SUNDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 2018

After Absolute Deadline, Amosun, Okorocha Continue Attack on Oshiomhole Ogun gov: He is meddlesome, hypocritical Imo gov: We aren’t surprised by his actions, denies $2m bribe allegation

Olawale Olaleye in Lagos, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Amby Uneze in Owerri Ogun State Governor Ibikuun Amosun and his Imo State counterpart, Rochas Okorocha,

yesterday continued their diatribes of denunciation against the national chairman of their party, All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, after failing to win the acceptance of

their favoured governorship candidates.

The party practically scrambled to meet the November 2 deadline given by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to political parties for

the submission of their lists of candidates for next year’s governorship and House of Assembly elections. But it was forced to drop contentious candidates that emerged from its recent controversial

primaries and make last minute substitutions as the time allowed for parties to send their candidates’ lists ended on Friday.

Amosun described as hypocritical the basis for

Oshiomhole’s rejection of the primary elections in the state, when they were based on the same consensus arrangement that brought him into office.

Continued on page 10

Dollar Bribery Videos: Ganduje Insists Videos Doctored… Page 8 Sunday 4 November, 2018 Vol 23. No 8600

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Kashamu: Secondus, Others Must Bow to Rule of Law He's not our member as his expulsion still stands, says PDP

Bayo Akinloye The national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, and other members of the

party’s national leadership must respect the rule of law or risk going to jail, Senator Buruji Kashamu has said.

Kashamu, the senator representing Ogun East

senatorial district in Ogun State, also said the PDP national secretariat must account for the sum of N2 billion made from forms sold to aspirants seeking elective

offices on the platform of the party.

But in a swift reaction, the spokesperson for the PDP, Kola Ologbodiyan, asserted that Kashamu had

been expelled from PDP for anti-party activities and thus not regarded as a member.

He made this known in an interview with THISDAY as the battle for the soul of PDP

continued in Ogun.

“There’s no way the rule of law will bow to Secondus.

Secondus will be the one to Continued on page 8

US Council: Nigerian Govt Toying with Shiites’ Insurgency it’s Ill-Prepared For Says security actions against El-Zakzaky reminiscent of Boko Haram’s slain founder Bayo Akinloye A United States-based think tank, Council on Foreign Relations, has warned the Nigerian government and the security services about the dangers of violating the human rights of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), a Shia religious organisation.

This is coming on the heels of the US President Donald Trump administration’s call for more religious freedom in the world as the States Department marked the International Religious Freedom Day and US Policy on Religious Freedom.

Drawing a parallel with the incident that led to the extrajudicial killing of the founder of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf, a report written by Jack McCaslin, a research associate for Africa Policy Studies at the CFR Continued on page 8

ART MEETS ROYALTY...

L-R: Founder and Chairman, ANAP Business Jets Limited, Mr. Atedo Peterside; Founder and Director, ART X Lagos, Ms. Tokini Peterside; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; his wife, Queen Moronke Naomi Oluwaseyi Ogunwusi; Access Bank Plc CEO, Mr. Herbert Wigwe; APC standard bearer for Lagos governorship election,Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at ART X event... yesterday

See THISDAY Weekly Guide to 2019… Pages 16-17

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

PAGE EIGHT

Dollar Bribery Videos: Ganduje Insists Videos Doctored Olawale Olaleye Even as video evidence appearing to show him receiving dollar bribe mounts, Kano State Governor Abdulahi Ganduje has continued to insist that the viral clips are doctored to portray him in bad light.

But Ganduje would need to do more than just pointing accusing fingers at his political enemies for his ordeal. He has a lot of work to do to wriggle out of the unfolding scandal, which may ultimately not only cost him his job, but may lead to his prosecution.

A little over a week ago, when the first bribe video hit the airwaves, the governor grandstanded, as is typical of politicians in such circumstances, boasting that he would sue the publisher of the online news portal, Daily Nigerian, Jaafar Jaafar, who uploaded the video on the internet.

The governor claimed the video was doctored and pronto, his media handlers and consultants immediately went to town with menacing fervor to try to puncture the videos through their in-house experts and excitedly faulting its originality from all angles.

But this did not deter the state House of Assembly, which had said it would investigate the video and would not hesitate to impeach the governor if it found out the videos were actually authentic and not manipulated to malign the governor.

N E W S A N A LY S I S Consequent upon this, the state legislature invited Mr. Jaafar Jaafar to come and give evidence about the video's authenticity. And he did. But the publisher, during his appearance before the Assembly committee, compounded Ganduje’s plight, when he claimed he had more video evidence of Ganduje personally taking bribe from contractors. He told the House he would be willing to release more of such video evidence if need be. Even though he alleged threats and attempts on his life for exposing corruption and speaking truth to power, he had since released more videos, some of which now show clearly Ganduje accepting bribe during a conversation with the bribe-giver in Hausa language.

One of the latest bribe videos, which ran for two minutes and twenty seconds and dated 2017-01-18, had the following chat between Ganduje and the contractor at a place that could pass for the governor’s office or lodge. Excerpts: Bribe Giver: Sir, the Accountant-General still hasn’t paid us.

Ganduje: She has travelled, but when she comes back, she will pay. How much is the money?

Bribe Giver: We completed the deputy governor’s office without a single payment. It is N35 million. While Dandanshe

Road is N220 million, Rochas Okorocha Road is N69 million.

Ganduje: Okay, when she comes back, I will tell her to pay.

Bribe Giver: Toh! Power Hill will bring $100,000. It was not ready when I collected this payment.

Suffice it to say that there were other parts of the conversation that were not captured in the translation.

But the short take above aptly encapsulates the very transaction of bribe-giving and taking, between Ganduje and the contractor, whose identity was not revealed in the video.

The governor, as seen in the video, was taking the monies in dollars from the contractor, counted them and kept them in a place beside his couch.

Importantly, also, what the camaraderie in the video depicted was that the governor and the contractor had been doing this for a long time and this could not be described as a one-off exercise. In order words, such stories like, ‘it was a sting operation’ can no longer fly at this stage, so long as it was not done with the knowledge of security agencies.

In practically all the videos so far released by Jaafar Jaafar, Ganduje was seen sporting different attires, meaning those monies were paid at different times, which further confirmed a long standing bribery affair between the duo.

What this implies in essence

is that once a taker had been established in a case of bribery, then, there must have been a giver too, both of whom are liable under the law. Therefore, while Ganduje may currently enjoy immunity, that is, if the assembly refuses to act against him, the contractor has no such privilege and should have been taken in by now by security agencies for questioning if they were up to their brief.

Indeed, he would be very helpful in the investigation of this embarrassing turn of event.

Short of denying Ganduje and his partners the right to be presumed innocent until proven, it would take more than gallivanting or namecalling or even ascribing this to political machinations of his enemies to wriggle out of this shameful scandal. The entire burden of proof is certainly on him and his partner and for as long as they cannot defend this, it is probably time to go, honourably for the governor and allow the law to take its course, while his partner also faces his music, squarely.

It is however worthy of mention that Ganduje has, for the umpteenth time, denied collecting bribe from any contractor as alleged by Daily Nigerian. He said this while testifying before the House committee investigating the allegation on Friday, insisting the video clips were aimed at tarnishing his image, politically.

Represented by the

Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, Ganduje complained that the allegation was injurious. But Chairman of the committee, Hon Baffa Babba Danagundi, assured the public that justice would be done to all parties involved.

Further expatiating on the videos to THISDAY last night, Garba questioned the credibility of the man behind the releases. “The credibility of the Publisher of the video is questionable. We believe the videos are doctored and we continue to stand by that. The same Jaafar Jaafar had once made serious allegations of corruption against former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, alleging the former governor had bought houses in Dubai and other places. The allegations were thoroughly investigation and found to be false. “This same Jaafar also once published purported nude pictures of Emir Sanusi. He later turned round to debunk the pictures. We are in the election season, so this is all politics and we believe all this will blow over. Don’t forget this guy was an aide to former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso. He is also a member of Kwankwasiyya movement. When he was coming to testify at the House of Assembly, he initially wore a red cap but later removed it.

So, its politics, we are in the election season,� he explained.

It should be said, at this

juncture, that it would not be smart that the governor allows Jaafar Jaafar release more videos, which by implication could further dent him, more so as a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which rode to power on the strength of integrity and anti-corruption. This unsavoury experience might go down memory lane a major corruption dip on the path of the federal government especially, that the presidency and the APC had since kept quiet, thus stifling the security agencies from living up to billings.

For Ganduje, therefore, the burden of proof is a weighty one that must not only be established but be seen as been so put down beyond every reasonable doubt, because he is generally seen to have committed this crime in the most indecent and primitive fashion ever recorded in the history of the country if the videos are anything to go by.

Besides, the Assembly must go all out to do that which is right and just, including involving forensic analysis and not be tempted to see this as a political opening to deal with perceived enemies.

That would colour the very essence of this rare opportunity to make history. This is beyond politics but a major national concern that must be handled with utmost patriotism, for posterity and the image of the legislature.

US COUNCIL: NIGERIAN GOVT TOYING WITH SHIITES’ INSURGENCY IT’S ILL-PREPARED FOR in Washington, noted that Nigerian security services might be biting more than they could chew. “Should security service behaviour radicalise the IMN, Abuja would face yet another insurgency for which it is ill-prepared. Despite their similarities, Boko Haram is in the Salafist tradition that generally loathes the Shia, and it is therefore highly unlikely that the two groups would join forces,� McCaslin argued.

The report further noted: “That religious and political movements in Nigeria criticize or purport to offer an alternative to the massively corrupt federal and state governments should not be surprising. But, the government’s frequent and indiscriminate use of force reduces or eliminates the possible peaceful paths that these groups might take in their criticism. “The Zaria episode is reminiscent of the 2009 confrontation in Maiduguri between security services and Boko Haram, during which the Mohammed Yusuf-led group staged an anti-government insurrection. The security

services killed Yusuf, who was in their custody at the time, and several hundred of his followers. The movement then went underground, only to emerge two years later as one of the world’s deadliest terrorist organisations.�

Scores of the Shia Muslims were allegedly killed by the Nigerian Army during their annual trek to mark the 40th day of the murder of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

The Shiites called for the release of El-Zakzaky, who has been detained by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for about three years.

In December 2015, IMN members were reported to have blocked the path of the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai’s convoy in Zaria, Kaduna State, leading the federal government to accuse El-Zakzaky of ordering the assassination of Buratai. ElZakzaky was not formally charged until April this year.

The report said, “Security services subsequently raided El-Zakzaky’s compound and injured and arrested him and his wife. During that December

crackdown, security services reportedly killed over three hundred Shia across at least three locations in and around Zaria and quickly buried them in a mass grave. “In December 2016, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the State Security Service to release el-Zakzaky, but it was apparently ignored.

More recently in August 2018, the Kaduna State High Court cleared and released eighty IMN members also arrested in 2015 during the crackdown, but dozens of others still remain in custody.�

McCaslin further noted, “El-Zakzaky has vehemently opposed Nigeria’s federal government, the state of Israel, the United States, and secular government more broadly, and his rhetoric has been explicitly anti-Semitic and dehumanizing.

In this way, some of his messages are similar to that of Boko Haram. But, El-Zakzaky does not promote violence, and in 2015 the IMN even supported Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential candidacy. “The IMN, through elZakzaky, is also undeniably linked to Iran; he visited there in 1980 and was said

to be inspired by the Islamic Revolution, and he has made frequent reference to it and its leaders. It is unclear how significant those links are for IMN operations.�

Speaking at the Washington Foreign Press Centre Briefing recently, the Ambassadorat-Large for International Religious Freedom, Samuel Brownback, said: “We believe there needs to be more religious freedom in the world.

Unfortunately, 80 percent of the world’s population lives in some sort of religiously restricted environment. And we don’t think that’s appropriate.

We don’t think that’s good.

And we’re going to continue to push, as an administration and as a country, in a bipartisan fashion, for religious freedom everywhere around the world, for all people, in all places, at all times.�

Continuing, he added, “We did that at a ministerial earlier this year. In the end of July, we had the first-ever International Religious Freedom Ministerial.

We had countries – 84 different countries were there. And I talked about the need for expansion of religious freedom.

I believe we’re at a watershed

moment. I believe the gates of religious freedom are going to fly open around the world, that the iron curtain against religious freedom is coming down, and that more and more countries will embrace this.�

Last week, the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, had also warned about the dire consequences of the way the federal government was handling the issue of El-Zakzaky and his followers.

IMN said, “There can be no justification for the level of blood-letting that has been carried out against the sect, whose crime has been protesting the continued detention of their leader, in spite of different court orders to release him from detention.

The act of disobedience of court orders is totally reprehensible and confirms the statement by the US Ambassador to Nigeria that perversion of institutions, which abuse of court orders typifies, is the worst form of corruption. “We, therefore, call on the federal government to release the leader of the Shiites as ordered by different courts and ensure that the security

personnel responsible for the mass killings of his supporters are brought to book. We must not forget how extra-judicial killing of the founder of Boko Haram turned the group into a massive terror machine which we have been unable to contain and we are opening yet another front.�

Specifically drawing attention to the crisis in Kaduna, the report added: “We have also witnessed how Kaduna State, whose Governor Mallam Nasir elRufai once boasted of paying off criminals, has become virtually ungovernable with the recent Kasuwan Magani massacre that led to the deaths of no fewer than 100 persons and the attendant spill-over crisis. “We are worried that there has been no coordinated response on the part of the Federal Government to these needless loss of precious lives, just as it continues to ignore calls for the overhaul of the country‘s security architecture with a restructured polity to guarantee greater security of lives and property,� Afenifere had said in a statement issued on Thursday.

from submitting the list of candidates from Ogun State for the forthcoming general elections.

Kashamu, however, stated that the party hierarchy’s effort to vacate the court order was an exercise in futility. “The inordinate governorship aspiration of the son of the lotto merchant earlier mentioned led a faction of the PDP to compromise the national leadership of the party with some financial inducement. You can see why those leaders are fighting against their own tooth and nail in a bid to deliver the gubernatorial ticket to them in complete disobedience of subsisting court judgment,�

the senator stated.

He added: “With the 2019 general elections around the corner, the authentic state executive committee had to approach the Federal High Court in Abeokuta. So, last month – October 2 precisely – the court stopped INEC and PDP from accepting any list of candidates in Ogun State except the one that emanated from the Dayo-led executive committee – I’ve shown you a copy of that judgment too.�

Reacting to the senator's claims, Ologbodiyan explained, "The Prince Uche Secondus leadership of PDP received the suspension of Senator Kashamu on assumption of office. Efforts

were made to reconcile the Senator with the party on the condition that he drops all the cases he has in courts."

The PDP spokesman said further: "He did not honour the terms and acted against the party in the Ekiti governorship election. His activities were reviewed and his earlier suspension was further upheld and he was later expelled from the party.

"Senator Kashamu did not purchase forms from the party neither did he or any of his followers participate in the primary election process of the PDP. He is not a member of the PDP as his expulsion still stands."

KASHAMU: SECONDUS, OTHERS MUST BOW TO RULE OF LAW bow to rule of law. So, why is the national leadership of our party ignoring such guideline and court orders?

Frankly, Ologbodiyan and Secondus should be arrested – the two of them should end up in jail. They can’t continue to act as if they’re in a banana republic.

They should be arrested and prosecuted for the disobedience of court orders and judgments. “They ought to call the warring factions to Abuja and make them one united party again. I don’t know how Secondus, the PDP legal adviser and the so-called national publicity secretary – really, I don’t know. How could they imagine that they are superior to

the constitution of the country?�

It will be recalled that there are two factions of the party in the state, one supported by the national leadership of PDP and the other faction backed

by Kashamu – and recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

On the issue of the alleged unaccounted for N2 billion, Kashamu said: “Where is all the money from the forms they sold? They’re not paying the money into PDP’s account.

The money is being paid into personal and so-called consultancy firms’ accounts and they’re using the money.

This time they’ve collected over N2 billion. Where’s the

N2 billion? They’ve shared that among themselves." On the issue of nomination forms Kashamu said, "there’s nothing called ‘forms’; nothing statutory about forms that you’ll say you want to go and use in INEC.�

Hostility between the two PDP camps was renewed when INEC informed the party at the national level that it would only accept a list of candidates for 2019 elections from the Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State executive committee which did not go down well with PDP’s national secretariat.

The party, therefore, filed a suit challenging the decision of a federal high court in Abeokuta that prevented it

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 4, 2018

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SUNDAY COMMENT

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

2019 ELECTION AND THE CHALLENGES AHEAD The critical stakeholders must strengthen the system by playing fair

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n compliance with the guidelines and timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2019 general election, many of the registered political parties have submitted the names of their candidates to the electoral body. In a matter of days, we expect the campaigns to begin. However, we cannot gloss over the process through which many of these candidates emerged. If anything, the primaries of the leading political parties offered glimpses of the formidable challenge ahead in 2019. In the case of the fringe parties, names of candidates were just announced against different offices after some hollow rituals. But the real challenge was with the main political parties.

Ordinarily, the essence of the primaries was to give party members the opportunity to help the democratic process by nominating for election people with character and competence.

But in most instances, the process turned out largely to be impunity writ large. The manipulations, the brawls, the bad blood and even killings, particularly in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and to some extent, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), heightened the political temperature and rekindled ominous memories of the past.

From Lagos to Delta to Akwa Ibom and Imo, and from Kaduna to Zamfara to Gombe, the APC and PDP primaries in many of the states, particularly for the governorship and National Assembly, were marred by widespread fraud, monetisation and lack of respect for democratic norms and competition. In the APC for instance, despite the good intention of the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee

If intra-party primaries could be deeply flawed, vicious, chaotic, polarising and bloody, what should we expect during the election when the stakes will be much higher?

Letters to the Editor

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(NWC) to give everybody a level-playing field, the process was hijacked in many of the states by sundry godfathers and overbearing out-going governors. At the end, even the INEC had to join the fray by announcing that it would not allow the APC to field candidates for Zamfara State for flouting its deadline for the conduct of the primaries. The APC has vowed to challenge the action in court but we commend INEC for standing firm on the issue.

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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

o the extent that a free and fair election is a basic requirement of democratic governance and an antidote to civil disorder, it is important for critical institutions of state to discharge their responsibility in a dispassionate manner. But we are increasingly worried by the posture of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris who has shown himself to be very partisan.

He has already created in Akwa Ibom an atmosphere that violates the environment for free, fair and credible poll with the manner the state government was harassed over the issue of APC billboard that ordinarily should not be his concern.

Given the foregoing, as we race towards the 2019 election, some awful questions stare everyone in the face: If intra-party primaries could be deeply flawed, vicious, chaotic, polarising and bloody, what should we expect during the election when the stakes will be much higher? What can be done to ensure that the 2019 election is conducted in an atmosphere of peace? How do we ensure that political campaigns do not degenerate to open combat?

And what can be done to ease the task of INEC in conducting a free and credible election next year?

How can the police stay out of the political fray by not acting in manner that suggests its men are out to rig the election for the party in power?

These are difficult questions that must be answered as we inch towards the 2019 general election against the background of recent reports of attempts to smuggle in some weapons and guns into a country already teeming with all manner of weaponry and ammunition. Although the authorities have issued some tame assurance about containing the situation, what is paramount is to ensure that the rules and regulations governing the election are binding on every participant and that critical stakeholders play fair. That will create confidence in the system and save the country from the apparent storm ahead.

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

The APC Primaries And Enugu Crisis

efore now, there was relative peace and camaraderie in All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State. The party and its members co-existed and co-habited side by side with other political parties and their members in the state without any problem. That has been the spirit of partisan politics in the coal city and it reached its peak, with the mode of operation of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi-led administration, which is live and let live.

With the conduct of the party congresses in the state in May, APC became factionalised between Deacon Okey Ogbodo-led group and Dr. Ben Nwoye-led group.

While efforts were being made to resolve the differences between the two factions, the party primary commenced.

Making matter worse for APC during its primaries were the actions

and inactions of some defectors, who jumped into party to grab tickets at the expense of the foundation members of the party in the state.

These defectors desperately deployed everything at their disposal including money, blackmail and mudslinging to cow the foundation members of the party. In their unholy exploits, the defectors relied mostly on the new national leadership of the party led

by Adams Oshiohmole, a man who does not understand the undercurrents and peculiarities of Enugu politics. That was why Oshiomhole single-handedly and suddenly changed the mode of primary in the state from direct to indirect, when the exercise was already half way.

Among the defectors is Senator Ayogu Eze, a staunch member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was in political hibernation after losing the 2015 PDP governor-

ship ticket to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. He came into APC in the dying minute, hoping to seize the party’s governorship ticket.

Now that the primaries have been concluded, APC has not known peace in the state, as two aspirants Mr George Ogara and Senator Ayogu Eze, have continued to lay claim to the party’s governorship ticket.

The development has engendered more crises in the party than ever expected or imagined.

Neither the party leadership nor the defectors have come down from their Olympian height to address the fundamental issues at stake ahead of the election.

The crisis has assumed a dangerous dimension with the recent suit instituted at Federal High Court Enugu, by a registered member of APC in the state, Mr. Ifeanyi Onwuamaze, asking the

court to nullify all the primaries conducted by the party in the state as the open ballot system of voting adopted violated Section 37 of the 1999 constitution as amended.

Apart from this, the factional state chairman of the party, Chief Ben Nwoye was recently attacked.

One of the foundation members of the party in the state and Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) Chief Osita Okechukwu, who was schemed out in the primaries, recently described the exercise as a charade.

Okechukwu accused the party leadership of manipulating the exercise to favour some particular aspirants. Okechukwu’s assertion is not far from the truth, because the charade called primaries was witnessed by party members in the state.

Okechukwu maybe the only aggrieved aspirant that spoke out now, but other aggrieved members and aspirants are waiting to take their own pound of flesh from the party during the election. While it could be said that no one is indispensable

in a party, some individuals are and should not be treated with disdain for any reason. This is because of their political relevance and immense contributions in building the party structure. The likes of Osita Okechukwu, Captain Joe Orji (rtd), Chief Gbazuagu Nweke Gbazuagu and other APC chieftains, who were shortchanged in the primaries are not happy with the manner the defectors connived with the party’s national leadership to manipulate and hijack the exercise in favour of these defectors who are not popular in the state.

Since the fallout of the primaries in the state chapter of the party, neither Eze nor his cohorts has called for a meeting to resolve the grey areas. Instead, they are going about telling people that ‘federal might’ will be deployed to capture Enugu in 2019 for them. If this is true which federal might are they talking about, when majority of the people have voted against them?

––Chris Agboeze, Abakpa, Enugu.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 4, 2018

NEWS

Acting News Editor Gboyega Akinsanmi E-mail: gboyega.akinsanmi@thisdaylive.com, 08081986590

INEC Discovers 22 Polling Booths in Politicians’ Residences Okon Bassey in Uyo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Akwa Ibom State has discovered 22 polling booths hitherto located in politicians’ houses.

The commission has

equally relocated the affected polling booths to appropriate locations in different parts of the state.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Mike Igini revealed this at a news conference in Uyo, the Akwa-Ibom capital.

At the conference, however, the resident commissioner did not mention those private residences that had been used as polling units before now.

The resident commissioner said the relocation became necessary to forestall the influence

of the election process by the owners of such buildings.

He disclosed that a total of 175,995 PVCs out of 1,893,379 delivered were yet to be collected by their owners in the state.

The INEC commissioner made known that only

ASSURING INVESTORS

L-R: Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote at the Africa Trade Forum 2018, AfFCTA Ratification and Implementation held in Lagos

4,346 out of 85,226 PVCs delivered to the state in the first quarter of this year were collected by their owners while 49,313 out of 127,880 delivered in 2017 were collected with only 1,663,725 out of 1,680,957 collected in 2015.

Igini added that INEC would continue to maintain neutrality in the election process and leave a legacy of free, fair and transparent elections that remain precedence on future elections in the state.

“In Akwa Ibom, votes would counts in 2019.

As a people and as a commission, we remain committed to the legacy of bequeathing a transparent free and fair election. We have started the process and we hope to achieve this in line with our mandate,” the resident commissioner said.

He assured that the commission would conduct elections in the troubled Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun Local Government Area, noting that peace had gradually returned to the areas following the amnesty programme initiated by the state government.

According to him, it will no longer be business as usual for politicians who h ave per fe c te d st rate -

g ie s to c i rc u mve nt t he electoral process stating the card readers have been reconfigured to reduce incidence of vote rigging during and after the election.

He, equally, added a platform has been developed to ensure that election results are transmitted electronically and on real time while efforts have been made to ensure that ele c tora l off icer s wou ld not h ave monopoly of election result sheets.

He REC urged politicians and elites “to play by the rules regretting that they remain the greatest problem of Nigeria. Electoral tribunals in the country will become useless if only politicians would accept polls results with a transparent process.

Igini said the preparations for the 2019 elections commenced in 2015 with Akwa Ibom and the other states of the federation keying into the Election Project Plan and indicated that the display of voters register would commence in all the 2,981 polling units of the state from next week.

Pointing out that over 1.6 million voters have been registered in the state, the resident commissioner said the figure could jump up to 1.8 million when the final figures are finally released in January next year.

Stop Using Court to Intimidate Workers, Hope Party Cautions FG Tobi Soniyi The presidential candidate of the Hope Democratic Party, Chief Andrew Owuru has called on the All Progressives Congress-led administration to stop using the court to frustrate workers from enjoying their right to protest.

In a statement issued by his campaign organisation, Owuru who said he would pay workers N100,000 minimum

wage, called on Nigerians to opt for a welfarist state as against the present exploitative capitalist system.

Owuru appealed to the ruling party and government to “at least respect workers’ rights and not hide under the present capitalist economic system to engage in abuses and procurements of questionable exparte court orders to seek to dislodge or obstruct workers universal right to protest or embark on

peaceful strike actions under a democratic government over poor working conditions in the land.”

He also called on workers to support his party’s poor people’s revolution and vote to end poverty for a guaranteed maximum welfare for all and higher income and good conditions of work with a minimum of N100,000 minimum wage.

Owuru said that his party

promised Nigeria “a new economic order based on a welfarist wealth redistribution. We have to move away from the present regime of survival of the fittest and exploitative economic policies of the present capitalist economic system in Nigeria.

Apart from payment of N100,000 minimum wage to workers, Owuru said his government would distribute money monthly to the poor,

displaced, unemployed and the aged, men and women.

He said, “All workers will be entitled to the minimum of N100,000 living wage in addition to other welfare packages as of right as obtained in other climes.

“The realisation of the need for revolutionary change of economic system from the present exploitative capitalist system to the preferred welfarist wealth redistribution

system under which citizens are entitled to both interest free fund and social capitals to finance their small businesses to drive industrialization, create jobs and provide free health care system, free education, free mass transit and social housing etc. is the driving force behind this new realisation and revolution that will manifest in the 2019 presidential election to the surprise of the world.”

After Absolute Deadline, Amosun, Okorocha Continue Attack on Oshiomhole He accused the national chairman of lacking respect for truth and decency.

He was reacting to statements credited to Oshiomhole, accusing him and Okorocha of desperation in the bid to determine their successors.

The Ogun State governor, who spoke in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Adedayo Adeneye, alleged that the plot by Oshiomhole and his “collaborators to hijack the government of Ogun State and hand it over to a gang of rapacious expansionists in the South-west will fail.”

He added, “This is, however, without prejudice to the sanctity of the consensus arrangement, which Adams Oshiomhole hypocritically tries to demonise. Nigerians will recall that Oshiomhole himself was elected National Chairman of the APC by consensus arrangement, which witnessed all other contestants

to the office being prevailed upon to step down for him.

“The ground on which Oshiomhole disputes the gubernatorial primary in Ogun State is that the result was not announced by the State Electoral Committee from Abuja, therefore the governor resorted to self-help. We wonder why Oshiomhole accepted the result of the primary election in Lagos State, whose result was also not announced by the State Electoral Panel.

Why will the same scenario be acceptable in Lagos State but regarded as self-help in Ogun State? Is it because it was executed by the Capo Di Tutti in Lagos State?”

He maintained that the only governorship primary held in the state was that of October 2, which produced Hon. Adekunle Akinlade as governorship candidate of APC. He stated that the emergence of Akinlade was

initially through a consensus arrangement, as allowed by the party’s constitution, but it was subjected to a primary election, when some aspirants disagreed with the outcome of the consensus arrangement.

The statement said, “We wish to call the attention of Nigerians to another evil being perpetrated by Oshiomhole in Ogun State. As at today November 03, which is 24 hours after the deadline for submission of names of candidates for the House of Assembly, Oshiomhole has not given INEC Party Candidate Form (CF001) to any of the 26 candidates, who won the primaries for the tickets to contest for the Ogun State House of Assembly.

“The primary was conducted on October 07 by the State Electoral Committee headed

by Col. Ali Ciroma. This is despite the fact that the state chairman of the party had kept vigil at the national sec-

retariat of the APC in the last two weeks to collect the forms.

If Oshiomhole is denying the outcome of the gubernatorial primaries, because the State Electoral Committee shied away from announcing the result, what is the reason for denying all the 26 candidates for the House of Assembly freely elected by members of the APC in Ogun State?

“We want Nigerians to note the duplicity and meddlesomeness of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and his gang in the affairs of the APC in Ogun State. It is also important to note that Oshiomhole unilaterally replaced four of the nine winners of the primary election into the House of Representatives. These include Hon. Mikhail Kazzim, a serving member of the House who won the primaries by defeating Olumide, the son of Chief Olusegun Osoba, with 28,802 votes to Osoba’s 4,209.

“Oshiomhole removed Hon. Kazzim who won the primaries and replaced him with the man he had serially defeated, not only in the last primary election but also in the general election of 2015. In yet another instance in Ado Odo-Ota Federal Constituency, Oshiomhole substituted the winner of the primary for the House of Representatives, Hon. Rotimi Rahmon, with the name of Hon. Jimoh Ojugbele, who did not even contest to go back to the House of Representatives but contested the primary for the Senate and was defeated.

“In his conduct, Oshiomhole is opening a new chapter in the history of elections in Nigeria – a situation, where a gang of desperate politicians will sit somewhere in another state and write the result of an election that never took place – what our people creatively refer to as ‘Offshore Rigging!’

This is what Oshiomhole and

his gang are trying to foist on Ogun State. Lawyers say ‘you cannot build something on nothing’, Oshiomhole and his gang are trying to build a storey building of fraud on nothing.”

Dismissing claims by Oshiomole that he withdrew the security of the State Electoral Committee, whose chairman, Indabawa, is a retired Commissioner of Police, Amsoun said the man came with a full complement of police security, which he claimed was provided for him by a Deputy Inspector General of Police.

The governor said, “All of these have clearly shown that the motive of Oshiomhole is not the rule of law, which he proclaims on the roof top. It is rather, an evil plan with some collaborators, desperate to hijack the government of Ogun State and add it to the harem of states under their rapacious gang of exploiters.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 4, 2018

NEWSXTRA Osinbajo: Nigeria Likely to Lose Most to AfCFTA Implementation Says FG committed to promote intra-Africa trade GboyegaAkinsanmi The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at the weekend disclosed that Nigeria, being possibly the largest market in Africa, would likely lose most to the implementation of the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Despiteitsdecisionnottoratifythe agreement, Osinbajo noted that the federal government was currently pursuing a rigorous domestic and wide consultative process with all stakeholders in the public and private sector on the said regional agreement.

He made the remarks in Lagos at the weekend during the Africa Trade Forum 2018: AfCFTA Ratification and Implementation under a theme, “A Game Changer for African Economies.”

Speaking at the forum, Osinbajo said AfCFTA “is probably the most significant Pan African trade agreement in this generation. Nigeria, being possibly the largest market in Africa today, is most likely to benefit the most or lose the most from the implementation of the agreement.”

According to the vice president, this is because it recognises the benefits of promoting intraAfrican trade for development, job creation, poverty reduction and modernisation.

In response to the nation-wide stakeholder engagement on October 22, Osinbajo said President Muhammad Buhari at a meeting with stakeholders, inaugurated and established the “Presidential Committee on Impact and Readiness Assessment on the African Continental Free Trade Area.”

He added that the Presidential

Committee “is now at work, in full steam, and a final report will be sent up to Mr. President in 10 weeks. I believe that most African policy-makers would accept these feedbacks from Nigeria as having wider validity, especially as having some validity with their own economy as well.

“At the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on AfCFTA last week, President Buhari emphasized, while commending the AfCFTA process, as worthy and commendable, he said that the agreements we negotiate should be properly understood by those that would implement them, and be accompanied with an implementation plan.

“As the President said, AfCFTA is worthy and commendable. As a Government, we consider that structural reforms should address the legitimate concerns raised by stakeholders.

“As Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Management Team (EMT), I am pleased to read and hear that fellow African countries consider Nigeria’s domestic consultative process with stakeholders as an applicable model. We engaged, constructively and robustly, with stakeholders, not only on the AfCFTA, but also on Trade Policy Writ Large.

“The central message was support for the AfCFTA, based on a clear definition of increasing intraAfrican trade. The core feedback is to prepare thoroughly and, inter alia, ensure that the preferences of the AfCFTA would neither be abused nor be enjoyed by third parties that were not part of the negotiations,” Osinbajo explained.

Also at the opening of the Lagos

Ojukwu’s First Son Passes at 60 David-ChyddyElekeinAwka Sylvester Debe Ojukwu, the eldest son of Biafra warlord, Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, passed on yesterday in a Lagos private hospital at 60.

A family source told THISDAY that Debe died Saturday afternoon after a few days in the hospital, noting that he had complained of fever.

After complaining of fever, the source said Debe was admitted into the hospital where he finally passed on.However, another source claimed that the deceased had high blood sugar.

Beside the family source that spoke with THISDAY yesterday, the President General of Nnewi Town Union, Chief Ugochukwu Udemezue confirmed the death of Debe Ojukwu.

While confirming the death to journalists, Udemezue said Debe had complained to some kinsmen early in the week that he had ‘high blood sugar”.

He, therefore, described the death as a rude shock, noting that the community had been thrown into mourning since Debe’s demise was announced.

According to him, Anaedo, Umudim and indeed the entire Nnewi would miss Debe.

He said all the community would be involved during his burial.

He said, “My heart is broken and the people of Nnewi too.

He is dead, he died on Friday.

He spoke with some people on

Monday and Tuesday where he complained of high blood sugar.

When the time comes for his burial, everybody will be fully involved because he is our son.”

In a telephone conversation yesterday, Ojukwu’s widow and former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu said it was not her duty “to make announcements about dead persons in the Ojukwu family.”

She said Nnewi people “have their customs and tradition.

According to our tradition, it is not my role to make such announcements. We have elders in the family who have such duties and functions. It’s not part of my duties.”

Born in1958, Debe had had his paternity mired in a controversy over his paternity.

During the burial of his late father in 2011 at Nnewi, some family members stopped Debe from active participation in the funeral at the family compound.

He had to relocate to a nearby space from the family house to host his visitors, a situation that nearly triggered an uproar amongst the elders of the community who it was gathered had high regards for Debe as the first son of Ojukwu.

When Ojukwu’s will was read in 2012, Debe’s name was not mentioned in the document, a situation the late Debe challenged in court, describing the will as a concocted document.

International Trade Fair on Friday, the vice president stated the federal government’s unwavering commitment to policies and reform efforts geared towards enhancing diversification and structural reform of the economy, through massive investment

in infrastructure and human capital.

Osinbajo said building an enabling business environment “is a crucial plank of our economic policy. It is pivotal for the enhancement efficiency and fostering transparency.

“These policies have successfully enhanced productivity, increased the share of manufacturing in Nigeria’s total export earnings and a drastic reduction in susceptibilities to shocks that our economy had been frequently exposed, to on

account of commodity volatility which we face constantly.

“Our focus on infrastructure extends to both hard and soft infrastructure, particularly trade facilitation, quality infrastructure and the Ease of Doing Business Reforms.

GRAND RECEPTION

L-R: Chairman of the Abuja inquirer, Dan Akpovwa, British High Commissioner, Paul Arkwright and former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon at a farewell reception for the departing British envoy in Abuja ...recently.

Ekiti PDP Edges out Fayose, Installs Olujimi New Leader Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti In what appeared like a coup, some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday appointed the Senator Representing Ekiti South, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi the leader of the party in Ekiti State and Southwest.

In the same manner, the stakeholders passed vote of no confidence on the Chief Gboyega Oguntuase-led State Working Committee of the Party in Ekiti, thereby calling on the National Chairman of the party, Chief Uche Secondus to dissolve the executive and set up a caretaker com-

mittee to pilot the party’s affairs.

There was ominous sign of crisis in the PDP on Thursday, when some party members stormed the party secretariat in Ado Ekiti and locked it up, which signaled that they no longer had confidence in the party leadership in the state.

The stakeholders said they decided to call for the disbandment of the State executive due to alleged financial recklessness brought against the SWC. In a communiqué signed at the end of the stakeholders’ meeting held in Ado Ekiti yesterday, the party said it took the decision to install

Olujimi the leader owing to the fact that she remains the most top ranking elected official in the state and southwest.

The resolution, signed and read by the Protem Secretary of the PDP Stakeholders and former Assembly member, Hon Bunmi Olugbade, also overruled the SWC on the suspension of former State Secretary of the party, Dr. Tope Aluko , saying he remains a bonafide member of the party.

The leaders also resolved to back the candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other candidates in

Ekiti to win the 2019 elections.

It said: “We are poised to reposition and return the PDP back to the people and therefore call on the party leadership to constitute an independent committee to look into the affairs of the party in Ekiti state with a view to repositioning the party for the 2019 elections.

“That there is an urgent need for reconciliation and the panacea for true reconciliation is the immediate dissolution of the present state working committee of the PDP and a constitution of caretaker committee.

Lagos Lawmakers Reviews Foreign Names Not Ideal for Environmental Law, Nine Others Africans, Says Maharaj Ji Oladipupo Awojobi As the stage is being set for Private Sector Partnership (PSP) on waste management in Lagos State to resume work, the Lagos State Environmental Law and nine other laws are currently being reviewed by lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, disclosed this while addressing journalists at the weekend at Park Inn By Radisson Hotel, Abeokuta, Ogun State during a 3-Day Retreat with the theme “Review of 10 Selected Laws In Lagos State.”

Obasa said the essence of coming together to review

the laws of the state was to serve the interest of members of the public and create opportunities for them. He added that the review would give the lawmakers an opportunity to do what would be of beneficial to the people.

Some of the laws being reviewed are Public Private Partnership Law, Urban & Regional Planning Law/ Model City Law, Public Procurement Agency Law, Consolidated Laws on the Environment, and Transport Law. Others are Environmental Law (Waste Management), Neighbourhood Safety Agency, Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission and Energy Law.

Kayode Fasua Leader of the One Love Family, Satguru Maharaj Ji, has proclaimed that the best way to have enduring peace in Africa is for its peoples to drop foreign names and revert to their indigenous names.

Maharaj Ji, widely famed as Father of Creation, made the announcement in a statement he issued at the weekend, ahead of Golden Age Festival of the One Love Family, slated for November 9 to 17, this year.

He advised that Africa’s peace would get a 60 per cent boost, “the moment all Africans change into and use traditional and cultural names which would appease the gods and bring economic boom.”

“So drop James or Elizabeth

for Chuckwu or Chidiebere and you will see an immediate change,” he urged.

Besides, Maharaj Ji urged “all Africans to make statues of their grandfathers and mothers and that they will see changes in their lives.

“It is love in action,” he stressed.

Maharaj Ji further stated that “all the spirits/deities and all the original oracles are back”, even as he urged that “we should not spill blood to appease them anymore and they will work.”

Also in the statement, the ascetic spiritual leader averred that he inspired Pope Francis to announce that Jesus Christ would no longer come back to the world as anticipated.

THISDAYt SUNDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2018

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Í˛Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś Ëž THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

OPINION A Name Written in Gold Opeyemi Oguntoye pays tribute to the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo

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he foundation of the new India as a country today was laid by some dedicated patriots who believed passionately in the future of their nation. It took a focused, energetic and passionate young Mahatma Gandhi who read Law at the University College in London and led a nonviolent civil disobedience using the Indian independence movement to move against the British rule and rescue India. The rescue mission got intense in 1893 that Gandhi had to continue his crusade in seeking independence for his country from South Africa where he spent 20 years calling for the freedom of his people and country. He led several protests and was imprisoned for many years in both India and South Africa. For Mahatma, it was India freedom or nothing else from the British. It was reported that he went on a hunger strike when Pakistan and India were fighting due to their differences in religious beliefs and he used his influence to settle the disagreement between the two nations. Sometimes, it takes only one man to make a difference.

In March 2016, a group named Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) started their agitations; they attacked and destroyed many oil facilities in the southern part of the country. It was coincidentally a wrong timing as the country’s president, Muhammadu Buhari was away on medical vacation.

Production of the country’s oil reduced drastically and most of the power plants couldn’t get enough supply of gas. The economy of the country was negatively affected.

The country was in a serious dilemma, the kind of trouble that brought unending war to Sudan, the one that turned a once promising nation in Africa to a failed country.

Had Libya knew their country will deteriorate like it did, maybe they would have kept Muammar Gaddafi.

The Buhari-led administration was just less than 10 months in government when this group started their agitation. But Buhari had handed over the reins of power to his hardworking vice-president, so there was no vacuum. Osinbajo, a professor of Law and a Pentecostal

pastor had to step in to command the storm: “Quiet! Be still!� as recorded in the holy book.

Those who are familiar with the vice-president and his role in Lagos State where he was the state’s commissioner for Justice and attorney general knew his task then wasn’t as demanding as governing over 170 million Nigerians. The dogged acting president went round all the troubled southsouth states, met with all the leaders and stakeholders and few months after, the Niger Delta Avengers became history.

Enough credit was never accorded the man.

In October, 2015, the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) slammed MTN, a leading communication company in the country, with a whopping sum of $5.2Billion as fine for violating “sim card registration regulations�. For months, the case dragged on and was even threatening the stability the industry has enjoyed. MTN refused to pay. The Minister of Communication and the agency were having troubles managing the situation. To find a lasting solution to the lingering issue, the vice-president again stepped in and behold, it was settled and MTN started paying the fine imposed on them.

It is hard to talk about our economy and the recovery from recession without mentioning the input of the vicepresident. Apart from his statutory role as the chair of the country’s economic council, he mostly leads the economic team of the country to strategic and negotiation meetings.

He has been very active in the ICT development of the country, assisting in the formulation of most of the policies in the ICT ministry. He plays active role in this industry and this has positively influenced the image of our country. He was involved in Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg’s visit

Osinbajo has also been giving governance human face to earn the commendation of all

to the country last year and recently, he visited the United States of America where he met with the Google team, Twitter and host of other leading ICT companies all in a bid to improve the partnership with our country and increase access to ICT. Osinbajo has also been giving governance human face to earn the commendation of all. Most will remember the December 2017 fuel scarcity and how the vice-president did not stay in Aso Rock but took to the streets of Abuja and Lagos to monitor the situation and explain the efforts of the government to the citizens. During the day, he was negotiating with the oil marketers and at night, he visited the filling stations that were dispensing.

We have had a sizeable number of vice presidents since independence but there is something unique about Osinbajo. He has not allowed himself to be carried away irrespective of his present political position. A popular prayer in 2017 was, “may God give you a deputy like Osinbajo�, a dependable man who could be trusted with power. President Buhari has always happily handed over to Osinbajo anytime he is travelling and in return, has been diligently discharging his duty excellently.

Immediately this government came to power, the first programme they embarked on is the N-power scheme in order to create employment opportunities for the millions of unemployed. This has reduced the number of graduates seeking for job opportunities. Previous governments had the chance to fix this nation but corruption and lack of foresight failed them.

Buhari-Osinbajo came with a lot of hope and today we have hundreds of thousands of N-Power employees across the country enjoying the dividends of democracy.

The manner the conditional cash transfer which is for the elderly and operated from the VP’s office is being managed shows the enviable organisational skills the VP possessed.

The vice-president has set a standard that the whole nation wonders if anyone can fit in. He has combined efficiency with poise and loyalty to diligently serve our nation.

War Against Dyslexia What is Dyslexia? Idang Alibi explains what it is and what it is not

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alaria and typhoid diseases we know. Sickle cell and prostrate problem we have learnt to manage and live with. Hemophilia and anorexia we have heard of. HIV and Ebola we dread. But dyslexia, what disease is it? Is it some deadly Whiteman disease imported to our climes by our ever copying elite to put the fear of God in us? What, exactly, is dyslexia? Is it a disease, a disorder, a dysfunction or a dislocation of an organ or a part of the body?

This was the sentiment that ran through my mind when my friend, Ben Arikpo and his wife, who are founders of the Dyslexia Foundation of Nigeria, sent me an IV requesting me to attend the second National Conference on Dyslexia billed then to hold at Merit House Abuja on Monday, 29th October. More frighteningly, they had assigned me the task of being reviewer of a book written by the Foundation entitled Understanding Dyslexia: A Handbook for Schools, Teachers and Families in Nigeria, which was also billed to be launched on that day of the conference.

I was first frightened by the prospect of attending a conference at which venue what I thought was a very dreaded disease, possibly a pandemic which would claim millions of lives, would be scientifically unveiled to the Nigerian audience for the first time. I dread hearing about diseases because I tend to suffer from what is known as Medical Students Syndrome, a disposition in which learners or hearers about the symptoms of diseases tend to think that they are suffering from it!

I felt relieved when I got a copy of the book. First, I discovered that Dyslexia is not a disease, let alone an incurable and life-threatening one, as I first feared. In fact, the condition/’disease’, if it can be so called, is not a White man, Asiatic or any other exclusive racial affliction, not to talk of it being a new ailment just come to our clime. No; dyslexia is none of that. Rather, it is neurological condition which sufferers come with from birth or acquire through a freak accident such as a traumatic brain injury. It is also correct to say that dyslexia has always been with man of all races, possibly from the beginning of creation. It sounds frightening now to us in our clime here just because we have not been made aware of it by experts.

It has always been with us here but has been mislabelled or misunderstood.

As contained in the handbook aforementioned, dyslexia is a neurologically based condition, an unfamiliar disorder which interferes with the acquisition and processing of language

and varies in degree of severity. It manifests in difficulty in receptive and expressive language; including reading, writing, spelling, handwriting (dysgraphia) and comprehension and may present attention issues (Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder).

In a lay man’s language, dyslexics (sufferers from dyslexia) are individuals who are born with the challenge of not being able to process and manipulate the sounds in a spoken language and so find it extremely difficult to read words accurately and fluently. They also have difficulties in spelling things correctly. Some of them find it hard to speak long after birth. In both adult and child sufferers, dyslexics are hardly ever able to set down their ideas in writing and have short attention span. Due mainly to our ignorance and our superstitious bent of mind, children with these mainly verbal and writing challenges appear as abnormal to us. Consequently, they are seen as stupid, morons and evil children sent by evil forces to torment their parents. The truth of the matter, however, is that dyslexics are not morons, idiots or lazy people who cannot learn; neither are they sufferers of evil bewitchment by rival stepmothers, jealous family members or dark forces nor are they punishments sent by the gods. They are simply people who are differently wired by the Creator as many of them are usually more than average in intelligence.

Richard Blankson, Bill Gates, Albert Einstein and many other renowned individuals across the globe are some of the best known dyslexics. So distinguished is this company that some have tended to wonder whether dyslexia is anything that should be regarded as a handicap. Dyslexia, as we can see, is not a disease or disability that is responsive to ‘medical’ treatment except expert mental exercises. It is not a visual problem, a lack of intelligence or a developmental lack of any kind as most sufferers are known to be geniuses. It is a disorder which afflicts 5-17.5 per cent of the world’s population but which, with careful and painstaking management, can be overcome and lived with.

When, eventually, the conference opened on Monday October the 29th, I and hundreds of others, especially teachers, who were specially invited, had a swell time in terms of knowledge acquired about this disorder which sends especially parents into a panic mode. Attendees were enlightened about the causes, signs, and tips on what schools, teachers, parents and even the general society need to do to successfully manage sufferers so they can be assisted to become useful members of society. One key point that was

made by some of those who spoke or presented papers at the event was the fact that many sufferers of certain disorders or disabilities fail to realise their potential not because of the disorders or disabilities in them but because of the low or lack of self-esteem they feel because of the way society perceives them.

This particular point struck me especially the emphasis made by a speaker that we the so-called normal people should not see dyslexics as abnormal but persons differently wired by the all-knowing Creator who does not make a mistake. While I sucked in information about dyslexics, I realised that I had a secondary school classmate who was dyslexic. This mate of mine will fail every other subject apart from Mathematics which he will score not below 94 marks no matter how difficult the questions were!

The mission of trying to enlighten Nigeria about dyslexia by the Arikpos is a child of circumstance. One of the Arikpos’ children is dyslexic. From the traumatic experience these lovely couple had in bringing up that ‘trouble’ child to learn how to read, write and properly spell things led to the discovery of what today has become a life mission for the two. They want the world to know about this disorder and how to manage it because it is not curable and it is not life-threatening. Many life missions are borne of personal adversity and I am not surprised about the passion and energy which the Arikpos have invested in this new found pursuit.

When it was time for the Arikpo wife to give a vote of thanks, she spoke in an impassioned tone about how her husband used to spank their dyslexic son, calling him frustrated and hate-filled names such as stupid, foolish, moron, lazy and useless until they discovered what was wrong.

The Arikpos do not want other parents and teachers to go through the awful wrong response experience they went through. What they want parents, schools and teachers to do is to patiently help dyslexic children to discover and nurture their hidden talents to full fruition. That is a summary of why they have founded the Dyslexia Foundation of Nigeria and why they are consumed in that service to humanity. It was no flattery when I told them they are possibly in the making for a Nobel Peace Prize for disseminating information that would lead to the production and harnessing of direly needed human capital resources for the growth and development of Nigeria and Black Africa. ––––Alibi is an Abuja-based journalist.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 4, 2018

LETTERS

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Tasks Before Osun Governor-Elect

auf Aregbesola’s tenure as governor of Osun terminates, effective, 11:59 pm on November 26, 2018. As the outgoing governor takes a bow after ‘eight years of enviable stewardship to his people’, Nigerians can only wish him the best that life offers henceforth.

In his congratulatory message to Adegboyega Oyetola as Aregbesola’s successor, President Muhammadu Buhari urged the governor-elect to “always remember that the electorate expects an unreserved commitment to delivering results that directly impact their lives and families.” In my view, that’s a good premise to start this intervention.

A cursory look at the outgoing administration with the eye of history would suggest different things to many different people, depending on perspectives, ideological cum political divide the analysts belong. To insist that Aregbesola is perfect is to attempt to play God. To say that mistakes were not made while in office is to be economical with the truth.

Nonetheless, what makes his government totally different is his passion for, and fearless approach towards change and development.

I

Oyetola

Expectedly, Oyetola will be taking over the mantle of leadership as a prominent erstwhile member of the outgoing administration.

We can safely say, therefore, that the governor-elect has his job well cut out for him.

As such, it is his duty to continue in the tradition of making outlandish achievements attainable, even improve on the tradition of making Osun as the state with the lowest poverty rate, Nigeria’s most peaceful state, and the first in parlia-

mentary local government administration in Nigeria, among other firsts.

As we are aware, the battle of February 2019 is already here with us!

Therefore, topmost on the list should revolve around uniting party members in the interest of retaining the state for the party in next year’s general elections.

In this kettle resides the strategy of how the party can win majority of the seats in the State House of Assembly as anything

short of that is a signpost to instability and a recipe for chaos. Conventional wisdom is that the approval ratings of the party in power must not be seen, or appear to be spiral falling! As Lagos has recently shown, the people own the party while the party owns the government.

A time like this presents the administration with an opportunity to give the electorate what they ask for, reward them with what they hope for; even surprise them with what they have not asked for, but considered expedient. Basically, there is an urgent need to continue and sustain the tempo of development attained during the Aregbesola-led administration. The immediate task therefore is how to consciously design a template to reunite old folks where necessary, reconcile warring factions where applicable, fine-tune strategies where feasible, make adjustments where achievable, tamper with current narratives where such is needed, and encourage participations where expedient, all with a view to deepening a peoplefocused government.

Next on the list is the issue of workers’ welfare, which is very important. In truth, a lot has been done to retain the confidence of both the workers and the people

Niger Delta, Oil And Stockholm Syndrome

n 1964, on the floor of the Northern House of Assembly, the whole members were in unanimous agreement that Igbo people should be expelled from the North. It was at this occasion that Alhaji Usman Liman made that famous statement, “The North is for Northerners, East for Easterners, West for Westerners and the Federation is for all”.

Prior to the civil war in1967, the North willingly assented to the Aburi Accord. Now, the British pointed out to the North the oil wealth in the South, hence, the North reneged on the Aburi Accord and instead put forward a clique that caught the frenzied fancy of other Nigerian tribes, “To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done”.

Great Britain and Russia supplied Nigeria with lethal weapons of war. The North ganged up with the MiddleBelt, the South-West and the area known today as the South-South and pounded the Igbo nation into smithereens.

At the end of hostilities in 1970, the oil boom came. It was then said that Nigeria’s oil wealth was enough to pay every born Nigerian N100 a day. The money was so much that the Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon said, “Nigeria’s problem was not money but what to do with money”.

The North had total control of the whole oil blocs. As Northern political elites grew richer and richer from the sale

of crude oil, the Niger Delta was being devastated. Oil spillage made agriculture and fishing almost an impossibility.

During the war, Captain Adaka Boro and Ken SaroWiwa fought on behalf of Nigeria. They masterminded the blockade of sea routes that brought food aid to Biafra.

Millions of children died of “kwashiorkor”.

Not long after the hostile war, Captain Boro and Saro-Wiwa realised to their chagrin that like Adam, they had traded off their heritage, and like Esau, they had sold their “birth right.” They tried to recover what they sold out and both were cruelly murdered by the North that they served against Biafra.

Today, over 86% of the entire oil blocs in the Niger Delta are owned by Northerners. The land of the Niger Delta is far more degraded and devastated than ever.

The Ogoni clean-up is yet to start.

In view of technological advancement in the world today, it is being widely speculated that in 10 years’ time, solar energy will render the usage of oil as a source of energy obsolete.

Oil spillage has destroyed marine life and made agriculture difficult in the Niger Delta region. Therefore, when we come to the point that solar energy has overtaken oil as a source of energy or has considerably reduced the demand for oil, what will be

the fate of the Niger Deltans?

Right now, there is a bill in the National Assembly that tends to bring the creeks, waterways and ponds under federal control. What this means is that when the bill becomes a law, no Niger Deltan can farm, fish or work the waters unless he first obtains a licence from one politician in Abuja, who invariably, is going to be one “Mallam”. There is the further possibility that the federal government can get up one day and relocate the Niger Deltans to any area that the government choses away from their natural homes which has now become government land by legislation.

The government of Buhari has refused to sign the Petroleum Industry Bill which would have given some relief to the Niger Deltans. The whole administrative structure of the oil industry has been fully Fulanised!

I feel very sad and furious that in the face of these facts, a free born of Niger Delta sees it fit to support the APC government that is determined to ruin their future and subject them to perpetual slavery. To me, this is the height of mental and spiritual depravity.

I can understand those who served in high political offices, who dipped their fingers in the collective purse being blackmailed and coerced into APC. But I cannot comprehend their incapability to face their challenges, but rather, chose to sell their peoples’ future into slavery

just to cover up their guilt, which eventually, they must still account for.

I am still all the more upset that the lawyers and the elite of Niger Delta region are not doing much to enlighten their people on the danger ahead in joining the APC. The pathetic story of the Niger Delta is like that of a man who laboured for his wages.

When he received his pay, he hurried home to his family.

His wife went to the market and purchased food items in the house and prepared a delicious meal. Then a burly neighbour barged into the house, seized the food, set the family at the corridor and dished out little portions in a plastic plate (amnesty) for each member of the family and then, sat down in the lounge with his own family to enjoy the sumptuous meal!

How honourable the Niger Deltans should consider themselves for scrambling and fighting each other for this “amnesty” when someone else is relishing the main menu!

Evidently, Niger Deltans are suffering from Stockholm syndrome, a situation whereby a slave looks up to his oppressive master as being kind for giving him a little food after long, deliberate starvation!

––Nzekwesi Paulinus, Director of Spiritual Programmes, St. Mathew’s Catholic Church, Karmo, Abuja

of the state, especially, as regards prompt payment of workers’ salaries. While the challenge is no doubt national in shape and size, civil servants and pensioners in Osun will expect some policy pronouncements targeted at this embarrassingly knotty issue towards ensuring that modulated salary structure never raises its ugly head again in Osun!

Of course, these solutions shouldn’t end with the conclusion of next year’s general elections. After all, 2022 started on September 27, 2018!

Once upon a time in the history of Osun, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) dropped to as low as N300m per month and allocations from the federation purse was in the negative.

They are just picking up.

Thanks to the doggedness and the financial ingenuity of the state government.

One can only hope that the incoming administration would sustain this positive development. While payment of workers’ salaries and pensioners’ allowances is a given, that should not translate into stoppage or abandonment of existing projects; or the initiation of new ones, if and where necessary.

Kudos to the outgoing government for the rare feat it has recorded in the education sector, which peaked with the 70% pass in the 2018 West African Senior School Certificate

Examination (WASSCE).

Again, that Osun recorded 284% in the performance of student in WASSCE from 2010 to 2017 is no longer news. However, since government is a continuum, the incoming administration must continually fine-tune extant education policies with a view to achieving a yet higher and excellent standard.

One major challenge of our Nigerianness is the collapse of our reward system.

Conventionally, political appointments are treated not only to reflect a state’s geo-political idiosyncrasies but also as empowerment strategies which trickledown effects are immense.

Fair is fair: revisiting the issue of political representation with all the vigour it demands will help Oyetola’s government.

Since no one talks just because he likes the sound of his voice, a government that gives room for positive criticisms and healthy debates will likely be a responsive government; and such will be a plus for the incoming administration.

Interestingly, Kogi has in recent times demonstrated the roles of the media as watchdog in a democracy and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as the bridge between the government and the governed.

–– Abiodun Komolafe, Ijebu-Jesa, State of Osun.

Is Rivers Ready For A New Breed?

R

ivers State, over the years, has had a crisis of leadership and every rightthinking Rivers person knows it’s time to move away from the norm. The state is blessed with considerable human and material resources with efficient and dynamic leadership the only missing link.

The outland Rivers is characterised by indices of poverty, from lack of basic infrastructure to poor health and educational facilities.

The current governor of Rivers State, who used to be a local government chairman, could do more. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Rivers under Wike, in the first half of 2018, attracted capital importation less than smaller states like Abia that has little or no resources compared to Rivers’ oil. Also, internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state has continued to stagnate over the years.

What is more, the insecurity in the state is worrisome. It signals to the international and local community that the state is not safe for business. It is hard for businesses to thrive when there is no guarantee of security of lives and property.

A stable and peaceful environment has to exist

before businesses come. For development and businesses to be viable in any state, the security must be ensured. This is not the case in Rivers State today.

One can deduce, from the above, that the honcho at the moment is finding it difficult to think, not to talk of designing policies to drive coherent decision making.

There is a crisis of confidence in the leadership of the state.

In short, going by these, there’s no disputing the fact that Rivers needs a new breed at the helm. The people of the state can do better with choosing its leaders. There is a surge of incredibly smart people from Rivers, building conglomerates and showing radical pace of innovation. But alas, when one looks at the men leading Rivers today, one sees only ritual, plenty of politics, and little progress.

Today, what Rivers state needs, is a leader who is a policymaker and can respond quickly to challenges while adopting an integrated approach when choosing solutions. A leader with a long-term empirical plan. A leader who will prioritize social justice and well-being of the people.

––Chiechefulam Ikebuiro, chiechefulamikebuiro@gmail.com

16

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 4, 2018

THISDAY WEEKLY GUIDE TO 2019

Okorocha

Amosun

Yari

El-Rufai

The Road to 2019: Flashpoints to Watch (VIII) With the uncertainty fever cascading the political turf, 2019 elections cannot be less interesting, writes Olawale Olaleye

A

cross the two major political parties – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – it’s been one week, multiple crises since the battle for 2019 unofficially took off especially, in the lead up to the congresses and conventions and eventually, the party primaries.

It is evident that the two parties have yet to resolve the internal malcontents that greeted their primary elections and at the same time, have continued to trade tackles in the struggle for placement, not just for 2019 but ultimately 2023.

Some of the issues that dominated the week that just ended included the certificate scandal of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Dubai trip of the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, efforts by Buhari to mediate in his party crisis, the APC campaign discontent and the general political intolerance that has become irremediable.

But in different states were peculiar challenges, some of which are the carryovers from the previous weeks, whilst others battle new challenges. What is important, however, is the connection of these developments to the big day – 2019. Shall we now run some of them by you?

OGUN A Looming Political Depression In the two major political parties in Ogun State, it does not appear their crises will be over any time soon. In the APC, for example, despite the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari in the week, where he visibly sued for peace, the crisis in the party has continued to escalate and incidentally, the alleged meddlesomeness of the National Chairman of the party, Oshiomhole is the bane of the crisis in the state.

Whilst the party is yet to resolve the puzzle over which governorship candidate truly emerged from the two processes, the other positions that were re-conducted by the Col. Ali Ciroma panel is again said to being tampered with, thus compounding the situation in the state. It is therefore not surprising why neither of both parties is unwilling to give up in a battle that might consume, not just the party but the election of Buhari in the state.

Suffice it to say that there have been speculations that associates of the governor might activate what is being described as Plan B as the aftermath of their disappointment

with the Oshiomhole leadership, there are however no indications yet to that effect. So, it is fingers crossed.

In the PDP, the recognition of the Senator Buruju Kashamu faction of the party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in obedience to a court ruling has terribly unsettled the party. Although the Ladi Adedibu faction has refused to accept the verdict, what this portends for the party in the state, including the state of the APC is an opening for a third force, which might reap from the current malcontents in both parties.

What is therefore visible here is a looming political depression.

IMO Okorocha on the Offensive The free-for-all that the political situation in Imo State has become has yielded space for all manners of speculations on the actual state of the party in the state. Clearly, as it is with about two other governors, this is not the best of time for Governor Rochas Okorocha, who may have failed to install his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu as the next governor of the state.

The story in town now is that Senator Hope Uzodinma is the name submitted to INEC as the APC candidate in Imo State, although there were those who claimed it was Senator Ifeanyi Ararume. But whatever it is, with these two other names flying around, Nwosu might have actually lost out of the equation, a development that has since dealt a devastating blow on Okorocha. Nwosu is yet to accept this as his fate either.

Like others in his shoes, Okorocha has since called Oshiomhole different names, showing gross disapproval for the way the man has handled the situation in his state. The question now is how a disenchanted governor is going to deliver the party in the state, given the resources at his disposal.

Besides, Okorocha too had been accused of attempting to manipulate the process of the primaries in his state, including allegation of $2 million bribe offer by Ahmed Gulak, the man who conducted the governorship primary in the state. But except something really dramatic happens, he might go on full offensive soon.

ZAMFARA Yari’s Disturbing Silence Suddenly, the Zamfara State Governor, Abdul-Aziz Yari has gone disturbingly silent over the state of the party in his state. He was initially amongst the vocal few, threatening fire and brimstone, including spearheading the plot to remove Oshiomhole. But with all the

failed attempts to bring the situation under control, Yari has since muted, creating a sort of panic on its own.

Although the confident North West governor had said a long time ago that Oshiomhole was merely joking, that his candidates would be on the ballot and on the platform of APC in 2019, even when INEC was not willing to give any concession. How he plans to pull that off is yet to be seen. But it would be interesting to see what the governor and the party make out of Zamfara, a state from a critical geopolitical zone.

LAGOS Now Boasting a Unity of Purpose A recent statement by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode that he would campaign vigorously for the victory of President Buhari and the governorship candidate of the party in the state, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has changed the tenor of political developments in the state, including his planned impeachment. This was immediately enhanced by the visit to the governor by both Sanwo-Olu and his running mate, Dr. Femi Hamzat.

Particularly exciting to an average political observer in the state is the fervor with which the APC team has continued to campaign in the state, despite being in charge of all the resources. This level of commitment has encouraged many voters and gradually shaping opinions that the team is not taking anything for granted.

In the PDP, on the other hand, apart from the recent appointment of Mrs. Haleemat Busari, a lawyer, as the running mate to Mr. Jimi Agbaje, governorship candidate of the PDP in the state, there has not been much to their campaign lately.

Although the choice of Busari, a law graduate from the University of Lagos, who was on the board of several companies, including being a director in First Bank, Sierra Leone, excited quite a few, the party has yet to do much to battle a grounded and menacing APC in the state.

Perhaps, things will pick up in the next few weeks and rev up campaigns in the state with the latest development.

ONDO Still Smarting from a Bad Primary One of the governors, who easily indicated his desire to see the back of the APC national chairman, Oshiomhole, is

the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, following his abysmal loss in the just concluded primaries of the party in the state.

Akeredolu is not contesting next year, because his election is not due, but other political offices in the state would be up for grab, a situation that leaves him dangerously at the mercy of his enemies.

Akeredolu believes his misfortune in the state was orchestrated by Oshiomhole, who must have been aided by the now famous Lagos cabal. Unable to conceal his pain, Akeredolu is willing to support any cause that would show Oshiomhole the way out and that project is still ongoing.

KADUNA el-Rufai’s Enviable Political Fiefdom If there was any governor, who had comfortably ‘called the bluff’ of the president and party and is having his way pretty good, it is the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir elRufai. He did not joke when he said Senator Shehu Sani would not secure his re-election ticket and despite the many interventions by the president and other APC stakeholders to compensate Sani for being such a “good boy” at a critical time, el-Rufai stood his ground and won the battle.

His candidate, Ubah Sani eventually got the ticket and was recognised by the national leadership and eventually submitted to INEC. However, whilst the dust raised by that was yet to settle, el-Rufai is being accused of picking a Muslim woman, Hadiza Abubakar Balarabe from Southern Kaduna, which is predominantly Christian as his running mate.

His current deputy, Barnabas Bala has taken his career a notch up by heading out to the senate. Unfortunately, the choice of Balarabe is believed to have since created some ill-feeling in the state as grossly insensitive especially, considering that there is serious crisis in that part of the state now.

But that also remains in the realm of speculation as there is another school of thought that claimed Balarabe is a Christian, albeit with a Muslim name. If that is true and correct, the cry over his pick for running mate might be in vain and he might as well be on his way to clinching his re-election.

DELTA A Peculiar Mess The PDP in Delta is, without doubt, in a comfortable place. With Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, effectively in charge, supported by the founding fathers of the party in the state,

17

NOVEMBER 4, 2018 ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

THISDAY WEEKLY GUIDE TO 2019

Wike

Ganduje

Ayade

Adetola

The Road to 2019: Flashpoints to Watch (VIII) there is no cause for alarm in the party in the state.

But same cannot be said of the APC. With threats by the Ijaws in the state against Oshiomhole, coupled with a recent court ruling which alleged contempt against the chairman, APC is definitely not having a good time in the state. Besides, the party is also divided along factions, a situation that does not put the APC in a good place.

The state does not look good for the APC, either in form or shape. But nothing can be written off at this stage. The climate is still fluid as it is in many others, even the comfortable PDP.

RIVERS A Make or Mar Restart The state of Rivers APC is not one to be envied at this stage. The last few weeks have not been exciting in the state as the party has hopped from one issue to another. The latest now is a court order for a fresh congress, which if not well handled could completely alter the equation in the party.

Apart from Governor Nyesom Wike, who might be having a good laugh, neither of the two warring camps in the APC – Rotimi Amaechi and Magnus Abe – is at peace with itself as far as the situation in the party is concerned.

Now, having to start with fresh congresses from the ward to the state level to re-conducting a new primary, the party is definitely in a big dilemma. It is surprising though how the annulment did not affect the adoption of Buhari as the party’s presidential candidate. That would be a case study for legal scholars. But, for now, the primary assignment is not an enviable one.

KANO This Distraction Won’t Fizzle Out The ongoing bribery allegation against Governor Abdulahi Ganduje of Kano State is a sad development that would not go away by itself except it is addressed holistically. In circulation now are about four different videos showing where and how Ganduje, in a cozy atmosphere, received bribes in dollars.

When called to testify, publisher of Daily

Nigerian, an online news portal, which uploaded the video, Jafar Jafar was confident enough that he promised to release more videos. Ganduje, on his part, has continued to deny collecting bribe. When his Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, appeared before the state assembly, he maintained that narrative too.

But the evidence in public domain does not support their denial. Yet, only a competent court of law can determine ultimately the veracity of that claim. This development, unfortunately, has taken the shine off other political events in the state and except something quite dramatic happens, this might be the situation for a long time until resolved.

opposition APC that is fielding Senator John Eno, could take advantage of the situation.

KWARA Nursing a Tall Ambition

One of the states that had been without much distraction was Bauchi. Not because there were no challenges but because theirs was minimal. But the news of the defection of a former governor of the state, Isa Yuguda from Green Party of Nigeria (GPN) to the APC appears a development that would accelerate events soon in the state.

How much that would also enhance the chances of the APC would have to prove self for all to see, coupled with the understanding that the PDP would not close its eyes and watch the APC have a field day.

The APC in Kwara appears not to be taking anything for granted in the bid to take over the state – a state believed to be under the firm control of not just the PDP, but the Saraki dynasty. President Buhari recently ordered the party to go forth and ‘snatch’ Kwara from the Sarakis and leader of APC in the state, Alhaji Lai Mohammed is not leaving anything to chance in this onerous assignment.

This rather huge ambition was believed to have received some boost recently, when other aspirants in the party elected to support the candidate of the party, Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman in the election for the party’s sake.

Interesting, this coalition is building at a time the PDP candidate, Abdulrasaq Atunwa is having NYSC certificate issue. Although he has since denied any such thing, that is still one of the things the APC is capitalising on ahead of next election.

Interestingly, none of these extrapolations has shifted the place and the hold of the Sarakis on the state. This is why it would be interesting to see the APC plan to upstage a dynasty that has had the state in its grip for years materialise.

CROSS RIVER Slowed Down by Minority Malcontent

OSUN Battling Post-election Trauma

BAUCHI The Bug of Discordance Tune

While the APC appears to be managing its challenges in Cross Rivers State and gettingby gradually, the PDP, which had hitherto maintained some modicum of peace, is back on the trenches, thanks to one but Emmanuel Ibeshi.

Ibeshi, a governorship hopeful, recently sued the PDP in the state, including Governor Ben Ayade and INEC for omitting his name amongst the aspirants meant to contest the governorship primaries of the party in the state on the grounds of rights. He is suing the PDP and INEC for disobeying the court.

It is not clear at this stage how much of distraction the development could cause the ruling party in the state and how the

Ordinarily, Osun should not have been one of the states on the political chart for any serious extrapolation, at least, in the countdown to 2019, given that the state recently, on September 22, held its governorship election, which produced Gboyega Adetola.

But with the certificate scandal still haunting PDP candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, Osun might be in the news for now and the development, either by accident or design, is sure to help shape things – positively or negatively.

Adeleke was recently arraigned by the police and was subsequently granted bail on self-recognition. This is going to drag for long,

whilst he also pursues his governorship case in court. So, Osun might be on the radar for some time.

AKWA IBOM Pulled Out of Its Shell The invitation, two weeks ago, of the campaign handlers of Governor Udom Emmanuel by the police over allegation that they were harassing the opposition APC in the state had set the tone for the current state of things. PDP believes it was a ploy to distract and intimidate them, but the party does not appear like it is going to give in cheaply.

As it is, the PDP in the state might be up against other institutions of state that might be deployed to prosecute the election. The APC is believed to nurse a weird feeling that Akwa Ibom is take-able especially that a former governor of the state, Godswill Akpabio recently defected to the party.

Whilst Emmanuel has not shown sufficient fighting spirit in an environment that people go all out to take ‘what is theirs’, it still does not seem like taking over the state is going to be a walkover. All eyes are actually on the state.

ANAMBRA Throwing Bianca in the Cold The failed effort of Bianca Ojukwu, widow of the late Biafran leader, Odumgwu Ojukwu, is not one development that would pass as if nothing happened. The development is currently being viewed as a deliberate humiliation, not of Bianca, but ultimately of her late husband, who not only labored hard to set up APGA but made it an issue in the South-east.

However, the leaders of the party did not think Bianca merited any such consideration and as such, did not think twice as they watched her lose gallantly.

Although an aide to Governor Willie Obiano, Ifeanyi Obi-Okoye explained recently that all the signals of what would become of her were sent to her, including prevailing on her, both in public and private to not run, she was however determined and went ahead to run. And as expected, according to Obi-Okoye, she failed. It is not clear yet if this would just pass or take its piece in due time.

Situating the Presidential Run A

s an exclusive exercise that is creating its own traffic and generating commensurate traction, the build-up to the presidential run is gradually scaling up, with intriguing side attractions. President Buahri managed to put closure to his certificate scandal as WAEC, last week, issued him an attestation and confirmation certificate. Although that did not go down well with the opposition, which had immediately described it as a political certificate, the slant of debate will definitely change, going forward.

The Dubai trip of Atiku also generated its own controversy as some of the president’s men, including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu tried to shade it. Tinubu particularly said even if the PDP candidate and his team had gone to the jungle to strategise, Buhari would still win. Oshiomhole

too supported this view in the week when he reiterated Buhari would defeat Atiku.

Tinubu and Buhari also met in the week behind closed-doors over the presidential election, although details of the meeting were not made public. But speculations that Tinubu might be appointed chairman of the presidential campaign council is a news item that generated intense reaction in the week. Many people were concerned if the development would not further unsettle the party as Amaechi and Tinubu do not look like people who can work together.

For Atiku, reports that Igbo leaders in Bayelsa had elected to back his aspiration on the one hand and the news of the proposed 1.2 million solidarity match by women in Kogi on the other hand, might have boosted his rating

lately.

But while the North recently claimed it was still undecided over who to support between Buhari and Atiku, even though the Arewa Consultative Youth Forum had thrown its weight behind Atiku, Buhari’s recent meeting with four South-south governors had left tongues wagging on what for.

The governors, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State are all of the PDP. So far, the state of things on the presidential front is still very fluid but with exasperating pace of events. It cannot get any less intriguing every day and this is the reason the presidential run is a development that must be followed closely.

Buhari

18

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Tier-1 Banks Record Modest Q3 Growth amid Shrinking Economy Though Nigeria’s economy slowed down in the second quarter, the banking sector of the economy seems to know the way out as a few tier-one banks that have churned out their third quarter financial results recorded modest bottom-line growth despite marginal earnings growth. Bamidele Famoofo presents the scorecard Economic Review rospect for sustainable economic growth in Nigeria became doubtful at the end of second quarter ended June 30, 2018 when Gross Domestic Product (GDP) dropped from 1.95 per cent in first quarter to 1.5 percent with projections for ambitious growth been lowered by economic experts.

Economist and Head of Research, Sub-Saharan Africa, Renaissance Capital, Yvonne Mhango, said the slowdown in Nigeria’s Year-on-Year (YoY) growth to 1.5 per cent in 2Q18 was partly due to a 4.0 per cent contraction in the oil sector, which masked stronger non-oil sector growth. “It is notable that the biggest non-oil sectors – crop production, wholesale and retail trade and manufacturing – underperformed.

We believe this is in part due to a weak consumer�.

Just like did the World Bank which cut growth projection for Nigeria to 2.1 per cent in 2018, Renaissance Capital said due to trade’s protracted slump and the sharper-than-expected slowdown in crop production, the peaking of oil production, and the weak consumer’s cap on manufacturing, “we lower our 2018 growth forecast to 2.0 per cent from 2.9 percent previously. We also lower our 2019 forecast to 2.5 per cent instead of 3.0 percent.

P

Access Bank Access Bank Plc increased its top line earnings for the nine months ended 30 September 2018 by three per cent to N375.2 billion from N365.1 billion recorded during the corresponding period in 2017.

The bank’s profit after tax (PAT) increased 12 per cent to N62.9 billion from N56.4 billion of which subsidiary contribution increased to 32 per cent from 15 per cent from the corresponding period.

The asset base of the bank remained strong and robust with growth of 11 per cent year-to-date (YTD) in total asset to N4.55 trillion in September 2018 from N4.10 trillion in December 2017. Loans and advances totaled N2.08 trillion as at September 2018 (December 2017: N2.06 trillion).

Customer deposits increased by 10 percent to N2.48 trillion in September 2018, from N2.25 trillion in December 2017 while Capital Adequacy of 20.3 percent and liquidity ratios of 44.2 percent, remained consistently above the regulatory minimum requirement.

Commenting on the result, Group Managing Director/CEO, Herbert Wigwe, said: “Our capital and liquidity position remained adequately above regulatory levels, as we continued to implement a disciplined capital plan, ensuring sufficient levels of profit retention to support our growth. We remain committed to our cost containment plan, as we strive to balance operational efficiency with earnings growth in a constrained environment.�

Guaranty Trust Guaranty Trust Bank Plc recorded a post-tax profit of 11 per cent year-on-year for Q3-18, but it dropped 8 per cent on a quarter-on-quarter basis to N46.64 billion. Gross earnings for the quarter stood at N110.59 billion, 16 percent above similar period last year, but 6 per cent lower compared to the previous quarter. Interest income declined in the quarter by seven per cent quarter on quarter, as against the marginal growth recorded in Q2.

Also, interest on customer loans dropped by four percent q/q, amidst the continued decline in the bank’s loan book.

Meanwhile, growth in non-interest income for the quarter turned negative, dropping six per cent, while net fees & commission income increased by four per cent.

On the positive, loan recoveries in the quarter led to a net gain in loan impairment charges, even as the bank’s loan book (-2 per cent q/q) continued to contract. Also, NPL ratio decreased to 5.57 percent as against 7.66 per cent in the preceding period.

It is also worth stating that the continued decline in loans (-12per cent YtD), coupled with sustained

Access Bank MD, Herbert Wigwe

Zenith Bank MD, Peter Amangbo

increase in deposits (+9per cent), has contributed to the decline in loan-to-deposit ratio to 48.21 percent compared to. 58.91 percent in financial year ended December 2017.

Zenith Bank Zenith Bank Plc grew profit by 12 per cent to N144.18billion in during third quarter ended September 30, 2018. EPS growth of 16 percent year-on-year, 80 percent quarter on quarter to N1.99 per share was recorded. But following industry trend, gross earnings only increased by one percent, largely on the back of the 11 per cent growth in interest income to N110.39 billion. Interest earned on customer loans stood at 8.35 percent y/y. Also income from government securities, which grew by 44 percent y/y was another major driver of earnings On the other hand, decline in fees & commission income (-30per cent y/y, -10per cent q/q) led to a disappointing NIR (-18per cent y/y, -37per cent q/q) performance in the quarter. Over the 9 months period, NIR dropped 20per cent, with trading income, other income, and fees and commission income all recording respective negative growth of 35, 24, and 1 percent respectively.

Total impairment charges in the quarter were relatively flat, as it dipped 0.79 per cent y/y. A nine per cent decline in gross customer loans, annualised cost of risk for the period printed at 0.93 per cent as against 2.8 per cent in Q3-17. It is also worth stating that gross loans dipped further by two percent, compared to the figure in half year 2018 as obligors

Gtbank MD, Segun Agbaje

Union Bank MD, Emeka Emuwa

continue to pay down what they owe.

While cost to income ratio for the quarter inched up 200 bps y/y to 45 per cent, according to Cordros Capital, it was much lower than the 53 per cent recorded in half year. “It is worth stating that the bank recorded a tax credit of NGN2.5 billion in Q3-18, owing to deferred tax asset recognition in tax expenses during the period.

Further clarification on the item will be obtained upon our meeting with management. Nonetheless, the tax credit gave the boost to the bank’s earnings, as pre-tax profit was down 0.7per cent y/y in the quarter�, Cordros Capital hinted.

Union Bank Union Bank, one of Nigeria’s longest standing financial institutions, was able to grow its earnings by 12 percent, a feat others could not achieve in the review period. According to the bank, the growth was made possible by higher earning assets and a 46 per cent growth in non-interest income.

Profit before tax was up 14 per cent to N14.9billion compared to N13.0billion in Q3 2017 while net interest income before impairment also increased by five per cent to N49.4billion.

Non-interest income: up 46 percent to N30.8billion (N21.0billion in Q3 2017); a result of intensified recovery efforts, continued improvements in alternative channel revenues and treasury trading gains.

Union Bank grew Net operating income by 17 percent to N72.8billion from N62.0billion in Q3 2017 as operating expenses jumped by 18 per cent to

N58.0billion from N49.0billion in Q3 2017; driven mostly by a 28 per cent increase in regulatory levies.

Gross loans were up five per cent to N588.9billion as against N560.7billion in December 2017, as customer deposits increased by 10 per cent to N882.2billion, showing a 37 per cent increase in foreign currency deposits (excluding impact of devaluation) alongside a growing low-cost deposit book. Commenting on the results, Chief Executive Officer of Union Bank, Emeka Emuwa, said: “In the third quarter of the year, our numbers continue to track strongly across all performance metrics. The group’s gross earnings grew by 12per cent to N122.2 billion from N109.5 billion in Q3 2017. Profit before tax (PBT) is up 14per cent to N14.9 billion compared to Q3 2017 as a result of strong treasury trading income, intensified recoveries and a 144per cent growth in alternate channel revenues.

Also, Chief Financial Officer, Joe Mbulu , said: “Notwithstanding our deposit book growth, our focus on optimising our funding costs ensured that they remained flat year-on-year. This drove profitability from gross revenues to the bottom line, with higher net revenue from funds (after impairment) in the period�.

Moody’s Report A recent report from Moody’s on Nigeria banking system outlook maintains a stable outlook for the Nigerian banking system, based on the expectation that foreign currency liquidity risks will continue to stabilise over the next 12 to 18 months, supported by recovering global oil prices and a more liberal foreign exchange market. “However, we expect banks’ earnings to come under pressure and capital metrics to decline marginally over the same period. Additionally, asset quality will remain weak, but further deterioration in loan performance will be marginal as operating conditions slowly improve�.

The report, which says the economy will recover slowly, forecast a continued recovery in real GDP growth over the next two years, up from 0.8 percent last year.

Moody’s says banking lending growth will rise to around 10 per cent after a 15.4 percent contraction in 2017. “Though declining, inflation remains high, but will continue to gradually subside as liquidity in foreign-exchange markets continues to stabilise�.

The report also noted that asset risk will remain high while Non-performing loans (NPLs) will increase marginally in a delayed response to sluggish economic growth in 2017. We expect banking system NPLs to range between 15.5per cent and 18per cent over our outlook period (15.1per cent at 3Q2017, IMF).

Concentrations of loans to single names (e.g. 9mobile) and single sectors continue to aggravate asset risk for the banks. Capital buffers will decline moderately.

We expect tangible common equity for the sector to decline to around 15.5 percent over 2018 from 17.3 percent driven by the introduction of new IFRS 9 accounting standards. “Liquidity buffers will remain resilient. Nigerian banks are mostly funded by steady inflows of local currency deposits. Dollar shortages have eased and we expect liquidity to remain stable given our global oil price forecasts ($45-$65/barrel) and the introduction of a more market-driven foreign exchange market that has attracted foreign-currency inflows�.

According to Moody’s, declining yields on government securities will dampen banks’ core earnings. “We expect return on assets of around 2per cent in 2018 (2.4per cent at 3Q17, IMF) due to declining yields on government securities. Declining yields will be partially offset by increased non-interest income and lending growth. Additionally, some banks will continue to generate high earnings through derivative and swap transactions, although we expect these earnings to decline significantly over the next 12 months. We continue to expect a high likelihood of government support for the largest banks, given the significant consequences of a bank collapse to both the payments system and the wider economy.�

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Inside NHIS and the Crisis of Politics, Powers The drama at the National Health Insurance Scheme signposts an unsavoury politics and power struggle in one of Nigeria’s critical institutions, writes Olaseni Durojaiye

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he drama that played out at the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) a couple of weeks ago has again brought to the fore some of the system failures that have come to characterise governance in the country. It was, perhaps, the reason many observers described the development as a case of some animals being more equal than the others.

Notably, it has betrayed a lack of decisiveness to deal with matters of state in a timely manner. As one analyst puts it, it is unthinkable that the matter is yet unresolved over a year after it first gained national attention.

The latest round of crisis at the NHIS, observers argued was avoidable. They are of the view that the nation would have been saved the ugly spectacle that broke out on Monday if the administration had followed through with due process as preached by officials of the administration. Besides, some other analysts opined that it is another manifestation of the lack of political will to deal with issues dispassionately.

Observers traced the current crisis to last year July 2017, when Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, suspended the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the NHIS, Prof. Usman Yusuf.

According to TheCable, an online newspaper, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who was acting president at the time, had directed Adewole to probe Yusuf.

TheCable also reported at the time that, “In a letter dated July 10, 2017, Ade Ipaye, the chief of staff to the acting president, acknowledged receipt of two petitions against Yusuf, dated April 21, 2017, from Solomon Agbo and May 12, 2017, from Dr. Tunde Ladele�.

Ipaye wrote, “His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Acting President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, is in receipt of the referred two petitions, in which allegations of fraud and abuse of office were levied against the Executive Secretary of NHIS, Professor Yusuf Usman; and has directed that the petitions be forwarded to you for inquiry and necessary action�.

THISDAY findings indicated that the investigative panel set up by the minister found Yusuf culpable of some infractions bordering on nepotism and theft of public funds.

Before this experience, the House of Representatives had directed the minister to recall Yusuf, according to the online medium. And President Muhammadu Buhari, upon resumption from his medical trip abroad, upturned the suspension and reinstated Yusuf.

However, on October 18, the Council of the NHIS again suspended the Executive Secretary. Media reports indicated that before the latest suspension, the council had issued a couple of queries to Yusuf, but he failed to respond to any, fuelling the thinking in some quarters that Yusuf had the backing of some powerful forces within the administration, who were egging him on.

Although there were those who also felt that Yusuf might actually be up against some inherent interests, who would rather the status quo remained for as long as it served their interest, this, many others maintained could not invalidate the fact that his disposition was too poor for a man in his position.

In justifying his decision to ignore the suspension and resume work, the embattled executive secretary in an interview on BBC Hausa Service, said “The governing board has no right to suspend me as the executive secretary,� in response to a question.�

He further disclosed that “I have notified them in a written document that they lack the constitutional rights to suspend or even block me from entering my office,� adding that “From where I came from if you say someone is a thief, you have to

Yusuf...on which side is he

prove that. But since I came on board, I have been going through unnecessary accusations of fraud.�

Not surprising, Yusuf returned to office under heavy security cover. While the staff of the NHIS tried to prevent him from entering, security agents overpowered them and he accessed his office while the staff resorted to down tool. The ugly spectacle that played out has however forced some questions to the fore.

Who does the executive secretary of the NHIS report to? Does the scheme’s council or the Minister of Health, Dr, Isaac Adewole, have the powers to suspend Yusuf or not? On whose orders were the police contingent that provided cover for Yusuf to resume after the alleged suspension?

Is a thorough and unbiased probe of the allegations against the Yusuf possible with him still in office as the Chief Executive Officer of the scheme?

Speaking to THISDAY, Dr. Kolade Adams of the Department of political science, Lagos State University (LASU), noted that what is happening at the NHIS is a classic case of “system failure,� adding: “It is obvious that some powerful forces are behind the ES; you could tell that from the security cover he had when he went to resume.�

Interestingly, President Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Mallam Garba Shehu announced that the presidency was already looking into the matter. Shehu disclosed so in an interview on national television during the week.

Reacting to questions thrown at him, the presidential aide said “Did the board follow due process in suspending this gentleman? There are opinions that said `no they haven’t’. “Again we all have to do the right thing all of the times. I don’t deny the fact that there is a lot of work to do – (the crisis) is complicated by the fact that the whole thing about the NHIS has been ‘ethnicised’ and politicised. Even a political party was issuing a statement on matters that are unknown to it. “I’ll tell you one thing, as we speak now, you know that no matter whatever mistakes this gentleman may have made, and that is to be proven, because I don’t have the records to say yes or no, he has launched a major reform in that institution, which

had blocked access to public resources. “Money from the NHIS is not money belonging to the government, it is money taken from your salary, from my salary. If we have been enlisted, we are supposed to get treatments when we fall ill, then you should ask the question in 13 years of the NHIS how many Nigerians have received the treatments.�

However, in what some analysts described as a continuation of the power play, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, stated that no governing board of a federal agency or parastatal has the power to remove the executive secretary appointed by the president. He however clarified that the board may “however articulate infractions, investigate wrong doing and make recommendations to government through the supervisory ministry,� Mustapha further clarified. Mustapha had made the clarification at an induction programme for governing board members of federal parastatal, universities and medical colleges.

But in a swift reaction, Eyenatu explained that the governing council resolved to suspend Yusuf because it had received several petitions against the NHIS boss.

She said, “We consulted and got the approval of the Minister of Health before this suspension.�

Mustapha’s perspective would turn out uninformed as it contrasts the letters of the laws that established the NHIS even as legal experts and analysts fault his statement.

Interestingly, a cursory look at the Acts establishing the Scheme indicated that the council had the powers to “suspend� the Executive Secretary as well as any member of the Council.

Under the sub-head “Cessation of membership� the Acts states that (I) A member of the Council shall cease to hold office if- (a)He becomes of unsound mind, or (b) he becomes bankrupt or makes a compromise with his creditors, or (c) he is convicted of a felony or of any offence involving dishonesty, or (d) he is guilty of serious misconduct in relation to his duties.

(2)A member of the Council may be removed from office by the President on the recommendation of the Minister if he is satisfied that it is not in the interest of

the Scheme or the interest of the public that the member should continue in office.

Meanwhile speaking with THISDAY, a Lagos-based constitutional lawyer, Barrister Kabir Akingbolu, explained that,“The council has the powers to take the decision to suspend the Executive Secretary. What we’re talking about here is powers of suspension can be a precursor to removal, but removal can only happen if the president accent to the recommendation of the council for removal.

Speaking further, he explained that “It is against the law of natural justice for him to be in office while he is being investigated or probed; he could tamper with material evidence. But again, you ask yourself, is he above the law?�

The presidency’s intervention in the matter further showed the SGF’s position as described above. Presidency directed that Yusuf should proceed on administrative leave and constituted a panel to look into all the allegations against him, which was the route that many expected the SGF to toe in the first place.

Continuing his usual head strong manner, and making the matter messier, Yusuf sued the Minister of Health, Adewole, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the board of the NHIS challenging his suspension few days after the directive from the presidency.

Generally, analysts insist it is not difficult to discern what is at play is politics and power struggle within the administration, yet wondered if there is something that the presidency is not telling Nigerians on the matter involving Yusuf. As much as he has savoured too much privilege, it is important to also hear him out especially that there is a swirling belief now that he is being persecuted because he is taming the corrupt elements at NHIS. There must be a balance in x-raying the matter and it is the balance that will reveal the truth.

Even then, his most ardent backers were mortified at the move to challenge the directive that he proceeds on administrative leave leading many, including Akingbolu to wonder if he were above the laws of the land. Others wondered what he was hiding and do not want unravel so much that he wants to remain in office at all cost.

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As CBN Moves to Strengthen Microfinance Banks...

As microfinance banks in Nigeria commence the race to increase their capital base to levels sufficient enough for them to perform their statutory functions of increasing financial inclusion rate in the country; improve access to financial services for the active rural poor; and pursue poverty eradication. Bamidele Famoofo examines the impact of the proposed exercise on Nigeria’s economy Background

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icrofinance Banks came into existence in Nigeria in 2005 after the community banks were phased out by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), due to their inability to withstand the test of time.

Weak institutional capacity and capital base were two major factors identified by the CBN that led to the collapse of the community banking institution.

Incompetent management, weak internal controls and lack of deposit insurance schemes as well as poor corporate governance, lack of well-defined operations and restrictive regulatory/supervisory requirements are the results of weak institutional capacity. On the other hand, the banks due to weak capital base could not adequately provide a cushion for the risk of lending to micro entrepreneurs without collateral.

In 2005 therefore, the CBN came up with the policy to establish the microfinance institution as a viable alternative to the inefficient community banking system in the country.

According to the apex bank, the establishment of microfinance banks became imperative to provide diversified, affordable and dependable financial services to the active poor, in a timely and competitive manner, which would enable them to undertake and develop long-term, sustainable entrepreneurial activities.

Other reasons the micro-banking system was conceptualized by the CBN was for them to mobilise savings for intermediation; create employment opportunities and increase the productivity of the active poor in the country, thereby increasing their individual household income and uplifting their standards of living.

They are also meant to enhance organised, systematic and focused participation of the poor in the socio-economic development and resource allocation process and to provide veritable avenues for the administration of the micro-credit programmes of government and high net worth individuals on a non-recourse case basis.

Economic Targets The CBN expects that the microfinance institution will cover the majority of the poor but economically active population by 2020 thereby creating millions of jobs and reducing poverty. It is also expected that the activities of the banks will increase the share of micro credit as percentage of total credit to the economy from 0.9 per cent in 2005 to at least 20 per cent in 2020; and the share of micro credit as percentage of GDP from 0.2 percent in 2005 to at least five per cent in 2020; promote the participation of at least two-thirds of state and local governments in micro credit financing by 2015; eliminate gender disparity by improving women’s access to financial services by five percent annually; increase the number of linkages among universal banks, development banks, specialized finance institutions and microfinance banks by 10 per cent annually.

Operational Structure From inception, the plan of the CBN is to encourage the private sector to establish microfinance banks that are well-capitalised, technically sound, and oriented towards lending, based on the cash flow and character of clients.

The banks were in two broad categories namely unit and state microfinance banks.

MFBs licensed to operate as unit banks are allowed to operate as community- based banks. The unit banks operate branches and/or cash centres subject to meeting the prescribed

Godwin EmeďŹ ele

prudential requirements and availability of free funds for opening branches/cash centres. The minimum paid-up capital for this category of banks was N20.0 million for each branch. On the other hand, MFBs licensed to operate in a stare are authorized to operate in all parts of the state with a minimum paid-up capital of N1.0billion. “The recognition of these two categories of banks does not preclude them from aspiring to having a national coverage, subject to their meeting the prudential requirements. This is to ensure an orderly spread and coverage of the market and to avoid, in particular, concentration in areas already having large numbers of financial institutions�, the CBN disclosed.

Also, an existing NGO which intends to operate an MFB can either incorporate a subsidiary MFB, while still carrying out its NGO operations, or fully convert into an MFB. As at September 30, 2018, there are 882 licensed microfinance banks operating in Nigeria according to information made available by the CBN. Fresh Capital The CBN through a recent circular announced new capital base structure for the microfinance banks which cuts across all the categories.

The increases are 150 per cent and 900 per cent. According to CBN, the unit banks will need not less than N200million to continue to operate while State MFBs will now require N1.0billion instead of the N100million current capital base. Also for any of the two categories to upgrade to a national player, it will need to raise its capital base to N5.0billion. At the moment it requires only N2.0billion to run a national MFB in Nigeria.

In a circular to all MFBs signed by Director,

NDIC MD, Mr. Umaru Ibrahim, for the MFB analysis

Financial Policy and Regulation department, CBN, Kevin Amugo, the apex bank stated that the capital requirements of the MfBs was raised in order to curb the challenges of capital inadequacy facing the sector, while repositioning it to meet critical targets in the Microfinance policy. The apex bank said it had reviewed the state of health of the subsector and is of the view that the MFBs, as presently constituted, would be unable to meet the critical targets set out in the Microfinance Policy, hence the need for specific reforms to strengthen the subsector and reposition the institutions towards improved performance.

The new minimum capital requirement takes immediate effect for new applications while existing MfBs shall be required to fully comply with effect from April 1, 2020.

It would be recalled that the state of health of microfinance banks has been a major worry for the CBN and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC). Specifically, in September this year, the CBN said it would revoke 154 microfinance banks’ licences over insolvency issues.

The apex bank claimed that 62 of the microfinance banks had already closed shop; 74 insolvent; and 12 terminally distressed; while six voluntarily liquidated.

The NDIC said it had previously paid billions of naira to depositors in failed microfinance banks. For instance, in 2016, the NDIC said it paid N2.9 billion to 81,328 insured depositors of failed MFBs across the country as at December 2015. It said a total of 187 MfBs whose licences were withdrawn by CBN were closed down within the same financial year.

Also at the end of September 2017, the corporation claimed to have paid a cumulative sum of N2.88 billion to 525, 009 depositors of closed Microfinance banks (MFBs).

Opinion Given the developing worrisome trend in the microfinance industry in Nigeria, experts are of the opinion that the microfinance banks needed to be strengthened to be able to contribute their quota in the economy as small depositors who are mostly customers to microfinance banks were losing money. Experts also said the corporate governance architecture of the micro finance banks must be strengthened in addition to the minimum capital raise. They also said the management expenses of the micro finance banks should also be put under scrutiny as a lot of the micro finance banks owners are not living within their means. “With sufficient capital, these Microfinance banks will be in a stronger position to engage competent staff and invest in the right technology. The development will also enhance their corporate governance. This CBN directive will no doubt sanitise the Microfinance sector and further stabilise the financial system� an expert, who did not want to be named, said.

He noted that, “The reality is that many of the unit microfinance banks in particular with a minimum capital base of N20 million are financially sick with very high non-performing loans. The weak capital base hinders their ability to engage professionals in their operations as well as put proper risk management framework in place. Little wonder many of them are closing shop and their licenses being withdrawn by the CBN.�

Managing Partner at Trispeed Consulting, Mr. Rislanudeen Muhammad, acknowledged that a good number of the microfinance banks had weak capital due to years of high nonperforming loans, adding that a strong capital base was important to enable them remain in sound health and also have capacity to perform their financial intermediary services.

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BUSINESS/BRANDS & MARKETING

L-R: Group Head, Civil and Building Engineering, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Engr. Ugbaja Joseph; Deputy Director, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Engr. Makwe Matthias; Permanent Secretary, OďŹƒce of Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Yetunde Odejayi; Group Managing Director/CEO, Dangote Cement Plc, Engr. Joseph Majoku; during the Launch of Dangote BlocMaster Cement in Lagos...recently

Dangote on the March to Revolutionise Cement Market with BlocMaster Raheem Akingbolu takes a look at the competition in the cement market and how the Dangote brand is weathering the storm to consolidate its market leadership

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hehistoryofcementproduction in Nigeria can be traced back to 1957. Three cement plants were commissioned by the Northern, Eastern and MidWesternregionalgovernments.

Later, other companies such as Ashaka Cement, Benue Cement Company (BCC), West African Portland Cement Company (WAPCO) and Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) and a host of others were established.

But today, there are many cement manufacturing companies in Nigeria with plants located across the country. Key among these companies is Dangote Cement, which started operations in the early 1990s and has so far dominated the cement industry in Nigeria like a colossus.

Dangote’s influence has spread over the African nation like a wildfire, and as at the last count, the cement company has established its presence in almost 17 African countries, with revenue in excess of $2.2 billion and far more than 24,000 employees. It is now a fully integrated quarry-to-customer producer with production capacity of up to 45.6 million tonnes per annum (Mta) across Africa at the end of 2017.

Driven by its desire to further enhance cement production in the country, especially in the areas of block moulding, the management researched deeply and came out with a new cement variant, called “BlocMaster�. This is said to be the best among its peers in the market. “BlocMaster� according to the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Engr. Joseph Makoju, is the final answer to the yearnings and expectations of block and concrete makers, who desire a new product that could combine all the qualities of the existing range of cements in the market. Makoju explained that BlocMaster

is a product of intensive research, laboratory and field tests and regulatory authorities’ approval.

According to him, the new cement comes with a difference and value for money.

He stated that all stakeholders involved in the value chain of cement were part of the research and the eventual formulation of the BlocMaster saying, “all stakeholders were involved, block makers, the regulatory agencies and the customers alike. We took samples to them to test before we finally concluded on the product. “We identify an opportunity and also a gap that has to be filled and we went ahead to design and formulate the BlocMaster. In addition, we are giving the product out at the best price that gives the best quality.

The Dangote Cement helmsman assured block makers and the distributors of steady supply because the company operates the largest fleet of trucks for distribution of Dangote cement. “We operate over 7,000 truck for product distribution, so there is no issue about timely delivery to every nooks and crannies of Nigeria.�

Explaining qualities of the new product, the Dangote Cement Group Chief Marketing Officer, Oared Ojeikere, said Dangote BlocMaster was a premium high strength Portland limestone cement that gives users up to 50mpa in compressive strength after 28 days.

He pointed out that the product was Ideal for concrete applications that required very high final strength and durability. “BlocMaster has been tested and proven to provide the best performance for all concrete applications that require rapid early strength, higher final compressive strength, and fast setting. It outperforms all other bagged cement products in Nigeria, and it is the cement of choice for all major construction projects�, he added. Oare stated that Dangote cement is made in Nigeria but loved across Africa because

of its high quality. “And it is because we can vouch for our product’s high quality, that is why we are in so many African countries. “We are the king in this business as we control more than 60 per cent of the cement market. We introduced to you 3X 42.5R, 3X 42.5R, we have Falcon, and now we are rolling out BlocMaster. As the name suggests, we want the name to resonate anywhere cement is mentioned, that is why we called it BlocMaster�

The chief marketer said the unique selling proposition of the new cement was its unparalleled strength as its 15 per cent stronger than any 42.5 grade presently available in Nigeria market. “It’s 50 per cent stronger after one day.

This means that blocks made could be quickly demoulded, and will be ready for sale faster, increasing the speed at which block makers can meet customer demand. “BlocMaster with its higher compressive strength will deliver stronger blocks at the same mix ratio as used currently, and can deliver more blocks, if same quality blocks as achieved currently are desired. BlocMaster is a high grade technical product that allows users achieve higher concrete strength qualities with less cement, lowering in the process, users’ concrete cost.�

In his comment on the product, during the Lagos unveiling, held last week, representative of the Director-General of Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), Joseph Ugbaja, endorsed BlocMaster, saying it was another quality product from Dangote Cement, a company known for its strict adherence to standard as stipulated by the authorities.

He described as a good development in that Dangote Cement had now produced a higher 42.5 grade of cement, for the use of the block makers.

Ugbaja stated that his organisation had been making routine visits to Dangote Cement plants

across the country and had never been found wanting, when it comes to meeting standards. “They always exceed stipulated standards. We are very proud of them.

Also making remarks, National President of Block Makers Association, Alhaji Rasheed Adebowale, said his executive had tested the new product, stating that block makers couldn’t expect a better deal when the components of the new cement was analysed. “I have personally tested the new product and I was 100 per cent satisfied with the result.

I also asked some of my members to test it and they also came out with the same response, scoring the BlocMaster 100.�

Also in faraway Kano, State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, called on all Nigerians to patronise the new cement to help minimise the menace of collapse building in the country.

Speaking in Kano recently during the product’s unveiling ceremony, the governor commended the management of Dangote Group, adding that it had always been supportive in all sectors of the economy.

In the same vein, Manager, Magina Blocks Industries Kano, Nura Musa Yahayah, said he had used the new product and could therefore recommend it to Nigerians. “I can recommend this product. I have personally used it and I am very convinced that it is the best for those of us who are in the business of cement moulding. It is strong and sets very fast. This is the product that we need at this time and we are grateful to the Management of Dangote Cement for giving us this product,� he attested. Chairman, Kano State Concrete Block Makers and Allied Products Association, Alhaji Umar Faruk Musa, was on the same page with Yahayah and even added that the cement innovation would translate into more income for block makers and in the long run for Nigeria.

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BUSINESS/WOMEN IN THE MEDIA DEBBIE LARRY-IZAMOJE

I ’ll be Ungrateful to Say Larry-Izamoje’s Name Doesn’t Open Doors for Me At 21, the Chief Executive Officer of Image Boosters, a data-driven digital and PR Agency, Debbie Larry-Izamoje, kicked off The Entrepreneurs Best Friend platform, which has helped over 200 young people on their professional journey through curriculum vitae, interview coaching and career workshops. Not done yet, she published a goal-setting workbook that saw over five hundred sales across Africa last year and was endorsed by top celebrities. Raheem Akingbolu caught up with this Amazon of the digital media industry recently and she took him through her career trajectory and challenges facing brands and their managers in Nigeria

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o Debbie Larry-Izamoje, any business that has lost its drive for positioning and rebranding has lost everything. Armed with a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Management from the University of Sheffield and MSc in Management from the University College London (UCL), Debbie had every opportunity to stay back in overseas, but was compelled to come to Nigeria by the passion to contribute her quota to Nigeria marketing communications industry.

Today, the founder and chief executive officer of Image Boosters a Lagos based agency, which focuses on digital marketing, social media management, brand communications and PR, has no regret for coming home as her effort has since changed the face of some traditional media houses, including Brila FM and Today’s Woman Magazine.

Besides, her company has also worked for companies in various sectors, ranging from hospitality (Lekki Coliseum) to e-commerce (MotorConnect) and event management. “I am very passionate about assisting small businesses and entrepreneurs and this led to the birth of my platform called The Entrepreneurs Best Friend, which I am happy to say has helped over 200 young people on their professional journey through CV/ Interview coaching and Career workshops and business development. I am the author of two books and my famous goal setting workbook saw over 500 sales across Africa last year,� she stated.

On her foray into the industry, Debbie, who is now 23, said she didn’t find herself in the industry by accident but drawn to the industry by her commitment to grow brands. “I like to say I just found myself here since I always found joy in providing clarity to entrepreneurs and generally solving brand communication or digital strategy problems and I eventually realised I was good at it and made it a full-time job,�

According to her, she is always deriving pleasure in helping brands to tell their true stories. She pointed out that there is so much to be learnt from SME’s. “The stories of most SMEs are so inspiring and I make it my duty to ensure that they are communicating and positioned properly for growth opportunities. And so, when you’re so busy trying to share authentic stories you don’t pay attention to fake news being circulated. “While some people will consider the industry as male dominated, the digital PR Amazon said she was glad she found herself in a male dominated industry. “I don’t feel intimidated. I feel like my gender and my role as a woman has helped me because women pay more attention to detail. However, I have realised that during meeting and pitches, I am able to pay attention to details that most men would ignore and also having more empathy towards clients by understanding client’s stories. The empathy side that comes with being a woman has helped me a lot as I am able to tell clients stories properly to solve their digital marketing needs. It is my hope that other young women in their

Larry-Izamoje

early 20’s can see what I’ve done in such a short time since returning back to Nigeria and be inspired,� Larry-Izamoje added.

Fathered by ace journalist, sports promoter and founder of BrilaFm, Larry-Izamoje, she admitted that her father’s achievement in the media industry had been a major boost to her career. She described the journey to have been a fantastic and unique one and she felt great each passing day seeing brands she has worked on excelling in the market place. “The last few years have been inspiring and I’m happy for what we have been able to achieve for our clients. Just going on my own, learning how to get clients and learning how to communicate effectively in sports management has been very helpful. My father’s foot prints have helped me, because he is a well-known in the sports industry in Nigeria for his integrity and hard work. What BrilaFm has achieved is quite incredible,� she said.

Speaking further about her father and his media organisations, Debbie said her father remains one of her major promoters and one of the few people, who saw sense in what she was doing when she first started. “He was one of the first people that believed in Image Boosters. The management of BrilaFm believed in us and gave us the task of rebranding BrilaFm to Brila Media, which we have done successfully. Introducing Brila.net, Growing its presence hugely on social media to the point that international bodies like Formula one, La Liga and more recognised with the brand on a daily has only been possible because he believed in us. In fact, it will be laxity on my part if I fail to add that his name and achievement in the industry have opened doors for me.� “However, it’s not about him being just my father, but the hard work image boosters put in daily to ensure our clients

have topnotch service. Our good work has given us a name in the sports industry from betting companies, to media and more and we have been able to provide our clients with huge returns on investment and they know that when it comes to sports communications in Nigeria, we are the go-to people.�

After her father, she described her role model, Mo Abudu, as another enigma that has redefined her life.

She said: “I like how she has been able to build people from nowhere; I admire how she has built different brands in different industries and still kept her private life very private. She’s a great mother, entrepreneur and everything she does, she does it strategically and you can see it in the end result.�

But in entrepreneur, Debbie comes back home and give the credit to her parents, who she admitted also fit in perfectly as role models. “They are great entrepreneurs and everything I do in business, I try to follow their footsteps. They have played major roles in just being available, being my biggest fans and cheering me on in difficult times.�

Combining job with family can be tasking, but Debbie stated that it had made no difference because her family didn’t have any set of expectations from her. “They just want to see their child do what she loves and excel at it. Since the launch of image boosters, I believe that they have seen that I am really passionate about it and working towards building one of the biggest brands in the world.�

Speaking on how today’s PR man can carve a niche in the market, Debbie said she always tell those that come in contact with her that a PR man must first define himself or herself to create a niche in the

market. “I always tell people that no one can pick your niche for you. Sometimes, the market can dictate what your niche should be but ultimately you have to pick and decided on that things you’re most passionate about and a problem or market your willing to solve or add value to brands.�

She also expressed her take on the debate about whether digital is a threat to traditional media in today’s market or not. According to her, digital isn’t a threat to traditional media but additional tool for brands to tell their stories. “There are endless opportunities for those who know how to create a balance between the two. Digital media is not the enemy; it is there to enhance communication and should be embraced. I like to see it as a little brother/sister. We realised at first that a lot of traditional media houses saw us as a threat, but are slowly embracing digital marketing and I think this was because they were scared of trying their hands at something new. But at image boosters, we have succeeded in helping several media houses leverage digital marketing and increase their revenue through these streams over time. How then can we be a threat to a medium we are in support of?�

On the success story of Image Boosters, vis a vis the agency’s area of specialisation, Debbie said the strength of her brand was in digital. “We work with leading brands and businesses by leveraging digital opportunities in our local market. We are strategists, creators, designers and PR experts with a mission to connect brands with consumers online and create digital experiences for millions. Our mission is to challenge conventional wisdom in business through innovation, strategy, and communications.

We push ourselves harder and harder with very client we get. “Image Boosters is made up of the best team, we are all young, passionate, vibrant and hungry creatives, we’ve grown so much in our few years and so has our staff strength.

We work by placing emphasis on bottom up approach; we are comfortable with agile methodology and focused solely on quality.

We’ve served brands from different industries and I love the diversity our job brings.�

If she has her way to change anything in the way PR is being practised in Nigeria, perhaps the Image Boosters boss would have compelled brand owners to choose agencies based on experience and knowledge to deliver value and not on man no man. “I think a lot of brands are not telling their stories well because a lot of brands go with agencies just because they know somebody there or they have mutual friends not because of the value they are bringing to the table. If I had my way I would give small agencies the chance to work with big brands. There are so many unheard stories just because these agencies are not working based on merit.�

When asked who her ideal man is, Debbie didn’t waste time before she said; “My ideal man is an ambitious, God-fearing, focused, calm, highly articulate and a little sense of fashion. He is someone that must make me feel at peace with myself and with him,� she said.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍźËœ ͺ͸͚΀

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IMO at 70: Celebrating Milestones on Road to Fulfillment of Nigeria’s Maritime Potential This year’s World Maritime Day offered yet another opportunity for stakeholders to plot the way forward for the Nigerian maritime industry. Kunle Aderinokun reports

H

ow can Nigeria optimise its enormousmaritimepotential? That was the question at the forefront of every mind as stakeholders from around the country and beyond converged on Lagos on October 16 to participate in the 2018 World Maritime Day celebration hosted by the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

With the theme, “IMO 70: Our Heritage – Better Shipping for a Better Future,� this year’s event, which was held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Ikoyi, coincided with the 70th anniversary of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The landmark event presented an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the maritime industry and focus on confronting the challenges of the industry.

That much was clear in the message of the IMO Secretary-General, Mr. Kitack Lim, which set the tone for discussions at the event that had several key maritime stakeholders in attendance. “This provides the opportunity to take stock and look back, but also to look forward, addressing current and future challenges for maritime transport to maintain a continued and strengthened contribution towards sustainable growth for all,�

Lim stated.

First, there was a keynote address by the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, an address by the chairman of the occasion, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Barr. Boss Mustahpa, speeches by the heads of the parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Transportation, then paper presentations by key stakeholders, and, finally, a robust discourse on the issues raised in the papers. Everyone agreed that effective administration of Nigeria’s marine environment as well as security on the coastal waters and the seas were fundamental in the effort to maximise the country’s maritime resources.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is the linchpin of the country’s waterways security and management strategy.

NIMASA is responsible for the administration of maritime safety and security, seafarers’ standards, maritime labour, and shipping regulations. It is also responsible for the promotion of commercial shipping as well as coastal and inland shipping activities, and administration of pollution prevention and control standards in the marine environment.

The achievement of those maritime objectives is the fulcrum of the NIMASA Director-General, Dr. Dakuku Peterside’s mission and vision. He has introduced lots of restructuring, innovation, and transformation geared towards realisation of the set goals since he became Director-General on March 10, 2016.

An passionate team leader and transformer, Dakuku has approached his job with pep and vigour. And he has had significant success in leading NIMASA to higher grounds and restoring confidence to the maritime sector.

The NIMASA success story under Dakuku was one of the issues that came out clearly during the 2018 World Maritime Day celebrations. “The theme, IMO 70: Our Heritage – Better Shipping for a Better Future, that is IMO leading the worldwide effort,� Secretary-General, Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central African Region (Abuja MoU), Mrs. Mfon Usoro, observed. “Who leads the regional effort? I am very glad to testify that, indeed, Nigeria has woken up. Prior to now, Nigeria seemed to have disappeared in regional initiatives and efforts, but NIMASA is fully on ground now in all the organisations, and I am very, very proud of the leadership of NIMASA. That testifies to the hard work, the intellect, and self-confidence of a leader who is not afraid to surround himself with other experts,� Usoro, a former director-general of NIMASA, added.

Dakuku stated in his message at the occasion, “Under our watch in NIMASA, the administration has taken up some change in policy programmes to not only ensure that the maritime industry contributes significantly to the national coffers, but also to serve as catalyst for the country’s industrialisation.�

The change initiative is captured in a plan anchored on five strategic pillars, namely, Survey, Inspection and Certification Transformation programme; Environment, Security and Search and Rescue

L-R: NIMASA Director-General Dakuku Peterside; Chief of Training and Operations, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral MM Kadiri, who represented the Chief of Naval Sta; and representative of NPA’s Managing Director, Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Dr. Sekonte Davies, at the World Maritime Day celebration

Transformation programme; Capacity Building and Promotional Initiatives, which entail growing indigenous tonnage, ship building and human capacity; Digital Transformation Strategy; and Structural and Cultural reforms, which include attitudinal and behavioural changes in staff approach to work as well as processes and procedures.

The plan has yielded fruit in many important areas, Dakuku emphasised before the audience of maritime stakeholders. He said following the Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business issued by the Presidency, NIMASA had achieved a reduction in turnaround time for processing cargo manifests and issuing Debit Notes to Shipping Agents from three days to 24 hours. This was achieved by extending work hours for some staff of the agency’s Shipping Development Department and opening its offices for business on weekends to cater to the needs of shipping agents.

Other achievements of the agency in the last two years include the sponsor of an antipiracy bill, which is nearing passage at the National Assembly.

Dukuku said before the end of this year, Nigeria will have an antipiracy law, and become the first country in the West African sub region to do so. “We are determined to continue to support shipping activities under our shipping promotion mandate,� he said, disclosing, “The agency, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transportation, is working towards the reestablishment of the national shipping line.�

NIMASA has contributed more to the Consolidated Revenue Fund in the last two years as its reform initiatives continue to materialise.

To facilitate its shipping development agenda, NIMASA is taking the twin issues of safety and security seriously.

According to Dakuku, “What drives the economic benefits of shipping is when the domain is safe and secure. We have taken a number of initiatives and the pillar of all the initiatives is NIMASA Total Maritime Security Strategy.�

The strategy is being executed in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, which is responsible for the naval defence of the country, and other security services. “We are committed to making Nigeria one of the safest maritime domains in the continent of Africa,� Dakuku stated.

Expectedly, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral MM Kadiri, focused on the issue of security on the waters and seas in his goodwill message at the occasion. So did the InspectorGeneral of Police Ibrahim Idris, who was one of three persons that presented papers at the event. “The safety of shipping and transfer of goods at sea remains one of Nigeria’s critical maritime interests,� Ibas stated. “The Nigerian Navy has incorporated a number of measures to enhance the safety of shipping as our own way of contributing to national development,� he added, stressing, “I am happy to observe that these measures have

been largely successful.�

The naval chief said there had been, “A significant improvement in the security situation within our maritime space in collaboration with other stakeholders. I wish to reassure you that the situation will continue to improve.�

He, however, called for more private sector investment in the marine industry. “As we mark this year’s World Maritime Day, prospective investors and the organised private sector are encouraged to take advantage of the good situation in the marine environment by increasing investment in the shipping sector and the maritime industry in general,� Ibas said. He said such investment will help to reduce poverty and improve national security.

But the Chief of Naval Staff remained optimistic. “While there are still areas of concern in activities on the African maritime space, overcoming them is possible through such awareness programmes as this occasion presents,� he stated.

In his paper titled, “Effective Maritime Security and Safety for Sustainable Maritime Development,� the Inspector General of Police highlighted the measures put in place by the Nigeria Police to secure the country’s inland navigable waterways.

These, according to him, include 24-hour patrols and other police duties by the Marine Section of the police under the Department of Operation, headed by a Commissioner of Police, and 22 marine police stations with headquarters in Yauri (Kebbi State), Shiroro (Niger State), Iwopin (Ogun State), Onikan and Elegbata (Lagos State), Okitipupa (Ondo State), Gelegele (Edo State), Warri (Delta State), Yenegoa (Bayelsa State), and Port Harcourt (Rivers State).

Others are Oguta (Imo State), Onitsha (Anambra State), Lokoja (Kogi State), Umuisha (Nasarawa State), Oron (Akwa Ibom State), Calabar (Cross River State), Afikpo (Ebonyi State), Makurdi (Benue State), Ibi (Taraba State), Yola (Adamawa State), and Maiduguri (Borno State).

Idris said there were 64 other marine out-stations under the above marine police stations.

However, he identified factors hampering effective discharge of the police functions on the waterways to include poor cooperation from local communities, inadequate infrastructure and platforms, and skilled manpower deficiencies.

The police boss urged greater collaboration among the maritime stakeholders, including the local communities, and special recruitments to fill the gaps in skilled manpower requirements of the Nigeria Police, especially, with regard to policing of the inland waterways.

The discussion session on the IGP’s paper was moderated by Capt. Adamu A. Biu, with Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Sekonte Davies, who represented NPA’s Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman; Dakuku; Managing Director, Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Sen. Olorunimbe Mamora; and Chairman/CEO Seatransport, Alh. Aminu Umar, as discussants.

The paper by chairman of the Nigerian Ship-

owners Forum, Mrs Margaret Orakwusi, titled, “Maritime Industry as a Socio-Economic Enabler in Nigeria,� dwelled on the pivotal role of the sector in the country’s development effort. “Maritime industry is one of the strongest catalysts for socio-economic development across the globe,� Orakwusi stated. She stressed that over 90 per cent of raw materials and finished goods were transported globally by sea.

She said with a coastline of 852 kilometres bordering the Atlantic Ocean in the Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria had abundant marine potential that were, however, largely untapped.

To fully harness Nigeria’s rich maritime potential, Orakwusi recommended a unified maritime policy that will capture the maritime sector and the port industry as a single entity; proper documentation of activities in the maritime sector; and moderation of freight costs. “Nigeria maritime industry must be driven to its full capacity to generate the much needed foreign exchange and skilled and unskilled employment in the face of the dwindling fortune of the crude oil,� Orakwusi stated.

Orakwusi’s paper was discussed in a session moderated by Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, with the following discussants: Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Barr Hassan Bello, and representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria Customs Service, and the United Kingdom Mission to Seamen.

The third paper, “Maritime Technical Development and Operations – An Imperative for Economic Development,� presented by Engr. Emmanuel Ilori, was discussed in a session anchored by Abdulsalam Mohammed. It had as discussants Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Commodore Duja Effedua (rtd), and representatives of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Nigerdock, and the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation.

With a coastline of 852 kilometres, a maritime area of over 46,000 km2, a total freight cost of about $6 billion annually, and maritime component of the oil and gas industry valued at $8 billion, it is without dispute that Mother Nature was generous with maritime potential when she created Nigeria.

But the country has faced plenty of challenges in terms of adequate development and utilisation of its latent maritime capabilities. Occasions like the World Maritime Day provide the right atmosphere for the cross-fertilisation of ideas and efforts on how to overcome the challenges.

The World Maritime Day is commemorated yearly by IMO, a specialised United Nations agency, on September 27 at its headquarters in London, but each member state is free to choose any date in the year to mark the day.

The big takeaway from this year’s World Maritime Day celebration in Nigeria, judging by the quality of the discussions and attendance, is that there is a new determination and zeal by stakeholders to overcome the challenges of the maritime industry and move the sector forward.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍźËœ ͺ͸͚΀

ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Demola Ojo Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă– demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

Lebanon’s Hidden Wonder in Jeita Grotto Yinka Olatunbosun‚reœ›rĂ&#x;s‚›n‚ø‚sĹ“eĂşĂ&#x;øúà Ûørâ€šÂşĂ˜nÂ¸â€šĂ˜n‚ßeÚøn›n‰‚âhĂ˜Ăşhâ€šĂ˜s‚reú›nĂ˜Â˘e¸‚øs‚ ›ne‚›º‚Ă&#x;he‚UNĂ–|Ôÿ‚ò›rÛ¸–erĂ˜Ă&#x;øe‚sĂ˜Ă&#x;es

T

he first place of visit during the Study Abroad in Lebanon 2018 was Jeita Grotto, eight kilometres north of the traffic-prone Lebanese capital, Beirut. Our collective curiosity was aroused when Professor Joseph Rahme said the trip to Jeita Grotto would begin with a ride on a cable car.

The prospect of being transported on an endless stretch of cables above rough-edged mountains and deep valleys didn’t seem like a safe vacation idea to a narrow mind. Wild thoughts accompanied by sweaty palms and feet didn’t make it easy to look beyond the faces of the other occupants in the cable car so as to soak in the beauty of the mountainous terrain.

The cable car rose gradually until we couldn’t see the cable car attendant that bade us farewell.

We eventually arrived at the upper cave and passed through security screening at the long tunnel.

The “No photography’’ sign was enforced thoroughly. All phones, cameras and other devices were taken into custody at the point of entry and the sight awaiting us left us with huge regrets for not breaking the rule.

Jeita Grotto, an interconnected cave having upper and lower galleries, was one of the 14 finalists in the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

The upper galleries were accessed through a wet concrete pavement snaking up the unusual earth forms. Lit by intersecting lights, they are nature’s own sculptures and drip paintings- the world’s largest known stalactite.

We gasped, in complete awe and walked cautiously along the bends which is protected by a series of iron bars. It was a still moment of discovery and utter respect for its invisible creator.

We kept walking far behind our guide who pointed below, asking, “Can you see the water beneath the rocks? That’s the lower cave. We will go there after we are done here,’’ he said.

Discovered in 1958 by Lebanese speleologists, the underground river in this magnificent cave is the source of drinking water to over a million Lebanese.

The walkways kept leading us upwards. We learnt as we walked in respectful silence that the cave is closed during winter because the water level rises to unsafe levels. We stood there, staring at the longest cave complex in eastern Mediterranean.

A colourful tourist train took us to the lower cave that we were eager to see. Some electric boats were waiting and our guide, Prof. Rahme, decided that one large boat was ideal for us. The boat man doubled as the security man. He spoke in angry Arabic as he discovered that some of us wanted to capture this amazing spectacle on our hidden devices.

We chose various seats- some were facing the direction we were heading while others had their backs to it.

Jeita Grotto

The danger of belonging to the latter group was that some sharp protruding speleothems were waiting but the fun in the adventure came when the boatman’s yelled, “Stay down’’, and we quickly ducked to avoid designing our skulls with injuries or even disrupting the beautiful natural landscape.

As the electric boat sailed through the calm waters, we were allowed to touch the water and enjoy the therapeutic effect of nature, to prepare us for the rigorous 12-day travelling and study programme. As we took dinner by the cave, many of us were lamenting over the restriction of photography. Prof. Rahme looked at us in mischief, smiled and said, “You are Nigerians. I thought you could use your imagination. A few dollars would have gone a long way, you know.’’ That was our first initiation to Nigerian-Lebanese cultural relations. Obviously, Nigeria and Lebanon had so much in common than we had ever envisaged.

If we were in Nigeria, we would have known that we could easily get the photographs even with the restrictions. But with the security cameras and barking attendants and guides around Jeita Grotto, we thought we could go to prison if we dared to act like typical Nigerians who would attempt to bribe their way through.

Anyway, some Lebanese were offended that our lecturer, Prof Rahme told us about the power situation in Lebanon. Little did they know about where we were coming from: a state of chaotic generator noise whenever there is power outage.

Warmth was everywhere we went. Some Lebanese would pull over and request to take pictures with us, just because we were tourists.

Initially, we thought they took us for AfricanAmericans but when we introduced ourselves as Nigerians, we saw that they still loved us, ever more.

Prof. Rahme educated us about how Lebanese see Nigeria- it’s one of their dream places in the

search for greener pastures.

When we asked our host Professor why the Jeita Grotto never got enlisted in the seven wonders of the world even though it made it to the finals, he revealed that voting limited Lebanon. Their small population could not pull the required votes.

He asked if Nigerians would support Lebanese by voting next time and our response was emphatic “yes’’.

Our return to Notre Dame University that evening was to read a few more chapters of the recommended text, Peter Frankopan’s “The Silk Roads� but most of us ended up connecting to WiFis and telling our folks about the most captivating sight we witnessed that day.

The SAIL programme is an initiative of the Wole Soyinka Foundation and a programme of the Benedict XVI Endowed Chair of Religious Cultural and Philosophical Studies at Notre Dame University, Louaize in collaboration with the Cedars’ Institute.

SA Tourism Appoints Rakolojane Regional Head for W’Africa Demola Ojo

S

outh African Tourism has revealed a new Regional Head for West Africa.

Thekiso Rakolojane has been appointed to take over from Hloni Pitso, who has over the past five years, successfully marketed South Africa to Nigeria, Ghana and other parts of the sub-region from its Lagos office.

Rakolojane has over 17 years experience in the fields of marketing and communications and has spent the better part of the last decade as Marketing and Communications Manager of the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA), a business unit of South African Tourism.

Rakolojane was introduced to SA Tourism’s travel, trade and media partners as well as other stakeholders by the organisation’s Chief Operating Officer, Sthembiso Dlamini, at an

intimate dinner at Shiro restaurant, Lagos, over the weekend.

Dlamini used the opportunity to pay glowing tributes to the outgoing manager, Hloni Pitso. According to her, Pitso – the pioneer head of SAT’s West Africa office - exceeded expectations during his tenure, with tangible growth in tourist arrivals to South Africa from West Africa, as well as deepening the relationship between the two regions.

Pitso’s remarkable work in West Africa has earned him a transfer to head SAT’s South Europe Region, comprising France, Italy, Spain and Portugal, with the expectation that he would grow that market just as he grew West Africa.

Also present at the event was South Africa’s Consul General to Nigeria, Darkey Africa, who promised an easier visa regime for Nigerian travellers to South Africa, especially those travelling for business and tourism purposes.

Rakolojane (left) is taking over from Pitso

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍźËœ ͺ͸͚΀

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Brokerage Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Investment Research Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Bolaji Fajenyo | bfajenyo@afrinvest.com

Jolomi Odonghanro | jodonghanro@afrinvest.com

28

˜ ˞ NOVEMBER 4, 2018

MARKET NEWS

PEARLS AWARDS Boss: Strive Towards Capital Market Stability, Growth Goddy Egene The President, PEARL Awards, Mr. Tayo Orekoya has said all stakeholders in the nation’s capital market must strive towards its stability, sustainability and growth.

The PEARL Awards, has since 23 years been rewarding outstanding and excellent performance by market players and companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange(NSE).

Speaking on the state of the market ahead of the 2018 awards

ceremony slated for November 25, 2018 in Lagos, Orekoya said they are aware of the huge responsibility placed on their shoulders as a result of the reliability on their sense of judgment by investors and shareholders alike. “But we are determined to continue to play our part with every sense of fairness, objectivity and equity. The Nigerian capital market, particularly investments in the Stock Exchange has recently been undergoing a most harrowing experience with sustained losses

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

in share values, resulting in huge depletion of wealth to equity stakeholders. These losses have been caused by variety of factors.

Regardless of these developments, market stakeholders including players, regulators and indeed government must continue to strive towards market stability, sustainability and growth,� he said.

According to him, this year’s award is themed: “Sustaining the Winning Edge� in recognition of companies that, in spite of the challenges in the operating

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 0111-2018, unless otherwise stated.

environment, local and international, have continued on the winning edge and outperforming others.

He explained that the awards has three main categories, which are: The Main Competitive Category Awards under which companies would be rewarded for sectorial leadership, market excellence and The PEARL of the Nigerian Stock Market. “In Agriculture Livestock Feeds Plc, Okomu Oil Palm Plc and Presco Plc. Transnational Corporation Plc, UACN Plc

and Chellarams Plc leads the conglomerates while P.Z. Cusson Nigeria Plc, Unilever Nigeria Plc and Vitafoam Nigeria Plc leads Consumer Goods (Household Products) category. Fidelity Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and GTBank Plc leads the financial services (banking), among other nominees,� he said.

He noted that Honourary Awards is the second category which has PEARL CEO of the year, Outstanding Honorary Award for the capital market development,

Capital Market Journalist of the year and Media Award for Capital Market Reporting.

The last is the Special Recognition Award, which has Issuing House of the year Award, Stockbrocking firm of the year Award and Good Corporate Governance Award.

Orekoya stressed that “Since inception and to date, we have been guided by the principles of fairness, transparency and objectivity in our selection process while our scientific approach in determining nominee companies remains unassailable.�

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 162.25 163.30 -8.59% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 11.00% Nigeria International Debt Fund 273.12 274.36 18.10% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.83 0.84 1.15% ACAP Income Funds 0.62 0.62 6.35% 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 12.00% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.20 2.22 -4.31% 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 N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 10.93% Paramount Equity Fund 11.57 11.87 4.36% Women's Investment Fund 101.62 104.22 0.98% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.03% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 99.38 99.38 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 99.25 99.25 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 EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 11.74% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 12.09% 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 1,158.71 1,159.44 10.53% FBN Heritage Fund 141.13 142.30 1.17% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.11% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $113.40 $113.75 4.14% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $113.17 $113.51 4.04% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 146.93 149.01 -7.52% 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 1.22 1.24 -5.59% Legacy Debt Fund 3.19 3.19 10.41% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.02 1.02 1.60% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 2,979.17 3,008.35 -0.22% Coral Income Fund 2,739.27 2,739.27 11.89% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.86% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 105.31 105.48 5.04% 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 100.00 100.00 11.91%

Vantage Balanced Fund 2.14 2.16 1.54% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 14.75% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 122.02 122.22 6.02% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ďŹ ncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.19 1.21 3.46% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,077.43 1,077.43 11.67% 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 11.19 11.28 -13.59% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.57% 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 N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 127.98 128.39 -1.34% 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 1.67 1.67 12.35% 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 2,305.66 2,320.53 4.92% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 186.63 186.63 7.19% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.95 0.96 -5.45% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 244.32 244.36 13.21% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 159.72 161.51 -10.82% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.51% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,575.82 8,680.52 -9.83% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.10 1.10 6.28% 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 N/A N/A N/A United Capital Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 11.12 11.28 -6.87% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.02 12.12 -5.95% Zenith Income Fund 19.75 19.75 7.18% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.76%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

9.00 138.69 51.55

-20.11% 4.70% 1.42%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.39 117.60 90.75

10.49 120.10 92.45

-12.22% -17.67% -16.93%

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

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

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

SPECIALIST FUNDS*

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.14 7.11 14.93 13.95 143.40

4.18 7.19 15.03 14.15 145.40

-12.61% -25.60% -14.49% -28.93% 6.57%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.13

17.03%

FOR HNI & PROFESSIONAL INVESTORS ONLY

Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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.

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

04.11.2018

Akin Lewis

On Acting, Ambition Agony

&

ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

30

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R ˾NOVEMBER 4, 2018

COVER

On Silver Screen and the Spiritual Stage The rotund figure flashes a smile behind a dark shade. Understated in appearance, he is unmistakable in his gait, grace and gumption. Methodical and mesmerizing at the same time, he has become arguably the finest bilingual Nigerian actor that has ever graced the silver screen and Nigeria’s effervescent stage. Dressed in simple but stylish cream attire, Akin Lewis lounges in a sofa as he speaks with Funke Olaode. A man of many parts –from the spiritual to the silver screen, Lewis talks about his ambition, acting and agony.

There is much more to know about one of Nigeria’s most understated superstars who excels in the film industry with ease and tantalises millions with his sterling exploits both on and off ff the screen –and,, yes, y off the stage

N

ot many movie superstars alive in Nigeria can match his exploits – and his statistics. He is perhaps the best bilingual Nigerian actor – English and Yoruba – that has ever walked the earth. His eternal class is b his simplicity and his success is tempered by subdued by his modesty. His rich repertoire of knowledge, knowled experience and exposure dates back to t the 1960s – Akin Lewis stormed into the consciousness con of Nigerians as a acto on the Western Nigerian teenage actor (W Television (WNTV) at that time. From soap operas like Spider, S Footprints, Two Sides of a Coin among amo others, the Lagos-born movie superstar has ha continued to rediscover and him reinvent himself with effortless resilience.

Method Methodical and mesmerizing as an actor, b Lewis has become one of the finest Nigerian actors that have h ever graced the silver screen Nigeria effervescent stage. Dressed in and Nigeria’s s simple but stylish cream attire, Akin Lewis lounges in a sofa sipping a cup of tea. A man pa –from the spiritual to the silver of many parts screen, Lewis Lew excels in the film industry with tan ease and tantalises millions with his sterling bot on and off the screen –and, yes, exploits both off the stage as an actor who has been in the fo almost 50 years. He has had his limelight for an challenging times though. charming and tha almost killed his childhood One that w his father’s refusal to let him ambition was a become an actor.

His father’s refusal was far-fetch Acting in those days was not far-fetched. considered a profession for drop-outs. The older Lewis couldn’t see the reason his son fo could not follow in the footsteps of siblings who are now accountants. Young Lewis stood his ground. rew The reward of resilience led to his going presti to the prestigious University of Ife, now A Obafemi Awolowo Ife – to study Theatre und the tutelage of Prof. Wole Arts – under Soyinka. He graduated with a first class in 1979. He later got a distinction at a Bulgaria university where he studied Bulgarian Acting and Directing for his master’s degree degree.

“I have been in acting business for 45 years now and still counting. I am over 60 years. I started very early immediately after secondary school. I joined a group led by the then Mr. Bode Sowande, now a professor at the University of Ibadan. I was based in Ibadan and along the line I got a job with the NTV, now NTA,” he narrates.

“I was told that as a child I was fascinated by TV programmes such as children’s plays. It was the day of comics and I used to read a lot of books. That was how it started – that experience must have awakened my hidden talent. At Lagelu Grammar School in Ibadan, I was a member of Literary and Debating Society and Dramatic Society and we were doing a lot of plays that was when it became clear to me that it was my calling. Immediately I left secondary school I joined a group. Then went to the university and here I am today still going,” he recalls.

Lewis’s life is not about acting alone. He was once a management guru. The intrepid celebrity admits that actors of those days were considered stars with little pay. As time went by in his career, his infatuation with acting began to wane when he started a family.

“In those days, there were lot of jobs around. We had a lot of popularity, we were stars but we didn’t make so much money. It was okay for me because I was still a bachelor. By the time I got married and started having children, I realized that beyond popularity, I needed something to sustain my family,” he says. “So, I branched off and started another career line in marketing management. I had worked in the biggest advertising and public relations companies in Nigeria. I worked in the bank and telecommunications”.

Surprisingly, while plying his trade in both public and private sectors, he did not walk away from his constituency because he knew he was coming back. “This is like a retirement for me. Acting is what I have done in the longest. So it is being profitable,” Lewis admits.

Blessed with adorable and beautiful

Lewis had once left the silver screen for the spiritual stage. He was ordained as an evangelist at International Church of Christ in Lagos. That course of life had taken him all over Africa including Muslim nations spreading gospel of salvation. How did he become an evangelist? “You know you sometimes feel you are Christians, live like a Christian then a day will come you meet a group of people who open up the Bible to you and you realise that a lot of things that you are doing are not right

31

NOVEMBER 4, 2018 ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

COVER

Lewis

Photos: AKINWUNMI IBRAHIM for AMPstudios

On Resilience, Rediscovery and His Repertoire girls, Lewis’ constant travels because of his career have left him with a tag of the ‘absent father’. But the veteran actor admits that he has been able to juggle being a good husband, father and home front with the support of his family. “As a professional, you must find way to work around it. I must thank my family for taking me for who I am. It is the nature of the job and there is nothing I can do about it. This is what puts food on the table and when you come back you make up for it by spending time with them. I love watching television and even like to sleep on the floor in my house watching TV, and everybody will come down and sit with me. So there is a family bond and after sometime when they fully recover my long absence am on the move again.”

In a society where a male child is often idolised, Lewis – a father of four girls – may be under some pressure to have a male child by all means. But he says: “Never. If you understand life, it intrigues me that God must have made me one of a kind to help this world to progress. I understand that clearly and it makes me feel special. I know many people believe in a name that will outlive them. What is in a name if you don’t have character and integrity? So it never bothers me whether I have a male child or not.”

For Lewis, even for a celebrity, Nigeria’s economy is biting hard. ”You know the way it is in Nigeria if the economic is up there it affects the entertainment industry but when it is nosedive it also goes down because people don’t have the cash and they will begin to rationalize. It should be the other way round just like outside when things are down the entertainment

In those days, there were lot of jobs around. We had a lot of popularity, we were stars but we didn’t make so much money. It was okay for me because I was still a bachelor. By the time I got married and started having children, I realized that beyond popularity, I needed something to sustain my family,” he says.

“So, I branched off into corporate world industry goes up so people can have places to go, relax and ease tension,” he admits with in a rueful tone.

Lewis had once left the silver screen for the spiritual stage. He was ordained as an evangelist at International Church of Christ in Lagos. That course of life had taken him all over Africa including Muslim nations spreading gospel of salvation. How did he become an evangelist? “You know you sometimes feel you are Christians, live like a Christian then a day will come you meet a group of people who open up the Bible to you and you realise that a lot of things that

you are doing are not right. And if you have a heart for God and you fear him you will follow the Bible,” he explains with a smile on his face.

Continuing, Lewis says: “That was exactly what I did. I joined the church, went in there and became one of the disciplines.

Got a calling and was ordained as an evangelist, went all over Africa starting from Senegal to South Africa. I used to preach in French and English. I had preached in a place where they used to cut both hands if you dare talk about the bible but I survived because I had faith in God.” But his spiritual encounter was shortlived due to a crack in his relationship with the spiritual authority. He quitted the congregation and went back to acting.

Throwing more light on what went wrong, the actor tells THISDAY: “Nobody is perfect but when you begin to think you are perfect then there is a trouble. They don’t like me challenging the establishment. And I was quick to point out that you put me through the Bible and I am using the same Bible and somebody would say to me: ‘But you work for me’. Then I would say, ‘I don’t work for you. I work for God.’ There was a lot of pressure and eventually I resigned my commission. They were not ready for that but I had already communed with my God. So I quit. I am still a Christian. I may no longer be a preacher but my life has been shaped by that experience.”

After almost five decades plying his trade, is he planning to quit? “I can’t quit acting. If you look at my trajectory, my roles have changed over the years from a little boy, to the teenager, to the young man, the lover boy and so on. Now I am playing the roles of chief, king, etc.,” Lewis reveals. But he adds:

“Who knows? A time will come that I will play the role of a grandfather so as an actor you keep evolving. You see when you look act generally, it deal with life and that is my commodity. Wherever I am I see more and hear more than you. That is my training. I am also a strategist. So the experiences of life that I have and use in my work motivate me and will keep me going.”

Just like other famous actors who have used their popularity to go into politics such as former Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Desmond Elliot, Kate Henshaw and a host of others, Lewis is unlikely to go their route. “I don’t think I am cut out for that the way politics is played in Nigeria,” he confesses.

Explaining his stance, the actor adds: “Let me be frank with you: the way politics is played in Nigeria if you can’t lie, kill, and steal, can you survive (in politics)? I am an opposite of that. Yes. It has crossed my mind and people have talked to me but I know myself to get into politics I will need a paradigm shift. I will need to change before I can go into politics otherwise I will be a failure because if you go against the establishment everybody makes sure that you fail. People get killed. There are unresolved murders. I am not afraid but I don’t want to be tainted.”

There is something else that bothers him about Nigeria? “Well, what bothers me about Nigeria is that anything can happen anytime anyhow and this is very scary.

People get robbed in broad daylight and nothing will happen; people’s houses are being bugled or people getting killed during rally. So the feeling of not being safe bothers me the most. I can’t run away. I am going to live and stay here.”

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How Warri Became Nigeria’s Fashion City It was first-of-its-kind as the oil rich city of Warri witnessed a fashion show aimed at showcasing upcoming designers.

The event saw Tosan Emume emerged as the best designer of the year, Funke Olaode reports

W

arri fashion and style week 2018 theme “shades of culture�put together by Arhecal Synergy Ltd, a fashion company runs by Carol ArhereObih to manage and organise fashion events in collaboration with Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN) lived up to expectation at its debut fashion show held in the oil rich city of Warri, the heartbeat of the Niger Delta between September 28 and October 29.

After a meticulous planning by the organisers, the fashion week started with pre-auditioning of upcoming designers where the best 10 candidates emerged and were given fabrics provided by Da Viva to

make an outďŹ t for the competition at the main event.

September 28 witnessed an array of colourful display of culture as the fashion week kicked off with a street catwalk and carnival at the Delta Mall where both male and female models were dressed in colourful carnival costumes.

The second day which is the main event saw collections from the ten upcoming designers and top designers like Modela Couture, Ejiro Amos-TaďŹ ri, Ara-Ewa creations, Enro Wendy fashion, Auleve Nigeria, Gudy Lagos, Regal By Fuoma, lghogele Arts, Rudavson Creations, Da Viva Apparel and Hair Collections by Twins.

After colourful display of their creativity and talents, Mrs. Tosan Emume emerged as the best designer of the year of the event.

The fashion week come to a close with beautiful fashion parade on the run way by standard models and plus size models.

The exhibition area was not left out of the fashion week as exhibitors from the fashion to the corporate world were present: Glo Nigeria, Swarovski, Da Viva, Coastline MicroďŹ nance Bank, Basojemy’s world, Lanrez_Beauty, lghogele makeup and of course, Canoe detergent by PZ Cussons with a very colourful and prominent stand.

In attendance at the fashion week

were the representative of the Delta State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Steven Odogun, representative of the UwvieYouth Council, Mr. Patrick Ogaga, the president of FADAN, Mrs. Funmi AjilaLadipo, the coordinator of FADAN Delta Chapter, Emeremgini Uche Genevieve and other dignitaries.

The climax of the fashion week was the presentation of awards to outstanding Deltans who have excelled in their chosen careers and serve as positive inuence to the youth in the state. The Hon. Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Emmanuel Basin Chinye, Mudi Creation and Ono Bello were recognized.

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NOVEMBER 4, 2018 ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

GLITZ FOCUS

L-R: TY Bello, Gov. Godwin Obaseki, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, Dep. Gov. Lagos State, Mrs. Ranti Adebule; Mrs. Obaseki; Mrs. Florence Ajimobi and Mrs. Funsho Amosun

Mrs. Ambode and the Success Story of Wives of Lagos State Officials The quest to continually improve the welfare of women and sustain vintage position of Lagos State in the federation was the centre of discourse at the three-day 18th National Women’s Conference of Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials with theme “Strengthening Our Collective Impact” held in Lagos last week. Funke Olaode was there

W

omen inclusion in all facets of life has been a catalyst of change and research has also proved that all over the world women are pillars of growth and development of their countries. In many ways, women have continued to play roles that demonstrate how important they are to the progress of their countries economically, politically, socially and importantly in their various homes.

And in the last 18 years, the COWLSO has shown that women at all levels have grown beyond being an ordinary flower around the table as they have become decision makers, professionals, home makers and pillar of support to their husbands.

From October 23 through 25, all roads led to the Convention Centre of Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos where women from all walks of life converged on for the 18th of National Conference of Committees of Wives of Lagos Officials under its chairman and wife of the governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode. This year’s main topic was “Strengthening Our Collective Impact” while topics such as living a life of purpose, successful marriages need passion and perseverance, planning for retirement, vulnerable but not defenceless, digital family connections, children having children – the hazards of teenage pregnancy and preventing significant health challenges of the midlife and beyond were also extensively discussed by various experts at the conference.

Among the dignitaries present were, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor of Edo State, Dr. Godwin Obaseki, and his wife, Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Bagudu and wife, Mrs. Funso Amosun of Ogun State, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi of Oyo State, Lagos State deputy governor, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, Mrs. Kemi, Nelson, Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, Dr. Stella Okoli, TY Bello, management of Eko Hotel and Suites, top government officials, party chieftains, civil servants, corporate bodies

Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu (2nd right) supported by Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left), his wife, Bolanle (L); and Chairman, Conference Planning Committee, Dr. (Mrs.) Arinola Oluwo (r), presenting Certificate of Appreciation to the CEO Emzor Pharm. Company, Dr. Stella Okoli at the event

amongst others.

In his remarks, Governor Ambode congratulated the executives and members of COWLSO for another very successful conference , saying it was on record that Mrs. Ambode, along with other hard-working committee members, had succeeded in taking the association and the annual conference to the a higher level.

Ambode said, “The opportunity to be part of a conference such as this is a privilege which also comes with a corresponding responsibility.

In the spirit of the theme of this conference: ‘Strengthening Our Collective Impact’, you all have a responsibility to share this experience with other women and men. This is the only way that the impact of the knowledge gained at the conference can be widened and deepened.”

Speaking on the journey so far, Mrs. Ambode said in what has become an annual norm, the committee came together and collaborate with either government establishment, privately owned businesses, non-governmental organisations with the aim to achieve significant and lasting social change that would be of beneficial to all. “We have the unique ability of looking at problems and coming up with solutions that would transform lives and make the world a better place. And that is why at this year’s conference, we carefully selected tested facilitators and speakers to do justice to various topics and issues affecting women.”

Enumerating some of the achievements of the committee under her watch in the last three years, the first lady said the committee has executed many health related projects which has recorded impressive impact on the health of babies, children, youths, women and the aged ones.

“Two years ago, we upgraded the Ear, Nose and Throat Department of the Lagos Island General Hospital, Odan while also sponsoring goitre operation for some women. Last year, we continued our intervention by donating Portable Otoread OAEs equipment to four general hospitals: Badagry, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikorodu and Gbagada. The committee has also spread its

kind gesture to Shomolu and Alimosho General Hospitals.

“In the area of infant and maternity care, the committee donated two transport incubator ambulances to both Gbagada General Hospital and Lagos Island Hospital. These facilities aptly described as ‘womb on wheel’ are to be deployed to convey premature babies to government facilities equipped with neonatal- ICU to save their lives. It can also be used to convey infants with severe post birth complications, and other serious emergency situations. The women of COWLSO reckon that with this intervention, many more newborns, infants and children in Lagos State, will be saved from avoidable deaths with attendant happiness of their parents,” she explained.

Also speaking during the event, Funmi Oyetunji said for an individual to live a purposeful life, he must take time off and imagine his life as he navigates through life.

“What I observe is that some people don’t know that they have responsibility for their own life. They always come up with an excuse that they have failed to fulfil life of purpose because they were not born rich, that their career is not making them to be the best, that they didn’t marry a man who treat them well. Or their children are not doing well. So they have resorted to fate that everything that pertaining to life is out of their control. And this is problematic.

What matters is how you handle such situation.

She enjoined participants by creating their own identity in form of a brand that distinguished who they are,” Oyetunji stated.

In another discussion, successful marriage need passion and perseverance by Mrs. Bridget Itsueli, the participants were told to define their preference in life and ensure that the partner they choose share much of their personal perspective and worldview, adding that perseverance, interaction and communication, play vital roles in the success of marriages.

In another paper, strengthening our collective impact, parenting digital kids by Dr. Mrs. Veronika Iwayemi, the speaker addressed how the participants could protect their children

from the harmful side-effects of technology and how they can insulate them from digital explosion, so that they can make responsible choices in life. She was quick to point out the fact that while the goal of parenting remains the same, methods, approaches of training their children must change. Thus, entirely disconnecting children from the digital world may be counter-productive, and giving them unfettered access to every digital content might also be counter-productive. There is the need to ensure that their children acquire relevant skills, so as to make balanced adjustments.

In a communiqué released at the end of the conference which was read by the wife of the secretary to the State government, Prof.

(Mrs.) Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, COWLSO said government must put structures and policies to address the issues of teenage pregnancy.

Speaking further, it advised participants to get professional advice from professionals on financial matters, never spend all their incomes, at least they should invest 10 per cent, they should seek help in an abused relationship, know their rights under the law, care-givers must listen and pay attention their wards, children should be taught core values. Women were also advised to take their health seriously, especially from age 40, by ensuring reduction in dietary salt and increasing fruits intakes. They were advised to maintain an ideal body weight and engage in regular physical exercise. The participants were urged to reflect the knowledge acquired in all personal endeavours, and should also try to pass on the knowledge to achieve desired impact on society.

At the end of the three days event, 2018 inspirational Woman award was presented to the renowned photographer, TY Bello while certificates of Appreciation of friends of COWLSO were presented to the Chairman of Emzor, Dr. Stella Okoli, and Eko Hotel and Suites. At the Gala night raffle draws, seven cars were given out to winners while many also went home with various gift items ranging from deep freezers, LG TV and more. It was indeed a threeday conference to remember.

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with RenoOmokri THE ALTERNATIVE TheYorubaOriginsoftheNameMoses(nottheManMoses)

F

irst of all, there is no name like Moses, just like there is no name like Jesus. Both those names are made up names that the European translators of the Hebrew and Aramaic Scriptures transliterated and substituted for the actual names that were in Scripture which are Moshe (Moses) and Yehoshua or Yeshu’a (Jesus).

Why did people like the Dutch Priest, Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus, and other Bible scholars change the names of Bible characters?

After all, if you are translating a document, you translate everything but the names. Could it be that these Europeans had a hidden agenda?

The Bible, as it was originally written is the undiluted word of God. However, it may shock my readers to learn that notable figures involved in translating the Bible into European languages, were members of fraternal orders. For example many of those involved in The King James Version of The Bible, first released in 1611, were Freemasons. This is a historical and documented fact which even the Church of England (still heavily influenced by Freemasonry) cannot deny.

There is power in names. For instance, Acts 4:11-12 reads: “Jesus is “’the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.�

Mark 16:17 says: Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will carry new tongues;� off its wealth. He will loot and plunder the land as pay for his army.

Proverbs 18:10 says: “The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; I have given him Egypt as a reward for his efforts because he and the righteous run to it and are safe.� his army did it for me, declares the Sovereign LORD.�

These verses clearly show that the power is in the name.

God, in His wisdom, decided to punish the Black People of Therefore, if an enemy wants to attack, his attack would be centered Egypt for their mistreatment of the Hebrews and so He put it in on the name.

Nebuchadnezzar’s mind to conquer them.

The name that has power is not Jesus. The name of God’s only Now, let me explain something about Nebuchadnezzar. I have Son is Yehoshua (Hebrew) or Yeshu’a (Aramaic). been to Israel and I have been to ancient Babylon. When NebuBut what about Moses, whose real name is Moshe. Why is he of chadnezzar came to conquer Egypt, it was not like how modern central importance? day conquerors behaved. Not at all. The British and their European You see, in Exodus 2:10, we read: partners were pussy cats when compared to Nebuchadnezzar. Even “When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him Nazi Germany was not as brutal as Nebuchadnezzar!

Here was Nebuchadnezzar’s modus operandi. He would out of the water.� conquer you, slaughter your people, leave a ‘remnant’, take them Now, we know from that Scripture that Moses was not a Hebrew back to Babylon, and then send his own people (Persians for the name. It was an Egyptian name and the actual name is Moshe, not most part and some Arabs) and resettle them in your land.

Moses that the European translators turned it to. (If in doubt, please That is what he did in Egypt and ancient Israel and the proof is in research the name Moses at a reference library, or simply go on The Bible.

Encyclopaedia Brittanica online).

In 2 Kings 25:21-22 we read: Now, whenever you read the word Egyptian in The Bible, it is “There at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, the king had them referring to the people in the geographical location called Egypt. It executed. So Judah went into captivity, away from her land. Nebuis not referring to their tribe or colour. For the last 4,000 years, the chadnezzar king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the demographics of Egypt has gone through several changes. son of Shaphan, to be over the people he had left behind in Judah.�

However, at the time the Bible book of Exodus was written, the So that is why today, you have mostly Arabs in Egypt. However, people who lived in and governed Egypt were Black people. This they still have a Black minority or ‘remnant’ as the Scripture prefers is an historical fact known to anthropologist. It is also the reason to put it. As a matter of fact, one of their recent Presidents was a why the face of The Great Sphinx of Giza, in Egypt, is the face of a Black man. His name was Anwar Sadat (Google His picture right Black man. The Great Sphinx of Giza was built 2500 years before the now). physical birth of Christ. It is 4,500 years old. Are you trying to tell me Sadat was greatly despised by many Arab Egyptians who called that Arab people built such a massive monument and made it the him ‘Nasser’s Black dog’. They referred to Gamal Abdel Nasser, face of a Black man? Think Black People, think! who brought Sadat to limelight and made him his heir. Apparently, So you may ask, why are most Egyptians today Arabs? The they only tolerated Sadat for so long until they assassinated him in answer is in The Bible.

1981. He is the ONLY Egyptian President to be assassinated.

Ezekiel 29:19-20 reads: Why have I gone to great lengths to show that Black People ruled “Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to Egypt at the time of Moses, whose true name is actually Moshe?

In my earlier article, The Ijebu, the Yoruba and their influence on the Bible and Judaism, I proved, using Scriptural evidence, that modern day Ijebu people were the original inhabitants of the city The Ijebu, the Yoruba and their known as Jebus, before they were defeated by King David, after the city became known as Jerusalem (Jebu-Isale). inuence on the Bible and Judaism, which It was their cousins, the modern-day Yoruba (whose real name I proved, using Scriptural evidence, is Omo-ti-Olu-Iwa-bi or Omoluabi for short), who inhabited the location known as Egypt during the time of Moses. that modern day Ijebu people were geographical Olu-Iwa is believed to be the Biblical Noah. This is significant, as my the original inhabitants of the next chapters will reveal.

It is an anthropological fact that the father of the Black Race is city known as Jebus, before they Ham, the son of Noah. In fact, the name of Ham’s first son is Cush, were defeated by King David, after which means Black in ancient Hebrew. Google it. which the city became known as Genesis 10:6 reads “The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put and Ham in Hebrew means burnt, referring to the colour of Jerusalem (Jebu-Isale). It was their Canaan.�

Ham’s skin. Cush in Hebrew means Black. The third son was called cousins, the modern-day Yoruba Egypt.

As a matter of fact, when The Bible referred to those who (whose real name is Omo-ti-Oluthe Hebrews in Egypt for 430 years, it called them sons of Iwa-bi or Omoluabi for short), who enslaved Ham. inhabited the geographical location Psalm 78:51 reads: “He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, the first fruits of known as Egypt during the time of manhood in the tents of Ham.�

Moses. Olu-Iwa is believed to be the These Scriptures prove that the ancient Egyptians where the sons Biblical Noah. This is signiďŹ cant, as of Ham. Now, let us come back to that name, Moses, which in actual fact is my next chapters will reveal Moshe.

We know from Exodus 2:10 that it was an Egyptian name.

We also know that it means picked or fetched.

Exodus 2:10 reads: “And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew (picked) him out of the water.�

In the Yoruba language, the word for drawing or picking something from the ground or from the river or from anywhere is ‘sha’. So, if you picked up something from the ground or water, and I asked you how you came by that thing, in Yoruba, your response would be ‘mo sha’ meaning I picked it. The proper phonetics of Mo Sha would be mo sĂ ĂĄ, but it would be pronounced mo-sha., It is that Mo Sha, that the Egyptian princess gave the child that she picked up. It is that Mo Sha, that became known in Hebrew as Moshe. It is that Moshe that was erroneously (or deliberately?) transliterated to Moses.

These revelations are shocking. I know. But read Scripture and research about the ancient origins of the Yoruba people. I have a reputation, which I jealously guard, for never saying or writing anything about faith without backing it up with evidence from The Bible.

The ancestor of the Yoruba, Oduduwa, is believed, from folklore, to have been a migrant from Egypt, not Arabia, as many erroneously think. The confusion may have come from the fact that Egypt was considered part of Arabia.

And it is not just the name Moshe (Mo Sha) that is traceable to the Yoruba language and culture.

Much of what Moses taught the Hebrews/Jews is actually of Yoruba culture, especially the practice of divination which itself is traceable to the culture of ancient Egypt, from where today’s periodic table of modern chemistry come from. The culture of the next in line brother inherit his late older brother’s widow if she did not have children for him. The culture of sacrificing animals for sins.

All these are ancient Yoruba customs that the Europeans met when they came to Africa.

In fact, the similarity is even starker when you consider that in Arabic, the name Moshe is actually Mose which is closer to Mo Sha. Do not take my word for it, Google it.

But then you may ask, how did Mo Sha become Moshe? If you are a native speaker of the Yoruba language, you will know that it is a very poetic language. The poetry of Yoruba is on beautiful display in D. O. Fagunwa’s 1938 book, Ògbójú ode nínú Igbó Irúnmonle Forest of a Thousand Demons).

The Yoruba have a habit of giving names for people or an occupation quite literally. In fact, you name yourself by the circumstances of your birth or your profession.

In Yoruba for instance, the actual phrase for a prostitute is a sha owo, meaning one who picks up money. The ‘sha’ in a sha owo is the same ‘sha’ in Mo Sha. Along the years though, a sha owo became poeticized or shortened to ashewo, which is what most people call a prostitute in Nigeria, the nation with the highest concentration of Yoruba people in the world.

You see, with the passage of time, the sha in a-sha-owo became she, as in ashewo. It is the same way that Mo Sha became known as Moshe before the Moshe itself was bastardised by the Europeans into Moses (a meaningless name).

Even the name of the River Nile, from which Moses was picked from is believed to be of Yoruba origin. It is NOT of Arabian, Persian or Hebrew origin.

The name of the River Nile is thought to have originated with Pharaoh’s daughter who picked Moses from the bank of the River.

The word Nile is thought to originate from Moses’s full name, mo sĂ ĂĄ nĂ­ or to put it in letters that would be easy for you to read, Mo Sha n’ile meshing ‘I picked him up from the bank/ground’. It was the nĂ­l that became Nile and remained so till today.

In conclusion, let me state clearly that Moses was NOT Yoruba.

He was NOT Black. I am not claiming that the Yoruba’s are Jews (their origins go farther than that of the Hebrews). What I am saying is that the name Moses, which is actually Moshe, is of Yoruba origin.

Throughout the first 80 years of his life, Moses was more used to Black People than to Hebrews. As a matter of fact, his wife was Black as we see in Numbers 12:1 which reads: “And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.� The use of the word ‘Ethiopian’ does not mean the woman was from modern day Ethiopia. The nation now known as Ethiopia is referred to by the name Sheba in The Old Testament of The Bible and are called Sabeans in the oldest book of The Bible (Job).

The word ‘Ethiopian’ used in Numbers 12:1 comes from the old word for a Black person (Ethiope). Prior to the 17th century, Black People used to be called Ethiopes (Shakespeare even used that term to describe Black People in Act 1, scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet ‘’Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear�).

It is not my intention to shock you with these truths. I only mean to open more eyes to the hidden history of the Black Race which is right there in The Bible.

Reno You have the power to summon a stronger positive thought into your mind whenever a negative thought attempts to break into your mind

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 4, 2018

Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

A Peep into Adekunle Akinlade’s Dark side

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t is doubtful if Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has ever been under fire as much as he has been in recent times within and outside the state.

While a lot of people are not so interested in his performance in office, even as his second term will soon screech to a halt, he has suddenly become the anvil of criticisms mostly because of his support for Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade as his anointed governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress ahead 2019.

Though the leadership of the party has assented to the emergence of Dapo Abiodun as the standard-bearer of the party in the next governorship election in the state, Amosun has been threatening fire and brimstone over the rejection of Akinlade.

In his bid to force Akinlade on the people of the state, he has sought the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari on different occasions. But Amosun has been literally left languishing to his utmost surprise, as the body language of the president reads something to the effect that “he is on his own. “ Akinlade is a Federal House of Representatives member representing Egbado South and Ipokia in Ogun West.

Those who know him very well say he (Amosun) needs to study him very well like a book; otherwise, he will forever rue the day he threw him up for the governorship race in the state.

Society watch gathered that Akinlade was allegedly living his life on the fast lane in the United Kingdom. In fact, a source claimed that immediately he relocated to Lagos, some of his victims tracked him down with a determination to get rid of him. ’Two of his security aides lost their lives in his stead,’’ the source added.

Akinlade is also said to be flirtatious and he does so without any regard for his London-based wife. Not a few ladies are said to have fallen victim of his recklessness .

A source also revealed that before he got married to his present wife, Chineye Ochuba, a former beauty queen, he had earlier been married to another woman with whom he has his first child, a girl.

But he hid this part of his life from Chineye until it was too late for her to quit the relationship.

He was said to have taken advantage of the status of his first wife as a UK citizen to fast-track his documentation, and eventually his naturalisation as a British citizen.

Society Watch also gathered that Akinlade was once involved in a land scam at Alakuko area of Lagos, where he built his first mansion.

It resulted in a legal battle with the rightful owner of the land. In the end, he lost the right over the property to the man in 2012.

Against this backdrop, many wonder why Amosun has decided to settle for a man whose past is questionable, in spite of the fact that Ogun State parades a line-up of sterling technocrats and politicians with time-tested, brilliant records of public service.

His choice has even left many to think that he has some skeletons in his cupboard that he needs a character like Akinlade to conceal.

Akinlade

Forte Oil Chairman, Femi Otedola Celebrates If it is possible for you to secure, for instance, a five-minute interview appointment with his aged mother, you will definitely be entertained with very interesting tales about the circumstances surrounding his conception and birth, among other riveting narratives.

Your encounter with his aged but vibrant mother will further delight your audience if she offers you, with the benefit of hindsight, the untold story of why she and her late husband, Pa Michael Otedola, a former governor of Lagos, preferred to name him Oluwafemi, which literally means ‘God loves me’ - he was not so christened only for the sake of christening.

More than five decades after Femi Otedola, now Chairman, Forte Oil, was brought forth to this “sinful world”, there is enough proof that he is truly living up to the description of his first name typical of one whom God has continually lavished His favour on. Indeed, his paths in life have been laced with roses.

First, as a husband, his wife cannot wish for a better lover, soulmate and ‘gist’ mate.

Also, as a father, he is wonderful. He has been able to raise his children in such a

way that they give him utmost joy.

Even in his business, his profile has always been on the rise. His competitors agree that he is blessed with the proverbial Midas touch.

A well-loved man by members of his immediate environment, Otedola is acknowledged as one of the few successful individuals who see the need to give back to the society as a priority. He is generous to a fault; his deep pocket is unqualifiable.

So, whenever his birthday is approaching, his family, friends and others who have benefitted from his largeheartedness and benevolence always see the day as another golden opportunity to celebrate him. The eulogies, no doubt, usually come in torrents.

Society Watch gathered that they often do this out of deep respect for the man with the very creative monicker: “Ote$”.

Surprisingly however, as he turns a year older today, the man full of aura and charisma does not seem to see the day as significantly different from others. Reason: he owes his creator praise and thanks every day for His abundant blessings in his life.

So, is that what he will spend the whole of today doing? Maybe, especially because if

Otedola

he had his way, the day would have gone unannounced. That his vintage Otedola!

Earlier in life, he craved success and worked very hard to be successful.

His life is a challenge to those who were born with a silver spoon in their mouth but abused the privilege a lack of self discipline.

Ex-First Lady, Patience Jonathan’s Flips Side

Patience Jonathan

She was once powerful, influential and highly connected. When her husband, former President Goodluck Jonathan, held the reins of power in the country, her word was law. Before our very eyes, Patience, fondly called Mama Peace, rose from obscurity to prominence.

The then-first lady had large hangerson. Many sought her listening ears for so many things. Life couldn’t be any better.

But the return of General Muhammadu Buhari as a presidential candidate of the APC was no more but a killjoy for her. Also, Buhari’s victory in the 2015 presidential election forced her and her husband out of the ornate Aso Villa.

Ever since, the former first lady has been having a running battle with the EFCC over her frozen accounts and seized property. She has been tasting the cold side of powerlessness. The attention she used to get unsolicited has disappeared. The number of her friends and hangers-on has also dwindled.

As proof of the transient nature of power, her last birthday celebration was reportedly devoid of the usual fanfare.

But for her unenviable condition and deepening controversies, she would have been celebrated to high heavens on that occasion.

It will be recalled that while she was in power, her birthdays was always celebrated with fanfare, coupled with tons of advertorials in the media.

Sadly, her birthday celebration on October 25 was unusually low-key, as only a handful of her so-called friends remembered the day.

In fact, Society Watch gathered that she could count on her fingers the number of friends who called to congratulate her on the day. “ None of those who used to swarm around her like bees to nectar deemed it fit to drop at least a word for her in any of the media, if only to show her that they are still with her, even in her travails and tribulations,” our source revealled.

Diamond Bank’s CEO, Uzoma Dozie’s Bugbear In 2014, Uzoma Dozie was appointed the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Diamond Bank Plc. But many who were not impressed with his appointment had claimed that the position simply fell into his lap, owing to his status as a son of the founder of the bank, Pascal Dozie.

At that time, his critics never saw anything good in whatever Uzoma, who was then 44, did.

However, for those who were sympathetic to him, such criticisms were not fair.

They were quick to dismiss any attack hurled at him, marinating that he had enough experience and expertise to occupy the position.

In supporting his appointment, his loyalists were always forthcoming with his enviable credentials, which included a master’s degree in Chemistry.

Prior to his joining Diamond Bank, he had honed his skills at some other banks.

He started out at GT Bank Plc as an

analyst, commercial banking and then as business analyst, oil and gas division at the defunct Citizens International Bank before joining his father, Pascal Dozie’s bank in 1998 as the head of oil ang gas section.

There is no doubt that Uzoma, an alumnus of Imperial College, London, University College London and Havard Business School, exudes class and intellect.

But he seems to be under some heat to turn around the fortunes of the bank. In recent times, he has been facing intense pressure over the health of the bank. The bank seems to be in dire need of new capital to fuel growth and profitability. But many observers would tell you, Uzoma is not to blame.

The bank has been struggling with bad decisions that predates him.

Just last week, some of the board members of the bank, including Oluseyi Bickersteth, Chairman of the Bank, resigned.

Dozie

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SOCIETY WATCH

Wosilat Okoya’s New Lifestyle Wosilat Okoya, younger sister to Lagos billionaire businessman, Alhaji Razak Okoya, is blessed with an awesome beauty that can make any man stop in his tracks to take a second look at her.

She is not an attention-seeker, but if there was a beauty competition for people of her age, this drop-dead beauty would certainly come tops.

She is among a few women whose beauty would make any full-blooded man drool. Such is the power of her

beauty, even as she is in her 50s.

Though a grandmother, she still boast a glowing skin. So many features, including her curvature, come-hither-look and shape.

All these rare qualities, in addition to her commanding dress sense, are said to have made her the cynosure of eyes at public events.

However, Society Watch gathered that she has now slowed down on partying.

A source revealed that she only attends functions that involve the Okoya families, their associates as well as close friends.

Wosilat Okoya

Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Frederick Akinruntan in Joyous Mood

Oba teru

If you cherish royalty and the grace of being a king, you will surely appreciate why His Imperial Majesty, Oba Frederick Enitiolorunda Obateru Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugboland, Ilaje, Ondo State, loves to celebrate the ascension of his forefathers’ throne and the grace of God in his life.

It was gathered that the billionaire monarch is planning big to mark his eighth anniversary on the throne next week.

Consequently, the entire Ugboland is said to be agog, literally rising and tumbling in joy over the coming event.

It was also gathered that some of his friends and even family members would be placing congratulatory messages in the print and electronic media to celebrate him.

Since he became the Olugbo of Ugboland, he has put the name of the

riverine community on the world map with a number of projects such as the eyepopping palace.

In 2014, the flamboyant and colourful traditional ruler was ranked by the Forbes magazine as the second richest king in Africa and the richest in Nigeria. He has a custom built 2012 Rolls Royce similar to that of Queen Elizabeth II. Aside from this oil and gas business, Oba Akinruntan is also into real estate. He has choice buildings in London and across Nigeria, including the prestigious Febson Hotels and Mall in the Central Business District of Abuja.

The stylish monarch, who sits atop a business conglomerate with interests in petroleum, shipping, construction, fishery, tourism and hospitality, consultancy services and water purification and production, owns one of the most expensive yachts in the country.

Lagos Socialite, Rotimi Ajanaku, Left in the Cold “A dog about to get lost will not heed the hunter’s whistle,” so a saying goes.

In Nigerian politics, this proverb says a lot about the political (mis) adventures of Rotimi Ajanaku, famously called Don Dino.

When he declared his intention to contest election to represent Ibadan Southwest/NorthWest Federal Constituency at the Lower Chamber, he was advised to drop his ambition by those who knew better than he did.

But he refused to heed the wise counsel. He went ahead but was beaten again in the primary by the incumbent lawmaker representing the constituency, Saheed Fijabi, son of a popular Ibadan-born socialite and businessman, Akin Fijabi.

Society Watch gathered that this is not the first time the top hotelier would be thoroughly beaten by Fijabi.

Following his second defeat in the hands of Fijabi, the insinuation in some quarters is that Ajanaku had all along been ruled by what many described as bloated ego and, perhaps, his closeness to the number one man of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi. ‘’Ajanaku is being blinded by his dream that he failed to realise that he is a small fry to Fijabi who is well loved here. He did not only lose the ticket, but he also lost a huge amount of money. It was a total loss. He is currently bitter, angry and dejected,” a source said.

The businessman is currently left in the cold and yet to get over the incalculable defeat.

Another source claimed that many

Ajanaku

people don’t consider the Lagos-based businessman as a native of Ibadan. ‘’Ajanaku cannot claim to be a native of Ibadan. His place of origin is shrouded in secrecy. To some, he is from Ilesha in

Osun, while some others believe he is from Lagos State. So, it will be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than him to scale through,”the source added.

Fani-Kayode

Femi FaniKayode’s Loyalty Femi Fani-Kayode, a lawyer and former Minister of Aviation, means different things to different people.

While some appreciate his brilliance and outspokenness, some others see him simply as controversial.

However, what you cannot take away from him is his loyalty; he respects the sanctity of friendship and never takes friendship for granted.

Penultimate week, he demonstrated his sense of loyalty when his friend and former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, was arraigned by the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. He had a ready answer for inquisitive minds and news hounds who sought to know why he was again at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, having previously accompanied Fayose to the Abuja office of the EFCC, where he had gone to honour an invitation for interrogation over some alleged fraud charges.

In response, he was quoted as saying, “I believe in the virtues of courage, loyalty and faith in God. I believe in loyalty to country, family, friends and political party. I am a patriot and I believe in loyalty to Nigeria. I also believe in the unity of Nigeria. I believe in loyalty to friends, through thick and thin. Fayose is my friend and that is why I am here.

“He stood with me during my travails and I am constrained to stand with him during his. I am not a fair-weather friend: I am a real friend and I will always stand with the persecuted, the cheated, the marginalized, the voiceless and the oppressed. Fayose is being persecuted like so many other leaders in the PDP and that is why I am here: to stand firm and show solidarity with him.”

Though many argue that his action was just another political stunt, a source close to the smoothtalking politician revealed that one thing you can’t away from him is his love for his friends.

The source took Society Watch on a memory lane when Fayose had stood with Fani-Kayode when he was going through same travails in the hands of the EFCC. ’ Fayose was there for him during his travails, so he has to show his gratitude. Apart from Governor Wike of Rivers State, Fani-Kayode and a handful of others, no one was there for the ex-governor. So, nothing to sneer at for standing with someone’s friend. It is just to show appreciation for what Fayose has done for him in the past, ’’ the source added.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 4, 2018

LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Buhari, It’s a Pity!

Me, I do not really know how to hide my mouth. I no be senator. My lord, I just may not vote for you come 2019. It is a reality, I tell you in fact if the elections were holds today, you will NOT get my vote. Let me just talk my own openly. It is the gospel truth. You see my reasons are very simple. People have been talking about your not having certificate or that the certificate is with one Army Council.

Others are talking about the economy and how over two million people have lost their jobs, your inability to solve the problem of electricity even after that your Fashola had promised power in six months and all these rash of killings all over the place culminating in this Shiite wahala. Others have really expressed concern over your lack of respect for the rule of law, the disobedience to strategic

SENATOR LADOJA AND HENRY IMASEKHA – SWEET WHISPERS Mbok, I am so happy. I just got my own invite to what is beginning to look like the wedding of the century. Ladoja’s son is getting married to Imaskha’s daughter o. That is the news o. What people do not know is that Mr. Imasekha is my oga o. He is one of the very few people I really have high regards for in this our investment banking business. I have sat with him at so many meetings even up to last week soaking up his highly intelligent and experienced offerings on transactions. Who am I to argue? When I go try to sell things to him, I come out of those meetings a stronger investment banker. I will now go and meet lesser mortals and use the nuggets I got from Henry to sell and collect their money. But oga Henry, I have not been able to crack him, it is only a matter of time sha, I would soon close my first transaction with him. His picture is on the mountain with my prophet. Anyways, I have heard that his beautiful daughter would be marrying Senator Ladoja’s son.

Kai, you see how God works. Senator Ladoja is my mother-in-law’s neighbour in Ondo street Bodija, Ibadan. You people be carrying small eyes and be looking at me not knowing that as the Duke of Shomolu, I move among all strata of society. So I count Ladoja as a neighbour and Henry as my Oga and you think I am a small person. Well sha, the wedding is happening this November at the exquisite Suites of the Eko Hotel and it promises to be a showstopper. Me, I am coming with my full regalia as an Akwa Ibom Prince.

I am putting on my royal wrapper with nothing underneath so that the sweet breeze from the Atlantc Ocean can blow under and keep me cool, complete with my chieftaincy cap and walking stick.

My lord, please I will like to be served by very light in complexion and curvy waitresses abi I should bring my own just in case you don’t have so I don’t distract you from the very important business of securing this very beautiful nuptial?

Ladoja

court rulings and the style of your appointments. My lord, many say that you have been aloof and have indeed lost the reins of government and as such they would not be standing behind you this time. The negative vibes against you are really strong on the streets. Do not mind what your people are telling you. The clouds are really dark.

Anyways, I really do not care for all this talk, my lord. My own reason is simple: I still carry a grudge against you which if not carefully handled will affect my position come 2019. So I still discussed this matter with my leader Voke Eghagha.

We were in Command Secondary school some 30 years ago when they said you were coming for an official visit in your capacity as director of something in the Army. That is how they made us cut

grass and wash toilets for two weeks, everyday non-stop. My lord, I suffered o, come and see blisters all over my hand.

We cut and swept and washed just to keep the compound in Ipaja sparkling clean for your inspection. If you know me very well, which I doubt you will know that this kind of suffering is not in my DNA. That is how you came and spent five minutes and went back. So all my suffering was for just five minutes?

Na wa, you see my grouse. I don’t know what happened o. The suffering was real.

Kai, I almost swore for you that day o. So all our work, compulsory manual labour and washing all were naught. Well, me I have not forgiven you since that day so all this talk about Boko Haram or Shiite or nepotism or anything no be my own grouch.

Congratulations, you are giving your daughter to a wonderful family. They are a good family, take it from me, your daughter will not be hungry. I used to see them feed plenty people in their Bodija house almost on a daily basis. Even me I have eaten there before. Once you are a card-carrying member of oga’s party (I don’t know which one now, you know the baba used to change party anyhow), na free food I tell you. Congrats.

term. My own is that kindly note that what you have achieved right now is still very vulnerable and you would need all the gait and skill to weld it into a firm structure that should lead you to the polls. So things like these could scatter everything and ruin your chances. You have to be very careful and circumspect not to be making this kind of statement that I have just seen allegedly claiming that you will not agree to a single term. So after serving two terms as VP and one term as President, would that not be enough? look we are only just looking your way because you are looking like a lesser evil so do not please get carried away and begin to see yourself like Nelson Mandela or Obama.

Let me even tell you, Wizkid will defeat you if it was only two of you on the ballot, so hold on to your knickers. Me I support this one term thing for you, because your presidency in my estimation would just be to rebalance and refocuse Nigeria. You are to hold back your tribesmen who have gone on a forever rampage, you are to heal the wounds and ensure collective participation in the Nigerian Project by all and sundry and not just by a particular tribe even though it is your tribe, return the economy to free enterprise, limit government’s intervention and open up the investment space for all and sundry by providing an enabling environment.

If you remain focused and calm, you can achieve all of these in four years. We are not ready for another old man with many wives on that seat , doing medical trips at our expense. So my lord, do not let us change our mind and stay with the devil we know. Look at this single term thing and do what the Americans call a slam dunk term and write your name in history, we don tire.

ROCHAS OKOROCHA – ISRAEL, COME AND TAKE! I watched the wonderfully lipped Nnamdi Kanu on Israeli TV talking his usual gibberish. The guy just makes me laugh. He said there were 70 million Igbo Jews in Nigeria. Be like say he don count Akwa Ibom people and some Fulani herdsmen inside the matter o. Even the Israeli TV presenter was taken back.

Anyways, I believe him and I also want to use this opportunity to inform the Israeli authorities that Rochas Okorocha is amongst these 70 million Jews and that they should come and carry their pikin with his son-in-law make we hear word for this Imo gubernatorial election. I think it is high time the Israeli government lived up to its responsibilities and come for their citizens especially the ones with very strong skills. With the constant war of attrition with the Palestinians, the need to restore and build statues cannot be overemphasized. So this particular candidate will do a lot for the Israeli archeological landscape with his statue-building skills.

Also his son-in-law with his muchvaunted public governance skill will also help the Israelis in their new settlements by putting in place strong governance structures. Mbok, not only these two, any Nigerian Igbo Jew who wants to go, kindly feel free make una go, Israel needs you. I just tire.

Buhari

had not issued the ultimatum, he should immediately. How can a known refugee, who jumped bail, called us monkey and threatened to secede, be in Israel and we will not send missiles? My lord if fear is catching you, I will issue the ultimatum on your behalf. Why are you afraid na shebi we just bought tornado fighter jets that they will soon deliver in four years?

We can issue the ultimatum and be using the Tokunbo ones that we have for now till those ones arrive. Instead of our police going around doing operation velvet and be chancing innocent motorists, we draft them in. Abeg, Israel is not as powerful again jo, we should not fear to go into battle with them. Kanu in that place is very dangerous and could whip up sentiments against us abi you did not watch that film, Raid on Entebbe when Israel sent in troops to come and free their citizens and hostages in Uganda? Me I cannot cry o, if Kanu keeps at this pace shouting that there are 70millon Jews in Nigeria suffering and under oppression , they will come o so we need to preempt them. Let’s strike first because if they come, they will not wait to select targets and ask people like you who have been enjoying to stay one side na all of us them go attack. Uncle let’s issue this thing na! Don’t fear, just call NTA and talk it. They will hear and if they do not release kanu in 24 hours we have enough troops to invade Israel and capture their Prime Minister and make him cry on international TV. Oya, I am tuned to NTA and waiting. Laugh wan kill me. So Uncle can fear to issue statement?

OONI OF IFE – CAVEAT EPMTOR

Oya, we have all now come around to your candidacy and you want to spoil it with this your refusal to accept one

Mbok, our daddy has refuted a statement alluding that he had issued an ultimatum to Israel to return Kanu or we send missiles. He said he laughed when he saw the report. Which kind laughter? If he

Notice is being given that His Eminence, the Ooni of Ife, is not for sale and all these women who are claiming to have been duped by fraudsters who collected money from them to get them to marry the well-respected leader should be warned. The Ooni cannot be put on auction to the highest bidder and you will now be paying money without collecting receipt and expect

Okorocha

Atiku

Muhammed

ATIKU: DON’T SPOIL IT

LAI MUHAMMED’S ULTIMATUM TO ISRAEL

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LOUD WHISPERS

Oba Ogunwusi

accountability. Mbok, next time, make sure you pay directly to the treasury in the palace if you are that stupid and collect an official receipt and then just maybe, you may have legal claim to the Ooni’s hand in marriage. How foolish can some of these our ladies be? Let me state it here very clearly that the Ooni is not for sale, he has been taken by a prophetess who rather than part with money took her case to God in prayer and supplication and God answered her in a big way. So stop!

However, should you insist, kindly note that the Duke of Shomolu is available and ready to be bought. The Duke, like the Ooni, is the spiritual leader of some of the Shomolu people, they have not agreed sha but we will get there. The Duke is better looking than the Ooni and younger with a stronger performance rate in the other room. The only difference is that the Ooni is richer with better access to wealth but then what choice do you have? The man has been taken. So please come and pay the money to my agents and let’s start conversation. Kindly note all funds will be taken and there would be no refunds. Kindly make sure you are light in complexion, curvy and can cook afang. The Duke has capacity to marry as many wives as possible like his mentor, Fela. Unlike Tuface, there will be no disappointment. Na wa, pay to marry?

What else would we not hear?

buratai

Al- Mustapha

Jimi Agbaje – Voke Endorses You You know everybody has their leader. Just as Jagaban is omnipotent all-conquering leader so is Voke too.

Voke is my leader. In secondary school, he was our lord leading us on so many expeditions to the cocoa farms that littered the environs of our school in Ipaja. He was such a strong leader that he was nicknamed 007 after his exploits in the jungle where many monkeys and bush rats suffered a pogrom. Well, recently we were talking about your candidacy and the dynamics of Lagos politics and he dropped this, ‘Edgar, Jimi is cool. He was our bros in Vi Adeola Odeku. He lived down the road. His other neighbours were the Fashinros, Eremoseles, and Amusans. His mum was a teacher and friend with my mum. His younger brother Segun and his friend Obilana were two classes ahead of me.

They helped me deal with BULLIES. My bros, Jimi Agbaje is a fine gentleman with finesse and absolute decorum in all his affairs and comes from a very loving and responsible family. He had this very pretty sister Busola who died in an accident sometime ago. We were all crest fallen……. You see why I am beginning

to look again at this candidacy. Guys did you see the part where Voke talked about Jimi helping him fight bullies? it’s looking like destiny is calling on Jimi once again to come help us fight the bullies who have held down Lagos and wrested it to its knees. Now this fight will not be that type of secondary school fight o, it will be real roforofo where Uncle Jimi is if he is going to make any dent in the empire must throw away the garb of gentlemanliness and enter the gutter and fight this fight like his life depends on it. What is needed is an advocate candidacy, to rally the masses for a push towards freedom, emancipation and a right to our own self-determination. Enough of all this leadership by the nose, people deciding for us what we want, who will give us and how they will give us. Destiny is beckoning to Agbaje once again and I hope he will not come and be doing what my friend Cecelia has dubbed ‘candidate in exile’. That is, we only hear from him every election year. Well, anyways, Voke has spoken and I have listened, it remains for Jimi to speak and let’s see if Lagosians will listen.

TONY ANENIH – A CONDOLENCE We in Shomolu have received the passing of this great icon with equanimity.

An Iroko tree just passed away few years after his lovely son Eugene who was my friend and professional colleague as a stockbroker died. I have read Obiagbon’s tribute and did not make any sense of it and as such would not be quoting him on this piece. Chief Anenih played a definitive role in our body politic in his heyday and up till very recently still contributed to public discuss as we continue to meander in the morass of helplessness. This is a great loss. May God give his family the fortitude to bear this loss.

head honcho of the GG Group Chidi Ajaere. But see wahala, they now chose my table not to serve. The waiters were just carrying the sumptuous food and be passing us like we were PDP members at an APC convention. Well after like an hour and all the big boys were posing, hungry was catching them o and they were salivating but you know how Nigerians can pose and be dying, they just sat and were not saying anything.

Me, as Duke I cannot come and die, I just stood up and walked to the serving point grabbed one tray and announced that I was the DUKE OF SHOMOLU and I deserved to be served afang or else I will shut down the party. They looked at me and saw fire in my eyes – hungry don kill me – and apologized that they did not have afang but efo. If it’s not panadol, it’s not panadol, I said they should give me porridge instead. My people come thank me and ask if I go try Presidency under APC with this kind boldness wey i show.

I say they should not worry that I get certificate. That post you must lose your certificate to stand a chance.

AL- MUSTAPHA AT THE AFANG SUMMIT You see, the afang summit is where we sit down to discuss politics while taking down deliciously made afang and downing it with freshly tapped palm wine.

We have hosted Dr. Fagbenro of Kowa and a host of other dignitaries. Now we are waiting for Dr. Rueben Abati to give us a date so we can as well host him. But we have received words that Al Mustapha, the Presidential Candidate of the PPN may likely make a showing. Me, I am so excited and I hope he accepts the offer o because I get many questions. So guys keep this space open as we would like to have Dr. Abati host and compere this session.

THANKS FOR ALL THE FEEDBACK BUT…

MBOK, WHAT IS OPERATION VELVET? The whole thing started like a joke.

People started circulating on social media a long list of things that police would be inspecting in cars going forward. I even hear say razor is included. So on my way to a meeting at the Four Point Hotel in Victoria Island, one potbellied policeman waved us down, frowning his face like he had just seen a Boko Haram fighter and as we approached him, his inexperience showed. He stood by the side of the car instead of the front. I just smiled at how God blessed me. I just asked my driver to pretend to stop and drive off abeg. I don’t have power. When I saw the list of what they would be looking for I thank God I escaped o. That man for collect my chop

Ambode

Agbaje

money for the month. I hear they have postponed it for one month. I am sure the objectives for the exercise are noble but you know Nigeria na, this na food for the boys. I dey go update sha. I no get power for police and their wahala.

BODE OLANIPEKUN AND THE DUKE OF SHOMOLU You see, this is the only SAN I can call a friend. So I must continue to dey

hail am na. He had a wonderful party at the Landmark Centre in Victoria Island to mark this great achievement with the iconic Tony Elumelu as chairman. That one sef, I went to greet him o. He recognized me and shouted Edgarrrrrrrrrrr, I shouted, “My Lord!” We hugged and Lami was envying me. Him know know those kind people. I saw other great Nigerians like Donald Duke, who spoke, and Prof. Ndi Okereke amongst others. On my table was the young but very enterprising

OK since this column resumed on Sunday, the feedback has been tremendous. Everybody has been calling from senators to my ex-girlfriends, all commending me and telling me well done. Make una dey push me o. Even my long – lost friend, Banke. Now the thing is that everybody is hailing me, shouting yab them, yab them, when the wahala comes I hope una go stand o. As una dey push me, me sef dey yab them.

When them come for me, everybody go run o. That na Lagos style but anyways, no problem, thanks so much for the feedback. I simply love hearing from you guys. The comments and suggestions are all appreciated, keep them coming except for those who suddenly remember that I am owing them and be calling mbok, leave me alone. Can’t you see that we are looking for certificate and that Ambode don lose blueprint so things are tough right now?

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ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

SENBANJO’S ADVENTURE INTO AFROMYSTERICS PAGE 69

04.11.2018

ART X SEASON 3

THE RETURN OF SHONIBARE AND THE MASTERPIECE, TUTU Shonibare

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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ARTS & REVIEW\\ART FESTIVAL

Founder, Stanbic IBTC, Atedo Peterside and guests at the Art X exhibition

L-R: Founder and Creative Director, Art X, Tokini Peterside and Ooni of Ife at the 2018 ART X exhibition, Lagos

ART X SEASON 3: THE RETURN OF SHONIBARE ANDTHE MASTERPIECE,TUTU As West Africa’s Premier International Art Fair Art X ends today, the British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare takes the centre-stage as the guest artist for the ART X talks. Yinka Olatunbosun reports on the return of this master as well as the coveted masterpiece, Tutu

P

reparations were in top gear. Installations and security drills had commenced when this reporter arrived at the traditional home of Art X, the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos just a day before the VIP opening to meet the legendary British-Nigerian artist, Yinka Shonibare MBE. On his prompt arrival, the ramp covered in black velvet facilitated Shonibare’s swift movement on wheelchair into building.

From the ground floor, his works which constitute the curated project for this edition of Art X are arranged.

His “Venus De Medici’’ can be seen on the first floor as he exhibits alongside other artists from the continent such as Abdoulaye Diarrassouba known as Aboudia (Cote D’Ivoire); award-winning South-African artist and activist, Zanele Muholi; Paul Onditi (Kenya); self-taught sculptor, Cyprus Kabiru; award-winning ceramist Ranti Bam and Joy Labinjo from Nigeria. Others are painter and sculptor, Alimi Adewale and Kelani Abass.

A special spot was created for the winner of the Art X Prize with Access, Bolatito Aderemi-Ibitola with her winning multi-media art, “Scraps from Mama’s floor.’’ Participating galleries include Addis Fine Art (Ethiopia), Afriart Gallery (Uganda), ArtHouse-The Space (Nigeria), Circle Art Agency (Kenya), Gallery 1957 (Ghana), Nike Art Gallery (Nigeria), Nubuke Foundation (Ghana), Out of Africa Gallery (Spain), Retro Africa (Nigeria), Signature Beyond Art Gallery (Nigeria), SMAC (South Africa), SMO (Nigeria), Stevenson (South Africa), Tafeta (UK), Thought Pyramid (Nigeria) and Tiwani Contemporary (UK).

Back to Shonibare who was seen rotating his chair against the Art X backdrop, he - a very amiable character-expressed his excitement at being a part of the third season of

the Art X on the invitation of the Art X Founder, Tokini Peterside. Two years ago, he was invited to British Council for the public presentation of Wind Sculpture VI at the Ndubuisi Kanu Park, Ikeja where he also mentored some select art students of the Yaba College of Technology. “The idea is to bring art to the public in public spaces. It can beautify the environment and so people who would normally not go into art galleries can actually enjoy the work on the streets and in a way, it is democratic and it is making the art accessible to a wider range of people,� he said reflectively.

For him, being a conceptual artist comes with the territory. Art evolves from thought or idea before it is developed into forms. “Actually, in the world of arts, that is how most artists work these days. If you have a big studio and you are doing more than 20 shows a year, you will need assistance. An architect can’t build all the things by himself. The way that a lot of contemporary artists work now is actually similar,’’ he observed.

Though he wouldn’t call himself a perfectionist, he admitted quietly that it could be difficult sometimes to delegate some work to others. But having worked with the same number of people for more than a decade, he has reached the point where the professionals working with him can almost second-guess what he wants. His works are typically larger than life. Shonibare attributes that to the growing scale of art in the Europe and America. But would he say the same about Nigeria? Not quite. Although Shonibare is up to speed with the developments in the art sector in Nigeria, he agreed that there is so much that needs to be done. “Your observation is absolutely correct.

I understand that a couple of museums are being built at the moment and there is Otunba Yemisi Shyllon Museum which is under construction. There is another museum just in front of the old museum in Onikan. I think all that is going on right now and more spaces have actually opened up in Lagos than when I was

living there. I think it is a question of time but I think those spaces will happen here as well,’’ he said with confidence.

Known for cross pollination of ideas, Shonibare picks from literature, current global affairs, art history and classics to give contemporary interpretations. You don’t need to look too hard to see the underlying humour in some of his pieces. “Humour is important. I think if you want your audience to be interested in your work, you need it.

Even if you are trying to talk about serious things, you can put a bit of fun into it. Most of the time, a lot of things I talk about in my works are quite serious but I find a way to make my audience interested and I don’t want to be bored.’’ His works are highly characterised by the use of Dutch fabric also known as Ankara, which is his way of connecting with his history and African background. Though it is quite debatable where the fabrics originated from, they are largely associated with Africa.

Shonibare, a revered Shape Arts Patron is very concerned about the living conditions of persons living with physical and mental disabilities. The Shape Arts had played a pivotal role in the lives of many whose disabilities have been overcome by building knowledge capacity. “As you can see, I am a wheelchair user, and I think that art should be made accessible to everybody, regardless of your disability or not.

In England, there are lots of opportunities for persons with disabilities.

I was able to go to art school and university and did my Masters’ degree. You can get around very easily. I think there are still a lot of challenges for people in Nigeria who are living with physical disabilities or any kind of disabilities. I worked for Shape because I wanted to make

a contribution to the work that they are doing. But my career took off and I had to stop that job. “But there are so many things that I will like to do in Nigeria. I want to encourage Nigeria to think about people with disabilities. On our streets, I have seen many children in wheelchairs begging and every child has a brain and it is wasted talent. Those children should be educated so that they can contribute to the development of Nigeria. I hope to come here more often in future. I hope to be part of the effort to support people with physical or mental health challenges,’’ he said.

For leisure, Shonibare goes to cinemas for films and theatres for opera. “I like eating in nice places,’’ he said, smiling at the thought. He embraces his being different with some air of optimism and gratitude. “Well, I am unique. God doesn’t make many of me. I will rather be an interesting individual than try to follow the crowd,’’ he said.

The biggest surprise awaited everyone at the VIP Preview of the Art X last Friday with 18 exhibiting galleries. Following the welcome address by the ART X Lagos Founder and Director, Tokini Peterside, the CEO, Access Bank PLC, Herbert Wigwe gave a rousing speech on the importance of the fair and its central position in Africa’s art economy.

Access Bank Plc, the Gold Sponsor of Art X Lagos, had loaned to the fair Ben Enwonwu’s historical “Tutu’’, a 1974 portrait of an Ife Princess, which was sold at a record-breaking auction earlier this year for ÂŁ1.2m.

The night’s special guest of honour, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi commented on the homecoming of Tutu. “We can see from the display of Tutu here today that this is one of the greatest records in our history for the entire mankind. That art piece has actually recorded a milestone all over the world,’’ he declared.

The fair continues today with Shonibare as guest artist at the Art X Talks.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž EMBER 4, 2018

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SENBANJO’S ADVENTURE INTO AFROMYSTERICS Yinka Olatunbosun

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aolu Senbanjo arrived at Victoria Island in an entourage, quite typical of pop musicians. His face was partially painted, while his t-shirt bore his hand-made paintings as well. Senbanjo had suddenly influenced the popular culture with his creativity.

Yet, his fame across the globe didn’t come from his music or his lawyering skills. It came from being a centrestage visual artist, in high demand by international brands for being able to paint on virtually everything. His body art is seen in Beyonce’s "Sorry" music video, from the Grammywinning album, "Lemonade."

The mystery of African thought patterns forms the core of his “Afromysterics’’ style. It is unique for bringing contemporary interpretation to Osogbo art-inspired techniques and his Afrocentric influences from the likes of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

Senbanjo was born on October 19, 1980 in Ilorin, Kwara State. His father, a lawyer wanted his to be a lawyer as well. Hence, Senbanjo proceeded to the University of Ilorin where he eventually obtained a law degree in 2005. He worked for five years at the National Human Rights Commission in Abuja as a senior legal officer, and the vulnerables, women and children, were his interests.

In 2010, Senbanjo left the legal work and established the Laolu Senbanjo Art Gallery in Abuja. Three years after, he moved to Brooklyn, New York to practise his art. His adventure paid off. Nike, Grammy Museum, Beyonce and Smithsonian Institution had commissioned him to paint. Senbanjo painted on shoes, jackets and human skin.

During a brief chat with him at the Belvedere Vodka Limited Edition bottle unveiling, he revealed how his ingenious creation on the bottle gives life to it, making it a worthy cartable installation, and a subject of his recent concept tour across Nigeria. “It opens up a new discussion in the diaspora and elevates us as a people using the tour culture,� he said. “It is something that a lot of people don’t see on the mainstream, that is our mythology. People talk about Zeus, Thor and Venus. Why can’t we talk about Yoruba mythology as well? For instance, you can talk about the history of Ife and the Ooni of Ife and other things that are cultural and indigenous to us a people and elevate to national discourse. I am really happy to be doing this at this point in time and I think it is needed for us as a people.�

Needless to say, Senbanjo has broken the boundaries for showcasing art. While many still go to galleries and museums to see art works, Senbanjo plants his art everywhere you go. “I am expressing art on the bottle.

You can have art on a car or on your body,’’ Senbanjo said as he nurtures the ambition of painting on a space ship. “Art is not one-sided.’’ Though resident in the US, Senbanjo is a member of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) and had worked with Oliver Enwonwu and some other artists in his home country. With a solo exhibition in 2009, he looks forward to more exhibitions in Lagos.

White and Black patterns is one of his prominently used techniques of painting and he tied this to his legal background. Though he is no longer a practising lawyer, his interest in protecting human rights especially for women and girls remains. “It is important for everyone to know that the proceeds from every Belvedere Limited edition bottle sold actually goes to RED, an organisation that gives back to the community.

They help to fight HIV/Aids and they give back to the society. It is Bono’s organisation but they do a lot

for the African nations and they have an office in Lagos. They give medication to mother and children to prevent mother-child transmission of HIV. As a human rights lawyer, this project is about bringing together my passion and my art.�

Senbanjo thinks that his sojourn to US was not about getting something from there but giving to it. While he admitted that there are enabling structures for artists in the US, he never got a grant or scholarship to move his art to world centre-stage. All it took was a lot of hard work matched with consistency and originality. “The initial stage was about finding myself and understanding my style and honing my craft, appreciating our art and not following trends,� he said. “As an artist, there is a point in time when everyone looks at you as if you are odd and all of a sudden you become a trend and everyone starts to copy you. I have always been true to myself. I have always loved detailed patterns to tell different stories with my art.�

Senbanjo admires the works of Tola Wewe, Nike Okundaye, Twin Seven Seven and other artists from Osogbo movement.

Senbanjo

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NOVEMBER 4, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 4, 2018

CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

Denouement of a Certificate Scandal President Muhamamdu Buhari was Friday presented with a certificate of attestation and confirmation by the West African Examination Council, a development expected to put paid to his secondary school certificate scandal, writes Olawale Olaleye

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erhaps, not many people saw it coming. President Muhammadu Buhari has had to put up with the mortification of not possessing a secondary school certificate, being the minimum constitutional requirement for the office of the president.

Interestingly, it is not the first time Buhari would be dealing with this challenge. It was a major debate during the 2015 elections and because it was not addressed conclusively at the time, it reared its ugly head again and was almost going to cost him his re-election, before Friday’s intervention by the West African Examination Council (WAEC).

This second time, the certificate debate had become very heated after Buhari told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that his school certificate was still with military authority, which in turn had cleverly denied any such thing.

Identified as “attestation and affirmation certificate”, one of President Buhari’s media aides, Mr. Femi Adesina, confirmed the news of the issuance of the certificate to the president last Friday.

In a tweet from his verified handle, Adesina, who delights in deriding and taunting the electorate said, “WAEC presents attestation certificate and confirmation of school cert result to President Buhari. What will the naysayers say next?”

More than anyone ever thought, the issue of Buhari’s missing secondary school certificate did not appear like one debate that was going to fizzle out just like that. Much as those on the receiving end would have desired such a miracle, recent developments had shown it could not be more than wishful thinking had WAEC not stepped in.

Not unexpectedly, supporters of the president had put up curious arguments, which had done nothing extra-ordinary or out Buhari...receiving attestation certificate from Registrar of WAEC, Dr. Iyi Uwadiae of the box to the debate by merely insisting Buhari wrote his exams and that his certificate, which had initially the debate for good. tion as another procured document,” he said. developed wings overnight and disapeared from the record, was However, that would not be without some snide remarks Secondary school certificate is the minimum constitutional rethen with the military. from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, which had quickly quirement for elective offices. But the court can always interpret that Unfortunately, whilst the president’s men insisted he had the described the process culminating in the certificate issuance as a to include other experiences or certificates that are equivalent, more certificate, in addition to other professional military courses that tragicomedy. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola so at the level Buhari had served the country. It is discretionary. That had helped to shore up his resume, the letter believed to have been Ologbodiyan, told journalists in Abuja that, the PDP did not expect way, this debate would have been long over even without WAEC written by his principal at the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina, the president to “come this low.” coming into the picture. But because they started the discussion with and sent to the military, didn’t corroborate this in any sense.

“It is a tragicomedy. We never expected Mr. President to dramati- muddled up facts, it all seemed like a lie.

“I recommend Mohamed Buhari for consideration as a potential cally come this low, because you cannot have a certificate and be There is a lot in certificate especially, when the debate is about officer. I consider that Mohamed Buhari will pass West African calling it an attestation. What are they attesting to? We stand by our public office and primary demands of the constitutional. Attempts School Certificate with credits in English, Maths and three other position that Mr. President has no school certificate. to want to gloss over this as if it was not a big deal would have created subjects,” the letter stated.The above statement did not indicate either “It is simply a political certificate. We have said that the Buhari more problems. The arrogance with which Buhari and his people in form or content that the president actually sat for any exam let presidency and his handlers are always fretting at the mention treated the certificate issue was disappointing. They practically told alone obtained a certificate. Instead, the import of the tone of the letof a certificate. So, they want to mislead Nigerians to say that Mr. off everyone as if it was too much to ask a legitimate question. Even ter was that the president was given a waiver from writing the exam, President has a school certificate. where they struggled to give answers, it was always vague and perhaps, to meet up with the admission deadline by the military.

“If Mr. President has a certificate, why did he not use it in 2015 irreverent.

Truth is, as a retired officer in the rank of a general, Buhari is election? Why is the certificate suddenly emerging few months to the If Buhari had stayed third, fourth and fifth terms in office, the more than qualified by his steady rise to rule the country and in any election? And have you checked the photograph that was attached debate was not going to go away except properly addressed. What case, his experiences and other military academic qualifications are to the certificate? In 1961, was it the requirement of WAEC to have a more, even after office, it still would have stuck with him like a more than enough for what is being demanded to run for the office passport attached to school certificate? leach. Thus, resorting to bullying everyone who sought answers of the president by the constitution. It is therefore not tenable to have “Even in our own generation, was there a condition in WAEC was a sheer waste of time and undignifying on the part of his claimed he had the certificate and yet could not produce it that you must submit your passport to be attached to your certificate? handlers, to say the least. It was the reason the news that Buhari Nothing, in the defence so far put up, showed he actually had They should come off it. It’s too low. actually sat for the school examination and obtained his certificate that certificate, because his responses were rather dismissive and “You remember they procured Martin Luther Award presented was a good one for him and his re-election campaigners. Hoperesentful. But WAEC’s last minute intervention, even though it was to our president, which later was discovered to be fake? This is a fully, he and others had learnt some lessons in the handling of considered suspect in certain quarters, is expected to put closure to similar award, a procured. We are waiting for the story of its declarasensitive issues a next time.

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

Bishop Oyedepo, Please, Slow Down

Bishop Oyedepo

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ishop David Oyedepo, Founder and President of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, days ago came out to allege plans to Islamise the country and warned that no such plans would work in Nigeria, no matter under what guise it is conceived.

Whatever might have informed the fears of the revered bishop, it is only fair to credit him with a bit of seriousness, which suggests he wasn’t just ranting but probably acting on intelligence gathering or at the

very least, the leading of the spirit. But then, the bishop should apply some degree of wisdom in the delivery of his messages.

In fact, his manner of delivery could do a lot more damage to the fragile unity of the country than the actual threat he is harping on. Leadership is expected to boast a lot of maturity, both in conceiving and delivering assignments.

But Bishop Oyedepo hasn’t done well here and that is the more reason he should slow down and see the danger in his approach, whether or not it is in national interest.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 4, 2018

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BRIEFINGNOTES Shiites/Security Clashes: Two of a Kind Security forces’ poor management of a recent protest by Shiite members has exposed both the sect and the agencies as two of a kind, writes Olaseni Durojaiye

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he unceasing bloody clashes between security agencies and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shiite Muslim sect have again exposed the need for the nation’s security apparatus to up their game particularly, as it relates to inter-agencies intelligence gathering and sharing in their bid to nip in the bud potential threat to internal peace and security before it gets out of control.

The latest bloody clash arose from a protest match against the continued detention of Ibrahim El Zakzaky, leader of the sect. He was arrested in Zaria, Kaduna State on December 12, 2015, in the aftermath of a bloody clash between his followers and security forces.

During Tuesday’s clash, several lives were reported lost and many more were injured. The protest match had lasted three days (as at the time of filing this report). A police vehicle was also reportedly set ablaze by members of the sect. Trouble had begun when the protesters proceeded towards Amigo area in Wuse 2 amid heavy security presence.

Findings have shown that El Zakzaky had for long carried on as if he was above the law. He reportedly ruled his Gyelleus community in Zaria where he lived like a state of his and not answerable to the nation’s laws. Several accounts had it that his followers molested residents of different parts of Zaria especially, Gyelleus until his arrest.

But matters reached a head on December 12, when members of the sect, allegedly led by El-Zakzaky, on a procession waylaid the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, who was in town for an assignment. Violence eventually broke out when the military with the support of Mobile Police Unit, after failed several appeals, forced them off the Men of the Nigerian Army on duty road to enable the COAS to continue with his journey. in a house provided by the government with his family. Why? It is Then the army claimed it got intelligence report that the group, because the court order said we must release him within 45 days, not pleased that their procession was ‘disrupted’, had mobilised other rebuild his house and there is nobody today within Kaduna State or members for whatever action; and so the military stormed their bases anywhere else that wants to accept El Zakzaky as a neighbour. in Gyelleus, Hassaniya and Danbo road, leading to several casualties “So who do you release him to – for him to be killed? So, he is in and the eventual arrest of El-Zakzaky, his wife and some of his protective custody with his family and this is one thing people don’t members. say. As I said, at a point in time, a government will be faced with this Addressing the media in the aftermath of the clashes and kind of dilemma, so how many rules of law do you want to balance El-Zakzaky’s arrest, General Officer Commanding 1st Mechanised against national security?”

Brigade of the Nigerian Army Kaduna, Major General Adeniyi While analysts contended that it was within the sect members’ right Oyebade, had said, “...And because of the report, we heard that they to associate and by extension hold public procession they, however, were mobilizing at their three key strong points, including the big faulted the practice of depriving other road users the same right, temple called the Hussaniyya, the area occupied by the sect leader in arguing that it was tantamount to enjoying their rights while denying Gyelleus and another temple somewhere on Danbo road, I decided others same.’ that I had to bring the situation under control by securing those three The sect was quick to lose the initial sympathy it had enjoyed. sites.

Many observers who hitherto shared in the anger and saw reasons “In the course of this engagement, of course, there were casualties. with them for protesting peacefully turned their backs on them the There were also causalities among the security forces. In that operation, moment they resort to violent protest and attacked police and innocent I made one categorical statement to my men, we must within the citizens in the process. rules of our engagement make sure as much as it was feasible then to “For me, they stepped out of line the moment they turned violent bring in the leader of the sect alive. We do not want him dead. He is a in their protest. You don’t vent your anger on innocent people and still citizen of Nigeria. But we felt that, given the raging violence in the city, enjoy the support of the public; he who comes to equity must come it was important that we bring him into protective custody. At about with clean hands,” stated Dr. Kolade Adams of the department of 9.15 (next morning) we successfully executed that.” political science, Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo. However, the latest clashes had raised a few questions including the Other commentators, however, took the argument further and rationale behind the continuous detention of El-Zakzaky. Observers argued that there was the need to check the sect before they become have questioned the legality or otherwise of the continued detention another deadly insurgency group given their propensity for violence. of El-Zakzaky. Many commentators initially lampooned the adminOne such observer is a public affairs commentator and aviation istration for not releasing the sect’s leader after the court ruled that he consultant, Olumide Ohunayo. should be released. The call for his release gained so much traction In his view, the sect’s boldness has for long been known in and that the government struggled to justify his continued incarceration. around Zaria but taking it to the nation’s capital has the capacity to However, justifying government’s refusal to release him, Minister of disrupt peace and order adding that its last clashes were capable of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed had told THISDAY affecting tourism. in an interview that, “Every government in the world will at a point “I think the government needs to have a rethink on the kind of in time balance individual freedom with national security. Let me take force that is being used now. It is very glaring that the police cannot the first case of El Zakzaky. I think people are just being mischievous; handle members of the sect considering the boldness and the brute people have expressed a lot of ignorance in respect to El-Zakzaky. force which they have demonstrated so far, because what we see “Yes, El-Zakzaky has not been released but where is El-Zakzaky is that they start peacefully and then turn violent, whether it was today? Is he in prison custody? Is he in police custody? No. He is

hijacked by hoodlums or not is still to be seen.

“This is a group that has shown over time that they fear no foe.

What people see is that they are not armed, but when you brazenly block the road against other road users, when you haul stones at policemen or innocent people then you have used an element of force and when you do so, it is appropriate that government must deploy force to restore law and order. I also feel that the government should find a way to allow their leader to have some level of freedom.

However, what is paramount now is that this is a group that must be tamed,” he maintained.

Even with the call on the government to be tough on and tame the Shiite sect, other observers also questioned the use of excessive force to manage the situation. Those in this school insisted that firing live bullets at members of the sect betrayed lack of better protest management strategy. Indeed, firing live bullets has gone extinct in civilised societies, rather, government forces are known to fire rubber bullets with less fatality ratio at protester to disperse them.

But with the way both parties had prosecuted their causes in the clashes, it simply pointed to the fact that they are same of a kind. Some analysts, however, argued that the more fundamental question to ask was how did El-Zakzaky become so emboldened and audacious leading to what he is today? How did his activities escape the intelligence gathering capability of the nation’s security apparatus, and how come he was able to indoctrinate his followers so much so that they were ready to lay down their lives for him?

Adams said, “This is beyond the cliché that religion is the opium of the poor. The security agencies must have tolerated him for long and for whatever reason because I cannot believe they have no intelligence report on his activities as to detect that someday he will become what he has become, and how his followers terrorise denizens of Zaria before now.”

But Ohunayo traced El Zakzaky’s ability to indoctrinate his followers to the low level of education in the north. In his reasoning, which may not altogether be wrong, when a people are not exposed to robust education, they are easily manipulated and when that is achieved by any territorially minded leader, Shiite and Boko Haram are what you get.

NOTES FOR FILE

Bukar Ibrahim’s Painful Truth

Bukar Ibrahim

Former Yobe State Governor and Senator for Yobe East senatorial district, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, for once came out hard on President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), when he said recently that the president might suffer humiliating defeat in the North East part of the country during next year’s election.

He won’t stop there. He went on to say even if the president and his party, the APC attempted to rig next year’s election, they would still not win, because Nigerians are worse off under the APC government

than they ever were under the PDP. He believed this would affect the pattern of debate.

Perhaps, it goes without saying that the senator had read the mood of the nation and decided to sync his view with popular opinions from different quarters. As hurtful as this might sound, it is the in-thing and the chorus everyone appears to be miming. Although some hold the view it was already late for the APC to make amends, there is no crime in making some last minute effort, even if it was to save face.

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SUNDAYINTERVIEW Ahmed Gulak

Okorocha’s Planned Imposition Is Immoral A former Political Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan and now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Ahmed Gulak, was the Chairman of the Imo State governorship primaries of the party, which produced Senator Hope Uzodinma as the governorship candidate of the party.

He spoke to Onyebuchi Ezigbo on the controversial primary election. Excerpts:

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rom all indications, the report of your primary panel has been upheld by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. Are you vindicated after the initial storm?

I will say without an iota of doubt that the NWC vindicated my stand. One, I did not appoint myself and other members of the panel. The NWC approved our appointment – I as the chairman and returning officer and six other members, including the secretary making us seven as enshrined in the guideline. We went to Imo against all odds. We stood our ground, elections held, results collated and the winner announced.

We came back, in fact, after the collation, I and a few others escaped, because the governor himself came to arrest everybody in the hotel but before he arrived, about four of us escaped and he arrested other members including the secretary.

He took them to the Government House and they read a prepared speech declaring his son-in-law the winner of that exercise. But I had already left Owerri for Abuja, where I submitted my result. As I speak today, there is no single petition against our report and against the result.

Let us not forget, Rochas’ in-law was not the only aspirant, Hope Uzodinma was not the only aspirant. There were other seven aspirants including the deputy governor of Imo state. All the other aspirants, nine of them, there is no single petition against the conduct of the election. And if there were grievances against the conduct of that election, the party has an appeal panel that petition ought to have been lodged. The appeal panel will recommend whether or not a fresh primary will be conducted. That did not happen. As we speak in accordance with the constitution and the guidelines, the Gulak result submitted by my committee, signed by me is the authentic unchallenged report and the NWC has no option but to uphold that report.

I feel vindicated. Members of my committee feel vindicated.

The issue of Governor Rochas going round blackmailing the party, threatening the party is not the best for a governor. He is supposed to be a statesman. This is his party. I understand very well that he is the senatorial candidate of his party in Orlu, so, he should not weaken the party from within. He should call everybody. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the party retains the state.

Why do you think Governor Okorocha failed to deliver his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, as his successor?

Well, I don’t know Imo people very well. But I know that whoever Governor Rochas wants to push forward, decency demands that he should do so in consultation with the stakeholders of that state. Even if he wants to put his son-in-law, he ought to have consulted the stakeholders. No one man can do this game of politics. Everybody must be carried along. I feel maybe because he did not consult the stakeholders before pushing his son-in-law as the person to succeed him. And naturally, people will revolt and if he had his way to impose his son-in-law on the party, what of the general election, can he impose? At the end of the day, the people of Imo State will decide who they will vote as governor and don’t forget it is not a one-party system. We have more than 85 political parties with candidates. And in Imo State, I have it on good authority that we have about 10 or 11 political parties fielding candidates as governors.

If you imposed your son-in-law as successor, don’t forget that it is the Imo people who will decide who the governor will be. And I also have it on good authority that immediately they learnt that the NWC has upheld the result of the Imo

primaries, the other candidates subsumed their ambition in the interest of Imo State to support Hope Uzodinma. As party men, we should all be happy about that too. That is politics without selfishness. Rochas has spent eight years as governor of Imo State, you want your son-in-law to succeed you, you want to come to the Senate as a senator, you want your wife to be a House of Reps member, you want your junior brother to be running mate and you want your son-in-law to be deputy governor. That in itself is indecent. It is immoral and the people of Imo State may not take it lightly.

They are not slaves. You cannot enslave them by making it a personal family dynasty. This is a well-educated state; well-enlightened state, where we have professors in almost every family. We have businessmen, industrialists – these people have a stake in Imo State. So, I know they will not lie low when Rochas begin to enslave them. He has gone on air every day to abuse me, maligning me but I have decided to keep calm because it is an internal family matter. But I urge him to be a better party man. Abusing me every day on television and Newspapers will not help him; he should go and work for the victory of his party and leave me alone.

You said you escaped death and was almost kidnapped in Imo State. Can you tell us what really happened?

Naturally, even before I went to Imo State, I was offered a private jet to take me to Imo State by Imo Government House and their proxies but I refused because I don’t want to be compromised. I refused the private jet and even the tempting offer made to me - very tempting. We are talking about $2 million here, which I refused, although I tried to persuade them that I was going to do what is needful: free and fair primaries.

Every stakeholder must be involved. But immediately we landed at the airport was where the problem started. They wanted to kidnap every member and only God knows where

they wanted to take us to, which I refused. And to say the least, I pity the Imo people but they have to take their destiny in their own hands and elect who they feel will represent them better.

I am not from Imo state but I am a Nigerian. There is equality and there is equity. Some of our governors, I am sorry to say this, take state resources as their personal resources and we know that power is transient. After four or eight years, you are out of power and the system will get you. But having said that, I am happy that the party has vindicated me and I know it is the best decision for the people of Imo state.

As 2019 approaches, what are the likely outcomes of a Buhari-Atiku clash?

We are in a democracy. It is not over until it is over. As a practical politician, I don’t take anything for granted. Atiku has been on the political terrain for so long, so, he is not a novice in this game. He is experienced and has the resources and if you want to compare the resources he has with that of our president and candidate, President Buhari, Atiku has more resources but the goodwill that Buhari has; the integrity that he is known for is what is going for him.

But I will advise the party to move in and begin to consult great stakeholders, state by state, local government by local government and I believe Buhari will defeat him. What I am saying is that yes the APC has grown for three and a half years, the PDP has grown for sixteen years and it is left for Nigerians to judge. Do we want to go back to the old days or we want to forge ahead with what President Buhari and his team had tried to do? I know as a fact that we are not yet there but sooner or later, the President needs to rejig his cabinet because we need people who will take this 2019 election as a serious project.

Whoever is not a politician and does not know what politics is all about should give way to those who can drive this process successfully.

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SUNDAYINTERVIEW

Emmanuel

Udom Emmanuel: I’m Ashamed of Where We Are as a Country

NIGERIA

Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State recently ďŹ elded questions from a group of journalists including Nseobong Okon-Ekong, on a number of issues including the altercation between his administration and agents of the main opposition party in the state, the APC. He however dwelt signiďŹ cantly on the strides he has recorded in dierent sectors of the state economy. Excerpts:

2019

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our government is believed to have facilitated many industries as part of the development plan of the state. But why are there no conscious steps at marketing these achievements?

I’m not good at selling myself. Someone gave me a hint the other day on President Donald Trump’s opinion that nobody can sell you better than yourself. Some of these things depend on the orientation. If you start a business or training from a business that is not allowed to advertise, you will not be good in advertising. I have been banker for the better part of my life. Banking is a conservative business.

Since I became governor, apart from things like a substation, which I know that there’s no substation anywhere in this country, I do not go on a commissioning spree. How can you commission a classroom or borehole, I can’t do that. It is shameful. People who would have listened to you at different investors forum, seeing you commission electricity and borehole, will say, ‘so, this guy who was lecturing us in New York didn’t even have water to drink’, and you never can tell when you will speak again after leaving this office.

There are certain things that can make you lose regard easily. I have never gone to commission a primary school building and I have done about 346 schools. I have also improved on the healthcare facilities without making noise. You know if someone has an accident, it’s the handling time that determines whether that person dies or not. If you can drive through once you come in, that period is used for suction. That determines 50 per cent whether the person lives or not. Go to the teaching hospital to check whether they have that kind of intervention or not. At the teaching hospital, as they are driving you in, they are even looking for a stretcher to carry you.

There are so many things we have done. Most of those hospitals you see are all on a digital

system. You don’t need to carry a piece of paper. Once you are attended to here, your medical history is online and can be seen realtime anywhere in the world. If you have a problem, they will call us and we can easily press the button and then life is saved. Some of the things that are so consistent don’t happen by accident. We don’t take glory for it. We give all the glory to God. Unfortunately, politics in Nigeria is a little bit tough. In your first year as governor, you are at the Tribunal, Appeal Court and the Supreme Court. And as you try to settle down to work, the first tenure of four years is over. You are already campaigning for another term. You are so distracted.

You can’t just focus as a governor. If you are not careful, you can’t put anything in place. But people don’t know where we are going.

Those greenhouses you see are to make sure I cultivate in our people the mindset that you can do this. Why buy 10 jeeps when two of those jeeps can give us 10 of those green houses. That’s all I’m telling people. There are a lot of things that we haven’t delivered that will be delivered and I’m making serious move to actually get it.

Why did I promote a flour mill? Everybody eats either biscuit or bread, but people here go and deposit money either in Lagos or somewhere for flour. Imagine how long it takes to transfer flour down here. When it finally arrives, it is either we find ways to cut corners and give people a substandard bread to eat. Those days in school, if you are hungry they will say ‘go and buy bread’. If you don’t have money, they will say, ‘go and drink garri’.

Today, garri is out of reach of the common man. So, we started garri processing factories in Akwa Ibom. They fry like 100 bags each day. What’s our population? If everyday, 10 of them can produce 100 bags, that’s 1000 bags everyday. The people can’t consume 1000 bags of garri every day. That’s not the only thing they eat. They eat bread, banana and other food stuff. Once you have done that consistently for one month, the market is saturated. We were able to bring down

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I’m Ashamed of Where We Are as a Country

Continued from Page. 74

the price of garri from N200 for two cups to 12 cups for N200.

I made sure that we were producing everyday. Right now, typical of Africa, we don’t have adequate feed from the farm.

Even those ones that we planted are being stolen. It’s my policy, not to go after those who steal cassava. You can steal the cassava, but leave the stem because that stem will be difficult to get. It’s an improved stem that I brought for them.

We are in haste. We are trying to touch every aspect from infrastructure, agriculture to industry. We are talking about electricity but we didn’t think of metres. That’s why we developed a metrering factory to bridge the gap. You see the quality of roads here, I’m not mincing words, check the kilometre of roads we have done compared to what federal government has done.

It is not for me to sell what we are doing but for you to see with your eyes. The worst recession in Nigeria happened in 2016/2017. Even with that, we could achieve this. Inflation rate moved from 186 to 516 and at the same time, you are expected to perform. We did perform. We are trying to let you people see that we can be positive.

The Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry is planning a trade fair to exhibit these things, but for a trade fair to be attractive, you can’t just go and show three or five products. We still have a whole lot more to introduce to the market. We are producing for the local market. What brought China to where they are today was the domestic market. We call our own Made-in-Aba. Those ones abroad we call them Made-in-Taiwan. The Madein-Taiwan people were consistent. Their local market absorbed the products. Their companies grew from one shop to factories to mega factories, now they are multi-national. What happened in our own case? What we are doing now is to make sure the domestic market is actually absorbing them as much as they can. The strategy is to make sure there is good quality, then, we can saturate the local market. It creates a challenge. This is where we are. First of all, satisfy the local market and that will actually give you room to expand.

Are you satisfied with the number projects you have done so far?

In terms of quality, I will say yes. In terms of speed, I will say no. We came into governance with a blueprint. But nobody knew that 2016 and 2017 will witness one of the worst recessions ever, so, in terms of speed we are not there. Second, there are typical African problems that we are having. Some of them are a little bit frustrating. For example, we were thinking that by now our deep seaport would have gone.

However, our consultants believe that it’s one of the fastest ever in this part of the world. When we came in, I said, ‘to lay a proper foundation for economic development, we needed to look at the three gateways, land, water and sea’. We are looking at the whole three at the same time. We are targeting the whole three with aggression. As usual, there are bureaucratic bottlenecks here and there. I don’t think I’m up to speed with what I have in mind.

Second, the whole world has taken note of what we are doing. Lagos is on autopilot in terms of foreign direct investments. That’s where the money market and the capital market are. Even if you don’t lift a finger, there must be some direct investment, because of money market and capital market.

Outside Lagos, Akwa Ibom State is number one in terms of foreign direct investments.

In the midst of bad press about Nigeria in the outside world, because it takes you almost ten times the effort to sell Nigeria today than what it used to be in time past. We have had a lot of challenges on security, so to convince someone to bring one dollar to Nigeria today takes you about ten times the effort. The other point is that money is one of the worst cowards you can ever think of. Money doesn’t go to where it doesn’t feel safe. To let an investor know that one dollar is safe here, your power of persuasion must be excellent skill.

have a hand in this thing again’, we will sell that investment at a profit.

You need only one million nuts everyday to make a profit of, at least, USD220 million a year in that refinery. How many state governments in Africa can boast of that kind of profit?

You can actually see how we are developing. There’s a plantation. We are targeting to plant two million seedlings. Let the worst happen, there’s no way that we won’t come back with, at least, over one million. We have done our computation. We are not doing a typical white elephant. We are doing projects that we can privatise and realise the initial investment from the IPO, which will give us room for expansion.

Virgin coconut oil in the international market is USD6 per litre. Multiply that and know how much it is in barrel. Even if one million nuts survive out of the two million that we are planting, we will still operate at maximum capacity. Coconut can grow for 99 years. You don’t need fertiliser. It doesn’t drop in terms of yield. We are trying to make a statement to the whole world that at least we are a people, who can see tomorrow. We see beyond what others see.

What is really happening in the state between the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which has an indigene of the state as its head and your government?

I believe that anyone who holds an executive position in any development-oriented MDA should not seek political appointment. It’s extremely contradictory. It’s only in Nigeria where we find such a thing. There are certain positions you hold and you cannot go for an elective office so that you can concentrate and focus on your immediate assignment.

Second, I am not talking propaganda. When you go round the state, find out if people can show you one road constructed by the NDDC. We are the largest contributor to the entire NDDC fund. NDDC runs the budget of nine states and all I0Cs contribute two per cent of their budget to the NDDC. I’m not talking profit here; two per cent of their budget goes to NDDC. In the whole of Akwa Ibom, show me one road that is up to two kilometers that’s constructed by the so-called NDDC. We don’t play politics with development. It’s our money. We contribute more to the NDDC than any other state, so why would we stop development? Can we even see anything on the ground for what has been contributed, so far? The transmission line between Ekparakwua and Ikot Abasi the NDDC started almost five to six years ago and up till today, it’s not completed. I have completed many substations. I cannot touch transmission lines, because it belongs to the federal government.

I can show you new roads that we started. There is the one in Etinan, where we want to link East-West Road. We are building ahead of the seaport that we want to do. Most of these federal agencies will go and put bitumen on top of clay or top soil, as they are leaving those things are gone. If you sincerely mean to develop road infrastructure, we have the road from Odukpani in Cross River State up to Aba. Pending when the full contract is awarded, the essence of FERMA and NDDC was to bridge this gap. Not even one bridge has been constructed in this state by a federal agency.

How come those roads are impassable, even with all the moneys you have collected? We have done the Eket-Ibeno Road, which was not passable before. NDDC held that road for several years. The money has been disbursed and nothing was done until we came. We are talking capacity here. Sorry, you can’t give what you don’t have.

NIGERIA You talked about the recession. Can you give us a picture of what you went through sourcing for funds for these projects?

I keep letting people know that there’s a difference between money and cash. You can develop a lot with money but you may not have cash. The essence of my being here at this time is to create money to develop my state. If you don’t source cash, you won’t have. We have been able to create money to develop the state.

Where would you really say Akwa Ibom has a competitive edge?

You don’t arrive at a score if you don’t finish the examination. We are not so quick at scoring what we have done and what we have achieved. Let’s use a classroom example, after the lecture there is an examination and there is always a score.

In life, you are not good until someone says you are good.

You be the examiner and then tell us if we are good or not.

No student teaches himself, sets exam for himself, marks and scores himself. If you speak, based on what you have seen, we will be accepted worldwide.

What you are seeing on the ground concerning our attempt to industrialise the state is actually aimed at that. But the biggest employer will still be agriculture. We are doing a whole lot. We are setting up factories. So, agriculture and agro-allied business will still be the biggest. That’s why you see us setting up a rice farm here. We have, at least, 26000 hectares of cocoa plantation. We are bringing one of the best cocoa processing plants.

What differentiates the cocoa you get from Nigeria from the cocoa you get from any other place is the flavor, because of the processes through which we dry cocoa in Nigeria. That’s why even with all the cocoa we have in this country we didn’t make anything out of it, because we didn’t invest on the processing of that cocoa to make it to international standard.

The international market will not accept that so we couldn’t get appropriate pricing for the cocoa we produce in Nigeria.

One of the best flavours you can get in terms of cocoa is from Akwa Ibom, because of our vegetation. The local way people dry cocoa is to spread it on the road. We are giving you modern processing that will give you the flavour so that the cocoa can be sold anywhere in the world.

2019

You have several projects littered everywhere, are you confident you can complete these projects between now and February 2019?

The problem with Nigeria and Africa is that we are too short-termed in our thought process. That’s what is affecting our investment decision. If you go to any city, every inch is a kiosk helping the Asian market to grow their small and medium scale enterprises. We are so much in haste. Ninety per cent of what we are doing are not short-term, because we can never do them in short-term. That’s why Nigeria has not developed small and medium scale enterprises.

We are not doing what will finish in February. We are doing something that people will see the value. Irrespective of what God decides tomorrow, those things should go on. The factories are all driven by investors, apart from the coconut refinery.

Government doesn’t even have one per cent share in them.

It’s only in the coconut refinery, where we want to make a statement. If tomorrow government says, ‘we don’t want to

Your administration appears to have given good attention to youth development, is there a particular reason for this?

You may not understand, because of the stage that we are now. In Eket, we are building a sport facility that will require the least maintenance. You know there are two different things.

You can put up asset that requires least maintenance or you can put up an asset that the maintenance cost under a medium term can be as much as the cost of construction. What we are building in Eket has very minimal maintenance cost.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 4, 2018

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CICERO/INTERVIEW

Buruji Kashamu: Fight for Soul of Ogun PDP is about Money Not Party Interest Buruji Kashamu, the senator representing Ogun East senatorial district in Ogun State, tells Bayo Akinloye in this interview that the legal battle between the Adebayo Dayo-led state executive committee and the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party is a fight to the finish. He also calls into question the credibility of the party hierarchy, particularly that of the National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus. Excerpts:

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tussles between the national leadership of the party and its Ogun State chapter?

If there’s no political solution to the legal crisis, it’s because of the ‘egunje’ being collected by the party leadership.

he crisis in Ogun PDP seems to have become intractable. Can you tell us the genesis of the imbroglio?

You will recall that it was not until May 21, 2016 when the PDP held its national convention in Rivers State that its national leadership crisis broke out. By this time, congresses at the ward, local and state levels had been held all over the country. As a matter of fact, INEC said it would repeat congresses in Lagos, Sokoto, Zamfara, Yobe, and Anambra states – no mention was made of Ogun State as it was among the states that had their congresses ratified.

However, given the desperation of a minority group within the Ogun State chapter of the PDP to factionalise the party in furtherance of the governorship ambition of the son of a lotto merchant, we approached the court to enforce our rights – and a judgment was delivered in our favour which expressly pronounced that INEC and the PDP national leadership should recognise the Engr Adebayo Dayo-led state executive committee until the expiration of our tenure in 2020. An appeal was filed against the judgment but it was dismissed by a court of appeal sitting in Lagos a year after – May 4, 2017 to be precise. That’s not all; another application to have the dismissed appeal relisted was struck out on July 11 this year with a cost of N200,000 awarded against the national leadership.

Do you think some PDP members in the state are colluding with the national leadership?

It is not difficult to hazard a guess. The inordinate governorship aspiration of the son of the lotto merchant earlier mentioned led a faction of the PDP to compromise the national leadership of the party with some financial inducement. You can see why those leaders are fighting against their own tooth and nail in a bid to deliver the gubernatorial ticket to them in complete disobedience of subsisting court judgment. Despite the 2016 judgment, the leadership of the PDP were bent on perpetrating an illegality claiming that the Supreme Court judgment regarding Makarfi-Sheriff leadership tussle had automatically rendered the Dayo-led executive illegal. As law-abiding citizens, some members of the Ogun State PDP again went to court to determine if they could be excluded from participating in the December 9, 2017 national convention of the party – in view of a subsisting June 24, 2016 judgment by a federal high Kashamu court.

To cut a long story short, on February 9, 2018, a federal high court sitting in Lagos adjudged that the orders in the previous judgment – which I have just shown to you – are subsisting and binding on INEC and PDP. Let me quote part of the judgment found on page 64 and 76 to you: ‘It is clear that the constitution of the PDP is not a statute. A statute is a law passed by a legislative body...It has been held that each political party must comply with Section 222 of the Constitution and that nothing in a political party’s constitution should override this provision and Section 221 of the Constitution....’

So, why did the Dayo-led executive have to go to court again that brought about the recent judgment that the PDP national leadership said it’s contesting?

It is because the executive saw that the illegal faction in Ogun and their collaborators at the national level have continued to disregard subsisting judgments and orders. With the 2019 general elections around the corner, the authentic state executive committee had to approach the Federal High Court in Abeokuta. So, last month – October 2 precisely – the court stopped INEC and PDP from accepting any list of candidates in Ogun State except the one that emanated from the Dayo-led executive committee – I’ve shown you a copy of that judgment too.

So, the Dayo-led executive committee had submitted a list of Ogun PDP candidates for 2019 elections to INEC. Shouldn’t that list be submitted by the national leadership of the party to the commission?

Of course, the national leadership should have been the one to do that. Nevertheless, the national leadership must be seen as a middleman between INEC and executive committees in various states – no list is generated at the national level. They have to come to the states to get approved lists from various committees and submit same to INEC. It is the chairman of the party of a state that is saddled with the primary responsibility of primaries – the national leadership can be present as observers, according to page 44, paragraph 2 of the PDP constitution

But you don’t have any evidence to prove that?

Let me ask you: what’s the interest of the national leadership – when two groups in a state are laying claims to the party structure – to be favouring one group against the other? Should the national leadership not be an impartial figure in the matter and amicably settle the differences? They ought to call the warring factions to Abuja and make them one united party again. I don’t know how Secondus, the PDP legal adviser and the so-called national publicity secretary – really, I don’t know. How could they imagine that they are superior to the constitution of the country? They are under obligation to respect the rule of law and the constitution of Nigeria. Why will they be bent on supporting illegality? They are trying hard to destroy the legacy of other members in PDP. They can’t succeed. I won’t bury my head and allow such impunity to take place. I hate injustice and I’ll never allow anybody to use me to perpetrate injustice. Who are they?

Did you mean that hasn’t been done?

Never!

But are you interested in a political solution to the crisis?

Don’t forget that I have passion for PDP. Also, don’t forget that I am a leader – and, don’t forget that I’ve never accepted any contracts from the government.

I’ve been spending my money for many years to support PDP, particularly in the South-west. I was like a bulwark to the party during the era of Bamanga Tukur as the party’s chairman. In the 2015 general elections, despite (Governor Ibikunle) Amosun’s power of incumbency – Amosun is a good governor, performing very well and my conscience will never allow me to say any bad thing about him because he has done a lot for Ogun State and it doesn’t matter if he’s not an advocate of ‘stomach infrastructure’ – PDP with my unreserved support and the people had a successful outing getting nine seats in the state’s House of Assembly, two seats in the House of Representatives and one senatorial seat. It is this same platform that Adebutu used to become a member of the federal legislative chamber. I was the one that gave him sharp ‘teeth’ which he’s now using to ‘bite’ me.

which states that ‘the functions of the state congress shall be to elect governorship candidate of the party’. The national leadership should stop cutting corners – is it because they’ve taken ‘egunje’ from the other group that’s why they show flagrant disobedience to the rule of law? The Dayo-led executive submitted the authentic list of PDP candidates, following the primaries, to the national secretariat and to INEC. You must note that the PDP national leadership refused to submit the authentic list to INEC. They had replaced it with their illegal list.

The National Publicity Secretary of your party, Kola Ologbodiyan, was reported to have claimed that the state executive isn’t permitted by the electoral laws to conduct primary elections or to print nomination forms. Is that correct?

Ologbodiyan or what did you call his name is nobody – all of us are nothing. The Almighty Allah is the most powerful. The man doesn’t know what he’s talking about. The PDP constitution clearly allows the state chairman of the party to do just so. Two, the courts have already ruled on this issue. I don’t expect them to do the right thing because they’ve collected money from Adebutu. This man that was talking doesn’t understand what he was saying; he doesn’t even understand the guideline of INEC. In their guideline, the electoral body stated that it can only receive list of party candidates from the national chairman or secretary. But in the same guideline – let me show you – INEC states that except where there’s dispute in any state when it involves court orders, they will respect that court order. So, why is the national leadership of our party ignoring such guideline and court orders? Frankly, Ologbodiyan and Secondus should be arrested – the two of them should end up in jail. They can’t continue to act as if they’re in a banana republic. They should be arrested and prosecuted for the disobedience of court orders and judgments. Also, consider what INEC says in its guideline, I quote: ‘Political parties are to note that where there is a court order in respect of the nomination of any candidate, the commission shall be guided by such order.’ What’s the so-called PDP spokesman talking about then?

Do you see any political solutions to the lingering legal

Adebutu has said on a TV (Channels) programme he’ll be willing to work with you based on the outcome of the latest lawsuit filed by the national leadership of the PDP. Which lawsuit? It’s an abuse of court process. It’ll not see the light of day. Our lawyers have responded to them. It’s rubbish.

These people aren’t acting with integrity. They’re saying we printed the forms on our own; that we didn’t buy the forms from the national secretariat. What are they calling forms? Where is all the money of the forms they had collected from other states? They’re not paying the money into PDP’s account. The money is being paid into personal and so-called consultancy firms’ accounts and they’re using the money. This time they’ve collected over N2 billion. Where’s the N2 billion? They’ve shared that among themselves. There’s nothing called ‘forms’; nothing statutory that you’ll say you want to go and use in INEC. INEC has its own forms and it doesn’t sell them. When the party knows there can only be one governorship candidate, why is it collecting N11 million from 20 aspirants in one state?

The party may want to use the money for ‘logistics’ don’t you think?

Is that why they want to use ‘419’ to achieve that when they know it’s only one person that will eventually represent the party and knowing that they’re never going to be transparent in such exercises? They’ll be the ones to generate list of delegates, so why are they messing people up? Political parties shouldn’t be milking people genuinely interested in the development of their people and society. Why allow aspirants to waste N50 million or N100 million – by borrowing money from the bank – and at the end of the day, you don’t give them the ticket? What’s going to happen? They’ll commit suicide!

But it is a choice to buy such forms. Isn’t it? Afterall nobody forced anyone to buy?

Maybe, you understand what I’m saying. Even if they want to do that the party should be straightforward and put in place a transparent process. But why on earth should they collect people’s money when they’re running a crooked process? That’s what’s happening in Ogun State: there’s an authentic EXCO and the national leadership went ahead to create an illegal EXCO, knowing full well that the person (sponsoring the latter EXCO) has money and his father is wealthy too.

See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com

77

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 4, 2018

FORTHERECORD

The Nexus Beween Science And Media: Gaps And Opportunities Eugenia Abu

I

am absolutely delighted and deeply honored to have been invited to deliver the keynote at an event where the media and scientists gather together to honor the bright minds of an honored tested profession, the media, in their shared responsibility to engage citizens on innovations of science and technology and how they impact us all and affect policy. The Media remains a veritable partner in sending out information on any field, keeping the populace involved and engaging policy makers and citizens in areas that need to be propagated and shared. Without the media to give out information, hold persons and nations accountable and provide a platform for dissemination while playing an agenda setting role, the world will be drab and uninteresting. I wish to salute the Nigerian Academy of Science for understanding that the media is an unflappable partner in their journey to make science an important resource for improving society and to share their milestones. I salute Vitafoam for understanding deeply the importance of this award ceremony and providing the necessary support for its prosecution and the imperative of maximizing the benefits of science and increasing the awareness of such benefits which will result in increased support for the development and application of science in the society.

The role of science and technology over time has led to great strides for humanity, from aviation to medicine and from agricultural technology to food science. Without scientists complimenting nature’s essential cycle of adjustment, the world would be a big ball of discomfort and there will be poor relationships everywhere you go. But we are lucky to have gifted scientists breaking new grounds in their field and Nigeria holds the collection of some of the finest scientists in the world.

That been said our media continue to grow and possess the best the continent can offer winning accolades and awards all over the world.

Permit me to set the tone for this address before we really get into the meat on this long standing relationship between the media and scientists and how both disciplines are changing over time and therefore requires everyone on either side of the divide to come to a long lasting agreement for the benefit of humanity. Do allow me posit a few thought provoking questions. Are citizens literate enough to weigh in on scientific research and innovations to understand how they affect policy? Are policy makers well educated in the science and technology quotient f the nation’s scientific minds to make informed decisions/ Do media personnel understand the milestones innovations and scientific jargon enough to do the needful by informing everyone and targeting stakeholders by their reportage for affecting change? Are the scientists’ media savvy enough or even willing to get what needs to be publicized out there for the benefit of us all? Does the media in fact understand scientists and their work and do the scientists understand the work of the media? Therein lies the crux of the matter. In an age where the internet has taken over the world and traditional media is cutting back spending while dwelling more on consumer led entertainment, science journalism is been squeezed and the pages for science journalism is dwindling in the face of an economic crunch facing traditional media. It is in this new world of media innovations supported by new technologies that there are opportunities for both sides but also gaps. It is the balancing act that is the core of this address today.

Science and Media are structured by different institutions and governed by different rules but there are as many similarities as there are differences, but we shall get to that. In the introduction to an excellent book on Science and Media relations I consulted as part of my research for this address, the editors Donald Kennedy et al posited that” Scientific illiteracy has deep and wide implications … around the world –Having a minority in a democratic conversation with science and technology provides a low level of public discussion and makes for impoverished policy making” Indeed. And writing in the same book Donald Kennedy adds that a “broadly spread citizen understanding of science and technology is a public good…” which we cannot have enough of. Science deals with in- science communication and there are rules and regulations for how research findings are disseminated.

Pretty much like a train transportation time table. Traditional media has news holes where once the Editor or producer has put their newscasts or papers to bed, nothing else can go in and also there are timelines for when papers are delivered in the morning and the TV stations and radio stations have program schedules where everything fits like a perfect pack of cards except for breaking news these days but the new media infrastructure provides an opportunity for citizen journalism, no restriction and for micro-news feeds like twitter and snap chat. No one puts it more profoundly than Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch in 2005 when he said those of us who are immigrants to the internet and social media world have to have a new mind set in dealing with it for us to benefit as it changes us all. So what are the differences and similarities between the media and science. I shall talk about this very briefly before we look at our environment and how the nexus of science and the media have advanced discourse, affected society and added to the media landscape while pushing the boundaries of scientific innovations.

Scientists and journalists believe in effectively communicating with society. They both rely on investigation and research to get their work done and they both are interested in accountability, illumination and the public good. They all work on collecting evidence to get their work. The difference between them includes timelines and balance.

Where the scientist believes that work must be peer reviewed before it is released, the journalist and media personnel are in the business of immediacy, where the scientist dwells on consensus and holding down positions of authority and expertise, the media believes that balance is key and more often than not in pursuing the balance, have often times provided a balance unacceptable to the scientist where the other person making the comments or debunking a scientific breakthrough may not have enough scientific stripes or even qualifications to comment about a renowned scientists work. Understanding the great work by each other is the only way. The relationship between science and the media is a long discourse and while it is not in a terribly unhealthy place needs

Abu more attention because it is such an important relationship and should not be glossed over.

Having spent about thirty-eight years in the media, 35 of which I spent at NTA and rising to the top of my career as Executive Director program at the Nigerian Television authority, I understand how this nexus between the media and science can sometimes seem inoperable but I also know that with our focus on the prize; public awareness, impacting policy and national development, this relationship can be watered and mutually beneficial. Let us take some anecdotes and use some life stories to further validate this address.

It is difficult to believe that the late NTA Foreign news correspondent and one of our finest, Godfrey Odu was a Zoologist, as was my colleague, Newscaster and Producer in NTA Makurdi many years ago, Sam Abah. Legislator and former NTA Petroleum correspondent Chris Anyanwu was famous for unraveling the water hyacinth issue on the body of water in Lagos. In more recent years, Moji Makanjuola with her knowledge of the sector has made being a Health correspondent an important area of field for most journalists. One of my favorite programmes on the Comedy Central Television Network is “The big bang theory”. This is science being taught with humor by actors who are cast as quirky but very funny Professors and they make us want more. My young daughters are inspired by the science in there and the humor helps them to learn.

In my long and rewarding career in the media, I have been blessed by this juxtaposition of Media and science meeting some of the very powerful and impactful men and women in science. Professor Omigbodun and I served on the Lagos state innovation council under the chairmanship of the former Vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor BAMIRO. From our several meetings, Professor Omigbodun invited me to facilitate training on Public communications for public relation officers for participating universities for CARTA in Nairobi Kenya for two years. That nexus between Media and Science became apparent when the Public Relations officers from universities across the African sub-region began to talk about the challenges of getting Professors of science to speak to the media about ground breaking work that should come to the public’s attention, but I am getting ahead of myself.

Our many challenges also came to the fore when the respected Professor Idachaba of blessed memory invited me to teach English to science students at the then Federal University Makurdi. Students of science at the time thought English was a waste of their time but I was able to convince them that as long as scientific journals were neither written in Igbo nor Ebira, they needed to take my course to even pass their degree. Those were some of my memorable years.

The media can benefit immensely from the science world and vice versa. Till date some of my favorite TV programs reside on National Geographic, Animal Kingdom, Discovery and Crime and Investigation. I sometimes wonder if I would not have been an excellent Forensic psychologist. These are people using their knowledge to catch criminals. I am intrigued by how this knowledge is captured on media and how I am becoming a bit of an expert by listening to these stories well told by scriptwriters and film makers and supported by a researcher team who would often have scientists as part of this team.

With a certificate in Guidance and Counseling, I believe that there is much that can be done in media (with the support and assistance of scientists) in the area of depression, anxiety and psychiatry. CI shows me it is possible. There are many shared opportunities between behavioral scientists, psychiatrists and Media in furtherance of Humanity.

Let us look at the gaps.

The scientist thinks the journalist over-sensationalizes and overhypes a puritanical discipline like science. In some instances, they think the journalists misrepresents them and turns serious research work into short pieces or takes press releases out of context. The journalist on the other hand thinks science is uninteresting and boring and scientists do not want to speak about their work or have no skills to do so. A lot

of researchers’ and scientists do not take seriously their peers who are romancing the media. Carl Sagan, the well known astronomer who presented and produced the very popular, internationally recognized television programme Cosmos, to make astronomy accessible to us all, was denied membership of the American Academy of science.

Scientists need to understand the role of the media and use the platforms available but often they do not want to come on board or use the platforms and in a lot of instances treat the media like press boys and girls instead of mainstreaming them. It is not enough to create a distance by treating journalists like errand boys and girls for purposes of publicity only, when in fact they can be members of committees within your organizations or on a project to bring their perspective to bear. In all, it is imperative that Journalists get knowledge of what scientists do and scientists get involved in what journalists do. Dr Gupta of CNN has shown the way. Scientists who use media platforms for the benefit of all should be respected, encouraged and not denigrated.

Although these opportunities for partnerships between the media and science are endless and are as varied as the many interesting science disciplines, in a paper such as this we can only take a look at some of them.

Today’s film Industry is wide open for collaborations and partnerships. Institutions with science orientation can collaborate with film producers and scriptwriters to produce films, television programmes and documentaries that break down scientific themes for the purposes of public information should be explored and encouraged. The correlation between science fiction and entertainment is getting bigger by the day and there are economic benefits all round and more importantly, there is public enlightenment. The era when scientists were persons that kept themselves away from the public with a serious outlook that made them unapproachable is long gone. There must be a correlation between the town, the scientist and the industry, where science impacts the private sector which in turn affects the public. This is critical and the scientist must let down his guard to enable some level of media access, which when properly understood will give policy makers an insight and this can only be done through the media. Point of note is that a very serious uncompromising, stone-faced scientist will not make good content for media and the message will be lost. It is time to smile a little and be softer for media outreaches.

The book industry can benefit from a scientist’s research, where there can be some level of co-operation that leads to children’s books on science related issues and young adult books that makes science more relatable. As a young girl, I did not like math because I had an Indian teacher who made it look like poison.

One must look closely at interdisciplinary research between the social sciences and science, between communication disciplines and science.

Scientists must be encouraged to become interns in Media houses so they see how the profession is deployed and vice versa. This exchange of scholars especially at graduate level would encourage mutual respect. It is not enough to insist that graduate students should concentrate on their theses, media and media relations should be given as a one semester course for scientists, as this can only be beneficial to them in the real world and when they become policy makers. Some level of Media is now being taught in some graduate schools in the United States for science related courses and the benefits are apparent.

Media personnel must make time to understand scientists and the protocols in relation to how research work is carried out and occasionally with agreement on both sides to be embedded in some of the research work to enable them not only understand the processes but have a relationship that allows them bring in perspectives for publicity and good reportage of the process under the guidance of the Scientist.

Some journalists have shown intellectual laziness in dealing with science and this cannot help both sides of the divide. There are too many opportunities to research and report on including sanitation, aquatic science, fisheries and agriculture, genetically modified agricultural produce, geriatrics and gerontology and many other strategic scientific innovations among several others.

Television is an excellent example of the nexus between Engineering and Television production. In NTA, the Engineer is very knowledgeable about content production and the content producers understand the engineering processes for transmission better. This symbiotic relationship has yielded great television across the world. If it breaks down, then there is poor television.

Other areas of opportunities include Research and Development, Upcycle, development of Apps, cross cultural meetings and Town hall meetings propagating this relationship. The more we meet and discuss these issues the better for us.

No opportunity is more profound than the place where social media and the internet has taken us. If well balanced and properly monitored, this should solve the problem of shrinking science pages in newspapers and media platforms. In order to avoid the tyranny of commercialization where media houses are kowtowing to the money builder which is entertainment, social media, blogs, websites and specialized online presence will play a major role in how newspapers now deploy science information. Note must be made however that with everyone now a citizen journalist, science content has to be well managed on the internet. How content is deployed online is different from how this is done in the newspapers or on television. No one can post a 2,000-word research paper online. This has to be professionally edited by a seasoned media expert with guidance from the scientist or researchers involved.

Scientists can take lectures in media strategies and they should be respected and media persons do not have to be scientists or engineers to understand the innovations a little more and push the envelope in their place of work. I do not believe that scientists should continue in the trajectory where they do not trust journalists by making their work so complex and full of jargon when explaining it that it seems deliberate to obliterate everyone else.

––Abu, Being a keynote address delivered at the Nigeria Science Media Award at Sheraton Hotel Ikeja Lagos on the 23rd of October 2018.

(See the concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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hentheNational Assembly adjourned plenary on Wednesday, October 24, it directed its relevant committees to carry out oversight, which ordinarily may appear difficult to accomplish, when the two Chambers are in full session.

At the Senate, its Committees on Tertiary Education, Petroleum (Downstream) swung into action and met with critical stakeholders in both the Education and Petroleum sectors of the economy.

The Senate Committee on Tertiary Education, on its part, held a public hearing on the bills proposing the establishment of five tertiary institutions across the country, including a Federal Polytechnic in Daura, Katsina State, the hometown of President Muhammadu Buhari. When approved the proposed Federal Polytechnic, Daura, would be the first federal institution in Katsina North Senatorial District, according to promoters of the bill.

The bill, being sponsored by Senator Ahmed Baba-Keita, was initiated by his immediate predecessor, Sen. Mustapha Bukar, who died early this year. Also featured at the public hearing were bills seeking the establishment of the Federal University of Education, Aguleri, Anambra, and the National Institute of Construction Technology and Management, Uromi, Edo State. These bills were co-sponsored by Senators Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and Clifford Ordia (Edo Central) respectively.

Others were the Federal Polytechnic, Ikom, Cross Rivers (Establishment) Bill, 2018, sponsored by Senator John Eno (Cross Rivers Central), and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2018.

The public hearing was organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND chaired by Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano-North).

President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said the proposed laws were designed to ensure the provision of quality education in all parts of the country. Saraki, who was represented

by Senate Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda, decried the fallen standards of education in Nigeria over the last two decades. He, however, said the Senate remained committed to reversing the situation through quality legislation and oversight.

Speaking earlier, Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Tijani Kaura congratulated and lauded promoters of the bills for their efforts in pushing them this far, saying it was a demonstration of their commitment to their constituents. He also commended the senate president for his “concern for the nation’s educational system, and for ensuring the bills were subjected to public hearing in an atmosphere conducive.�

All the bills, except that of the NBTE Act, were endorsed by relevant stakeholders present. The NBTE bill was skipped, because none of its invited

Saraki and Dogara at the National Assembly complex

stakeholders made appearances at the hearing.

The Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), on its part, expressed concern over the inability of the federal government to pay oil marketers the backlog of fuel subsidy At a meeting held with critical stakeholders including the oil marketers and top officials from finance ministry, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and Debt Management Office (DMO), the Committee headed by Senator Kabir Marafa, gave the Finance Minister and CBN Governor one week to resolve the issue of subsidy payment with the oil marketers and they are to revert to the Committee as the Senate resumes plenary this week.

However, as the National Assembly

resumes plenary on Tuesday, one issue that would be of national interest in the days to come is whether or not the federal government would present the 2019 budget to the National Assembly this November.

The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed had hinted that it would be laid before the lawmakers in September so as to restore the January to December budget cycle, but that never happened. The lawmakers got the 2017 budget in the second week of December 2016 and the 2018 budget was presented in the first week of November, 2017.

So, going by this trend, the National Assembly would be expected to receive the document any time soon. By the content of the fiscal strategy paper of

the federal government, the leadership is proposing a total sum of N8.9tn in the 2019 fiscal period. Though government is said to have consulted widely with the lawmakers on the budget, expectedly, passing it would not be without the usual fuss.

Another issue is that while the sum of N242.205bn virement was approved for the 2019 general election by the lawmakers, the fact that the sum is to be deducted from the constituency projects under the Service Wide Vote allocation in the 2018 Appropriation Act did not go down well with the executive and it appears unclear whether or not there could still be a backlash due to that.

The disagreement emanated from the refusal of the lawmakers to comply with the request of President Buhari that the National Assembly should provide the virement from the N557 billion inserted into the budget by the federal lawmakers for their constituency projects. While it is unclear what the presidency intends to do about the situation, sources in the House of Representatives have said the lower chamber would not revisit that matter.

Concerned members of the House of Representatives may also wish to revisit the issue of Speaker Yakubu Dogara vacating his seat after defecting to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), although sources close to Dogara already hinted that the number three citizen would not officially announce his defection to opposition PDP, when the House resumes plenary.

Dogara had over a fortnight ago, while officially announcing the defection of some House members, been asked by some members of the House of Representatives to officially declare his defection too but jocularly, the Speaker replied: “I will after due consultation�.

Are we to believe that the last two weeks had been used by Dogara to consult and now come public about his political leaning? Let’s see how events will unfold as the lawmakers get down to real legislative business on Tuesday.

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79

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INTERNATIONAL Critical Issues in Communication Policies and International Security: The Laspotech School of Thought

T

he Lagos State Polytechnic (Laspotech), in collaboration with the Bolytag Centre for International Diplomacy and Strategic Studies (BOCIDASS), Yaba, Lagos, held a 3-day training workshop for key officers of the Laspotech and interested tertiary institutions on Editorial and Communications Diplomacy, Academic and Public Speech Writing, from Thursday, 1st, to Saturday, 3rd November, 2018 at the lecture theatre of the polytechnic in Ikorodu. One major objective of the workshop was to investigate how to increase the capacity of the polytechnic in the promotion of not only polytechnic education but also how best to impact more positively in the technological development of Nigeria as a leader in the WestAfrican region, in particular, andAfrica, as a whole.

It is in an attempt to respond to this aspiration that the idea of examining the use of diplomacy, within the framework of Information Communication Technology was suggested by the BOCIDASS as a first step came up for consideration. It was considered that life is essentially about communications in inter-personal and inter-state relationships. There is no life without communication. In fact, it is meaningless without it. Besides, communication is about sending and receiving information. In the use of diplomacy in building a knowledge-based and technology-driven new Nigeria, the first day of the training focused attention on understanding diplomacy and its environmental conditionings. In this regard, what really should we understand by diplomacy?

Diplomacy is one of the methods for implementing foreign policy decisions. In this regard, it is a technique of negotiation, requiring the use of physiognomy, tact and discipline, knowledge and commitment. Diplomacy is not only an instrument of negotiation and peace-making, but also a special area of study in international relations, the origins of which date back to the end of World War I. As a special field of study, it covers essentially international law and relations, protection of international human rights, international development, challenges of nationalism and ethnicity, foreign policy, international trade, international finance, regional economic integration, management of war and peace. In a nutshell, diplomacy is mainly about the maintenance of international peace and security, balance of power and politico-economic stability.

Let me quickly note at this juncture for emphasis that international relations as a scientific field of study is quite different from International Law both in its sense of private and public. It is also different from diplomatic history. In understanding relations that are described ‘international,’ the meaning of the word ‘international’ must first be traced to Joseph Bentham, the English philosopher, who coined the word and says it literally means ‘between nations.’ The use of the word ‘between’ simply means that such a relationship is limited to two nations only. The study of rapports between and among nation states of the world fall within the purview of science of international relations.

Unlike international relations, international law deals essentially with the study of norms. The study of facts is not mainly in its scope. Jurisprudentially, the main objective of international law is to determine the content of rules, norms, agreements applicable to international actors, interpret and also determine whether or not such norms have been respected.

Regarding diplomatic history, Daniel Colard has it that ‘l’histoire diplomatique a pour tâche de rassembler et de commencer l’ensemble des documents officiels ou secrets par lesquels les gouvernements communiquent entre eux, ou avec leurs reprĂŠsentants ĂŠtablis Ă l’Êtranger.’ Put differently, the objective of diplomatic history is to assemble and explicate all official or secret documents by which governments communicated with one another or with their diplomatic missions abroad. This simply means that the methodological approach of diplomatic history cannot but be empirical in design. History is not an experimental science.

As the workshop is on Editorial and Communications Diplomacy,Academic and Public Speech Writing, many of the issues discussed during the training fall across international relations, international law, and diplomatic history. In fact, editorial diplomacy and communications are critical issues in the three disciplines, especially when discussing order of precedence in protocol and etiquette.And more interestingly, when we talk about diplomacy, we also imply international life. There is no aspect of life in which, at least, a scintilla of diplomacy is not involved.

Three important points are also noteworthy in understanding the theme of the training. First, it has been argued that war begins from the mind and that solution to any war must also be found in the

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Oluranti Adebule, Commissioner of Education mind. How do we find peace in the mind? This is where the question of communications comes in. Communications can be verbal or written. Verbal and written communications can be aggressive, and therefore, very unfriendly. In many cases, misunderstanding arises from how information is perceived, and particularly how it is interpreted.

For example, the trending misunderstanding between Canada and SaudiArabia is a resultant of both manner of speaking and writing. Canada requested SaudiArabia to ‘release immediately’ some human rights activists under detention. The problem is not really the act of release, but timing, that is, ‘immediate effect,’ which is manu militari in undertone, and therefore responsible for the irritants in the relationship right now.

Secondly, international relations was carved out of political science at the end of World War I as an autonomous field of study, and has been mainly developed in theAnglo-Saxon world, particularly, in the United States and Great Britain for various reasons: simplicity and liberal character of their university system, necessity of their international responsibilities, special funding of research on different international questions, which also facilitated the establishment of special international relations institutes, etc. Hence, there is anAngloSaxon tradition in the methodological approaches to the study of international relations. There are also the French and Marxist schools of thought.

Regardless of the type of method of analysis adopted in the study and analysis of international questions, the important thing is their management in such a way that orders and counter-orders are not allowed to result in violence and political instability. This is the first objective of diplomacy in practice. In the case of existing crises and conflicts, the purpose of diplomacy cannot but be to prevent the deterioration of the problem and make efforts to bring about the resolution in the spirit of fairness and justice to all sides involved, and in the event of no solution, to evolve a workable compromise for purposes of immediacy.

Thirdly, at the epicentre of human existence is the need for peace and security, without which there may not be a good platform for

Questions were also raised as to why Government has not been able to deal decisively with the Boko Haram and why Government’s success has been limited to that of ‘technical defeat.’ Why is it difďŹ cult for Government to make use of the captured boko haramists to inďŹ ltrate the terrorists? And why is it difďŹ cult for Government to also disclose the sponsors of Boko Haram? The University of Maiduguri was once a victim of Boko Haram attacks. How do we prevent possible attacks? Why is it difďŹ cult to deploy satellite images to ďŹ ght the Boko Haram? When will Government be able to win both the battle and the war? Whatever is the answer contemplated, the opinion of the experts was that it would take a long time to come before boko haramism can be thrown into the garbage of history. But meanwhile, Professor Nuhu Yaqub, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, has drawn attention to Polytechnic Management and graduates in redeďŹ ning the future of Nigeria. Thus, Quo Vadis Nigeria?

economic growth and development. Efforts at peacemaking have taken many forms: ensuring balance of forces, dissuasion and arms control, East-West dĂŠtente, peace by non-alignment, economic cooperation and development assistance, development of multilateralism, etc. However, insecurity and threats of a nuclear war are staring world leaders in the face. In fact, the deepening situation of insecurity in Nigeria - recidivist kidnappings, the quest for autonomy by the Igbo indigenes, boko haramism, Fulani herdsmen versus farmers imbroglio, increasing activities of underground economic saboteurs, and perhaps most disturbingly, pauperisation of the people of Nigeria without an end in sight, etc - leave much to be desired. One of the main serious implications of the deepening insecurity is the call for restructuring, with all its attendant multidimensional aspects.

Restructuring involves the weakening of the federal government to the advantage of the constitutive states of Nigeria. But the main fear is that some stakeholders strongly believe that it can also resolve into dismantlement of the country. Even those people who believe that such likelihood is remote, are not readily disposed towards restructuring because of another belief that there are more to gain from maintaining the status quo than from a would-be newly restructured Nigeria.

In this regard, international relations, international law, diplomatic history have a common focus: how best to maintain peace and security, nationally and internationally. The main rationale for this goal is simply the fact that relationships, be they vertical or horizontal, are largely predicated on conflicting interests. International relations is largely a conflict system in which an order is counter-ordered, and thus creating a political lull from time to time. How is this conflict system faring in a world of globalisation, and particularly in the context of development of polytechnic education?

In an attempt to answer this question, and explaining the use of e-diplomacy,AmbassadorAyo Olukanni has it that ‘today we speak of e-diplomacy, e-mails as legitimate forms of correspondences, diplomacy in 140 characters or Twi-diplomacy, that is, use of Twitters in the conduct of diplomacy, Face-book accounts of foreign ministries and diplomatic missions opportunities and challenges.

Thus, e-diplomacy is being considered as a possible solution. More important,Ambassador Fagbohun also noted that these developments ‘have helped the process of democratisation of articulation and implementation of foreign policy and the conduct of diplomacy.’ On the second day, the workshop examined the critical issues in communications and international security. In fact, security was the epicentre of all discussions. Of the 19 lectures scheduled for discussion, only three of them are not directly security related. If we consider Ambassador OlusegunAkinsanya’s definition of what constitutes security, it is anything that guarantees safety and humanity.

The third day was for the examination of communications policies and techniques of presentation. In this regard,Ambassador Olayiwola not only addressed the role of intelligence gathering and the media in the conduct of foreign policy, but also how to deal with global terrorism and ensuring security. He placed emphasis on the roles of the intelligence agencies, the media, the tertiary and other institutions.

The rector of the Laspotech, Samuel O. Sogunro, rightly pointed out that ‘the importance of editorial and communication diplomacy cannot be overemphasized. Editorial skills ensure that a Manager’s communication is characterised by careful and persuasive presentation of issues with well-crafted justifications.’ More important, he also has it that, ‘while communication can be described as an indispensable tool in promoting cohesion that is required for achieving organizational goals and conflict resolution,’ the truth remains that... if devoid of diplomacy it ‘can engender conflict in an organisation.

The essence of diplomacy is to foster mutual understanding among key officers, protect organisational interests and avert needless industrial conflicts.’ Diverse questions relating to national development and challenges were raised. For instance, the status of polytechnic education was critically addressed, especially in terms of its parity with the universities. There was consensus on the part of participants and Many of the trainers and trainees were agreed on the great potentials that polytechnic education can bring to the development of the country. It is within this context that the workshop supported the idea of a polytechnic university.

Theissueofuseoftheinternetwasalsoraised On the critical issues in communication policies and international security,Ambassador Olayiwola Laseinde addressed the issue of how to contain global terrorism and ensuring national and international security, while GeneralAdeAjibade (rtd) focused his attention on the Nigerian public and national security question and how to balance self and national interests. More interesting, whileAmbassador Dokun Fagbohun raised the issue of techniques of Diplomatic Communications,Ambassador OlusegunAkinsanya looked at the place of theAfrican Union Peace and Security Mechanism for Regional Security inAfrica, with emphasis on the place of tertiary education.

And perhaps more interestingly, while the former Presidential Adviser, Dr. ReubenAbati, examined the issue of management staff, policy dissemination and relationship with the media in Nigeria, Timothy Melaye, Head of GIABA, Nigeria, investigated ECOWAS regional security and how to cope with the challenges of money laundering and terrorism financing through education.

(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 ˾ NOVEMBER 3, 2018

SOCIALMEDIABITS Last week on social media, more ‘Ganduje bribery videos’ were released, Shiites clashed with security forces and Vice President Osinbajo decided to learn a new dance...

T

he news for most of last week was dominated by clashes between Shiite Muslims and security forces in Abuja. It was an incidence that once again highlighted the need for the country’s security apparatus to be overhauled as more than 10 people were killed by the army during the protests.

Facing a tumultuous week of a different type was Kano State Governor Umar Ganduje. More instalments of videos allegedly showing him receiving bribes from a contractor were released. Despite Ganduje’s insistence of innocence, the evidence against him seems to be clearcut. He was summoned by the Kano State House of Assembly to shed more light on

the case but he sent an aide instead.

It may take some time but this is a battle Kano’s chief executive is likely to lose, considering the weight of the evidence against him. He is already being mocked by members of the opposition; “Gandollar” is a new (coined) word that has been used with frequency over the past few days on social media.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari said through his twitter handle that there was no development of infrastructure between 1999 and 2015 when he took office. Of course this is a sweeping statement that can easily be proven wrong by a fact-check, but it is Cont’d on pg 81

with DEMOLA OJO demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

NOVEMBER 3, 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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SOCIALMEDIABITS the season of politicking and any way to downplay the efforts of the PDP is certainly welcome for the president and his fanatical supporters.

Lagos State PDP gubernatorial aspirant Jimi Agbaje has been accused of hibernating for close to four years only to surface out of nowhere to re-contest elections. Questions have also been asked over his visibility (or lack of it) across the state as the rival APC has gone to town with posters of its own candidate, Jide Sanwo-Olu. However, Agbaje noted that campaigning now contravenes the INEC law which says campaigning can only start 90 days before the election date.

In what is obviously an increasing use of social media to reach the public, he also proffered solutions to help alleviate the crippling gridlocks that parts of the state have been experiencing of late.

Meanwhile former governor of the state, Bola Tinubu expressed his belief that no matter where PDP presidential flag-bearer holds strategy meetings, they would be inconsequential in the final reckoning come election day.

Some of Atiku’s meetings may even be

held in the US. The Director General of his campaign in the South West, Gbenga Daniel stated that the US is considering issuing Atiku a visa.

If this is true, it would be a major boost for his campaign since this is an issue his opponents have played up in an attempt to label him corrupt. Some will probably break into dance; they might have to start practising, just like Vice President Osinbajo who recently revealed he’s been learning the latest dance step made popular by Afro-pop artistes.

Peter Obi and Ben Murray Bruce were among those that called out the VP over a remark uttered to lighten the mood during an address. They contend that the country is facing too many problems for Osinbajo to prioritise the learning of “Shaku-shaku”, Problems like the impending NLC strike, despite the court order that has restrained them from going on strike.

The conversation around the topic on social media is never complete without mentioning House of Assembly members who earn ludicrously high amounts of money despite the country’s lean resources and how they should sacrifice to help raise funds to pay aggrieved workers.

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THE COVER

NIGERIA Oshiomhole

Primary Elections: Between Oshiomhole and Aggrieved APC Governors

2019

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, was recently locked in an integrity contest with at least four governors his party. Yet, the battle is beyond these actors; it is a battle for the soul of APC across the states, reports Onyebuchi Ezigbo

T

he bone of contention was the conduct and outcome of the primary elections in some states -Ogun, Imo, Ondo and Zamfara. Whereas the governors cried foul that the process was impaired by the alleged manipulative actions of the National Working Committee, the national chairman maintained that the party acted right, in line with laid down procedures.

Oshiomhole also got an endorsement from the APC National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, who said that he acted in accordance with rules and constitution of the party and that the aggrieved governors were a minority, who were placing their personal interests above those of the party.

But the governors, whose preferred candidates lost out in the primaries, in responses to the national chairman’s claim that the disputed exercises were done in accordance with the party’s rules, accused him of acting outside the rules of the party.

Perhaps a look at how the primaries were conducted in the affected states will

help in understanding the roles played by these men.

Imo State

The APC NWC approved the appointment of a former Political Adviser to ExPresident Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak as the chairman and returning officer to conduct the Imo state governorship primary election along with six other members.

First, the primary election in the state was postponed twice along with that of Lagos state. However, on Tuesday when the exercise was to take place, the chairman of the panel said he arrived the state capital Owerri and moved straight to deposit the primary election materials at the police station before proceeding to hold a stakeholders meeting. Gulak’s account of what transpired had it that due to his late arrival, it agreed at the stakeholders meeting that the exercise should take place very early the next day. According to Gulak’s account, the primary was conducted by his committee and The result was submitted to the leadership of APC in Abuja. In

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SUNDAYCOVER Oshiomhole, Aggrieved Governors and the Sword of Damocles

Continued on Pg.82

Amosun

Okorocha

Yari

the primary result, Senator Hope Uzodinma scored a total of 423, 895 to defeat his closest rival, Uche Nwosu who got 10,329 votes.

But another account said Gulak never held an election and he absconded from his hotel room on the day of the exercise, leaving other members of the committee behind. Based on the protest brought

by Governor Okorocha before the NWC, the party disbanded the Gulak-led committee and ordered that the governorship primary in Imo state be suspended indefinitely.

Although, the party did not state the reason for the indefinite suspension of the exercise in Imo, It was gathered that the decision was taken due to the rancorous outcome of the exercise. In a statement issued by the then acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, he said APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) has decided to cancel the primary election and to hold a fresh one.

But Senator Hope Uzodinma and the members of the Imo state APC Coalition group boycotted the fresh governorship primary election ordered by the party leadership. Instead, they approached the court and secured a restraining injunction to stop a fresh primary. The party had fixed a rerun of the governorship primary in Imo state after cancelling the earlier one supervised by the Ahmed Gulakcommittee over alleged flaws. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Abuja, six aspirants in the race, led by Senator Uzodinma and Imo state Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, said they have boycotted the fresh governorship primary.

Uzodinma said all the six aspirants have accepted the outcome of the last primaries conducted under Ahmed Gulak.

He said that out of the nine gubernatorial aspirants, six of them were in Abuja while other aspirants including the Son-in-law to the governor, Uche Nwosu took part in the fresh governorship primary in Imo state. In a fresh primary conducted by a new panel chairman, Brigadier General Ibrahim Agbabiaka (retd.), former Chief of Staff polled 269, 524 to defeat eight other contestants.

After the two primaries, then came the judicial contest. Both Uzodinma and Nwosu approached the courts to validate their elections but it was Senator Uzodinma that first got an Abuja High Court that compelled the party to recognise his victory.

Ogun State

replied to INEC claiming that it held a primary election and that its candidates emerged through consensus, it is still uncertain whether the party will recover from this especially now that the matter has become subject of litigation in the court.

Arising from the conflict generated by the primary elections, the aggrieved governors have attacked the integrity of the Oshiomhole-NWC accusing it of not obeying the rules. The governors mainly from Ogun, Imo, Ondo and Zamfara states was almost moving against Oshiomhole before President Muhammadu Buhari came to his rescue last Tuesday. Speaking to journalists at the State House, Oshiomhole who came back from a trip abroad defended his actions and that the NWC, saying that they acted right and in the interest of the party. He said that nothing will make him compromise on his integrity. But the state governors accused the national chairman of treating them unjustly during the recent primaries of the APC. They said he abused his power as party chairman and acted illegally.

The Imo State governor, who emerged from a meeting with the president, told State House correspondent that the party acted in defiance of a court order and enjoined Oshiomhole to submit himself to the rule of law. Buhari had, at a dinner in Abuja for members who lost out during the party’s primaries, appealed to them to put the past behind them and move on, calling on them to remain loyal to the party and work for its success in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

APC National leader, Bola Tinubu, had also thrown his weight behind Oshiomhole saying he did no wrong.

The primary election crisis if anything, has shown clearly that the attitude of the politicians to electoral conquest has not changed, not even within fellow stakeholders in the same party. Another issue that showed up clearly was the inability of the party leadership to manage various strong interests within its ranks using dialogue and negotiation. Also with the level of animosity that heralded the outcome of APC’s primaries and submission of party candidates list to the INEC, it is a tough road for the ruling party to galvanise its aggrieved members into one fighting force once again.

When asked whether APC would not fall apart as a result of the festering crisis rocking the party and lose major victories across the country, Okorocha disagreed, saying, “APC will not disintegrate for as long as Muhammadu Buhari is still the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and remains the leader of this party.”

Ogun State Governorship primaries had a semblance of the theatrics that played out in Imo state, except that in the Ogun state case, there were two committees for the primaries, one set up by the NWC while the other one was formed by the state executive of the APC. While the Abiodun Akinlade, the favoured candidate of the Ogun state governor, emerged the winner in the primary supervised by the state executive, the aspirant, Dapo Abiodun linked to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo won the election organised by the NWC-approved panel. In the end, it was the victory of Abiodun that was upheld by the party.

In a statement by former acting publicity secretary, Nabena, the party said Abiodun won the primary.

While defending the party’s action, the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu blame the crisis in Ogun State on the attempt by Governor Amosun to hold an unauthorized primary, which the party viewed as contemptuous.

Zamfara state

In Zamfara State, APC shot itself on the foot by allowing the face-off between powerful elements in the state to cost it the opportunity to participate in 2019 contest in the state. The state governor, Abdulaziz Yari, was said to be pushing to have one of his commissioners as a successor while other interests in the party were backing the emergence of Senator Kabiru Marafa. Just like what happened in Imo state, the leadership of APC cancelled the first primary election conducted in Zamfara state, blaming the governor and state government officials of directly interfering in the process. A visibly angry Oshiomhole said the decision of the NWC to annul the primary election and to dissolve the state executive was because the state government hijacked the exercise. The party constituted another panel to hold a fresh primary election but some of the stakeholders of the party in Zamfara refused to allow the new committee to go on with fresh exercise. The aggrieved stakeholders loyal to the state governor obtained a court order that prevented a primary election from being conducted.

In the midst of the logjam, INEC wrote APC, saying that party did not conduct any valid primary election and as such cannot field candidates at the next year’s general elections in Zamfara. Although the party has

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CICERO/REPORT

Lagos and Ambode’s Long Goodbye With a hugely promising governance trajectory halted mid-stride by the quaint godfather of his political realm, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, willy-nilly, enters a valedictory phase of his odyssey with head held high. Louis Achi looks at Ambode’s positives and writes that the unfolding scenario reinforces ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă&#x;ÞÒ̋ Ă?Ă?ĂžËœ Ă˜Ă‹ĂŁ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ëœ Ă?ÞÓÖÖ ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ĂŽĂ?Ă—Ă™Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă?

F

or three tough years, Rome had besieged the City of Carthage. As the battle-hardened Roman General Scipio Africanuswho took the city finally in 146 BC watched it burn in complete destruction, he suddenly broke down and wept. It was a shocking spectacle for his troops to behold. Crying for a defeated enemy was an indulgence unknown in that era.

Carthage at the time was the only existential threat to the Roman Empire until the coming of the Vandals several centuries later. Scipio’s emotional reaction to this particular conclusion of a historic, bloody campaign stemmed from a deep philosophical apprehension that all cities, nations, and authorities must, like men, meet their doom.

In terms of her progressive affluence and civilizational influence, Carthage shared some kindred features with Lagos. But while General Scipio Africanus was an external invader, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the godfather of Lagos State could perhaps be seen as an ‘internal invader.’ While Scipio’s mission was a hostile take-over, the Asiwaju’s undertaking somewhat represents an Omoluabi’s benevolent capture - with his eccentric political swag extending through much of the South-West zone.

Perhaps, it is only outsiders to the web of intrigues, Mafia-like maze of foot-soldiers, big and small leaders who solely depend on Lagos State resources (without productivity) for survival could discern that the rather untidy short-circuiting of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s political excursion has fundamental linkages to a lack of philosophical apprehension of the transience of power. It was this sudden, flashing insight that all cities, nations, and authorities must, like men, meet their doom that overwhelmed General Scipio Africanusand triggered his unsettling emotional breakdown.

Perhaps in a milieu sorely lacking philosopher kings, critical deficiencies Ambode in the understanding of the mortality of power can be excused. Kayode Ogundamisi, notable commentator on Nigerian and international politics and also an anti-corruption campaigner succinctly captures the way forward for Yoruba land and Tinubu. His words: “The class structure of modern day Yoruba politicians is modeled after the so-called Hausa-Fulani hegemonic style we all have been brought up to detest‌ “For all his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic process, the legacy of Governor Tinubu will be better served if he stops getting involved in every selection process; let contests and processes be free and fair. “Nigeria’s democratic process can only improve if internal party democratic process is free, transparent and fair; party membership open and attractive to the best who may disagree with the leaders of the party. It will be a shame for all his contributions, for Tinubu to leave the public with the image of the Lord of a Mafia group.â€?

Further according to Ogundamisi, “The Lagos All Progressives Congress, APC, power structure is filled with contradictions, sometimes progressive, sometimes self-serving, mostly operating like a bunch of mafias, highly close-knit. Those who control the party at every level expect absolute loyalty and no questions asked‌ Hardly would you find a Lagos State civil servant that is not a card-carrying member of the APC. Particularly the Alausa based civil servants, what happens in Alausa always remain in Alausa. “Lagos APC has political leaders who depend on state resources; they have no other means of livelihood than politics. They know Lagos like the back of their hand and have foot soldiers beholding to them, from NURTW members, to genuine party members who desire progressive change to just anyone that can be a

yes-man or woman, mostly reliant on a rental system.�

It is within this quirky context that Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s truncated stewardship can be fairly assessed.

The Ambode Scenario...

After dispatching the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s mettlesome Chief Jimi Agbaje in the keenly contested April 12, 2015 governorship election, Ambode hit the ground running. As governor of Nigeria’s commercial and industrial capital faced with the challenge of satisfying the yearnings of the over 15 million residents of Lagos, it couldn’t be otherwise.

Drawing from his rich professional background as an accountant, administrator and public finance management expert and leaning on a vision to make Lagos a clean, secure, more prosperous state with a robust economy built on service, equity and justice, the Epe-born dynamite left few in doubt that he is indeed the man the city needed.

One of the major achievements of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was the massive inner roads (re)construction his government embarked upon at the outset.

In his ‘114 Roads’ project, each of the 57 local councils in the state got two good roads was completed. The accounting guru’s philosophy that a well-lit Lagos will reduce crime also saw him light up at least 365 streets across the state.

On the security front, just a few months after he came into office, the governor acquired 10 armoured tanks, three helicopters for aerial surveillance and policing, two gun boats, 15 armoured personnel carriers, and dozens of Isuzu trucks. Despite challenges in the area of security, the safety of lives and properties of Lagosians have received – to a large extent – a boost.

After several postponements, Governor Ambode began the disbursement of the N25 billion Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, one of the promises he made during his campaign in 2015. The initiative, aimed at artisans and entrepreneurs in the state, saw the disbursement of N6.25 billion annually. A huge chunk of that figure goes to carpenters, tailors, hairdressers, vulcanisers, and other players in the informal sector in the state and has helped create more than 11,000 jobs.

On the agricultural front, early in his tenure, Ambode launched the game-changing LagosKebbi (LAKE Rice) project. Thousands of residents trooped out to various centres across the three senatorial districts in the state to buy the commodity which sold for N12,000 (50kg bag); N6,000 (25kg); and N2,500 (10kg). It was a much needed respite for a population that had been reeling under the impact of economic recession.

The recession then in 2016 notwithstanding, Lagos State generated a figure which ranked among its highest ever internal revenue. As at the preceding December, the state had raked in N287 billion in IGR, a whopping N19 billion more than was generated the year before.

Except in 2013 when the state generated N384 billion, the year was the highest the state had made since its creation. A rejig of the state’s revenue generation agency played a major role in this feat. But governor also acknowledged faithful tax-paying citizens in the state for the revenue landmark His words: “The tax payers are the ones giving us the little energy that we have and even though when they say Nigeria is in recession, somehow Lagos has been able to do it and it is because people are paying their taxes.�

The governor also dealt expeditiously with backlog payment of N11billion as arrears to retirees of Lagos State Government. There are much more.

Against unproven allegations of being impetuous and adversarial, the emergence of Chief Ambode as Lagos State chief executive evokes memories of other progressive eras of the state.

Clearly, Ambode is not a saint. But the parameters for electing the governor of a Nigerian state do not specify sainthood as a key requirement.

His choice, simply acknowledges the capacity of focused individuals to change their society for the better. For decades, both as an accountant, administrator and public finance management expert, he has provided clear, pragmatic leadership.

Going forward, just mid last week, Chief Sanwo-Olu, Ambode’s successor-in-waiting joined the governor at the Lagos Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) meeting.

GAC is Lagos state’s highest advisory political organ under the leadership of Tinubu. The membership of the council, made up of the governor and leaders of the party across the three senatorial districts of the state, include, Dr. Olorunfemi Bashorun; Senator Anthony Adefuye, Prof.

Tunde Samuel, Chief Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi and Cardinal James Odumbaku. The meeting, which held at Marina, Lagos on Tuesday, also featured the presence of Femi Hamzat.

This boorish ritual represented part of the valedictory motions of Ambode ahead of his standing down, as decreed by the Lion of Bourdilon. In the coming months, more such moves are expected from the governor under the watchful eyes of the dug-in political establishment of the state.

It’s worth recalling that a month ago the Asiwaju had proclaimed with some mystery that though Governor Ambode has done well in office, he has not been a ‘good party man’. For this reason, the godfather said the party decided to withdraw support for the governor who wished to go for a second term. According to Tinubu, the decision to abandon Ambode for Babajide Sanwo-Olu was beyond him. For good measure, he explained kindly he was only doing the wishes of the party, which had entrusted him with its leadership.

In all, a calm philosophical Ambode has taken all these unsettling dissonance in his stride as he focuses on the next phase of his life. Such is the measure of the man. The emerging consensus is that like the Phoenix, he will rise again.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž OVEMBER 4, 2018

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PERSPECTIVE

Adeosun: An Innocent Offender - A Postscript

W

hen the online newspaper, Premium Times, scooped the National Youth Service Corps exemption certificate scandal of the former finance minister, Kemi Adeosun, not a few Nigerians called for her prosecution her guillotine on the altar of alleged forgery.

Many people and organisations feasted commentators were feasting on her for relevance. At last, the overwhelming pressure prevailed, Adeosun resigned unceremoniously.

In my article published in July 17, 2018, I alluded to the fact that Adeosun might have fallen prey to a scam unknowingly. She must have been wrongly assured and misled into believing that all she needed was an exemption certificate which some “trusted associates� went ahead to procure for her. For daring to express that alibi in my article on Adeosun’s saga, I received more incisive criticisms than commendations by readers. The reactions were as divergent as the nature of the case. Now that Adeosun had eventually quit the federal cabinet, we now know better.

Her well-crafted and emotion-laden resignation letter answered many questions regarding the allegation of forgery surrounding the procurement of the controversial NYSC exemption certificate.

Yet, some people are still insisting she must be arraigned in court to answer for the alleged offence. Whether there’s merit or demerit in the opinion of those calling for her prosecution, let’s examine some fundamentals that should ultimately decide her fate in this matter.

When former American President, Barack Obama, declared his interest to vie for the office in 2008, the issue of his dual nationality became a serious campaign topic. There were allegations that he was not qualified because he’s not considered to be a “natural-born citizen of the U.S.� This argument, according to his challengers, was predicated on the fact that the law in effect at the time he was born specified that “If only one parent was a U.S. citizen at the time of your birth, that parent must have resided in the United States for at least ten years, at least five of which had to be after the age of 16�; a provision that was claimed to have been partially or not attained by his mother.

His Kenyan paternity also became an issue despite his mother being a natural-born U.S. citizen; moreover, his parents divorced when he was but a toddler in 1964, and his mother soon afterwards married another foreign national and moved with Barack to Indonesia. There was a wild allegation that he was born in Kenya before being flown to the US but the birth certificate from Kapi’olani Maternity & Gynecological Hospital (now called Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women & Children) in Honolulu, Hawaii, put a lie to the campaign of calumny.

A number of conspiracy theories falsely asserted Obama was ineligible to be President of the United States because he was not a natural-born citizen of the United States as required by Article Two

Adeosun of the U.S. Constitution. Theories alleged that Obama’s published birth certificate was a forgery - that his actual birthplace was not Hawaii but Kenya. Other theories alleged that Obama became a citizen of Indonesia in childhood, thereby losing his U.S. citizenship. Still, others disputed Obama’s U.S. citizenship because he was born a dual citizen.

Obama eventually surmounted all the contrived ‘racist’ hurdles on the strength of the Fourteenth Amendment which states that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.� Since Hawaii is part of the United States, even if Barack Obama’s parents were both non-U.S. citizens who hadn’t even set foot in the country until just before he was born, he’d still qualify as a natural-born citizen.

In view of the above, can Obama still claim Kenyan citizenship if he so desires, being the home country of his father? The answer is yes. He could because I’m not aware of any law that forbids dual citizenship, especially if one’s parents’ home country is different from where he’s born. Then, at what point does one become a citizen of the parent’s country? When the person in question obtains the country’s passport. From that moment, the laws, rules and diplomatic benefits of the country begin to apply without retroactive effect.

Kemi Adeosun was born a bonafide citizen of Britain by her Nigerian parents. She schooled and worked in the United Kingdom until she obtained Nigerian passport at the age of 34 years; the very age she touched down in her ancestral country.

Meanwhile, she graduated at the age of 22; and by Nigerian

educational rule, she ought to return to the country for the mandatory one year National Youth Service, NYSC. The riddle here is that, as at the time Adeosun graduated, she was not yet a Nigerian! That is, by implication, she was not under the statutory obligation to be enlisted for the NYSC scheme.

Perhaps she wasn’t in the know of the proviso or the thought of it never crossed her mind especially if she is oblivious of the importance of the NYSC certificate to her future career in Nigeria.

So, when she eventually decided to work in Nigeria, she was confronted with the issue of mandatory NYSC certificate that must be part of her credentials.

Apparently in a quandary of how to go about it, I think that was when “she applied for the exemption certificate�, a move that was confirmed by the management of NYSC but it refused to disclose further how she got the one in her possession. Adeosun has maintained that she wasn’t aware that it was fraudulently obtained on her behalf.

The crux of the matter is that, should Adeosun enroll for the scheme afresh in order to obtain a legitimate discharge certificate or she should approach the NYSC office through a formal application for an exemption certificate stating the legal condition of when she became a Nigerian? These, I think, are the most feasible approaches to deal with her situation. For me, I will opt for the latter, as insisting that she must serve because she graduated before the age of 30 is tantamount to applying the law in retroactive manner to her situation. I think it is unfair. And in case the NYSC turned down her request for an exemption certificate, her lawyer should know what next to do.

The fact that she owned up to be in possession of a forged document is an offence; but she committed the offence innocently.

It is often said that there’s no excuse of ignorance in law, maybe that is true but a clear-cut case like Adeosun’s may earn a pardon.

The real offenders are her “trusted associates� who opted for the shorter but illegal route to obtaining the certificate for her. I have vouched that she can’t willingly go through the fraudulent way to obtain the contentious certificate. She’s just an innocent offender.

Adeosun had to quit her enviable job as finance minister on account of the scandal. Public ignominy and acerbic remarks in the media that trailed the saga were very devastating. Now that she might have done some introspection regarding the whole saga, Adeosun should frontally address the issue by taking steps to regularize her NYSC certificate through the latter option proffered here. Normalizing the situation is the only way to regain her smeared image, bruised ego, and she would ultimately bounce back into public reckoning when the dust of the scandal finally settles in her favour. ––West, a Media Consultant and Public Affair Analyst, wrote via mikeawe@yahoo.co.uk

Dominic Onyechi: A Man’s Undying Devotion to His Nation Alex Abutu

TRIBUTE

B

arrister Dominic Osekola Onyechi was born on September 15, 1956 in Onitsha, Anambra State.

He was the first son of the late Barrister Dominic Ogojofo and the late Mrs. Grace Ifeyinwa Onyechi.

Growing up as a young boy, Onyechi had a number of interests and aspirations. He had fun spending time with his family and close friends. He enjoyed his college years at the College of Immaculate Conception (CIC), Enugu where he obtained his West Africa School Certificate (WASC) in 1974. Thereafter, he gained admission to the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics in 1980.

Pursuit of the proverbial Golden Fleece took him outside the shores of Nigeria to the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi, India where he obtained postgraduate certification in journalism in 1990. Still in his quest for intellectual excellence and to fulfil his desire to become a lawyer, he returned to Nigeria to study law at the University of Lagos and obtained his LLB (HONS.) in 2002. Thereafter, he attended the Nigerian Law School, Abuja and was called to the Bar in 2003.

A thoroughbred civil servant whose dress code had always been the typical suit and tie except on Fridays when he put on traditional attire, Onyechi began his federal civil service career in the Federal Ministry of Information as Information Officer II in 1982 and rose through the ranks to the position of a director in 2012.

During his meritorious service to Nigeria, he brought to bear his exceptional leadership qualities which include diligence, eye for details and teamwork. As an enterprising civil servant, Onyechi was actively involved in the dissemination of government’s information through effective distribution.

As a budding officer, his talents and dedication to duty apparently did not go unnoticed by his then superiors. In 1987 when the former Nigerian First Lady, the late Maryam Babangida, began the Better Life Programme for Rural Women, and required a competent officer to coordinate the publicity and communication organ of the programme, Onyechi was immediately deployed for that purpose.

This required him to travel frequently from Lagos to the new capital city, Abuja, to meet with his then-boss (the First Lady) to strategize

Onyechi on how best to sensitize rural dwellers across the country on the objectives and benefits of programme.

As a result of his functions as the head of communications for the programme, the Onyechi was afforded the opportunity of travelling across several states in the country. This exposed him to the diverse cultures of Nigerians and perhaps was partly responsible for his detribalized character and approach in his interaction with other tribes as it was common in his nature to accommodate persons of other tribes and to even go as far as interacting with them in their own dialects.

Consequently, at the exit of the then administration which brought operations of the Better Life Programme for Rural Women to an end, Onyechi continued to be actively engaged

in carrying out his statutory role as a public information manager in other capacities particularly as he reached the top management level while in the then Research and Productions (R&P) Department (now Publications and Productions Department) in the Federal Ministry of Information.

These included but were not limited to interfacing with the parastatals of the ministry for the production of the government’s scorecard and the ministry’s performance reports; preparation of project implementation work plan for the ministry; supervising the sourcing of articles for the production of the various publications of the department; collaborating with public and private organizations; for example, the National Bureau of Statistics for the conduct of national survey/opinion poll; and participating in all activities of the department relating to policy formulation, planning and budget preparation among other functions.

It is on record and widely acknowledged that during his stint in the Publications and Productions Department of the Federal Ministry of Information, national publications such as the Federal Tender’s Journal, Nigeria Monthly and Ministerial Scorecards were well researched and produced with the highest ethical and professional standards. These are in addition to overseeing the editing and production of many federal government booklets, handbills and posters. Also worthy of mention was his appointment to head the communication unit of SURE-P Project Implementation Unit (PIU) from 2014 -2015.

Following his retirement from the federal civil service, he continued to work in his private capacity by up a law firm, D.O. Onyechi and Co., with several reputable individuals and corporate organizations sought his services.

As a devoted family man – and fondly called Dom –, Onyechi enjoyed his leisure time reading and analysing novels with his wife and children. He was also a soccer fan and enjoyed watching Arsenal FC play at home with his family.

He met his sweetheart, Nony Egwuatu, in 1978 and eight years later, on August 2, 1986, exchanged marital vows with her at Enugu. The marriage was blessed with two loving and beautiful children. Enthusiastic and loyal, he was committed to making his family happy. He loved his family dearly. He was a good father to his children and he successfully did everything to fulfil their needs.

Dom enjoyed travelling with his family to relax, renew and experience new things.

(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 ˾ NOVEMBER 4, 2018

NEWSXTRA German Devt Bank Invests €31m Capital in InfraCredit Bamidele Famoofo

NEW INVESTMENT

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority and Non-Executive Director, InfraCredit, Mrs. Stella Ojekwe-Onyejeli; MD/CEO, Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company Limited, Mr. Chinua Azubike; First Vice President, West Africa and Madagascar, KfW Development Bank, Mr. Michael Wehinger; and Principal Project Manager, West Africa & Madagascar, KfW, Ron Rother, after signing the agreement on KfW’s €31 million subordinated capital investment in InfraCredit in Lagos… recently

Okorocha Withdraws Security, Staff from Deputy Gov’s Office Amby Uneze in Owerri Imo State Governor, Mr. Rochas Okorocha yesterday withdrew security personnel and staff attached to the office of the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Eze Madumere without clear reason.

In swift reaction, Madumere condemned the decision of the governor to withdraw most of the key staff attached to his office, describing it as unwarranted action in withdrawing most of the key staff attached to his Office.

He expressed disappointed at the decision during a conversation with journalists, recalling that since his acquittal from the impeachment plot in the High Court seating in Owerri presided by Justice Benjamin Iheka, there had been gross disregard to his office.

He lamented that his security aides have not been restored even after he had written to the appropriate authorities for almost two months running.

He added that the Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi could not restore his security in spite of the court verdict since September, noting that it portended danger of his life.

In a memo with Reference NO: HIS/S.29/S.1/t.3/1/807, 12 members of the staff were posted out of the office of the deputy governor where eight of them are operational staff and drivers while others are administrative staff, including senior staff on data processing.

He, however, said the Imo State Government led by Okorocha had resolved “to cause harm if not make attempt on the life of the deputy governor.

“We recall that during the series of impeachment plots to remove the Deputy Governor, we raised alarm over the grand plan to harm Prince Madumere following his stance against imposition of Governor’s sonin-law, Mr. Uche Nwosu and other irreconcilable issues that bordered on policies.

“We also recall how some members of the domestic staff of the Deputy Governor were approached to be used as agents of death to poison the deputy governor.

“Therefore, Office of the Deputy Governor regrets the tyrannical model of governance approach of the government even in a democracy, where people’s opinion or freedom of Speech, association and other fundamental rights are not respected.

“It is also regrettable to note

that Imo State government should throw caution to the wind by flagrantly refusing to observe ethics, values and respect for the hierarchy of office in an established organization as a government to the extent where the opinion of the deputy governor is not sought before issue as sensitive as posting out staff from the office of the deputy governor by the head of service.

“We wish to state categorically that the sudden posting of the operational staff of the office of the deputy governor is a careful plot to compromise the security of Prince Eze Madumere.

“We therefore view the whole actions and inactions of the government of Imo State as wholly suspicious and a well-known old preparatory gimmicks before high profile heinous crimes like assassinations are committed.

Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company Limited (InfraCredit) has sealed a deal with KfW Development Bank (KfW) for a €31 million subordinated capital investment in its operation.

The agreement on the capital raise was signed by Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of InfraCredit, Mr. Chinua Azubike, and First Vice President, West Africa & Madagascar of KfW, Michael Wehinger in Lagos.

InfraCredit is a specialised infrastructure credit enhancement facility established by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) in collaboration with GuarantCo (a member of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), to provide guarantees that enhance the credit quality of

local currency debt instruments issued to finance eligible infrastructure projects in Nigeria.

KfW, the largest development bank in Europe and a public law institution existing under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany with its headquarters in Frankfurt, and InfraCredit have agreed to pursue the common goal to enhance infrastructure investments in Nigeria by supporting private infrastructure enterprises.

In pursuance of this joint objective, KfW is investing a 10year €31 million subordinated unsecured capital in order to strengthen InfraCredit’s guarantee capacity, enable InfraCredit achieve its targeted capitalisation andbolster its balance sheet.

The investment is accompanied by a technical assistance grant to support InfraCredit’s market development and capacity building programme.

Woman Kills Husband, Children, Self in Benue The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the killing of a man and his three children by his wife, who also took her own life.

“The man, Mr. Nicholas Adetsav, a staff of Makurdi Local Government Council, and his children, were killed on Friday night in Makurdi.

His wife, believed to be responsible for the death of the quartet, also killed herself.

“From information available to us, the woman has been having issues with her husband which might have culminated into this,” Mr Moses Yamu, the command’s spokesman, told the News Agency 0f Nigeria (NAN) yesterday.

Yamu said that the couple, who lived at Vandeikya street, were both staff of Makurdi Local Government Council.

“They have been having issues; just Friday, the woman was seen with a pestle trying to smash her husband’s car. No one knows the cause of their frequent fights.”

He said that Police personnel sent to the house found the man foaming in the mouth, the three kids already dead, while the woman, also dead, was found holding a knife in her hands.

“The incident happened at 8:30 p.m. on Friday; from what we have gathered, the couple fight on daily basis.”

Yamu said that investigation had begun toward determining the reasons for the actions, while the corpses had been deposited at the St. Theresa’s Catholic Hospital, Makurdi.

The Chairman, Makurdi Local Government Council, Mrs. Akange Audu, confirmed that the couple were employees of the local government council.

“The husband worked in the Department of Finance while his wife worked with the Department of Agriculture,” she said.

She also confirmed that the couple “were always fighting”, adding that the woman had warned neighbors to stay off their fights.

Primaries: Dickson Reinstates UNIBEN/NILDS Postgraduate NANS Asks Fayemi to Prosecute Defeated Appointees, Civil Servants Corrupt Heads of Tertiary Institutions School Calls for Fresh Applications Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

Bayelsa State Governor, Mr Seriake Dickson yesterday reinstated all political appointees and civil servants who resigned their positions to contest state and federal legislative positions during the just concluded primaries on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on the Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, noting that the governor gave the directive during a meeting with all aspirants of the PDP in Yenagoa.

As quoted in the statement, Dickson directed the payment of the salaries and other allowances the aspirants lost during the period to them as one of the measures to ensure peace in the ranks of the party.

Dickson, however, insisted that the civil servants who were reinstated would commence receiving salaries from the date of resumption in line with the civil service reforms introduced by his administration.

He added that he was happy

with the decision of all the aspirants who lost in the PDP primaries to remain in the party without going to court.

He said, “You did not go to other parties not because you could not. I know that the candidates from the other parties cannot match you but have stayed back. In fact, you are the most loyal members of this party that I know. Loyalty must be tested and proven.

“I appreciate sincerely, your sacrifices and loyalty. No human event can be perfect, if you are steadfast and you stay in a party, what comes around goes around. There is nobody here that has not held party ticket or government appointment before. So your attitude is commendable.

“All of you who were holding appointive positions in the government who did not make it are returned to their positions. I hereby direct the Chief of Staff to direct the treasury to pay them the months they lost. They should be fully restored to the pre-election period.

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has advised Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi to prosecute all head of the state owned tertiary institution found to have looted the treasury while at the helms of affairs.

The association said this in Ado Ekiti recently while commenting on the 11-man probe panel set up by the state government to probe the activities of the Ekiti State University(EKSU), Ado Ekiti.

Fayemi had on Monday constituted a visitation panel for EKSU , which terms of reference including determining the rots in the university and make recommendations appropriately.

But in a joint statement jointly signed by NANS National Vice President, Mr. Raymond Ojo and Secretary of NANS’ Anti-Corruption Committee, Mr. Farouq Ahmed, the association urged Fayemi to set up similar panel to probe the

Ekiti State College of Health Sciences and Technology, Ijero Ekiti under the leadership of the immediate past Provost, Mr. Bayo Ojo. NANS opposed the idea that the appointments of those directing the college’s affairs in acting capacities after the exit of Ojo should be confirmed, alleging that they were also part of the lingering maladministration affecting the fortunes of the institution negatively .

The association commended Fayemi for abolishing all ‘illegal’ levies in public primary and secondary schools in the State barely one week he assumed office, describing the gesture as a veritable weapon that would tackle the menace of school dropouts as well as ensuring more students’ enrollment in line with the compulsory and free Education policy of the federal government .

The body alleged that the college was badly managed under Ojo and that such had reduced the quality of learning in the institution.

OmololuOgunmade inAbuja

Administration, Legislative Studies and Elections and Party Politics The National Institute for Leg- include five credit passes at the islative and Democratic Studies Ordinary Level including English (NILDS) in collaboration with the Language.

She also stated that a prospective University of Benin has called for applications from suitably quali- applicants for Masters degree in fied candidates for admission into Parliamentary Administration NILDS/UNIBEN Postgraduate and Masters degree in Legislative Studies must hold Bachelors deSchool.

A statement by the Director- grees, with a minimum of Second General of NILDS, Prof. Ladi Class Lower Division in relevant Hamalai, listed various Masters areas from recognised universidegree programmes available ties.

The director-general added for the next academic session in the school to include: Masters in that applicants for Masters Parliamentary Administration, degree in Elections and Party Masters in Legislative Studies, Politics must hold Postgraduate Masters in Legislative Drafting diplomas in relevant areas from and Masters in Elections and recognised institutions with at least 60 per cent cumulative grade Party Politics.

The statement also listed diplo- point average (CGPA).

On the other hand, Hamalai ma programmes being run by the school as Postgraduate Diploma said applicants for Masters degree in Election and Political Party in Legislative Drafting, must Management and Postgraduate in addition to possessing the Diploma in Legislative Drafting. Ordinary Level requirements While highlighting admis- as stated above, hold a Bachelors sion requirements for the degrees in Law with a miniprogrammes, the director- mum of Second Class Lower general said qualifications for Division from recognised uniMasters degree in Parliamentary versities.

87

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍźËœ ͺ͸͚΀

SUNDAYSPORTS

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

Liverpool Go top with Draw at Arsenal

A

lexandre Lacazette’s late equaliser extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run to 13 games and gave them a hard-earned 1-1 draw in a thrilling encounter with Liverpool at Emirates Stadium, yesterday.

James Milner’s powerful strike just after the hour, drilled home after Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno’s clearance rebounded off Rob Holding, looked to have put unbeaten Liverpool on course for victory.

Lacazette, however, had other ideas and drew the Gunners level eight minutes from time with a superb finish on the turn after he had taken the ball away from Liverpool keeper Alisson.

The point puts Liverpool back on top of the Premier League but they will feel hard done by after a first-half strike from Sadio Mane was incorrectly ruled out for offside, while Virgil van Dijk hit the post with a header and forced a fine save from Leno after the break.

Arsenal’s persistence deserved reward despite those escapes and their display confirmed their development under new manager Unai Emery.

Despite Arsenal’s unbeaten run, questions remained unanswered about the new Emery regime, no matter how impressive their results since defeats in their opening Premier League games at home to Manchester City and away at Chelsea.

It was felt Liverpool’s potent attack would provide their most severe test - and to come through against Jurgen Klopp’s unbeaten side with a point will do wonders for belief and self-confidence.

Arsenal still have much to do to catch Liverpool but Emery’s era is in its infancy and there was much to admire about the Gunners - even though they got lucky with the first-half offside call that saw Mane’s goal ruled out for offside.

They showed real urgency in the first half to shade an enthralling first 45 minutes but arguably even more satisfying will be the

Alaexander Lacazette beats Liverpool k ... sson before netting the equalizer

manner in which they dug in to rescue a point after Milner put Liverpool ahead and Klopp’s side looked in the mood to finish Arsenal off.

Arsenal, with Lucas Torreira a fine addition and Lacazette a force up front, stuck to their task and were rewarded with a point.

They remain a work in progress but in a match many felt would see the new Arsenal’s flaws exposed, Emery and his players can regard this as a highly satisfactory result and performance.

Emery’s own urgency in the technical area transmits itself to the stands with, especially

during the first half, a thunderous atmosphere in a place that seemed to have forgotten how to enjoy its football last season.

Arsenal’s supporters gave their team a warm reception at the final whistle and will have seen enough to confirm that Emery is on the right lines after succeeding Wenger.

Chelsea Host Crystal Palace in London Derby Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri expects Eden Hazard to be fit to play some part as his side host Crystal Palace in a dicey London derby.

Chelsea have lost two of their last three Premier League meetings with Crystal Palace.

The Blues will be looking forward to Hazard’s impact. Hazard has been battling a back injury which he sustained in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Manchester United, missing his side’s last three fixtures.

He did train with the full Chelsea squad on Thursday but Sarri is still unsure over his potential involvement in the game against Palace, which is live on Sky Sports. “Yesterday Eden had a large part of training with the team,� Sarri said on Friday. “Maybe he will not be ready to play for 90 minutes at the

moment, because it was his first training in the last two weeks. But probably he will be able to play for 40, 45 minutes. So for us it’s important.�

When pressed on whether he will play from the start, he added: “I don’t know, I want to speak with him first.�

Crystal Palace are without a win from their last five games in all competitions but last time out in the league they picked up a point with a battling 2-2 draw against Arsenal.

It was a performance manager Roy Hodgson believed deserved three points and he feels his side have been unlucky in many games so far this season. “Confidence demands a lot of courage,� Hodgson told Sky Sports News. “You have to have the courage to play football. I think we have done

that this year. We have not maybe got as much to show for it as we would have liked but I think the courage to play and the desire to play has always been there and as a result has bred a certain amount of confidence.�

Ross Barkley is set to return for Chelsea having been rested for the Carabao Cup victory over Derby in midweek.

Chelsea have lost two of their last three Premier League meetings with Crystal Palace (W1), as many as they had in their first 15 against them in the competition (W11 D2 L2).

Crystal Palace have won two of their last three away league games against Chelsea (L1), more than they had in their previous 18 combined at Stamford Bridge (W1 D8 L9).

Palace - 2-0 winners at Fulham in August - haven’t

Leicester City Players Fly to Djokovic Beats Federer to Owner’s Funeral in Thailand Reach Paris Masters Final Leicester City players and officials left for Thailand to attend the funeral of the club’s owner who died in a helicopter crash. Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s funeral began at a Bangkok temple yesterday with Buddhist bathing rituals and will be followed by recitation ceremonies.

Players will be attending services today and tomorrow after beating Cardiff 1-0 yesterday in the first game since his death. Before the match they wore T-shirts featuring a picture of Mr Vichai. They stood for a minute’s silence along with Leicester City staff and fans ahead of the kick-off.

Mr Vichai died with two members of his staff, the pilot and a passenger when the helicopter

crashed moments after taking off from the King Power Stadium on 27 October.

His funeral began with a bathing rite ceremony and will be followed by recitation ceremonies over seven days. The ceremony was held behind closed doors and a special funeral urn and also a five-tiered umbrella, which reflected his high status, was used.

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, the manager of Thailand’s women’s football team, and the president of the Football Association of Thailand were among the guests.

Leicester City players and club officials are expected to arrive back in the UK on Tuesday morning.

Novak Djokovic says his thrilling three-set epic with Roger Federer at the Paris Masters was “one of the best� between the pair. In their 47th meeting, the Serb beat Federer 7-6 (8-6) 5-7 7-6 (7-3) to reach today’s final.

Djokovic, who will return to world number one tomorrow (Monday), will face Karen Khachanov after the Russian defeated Dominic Thiem. “It was a spectacular match,�

Djokovic told Sky Sports. “We went toe-to-toe.�

He added: “We’ve had some epic matches but clearly this is one of the best, in terms of the level of play.

Along with the Wimbledon semi-final against Nadal, it’s surely the most exciting match this season.�

The 31-year-old, now unbeaten in

22 matches, is a four-time winner of the Paris Masters. A win today will see him draw level with Spain’s Rafael Nadal on 33 career Masters titles.

Swiss third seed Federer, chasing his 100th career title, seemed to be back to his best in yesterday’s semi-final and looked stronger as the match wore on.

The 37-year-old spurned set point in the first set tie-break and could only watch as Djokovic took the early advantage, roaring with emotion following a one hour 14 minute epic.

But, with nothing separating the two in the second, Federer finally broke Djokovic to win the set and restore parity - the first service break of the match.

won two away Premier League London derbies in a single campaign since the 1997-98 season, when they won at Wimbledon and Spurs.

None of the last 14 Premier League meetings between Chelsea and Crystal Palace have finished as a draw, with Chelsea winning 10 to Palace’s four.

Chelsea manager Sarri is unbeaten in his first 10 Premier League games as a manager (W7 D3 L0) - only one manager has had a longer unbeaten start, with Frank Clark managing 11 without defeat with Nottingham Forest in 1994.

Four of Chelsea’s last eight Premier League goals have been scored by English players (three Barkley, one Loftus-Cheek) - excluding own-goals, prior to this run just four of their previous 100 goals were scored by Englishmen.

Ross Barkley has scored in each of his last three Premier League games for Chelsea - only two Englishmen have scored in four in a row for the Blues, with Frank Lampard doing so on three separate occasions (2005, 2010 and 2013) and Mark Stein scoring in seven in a row in 1994.

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has lost his last four Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea - his only win there was in his first visit in April 1998 with Blackburn Rovers.

Since the start of last season, Luka Milivojevic has scored nine Premier League penalties for Crystal Palace - more than any of the other 22 clubs competing in the top-flight in that time have scored.

RESULTS & FIXTURES Bournemouth Cardiff City Everton Newcastle West Ham Arsenal Wolves Man City Chelsea

1-2 0-1 3-1 1-0 4-2 1-1 2-3 v v

Man United Leicester City Brighton Watford Burnley Liverpool Tottenham Southampton 4pm Crystal Palace 5pm

Sunday November 4, 2018

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

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Price: N400

MISSILE

President Buhari to National Assembly “I personally feel very disappointed. I spoke with the leaders of the National Assembly on the issue that seven months is a long time to work on a budget,’’ he said” – President Muhammadu Buhari on why projects could not be completed on time.

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Rebooting the Telecom Revolution

W

ith Globacom extending the superfast 4G LTE service to all the 36 states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory — thereby becoming the first Nigerian network to do so — I sighed in relief for the telecom industry. I will explain why shortly. In summary, the 4G LTE technology allows broadband internet access at speeds several times faster than 3G. This makes downloading and viewing movies/videos as well as listening to songs much faster. This is music to my ears. The Nigerian telecom industry has always needed to reinvent itself after a prolonged period of complaints from subscribers about the poor quality of service, both in voice and data.

What happened to the telecom revolution that engulfed Nigeria in the 2000s? Did it stall or simply slow down? Since the oil boom of the 1970s, nothing else has changed our economic landscape like the launch of GSM services in 2001. But while the oil boom basically distorted our political and economic structures, turning government offices to centres of monumental sleaze, harming transparency and accountability, creating a sense of entitlement and ruining our economic advancement, telecom has offered real contributions. It has created genuine wealth, produced real jobs, enhanced intellectual potential and impacted positively on virtually every sector of our lives.

Looking back, we truly have much to celebrate — in spite of all the challenges.

From less than 400,000 active telephone lines in 2001, we are now counting them in hundreds of millions. As at last count, 162 million. We now watch movies, TV and read news on our mobile devices. We make payments from our phones. The sector has produced authentic millionaires and billionaires and enriched government purse in billions of dollars. In 2001, the sector boasted of just $50 million worth of investments. Today, the figure is in excess of $70 billion. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) puts telecom’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP at approximately 10 per cent.

My dream, when Nigeria started experiencing telecom boom, was that the sector would offer a pedestal for us to conquer Africa. It is one industry that I thought held enormous, untapped potential with which we could play to our advantage in the global economy. But, let’s face the truth, the revolution appeared to have gone south along the line. The battles with issues of service quality got on the nerves of millions of subscribers. So many times, an invisible lady would tell us “your call cannot be completed” or “the subscriber cannot be reached”. Sometimes the lady would lie, without any sense of shame, that “the number you’re calling is switched off”.

Also worrisome is the mortality rate of mobile companies in Nigeria. Between 2001 and 2011, we could count telcos such as MTN, Airtel, Globacom, 9mobile, Nitel/ Mtel, Intercellular, Starcomms, Multilinks and Visafone, among others, operating in the sector.

But over time, most of them petered out in one form or the other. The challenges seem to have overwhelmed them, despite the glaring potential that remains untapped — especially with all the new technologies that can be

Adenuga Jr

deployed for better consumer experience.

The telecom boom turned to doom for many operators. Yet we know that things ought not to have plateaued so soon.

As things stand, Globacom is the only Nigerian-owned company still making significant progress in the sector. I still have fond memories of when billionaire businessman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr, entered the Nigerian mobile telephone market with Globacom in 2003. The vision of Globacom was, and still is, to be the biggest and the best telecommunications company in Africa.

Interestingly, about 14 years ago I wrote a series of articles with the title, “Made in Nigeria, Enjoyed Worldwide”. Globacom was one of the Nigerian companies I “adopted”. I wanted Glo to conquer Africa — competing with the likes of MTN and Vodacom which were the dominant continental brands at the time.

While I was one of those who celebrated Glo as a proudly Nigerian brand, I am not a blind supporter of “anything Nigerian”.

I believe that we must also offer quality.

That is the most natural way to take hold of the market. Many Nigerian companies are disadvantaged in terms of access to capital to be able to compete, but challenges are meant to be confronted, tackled and overcome.

For long, telecom operators have been under intense pressure to up their game, and they have in turn complained about the prohibitive cost of doing business in Nigeria, worsened by inadequate infrastructural backbone. This impairs the ability to invest heavily in network improvement.

At a point, it became clear to us all that the big players needed to re-invent themselves and revamp the industry with more investment in service quality. They had to change or die. In recent times, I have read a lot about how Glo has upgraded its network and modernised its infrastructure, which I think is good news for the industry — from a Nigerian perspective.

How Glo, as the second national operator, plays its role is vital to the overall growth of the industry. Its nationwide roll-out of 4G LTE service is exactly how to up the ante and revive optimism in the industry. Other networks will no doubt raise their game too.

The market is deep enough to reward those investing and innovating.

I digress a bit. Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), wrote a soul-searching book,

Emerging Africa: How the Global Economy’s ‘Last Frontier’ Can Prosper and Matter, five years ago. My major take-away from it is the need for Africans to consciously define the role they want to play in the global political economy.

We Africans tend to rely on outsiders to set the agenda for us and then assess us using their own criteria. So when they say Africa is “growing” and that we are an “emerging market”, we jump for joy, unaware that we are only “emerging” as voracious consumers of their goods and services rather than being producers.

We sign agreements and treaties that hurt rather than help us. We award all kinds of licences without factoring in our own good, to develop our own people and our own economy. Africans sleep, wake up, eat, drink, take decisions and go back to bed without a strategic end in mind. Much of Africa can be described as “NFA” — “No Future Ambition” — owing to a lack of a worldview, or logic, behind what we do and say as a people. We think the world is the way it is by mistake. Moghalu observed that the Asians understand the logic better and this reflects in their interactions with the global political economy. South Korea’s Samsung is dominating the electronics world.

I recently gave a talk on The Role of Media in Economic Nationalism at a CBN Workshop for Finance Correspondents and Business Editors in Lokoja, Kogi state. I pursued a similar argument: Nigerians need to understand that there is a world order and play the game to their own advantage. Our policies must define our desire. Also, our companies must up their game in order to partake in the increasingly competitive global environment.

Nothing comes on a platter of gold, apart from oil and its underground relatives. We must have a worldview to drive what we do. The world is not like this by accident.

People pull the strings to their own favour and so must we.

Moghalu pointed out in the book that worldview is “the most fundamental aspect of the African development dilemma”. Despite all the talk about Africa being an “emerging market”, Moghalu noted that the continent’s share of world trade was an insignificant 3% (compared to 60% in 1970); our share of Foreign Direct Investment was a mere 5%; the combined GDP of 54 African countries was just about that of India alone; the GDP of the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa inclusive, was similar to that of just Belgium; and all the electricity produced by Sub-Saharan Africa was equal to that of Spain, a country with just 5% of Africa’s population.

I now return to the telecom industry.

Africans have more mobile phone lines than Americans — but the devices are produced in Asia and North America. Emerging market without imagination! The challenge for us is how to deepen our involvement in this market. Yes, Globacom has rolled out 4G LTE service across Nigeria and this will enhance economic activities. Good news. But how can we play bigger in the global telecom sector?

How can we move to the next level? How can we begin to make or assemble mobile phones in Nigeria? We are still scratching the surface, given our capacity and potential. All the networks need to continue to invest and innovate. It is good for everybody.

And Four Other Things…

FEMALE GENERALS On Thursday, I had the rare privilege of anchoring the female achievers’ awards segment at the 17th Annual Conference of Women in Business (WIMBIZ), where pioneer female generals in the Nigerian military were honoured. Major-General Aderonke Kale (rtd), the first two-star general in the army, Rear Admiral Itunu Hotonu (rtd), the first two-star in the navy and Air Commodore Habiba Garba (rtd), the first one-star in the air force, were all celebrated. The women narrated how they defied the odds in our very chauvinistic environment. It was a touching moment for me. A time is coming, and now is, when we shall start giving women their dues in this peculiar society. Salute!

SHOOTING SHI’ITES AAs if we do not already have enough bloodshed in the land, soldiers opened fire on protesting members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) in Abuja, on Tuesday. The Shi’ites were demanding the release of their leader, Sheikh Ebraheem El ZakZaky, who was arrested three years ago. While IMN members are known for their lawlessness (officially, they do not even recognise the authority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria), nothing justifies the killings. The allegation that they wanted to seize weapons from the soldiers is weighty but how true? We urgently need a lasting solution to the IMN menace before another Boko Haram war starts. Wisdom.

BUHARI’S CERTIFICATE Watching President Muhammadu Buhari’s opponents take maximum political advantage of his WEAC certificate issue, as well as the attempts of his supporters to defend him, I am easily reminded of the troubles of President Goodluck Jonathan before the 2015 elections. His opponents used every trick in the book against him, including pointing out grammatical slips, to full political advantage. That is the way life goes. I honestly cannot wait for the 2019 elections to be over so that we can get to focus on Nigeria’s problems and challenges again. Crude oil price is falling and our reserves are under threat, meaning harder times ahead if we don’t act now. Priorities.now. Priorities.

AND FINALLY… US President Donald Trump, still playing his political card that feeds on xenophobia, made a startling claim during the week by threatening to sign an executive order to stop children born to immigrants from automatically becoming American citizens. It is a constitutional matter which he cannot decree out of existence, but he knew what he was doing.

With midterm elections just days away, he was merely touching base. And to think that his father’s ancestors originated from Germany and his mother’s from Scotland! All of his grandparents and his mother were born in Europe. His paternal grandfather, Frederick Trump, immigrated to the US at the age of 16 in 1885. Irony.

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