Sunday 15th July 2018

NNPC, DPR Heading for a Showdown over Petrol Consumption, Subsidy Figures

As NNPC says Nigerians consume more petrol during scarcity Corporation claims subsidy on supply not consumption Collected N88.91bn as subsidy in May, as DPR doubts figures Tobi Soniyi The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Department of Petroleum

Resources might be heading for a showdown over the actual litres of refined petrol the nation consumes daily.

In the middle of the

disagreement was the Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF), which accused the NNPC of reporting excessive petrol consumption figure to facilitate

deduction of undue petrol cost (under-recovery) from domestic crude cost.

This, the governors reckoned, explained the shortfall in what

NNPC remits to the Federation Account, noting that its allegation was based on the disclosure made to it by the DPR. But NNPC was unhappy

that DPR provided information that contradicted its position to a third party.

Continued on page 8

Onaiyekan: Nigerians Have Lost Confidence in the President… Page 8 Sunday 15 July, 2018 Vol 23. No 8487

www.thisdaylive.com TR

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Secondus: PDP’s Worst Presidential Aspirant Better than Buhari

We need to stop APC before they crash our democracy Says party will restore hope, unity, not grab power like APC Claims reconciliation,with Obasanjo, ex president urges moral discipline

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, Bayo Akinloye, and Femi Ogbonnikan In Abeokuta

The national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has slammed President

Muhammadu Buhari for failing to deliver quality leadership and foster national unity.

Secondus said Buhari, who

has declared his intention to seek a second term under his All Progressives Congress (APC), was no match for even

the worst presidential aspirant in PDP. Speaking in an exclusive interview with THISDAY,

Secondus dismissed claims by some prominent Nigerians that Continued on page 82

Fayemi Wins, APC Survives Police commission praises officers EU hails process, commends INEC, security agencies Secondus: Ekiti poll will determine 2019 election NBC shuts Ekiti Broadcast Service over Fayose’s announcement declaring Olusola winner Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, cruised to a convincing win over his closest rival, Professor Kolapo Olusola of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, in the

governorship election held yesterday in Ekiti State. The results announced Sunday morning by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) saw Fayemi winning in 12 out of the 16 local government areas of the state.

Continued on page 8

R E S U LT S d e c l a re d b y i n e c t h i s m o r n i n g LGAs APC PDP Ado Ekiti 28,111 32,810 Efon 5,028 5,193 Ekiti East 12,778 11,564 Ekiti South-West 11,015 8,423 Ekiti West 12,648 10,137 Emure 7,048 7,121 Gbonyin 11,498 8,027 Ido-Osi 12,342 11,145 Ijero Ekiti 14,192 11,077 Ikere-Ekiti Ikole Ilejemeje Irepodun/Ifelodun Ise/Orun Moba Oye, Ekiti TOTAL

11,515 14,522 4,153 13,869 11,908 11,837 14,995 197,459

17,183 13,961 3,930 11,456 6,297 8,520 11,271 178,115

Fayemi… Governor-elect

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Onaiyekan: Nigerians Have Lost Confidence in the President Cautions presidency against rigging 2019 general election Says members will be advised on how to vote Paul Obi in Abuja The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Metropolitan See, His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, maintained yesterday that Nigerians had lost confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration.

Onaiyekan said there was no indication that the Buhari government was serious about governance, and upholding the principal objective of government, which is the protection of life and property.

In a no holds barred encounter, Onaiyekan told THISDAY in Abuja that Buhari's constitutional commitment to protection of life and property was no longer tenable and achievable given the degeneration of the country.

Onaiyekan's position followed similar views by the Catholic

Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), which had called on the president to “save Nigeria from avoidable doom or step aside.”

Following the killing of two Catholic priests and 17 worshippers in Benue State, the bishops had called on Buhari to consider resignation due to the rampant killings across the country.

Speaking to THISDAY, Onaiyekan said, "I was only repeating what we (bishops) said some two months ago when we were in Rome, when two priests and their worshippers were killed. By the time they began to attack people at worship, we thought that it was carrying it too far.

"When we talk about confidence in the government, we believe that there is no excuse for any government not to be

able to deal with the issues that we have in our hands, namely, that a group of murderers should not be able to go around killing people with impunity.

"So, we are not saying that Buhari is the one who sent them, we are not saying that he is supporting them. But we are certainly saying he is not doing enough. And when not doing enough on the part of the government translated into inability to defend and protect life, human life, which is the primary, first duty of government, the conclusion is obvious, that you cannot do the work.

"When we say we have lost confidence, it is like saying, well, we wouldn't like to believe that he can do it and he is refusing to do it. Because if we arrive at that conclusion that Buhari could have stopped all these and

he is refusing to do it, it means that he is responsible for it, like some people are saying.”

The cardinal added, "The bishops' conference didn't go that far. We are not saying that he is responsible; all we are saying is that you are not God, you cannot do everything, even a president has a limit to his power.

"But when a president reaches a stage where he cannot guarantee lives and property, he doesn't expect us to have confidence in him. If we cannot rely on government to protect us, who are we to rely on? Are we to follow those who said everybody should go and armed himself?"

The Archbishop contended, “We could not accept the situation where people are being killed and we are asking them to be patient, we are telling them to

pray, leave it to God. No, that's not how to run the affairs of a nation."

On the fears that government apparatus may be used to rig the 2019 elections and thwart the people's will, Onaiyekan warned that no form of rigging by the incumbent government will be tolerated in 2019 general elections.

He stressed that those planning to rig the elections should not be fooled by the fact that those who rigged previous elections were allowed to go free.

The Catholic clergy said, "The only fear I have is if anybody arrives at the decision to use state power to frustrate the wishes of the people in terms of that election, he is likely to create confusion, many Nigerians will not take it lightly "My feeling is that Nigerians have reached a stage now, where

blatant rigging of elections will not be tolerated, and it is not a bad thing."

On whether the CBCN will mandate its members not to vote for Buhari considering the bishops' loss of confidence in his administration, Onaiyekan said, "This president has only indicated interest to seek a second term.

Eventually, if his party chooses him, then, we will be faced with a situation of what advice we want to give to our members, who want to follow our advice in this matter.

"Normally, we do not advise our members to vote one way or the other. But when it comes to whether somebody is able to protect lives and property and somebody has proved it, that he cannot, of course, when the time comes, we will remind our people.”

NNPC, DPR Heading for a Showdown over Petrol Consumption, Subsidy Figures The DPR had told the NGF that petrol under-recovery was derived from consumption or evacuation whereas NNPC claimed that PMS cost under-recovery was derived from actual import volumes.

A governor, who was privy to some of the exchanges between the NNPC, the DPR, the Minister for Finance, Kemi Adeosun, and the Presidency on the issue, said like the DPR, the governors had evidence to prove that NNPC was under-reporting.

For some weeks now, FAAC has not been able to conclusively hold its meetings, because of claims by the NGF that the NNPC was shortchanging the federation with exorbitant financial claims as subsidy over volumes of petrol it imports into the country.

The governors had called for an audit of NNPC’s petrol importation, claiming daily petrol consumption figures reported by the NNPC were overblown by the corporation so it could keep more money away from FAAC. In a letter by NNPC's Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, to Adeosun, which the governor allowed our correspondent to sight, the corporation said: "The minister is kindly invited to note that PMS cost under-recovery is derived from actual import volumes and not on consumption or evacuations as presented to the NGF by the Department of Petroleum Resources.

"We would like to bring to the attention of the minister, the assertion of the NGF that the NNPC is reporting excessive PMS consumption figures to facilitate deduction of undue PMS cost under-recovery from domestic crude cost.

"The position was further exacerbated by the DPR's claim that there was never a time where PMS Truck Out (Evacuation) reached 60 million litres per day and that

evacuation was the basis in which PMS daily average consumption is made.

"Additionally, the PPPRA evacuation data since January 2016 indicated average volume of 50 million litres per day."

The letter was dated July 5th.

Hhowever, the letter appeared to be an effort by the corporation to explain its position on the June 2018 revenue remittance to FAAC, which has remained controversial till date, the letter suggested the DPR was suspicious of the volumes of petrol the NNPC frequently claimed to have imported and based its subsidy deductions on.

NNPC insisted that PMS cost under-recovery was based on supply and not evacuation or consumption and therefore accused the DPR of bad faith.

Even though the NNPC chief admitted that the corporation did not have an accurate data on the volume of petrol required by Nigeria on a daily basis and may have been importing petrol with figures the PPPRA handed to it, he was of the view that the DPR divulging such information to the NGF without confirming with it was aimed at embarrassing the federal government.

He said: "NNPC observes that the submission by the DPR was not well intentioned as they should have appropriately discussed and gotten alignment or explanations from PPPRA and NNPC before divulging to third parties. This should be guided upon to avoid embarrassing the government."

Specifically, Baru insinuated it was probably the DPR that told the NGF that the petrol importation figures frequently claimed by the NNPC were not trustworthy.

But the NNPC, at a point, admitted that it did not know the actual petrol the nation consumes daily.

He said: "Honourable minister would recall the ongoing engagement by the inter-ministerial team composing Ministries of Petroleum and Finance with the participation of the NNPC, DPR, PPPRA, PEF, OAGF and the CBN to put in place a monitoring system for the entire fuel supply and distribution system in the federation.

"Also, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources is engaging the National Bureau of Statistics to establish actual consumption of petroleum products in the country. The outcome of these exercises may establish the actual fuel consumption in the country."

NNPC said it had previously utilised 35 million litres per day as basis for supplying its shares of the national consumption.

The corporation also faulted the data provided by the DPR saying the figures might not be fully reflective of the actual evacuation figures from the various depots.

Baru alleged that the DPR failed to confer with the NNPC and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) on the importation volumes before making a presentation to the NGF, adding that the NNPC charged subsidy based on the actual volumes of petrol it imports and not on consumption or evacuations from its depots.

It then added: "However, our evaluation of the PPPRA evacuation data for all depots and terminals from January 2016 to December 2017 indicated average load out of about 48 million and 50 million per day respectively."

In the same letter, Baru disclosed that the corporation made deductions worth N88.91 billion as subsidy claims for May 2018 and part of outstanding subsidy claims for 2017.

Indicating the claims were based on the supplies figures, Baru noted that N31.12 billion was for May 2018, while N57.79 billion was claims for

the 2017 outstanding.

“For the month of June 2018, NNPC proposed deductions of N88.91 billion as PMS cost underrecovery against domestic crude cost receivable in May 2018. This comprises N31.12 billion for the month of May and N57.79 billion as part of the outstanding for 2017.

“The 2017 under-recovery was not recovered due to low production and prices, which would have had adverse impact on FAAC remittance in the succeeding months.”

But to prove that NNPC was being economical with the truth, the governor also allowed THISDAY to sight an earlier letter written to the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo by the same NNPC GMD. In the letter dated May 9th, 2008, Baru asked Osinbajo to prevail on the governors to accept what was remitted to the FAAC and to back off the FAAC allocation crisis.

The governor said it was incredible for NNPC to tell the Vice-President that Nigerians consumed 70 million litres per day between November and December 2017, when the nation was battling with fuel shortage.

Excerpts from the letter to Osinbajo reads: "The corporation has witnessed astronomical increase in the volume of PMS daily consumption, which has averaged 50-55 million litres per day and even reached a peak of over 70 million litres per day during the festive period of November and December 2017, and through the crises period.

"This necessitated Mr. President's action of providing a $1.05 billion facility to NNPC to enable it import additional volumes through cash purchases to augment DSDP (average of 35 million litres per day) to meet the reserve depletion and the 50-55 million litres per day consumption.

"The corporation has, however, found succour in its ability to recover

the cost differential through a backout from the monthly remittances to FAAC based on actual volumes supplied,” the letter stated.

Rhetorically, the letter asked: "How can we be consuming 70 million litres, when there were long queue and when some people could not drive because of shortage? It simply does not make sense!"

Last Thursday, the rescheduled meeting of FAAC, again, ended in a deadlock.

The meeting was eventually suspended indefinitely.

Last Tuesday, the meeting, which was rescheduled after the initial June 27 meeting ended in a stalemate and was also put off after members failed to reconcile the records with the management of the NNPC. Members could not agree to share the revenue brought for distribution by the NNPC. After the Thursday meeting, Chairman of Commissioners Forum of FAAC, Mahmood Yunusa, said the meeting was postponed indefinitely and would only be reconvened after “the process is strengthened.

“The next meeting is a function of when we finish the process. What we are looking for is for the process to be strengthened. Once the process is strengthened, there is no need for this fight.”

The commissioner said the decision of the 36 state governments and other members of FAAC to reject NNPC’s paltry remittances, “is about the system and the process we are working on. Once the process is strengthened, the correct amount is supposed to go to federal revenue account.”

He said the practice of NNPC withholding revenues that should be remitted to the FAAC for distribution to the three tiers of government was being reviewed at the highest level of government.

“Mr. President will sit with all

parties. He is highly interested in this matter. He is taking his time to ensure the right thing is done,” Yunusa said.

As a result of the disagreement, civil servants across the country are yet to be paid their last month’s salaries.

Already, some governors are negotiating to take loans at high interest rates to pay their workers.

Members of the committee, consisting Commissioners for Finance and Accountants General from the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, had accused the NNPC of not remitting enough revenue for sharing.

But NNPC spokesperson, Ndu Ughamadu, said the N147 billion revenue remitted to FAAC for sharing to the three tiers of government in June was “in line with the terms of agreement it had with governors on the matter.”

Ughamadu said the agreement NNPC had with the governors was for the corporation to make a monthly remittance of N112 billion only to FAAC. He said the remittance was subject to sufficient funds from its sales of domestic crude oil allocation for the corresponding month after meeting certain operational obligations.

The spokesperson said NNPC was able to surpass the terms of agreement with the governors on the monthly remittance for June by about N35 billion.

Since then, the committee has been meeting with the top management of the NNPC, finance ministry officials, Accountant General of the Federation and representatives of the commissioners of finance to reconcile the accounts.

But on three occasions, the meetings failed to come to any agreement on what should be the correct figure as the controversy continues.

election.

NBC described this as unacceptable, stating, “The commission has taken the decision to curb the continued breach of the Electoral Act and the Broadcasting Code on Political Broadcast.

“The commission is particularly irked by the unauthorised declaration of results by the state governor in the state broadcast station.

“This is after he went on air to make malicious and unsubstantiated comments against INEC, the Police and the SSS. The station will remain shut down until further notice.”

Nevertheless, the two major forces in the current political contests in the state, Fayemi and incumbent Governor Ayo Fayose, delivered their respective wards to their parties.

As voting opened, Fayemi, who voted at polling unit 009 in Isan Ekiti Local Government Area, expressed confidence in the electoral process.

But Fayose lambasted the security agencies for allegedly supervising vote buying and ballot snatching in some wards in Ado Ekiti and Ikole. Fayose voted at St David’s Anglican Primary School Polling unit 001, where his, party, PDP, polled

304 votes to defeat APC, which had 106 votes.

In his Ward 11 Ogilolo unit 009 in Isan Ekiti, Fayemi’s APC scored 186 votes to beat PDP that polled two votes.

Fayemi voted around 10.45am in company of his wife, members of his household, some of his aides and supporters after queuing for about 10 minutes. The former minister said the process was credible and peaceful, saying the will of the people will prevail.

“Nigerians decided to choose democracy over dictatorship and that is why all of us must guard this democracy jealously,” he said at the polling station. He, however, lamented the news that the smart card readers were malfunctioning in some areas. The incident was pronounced in Ayede Ekiti, where people complained that their fingerprints were not detected by the machine.

Fayemi said, “It has been seamless, so far. I was accredited and voted seamlessly. But I have heard reports of issues with the card reader from other parts of the state. Largely, we thank God that not much ugly incidents

have been recorded…

“With the news we have been gathering around, the process has been okay for now. So, I have faith in this election and I know the people of Ekiti will judge me based on what I did when I presided over this state and what this government is doing.

They can see that the difference is clear.”

Addressing newsmen shortly after casting his vote about 1:20pm at Unit 001, Afao Ekiti, the governor alleged that policemen aided and abetted open distribution of money and ballot snatching. He praised Ekiti voters for coming out massively to vote and conducting themselves peacefully.

The governor said all attempts to personally report the incidents to the police authorities were rebuffed.

He said many of the observers that came to monitor the poll in different parts of the state had noticed the malpractices but could do nothing to stop them. The governor declared that Olusola would still win the poll.

He said information at his disposal revealed that INEC had good intentions regarding the election, despite attempts by the police to thwart the commission’s efforts.

The governor stated, “I want to state expressly that the police have hijacked the whole process. INEC might mean well but the process was tampered with by the police. As i speak, thugs are having a field day snatching ballot boxes under police watch. This is a national disgrace.

“There were cases of not only ballot snatching, but ballot cleansing and clearing, even as the police and other officers cooperated by looking the other way.

“In all the local governments, chieftains of my party are also being arrested indiscriminately and bundled into detention this morning for no just cause, and the list include my Chief of Staff, PDP senators, Reps, among others “The situation was so bad that people distributing money to secure votes were doing so while sitting side by side with policemen.”

Olusola was manually accredited for the election before voting at his ward at Odo Iro unit at his Ikere Ekiti hometown following the failure of the card reader to read his Permanent Voter Card twice. Olusola’s wife’s

Fayemi Wins, APC Survives The announcement of the results commenced about 3am, and was still on as at 5.30am.

The APC candidate, a former governor of the state, started coasting to victory early, as he led in many of the results declared at the polling centres not long after voting went under way Saturday. Though, he won in majority of the local government areas, the victories were by small margins, a situation that had seen the two main candidates running neck and neck as polling closed in the evening and collation of results continued in the local government areas.

Fayemi resigned as Minister of Solid Minerals recently to contest the governorship seat, while Olusola is the incumbent deputy governor.

Initial reports that trickled in from the local governments as voting progressed showed that PDP and APC had good showings in their strongholds and were almost level in the race.

The results show that the people of Ekiti State are sharply divided along the line of the two leading political parties, with more voters leaning towards the APC.

But INEC warned against the illicit declaration of results amid a rash of polling outcomes that circulated on the internet by Saturday evening. INEC said the public should disregard the results circulating on the social media. In a statement by the Ekiti State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor AbdulGanly Raji, the commission described the trending results as illegal. “All the floating news in the social media in respect of the result of the election should be discountenanced by the public," the commission said.

INEC said the election was ongoing and the announcement of the result would be officially made by it.

But Ekiti Broadcast Service became the first casualty of the illegal circulation of results, as it was shut indefinitely yesterday by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

NBC accused the station of breaching the provisions of the broadcasting code by allowing Fayose to declare results of the governorship election when INEC had not announced it.

Fayose had spoken on a programme of the service, while collation of results was on-going, and allegedly declared Olusola as winner of the

Continued on page 82

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 15, 2018

9

SUNDAY COMMENT

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

WHO WILL STOP THESE KILLINGS? The security agencies are ineffective. They are due for overhaul

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othing highlights the desperate situation in which Nigeria has found itself today than the harrowing words by the governor of Sokoto, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal on the tragic incident last Wednesday in his state: “We buried 32 people yesterday but when we were leaving the area, they brought additional seven bodies...these marauders invaded Tabanni village, killing and maiming people. They never took away even a chicken; they only came to kill.”

What is very clear today is that the Nigerian state is losing the dominance of the machinery of violence to non-state actors. With the Boko Haram devastation still on in the North-East and free-wheeling criminalities in the south and middle belt, it is safe to say that Nigeria has fallen so badly short in peace and security. There is therefore an urgent need for the federal government to apply the wedge and pull the nation back from the brink. Until that is done, the body count will keep mounting to our collective shame.

As we have repeatedly stated on this page, perhaps aside the 30-month civil war, Nigeria has never been so threatened by security challenges as it is today. This year alone, there have been over a dozen deadly attacks at different locations across the country, claiming hundreds of lives. Yet, it is the blatant failure of the authorities to pursue these murderers and bring them to book that has directly encouraged further commission of such heinous crimes in different locations across Nigeria.

Against the background that the killings in Sokoto and Zamfara States have put paid to speculations that the violence in the country today is targeted against a section of the country or worshippers of a particular religion, it is important for the nation to rally if we must defeat the demons that trouble our land. But while we condemn in the strongest terms the violence, we are particularly worried that these incessant attacks come at a delicate period in our history. The sad reality is that our country is almost becoming a bandit territory with all manner of criminals on the loose, taking the lives of innocent citizens without any provocations.

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It is the blatant failure of the authorities to pursue these murderers and bring them to book that has directly encouraged further commission of such heinous crimes in different locations

Letters to the Editor

S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS OLAWALE OLALEYE, TOBI SONIYI MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

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 BOLAJI ADEBIYI , 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

nfortunately, that the authorities place little premiums on human lives is demonstrated by the number of policemen drafted for yesterday’s gubernatorial election in Ekiti, one of the smallest states in Nigeria. When politics takes precedence over national security, it is no surprise that the lives of ordinary citizens now count for little in our country. That should worry the current administration that came to power with the promise to address the challenge of insecurity.

In a 2013 report titled “Leave Everything to God: Accountability for Inter-Communal Violence in Plateau and Kaduna States, Nigeria”, released by the United States’ Human Rights Watch, the federal government was accused of ignoring every “horrific sectarian violence” even when children and women were victims. The report put much of the blame for the culture of impunity in the country on "an already broken criminal justice system” while “the Nigerian authorities have taken no meaningful steps to address underlying grievances” or bring to justice those responsible for the bloodshed.

What the foregoing says quite clearly is that this culture of impunity persists because the relevant security agencies have allowed free reins to the entrepreneurs of violence who now ply their nefarious trade all over the country, without being challenged. And under the current atmosphere, it is difficult to persuade investors that Nigeria is good for business. After all, no one would want to take his business to a dangerous zone with no guarantee for safety of investment, life and property. That is why we reiterate the call for a total overhaul of our entire security architecture so it can effectively combat the challenge of the moment.

To the extent that the right to life is the ultimate measure of all rights, it should worry President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigeria is gradually descending to the Hobbesian state of nature where life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”.

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (950- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

Buhari and the Abuja Light Rail Project

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he 45km Abuja metro line was inaugurated last week in the Federal Capital City, Abuja. The project which is one of the numerous unfinished projects of the past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is said to have gulped about $842m. The completion of the project is a major feat for the Buhari administration which had promised to complete all abandoned and unfinished

projects of the previous administration as far as they are people oriented.

Mr. President has shown his sagacity as an astute administrator and leader of men and resources who feels for the people. Mr. President and the FCT Minister know that one does not need any special tutorial to understand the suffering of the masses at peak hours to and fro business places. The entire world economy is hinged on transportation.

Little wonder that a hike in transportation would amount to a rise in inflation level. The ease with which one goes to his or her places of work greatly affects productivity.

The FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello has ensured that all payments as agreed with contracting firms were promptly released. Mr. President, not leaving anything to chance, had often paid unsheduled visits to projects site to

ensure that things were done to specifications. I raise my cap for Mr. President who has not played politics with such a collosal amount of tax payers’ money but has ensured that every kobo spent is to the benefit of the people. The honourable minister must be commended for his steadfastness and personal supervision of the project to ensure that the directive of the president on its timely completion is obeyed. This can- do -spirit should be extended to other projects. The Adamawa State-

born politician cum administrator has ensured that he left the FCT better than he met it.

Mention must also be made of the Chinese firm that handled the project. The company has demonstrated responsibility.

China as a country has shown its concern for the development of our country. The Chinese came into the country in their numbers. We shall have no cause to regret their stay in so far as the symbiosis is sustained.

– –Jamila Musa, Abuja

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JULY 15, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

NEWS

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

Turak i: Hunger, Povert y, K illing Legacies of A PC Gov t tNigerians interested in sack of APC, says Wike Gboyega Akinsanmi

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, yesterday decried the alarming rate of hunger and killing across the federation, noting that the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari “is using Nigerian resources to fight the people.”

Likewise, Rivers State Gover-

nor,Mr.NyesomWike,declared that the interest of all Nigerians in2019“istosackthegovernment ofAllProgressivesCongressand elect a PDP federal government that will drive positive change.”

Turaki lashed out at the Buhari administration during a consultative visit to the Rivers State governor in Port-Harcourt, calling all Nigerians irrespective of race and religion to reject the ruling party in 2019.

Turaki, also a former Minister for Special Duties, visited Wike alongside former Minister for National Planning, Dr. Abubakar,Suleiman,formerAdamawa State Governor and Director General of Turaki Campaign Organisation, Mr. Boni Haruna aswellasKebbiStatePDPChairman, Alhaji Haruna Saudi.

During the visit, Turaki lamented the worsening living condition in the country, noting

thattheeconomy“isinshambles.

Investors are no longer coming to Nigeria.

“Even those here are leaving with their investments. The only legacy left by the APC government is hunger, despair, poverty and killings. The APC government is using Nigerian resources to fight the people,” the presidential aspirant said.

He, therefore, presented himselfasanalternativetotheBuhari

administration, noting that he wouldbringhisexperienceinthe public and private sector “to set thenationonthepathofgrowth.

I am that person that is capable of defeating the APC. “I have the experience and exposure to win. I will bring that experience to bear on the administration of this country.

In the thinking of Nigerians, it is only the PDP that can save Nigeria from the malady that

PARLIAMENTARY HANDSHAKE Senate President Bukola Saraki (left), with U.S. Senate President Pro Tempore, Senator Hatch , in his office during a visit by a National Assembly delegation to the U.S.A.. yesterday

they are in,” Turaki explained.

He said that all PDP leaders “must remain resolute and prepared to work with the party to ensurevictoryin2019.Forme,itis notado-or-dieaffair.Itisnotabout me.Itisnotevenaboutourparty.

It is about our country, Nigeria.

“Wehaveagreedamongstthe aspirants that whoever emerges willbesupportedbyalltheother candidates.So,itisnotado-or-die affair,” Turaki said.

He said the Buhari administration was premised on deceit, corruption, discrimination and promotionofactsofdisunity.He saidthenextelectionprovidesthe opportunityforNigerianstovote inacredibleleadership.

Alsoattheforum,Wikedecried the failure of security under the APC Government, noting that it was unfortunate that the APC government “often pays lip service to security, hence the killings nationwide.

“Each time hundreds of innocent Nigerians are killed, the APC government will say that it will bring the killers to book. We do not know where the book is. My interest is for us to have a change of government at the federal level and bring a government of positive change to Nigeria.

“Nigerians are tired of the failure of the APC Government. We are bringing a northerner as our presidential candidate. This time religious and ethnic campaign will not work”.

Wike charged the northern PDP leaders to bring one candidate, who will defeat the APC, notingthattherestofthecountry would support the candidate.

Buhari Leaves Nigeria for Netherlands Today Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has left Nigeria for the Netherlands to participate in the 20th anniversary commemoration of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), at The Hague.

In a statement by his Special AdviseronMedia&Publicity,Mr. Femi Adesina, Buhari is the only world leader invited to deliver a keynote address during the Sol-

emn Hearing commemorating the anniversary at Courtroom 1 of the ICC’s Headquarters at The Hague.

In buttressing Nigeria’s commitment as a member of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC, the statement said the president, as the current anti-corruption championfortheAfricanUnion, wouldusetheglobal platformto reaffirm Nigeria’s support to the fundamentalvaluesoftheRome Statute and the ideals of the ICC.

UNDPtoReintegrateRepentantBokoHaram InsurgentsintotheirCommunities Seriki Adinoyi inJos

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the weekend disclosed that all genuinely repentant Boko Haram insurgents would be reintegrated to their variouscommunities, though some of the communities had been resisting it.

The Country Director of UNDP, Mr. Samuel Bwalya, said this at the first capacitybuilding programme for 1,000 Civilian JTF and vigilantes held at Citizenship and Leadership

Training Centre (CLTC),Josatthe weekend.

Hesaid:“Wehavebeentryingto seehowwecanreintegrategenuinely repentantBokoHaham members intotheircommunitiesbuttherehas beenresistancebysomecommunities.

“As a way forward, UNDP has consulted with the government of the concerned states, especial BornoState.Andtheysaidwemay needtobeginbyfirstreconciling them with the communities by preachingforgivenessfromsocial, religiousandculturalperspectives before reintegration.”

ItaddedthatBuhariwouldalso highlight his administration’s campaign against corruption in Nigeria.

It further said at the event at the courtroom, the president would have a bilateral meeting with the ICC Prosecutor, Ms. Fatou Bensouda According to the statement, Buhari will attend a dinner to be hostedbyJudgeChileEboe-Osuji, the President of the ICC who is a Nigerian.

It added that while in The

Hague, Buhari will meet with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, to discuss bilateral issues such as migration, peace and security, and economic cooperation.

The statement said the president and his delegation “will have a separate roundtable with some Dutch chief executive officers (CEOs) of companies based in Nigeria with a view to urging them to expand their investments, especially in agriculture, oil

and gas in Nigeria.

“Buhari will also tour the Port of Rotterdam and Shell refinery Pernis, Hoogvliet. On the margins of the President’s visit, Nigeria and the Netherlands will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral consultations.

“Buhari’s delegation to the Netherlands will include Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State; Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State; the MinisterofForeignAffairs,Geof-

frey Onyeama; the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

“Others are the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh; the Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar; the Group Managing Director, Nigerian NationalPetroleumCorporation (NNPC),MaikantiBaru;andthe Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman.”

ExxonMobilWorkersProtestDismissalof 860SpyPoliceOfficers

AkinSikuade,SeniorAdvocateof Nigeria,Diesat92

Okon Bassey in Uyo

One of the oldest Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Akin O. Sikuade, is dead. He died on July 8 at the age of 92.

Sikuade, a well-known legal practitioner, is listed as number 36 on the roll of Senior Advocates of Nigeria and was called to the class of Senior Advocates in 1993 alongside Chief Philip Umeadi, Babatunde Benson, A.B.C. Iketuonye and Chief Abayomi Sogbesan - the last two having died

Some staff of Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), an affiliate of ExxonMobil, Qua Iboe Terminal (QIT) in Ibeno Local Government of Akwa Ibom State have weekend protested the decision of the oil giant to dismiss 860 spy police officers without paying their entitlement.

The oil workers staged the protest in Eket on Friday, blocking the Mobil Housing

Estate at Marina road, Eket Local Government of the state and calling for justice.

The protest disrupted activities of the oil company throughout the day as workers were unable to move in and out of the housing estate.

THISDAY learnt that Mobil reportedly disowned some of the workers some years ago after being employed through due process with employment letters properly issued to them.

much earlier.

He was the Principal Partner of Akin O. Sikuade and Company, a leading law firm which provides services to diverse clientele.

Among his children is Mrs. Sally Olayinka Udoma, former General Counsel for Chevron Europe, Eurasia and Middle East and wife of the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma.

T H I S D AY ˾ SUNDAY JULY 15, 2018

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OPINION Leadership Lessons From The World Cup Emmanuel Ojeifo writes that Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, President of Croatia, is a leader to emulate

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his is the first time Croatia is getting to the World Cup final. The last time the country advanced to the World Cup semi-finals was 20 years ago at France 98. Interestingly, Croatia will be meeting France this Sunday at the World Cup final match at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. For the small Eastern European country of 4.2 million people with more than a thousand islands, this is certainly historic. But at the centre of this remarkable World Cup outing is not just the Croatian national football team, which has put up a very impressive performance in all their matches, but also the country’s first female President Kolinda GrabarKitarovic.

Back in 2016, photos allegedly showing Kolinda in bikini on the beach went viral – before they were proven to be false. They were actually snapshots of rapper Ice T’s supermodel wife Coco Austin. The resemblance was uncanny, with one twitter user writing, “Goshhhh Next time make me a Croatian citizen.” Another user asked, “Where is the Croatian embassy?” Whether clad in bikini or not, Kolinda is a stunningly pretty woman. But this is not what makes her eye-catching. It is the halo of simplicity, elegance, and grace that define her comportment.

Ahead of Croatia’s semi-final match with England in Moscow, Kolinda was at Brussels for the NATO summit on Monday.

At the end of the summit, she got British Prime Minister Theresa May to pose for a photo with Croatia’s national team jersey on which May’s name was inscribed before handing her the jersey. Kolinda also posted photos of herself giving Donald Trump his own Croatia national team jersey. There is no record of what Kolinda said to May or Trump, but surely her action speaks volumes about the politics of confidence. Today Sunday, both Trump and May will find out why she gave them her country’s football jersey.

Kolinda came to prominence at the World Cup during the round of 16 match between Croatia and Denmark in Novgorod Stadium on July 1. First she flew economy class with fellow Croatian soccer fans from Zagreb to watch her country play the quarter-finals. During the match, she joined her country’s soccer fans in the stands to sing and dance, while enthusiastically cheering her team, instead of watching from the VIP section.

These acts of simplicity won her many hearts globally. Luckily, Croatia succeeded in knocking out Russia in the quarter-final match to secure a place in the semis. After the game, President Kolinda paid a surprise visit to the Croatian team in the dressing room. Despite the young men being all hot and sweaty, she did not hesitate to give each one of them a congratulatory hug and some encouragement. Her joy and pride in their stunning performance was palpable.

Many netizens have lauded President Kolinda for her passionate support for her country’s soccer team. Her modesty in flying economy class with Croatian fans and taking group selfies has been the talk of the media. It is also arguable that the spectacular performance of her country’s soccer team to the finals of the World Cup is a testament to her good leadership. If the world knew nothing about her before, Russia 2018 has brought her to global prominence and has endeared her to millions of young people all over the world who yearn for the kind of leadership that understands the language of love, simplicity, humanity, goodness, and sensitivity.

Kolinda was born on April 29, 1968 in Rijeka in the Croatian part of Yugoslavia. While at high school, she signed up to a student exchange programme spending a year in New Mexico. She later studied in Vienna, Washington DC, and Harvard before complet-

Kolinda confirms to me that good leadership is not rocket science but about simple gestures of putting the welfare of the people above the selfish interests of the leaders

ing her doctoral studies three years ago in her country. She was elected on January 11, 2015 as Croatia’s first female president at the age of 46. A mum of two, she is also multilingual and can speak English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. Prior to her election into office, she served as minister of European integration at age 33, foreign minister at 35, and Croatia’s ambassador to Washington at 40. When she was elected in 2015, Croatia had a weak economy with nearly 20 per cent unemployment rate and, even more worryingly, a 41.5 per cent youth unemployment rate, but she has made substantial effort to lower the figures.

It is true that it is not always that an educated person makes a good leader. Yet it is impossible to discount the role of good education in shaping and moulding leaders. Kolinda is a good example of a woman who combines an impressive educational résumé with people-centred leadership. She confirms to me once again that good leadership is not rocket science but about simple gestures of putting the welfare of the people above the selfish interests of the leaders. In his 1983 monograph The Trouble with Nigeria, in which he identifies bad leadership as Nigeria’s albatross, Chinua Achebe points out that, “leaders are, in the language of psychologists, role models. People look up to them and copy their actions, behaviour and even mannerisms.” In effect, if a leader shows bad example, the effect will spread automatically down to his followers.

In our own society awash with many who think that leadership is about flamboyance, extravagance, and highhandedness, Kolinda shows that simple gestures, such as choosing to fly economy class instead of first class and sitting with fellow country people in the stadium stands instead of the VIP section, matter! This is what humane leadership is about: putting smiles and not tears on the faces of citizens. I wish the Croatian team a successful World Cup final. I pray that they win. But even if they don’t, they have won the affection of many on account of their tenacity and sense of purpose, but, more important, because of the kind of badass president that they have. I hope that aspiring leaders in Nigeria can learn a thing or two from her.

––Ojeifo is a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja.

A Patriot’s Mesmerising Ripples Kehinde Kadiri, executive director of The Grassroots Aid Initiative, is making a difference in many people’s lives, writes Idowu Omisore

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have been privileged to travel to a couple of countries, some in real life and others in my dreams. Out of the 195 countries in the world today, I doubt if there is another country, aside from Nigeria, whose government and citizens urgently need to arise to do things differently.

This piece is not about the sad appraisal we received about the country as having the highest number of the poorest people in the world, displacing India, as recently reported by Brookings Institution. Who doesn’t know the implication of this disturbingly ridiculous statistics? How can a very rich country have very poor citizens? I’ve always felt that Nigeria is more of a conundrum than a country.

No thanks to the enormous scale of corruption! Corruption and its egregious effects are ubiquitous. Being the world’s most populous black nation, we have our peculiar share of problems just like every other country. Patriotism is at its lowest ebb, frighteningly among the youths who should be the ones fervently seeking to change the narrative. The highly skilled amongst them are seeking to travel overseas for opportunities they believe are nonexistent here. Who then will build this nation? For the most part, those at the helm of affairs are too focused on how they will elongate their stay in office at the expense of improving the quality of life of the electorate.

When it comes to nation-building, this writer does not believe the ‘government’ alone should be blamed.

Citizens, individually, have a role to play to resolve our teeming problems. True patriots are scarce, as such; it is always refreshing when one comes across one especially amongst the young. Patriots hardly give up on their country and constantly look for ways to make a difference and solve problems instead of just complaining. Such a one is Kehinde Khadijat Kadiri (KKK), the Executive Director of The Grassroots Aid Initiative (TGAI), a nongovernmental organisation that has been touching lives, reducing poverty and putting smiles on the faces of people at the grassroots. I’ve known KKK for about 16 years now. We met at the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos and got on very well. What I didn’t know about her is her deep resolve to ferociously tackle poverty at the grassroots and increase their living standards.

After her postgraduate education in Ghana and Malaysia, she came back to the country and made contributions in

the academia. Aside from teaching, KKK began to instil patriotism in her students who presently form the bulk of her team. She carefully blended her photography skills with her humanitarian pursuits, taking shots and posting on social media platforms, pictures of scenes and situations begging for attention in rural areas. Her team’s posts and advocacy messages have been attracting funds locally and internationally for its interventions. TGAI Team has been engaged in projects that touch the lives of people in rural areas. It is noteworthy that women have benefited greatly from the NGO’s outreaches. It started off with a malaria sensitisation programme and the complete renovation of an elderly woman’s dilapidated house in Ago-Oja village, Kwara State. I picked interest in the transformation she and her team brought to bear. ‘Mama Ikirun’ was over the moon when her refurbished house was handed over to her.

In October 2017, TGAI Team successfully executed #buildingdreams project. Scholarships were presented to indigent pupils in Moro Local Government. The scholarship covered school fees, school uniforms, school bags, socks, exercise books, pencils, erasers, rulers, mathematical sets, sharpeners, crayons, textbooks, etc. The peak of the scholarship drive was the lifetime scholarship given to a set of twins (Habeebah and Habeeb). Last year December, the life-changing team made the yuletide memorable for the widows and children in Ara Village, Kwara State. Items and edibles shared to about 500 people under the #100widowsandkids project include yam tubers, bags of rice, packs of sugar, cartons of tomato puree, packs of sphagetti, cartons of groundnut oil, bathing soaps, bags of semovita, washing soaps, bags of garri, bags of salt, cartons of noodles, packs of kiddies’ drinks, bags of clothes, exercise books and other donated items.

Upon discovering that Asileke Village, in Oyo State in the southwestern part of the country, had no clean and safe source of water, TGAI started posting pictures of the plight of the people. Funds poured in, although it took a while, and today, a water borehole system has been provided for the community. TGAI Team was recently at the Jalala Junior Secondary School, within the

precincts of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), with a parade of seasoned speakers on drug abuse. At the event, scholarships were given to 12 students. Aside from the laudable projects, the high level of accountability demonstrated by KKK is worth emulating.

I know all these efforts might look less phenomenal to someone out there particularly because KKK and her team have not yet made an impact nationally or won award(s) from an international body. What matters more for this writer is that we have still young Nigerians who have not given up on their country and who are striving to make a difference wherever they find themselves. Equally important is the need to encourage these young patriots to do more and that is what this piece is all about.

KKK may not yet be in the transcendent class of Mother Theresa, Mary Slessor and many other men and women that have transformed the world through humanitarian activities, but she undeniably possesses the same traits with them. Like Martin Luther King, she has a dream…that one day the young and old at the grassroots will rise above poverty, having access to necessities: food, water, housing, education, health facilities and opportunities to reach their full potential.

The Grassroots Aid Initiative (TGAI), formerly known as The Healthbuilders Initiative, is ever committed to the holistic development of people in the rural areas.

Bottom-line: each of us can make a difference. We can bring down the level of poverty. We can help the needy within our space. Even with the little resources you have, you can still take out something for charity.

Poverty has deadly offspring notably, hunger, avoidable deaths, crime, terrorism and colossal waste of human potential. The government needs to rethink its poverty alleviation strategies and maximise the huge resources it has been entrusted with. The elections are around the corner, another time for all Nigerians within the voting age to either reinforce the status quo or bring in new leaders they can trust. With all the human and mineral resources we have been endowed with as a nation, Nigeria and poverty ought to be like two parallel lines that should never meet.

––Omisore wrote from Lagos

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 15, 2018

LETTERS

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POLICE: BEATING US BLACK AND BLUE

t is both dismal and ironic that the institutions set up to serve and protect citizens in Nigeria in fact victimise them, leaving them at the mercy of gun butts and bullets, the heels of shoes and batons. In 1820, the Nigerian Police Force was founded, making it the oldest para-military organisation in the country. Yet in its almost two centuries of existence, it has learnt nothing new, it has instead grown worse and evolved to be the bane of the Nigerian society, the barbarian Rottweiler employed by every Tom, Dick and Harry who can afford some change.

The Nigeria Police has grown to be a resident evil growing on the skin of the country like mold. Over and again, they have attempted cosmetic reforms like changing the colour of their uniforms, but of course none of these things have even nearly worked because the rot in the police is endemic and runs through the chain of authority, up and down the rungs of its rank and file and pervades even the higher echelons of its leadership.

As though we were not riddled enough with the inhumane conduct of these gun-totting, trigger-happy fellows,

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IG Ibrahim Idris

the Special Anti-Robbery Squad was established in 1992 to operate primarily in Lagos. Fast-forward some 15 years later, and it began to spread to other parts of the country, and play the role of armed robber, kidnapper and assaulter, all in one. The Nigeria Police of today, to attempt a little euphemism, is a big disgrace to the people it has been called to serve. The motto of the force is ‘Police is your friend’

and their popular slogan is ‘To serve and protect with integrity’, both of which speak volumes to the irony of what they currently represent. First of all, the Nigeria Police is the friend of no one and to no one.

They stand by and watch crime happen, demand money to do their job, and instead of doing their jobs, go ahead to assault, brutalise, beat and kill well-meaning citizens. The recent case of

a corps member shot dead by a policeman in Abuja just reminds us of how no one is safe around the police.

The internet is agog with personal stories of people who have been brutalised, dragged on the floor, headbutted, beaten and killed by policemen, rounded up and taken to cells just to extort some money from the unsuspecting victims in the form of bail. Police have now become a go-to in civil matters that have nothing to do with them.

People are locked up for unimaginable things like ‘walking in the night’ or just bundled into a van at the police’s whims and caprices.

In any society, this is unacceptable, how much more in a 21st century society in Africa’s biggest black nation. Word on the street is unmistakable- the Nigeria Police has no regard among the common man; whatever respect and dignity it perhaps had before is gone, lost to the undignifying and rash behaviour they have continued to exhibit over time.

It is even more troubling that each time things like these happen, there is that usual diplomatic, modified, press statement from its leadership, promise of investigation, perhaps

Plateau`s Patchwork of Pain

lateau State, a land of intricately beautiful hills, picturesque plateaus, storied farming and boundless hospitality is perilously perched on a bloody precipice whose ragged edges are awash in the impaled bodies of its own people who have been on the receiving end of crimes by Fulani herdsmen. The irony for the home of peace and tourism state is as staggering as the silence of security forces is deafening. In gleeful tow, a peace of the graveyard gradually grinds its way to a grotesque generational crisis.

It was at mark of this millennium that a senseless religious crisis first shattered the serenity of Jos, its state capital, known for its sensational weather. Before then, there were negligible eruptions of violence around the state. After the Jos crisis, there was a relative return to normalcy.

However, killers prowling the state and launching episodic attacks have more than ensured that complete normalcy remains a distant dream. Pockets of violence continue to shred the image of the state as a haven of peace and tourism.

As defiant as they are, the very good and hospitable people of Plateau State have always managed to somehow pick up their lives. In always managing this big feat, they have become a puzzle that savage killers, unable to decipher, have re-

sorted to hacking into pieces .Thus, on the night of June 23, 2018, while men, women and children slept, they struck again. The cowards took the cover of night because they lacked the courage to face children whose little bodies they savaged on that desperately in dark night. These latest abominable crimes have left the long-suffering people of Plateau State with another patchwork of pain.

Nigeria also faces painful questions over the viability of the acutely fragile contraption of convenience and circumstances that it is.

In many ways, Plateau State has become a victim of nature`s beneficence and the tireless hospitality of its people. Blessed with an alluring weather, fertile lands and rolling hills, it has always attracted people of all ilk, eager to savour nature`s bounty. Farmers, including farmers of cattle, eager for better food have always found the state accommodating and hospitable. It is thus not hugely surprising that it is cattle and their rearers, insufferable beneficiaries of Plateau`s hospitality, that have become battlefields.

The battle is so bloody that Nigeria must now openly confront those who seek to exploit an enterprise of innocent animals in their desire to commandeer the lands and livelihoods of others and hasten the disintegration of Nigeria.

Emboldened by an unspoken sympathy and

even outright denial from quarters that ordinarily should be roaring with condemnation and disapproval of the carnage, Fulani herdsmen have run wild.

Marauding through defenceless communities in Benue, Nasarawa, Kaduna Taraba, Plateau, Edo, Kogi , Enugu, Cross River, Delta States, they have killed, maimed and raped in their desperation to eviscerate entire communities and leave more spaces for their insatiable cattle. The effects on Nigeria have been harrowing. It is the perfect scenario for those whose ultimately ulterior motive is the gradual end of Nigeria as it is presently constituted.

Since a painful descent into a calamitous civil war at the infancy of its nationhood, Nigeria has never been the same. Ethnic suspicion and patriotism have been passed like genes from one generation to another. The result has been a national stagnation which pays ugly tribute to what division can do. To say that the current killings only add fuel to the suspicion and division is to put it mildly.

It mocks even those who continue to call for Nigeria`s unity.

Comments and actions from some government officials have not helped to bandage wounds and douse tension. From promoting the extraordinary injustice of grazing reserves to making light work of security complaints, they have in more ways than they care to

reckon contributed to these continued killings.

Many have come to rue the colonial amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates into one Nigeria in 1914 as the moment when the hotbed for this clash of identity and unity was spread. Perhaps, for a country of such remarkable diversity, Lord Lugard should have done more introspection. He did not and he is now faded into a distasteful colonial history.

But Nigeria is still here, and in spite of the many wedges driven between Nigerians by the sowers of disintegration and chaos, we must find a way to band together, work together and fight back.

Crucially, we must provide a space within which everyone will live and thrive in spite of ethnic, religious or political affiliations. There must exist a space where everyone feels his life is just as important and valuable as the life of the man in Aso Rock. Unfortunately, Fulani herdsmen have sworn this will never happen.

These continued killings that systematically move across a select number of states does great disservice to the Nigerian project of unity in diversity. It is why absolutely everything must be done to stop the killings.

The perpetrators must be brought to book. Their victims deserve a measure of justice.

––Kene Obiezu, Abuja.

suspension, and then, it all fizzles out. Nothing is heard or done, until the next incident happens, and the all-too familiar statement is pulled out of a shelf in the police headquarters, dusted, modified and republished, a laughable game of musical chairs played at the expense of the ordinary man in the Nigerian society.

Only few days ago, the story –and video- of police brutality of a young lawyer went viral. The police, as usual, were called out, like the rabid untamed Chihuahua, to do the bidding of someone who could afford to ‘mobilise’ them. They swung swiftly into action to assault a fellow Nigeria; not a criminal (who in any case does not even deserve to be assaulted that way), not a terrorist, just a young lawyer trying to make ends meet.

Yet, these so-called ‘servers and protectors with integrity’ breached every possible human right that could be thought of. This is not the first of such incidents, and it is even more frightening that the assault is now readily carried out against gentlemen of the bar. If lawyers in the society cannot even be assured against these hoodlums called the police, where then lies the fate of the ordinary man in society who does not know the law or his rights?

The Good Book chides somewhere in Proverbs that whoever breaks a hedge gives room for a snake to bite him. In the same vein too, certain lawyers have broken

the hedge of the profession, by continuing to use the police to carry out unconstitutional acts for their clients or in prosecuting civil actions.

This is highly condemnable, and must be addressed by the Nigerian Bar Association. Frankly, I do not think the NBA is doing enough. If lawyers are to be bastions of society, defending against oppression dressed in black and blue, amongst others, then the seeming docility of the NBA in the face of this rising brutality is worrying.

While the NBA is seeking how to reduce the number of students admitted to the law school on the basis of their grades, and holding longdrawn meetings on religious piety and dress codes for call to bar, the society is degenerating, people’s rights are being tossed and trampled, and the power of redress is leaving the courts and landing in the hands of the police, even at the instance of lawyers. What then do we stand for as an association?

I daresay, a brave bar is one that has enough guts to challenge human rights abuses and see it to the end, not this one we see.

To the Nigeria Police Force, this brutality must stop.

This barbaric hooliganism draped in black and blue must be put to an end. This is a clarion call up and down the rungs of authority in the police to act to end this menace, institute reforms and prevent impending anarchy.

––Caleb Adebayo, Lagos.

Lalong And The Overrun Communities

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here was absolutely no need for a man to lead a train of “Plateau Elders” on a crass orchestrated charade to Aso Rock after the wanton killings in Plateau State to, apparently condole President Muhammadu Buhari and to show him support in the face of the barrage of criticisms he is facing regarding his unwillingness to end the carnage in Plateau State and elsewhere.

Yes, Governor Simon Lalong’s mission was to say “sorry” to Buhari and urge him to be strong.

Or, how does one explain the fact that the governor who should be in his state mourning the loss of about 54 communities and hundreds of souls killed by Fulani herdsmen was all dressed up, chubby-looking and all, and away he went to Aso Rock with a party of yes-men and kneelingwailing-women in tow?

Whatever the assurances Lalong gave Buhari was ammunition in the quiverof-denial that the Buhari camp is now brandishing to the effect that “opposition politicians” are responsible

for the mayhem at Plateau State.

Well, this position does not surprise me because I know that the Buhari camp always resort to the philosophy of taqiyya-halal when confronted with reality.

Recall that taqiyya-halal is that sleight of purposeful denial and twisting of the truth when one is confronted with reality check.

Thank God, this is exactly the opposite of what Christianity preaches because the Bible says the truth shall set mankind free.

Now, then, why should the Buhari camp resort to taqiyya-halal and blame “opposition politicians” when the Miyetti Allah groups have claimed responsibility for the recent killings in Plateau State? If Governor Lalong was serious about his responsibilities as the chief executive and the chief security officer of Plateau State he would take President Buhari to task about the bloodletting in Plateau State.

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

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INTERNATIONAL General Muhammadu Buhari and President MuhammaduBuhari:MisgoverningorMisperception?

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he person ofAlhaji Muhammadu Buhari as a soldier, or as a Major General and Head of State of Nigeria, on the one hand, and the person of Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari as a soldier militician, soldiering in politics, but also as an elected President of Nigeria, on the other hand, can be quite interesting for many reasons. First, it is the same individual operating in different spheres of life. The operational spheres of life keep changing but his attitudinal disposition to them does not appear to have changed.

Secondly, the operational environment of political governance has remained essentially the same.At the level of the behaviour of Nigerians, there is no change. Nigerians fight themselves at home but defend themselves outside of Nigeria. Nigerians are, generally speaking, the biblical Good Samaritans but they are more of observers when some people break the law. They prefer to run away from trouble, rather than confronting the challenge frontally.

For example, it can be rightly argued that Lagos State is a visible State of transportation lawless where social recklessness is condoned by government agents who actually are required to contain same. Let anyone who wants to disagree with this point go to Ikorodu Road any day or to Sabo Police junction in Yaba to see the acts of reckless abuse of the traffic law.

On Ikorodu road, the reserved lanes for BRT buses are always used by unauthorised commercial buses (Danfo) whenever there are serious bottlenecks. The non-authorised commercial vehicles consciously ply the reserved lanes for two reasons. Many of the buses belong to law enforcement agents, who, in the event of attachment of their buses can be quickly let them off the hook. The other reason is that, at the end of the day, it is a matter of ‘settlement’ the Nigerian way with the security and traffic officials. Openly, government agents collect bribes from commercial vehicle drivers. This is an expression of sharp corruption which everyone condones.

As a matter of fact, one day, I decided to take one very rickety danfo bus from Total Petrol station, Ojota to Yaba bus stop in Lagos in order to carry out research on why danfo drivers have little respect for policemen and road safety officers. I sat behind the driver to enable me monitor the modalities of bribery and corruption, especially how the driver would want to settle public officials in the event he was caught.

And true, the driver had ill-luck, he was stopped, but to no avail.

Unlike the scientific style of commercial vehicle drivers on inter-city expressways who, when asked by the road safety officials or by police, will bring out the particulars but also put some money inside the particulars for the agent, the method of bribe giving in Lagos is openly done. It is scientific, because the policemen and the road safety officials give the impression that they are examining the particulars, whereas, the truth is that they are more concerned with the money. Besides, arrested drivers are always asked to come out and taken to the back of their vehicles to make it difficult for onlookers to see what is going on.

When I complained to the driver and was also trying to challenge the Road Safety official, the other passengers with me in the bus were the very first to say ‘please, we are in a hurry.’ One passenger even told another passenger that I must have just arrived the country and should not be blamed.At the end of the day, with an ordinary hand shake, money was exchanged and the driver continue with his act of illegality on the reserved lane.

Apart from corruption and societal indiscipline, there is also the question of insecurity: from threats to national unity and territorial integrity to Fulani herdsmen saga, and from boko haramism to daylight kidnapping, etc. This situation has not only been raising many questions on the seriousness of the war on corruption and integrity of the President, particularly in light of the recidivist insecurity in the country. This is why it has become a desideratum to investigateAlhaji Buhari as two personalities in one.

To begin with, it can be rightly posited that President Muhammadu Buhari is a victim of societal indiscipline to which he cannot claim not to have contributed by way of omission or commission.

Right from 1967 when corruption and indiscipline were first identified by the Professor J.S. Cookey Political Bureau as the bane of Nigerian society, nothing has been concretely done to prevent its deepening. PMB has been in different positions of authorities in the period.

Corruption has been allowed to degenerate into its institutionalisation. Those who are precisely put in positions to contain it are

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

the vendor still expects that the buyers should come to beg before the vendor can begin to meet his own obligations, cannot but be an aberration. This is one main dynamic of official corruption and indiscipline in Nigeria.

Additionally, Government hardly responds to official complaints.Attention of the Ministry of ForeignAffairs was not only drawn, but that of the whole administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, was drawn to cases of serious misconduct by some members of staff of the Nigerian Institute of InternationalAffairs (NIIA). The response of Government was official silence. The Governing Council of the NIIAcompletely bastardised the intellectual values of the Institute in a manu militari fashion.Attention was always drawn to it but the answer was one sided-investigation, which, at best, was partisan. This is also why national unity and security has been a major problem that has become so complex to the extent that people are discussing the need for restructuring and calls for the establishment of a Sovereign State of Biafra. This is why there are calls by some militant groups for their right to control the resources in their areas.

Without any shadow of doubt, this is the domestic environment in which PMB has to preside over the Nigerian affairs. It is also within this framework that the integrity of PMB is being raised and that PMB as a Military Head of State and as an elected President of Nigeria has to be investigated.

BuhariasMilitaryHeadofState

Buhari

again precisely the people promoting and aiding corruption and indiscipline. This is why the Government of Nigeria has been more of a problem than a solution to the multidimensional problems of the people of Nigeria. The Government is not only corrupt but actually engages in sharp practices more than the people it governed.

For instance, let us repeat for the umpteenth time, that, inApril 1994, the Federal Government of Nigeria (preciselyAlhaji Lateef Jakande, then Minister of Works and Housing) advertised the building of low income, medium and high-level houses. The buildings were to be completed and allocated in December 1994.

As at this time of writing, no building has been constructed, not to mention allocation of houses to the subscribers. I am one of the subscribers.And true enough again, no refund has been made and no one is talking about it. Where is the justice or fairness in this case. This is one major factor that explains in part the non-patriotic attitude of many Nigerians.

It is not just the Federal Government that is guilty, State governments also share in the guilt. The land approved for allocation and duly paid for, under the military administration of BrigadierGeneral Buba Marwa in Lagos State. The Isheri North Land/ Housing Scheme for which I similarly paid in 1996, is yet to be actually allocated in 2018. In the FCT, Houses, flats, mansions were sold under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005 to public servants occupying them on the basis of the 2004 policy of monetisation. I bought a flat but the relevant papers of ownership are yet to be given in 2018. Why? One needs to engage in an act of corruption to get public officials to act?

The main truth is that the government, its agencies do not think that they have the responsibility or owe it a duty to respect its contractual obligations. One does not need to lobby for what one is entitled to. If one pays for the purchase of land or for a house and

The current international perception of PMB is that he has a double standard approach to the fight against corruption. If PMB is still to be adjudged as a true anti-corruption fighter, the fight must not be selective and limited. How the Ike Nwachukwu-led Governing Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs laid the foundation for the permanent destruction of the NIIA must be investigated and not done secretly.Today, the NIIA has become a shadow of itself, mainly because Government accepted to cover up allegations of serious misconduct there, and yet, it is also preaching the gospel of anti-corruption.Who will listen faithfully to that type of sermon? Most unfortunate.This is killing Nigeria softly

Unlike other Heads of State who came to power by coup d’état, General Buhari did not stay for long before the Ibrahim Babangida coup chased him out. General Buhari ousted the elected government ofAlhaji Shehu Shagari in December 1983. One reason for the coup was corruption and the need to stop it.And true, General Buhari came up with the policy of WAI (WarAgainst Indiscipline) in March 1984. The war was meant to instil orderliness in the society, especially in terms of public behaviour.

The WAI had five phases. The first phase was to entrench good behaviour. People must line up to board public buses. It was to control indolence and encourage good home training. It was an offence to jump the queue. Throwing any dirt on the street and not in the dust bin was an offence. Self-discipline was underscored. Civil and public servants were prevented from turning their offices into commercial shops and market. Going to office late was not allowed.

It was an offence that was promptly sanctioned.

The second phase of WAI was the promotion of dint of hard work in May 1984. In fact, inAugust, 1984, campaigns for patriotism and nationalism were launched for the purposes of national unity. Statism and tribalism were campaigned against and Nigerians were encouraged to appreciate, salute national symbols and work harder. The third and fourth phases were more critical. They were the period of patriotism and war against economic sabotage and corruption. Nigerians were encouraged to recite the National Anthem and the National Pledge. In July 1985, the fifth phase was launched. It was the war against filth at home and in the public. This is what is generally referred to as Environmental Sanitation.

Perhaps more interestingly, Buhari carried his WAI to the doorsteps of the European partners of Nigeria. The sanctions for infractions were very serious and considered by the West as either too heavy for offences considered minor. For instance, cheating by students during examination can warrant a 21-year jail term while counterfeiting, illegal oil bunkering, arson could also warrant death penalty.

Additionally, General Buhari made efforts to prevent the exploitation of Nigeria by foreigners in different ways. He introduced trade by barter, giving crude oil in exchange for imports. His general attitudinal disposition led to his perception as a nationalist, as a patriot, as a man of integrity. But many aspects of his policy, especially in the context of foreign policy, infuriated the developed partners. In fact, July 1985, General Ibrahim Babangida’s coup removed Buhari from power, reportedly to escape possible draconian prosecution by the government.

Major-General Buhari was ruling by decree. There was no parliamentary impediment that could delay or stop whatever he wanted to do. Public opposition was not tolerated. The most critical resultant problem from whatever General Buhari was doing was that he was not seen to be the very person in effective control of political governance. Some observers pointed to Major General Tunde Idiagbon, his number two man, as the main driver of governance.

Put differently, if we do admit the hypothesis that, as Military Head of State, Major- General Buhari was not fully in charge, then we must also admit that all problems arising there from should not be left for him to carry as a blame.Although as leader, he assumes full responsibility for the omissions and errors of his cabinet members and all the Ministries, Departments andAgencies. What is necessary to note for the purposes of comparisons under his presidency as an elected president is the fact that General Buhari ruled by decree, his administration was very dictatorial in design, but patriotic in objective, and quite result-oriented in outcome, as most Nigerians had already been adapting to the WAI-imposed lifestyle.All the values of that time are no more today in Nigeria and we can now ask whether the Muhammadu Buhari of yesterday is still the same Muhammadu of today.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY15, 2018

BUSINESS

Editor Kunle Aderinokun 08033204315, 08111813084 Email: kunle. aderinokun @thisdaylive.com

LAST WEEK AfDB

The African Development Bank (AfDB) pledged to work with multilateral institutions and private sector operators to assist Nigeria bridge the infrastructure gap in the country.

Nigeria’s cumulative infrastructure financing needs estimated at about $100 billion annually are projected to reach $3 trillion by 2044. The Senior Director, AfDB Nigeria, Ebrima Faal, said during theAfrica Investment Forum (AIF) Roadshow in Abuja. The bank would help the country develop investment-ready projects for investors, fund managers and others. The roadshow is a fore-runner to theAfrica InvestmentForumthebankisplanning for November 7 to 9 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

NUPENG

Barrels of Oil

OPEC Production Hits 4-month High of 31.87 mb/d Non-OPEC output to expand by 2mb/d in 2018 Kunle Aderinokun Occasioned by increased global oil supply of 370,000 barrel per day (mb/d) in June, due mainly to higher outputs from Saudi Arabia and Russia, OPEC crude production hit a four-month high of 31.87 mb/d, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said.

OPEC is a 14-country oil cartel, which includes Nigeria.

The IEA, which revealed this in its Oil Market Report (OMR) for July, obtained by THISDAY, noted that a surge from Saudi Arabia, (which along with Russia were parties to the Vienna Agreement that decided to achieve 100 per cent compliance), offset losses in Angola, Libya, and Venezuela.

Besides, the July OMR published by the IEA also projected that Non-OPEC output was set to expand by 2 mb/d this year and by 1.8 mb/d in 2019 led by the United States. It however added there are currently temporary disruptions in Canada, Brazil, Kazakhstan and the North Sea. The IEA stated that demand got off to a strong start this year with global 1Q18 growth at over 2 mb/d, helped by cold weather in the northern hemisphere.

“Recent data, however, pointed to a slowdown, with rising prices a factor,” it added. According to the OMR, in 2Q18, growth slowed

to 0.9 mb/d. In 1H18, growth averaged 1.5 mb/d, falling to 1.3 mb/d in the second half of the year.

Projecting forward, the IEA forecasted that, “In 1H19, the comparison with a strong 1H18 will see growth of close to 1.2 mb/d, accelerating to 1.6 mb/d in the second half. We expect growth of 1.4 mb/d in world oil demand in both 2018 and 2019, unchanged from last month’s report.”

As for the OECD commercial stocks, the report said it rose 13.9 mb in May to 2 840 mb, only the third monthly increase since July 2017. “However, stocks gained only half as much as normal. At end-month, OECD inventories were 23 mb below the five-year average. Preliminary data show stocks falling in June.”

Pointing out that, crude oil prices fell in June, the IEA, however, added that, “since the Vienna Agreement meetings, values for ICE Brent and NYMEX WTI have increased by 7 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively, on news of supply disruptions.”

“In product markets, increased refinery output and signs of slowing demand put pressure on gasoline, diesel and jet fuel cracks.”

The IEA also predicted in the July OMR that, “Global refining

throughput will grow by 2 mb/d from 2Q18 to 3Q18, with more than half of the increase in the Atlantic Basin.

“Runs are forecast to reach 82.8 mb/d, 0.7 mb/d higher than the previous record level in 4Q17. This could result in large crude stock draws, exceeding 1.4 mb/d. Refined product stocks will seasonally increase by 0.6 mb/d.”

Meanwhile, the IEA noted that, since its last report, OPEC oil ministers and 10 non-OPEC oil ministers had met and agreed to achieve 100 per cent compliance with the Vienna Agreement (i.e. they will increase production).

“What this means in terms of volume and timing remains to be seen as the official communiqué contained little detail, but there are already indications from leading producers, particularly Saudi Arabia, its Gulf allies, and Russia, that production is climbing and may reach record levels.”

Such determination to ensure the steady supply of oil to world markets in the face of multiple challenges to stability, according to the agency, is very welcome.

The IEA explained that the prospect of higher supply might be thought to have sent oil prices down, but in fact WTI prices have risen close to levels not seen since November 2014 and Brent prices

have recently made a renewed attempt to reach $80/bbl. “Higher prices are prolonging the fears of consumers everywhere that their economies will be damaged. In turn, this could have a marked impact on oil demand growth.”

According to the agency, that prices have remained relatively high reflects various supply concerns, some of which will be with us for some time to come, e.g. Iran and Venezuela, and others that are probably shorter term. The clearly expressed determination of the United States to reduce Iran’s exports by as much as possible suggests that shipments could be reduced by significantly more than the 1.2 mb/d seen in the previous round of sanctions.

“In June, Iran’s crude exports fell back by about 230 kb/d, albeit from a relatively high level in May, as European purchases dropped by nearly 50 per cent.

Most of Iran’s oil goes to Asia, however, with China and India currently taking over 600 kb/d each,” it pointed out.

The IEA reasoned that, “When you also consider that both China and India are exposed to Venezuela, importing respectively 250 kb/d and 325 kb/d, it is clear that the world’s second and third-biggest oil consumers could face major challenges in sourcing alternative compatible barrels.”

The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) suspended its 21 days ultimatum issued to employers in the Oil and Gas sector of the country.

The National President of NUPENG, Williams Aporeha, said this when he addressed journalists in Abuja.

NUPENG had on June 2, 2018 issued a 21-day ultimatum over some crucial and critical issues affecting the union and its members across the nation. The issues include: failure of National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to fully implement the Collective Bargaining Agreement signed with the Petroleum Tankers Branch of the Union since 2016. Others are Service Level Agreement (SLA) reachedbetweentheNigerianContent Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB)andtheOilProducersTrade Section (OPTS) on contract cycle in the oil and gas industry.

NLNG

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) Wednesday is shopping for $7 billion from the global financial markets to expand its operations and increase its production capacity from 22 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 30 MTPA. The company also said it had fully paid without default the $5.45 billion taken from its shareholders to build its six existing LNG trains. The company’s expansion loan search report was preceded Wednesday by a pat on the back by President Muhammadu Buhari for it and its collaborators, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Shell, Total and the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, for signing a deal in London to ensure the attainment of the 30 MTPA output.

Crude Oil

Crude oil prices rose by over one per cent towards $79 per barrel Tuesday due to growing supply outages, as Libyan production reduced by more than a half, while Norway shut down one oilfield following an industrial actionbyhundredsofworkers.Thiscame as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which had been on a long streak of business losses, finally recorded a trading surplus worth N11.72 billion, according to the corporation’s monthly operations and financial report.

Capital Budget

Moody’s Investors Services Limited, one of the leading global rating agencies, has stated that the capital expenditure portion of the 2018 budget is unrealisable.Moody’sSeniorAnalytical Advisor forAfrica and the institution’s leading analyst for the region,Aurélien Mali, said this in a chat with THISDAY andpointedoutthatatmost,onlyabout 50 per cent of the capital expenditure could be implemented.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY15, 2018

BUSINESS/ENERGY

Again, Putting Discos under Pressure to Perform The federal government has read the riot act to electricity distribution companies (Discos), which are the operators of its power network, to shape up or ship out. Essentially, the government has impressed it upon the Discos to improve their operations and services, or relinquish them perhaps, to resourceful operators. Chineme Okafor reports

C

iting sections of the country’s electricity law, the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 (EPSRA), Nigeria’s federal government last Monday asked the 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos) operating in its electricity market to buckle down or leave the business of power distribution to people who are willing to compete and uphold their obligations in the sector.

The government through the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, suggested the Discos have failed to live up to expectations in the industry. It said the authority would not sit back and allow them to hold Nigeria hostage with their poor performance.

Putting its words into action, Fashola asked the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to immediately step up its enforcement of the contracts of service of the Discos with regards to supply of meters, upgrade of their distribution networks and promotion of competitive market efficiency.

Fashola, who cannot be said to have a rosy relationship with the Discos, as both have had instances of disagreements on operational principles though, told journalists at a briefing in Abuja, that the government was keen on getting the Discos to do their jobs of distributing electricity with minimal troubles and complaints to Nigerians.

He complained that the government had conceded a lot of grounds for the Discos, but the Discos have not reciprocated. Even though the Discos frequently complain about their use of non-economical tariffs in service of their customers, Fashola, stated that they hardly paid back equitable amount for the power sold to them by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET).

Fashola, also stated that the financial remittances of the Discos have been very poor, adding that at the moment, they owed the NBET a whooping N500 billion as debt for electricity sold to them by the NBET. “It must be obvious to the ordinary person that the supply of power is now a private business in the hands of private operators and in the final end, in the hands of the Discos.

“But because of the critical and sensitive nature of power supply, government has not left the supply solely. Government at federal, state and local government, as well as former employees of PHCN hold 40 per cent of the shares in the Discos.

“In addition, government is responsible for regulating the behaviour and compliance through the NERC which is like what the Central Bank is to the banking sector,” said Fashola.

Directive Suggesting the government wanted the Discos to realise and take up their jobs or better still declare their inability to do so, Fashola, noted the Discos’ previous complaints of inadequate electricity to distribute was no longer the case.

Rather, he pointed out, it was their inability to distribute around 2000 megawatts (MW) that have remained shut in and not produced by the generation companies (Gencos) mostly on account of poor distribution facilities.

According to him: “The law does not make it mandatory for any Nigerian to receive power from the Disco or to use only public power; that is why it is not an offence for Nigerians to buy generators, inverters or solar systems, which are of course more expensive than the power, which NBET buys from the Gencos to vest to the Discos to distribute to customers.

“It is the Discos who are service providers that you should turn to when you have questions about transformer collapse and metering.

“As it is now obvious, from 2016 when the Discos complained about lack of power to distribute, the

An electricity distribution installation

problem today is that the Discos cannot distribute all of the power that is available, leaving the sector with an unused capacity of 2000 megawatts approximately.”

Although, he acknowledged the Discos alone could not be blamed for the failure of the sector, he however suggested theirs were pretty obvious and most impactful.

“This is not a time to trade blame because there is enough blame to go round, for me, it is a time to reiterate everybody’s responsibilities and urge us to brace up to do what we are obliged to do, which is to serve the people.

“In the face of this picture, where we have power to sell, with more to come, the number of complaints coming to government for meters, which the Discos should supply, and for estimated billings, and mass disconnections when not everybody is owing cannot continue.

“Government must act and will do so. The Discos bought these assets with their eyes opened, and they must compete to deliver or exit,” Fashola insisted.

Distribution Licence Because the Discos have been unable to reportedly get electricity even to connected customers in their networks, and would not allow new investors come in to do this, Fashola, claimed the government had not granted the Discos exclusive distribution rights in the networks they cover.

Claiming that small businesses need power, but cannot get enough because of the Discos’ failure, just as the investment of Gencos were threatened because the Discos cannot utilise the capacity they have installed, Fashola stated that none of the Discos had an exclusive distribution licence and as such could not stop NERC from issuing new licences in their network areas.

In this regards, he said the NERC could take regulatory decision on issuance of fresh distribution licences, especially within areas that are underserved by the Discos.

He said: “Clearly, unless the Discos have a licence

that is endorsed as exclusive, it is clear that no Disco has exclusivity over its franchise area.

“It is obvious that the law did not intend to replace government monopoly of PHCN in the power sector, with a private monopoly of businessmen.

“Whenever there is poor service, government, as a matter of policy and public interest is able and entitled to act and invite new players to fill the gap.”

The minister further noted that it was not the intention of government to take over the business of Discos, as it wanted them to grow.

He however added that, “In the period when they are not yet ready, willing, or able, life must go on and we must find solutions and substitutes as we have seen in other sectors.”

Regulatory Standards To get the Discos to improve on their operations, Fashola, noted that in line with the provisions of Section 33 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) 2005, and Section 32 (2) (a)-(g) of the same Act, which specifies the functions of NERC, he was directing the NERC to step up its regulation of the businesses of the Discos.

The government, he noted, wanted the NERC to enforce the respective contracts of service the Discos signed when they bought shares of the networks, as well as take regulatory measures against operators that fail to live by the terms of their contracts.

He said in this regards: “It is clear that a combined reading of these provisions show that it is necessary to direct NERC to step in to: Ensure that Discos improve on their distribution equipment and capacity to take up the available 2,000MW in order to optimise the use of the electrical resource produced by the Gencos, and I direct NERC to immediately act in this regard.

“Enforce the contract of Discos to supply meters and act to ensure the urgent speedy supply and installation of meters with a view to eliminating estimated billing and promote efficient industry and market structures.

“Stop Discos from threatening private entrepreneurs

from entering the market to supply consumers whom the Discos cannot supply and to license such persons subject to terms and conditions in order to ‘promote competition and private sector participation’ and avoid a private monopoly of power.”

“Section 71(6) dealing with Terms and Conditions of licenses clearly shows that no exclusivity or monopoly was intended for a licence holder such as Gencos or Discos. To the best of my knowledge, the commission has not issued any exclusive license,” he added.

Fashola further stated that, “If we take into consideration that after five years of privatisation, there are still people and businesses, which do not have power or enough power, common sense and public interest demands that we must not resist ordinary people, small businesses like shops and markets from seeking alternative sources of energy.

For now, our developmental needs cannot wait for businessmen who are not yet ready to serve.

“National interest, public good, the need to support small business, provide access to power for ordinary people and increase productivity inform the policy statements that I have made and I expect NERC to act with dispatch.”

Experts THISDAY sought the opinions of industry experts on the recent development, though they spoke on the condition of anonymity. They told THISDAY that the government had made a huge call on the NERC, pointing out that regulators’ approach to executing the order could determine its efficiency or otherwise.

“The minister issued three directives to NERC affecting distribution capacity, metering and franchise area exclusivity in that press conference.

At this time, it is difficult to see how NERC can incentivise additional investment in distribution capacity and metering beyond what has already been done without allowing for improved cost recovery for the services Discos provide,” said one of the experts.

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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 ˾ JULY15, 2018

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Osinbajo

Enelamah

Teniola

Much Ado about Nigeria’s Zeal to Woo Foreign Investors

Last week’s investment roadshow to Silicon Valley in the United States of America, led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, is one among several moves by Nigerian government to woo foreign investors, who, however, remain skeptical about the poor level of infrastructure and the political uncertainty of the country, writes Emma Okonji

G

lobal economies grow through foreign direct investments (FDI), because investors are looking for where to invest their money, and get unhindered returns on their investments. From United States to China, India, Japan, South Korea to Germany and even in African countries like South Africa and Kenya, FDI has been the driving factor responsible for economic development.

However, investors are not willing to invest in countries where the infrastructure level is still low, because ubiquitous infrastructure speeds up development and enhances quick returns on investments. No investor will want to invest in a country where broadband infrastructure is abysmally low and where telecoms infrastructure is not evenly distributed. Such is the situation with Nigeria that is still struggling to raise its infrastructure to a level that will attract FDI, yet the government is busy seeking for foreign investors that will bring their hard earned monies to invest in Nigeria where the political environment is tensed and its level of infrastructure still low.

Roadshow Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, last week, led a public-private sector collaborative investment roadshow to the United States, where he spoke to global industry leaders in information technology and entertainment at the Silicon Valley in San Francisco and Hollywood in Los Angeles, California, from Monday July 9 to Wednesday July 11.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, who disclosed this in a statement, said Osinbajo was joined on the investment roadshow by members of the recently-inaugurated Advisory Group on Technology and Creativity – an integral part of the National Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council.

Akande said the roadshow was designed to showcase the continued improvement in Nigeria’s business environment to entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders in both American cities.

He added that during the trip, Osinbajo emphasised on a number of the present administration’s policies such as the Ease of Doing Business reforms, which he said have improved the country’s ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index 2017.

Osinbajo used the occasion to visit the headquarters

of Google in Silicon Valley, where he met with the CEO of Google, Mr. Sundar Pichai, and he was given a rousing welcome with his team.

Other aspects of the Vice President’s trip were to showcase to the world the progress and strides in the country’s technology, innovation and creative space by Nigerian technology start-ups and entertainment industry practitioners.

Advantages Looking at the economic advantage of the Osinbajo led roadshow to Silicon Valley in US, some technology experts said the visit would afford the Vice President the opportunity to see modern technology developments in Silicon Valley and ensure that such technologies are replicated in Nigeria, through the right policy formulation and implementation. They were of the view that the technology start-ups that accompanied Osinbajo on the roadshow, would be exposed to modern technology development and be inspired to become more creative in developing solutions that would address the Nigerian business audience. For example, during the trip, some leading Nigerian start-ups had the opportunity for pitches about their ideas and products in order to promote investment

by US companies in Nigeria’s technology and creativity sector.

The visit to Silicon Valley also focused on collaboration between Nigerian and US companies in the areas of technology and entertainment, including further cooperation between Nigeria’s film industry, Nollywood, and US Hollywood in the areas of production, distribution and content protection.

Another objective of the investment mission is to attract Africans in the Diaspora to mentor and support start-ups in Nigeria.

According to Akande, the Vice President was accompanied on the trip by the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okey Enelamah; Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu; as well as senior government officials from the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) and the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Ease of Doing Business Secretariat, among others.

Investment Destination In spite of the advantages that the Osinbajo-led team to Silicon Valley would bring to the country, some other technology experts were of the view that wooing foreign investors to invest in the

country, should not be the first step to be taken by government. The experts said government must first develop its country and allow investors to be attracted by the level of development in the country, to invest in the country. They argued that once the right infrastructure is put in place, investors who are looking for places to invest their money, would be attracted to the country, rather than the government spending so much money to woo foreign investors.

Tech Start-ups The President of the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Olusola Teniola, who commended the federal government on its move to further develop the Nigerian economy, through its recent move to Silicon Valley, however stressed the need for government to develop technology start-ups, whom he said, needed funding to expand and commercialise their technology solutions that were locally developed.

According to him, Nigerian start-ups are innovative and could develop technology apps that could address local challenges in the country, but they need the financial push and mentorship that will make them competitive to excel. Investment in start-ups is a sure way to promote technology development of a nation, Teniola said.

Commitment In addressing the issue of foreign direct investment, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, said the federal government must first show commitment in addressing the challenges impeding economic development in the country, before thinking of wooing foreign investors. Adebayo who decried the impunity at which government agencies shut down telecoms facilities across the country, in an attempt to collect multiple levies and taxes from the telecoms operators, said such actions have caused more harm than good to the telecoms sector, causing service disruptions across the country. According to him, destruction of telecoms facilities could lead to total collapse of the telecoms infrastructure and also discourage foreign investors from investing in the country, no matter the level of personalities involved in any delegation or roadshow that are designed to woo foreign investors.

Speaking about the recent picketing of MTN offices across the country by the Nigerian Labour Congress,

where telecoms facilities were switched off and tampered with, Adebayo said it was unbecoming of government agencies to attack telecoms facilities across the country with impunity, regardless of the implication of telecoms service disruptions.

He therefore called on the federal government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to intervene quickly to save the country’s telecommunications system from total collapse.

According to him, attempts have been made to disrupt the network operations of some of our members through the shutdown and vandalism of critical network activities. The implication of such disruption will lead to severe poor quality of service with attendant natural security implications and far-reaching implications on other services that are dependent on the telecommunication industry.

Collaboration The Chief Executive Officer of MainOne, Ms. Funke Opeke, had told THISDAY in an interview that the best way to grow the Nigerian economy was through government collaboration.

“For me as a business solution company, I think implementation of the country’s national broadband plan has been rather too slow for rapid business growth for a nation like Nigeria, where broadband penetration level is still at its lowest ebb of less than 30 per cent penetration,” Opeke said.

Rwanda for instance, came out of war that almost consumed it as a nation, but after that, the country set its priorities right and came up with fantastic structure that placed all telecoms service providers in the country on the same slate, such that no operator takes undue advantage of the small size of other operators to stifle their business. Today, Rwanda has been able to have internet access in every public venue in the country. This was achieved through a collaboration between the national and regional authorities of that country.

This is the type of collaboration we are canvassing for in Nigeria to drive broadband penetration to all nooks and crannies of Nigeria, Opeke added.

In Nigeria we have all manners of reports where state and local governments impose arbitrary fees on telecoms operators and in the process, stop them from expanding their infrastructure that is meant to boost broadband development in the country. Government must first address all these challenges and make the Nigerian economy attractive for investors, before wooing investors, she stated.

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BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Hopes Dim for Investors as NSE Sustains Lacklustre Performance With year-to-date return of the Nigerian equities market dropping to as low as -2.5 per cent after half year, hope of a robust performance in 2018 appears to have been dashed, Bamidele Famoofo writes 10 years.

CEO, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, attributed the performance, in part, to Central Bank’s monetary policies that resulted in increased liquidity in the foreign exchange market. Another factor, which he said was responsible for the recovery of the market, was change in the macroeconomic overhang of the commodity down cycle.

Nigerian Stock Exchange building

Expectation

D

espite persisting sell-offs and continued sessions of sideways trading after a promising takeoff in the equities market of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in January, analysts were optimistic that positive macroeconomic fundamentals remain suggestive of gains in the equities market in the long term.

FSDH Research, earlier in the year, said its outlook of the equity market remains positive in 2018 as it expects the macroeconomic environment in Nigeria to strengthen further.

I said, “We expect a strong rally in the first half of the year 2018. The quarterly analysis of the equity market in the last seven years shows that it appreciated consistently in Q2.

We attribute the appreciation in Q2 to the release of the full year earnings and corporate actions during the period”.

FSDH Research expected the equities market for 2018 to grow by 27.43 percent in 2018, lower than 42.3 per cent achieved in 2017.

“Looking at the developments in the international and in the domestic markets, we expect the equity market to grow by 27.43 per cent in 2018,” it added.

Afrinvest Securities Limited also said its forecast for the performance of the benchmark index in 2018 was largely positive as its scenarios (bear, base, bull) all signal appreciation in the benchmark index.

Continuing it noted, “Finally, to make a call on market performance for 2018, we adopted a blend of both valuation methodologies.

Based on the foregoing, we arrived at an ASI projection of 45,811.73 points for 2018 which is a 19.8 per cent appreciation from 38,243.19 points in 2017. Our bear case (+7.7 per cent to 41,189.9 points) and bull case (+32.7 per cent to 50,749.10 points) also follow the same trend and further buttress the consensus view of positive market performance in 2018.”

It, however, warned that the macro space would determine overall market performance.

“We opine that barring any major shocks in the FX market, corporate fundamentals will be a key determinant of overall performance as shown below.”

Reality Projections by experts that the equities market of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) will likely have a jolly ride in 2018 in line with a terrific performance recorded in 2017, may be far from the reality on ground.

After emerging the best performing Stock Exchange in Africa in January, with All Share Index advancing by 15.95 percent to hit a 10-year high of 45,092 points and Market Capitalisation increasing to N16.15trillion, performance has nosedived as the same market now ranks among the least in Africa.

According to a report published by the NSE in March, the Nigerian equities market has lost its steam, as it now ranks as one of the least performing markets in Africa in the review period. “Amongst markets under review, the NSE ranked as one of the least performing markets in the month under review on the back of contagion effects of downturn in global markets. Insurance sector proved to be the only one in positive region and this may be attributed to the impact of revised price floor. Total turnover declined by 46 percent month-on-month (MoM), while liquidity indicators (market depth and breadth) also waned within the period with a Daily Average Value Traded (DAVT) of N5.3billion”, the report revealed.

The report noted that the Nigerian equities market was not shielded from the impact of the trend on other markets. “Global market trend had a strong impact on the Nigerian equities market, as the NSE ASI dipped further by 4.21 percent. However, the market adjusted marginally as a number of listed companies released impressive financials for the year 2017”, the report added.

An update on the performance of the market in May showed that the ASI inched lower

for the fifth consecutive session by 0.25 per cent to 40,150.55 points on Wednesday, 23 May 2018.

“Accordingly, the month-to-date loss increased to 2.71 percent while the year-to-date gain dropped to 4.99 percent, the lowest since January 8th”, the report indicated.

Still, nothing has changed since May because rather than experience a turnaround from a dwindling performance that commenced after January; the All Share Index (ALSI) has continued to move in the south direction while returns have dropped into the negative threshold.

Year-to-date, returns have dropped to -2.5 per cent based on data from the NSE. The All Share Index depreciated by 0.45 per cent to 37,253.25 points on Wednesday, July 11.

Market capitalisation also dropped to about N13.49trillion as 15 stocks posting gains while 25 posted declines.

“The projections by analysts appear be about to miss its target as performance in the market as at half year is far from the expectations of stock analysts”, a source close the market said.

Comparison The performance of the market in the same period in 2017 represented a sharp contrast to the situation in 2018. All Share Index appreciated by 6,242.86 points to close at 33,117.48 on June 30, 2017 from 26,874.62 at which it opened for the year. Similarly, market capitalisation gained N2.205 trillion, rising from N9.247 trillion at which it opened trading on January 3, 2017 to close at N11.452 trillion for the half year.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in the 2017 financial year was rated the second best performed market in Africa with All Share index growth of 42.3 percent.

According to capital market analysts, the unprecedented increase the NSE All Share index recorded at the close of 2017 represented the second highest year on year return in

Reason Some stock investors who spoke to THISDAY revealed that a number of factors were responsible for the negative downturn being experienced by the equity segment of the market at the moment.

Investor and former national coordinator of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Chief Sunny Nwosu, said the challenge the market faced was the preparation for the 2019 general elections. “It would appear that 2019 is far away, but we are already there.

We can see the manoeuvrings by politicians based on money”.

He suggested that politicians could no longer approach the banks for loans to sponsor their elections because of Central Bank of Nigeria’s grip on the banks, and the option for them is to sell-off their holdings in the market to raise capital to fund elections.

Another stock investor, Mr. Adeola Salako, was optimistic that investors will earn a positive return at the end of the year, but noted that it will not be significant. He blamed profit taking, illiquidity in the economy and political uncertainties ahead of the 2019 election for the current dismal performance of the market.

“You know that when the elections year is drawing closer, economy becomes a secondary concern for the people in government while politics takes the centre stage”, he added.

Growth Drivers Analysts at Afrinvest Securities Limited said they envisaged that market performance would be largely determined by earnings fundamental of corporates; stability in the FX market and other macro indicators; and funds flow dynamics to emerging and frontier markets.

Our analysis of market trend over the past 10 years makes a case for a possible repetition of history. As noticed in 2012 and 2013, the periods following the global economic crisis, sentiment in the local bourse strengthened, which drove the ASI 35.4 per cent and 47.2 per cent northwards in the respective years. In a similar situation, as the economy rebounded from the slump - 2014 to 2016 - in 2017, we expect market sentiment to wax stronger in 2018.

“In our scenario analysis for the market performance in 2018, we employed a blend of relative valuation in which we benchmarked our market valuation against multiples for peers in the MSCI Frontier market index and absolute valuation based on price forecasts for our coverage universe which is about 86.0 percent of the entire market”, Afrinvest added.

On its own part, FSDH Research believed the following factors will drive the market were “increase in crude oil price at the international market and increase in local production, expected drop in the yields on fixed income securities leading to portfolio realignment towards the equity market; Improvements in the external position of the country through increase in external trades and capital inflows; Increase in the external reserves providing further stability for the foreign exchange market; improved corporate earnings and actions and increased participation of the foreign portfolio investors.”

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THE EXECUTIVE

Orji

JULIUS ATOI

UCHE ORJI

At NSIA, Our Guiding Principle for Investment is Balancing Commercial and Social Returns Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) is a state-owned investment fund, which commits excess proceeds from sale of export commodities to judicious use, to the benefit of the people of a nation. Though not mandatory, but in line with international best practices, the initiative has been embraced by most countries that are rich in commodities and mineral resources and as such, Nigeria is not left behind. Now in its seventh year, the Nigerian SWF managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has had its fair share of impact of the vagary in commodities prices at the international market as well as the challenges back home. The Nigerian fund has, however, weathered the storm to imprint its indelible marks in the lives of the people. The NSIA Managing Director, Mr. Uche Orji, speaks with Kunle Aderinokun about how impactful the fund has been on the development of Nigeria as he addresses the issues and challenges. Excerpts:

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY15, 2018

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THE EXECUTIVE

Orji

JULIUS ATOI

UCHE ORJI

At NSIA, Our Guiding Principle for Investment is Balancing Commercial and Social Returns Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) is a state-owned investment fund, which commits excess proceeds from sale of export commodities to judicious use, to the benefit of the people of a nation. Though not mandatory, but in line with international best practices, the initiative has been embraced by most countries that are rich in commodities and mineral resources and as such, Nigeria is not left behind. Now in its seventh year, the Nigerian SWF managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has had its fair share of impact of the vagary in commodities prices at the international market as well as the challenges back home. The Nigerian fund has, however, weathered the storm to imprint its indelible marks in the lives of the people. The NSIA Managing Director, Mr. Uche Orji, speaks with Kunle Aderinokun about how impactful the fund has been on the development of Nigeria as he addresses the issues and challenges. Excerpts:

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY15, 2018

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THE EXECUTIVE

Buhari’s Infrastructure Devt Fund will Address East-West Road, Second Niger Bridge, Other Projects their economy; that’s the philosophy they have taken and there is a consequence. Budget is for infrastructure, but the oil money is kept away. I will like us to make sure that we understand the various philosophies that exist, so that we don’t start to think that sovereign wealth fund is now the be all and end all for Nigeria.

Secondly, bear in mind where you are. I happen to have followed the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund extremely closely. For many years, they didn’t invest much and nothing was heard about them because they went through a capital accumulation phase where on a consistent discipline basis, you are putting money in and into the fund. You grow it to a certain size, then start making big interventions. The reality is that in a grand scheme of our economy, is a $1.5 billion sovereign wealth fund. You have to be conscious of the fact that we are also not nervous. If you look at the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund has the engine of not only external investments, but the engine of industrialisation within Abu Dhabi and Dubai. They started sovereign wealth fund in 1976, when Nigeria was more sophisticated and developed. You go through a capital accumulation phase before you start spending the money and investing aggressively.

of money to that project in order to see visible progress of that road. We expect that road be completed in 36 months. There are two sections to it. Abuja-Kano was flagged off recently.

People are wondering why the East-West road has not been completed all these years despite the length of time the federal government has spent on the project. When will it be completed?

The President is aware and this is why we launched this Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund. The first question is what does this fund mean? The president came to the conclusion that the way we were budgeting for this project is the reason why they are not getting done. If you look at 2017 for example, the total appropriation for these projects was less than five percent of the cost of the project. If this is how you have been budgeting for the last many years, and the minimum it is taking to finish is 20 years. So these projects are not been executed as aggressively.

The president came to the conclusion that we need to look for another way to make these things get done quickly. Let’s say the project is N100 billion, and every year, you get N5 billion. You do N5 billion work and stop. First of all, you are probably going to spend N1 billion for mobilisation and de-mobilisation, then you finish, you do N4 billion work and stop, because money has ran out and then the road will deteriorate, you start again the next year. Then, you repair the ones that you’ve already done before. So, even if that didn’t deteriorate, it will take more than 20 years because mobilisation and de-mobilisation.

The president came to the conclusion that he is going to take out five of the major roads, create a funding structure for those roads and he has asked the NSIA to manage it.

Based on the strategies the president has put in place, we believe this project will be aggregately more than 80 per cent funded. We still have the responsibility of raising 10-15 per cent of extra funding from the market. We will get there, but there is now enough money to do this project aggressively. So, based on the new timelines we have, apart from Mambila power plant, which will take a little bit longer, simply because Mambila is a major civil engineering work, the plan is between 36 and 48 months for the likes of Second Niger Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan, and Abuja-Kano.

In fact, the Second Niger Bridge, based on the funding plan, we are still waiting for the final works contracts to be issued, that should be issued soon and then, we will start funding. But the expectation we have is that by the end of next year, you will actually see a bridge. You probably will not use it, because access road, approach and other things need to be done. But 75 per cent of the piling has been done. If you go, you will see that all the pillars have come up, though not all. But you see a lot of the water pillars coming up, so piling is in the water. But we have to put pillars on that. Again, the Ministry of Works will provide more feedbacks on this, because we are working on this project with them. Our job is to make that the funding is structured and in place.

We are very confident based on the new Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund that these projects will be done. The president says he will take the five projects and create a new funding structure for them and ensure they get them done.

I think that is commendable, to be honest. It is bold and shows initiative, courage and it shows that the president understands the challenges people are facing with these projects.

We have a very difficult terrain as a country, so road construction is not a very simple thing to do in this country. High temperature, and humidity affect asphalt and so, you really have to build quality roads that will stand all types of weather conditions. But we have shown that we can build quality roads, look at Abuja Airport high-way.

So it is a matter of courage and political will, and I think the president’s programme is commendable; we just pray that we are able to execute it efficiently. We approach these things with a lot of humility because there is a reason why these projects have not been done in the last 30-40 years. So we approach it with a little bit of humility, and trepidation. But also with confidence in the way the president has defined the structure we believe we can get it done.

In terms of healthcare, how far has the fund gone in impacting peoples’ lives?

It took time for us to really start what needs to be done. If you remember two years ago, I was quoting all the studies we have done, how much

Agriculture is also one sector that is very important to Nigerians. What are the specific things the NSIA has done in agriculture?

Orji

money was spent in cancer, renal and other things.

It took a while, so we now said we were going to do specific projects addressing four areas. One is oncology which is cancer, another is renal which is kidney. The nature of Sub-Saharan Africa has made us susceptible to high blood pressure and that is what really causes these kidney issues.

The challenges is how do you solve it, what do you do make sure that the cost are affordable and high quality. We also decided to address the area of cardiac diseases issues. NSIA, I accept, we take our time, because of the responsibility of managing public funds. We don’t just throw it in without ensuring that the money comes back.

We are an investment company and not the budget or social intervention fund. So we took our time to study and then we decided to start with three projects and we entered into partnership with Kano (Kano Teaching Hospitals), Umuahia (Federal Medical Centre Umuahia) and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

For LUTH, we decided to start with cancer.

We are rebuilding in a PPP the cancer centre at LUTH. So it is a public-private partnership. We signed an agreement with LUTH to take over their cancer centre and do it as a PPP. This is an ongoing work. We are targeting commissioning in January 2019. So, in this work bunkers are being built for the cancer treatment centre. This would now be called NSIA Lagos University Teaching Hospital Cancer Treatment Centre. We have a structure with them, where we earn our money back.

We will operate, earn our money back and transfer to them. It is not just earning our money back, there is a specific return we will get. There is a transfer process back to LUTH over a certain period of time. We have shortlisted an external operator to operate it and the operator will be hired by us. We have a project management company that is executing on the project. This is a $10 million investment by the NSIA. This is taking time and I saw it first-hand, when I went to LUTH and I saw people who were being treated for cancer.

I saw the fact that equipment will bring down.

The entire country has only one equipment that works and it usually breaks down for one or two weeks. And if you have cancer, and they say you must take this radiotherapy treatment for 60 days, you can just wait for three days for them to go and start looking for parts. In the entire country, we have only one … and that one was in LUTH and it was always breaking down.

So that was the idea behind getting involved in this investment. By the way, it is profitable; people that we will treat themselves will go to Ghana, Dubai, and India. But you do it here; at least everybody can come to Lagos. There is nobody in the country without connection to Lagos. We will roll this out in other parts of the country as well. This is going to be World Class with all the right equipment. Luckily, for us LUH has done some things to ensure that they have steady power in LUTH. Again, target commission date is January 29, 2019.

Different things are going on in Kano and

Umuahia diagnostic centres both radio and laboratory. These are world class diagnostics centres with MRI machine and CT scanners. Again, target commission date is January 29, 2019. This is what we are doing in healthcare for now. Let’s get this to work. Also, with LUTH we are doing what is known as a centre for advance medicine.

If you come to LUTH, this oncology centre is inside LUTH itself, there is a centre for advance medicine, which will be outside of LUTH. There is a spare piece of land we have agreed with the management of LUTH to build the centre for advance medicine. Therefore, it is not just for cancer, it will be cardio, renal, and high-end surgery. We had a partner we are working with in that regard, but that partner had a little of problem. But we are going to get a new partner to put on that project. We want to be sure that the model works because if you go crazy with and it fails, it fails spectacularly.

What are your plans to spread the fund to other non-communicable diseases ?

Of course we have plans, but we have to be mindful of the capital. You don’t have infinite amount of capital. I think Nigeria needs to be humble about that. You need to look at the philosophy of sovereign wealth fund. Sovereign wealth funds are not substitute for the budget.

The Ministry of Health and budget need not to abdicate their responsibilities to sovereign wealth fund. It is your picking areas, where you can show your models. For example, fertiliser, we don’t have plans to be doing that forever. We plan to show what can be done and how we can eliminate subsidy, reduce price, supply quality fertiliser, revive the blending plants, employ people, and create value for the country. This is limited by the size of the funds we have.

Most sovereign wealth funds don’t have the philosophy of domestic investment in infrastructure.

The Norwegians don’t invest one dollar of their money in the economy. That is their philosophy.

It is a savings fund. It is a fund for the future, where money doesn’t run out, so they invest it internationally and earn returns from other places.

Norway sovereign wealth fund is one mandate, ours is three that makes ours deeply complicated.

Well it depends on how you define impact.

Granted, we have these issues and we need to solve them. Therefore, everybody defines their funds to the mandate that solves their problems.

The Norwegians took a decision that every dollar we sell in oil will not be put to fund our budget.

Their domestic budget is funded from agriculture and other things. Oil revenue is kept away; they don’t want distortion in the economy. So in the future when oil runs out, they ran to that money to rebuild their economy. This is the more reason why if you look at their economy you will realise that this is a major oil-producing country because the infrastructure is not fast splashy.

It is an economy that is growing at its normal pace on other real industries such as small manufacturing, agriculture, and fishery. We still buy fish in Nigeria from Norway, they have not allowed it to distort

We view agriculture as a very important sector. First, there are two reasons why we regard agriculture as very important. It is the biggest part of our economy. It is 25-30 per cent of our GDP depending on what economic numbers or what year you are looking at. Again, we took our time.

Most of the initiatives, we took to be honest some are ours and others were brought to us in the sense that there was an idea developed known as the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative.

It was a project we executed because we are helping in designing and executing it. But what is the objective? The objective was to produce high quality fertilisers at a low price and make sure farmers receive it.

The second objective was to improve our own blending capacity because up until this new government came onboard, we were still importing fully blended fertilisers. For many years, not much was invested.

To make matters more fascinating two third of the raw materials are made in Nigeria. Yet we now import fully blended fertilizers. Urea and limestone are 63 per cent of the components of fertilisers.

This is how it started, we got involved and we were invited to look at the programme, we designed it and we have executed it and created SPV called NAIC NPK to execute it. It stands NSIA Agricultural Insurance Investment Company.

Last year, we blended and sold 8 million bags of fertilizers; for the first time fertilisers was not in shortage in Nigeria. We had more than ever and we did not use any subsidy.

Towards the end of the programme we had gas issues, which we suffered a little bit of loss which is now being made up for us by the federal government because of Apapa issues. Here is the programme, we need four components to make fertilisers; we need Urea, Phosphate, Potassium, and limestone. Phosphate and potassium we have to import because we don’t have it in Nigeria.

Urea and limestone we have in Nigeria. Up till the year, the presidency and the NSIA worked on this programme, fertiliser was being sold as high as N9000, N10, 000 a bag, we designed and built a model along with our partners which is the presidency with a target price of N5, 500.

The idea of the programme was to reduce this price; it was too high. If you thought in the past 50 per cent of the price was subsidised by government at N10,000 range per bag, it was going to be N5,000 per bag subsidy. The real demand in the country in my opinion is 10 million bags yearly. So you will have to spend N50 billion.

However, if you buy these components, revive some of these blending plants, and all you do is remove the trucks from Lagos and Port-Harcourt to the blending plants. You now blend it yourself, you will have eliminated the labour cost from international market and create labour here.

In the transportation process, you create transport jobs. Some of these blending plants have not worked for 20 years. Some have not worked for 30 years, and some of them after inauguration they shut it down. There was a particular blending plant; it has not worked for nine years, what was holding it back was conveyor belt chain and it cost N100, 000.

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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 ˾ ͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸͹΀

NEWSXTRA Buhari: Nigeria’s Delay in Signing AfCFTA to Protect National Interest tAfreximbank, BoI, Dangote sign $1.4bn deals tAdeosun emerges Afexim chair Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja President Muhammad Buhari has again explained that the delay in Nigeria’s signing of the African Continental Free Trade Agree (AfCFTA) agreement was borne out of a desire to ensure that national interests as well as regional and international obligations are balanced.

AfCFTA, a trade agreement designed by the African Union (AU) with the goal of creating a single market followed by free movement and a single currency union was signed by 44 African countries in Kigali, Rwanda on March 21, 2018.

Nigeria withheld its assent from the agreement at the 11th hour, citing lack of wide consultations with relevant

stakeholders.

South Africa, which also declined assent in Rwanda at the time later signed at the recent extraordinary AU summit in Mauritania Justifying Nigeria’s continuing delay in signing the pact, Buhari, who spoke while declaring close the 25th anniversary and annual meetings of Afreximbank in Abuja said

Nigeria has a very unique and important role to play on the continent.

“We are a vast nation of nearly 200 million people, with diversity of language, culture, natural endowments and aspirations. However what we all have in common is that at all levels, Nigeria is a trading nation.

“No nation can survive on

CELEBRATING MILESTONES L-R: Managing Director/CEO, SCIB Nigeria & Co. Limited, Mr. Sola Tinubu; founder and chairman, Chief Olabode Ogunlana; his wife, Kehinde; a client of

SCIB / founder, Shebah School Magodo, Mrs. Titi Lawani; and wife of Managing Director of SCIB /, Mrs. Feyi Tinubu, during the 40th anniversary of the company in Lagos... yesterday Kola Olasupo

its own. Trading is important and the terms of trade are important. Therefore, there is a need to ensure our national interests as well as our regional and international obligations are balanced.

“Accordingly, I directed the relevant agencies to conduct intensive and extensive consultations across the nation on the Continental Free Trade Agreement.

“Nigeria is a Federation of 36 states plus FCT Abuja, 774 local governments and millions of interested stakeholders who must be consulted with and listened to, in order to ensure an optimum outcome.

“Significant progress has been made in these consultations. The team has met key stakeholders across our six geopolitical zones. The responses have been diverse as would be expected.

“However, one clear message has emerged which is that any trade agreement must be both “free’ and ‘fair’. This fairness is achievable and we will work towards it.

“It is in this light, that I will like to say congratulations to the management and Board of Directors of AFREXIM Bank for their dynamism and tenacious leadership without which the feats so far achieved would not have been possible.

“Twenty five years ago, I am sure there would have been doubts as to whether Africans can truly come together to build

something meaningful. The success of AFREXIM in its 25 year journey has answered this question conclusively,” he said.

In his address, the President of Afreximbank, Dr. Benedict Oramah said the Bank had continued to promote intra-Africa trade.

Highlight of the closing ceremony was the signing of a $1.4 billion loan facility between Afreximbank and the Bank of Industry (BoI) on one hand as well as with Dangote Group on the other.

BoI got a loan facility of $750 million for onlending to small scale enterprises in Nigeria. On the other hand, Dangote Group got $650 million from Afreximbank to finance its oil refinery project in Lekki, Lagos.

Both loans are at concessionary terms. Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun has emergedchairmanofshareholders ofAfreximbank.

She emerged during the annual meetings of the shareholders, where the bank posted impressive financialresultsinthe2017financial year.

The next annual meetings of Afreximbank holds next year in Moscow,Russia.ThebankwasestablishedinAbuja in 1993 by African governments, African private and institutional investors as well as non-African financial institutions and private investors for the purpose of financing, promoting and expanding intra-African and extra-African trade

Hand over Structure to rAPC, Face Mass Defection, Kwara PDP Tells NWC Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday threatened to defect if the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) eventually handed over the chapter to the reformed All Progressives Congress(rAPC) as being speculated.

The state’s former PDP Chairman, Alhaji Kunle

Sulyman and other party leaders disclosed this at a news conference they addressed in Ilorin yesterday, warning the PDP National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus against handing over the leadership of the chapter to the rAPC leaders.

The rAPC leaders in the state are being led by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, the state governor, Mr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, Alhaji

Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Sen. Shaaba Lafiaji and Sen. Rafiu Ibrahim among others.

Sulyman said: “I want to say that the PDP should be careful on this move because this may have a serious effect on the future of the party in the country.”

Sulyman explained that Kwara PDP “is formidable to win any elections in the state.

We do not need any groups of

Police Refute Reports on Taraba Casualty Figures Wole Ayodele in Jalingo

The Taraba State Police Command has debunked reports in some national dailies that 42 and 73 persons were killed at different times in renewed attacks on some communities in Lau Local Government Area of the state.

The command has also enjoined journalists to always cross check their facts before going to the press and desist from sensational reporting that can mislead the public.

In a statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. David Misal, the police stated that the reports “are not a true reflection of the realities on ground.”

The statement read in part: “The attention of the Nigeria Police, Taraba State Command

has been drawn to reports emanating from some Television houses and Newspapers captioned: Suspected Herdsmen Kill 42, Sack 12 Taraba Villages.

73 Dead, 50 Villages Burnt in Clashes between Hausa-Fulani and Yangdam Communities.

“It is on record that on July 5, Mayo-lope town and surrounding villages came under attack by criminal elements who came from Adamawa boarder communities mainly Youth of the Yangdam and Mumuye under the disguise that some criminal bandits of Fulani extraction who attacked them were being harboured at Mayo-Lope.

“The attack on some Fulanis in Mayo-Lope led to killing of two persons and setting ablaze of some houses which consequently led to reprisal on soft targets (villages) belonging

to the people of Yangdam, Mumuye, Yotti, and Fulani located in some remotes parts of the area of Mayo-Lope and Abbare.

“These reprisals resulted in the killing of 15 persons bringing the death toll to 17 with several thatched huts/ houses burnt while some herds of cattle were also killed.”

Expressing displeasure over the unverified and misleading report, the command urged journalists to always cross check their information before going to the press.

“The command wishes to state categorically that while the gentlemen of the press are encouraged to do their job, there is the need to cross check their information before going to the press,” the statement added.

people that will destabilise our unity of purpose.”

“However, if the NWC decides to allow the rAPC leaders in Kwara State to take over the PDP, we will have no other way than to move our structures to another party that we will work with during the next year general elections.

Also at the conference, the PDP Chairman in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Alhaji

Abubakar Sulaimon said the national leadership of the PDP should be wary of the antics of the rAPC leaders, who dumped it for the APC in 2014.

According to him, the PDP in Kwara State possesses standard structure that no one can withstand. This will be showed to the people of the state and the nation in particular during the forthcoming general elections.

Without the leaders of rAPC

and their members, Sulaimon said the PDP “can win convincingly. This was showed during the November 17, 2017 local government council election in Kwara where the PDP had a landslide electoral victory.

“Also in the Ajikobi ward of Ilorin West Local Government Area, the PDP polled 3,302 votes against 3,158 polled by the ruling APC in the state. “

FG Disclaims Sheriff as Leader of Buhari Support Committee Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The federal government yesterday denied authorising the composition of a purported Buhari 2019 Presidential Support Committee.

This was contained in a statement by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of Federation (OSGF).

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political Matters, Hon. Gideon Sammani, had said former Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff was appointed as the Director General of the support committee.

A statement by the Director Press and Public Relations,

OSGF, Mr. Lawrence Ojabo, described the document issued by Sammani as “misleading and unauthorised.”

He asked the public to disregard the document and ignore the solicitation for support by the Presidency.

The statement read: “The attention of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has been drawn to documents in circulation in print and social media purportedly issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political Matters in the Presidency as public notice, announcing the names of certain individuals and appointing them into different roles under the Buhari 2019 Presidential

Support Committee as well as soliciting for support.

“It has become imperative to clarify to all Nigerians and in particular to APC members that the said documents are unauthorised, misleading and should therefore be totally disregarded.”

The statement noted that appropriate administrative measures would be put in place to safeguard against the repeat of such lapse not in future.

THISDAY gathered that after being thoroughly embarrassed by the announcement made

by Sammani, the federal government had resolved to scrutinise his activities, without presuming that he was acting on superior directives.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Y 15, 2018

27

INFOGRAPH

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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 ˾ JULY 15, 2018

28

TRIBUTE

Omeloha: A Life Well-Lived in The Service of Humanity Okechukwu Uwaezuoke

O

meloha has left us, the unexpected long-distant phone call announced that Wednesday afternoon. The man, whose given names were Benjamin Madumelu Egbosimba, actually departed this earth on Fathers’ Day, Sunday, June 17, less than six months before his 93rd birthday.

Even as I was jolted by the news, my heart warmed up with the recollections of my relatively recent encounters with this great unsung Nigerian, fondly called Omeloha. He was called Omeloha – literally, the one, who does for all – because of his passion for serving humanity.

Flashback to sometime in 1970. The 30-month long Nigerian Civil War had just ended and Omeloha was back to Lagos. Huddled at his desk, he was poring over figures he had written down on a sheet of paper when a colleague asked him what he was doing.

“I’m calculating school fees for 28 people,” was his reply.

Indeed, supporting his extended family on his meagre civil service salary, and that of his wife, was what he spent the greater part of his life doing. He not only sent several young people to school, he also helped several others get employment in P&T. Some of these later studied overseas, where they qualified as engineers. Among the latter were many Arondizuogu indigenes, who studied in the U.S. Many still owe him a debt of gratitude for not only getting them employed, but also for his unwavering interest in their well-being. He would, for instance, want to know if they were saving money and advise them on why they should.

Whenever there were scholarship opportunities, he would send messages to them, urging them to apply. Sometimes, he would ask them to stop by the house for discussions bordering on their careers. His then telephone number – 042 (Enugu code) 254716 – was not only accessible, but also well known to them.

His philanthropic activities did not remain unnoticed by the Enugu branch of the Arondizuogu Patriotic Union (APU), who conferred the title, “Omeloha”, on him. This same title was subsequently formally conferred on him in 1987 by the traditional ruler of Arondizuogu, HRH Eze John Dike, for his passion for the development of his home town.

He was the last-born child of the eight children of Mazi Egbosimba Ikewete of Ndi Ogbuonyeoma community of Arondizuogu and Nwannedie Okoye of Igbo-Ukwu. Before he was born on Saturday, December 12, 1925 in Ndi Ogbuonyeoma, three brothers and four sisters had preceded him. His date of birth was recorded by his elder brother.

If philanthropy was the fulcrum on which his life pivoted, Omeloha should not be less remembered for his lustrous academic achievements, which culminated with a BSc degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S. Right from the year 1935 when he was enrolled at a Catholic primary school in Ndi Aniche in Arondizuogu, it was clear that he was on the path to academic distinction. Thus, he found himself literally rushed through three classes (Primary 1 to 3) in a record one year. In the last primary school he attended (St Theresa’s Catholic School, Okigwe), after having been moved from several, the headmaster and Standard 6 teacher noticed his academic brilliance and advised his brother and guardian, Godfrey, to send him to secondary school.

Omeloha arriving for his 90th birthday Mass Enrolling as a student of the Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha in January 1945 meant giving up his auxiliary teaching appointment at the St Theresa’s Catholic School, which he had taken on the completion of his primary school education. But that insatiable thirst for education continuously spurred him on.

In 1947, Omeloha sat for the School Certificate Examination as a private student even when he was still in Class 5 and passed with a Grade II result.

Thus, he raced through his secondary education in three years. But the CKC principal, Reverend Father M. Flanagan, who had initially refused to give him a testimonial, finally consented and wrote in the remarks column that Omeloha “took the School Certificate Examination without the knowledge of the college authorities”.

The next year, Benjamin got a job as a Sub-Inspector III-in-training with the Post & Telecommunications Company (the predecessor of the Nigerian Telecommunications Company, which was better known as NITEL). And this was about two months after he took the company’s examination.

While in a three-and-a-half year course in the P&T School in Oshodi, Lagos, he registered for a tuition course in economics with the Rapid Results Correspondence College in the UK. Though he had fully paid for the course and covered its syllabus in a year, he still could not take the Inter BSc examination on account of the increased work pressure at the P&T. He was later transferred to Onitsha to head its station, where his new responsibilities forced him to

abandon the correspondence course, which would have earned him a BSc in economics and empowered him enough to leave the P&T. He was instead afterwards posted to Enugu, where he further distinguished himself with his reputation for excellence.

Soon after his marriage on November 10, 1956, to his childhood playmate, Florence, at the Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu, he was promoted 1957 to the position of a senior technical officer at the P&T. In January 1958, while visiting Lagos with his wife and first daughter during his annual leave that he got a government scholarship, which he did not apply for, to study electrical engineering at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S. Since he still retained his post as a senior technical officer with the P&T, this qualified as a study leave with pay.

In the U.S., where his wife joined him the following year, he continued to excel academically. Even with his tight schedule, he made out the time to groom his wife in physics and mathematics. He also found time for religious activities and travels around the U.S..

Later becoming the president of Purdue’s African Students’ Association, a post he held until his graduation from the university with a BSc degree in electrical engineering in 1961, was an icing to his extracurricular activities.

On Nigeria’s Independence Day on October 1, 1960, he was chosen by fellow Nigerian students to address a university audience.

He later returned to Nigeria and to his

job at the P&T but was this time posted to the telecommunications company’s headquarters’ External Plants Section in a different part of Lagos in 1962. In February 1963, Florence joined him in Lagos as one of the mathematics teachers of St Gregory’s College, where she taught the likes of Emeka Azikiwe (the son of the late nationalist Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe), the late Funsho Williams and the twin sons of the late Dr Lambo. She later moved on to a neighbouring school Holy Child College.

With the outbreak of the Civil War, the Egbosimbas fled first to Enugu, where Omeloha temporarily settled for a job in the Public Works Department, before moving with his family to Arondizuogu.

He briefly returned to Lagos at the end of the Civil War before he was transferred to Enugu in1973, where he became the P&T’s District Engineer/Manager and an assistant to the then Territorial Controller Jonathan Boytie Ogufere, who established the P&T-sponsored team, Vasco da Gama, on May 16, 1970.

Reuniting with his family in Enugu afforded him the time to ensure that the children attended the best schools and practised their Catholic faith with devotion. The family’s membership of the Enugu Sports Club took care of the extra-curricular activities, which included the weekly Thursday outings to watch movies, as well as local and international youth camps.

Several years later, he was at the helm of P &T as the Territorial Controller of the former East Central State (now split into Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states) and became the chairman of the Enugu-based football club, Vasco da Gama. Under his watch as Territorial Controller, new post offices and telephone exchanges were built. By 1983, after 12 years in Enugu, he resumed as the P&T Territorial Controller of the then Bendel State, present-day Edo and Delta states.

The following year, he retired from P&T and devoted his time as a full-time member of the Arondizuogu Patriotic Union Executive Committee. Before now, he was so passionate about issues bordering on the development of his home town that he also became a member of the Arondizuogu Leaders of Thought.

In 1995, Omeloha became a member of Knights of St John International Commandary 414, Enugu while his wife joined the Order of St John International Enugu as a Lady Auxiliary (LAUX 339) as well as becoming a member of the League of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and a member of the Association of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in 1996.

The couple celebrated the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of their wedding in 2007 with their children and their families coming together in a bond of fellowship to celebrate the landmark event, with hundreds of family friends and relatives.

Sadly, on November 17, 2011, his wife and companion of 55 years passed on and was interred on December 16, almost a month after.

Omeloha, who departed this earth-life on Father’s Day, June 17, 2018, lived the rest of his years trusting in the goodness of the Most High and counting his blessings.

Omeloha is survived by six Children, 18 Grandchildren and two great grandchildren as well as nieces, nephews and other relatives and in-laws. He touched the lives of both family and many mentees, is greatly loved and will be missed by many.

Omeloha of Arondizuogu! Sir Benjamin Egbosimba!! May your journey to the Abode of the Blessed be smooth!

T H I S D AY ˾ SUNDAY JULY 15, 2018

29

30

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸͹΀

MARKET NEWS

Investors Increase Demand for C & I Leasing Shares on Brighter Prospects Goddy Egene C Investors increased demand for the shares of C & I Leasing Plc, a leasing and business service conglomerate last week as they see brighter prospects in the company. This followed news that the company had concluded the buyout of 27.5 per cent minority stake in C & I Petrotech Marine Limited (CPML).

The company disclosed that they engaged engaged an independent adviser to

value the shares of the CMPL before the consummating the buyout of the 27.5 per cent minority stake in a joint venture that presently deploy vessels to oil firms.

Consequently, CMPL is now fully owned subsidiary of C & I Leasing Plc. And in apparent response to the development, investors increased demand for the stock, which lifted its price by 10.2 per cent to close higher at N2.48 per share last Friday.

C & I Leasing recently

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

raised N7 billion bond to finance its business expansion and restructuring of debts over a period of five years among other initiatives which will guarantee increased profit margins and returns for shareholders.

The Managing Director of C & I Leasing Plc, Mr. Andrew Otike-Odibi had said the firm’s journey into marine sector as a service provider for the oil and gas sector started through CPML joint venture in 2010 and has over the years

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 12-July-2018, unless otherwise stated.

culminated in the ownership of over 20 vessels consisting of crew boats, pilot boats, patrol boats, and platform support vessels for providing services such as line and hose handling, berthing and escort services, mooring support, fire-fighting, pollution control, security and floating and self-elevating platforms.

“This is clearly reiterate our commitment to growing our marine services business and gaining leadership in the field.

It is hoped that this buyout will

further the company’s drive to restructuring and repositioning our marine business for enhanced profitability,” he added.

The company has been recording improved financial results in recent times, which the MD had attributed to the strength in the diversity of its business.

He said: “Our three business lines namely, marine, fleet management and outsourcing are gaining strength in their different markets with each

contributing positively to the overall performance of the business. This is not without the difficulties faced in the operating environment with rising financing and operating costs coupled with continuous pressure on turnover. We remain focused on sustaining delivery of superior customer service and continued diversification of earnings, to take advantage of growth opportunities in the markets and business segments we operate in.”

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 183.86 183.93 3.27% Nigeria International Debt Fund 245.15 245.22 5.98% 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 2.30% ACAP Income Funds 0.65 0.65 7.21% 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 12.85% 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 N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 147.93 148.97 -2.48% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.37% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.61% Paramount Equity Fund 11.85 12.16 6.90% Women's Investment Fund 104.30 106.97 3.65% 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 N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1,167.28 1,167.99 7.89% FBN Heritage Fund 146.93 148.16 5.34% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.26% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $112.65 $113.09 2.22% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $112.46 $112.90 2.16% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 169.48 171.91 5.68% 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 1.36 1.38 4.20% Legacy Debt Fund 3.08 3.08 6.87% 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 N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 12.26% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.17 2.19 2.83% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 14.20% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 120.69 121.04 4.93%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 13.15 13.27 0.38% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.31% 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 1.37 12.73% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.84 11.90 7.27% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.00% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 133.48 135.88 3.66% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.60 1.60 8.09% 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 2,369.22 2,388.96 5.63% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 186.67 186.67 5.79% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.03 1.04 2.48% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 240.59 240.64 9.25% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 180.37 182.39 0.71% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.20% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,673.31 9,804.57 0.04% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.10 1.10 3.90% 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 1.32 1.33 -1.56% United Capital Bond Fund 1.67 1.67 6.75% United Capital Equity Fund 0.94 0.96 2.68% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.14 1.00 11.50% United Capital Eurobond Fund 106.87 106.87 3.86% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.14 1.14 4.54% ZENITH ASSETS MANAGEMENT LTD info@zenith-funds.com Web: www.zenith-funds.com; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.91 13.12 3.36% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.59 13.74 3.19% Zenith Income Fund 20.52 20.52 8.44% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.15%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41

1.01%

SFS Skye Shelter Fund

136.57

3.10%

Union Homes REIT

51.39

1.10%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

11.97 146.59 108.99

12.07 149.55 110.97

-1.25% 2.58% -0.26%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.62 8.83 17.42 18.56 144.67

4.66 8.91 17.52 18.76 146.67

-2.54% -7.73% -0.52% -5.59% 5.75%

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.

31

JULY 15, 2018 ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

FEATURE

Halima and her groom with her hubby’s family members

From Kano To Rwanda…

Dehinde Fernandez’s Widow, Halima, Remarries Zubair Rudasingwa Why she remarried three years after death of husband It was really a messy scandal as the family feud deepened between Halima and Abimbola with both parties taking shots at each other.

Halima apparently started the social media war by claiming the billionaire is not Abimbola’s father, she also allegedly called Abimbola’s mother a whore and Abimbola fired back calling Halima, her father’s mistress and not his legitimate wife.

Lanre Alfred

T

he stream of tears to mourn the departed has hardly dried when a new chapter is opened.

Life, after all, must go on; this is more so for the women. Men, it appears, mourn their late wives. But women, for apparent reasons, replace their departed husbands. The resulting scenario is a gender gap in late life remarriage, where widows are more likely than widowers to remarry.

However, Its often said, a maiden marries to please her parents, a widow to please herself. Halima Maude Fernandez, the widow of the Ambassador Plenipotentiary, Oluwo Oladehinde Anthonio Fernandez, has pleased herself a great deal. She contradicts the African widow stereotype in more ways than could be imagined. She is not a symbol of neglect nor is she caught in a perpetual vortex of misery and lack.

When her husband, who she married in 2003, died on the 1st of September 2015, in a private hospital in Brussels, Belgium at age 86, many knew his demise would leave Halima desolate for a very long time. And the reason was hardly far-fetched; such thought was predicated on the widely known fact that Halima’s love for her husband was inestimable, defying reason and every cliché on affection even till date. So strong was the bond between them that Halima was grief-stricken for so long that she seemed totally lost in a trance. Today, the music has changed! She eventually found someone that would give her solace from the abyss that the death of her husband plunged her into. Halima has found someone else and moved on with her life.

Whatever the case with the dead and apparently forgotten man whose wife has moved on, his friends and family would never forget how his widow, Halima, looked distraught in the wake of his death. So devastated was Halima that hardly anyone imagined that she would get over her beloved husband, Fernandez, so soon and thereafter remarry a younger lover three years after. The marriage ceremony which was well attended

by Halima’s family and friends last Wednesday in Kano State, generated a buzz in high society as everyone marveled at her rapid evolution from a distressed widow to a beautiful bride.

Before then, Halima cut a perfect picture of a moping mum, a widowed wife and heartbroken lover. Her soul was sad and her glance was glum. She sought no adventure and became impervious to the promise and fresh vistas of love and companionship. To her, this seemed a worthy price to pay for losing her husband and having her love cut in his prime and yanked from her life just when she needed

Rudasingwa with his bride, Halima him most.

Until she met Zubair Rudasingwa, a Rwandan. Yes, as you read, no longer for Halima are the lonely nights and lonelier days.

Love actually Today, you have a colourful picture of Halima laughing heartily and swaying to the melody of her newfound love, in the arms of another man with whom she currently shares a pulse. Indeed, no one wishes to be buried with the corpse of a loved one, no matter how deeply they were in love with each other. At the end, after the crying and mourning is over, everybody moves on; like Halima has moved on.

And these are indeed precious times for Halima. She smiled contentedly through the proceedings. Anyone would feel such contentment in such defining moment. She cut a marvelous picture as she sashayed towards her groom. She bit her lip nervously and sweated profusely in thermo-induced chill of the grand setting, the gaze of onlookers and culmination of months of expectation.

It took keen observers to deduce that her anxiety was borne of bliss and love everlasting after lost her husband about three years ago.

That blend of anxiety and ritual splendor in a relaxed atmosphere was something very special. For Zubair and Halima, being granted the bliss of having their wedding day dawn amidst so much spectacle and grandeur was a dream come true, the effect on the newlywed couple was intense. The beautiful bride and groom walked down the aisle single and glided back up happily married.

Halima looked calm, even joyful; perhaps she was quivering beneath all the lace and flowers, we may never know but together with

her groom, they presented a stronger portrait than they do apart. The couple managed to exhibit a common touch without sacrificing the mystique of love eternally. Take Halima for instance, on the d-day; the sunshine of her shy smile outshone even the most demure royalty.

The way she carried herself indicated among other things that she was finally, living a fairy tale in which she had always imagined herself to be a princess and her soul mate, a prince, with whom she had truly evolved to be a queen.

How They Met The romance between them was initiated months back when a mutual female friend of theirs introduced one to the other. According to an insider source, natural rapport characterised their meetings afterwards. Weeks later, their friendship took a new direction and the rest, as they always say, is old hat. As they embarked, on one of the most blissful matrimonial sojourn yet, friends, families and associates wished them the best of everything true love could found; a lifetime untainted by the infidelities and disappointments that befalls even the most idyllic of matrimonies.

Family squabble However, in the wake of her husband’s demise the subsequent tiff she had with her stepdaughters, Abimbola and Antoinette, is well documented in the media. Like the dirty sink, the ongoing feud within the Fernandez family symbolises the cut-throat world of filial relations; Abimbola, one of the children of late Ambassador Dehinde Fernandez and the billionaire’s widow, Halima, were at loggerheads. Both stepmother and stepdaughter engaged in a bitter feud that played out hideously on the social media.

Fernandez’s love for Kano Forget the nonstop ricocheting gunshots that have shattered the innocence of the North, the mindless, daily killing of hapless citizens by the despicable Boko Haram group, one of Nigeria’s most enduring billionaires, late Ambassador Dehinde Fernandez preferred the city of Kano to anywhere else in Nigeria. Of course if you have a beautiful Kano-born beauty like Halima, his wife, as lifelong companion, you would wilfully tag along with her to the glaciers if that were her preference. But Kano is Halima’s home and the Ambassador plenipotentiary made a home in the northern state during his lifetime for the sake of love. We gathered that the Baron of Dudley – one of his many global titles – had an impervious fortress for a home in the heart of the city complete with a helipad and flies directly from there to his chateau in Paris, France. Hitherto based in Abuja before her marriage to the moneyman, Halima was one of the highflying ladies popular in the corridors of power and among powerbrokers as the Ford Taurus is popular among Americans.

And Fernandez was buried in Belgium…

Chief Deinde Fernandez was denied the luxury of choice, in death. Sadly, the world renowned billionaire and Yoruba traditionalist, who celebrated his history and culture without reserve, didn’t bury in the land of his forebears. Halima decided to bury him in faraway Belgium. Some mischief-makers earlier reported that the confusion faced by the deceased’s family over where to bury him is attributable to his inability to own an abode in Lagos while he was alive. The old Fernandez tower was sold years ago and Fernandez had only one mansion in Kano State where he lived with his trophy wife, Halima.

Further findings revealed that the decision to bury him in Belgium was championed by his wife, Halima, following several long distance conferencing via Skype among other channels of communication.

Chief Antonio Oladeinde Fernandez was a Nigerian business magnate, diplomat and Permanent Representative of Central African Republic to the United Nations. He was considered one of the richest men in Africa. In addition to a variety of other chieftaincy titles, he held the title of the Apesin Ola of the Egba clan of Yorubaland.

32

T H I S D AY ˾ SUNDAY JULY 15, 2018

T H I S D AY ˾ SUNDAY JULY 15, 2018

57

ARTS & REVIEW A

EMA EDOSIO GETS A NIGERIAN BOY’S LIFE RIGHT IN KASALA! PAGE 60

PUBLICATION

15.07.2018

UNDERSTANDING THE JUNK MAN AND HIS MUSEUM OF AWKWARD THINGS The Junk Man

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

59

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Y 15, 2018

ARTS & REVIEW\\

UNDERSTANDING THE JUNK MAN AND HIS MUSEUM OF AWKWARD THINGS Ý ÞÒÏ ËÑÙÝ ËÜÞ ÝÍÏØÏ ÖÙÙÕÝ ÐÙÜáËÜÎ ÞÙ ÞÒÏ ÜÏ̋ÙÚÏØÓØÑ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ßØÕ ËÜÎ ßÝÏß× ÙÐ áÕáËÜÎ ÒÓØÑݘ Okechukwu Uwaezuoke ÌÏË×Ý ÞÒÏ ÝÚÙÞÖÓÑÒÞ ÙØ ÞÒÏ ßØÕ Ëؘ áÓÞÒ áÒÙ× ÞÒÏ ×ßÝÏß× ÒËÝ ÌÏÍÙ×Ï ÝãØÙØã×ÙßÝ

"I

t was never closed down,” the Junk Man says. This is apropos to his famed Junk Yard Museum of Awkward Things.

Really? It never did?

The museum actually ceased to exist as a physical space in Lagos. This was after the Junk Man and his German-born wife along with their three bi-racial children relocated to Europe. The museum, first opened in the year 2000, had been moved from two previous sites along Lekki Express Way before settling for an undeveloped property in the Lagos outskirts community of Ajah, which was most likely conceived as its permanent site.

It was last heard of in 2009 when it opened in a space at the Oriel Mostyn Gallery in Llandudno, Wales. As for the Junk Man himself, his renown had grown big enough for him to be acknowledged by the UK-based newspaper, The Independent, as one of Africa’s 50 greatest cultural figures.

Back in Europe, he had announced: “I’m flexing to re-open the Junk Yard project.”

This implies that, as a physical space, The Junk Man as Professor Junk the museum no longer exists in Lagos.

Yet, he says it was never closed down.

Perhaps, it was really not, in a manner of speaking.

Besides, as he once disclosed, the museum is only an aspect of the entire Junk Yard project. There is nonetheless no gainsaying the fact that much of his artistic practice and credo swirl around this Junk Yard Museum project. In other words, without the Junk Yard Museum of Awkward Things, there would be no need for the Junk Man. Installations of found objects in the museum transform the space into special realms of existence. The found objects, which have been previously cast aside and exposed to the whims of the elements, now have a decent shelter in the museum. From being previously deemed worthless, they are now valued as art and as “museum pieces”. This is despite remaining as as unpresentable and unburnished as they might previously have been.

Indeed, there are parallels between the relocation of these objects and the political self-determination for the downtrodden.

“I had samples of [the museum] built in my residency programmes in The Junk Man most parts of the world,” he resumes his update on the museum. “I needed to see the Museum of Awkward Things is all about. In this entire picture as well as observe international light, as a full-fledged registered museum, we want responses to this new and unique concept. I to accentuate the value and appreciation of the art needed to see the full picture, try parts of it out and artistic practices through the display of the high and research and study the template as I let the stories of today, which ultimately become history in soup cook. Now, that it’s been done done, it’s the tomorrows to come.” time to materialise it into form. Then, I thought Flashback to the interior of the Junkyard Museum this will be of monumental importance in the of Awkward Things, which once occupied a repurAfrikan artistic and creative circle. So, I said it’s posed lock-up store in a shopping centre along the time, let’s do it. That’s why I m here. We bring Lekki Express Way. Myriads of forms stare curiously charity back home...” at the bemused visitor standing on a gangplank. An Finally, the much-trumpeted re-opening of eerie feeling grips him, as his imagination begins to the Junk Yard Museum of Awkward Things in play tricks on him. It is as though the weird forms Lagos looms. The Junk Man has been in Nigeria – human, animal and mythically grotesque – have for almost a month now for this planned reassumed a life of their own. It suddenly no longer opening and has since arrival inspected several mattered that they were contrived from discarded properties as possible sites in the upscale Ikoyi rusty metals, rags, decaying pieces of wood, soda or neighbourhood. lager beer cans and tops and strips from old car tyres, “The main purpose of a museum in the among a miscellany of other re-purposed materials. real sense is to conserve forms of creative In the realm of these grotesque contraptions, the importance and display these as heritage artist, Okwudili Humphrey-Umezulike – better quintessences of the society in which they known in art circles as Dilomprizulike or the Junk are produced,” he says. “This amongst other Man of Afrika – held court, not much unlike a priest contemporary functions is what the Junk Yard or a prophet from the biblical times. These forms

actually represent his physically-tangible and visible thought-forms.

Unattractive, perhaps repulsive, though these objects might have been, their appropriation as art installations would have pleased ecological activists. After all, the artist was contributing his quota towards ridding the environments of non-bio-degradable detritus.

While breathing new life into the objects, the Junk Man rails against a consumerist society, whose values are as fleeting as products they discard.

“The Junk Man’s interrogation of urban detritus is an increasingly sophisticated response to the obverse of globalisation’s allure, its ever-expanding legacy of industrial and consumerist waste," corroborates the US-based professor of art history, Sylvester Ogbechie. "Unlike most artists with an apocalyptic vision, the Junk Man seems to predict that social order is at risk not from some vast technological mishap (say a nuclear mushroom cloud) but that we simply risk being undone by waste. An organism dies

when it can no longer separate itself from its own waste. The Junk Man confronts polite society with the messy fact of its reliance on profligate wastage. His work is increasingly topical and accomplished.”

It is because it is "topical" that the dreadlocks-sporting artist seeks to make a spectacular comeback to the Lagos scene.

"Aseed needs time to become a tree...this is according to the Law of Gestation,” he says.

His easily-recognisable installations have been featured at international art meets. One example is “Waitin’ for Bus”, which was shown alongside other works at an Africa Remix show in the UK. Another example was his classic installations “Wear and Tear”, which he describes “as a concept”, because it “attempts to expose the often overlooked and underrated elements of the African-urban communal life, which largely influence it.”

“The alienated situation of the African in his own society becomes tragic,” he adds. “There is a struggle inside him, a consciousness of living with the complications of an imposed civilisation. He can no longer go back to pick up the fragments of his father’s shattered culture; neither is he equipped enough to keep pace with the white man’s world.”

There are also his performances, which are no less thought-provoking. Another flashback to the early 2000. Then, the Goethe-Institut was located in a creek-side premises along Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island. The Junk Man, standing before a seemingly attentive audience as “Professor Junk”, was explaining with the aid of a chalkboard what looked like a mathematical equation meant to denote the society’s decadent values. Another performance, “Who wan’ Visa”, parodied the hellish experiences of Nigerians applying for American visa.

The performances were, of course, complementary to his installation pieces.

Among the earliest of these performances was one alluding to an orange seller, which was one of the events lined up at the opening of the Junk Yard Museum in Lagos.

In attendance was the much-respected Ghanaian-born University of Nigeria, Nsukka-based artist, Professor El Anatsui.

Perhaps, it would not be wrong to call the Junk Man’s narrative art a swipe at the decadence of Africa’s moral fabric. After all, he attacks the governments for their ineptitude even as he mocks the people for their gullibility.

His works have also been featured at the 2006 edition of the Dakar Biennale and the third Guangzhou Triennial in China in 2008, among other events. In 2010, he conjured what he called “Busy Street” from local waste for the Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art in Israel to reflect Israel’s consumer society.

He has, in addition, exhibited in most reputable museums in the world, which include Centre Pompidou in Paris, France, JAG South Africa, Victoria and Albert Museum in London, UK, MOC in Osaka, Japan, Museum Kunst-Palast in Düsseldorf, Germany and Modena Musert in Stockholm, Sweden, among others.

Obviously, the 58-year-old’s profile has transcended his academic credentials: a BAdegree in Art from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and an MFAfrom the University of Dundee, Scotland.

These, he has burnished with several workshops and residencies in different parts of the world. He has also delved into music, the martial arts and metaphysics, among other things.

On the prospect of the re-opening of the Junk Yard Museum, the Lagos art scene seems upbeat.

“The ovation has been loud,” the Junk Man says.

“And so is the enthusiasm, as the people could follow the storyline through the social media.”

60

JULY ͯͳ˜ ͰͮͯͶ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

ARTS & REVIEW\\MOVIES

EMA EDOSIO GETS A NIGERIAN BOY’S LIFE RIGHT IN KASALA! Oris Aigbokhaevbolo

2

018 has not been a very good year for Nollywood. It is almost June and the industry has not produced an Ojukokoro, a ’76, and certainly no Confusion Na Wa. Viewers are yet to see anything that has a filmmaker’s artistic vision stamped across the duration of a film. What we have had instead are the incoherent comedy of Toyin Aimakhu and the glitzy faddishness of Mo Abudu.

But Kasala, directed by Ema Edosio and yet to reach cinemas, might yet save the year.

The film takes place within a day and follows four boys living in mainland Lagos. We are introduced to them the morning of a party they plan to attend, their cramped apartment, petty squabbles and meagre living a contrast to what joys this party might bring. Everybody loves a party but if you lived where they live you too would seek momentary escape.

To enter in style, TJ gets the bright idea to steal his uncle Taju’s car. And so it goes: the party is swell, the plan goes well—until Abraham, who has asked to drive on the way to the party, surreptitiously dispossesses TJ of the car keys. This theft is the film’s pivotal action and is one of many moments Edosio’s film shows an understanding of the average male friendship: of how mischief and good intentions between boys are frequently and necessarily entwined.

Abraham crashes the car in an unconvincing scene: It is not very clear how the scar at the centre of the windshield has come to be. Nonetheless the boys now have to find a way to fix the car before Brother Taju returns from his job at the butchery.

While the boys come up with several ideas on how to fix the car, Brother Taju is himself having a torrid time. He tries some hide-and-seek with both his employer and the local Shylock he owes money but the goons sent by the latter (played by Jide Kosoko) are alert to his tricks. In one scene, he visits a friend owing him but the guy runs into his house, shuts the door, and he has to carry out a desperately hilarious conversation through a window. Fact is: the film’s adults in Kasala are just as beleaguered as the kids and remarkably both the boys and the adults are treated without condescension. It would be easy and cheap to make out the kids as heart-ofgold heroes and the adults as opposite but that would be too cheap. Instead we get genuine some progressive suspense.

Will the boys succeed? If they don’t how do they face Brother Taju?

Edosio juggles all of the strands of her story admirably, her major achievement being the film’s pacing. After one setpiece ends, before long there is another and then another, all of which she stitches together with some of the deftest editing in recent Nollywood history. For an industry notoriously prone to misjudging pace, Kasala feels like a novelty.

Of course in cinema of this kind, technical mastery is nothing without the story which itself is nothing without good casting. And while it might be due to a low budget, the use of entirely unknown faces to play all four boys feels like a production masterstroke. These young actors don’t have the burden of previous acting history and so it seems like they have been life-long friends who we have just happened on at this time in their lives. Many times their dialogue is so natural it feels improvisational—not in terms of sloppiness but in how inevitably one line leads to the next. The script conveys one of the basic rules of friendship at this level: merciless mocking

and the acceptance of it is sometimes the ultimate display of affection. The one perhaps avoidable trap of the ease and high verisimilitude of Kasala’s dialogue turns up in a revelation of sexual abuse suffered by one of the boys. It is brought up and dismissed. I came to think of it as a missed opportunity to present the group of boys—and the film itself—with a more substantial emotional centre.

Still, Kasala’s true subject is the life of boys wanting to be men. It should be seen by young Nigerians, many of whom have not yet had the opportunity of seeing themselves on the big screen doing recognisably young Nigerian things. But then again, everyone should see Kasala when they get the chance, not just because it tells a truly Nigerian story with believable characters—but also because it is very good fun.

––Aigbokhaevbolo the West African editor of MusicInAfrica.net, writes from Lagos

A scene from the movie

The Inverted Pyramid; Adapted from a novel by Emeka Dike

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WEEKLY PULL-OUT

15.07.2018

CHIKA IKE

I USE NOLLYWOOD TO OPEN DOORS FOR ME

ASSISTANTEDITOROLUFUNKEOLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ͯͳ, ͰͮͯͶ

COVER R

IT WAS A JOURNEY THAT TOOK SEVEN YEARS. I WOULD WRITE FOR ONE MONTH AND SUSPEND IT FOR ANOTHER MONTH BECAUSE I WOULD CRY. IT WAS A PROCESS FOR ME BECAUSE IT IS A JOURNEY ABOUT ME. SO, BOSS UP EXPOSED A LOT ABOUT ME THAT YOU MAY NOT LOVE. BOSS UP WILL CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ABOUT LIFE

CHIKA IKE

I’m Now An Open Book for Nigerians to Read Her road to stardom was paved with odds. Chika Ike exemplifies the grass-to-grace cliché. But she is more than that as a young woman excelling in a country where women are often given a raw deal – expected to fail and kneel down at the mercy of some men. It may still be a man’s world but Nigerian women are picking up the gauntlet and showing the world how success, industry and fulfilment can be blended with class and style. Funke Olaode writes

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eautiful; brilliant; brave; and breathtaking – Chika Ike stands for all that and more. First is her 13 years on the grind in Nollywood, gracing the world’s third largest silver screen. Until that time, she was just the fourth child of a family of six – from Ekwulobia in Anambra State – in Papa Ajao in Mushin. Meet Chika Ike. Her self-discovery into the world of movies began in secondary school when she used to stand in front of the class narrating soap operas and movies she had watched to her classmates.

She had to endure some years of waiting before she could explore her artistry because her parents did not approve of her desire.

Last Saturday, Chika was caught again in the klieg light, not for starring in a new movie.

With a throng of people, petulant to catch a glimpse of her and get a copy of her book, the young Nollywood actress has raised the bar of

hard work, ingenuity and serendipity. Walking majestically into the waiting arms of the media, Chika – decked in cream jacket and a pair of pants – enthralled all with her beauty – an embellishment of her brain. Though reticent, Nigerians can read all about her in her new book, Boss Up. “I am a very private person but if you read this book, ‘Boss Up’ you read me, the truth and my journey. Boss Up is a 41-chapter book that covers all the obstacles we go through in life: money, self-esteem, fear, relationships.

With Boss Up, I opened up a lot about myself.

I dabbled into what we go through in life and gave a guide on how to conquer our fears.

People say I try to live my best life. Yes, I try to because life is short,” she says.

But to her, life is more than being short.

“Life is a journey and is full of ups and downs.

I am talking from an angle of my mother who died at a very young age and I realise that life

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CHIKA IKE

COVER

MY TAKEAWAYS FROM HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL is a journey and as a being you can’t determine how long you are going to live because you don’t even know what happens tomorrow. So you have to embrace today and make the best out of it,” she counsels.

The book, Boss Up, has five sections: one talks about Chikaidibia – her full name – which means ‘my God is greater than any soothsayers or any obstacles’. According to her, the name came up out of an event “during my birth”.

She explains further: “I was rejected from birth by my father because he didn’t want a girl. So, it (that section) talks about me, my challenges growing up and the rejection I faced from my family. The book also talks about the business world because people think I like money. Well, they may be right because I grew up with nothing and don’t want to be a failure and I always push myself to succeed. I want to challenge myself to be somebody people thought I can never be.

“In the business world (section), I talk about how to have a successful business. I went to Harvard Business School. Harvard Business School was a launch pad for me because I found myself in a room with professionals – big people who run global businesses – sitting among business tycoons. I talked about tricks and how to run a successful business.”

Chika also underscores the importance of the society in human’s existence. To run a successful business empire goes beyond huge money and Chika explains why. “When I was in Harvard Business School, the first two weeks was about personal case studies and personal development. I was given a coach and I was like I didn’t come here to talk about my family and my life. But the school authority realizes that before you can be successful in your business you must deal with the home front first. Every successful man and woman you see out there has succeeded in their families. They gave me a personal coach who went deep into my personal life: my family, my upbringing and me. I was someone who was brought up guided but Harvard Business School unguided me. They made me stand in front of over 200 professionals to talk about my life. I spoke so much about my life, family and how I was

rejected by my father who was a good husband and father to all his children. But I didn’t have a good relationship with him growing up. I learnt early that you have to fight for yourself because at the end of the day it is you alone. I talked about my father, my mother and my siblings.”

Still throwing more light on what her readers should expect, she talks about another factor pertinent to success. “I mentioned grace because I believe that we do not exist alone on this earth. I believe that there is a superior power you can go to and ask for forgiveness because human beings can be very judgmental because they see everything that you do but God is the only one that cannot criticize you and will protect you in all your ways. So I have this relationship with Him. A friend of mine once told me that to succeed in life you need 40 per cent hard work and 60 per cent grace, favour and lucky. For me, I call it favour, I call it grace.

It is good to work hard to succeed but you must have a guiding power which is God,” the author states.

For Chika, the journey into writing Boss Up was wrought with tears and fears. “It was a journey that took seven years. I would write for one month and suspend it for another month because I would cry. It was a process for me because it is a journey about me. So, Boss Up exposed a lot about me that you may not love.

Boss Up will change your perspective about life. It will tell you how to succeed, and Boss Up will tell you can do it no matter where you came from. I once struggled to pay my house rent.

I was told ‘no’ a lot of time with doors being slammed at my face. I didn’t get here because I am an actress. I got a lot of ‘nos’ in my life.

You get ‘nos’ in your life but you have to keep pushing.”

But there is something else that inspired her to write the book. She confesses: “Another inspiration to write that book was my mum who passed away two years ago. I was sitting on her sickbed in the hospital and she asked me a question whether I would ever get to publish my book because she was also an author. I was like I am scared. She looked into my eyes and was like: ‘tell the truth’. That was the day I said to myself that I would go ahead. My

mother propelled me and after she passed on I found that this life is very short and as a being, you don’t know what tomorrow holds so the earlier you start running your race and achieving your best goals.”

What informed the title of the book?

“The initial title was ‘I Chose to Be’ because whatever choice you make in life makes you.

One morning, I wasn’t excited about the title because I wanted something that would call to action. Then I was going through a social media when I stumbled on a quote that says, ‘Boss up or you get bossed around and l liked it. And that stuck with me. Boss Up makes you spring up from your seat to achieve your dreams,” she points out.

With Boss Up, Chika has unravelled a lot about herself. Doesn’t she think she is giving Nigerians too much of herself? “I am unperturbed. God makes you go through a lot of things in your life for you to learn and to share. I want to be a blessing to others – that is my view about life. People will always have their perspective about living and even with the dead. For me, basically, I have passed through that stage of being judged. Right now, I am learning everyday to focus on me. I can’t control people’s thoughts and I am responsible for what I do. People would always have that idea. Am I sacred? Yes. I get uncomfortable sometimes but not worried,” she says.

For Chika, determination, perseverance and being focused no doubt has played a huge role in her life – five times she applied to Harvard and four times her application was rejected. So, why did she keep on applying? “I was disappointed because I did not know that Harvard selection process is done abroad and even realise that even the professor’s children teaching in Harvard don’t get automatic admission. I was depressed and really wanted to go to a business school and not just any business school but Harvard which I believed was out of my reach. I didn’t grow up wanting to go to Harvard because I felt it was out of my reach. I didn’t want to go to just any business school and at the same time I wanted to go to the best. I cried, but at the end I overcame by going to the business school of my dream,”

she says with glint in her eyes.

Not a few will wonder how she will be able to balance her new role as a writer with acting. “We are programmed to multitask but at every moment in your life you must know what method works best for you and prioritize. You can have it all but not at the same time. It is tough but I believe in life God will never give you something that you can’t handle. You must constantly push yourself because most successful people in the world manage several business empires. If I need to step back or take a break I will do that,” she explains.

She has a take on whether actresses do make enough money, in Nollywood as she says: “People often talk about actors and actresses in Nigeria not to be financially buoyant to have a life style. When you realize being an actor, you have series of goodwill that come into your life, and you have business opportunities to invest in. For me, I have always had a business platform. I made my first million when I was 20 years old. To some people, it wasn’t a big deal. I started investing at the age of 20 in real estate. Some people say actors don’t make that kind of money, well, they can speak for themselves because I know the kind of investment I have done over the years. I am an actress and acting has opened doors for me.”

While Nigerians may continue to watch Chika as she keeps evolving, her future is never in doubt as she points out: “I constantly push myself. I want to keep pushing myself and soar in my acting career beyond the shores of Nigeria and Africa. I want to be the voice for the voiceless. I want to have a breakthrough into the international scene, express my talent further by doing collaborating with Hollywood, if the opportunity arises.”

Is she planning to write another book soon? “Writing is fun and this took me seven years to achieve. I don’t know about years to come. For now, the focus is on Boss Up and on other things. The level of impact I can make in my environment and society at large is my topmost priority,” she answers.

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Inauspicious Andy Ubah!

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Ogbeh

Audu Ogbeh’s Headache

This is not the best of times for the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh as he has been dragged before a Federal High Court in Lagos, by, Cornerstone Leasing and Investment Limited in a bid to recover a debt of N902, 655,866.21.

Joined as co -defendant in the debt recovery suit is a scrap metals supplying company, Paz Oil Limited.

In a statement of claim filed before the court by a Lagos lawyer, Barrister Okechukwu Umemuo, it was alleged that between May 2011 and July 2013, Paz Oil Limited applied for and was granted various sums of money totalling N255,920,000 as loan Ogbeh was alleged to have executed a personal guarantee in favour of Cornerstone “ for all the sums of money which are due or shall at any time be owing or due from Paz Oil Company.”

It was gathered that the loans, which were taken at different times, were for the LPO facility to finance the execution of a contract for the supply of 10 scrap vessels, LPO facility for the purchase of MV SWIFT SPILT, a lease facility to finance the purchase of a Tug boat, MV Ocean Crest and a lease to finance the purchase of a unit of Ford Edge limited vehicle.

It was also revealed that following Paz’s persistent default in repayment, the claimant instructed its solicitors, The law Crest LLP, to recover the sum owed.

The said Solicitors by their letters dated 8th February, 2017 and 14th February, 2017 to Paz and Ogbe respectively made demands for the repayment of the sums then due.

However, the defendants have allegedly failed to repay the sum owed.

Consequently, the claimant’s claims against the defendants jointly and severally include the sum of N529,487,927.23 being the outstanding principal and accrued interest as at 31st January, on the LPO facilities dated 9th September, 2013; the sum of 258,115,405.08 being the outstanding principal and accrued interest on the LPO facility dated 28th January, 2013; the sum of N 15,052,533.90 being the outstanding principal and accrued interest on the vehicle lease facility.

Meanwhile, the claimant has filed an application before the court for an order for summary judgment against the defendants in the sum stated above with interest as the claimant alleged that the defendants have no defence to this suit.

The presiding Judge A. M. Lawal has adjourned till September 19, 2018 for hearing of the application and for summary judgment.

hen you mention the name Senator Andy Ubah, what immediately comes to mind is the profile of a man who is not only wealthy but highly connected and powerful.

In Anambra State where he hails from, Ubah, a former Special Assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is seen as a political heavyweight.

However, it is confounding that his dream to become the number one citizen of the state is always met with a kiss of death.

Sadly, his inability to clinch the number one job in the state has even made him a subject of ridicule in some quarters as many describe him as a paper tiger.

Ubah’s political baptism of fire started in 2007.

Not one to easily give up on his hope, Ubah has had to jump from one political party to the other to realise his ambition, all to no avail.

It will be recalled that he left his former political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in a bid to realise his dream in the November governorship election.

But the billionaire senator suffered another humiliation of his life when he lost the APC primary to a political rookie, Tony Nwoye.

His defeat shocked his friends who have since warned him to desist from his serial contests. But Ubah doesn’t seem to be bothered.

With his recent humiliation, many claim that his political clout may be on the precipice.

WHO IS AFTER SEGUN AWOLOWO? It must have been one great moment in his life when he was appointed Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC. Aware of the enormous responsibilities of his new office, he settled down to work immediately.

However, his diligence and nononsense attitude have reportedly attracted a lot of enemies to him. Many loathed his gut to inject sanity into the system and were not ready to tolerate him.

Consequently, when his tenure ended and was strategically awaiting his re-appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari, his subordinates

Ubah

were said to have thwarted his efforts.

Immediately the news broke, his traducers went to town, dancing and proclaiming that they had seen his end.

He was said to have told those close to him that he was betrayed. So, he resorted to prayers, assured that God would intervene in his case.

Luckily, his prayer was answered a few months ago when he was re-appointed to the chargrin of his traducers But if you think the storm is over, you are dead wrong. How? It is being said that his re-appointment was due to his relationship with the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo.

But those who know better said

it was based on hard work and dedication when he first occupied the position during the era of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

SEN. IYIOLA OMISORE’S UNINSPIRING ADVENTURE It was Frank Albert, an American fiction writer, who said, “Ambitions tend to remain undisturbed by realities.”

Even if the above quote was inspired by Albert’s personal experience, one Nigerian politician who comes to mind in this context is Senator Iyiola Omisore, a former Osun State’s deputy governor.

Without a doubt, the Ile-Ife, Prince seems to be unmindful of the realities

Femi Otedola’s Pregnant Silence Leaders create new paths where there was none. They make things easier. They provide solutions to the most insurmountable challenges. A leader is there to inspire and motivate.

If there is anyone who fits that descriptions, it is no other than the Chairman of Forte Oil, Femi Otedola.

Little wonder, he is said to be under pressure to throw his hat into the ring and join the governorship race in Lagos State come 2019.

Though, the oil and gas mogul has continued to deny the rumour making the rounds that he is interested in becoming the number one citizen of the state, it has refused to abate. It is becoming a major topic in the state among the elite as well as the grass roots. In fact, it is the hottest discussion today; even though Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

This, as revealed is hot on the heels of the spread of the video that went viral where he boarded “molue”, many believe he used that to fly a kite with

2019 in view.

Society Watch gathered through some reliable sources that the Epe-born Forbeslisted billionaire is now like a beautiful bride that everyone loves to have. He is being approached by some stakeholders in Lagos politics, especially the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. A source who is in the know revealed that Otedola is being invited by the Fuad Oki-led faction of the party.

While many are also informed that he might be a right candidate for Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, following the alleged feud between the party’s chieftain and Ambode.

Another source informed that many would likely be disappointed if he declined the invitation to contest the upcoming governorship election because he fits the bill a good man that will turn around the fortunes of Lagos State due to his experience and connections.

Though he is not apolitical, whether he will yield to the pressure or not remains to be seen.

Otedola

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JULY 15, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

SOCIETY WATCH

When Fred Ajudua Wept Bitterly!

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Segun Awolowo

Iyiola Omisore

Rahama Indimi

around him, politics-wise. Almost all his moves to rise in the ladder of politics have been uninspiring and frustrating.

In the past years, his ambition to become the number one citizen of his state had pitched him against many people in and outside the state.

It all started when he was deputy to the then governor, Chief Bisi Akande. In 2014, he sought, under Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to be the State’s governor, but he lost to the Action Congress candidate, Rauf Aregbesola, even with the federal might. His political career later suffered a huge blow.

But like a cat with nine lives, he tried to come back into reckoning.

Shortly after completing his Ph.D in Engineering that kept him away for a while, he bounced back to his position as a force to be reckoned with in the state’s politics. That was after Ademola Adeleke of PDP won the Osun West senatorial district. He was said to have contributed a great deal to Adeleke’s victory.

Following that development, some of his disciples who had left him during the turbulent years reportedly returned to him. In their thinking, it is his time to realise his age-long ambition of ruling the state this year.

But Society Watch gathered that this might be another case of phantasmagoria, as the intrigues, horsetrading and power play in PDP get

fiercer.

The stakeholders in the party are said to prefer a younger and fresh candidate who has no heavy ‘baggage’ to bear.

In a desperate move to realise his ambition, Omisore dumped PDP for the Social Democratic Party, SDP, which is relatively unknown in the state.

Unfortunately, many of his supporters have again dumped him, thereby leaving him in the cold.

A source, who is in the know, revealed that this might be a great mistake for the politician. “In fact, this may be the end of his political career, as he may be eclipsed politically,’’ the source revealed.

Ronke Onadeko’s Excitement Over the years, Ronke Onadeko has continued to deploy her God-given talent to the betterment of humanity through her Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), a non-profit organisation.

Blessed with brains and beauty, she believes that women play important roles in the society.

Recently, she swelled the number of Nigerian female writers, when she launched her book ‘To My Younger Self’, a collection of inspiring stories and letters from 24 outstanding individuals in Nigeria at the popular Rele Gallery in Lagos.

Talking about the book, she said: “To My Younger Self features 24 authentic journeys of people who have had very rich experiences. In their letters, they shared the things they wished they had known; things they wished someone had told them; things they had learnt themselves; mistakes they had made and how they overcame the challenges. I’m hoping that this book will help young people, entrepreneurs and people transiting in their careers to gain clarity by learning from the experience of others to save time.

“The reason this book is important is because we want to get it into the hands of 10,000 young people before the end of the summer and I want this book to mentor and guide them. I want people who read this book to understand that there is a need for a strategic, informed and intentional way to grow themselves and their businesses and to plan their lives and careers.”

The book contains letters from the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Aishah Ahmad; Founder of Ruff ‘n’ Tumble Mrs Nike Ogunlesi; CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Genevieve Magazine, Mrs. Betty Irabor; Founder, LEAP Nigeria, Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli; Country Managing Partner of KPMG; Mr. Kunle Elebute and CEO, Forte Oil, Mr. Akin Akinfenwa, among others.

Special guests present at the event included Mrs. Aishah Ahmad, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, Ibilola Amao, Mrs. Adeola Azeez, Uzo Nwani, Chizor Malize, Foluso Gbadamosi and Chinwe Egwim, among others.

Onadeko is a seasoned professional with experience in both the Nigerian public and private sector. She has been active in the

Onadeko

beverage manufacturing and marketing business, agriculture and agribusiness ventures, oil and gas as well as powerrelated projects to mention but a few.

She is also the principal consultant at DRNL Consult Limited, United Kingdom and Delt-R Company Limited, Nigeria. She is on the Board of several companies with interests in agriculture, food and beverage manufacturing, telecommunications, education and human capacity development and oil and gas sector.

e used to be one of the biggest spenders in the social circle.

In fact, he was a darling of many musicians, especially Fuji and Juju music stars, who constantly sang his praises and were handsomely rewarded in return.

Many artistes would gladly choose to perform free of charge, as long as his name was on the guests’ list.

Such is the influence and popularity of Fred Ajudua way back in the 1990s.

Not a few purposely took trips to his Victoria Garden City (VGC) home in Lagos styled after an Arabian palace.

Everything about the architectural masterpiece oozed taste and wealth.

But today, Ajudua is now treated with disdain by many. His popularity has suffered serious decline, following his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly defrauding two Dutch businessmen of $1.69 million.

He is also standing trial for allegedly defrauding a former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, of $8.4m, while they were both in custody at the Kirikiri Prison in Lagos between November 2004 and June 2005.

In the face of the overwhelming shame that he has reportedly brought upon himself by his alleged undisciplined act, he wept uncontrollably, last week, when he was denied bail and remanded in Kirikiri prison custody by Justice Mojisola Dada of the Ikeja Special Offences Court. while observers of recent developments say that it is too early in the day for him to cry, as the trial has not yet commenced.

Mohammed Abubakar and Parsimoniousness

I

n the past months, tongues seem to be wagging about the administrative style of Bauchi State Governor, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar. Out of sheer curiosity, some say it could be due to the harsh economic condition in Nigeria, which has consequently forced many state governors to be circumspect.

To keen observers of happenings in the state, Abubakar is known to frown on financial recklessness, particularly when it borders on public funds. But SOCIETY WATCH learnt that he is taking his prudence to an alarming level. Or how would one describe this scenario that played out a few weeks ago in the state?

Society Watch gathered that the lawyer-turned-politician was returning from one of his trips to the local governments in the state when he was accosted by some members of a vigilance group. The group had, prior to its encounter with the governor, engaged some dare-devil robbers in a shoot-out. It was gathered that one of the group members had been shot in the legs by the robbers. So, on sighting the governor’s entourage, their spirit had been buoyed, particularly when he stopped and got down from his vehicle.

But they never bargained for what they got, as the governor reportedly handed a measly amount of money to the injured member for his treatment.

As he counted the four pieces of N1000 notes, the affected member was said to have looked so dejected and downcast.

JULY 1, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

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High Life

WITH LANRE ALFRED 08076885752

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous

Did Aliko Dangote Just Stir Up A Hornet’s Nest?

Why Billionaire Businessman Told FT That He Needs A Wife

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the inconveniences of life. Dangote lives a charmed life; besides his immense wealth and socio-economic clout, urban legend has it that, living or working within his radar obliges anyone to indescribable perks hence it is understandable that the crème of Nigeria’s high society women would fall over themselves to get a piece of Dangote.

Although the billionaire businessman has been married and divorced twice; the long list of women wanting to be linked with him romantically keeps increasing. However, Dangote has revealed that at 61, he is not getting any younger, and he is willing to take on a new wife. Speaking with David Piling in a Financial Times interview, Lunch with FT, he revealed a soft side of himself and talked about his ambition to buy

Arsenal Football Club after successfully leading Nigeria’s oil refining revolution.

Dangote revealed that his schedule is inhibiting romance. The founder of Dangote Group, with three grown-up daughters, told FT that he is on the lookout for a new bride. He however adds a caveat: “I’m not getting younger. Sixty years is no joke. But it doesn’t make sense to go out and get somebody if you don’t have the time. Right now, things are really, really very busy, because we have the refinery, we have the petrochemicals, we have the fertiliser, we have the gas pipeline.” But he agrees that he needs to “calm down a bit”. Now that he has come out to say he needs a wife, many a beautiful woman has been trying to reach out to the business mogul through friends

ËØÑÙÞÏ

Zahra Indimi

Terry Waya

Oyamuyefa Alamieyeseigha

Abdussamad Dasuki

JOY OF A MOTHER…AISHA BUHARI IS OVER THE MOON AS DAUGHTER, ZAHRA INDIMI, GIVES BIRTH TO A BABY BOY IN SPAIN

this reality a few weeks ago when he flew to Spain to be with his beloved wife and the forthcoming child. The couple, with this new addition to their family, it is expected that they will embark on a more blissful sojourn along the stormy terrain of matrimony.

Contrary to insidious speculation that their marriage would not survive the ravages of fame and celebrity, the daughter of Mr. President navigates the tumultuous terrains of matrimony with towering confidence and a gait that bespeaks an inviolate inner peace and contentment.

life. This much is exemplified in the enviable friendship between Terry Waya and the wealthy Chargoury brothers. Whatever anyone thinks, Terry will forever remain indebted to the Chargoury brothers. Wayas appreciates Gilbert and Ronald Chargoury exactly the way less the privileged folks of the medieval era, appreciated the Knights Templar. It will be recalled that the business magnate was, many months ago, flown abroad so that he may access better medical services and treatment for his ailment.

Gilbert and Ronald Chargoury reportedly contributed a great deal to the successful treatment. The latter is allegedly filled with gratitude to the Lebanese brothers who deemed it as their duty to support him in his time of need. Waya is particularly grateful to the brothers who never failed to call him and offer him words of encouragement. Their devotion to him in his time of need and their apparent wish that he recuperated as soon as possible entrenched love for the Lebanese brothers in Waya’s heart. A connoisseur of sorts when it comes to choice drinks, Terry knows his wines and cognacs as intimately as a child understands his sandbox. Until recently, he dwelt in relative obscurity. But

Terry is back! In his 50s and with looks that good money and good living have helped to further burnish, you may call him a ladies’ man for his gorgeous dress sense and expensive taste in Versace apparel. No wonder he has been described as a ladykiller whose aura effortlessly draws the finest species of womenfolk ranging from blacks, blondes to brunettes and exotic Orientals.

reedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. Courage makes it both a moral duty and pleasure to speak one’s mind. And the chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, understands this immutable fact. Yes, there is a scent about Dangote’s wealth; it has a sweet tang attached to it, like the lure pollen nectar presents to the summer fly. Dangote is filthy rich and every woman wants a piece of his filthy lucre. Every woman wishes to be Mrs. Dangote. Most women would love to be the bride of Dangote knowing it’s a sure way to bribe themselves through

Mirth and merry have taken residence again in the presidential villa, as one of the daughters of President Muhammadu Buhari gave birth to a baby boy in Spain last Monday. Mother and child are said to be in tip-top shape. Zahra got married to Ahmed Indimi, the son of oil mogul, Mohammed Indimi, last year in a private wedding ceremony. And to prove their commitment, abiding love for each other, and to increase the population of Nigeria, Zahra, just gave birth to a boy. The eversmiling Zahra is completely besotted by her hubby and says this baby is evidence of their made-in-heaven love affair. However, her mother, the First Lady, is more than glad to welcome her first grandson.

Interestingly, marriage to Zahra is like the first incandescent spokes of sunlight after a long, forgettable night. Prior to her delivery, her husband, Ahmed, had been duly ecstatic about his forthcoming child from his sweetheart. He lent credence to

FIRE STARTER…WHY NIKE ANIMASHAUN IS CONSIDERED WORTHY OF THE HONOUR Nike Animashaun is unusual. She exudes the savvy of the ancients, the type of spunk that spurred medieval Amazons to dare and surpass exploits that were the exclusive preserve of men. She projects that shrewd, indefatigable spirit that shepherds the greatest of men to most enviable heights. Nike served the Lagos State government in different capacities for 18 years before she was retired by the Akinwunmi Ambode administration in 2015 with other 20 permanent secretaries. Whilst in service she was known for her honesty, hard work,

FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS… WHY TERRY WAYA DOES NOT JOKE WITH CHARGOURY BROTHERS AGAIN!

It’s often said, the people we get along with, trust and feel simpatico with are the strongest links in our networks. Ask veteran socialite, Terry Waya, he knows. There is no union of hearts that does not meet its end; friends after friends leave each other, but comrades in true spirit stay. With them, the deep, tightly woven fabric of affection glistens even with wear and the inescapable vicissitudes of companionship and emotional

humility, diligence, due process and transparency. She was also known to be very strict and disciplined when discharging her official duties. In 2015, she was amongst the permanent secretaries honoured and given an award for her excellence, exemplary leadership and selfless service to Lagos State by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. She was appointed as a General Manager in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in 2015 where she continues to demonstrate her ability for hard work, commitment and selfless service. There is no gainsaying Nike exemplifies a totally modern, yet timeless construct of audaciousness and femininity which manifests as a

blend of dashing individuality, genius and noble pedigree. Folk who are familiar with her beginnings and ascent in government earnestly attest to her industry. She worked hard to attain her current status and she is far removed from the contemporary alpha female stereotype that glorifies flamboyance, self-aggrandizement and narcissism above substance. Whether at work or at play, Nike applies herself diligently like one who understands that the best prize life offers is the chance to work hard and excel at work worth doing. Spurred by untiring passion to assert herself and establish her ingenuity at work, she has won many souls over and has had even her most ardent critics eating from her

SCARS OF WAR… WHY FAMILY KEEPS CLOSE TABS ON MARGARET ALAMIEYESEIGHA

˾ Ùá ÝÒÏ ÓÝ ÖÏËØÓØÑ ÞÙ Ý×ÓÖÏ ËÑËÓØ Like an ill wind that blows no good, death afflicted Margaret Alamieyeseigha in the strangest of ways. It claimed the two most precious men in her life in one year. News of their deaths filtered to the ears and consciousness of the foremost socialite, wiping out all traces of gaiety and love. She was afflicted by deaths of the two men she cherished most in her life. She lost her confidant and soul mate, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, the former Bayelsa State governor. She also lost his son, Oyamuyefa

palms.

SAINT WITH A GUN…HOW GBOLAHAN LAWAL BECAME A LONG-SERVING COMMISSIONER IN LAGOS ˾ Ùá Ï ËÝ ÖÏËØÏÎ ßÞ ÓÑ Ó×Ï

The tang of money is sweet like nectar; the common procurer of tastes and species of woodland butterflies.

Thus a chap with money attains the visage of a charmed man. Gbolahan Lawal has caught the money bug. His designation and encounter with money functions for him as a procurer of people, plaudits and prestige just like it did for

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JULY 8, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

HIGHLIFE

Instant Superstar! Iya Adura, Esther Ajayi, Becomes Everyone’s Darling How Dele Momodu Brought Her out of Anonymous Cocoon

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es, nature gave her the form of a woman; but her actions have raised her to the level of the most valiant of men. There is no gainsaying the pride of place Reverend Esther Abimbola Ajayi occupies in Nigeria’s league of extraordinary titans. Like a lady with a lamp, she stands in the great history of the land, embodying a noble type of valour and heroic womanhood. Iya Adura symbolizes the incontestable affirmation of charm and élan as acceptable traits in a virtuous woman.

Being a Christian, according to her, should not sentence anyone to the dungeons of bleakness and aesthetic barrenness. Esther glamourizes her trendiness and love for high fashion in white garment as much as her love for God. Every patina of Esther’s character, from her enthralling femininity to her imperceptible assertiveness, conveys a sphinx-like magnetism. She is a total woman; an enchanting equal to a postmodern heroine imbued with style, engaging irresistibility and intellectual depth. A distinguished icon of female power on the spiritual realm, she presents a perfect portrait of a celebrity workaholic with intimidating depth and drive for excellence.

Interestingly, Iya Adura, Esther Alamieyeseigha. It would be recalled that in October 2014 to be precise, her husband, the man formerly known as the “GovernorGeneral of the Ijaw nation” had to fly to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), in a state of shock and agonizing sadness, to retrieve the corpse of Oyamieyifa, one of their sons who died in controversial circumstances.

And just when she and her husband were coming to grips with the reality of Oyamieyifa’s death, Tonbra, their other son, broke up with his wife of seven months, Chikodi Stella Ononiwu. Tonbra’s separation from his wife occurred very early 2015 in controversial circumstances and after she and her husband treated the couple to a grand society wedding. Shortly after, Margaret scared her late husband by falling ill. While dealing with the tragic occurrences in the lives of their wards, her late husband was forced to watch helplessly as she (Margaret) slipped further into ill health. However, contrary to fears of their friends and family, Margaret did not yield to the agony of her bad health, rather her husband was the one who died suddenly, to her chagrin and that of their loved ones. Despite her bad health, Margaret survived the scare of sudden death but no sooner had her husband die than her health condition worsened. Now for all

his predecessors in that ministry. There is money in the Housing Ministry, like his predecessors, is making the most of it within the ambits of the law, due process and professional ethics. Now in and around Lagos, Gbolahan is renowned and respected for his deep pocket and la vida loca lifestyle. He was commissioned as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent in the Nigeria Police Force. While in service he held several duty posts amongst which was as the aide-de-camp (ADC) to the one-time Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, between 2001 and 2007. He retired voluntarily from the police in 2008 as a superintendent of Police. He was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Special Projects to Governor Babatunde

Esther Ajayi

Ajayi, finally has her shot at the limelight. Thanks to Bashorun Dele Momodu, the Publisher of Ovation international. But unlike the random celebrity diva who covets and jostles for her 15 minutes on the slippery slope of acclaim, Esther’s renown for the long haul. Suddenly, the spiritual leader of Love of Christ Generation C&S Church, in Clapham, London, has the misery she has had to endure, she has waded out of the sinking sands of grief with well-healed scratches and scars of defeat. For Margaret, life must go on. She is gradually learning to smile again. Not surprisingly, a family source said she has been telling everyone now that for the rest of her life, she would serve the Lord Almighty as the family and friends are keeping tabs on her.

ON DASUKI’S SILENT 40TH ANNIVERSARY

˾ Ùá ÞÒÏ ÒÙØÙßÜËÌÖÏ ÏâÚÏÜÓÏØÍÏÎ ÝÒÙÍÕÏÜ ÐÜÙ× áÓÐÏ Turning 40 has its perks; even as the ides of youth take a last bow, life unfolds more colourfully with blossoms of closure and hope undiminished for the celebrant. That is why Honaurable Abdussamad Dasuki, a lawmaker representing Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency of Sokoto State, intends to observe this crucial turn in his life with total modesty and gratitude for a life well spent.

He decided to shun grandiose celebrations and observe his 40th birthday in a low-key fashion penultimate Saturday. Unlike too many of his peers who would rather ignore the harsh realities of the day to cavort with friends and family, Dasuki, like a catechist burdened with the sins of his parish, called

Raji Fashola (SAN) between 2008 and 2011 and later served as a commissioner in the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives under the Fashola administration, between July 2011 and May 2015. He became the commissioner for Housing under Governor Ambode in 2015. Today, Gbolahan is millionaire many times over. Gbolahan is a dude to treasure. His charm strikes the sight at first encounter but it is his merit that wins the soul of every fresh acquaintance he makes. The commissioner, having acquainted himself with the best that has been taught and known in the world, commands the applause and devotion of the human spirit in ways that confound even his boss, Ambode. Gbolahan is

become everybody’s darling. Before now, Esther was relatively unknown to all the people seeking to befriend her right now in Nigeria. But like all successful people, no sooner had she become prominent that tales have begun to emerge about her, some have been positive, others negative.

But everything you have heard or read about this powerful, spirit-filled daughter of the Most High pales into insignificance when you meet the lady fondly called Iya Aladura one-onone. She is a charmer and extremely rich and always the cynosure of all eyes; she attracts admirable stares every time she steps out and into the church. Esther who is ably supported by her husband, Mr. Ajayi, whose vision of exceeding greatness from God Church has grown the church in leaps and bounds with signs and wonders. She started the church in 2007. According to her, “alongside starting the church, my husband was seriously sick, we became homeless, my husband went back to Nigeria; there were so many ups and downs, tribulations but I was comforted by the book of John 16: 33, He said we should be of good cheer that he had conquered the world. And here we are today. for deeper reflection and sensitivity to the plight of the country’s long-suffering citizenry. Dasuki shunned merriment and pageantry with the modesty and unabashed sensitivity of nobility. He is certainly not cut out for celebrating birthdays. He would rather add value to people’s lives and stay quiet in palatial home where he would commune with his Creator and show gratitude for sparing him for yet another lifetime. Abdussamad was probably content to see no other verdure than his lawn on his 40th birthday. His ravishing wife, had a shocker for him in their home. She hosted him and some family members to a sumptuous dinner. She didn’t want her husband’s 40th birthday to go uncelebrated.

In many ways, their love could be likened to an oak and that is because nothing could be more representative of their love than a beautiful, strong tree. Thus as they made merry and dined with the surprised Honourable, the chief hostess and sweetheart of the celebrant regaled whoever cared to listen with endearing recap of the first encounter that blossomed into a lifetime commitment between them. She recounted memories of her first awakening into love with the man that is now her husband and best friend.

Closet Lovers…Who Fathered Lynda Ikpeazu’s Twins?

Honourable Lynda Ikpeazu is, effortlessly, the most visible female lawmaker in Abuja. Regal without much ado and charming without spending the whole day in front of the mirror, Lynda has had her fair share under the luminous klieg light of the society. But she is not in any way losing her appeal and luster among peers and contemporaries.

She however continues to confuse a lot of her friends and admirers and prospective suitors as regards her marital status. Pretty and conscious of it, she has maximized the advantage quite well. However, some weeks ago, Lynda gave birth to a set of twins, a boy and girl in America. And since she gave birth, the identity of the father of the two beautiful children is not known, even as you read. Lynda keeps so many of her friends and family guessing as to the actual nature of her relationship with the father of her babies who is reportedly head over heels in love with her. A source close to her however, revealed that it remains uncertain if the man would take her hand in marriage anytime soon as he is reportedly unprepared for marriage. Lynda is a woman whose foray into the high society was marked with victory as the maiden Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria back then in 1986. In 1987, she was the first Nigerian in Miss Universe since Edna Park in 1964, and her biggest pageant achievement was when she was crowned Miss Africa in the same year. She went on to conquer the social scene as she became the toast of every social function through the late 1980s and early 90s. The daughter of a judge and two-time chairman of the Nigerian Football Association, Chuba Ikpeazu, has hardly been an item with any known dude; and if any, she has been taciturn about it. Her conception and delivery of a twin, which came as a surprise, defied biological science that stipulates the golden age as the age of menopause. She put to bed at 52. Like a breakthrough scientific discovery, unravelling the man fathering her set of twins would be one hard nut well cracked. So, the question on the lips of society eagle eyes is who fathered the Lynda twins? We are waiting to unravel the mystery behind this.

very humble and supportive of his friends and family. Having been in government for over 15 years, Gbolahan never lets his success to get to his head. His friends equally attest to his infectious humility, unwavering love and devotion to her and their loved ones. Gbolahan displays shrewdness and wonderful gift of scrutiny. So adept is he at his vocation that he constantly discovers rare business opportunities often invisible to his peers. Simply put, he has a reputation for good judgment, fair dealing, exactness, and rectitude - which constitute the essence of his good fortune.

Cont’d on pg. 66

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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 ˾ ͯͳ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

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HIGHLIFE

From Sierra Leone To Banana Island…Dapo Abiodun Hosts President Julius Bio To A Dinner

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t is often said that he who rides the tides of industry influences the thought of his times. Eventually, he commands the epochs that follow and impresses his name on eternity. Such an individual no doubt sways the applause of listening Senates. If he is cut of the rare stock that Dr. Dapo Abiodun, the chairman of Corporate Affairs Commission, and the Heyden Group hails from, he effortlessly attracts the patronage of leaders of men. Thus it was hardly surprising that Dapo earned the good graces of the new President of Sierra Leone, Julius Bio. In a rare show of amity, the President took time off his busy schedule to dine with Dapo and friends at his apartment in the prestigious Banana Island, Ikoyi, last weekend. This is no doubt a rare achievement for Dapo considering the fact that royalty hardly patronises ordinary human subjects. In another clime, when a King decides to dine with a subject, it’s akin to breaking bread with a scullery maid or royal gardener - but that was hardly the scenario that played out as Dapo hosted President Bio in his home. The President knew he was dining with a man of charisma, an industry titan well attuned to the grandeur of elite sovereigns and leaders of men. As you read, rivals, associates and friends of have been talking about it. They are aware that only a man of unusual mettle could earn the good graces of a sitting president. However, President Bio

FORMER HEAD OF STATE, YAKUBU GOWON’S LOVE SON, MUSA, MARRIES VIVIAN AGBONKESE There is harmony in the heart of Vivian Agbonkese; bliss activates and runs her soul crazy as sweet nectar intoxicates the two-tailed pasha. Musa is happy again. “Now I know what love is,” said Virgil, a Roman poet in the Throes of Love. Musa is feeling just the same. There is joy and misery in his home now. Happiness is not an ideal of reason but of imagination, many a philosopher would tirelessly contend, but to Musa, happiness is Vivian. According to an insider, Vivian’s ascent the throne, his bedroom and inner cockles of his heart, was divinely ordained. The ceremonies have ended. The husband has taken his wife home. Whatever anybody says or

L-R Dr. Dapo Abiodun, Ooni of Ife, President Julius Bio

was more than happy to be in Nigeria as he praised Dr. Dapo Abiodun to the high heavens. According to Bio, “Dapo is one of the few Nigerians I respect so much for his remarkable contribution to the development of the Sierra Loane-Nigerian relations and also for the advancement and betterment of humanity”. He was

the centre of attraction that night; he bowled everyone over with his infectious candor and charisma.

People who know him well never got tired of purring odes about him on his account of his powerful speech. His oratorical prowess and his well-groomed intelligence was overwhelming enough to elicit never-

feels, the process of increasing Nigeria’s population must have begun in the confines of their home. You couldn’t have forgotten so soon, years ago, former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, owned up to fathering a love child with the late public relations expert, Princess Edith Ike Okongwu, bringing to an end the 48-year-old paternity dispute over Musa. Musa, who returned to Nigeria not too long ago, after about 23 years in the United States, was acknowledged by Gen. Gowon upon the report of a conclusive DNA test. The paternity dispute was the subject of a legal action that reached the Supreme Court in Nigeria, which Okongwu won.

In 2003, while in the US, he lost his mother, a leading socialite in Nigeria who was also a one-time public relations manager of Guinness Nigeria Plc.

Musa Gowon and his bride

ending admiration from everyone. We saw Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi and some top businessmen at the event, the likes of Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Tunde Ayeni, Tayo Ayeni, Segun Senbajo, Bashorun Dele Momodu, Dr. Yemi Onabowale, Kayode Odukoya, Biola Akinola, and the new MD of Wema bank, Ademola Adebise.

The Billion-Dollar Friendship... Why NNPC Boss, Maikantu Baru, Worships Remi Makanjuola

MONEY TALKS... GABRIEL OGBECHIE, POWER BEHIND THE THRONE

For Remi Makanjuola, fortune Corporation (NNPC). Remi is indeed, beckons every turn, enterprise accords on a roll. It would be recalled that he him a greasy smile and the industry is was awarded a contract by Shell that dew-pearled. Like the proverbial hunter commenced in April. The 60-somethingwho always gets the prize game because year-old man is indeed lucky. Findings he has made friends with the forest gods, revealed that Baru is always eager to help Remi makes a killing at every exploit. him because he helped Baru when No doubt, the future unfurls to the road was rough for the Remi in luxuriant plains and this NNPC boss. It’s certainly is because he dares to dream payback time for Remi and explore terrains many of as Baru is pulling all his peers are known to scorn the stops to reward .As a further testament to him for standing with his entrepreneurial savvy, him when things were influence and depth, Remi tough. To Remi, Baru was recently awarded a is loyal to the bone mouth-watering contract hence there isn’t the with the assistance of likelihood of betrayal Maikantu Baru, the Group or an impasse between Maikantu Managing Director (GMD) of them, according to very Baru the Nigerian National Petroleum close sources to the duo.

Gabriel Ogbechie might not have been accorded any specific public office in his home state of Delta, but call him the ‘Power Behind The Throne’, you might just be hitting the nail.

In Delta State where Ifeanyi Okowa reigns as the numero uno, Ogbeche, the Rainoil Limited boss, has a gripping influence and decides what comes and goes in the seat of power.

Ogbechie registered his would-be influence when he signified his readiness to bankroll Okowa’s electioneering. Not only did he make good of his promise by doling out a whooping sum of N100 million to the Okowa Project, he went ahead to ensure that Okowa emerged the Peoples Democratic Party’s standard bearer in Delta State. Ogbechie, whose once apolitical posture seems to have given way to political intrigues, threw in his arsenal to stop Uduaghan’s bid to install his favourite, Anthony Obuh, as successor. Apparently standing in for Ibori, who was then cooling off his heels in a London prison, Ogbechie spent heavily and took control of the PDP machinery which he deployed to Okowa’s victory at the poll. Okowa

has not been ungrateful in return. No sooner had he been sworn in than he conceded some juicy commissionership slots to him. Most commissioners in Delta today owed their appointments to Ogbechie. You hardly come across a political appointee who would not worship the ground Ogbeche threads on; they all kowtow to him in obeisance. His unfettered access to the seat of power and willingness of Okowa or any commissioner to deliver to him whatever he wants is a testament to his growing clout. He is said to have amassed so huge wealth these past couple of years that he has become a demi-god, as he now owns a private jet with which he has been globetrotting. Those who are privy to the dynamics of power politics in the state have started making conjectures about his political preference for the state come 2019. According to them, he has been championing the re-election project of Okowa due to the governor’s reciprocal gestures. He has also found concurring aid in the state’s political gladiator, Ibori, who has equally offered his blessing to Okowa’s second term bid.

Fo

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JULY 15, 2018 ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

ON THE COUCH

Venerable Joseph Ipinmoye

I Was Born in the ‘Dark Ages’ But Learnt from Soyinka Venerable Joseph Ipinmoye in this interview with Funke Olaode talks about personal struggles and accomplishments in the shadows of colonialism, a world war and Nigeria’s military dictatorship

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Can you recall any childhood pranks that landed you in trouble?

No, I can’t recall any. I did not have time for pranks. I was too busy trying to survive and fend for my mother and siblings. Life became tough when we lost our father – playing pranks was out of the question.

t 90, how has life treated you?

Life has treated me well. There were challenges but God didn’t allow them to overpower me. I was born in a small village in Ekiti. By divine grace I had the opportunity to go to school and make some mark in life.

Were there things you would have done differently?

I don’t think so. Because I was born in the days we could refer to as the ‘dark ages’.

How would you describe that time?

I grew up in a community that was not exposed to modern influences at that time. There was neither electricity nor modern conveniences. But the coming of the Church and education brought development. I had my education at the Methodist School, Itapa, between June 1938 and June 1941.

Afterward, I went to St. Peters Ayede to continue Standard One. The reason was that I was the only one left out of the original six from my community.

Being the only one from my community, I was often bullied by my school mates from other communities. Because the school’s class stopped at Standard Five, I had to change school again – this time to St. Andrews Primary School, Usi, for my Standard Six. I trekked everyday for about 30 miles to Usi. What factors shaped your life?

I attribute the course of my life to the grace of God. In those days, we did not have the opportunities that education and enlightenment had brought. People farmed, a few traded. But in the midst of that, I had a good family background.

My siblings were an inspiration. We

Ipinmoye

went to farm, worked and when I was picked to go to school, they cooperated with my parents. Before I finished school, we lost our father, and there was a decision made by the extended family that I should stop schooling. But by then, I had come to love education.

So, I decided to go against that decision and thankfully, my mother and siblings supported me. I farmed to support my education. The challenges I faced helped me later in life. The influence of the Church was tremendous. At an early age, we were selected to help lead services, and serve in the house of God. The assignments we were given was the beginning of my church work.

How did you manage to acquire university education?

I passed entrance examinations to Christ School, Ado-Ekiti in 1945 but could not afford the tuition. After Standard six I worked as a teacher from 1948 to 1951. From 1951, I became a catechist and was at St Paul’s CMS Church (now Anglican Church) Ikole. I used my spare time to farm and money earned was used to buy books. With my devotion to studies that year, I was able to pass the entrance examination to Melville Hall, Ibadan. So I entered Melville Hall in 1952 and was there until 1953 when I received the certification as a trained catechist and was ordained as a priest on June 1, 1958 by Bishop Adelakun Howells at the Christ Church Cathedral, Lagos. But based on my desire for higher education, I went to the University of Ife in 1963. I was one of the second set of students admitted into the university when the campus was in Sango, Ibadan. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Literature in 1966. Prof. Wole Soyinka was one of our lecturers and was quite brilliant. In 1974 to 1975, I was at the University of Ibadan for a postgraduate diploma in Education.

Having lived this long, what changes in Nigeria would you like to see before you die?

The colonial era in Nigeria produced great developments for the country.

They brought education, hospitals, road

networks and other amenities. They even brought some new food items and introduced same to our farmers.

For instance, when I was growing up, there were very few food crops being grown. It was in the 1940s that we saw cassava for the first time. People rejected it initially because it was believed to be poisonous and that it killed people.

Musicians sang about the disgrace of eating cassava. But in 1944, during the World War, there was famine and people were hungry. So, farmers eventually embraced the cultivation of cassava. The processed garri then was different from what we have now. We will soak it in water and wait for some period for it to be ready for consumption. Rice came to our area in Ekiti in the 1940s. The colonial masters brought development and during their time, there was discipline in governance.

The intervention of the military in politics was a misnomer. The military are not trained for governance but to protect the country. Their entrance into politics has resulted in a loss of professionalism in the military.

Why did you decide to live Lagos for your hometown, Ijelu, after retirement and not the state capitaI, Ado-Ekiti?

I have always loved my community.

I grew up here. One prayer that we always pray is that the Lord should enable us to bring home the proceeds of our labour. After our retirement, my wife and I chose to come back home – to our roots. This to our mind will enable us bring development closer to our people and also demonstrate to our people that, east or west, home is best.

On retirement, we stayed in Ado Ekiti for a short while and moved here to the village. It has been a blessed time ever since we came home.

OVERSCENES… Happenings Around the Diaspora

Nigerian Students in Cambridge University Protest Killings in Nigeria

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roubled by the incessant killings across Nigeria and the recent carnage in Plateau State, some Nigerian students in Cambridge, UK took to the streets of Cambridge to call for action from the Nigerian government.

The protesting students stated that the government had been indecisive in resolving the security challenges in Nigeria; urging it be more proactive in its approach against the killers.

Drawn from different academic disciplines, the demonstrators displayed placards with different inscriptions to highlight the necessity of their protest.

Some of their placards read: ‘Justice for Plateau’; ‘We are united against killings’; ‘Stop the killings, our lives matter’.

Some of the protesters said that the growing threat of insecurity and killings in the country was a major put-off for foreign investors.

They also claimed that the country’s state of security was driving many especially in Canada.

They hoped that the government would intensify efforts at curtailing the killings.

Nigerian Students Protest in Cambridge

with LEKAN FATODU 08060140882

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 15, 2018

with VANESSA OBIOHA 08081789737, vaysylver@gmail.com, entertainment@thisdaylive.com

ENTERTAINMENT

EbonyLife’s New Direction Ten years ago, TV host Mo’ Abudu toyed with the idea of owning a TV channel that will cater premium entertainment to Nigerians and Africans at large. With unbridled passion and determination, Mo made that dream come true five years later. The birth of EbonyLife TV in 2013 signalled a new chapter in the life of the media entrepreneur. From producing high grossing Nollywood movies to intriguing TV series, Mo has become a force to be reckoned with in the media industry

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ive years later, Mo is still standing tall. Her success so far still feels like a dream to her.

“If you ask me to do it all over again, i’m not sure I will know how,” she told the group of pressmen gathered at the Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi.

To mark this milestone, Mo is steering her ship in a new direction. She rolled out a few changes with the most crucial one, the change of the brand identity. EbonyLife now has a new colourful and vibrant logo that gives it an edgy and contemporary look.

In addition, EbonyLife is now segmented into different platforms such as EbonyLife TV, EbonyLife Films. EbonyLife Media, and EbonyLife On- the new app. The mobile app is the most exciting leap for Mo who sees it as a big step towards meeting the growing demands of technology in today’s clime.

Subscribers can access various entertainment programmes on the platform including its new legal series Castle & Castle which stars famous Nollywood stars like Richard MofeDamijo and Dakore Akande at a low cost.

As part of her mission to reach a global

audience, EbonyLife TV will also end its exclusivity with leading cable network DStv. It is now partnering a rival company StarTimess to achieve its global expansion.

“This is an exciting time for us. StarTimess is a force to be reckoned with in Africa. It is a privilege for EbonyLife to have an additionall home with the network. Together with the global reach of EbonyLife ON, we will have the potential for millions more people to enjoy oy our gripping dramas, riveting talk and fun entertainment shows,” she said. All that will begin from August 1, 2018.

New Highlife Sensation Lands Recording Deal Iyke Bede Like in the case of most musicians, the gift of music is a gem usually discovered at an early age. HI-10, a contemporary highlife musician, easily lands into this category of child performers. Many years ago, HI-10 started his musical journey as a 12-year-old known as Joel Arochi, Influenced by his mother and sister’s love for highlife music, HI-10 was convinced that being a highlife musician was his true calling. His road to discovery as a performer was launched following the unfortunate event of his sister’s injury which she sustained from an accident returning from a show and in effect, rendered her temporarily indisposed. Filling in for his sister evidently fast-tracked his experience process from working behind the scenes to performing on the main stage. He described the experience as ‘intimidating’ and almost wanted to relinquish the rehearsed set.

“When I started singing, it was like something came over me, I was on fire.” Joel said describing how he felt after performing a few lines of the billed song. At that point, he came to realise his potential as a performer.

ELLA HENRI’S STUDENTS THRILL WITH ‘GREATEST SHOWMAN’

Exactly eight years ago, Elsie Ijeoma Okpala embarked on a journey as the proprietress of Ella-Henri schools with a specific vision, “to groom children that will be top notch amongst their peers.” This goal so far has reached a new milestone with the graduation of the school’s pioneer set from primary level into the secondary level. To mark this landmark, a send forth ceremony was held in their honor recently.

The main ceremony was preceded by an hour with a red carpet session; the entrance to the reception hall was flooded with upbeat, rhythmic sounds that emanated from talking drum of drummers who stood adjacent to the glass door leading directly into the hall that housed the frost themed décor accentuated with touches of royal purple.

As expected of a children’s event, parents, guardians, and relatives were greeted to the cheerful chatters of their kids. The kids were enthralled by the rollout of lined-up fun activities bespoke for their audience. In a manner to properly kick start the ceremony, an orchestral rendition of the national anthem by the primary school graduates set things into motion; this was shortly followed by a valedictory speech by preschool pupil Kitan Fashesan, who, with air of bravura earned a standing ovation for her speech.

Channeling real life, the grandaunts wowed with an impressive drama presentation which simulated the profound effects of parents’ social behavioural pattern have on children’s perception of education in the real world. The drama ended on a positive note, highlighting the workable methods by which parents can make learning easier through discipline and dedication without compromising leisure.

The drama presentation was a mere warm-up to the slew of dance presentations that followed. Taught by celebrity choreographer Lovette Otegbola, the dancers were split into two groups, choreographing

HI-10

Inspired by his new love for performing, he coined his stage name HI-10. A name he derived from fusing highlife and the number 10. He attributes greatness to that number 10, saying that it is the core essence of the name.

Following years of nurturing his art, HI-10 finally lands a record deal with newly launched Blue Lake Media that is in alternate patterns. They brought to life a performance of ‘The Is Me’ originally performed by the cast of ‘Greatest Showman.’ Plotted to hint a rivalry approach from one group to the other in the style of Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It,’ they somewhat, through the song’s message of self acceptance and inclusion, found a middle ground, uniting and forming a stronger coalition.

Other notable numbers that added essence to the day were ballet recitals quaintly executed by little ballerinas who donned pink leotards and platter tutus. Deviating from most of the western influences that provided the day’s entertainment, the cultural troupe coordinated by the celebrity dancer gave two different renditions; one representing the Efik people of South-South Nigeria and the other alluding to the Isoko tribe.

Seated amongst parents and guardians was a beaming Okpala who savoured every experience provided by the young talents.

Impressed, she briefly highlighted her experience with her students. She said, “Working with children brings out the part of you never knew existed, they make you laugh, they make you cry, they make me a better person.”

With a mapped five years short-term plan to become a reference point in the Nigerian education system and a 20-year long-term plan to produce future greats, Okpala is quite certain that she is on the right path to achieving this feat.

A CHANCE TO UPGRADE YOUR CREATIVITY

Prolific filmmaker and Executive Producer of Zuri 24 Media, Femi Odugbemi is teaming up with the Chief Executive Officer of X3M Ideas, Steve Babaeko, and Executive Director of Xpose Technologies and Human Capital, Adeoye Abodunrin, to present a one-of-a-kind training to young creatives. The two-day training which will hold on July 17 and 18 at Freedom Park, Lagos Island will be a great opportunity for young talented persons to learn the business side of creativity.

helmed by longtime industry expert, Chidi Uzoeshi. HI-10 described his kind of music as contemporary highlife, a process of infusing different genre elements with highlife music to give a modern appeal as seen in the fashion of popular highlife singer, Flavour. While he acknowledged basic similarities between him and Flavour’s style, he maintained that his art form has a unique twist to help him garner the deserved success he needs to thrive in the industry.

To boost his building career, his two singles, ‘I Gat You’ and ‘24/7’, have been serviced to several websites and radio stations to kick off the campaign. Both tracks embody the highlife essence to various degrees with ‘24/7’ bearing heavy highlife influences with a strict use of Igbo.

Giving insights into the outfit’s vision to thrive in a competitive market, Uzoeshi said: “With regards to coming into the industry; staying power and all that. Yes, the key to staying in power is always being able to run a structured business. It is not about how much money you make or how quickly you make money, it’s about being able to stand the test of time. It is being able to run your business in a model that reflects how you want to be perceived in the sense of being an institution.”

“Creativity and talent are great but they are simply not enough. You need to know how to convert them to cashflow, business and global relevance,” said Odugbemi.

Themed ‘Creativity Upgrade 101’, the series will feature insights into the evolving world of the creative industry. as well as mastering the business side of it. Registration is ongoing.

SIMI FEATURES EBENEZER OBEY IN AIMASIKO VIDEO

There is no doubt that Simi is on a meteoric rise to fame. This year so far has seen her clinch awards as well as release top-chart singles. Her latest effort, ‘Aimasiko’, featured legend, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey.

The music video, also starring Simi’s band, The Banjos, wraps up the visuals to tracks off her album, Simisola. Shot and directed by Ani James of Aje Filmworks, Aimasiko highlights daily struggles in Simi life as people search for solutions to their different problems while praying for God’s intervention.

OPERA NEWS GIVES AWAY BRAND NEW CAR – Yinka Olatunbosun For the Super Eagles of Nigeria, the World Cup may have come and gone but the excitement remains with many fun seekers in Lagos who witnessed their last match in an ambience of sheer frenzy as Opera news gave away a brand-new car.

Arguably, one of most gratifying news apps in the city, Opera news app, gave away one of the two brand news cars, Akinpelumi Oladayo, a 24-year-old student and entrepreneur. The winner emerged after a suspense-filled match at LASCOFIS Bar, Ogba in Lagos which was punctuated by the Opera News Shake Contest.

It was an open contest to everyone who had downloaded and used the app to access news

Mo’Abudu

and information. Since the commencement of the FIFA World Cup 2018, Opera News introduced a new feature called “Shake’’ wherein users are required to shake to win amazing prizes on a daily basis.

Of course, the emotion-filled night of the infamous match between Argentina and Nigeria distracted a few who shook their phones and mistakenly, their bottles. The announcement of the winner of the brandnew car cheered up the downcast fans who were eyewitnesses of the 87th minute goal that threw Super Eagles off-guard. Speaking to the journalists after the announcement, Akinpelumi expressed her gratitude for the 2018 Kia Rio. “I was shocked. I didn’t expect it and now I am winning myself a car. I can only say that this is a dream come true and it is unbelievable. I am so happy right now,’’ she said in excitement.

She revealed that she had been a user of the app for a couple of months as someone who is interested in entertainment news and more.

The car was given away by Opera News in collaboration with Jumia through an interesting competition in which users needed to collect nine pieces of a car puzzle to win a major prize.

Finalists who completed this 9-piece puzzle entered a raffle draw and after a random selection, a winner is declared.

According to the Global Head of Marketing and Distribution at Opera, Jorgen Amesen, the car is the biggest of the prizes.

“There is one more car to be given away in Nigeria so we suggest for people to keep playing with the app and to keep an eye on our social media channels.

For those who may not have the prospect of winning the cars, there are other exciting gifts to be won. Stanislaus Martin VP, Growth Marketing, Jumia revealed that a Jumia voucher is required to redeem the prizes.

“The winner of the brand-new car was able to redeem the car using a Jumia voucher on the Jumia website. Hundreds of thousands of Jumia Vouchers are still up for grabs in the month of July,’’ he declared.

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

IN THE ARENA

Herdsmen plying their trade

Situating the Ranching Debate The decision by the South-east Governors’ Forum to decline land allocation for ranching is understandable, ensuring peaceful co-existence at this time, however, requires the support of all, writes Tobi Soniyi

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hen viewed against the lacklustre response of the federal government to the seemingly intractable herdsmen-farmers’ clashes, it is difficult to fault the decision by the South-east governors not to cede any land within their territory for ranching.

Since he became president in May 29, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari has not hidden his displeasure for the South-east. The South-east zone’s offence, perhaps, was that they chose to side with former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan during the 2015 presidential election.

During the Indigenous People of Biafra’s uprising, the president failed to show leadership by engaging with the people of the region. Instead, he unleashed the military on the people and proscribed the group, a move that further alienated the people from the main stream politics.

Take away the Niger Bridge project, which is not even being handled like a priority project, the All Progressives Congress-led government has not made its presence felt in the South-east. The government has failed to give the people any sense of belonging.

In view of the cold shoulder treatment given to the South-east by the president, coupled with the prevalent antiBuhari sentiment in the zone, no governor in his right sense would agree to grant land for ranching. The president has not done enough to earn such gesture. Simple!

Besides, many have argued that cattle rearing is a private business, just like trading in cars spare parts, and therefore those engaged in it should be able to buy the land they would use for ranching.

Although it is difficult to fault the arguments raised above, they generally missed a point which is: the Fulani herdsmen are as endangered as every other vulnerable group in the country. The Buhari-led government did

not just fail the South-east; it has also failed the Fulaniherdsmen too.

Many of the herdsmen wanted peace. They are only interested in feeding their animals. Farmers and herdsmen have always lived peacefully together granted that there were frictions once in a while. But those were the exceptions not the rule.

The proper question the South-east governors should ask themselves is: what has the Buhari government done to help the herdsmen? The answer is nothing. The Fulaniherdsmen would like to send their children to school, but the government has not helped them to achieve this.

They want their cattle to feed better so that they could get better return, no one is helping them. They are as endangered as farmers and other vulnerable groups. This government has failed the herdsmen and to a larger extent, past administrations also failed them.

Government at all levels must therefore find a common way to integrate the Fulani-herdsmen into the society.

Fulanis are not wired as killers. It is the collective failure of the people as a nation that has led Nigeria into the wilderness. The leadership must as a result chart a way out. The South-east governors and people would have to be part of that effort.

For starters, while the country is still working on a final solution, in each local government, the government can set up a farmer-herdsmen relation committee, comprising representatives of both farmers and herdsmen.

If animals trample on a farm, the owner of the farm should report to the committee. Similarly, if an animal is killed, the owner of the animal should report to the committee. Immediately, the committee is alerted, they should identify the culprit, assess the damage and get the erring farmer or herdsman to indemnify the person whose property was destroyed.

The clashes the country is having today are largely fuelled by the lack of accountability. When an animal

belonging to a herder is killed and there is no assurance that compensation would be paid, the herder naturally goes on revenge. The same is also true of the farmer. Accountability is a serious issue. But the leadership appears too biased to see the point.

Therefore, the narrative that farmers and herders and by extension, the entire country can no longer live together is false. The people can, regardless of their differing backgrounds and have been living together. What needs to be addressed is the issue of injustice, which manifests in various ways. Let government uphold the laws. Let there be consequences for misbehaviour. Crisis will not disappear, it will only reduce.

Sadly, however, the Nigerian leaders appear to lack the ability to figure out the problems. Pronouncements emanating from the Presidency are to the effect that those in government are not ready to take the critical steps needed to stop the crisis.

For instance, the excuses given by the government for the clashes continue to shift every other day. First, it was the passing of anti-grazing bills. But hundreds were killed in Plateau, where there was no anti-grazing law. Then the president blamed the killings on rebels from Libya.

Later, it was climate change. Suddenly, politicians are behind the killings. And now, the president is saying politicians are using the killings to blackmail him. Blaming the killings on everyone else is unhelpful. It portrays the country as one that is incapable of identifying and addressing issues.

By now, the president should have summoned a meeting of herdsmen and farmers to be held in Aso Rock Villa and televise live for all to follow. Let them sit together and tell Nigerians their grievances. From there, a joint solution can be worked out.

In the interest of the nation, the South-east governors should reconsider their position and be part of a solution to this national malady.

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

Deaths at Home and Abroad

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Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama

he unabated killings of Nigerians in different parts of the country, particularly the northern region is a cause for concern, which unfortunately, has remained somewhat helpless by the current government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

But even more worrisome is the killing of Nigerians in other parts of the world with reckless abandon. This is even the more shameful because more Nigerians have been killed in Africa than are found in Europe, Asia or the

Americas. It is an irony that Africans loathe their own. The unceasing killings of Nigerians in South Africa are heartbreaking, to say the least.

The worst of it all, however, is that government does not seem to have a clue on how to secure the lives of Nigerians at home, how much more abroad. Therefore, for Nigerians, it is death everywhere they turn, both home and abroad. Certainly, this cannot continue. It is either government sits up or something gives way. But these mindless killings must stop.

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BRIEFINGNOTES Addressing the Underage Voter Palaver Underage voting is a major controversy likely to rear its ugly head in the 2019 elections, writes Shola Oyeyipo

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he ElectoralAct No 6 of 2010 section 12.( I)A, states that “Aperson shall be qualified to be registered as a voter if such a person (a) is a citizen of Nigeria; (b) has attained the age of 18 years. It therefore constitutes an electoral offence, when anyone younger than 18 years votes in an election. Ironically, persons far younger than the stipulated voting age were reported to have voted in parts of the country.

This is happening at a time when issues relating to election rigging are becoming more worrisome, because various shades of election manipulations have thrown up funny leaders against the wishes of the electorate and the consequences have been dire.

Underage voting, said to be common in the North, particularly Kano State, has become a menace and the reason is because childvoters are only acting within the whims and caprice of some nefarious adults, who will ultimately influence where they cast their votes.

Hence, it cannot be swept under the carpet.

Certain pictures and video clips had gone viral showing cases of underage voting reported in northern Nigeria during elections. It was however more rampant during the 2015 presidential election. Some children were also spotted participating in the recent local government elections in Kano State. The children were registered as eligible voters and urged to vote for a popular candidate in the area.

Though the Kano State Commissioner of Information, Alhaji Muhammad Garba, maintained that the exercise depicting the illegality was not conducted by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), it has remained a blame game ever since.

“What you have seen in the video clip showing underage kids voting did not happen now. It was recorded during the last 30 March 2015 elections. Mischievous persons were behind the spreading of the clips but were missing out in the whole game, because what was there in the video happened in 2015,” Garba said.

The situation is, however, not limited to Kano State. The practice has spread to other parts of the North. For instance, miffed by the ugly trend of underage voters, the Plateau State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC, Dr. Godwin Kwanga, while addressing Stakeholders’ Forum in Jos ahead of a re-run election in February, complained that the state was replete with underage voters in possession of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

This position was corroborated by Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, when its National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, who alleged that INEC and its immediate past chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega are responsible for the rampant cases of underage voters prevalent in the Northern.

Afenifere further alleged that in the build-up to the 2015 general election, whereas INEC under Jega, distributed the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to individuals in the Southern part of the country, it handed them over to Emirs in the North, who in turn distributed them to everyone in their locality, including children.

“It is a shame on INEC that we agreed as a nation that the voting age is 18 yet we saw all those babies holding PVCs in the North.

They did it during the 2015 election and I am putting the blame on INEC, because no state registers voters in Nigeria; it is the responsibility of INEC. How did those voters’ cards get into the hands of those children?

“We cannot have different nations in a country. If we agreed that the required age for voting under the law is 18, then that law should apply to every parts of the country and those violating it should be sanctioned. We must put a stop to this before the next election,” Afenifere said.

Following the allegation, INEC immediately set up a committee to investigate the issue of underage registration and voting in Kano State and absolved itself of any wrongdoing. It maintained that voters’ register which should have been used for the Kano polls did not contain underage voters.

But shedding light on the matter during a programme on the African Independent Television (AIT), ‘Kakaaki,’ the INEC Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, admitted that members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) taking part in the registration exercise were forced by members of the community to register children and that their lives were threatened when they refused to comply.

In fact, it was gathered that some parents allegedly came along to the registration units with their children insisting that they were over

Some of the underage voters during a recent election in Kano State. Kano traditionally delivers the highest number of votes in the country 18 and subsequently forcing registration officers to register underage children.

Osaze-Uzzi said: “I agree that it is the responsibility of the registration officer to do that (refuse to register underage persons), but there are times that circumstances are such that where there is present and clear danger that he risks being assaulted or being killed, I think it will be unreasonable to expect him not to succumb to the pressure. But we encourage them to report immediately they get out of that dangerous zone.”

From its body language, INEC is not comfortable with the phenomenon of underage voters. The committee headed by Mr. Ahmed Nahuche, which INEC set up to investigate the allegations of underage voting that trailed the local government elections conducted

by KANSIEC, while presenting the report to INEC Chairman, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, advised that the State Independent Electoral Commissions and political parties needed to be encouraged to work towards improving electoral logistics to enhance the credibility of their respective processes and procedures and that political parties should observe best practices for the sustenance of democracy.

Yakubu too is not oblivious of the fact that the credibility of the voter register is very important to the outcome of an election. Hence, he assured Nigerians that INEC would ensure that the voter register was purged of ineligible persons.

According to Osaze-Uzzi, mechanisms had been put in place such that after an underage person is registered, he could be removed from the register. He also assured that the registers were usually inspected by senior INEC officials, who could identify underage persons through their facial looks or through assistance from members of the community.

“It is not a complex process, you display the voter register and people come there. That is in addition to the fact that the registration officer can refuse anybody registration. But we don’t expect people to risk their lives for what is essentially a simple patriotic service.

“But if they get away with that (getting registered) and the report is not taken, the second opportunity is when the register is displayed.

The best opportunity is where higher officials physically look at each register as much as they can and those who are clearly not qualified are removed. So, it is a three-pronged process and there are different stages,” Osaze-Uzzi said.

Another option as suggested by the Plateau State REC, Kwanga, is that underage voters should be made to face the full wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

However, where no concrete steps are taken to address the malaise, irrespective of efforts to improve the electoral system, elections will continue to lack credibility and the outcome will likely not reflect the aspirations of the electorate.

NOTES FOR FILE

That We May Know Them

Buhari in a handshake with Idris, when the IG visited the president

President Muhammadu’s best approach to the spree of killings across the country was that the killings were being sponsored by politicians to discredit his government, the same way former President Goodluck Jonathan thought the menace of Boko Haram was artificially stimulated to undermine his government.

Sadly, except for those making these excuses, it portends one thing: class ineptitude.That a president would sit back to complain about unsavoury developments in his country, only to shift the blame to external forces less powerful than the government – an institution – is worrisome?

To think that the same president had earlier dismissed

the killer herdsmen as foreigners, justified the killings in some instances on the grounds of revenge before thinking the political angle shows the government is neither inclined to the solution nor has a clue what the issues are.

The truth, however, is that the latest narrative is nearer home than they can ever imagine. Since the president was sure that some wicked politicians were behind the killings, it means he has security report about such politicians before going public. It would be in sync with his much touted integrity to start naming those politicians in collective interest.The killings must stop. Nigerians too have a right to know the killers amongst them.

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Some of the boys in hospital after the successful rescue

Lessons from the ‘Thailand 13’ Rescue The rescue of all 12 young boys and their football coach trapped in a flooded Thai cave is a lesson in hope, resilience and generosity of the human spirit, ideals that can be aspired to irrespective of economic power, writes Demola Ojo

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ver the past couple of weeks, in the midst of a football World Cup and other global events, the attention of the world was focused on Thailand as the fate of 12 young boys and their football coach trapped in a cave hung in the balance.Afew days ago, a collective sigh of relief was exhaled globally, when they were finally rescued.

It is important to recap the events that have spanned over two weeks (and still continuing with the rehabilitation of the boys) to understand why it attracted so much attention worldwide.

On Saturday, June 23, 12 members of the Wild Boar soccer team, aged 11-16, entered the Tham Luang cave system in Thailand’s Chiang Rai Province along with their 25-year-old football coach after a team practice. The cave system, which is 10km (6 miles) deep, is known locally for its deep recesses and narrow passages.

The team had visited the cave before – but this time heavy rains caused flooding, impeding their exit.

After the children failed to return home, they were reported missing and search efforts began. Initial rescuers at the site reportedly found the team’s bicycles, football boots and other belongings close to the cave’s entrance.

Three days later, divers from the Royal Thai Navy arrived to assist local search efforts. Thai government officials then visited the site, and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon proclaimed the government’s optimistic that the team would be found alive.

Rescuers considered different routes in, with teams of soldiers searching for alternative entrance points, while authorities considered drilling into the mountain to get access. By Wednesday June 27, diving and survival specialists from all around the world had arrived in the country to help with search efforts.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha visited relatives and offered comfort, telling them: “They’re athletes. They’re strong.”

Then on Monday July 2, came news that divers had found all of the boys and their coach safe, nine days after they went missing.

The team was found on a rock shelf about 4km (2.5 miles) from the cave mouth.

Medical aid and food were then brought in to the team, as rescuers considered the best way to get them out to safety.

Millions of litres of water were pumped out of the cave system, but with the rainy season in full flow, officials warned that the boys may have to learn to dive to get free - or wait months until conditions improve.

Unfortunately, the buoyant mood at the site soured dramatically after a diver working on the rescue dies. Saman Gunan, 38, a former Thai navy diver volunteering in the cave, lost consciousness while delivering oxygen air tanks. Important to emphasise he was volunteering. In a race against the rain, officials then designated a limited window during which they believed the team can be successfully evacuated out.

With conditions optimum on Sunday July 8, intensive rescue operations began. The operation was very complex, and involves a mixture of walking, wading, climbing and diving along guide ropes already in place. The next day, it emerged that four of the boys had been successfully freed. Those evacuated were cared for in local hospitals, gradually being weaned back onto solid foods.

Very importantly, the government strictly guarded information about the rescue, including the names of those saved. The boys were supervised in hospitals, with access for visiting parents limited because of potential health risks.

Efforts continued throughout the next day (Tuesday), until

officials confirmed that all 13 had been rescued safely. The travails of the boys and their eventual rescue remind one of a similar incident eight years ago that also ended on a positive note.

The 2010 Copiapó mining accident, also known then as the “Chilean mining accident”, began with a cave-in at the San José copper–gold mine, located in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile.

Thirty-three men, trapped 700 meters (2,300 ft) underground and five kilometres from the mine’s entrance via spiralling underground ramps, were rescued after 69 days. After the state-owned mining company, Codelco, took over rescue efforts from the mine’s owners, exploratory boreholes were drilled, and seventeen days after the accident a note was found taped to a drill bit pulled back to the surface: In English it translated to, “We are well in the shelter, the 33 of us”.

Three separate drilling rig teams, nearly every Chilean government ministry, the United States’ NASA space agency, and a dozen corporations from around the world cooperated completing the rescue. On October 13, 2010, the men were winched to the surface one at a time, in a specially built capsule, as an estimated One billion people worldwide watched.

Private donations covered one-third of the US$20 million cost of the rescue, with the rest coming from the mine owners and the government.

Why this is Noteworthy The events in Thailand over the past two weeks are noteworthy especially, for Nigeria and other countries in the developing world. It is not surprising seeing the value placed on human life by governments in the US, the UK and other nations known to be advanced in terms of financial resources and technology among other things.

It is almost an ‘us’ and ‘them’ dynamic, as we subconsciously give in to the idea that we’re not as fortunate.

However, coming out of Thailand, which many can easily relate too, beyond economic and technological power, the most important thing in the story is the premium placed by the government on the lives of its ‘ordinary’ citizens; the idea that a tragedy that befalls a few is a common tragedy. Of course, the joy of those few should also transmit to all.

This is a poignant point because Thailand is not one of those countries held up as examples for others to follow by the Western world. It does not practice the Western form of democracy that many in developing countries see as a prerequisite to a better society.

Thailand as a country is a unitary state in Southeast Asia known to many Nigerians for tourism and rice production.

Although nominally a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, the most recent coup in 2014 established a de facto military dictatorship. Through the 18th and 19th centuries, Siam as it was then known, faced pressure from France and the United Kingdom, including forced concessions of territory, but it remained the only Southeast Asian country to avoid direct Western rule.

Following a bloodless revolution in 1932, Siam became a constitutional monarchy and changed its official name to “Thailand”.

In the late 1950s, a military coup revived the monarchy’s historically influential role in politics. Apart from a brief period of parliamentary democracy in the mid-1970s, Thailand has periodically alternated between democracy and military rule.

In the 21st century, Thailand endured a political crisis that culminated in two coups and the establishment of its current and 20th constitution by the military junta.

It is considered a regional power in Southeast Asia and a middle power in global affairs. However, with a high level human develop-

ment, the second largest economy in Southeast Asia, Thailand is classified as a newly industrialised economy with manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism as leading sectors.

In 2016, Thailand was ranked 87th in Human Development Index, and 70th in the inequality-adjusted HDI. It has a population of about 70 million, which is largely rural, concentrated in the rice-growing areas. The country has for long been one of the largest rice exporters in the world and 49 per cent of its labour force is employed in agriculture, down from 70 per cent in 1980.

In 2014, Credit Suisse reported that Thailand was the world’s third most unequal country, behind Russia and India.

The Lesson for Nigeria The statistics above are presented to prove that a country does not need to be a global economic power or live by the ideals of Western democracy to share a common humanity and add value on the lives of its people. This is a lesson that Nigeria needs to learn.

In Nigeria, the blame game is played early and hard when tragedy strikes. Politicians clash and point fingers, rather than look for a solution first. This has been exhibited on so many occasions and has now become the norm.

Are people dying from avoidable communal clashes? The retort is that it was worse under previous administrations. But this is not just at a governmental level.

The 25-year-old soccer coach and former monk, who led the boys on the ill-fated cave adventure, has been supported by some parents in a letter exchange set up by Thai Navy Seals, not threatened. No lawsuits have been reported.

“We would never do that … On the contrary, we have warm feelings towards the coach,” one father was quoted. “He is a good person and he helps kids by training them as footballers.”

A mother wrote to the coach, “We want you to know that no parents are angry with you at all, so don’t you worry about that.”

The coach was the only family survivor of an illness in 2003 that killed his parents and sister, reported The Daily Mail. He eventually entered a monastery, and learned healthy living and survival skills.

Those have reportedly been helping the boys survive and the coach gave up his own food rations to his charges. It is hard to imagine that being the case in these climes, where making excuses and blaming others come first before finding solutions that benefit all. The boys themselves need to be commended for their response to a potential tragedy. A 13-year-old wrote to his parents, “I’m fine but it’s a little bit cold. Don’t worry and don’t forget my birthday.”

The Thai community’s early response to what could have been a national disaster does raise questions about how we treat one another and whether we are adequately teaching the art of resilience in Nigeria.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha kept a low profile that the ongoing operation was not disturbed by his presence in the process of scoring political points. The governor of the province, Narongsak Osottanakorn, was the only spokesperson, and no other VIPs were allowed to grab the microphone and make hay from adversity. The media, emotionally moved by the whole scene, steered clear of the murky waters of sensationalism while the stunned parents of the children showed grace and dignity under fire. There were no histrionics or threats.

Against this backdrop, the military was allowed to create a medical facility, carved out a full-scale military plan and initiated a four-day rescue procedure, without interference from government or the slippery element of politics. There was no opposition rant, merely a nation willing the success of the operation.

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Secondus

PDP’s Aim is to Restore Hope and Oneness, Not to Grab Power Like APC The Peoples Democratic Party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, in this interview with THISDAY says that the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) going into a coalition with other political groups is not about producing the next president to rule Nigeria but to provide a platform for a credible, reliable, and capable Nigerian to take over the reins of leadership and governance -from President Muhammadu Buhari, who has proved largely ineffective - and thus restore the country to a state of oneness, peace and prosperity. He spoke with Olawale Olaleye and Bayo Akinloye Excerpts:

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ince the news of the MoU reportedly signed by the PDP and a host of other parties, there have been conflicting figures on the actual number of parties involved in the alliance. How many parties are involved and do you think the union of the parties is auspicious for the country?

We are 39 political groups in all. The coming together is very auspicious. What has been going on in the country in the last three years makes our coming together very beneficial. Nobody, who loves democracy and loves Nigeria, is happy with the situation. There is really no better time for this coming together than now.

Is the alliance influenced solely by the desire to field a common presidential candidate and what modalities are being employed for such a flag bearer

to emerge?

What influenced the alliance is essentially to save our democracy and to rescue the country. Every other influencing factor is secondary. The primary motive is to save Nigeria. All members of the coalition agreed to forge ahead along this line. Picking a common presidential candidate couldn’t have been the main motive otherwise you can get an endorsement from a party or group without going into a coalition. In the alliance, we recognize that everybody has an area of strength and we agreed to harness each one’s potential to achieve result.

It is expected there’ll be some hiccups in forming and sustaining the alliance. What challenges do you envisage as the 2019 presidential election approaches?

This coalition did not just happen. It came as a result of

This coalition did not just happen. It came as a result of series of talks and negotiations during which time various issues came up and were addressed. Certainly there would be some challenges but it’s not going to be much to derail the objective of the coalition.

What is important is that we are all resolved in our determination to deepen our democracy by rescuing power from the ruling APC through the coalition

series of talks and negotiations during which time various issues came up and were addressed. Certainly there would be some challenges but it’s not going to be much to derail the objective of the coalition. What is important is that we are all resolved in our determination to deepen our democracy by rescuing power from the ruling APC through the coalition.

One thing that cannot be ignored in all of this is time. Is there enough time to sufficiently entertain all the interests especially that this is a power game?

I totally agree with you that time is of essence but it was taken into consideration during the incubatory period of the coalition.

Is this alliance mainly about power grabbing or delivering sound leadership and good governance?

This question is crucial because recent development indices have shown that Nigeria has become the poverty capital of the world and therefore, Nigerians would be making a grave mistake if this adventure is about power again, following in the footsteps of the 2015 experience?

No. I told you earlier the motivating factor in the formation of the coalition. Nigerians across the country, cutting across class, religion and tribe just felt justifiably concerned about where APC administration is taking the country and we need to halt them before they crash our democracy. PDP has ample reasons why it must fight to keep this democracy. We have a very high stake in this project. Our history as a party is full of struggles to restore democracy. Having restored and nurtured it for 16 years, we cannot just sit and watch some unconcerned power grabbers destroy all we have built over the

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CICERO/INTERVIEW t ‘APC GOVERNMENT IS IRRESPONSIVE TO YEARNINGS OF NIGERIANS t Continued from Pg. 74 years using their own narrow view of democracy.

Apart from the fact that the nation is sharply divided today, there is an existential challenge, which is security – terrorism and herdsmen menace.

What will your party do to contain this challenge if voted into power?

Recall that this security challenge began when we were in power. Some even believed that it was started to mount pressure on PDP to lose. It was then thought that a general should be the man to squarely tackle the security challenges.

For that APC anchored their campaign on three points: security, economy and corruption. Three years down the line, your guess is as good as mind what they have done. They have taken us into economic recession; corruption has worsened according to international corruption watchers and it’s the same with the security situation – worsening and spreading from the north-east to other parts of the country. Our party will do a lot differently.

We will first reconcile Nigerians with one another and bring about decorum through people-oriented programmes. You cannot mobilize the populace and expect them to galvanize the economy if your policies are anti-people. Remember the saying that a people that are denied justice may not be interested in peace. PDP administration will first restore hope and oneness in the land and other things will follow.

How does the coalition intend to address the issue of health care delivery?

Cases of cancer have risen, recording high mortality. How is your party – if elected into power – going to tackle this major health challenge?

You will be amazed to know the amount of damage done to the various sectors of the national life by this government. Recall that even the First Lady once cried out because of lack of Panadol in the State House clinic. One had thought that the health challenge of the president last year would push him to give attention to that sector. PDP is coming up with a pragmatic policy on health to addressing the rising current challenges.

Another problem is education.

The UNESCO puts the threshold of budgetary allocation to education at 26 per cent. Unfortunately, Nigeria in the last few years has not gone beyond seven per cent. Are you concerned and what does your coalition hope to do differently?

We are all concerned. PDP is bitter watching the situation in the area of education. The laudable programme initiated by PDP administration to address the poor education in the north through the almajiri programme was abandoned by this government and it never introduced an alternative. PDP will give education all the attention because the future growth is dependent on it.

What’s your view about Nigeria’s rising debt profile under President Muhammadu Buhari. Do you think there are justifiable grounds for the borrowings?

Economic experts will always tell you that there is nothing wrong in borrowing.

But the problem is borrowing to do what?

Borrowing to pay salaries or what? APC administration has no reason to borrow because they do not have any concrete programmes to use the funds for. From what we have seen in the last three years, they lack the capacity to come up with solid economic ideas.

Allegations abound of alleged sleaze going on in the NNPC, especially concerning the issue of subsidy brought in under the cover of under-recovery.

Why is the opposition silent about this or do you agree that the argument on cost recovery is genuine?

We are not silent. We are privy to the enormous corruption going on in the NNPC, maritime, sea port, and other agencies of government – and how activi-

Secondus ties in these bodies have been hijacked by some powerful interests. We are compiling them and soon we will expose them including those pretending to be incorruptible. We will soon let Nigerians know what they have been doing while pretending to be fighting corruption.

There are allegations about direct violations of certain provisions of the constitution by the president, particularly in the area of funds released without legislative appropriation. Do you think the National Assembly has acted responsibly here by glossing over the issue?

In the circumstance they found themselves, the National Assembly members are doing their best. The executive ensured that the legislature does not operate freely. Since June 9, 2015 when the leadership of National Assembly emerged it has been harassment and intimidation all engineered to cow them. Because they are not democrats, they make sure that other arms of government – the legislature and Judiciary – are harassed to frighten them out of their statutory function of checking the executive. This president has committed so many impeachable offences but the legislature is embattled to do the needful. But by February, 2019, Nigerian voters will do it with their PVC. Although the PDP had reacted to a Supreme Court ruling penultimate Friday about a case of alleged false

asset declaration against the Senate President Bukola Saraki, what is the import of the judgment?

The significance of the Supreme Court freeing the Senate President is that no unjust action lasts forever. It shows that despite intimidation and blackmail Nigeria’s judiciary has proved to be the last hope of the person being deprived of justice. It shows the beauty of democracy and of the rule of law. The huge import is that no matter how long a dictator holds sway, democracy laughs last.

What is your assessment of the government in the area of respect for the rule of law, bearing in mind the cases of Dasuki and El-Zakzaky?

By all standards this administration has performed poorly in the area of rule of law. But we are not surprised. You can’t give what you don’t have. Even though President Buhari claimed to be a converted democrat, we have seen from the activities of the last three years – especially in the area of rule of law – that a leopard never changes its colour. The rating of the government in the eyes of the international community is so poor in this area because of the handling of the Dasuki and El-Zakzaky matter. But typical of a dictator, they are irresponsive to the views of the public.

It is said there is no credible alternative to President Buhari in 2019.

What alternative is your coalition

going to present?

Nothing can be more irritating and insulting than that kind of argument.

A country of over 180 million people: you are saying that the best is a person whose three years of terrible governance has dragged the country to dyke. Those saying that are selfish persons around the president, who have held him hostage by telling him what they want him to hear not what the situations really are.

The alternatives abound from every corner. If every registered political party in the country were to pick a presidential candidate, any of them would do better than the current APC president. In PDP we have a reservoir of presidential aspirants – the worse among them will do better than what APC has been offering Nigerians since 2015.

As an active player, what is your reading of the forthcoming 2019 elections?

It’s going to be a watershed. It’s going to determine the future of this country.

Ordinarily, given what PDP did in 2015, relinquishing power willingly after losing election and ensuring a smooth transition for the opposition, 2019 would have been easy using existing precedent but not with dictator on the throne. But Nigerians are resolute and must ensure that their will – not somebody’s will – prevail. What we are doing in the opposition is just to harness their will and ensure that it prevail.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JULY 15, 2018

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CICERO/INTERVIEW

Jonathan Zwingina

Zwingina

Nigerian Security Watched as Herdsmen Killed, Burnt Houses A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and former Director General of the MKO Abiola Campaign Organisation, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, is worried about the state of the nation and shares his concerns with Bayo Akinloye. Excerpts:

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rior to the incarceration of Chief MKO Abiola, you were one of his close allies.

What kind of person was he?

He was a man of humane personality.

He was very intelligent. He had quite a lot of native intelligence apart from academic or intellectual intelligence. He was also very generous. His generosity came naturally and not induced by any particular purpose. At the time we worked together, the contributions he made to schools, hospitals, sports, and construction of mosques – even his contributions to churches – and several others demonstrated his level of generosity. He was always motivated by his heart to give to the needy.

At the international level, he was very passionate about the issue of reparation. He defined reparation – not necessarily for former colonialists to pay compensation in financial terms for misdeeds of slavery – in terms of international trade waivers and investment incentives to compensate for the historical exploitations and oppression of the black through slave trade.

He said he wasn’t interested in cash compensation in respect of our toil – the toil of our ancestors. He was very clear about that. He was always looking at policy decisions that would alleviate the situation brought about by the misery of enslavement. To talk about Abiola is like holding a seminar; even a one-week seminar will not be able to cover him.

What is your takeaway from your relationship with Abiola?

I have taken with me the spirit of generosity – his desire to impact on the community. I think his wit was terrific. He had

a way with proverbs. He would use a proverb in discussing an issue and you would never miss the point – he had so many of such proverbs and there was no way you would listen to them and lose sight of their import. His proverbs would teach a lesson in a dramatic way that you would never forget.

So, I had partaken from a lot of that. There was one thing about him: Chief Abiola would ask you in the morning: Have you eaten? How about your children? He would even mention your children by name. When my daughter fell ill and was admitted in EKO Hospital, Chief Abiola went to that hospital and the entire road was closed and the entire hospital was agog – it was like a carnival. He came to see my daughter in the hospital – that was vintage Abiola for you.

Following the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election, what were your last moments with Abiola like and what did you discuss?

We felt bad about the annulment of the June 12 election. It was a shock. We felt maybe it was a mistake that would be corrected; then, later we began to do something on our own.

I encouraged him to go to Abuja and meet his friend – the former president (Ibrahim Babangida) – and after some days he acquiesced. So, we all left for Abuja and stayed at Sheraton with his wife and my sister. Following that, we encouraged him to reach out to Aso Villa (seat of power), which he tried.

Unfortunately, the feedback was not encouraging at all. Our go-between was coming and going, meeting the two persons but not exchanging any information. We could not get the right response from the president. It was a decision that had been taken at that level and apparently with so much determination that even with all the history of their friendship, the issue could

not be resolved. So, we knew that this was a game created by the military.

It would also appear that the military itself had some internal squabbles – a faction of the military that appeared to have command of troops and weapons was in charge and that faction was somehow threatening the political faction that was in government. Therefore, the government faction was not able to – maybe do things the way they wanted. It wasn’t as if they wanted Abiola to take over but they just wanted to continue (being in power) – that wasn’t even possible. I mean it wasn’t even possible for them to secure their own continued stay in power.

You can then imagine how more impossible it would be to hand over government to Chief Abiola. That was the kind of scenario we had in the last days (leading to the eventual arrest and detention of Abiola). And then, of course, we had this deception about working together with the (military) government (that took over power following the installation of Chief Ernest Shonekan as head of a National Interim Government) so that there would be a return to June 12 in which my principal – Chief MKO Abiola – was encouraged by the government to advise all his key lieutenants to join the government.

We sat and wrote the names of those to join the government – and a number of them refused (to join that government). But then we had to go – led by Chief Abiola – with the argument that ‘when that government is going to discuss June 12 and you my people are not there, who will be there to speak for me?’ With that powerful line of reasoning it was difficult for some of them to say no. We all joined the government, one by one. He said, ‘Look, the NRC is sending Mallam Adamu Ciroma; they are sending Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and other big

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CICERO/INTERVIEW t ‘KINGIBE JOINING ABACHA WAS A COLLECTIVE DECISION WITH ABIOLA’tContinued from Pg. 76 for that perpetuation of inadequacy. We believe that he should rejig the security and get people in place, who have the right ideas and approach for a positive change in the country’s situation.

names’.

Therefore, he also wanted SDP to send individuals that would argue on behalf of the party and its candidate’s mandate. That was the atmosphere in which we were at that time.

It was in that atmosphere that I was supposed to be a minister but the government said I was young and they wanted Bamanga Tukur from old Adamawa and so, I was nominated to go in the capacity of a state commissioner.

It was an arrangement we all made in good faith. We didn’t know about the deception part of it (the arrangement with the government).

But it turned out that it certainly was a promise not meant to be kept by the government. I remember he (Abiola) called me and asked me to come back and live with him in Lagos, which we did but the circumstances at that time was so clear that the government was not willing to hand over – they were rather willing to unleash violence. Signs of that were in the air, because there were some arrests made. There were some bombings here and there. It was a very unsafe atmosphere in Lagos. We were really shocked that things took a turn that way.

But why do you think Ambassador Babagana Kingibe is often singled out and vilified – for joining the Gen. Sani Abacha regime – as a traitor of the June 12 struggle?

I think the reason is because he appeared to have moved much closer to Abacha than the other members of Abiola’s close team.

Secondly, he was the most visible and sadly, he was part of the ticket – in the sense that it was a joint ticket. There couldn’t be a presidential candidate without a running mate. So, it was thought that constitutionally once your principal decided to withdraw from any discussions then it followed that at least his running mate should also follow suit. He was not like other appointees who – even if Chief Abiola had become president would also be appointed – unlike Kingibe, who was actually tied to the ticket, not by appointment but by election.

That is why there was so much rancour. But like I said, Kingibe did not just run away alone to join the government – it was part of a collective decision. But his leadership in that discussion and in those early days appeared as if he had so much in common with the military than Chief Abiola and the other leaders.

With June 12’s recognition as Democracy Day by the federal government, do you think it is a validation of the annulled election?

I believe so. I believe it is, because there is no basis for that recognition and there is no basis for the award of the GCFR – which is an award for presidents; there is no basis for all of that if it was not meant to offer a validation of the results of the June 12 presidential election. And I think that is one area that we commended the president for taking that bold initiative – an initiative that really should have been taken by Chief Obasanjo or even by President Goodluck. But whatever the matter is, I think Buhari had come out as a more passionate leader – an understanding leader – even if it was a political move, it was a smart one.

What’s your assessment of President Muhammadu Buhari in the last three years?

First and foremost, I am a member of the APC and I have been working closely with the government in Adamawa State. I am also involved in some aspects of the party at the national level. I was among those that conducted primaries in Abia State. So, I will say that I am favourably disposed to the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari. However, there are some challenges that even those of us in the party are worried about.

These challenges have to do with security, for instance, it is number one.

In fact, the security situation in the country has become so bad, and we wonder whether the security chiefs have certainly locked their wits and their intelligence and their training capabilities that the herdsmen scenario has refused to go away.

We believe that the president can do more and he should pressurise the security chiefs to do more. This is one challenge I don’t think anybody – including his family – feels that enough has been done. Much more needs to be done. It’s a big daily matter – not even a weekly matter now.

The other challenge is the issue of corruption – tackling corruption. There are people who point to examples of corruption cases that have not been thoroughly or fully investigated and some people are alluding to maybe partnership or membership of the ruling party. But I will say there are members of the party that have also been convicted. Senator Dariye was a member of the APC; so, I think sometimes the narrative is not given accurately. Let me add that much more should be done especially in the judiciary, because some of the cases have taken so long that they are acquiring a life of stalemate.

I think the judiciary will need to institutionalise a certain time-frame for various cases and perhaps the issue of the new

When you said the security chiefs should be blamed it seems you’re absolving the commander-in-chief of the mess in the security situation?

I am not absolving him. I am saying that the commander-in-chief is not being fed with adequate, accurate and realistic information to take the right decision.

Before the commander-in-chief goes to the field he has to take the right persons.

He has trusted the security chiefs to do that and some of them obviously are not doing that – they’re not doing enough of that.

We just have to ensure that if we’re entrusted with power or authority, we should act in a manner that justifies the trust. The president cannot be everywhere and be checking the herdsmen himself. He has to use people and these people have to bring back reports – accurate reports – which he will act on with recommendations.

That is not going well and that is the greatest challenge we have in the APC government.

court being set up will also need to be fast-tracked. There are other issues that need to be sorted out. I think the issue of the economy is picking up – we have resumed our number one position in Africa. While we’re contending with security challenges in the country we’re also contented with the achievements recorded so far. It’s a mixed bag really.

What do you think the re-election of President Buhari in 2019 will mean for Nigeria?

Well, I can only say what I hope for. My hope is that the election should be completely free and peaceful and whoever that Nigeria wants should be a person that should be filled with the fear of God and will also tackle the security situation in the country. Those of us in the APC are calling on the president, particularly his advisers in the security department, to change the narrative and adopt other methods of resolving the security challenges beyond the level they have reached – that is our hope that we go into this election and ensure that there is a template for resolving the security situation once and for all.

There is a template for resolving other cases so that this country can return to normalcy and peace. A situation where in some communities, especially in some states including my own state of Adamawa, there are daily encounter with violence – uninvited violence. People were sleeping in their homes and then some people – group of people – with AK-47 set their houses on fire and shot those who tried to escape from the inferno – those who didn’t run out got burnt in their homes.

This is a new and strange phenomenon. Whoever wins the presidential election in 2019, the first item on the agenda should be the resolution of that security challenge.

So, you agree that contrary to its promises pre-2015, the security situation in the country has worsened under the APC government?

I agree entirely. Even as an APC chieftain, I do agree that insecurity has not got the attention from the security chiefs as expected and that it is unfortunately getting worse. This, the security chiefs should admit as much themselves. Therefore, we are throwing this challenge to the government to rejig and change the narrative of how to resolve the security situation even if the attackers are coming from outside of Nigeria. It is the duty of the government to block them and stop them – we cannot shift the blame at all.

So, do you think the president as the commander-inchief has failed in his responsibility to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians?

I will say he is not being assisted to do enough. No one president alone solves problems. He solves the problems with intelligence chiefs, security chiefs and if they don’t provide the adequate information and they don’t provide him security information – they don’t give him accurate information, not giving the real narrative and change the language to make the situation look less threatening.

For example, you hear there was a clash but what we had really was not a clash. It was an invasion of people sleeping in their homes. I will blame the ring – security ring – around him

Let’s talk about the recent killings in Plateau State attributed to the herdsmen. Some have claimed that Boko Haram elements have infiltrated the ranks of these nomads. Do you think so?

I think there’s a need for proper intelligence and there is a need for proper recording of what is going on. There is a mixture of so many things. My perspective is that there must be some elements of Boko Haram that have infiltrated the herdsmen’s problem. There must be foreign elements, because what we have seen in communities where attacks have taken place is that the people holding the gun didn’t speak Hausa; didn’t speak Fulfulde and were foreigners but the people showing them (where and who) to attack are neighbours of the people being attacked.

So, there’s a combination. And then, there are people watching with guns and they are in uniform and when you say, ‘Hey, there is an attack going on!’ they will respond say, ‘We have no order to shoot!’ That is what is going on – the security people who are armed are not ordered to shoot; they are practically ineffective in combating this issue. That is why I said the security chiefs and the security architecture need to be rejigged. So, the blame has to go to the man in the field first.

The president should rejig the security chiefs.

A new faction of the APC, called the reformed APC just emerged and it is reminiscent of what led to the decimation of the PDP ahead of the 2015 elections. Are you worried?

No. A party that is big – that is in power – must attract that, even the lizard will like to stay in that party; a snake will like to be there and so with the goat, sheep and chicken. Everybody wants to be in the big house, full and large. So, we’re neither surprised by the cracks nor surprised by the development going on. But what I will assure you is that the democratic character of APC is responsible for this crack that we’re talking about. If we’re a monolithic party – if we’re a domineering party – we’d have killed all the opposition and created a monolithic structure.

But because we love democracy and we are liberal about the way we go about it. I don’t think the APC is having bad days ahead of it. There were fears that we were going to blow up ourselves during the convention but we never did. All we did was have balloons burst at the Eagle Square. I think the APC leadership is doing its best in terms of discussing with them. I think the door has not been closed on them and that some of them are rather impatient.

The more patient ones among them are taking part in a dialogue that I believe will bring about harmony. I don’t see anything unusual about what is going on. Some groups of people in the party are not happy; they’re discussing with the party leadership. Others are not happy and they have gone their way. There are others still waiting to see how they will be accommodated. You can’t please everybody.

You seem to have been quiet on the political space until recently. Is it that you’ve taken a backseat?

Why won’t I be quiet? I wasn’t quiet when I had a job that didn’t need me to be quiet. I was a spokesperson for the Senate while representing my constituency. Then, other people got elected and took over the responsibility – I didn’t have the mandate to speak on their behalf. I only talk when it is necessary to talk. Like Shakespeare has said, life’s a stage. It is like a theatre: there’s entry and there’s exit. I have had my entry and my exit. I am now running for the Senate again to have another entry.

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CICERO/ ONTHEWATCH

Galadima: Metamorphosis of an Ally into a Foe There is more than meets the eye with the leader of the Reformed All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Buba Galadima’s metamorphosis from being President Muhammadu Buhari’s sure-fire ally to becoming his avowed traducer, writes Onyebuchi Ezigbo

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he recent face-off between the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its aggrieved members who formed the Reformed All Progressives Congress (rAPC) has been a source of worry, not only to the leadership of the party, but also President Muhammadu Buhari.

The issues the new group is canvassing are quite similar to those earlier raised by members of the defunct new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP). But beyond these complaints, there is an aspect of the present conflict which had its roots in the relationship with the president that went sore.

The National Chairman of the aggrieved r-APC, Buba Galadima is one man that had been associated with President Buhari in all his political adventures until the current crisis.

Galadima was President Buhari’s righthand man from his days in the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) till the political merger that led to the formation of the APC in 2014.

Those who followed President Buhari’s venture into full-time politics will not forget the often-overbearing influence of Galadima on all his decisions and actions. The president had confessed at several fora of being a “converted democrat”. There is no doubt that friends like Galadima played key roles in the making of the president.

As a retired general, Buhari took his first plunge into politics in 2003, contesting for the presidency on the platform of the then All Peoples Party (APP). However, like Oliver Twist, the disappointment of losing the election, did not deter him. With people like Galadima and Hadi Sirika around him, Galadima...now on the opposing side the ex-military general went on to offer self for the same position in the 2007 and 2011 “So that was a big sacrifice and I was one of the presidential elections. nine signatories that signed the memorandum of In all these, Galadima recently came out to say understanding dissolving our parties and recomthat he was among the brains that lured Buhari into mending the APC to INEC for registration”. joining politics. In an interview on Arise Television As an acclaimed political ally of President Buhari, in Abuja, the leader of the APC breakaway group Galadima saw his position as that of an anointed said he brought Buhari into partisan politics.

Kingmaker. Being Buhari’s closest ally, Galadima An apparently embittered former National Secreacted as his de facto political adviser. He wielded tary of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change so much influence around Buhari to the extent that (CPC) accused President Buhari of betraying him by it was alleged that Buhari at that time could hardly abandoning those of them that struggled with him to take any political decision without first consulting become president. Hear him: him.

“We brought him into partisan politics. We made Even to grant interviews, Galadima would probably all the sacrifices to make him what he is. Everyone, shield his “priceless jewel” from the hostile media. out of the 34 left except the two of us up till 2015 In the CPC, where Galadima held sway as the most and we had departure points but the most important influential member of the National Working Committhing is that I was the founder and the national tee, Buhari regarded him as his close confidant whom secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change, a he trusted to pass sensitive information to him. platform which he contested on in 2011 and I had As a mark of his strength in decision making in to forfeit and resign that position to bring about the the CPC, Galadima played a key role in the botched amalgamation of what is now called the APC.

However, the bubble burst, when the time came for the party to choose candidates for the 2011 general election. It was at this point that the seed of conflict between Buhari and Galadima was sown. During the process of fielding candidates for elections, Galadima clashed with Buhari over the personalities that eventually got the tickets.

One incident that easily comes to mind was the face-off over who would pick the governorship ticket in Kano State

alliance talks between his party and the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He was said to have influenced the decision by the CPC to pull out of the negotiations in 2011, when he rejected suggestions that Buhari should accept the fusing of CPC into ACN. However, the bubble burst, when the time came for the party to choose candidates for the 2011 general election. It was at this point that the seed of conflict between Buhari and Galadima was sown. During the process of fielding candidates for elections, Galadima clashed with Buhari over the personalities that eventually got the tickets. One incident that easily comes to mind was the face-off over who would pick the governorship ticket in Kano State.

Buhari, who was the chairman of the Board of Trustees of CPC felt so shortchanged that he had to insist on the cancellation of the primary in Kano State. The strained relationship between the two former allies got even worse shortly after the emergence of APC, especially during the presidential campaigns.

In a bid to satisfy new allies within the APC, Buhari accommodated other stakeholders in his campaign. The realignment of forces made Galadima and other close allies to lose their former positions.

Galadima would however not accept the suggestion that he might betray the trust President Buhari had in him or that he (Galadima) had been a beneficiary of it.

“Betrayed who? No, he has been my co-traveller.

He has never been my boss politically. I was the National Youth Leader of the NPN; I was the National Financial Secretary of the National Republican Convention,” he said, refuting insinuations about his relationship with Buhari.

Evidently, Galadima might have been a victim of political intrigues, which had seen him lose favour under the current dispensation. On the other hand, the decision to fight back by aligning with the opposition may be strategic and this is bound to cause President Buhari some sleepless nights.

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J ͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸͹΀ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

THE COVER Kwankwaso

Tambuwal

Lamido

Shekarau

Makarfi

Turaki

Adesanya-Davies

Duke

Atiku

Saraki

Sonaiya

Sowore

Fayose

Durotoye

Moghalu Fasua

Nwosu

Buhari

Ikubese

Fegbenro-Bryon

Udeogaranya

Tsado

Ojajuni

2019

The Alternative Candidates Except for any last-minute review of options, the All Progressives Congress may have settled for President Muhammadu Buhari as its standard bearer in next year’s presidential poll. He has been given the right of first refusal. It took the president a while before he eventually decided to seek re-election and one of the reasons his decision was allegedly delayed was to wait and see who the opposition may field. The opposition too has kept its cards very close to its chest, thus forcing Buhari to first throw his hat in the ring for a second term. In spite of increasing misgivings about the record of his administration, the president has carried on as if there is no credible alternative to him in a country of almost 200 million people – this seeming chimera seems to excite the APC too. The illusion, however, is being gradually deflated by a legion of aspirants now stomping the political yard in the build-up to the 2019 presidential election, Olawale Olaleye writes

W

ith the kind of confidence considered not consistent with the reality on the ground, a majority of President Muhammadu Buhari’s supporters savours the impression that as far as 2019 is concerned, there will be no stopping the president from being re-elected. This, they have hinged on the assumption that there is no credible alternative to him. That may be further from reality. Much of the northern elements believe Buhari’s re-election is sure-fire based on the zoning factor seemingly endorsed by major political parties ceding the presidency to the north. Meanwhile, a majority of President Buhari’s supporters from the South are goading him on because they cannot afford a president of northern extraction to stay beyond another four years after Buhari.

This thinking is informed by the assumption that should another northern candidate apart from Buhari wins the 2019 presidential poll, it will be another eight years for the north, which would have kept the south out of power for 12 years. It is no wonder, therefore, that most of those backing Buhari’s re-election from the south are those who clandestinely have their eyes on the nation’s number one seat. Can Buhari be the only real deal for Nigeria? As of the last count, no fewer than 23 persons across different political parties have indicated interest in being Nigeria’s president come 2019. Although a majority of them are southerners, the deluge of aspirants has not only opened up the space but setting new parameters for the election of a new Nigerian president.

Who are these candidates?

Bukola Saraki The current Senate President, Bukola Saraki, was Kwara State governor for eight years between

2003 and 2011. As governor, he was also the chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, at a time the body was at its peak of political and economic relevance.

Although he emerged Senate President in 2015 against the will of some power brokers within his party, the APC, he has since carried on in the office as one of the best ever to preside over the Senate.

President Muhammadu Buhari had once described him as one of the most influential politicians of modern Nigeria. He is about the most visible and has effectively deployed the goodwill of his office to build consensus.

Saraki has always had his eyes on the number one seat, even when he has yet to run in any presidential election. To pursue his ambition, he is expected to defect to another party. If he does, he stands a good chance with the auspicious Supreme Court ruling that cleared him of allegations of corruption. Much as he has another matter pending with the police over a recent robbery in Offa, Kwara State, the alleged conspiracy to nail him has hardly given way.

Atiku Abubakar Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is generally considered the most experienced and most prepared for the office of the president – an ambition he has nursed since 1990s. Although for the first time in 2011, he was on the ballot, he lost to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

As vice-president under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Atiku was literally in charge of the economy and was believed to have held down the nation’s economy with the same approach he has held his many thriving businesses, both at home and away.

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Unfortunately, like Saraki, he has since battled the stigma of corruption – no thanks to Obasanjo – even though no competent court of law has found him guilty of any of the allegations.

It is believed that the only barrier standing between Atiku and the 2019 presidency is Obasanjo, hence the recent pressure on Obasanjo to let him be and give him a chance, more so that Obasanjo has gone on the offensive against Buhari.

Rabiu Kwankwaso Former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, is the current senator representing Kano Central, after eight years as governor. The senator is one Kano politician with a cult followership, the type that can only compete with Buhari’s relevance in the North West.

Besides, he prides himself as the only politician from that part of the country with strong ties with the three Ks (Katsina, Kano and Kaduna), the same as Buhari. He is presently in a supremacy battle with his successor, Abdullahi Ganduje, a man he had walked with as an ally for years.

Thus, his 2019 battle is in two parts. The first is for Kano, where he has vowed to ensure Ganduje does not return and the other for the presidency. Although there is speculation that he is fanatical by disposition, it is one allegation no one has been able to prove apart from being mere speculation.

The fact that he also came second during the 2014 primary of the APC equally puts him in good stead as one character to watch out for in the 2019 power contest.

Aminu Tambuwal Incumbent Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, President Buhari acknowledging cheers from the crowd during his inauguration in 2015 was Speaker of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015, a position he clinched against then existing political Ibrahim Shekarau, formally declared his interest to contest for formation and understanding. The development, like the case of the presidency some weeks ago, on the platform of the PDP. him except of course something unintended gives way.

Saraki, pitted him against the Jonathan presidency but brought It is however not his first time in the race and also not the first him into prominence as he was seen as having fought for the time against Buhari. Indeed, in the 2011 presidential debate, Kingsley Moghalu independence of the legislature.

Shekarau stood out from the lot. He explained that his decision A political economist, lawyer and former United Nations In the lead up to the 2015 elections, he attempted a shot at the to seek PDP’s presidential ticket was informed by the clarion official, Kingsley Moghalu is Professor of Practice in Internapresidency, when he bought his expression of interest form for calls from Nigerians. tional Business and Public Policy at The Fletcher School of Law the presidential race. He was later prevailed upon to shelve the “As you may be aware, for quite some time now, since after and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Founder, Sogato Strategies idea, to make the race easier for Buhari. the 2015 general election, there have been various calls made LLC, an emerging markets risk, strategy and macroeconomic He is again seeking to contest in 2019, a desire believed to by individuals and groups from many quarters, nationwide, advisory firm, he was also a Senior Adviser of the Official have been made possible by Buhari’s leadership style. Although urging my humble candidature for the contest of the presiMonetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF). a majority still feels he is better off continuing as the Sokoto dency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the next general In 2016, Moghalu founded the Institute for Governance and State governor especially that age is on his side, it is not certain elections, due in 2019. Naturally, experience comes to play for Economic Transformation (IGET), a think tank focused on the whether or not he will concede to such prodding this time.

Shekarau, complemented by capacity to get things done. His achievement of inclusive economic growth and effective public joining the race is largely seen by observers as another factor policy in developing countries. He served as Deputy Governor that would complicate the situation in the state as two former of the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2009 to 2014, where he led Sule Lamido governors might be in opposition against the incumbent. But the implementation of far-reaching reforms in Nigeria’s banking Sixty-nine-year-old Sule Lamido was governor of Jigawa in terms of disposition, Shekarau is believed to stand a good sector.

State for eight years under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). chance, not just as an alternative candidate, but more as an His joining the race has been largely welcomed given his Indeed, one of those who had long expressed interest in the individual who has what it takes to deliver. experience and background especially that he is seen as boastnation’s top job, shortly after Buhari assumed office. ing the capacity for the job. He is however from the Southern Experience is certainly not an issue for Lamido – having been part of the country and that may count against him. But talk governor and minister – combined with his maturity in power, Taminu Turaki about alternative candidate, he is more than qualified to change however, he has corruption cases hanging around his neck as Taminu Turaki, a former minister of Special Duties under the Nigerian story. he was jailed briefly having stood trial alongside his two sons in former President Goodluck Jonathan, recently joined the 2019 2015 for allegedly embezzling state funds. He typically blamed presidential race on the platform of the PDP. A prominent his enemies as being behind his travails and none of such politician from Kebbi State, his billboards and posters already Fela Durotoye would stifle him from running for the presidency. He is in the flood Birnin-Kebbi, the state capital.

Adetokunbo Oluwafeolami Durotoye was born in Ibadan, race for real.

The chairman of PDP in the state, Haruna Saidu, recently Oyo State some 47 years ago. A business consultant, leadership said it was a welcome development “as he is the first from the expert, and motivational speaker, he is the president of the state to declare his intention”.

GEMSTONE Nation Builders Foundation, a non-profit, nonAhmed Makarfi There is a certain disposition towards him, because a majorgovernmental organisation targeted at training youths towards Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi was governor of Kaduna State ity of active players sees him as a distinct breakaway from transformational leadership and social change. from 1999 to 2007, and moved on to be elected Senator for the familiar faces on the turf. Also considered cosmopolitan His interest in the presidential race was believed to have been Kaduna North in 2007. An active member of the PDP, he was and educated, he is believed to stand a good chance in the stimulated by the not-too-young to run bill, even though he has the national caretaker chairman of the PDP in the period the presidential run, both as an alternative and capable hand. gone past the age of restriction clauses. Although one minus for party was in turmoil before driving the process that produced him is that he is from the South, he is believed to have so far the current leadership of the party. articulated sufficient points to earn him the admiration of voters At 61, Makarfi boasts the kind of experience required to steer Peter Ayodele Fayose if he sustains the tempo. He is a worthy alternative too. the ship of the country, after being governor and senator.

The controversial Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, It is not certain whether or not he stands a good chance in the was one of the early risers to the presidential race. Fayose, who power struggle in the party despite having been at the party’s was impeached as governor in his first term in 2006, returned Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies helm of affair. He is a potential alternative candidate that can to office in 2014, and has remained one of those who spotted An educational consultant and associate professor of effectively address Nigeria’s problems. alleged ineptitude of President Buhari early, a development linguistics with specialisation in applied linguistics and combelieved to have spurred his intention to run. munication, Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies is a former director Although Fayose has been generally dismissed as looking of the Centre for Vocational Skills, Entrepreneurial and General Ibrahim Shekarau for grounds for negotiating his relevance post-office as goverStudies, Rivers State University of Education, Port Harcourt, A highly cerebral former governor of Kano State, Mallam nor, that he is from South-west may have knocked him out Rivers State. effectively. But at least, by indicating interest in the job defeats Also, a poet, communication expert, advocacy and activist, the argument that there is no alternative to Buhari in 2019, she holds a Doctor of Divinity (D.D) Degree and Professor of even though debate about capacity and credibility is relative as Divinity (Honoris Causa) Award of Northwestern Christian far as Fayose is concerned.

University, Florida, US. She is an Academic of note and has decided to take the political dive on the strength of the fact that there is nothing esoteric about good governance.

Donald Duke She is from the Southern extraction and would have a Former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke is one long way to go to realising her dream, not because she is not Nigerian politician a majority of the people sees as wearing the qualified or hands-on, but because the political turf has been image of a former United States President, Barack Obama. In structured with a bias for the opposite sex. terms of education, carriage, articulation and capacity, which he displayed as governor, Duke always comes to mind a good presidential material with good understanding of what the Remi Sonaiya issues are.

Oluremi Comfort Sonaiya is a politician, educationalist and Although a certain speculation still subsists on how he writer. She was Nigeria’s only female presidential candidate in narrowly missed being the running mate to former President the 2015 general election on the platform of the KOWA Party.

Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on account of alleged arrogance In 1982, she was employed as an Assistant Lecturer in that he was a better material, that story has not be officially the Department of Foreign Languages, Obafemi Awolowo confirmed.

University before she rose to the position of Professor of French But take that away, Duke is believed to have all it takes to Language and Applied Linguistics in 2004. She is a fellow of take the country to the Eldorado, having proven to be an ideal the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, where she went on alternative in every sense of the word. The fact that he is from to be appointed the body’s Ambassador Scientist from 2008 to the southern part of the country may, however, stand against 2014.

A majority of President Muhammadu Buhari’s supporters especially savours the impression that as far as 2019 is concerned, there will be no stopping the president from being re-elected. This, they have hinged on the assumption that there is no credible alternative to him. That may be further from reality

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The Alternative Candidates University, respectively.

A former regional coordinator for the Department for International Development little is known about FegbenroBryon, even though that does not limit his chances in any way for as long as capacity and competence are established.

Curiously, too, he is a southerner and getting through with the presidential run might be a little tough, albeit not impossible. But he has also helped to dismiss the illusion that there are no alternatives to Buhari.

Charles Udeogaranya A former Lagos State chairman of the defunct African Renaissance Party and now a chieftain of the APC, Charles Udeogaranya is also aspiring to succeed Buhari in 2019. A Nigerian from the South-east zone of the country, Udeogaranya’s tall dream of succeeding Buhari may be long in coming as the APC might have closed the doors against everyone.

Apart from commenting regularly on issues in the country, he is hardly known as a formidable challenge to Buhari, thus, questions of capacity and credibility are hardly raised for or against him.

Mathias Tsado

INEC officials performing their duties during an election military rule in Nigeria.

A graduate of Geography and planning at the University of Lagos, he was the President of the University of Lagos Student Union Government, which encouraged his involvement in anti-cultism and anti-corruption advocacy. He holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Columbia.

His interest in the presidency is said to have been stoked by the need to get governance right. Sadly, he too is from the Southern part of the country but that has not however stifled him from forging ahead. Many believe he is credible, even though experience and capacity are not conceded to him yet.

Enyinnaya Nnaemeka Nwosu

INEC National Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu She retired from her position at Obafemi Awolowo University in 2010 and became politically active, joining the KOWA Party, where she was voted its National Public Relations Officer, and went on to be the party’s candidate for the 2015 Presidential election. At the election, Sonaiya received 13,076 votes and finished in 12th place.

She is back again in the trenches, and this time, more determined to go all out. She is believed to be credible and has the capacity for the office. She is a southern candidate, a factor that could inhibit her chances.

Thomas-Wilson Ikubese Thomas-Wilson Ikubese, a medical doctor, is an indigene of Delta State, born in Lagos some 48 years ago. As a student, he distinguished himself as a visionary of repute. He was an honourable congressman, later the Speaker of congress, and chairman of caretaker committee of the University of Benin Medical Student Association (UBEMSA).

He was to be elected unanimously as the president of the association before it was plunged into crisis by a faction of the association. He recently left his party, National Conscience Party (NCP) on the account that it had deviated from its goals. He is believed to lack the requisite experience for a job as tough as Nigeria’s president. Besides, he is also a southerner, two critical factors that are imposing on his way.

Omoyele Sowore Born 47 years ago, Omoyele Sowore is a Nigerian human rights activist, pro-democracy campaigner and founder of an online news agency, Sahara Reporters. An indigene of Ondo State, he was however born in the Niger Delta region of the country, where he was raised. Although not a trained journalist, his passion and desire for reporting was allegedly propelled by

Forty-one-year-old Enyinnaya Nnaemeka Nwosu was born in Olokoro, Umuahia, Abia State, to the family of Elder Peter Onyema Nwosu and the late Mrs. Edna Onyedinma Nwosu, both renowned educationists.

He began his career with the law firm, Ikechukwu Ezechuckwu & Co in 2007. He later travelled to the United Kingdom in 2010 where he obtained a master’s in International Information Technology Law from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen in 2011.

He lectured briefly at the West George College, Glasgow, Scotland before joining Royal Bank of Scotland from where he relocated to Newcastle in England and joined the SERCO GROUP but later joined the Justice Department and worked with the Legal Aid Agency, which prompted his secondment to Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals from where he decided to come back to Nigeria and run for the office of the President.

Though his southern origin may stand against him, his experience is also being dismissed as inadequate for the office of the president particularly his understanding of what the Nigerian issues are.

Ahmed Buhari Perhaps, one of the youngest in the race, 40-year-old Lagos-based businessman, Ahmed Buhari, has also swelled the ranks of those itching to wrest power from Buhari. He recently vowed to do all it takes to wrest power from the president in 2019.

An indigene of Kontagora in Niger State, Buhari said his decision to contest the presidency in 2019 was “to take Nigeria out of the quagmire to a destination that will benefit all Nigerians.”

He claimed to be tired of complaining about how things were being done in Nigeria, saying he had decided to come out of his comfort zone to contest, and that he was “ready to slug it out with President Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates in 2019.”

“I am still consulting on which platform to use in contesting but, for now, I am of the view that most of the major political parties do not share ideologies that conform to mine and that of my numerous followers,” he stated.

A northerner with age on his side, experience may be the only factor to count against him. But the fact that he is willing to take the plunge makes the 2019 race one of the most interesting in history.

Adesanya Fegbenro-Bryon Adesanya Fegbenro-Bryon is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mothergold Limited and Chief Responsibility Officer for Mothergold Consulting. He has two degrees from the University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo

Mathias Tsado was born 41 years ago in Gusadi, Gbako Local Government Area of Niger State. He worked briefly with Eco Bank Nig Plc and Intercontinental Bank Plc. He is currently the CEO of Matstrutt Nigeria Ltd. A member of the Institute for National Transformation and the institute for service excellence and good governance (ISEGG), he is the convener of Hope Platform Initiative, a group committed to good governance in Nigeria.

A graduate of Mechanical Engineering from The Federal University of Technology Minna, he was the Financial Secretary of National Association of Nupe Students and the Assistant Secretary General National of the Association of Niger State Students (NANISS) during his undergraduate days.

He is at advantage by virtue of his ethnic background but would have to contend with experience and capacity in the battle to succeed Buhari.

Eniola Ojajuni Ojajuni Eniola Joseph is a 40-year old presidential aspirant from the royal family of Ojajuni Karaki, in Ugbo Kingdom, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. After his first degree in law at the Lagos State University, he proceeded to Ghana Business School to gain knowledge in Business Administration.

He has since been to different business schools across African countries and Europe.

Now a consultant to Vega Foods, Singapore on Africa investment as well as Delta State Investment Agency on Direct Investment, he has successfully written over 200 proposals to investors including over 25 governors, past and present in Nigeria.

His desire to run for the presidency was borne out of the need to change the development focus of the leadership. His challenges however stemmed from the part of the country he hails from to the issues of capacity, experience and competence especially that he is hardly known.

Olu James Omosule A father of two, Olu James Omosule was born in Owo, Ondo State, on September 3, 1969. A board member, Scope America Outreach, he claimed as a concerned Nigerian loyal to progressive democratic ideals, those ideals are currently being threatened.

In a sense to show that he understands the Nigerian problems, he contended that the Nigerian elites have been fighting a culture war, but reckoned that the main battlefield is the brain.

Another Yoruba man for the presidency does not sound like an idea whose time has come in 2019. Even as the debate on capacity and credibility may not yet sit well with it, his decision to run for the presidency is a welcome development, which encourages an expanded space.

Tope Fasua A Nigerian businessman, economist and writer, Tope Kolade Fasua was born on September 11, 1971. Founder and CEO, Global Analytics Consulting Limited, an international consulting firm with headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, Fasua is a political reformer, who founded the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP) and was elected to serve as the National Chairman of the Party.

Fasua became a qualified accountant in 1996 after attending the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria to obtain Associate Chartered Accountant. Between his movements from his long banking practice to starting his Consulting Firm, he attended London Metropolitan University to gain master’s degree in Financial Markets and Derivatives with distinction in 2006.

Currently a fellow academic with his PhD, Public Policy and Administration in view at the Walden University, Fasua has definitely paid his dues.

With his ANRP boasting a membership base of about 50000, Fasua, at the ANRP National Executive Committee on May 17, 2018, announced his intention to join the race for presidency.

He literally ticks all the boxes except that he is from the South-west. Even then, nothing can be taken for granted.

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newsxtra Fayemi Wins, APC Survives PVC could also not be verified by the card reader.

The deputy governor initially described the election process as credible at the time he voted and urged the security agencies to maintain the tempo. But he later decried an alleged complicity of security agents in the manipulation of results, saying, “We contested against security agencies.”

Olusola’s campaign spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, stated, “Aside the fact that it was an election of the PDP versus all the security agencies in the country, we are confident of winning.

“Despite the intimidation and harassment by security agencies, we are still hopeful of winning the election but we are confronted with a clear plot to manipulate the results.

“We are, therefore, calling on all well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the security agencies and INEC to allow the will of Ekiti people to prevail.”

In a similar vein, PDP alleged manipulation of results a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.

PDP said the people of Ekiti State already knew the results that had been declared at the polling centres.

The statement said, "The PDP has however noted how some compromised INEC officials are allowing the hirelings of the APC to attack and chase away our party’s agents at the collation centres, particularly in our electoral areas of stronghold.

"PDP, in very strong terms, therefore cautions INEC to be guided and ensure that it is not pushed by the APC or any interest, for that matter, to subvert the will of the people as that would be a recipe for crisis."

Throughout Ekiti State yesterday, people started trooping out as early as 6.30am to the polling units and at many of the centres, intending voters waited for the arrival of

election materials.

In places where THISDAY monitored in Ado Ekiti, Ifaki Ekiti, Ayegbaju and Oye, Iworoko, voting started early. Security arrangements were also superb.

At Ayegbaju Ward 4, unit 002, the European Union Ambassador in Nigeria, Mr. Keti Karlsen, hailed the peaceful election commencement of the poll. Karlsen said, “As at 9.17am, the election has been peaceful. I have been to five polling units and the process has been credible enough.

“This election is going to be a litmus test for 2019 elections. This election is a precursor to the 2019 elections and its success is very crucial to us.

“The EU have been supporting INEC in voter education, how to encourage people with disabilities, among others.

“We have seen a large turnout of people and the enthusiasm for people to elect a governor that can represent them well. I believe this

election will be credible if it ends like this.”

Commenting also on the election, the Commissioner of Police in charge of Ekiti North Senatorial District, Mr Ali Janga, praised INEC and the electorate for a peaceful electoral process.

Janga was among the three CPs deployed to Ekiti by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, to monitor the election and work with the Deputy Inspector General 0f Police, Operations, Mr Habilal Joshak. Ekiti North senatorial district comprises Ikole, Ido/ Osi, Oye, Moba and Ilejemeje.

Janga, who spoke in Ido Ekiti, hailed the massive turnout of voters across the state and the transparency of INEC in the discharge of its duties.

He said, “I have visited three local governments and there were no electoral manipulation anywhere.

People raised false alarm by sending distress calls to us, but many of them were found to be false when we

got there.

“Election materials were distributed as early as possible and they were guarded by security. And the turnout was very impressive.

“With what I have seen, I know that Ekiti people are determined and desirous of choosing a new leader.”

The Police Service Commission (PSC) also rated the police high in terms of deployment and performance of the officers on election duty. PSC’s Head, Media and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, made the assessment in a statement yesterday. Ani clarified that the PSC does not monitor election, but the conduct of police officers deployed for electoral duties to ensure that they maintain neutrality, law and order and ensure safe passage for the electorate.

He said the commission’s team, which was led by its Permanent Secretary, Mr. Musa Istifanus, monitored the conduct of the police officers in 45 polling units

in the three senatorial zones of Ekiti State covering 14 out of the 16 local government areas. Ani said, though, there were few cases of disorder in some isolated units, the police and the complementary security agencies ensured that the election was peaceful and orderly.

In the meantime, the national chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, said yesterday in Ilorin that the 2019 general election will depend on the outcome of the governorship election in Ekiti State. Secondus stated this during his condolence visit to the former PDP national chairman, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, who lost his mother on Wednesday night.

“We expect the Ekiti election to be credible, we believe anything short of that will cause crisis and you know Ekiti election is the beginning of all elections that will come in 2019. If Ekiti election is not properly conducted, then there will be no election in 2019,” Secondus said.

had a breakfast working meeting at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.

According to a statement

by Obasanjo’s media aide, Mr Kehinde Akinyemi, the PDP national chairman, while speaking on behalf of the delegation and the party, made four key submissions: an apology to the former president for the bad conduct and mistreatment of him by the PDP; the distress and prostrate situation of the country today; the progress of the MOU on grand alliance of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP); and an appeal to the former president, not to be tired, while giving leadership to save the country from the throes of mismanagement and shipwreck.

While responding, Obasanjo expressed appreciation to the PDP leadership for apologising on behalf of the party and made reference to the Lord’s Prayer "where we are taught to ask God for forgiveness of sins and to grant forgiveness to others.

It was said Obasanjo further bemoaned the pitiable situation of Nigeria today and the inexcusable killings and insecurity almost all over the country and the unprecedented divisions in the country, which the Buhari government does not seem to have any solution to.

Akinyemi stated regarding the coalition, "It is not a merger, nor absorption of any political party by any political party. It is clearly defined for the parties who agreed to be members of the alliance to work

together to achieve one important common objective at the national level towards the upcoming 2019 general election when and where it is appropriate and necessary for members that may also form an alliance and cooperation at the state level.”

Obasanjo reiterated that the idea of a grand alliance was broached when the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) adopted African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a political party platform, but he reaffirmed his belief and support for the grand alliance.

"Individuality and independence of each political party must be observed and respected by all parties concerned. It is also desirable that in the process of implementing the MOU to achieve the set objective, solidarity and focus on the objective must be maintained.

"On adoption of ADC as political party of the CNM, I had maintained that I would not be a member of any political party but I would make myself available to guide any party that wishes to be so guided and I have offered such guidance to ADC. "While I am making myself available to any other party that will require it, service to ADC will be paramount," said Obasanjo.

Besides, Obasanjo told the committee that before their prompting he had already put his hands on the ground "and there is no looking back".

Secondus: PDP's Worst Presidential Aspirant Better than Buhari there is no credible alternative to Buhari. He stated that it was an insult to the nation for anybody to claim that only Buhari was fit to rule Nigeria.

In a related development, PDP said yesterday that it had fully reconciled with the ex-president and former party man, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. A statement by the PDP national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the reconciliation followed a two-hour meeting between the party’s leadership and Obasanjo in Abeokuta.

On his part, Obasanjo advised the party to pay attention to moral discipline, commitment, good image, and leadership in order to restore its lost glory and regain the confidence of Nigerians. He gave the advice yesterday at his home in Abeokuta during a courtesy visit by the National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP, led by Secondus, and Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Walid Jibrin.

The PDP national chairman said in the interview, “Nothing can be more irritating and insulting than that kind of argument. A country of over 180 million people: you are saying that the best is a person whose three years of terrible governance has dragged the country to the dyke. Those saying that are selfish persons around the president, who have held him hostage by telling him what they want him to hear, not what the situations really are. The alternatives abound from every corner.

“If every registered political party in the country were to pick a presidential candidate, any of them would do better than the current APC president. In PDP, we have a reservoir of presidential aspirants – the worst among them will do better than what APC has been offering Nigerians since 2015.”

Secondus explained that PDP’s recent alliance with other political parties and groups was forged to provide a virile and credible platform that would give hope to Nigerians and restore the oneness of the country.

According to him, “What influenced the alliance is essentially to save our democracy and to rescue the country. Every other influencing factor is secondary. The primary motive is to save Nigeria. All members of the coalition agreed to forge ahead along this line.

Picking a common presidential candidate couldn't have been the main motive; otherwise, you can get an endorsement from a party or group without going into a coalition.”

The PDP chairman pointed out that Nigerians across the country felt justifiably concerned about where the Buhari-led APC administration was taking the country.

Expatiating on the coalition’s mission, Secondus stated, “We need to halt them before they crash our democracy. PDP has ample reasons why it must fight to keep this democracy. We have a very high stake in this project.

Our history as a party is full of

struggles to restore democracy.

Having restored and nurtured it for 16 years, we cannot just sit and watch some unconcerned power grabbers destroy all we have built over the years using their own narrow view of democracy.”

He added, “Because they (APC) are not democrats, they make sure that other arms of government – the legislature and Judiciary – are harassed to frighten them out of their statutory function of checking the executive. This president has committed so many impeachable offences but the legislature is embattled to do the needful. But

by February 2019, Nigerian voters will do it with their PVCs.”

Obasanjo Finally Reconciles With PDP The PDP leadership said it had fully reconciled with Obasanjo and resolved to join forces with him to rescue the country from its current misrule. Led by Secondus, the PDP leadership, comprising members of the NWC and leaders of the BOT, met with Obasanjo at his Abeokuta Hilltop residence on Saturday.

Ologbondiyan said in a statement that the leaders agreed that mistakes were made in the past for which the leadership of the PDP tendered apologies to the former president.

The former president, who received the apology with a Yoruba proverb that one does not hand over his child’s waist band to an enemy just because the band did not fit the

child’s waist, further expressed his preparedness to fight for the cause of nationhood while assuring that Nigeria’s glory would be restored, the statement said.

“Chief Obasanjo also promised to join forces with other well-meaning leaders in the country to stop the nation’s current drift into anarchy."

The statement said Secondus commended the commitment of the former president towards the development and stability of the country. He recalled the sacrifices made by Obasanjo for the country both as a military and civilian leader and urged him not to give up at this crucial time.

Secondus invited Obasanjo to lead from the front, as he had always done, in the current quest to save our nation from total eclipse.

According to the statement, PDP leaders used the occasion to share fond memories of the development of the PDP as a purposeful political party designed by its founding fathers to foster and sustain a better living standard for the Nigerian people.

Obasanjo Sues for Moral Discipline in PDP Obasanjo told the visiting PDP leadership that to bring back the party’s lost glory and regain confidence in the mind of Nigerians, PDP should to pay attention to moral discipline, commitment, good image and leadership. Led by Secondus and Jibrin, the PDP leaders also

•See full interview on pages 74–75

Strategic Leadership for Optimal Performance for Nigerian Executives Alim Abubakre

W

landscape. Other vital takeaways include actionable learning outcomes such as improved leadership quotient on how to bridge differences and exploresynergiesmoreeffectively,viacasestudiesthattranslateleadership conceptsintoaction,andbeingmoreadeptatarticulatinggoalstoincrease individual, organisational as well as industry influence and impact.”

This program has been designed to equip executives with tools for drivingorganisationalandpeoplecapabilities,whichwill,inturn,enhance performance,helpthemrecognizethecharacteristicsofhigh-performing workgroups,encourageanenvironmentthatinspireshighperformance, effectively drive and manage change and create plans to eradicate the barriers to high performance.

e are living in turbulent times characterized by political uncertainty, increasing insecurity, rollercoaster paced product innovation, stiff competition, depressing customer income and increasing cost of operation. Thus, there is an urgent need for unusual leaders who are strategic, agile, who can build resilience, develop values that endure and develop an entrepreneurial culture that fosters

high performance.

Based on this volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous landscape inNigeria,TEXEMUK,presentsherforthcomingexecutivedevelopment programmetailoredtohelpseniorexecutivesdeveloprequisiteleadership quotient. Delegates will develop competence in forging strategies that create a competitive edge in turbulent times. Participants will become more aware of their leadership style, strengths and blind spots and how to effectively inspire diverse stakeholders and develop actionable frameworks for stimulating superlative; individual and organisational performance World-renownedProfessorRodriaLalinewilldeliverthisprogramme on Developing and Leading High-Performance Organizations for Superlative Results on July 18 and 19 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Professor Laline has been CEO of global research and development collaborations with IBM, ING, Hewlett-Packard, Digital Equipment Corporation, Honeywell Bull, Elsevier Science, Oracle Corporation, Siemens,andPhilips.Shewasco-founderoftheGlobalChipcardAlliance and board member of the Open Software Foundation and developed the intellectual property that is used on every ATM card globally.

Professor Laline, when asked why executives should attend the forthcoming programme, said: “Participants are assured of geometric return of investment via enhanced social capital through networking with other impressive leaders and future partners – both during the executivedevelopmentprogrammeandafter.Furthermore,leaderswill

Perspective havetheopportunitytochallengeanddebatewiththefacultieswhohave a wealth of applicable theoretical and practical leadership experience.

“Forexample,attheriskofbeingaccusedofbeingself-asserting,permit me to say that I have delivered executive development programmes in almost every continent in the world and for participants from over eighty countries through my work at Harvard, Insead, IMD and IESE. I have practical senior executive and board-level experience, and I have advised many boards across Europe, America, Asia, and Africa.

“Specifically, upon completion of this programme, you will be more self-aware and equipped with critical and relevant strategies on how to propel your leadership trajectory for improved capacity to inspire your organisation to deliver results in a resource-constrained operating

Testimonials “I have enjoyed the training particularly areas talking about how to turn around a business in a recession. Its been educative, informative and also interactive. I recommend this programme to any executive who wants to turn around his business in a time of crisis. And anyone who wants to meet people of timber and calibre should participate in Texemprogrammes”. Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, CEO communication network support service limited.

“Ithasgivenmeanewinsighttomanagingmybusiness.TEXEMreally gavemethroughtheexperienceoftheProfs,insightaboutwhatmanagement is all about. If TEXEM continues this way, I will be attending their future programmes. Because at this level, we need to be mentored and continue to train ourselves. OtunbaAkinolaAdegokeAwomodu, MD orbital and oranges Nigeria Limited, Port Harcourt.

“We are really enjoying the topics being discussed. The speakers have a huge background and they are experienced. They have been on board of big companies or chairman of big enterprises. We are learning a lot in termsofleadingespeciallynowthatthecountryisgoingthrougheconomic crisis. I want to congratulate TEXEM and I look forward to participating in future seminars in Nigeria”. RamziChidiac , MD ITB Nigeria Limited.

––––Abubakre writes from United Kingdom (See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 15, 2018

83

NEWSXTRA Ambode Rescues 50 Nigerians Stranded in Russia

t NFF officials didn’t offer them help, says eyewitness Gboyega Akinsanmi Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has rescued 50 Nigerian football fans, who were stranded in Moscow, Russia at the on-going

2018 FIFA World Cup. Before Ambode’s intervention, officials of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) were aware that over 50 Nigerians were stranded, but could not come to their assistance.

An eyewitness, Mr. Nnamdi Odimegwu disclosed this in a social media post yesterday, noting that over 50 Nigerians found it difficult returning home because they did not have return air tickets.

Odimegwu, however, said succour came their way when Ambode, who is a member of the federal government delegation to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, met them at the airport.

According to him, this is not

a political campaign for him, but just appreciating a good and kind gesture by one of our noble Politicians in Nigeria.

The post read in part: “I had a pick-up arrangement today at the airport in Moscow and had a rare privilege of meeting the Governor of Lagos State, the most populous and commercial Hub of Nigeria.

“I quickly introduced myself while I waited for my pick-up arrangement to come out. We had a small chat and exchanged knowledge and wisdom while I waited.

“He bade me farewell as his pick-uparrangementhadarrived.

After a few minutes, my pick-up arrived as well.So,wesetouttothe carpark.Assoonaswecameoutof the airport, I saw a crowd of over 50 Nigerianswhohadbeenstranded at the airport for between 10

and 15 days now.

“In their middle was this same man, Ambode.

As soon as he sighted me, he quickly called my attention to assist. It was a pathetic state and a lot of words both pleasant and unpleasant were being exchanged.

“Then, Ambode did something that amazed me.

He showed solidarity and quickly pledged to send all 50 stranded Nigerians home and assigned me to oversee the transfers and procurement of new tickets to send them home.”

He confirmed that 19 out of this 50 “are already on air to Lagos Nigeria. The remaining 31 are leaving this evening. Ambode also fed them all as he gave them cash to eat while they waited for their tickets to fly home.

2019: Navy to Provide Logistics, Security for INEC, Voters Sylvester Idowu in Warri

FOR THE WINNERS L-R: Legal Officer, Lagos State Lotteries Board, Simisola Abass; Assistant Director,National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Joy Okuna; General

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Three Bag 24 Years for $1.5m Fraud Chiemelie Ezeobi A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has convicted three persons for defrauding a burea de change owner of $1.5million, thereby sentencing them to a jail term of 24 years collectively.

The convicts are Umem Anita, Isa Hassan, and Mfom Iniunam, who ≠≠ charged with conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) The presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba recently sentenced the three accused persons to 24 years after establishing prima facie case against in a charge marked with

FHC/L/331C/2015.

The judge sentenced the first defendant Anita to a jail term of 10 years while the second defendant, Hassan and third defendant Iniunam bagged seven years each without option of fine.

He ordered the first defendant Umem Anita to refund $1 million to the victim as restitution.

He, also, ordered that the two companies used for the fraud should wound up and their assets fortified to the Federal Government of Nigeria in accordance with section 1(3); and 10(2) of the advance free fraud and other fraud related offences act, 2006.

During the trial, the prosecutor and the officer in charge of SFU legal department, Emmanuel Jackson explained that the fraud issue began sometime in 2014, when Dashad Bureau De Change Company Limited needed dollars for its customers.

When contacted by the managing director of the company, one Alhaji Taiwo, the suspects claimed they had the dollar equivalent of the naira he wanted to change.

When the rate was agreed on, the suspects promised immediate delivery once the naira equivalent was received.

Consequently, the victim paid N800 million to the suspects for

the equivalent of $1.5 million.

After payment was made, it turned out that the suspects did not have any dollars as claimed.

When he pressured them, they used his money to source for $500,000 dollars in black market which they paid to him and thereafter made away with the balance of $1million.

The victim reported the case to the police and upon tracking them, they were charged to court for conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence.

According to SFU Spokesperson, DSP Lawal Audu, the landmark court judgment came three years after suspects were arraigned in court.

Ahead of 2019 general election, the Nigerian Navy has put its platforms and personnel in good stead to provide logistic support for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in movement of electoral materials and staff to coastal areas in the South-south states.

The Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command (CNC), Rear Admiral Saleh Usman disclosed this at the weekend when he led top naval officers to inspect naval formations in Delta State.

Usman, who was accompanied by the Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship Delta (NNS Delta), Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, said the inspection was to assess the readiness of the naval officers and platforms for the 2019 elections considering the coastal terrain of his area of responsibility.

He said the coastal areas in the South-south “have always being a major problem for the INEC in terms of timely distribution of election materials as

well as movement of electoral officers.

“The essence of my visit to our areas of operation is to check orderliness. You know we are getting into the election period. We must make sure all our platforms are ready to support INEC and any organ of government.

“One of the major roles of the Navy is to support the government. We do not wait for any organ of government to come asking before we get prepared.

So, we always get prepared well ahead and carry out feasibility study before any call from the headquarters,” Usman said.

Usman said all the naval bases under his command “are fully ready for the national assignment next year as well as continued with its traditional role of safe guarding the waterways.”

He reassured Nigerians that the military would do its best to ensure a free and fair election in 2019 devoid of any intimidation either by own personnel or miscreants.

ICAN Rejects Forensic, Investigative Auditor Bill

600,000 Children Risk Social Support in Nasarawa, Benue, Others

Peller Joins House of Reps Race in Oyo

Ugo Aliogo

Emmanuel Ukumba in Lafia

Shola Oyeyipo

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has rejected the Chartered Institute of Forensic and Investigative Auditors Bill, 2018, which has been passed by the Senate, but waiting for concurrence by House of Representatives.

The institute urged the House of Representatives to discard the bill so as to save the integrity of the accounting profession.

ICAN President, Mr. Razak Jaiyeola, who addressed journalists in Lagos, said, the institute recommended that the bill should be discarded “to safeguard the integrity of the noble accounting profession and its various areas of specialisation.”

“As a responsible professional organisation, ICAN has a public interest mandate to discourage and resist dilution of professional standards and quality.

“It is important to note that forensic and investigative audit is a special area of practice of accountancy that describes engagements resulting from actual or anticipated disputes.

Forensic means “suitable for use in a court of law.

“Forensic accountants, also referred to as forensic auditors or investigative auditors, often have to give experts’ evidence at eventual trial of relevant cases. Over the years, qualified ICAN members have been practising forensic and investigative accounting and auditing.

The Sustainable Mechanisms for Improving Livelihoods and Household Empowerment (SMILE) has warned that about 600,000 children in Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Edo and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are at risk of the social support offered by it.

The Nasarawa State coordinator of the SMILE, Mrs. Vivian Efem- Bassey, disclosed this at the weekend in Lafia during the review of the zero draft document on ‘End Violence Against Children’ in the state.

She noted that SMILE, a United State Agency for International Development’s (USAID) funded project in Nasarawa State, had

supported ten local government areas in the state.

She expressed concern of its sustenance by the state government at the expiration of the five-year tenure of the project, which according to her, would next September.

Also speaking, the consultant handling the ‘Nasarawa State End Violence Against Children Multi Sectoral Response Plan’, Mr. Nathaniel Awua-Pila lamented at the spate at which violence against children in some states had been regarded as normal.

He noted that the major challenges influencing violence against children was the inability of perpetrators of such acts to be held

Son of late magician, Professor Peller, Shina Peller, has joined the race for the iseyin/Itesiwaju/ Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency of Oyo State.

The renowned socialite, Peller, made this known at the weekend during his declaration, which attracted Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains at the Technical College, Iseyin.

According to him, his interest in politics and in the legislative race is out of the quest to bring relevance to the Oke Ogun area of the state.

Past representatives only seek votes from the region, but fail to develop the area.

He said: “Most people who know me can vouch for the fact that I have never been interested in politics and I have never had an eye for it, but with the level of decadence in the country today I have been forced to change my mind.”

Pellar said time “is now for Nigerian youths to get involved in politics in one positive way or the other.”

He urged all young people “to indicate interest in politics. Register to vote. Join a political party.

Run for an office and be the change we are seeking. It is time to stop ranting on social media and take positive actions.”

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EVENTS

P

enultimate Saturday, the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mr. Olatuji Bello and his wife former Acting Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji Bello gave out their daughter Temitope Oyindamola in a colorful wedding ceremony to the family of Late Mr. Adediran Akinjogbin and his widow Mrs. Iyabode Akinjogbin, son Adeniyi Akindele Akinjogbin, The well attended Church Service was held at Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG City of David), on Ligali Ayorinde Street, Victoria Island, while the guest were entertained, at Landmark Event Centre. Among those honors them with their presence are Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, his wife Bolanle, former CBN Governor, Chief Joseph Sanusi, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, Dame Abimbola Fashola, Mr and Justice Akin Kekere-Ekun and others. Here are some faces at the occasion.

Photographs by Kola Olasupo

R-L: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo: Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his wife Bolanle

Newly Wedded Couple Mr. Akiniyi Akindele & Temitope Oyindamola Akinjogbin

L-R: Bride Mother, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji Bello and her Husband Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mr. Olatunji Bello

L-R: Groom’s Snr Brother, Bukoye Akinjogbin and Groom’s Mother, Iyabode Akinjogbin

L-R: former Chairman of Punch Newspaper, Chief & Chief (Mrs) Ajibola Ogunsola

L-R: Former CBN Governor, Chief and Chief (Mrs) Joseph Sanusi

L-R: Mr. and Mrs. Lanre Delana

L-R: Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba. Kabiru Shotobi and his Olori

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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 ˾ JULY 15, 2018

EVENTS

L-R: former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba (right) with former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan

R-L: Ibirogba Ibidapo; Alhaji Muse Ola-Bello and Lukman Akinsanya

AIG (rtd) Mr. Israel Ajao and wife

L-R: Wife of Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Dame Abimbola Fashola (left) with Mrs. Tanwa Koya

L-R: former Group Law Editor, THISDAY Newspaper, Ms. Funke Aboyade SAN; Mrs. Mayowa Ubebe; Chief Richard Oma Ahonaruogho and wife Mojisola

L-R: Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun and his wife Justice Latifat

L-R: Managing Director, Brila FM, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Izamoje

L-R: Mr. Kunle Adeshina; his wife Dupe; Tubosun Ogunbanwo and Mrs. Sola Cole

L-R: Mr. Yomi Idowu; Chairman, Editorial Board The Nation Newspaper, Dr. Sam Omatseye and former Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Information, Mr. Segun Ayobolu

L-R: former Editor Punch Newspaper, Mr and Mrs. Tunji Adegboyega

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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 ˾ JULY 15, 2018

SUNDAYSPORTS

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

WORLD CUP 2018…

JUNE 14 TO JULY 15

Croatia Target First Title against Favourites France Duro Ikhazuagbe in Moscow

T

oday’s final game of the 2018 World Cup between Croatia and France here at the 80,000-seating capacity Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow is evoking memories of 1998 semi final clash between the two gladiators on parade this evening.

Twenty years ago, Croatia, attended her first World Cup after declaring independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and fought a war of liberation till 1995. Technically, Croatia had barely three years of serious preparations before arriving in France for her debut at the global football showpiece. Croatia made history despite losing in the semi final to France.

In that epic semi final clash two decades ago at the Stade de France in St Denis, the first half ended goalless. The second half sprang into life with Croatia’s top goal scorer Davor Suker firing the

Vatreni into the lead. Croatia’s advantage lasted only a minute though, as defender Lilian Thuram stole possession on top of Croatia’s penalty area before lashing home his first goal in a France shirt.

Incredibly, Thuram was not finished yet. He scored the winning goal in the 70th minute making it 2-1 with a curling shot that any striker would be proud of. That was how France ended the fairytale run of the new independent nation with this reporter in the Media Tribune that breezy evening in France.

Fast forward 20 years after, Croatia and France are here again not battling for the ticket to the final but aiming for the ultimate trophy. Will the battle-weary Croats succumb again like they did that night in St Denis or will they seek to avenge that defeat with a bigger price? Can Croatia do better than their heroes of ‘98 - or will it be Didier Deschamps’

France’s potent attack has seen both Mbappe and Greizemann score 3 goals each day once again in world football’s biggest game?

Is Croatia’s Coach, Zlatko Dalic, having nightmare over statistics pointing out that the Vatreni have never beaten France before in any competitive?

Speaking at yesterday’s prematch briefing, Dalic insisted that statistics and record are there to be broken. He insisted that Croatia have nothing to worry about going into this evening’s grand finale.

“Statistics and records are here to be broken. It does not matter who is our opponent in the final.

It is our goal to give our best, the whole world will be watching Croatia. We came here to enjoy the game and to win it. My players

have played a lot of matches in the Champions League - including finals - but this is the biggest game of their careers,” stressed Dalic who unlike Deschamps never had the opportunity to play for Croatia.

The Finalists’ Keepers: Lloris v Subasic While the headlines will be dominated by outfield stars suchasKylianMbappeandLuka Modric, France and Croatia can thank their goalkeepers for their spotsintheupcomingFIFAWorld Cup Final. Both Hugo Lloris and Danijel Subasic have been in top form for their respective sides, producing a steady supply of miraculous saves and penalty heroics respectively en route to today’s decider.

What he brings to France: Hugo Lloris has brought France consistency in a position where that was most definitely required.

He became the team’s No1 as far back as 2009 and has accrued vast experience in the near-

decade since. Against Belgium, he made his 103rd appearance for Les Bleus, which is a notable milestone as he equalled coach Didier Deschamps’ final caps haul having already become the most-capped keeper in France’s history.

At 31, he is in his goalkeeping prime and, as we have seen during this World Cup, there is no sign of his skill level dropping or his reflexes slowing. But Lloris’ importance isn’t merely as a good goalkeeper. He is a confidant of Deschamps and also holds the record for most appearances as France captain (79).

Lloris is one of the true heroes of Les Bleus’ Russia 2018 campaign

thus far. His saves have proved crucial in securing the team vital results in matches against Peru, Uruguay and Belgium.”

Best save at Russia 2018 “There have been a few but the best came in the Round of 16 against against Uruguay, a few minutes before the end of the first half. The game was tense andFrancehadonlyrecentlygone 1-0 up. Martin Caceres ran past Paul Pogba and rose higher than everyone to bullet in a powerful header. It looked certain to hit the net but Lloris produced an amazinghorizontalleaptoclawitaway.

Afterthematch,Deschampssaid: “It’s not a save - it’s almost a goal!”

What he brings to Croatia:

ROAD TO FINAL CROATIA GROUP D Croatia 2-0 Croatia 3-0 Croatia 2-1

FRANCE GROUP C France France France

2-1 1-0 0-0

Australia Peru Denmark

LAST 16 Croatia 1-1 Denmark - (3-2 on penalties)

LAST 16 France

4-3

Argentina

Q’FINAL Croatia 2-2 Russia (4-3 on penalties)

Q’FINAL Uruguay

0-2

France

S’FINAL Croatia 2-1 England (AET)

S’FINAL France

1-0

Belgium

Nigeria Argentina Iceland

FACT: Croatia is the first team to avoid defeat after trailing in three knockout

FACT: Didier Deschamps, will become the third man after Mario Zagallo (Brazil) and Franz Beckenbauer (Germany) to

matches at a single World Cup.

win the World Cup as both player/coach after the success he had against Brazil with Les Bleus at the 1998 final at home.

Danijel Subasic is having a very strong World Cup. Croatia conceded just a single goal in their first three games as they cruised to the top of a very tough Group D, and Subasic played no small role in that achievement.

Penalty shootouts are another story. Croatia won their Round of 16 game against Denmark 3-2 on penalties and then 4-3 via the same method against Russia in thequarter-finals.Subasicbecame just the second goalkeeper to save fourormorespot-kicksinaWorld Cup penalty shoot-out and has establishedhimselfasarealexpert in that respect.

BestsaveatRussia2018:Subasic showed his versatility when he savedthreepenaltiesagainstDenmark. He tipped the first penalty during that shootout from DenmarkmidfielderChristianEriksen on to the post. He then dived to his right to save an attempt from substitute Lasse Schone. Finally, he used his feet to block Nicolai Jorgensen’s attempt. But Subasic was injured during the shootout against Russia and perhaps his save against Fedor Smolov is the mostfamous.ItwasabizarrehalfPanenka attempt by the Russian, who tried to get Subasic to dive beforechippingdownthemiddle.

But Smolov failed to direct his effort in the centre of goal, and Subasic adjusted his dive to make the save.

Subasic equalled the record for penalty kicks saved at a World Cup

Lloris made the save of the tournament against Uruguay Hugo Lloris (FRA) Age: 31 Club: Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) Russia 2018 shutouts: 4

Danijel Subasic (CRO) Age: 33 Club: Monaco (FRA) Russia 2018 shutouts: 2

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SUNDAYSPORTS/ WORLD CUP 2018…

JUNE 14 TO JULY 15

Modric, Mbappe Standout Stars for Comeback Kings Croatia, Fearsome France Demola Ojo

D

espite being the smallest nation to reach a World Cup final since Uruguay back in 1950, Croatia coach Zlato Dalic believes Croatia have what it takes towintheWorldCuptrophytoday in Moscow.

Dalic compared Croatia’s run in Russia to that of a fellow Mediterranean country that surprised the football world at UEFA EURO 2004.

“I see the connection between Croatia now and Greece in 2004, although they are two different styles of football,” he said. “No one believed that they could be the (European) champions, but they were compact and had great teamwork.”

Both France and Croatia have compelling evidence to prove they will be worthy winners as they face off in an eagerly anticipated match.

France are a football powerhouse that have reached to World Cup finals – winning one – and also got to the finals of Euro 2016 which they hosted but lost to Portugal despite being favourites.

At this tournament, they have progressed to the final with minimal fuss, dispatching illustrious

opponents inArgentina, Uruguay and Belgium with relative ease in the knockout stage.

Thus they are the fresher of the two sides and have had one more day to recover. Besides, they have Kylian Mbappe and Ngolo Kante in scintillating form, the former the world’smostexcitingteenagerand one of the players of the tournament, while the latter is a tireless ball winner that shields his defence superbly.

On the other hand, Croatia are a group of experienced superstars who play for elite teams in Europe andhavebeentogetherasaunitfor years. They have incredible fighting spirit and never give in, as their previous knockout games show.

Mario Manduzkic has scored in two Champions League finals (for Bayern Munich and Juventus), Ivan Rakitic in another for Barcelona.

While many think a cumulative 90 minutes extra in their knockout matches will see them arrive the final jaded, It is a testament of their incredible fitness, resolve, belief and mental strength which should stand them in good stead in a finely-balanced final that may be decided by which team holds its nerve best.

While these are two star-studded outfits, Luka Modric and Kylian Mbappearestandoutstarsfortheir

respective teams.

Modric helped Croatia overcome a one-goal deficit to beat England 2-1 in extra-time and qualify for their first World Cup final on Wednesday evening.

Theveteranplaymakerhasmadea big impression on the world stage this summer, being instrumental during their clean sweep of wins in Group D and smashing a longrange stunner against Argentina.

Modric has influenced games by taking a squad-topping 535 touches - only bettered by Spain’s tiki-taka specialists Isco and Sergio Ramos across the tournament.

In addition, the 32-year-old ranks fourthacrosstheentiretournament for sweeping up loose balls with 48 recoveries.

Those stats alone would boost any side in Russia but his contribution in front of goal has also been world class, creating 16 chances for his team - behind only Neymar (23), Kevin De Bruyne and Kieran Trippier (both 17).

In addition to his wonder goal, Modric also converted a penalty to secure three points in the group opener against Nigeria’s Super Eagles - maintaining composure to double the lead and set the tone for their current six-game win streak.

Meanwhile, Mbappe – who hit the headlines after shining for Monaco during their Champions League campaign in 2016/17, before signingforParisSaint-Germainonloan last summer and securing a £166m permanent move – again stunned the world during a pulsating 4-3 win over Argentina, bursting at breathtaking speed from the halfway line before being dragged down for a penalty.

Mbappe later went on to score two of his own in the second half. He

Modric is hoisted up by a teamate during a recent victory terrified defences in Russia with a tournament-topping 52 dribbles surpassing Neymar (46) and Eden Hazard(43)duringhis444minutes on the pitch.

The 19-year-old is the secondyoungest player in Russia after Australia midfielder Daniel Arzani, offering an abundance of youthful energy and endurance - facets particularly useful

during the gruelling knockout schedule at a World Cup. Despite his age and agile frame, one lesser-known quality is the Frenchman’s ability in the challenge,winning47duels-onlyeight players across the competition have managed more.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

France: Hugo Lloris; Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane, Samuel

Umtiti, Lucas Hernandez; Paul Pogba, Ngolo Kante; Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Blaise Matuidi; Olivier Giroud.

Croatia: Danijel Subasic; Sime Vrsaljko, Dejan Lovren, Domagoj Vida, Ivan Strinic; Ivan Rakitic, Marcelo Brozovic; Ante Rebic, Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic; Mario Mandzukic.

Key Battles in France-Croatia Belgium Beat England 2-0 Kante v Modric Themostintriguingbattlewilltake place in midfield, where two of the tournament’s outstanding players willgoupagainsteachother.Modric has been the driving force behind Croatia’schargetothefinal,playing moreminutesthananyotherplayer inRussia,buthefaceshistoughesttest yet against the irrepressible Kante.

Kante has been instrumental for France,breakingupplayintypically tireless fashion at the base of their midfield and providing a platform forPaulPogbatoshine.Accordingto Opta,onlyRussia’sRomanZobnin hasmadeahighercombinedtotalof tacklesandinterceptionsthanKante sincethetournamentbegan.Hewill need to continue in the same vein today.

Modric has struggled when deployedinadeep-lyingrolebyCroatia coachZlatkoDalic,butwhenMarcelo Brozovichasplayedbehindhim,as he did against England and as he surelywilldoagainstFrance,hehas beenfreeduptocontrolgames.Sofar in Russia, Croatia have dominated possession in five games out of six.

Modric has been at the heart of more or less everything.As well as playingmoreminutesandcovering more ground than any of his team-

mates,hehasplayedthemostpasses, created the most chances and even scored the joint-most goals. Stop him and France will go a long way to stopping Croatia. Few players are better-equipped for the job than Kante.

Varane v Mandzukic MarioMandzukichasbeenexcellentinRussiaandbringsconsiderable pedigreetothecentre-forwardrole.

He was in the right place and the righttimetoscoreagainstDenmark inthelast16,andhissemi-finalwinner against England was another example of his nose for goal.

In Raphael Varane, he will face a familiar foe. Mandzukic has come up against the Real Madrid centreback on a number of occasions at club level, including the second leg

oflastseason’sChampionsLeague semi-finalattheBernabeu,whenhe scoredtwiceasJuventusagonisingly missed out on a place in the final.

One of Mandzukic’s biggest strengths is his aerial strength, but Varane will hope to match him at theLuzhnikiStadium.Accordingto Opta, the 25-year-old is one of only six players to have won more aerial duels than him over the course of the World Cup. Varane is one of only two players to have played every minute of France’s World Cup campaign along with Kante, but judging by hisimperiousperformanceagainst RomeluLukakuandBelgiuminthe semi-final,fatigueisunlikelytobean issueagainstCroatia.Francewillneed more of the same from him against the in-form Mandzukic.

Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard struck at either end of their match for Third Place with England to secure bronze at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The win is Belgium’s best-ever performance at the global football finals.

Belgium began superbly. Early pressure quickly turned into an early goal, with Meunier nipping in behind Danny Rose to tuck Nacer Chadli’s cross past Jordan Pickford.

Dominant and lively, they looked set to extend that lead until England regained their composure, dulling the incisive swipes of the Belgians’ passing as the half wore on.

Ultimately, as with the semifinal defeat by Croatia, England need to score more goals from open play re-surfaced.

The Three Lions battled to create chances and the halftime introductions of Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard

injected a greater threat going forward, yet near-misses from Harry Maguire, Harry Kane and Eric Dier will be rued.

Eric Dier saw his cute, dinked effort hooked off the line

by Toby Alderweireld in their best opportunity of the day, with Hazard sealing bronze on the break. Kevin De Bruyne slipped him in superbly and the final result was never in doubt as the Belgium captain tucked away assuredly.

Kerber Stuns Williams to Win Wimbledon Djokovic beats Nadal, to meet Anderson in Men’s Final Angelique Kerber beat seventime champion Serena Williams to win her first Wimbledon title and spoil theAmerican’s dream comeback as a mum. The German 11th seed, 30, beat the 23-time Grand Slam champion 6-3 6-3 to add this title to her 2016 Australian Open and US Open crowns.

Williams had been the favourite despite it being only her fourth tournament since giving birth in September.

Kerber dropped to the grass when a netted service return

gave her victory. “It is a dream come true,” said Kerber, who is the first German woman to win the title since Steffi Graf in 1996.

“I know I had to play my best tennis against a champion like Serena. Serena is a great person and a great champion and she is a great inspiration for all of us.”

Williams said she had been happy to simply get to the final so soon into her comeback, adding: “It is obviously a disappointment but I can’t be disappointed. I’m literally getting started.

“To the other mums out there I was playing for you today and I tried. ButAngelique played really well. I look forward to continuing to be out Meanwhile Novak Djokovic is one match away from a first Grand Slam title since 2016 after an epic five-set win over Rafael Nadal in their delayed Wimbledon semi-final. Djokovic, who won 6-4 3-6 7-6 (11-9) 3-6 10-8 in five hours and 16 minutes, will face Kevin Anderson today. see concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com

Sunday July 15, 2018

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Abdullahi to Galadima “INEC has no powers to cancel an election it did not organise. Secondly, the man calling for the cancellation of the convention did not contest for any position at the convention, therefore, has no locus to complain about its outcome” The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi responding to the National Chairman of the reformed All Progressives Congress.

TUNDEBAKARE GUEST COLUMNIST

The Pen is Mightier than the Sword

O

ver the centuries, the phrase “the pen is mightier than the sword” has come to define the power of the written word in statecraft. Those words have since stepped out of the pages of Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s The Conspiracy, a play written in 1839, to become words on marble.

At the heart of this notion of the might of the pen is the idea that the course of a nation or people can be determined at the stroke of a pen. Nations can be built, and nations can be ruined; generations can be made great, and generations can be rendered wasted; civilizations can be birthed, and civilizations can be buried – at the stroke of a pen!

At the stroke of a pen, millions of Africans were “legally” transported across the Atlantic and Mediterranean and became the property of slave owners. At the stroke of a pen, the slave trade was abolished centuries later and emancipation was proclaimed to former slaves, thus formally criminalising an immoral enterprise. At the stroke of a pen, the kingdoms and city states of Africa were partitioned and transformed into the estates of European monarchs. At the stroke of a pen, cultures were dismembered, nations were balkanised, and territories were amalgamated into colonies and protectorates. Decades later, colonies and protectorates became independent states – at the stroke of a pen.

We have seen frameworks become supreme law and proposals become policies that make or break nations; we have seen elections validated or annulled; we have seen presidents sworn in, some by convention, others by the doctrine of necessity – all at the stroke of a pen. Families are consolidated or dissolved, enterprises are incorporated or liquidated, convictions are obtained or upturned, and life and death could hang on a simple but weighty sentence, held in the balance by a pen waiting to be wielded, particularly when the ink that runs through the pen is propelled by the force of the state.

We have also seen world changers who, when the pages of history parted for them to emerge, proceeded on their journeys without the backing of the state and forcefully turned the wheel of civilisation at the stroke of a pen. At the stroke of a pen, the doctrinal chains that held the church and the nations in a stranglehold were dismantled when a German professor of theology, Martin Luther, reminded the world that the just shall live by faith. Here, I am referring to the “Ninety-Five Theses” he nailed to the door of the Wittenberg Cathedral in 1517.

At the stroke of a pen, the people of Great Britain began their journey to freedom from the tyranny of monarchy to parliamentary democracy – history calls it the Magna Carta. At the stroke of a pen, the people of the United States declared their independence from the colonising power of the British Crown – they called it the Declaration of Independence. At the stroke of a pen, the people of France broke the spell of an oppressive monarchy and took control of government – history records it as the Declaration of the Rights of the Man and of the Citizen. At the stroke of a pen, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels sparked the flame of revolution among the proletariat of Russia and Eastern Europe – they called it the Communist Manifesto.

The likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Kwame Nkrumah, and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, armed with no other weapon, mobilised the Queen’s language in the struggle for independence from the Queen. They

Momodu fought their battles through such media as West African Pilot, Accra Evening News and The Tribune.

Decades after independence, when free, fair and credible elections were annulled, and a tyrannical dictatorship held sway, the Nigerian press took up the baton and contended against the sword of oppression by deploying the armoury of vocabulary.

I am so glad that the labours of these pen warriors and all others who fought for the democracy we enjoy today have not been in vain after all.

From now on, any time the name Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola GCFR – Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic – is mentioned with full honours, it is an honour first to the man who paid the supreme price to pave the way for Nigeria’s democracy, and then to the heroes and heroines who stood up behind him, including those in the Fourth Estate of the Realm who marshalled the written and spoken word against tyranny. Indeed, the members of the press who fought for the June 12 mandate were fighting not just for democracy but in defence of one their own, for, amongst his many endeavours, Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola was a media entrepreneur and founder of the African Concord, where Dele Momodu, the man at whose behest we are gathered here today, cut his teeth as a journalist.

I totally agree with Ralph Waldo Emerson that “talent alone cannot make a writer: there must be a man behind the book.” Bashorun Dele Momodu and his ilk have proved themselves over the years to be real men. In addition, by deploying their skill against tyranny, the members of the press have aligned themselves with a biblical truth that recognises authorship as an instrument of battle, because the same God who is militarily presented in Psalm 18:2 as “the horn of salvation” is revealed in Hebrews 5:9 as the “author of salvation.”

My reference to the Bible at this juncture reminds me of Dele Momodu’s desire to be a pastor, which I first heard him express in the course of my 60th birthday celebrations. Pastor Dele, I believe that, even without the benefit of a conventional pulpit, you have already shepherded the nation with the flow of wisdom from your pen. Over the years, I have read your writings and I have seen you not only advising presidents on appropriate courses of action at crucial junctures in our national trajectory, but also warning them on the consequences of inappropriate responses to our national dilemmas.

This is the manner of prophets such as the biblical Amos, a “herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs”

, whose distinguishing feature, it must be said, was not that he possessed an AK-47. Instead, he was a man to whom the word of God for his nation was revealed when that nation was being misled by a corrupt governmental order.

Dele Momodu, a publisher by profession, who understands that a picture is worth a thousand words, has become a pen prophet by vocation, and a consistent conduit of wise counsel to the leadership of our nation. I am glad to see his writings compiled for the present and posterity in two of the books being launched today. And like Winston Churchill who said “half my life time I have earned my living by selling words, and I hope thoughts”, may Bashorun Momodu prosper by his words and thoughts.

In 2011, when the leaders of our nation failed to heed his counsel and warnings, Dele Momodu could not fold his arms and watch the nation go down the drain. He momentarily dropped his pen and jumped into the fray. As a man irrevocably committed to the people, Dele Momodu pitched his tent with a political party that had been instituted by a defender of the people; a man upon whom the people had already conferred an award no government award could ever match. Dele Momodu aligned himself with the political apparatus instituted by my late boss and mentor, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Senior Advocate of the Masses, later Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and now Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). While Dele Momodu lost the 2011 presidential election, he didn’t lose the lessons and I am pleased that his experience has been chronicled in the third book being launched today, Fighting Lions: The Untold Story of Dele Momodu’s Presidential Campaign, written by his Campaign Director, Ohimai Godwin Amaize.

I understand that Fighting Lions captures Dele Momodu’s disappointment at the lack of support from his own constituency, the media and entertainment industries, in the 2011 elections. I am pleased to let you know that I am not a brother who is not touched by the feelings of your infirmity, for I also faced the same temptation you did, and so did my friend, Fola Adeola, but the grace of God saw us through.

It is no news that I participated in the same election as running mate to our current president, Muhammadu Buhari. With the negative image associated with the then General Buhari, especially the allegations of religious fundamentalism, being his running mate as a pastor was not an easy task at all. Need I tell you that my strongest critics were from my constituency? To most leaders in the church, aligning with a man they considered an opponent of Christianity against another they considered a Christian was sacrilegious, to say the least. To them, I was a traitor, undeserving of support. Therefore, I understand Dele Momodu’s disappointment. Our experience mirrors that of Joseph who was sold by his brothers because of the dream he had.

However, I do not think that the effort was in vain.

Instead, I thank God that I took up the challenge and became a barrier breaker. Four years later, when the mantra became “Anything but Jonathan”, the same church leaders who had said it was inconceivable for a pastor to participate in politics, especially in alignment with a perceived Islamic fundamentalist, ate their words and threw their weight behind the same Muhammadu Buhari, with my brother, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, as running mate.

I am also aware that, in 2015, the press, represented

by the likes of Dele Momodu, played a role in redefining the narrative and presenting to the Nigerian public a Buhari they could relate to. That year, in addition to other things I did in the background to ensure that the will of the people counted irrespective of the outcome, I recall telling the nation of “The Buhari I Know” just to ensure he was given a fair chance untainted by a negative brand image.

Now, three years later, it appears, once again, that the people are experiencing buyer’s remorse.

Interestingly, the likes of Dele Momodu and I are being blamed for allegedly packaging the current dispensation. It is, however, necessary to remind the nation that there were warnings. We had warned then that plunging headlong into another election cycle without addressing what I called the fundamentals was tantamount to putting the cart before the horse; but when the nation was adamant and wanted its way, like the prophet Samuel did when Israel demanded a king against divine counsel, we played our part to ensure that the interest of Nigeria was kept paramount.

I am glad that neither the disappointments of the 2011 elections, nor the stiff-necked response of those in power to his propositions and warnings, have been strong enough to deter Dele Momodu in his steadfast service to the nation from his power slot as a media icon. Instead, he has intensified his contributions just so Nigeria can rise to her potential as a great nation regardless of who is in government. It is that dogged belief in the Nigerian dream that has brought us here today, at a time when the countdown clock to elections reads 219 days but the Nigerian dream is yet asleep and her structural defects glaringly acute.

At this critical moment in our national life, the words of the French emperor and warrior, Napoleon Bonaparte, are worthy of mention. He said, and I quote: “A journalist is a grumbler, a censurer, a giver of advice, a regent of sovereigns, a tutor of nations. Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets.” I sincerely pray that all the stakeholders, especially the press and the intelligentsia, will play a pivotal role in setting the agenda for the polity in 2019.

The writings of Dele Momodu have, over the years, addressed some of the fundamental issues facing our nation. I am confident that he, as well as other opinion moulders, will intensify efforts to ensure that the welfare and security of our people, as well as the overall development of our nation, become the main discourse at this pivotal moment.

This is the purpose of any government worthy of the name.

Finally, to a nation in the throes of violent agitations, to the people of our nation who want their fair share, and to young people running out of patience, the lesson from Dele Momodu is very clear and simple: spill the ink, not the blood; paint an indelible picture of the nation you desire, and work tirelessly to ensure its realisation, knowing that the greatness of our nation depends on it. If we follow that counsel passionately, we shall, by God’s grace, see a nation that works in our lifetime.

Thank you for listening, God bless you, and God bless our nation, Nigeria. r #FJOH LFZOPUF BEESFTT CZ 1BTUPS 5VOEF #BLBSF BU UIF QVCMJD QSFTFOUBUJPO BOE MBVODI PG 1FOEVMVN 1FOEVMVN BOE 'JHIUJOH -JPOT CZ %FMF .PNPEV #BLBSF JT 4FSWJOH 0WFSTFFS 5IF -BUUFS 3BJO "TTFNCMZ -3" BOE $POWFOFS 4BWF /JHFSJB (SPVQ 4/(

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