped to $65 per barrel at the time he was assuming office. However, as Mr Bill Gates rightly observed on his recent visit to Nigeria, the economy under President Buhari is not positively impacting on the lives of many Nigerians. Writhing under the pains of suffocating policies, many multinationals shut down their operations in Nigeria while others simply fired workers. It is instructive that from 2016-2018, 9.3 million Nigerians lost their jobs. From 2015-2018, poverty in Nigeria tremendously increased. According to the African Development Bank (ADB) in its 2018 Nigeria Economic Outlook, about 152 million Nigerians now live on less than $2 a day, representing more than 75 per cent of the country’s estimated population of 190 million. To compound the situation, the foreign exchange corruption under the Buhari government has caught the attention of many people. For example, the Emir of Kano and former Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has been complaining about the foreign exchange corruption under the Buhari government. Hear the Emir: “we created billionaires from oil subsidies in the past. We are making the same mistake with Forex‌as an Emir, I can seat in my garden and make phone calls to access $10 million at N197 per $ then sell it off at nothing less than N300; with just a phone call, I am making a profit of over a billion Naira. That is what people are doing now‌Any system that allows you sit in your garden and make a billion Naira without investing a kobo is a wrong systemâ€?. In fairness, the Buhari government deserves applause for inheriting and implementing the Treasury Single Account (TSA) aimed at forestalling financial fraud especially in government transactions. We must also give kudos to the Buhari government for increasing the budgetary allocation for capital expenditure. The Ministry of Finance has reportedly stated that the government has disbursed over a trillion naira for capital expenditure for the 2016 fiscal year, by far the largest amount in Nigeria’s history. However, increase in capital expenditure has also brought Nigeria into another huge debt burden. In three years alone, our country has borrowed over N14 trillion (the highest borrowing since Nigeria’s independence in 1960) with no meaningful projects in sight to yield income to repay the debt. Happily, the Buhari government has unveiled the much-vaunted Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) which contains the roadmap for Nigeria’s economic development and recovery. The four-year plan (2017-2020), envisages that by 2020, Nigeria would have made significant progress towards achieving structural economic change. But to have an economic plan is one thing, implementation is another. So there is no guarantee that the extant plan will succeed, especially when the Buhari government has only one year to go. On security of lives and property, despite the claim by the Buhari government that it has defeated Boko Haram, on 19th February 2018, no fewer than 110 Nigerian schoolgirls (Dapuchi girls) aged 11–19 years old were kidnapped by the Boko Haram terrorist group. Thanks to the intervention of

The whistleblowing concept introduced by the Buhari government has helped in locating where many stolen monies were hidden. Unfortunately the fight against corruption has become a comedy of errors and a one-sided war targeted against some perceived political opponents and enemies of government

the Buhari government some of the Dapuchi girls have been rescued except Leah Sharibu, the only Christian girl among the abductees who refused to denounce her Christian faith and embrace Islam. Within the last three years, the herdsmen have successfully carried out countless attacks and killings in different Nigerian communities. Meanwhile, in the past three years several human rights abuses and violations have been recorded in Nigeria. Recently, the United States Department of State issued a damning assessment of Nigeria’s 2017 Human Rights Report. In the 48-page report, it stated that impunity remained widespread at all levels of government in Nigeria in the last three years. The report also indicted the Buhari government for not adequately investigating or holding the police or military personnel accountable for the extrajudicial killings of supporters of the Indigenous People of Biafra. This Report corroborates the Amnesty International (AI) position on the 12th December 2015 massacre in Zaria, Kaduna State of .almost 400 defenceless and unarmed civilians by the Nigerian military. Two months later, on 9th February, 2016 the Aba massacre took place when Nigerian soldiers shot and killed scores of pro-Biafra protesters who were holding a vigil inside the football field of Ngwa High School, Aba in Abia State. While investigations on the Aba massacre were still going on, the Onitsha massacre occurred on 30th May, 2016. Over 30 civilians were killed and many injured by the military after the several clashes involving the military, police and members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and members of the Movement for Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) during the Biafra day celebration at Nkpor-Agu, Niger Bridge, Onitsha and Asaba. The list of the atrocities committed by agents of state under the current administration is endless and many of them are already documented. On the fight against corruption, President Buhari is well disposed towards fighting corruption in Nigeria. He came to power on the mantra that he would combat graft and corruption in Nigeria. Initially, the fight against corruption was well focused. For the first time in the history of Nigeria monies stolen by many corrupt Nigerian politicians were recovered. The whistle-blowing concept introduced by the Buhari government has helped in locating where many stolen monies were hidden. Unfortunately the fight against corruption has become a comedy of errors and a one-sided war targeted against some perceived political opponents and enemies of government. In order to escape justice, perceived enemies and political opponents are now decamping from their political parties and joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). That perhaps explains why the 2017 United States Human Rights Report scored President Buhari’s government low on corruption. The report states, among other things, “Although the law provides criminal penalties for conviction of official corruption, the government did not implement the law effectively, and officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. Massive, widespread, and pervasive corruption affected all levels of government and the security services�. The report also faulted the EFCC in prosecuting corruption charges because, according to the report, the Commission failed to follow due process. Also in the annual Corruption Perception Index 2017 of the Transparency International, Nigeria was ranked 148 out 180 countries. The Index showed deterioration in perception of corruption in public administration in Nigeria. On political appointments, President Buhari has appointed the persons he could trust and work with. But unfortunately these appointments have failed to conform to the pluralistic and multi-ethnic nature of the Nigerian society and the Federal Character principle as enshrined in section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution. For instance, there is a glaring lopsided-appointment at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). From all indications, the scorecard of this administration is, to put it rather mildly, not endearing. Yet, the president does not seem to care!

Still, A Very Fragile Economy Cont’d from Pg. 81 to all intents and purposes. Diversification has failed to yield the desired results. Agriculture, which seemed to have some traction a short while ago, has slipped back to insignificance. Matters are not helped by the uncontrolled attacks unleashed on farmers by herdsmen resulting in the sacking of a lot of farmers and the destruction of their crops and farm lands. The nominal growth of the economy has indeed not left anything to celebrate, given the published GDP growth numbers. Beyond the population growth which we had mentioned earlier, there is the issue of base year numbers, which seems to mask the fact that the economy may actually not be growing in real terms, after all. The base year theory simply explains a situation where it is easier to show growth where the numbers to compare with are very low or negative. In view of the fact that we were coming from a negative growth trajectory, any growth, no matter how minute, seems to attract recognition. Putting it simply, it is easier to double N1000 than to double N1, 000,000. If we don’t understand and appreciate this, there is a tendency to exaggerate growth from a very

low base like we have in our GDP. We had extensively dealt with the issue of government debt in previous interventions. I believe the government must begin to rethink its high exposure to lenders including our own Central Bank. The reason is that repaying those debts may pose a huge challenge to the economy if an inordinate percentage of our budget would be applied to debt servicing. Building a strong economy should also be at the heart of policy making. While the recent attempts at building infrastructure are commendable, the government must, and should, do more. A situation where over 70% of our budget spending goes into recurrent expenditure, is very unhealthy for the nation. It means that we are just scratching the surface in terms of infrastructure. An economy that has lost 41% of its productive base between 2012 and 2017 - according to the African Development Bank - requires that things be done differently. Our unwritten de-industrialisation policy is the major reason for the very high level of unemployment. All we have done here is to tell our story, the way it

is from a political economy perspective. You must not agree with us, but the truth is that we are a poor nation. We drove the economy in the wrong direction through poor policy choices and ended up with a recession. We have struggled with it and have luckily been able to get ourselves out, at least for now. Nevertheless, the fundamental problems of the economy still remain unresolved. Grandstanding and self-deluding claims (including that of being the biggest economy in Africa) cannot resolve them either. We must now try and tell ourselves the truth and act in accordance with that reality. In the Fragile States Index, we moved from No 17 in 2014, to No 14 in 2015 and to No 13 in 2016. In 2017, we maintained the 13th position. Put simply, we are the 13th most fragile nation in the world, out of the 178 countries measured. Failure, therefore stares us in the face. We must do something drastic to pull our country out of the brink of real and imminent failure. We may have been lucky in the past, but ‘Mother luck’ does not take permanent resident permit in any country or economy, much less, one that continues to blow its chances like ours.

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The Good, The Bad, The Ugly Iyobosa Uwugiaren

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or a man who contested for presidency four times before winning the election, the strong desire by Muhammadu Buhari to serve his nation was probably not in doubt. And he came to the office with what some political experts described as ‘unquestionable’ honesty and integrity. The cult-like following, especially in the northern part of country, was indeed remarkable. Even Buhari himself could not fathom the reason for such kindness from Nigerians. However, if we ask many Nigerians today on their assessment of President Buhari’s stewardship in the past three years after, most of the responses will most likely be rash, harsh and caustic, suggesting that the man they so much relied on to fix the challenges of good governance--allegedly created by his predecessor, former President Goodluck Jonathan might have failed them. Yes, some progress has been made in the past three years: there are people who strongly believe that impunity has reduced; that the ease of doing business in the country has tremendously improved, and quantum of looted funds has been recovered. But, to a large extent, the disenchantment is swelling; there is a near consensus among Nigerians and the international community, including the ‘conspirators’ that helped Buhari to power, that he has not demonstrated any capacity to arrest the drift or inspire the efforts for good governance. Stinking revelations that recently emanated, and still emanating, from the federal government agencies point to the telling fact that fraud and pilfering of public funds are still being systematically perpetrated by officials of government, especially those very close to the President. And there is a consensus that incompetence, human rights abuses, lack of transparency/accountability and open display of naked-power have become very pronounced. For instance, the massive killing of hundreds of Shia Muslim members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), by Nigerian soldiers between 12th and 14th December 2015, in Kaduna State is inexplicable. The barbaric act could only have happened under the watch of an unfeeling tyrannical ruler. In the attacks by the Nigerian army, no fewer than 350 Shia sect members were brutally mowed down in cold blood with hundreds of others injured. It was more brutal and callous that the soldiers involved in the heinous crime quickly buried the bodies in mass graves without the consent of the family members of the victims, making it problematic to decide an accurate death toll. Apart from reported cases of extrajudicial killings in the past three years, the security agencies appear to have been overwhelmed by the deadly activities of the bloodthirsty terrorist group, Boko Haram, especially in the northeast. Coupled with the on-going senseless killings by herdsmen across the country, life has become so ‘cheap’ in the country as hardly a day passes without reported cases of killings in many parts of the nation. Sadly, Nigeria’s conflict with Boko Haram has led to the death of over 25,000 civilians and a large-scale humanitarian crisis – as documented by

several respected organisations and institutions. Red Cross Society said recently that over 3.1 million people have been displaced by the conflict, while over eight million are said to need humanitarian assistance. The United Nations warned recently that Nigeria was facing famine-like conditions due to insecurity triggered by the war. Unfortunately, efforts by the government to stem the killings only yielded little success. The conduct of some bad eggs within the security forces has further compounded the human rights abuses in the country. On 17th January, the Nigerian Air Force carried out an airstrike on a settlement for displaced people in Rann, Borno State, killing approximately 234 innocent people, including nine aid workers, and injuring 100 more. The military initially claimed the attack was meant to hit Boko Haram fighters they believed were in the area, blaming faulty intelligence. After several months of investigations, Nigerian authority later said they had mistaken the settlement of displaced people for insurgent forces. For sure, the security agencies, especially the Nigerian Armed forces, have recorded remarkable accomplishments in the war against terrorism in the past three years. But the repeated claim that the Boko Haram terrorist group has been defeated is untrue. Researches show the group has killed more than 3,000 people in the past three years. Against the popular global campaign for openness and accountability in public offices, the culture of secrecy within the government is still dominant in Nigeria. There is strong feeling that the Buhari-led government is careless about the fact that access to information is a fundamental component in the effort to reduce corruption, increase accountability, and deepen trust among citizens and their governments. In spite of many existing laws, like the Freedom of Information Act and other local/international instruments, to which Nigeria is a signatory and which allow access to public information; hold government accountable, and guarantee same treatment and equal justice, official bureaucratic bottle-necks inhibit the implementation/enforcement of the Act. In fact, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) in his 2017 Annual Report on the Implementation of the Act, submitted to the National Assembly recently, confirmed the “formidable challenges� in the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, observing that up to 90 per cent of public institutions do not comply with their annual reporting obligations under the Law. President Buhari may have made efforts to change the way things are done in the country in the past three years, in line with his electoral promises, but his efforts have not been good enough. It may be safe to argue that going by his policies and programmes in the past three years, the president has not demonstrated that the democratic credentials sold to Nigerians and the international community before the 2015 general election were genuine. And the popular view among many Nigerians right now is that he absolutely lacks the capacity to deliver on good governance.

Niger Delta and the Yar’Adua Model

Tony Uranta “The security problem faced by our Nation is a small problem exaggerated by the media!� --Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El Rufai

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hen the security challenges of the Niger Delta were reined in substantially by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2009, he did so, basically by first admitting that there were obvious and very critical issues that needed to be resolved. He followed up

taking some decisions after hearkening to rational counsel from within and outside the nation. One, he appointed a Special Adviser on the region to both guide him and interface daily with the diverse publics involved. Two, he supported the deployment of a professional independent monitoring and evaluation system that would guarantee the best good governance practices to drive the successful and most speedy resolution of the reality on ground then. One thing Yar’Adua did not do was allow himself or his close associates to wallow in unprofitable denial! The quote with which I opened this page attributed to Governor Nasir El Rufai that is now trending and attracting frowns from our key allies in the international community are therefore not only very disappointing, but potentially dangerous. Governor El Rufai is one bright mind, one must admit; but his quirks may throw spanners into the works of many key security players in Nigeria, including those of my brilliant King’s College alumnus such as General Babagana Monguno, President Buhari’s National Security Adviser, who definitely would not have chosen such blatantly mendacious words in an attempt to downplay the fact that Nigeria is currently experiencing a level of blood-letting never before seen, except when the country was undergoing the 1967-1970 Civil War. One is totally confused as to what my friend, the Kaduna State Governor was hoping that such a level of untruth would gain him or President Buhari: either from the citizenry, who are getting more aware of the reality of Nigeria’s predicament with each passing; or, from the country’s international stakeholders who are even more up to date about the killing field that our country is fast becoming. This last fact was highlighted by the United

States President Trump when he recently had audience with President Buhari at the White House. Yes, we know the country is entering the campaign season when outrageous lies, brazen propaganda and “spinning� of facts will be on the rise. But I am sure President Buhari does not need to be confronted with any avoidable challenges or opposition created, even if inadvertently, by his many foes, let alone by his putative friends. This is a period when the President and his cronies would do best to remember the words of the Chinese Sage, Confucius, who advised that, “Silence is a true friend, who never betrays�. Whilst I am non-partisan still, I would advise all political parties to resolve differences, support security agencies to exhibit global-level integrity and efficiencies; and, remember how Yar’Adua achieved a modicum of peace and stability in the Niger Delta. There are horrific killing fields in Nigeria that are not even given adequate media attention, and they could very lead to Nigeria’s collapse if not handled urgently, delicately, and wisely. Let us not wait till 180 million Nigerians are mobilised to prove El Rufai and his ilk of revisionists wrong before proactive damage control is kicked off. I am not omniscient, but, until the killing fields are acknowledged; until the security forces are seen to be truly doing what Nigerians expect of them; until the overt and covert infighting in Abuja end; and, until folks learn to stop putting their feet in their mouths, so long will this Buhari Administration be seen as NOT having succeeded in meeting its vows to keep Nigerians secure, even “though tribes and tongues may differ�.

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A Misfortune Foreseen and Foretold Okey Ikechukwu

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ruth be told, the political coalition that birthed the Buhari government had all the trappings of a group affiliated to Bedlam. Disparate and largely unrelated, no fewer than four political parties joined forces to oust the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 without foreseeing the trouble ahead. On one side were aggrieved PDP members and a South West based Action Congress (AC) that sought power at the centre without close attention to the dangers littered along the road. On the other side was the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) with its isolationist politics that had held it back since its inception. On the fringe was the irascible Rochas Okorocha, whose personal ambition to dominate Igbo politics had taken into the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). That was how politicians with different motives boarded a boat called the All Progressives Alliance (APC). However, the red lights were also on Buhari, long before the elections. He was profiled as a man of strict and unbending reflexes, not given to consultation and so set in his ways that he rarely hears alternative viewpoints; no matter how loudly, or stridently, expressed. His love for Nigeria was not in doubt, but it was love on his own terms and based on his untested personal assumptions. His loyalties were said to run deep and unapologetically so. But they run backward, to his roots, his primal, personal, communal and ethnic instincts; as well as real and imagined grievances that he must address to the disadvantage of his target. His disinclination to ever sit down and get some serious work done was also pointed out. His tenure as military Head of State, and as Boss of the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF), were said to bear out this prognosis. The inchoate nature of the APC coalition and the “tissue rejection� by its presidential candidate was apparent during the elections. Campaign facilitators made promises at the few rallies the President attended, but the promises showed the APC`s limited understanding of what the issues were. There was no scientific basis for most of its claims and assurances. It knew nothing about the state of the national economy it was threatening to rescue. Some of the reckless declarations of Lai Mohammed, the opposition spokesman, were mistaken for informed submissions and even dubbed policy statements of the incoming government. In the midst of all this, an electoral victory for which the APC was clearly unprepared came. Lai Mohammed had to be tapped on the shoulder before he realized that he was no longer an opposition spokesman. The President`s early pronouncements alarmed informed investors, especially foreign investors leading to a run on the Naira and plummeting of the value of the Naira. Staff reduction, increased production costs, underutilization of installed industrial capacity and capital flight joined forces with business shut downs to unleash a deluge of unemployed persons into an already saturated unemployment pool. Meanwhile, the government was doing nothing, absolutely nothing, for months after being sworn in. It took the President six months to appoint ministers. When he finally did, the names and profiles were hardly inspiring. Some even had integrity deficits, already much touted for years, in the public domain. Worst of all, they also sat around for months after their appointment, doing nothing in particular. Just like the President! That is why today, three years down the road, all the birds have come home to roost. Incompetence is the word everywhere, even as the government stands baffled and clobbered by its own history, its confirmed ineptitude and the fallouts of its many avoidable blunders. As it marks three years in office, the ruling party is spinning uncontrollably on its originally wobbly hinges. It could not organize

It took the President six months to appoint ministers. When he finally did, the names and profiles were hardly inspiring. Some even had integrity deficits, already much touted for years, in the public domain. Worst of all, they also sat around for months after their appointment, doing nothing in particular. Just like the President

credible party primaries. Yet it scores itself very high in precisely those areas of leadership and service delivery that it has failed spectacularly: (1) national security, (2) poverty alleviation, (3) reflation of the economy (4) job creation, (5) religious harmony, (6) national unity, (7) effective political leadership (8) professionalization of the armed services, (9) equitable distribution of national resources and much more. The problem on the table at the moment goes beyond opposition rhetoric to the fundamental one of how to tell a party and government that had boxed itself into a dark hole to stop digging. Everything, and everyone, that could help the Buhari government is held in abeyance by the latter`s now-legendary instinctive rejection of advice and refusal to learn or birth new ideas. That is why incompetence is the umbrella concept for the government`s profile today. Added to the foregoing is a cheerful disregard for truth. There is also lack of basic decency in the management of public affairs. The misapplication of data to create rosy pictures where none exist, especially in the face of perceived and confirmed nepotism, rankles. Then there is the overall failure to treat issues of national security, national survival, national unity, youth development and ease of doing business in Nigeria with the urgency they deserve. It is in the midst of this that the APC is threatening to give President Buhari another shot at the Presidency. The performance indices point to the need to ensure he does not return as President in 2019. But he may be return. Not because Nigerians are happy with him, or because the mainstream APC leadership and members are want with him back, but because some politicians believe they need him in order to retain their own seats. The quarrel over the order of elections is predicated on this. The assumption, and expectation, is that if the Presidential elections come first and Buhari wins, then governors and members of the National Assembly can take it for granted that the APC would sweep the polls. So, they want the Presidential elections to come first. The courts will be corralled into playing along This has already been indicated in the recent High Court judgment on a matter that was not even qualified to go to court in the first place. Do the odds favour the return of Buhari as President in 2019? The answer is “yes.� First, the opposition is not organized. Second, the list of registered voters from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shows that the votes from just two regions of the North where Buhari is believed to have massive following can drown all the votes from the South East and South South, where he is not popular. Three, the inexplicable tinkering with the number of Wards, particularly in the North, is another factor. We say nothing about rigging. Meanwhile, this government has done enough damage to the national economy, national unity and national security this past three years. It is all thanks to many well-meaning Nigerians, and especially the self-styled ‘technocrats’ now prancing all over the place. They have learnt nothing about their individual and collective hollowness and are clearly unaware of their loss of legitimacy. As for the old politicians hoping to get a new baptism from President Olusegun Obasanjo, they should please recall that it was the same Obasanjo who installed the last three presidents. So, in a way, it was his meddlesomeness that got us to where we are today. It is a road we must not travel again.

A Nation with So Much Promise Yet‌

Angela Attah

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n President Buhari’s first 100 days, many Nigerians were appalled at his slow pace in decision-making but extremely hopeful that he had a positive agenda to rescue Nigeria from the intense corruption, bad governance and despondency that had marred the previous administration. For five months, his administration was unable to name ministers and we believed that it was part of a careful vetting process to reveal a great team for the work ahead. However, after three years in office, can we confidently look back with contentment and forward to the next year with expectations? Over the nineteen years of our current democracy, Nigeria has slowly emerged unto the world stage leveraging a free press, continuous digitization, globalization and improved transparency. In this period, the expectations of citizens have increased due, partly, to the promise of democracy for a free and fair society. Yet as we watch the increasing political fiascos, executive privileges, parliamentary show downs, legislative contempt and other shenanigans, one may stop to consider whether there is any marked difference in political

party ideology or the leadership of our country. Each with its own shortcomings, each with its own cabal, each with its own hidden agenda and each pursuing its own interest at the exclusion of the masses. Amidst all of this, the country continues to produce very many creative and award-winning artists such as Wizkid, Davido and the like; skillful athletes such as OluwatobilobaAmusan; talented software developers and ingenious small entrepreneurs amongst others. Many of them are gaining international acclaim and contributing to the more positive story of Nigeria today. Only recently I learned that there are over 10,000 Facebook developers within its circle in Lagos alone, accounting for a significant proportion of Facebook developers globally with plans underway to train 50,000 in Lagos over the coming year. All over the country, young people are engaging in interesting and unconventional lines of work that allow them to work at the time and pace of their convenience and to deliver decent incomes, which hitherto were unimaginable. But I dare say that all of this is happening in spite of the current administration and in the face of severe hardship. It is because we are a resilient group of people who have been conditioned to thrive under almost any circumstance and not have learned over time not to expect anything from our government. Let’s take a cursory look at some of the achievements under this administration. The Vice President’s office has successfully coordinated agencies of government to collaborate towards improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria. Bureaucratic constraints to doing business are being removed and outdated processes, forms and requirements are being discarded in favour of more progressive means, structures and best practices. Our improved visa processes, airport procedures and customs handling are a few of the evident areas where improvements have been recorded. These

are commendable. However, many local micro and small businesses continue to struggle under the weight of a difficult terrain evidenced by a severe lack of access to credit, wide-spread insecurity, poorly trained human resources and a very costly and overly competitive operating environment. Looking further, our education system remains very poor as outdated curricula that do not promote critical thinking and practical applications are used by unqualified instructors who leverage outdated teaching methods within dilapidated structures. The result is the hundreds of thousands of unemployable and disadvantaged youth in the country. The problem of education is deepening with time and one wonders what our government is doing to substantively improve the quality of education in Nigeria. Healthcare has remained terrible with hospitals representing killing fields for the majority of Nigerians while President Buhari, his family, appointees, cronies and other elected officials access state-of-the-art treatment abroad paid for by ordinary citizens. Unfortunately hardworking Nigerians who want any measure of decent healthcare must save, source from scarce resources or relatives, endure the inconvenience of securing visas and scrounge to also go abroad in search of medical treatment. This is a very small proportion of the population as the masses only dream of doctors in public hospitals not being on strike and billing with mercy. How long will Nigeria go without affordable and professional healthcare? Over the last two years, power has remained very poor and in many areas worsened amidst higher tariffs, lower power supply and an increasing dependence on generators. There are still communities that are not connected to the national power grid and therefore have never had electricity. The absence of power continues to affect the potential for businesses and general living standards. Meanwhile, the anti-corruption agenda

of this administration is another issue altogether. Some sacred cows have been spared because they align politically with the ruling party. Yet, corruption must be prosecuted at all levels irrespective of person or party and convictions must result and be enforced. Worst of all is the inability of the current administration to rise up to the security challenges which have ravaged the country. Insecurity appears to be worsening in most quarters and this government does not guarantee its citizens any form of safety. Sadly, Mr. President also appears insensitive to those who have lost their loved ones tragically as he shows no empathy, offers no remediation and does not openly promote justice. This is of particular concern. This administration has succeeded in squandering most of its goodwill, esteemed international audiences above Nigerians as information is released abroad before it is at home, pursued a tribal and sectional agenda, appointed a few dead and dying men to Boards while young and intelligent minds lie fallow and embraced archaic practices that endanger a core of the population such as cattle colonies. The list goes on. This administration has not taken responsibility for any of the ills that plague our land and has blamed everyone else but itself; it faults the citizens, accuses the main opposition party and indicts otherAfrican countries for domestic challenges. President Buhari has disappointed many who voted the previous government out in favour of his unsubstantiated change agenda. Problems continue to deepen across the country and the last three years have not delivered the requisite change we hoped so eagerly for. While it may be impossible to change the ills of the last three years, there is still one year when President Buhari can govern. Sadly, his bid to run for a second term in office, despite his frail health and dated ideology, may cloud any possibility of such governance over the coming 365 days.

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SUNDAYSPORTS

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

Brilliant Bale, Calamitous Karius Hand Madrid 3rd Straight Champions League Demola Ojo

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areth Bale came off the bench to help Real Madrid win an historic third Champions League in a night full of drama in Kiev. Bale scored a magnificent overhead kick in the 64th minute to put Madrid 2-1 up three minutes after coming on as a substitute, before blasting a ball through Liverpool goalkeeper Lorius Karius from outside the box for Madrid’s third and final goal in the 83rd. In truth, the German keeper should have done much better with the shot instead of fumbling it into his net and it was his second costly error of the game after allowing Madrid’s French striker, Karim Benzema intercept his roll-out pass for the first goal of the game in the 51st minute. Karius’ blunders were the culmination of an evening that started brightly for Liverpool but turned sour after start player Mohammed Salah came off injured after 30 minutes. In retrospect, Cristiano Ronaldo’s withering stare at Salah in the tunnel moments before kick-off was perhaps, a sign of things to come as the Egyptian came off worse in a tussle with Madrid captain, Sergio Ramos. Salah seemed to suffer a serious shoulder injury that puts his World Cup participation in doubt, after Ramos landed awkwardly – if not cynically – on him, as they both fell to the turf. With Liverpool’s most potent attacking weapon out of the game, Madrid took control of proceedings and ramped up the pressure on their English opponents. Despite being pegged back by a Sadio Mane equalizer from a corner kick in the 55th minute, Madrid’s exceptional quality and strength in depth came to the fore as Bale, who came to Madrid for a world record fee and also scored in the 2014 final win over Atletico Madrid – stunned Liverpool with what will surely go down as the best goal in Champions League history. French forward Karim Benzema had put Madrid ahead in the 51st minute by sticking

Bale scored a spectacular goal to help Madrid win

out a leg as Liverpool’s German keeper Karius attempted to throw the ball to a team mate, sending it trickling over the line, but Sadio Mane levelled from close range for Juergen Klopp’s side. Bale then sealed Madrid’s recordextending 13th European Cup win and piled more misery on Karius with a long-

Troost-Ekong, Ndidi Doubtful for DR Congo Demola Ojo

One half of Nigeria’s famed ‘Oyinbo Wall’, William Troost Ekong, is doubtful for tomorrow’s international friendly between Nigeria and DR Congo. Troost-Ekong has formed a formidable and dependable partnership in the heart of Nigeria’s defence alongside Leon Balogun. The Super Eagles have been hit with a few injuries with Belgium-based Moses Simon already ruled out of the tie. Simon sat out Friday morning’s training on the sidelines with a big ice pack on his thigh, as well as close attention from the medical staff, while Wilfred Ndidi continued his special training on the sidelines but participated in a light workout with the rest of the team later in the training session. Troost-Ekong went under the Masseur’s treatment and it is not sure if he would be fit in time for the game in Port Harcourt. Meanwhile, Super Eagles assistant coach, Salisu Yusuf, says the game is not a do-or-die affair, so Nigerians should not be under any pressure. The former Enyimba handler said he was sure it would help the Super Eagles to boost their preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. “It is a friendly match and it is not a do or die affair,” Yusuf who led the Super Eagles’ B team against Atletico Madrid in Monday’s game in Uyo said, according to Complete Sports. “The players know that there is nothing at stake in the match and for us the coaches, it is just a continuation of our preparations for the World Cup. “Nobody should be under any pressure, we are

playing DR Congo for us to bring the players together and to know the fitness level of the players after the European season. This is also an opportunity for the fans, I mean Nigerians to see the team before we move to Russia. “Almost all the players are in camp except Moses who has also taken permission, and what this means to us is that we are on course for the World Cup.” Nigeria’s next game after playing DR Congo is England at Wembley Stadium on June 2. The Super Eagles will thereafter enter into the final phase of camping in Austria and the final 23-man squad will prosecute their last pre-World Cup international friendly match against Czech Republic on June 6 before heading to their World Cup team-base camp in Essentuki, Russia.

range strike in the 83rd minute which went straight through the hands of the hapless goalkeeper. It was a night which confirmed Real’s ability to superbly manage the biggest of games and highlighted Liverpool’s continued problems with the goalkeeping position as well as an overreliance on Salah.

Real become the first side since Bayern Munich in 1976 to win the trophy three years in a row and Zinedine Zidane is the first coach to win three back-to-back titles. For Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp this was a sixth successive loss in a final, including a 2013 Champions League loss to Bayern Munich while Borussia Dortmund coach.

Rohr: No Russian Girls, Masseuse for Eagles

Rohr

Super Eagles boss Gernot Rohr has warned his players that no side chicks will be allowed in their camp during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Rohr has been in Uyo preparing his side for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and getting them ready for the friendly game against DR Congo tomorrow. During a press conference at the Super Eagles camp on Friday, May 26, the issues of Wives and Girlfriends (WAGs) in camp was brought up and Rohr was okay with. “Yes, the players can have their wives and family come to visit them at the World Cup. Each player will have a room to himself so the family can come on days when we are not preparing for games or on matchdays,” Rohr said at the press confrence. “However, I won’t allow them to have Russian girls, no, no, no. Only captain Mikel who has a Russian partner can come with her. The families can come to the hotel after games but no other girls allowed, no professional masseuse allowed.”

Monaco GP: Ricciardo Powers to Dominant Pole Daniel Ricciardo will start the Monaco Grand Prix from pole after dominating qualifying while Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen will line up at the back. Red Bull could not repair Verstappen’s car in time to get him out after a practice crash, leaving Ricciardo to blitz Mercedes and Ferrari. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel beat Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton to second. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was fourth ahead of Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas as Force India’s Esteban Ocon took sixth. Red Bull have dominated the weekend so far and looked set to lock out the front row until Verstap-

pen’s costly error in final practice. The Dutchman caught the inside wall at the second Swimming Pool chicane with his right front tyre and catapulted into the barriers on the outside. The impact damaged both front and rear suspension on the right-hand side of the car and the damage was too extensive to be fixed in the two hours and 15 minutes between the end of practice and when he would have needed to get out to do a lap in first qualifying. To add insult to injury, Verstappen has a five-place grid penalty for an unauthorised gearbox change

because the team discovered a leak as they were preparing the car for qualifying, but it is academic as he will start from the back anyway. One Red Bull driver always looked set for pole after Ricciardo set the pace in all the practice sessions leading up to qualifying, each time just pipping Verstappen. After Verstappen ruled himself out, making an error for the sixth race in a row and raising questions about whether he needs to change his approach to his racing, Ricciardo was in a league of his own and was fastest in all three parts of qualifying.

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NEWSXTRA Show Greater Commitment to Implement Anti-Corruption Laws, TI Urges Nigeria t Support us in fighting corruption, FG implores agency Abimbola AkosileinLagosand Olawale Ajimotokan inAbuja The Federal Government has been urged to show greater commitment to the implementation of the laws passed to boost the

country’s fight against corruption. This, according to Transparency International, a global anti-corruption watchdog, would enable the country regain her trust, confidence and reputation in the

avowed fight against corruption, which is one of the priorities of the current administration. The advice was given by the Chair of Transparency International, Ms. Delia Rubio, in an exclusive interview with THISDAY

on the sidelines of a high-level workshop to ‘share international anti-corruption best practices to address emerging issues’. Rubio also appealed to government ensure more transparency and efficiency in service delivery

MARK OF PROGRESS L-R: Finance Manager, Customer Finance, Damen Shipyards Gorinchem, Mr. Francesco Verschuren; Regional Sales Director - Africa,

Damen Shipyards Gorinchem, Mr. Harm Blaauw; and CEO, Homeland Integrated Offshore Services Ltd, Dr. Louis Ekere; during the signing of a multi-million dollar shipbuilding contract between both companies in Lagos...recently

while doing a lot to fight corruption. The workshop, held at the Transcorp Hilton hotel in Abuja recently, was organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (focal point and head of the local TI chapter in Nigeria), headed by Auwal Musa Ibrahim aka Rafsanjani, with support from the Ford Foundation and MacArthur Foundation. In the Corruption Perception Index 2017, which was published by TI, Nigeria scored 27 marks out of a possible 100 and was ranked 148 out of the 180 countries surveyed by the global organisation. The country slid down 12 places from the 2016 CPI where it was ranked 136 out of the countries surveyed and scored 28 marks out of 100; where 100 marks portray a highly transparent country and zero mark showcases a highly-corrupt country. The Federal Government had protested at the latest CPI ranking, with the Presidency asserting that the outcome does not showcase the current administration’s efforts to curb official corruption; a fight which has been identified as one of government’s main priorities to deliver good governance to the nation’s 180 million citizens. Reacting to this reporter’s question on her take on Nigeria’s latest ranking of 148th position on the 2017 CPI, Rubio said, “My personal opinion is that you have to look at the relation of the scores

that the country has been getting through the years because that depends on the country’s activities. The ranking may be influenced by the position of the performance of other countries in the neighbourhood of the ranking. So you can go up or down depending on the quantity of countries in each of the CPI each year or the relative performance of that country. But in order to assess how a country is doing, now we can compare the scores one year after one year. “And many people have told me, okay, we have passed the laws, we have created the agencies, in fact we have lots of agencies here in Nigeria and it has not been reflected in the Index. Number one, the index has not an immediate reflection of this kind of things because it is a perception index. So in order to regain trust and regain confidence and reputation, you have to have the rules passed and the agencies approved or created but you have to have the time to show the world that they are implemented, that they are effective and that they have made a difference from before. So probably it takes more than just one year or more in order to have the change in the score of the country. “But nevertheless it is not enough to create rules or pass laws or to create agencies, or to appoint persons in certain responsibilities. What is important is ‘what is the impact of that in the corruption situation in the country?”.

Saraki Cautions against Retard in Oil Sector Reforms t Seeks speedy actions on petroleum bills before 2019 elections

Chineme OkaforinAbuja The Senate President Bukola Saraki has warned against a retrogression of reforms in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry initiated by the country’s parliament through bills such as the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) and other supplementary bills created from the unpacking of the omnibus Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). Speaking at a public lecture

organised by the Institute of Oil and Gas Research and Hydrocarbon Studies, weekend in Abuja, Saraki, who was represented by the Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Upstream, Senator Gershom Bassey (PDP, Cross River South), said it had taken the country about 18 years to pass the PIB. He asked that relevant stakeholders must ensure the process was completed.

The senate president failed to clearly state the current status of the PIGB, but maintained the national assembly harmonised and passed it in March, thus indicating it was awaiting President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent even though the presidency recently claimed the bill was not with Buhari. Saraki, however said it was time Nigeria eschew retrogressive tendencies and revolutionise her oil

industry. He also called for speedy actions on the other aspects of the PIB – Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill (PIFB); Petroleum Industry Administration Bill (PIAB) and Petroleum Industry Host Communities Bill (PIHCB) before the end of the current legislative era. “We must eschew retrogressive tendencies on the road to achieving our set objectives. PIB is really 18 years in the making if you count that its first introduction

into the National Assembly was in the year 2000, clearly it is about time to revolutionise this sector and bring it into the modern age. It is about time we modernise the oil and gas sector in Nigeria and pull it into the modern age,” he said. On the other bills, Saraki noted: “Before the winding down of the legislative cycle at the coming elections, I am hoping for expedient efforts across respective arms of government as we move to

sustainably reposition and reinvigorate the petroleum industry for optimal service and content delivery.” When asked about the whereabouts of the PIGB, he further explained: “What we know is that we have passed the PIGB in the Senate and House of Representatives, the rest is administrative. We have done our work, it goes over to the civil servants, we finished our work in March and that is it.

Ex-Bauchi Dep. Gov, Resigned Omoyeni Gets PANDEL Because He Was Redundant Guber Ticket

Enugu Students Endorse Gov. Ugwuanyi for Second Term

SegunAwofadejiinBauchi

Ahead of the three years’ anniversary of the Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration in Enugu State, students from all the tertiary institutions in the state under the auspices of Gburugburu Student Support Group have unanimously endorsed the governor for a second term in office. Rising from a solidarity rally in Enugu in appreciation of peace and good governance in the state, the jubilant students who later converged at the Government House to identify with Ugwuanyi said they were elated at his sterling performance in spite of the state’s meager resources. Reconfirming their award on Ugwuanyi as the “Most StudentFriendly Governor in Nigeria”, the students added that “we have

More facts have emerged on why former Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Nuhu Gidado, who resigned last Wednesday, left the Governor Mohammed Abubakar administration. Although he had tried to leave earlier except that he was being prevailed upon at each turn he tendered his resignation letter not to rock the boat, he eventually left because he was tired of doing nothing apart from just reading newspapers all day. Gidado, who submitted his letter of resignation late on Wednesday night, cited amongst other reasons, “waning enthusiasm for the job”, a development many political observers in the state reckon could constitute a major setback to the

reelection of Governor Abubakar. A THISDAY source, who pleaded anonymity, said Gidado had lost the zeal to just show up at work only to spend the rest of the day reading the newspapers or wait to be told what to do by Governor Abubakar,” adding that he had no responsibilities assigned to him. In his resignation letter, he had noted that, “Ordinarily, I should have remained up to the end of the tenure, but, with the currently dampened spirit and waning zeal as it relates to my official engagements, my continued stay will not be fair and truthful to you as my brother and leader.” He therefore declared that he had lost interest in the job and extended his appreciation to the people of the state for giving him the opportunity to serve.

Former Deputy Governor of Ekiti state, Mr. Adebisi Omoyeni, will contest for the governorship election of the state coming up on July 14, on the ticket of the People Alliance for National Development & Liberty Party. Omoyeni formally announced that he would fly the banner of the party during a press conference attended by his supporters and PANDEL leaders in the state at his country home in Ikere-Ekiti recently. He said if elected his administration’s industrialisation agenda will be anchored on agriculture and education to give the state a new economy and change the character of the state from the civil service state tag. Omoyeni noted that he would create within four years at least 10,000 high-paying agriculture and agro-

allied jobs for youths of the state. “Within four years we will work to give Ekiti a new character different from the tag of civil service state. Our government will target rice, cocoa and cassava production and build industry and wealth around the value chain by partnering key industries and private sector. We will create 10,000 quality jobs through integrating production of rice, cocoa and cassava with industrial processors. We will bring young people into farming by organising them into cooperatives and link them up as out-growers to industrial off-takers,” he said. The PANDEL candidate bemoaned the poor revenue generating capacity of the state which is the reason why the state cannot pay salary of workers and pensioners as at when due.

taken it upon ourselves to be in the fore-front for the realisation of anything that will return you to the Lion Building come 2019”. Presenting the student’s stance, the group’s Chairman, Chidi Ilogebe, promised the governor that they would deliver 150,000 verifiable votes for him in 2019, saying: “Be rest assured that our total support for you is unflinching”. He disclosed that they “collapsed every other student structures (Kporakpo inclusive) into GSSG to give you (Ugwuanyi) the maximum support you need because you deserve it”, stressing that “this we will achieve through our programmes, communitybased outreaches, social media awareness, school visitations and sensitisations”.

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Sunday May 27, 2018

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MISSILE

Jonathan to Buhari

“If a neighbouring African president will use Nigeria to make negative examples, then we as leaders must know certain things are wrong in the country. That means we as leaders must change the way we do things.� – Former president Goodluck Jonathan rebuking President Muhammadu Buhari for poor governance

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On Ohanaeze’s Six-Year Term Proposal‌

S

o how can we have a much better Nigeria, a country we can proudly call our own? The debate continues. The dominant line of discourse has been that of “restructuring Nigeriaâ€? and there are certainly different shades of the argument. I was fascinated by the communiquĂŠ of Ohanaeze Ndigbo at the end of the South-East Summit on the Restructuring of Nigeria in Awka, Anambra state, last week. The socio-cultural group put a number of proposals on the table which, going by the mood of the participants, can be considered unanimous. The proposals are not completely new, just that most are now attaining consensus among the leading lights of the restructuring campaign. Among other things, Ohanaeze demanded a constitutional conference backed by law, a new constitution that is “truly federalâ€? to be produced by a Constituent Assembly and adopted through a referendum by the people of Nigeria for “legitimacy and validityâ€?, and the repeal of Decree No. 24 of 1999 by the National Assembly to void the current constitution and enable a new one. The group proposed the retention of the presidential system and bicameral legislature at the federal level. Ohanaeze wants the current geo-political zones to be the federating units with their own system of government, although it prefers uniformity for “ease of transactionâ€? and “comparabilityâ€?. The Igbo outside the south-east zone -- such as Anioma in Delta state and Ikwerre in Rivers -- who desire to be united with their kith and kin should do so via a referendum; it should be voluntary, Ohanaeze said. Every region will have its constitution; if it conflicts with the federal constitution, the latter will take precedence. This is not too far from what obtains under the 1999 constitution in which there are exclusive, residual and concurrent lists. Ohanaeze proposed that if states would be federating units, then the south-east should get an additional state for the sake of equity. It proposed removal of local governments from the constitution – each region should decide the local structure it wants. Ohanaeze proposed a single-term tenure of six years for presidents (and, by extension, governors) and five vice-presidents, one from each geo-political zone other than the president’s own, and that each VP should have supervisory powers over key ministries. In other words, there should be federal character and quota system in picking VPs. Ohanaeze further proposed rotational presidency, another aspect of federal character, and went further to recommend something similar at the state level: there should be rotation of governorship between senatorial districts -- or whatever sub-structure is eventually adopted at the regional level. This, it said, is in the interest of equity, fairness and justice. My interest today is the six-year tenure. It is not entirely new – the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme proposed it some 22 years ago. He, however, wanted six vice-presidents, not five, with a proviso that if the sitting president dies, resigns or is impeached, the VP from his or her zone will step in and complete the tenure. If we had had such a provision in the 1999 constitution, the tension caused by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s fatal illness in 2009-2010 would have been avoided. Some political analysts still believe that the death of Yar’Adua and the ascension of President Goodluck Jonathan to power in 2010 wounded the north, poisoned the body politic and we are still paying the price. Jonathan, meanwhile, also proposed a sixyear single-term tenure after winning the 2011 presidential election. His argument was that re-election bids often heat up the polity. He also said it would reduce INEC’s electoral expenses

Nnia Nwodo, President of Ohanaeze as polls would now be held at six-year intervals. His proposals were met with cynicism, especially as it was interpreted to mean he wanted to be in power for another six years rather than the four he was elected to do. When he spoke in Ethiopia that he would do only one term if elected, he was perhaps hinting at this; but he denied planning to be a beneficiary of six years. Critics said he was plotting to stay in power for seven unbroken years. The proposal died in no time. Nevertheless, the six-year tenure proposal being promoted by Ohanaeze Ndigbo has its merits. One, a six-year tenure will guarantee that presidency goes round the geo-political zones, thus addressing issues of marginalisation. Imagine we had a six-year tenure arrangement since 1999: south-west would have had it till 2005, the north (east, west or central) would have carried on till 2011, the south-east or south-south would have had it till 2017 and it would be back to the north by now. It would be predictable. As things stand, Ndigbo are convinced there is a conspiracy to keep them out of the No. 1 position. Only a transparent arrangement of this nature can ensure that every part of Nigeria is guaranteed a shot. Two, when presidents (or governors) have only one opportunity to perform, the rational ones will put in all efforts to write their names in gold within the six years. But when there is the possibility of a second chance, they may be busy settling political IOUs and plotting to survive power games in order to bid for a second term, thereby paying little attention to quality governance and instead accumulating funds to get re-elected. Most governors are still trying to settle in by the time it dawns on them that another election is around the corner. They then lose focus and delay or avoid critical decisions in order not to offend voters. Reform is very difficult when you are eyeing a second term in office. Three, an incumbent president going for second term has an undue advantage. The heads of all the agencies central to the conduct of elections are appointed by the president, from INEC and police to DSS and sometimes the military. The incumbent also has incredible access to resources. It is a frightening war chest no individual or group of individuals can rival. It was not an ordinary feat that Jonathan was defeated by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 – that

is why we still consider it to be historic. In the history of Nigeria, incumbent presidents were always returned no matter how poorly they performed in office. A single-term tenure can, to some extent, reduce re-election desperation. Now where do I stand? Pardon my intransigence, but we are only discussing this because of the perennial failure of leadership in Nigeria. There is a reason for the provision of two terms of office for governors and presidents. The carrot of a second term is supposed be an incentive for the incumbent to perform and then be rewarded by voters with another four years for a job well done. As we say in Nigeria, “one good term deserves anotherâ€? (whoever coined this aphorism deserves a medal). However, we have seen people spend eight years in office with little or no impact on the community despite the hundreds of billions of naira at their disposal. Thus, the aim of two terms is defeated. The other side of the coin, though, is: what happens if you have a competent and patriotic leader, someone who really inspires confidence and is committed to fairness, justice and equity, someone who is actually delivering the goods? Under the single-term tenure, there will be no reward for the hard work! Not just that, there is a fat chance all the good work will be disrupted and discontinued by their successors who will want to prove to the world that they have their own ideas. I think we are assuming that our leaders will always underperform in office, so we want them to get out of office as quickly as possible through single-term tenures. We may end up throwing the baby away with the bath water. In sum, Ndigbo appear to be shut of the No. 1 position in the land, something that they think can be resolved through a system that guarantees power rotation among regions within short intervals. My view has always been that no part of Nigeria should feel isolated from power; the political system must ensure that everyone is fully represented and integrated. Every part of Nigeria must be given a fair shot at presidency. It is good for the peace of the land. Without federal character, things would even be worse. We could have a cabinet that does not have a single south-easterner and no law or principle would have been broken. Federal character guarantees that every state is represented. Having said that, I like the sound of the one-term proposal, but you know my position: it is not the solution to the Nigerian conundrum. It will address one problem – that of political equity – but it will not guarantee food on the table, 24-hour power supply or drugs in the hospitals. Nothing is inherently wrong with our system but everything is wrong with the operators. Until we address the leadership deficit ravaging every nook and cranny of Nigeria, until we have leaders who are irrevocably committed to development, we will remain stuck. One term, two terms, six years, eight years, presidential system, parliamentary system, regionalism‌ none of these things will turn Nigeria to Dubai on their own. Finally, if the one-term proposal will help institute what I call “development as a relay raceâ€?, I’m in. That is, successive administrations will treat government as a continuum and carry on with the good ideas they meet on ground. My biggest admiration of President Buhari since he came to office three years ago is the commitment to completing some of the projects and ideas carried over from Jonathan. As a Nigerian, as a student of development, I looooooove it. Politicians and partisans won’t like it – for them, politics always comes first. All I want to see is a prosperous Nigeria built on sound ideas. That’s why we must keep the national discourse alive and robustly debate every proposal. Imperative.

And Four Other Things‌ BUHARI VS OBASANJO In the 2011 presidential debate organised by NN24 and moderated by our own Kadaria Ahmed and CNN’s Jonathan Mann, Candidate Muhammadu Buhari promised to probe the “$16bn power expenditure by PDP from 1999 to 2007â€? for which there were no bright results. Seven years later -- and three years after ďŹ nally becoming president -- Buhari has “re-openedâ€? the ďŹ le. Not many think Buhari will actually probe former President Olusegun Obasanjo, his erstwhile supporter turned traducer. There is an unwritten rule that former Nigerian leaders are untouchable. However, something tells me that the rule will be broken someday. We are getting closer and closer. Equality. MILITARY VS AMNESTY I don’t know who is advising the Nigerian military, but if I were in a position to advise their advisers, I would say they should tell their clients to pipe low in their war against Amnesty International. There seems to be this feeling in the military hierarchy that AI can be intimidated into silence. It won’t happen. The international human rights organisation, set up in 1961 “to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end abuses of human rightsâ€?, has survived the most brutal military regimes all over the world. I would suggest that we deal decisively with the issues of rape, extrajudicial killings and other abuses by Nigerian soldiers. We will be the better for it in the end. Commonsense. JIBRIN VS HOUSE Now that another court of law has ruled that the legislature does not have the power to suspend members, let us hope that our lawmakers will ďŹ nd another way of enforcing discipline without the military-style sledgehammer. Dierent courts had previously voided the suspension of Senators Ali Ndume and Ovie Omo-Agege, and now Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin has been let o the hook. Dissent is essential to democracy. Senator Arthur Nzeribe was the ďŹ rst to be hit with the suspension sledgehammer in 2003 when Senator Anyim Pius Anyim was senate president. Let everything be done decently and in order, no matter the perceived oence. Draconian. AND, FINALLY‌ On Friday, a delegation of Nigerian female parliamentarians paid a visit to President Buhari at the presidential villa. They made a case on the marginalisation of women in Nigerian politics (an indisputable fact, by the way). Personally, I think the Buhari administration has not been genderequitable in the distribution of important political oďŹƒces. Well, the women have requested for the slot of vice-president. In his response, Buhari joked: “It’s a pity the vice-president is not here. But I believe the secretary to the government of the federation will tell him that his position is threatened.â€? I blame the women: they should have asked for the position of president. LOL.

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