SUNDAY 13TH JANUARY 2019

South-south Governors Hold Emergency Meeting Today over Onnoghen Davidson Iriekpen The South South Governor’s Forum has scheduled an emergency meeting for today to discuss the Onnoghen matter. A statement by Special Adviser, Media Relations, to Governor Seriake Dickson

of Bayelsa State, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, stated that the security of the Niger Delta, during and after the election, the issue of derivation, and recent developments involving the CJN would feature for deliberation at the meeting.

Dickson said while he was

yet to know the full details of the developments at the Supreme Court regarding the CJN, it was a grave and dangerous escalation, coming a few weeks to the general election. He said the South-south governors would address a press conference

after the meeting to convey the position of the zone to the Nigerian public.

The urgency of this meeting is coming on the heels of the planned arraignment of the Chief Justice of the Federation at the CCT over non-declaration of asset by

the Federal Government.

A statement by the Head, Press & Public Relations, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Ibraheem Al-Hassan, confirmed the scheduled arraignment of the CJN on Monday, January 14, 2019 on a six count criminal charge

bordering on non-declaration of his assets.

Al-Hassan said the arraignment was sequel to an application filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to the CCT Chairman yesterday Continued on page 8

N134bn Ogoni Judgment Debt: Shell Loses Appeal at Supreme Court… Page 9 Sunday 13 January, 2019 Vol 23. No 8670

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Nation Rises to Condemn Planned Arraignment of Chief Justice Be ready for epic battle, which consequences can't be imagined, Atiku warns Buhari Says president’s former spokesman, Dennis Aghanya, is linchpin of plot NBA condemns ‘assault, intimidation, desecration’ of judiciary Over 150 SANs volunteer defence Agbakoba: planned arraignment outrageous Femi Falana: withdraw the charges now Secondus: It's plan to destroy judiciary Nyesom Wike: We must resist every attempt to emasculate the bench Our Correspondents The Federal Government’s planned arraignment of the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, was greeted with massive pushback by senior lawyers, politicians and human right groups, warning government of the grave implications of such an action.

With the 2019 elections just a little over 30 days away, the announcement of the impending trial of the CJN over non-declaration of asset sent shockwaves which reverberated across the country as many prominent politicians including former Vice President and presidential candidate

of the leading opposition, Party, PDP Atiku Abubakar condemning the move.

This is coming as over 150 seniors lawyers are mobilising themselves to defend the Chief Justice on Monday, before the Justice Danladi Yakubu led-Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Constitutional lawyer, Sebastine Hon, SAN on Saturday said the number of eminent lawyers that have volunteered to defend the CJN might even be more than 150.

The attempt to sack the chief justice of Nigeria is a cold reminiscence of the constitutional crisis that ensued in Pakistan in 2007 when the Continued on page 8

See THISDAY Weekly Guide to 2019… Pages 18-19

Onnoghen, Chief Justice of Nigeria

NFF Cautions against Persecution of Officials… Page 9

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ÍšÍťËœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

PAGE EIGHT NATION RISES TO CONDEMN PLANNED ARRAIGNMENT OF CHIEF JUSTICE military President Pervez Musharraf, unceremoniously fired the Chief Justice of Pakistan whose rulings had begun to challenge the Musharraf government.

Outraged Pakistani lawyers and others poured into the streets, setting off an unprecedented outburst of frustration that signalled the most serious challenge that General Musharraf had to deal with. The CJ was eventually reinstated.

The protests weakened his presidency eventually leading to his resignation to avoid impeachment in 2008.

The former vice president warned President Muhammadu Buhari and the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to refrain from throwing Nigeria into an avoidable crisis over the move. In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, the PDP candidate said the principle of separation of powers remained sacrosanct in a democracy irrespective of what Buhari was being told by his advisers or the buttons being pressed to forcefully remove the CJN. Atiku said the plot to sack Onnoghen was a pre-emptive move against the bench in the face of imminent defeat and knowing the role the judiciary plays in the final outcome of elections.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) also reacted strongly late last night to the application filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau to the Code of Conduct Tribunal Chairman for the trial to commence against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen.

In a statement issued on behalf of the body by its president, Paul Usoro (SAN), it condemned the targeted assault of the judiciary by agents of the Federal Government.

Onnoghen's Response But Onnoghen was quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as saying in a response to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) queries regarding his asset declaration that his 2016 declaration made up for any default. He allegedly stated, “My asset declaration form numbers SCN 00014 and SCN 00005 were declared on the same day, 14/12/2016 because I forgot to make a declaration of my assets after the expiration of my 2005 declaration in 2009.

Following my appointment as acting CJN in November, 2016, the need to declare my assets anew made me to realize the mistake. “I then did the declaration to cover the period in default.

I did not include my standard charted bank account in SCN 000014 because I believed they were not opened. “I did not make a fresh declaration of asset after my substantive appointment as

CJN because I was under the impression that my SCN 000015 was to cover that period of four years which includes my term as CJN,�

Mr. Onnoghen said in his statement dated January 11.�

Also reacting yesterday former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, condemned the move to sack CJN as “outrageous,� while the national chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, said it was a plan “to destroy the Nigerian judiciary barely 30 day to general election.�

Governors from the Southsouth geopolitical zone, where the Cross River-born Onnoghen hails from, fixed an emergency meeting for today to discuss the alleged scheme to sack the CJN, among other issues.

However, a highly-placed Presidency source said last night that the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, was scheduled to meet Buhari yesterday night on the Onnoghen issue. The outcome of that meeting was unknown as at the time of going to press.

Atiku Abubakar’s Statement Further Reads “We have just been made aware of the plot by President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen using flimsy assets declaration issues as a pretext. We are aware that there are plans to arraign Justice Onnoghen before the Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar-led Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday, January, 14, 2019. The charge against Onnoghen, we understand, has already been filed and served on him last Friday at his official residence in Abuja, preparatory to his appearance at the tribunal. “But we warn that despite the clandestine meetings in the highest echelon of the APC and also involving some top officials of the federal government, which include the Code of Conduct Tribunal, neither Buhari nor the APC can re-write the Nigerian Constitution just because of its impending defeat at the February 16 presidential election. Heavens did not fall when PDP lost to the APC in 2015. And heavens will not fall now that the APC is sure to lose to the PDP, seeing that the APC’s plan to rig in the forthcoming elections will not pull through.�

The former vice president said Nigerians were aware that the linchpin of the plot, the Executive Secretary of the Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), the author of the purported petition seeking Onnoghen’s removal, Mr. Dennis Aghanya, was the National Publicity Secretary of President Buhari’s defunct political party, the

Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

The PDP candidate warned that if Buhari and the APC succeeded in the current plot, they should be ready for an epic battle whose end and consequences could neither be predicted nor imagined. “We have the strength of character, the courage and the conviction to mount a sustained campaign in defence of justice, and in defence of separation of powers as enshrined in the constitution, which is the grundnorm of our democracy,� Atiku warned.

He said even if the allegations against Onnoghen were true, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) was wrong to have referred the petition to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

The PDP candidate noted that the Code of Conduct Bureau, according to Section 3 (e) of the Third Schedule (part 1) of the 1999 Constitution, “shall receive complaints about the non-compliance with or breach of the provisions of the Code of Conduct or any law in relation thereto, investigate the complaint and, where appropriate, refer such matter to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).�

But Atiku argued that since judicial officers were disciplined by the National Judicial Council (NJC), the CCB was wrong to have referred the matter to the CCT even if the allegations had been found to have any substance.

According to him, “The proper procedure would have been for the petition to be referred to the NJC of which Onnoghen is the Chairman, but he would have to excuse himself from the process. If found guilty, he could be asked to vacate his office as CJN, in addition to other punishments.�

But Atiku alleged that Buhari was desperate to get Onnoghen out of the way and appoint a pliable acting CJN who would superintend over election petitions, in case his rigging plan failed. He called on Nigerians to resist the move to silence the judiciary, saying Nigeria’s democracy, and not the judiciary, is on trial. “Buhari and his APC-led government should not emasculate the judiciary as they tried to do the National Assembly and was resisted by the President of the Senate, Abubakar Bukola Saraki. This is a brazen day light assault on the judiciary because he (Buhari) wants a pliable acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to sit on his election petition because he has seen the signal that he will lose the February 16 presidential election,� Atiku said.

NBA Condemns Assault, Intimidation and Desecration of the Judiciary The statement from the NBA

reads further: “The Nigerian Bar Association unequivocally condemns this assault, intimidation and desecration of the Judiciary by FGN agencies and demands that it be stopped immediately,� the statement said.

It quoted Nganjiwa v Federal Republic of Nigeria (2017) LPELR-43391(CA), where the Court of Appeal made it very clear that any misconduct attached to the office and functions of a judicial officer must first be reported to and handled by the National Judicial Council pursuant to the provisions of the law. “Only after the NJC has pronounced against such judicial officer can the prosecuting agencies of the Federal Government proceed against him,� the NBA said.

It pointed out As the Court pointed out, these requirements of the law are anchored on the overriding principles of separation of powers between the executive, the judiciary and the legislature and on the need to preserve, promote and protect the independence of the judiciary.

Our respective liberties and the rule of law are best protected and preserved if the judiciary remains independent and shielded from intimidation and assault by the other arms of the government.

3. In Nganjiwa v FRN (supra), the Court of Appeal made reference to Rule 3 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of February 2016 (“Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers�) and held that the said Rule 3 “makes provision in relation to fidelity to the Constitution and the Law�.

The provisions in regard to assets declaration as they apply to all public officers including the CJN are contained in both the Constitution and the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act 1991, the enabling law that establishes both the Code of Conduct Bureau (“CCB�) and the CCT. The fidelity which judicial officers therefore owe “to the Constitution and the Law� pursuant to Rule 3 of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers encompasses compliance with the provisions relating to assets declarations as contained in the Constitution and the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Any infraction in that regard by a judicial officer, as the Court of Appeal rightly held, constitutes a misconduct by the judicial officer and becomes the subject matter for discipline by the NJC as a condition precedent to any possible prosecution of the judicial officer by any of the FGN’s prosecuting agencies.

4. Why has FGN decided to embark on this anomalous course of charging the CJN before the CCT without first presenting whatever facts it purportedly has against His Lordship to the

NJC for its deliberation and determination? The Petition that triggered the CCB action was on its face received by the Bureau on 09 January 2019 and the Charge was promptly drafted and is dated the following day, 10 January 2019 – giving the CCB a record 24 hours for completion of its investigation and the drafting of the said Charge and ancillary processes!

If one contemplates the fact that the CCT arraignment is scheduled to take place on 14 January 2019, we have in total a record number of 3 (three) working days between the receipt and processing of the petition, investigation, preparation of Charge and ancillary processes and the arraignment!

Such unprecedented speed and efficiency in Nigeria’s criminal justice administration!

It is clear, given the rush with which this matter was conducted by the CCB, that the NJC was not privy to it and did not conduct its mandatorily required disciplinary processes prior to the filing of the Charge before the CCT. 5. We still wonder why the FGN choose to deviate from the laid down and explicit provisions of the law as expounded in Nganjiwa v FRN (supra). Could it be that it was misadvised? Or is this a naked show of power and force by agencies of the FGN? And why embark on the media trial of the CJN? This, unfortunately, is a predilection of the FGN’s prosecuting agencies with the possible exception of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

As the NBA pointed out in its International AntiCorruption Day Statement that was issued on 09 December 2018 “media trial of persons charged with corrupt practices . . . amount to corruption itself.

Indeed, those orchestrated media trials degrade and corrupt the justice administration system quite apart from the incalculable (but obviously intended) damage that it does to persons who may ultimately be discharged and acquitted.

In point of fact, it is corrupt practice to use as license or hide under the cover of the fight against corruption to recklessly destroy the names, characters and reputations of persons who have not been found guilty of corrupt practices by competent courts and who may ultimately be pronounced innocent of such charges.�

These media trials must, alongside the on-going desecration and assault of the judiciary, cease forthwith.

5. There are two final issues that we must touch upon in this Statement, albeit, briefly.

First, could it possibly be a coincidence that the current assault on the judiciary is taking place only weeks to the 2019 National Election?

Apart from the conduct itself being wrongful and deplorable, its timing is

condemnable. FGN will find it difficult to convince any reasonable person that its assault against the CJN and by extension the judiciary is not aimed at emasculating that arm of the government and intimidating our Judges ahead of the 2019 National Elections.

In our afore-referenced International Anti-Corruption Day Statement, the NBA had deplored “conducts that qualify as . . . political non-accountability, absence of transparency and impunity in public service.�

The FGN’s conduct in this instance qualifies, amongst others, as “impunity in public service�.

6. As a final point, it is also difficult for a disinterested observer not to see a pattern of consistent assault by agencies of the FGN on the heads of the two independent arms of government, to wit, the legislature and the judiciary, starting with the prosecution of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, before the CCT and now, the ill-fated prosecution of the CJN before the same CCT. The impression must not be created that the agencies of the Executive arm of the FGN are interested in destabilizing and laying prostrate the other arms of the Government and in the process eliminating and destroying any and all voices of dissent and checks and balances.

That is not desirable for the democracy that we strive to build neither is it good for the image of the Government.

We urge restraint on the part of Government and demand that the CCB follow due process in proceeding against the CJN by complying with Nganjiwa’s Judgment (supra) and other similar judicial precedents.

This continuing attack on the justice sector must cease forthwith. FGN and its agencies must desist from debasing the rule of law.

Agbakoba: It’s Outrageous to Arraign CJN Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), described the purported arraignment of the CJN before the CCT as unconstitutional, regardless of whether he was guilty or not. Agbakoba stated that it was outrageous to suggest that a CJN could be arraigned at all on any grounds, as the constitutional procedure clearly specified that he would have any charge against him laid before the Senate or the NJC, which is empowered to take disciplinary action against judges.

According to Agbakoba, “It is outrageous to even suggest that a CJN can be arraigned at all on any grounds as the constitutional procedure clearly specified that the CJN will Continued on page 11

SOUTH-SOUTH GOVERNORS HOLD EMERGENCY MEETING TODAY OVER ONNOGHEN for the trial to commence against the Chief Justice of Nigeria on a six count charges.

He added that service of summons has been effected to the Defendant, while the three man panel led by Justice Danladi Umar, will commence the trial on Monday, 14th January, 2019 at its courtroom, situated at the

headquarter, along Jabi Daki biyu, Saloman Lar way, Abuja, at about 10:00am.

"The application was filed Friday by the operatives of CCB, dated 11st January, 2019 and signed by Musa Ibrahim Usman (Esq) and Fatima Danjuma Ali (Esq), containing 6 count charges all borders on non declaration

of asset", part of the statement read.

However report reaching THISDAY noted that Onnoghen's arraignment is sequel to a petition filed by a civil society group, AntiCorruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), accusing the CJN of false asset

declaration and other sundry allegations.

He is also being accused of maintaining Domiciliary foreign currencies account which comprised Dollars Account, Pound Sterling Account and Euro Account which are alleged to be contrary to relevant laws, especially for public office

holders.

It was also learnt that the FG in addition plan to file a motion on notice praying the tribunal to order the CJN to vacate office and recuse himself from office so as to prevent alleged interference in his arraignment and trial.

The group in the said petition, dated January 7, 2019, said

Onnoghen “is the owner of sundry accounts primarily funded through cash deposits made by himself up to as recently as 10th August 2016 which appear to have been run in a manner inconsistent with financial transparency and the code of conduct for public officials�.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 13, 2019

NEWS

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

N134bn Ogoni Judgment Debt: Shell Loses Appeal at Supreme Court Davidson Iriekpen and Bayo Akinloye The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), which prevented First Bank of Nigeria Limited from paying the plaintiffs community a judgment debt now totaling N134 billion to the plaintiff community represented by 10 Ogoni Chief of Ejama Ebubu community of Ogoni in Rivers State.

In a ruling on Friday, Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs said the notice of appeal filed by the oil giant was incompetent and struck out based on Order 8 Rule 7 of the court’s rules.

Justice Akaahs also said motion filed by Shell on July 16, 2018 had no leg to stand on it ought not to have been filed.

The Supreme Court consequently awarded N500,000 against Shell for filing an incompetent appeal in the court.

Citing authorities to back up

his submission, the apex court held that since the notice of appeal filed by Shell sought to be amended was incompetent, no valid amendment could be effected because issues of fact or mix law and fact were raised in the original notice of appeal with leave of court.

He agreed with the submission of the lead counsel to Shell, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) that an appellant who has a valid and subsisting appeal can seek the leave of court to do so,

adding that in the instant case, there is no such valid notice of appeal that could be amended.

“Where the grounds of appeal are based on mixed law and facts and the leave of either the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court is not sought and granted, the appeal is incompetent and neither the Court of Appeal nor the Supreme Court will have any jurisdiction to entertain the appeal.

“As the notice of appeal sought to be amended was

WE SHARE YOUR GRIEF

L-R: Former Minister of Aviation, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas; Pere of Akugbene Mein, HRM,Pere Stanley Peredigha Luke; first Governor of Old River State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff; Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III; Governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson, and Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Manir Dan’Iya, during a condolence visit by Ijaw leaders and elders to the Sokoto Caliphate on the death of former President Shehu Shagari... Friday

incompetent, no valid amendment could be effected even though issues of jurisdiction were raised in the proposed notice of appeal.

“Learned senior counsel for the appellants stated that correct legal position that the appellant who has a valid and subsisting appeal can seek the leave of court to do so but in the instant case, there is no such valid notice of appeal that can be amended, Justice Akaahs held.

The suit was first commenced in 1991 before a Rivers State High Court sitting at Nchia Division, when the Ejama community represented

by Isaac Osaro Ogbara, Victor Obari, John Oguru, Joseph Ogusu, G. O. Nnah, George Osaro, and Adanta Obelle, had sued Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Netherlands, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, United Kingdom, and SPDC over alleged oil spills in 1970 that occurred when Shell operated in the community.

Judgment was entered for the sum of N6Billion in favour of the community by the Nchia High court. That judgment was conceded on appeal because the Supreme Court had in a sister case decided that States High Court have no jurisdiction in oil related matters. The Plaintiffs in 2001 refiled the suit at the federal High Court, Port Harcourt.

However, this 2001 case, presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba claiming N17billion and interest thereon went through full trial. Justice Buba, after listening to the

submissions of the parties in the suit, in his judgment in 2010, awarded N17 billion to the representatives of the Ogoni people.

The court equally granted the Ogoni chiefs 25 per cent interest charge on the principal sum of about N17 billion.

SPDC then appealed against the judgment and applied for a stay of execution of the judgment pending the appeal.

As a condition for granting the stay of execution, the court required Shell’s bankers, FirstBank, to provide a guarantee of the judgment sum plus interest.

This condition was complied with. But Shell’s appeal failed on merit because Shell failed to file a brief of argument in support of their appeal but instead claimed that they were granted leave to file an amended brief of argument, which the Court of Appeal found not to be correct.

Against that judgment, Shell proceeded to the Supreme Court where its lawyer, Olanipekun, SAN now leading Olawale Akanni (SAN) who was the company’s lawyer at the Court of Appeal when that appeal was dismissed, filed a fresh application asking for leave to amend the original notice of the appeal filed by Akoni in the Port Harcourt court of appeal registry in order for him to argue fresh points not raised at the court below and in order Continued on page 85

Fayemi: Within Seven Days, One Killed, Five Kidnapped in Ekiti Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi yesterday lamented the rising spate of kidnapping in the state, disclosing that within seven days, suspected kidnappers killed one person and abducted five others in different parts of the state.

Consequently, the governor urged O’dua People’s Congress (OPC) and vigilante operatives to support security agencies to rid the state of criminal elements, mainly the rampaging kidnappers that are perpetrating abduction in the state .

He made the remarks at a meeting with the leadership of the OPC in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, canvassing multi-pronged approach to fighting the rising spate of kidnapping and criminal activities in the state.

Precisely last Monday, former Commissioner for Lands in the state, Mr. Remi Olorunleke and the Director of Administration, Gbonyin Local Government Area, Mr. David Jejelowo, were kidnapped along Ado-Ijan road.

This incident occurred barely a week an accountant with Emure Local Government Area, Mr. Abayomi Ajayi was killed

by gunmen along Ikere –Ise road while two other staff from the same local government were abducted .

Consequent, Fayemi had held a meeting with the leadership of the artisans, market women and Inter-party Advisory Committee (IPAC), assuring that they would benefit from the federal government’s TraderMoni programme.

Fayemi, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Mobilisation, Mr. Tunji Ogunlola, said the state government was not comfortable with the kidnapping and killings of some local government officials and other Ekiti

citizens in recent time.

According to him, all hands must be on deck to put those with criminal tendencies at bay and safeguard the lives and property of the residents.

He explained that the state government “needs the backing of every resident of the state to tackle the menace because they will be at the receiving end if proper actions are not taken. The present administration will not tolerate criminals to hijack the system and destabilise the state.

“We are seeking the efforts of every member of the society to tackle these evil doers. Within

Lagos APC Partners Private Ayade Mourns Victims of School Owners Fuel Tanker Explosion Worried about the growing number of pupils and students in public and private schools in Lagos, the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu and his running mate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat pledged to find solution to this all important sector.

To this end, Hamzat has assured Private School Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Lagos chapter of robust relationship with their administration, if they were elected in March.

Hamzat assured the school owners during a one day seminar organised for school owners yesterday at the LTV complex, Blue Roof, Agidingbi, urging them to vote Sanwo-Olu and himself in the coming election.

Hamzat proposed setting up a tripartite committee where the operators can express their needs; what they want government to do and how both can collaborate in order to put education in Lagos on a good pedestal.

According to him, If we must improve the state of education in Lagos, government must partner with private owners. One of the issues to be addressed if that of multiple taxation.

Hamzat, former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, said it was wrong for any government officials to go and closedown any school when students are in session, ‘our government will look into that’.

Bassey Inyang in Calabar Cross River State governor, Senator Ben Ayade has expressed deep regrets and sadness over the tragic death of some persons in an explosion from a fuel laden tanker at New Netim junction, on the outskirts of Calabar.

Ayade, who said he was devastated by the unfortunate tragedy, described the incident as not only gripping but mind numbing, saying it was a tragedy that should not have occurred in the first place.

He said this in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Christian Ita yesterday.

According to him, my heart goes out to all the victims of the fuel tanker explosion. This is the most horrendous way to die. I am too shocked and trauma-

tized to express the depth of my grief for the victims of the explosion.

As a government, Ayade said the state would try and reach out to the victims’ families who are affected by these avoidable deaths.

Whatever circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident must be thoroughly investigated. This is one tragedy too many. We must do something to ensure this does not happen again.

While pleading with Cross Riverians not to subject themselves to such cheap and avoidable deaths, Ayade urged the state Ministry of Information and Orientation to immediately begin a sensitisation campaign to educate the citizens on the dangers of scooping fuel from fallen tankers laden with fuel.

two weeks, over five people were kidnapped while one person was shot dead. We will not rest until these people are either flushed out or apprehended.”

Although the state government had ordered the Police Commissioner, Mr Asuquo Amba, the Directorate of State Services (DSS) and other security networks to rid the state of criminals, Fayemi said the support of other stakeholders in security would help the conventional security agencies in the state.

He disclosed that he had reinstated the sacked operatives of the scrapped Ekiti State Peace

Corps “to show how committed we are to making Ekiti safe. We intend to recruit 800 operatives to work with the police across every community.

“As a respectable pan-Yoruba security group, OPC is also welcomed in the battle to make Ekiti safe. We need you because you are credible. You understand the terrain. We have that confidence in you that you can provide supports for the police in the area of providing information for the security agencies that will help their intelligence gathering for them to take proactive action.

NFF Cautions against Persecution of Officials Demola Ojo The Nigeria Football Federation has cautioned against persecution and public show trial of its officials.

This is against the backdrop of erroneous media reports over the past week, which claimed that the Presidency had ordered the prosecution of leading officials of the NFF, while the Special Presidential Investigatory Panel (SPIP) on the recovery of public property headed by Okoi Obona-Obla sought a travel ban against NFF President Amaju Pinnick and six other officials.

They include Vice Presidents Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi and Mallam Shehu Dikko, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf, Alizor

Chuks, Mohammed Cheku and Dr Sanusi Mohammed.

However, in a press statement made available to THISDAY yesterday by lawyers to the NFF, Mamman Nasir and Co., the football federation bemoaned the “orchestrated media campaign” against it officials and the use of an “online media mob” to promote the pre-determined media reportage of the activities of Chief Obon-Obla and SPIP. This online onslaught ceaselessly tag the stories to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Presidency and its media aides, the APC, the opposition parties, the EFCC, ICPC, FIFA, CAF and their officials, among others, according to the statement.

JANUARY 13, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

10

SUNDAY COMMENT

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

OF MILITARY, MEDIA AND INSURGENCY There is need for a continuous dialogue between the military and the media on the conduct of the war against the insurgents

T

he invasion last Sunday by soldiers of the offices of Daily Trust Newspapers in Maiduguri, Abuja, Lagos and Kaduna is, to put it mildly, very unfortunate. The exasperating siege, arrest of reporters and seizure of computers and mobile phones, over matters that could ordinarily be resolved through dialogue cannot in any way help whatever cause the military might be pursuing. If there are perceived infringements on the part of the media, the right thing for the military to do is to approach the court of law for redress rather than resort to self-help.

In justifying its action, the army accused the newspaper of divulging “classified military information, thus undermining national security”.

The said publication, according to the army, gave Boko Haram an advance warning, sabotaged the planned operation and put the lives of their troops in danger.

While we agree that a mistake was made by Daily Trust Newspapers in publishing the said story, the lesson that should be learnt from other jurisdictions with similar challenges to that of our country today is that defeating insurgents requires more than muscles. If there is no cooperation with the media and the civil populace, vital information that ought to assist the military would be withheld. And in such a situation, we are all losers.

We have said repeatedly that the military deserves our support for the sacrifices they make on behalf of the nation at a most difficult period in our history. From

Wherever there is any allegation of infractions, as the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria reiterated in its statement, 'the best option is to follow due process and civility, not knee-jerk, not intimidation and spread of fear in the civil society'

Letters to the Editor

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kidnapping to armed robbery, Nigeria is today challenged on several fronts. And as crimes become prevalent, several military personnel are now being deployed for policing duties.

Because they have insufficient training for their new roles, engaging in activities that highlight conflicts between them and the civil society is also becoming a recurring problem. But wherever there is any allegation of infractions, as the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) reiterated in its statement, “the best option is to follow due process and civility, not knee-jerk, not intimidation and spread of fear in the civil society.”

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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

or sure, the military confronts a serious challenge in the battle to contain the Boko Haram. Until lately, the insurgents were carrying out their grisly atrocities particularly in the Northeast, at will.

And the feeling out there was that if the insurgents were causing such murderous havoc, then it stands to reason that our armed forces were not doing enough or lacked the requisite resources.

There have also been serious allegations of impropriety against the leadership of the armed forces. Most of these issues are being reported in the media to the displeasure of the military authorities who see journalists as enemies.

Curiously, the same military that initially denied reports that some territories were taken by the insurgents used the media as a scapegoat while planning to retake those same communities. The point here is that issues of trust and credibility of information must be addressed.

We understand that this is a difficult war to fight. A situation where terrorists are well-armed and buoyed by a false religious philosophy that has freed them from the fear of death can be unnerving. But as we have also repeatedly highlighted, the atmosphere of insecurity currently inflicted on the nation by the Boko Haram insurgency and other crises points to poor use of preemptive intelligence and a lack of coherent strategy. It is trite to say that the insurgents have entered a new phase in their campaign.

Perhaps because they have international affiliates, they now have sufficient capacities to inflict serious damage and claim some territories as they did in the past. To therefore defeat them would require the collaboration of all the critical stakeholders.

It is in this light that we urge a continuous dialogue between the military and the media on the conduct of the war. If anything, such interactions, especially with bodies like NPAN and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), should assist in spelling out areas of collaboration. But to show good faith, the military must resolve their issues with Daily Trust newspapers in an atmosphere devoid of intimidation and threats.

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.

Improving Nigeria's Saving Culture

he news broke in the fourth quarter of 2018 particularly on the 19th December that about $1.68 billion was drawn from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) in the last one month, leaving a balance of $631 million as at the date of the report.

Barely three weeks before then, Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, disclosed at the end of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting in Kaduna on November 25, 2018, that the balance in the account stood at about $2.319 billion.

At the end of the FAAC meeting for December in Abuja on Wednesday, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mahmoud Isah-Dutse, said the money was withdrawn to settle the last tranche of the Paris Club

loan refund to states.

The handling of the ECA has continued to receive criticism from various angles. The final tranche was vigorously criticized by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party accuses President Buhari of "superintending over the surreptitious withdrawals from the ECA without recourse to the statutory appropriation of the National Assembly."

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mahmoud Dutse and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, however noted that due process was followed and the necessary approvals were gotten.

It is a clear fact that the country's oil reserves are depleting.

This national asset belongs not just to the current generation but also to the future ones.

The rapidly changing dynamics and volatility of the global oil market thereby underscored the need for building material fiscal savings.

Hence, the wisdom behind the establishment of ECA in 2004 to serve as buffer to sustain present and future developmental strides in Nigeria.

At times of crisis like when the price of oil nosedived, savings like those in the ECA could be used as a fiscal buffer to mitigate loss in income from either low price of oil or low oil production output.

During the global financial and economic crisis of 2008 to 2009, some of the savings were used to administer a fiscal stimulus to the Nigerian economy thus giving it a boost and warding off a recession.

In her book, "Fighting Corruption is Dangerous - The Story Behind the Headlines", Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, former Minister of Finance gives a glance on the creation of the ECA and the many criticisms and events that followed.

She writes that despite the success of the oil-price based fiscal rule and the Excess Crude Account, governors opposed these mechanisms noting that the ECA was unconstitutional and that all monies therein should be shared with federating units and not saved, relying on Section 162 (1) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution. She continued, that the counter argument from the Finance Ministry and the Economic Management Team sprung from Section 16 (1) (a)(b)(c) of the constitution which enjoins the state to amongst others (a) harness the resources of the nation and promote national prosperity and an efficient, dynamic and self-reliant economy.

This and other challenges led to the

creation of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) and the enactment into law of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority act of 2011. $1bn out of the ECA was used as seed fund to kick start our SWF. As at 30th May 2018, Nigeria's Sovereign Wealth Fund Savings stood at $2.15 billion.

The Nigeria SWF is comparably tiny being the eighth-largest exporter of oil in the world as opposed to the funds set aside in Saudi Arabia, Norway and Abu Dhabi, which have more than $600bn in assets as part of their funds.

Sadly, it can be said that Nigeria has frittered its oil revenues with large infrastructure deficit, white elephant projects and has also not saved enough for the future generations. The importance of savings cannot be over emphasized especially when optimally invested.

––Amuda Toheeb, Lagos.

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ÍšÍťËœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

CJN ONNOGHEN... CJN ONNOGHEN... CJN ONNOGHEN... CJN ONNOGHEN...

How Not to Remove a Chief Justice of Nigeria Tobi Soniyi The Federal Government appears to have deliberately ignored the provisions of extant laws and established judicial precedent when it filed a motion asking the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen to step down because of the charges of alleged violation of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.

Either the National Judicial Council or the National Assembly must play a role play the process for the removal of the CJN. As it is, the federal government has chosen to ignore the the Senate and the NJC. Except the Justice Onnoghen surrenders to the blackmail, the process adopted by the federal government is not likely to lead to his removal.

In the circumstance, the president is expected to act on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate. Since there is no such an address, the CJN remains secure in office.

However, since the CJN doubles as the Chairman of the National Judicial Council, the case against Justice Onnoghen is tricky.

If past experience is anything to go by, when

allegation is made against a sitting CJN, the procedure established by the NJC is for the CJN to temporarily yields his chairmanship of the NJC to his deputy who will preside over hearing of the allegation.

In the case against Justice Onnoghen, the federal government has chosen to bypass the NJC and consequently the CJN is not under obligation to step down as chairman of the NJC. For the avoidance of doubt, below are the constitutional provisions dealing with the removal of the CJN.

State, Praying that he be so removed for his inability to discharge the functions of his office or appointment (whether arising from infirmity of mind or of body) or for misconduct or contravention of the Code of Conduct; (b) in any case, other than those to which paragraph (a) of this subsection applies, by the President or, as the case may be, the Governor acting on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council that the judicial officer be so removed for his inability to discharge the functions of his office or appointment (whether arising from infirmity of mind or of body) or for misconduct or contravention of the Code of Conduct.

Provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) on the Removal of Chief Justice of Nigeria 292. (1) A judicial officer shall not be removed from his office or appointment before his age of retirement except in the following circumstances (a) in the case of (i) Chief Justice of Nigeria, President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital

A New Precedent Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami Territory, Abuja, Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and President, Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of

the Senate. (ii) Chief Judge of a State, Grand Kadi of a Sharia Court of Appeal or President of a Customary Court of Appeal of a State, by the Governor acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the House of Assembly of the

In December 2017, the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos established a new precedent when it held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission did not have the statutory powers to investigate or prosecute serving judicial officers except where such individuals have first been dismissed or retired by the National Judicial Council, the body saddled with

disciplining erring judges.

According to the appellate court, serving judicial officers can only be prosecuted for offences like murder, stealing and others if such offences were committed outside the discharge of their official duties. But once the offence was allegedly committed in the discharge of their duties, they must first be tried by the NJC, and dismissed or retired before the EFCC can investigate or prosecute them, the court said.

A judge, Obaseki Adejumo, who delivered the lead judgment for the Court of Appeal, held that the condition precedent to filing charges against a judge had not been fulfilled, adding that the NJC must first strip or remove the judicial officer of his judicial standing before he could be charged with such alleged offence allegedly committed in the course of discharge of his duties.

The Court of Appeal’s decision was in respect of a suit brought by the EFCC against Jusyoce Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, a judge of the Bayelsa Division of the Federal High Court, who was accused of unlawfully receiving $260,000 and N8.6 million through his bank account between 2013 and 2015.

NATION RISES TO CONDEMN PLANNED ARRAIGNMENT OF CHIEF JUSTICE have a charge laid before the Senate for misconduct or the NJC, which is also empowered to take disciplinary action. “The courts have stated very clearly that the NJC is charged with the sole responsibility for disciplinary action against judges in addition to powers conferred on the Senate. “It is therefore unconstitutional to charge the CJN before a CCT, whether guilty or not.�

Femi Falana – Withdraw the Charges Renowned human rights activist Femi Falana, SAN, stated, “The charge against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen ought not to have been instituted at the Code of Conduct of Tribunal in view of the case of Nganjiwa v FRN (2017) LPELR 43391 wherein the Court of Appeal held that a judicial officer who has not been investigated by the National Judicial Council and sanctioned for misconduct cannot be arraigned in any criminal court in Nigeria. As all authorities are bound by the Court of Appeal verdict the case should be withdrawn by the Attorney-General of the Federation without any delay because it is likely to be a prosecutorial misadventure.�

Nyesom Wike – We must Resist Every Attempt to Emasculate the Judiciary On his part the Rivers State Governor urge Nigerians to resist the Federal Government’s attempt to intimidate the chief Justice and the judiciary as a whole. “Nigerians must stand up and resist this tyranny. It is a ploy to whip the judiciary

into line to achieve their rigging plans. We warned that this government was not interested in holding elections several months ago. Otherwise how can they even think of arraigning the Chief Justice of Nigeria before asset tribunal?

This APC government is desperately trying to emasculate the judiciary.

They did it to the Senate President and the National Assembly and failed now they have moved to the judiciary.

This is a ploy to intimidate and coerce the judiciary into playing along with them on election matters. Who will be next if they get away with this? Nigerians must stand up against this draconian attempt to frighten and intimidate every institutions of state. They are afraid of the elections, they want to rig it if they even hold it at all.�

Secondus: APC Wants to Destroy Judiciary National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, said the news about the arraignment of the CJN before the CCT was an attempt by the APC to destroy the judiciary. He said the move coming barely 30 days to the general election showed that the ruling party was desperate to manipulate and thwart the will of Nigerians at the poll. “It is obvious that the APC wants to destroy the Nigerian judiciary barely 30 day to general election in their desperation to manipulate and thwart the will of Nigerians,� he said.

‘CJN-Must-Go Project’ Ploy to Rig, Foist Totalitarianism – CUPP, HURIWA Coalition of United Political

Parties (CUPP) condemned as undemocratic, unconstitutional and illegal the alleged plot by the Buhari presidency to remove Onnoghne, calling it a ploy to rig the general election.

It accused Malami, Minister of Transportation Chibuike Amaechi, Goodswill Akpabio, APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, Bola Tinubu, and Hope Uzodimma of being behind the CJN-mustgo project.

A statement by CUPP, signed by its spokesman, Imo Ugochinyere, said the Buhari government was plotting to bring Nigeria to a halt. It stated, "The Presidency had during the appointment of Justice Onnoghen shown its card that it was not comfortable with his appointment, hence it was delayed until President Buhari was hurried out of the country due to perennial illness. Justice Onnoghen has since shown that he is fair, firm and able to do justice and will not succumb to the pressures of a Presidency that is planning to rig an election as the only hope of winning a reelection following their rejection by the Nigerian people. This dastardly move by the Presidency is the last desperate acts of an outgoing government to blackmail the CJN out of office and bring in a rouge judge to allow APC rigging."

The coalition said, "We know we are dealing with a President who is a maniac now. He is willing to bring Nigeria to a grinding halt.

Nothing is sacred to President Buhari anymore. Not the lives of Nigerians, not our institutions of state, not security, not the economy, just absolutely nothing."

It added, “The trumped up charges will fall like a pack of cards like those filed

against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and all the judges whose homes were invaded on October 7, 2016."

"This can only be a plot to manipulate post 2019 election tribunal. Nothing else can be behind this despotic move to desecrate office of the CJN. What President Buhari is doing is the height of impunity and rascality. The CJN cannot be forced out of office even with a trillion fictitious charges."

On is part, a nongovernmental organisation, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), accused Buhari of attempting to foist a totalitarian regime by subterfuge.

In a statement by its Coordinator, Emmanuel Nwobiko, HURIWA said mischief and malice might have guided the decision of the presidency to institute the charges before a tribunal tailor-guided by the executive arm of government. It recalled that the president hesitated in appointing the current CJN in a substantive way but plotted to impose a northern-born justice who was then second in line in terms of seniority to Onnoghen.

Don't Bow to FG's Intimidation, Says Sebastine Hon A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Sebastine Hon, called on the CJN not to give in to intimidation, saying the move to arraign him is political.

In a statement he issued yesterday, Hon noted that even though the CJN did not enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution, the move to arraign Onnoghen was dangerously political and tendentious. He said, "I strongly counsel the CJN

not to heed the obviously unholy call that he should step aside. There is light, I am strongly persuaded, at the end of the tunnel!

"Suddenly, we woke to see a petition leaked to the informal or social media, allegedly received by the Code of Conduct on 9th January, 2019. Suddenly, we are told charges have been filed against the CJN. "Suddenly the Presidency is reportedly asking him to step aside! Was he interrogated or interviewed and his own reactions obtained? Why this supersonic rush?

"These steps are more political than honest. There is an attempt to destroy the Judiciary or gag it; and in the latter situation, to hector it into submission.

"I personally say no to this!

All Nigerians of goodwill must say no to this unprovoked assault on the Judiciary.

"After unsuccessful attempts to reign in the National Assembly, the same unholy attention is beamed on the Judiciary. If this arm of government is destroyed, due process, constitutionalism and the rule of law will pave way to whimsical, narrow and brute force, at the instance of one man or a select few!

"I personally say no to this. “Nothing stops the Federal Government from deferring, in the interest of national peace and cohesion, the filing of those charges till an opportune time - since there is no limitation of time in criminal proceedings. Why now?"

Hon observed that federal prosecutors were aware of extant decisions of the Court of Appeal, "to the effect that unless and until the NJC pronounces a judicial officer guilty, he cannot be arraigned in court. Those

authorities know full well that these decisions of the Court of Appeal have not been overruled; but they have decided to humiliate the CJN, by rushing some charges to the Tribunal and leaking same to the press over the weekend."

Buhari Acting a Script – Fani-Kayode A former Minister for Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, accused Buhari of acting a script with the filing of charges against Onnoghen at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. FaniKayode said in a statement yesterday that democracy was dead in Nigeria, adding, “If anyone thinks that Buhari intends to leave power this year or anytime in the near future they need to think again."

He recounted, "Deji Adeyanju in custody and being framed with murder.

Dino Melaye in custody and being framed with attempted murder. Doyin Okupe in custody and being framed with corruption.

"Sambo Dasuki in custody and being framed with corruption. Ibrahim Ek Zak Zaky in custody and being framed with murder. Nnamdi Kanu in exile and being framed with treason.

"Meanwhile the Chief Justice of the Federation has been added to the list. Buhari has directed that he should vacate his seat and prepare for arraignment on criminal charges on Monday.

"This is all part of a wellcrafted script. The bitter truth is that democracy is dead in Nigeria. If anyone thinks that Buhari intends to leave power this year or anytime in the near future they need to think again."

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 13, 2019

OPINION Nigerian Diaspora And Investment In Education Pardon Mujakachi writes that technology is aiding Nigerians abroad to scale up access to education at home

N

igeria has no shortage of high achievers.

From Chinua Achebe to Chimamanda Adichie, the country has been a prolific producer of noted writers, academics, scientists, and more. In the UK, children of Nigerian immigrants out perform their white British peers. Meanwhile, in the United States, home to the second largest Nigerian diaspora community in the world, Nigerians are the country’s most highly educated immigrants.

Despite a reputation for excellence abroad, children at home are being left behind. In 2017, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai called on then acting president, Yemi Osinbajo, to declare "an education state of emergency in Nigeria" in light of the urgent need for investment in the country’s educational sector. With over 12 million children out of school, Nigeria is home to one of the largest numbers of out-of-school children in the world.

Yet Nigeria also leads the field on a different front: it has the largest volume of remittances in Africa, as its industrious diaspora keeps earning and sending money home in ever increasing numbers. Much has been said about the impact of remittances on the country – particularly in terms of investment in real estate. A recent report from the global consulting agency Dahlberg also explored how diaspora funds could be channelled towards investments in SMEs and other economic activities.

Less attention has been paid, however, in the investment that the diaspora is already making in an area critical to the future of the nation: the education of Nigeria’s children. Informally, almost everyone who is sending or receiving money back will know a child or

student whose fees are being paid or who is being helped in other ways - with books, uniforms, exam costs - to go to school: put simply, supporting the education of the extended family back home is a top priority of Nigerians abroad.

Our new research reveals the scale of that support.

Analysis of household level data shows that diaspora remittances currently keep an estimated 200,000 children in the classroom. It also shows that children in families that receive remittances are 40% less likely to be out of school.

They will also have more spent on their education and are less likely to be working in household chores, the family business or in other forms of work.

At an individual level, this investment is transformative.

Take Nsikak, a Nigerian nurse now living in Australia, for example. He has supported the education of his brother and sister in Ikot Offiong, a village in Cross River State for almost a decade. Thanks to his contributions, his sister Abasifreke, now aged 20, completed primary and secondary

Supporting the education of the extended family back home is a top priority of Nigerians abroad

school and now attends the University of Uyo, where she is training to be a chemistry teacher. By making it easier to send money home, we can enable students like Abasifreke to reach their full potential.

Technology is making a difference. Digital disruption to the traditionally, cash-based remittance industry is driving costs down and freeing up more money to support diaspora causes at home. Our estimate is that if all remittances were digital, an additional $825 million would be freed up for education across the globe. And it’s not just about costs. Digitisation has meant that transfers are faster and can be tracked more easily. No more trips half-way across a city in the US, Europe or the UK, to send money from a bureau which take several days to arrive or entrusting it to a friend of a friend to carry home, with all the attendant security risks. This matters not just because children’s education is too valuable to be entrusted to such unreliable methods, but experience shows that exam fees and school equipment often need to be paid at short-notice, not days or weeks later.

Almost one in four sub-Saharan people reside in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country. By 2050, the United Nations estimates that Nigeria will be the third largest country in the world. In order to cope with the current and future needs of the country, expanding access to education is an economic and social imperative. Leveraging the contributions of the diaspora, and potential of technology, must be a critical part of efforts to scale access to quality education.

––Mujakachi is the Country Director of WorldRemit, a leading digital money transfer service.

INEC, Voting Point Settlements and Gerrymandering Voting Point Settlements should be allowed to take care of new settlements around the FCT, argues Sufuyan Ojeifo

I

n a situation of partisan frenzy in Nigeria, it is normal for political parties and their operators to perceive some actions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as promotional of the interest of the governing party. There is constantly the tendency for observers to deliberately reconstruct the notion of neutrality, denying it the elemental inviolability, in matters of administrative relationship between the executive arm of government and the electoral body, due largely to the influence of the superintending force of the executive.

There seems to be a consensus among politically-conscious and enlightened Nigerians that the so-called independence of INEC exists only in nomenclature. They see it as an unconscionable contrivance by officialdom to hoodwink other stakeholders who are not in a position to deploy the institution of the electoral body in securing electoral advantage.

Some previous actions by the Commission had validated its insalubrious place, in the matrix of administrative operations and decision-making, as an appendage of the executive arm of the federal government. The exertion by INEC, over the years, to preserve the veneer of an independent body, has been futile.

Therefore, in interrogating the principle of its independence, it is clear that it is only a matter of degree. The summative verdict is that the electoral body is not entirely independent.

That understanding has motivated the regular criticisms of INEC by the leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The PDP believes that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) exercises administrative control over INEC; and, therefore, every plan, action and decision of the electoral body that affects the stakeholders, no matter how well-intentioned, is viewed with suspicion and subjected to strident criticism.

One of such was the purported plan by the electoral body to gerrymander ahead of the 2019 general election. To gerrymander is to manipulate the boundaries of an electoral constituency to favour one party or class. To be sure, gerrymandering which, in U.S. politics, means drawing the boundaries of electoral districts in a way that gives one party an unfair advantage over its rival, is derived from the name of Governor Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, whose administration enacted a law in 1812, defining new state senatorial districts.

INEC, under Professor Attahiru Jega, was criticized for its alleged plan to create additional 30,000 polling units ahead of the 2015 general election. In fact, the plan was dogged by ethnoregional or geographic anxiety. The southern part of the country kicked because of reports that more than 70 percent of the new polling units would be created in the northern part. It was feared that the exercise would confer electoral advantage on the northern part and its consensus candidate in the 2015 presidential

poll, Muhammadu Buhari.

In the circumstance of political tension, the plan was filibustered and never actualised. Clearly, creation of new polling units is an emotive issue. It is thus understandable why INEC, under the leadership of the incumbent chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, could also not pull it through in spite of having had enough time to deal with it. Whereas, it is a constitutional issue, the process of tinkering with the boundaries and electoral units should have been activated as soon as the 2015 general election was concluded.

Taking the issue through the laid-down constitutional process would have quieted raging opposition to it. The fear that INEC was likely going to embark on the perceived illegality of creating new polling units has been the plank of the opposition’s criticisms. Interestingly, pushing back against the allegation by the PDP that it was planning to do so to compromise the 2019 general election, the Commission had issued a rebuttal of the alleged plan by it to gerrymander.

Sometime in April 2018, the Commission had, through the Chief Press Secretary to the chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, issued a statement to clarify the subject. He said that the Commission had, as of the time, received 3,789 requests nationwide for the creation of new polling units, explaining that the Commission had directed its Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to assess the requests and provide it with information on new settlements not served or inadequately served by existing polling units.

The Commission said that the RECs were also to assess and provide information on areas affected by communal and other conflicts that would make voting in existing polling units unsafe for voters.

According to the Commission, “It is these reports and the information they contain that will be collated and carefully examined by the Commission in order to determine what changes may be necessary in the current polling unit profile of the country.”

Consequently, the Commission dismissed as false, misleading and unfounded the insinuation that it intended to create 30,000 new polling units to compromise the 2019 general election. But the Commission had reportedly said it would embark on the exercise after the 2019 general election. Regardless, the opposition parties, especially the PDP, have continued to monitor the Commission to ensure it does not circumvent the process, supposedly, to foist on the nation illegal polling units in the guise of preserving the rights to vote exercisable by eligible but internally displaced Nigerians (IDPs) living in IDP camps in parts of the country.

But for the constitutional provisions undergirding the creation of polling units, which inextricably link the process with boundary adjustments, the exercise of creating new polling units to take care of IDPs would have been the right way to go. The IDP camps are recognizable settlements inhabited by Nigerians and, therefore, creation of new polling units would preserve the voting rights of eligible voters in the camp. Besides, deployment of election officers and materials in the affected settlements can be monitored by the Commission.

Perhaps, the fear of the PDP is that because IDPs’ settlements derive their sustenance from government, they can easily be “swayed” to support the government, president and party in power. The thesis is that the bloc votes from IDPs’ camps may be susceptible to easy manipulation due to unconventional problem of deployment of logistics for monitoring those settlements by the opposition parties.

The reported insistence by the electoral body to pilot something that approximates the essence of the new polling units, to wit: Voting Point Settlements (VPS) should be allowed to take care of new settlements (not necessarily IDPs), which have sprung up in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The understanding one gets is that the registered voters will be transferred to VPS closer to where either the migrated voters live or like Gwarimpa, the largest estate on African continent, with only four polling units, according to Professor Yakubu. Can the logistics of pushing that through be easily surmounted in about six weeks to the general election?

How will the Commission know those who have relocated without the affected persons coming forth with such information? A situation where eligible voters will defy movementrestriction order to go to where they originally registered to cast their votes is inevitable. All stakeholders, including security agencies, must obligatorily show understanding.

Although, the opposition has kicked against the VPS, INEC does not appear ready to shift ground. Yakubu said a few days ago that the VPS were meant to aid Abuja voters, especially those who have moved very far away from where they registered. If the pilotage in FCT is not constitutionally encumbered, it should be a good starting point.

Besides, if the overarching idea is to ensure that eligible voters are not disenfranchised in the exercise of their civic rights, then the stakeholders, more especially the opposition parties who are worried about the perceived Machiavellian end to which the governing party could deploy the process in cahoots with INEC, should give the electoral body the benefit of the doubt, in the national interest.

––Ojeifo sent this piece via ojwonderngr@yahoo.com

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž JANUARY 13, 2019

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LETTERS Genetically Modified Organisms: Are They Safe?

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ecently, in the news media, there have been various reports about the introduction of certain genetically modified (GM) crops and seeds into the country. Examples of such include the reported release of genetically modified cowpeas to farmers and the release of two transgenic cotton hybrid varieties into the Nigerian seed market as also reported in The Guardian newspaper of December 6, 2018; and the granting of permits by the federal government for confined field trials on genetically modified maize, rice, cassava, sorghum and cowpea to ascertain ability to resist insect attack. All these are despite growing opposition by a coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) against the introduction of GMOs in the country.

The GMOs, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), are organisms (i.e. plants, animals or micro-organisms) in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur

Adewole, Minister of Health

naturally by mating and/or natural recombination. The technology is often called “modern biotechnology� or “gene technology�, and sometimes also “recombinant DNA technology� or “genetic engineering�. It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from

one organism into another, also between nonrelated species. Foods produced from or using GM organisms are often referred to as GM foods.

Why are GMOs (including foods, seeds, crops, etc.) produced? GM foods are developed – and marketed

– because there is some perceived advantage either to the producer or consumer of these foods. This is meant to translate into a product with a lower price, greater benefit (in terms of durability or nutritional value) or both. For example, suppose that a farmer does not want his potatoes or apples to turn brown when they are cut or bruised. Researchers come to the rescue by removing the gene that is responsible for this browning and replacing it with an altered version that blocks browning.

One of the objectives for developing plants based on GM organisms is to improve crop protection. The GM crops currently on the market are mainly aimed at an increased level of crop protection through the introduction of resistance against plant diseases caused by insects or viruses or through increased tolerance towards herbicides.

What are the potential dangers of GMOs? According to an April 22, 2000 issue of Awake! magazine, “Biotechnology has moved at such a dizzying pace that neither the law nor regulating agencies

can keep up with it.

Research can scarcely begin to prevent unforeseen consequences from arising.

A growing chorus of critics warns of unintended results, ranging from severe economic dislocation for the world’s farmers to environmental destruction and threats to human health.

Researchers warn that there are no long-term, large-scale tests to prove the safety of genetically modified food.

They point to a number of potential dangers: r "MMFSHJD SFBDUJPO If a gene producing a protein that causes allergic responses ended up in corn, for instance, people who suffer from food allergies could be exposed to grave danger. Despite the fact that food-regulating agencies require companies to report whether altered food contains any problem proteins, some researchers fear that unknown allergens could slip through the system. r *ODSFBTFE UPYJDJUZ 4PNF experts believe that genetic modification may enhance natural plant toxins in unexpected ways. When a gene is switched on, besides

having the desired effect, it may also set off the production of natural toxins. r 3FTJTUBODF UP BOUJCJPUJDT As part of the genetic modification of plants, scientists use what are called marker genes to determine if the desired gene has been successfully embedded. As most marker genes provide resistance to antibiotics, critics fear that this could contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. Other scientists, however, counter that such marker genes are genetically scrambled before use, thus alleviating this danger. r 4QSFBE PG iTVQFSweeds.� One of the biggest fears is that once modified crops are planted, genes will escape via seeds and pollen to weedy relatives, creating “superweeds� that are able to resist herbicides. r )BSN UP PUIFS organisms. In May 1999, researchers from Cornell University reported that monarch butterfly caterpillars that ate leaves dusted with pollen from GM corn sickened and died. ––Daniel Ighakpe, FESTAC Town, Lagos

Nigeria and Children Born Out of Wedlock Can Nigeria Achieve 3% GDP Growth?

T

he number of children born out of wedlock is on the rise. And this is disturbing.

Children from unsolemnized matrimony carry despicable identities, though divinely innocent. The act is provocative. It is becoming an accepted norm in many societies.

In short, some societies especially in the far southern geopolitical zones accept that it is the only means of the assurance of the fruitfulness of the female folks.

There is the traditional belief that the female are predominately married to the “marine spirits� which makes them barren in the physical world, though they bear children to their spiritual husbands. Over there, the stories of witches and wizards are quotidian.

The informal meaning of bastard is an unpleasant or despicable person. Its synonyms are scoundrel, villain, rogue, rascal, brute, animal, monster, ogre, wretch, devil, good-for-nothing, reprobate, wrongdoer, evil-doer and more.

In another explanation, bastard refers to something or a person who is no longer in its pure or original form; in debased form.

I am convinced that no reasonable person can bet that none of these categories of mankind is not predominant in our societies. Who can bet? But most conventional dictionaries explain bastard as an illegitimate child, an unpleasant or despicable person, a person born of parents not married to each other.

This act is inimical to orthodox religious beliefs. Even if the children from such acts are free, the act builds a faulty

foundation which divinely affects the society. It is unarguably that rottenness begets nothingness. God is angry with the acts of producing bastards, having made lawful to mankind the legitimate ways to procreate. God is angry with the procreators of such species of mankind. God cannot be happy with such societies which allow such acts to prevail.

In Nigeria, it can be argued that a good percentage of the population is from questionable relationships. Premarital and post-marital illegal relationships have become as common as the alphabets the children recite daily at schools. Around our homes, on the street, in markets and everywhere, there is frequency of rape cases across Nigeria. Induced sex on the less privileged is prevalent.

Teenage pregnancy in villages is commonplace.

Infidelity amongst married couples which lead to production of illegal children is also becoming prevalent. Sexual promiscuity in schools, offices and worship places is on the rise. And stories of kidnappers and men of the underworld victimizing their female captives are also increasing.

I cannot even control the prevalence of “illegal� children in my own extended family, how much more those who do not take it to be anything. Most members of the young generations think it is a civilized way of life. Some go into relationship without any sex education only to get pregnant and give birth when abortion becomes impossible. If not, young girls in cities commit so many abortions with modern pills

while those in the rural areas apply local concoctions which often damage their wombs.

That is why some young men will not take their wife-to-be to the altar until they are sure of pregnancy. Alternatively, the young men would prefer to go back to their villages for a less risked life partner. That is after some of them have rubbished some girls in the cities. I will labour to explain each with possible instances.

But before then, I must confess that I have found the case of the almajiris in the northern part of Nigeria very intriguing, yet confusing. I do not want to believe that any of them is a product of illegal intercourse.

But it is also difficult for one to believe that all of them are.

They are too many to count.

It beats imagination how legitimately born children could be left to the hard open air to survive in the name of seeking religious knowledge. I also feel that the government of states of the north are overwhelmed by their inability to give accurate census of the nomadic “knowledge� seekers. And one wonders the controversy over the proposed training of 10 million almajiris by an anti-Islamic evangelist, Reverend Matthew Kukah’s centre.

An elder patriot in an argument on this matter postulated that the idea conceived by Kukah, whether altruistic or not, is a manifestation of the failure of Muslim leaders at the community, business and political levels. Recalling that 99.5% of the millions of contemporary war refugees are from Muslim countries, he said it was the Christian countries of Western Europe

that accommodate them while neighbouring Muslim countries reject them. According to him, there are many Muslim billionaires but who have been indifferent to use their wealth to project Islam and Muslims of Nigeria. “Therefore, Muslims should wake up and keep their own houses in order to make it impossible for the like of Kukah of this world to poach on Muslim children for conversion to Christianity under whatever guise�, he squeaked. A Muslim analyst partly concluded that Muslims should thank Kukah for his foresight and proposal.

Sex on the less privileged, especially the female hawkers also lead to unwanted pregnancy that often produced children without fathers.

Sometimes, the female hawkers willingly engage in such acts to make up for themselves or for their parents. Such stories have been recorded where female children abandoned by their parents face the hazards of lousy male grownups. Baby factories abound in many places.

Once the babies produced from these factories cannot fit into the cause of its breeders, they are thrown into the streets.

Motherless babies also abound in many places.

But not all of the babies can make it in life, after all what is there to struggle for a child who has no body in life. With the predominance of this category of children, how many can be catered for when a population of legitimate children under their parents grasp for life? The world is really too much with us. ––Muhammad Ajah, Abuja

O

n Wednesday 9 January 2019, the World Bank disclosed that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for Nigeria will be 2.2% as against the 2.1% growth projected in June 2018. When the President presented the 2019 budget to the National Assembly, one of the components of the budget projects that the GDP of Nigeria will grow to 3%.

The thrust of this piece is on the dichotomy (disagreement) between the World Bank projection and that of Nigeria.

According to the World Bank, the major factor that will lead to the growth of Nigeria’s GDP will be recovery from the oil production.

However the GDP is susceptible to rising public debt and political tension that will emanate from the general election.

The federal government projects 3% GDP growth as against 1.9% achieved in 2018. President Muhammadu Buhari proposed a budget of N8.83 trillion for 2019. A quarter of this budget, which is N2.14 trillion, will be used for debt servicing, N2.031 trillion was dedicated for capital expenditure, N4.04 trillion was proposed for recurrent expenditure, statutory transfer and sinking fund were pegged at N492.36 billion and N120 billion respectively.

Some pertinent questions: How will Nigeria achieve a 3% GDP growth in situation

where capital expenditure takes the back seat? It is conspicuous from the above figures that both debt servicing and recurrent expenditure are ahead of capital expenditure.

Secondly, the current government has not shown serious commitment in tackling some factors that impact positively on the GDP. These factors are interest rate, unemployment, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and inflation rate. Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) under the Central Bank of Nigeria left the interest rate at 14% at the recent MPC meeting. The aim was to reduce pressure on inflation and exchange rates. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in December 2018 revealed that the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation increased to 11.28 per cent (year on year) in November from 11.26 percent in October.

Double digits interest rate and inflation rate will not grow Nigeria’s GDP. Nigeria’s unemployment rate increased from 18.8 per cent in the third quarter of 2017 to 23.1 per cent in the third quarter of 2018.

According to CBN, FDI deteriorated slightly from $891.25 million in June 2017 to $435.64 million in July 2018. It is obvious from all these salient variables that achieving 3% GDP growth will be a difficult mountain to climb. –––Okonkwo Okechukwu, Garki, Abuja

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5 ) * 4 % ": t SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2019

5 ) * 4 % ": t SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2019

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18

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 13, 2019

THISDAY WEEKLY GUIDE TO 2019

Adebutu

Wike

Saraki

Sylva

The Road to 2019: Flashpoints to Watch (XVIII) With the presidential election four weeks and some days away, the battle for votes now escalates every week, writes Olawale Olaleye

T

he rejection of INEC’s guidelines for the 2019 elections by about 61 political parties was one of the highpoints of last week. INEC had penultimate week released the guidelines, which necessitated the meeting of stakeholders. But the meeting reportedly frowned on some of the provisions in the guidelines, which is yet to be addressed by INEC. The issue of vote-buying, which INEC and the United states have continued to harp on is likely to remain constant till the time of the election and indeed, generating its own controversy.

Although the United Nations claimed to be seeing increased prospects for a peaceful poll, the opposition PDP does not except the issue of Amina Zakari, a cousin of President Muhammadu Buhari, who has been handed a key role in the election by INEC is addressed.

In fact, the PDP has since reported Zakari and INEC to the European Union (EU).

There was also an increased clamour for the replacement of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris by some stakeholders, mostly members of the opposition parties especially since his time is up.

Also, last week, one of Buhari’s support groups, teased the camp of the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, when it asked him to drop his presidential bid, saying the game was over.

According to the Buhari Media Organisation, Atiku should consider throwing in the towel in order to avoid a shattering defeat at the polls on February 16, following defection of four top notch PDP members to the APC, among them a former PDP National Chairman Adamu Muazu; former PDP Deputy Chairman, Babayo Garba Gamawa and Bauchi State PDP Publicity Secretary, Yayanuwa Zainabari.

Leadership of the foremost pan-Igbo group, Ohanaeze, unsettled the turf last week when it said it had not endorsed the PDP candidate, contrary to assumptions. Also, against insinuations of capacity, President Muhammadu Buhari has promised his party that he would campaign across the 36 states of the federation, when his party proposed zonal campaign in consideration of his health.

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka took a former president of the country to the cleaners last week, saying he did not have the moral right to run down Buhari, at the same time, a former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, who is leading Buhari’s campaign took a swipe at Atiku, in a manner consistent with his regular bashing of the former vice-president.

These indications, without doubts, are evidence of a country in the thick of an electioneering period. This is why it would not surprise anyone how the equations in many states took stupefying turns in the week that just ended.

OGUN The Changing Equation

One of the interesting pieces of news that filtered out of Ogun State last week was the decision by controversial governorship candidate of the PDP and senator for Ogun East, Buruju Kashamu that his supporters should move support to his arch rival, Ladi Adebutu for the governorship election.

Although the matter is still in court, the decision by Kashamu to bow to Adebutu has been interpreted variously to have been informed either by some form of political tradeoffs or battle weariness. Whichever one, that development might have altered significantly the political equation and calculation.

In fact, there are speculations that some staunch supporters of the APC candidate, Dapo Abiodun had begun to consider alliance with Adebutu in their estimation that their candidate might not fly. That, of course, would deal a great blow to the Abiodun rank especially in the midst of certificate scandal and allegation of attack on his campaign.

Meanwhile, some cabinet members of the Ibikunle Amosun government resigned their positions last week, mostly to concentrate on their elections. This is as the candidate of the APM, Adekunle Akinlade, has continued to traverse the nook and cranny of the state canvassing for votes for himself and Buhari in a fashion no one else has shown to have the capacity to emulate.

Definitely, the coming in of Adebutu has changed the equation. But more importantly, it has put Abiodun in a further distant position in the current rating in the state, with Akinlade still comfortably in the lead.

LAGOS A Disturbing Turn of Event

The violent turn of the APC rally in Lagos last week has remained the talking point, days after what was supposed to be the kick-off rally of the governorship ambition of the ruling party’s candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was totally messed when rival motor park touts ceased the occasion to settle scores.

That the rally turned out violent was not unexpected. The ruling party in Lagos has over time involved members of the various unions in

its activities, so much that it sometimes plays them against each other in the bid to stay relevant and have them remain loyal to its leadership.

There is no doubting the fact that the stabbing of Musiliu Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo, leader of one of the groups has unsettled the current equation in the state with respect to alternative security arrangement for the elections. How the APC is able to rise from this is what many are yet to see.

In other news, the opposition PDP recorded some progress last week, when candidate of the party in the state, Mr. Jimi Agbaje and a leader of the party in the state, Chief Olabode George reconciled their differences. With both leaders now on the same page, the camp is further strengthened against the opposition for the battle ahead.

RIVERS Decreasing Hope of the Opposition

Last week’s ruling by a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, which declared as illegal, null and void the direct and indirect primaries conducted by factions of the APC in Rivers State, has altered the subsisting equation in the state. With that ruling and except the appeal rules differently, Governor Nyesome Wike of PDP might return to government unopposed.

To properly seal the misfortune of the APC, the court also restrained INEC from recognising any candidate of the APC for the 2019 general election in the state and ordered the commission to remove the names of all APC candidates from the ballot and other electoral materials. The court took the decisions in its judgments in two separate matters brought before it.

Definitely, this might have killed the morale of many APC supporters, who had wanted a refined Tonye Cole to do the electoral battle with Wike and perhaps, alter the political trajectory of the state. That dream, however, may be forlorn for now pending the appeal, which may change the tide again.

KWARA Saraki as Thorn in their Flesh

President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, is definitely one of the actors on the watch list of the ruling party and this is as far back as the time he emerged senate president in 2015. Unfortunately for him, it appears the

police as an institution had since been detailed to be on his case for this period hence he’s had running battle with the force.

Last week, he raised the alarm that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, was after his life and that of his family, saying Idris should be held responsible if anything happened to him or his family. The Senate President made the allegations at a press conference in Abuja, where he cited an attack on his family quarters and also noted that IGP had posted three different Commissioners of Police to Kwara State in the last six months.

In a swift reaction, however, the Force Public Relations Officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Moshood, who appears to be in the same league with the IG, had come out to quickly describe Saraki’s allegations as unfounded.

He said in a statement that all the Police personnel attached to the person of the Senate President, his office and family were intact and that all the statutory security protection on the person of the Senate President were also accorded him all the time, “and there was no complaint from the Senate President before now to the Police on this.”

Although a majority of the people did not believe Moshood, because of his capacity to muddle up truth, a habit which comes natural for him, that Saraki might be contesting against the force is the narrative doing the round in the state’s political firmament. Kwara is one state many are looking forward to in the elections.

BAYELSA Renewing an Old War

Perhaps, by choice, Bayelsa had been quiet for some time as the countdown to February closes in. That position has changed and now, the masquerades are gradually coming out to the village square for their regular show.

First, it was a former governor of the state, Timipre Sylva, who alleged that the incumbent governor, Seriake Dickson was plotting to create an artificial war between him and the Presidency.

Sylva’s media aide, Julius Bokoru, said the first step was to put him on a head-on collision with the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, saying he was not in the business of petty rivalries within the same government, as being imagined by Dickson.

But the governor replied saying Sylva was an unpopular and desperate politician, whose conscience remained his greatest threat, adding: “Somebody of the exalted status of a former governor is crying wolf where there

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JANUARY 13, 2019 ˾ 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

The Road to 2019: Flashpoints to Watch (XVIII) is none and hallucinating that the governor reputed to be his political nemesis is after him.

For certain, there is no governorship election in Bayelsa but there is going to be a fierce battle of relevance at the presidential election in Bayelsa and the outcome of that election, will show the way to other elections in the foreseeable future. But as both a PDP state and home to a former president, it may be difficult to undo the PDP in the state. Yet, it would be interesting to watch these things unfold.

him. Curiously, he has survived and still surviving more minefields. But when he called on the people of the state for the umpteenth time to expect divine power and glory in individual and collective desires in the state in 2019 by handing the year to God, many could relate to his plight.

Emmanuel told the people of Akwa Ibom to strengthen their faith in God in the coming election to avert the negative plans against the soul of the state, praying God to subdue the conspiracies of impostors to the surprise of the people of the state and the country. He didn’t speak in parables. His choice words are clear and direct to where intended. The election here would be more than interesting.

ENUGU Overwhelming the Opposition

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi sure knows how to treat the opposition like kids in a competition he is confident to declare his own game. Since the journey to 2019 started, he has maintained the narrative that the state is solely PDP’s and in addition, that he could run on his own record. These things have been doing wonders to his campaign.

Therefore, when the Chairman of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Enugu State, Bishop Godwin Madu described the gale of endorsements for his re-election by people from various walks of life as overwhelming and a sign of good leadership, he was believed to have merely spoken the mind of an average observer in the state.

Nonetheless the reservation by anyone, there is a meeting point: Ugwuanyi is the man to beat. He knows his onions and there is a record to run on. Without glibly dismissing the opposition, it would take more than banking on federal might to defeat Ugwuanyi, in a state where everyone unanimously wants him and the camp of the opposition in disarray.

ADAMAWA A Scandal That Won’t Go Away

Ugwuanyi

Bindow

C’RIVER Savouring Unusual Support

KANO Ganduje’s Anticipated Pushback

It was not news to many, perhaps, when the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje said last week that it was high time his government divulged all the alleged financial atrocities committed by the administration of his predecessor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, of which he was a critical part.

Ganduje’s recent ordeal over allegation of bribery had been traced many times to Kwankwaso, an allegation that Kwankwaso had dismissed as untrue, saying he even tried to intervene on behalf of the governor for the videos not to be released.

Ganduje and Kwankwaso, after over 15 years of sound friendship and working together, parted ways not long after Ganduje was made governor by Kwankwaso. Although the truth of their disagreement is not in the news yet, it is basically about interest and control.

Thus, the February election is considered a rare opportunity for both men to settle their scores once and for all. Kano, like a few others, would offer an interesting spectacle in the elections.

SOKOTO Battle of Territorial Integrity

Like the scenario in Kano, the duo of Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and former governor Aliyu Wamakko of the state would settle their rivalry this March.

Last week, Tambuwal at his kick-off rally said the state would deliver 100 per cent victory to the PDP at all levels of elections, despite effort by the APC in the state to distract the government from pursuing its goals and objectives.

But the APC candidate, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, who boasted about unseating Tambuwal, urged the people of the state to vote for him and President Muhamadu Buhari for infrastructure development of the state.

Supporting this, Wamakko, said all candidates of APC in the forth-coming election were men and women of good reputation,

Governor Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa State has kept a low profile for some time now essentially because of a certificate scandal that was going to throw spanner in the works for him. Sadly, this scandal has refused to go away.

But the matter took a probing twist last week, when a judge of the Federal High Court, Yola, Justice Abdulaziz Anka, stepped down as the presiding judge on the case of alleged forgery of West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) certificate against him.

By standing down on personal reasons, the shock that arose from the action is the same that would typify the election in the state as the last has not been heard of the matter against Bindow. Those behind it are not resting on their oars either.

Tambuwal

Uduaghan

urging the people to vote out PDP in the state for its “dismal performance.”

Election in the state is not only going to be a referendum about performance, but about an existential power struggle between the two leaders.

PLATEAU Between the Old and New Brigades

BORNO Still Clawed by Insurgency Nothing captures the sad reality in Borno State as well as the whole of the North-east than the emotional breakdown of the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, when he broke down during his meeting with President Buhari in Abuja. According to reports, he wept profusely over unrelenting devastation of his state by Boko Haram terrorists, asking the president to do more to save the people from destruction by the terror gang.

Shettima, while speaking to Buhari could not fight back tears as he chronicled the deadly activities of Boko Haram since 2013 and noted that the recent destructive acts of the terrorists were only comparable to what he described as the worst times of 2013, 2014.

What this had done is put a lie to the official position of the government, which kept saying the insurgents had been decimated.

Besides, with INEC not certain of an election in such areas, Shettima had a reason to be sad.

Curiously, the situation in the state and environ is yet another verdict on the government of Buhari.

Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong and his immediate predecessor, Jonah Jang, took each other to the cleaners recently, when they sparred over the ongoing killings in the state.

Lalong was reacting to comments attributed to Jang, where he accused Lalong of governing the state from Abuja. Jang, who spoke during a campaign rally for Jeremiah Useni, governorship candidate of the PDP, said he obviously did not build the Government House at Little Rayfield for Lalong to occupy.

But reacting through his Commissioner for Information, Yakubu Dati, Lalong who described the rally as “poorly attended” added that “it is unfortunate that Jang could face the people of Plateau State and make claims to good governance, when his tenure as governor has been one of the worst in the history of Plateau State.”

Again, as in many other states, the battle for 2019 in Plateau is one between the old and new brigades and a verdict on the two leading parties such that would determine their strengths and weaknesses. It’s another referendum in the waiting.

AKWA IBOM Surrendering to God

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has faced serious threats to his re-election in recent time, including attempts to impeach

Despite swirling allegations of nonperformance against him, the Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade savoured some support from some of the least expected quarters, when an elder brother to the governorship candidate of the APC, Senator John Owan Enoh, Professor Anthony Owan Enoh, as well as his other kinsmen unanimously endorsed Ayade for the 2019 governorship race.

Also throwing their weight behind Ayade’s second term bid were top political leaders including former military Governor of Kwara State and leader of the delegation, Col. Palm Ogar (rtd), traditional rulers, youths and elders from the eight political wards of Etung Local Government Area, where Owan Enoh hails from.

This has been considered a major setback to the campaign of the APC candidate even though he has brushed it aside as of no consequence, what is sure is that there are many forces both for and against the two candidates in this election and the election is for anyone to take.

DELTA Indulging in Relevance Politics

Since he left the PDP for the APC, the immediate past governor of Delta State and Delta South senatorial candidate, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan has been struggling frantically to stay relevant and prove to his APC folks that he was a force to reckon with in the state.

Many simply waved it aside, when last week he said the achievements of President Buhari in the Niger Delta area and Delta State in particular, would make his re-election in the February presidential election easy. He spoke at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja last Monday.

Truth is that Uduaghan knows that the Delta politics is beyond such pettiness or favourseeking sycophancy. Only strong men play it and this is where he differs. He is believed to have shown only to be an opportunist in power, the type that can never compete on the Delta turf, except of course, he is yet to show a different stuff he is made of.

Situating the Presidential Run

B

eing the first bout of election to hold, the presidential leg of the 2019 election is beginning to assume interesting twists each passing day. Last week, APC launched its campaign council and also held its inaugural meeting in the week.

Although the composition of the council is already causing serious tension as governors elected on the platform of APC and others are setting up their own initiatives, having been taken out of the main initiative. More or

less, the campaign is in disarray.

A recent report though described the February 16 election as too close to call, the PDP camp is however not joking as Obasanjo, Atiku and Saraki have begun to perfect their plots on how to dislodge Buhari.

This week will certainly open up new vistas of political developments on the 2019 elections such that would further define the direction the elections are likely to take as they inch closer.

Buhari

Atiku

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J ÍšÍťËœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

INTERNATIONAL Unending Coups d’Etat and Dictatorial Democracy in Africa: Beyond the Case of Gabon

A

frica has many problems of development. They range from infrastructure deficit and economic poverty to political instability and military insecurity. Of the various problems, the most critical is the nature of political will and incapacity of enforcement. Expression of political will is always well couched in the best of English or best of French and Portuguese languages. However, the translation of the political will into reality and manifest destiny has always been more problematic. African leaders like and love very good things but hardly do they do enough good things in terms of achievement of what they love. It is within this frame of thinking that we consider the need to look at the unending problems of coups d’Êtat and dictatorial democracy in Africa with a particular reference to the case of Republic of Gabon.

The African Union has a zero tolerance for forceful change of government in Africa. Its non-negotiable policy on forceful change of government is as a result of the review of the 1963 Charter of the Organisation of African Unity. Explained differently, the OAU Charter provided for non-interference by any sovereign and independent State in the domestic affairs of other sovereign States. As a result, there was little monitoring and control of what transpired within the context of domestic politics.

In fact, international law says little about which type of government should be adopted by any State and on what should be the modalities of change of government in such a country. Efforts at the determination of which type of government is desired and should be encouraged can be traced to the La Baule Conference in France when development assistance was made conditional to the acceptance of democracy. In other words, it was when the global community began to frown at dictatorship. In the specific case of Africa, it was when the African Union was established that a more articulated policy on dictatorship and coups d’Êtat was formulated.

In its LomÊ Declaration of 2000 on the Framework for an OAU Response to Unconstitutional Changes of Government, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government gave many examples of what constituted a forceful change of government. The first is the organisation of a military coup d’Êtat against a democraticallyelected government. In this definition, many factors should be noted. If a military coup is organised against a military regime, it does not, stricto sensu, constitute a forceful change of government even if force was used in the change. The emphasis here is that the victim of the coup must be a democratically-elected government and since a military coup against a military regime does not involve an elected government, there is no good basis to consider such a situation as a forceful change of government.

Second, an intervention by mercenaries or armed dissident groups and rebel movements to replace a democratically-elected government also constitutes a forceful and unconstitutional change of government. This definition is more interesting than the first one. Emphasis is placed more on the status of the actors than on the victims of the coup. The forceful change must have been engineered by armed dissident groups or by rebel movements.

Athird definition of a forceful and unconstitutional change of government arises when an incumbent government refuses to relinquish power following defeat in a free and fair election. In this case, there may not be any expression of use of force. The main point here is simply the act of refusing the situational reality of loss of an election. Refusal to relinquish power can be forcefully done and it may not be done so. The mere fact that there should be handover of power at a given date and the handing over does not take place, it can be rightly submitted that there has been a refusal.

Apart from the LomĂŠ Declaration, there are also the 2007 African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, Manipulation of Constitutions and Legal Instruments for Prolongation of Tenure of Office by an incumbent regime, which also banned unconstitutional governments. And also more interestingly, Article 4 of the African Union Act, not only prohibits unconstitutional changes of government, but also, in its article 30, stipulates that ‘Governments that come to power through unconstitutional means shall not be allowed to participate in the activities of the Union.’ The main essence of this provision is that the prevention of any erring State from participating in the activities of the Union does not prevent the access to power through unconstitutional means of a Government. On the basis of the three definitions of forceful

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

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Ondimba, Gabonese President change of government noted above, there are surely more than 91 coups d’Êtat often referred to in the literature. This is so because the more frequent coups to which most Africans are now used are the sit-tight coups d’Êtat.

For instance, in 2005, Cameroon’s National Assembly passed a bill which amended the Law 961/06. The law enabled President Paul Biya to have immunity from prosecution and to have the right to unlimited re-election. The passing of such a law is an indirect way of refusing to hand over power to any opposition and to frustrate any aspiring presidential candidate that has the potential to win election. This is a coup without the use of force that falls under category 3 of AU definitions of unconstitutional change of government.

Another example of this is the case of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria. He systematically manipulated his country’s National Parliament to adopt a change of Constitution aimed at serving a Third Term in power. Put differently, the Constitution provides for possibility of two terms. But President Bouteflika made amendments to the Constitution to ensure an extension of his tenure in government. Even though this might have been done non-forcefully, the critical purpose of the AU policy on unconstitutional change of government is to prevent those engaging in forceful change of government from governing. The use of force is considered unconstitutional in this regard. Manipulation of amendment processes of a Constitution in order to stay in power is another expression of illegality. This is why we agree with Solomon Dersso who differentiated on September 7, 2016 between unconstitutional changes in government and unconstitutional practices in Africa (vide sites.tufts.edu).

The point being made about the foregoing is that there is a legal

The qualms about the Bongo’s domination of the polity are heightened by the fact that the incumbent president,Ali Bongo, has been hospitalised since October 2018 in Morocco and the issue of who is actually in charge of government has been constantly raised. Government has not been functioning well as Ali Bongo is trying to govern from his sick bed. The question to ask here is why, in the long absence of Ali Bongo, government could not function well in Gabon?The answers may be found in some of the reasons so far proffered for the failure of the coup

prohibition in the Act of the African Union of all forms of unconstitutional change of government. However, in practice, different ways have consciously been found to also undermine the policy, meaning that there is a brand of democracy peculiar to Africa and that goes beyond the questions of freedom to vote, free and fair election and protection of human rights. True, intrinsic in Africa’s democracy is fraud, in conception and practice. This should not be so. An investigation into the two cases of coup d’Êtat in the Republic of Gabon is quite relevant at this juncture.

The Gabonese Coups d’Etat The people of Gabon have played host to two failed coups d’Êtat. The first one took place in 1964 or about four years after independence in 1960. The coup can be rightly described as a coup that never was, because it took place on 17th and 18th of February and was stopped by the French on the 19th, meaning that there was never the opportunity to actualise any planned agenda.

It was a coup in which there were four main actors with different interests at stake: President Leon M’ba of Gabon against whom the coup was organised; the Vice President, Jean-Hilaire Aubame, who was never part of the coup making, but who was asked to become the President after the coup; France, the former colonial master; the coup plotters, comprising Second Lieutenant Daniel Mbene Valere, Lieutenant Daniel Nbo Edou and Lieutenant Monbo who led the plotters.

President Leon M’ba was very pro-France and wanted a democratic setting in which his own wish predominates. The coup plotters were opposed to whatever LÊon M’ba stood for. In fact, the coup plotters constituted themselves into a Revolutionary Committee and formed a provisional government. Jean-Hilaire Aubame, M’ba’s Vice President, was installed the President.

Aubame was an arch political rival of LÊon M’ba. For example, Aubame was Gabon’s representative at the French National Assembly in the period from 1945 to 1959. He was the Head of Government in Gabon’s First National Assembly. So the experience was there.

This background contributed to the understanding between M’ba and Aubame that led to their accepting to form a coalition government in 1961, but this does not stop the political rivalry between them. And true enough, the M’ba administration was largely characterised by frequent Cabinet reshuffles. Besides, before the coup, M’ba dissolved the National Assembly on January 21, 1964 on the consideration that the National Assembly was too large, as well as expensive for Gabonese needs.

Political observers hold a different view. They argue that the main rationale for the dissolution of the National Assembly was because the Assembly did not give the President full support in his attempt to remove Aubame from the Presidency of the Supreme Court. Perhaps more noteworthy, M’ba was more favourably disposed than Aubame to France. France had a defense agreement done in 1961 with Gabon. It was on this basis that France accepted to engage in both political and military manoeuvres, not only to invite Aubame for discussions on how to ensure national security and safety of M’ba during the coup making, but also use same to arrest him, planned a counter-coup and reinstated the ousted LÊon M’ba on the night of 19th February, 1964. This was in spite of the fact that Aubame made it clear that Gabonese pro-France foreign policy would remain and be further sustained.

What is particularly important to note about the first coup is not only that it failed, but that it failed because of France’s preparedness to protect her own national interests possibly to the detriment of those of Gabon. This was also so because LÊon M’ba, who died of cancer on 28 November, 1967, was more French than Gabonese.

He even wanted Gabon to become an overseas territory of France but to no avail. For the French, Gabon was presented as a second home and for the Gabonese, it was France. Additionally, the rivalry between M’ba and Aubame served as a catalytic agent of the coup.

How can Gabon, which could only boast of one medical practitioner in 1960 in the whole country, develop when its leaders are disunited in the advancement of their country? Did the Gabonese learn from the coup? How do we explain the second coup?

The second coup took place on Monday, 7th January, 2019, in other words, about 45 years after the first one. The declared reason for the coup is to ‘Save Gabon’ from illegitimacy and illegality of the Bongo administration. In this regard, attempt was to be made to establish a ‘National Restoration Council’ as a first step to permanently put an end to the Bongo administration. The reasons for the coup are not the conventional ones, generally associated with bad governance, corruption and indiscipline at the level of political governance.

But from deductive methodological approach, two main reasons appear to be the dynamic of the coup. The first is the very controversial election result of the 2016 presidential election and the perception of how the opposition was mistreated thereafter. The coup was meant to avenge. Reasons of ill-health and prolonged absence of President Bongo are, at best, secondary. The other reason is the hostility of the opposition to the unending sit-tight Bongo dynasty. The general belief was that Jean Ping, the former Chairman of the African Union Commission and now the leader of opposition in Gabon, was the winner of the 2016 presidential election. M’ba won the election marginally with 2% difference. The opposition alleged fraud in the election but he was denied victory.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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President Muhammadu Buhari chats with members of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage shortly after its inauguration at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja late 2017

Will Present Administration Actualise the N30,000 Minimum Wage?

Onyebuchi Ezigbo

A

fter the federal government and the organised labour reached an agreement on the issue of transmitting the minimum wage bill to the National Assembly, last Tuesday, the challenge now is how to push the matter to its logical conclusion.

Will this administration be able to resolve the issue at hand, now that elections are around the corner and apparatus of government has been devoted to politics? What are the factors inhibiting the final resolution of the issue?

First, let us look at the possibility of getting the minimum wage bill submitted to the legislature. It obvious that time is not on the side of Labour as both the executive and the legislative are all focusing attention on the forthcoming general elections. For now, the only window left to submit the N30,000 minimum wage bill appears to between January 16 and month end, a period within which members of the National Assembly are expected to reconvene before proceeding on another recess to participate in the general elections. It is within this short period that government must fine-tune all the processes leading to the transmission of the new bill to the National Assembly, if the issue is to receive attention at the legislative chambers before the elections. But as the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said while stating the resolutions of the meeting with labour leaders, federal government intends to subject the new minimum wage proposal religiously to all the processes required by constitution before it becomes an Act of the parliament.

Speaking shortly after the meeting with the organised labour at the ministry’s conference hall on Tuesday, Ngige said: “The report on the new minimum wage will be taken to all statutory meetings of the Federal Executive Council, National Economic Council and the National Council of State before a final decision will be made. “We have a target time of January 23, 2018 and we hope that all things being equal, government will be able to do so. We will take all statutory meetings of the Federal Executive Council, National Economic Council and the National Council of State meetings to enable us transmit the bill on the new national minimum wage�. Again, the National Assembly (where bulk of the work is to be done in terms of reconciling issues thrown up by the minimum wage) will be having interruption in its sittings due to the general elections coming up in a matter of weeks.

Beyond the time factor, some of the state governments seemed not to be in the mood to support an increase in national minimum wage due to the precarious state of their finances. Also federal government seemed to be buying time to allow the elections to go. Perhaps, President Muhammadu Buhari aptly captured the exact mood of

the government, when he was quoted as having given the analogy thus: “An old woman collected firewood she could not even lift and put on her head, but instead of reducing it, she adds more to it.� While the federal government is applying some kind subtle diplomacy in its approach to labour movement’s demand for the N30,000 new minimum wage, the Nigeria Governors Forum, an umbrella body pursuing the interest of state governments has been very blunt in opposing such an increase. The governors have collectively sanctioned N22,500 as a “baseline threshold�, meaning that any governor who can pay more than N22,500 is therefore free to go ahead and do so.

NGF said the governors had met with President Muhammadu Buhari twice all in an effort to resolve the issue of minimum wage. The Forum said the governors collectively resolved that no state would devote more than 50 per cent of its revenue to salaries. “To therefore insist that states must oblige the NLC its demands, regardless of the economic gloom that stares the nation in the face is most unpatriotic and a deliberate attempt to hold the nation, especially the president, to ransom, this being an election year. “At this point, it is important to remind the NLC that most governors exhibited a high sense of responsibility and concern for the plight of workers by ensuring that most of them were paid their December salaries ahead of time.

Some even received several months’ salary arrears that were owed them, and they are happy with their governors,� it said. The NGF also responded angrily to the call by the NLC that some governors who diverted bailout funds be probed, describing it as a needless attempt by the leadership of Labor to steer the public away from the promise

by Buhari to constitute another committee to review the minimum wage gridlock.

According to the NGF, Governors have “collectively made it abundantly clear that they would have been happy to pay workers the N30,000, but times are hard and because of financial constraints and other limitations, many states cannot afford it, for now.�

It said the governors had offered workers a token increment to the sum of N22,500 from the current N18,000 after the submission of the report of the Tripartite Committee set up by the Buhari and headed by a retired Head of Service, Ms. Amma Pepple, on October 6th. “The N22,500 was arrived at, after extensive deliberations among all 36 governors, outlining their financial capacities and liquidity, considering the economic situation of the country and the states’ other obligations to majority of the people of their various domains. “To put the records straight, governors are not under any obligation, by law, to show their books to the NLC. But they have, in their pursuit of the understanding of the union, done so, not once, but several times over, with a view to letting NLC know that what they are asking for

is neither realistic nor sustainable.

On its part, the NLC has expressed optimism that the target set in the agreement with government is realisable.

The president of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said in an interview that there is every reason to believe that government will be able to fullfill its promise to push the N30,000 minimum wage bill to the National Assembly within stipulated period. He said the information at the disposal of Labour is that the National Assembly will be resuming from recess on January 16 and that they will be ready to receive the minimum wage bill on that day. According to Wabba, the labour movement has been assured that the lawmakers will make the opportunity available for the government to submit the bill within the stipulated period. “What we have found out is that they will be in office on that day and that is what we are banking on. They are resuming on the January 16th and they cannot resume on that day and again proceed for recess, it is not possible. “We have taken that into consideration to say that on or before January 23, the government should submit the bill. It is an agreement that was signed by three ministers, that of Finance, Budget and Planning and Labour and Employment, while NLC and TUC signed on behalf of labour�.

From all indications, the schedule is very tight for both the federal government and the National Assembly and unless the minimum wage issue is treated as an emergency .

Wabba had defended labour unions’ demand for the N30,000 minimum wage, saying that millions of workers in the country can no longer provide three square meals for their families. The NLC President who addressed workers’ rally at a recent rally in the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja on Tuesday, said that an increase in the national minimum wage in the country has become due since 2015.

Regarding the position by the governors that they will spend more that 50 per cent of state resources on only workers salaries, Wabba said no one can rightly describe workers as a tiny minority. According to the NLC president, if there is a group that is a tiny minority, it is the political leaders that are receiving humongous salaries�.

While insisting that government must approve the N30,000 new national minimum wage, Wabba said workers were instrumental to the economic development of the country.

He went further to argue that workers could not be regarded as a liability but an asset.�Nigerian workers are an asset and must be celebrated.�

Even as labour leaders continued to be optimistic that government will accede to the new minimum wage request, the possibility of getting it done in a jiffy under the prevailing circumstance may be a pipe dream. Considering the various stages which the minister said the minimum wage report will go through before it finally gets to the National Assembly, one is tempted to believe that the action on the minimum wage issue might not be concluded soon, at least not within the life span of the present administration.

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he plan by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) led by Mr. Godwin Emefiele to relax the rule shielding mobile telephony companies and grocery shops (supermarkets) to participate in the business of financial services is part of the revised strategy to achieve the goal of financial inclusion faster in Nigeria.

The mobile telephony companies and supermarket shops will now be allowed to take deposits, move cash, but lending remains the exclusive right of banks.

Meanwhile, banks still have some shelter from full-blown competition as the new policy won’t enable licensees to lend, pay interest or accept foreign-currency deposits. It also requires that at least one quarter of access points be located in rural areas, which are currently under served.

Revised Strategy As part of its revised strategy to achieve financial inclusion, the CBN said emphasis had drastically shifted to mobile money/bank agents in view of the fact that this brings financial services closer to the people and provides platform for offering simple diversified low cost financial services across the broad spectrum of excluded population in Nigeria. “The 2020 target for agents was 62 per 100,000 adults in the 2012 Strategy document.

However, considering the shift from physical bank branches to branchless banking globally, this revised strategy considers increasing the agent target from 62 to 476 agents per 100,000 adults by 2020. The justification for this new figure is based on recent developments in the financial sector aimed at taking financial services to the unserved and under-served using branchless platforms such as agent banking and digital platforms. It is estimated that at least 500,000 agents should be available to serve about 105 million adults population in Nigeria by the year 2020. This gives about 476 agents per 100,000 adults�, CBN revealed.

The bank says five priorities will be most crucial to increasing financial inclusion in Nigeria and they are to create an enabling environment for the expansion of DFS; enable the rapid growth of agent networks with nationwide reach; harmonise Know Your Customer ( KYC) requirements for opening and operating accounts/mobile wallets on all financial services platforms; create an enabling environment to serving the most excluded and Improve the adoption of cashless payment channels, particularly in governmentto-person and person-to-government payments.

Need for Inclusion Financial Inclusion is a state, where financial services are delivered by a range of providers, mostly the private sector, to reach everyone who could use them.

According to financial experts, it enables the government to reduce the gap between rich and poor population as financial institutions are the robust pillars of progress, economic growth and development of any economy in the world.

The CBN said, “Financial inclusion has continued to assume increasing recognition across the globe among policy makers, researchers and development oriented agencies. Its importance derives from the promise it holds as a tool for economic development, particularly in the areas of poverty reduction, employment generation, wealth creation and improving welfare and general standards of living.�

A survey conducted in Nigeria in 2008 by a development finance organisation, the Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EfinA) revealed that about 53 per cent of adults were excluded from financial services. The global pursuit of financial inclusion as a vehicle for economic development had a positive effect in Nigeria as the exclusion rate reduced from 53.0 percent in 2008 to 46.3 percent in 2010

A banking hall...

Steps Encouraged by the positive development in the Nigerian financial space, the CBN in collaboration with stakeholders launched the National Financial Inclusion Strategy on October 23, 2012 aimed at further reducing the exclusion rate to 20 per cent by 2020. Specifically, adult Nigerians with access to payment services is to increase from 21.6 per cent in 2010 to 70 per cent in 2020, while those with access to savings should increase from 24 percent to 60 percent; and credit from two per cent to 40 per cent, insurance from1.0 percent to 40.0 percent and pensions from five percent to 40 percent, within the same period.

The channels for delivering the above financial services were equally targeted to improve, with deposit money bank branches targeted to increase from 6.8 units per 100,000 adults in 2010 to 7.6 units per 100,000 adults in 2020, microfinance bank branches to increase from 2.9 units to 5.5 units; ATMs from 11.8 units to 203.6 units, POSs from 13.3 units to 850 units, Mobile agents from 0 to 62 units, all per 100,000 adults between 2010 and 2020.

The targets were based on benchmarking exercise carried out with peer countries, while also taking into consideration critical growth factors in the Nigerian environment.

So far, the CBN in its determination to achieve the set goal for financial inclusion by 2020 has released the framework for the implementation of a couple of major tools to drive the strategy which include Agent Banking; Know Your Customer Requirements; MSME Development Fund; Financial Literacy and Mobile Money Operation. “The Bank is working on the framework for consumer protection and has set up a Financial Inclusion Secretariat to coordinate the implementation of the Strategy’, CBN disclosed.

A key strategy of the CBN to drive financial inclusion in Nigeria is to strengthen the microfinance sector. It 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 per cent 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 per cent annually; increase the number of linkages among universal banks, development banks, specialised finance institutions and microfinance banks by 10 per cent annually�, a statement from the Other Financial Institutions Department (OFID) of the apex bank said.

Achievements There are indications that the efforts of the CBN and other stakeholders in the financial industry towards achieving the 2020 target for financial inclusion are already yielding results.

Recent statistics from the CBN showed that the percentage of Nigerian adults that were served by formal sector service providers increased from 36.3 per cent in 2010 to 43 per cent in 2012, 48.6 per cent in 2014 and remained at that level in 2016. The population that is banked grew consistently from 30 per cent in 2010 to 32.5 per cent, 36 per cent and 38.3 per cent in 2012, 2014 and 2016 respectively.

The formal sector including the microfinance banks, insurance companies, pension funds and similar service providers grew between 2010 (6.3 per cent) and 2016 (10.3 per cent). The informal sector (Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and financial cooperatives) declined from 17.4 per cent in 2010 to 9.8 per cent in 2016. This showed that more Nigerians are now using formal financial services as envisioned in the Strategy.

In 2016, 58.4 per cent of Nigeria’s 96.4 million adults were financially served leaving 41.6 per cent financially excluded. The proportion of those, who were banked was 38.3 percent, those in the formal other category was 10.3 per cent

and those served by informal sector 9.8 per cent. This shows that only 48.6 percent used formal services compared with 70 percent that is targeted in 2020.

Also, the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) data on Industry Customer Bank Account data showed that the number of bank accounts rose to 115.2 million in November, 2018 from 100.2 million in December 2017, representing 15 million or 15 percent increase.

On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, number of bank accounts opened increased by 0.5 per cent or 600,000 in November to 115.2 million in November from 114.6 million bank accounts at the end of October 2018.

A breakdown of bank accounts opened from December 2017 to November 2018 showed that the number of new savings accounts rose by 16 percent or 12.2 million to 87 million in November 2018, from 74.6 million in December 2017. The number of current accounts grew by 11 percent or 2.6 million to 25.16 million in November from 22.6 million in December 2017.

Further analysis revealed that the number of active bank accounts rose by 18 per cent to 74.7 million in November, 2018 from 63.5 million in December 2017.

Meanwhile, experts have projected further growth citing the Shared Agent Network Expansion Facilities (SANEF) initiative of the Bankers Committee and the improved economic growth as the nation sustain its recovery from economic recession.

Target The major goal of the revised strategy for financial inclusion is to reduce the proportion of adult Nigerians that are financially excluded to 20 per cent in year 2020 from its baseline figure of 46.3 per cent in 2010.

According to the CBN, the two overall financial inclusion targets were 80 per cent overall (formal and informal) financial inclusion and 70 per cent formal financial inclusion by 2020. There were 15 additional targets for channels, products and enabling environment as well as 22 key performance indicators (KPIs).

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What Really Motivates Tony Elumelu to Lift African Entrepreneurs?

Kunle Aderinokun

A

s one thought that the question had been asked and answered, and therefore rendered irrelevant, the growing passion for training young entrepreneurs continues to give life to it.

The question resumed its relevance when it came from the respected President of one of Africa’s successful democracies, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana at the last forum of the Tony Elumelu Foundation in Lagos. Sharing the spotlight with Elumelu at Founder’s Dialogue, a forum to discuss the African entrepreneurship ecosystem, the role of the government in the growth of the economy and the opportunities that exist in Africa. The Ghanaian president had looked Elumelu in the eyes and asked, “What is the motivation for what you are doing?�

In other words, what would make an individual commit to a $100 million programme over 10 years to identify, train, mentor, and fund 10,000 entrepreneurs to generate over 1,000,000 new jobs and contribute at least $10 billion in new annual revenues across Africa?

So far, the programme has empowered 4,470 entrepreneurs with a total investment of $20 million; 4,000 funded directly by the foundation and 470 have been funded by partners.

Just as some people expected him to grow weary over time, fresh applications are being received for the fifth year of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Entrepreneurship Programme, which has empowered thousands of entrepreneurs, using a bespoke and robust selection, training and implementation process to create visible and sustainable impact across all 54 African countries.

In four years, TEF has directly impacted 4,470 entrepreneurs, and the multiplier effect is showing in job creation, but most importantly in the recognition that Africa’s economic well-being could be driven by entrepreneurs, who are becoming the engine of the continent’s transformation.

TEF said it received over 150,000 applications in 2017 alone, up from 20,000 applications in 2015.

Akufo-Addo did not have to wait long for a response to his question. “Two things,� Elumelu said. “One is my own story, my own life. I’m trying to democratise the luck that I had. So ultimately, what becomes important is not who you know or where you come from or whose child you are, but the ideas that you have. “Secondly, we all struggle in life. Those who work with me know how hard we work. Ultimately, all the struggles, pursuits and everything that we have, when we die, what do we die with? At some point, you will start thinking about legacy. You will start realising my parents did not leave houses or company shares for me.

So, what I owe my children are education and a decent living. The rest, as much as possible, should be used to create wealth across board. That wealth across board is what we are doing at the Tony Elumelu Foundation.�

He continued: “I am always quick to say that we don’t do this because we have so much. Actually, we prioritise and make sacrifices for this to happen. It gives us significant joy to see forums like this happen because poverty anywhere is a threat to all of us everywhere and the more prosperity, we have around us the better for everyone. “I am concerned with the philosophy of Africapitalism.

It is about shared prosperity and not just how much money we have in our bank accounts. So, we need to mobilise, not just governments, but private sectors. That is why advocacy is key.�

President Akufo-Addo The subject put them on the same page as the spotlight they shared. Building his argument block-by-block, AkufoAddo made a strong case for African entrepreneurs. “First, we live on the richest continent in the world and yet our people are the poorest. That is a contradiction that has to be resolved,� he said. “The second, look at the history of other countries in other continents. It is clear that strong market economies provide the best framework for development, prosperity and wealth. “We are told that in 40 countries of the continent, more than 50 per cent of the population is aged below 35. It means that all these young people are the African people. “We put all these things together and what does it mean? It means the work you (Elumelu) are doing here to encourage entrepreneurship, ingenuity, creativity, innovation among young people, is the future of our continent. No two ways about it, and I felt that with these reasons, it will be a good idea to come here, to support what you are doing and for the world to see

L-R: Elumelu with Akufo-Addo at a recent TEF forum in Lagos

that the political leaders of this generation in Africa appreciate what you are doing.�

He also advocated good governance and strong economies with focus of small-scale industries and capacity building in Africa.

He told African leaders: “Run your countries well. You allow the institutions of your country to run efficiently.

The second thing, that you also run your economies well.

Run an economy where there is macroeconomic stability, where inflation is low, interest rates are low, where the deficits are controlled. These are the building blocks for an economy that can grow. That’s our responsibility; run our countries well and provide a framework for the macro economies of our countries to work well. I think if we put those things together and encourage the ingenuity, enterprise, innovation among our young people, then we are on the right track.�

President Uhuru Kenyatta President Uhuru Kenyatta, who also attended the forum delivered a goodwill message to Elumelu and the entrepreneurs at the forum. He commended the work of the foundation and its founder, Elumelu, affirming his support to the growth of entrepreneurship in Africa.

He encouraged the young entrepreneurs to seize opportunities and to remember that nothing is impossible.

Testimonials It was not all rhetoric and optics as the young entrepreneurs back their enthusiasm with testimonials.

Kehinde Onadehinde is an entrepreneur in media and entertainment in Nigeria. He says: “As a result of the trainings and seed capital I got from the Foundation, I have been able to set up my business, Kenola Studios, making use of the money to acquire and set up state-ofthe-art structures and equipment. I have also been able to employ 4 full staff and 5 contract staff, speeding up our workflow and taking our services to the next level.�

Johnmark Mutuma of Kenya, who is into ICT, said, “The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme has been a great journey in learning how to convert a start-up to a successful company. Great knowledge had been gained by interacting with my mentor and completing the 12-week training. It packaged a 20 years’ experience in running a company into a 12 weeks programme; and the seed capital has really helped the company to market its product and great awareness of our products.�

Emmanuel Adiku from Ghana: �The seed capital actually helped me to start E-Africa Solutions. The toolkits have also been very helpful in learning from other businesses and also how to guide my business for success learning from the Tony Elumelu experiences.

The toolkits also helped me to summarise my thoughts and give little details that will make my business thrive.

The toolkit has also helped me to make informed decisions in the selection of staff and how to effectively manage them. Without the toolkit, I guess I will be dumb in

business setup and management since I do not have knowledge in business management.�

Ahmed Abbas, Egypt:� The training I received from TEF has helped me understand the basic business concepts to be able to run a business and present it to public. The seed capital we got was the first money that we utilised to build our first prototype that proved the viability and feasibility of our transformative idea. Now we have built over 50 solar panels which provide electricity to farmers in our community.�

Emmanuel Ntawuyirusha, a manufacturer in Rwanda: “Before the trainings and seed capital from TEF, we had the smallest production capacity (9kg per day). We had a few markets (two stable markets). We were not known; we were only known in one sector (Busogo sector of Musanze district, north of Rwandan). Equipment value was about $50 and was inefficient. The building capacity and leadership were low.

We didn’t have a trading licence. Since receiving the seed capital in 2016, total revenue is now $1290,500.00, we are affecting the lives of children that were victims of malnutrition. Farmers are aware of the yield of our low material (carrots, beetroot, soybean, maize, and sorghum), because they market their yields.

TEFConnect Four years on, a major development in the programme is the birthing of TEFConnect, a digital networking platform connecting African entrepreneurs, mentors and investors, on which the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme is also hosted.

According to TEF, its main objective is to promote intra-African trade and facilitate business beyond physical borders. Also important are its features that will boost the businesses of our entrepreneurs, help them secure funding and business partnerships, as well as create a community for the entrepreneurial ecosystem to thrive.

Among its notable features are: Startup Toolkit - an intensive business training that has been likened to an MBA Community and Network Pages - features that prompt African entrepreneurs, mentors and investors to build their profiles and engage with others for visibility; a library of curated business content.

On the future of the programme, Elumelu said recently, “When I left UBA as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2010 to pursue other interests, I made a vow that through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, I would “institutionalise� luck and democratise access to opportunities for young Africans.

I promised to leverage the success I have enjoyed, to spread luck and hope, provide opportunities and to empower the next generation of African entrepreneurs to succeed. Without luck in my early career, I would not be the man that I am today.

I am a leader and philanthropist today because I encountered people who gave me a chance early in my career. It has been a lifetime goal to pay this forward in a transformative and impactful way.�

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍťËœ ͺ͸͚Î

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ABUBAKAR BAWA BWARI

Bwari

We’ll Have No Business with Oil When Mines and Steel is Fully Developed Hon. Abubakar Bawa Bwari is the Minister of Mines and Steel Development. Bwari had his first degree in geography and a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He came to the ministry with a rich legislative background having been the Chief Whip of the House of Representatives for many years. Bwari paired with the former Minister and now the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, in piloting the affairs of the ministry in the past three years. He speaks to Kingsley Nwezeh on wide-ranging issues in the solid minerals sector including mining reforms, gold mining, mining licences, illegal mining, the lingering Ajaokuta Steel Complex, and efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investment and turn Nigeria into a mining destination. Excerpts:

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍťËœ ͺ͸͚Î

Funding is a Major Problem of the Mining Sector

Bwari

Y

ou had the mandate to generate revenue and create jobs. What have you done to turn the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development around since your assumption of ofďŹ ce?

Thank you. When we were given the mandate to come here as ministers, Dr Kayode Fayemi and myself, our appointment was in line with the president’s directive to diversify our economy. This sector happens to be one of the sectors government was focusing on. When we came we realised that attention has not been given to this sector considering its importance to the creation of jobs and revenue generation.

And the morale of workers here was very low. The infrastructure, the equipment to enhance working conditions, was not there because the ministry was being poorly funded. This ministry is mainly about generation of data. Without data, you cannot do mining. And because there was no funding, you could not get data.

So data generation was poor, most of laboratories were in comatose condition.

Our agencies were dormant, not doing much. So when we came in we decided to bring all the stakeholders together. The academia, Miners Association of Nigeria and investors who were playing active role in mining and some other stakeholders to discuss the way forward and what we did culminated in the production of a road map.

A roadmap? What is the nature of the roadmap?

The road map we developed was in line

with the mandate we were given. And the mandate was to create jobs, generate revenue and ensure that mining was done to the best standard practice. So there was improved funding because of what was coming in here. The budget for this ministry in 2015 was N1billion and they could hardly access N300 million.

So over time, based on our efforts, there was improvement in budgetary allocation.

Mr. President approved N30 billion for us from the natural resources fund. World Bank also approved $150 million for us to develop the sector.

How did you apply it?

With that a lot of activities started picking up in the sector. With that we were able to fund our mine officers all over the country, provide logistics. We are now able to monitor mining activities all over the country and suddenly things began to improve and we started the collection of royalty and so on. With that, we could also monitor the activities of Illegal miners, set up surveillance task forces with all the security agencies involved. We were able to revive Mineral Resources Management Committees that helped in addressing issues of compensation, land disputes and related issues within the local and mining communities.

So when we came in we realised that Nigeria had minerals, that minerals were all over the states and that in every local government you could identify one mineral or the other. We realised that the potentials were there and that possibilities to achieve our objectives were there.

How did you go about data generation?

With improved funding, we started exploration projects. We also realised that there cannot be mining without data.

Today, we have improved data as a result of improved funding.

Based on that, a lot of activities have been generated in mining. A lot is happening in the mining sector. Revenue has been improving steadily even under recession it kept growing and when you look at the statistics in the last three years, mining revenue has been growing.

Sir, can you be speciďŹ c?

Our revenue improved from N2.07 billion in 2015 to N3.92 billion in 2017 and N2.97 billon as at October 2018.

How much have you done to attract foreign investors to this sector?

We had interactions with investors, especially foreign investors at international mining conferences in South Africa, Canada, United Kingdom and China among others. Before now, Nigeria was given little attention in terms of mining and this had to do with perception. Nigeria is perceived as oil and gas destination and not a mining destination. Ours was to change the perception and that has improved and today Nigeria is on the lips of most investors.

How have you changed the perception?

We had the opportunity for the first time to sit at the London Stock Exchange to address them on the investment opportunities in Nigeria. We told them that we have the endowment. We told them about the investment opportunities here and incentives available to prospective investors.

From their questions and answers, you could see that the problem is the problem of perception.

They also mentioned security challenges and we were lucky that a lot of them there had one experience or the other in some other African mining destinations and they know that if you can do business in Afghanistan, DR Congo and others then you can do business in Nigeria.

So our emphasis was that the endowment is there and the political will is there and that we have made mining sufficiently attractive for investors.

What are the incentives available to prospective investors?

You can own your business 100 percent.

You can bring in your mining equipment without customs charges. You can enjoy three years tax holiday and there is significant improvement in the interaction between federal state governments and the mining communities to enable the investors to have a friendly investment atmosphere. So this has been the message we have been taking to the world and I must tell you that we are encouraged with the responses we are getting.

One thing that is very important to realise is that mining in Nigeria began a long time ago, solid minerals used to be our source of revenue before the discovery of oil changed everything. Everybody went into oil and gas. With the indigenisation policy of 1977, a lot of mining investors left for other mining jurisdictions that were more friendly and mining was left in the hands of Nigerians.

Unfortunately, we did not have the technical and managerial skill to pursue mining.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍťËœ ͺ͸͚Î

It’s a National Shame that Ajaokuta Steel Complex Became Moribund How do you tackle the issue of funding for miners?

Funding was also a problem. Nigerian banks don’t fund mining. As I am talking to you now, this is one major challenge the mining sector is facing. Nigerian banks don’t fund mining because the gestation period is Long. If they were to fund mining at the current interest rate they are charging, it would be very difficult for any miner to go for a bank loan.

What is government doing to ease that situation?

Government on its own is funding mining at the artisanal level. Out of the N30 billion natural resources fund released to the ministry, five billion was allocated to artisanal miners. Eighty percent of mining in Nigeria is done by artisanal miners or small scale miners. At the interest rate of 5 percent, no artisanal miners can get a loan. So from the money allocated to them they can access N10 to N100 million as long as you can meet the conditions and the conditions are not difficult, just get a collateral.

They access the loan through the Bank of Industry. Bank of Industry is the bank administering the loan.

At a time you revoked mining licences. What is the position now?

We realised that a lot of licences were dormant. What we did was to revoke them. They were almost 3000? What we did was to reallocate them to those who are willing and have improved revenue.

When we came we realised that this is a sector that can generate the much needed revenue and create job opportunities for Nigerians.

What were the measures you adopted in this regard?

We needed to do what was possible to harness those potentials. We started by organising artisanal miners into cooperatives. We didn’t realise that mineral that was most mined by these artisanal miners was gold because Nigeria’s potential in gold is not in doubt. The whole of North-west down to North-central, down to Southwest is called the gold shelf. We have huge deposits of gold in quality and quantity.

With this in mind, we decided to create a gold purchase programme.

The gold purchase programme was launched by Mr. President with the pilot programme in Kebbi. What we are trying to do here is to address the old gold chain from exploitation, processing and marketing. Instead of just taking it outside, our intention is to add value by refining it here in Nigeria so we can have good gold bars.

So in our gold purchase programme, the artisanal miners will be given incentivesfunding, concessional license. They will not go through this licensing process.

They will mine the gold .

There will be off-takers who sell it to people, who will refine this gold. We have launched a refinery project in Ogun State.

They will refine it and sell it to the Central Bank as part of their gold reserve. Central Bank has already written that they will be ready to buy the gold from the refinery as long as it meets the 99.9 percent of the standard required.

99.9 percent?

Yes. That’s the purity level required of a refined gold. So that’s one very important project that we are pursuing. After putting all these policies on ground, mining infrastructure in place, we now have small scale mining companies operating in Nigeria.

For example, we have Segilola/Thor Explorations Ltd, a company based in Ilesha, Osun State that discovered high quality gold. This company is listed in Toronto Stock Exchange. We have Symbol Mining/Imperial Joint Ventures Ltd. It is a Canadian Company. It is mining led zinc in Bauchi. It will interest you to know that our lead zinc is of the highest grade.

Bwari

Ours is 22 percent compared to the global average of six percent. One other mineral that is attracting attention in Nigeria is tin. Our tin is called sweetener because you have to dilute it to be like other tins.

Because of its grade?

Yes. Because of its grade. So a lot of minerals are being exported from Nigeria.

What we are trying to encourage is value addition such that investors will come in with plants and process it. We don’t want it to be carried in its raw form. It goes a long way when it’s done that way. You can find copper, silver and gold and they only pay royalty when they are moving it outside, but there are other associated minerals that can be found when processing it.

In our road map, what we tried to do was to look at these minerals and pick the ones to focus on. We focused on gold, tin, iron ore, limestone and led zinc. These are minerals that we realise are very important to us, minerals that have attracted world’s market attention.

And we believe that we can exploit these minerals and attract foreign direct investment and Nigeria would have saved a lot from import substitutions and solve

the problem of our foreign exchange. For example, we are self-sufficient today in cement production because of our endowment in limestone. We have the iron ore that can meet our steel needs. We have the component minerals that can address a lot of our problems especially industries that deal in pharmaceuticals, paint and water treatment because you can get lime from carbonate that can be used in treating our municipal water needs.

We also realised that with the phosphate that we can also meet our fertilizer needs that will help in our agricultural development. When you look at the potentials we have, our riches, our minerals, you would be wondering why we are where we are.

We have no reason to be poor.

What has government done to reactivate Ajaokuta Steel Complex?

Ajaokuta was established to meet our industrial needs. We cannot be industrialised without steel. But because of some government policies before now, the objectives have not been realised. A lot of mistakes were made in the past but this government is bent on correcting those mistakes. We are on a salvage mission.

Government on its own is funding mining at the artisanal level. Out of the N30 billion natural resources fund released to the ministry, N5billion was allocated to artisanal miners. Eighty percent of mining in Nigeria is done by artisanal miners or small scale miners

When we went to Ajaokuta, we were sad because this is the project that would have made Nigeria an industrialised nation. It is a collective national shame that such a project will remain moribund.

How did you disentangle some issues around the project?

What we did was to resolve the legal issues around Ajaokuta Those issues were resolved and Ajaokuta is wholly owned by the Federal Government. While Itakpe is supposed to feed Ajaokuta steel, it is still under the ownership of Global Infrastructures and we are waiting for their contracts to run out based on the modified concession agreement that we reached.

We realised that 95 per cent of Ajaokuta, the rolling mills, the liquid steel cannot be produced because they have not started using the blast furnace. And for us to use the blast furnace, certain things have to be in place. When you switch on the blast furnace, you cannot switch if off till after 7 years. So the right raw materials must be there and the external infrastructure must be in place. The external infrastructure has to do with the railway, river port and the dredging of the River Niger.

What this government has done is to put the external infrastructure in place.

Today, we have put up a rail line from Itakpe-Ajaokuta to Warri Port. The dredging of the River Niger has been done. The Baro Port is completed and is about to be commissioned.

The Lokoja and Warri Ports are being worked on and the Onne seaport is there.

These are some of the the things that will make Ajaokuta 100 per cent functional Today, if we are able to produce liquid steel, we will meet the steel requirements of this country. As at today, we spend more than N4 trillion importing steel in this country.

If fully sorted out, it will go a long way in solving our foreign exchange. We need to produce liquid steel so we can produce our cars, power lines, rail lines, coaches, meet construction needs, anything to do with steel and with that Nigeria will be on the right part to industrialisation.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍťËœ ͺ͸͚Î

BUSINESS ENCOUNTER KEN OBINNA

Operating Double-Digit Interest Rate Will Hinder Economic Growth Dogged, ambitious and shrewd, Ken Obinna is focused on expanding his hospitality outfit and making it a global brand, writes Demola Ojo

D

rawing from his background in banking, Ken Obinna built the four-storey, 50room Chesney Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos from scratch. A man totally committed to his project of expanding his brand beyond the shores of Nigeria, he would rather get to the nitty-gritty of work behind the scenes rather than hug the limelight.

His hard work has ensured Chesney is now a preferred option for the business traveller and corporate guest used to global standards.

The service culture is exemplary, a reflection of the owner who admits that at its inception, he worked as a porter and chauffeur. “When we started here, I served as a porter.

The guests didn’t know who I was. I took their bags and took them to their rooms. When we were fully booked, I personally gave them the chauffeur experience in my executive car, took them to another hotel and checked them in,�

Obinna says. “They never knew I owned the place. Some of them found out later and exclaimed, ‘Is that not the porter?’ I was leading my staff by example. “In fact, for like three to four years, my staff never believed that I own the hotel because of the way I conducted myself. I was showing them that if I can do it at this level, then you can too,� he explains.

Obinna has a habit of pacing himself when he speaks, to ensure clarity. Sometimes he’s barely audible, at other times emphatic. He has transmitted his unpretentious attributes to this hospitality establishment, making sure that its substance and quality speak for it.

On the day of this encounter, he’s decked in a navy blue double-breasted shirt with sleeves rolled-up. He’s a man of routine he says, getting to the office on the top floor of the hotel at 10 am to leave 10 minutes past five in the evening so that he can get a lot of work done, yet have ample time for his family.

He looks back at the journey so far. “We’ve come a long way. There have been a few hitches here and there. Doing business in Nigeria – especially if you want to do it the right way – is very difficult but we’ve been overcoming. “The Chesney brand is purely customer focused. We are of the opinion that if the customers are satisfied, the books will balance.

So we focus our attention on putting smiles on the faces of the customers and retaining them. Retention is key. “If you look at the records since we started, if you are no longer with us, you probably closed shop,� he suggests.

Obinna has spent the past eight years nurturing the Chesney brand, which, conceptually, is understated, yet meets up to international standards in terms of facilities and service.

Chesney has helped plug the deficit of international-standard hotel rooms in Lagos.

It offers similar standards as well-known international brands but at more competitive prices, due to its grasp of the unpredictable Nigerian terrain. “We opened shop in December 2010. It was my first step into the hospitality industry. It’s not been easy. Now we’ve built the customer base and everybody knows about the brand.

In fact, I think we’re running a little bit behind schedule because we’re supposed to expand,� he reveals. “Chesney is between 3.5 and 4-Star. But in terms of service, I give it 6-Star. We are looking to ensure that overall, we’re a five-star hotel, where we can compete at the highest level,� he says.

Obinna

From Numbers to People The Chesney boss did not start out in the hospitality industry. “I studied economics at the University of Ibadan and after that, I did my MBA at the Middlesex University, London.

Most of what I have done has had absolutely nothing to do with hospitality. My first career was working in a bank.�

He was a pioneer staff of Platinum Bank which later morphed into Bank PHB and is presently known as Keystone Bank. He left when it was PHB. “After that, I moved into real estate and trading in stocks. Then just before the global economic crash in 2008, I pulled out and that was how I acquired this property,� he reveals.

True to his nature, Obinna would rather not take credit for his foresight. “Immediately after the crash in the stock market, real estate crashed as well. I was lucky on both sides. In fact, it’s not luck; it was the hand of God. During that troubling time, I was actually setting up this hotel, transferring funds from the stock market and real estate. “I wanted the complete package; trading in stocks, real estate, and hospitality. It’s something that will take quite some time. It’s just that the Nigerian economy does not allow you to move at the speed at which you want to move,� he says wistfully.

However, his sojourn in the financial world has prepared him for his current venture. “My brief stay at the bank helped me to acquire what it takes to run an organisation. The leadership skills, the managerial skills, that’s where I got it, and I held on to it. “It helped me a lot in making my investments

and now – from what I’m doing here – I think I’ve grown beyond that level. It’s a totally new level that you’re looking at now.�

Now he’s looking at the next level. “At the inception of this organisation, what we had in mind was for it to be a global smiling brand, something that would grow beyond the shores of this country. “Most of the big players in the hospitality industry are imported brands. But Chesney is an indigenous brand. When we get it right, which I believe we’ve done, rest assured that not only can we stand the competition here, we can equally stand it outside the shores of this country. “Despite this being the only property we have now, we are looking at expanding. It’s just that we want to start it from scratch; we don’t want to start selling the brand as a franchise. We want to manage it ourselves. “This year, all that we are thinking of is moving from 3.5/4-star to 5-star. There’s a lot of room for expansion. What we have on the ground is not even meeting up to demand. The brand has to go beyond Lagos and beyond Nigeria.�

Economic Challenges With his background in economics, Obinna has some insights into the shortcomings of the present economic climate in Nigeria and how it stifles business. “I’m sure all entrepreneurs are feeling it, and even non-entrepreneurs. It’s quite easy to do business in Europe. The banks are there to support you with single-digit interest rates.

There is technical support, whatever you need

tto maintain a facility; economic infrastructture, social infrastructure... Everything is well-equipped to support you. So your job w iis just to sit down and bring up ideas. “But here, it’s a totally different ball game.

When you approach the banks, the day the W lloan is structured, it is structured to fail. You ccannot operate at a double-digit interest rate if you want to grow the economy. It is something y tthat needs to be tackled. “Then we talk about the fact that you have to provide your water, and security, you have to p provide your electricity. Virtually everything p iis on your table and at the same time, you pay your tax. p “The economic infrastructure and the social iinfrastructure are all not supportive,� he says with a tinge of regret. w From the challenges entrepreneurs face generally, he focuses on the hospitality g iindustry. “If you want to upgrade, most of the ccompanies that should give you that support doesn’t have a solid base in Nigeria,� he p ssays. “Exploitation still goes on. But abroad, tthere are options. When there are options, it brings down cost. b “It’s a hospitality-rendering service so eeverything has to be on point. I detest service ffailure. When you’re running on generators, you’re not sure it won’t fail. y “If your AC fails, are the people who insstalled it, competent? Can they compete with tthe standards in other parts of the world?

These are the challenges.�

T But he also sees positives. “However there iis a good side to operating in the Nigerian business environment. You can’t compare b ssomebody that took a walk in the desert to ssomebody that took a walk in the park. “In Nigeria, we are being trained to pass tthrough the most difficult times. When you come out of the desert successfully, you can compete anywhere in the world.�

Leadership Vacuum For Obinna, if it were left to entrepreneurs, things would be better. Unfortunately, the problem can only be solved from the very top, in his opinion. “You see, these things cannot be taken care of if you don’t take care of the head, which is the leadership. That’s where it should start,� he posits. “The truth is that Nigerians are very intelligent. We can actually do better than many other countries but we can’t function well if the head does not function well. “Most of the challenges we have are not things we can handle. We cannot be talking about borehole in the 21st century. In the 60s, 70s, 80s, we had pipe-borne water. You don’t know where it comes from but you turn on the tap and water flows. “But now, you have to check if the pump is pumping well if the treatment plant is being treated well. This is just one aspect of running this business. “These are not the things we should be thinking about as entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, these are not things that entrepreneurs can handle unless they would have gone ahead and fixed it. It has to be from the top. “Most of the problems we face are not peculiar to hospitality. Every other business in Nigeria faces the same challenge and the solution is a political solution,� he says.

Obinna sees potential in Nigeria. “The potential – the capacity – is there. We have it all: the weather, the landmass, and the people.�

5 ) * 4 % ": t SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2019

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˜ ˞ JANUARY 13, 2019

MARKET NEWS

NSE CEO to Review 2018 Market Performance, Give 2019 Outlook Goddy Egene The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema will tomorrow present the 2018 market recap and outlook for 2019.

This is an annual event where the NSE boss briefs the stockbroking community, analysts, media and other stakeholders, on the performance of the market in the preceding year and give prognosis for the

market for the new year. “With the significant progress made by the exchange in 2018 in areas of thought leadership, product development, regulation, sustainability, protection of investors fund amongst others, attendees will have the opportunity of learning more of the 2019 plans,� the NSE said in a statement.

Contrary to high expectations that the market would sustain the positive performance posted in 2017, it fell by 17.8 per cent

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 2018.

Specifically, the NSE All-Share Index(ASI) depreciated from 38,243.19 to 31,430.50, while market capitalisation shed N1.898 trillion from N13.619 trillion to close the year at N11.721 trillion.

Commenting on the performance of the market, analysts at CSL Stockbrokers Limited, said the downtrend in the stock market, which was initially triggered by rising yields in the United States(US) due to hike in interest rates by

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 10Jan-2019, unless otherwise stated.

the Fed, was exacerbated by escalating trade war between the US and China, investor fears surrounding a “contagion effect� on the back of the turmoil in emerging markets (Turkey and Argentina in particular). “In addition, the political uncertainties in the domestic economy in the build up to the 2019 elections amidst a sluggish growth in gross domestic product (GDP) (which slowed from 2.1 per cent in Q4 2017 to 1.95 per cent in Q1

2018 and then to 1.5 per cent in Q2 2018) from the economic recession led foreign investors to flee the equities market in search of high-quality lower-risk assets in developed economies notably the US,� they said.

Looking ahead, the analysts said: “Although, we acknowledge that the broad sell off in the market has led to a significant moderation in the share prices of stocks providing opportunities for bargain hunting, we think that

the argument for “Buying the dip� frequently advanced by money managers and traders is still too early to call for. “With growing concerns about a weakening global economy, the U.S Fed providing guidance for two rate hikes in 2019 and more importantly, the elevated political risk in the domestic economy, we expect foreign investors to remain on the sidelines. Hence, we still expect a choppy theme to characterize the nation’s bourse over the short term.�

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.84 0.85 -0.23% ACAP Income Funds 0.61 0.61 10.55% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.05% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.22 2.24 -0.03% 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 98.26 98.95 -2.90% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.80% 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 13.46% Paramount Equity Fund 11.32 11.61 -3.33% Women's Investment Fund 99.58 102.14 -2.91% 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 12.90% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 95.31 95.58 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 98.40 98.72 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.07% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.82 0.82 Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.12 1.12 0.31% 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 12.53% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 12.07% 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 1,189.36 1,190.12 0.33% FBN Heritage Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.29% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional N/A N/A N/A FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail N/A N/A N/A FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1.17 1.19 -4.49% Legacy Debt Fund 3.25 3.25 0.30% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.03 1.03 0.13% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.47% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 106.12 106.43 5.70% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.01%

Vantage Balanced Fund 2.12 2.14 -1.55% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.30% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 119.37 119.54 -4.45% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ďŹ ncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.20 1.22 -0.80% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,103.44 1,103.44 0.35% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.33 1.36 4.54% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.26 12.30 0.38% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.41% 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 119.60 120.13 -0.95% 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 1.71 1.71 0.16% 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 2,300.11 2,313.91 1.56% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 191.17 191.17 1.86% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.92 0.94 -2.11% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 247.72 247.76 2.25% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 161.97 163.78 -0.72% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.72% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,313.70 8,413.97 -0.31% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.11 1.11 2.88% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.19 1.20 -0.59% United Capital Bond Fund 1.60 1.60 0.22% United Capital Equity Fund 0.70 0.71 -2.10% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.20% United Capital Eurobond Fund 107.34 107.34 0.08% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.08 1.08 -1.45% 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 N/A N/A N/A Zenith Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A Zenith Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Zenith Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

6.60 140.00 51.76

-32.85% 0.00% 0.03%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.03 110.98 84.06

10.13 113.19 85.64

-4.93% -5.45% -5.18%

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

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.77 7.00 13.93 11.53 143.71

3.81 7.08 14.03 11.73 145.71

-5.78% -8.15% -6.83% -6.66% 0.12%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.13

17.03%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND 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

Mackenzie

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

Jeff

13.01.2018

Sanchez

JEFF BEZOS

World’s Richest Man Dumps Wife of 25 Years for Married TV Anchor ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R ˞ ͯ͹, Ͱ͎ͯ͡

COVER

When you have loving and supportive people in your life like MacKenzie, my parents, my grandfather, my grandmother, you end up being able to take risks Je and ex-wife, Mackenzie

World’s Richest Man Dumps Wife of 25 Years for Married TV Anchor Jeff Bezos, 54, announced his split from his wife of 25 years after his affair with a 49-year-old married woman was about to be leaked to the public, writes Demola Ojo

I

f there is any doubt about the saying “money can’t buy love,� then last week’s bombshell that the world’s richest man divorced his wife of 25 years goes a long way in dispelling those doubts.

Jeff Bezos is the world’s richest man with a fortune that has soared to more than $160 billion (£125.3 billion) thanks to his stake in Amazon, which again became Wall Street’s most valuable company last week, after surpassing Bill Gates’ Microsoft.

Bezos and his wife MacKenzie announced their divorce in a joint statement last Wednesday on Twitter. “After a long period of loving exploration and trial separation, we have decided to divorce and continue our shared lives as friends,� the couple said in the statement.

The 48-year-old MacKenzie is the author of The Testing of Luther

Albright (2005) and Traps (2013). She grew up in San Francisco and attended Princeton University.

The couple met when Jeff interviewed MacKenzie for a job at a New York hedge fund in 1993. They got engaged after three months of dating and married shortly after. One year later he founded Amazon - which began as an online book retailer At a Business Insider event in Berlin last April, Jeff Bezos said MacKenzie’s support was instrumental when he founded Amazon as an online bookseller in 1994, and that she did the accounting for the company in its first year. “When you have loving and supportive people in your life like MacKenzie, my parents, my grandfather, my grandmother, you end up being able to take risks,� he said at the event.

Amazon shares dipped slightly immediately following the divorce announcement.

Washington, where the couple resides, is a community property state, which means that all assets and debts accrued during the marriage are considered owned equally by both spouses unless there was a prenuptial agreement stating otherwise.

It has not been made public whether Bezos and MacKenzie had a prenup when they married before moving to Seattle and founding Amazon.

Illicit Trysts The divorce announcement was prompted by news that the National Enquirer magazine had been set to release an exclusive story in its latest edition, revealing the eight-month affair of Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, a

helicopter pilot and former television anchor.

The magazine claimed that the lovers had been dating since last year and that Bezos met Sanchez for illicit trysts as often as six times in two weeks, took her on exotic holidays on his $65 million private jet and sent her erotic selfies “too explicit to print�.

A source close to the Bezos told DailyMail.com that the Amazon founder only began seeing Sanchez after separating from his wife, however, the National Enquirer claims the affair went on behind their spouses’ backs.

The Enquirer says it trailed Bezos for four months in what it calls the “largest investigation� in the magazine’s history, with its photographer catching the lovebirds “doing the dirty on their spouses�.

However, they say they have evidence of the affair staring several

57

JANUARY 13, 2019 ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

COVER World’s Richest Man Dumps Wife of 25 Years for Married TV Anchor months before their investigation began.

They say they followed Bezos and Sanchez “across five states and 40,000 miles, tailed them in private jets, swanky limos, helicopter rides, romantic hikes, five-star hotel hideaways, intimate dinner dates and ‘quality time’ in hidden love nests.”

Sanchez is still married to Hollywood talent mogul husband Patrick Whitesell, and sources say they separated late last year.

Path to Wealth From modest beginnings as an online bookseller, Bezos and Amazon branched out into almost every product category available, ending up taking on established retail giants such as WalMart Stores.

Under Bezos, Amazon launched the Kindle e-reader and revolutionized the way books are distributed and read.

The company has also been a pioneer in cloud computing.

Last year, Bezos bested Bill Gates on Forbes’ annual ranking of the world’s billionaires and is about $45bn ahead of Bill Gates.

Continuing, the couple’s statement said: “We feel incredibly lucky to have found each other and deeply grateful

for every one of the years we have been married to each other.

“If we had known we would separate after 25 years, we would do it all again. We’ve had such a great life together as a married couple and we also see wonderful futures ahead, as parents, friends, partners in ventures and projects, and as individuals pursuing ventures and adventures.

“Though the labels might be different, we remain a family, and we remain cherished friends.”

The couple have four children three sons, and an adopted daughter.

Sanchez, is also divorcing her husband and Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell. The two have been married for 13 years. Whitesell is one of Hollywood’s most powerful agents.

Sources say Bezos and Sanchez looked friendly at a Golden Globes after a party last Sunday. Another insider tells PEOPLE, “Patrick and Lauren have been on and off for a while and have been separated.

Patrick knew they were seeing each other.”

The former Good Day LA host and frequent contributor to Extra and The View shares two kids with Whitesell and also has a son from a previous relationship.

Washington, where the couple resides, is a community property state, which means that all assets and debts accrued during the marriage are considered owned equally by both spouses unless there was a prenuptial agreement stating otherwise

L-R: Sanchez’s husband, Whitesell, Sanchez and Jeff

Sanchez

58

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 13, 2019

GLITZ ENCOUNTER

Rinsola

Rinsola MKO Abiola

On Preserving Abiola’s Legacy, Ideals and Philosophy ‘Rinsola, daughter of the late maverick politician, Chief MKO Abiola, has a trajectory that borders on tragedy, hope and blessings. For a young woman who hardly knew her father growing up, she has decided to take shot at a political office. Imbued with intelligence, diligence and excellence, Rinsola exudes class, simplicity and a grass-roots camaraderie that are uncommon among individuals of her pedigree. As the Special Adviser on New Media to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Rinsola is running for the House of Representatives to represent Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi Owode Abeokuta constituency on the platform of the Action Democratic Party (ADP). Full of ideas and passion to serve the people, Rinsola shares her ambition and motivation with Funke Olaode

I

t has been over 20 years since Abiola’s tragic demise but his political dynasty still echoes from the distant past.

Apart from his daughter, Lola AbiolaEdewor, who was elected into the House of Representatives in 1999, Lekan, - one of his sons – had also attempted once before beating a retreat. Come 2019 general election, Abiola’s political dynasty will witness a revolution through one of his daughters, Rinsola.

Rinsola was one of the four children bore by one of his wives, Folashade. The young lady in her late 20s currently works as a special adviser on New Media to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara. She was born in London, trained as a statistician and public relations guru trained at the University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Ogun State and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. The young politician without mincing word is aware of her family and what it stands for.

“It is a common knowledge that the

family is quite large. Growing up, there were many conversations about my father, looking forward for his coming home and he eventually died in detention and had to cope with that. I don’t have any vivid recollection of him because I was less than two years when he was detained and by the time I turned seven I was expecting him to come home he passed away. But his name has refused to fade away because I often meet strangers who talk glowingly about how he impacted their lives one way or the other.

Growing up without him, he remained the integral part of my life despite that he wasn’t around. There is no way of separating what daddy stood for from my life and how it turns out that even in death my daddy has continued to be a source of inspiration.”

“I had all education in Nigeria thanks to my mother who has been a strong pillar.

She made us realise what happened and the circumstances. If anything for us it was a source of strength. By father not being around wasn’t his choice and eventual Rinsola being carried as a toddler by her late dad, MKO Abiola

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JANUARY 13, 2019 ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

GLITZ ENCOUNTER

A Daughter Living the Ideals of MKO Abiola death wasn’t his. I knew that he was very comfortable, very wealthy and could have chosen his wealth over what he went through but he didn’t because he believed what he was doing. Going to school for me was key because I knew I was born by such great person and in everywhere I have to ensure that I didn’t let him down by performance, character and in all facets of my life,” she says.

Does the name of MKO Abiola places a burden of expectation on her to excel?

“Yes, it does because whenever I go anywhere and people know I am MKO Abiola’s daughter. There is this impression that ‘Oh, I hope you are as brilliant as he was!’ Or, ‘I hope you are as generous as he was!’ Sometimes, I hear: ‘Hope you are a people’s person as he was.’ There are so many expectations. My dad’s shoes are too large to step into.

“Everybody has to strive to carve a niche for themselves because it is impossible for anyone to be like that man because his achievements are impossible to surmount. From my mother’s side, my elder sister, Barakat had her doctorate at 21. She had a bachelor’s degree at 18, graduated with first class honours onours abroad.

She prefers to be quiet. She is very brilliant.

When I left secondary school ol I had 8 Bs and one A in my WAEC results. sults. So, his intellectual prowess has rubbed bbed off on us because within the family y particularly my mother’s children, theree are so many achievements and talents that hat it becomes intimidating when you think nk of it. So I have constant motivation from rom my father’s track records and the achievements vements of my sibling and my mum who has been the pillar of support for us to strive rive hard.”

Rinsola is currently seeking king to represent her constituency in the House of Representatives in the next dispensation.

Is she trying to revive the MKO Abiola’s political dynasty or what is her motive?

Her response: “Well, if it is I would say subconsciously probably because ecause the way my dad died fighting for the he democracy we are enjoying now. I know w he is a man of the people who put the needs ds of the people above himself. That is a legacy acy anybody can strive to live up to. For me, the interest to go into politics came about ut when I realise that there are so many ny things going on in this country. So many youths are dissatisfied with the quality y of governance.

“Our hospitals are moree or less mortuaries without equipment. ment. The schools are filled with dilapidated pidated structures while the cost of education keeps increasing. An average ge Nigerians cannot put food on the table. e. It seems many of those who aspire for or public office are not doing it for service as many want position and influence to the he detriment of the masses. I just felt we can’t continue to complain about the state of things especially young people without thout getting involved. For me, that was the major factor that made me move from youth outh activism to the mainstream politics.””

She adds: “I consider myself yself as an advocate for youth inclusion n in politics and gender equity because those are the two things that matter to me. My activism is mostly from the perspective ive of calling for youth inclusion in government rnment across board and not just in positions ons where they observe but in a position where here they are able to influence policies and nd they are able to contribute to decision on making at the highest level. I worked ed with some youth organisations before going into mainstream politics tics because I realise that there iss so much one is able to do ass a private individual but onee can do a whole lot within government.

“As I said earlier, it is not just because dad meant a lot of things to different people that I am doing this. I am

doing it because of the passion to alleviate people’s sufferings. I have listened to his interviews, his manifestoes and listened to how he was so passionate. He was worthy of emulation. So the fact that I feel that way, the fact the quality of representation we have is not good enough and I put myself forward, believe the people of my constituency deserve a better representation and I don’t think it is due to the fact that daddy loved politics but I feel very strongly about it. I am running for the House of Representatives to represent Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi Owode Abeokuta Constituency under Action Democratic Party (ADP).”

Rinsola was an integral part of the ruling party, APC, before she dumped it to embrace ADP. Considering that the party is not popular, how does she think she can realise her dreams?

“I used to be in APC. I was the founding PRO of the youths. I was a founding secretary of the APC Young Women Forum and later became acting president and then I was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the APC. I have been in APC and I know what it is like. I left APC in August this year simply because I felt a lot of things which are undemocratic were being passed on as the law. For me, many people fought for this democracy and considering the sacrifice my father made to have democracy today. And when I looked at what is being meted out to me, I felt it is like an insult into his memory. If I have been advocating for something for so long and it is not done simply because real power is lacking.

We are talking about youth inclusion and you are having a party with an exorbitant form fee,” Abiola’s daughter tells THISDAY. Rinsola believes that beyond dropping her father’s name, her passion for politics is to preserve Abiola’s legacy, ideas and philosophy and to complete his unfinished business.

“My late dad had played his role well that 20 years after his death his name still resonates.

I believe in his philosophy, ideals. In addition to the kind of person he was, his love for the people irrespective of your social background. He had friends from all walks of life. If we have representation that is not proactive what is the point of electing people.

So my passion for development and empowerment is something that is obvious I am quite young but I believe I have garnered enough experience working in the

House of Representatives. My duty as a lawmaker apart from making laws is to attract infrastructural development to my constituency.

“If you have a legislator who cannot give you an update on how his constituency is fairing, that legislator should be questioned.

I have gone through all the three local governments to see the state of the roads, the primary health care centre,” she explains.

As a greenhorn in politics how does Rinsola think she can match the establishment? Unperturbed by the socalled the establishment, the young Abiola believes in people’s power.

“The establishment is made up of people and they are strengthened by votes from people and at the end of the day politics they say is about interest. It is essentially going to be about who the people believe has better interest at heart. If I am able to tell the people what I have for them and the other person has a better chance – may the best man or woman wins. I am putting myself forward because I know I can do it better,” she argues.

Well, if it is I would say subconsciously probably because the way my dad died fighting for the democracy we are enjoying now. I know he is a man of the people who put the needs of the people above himself. That is a legacy anybody can strive to live up to.

For me, the interest to go into politics came about when I realise that there are so many things going on in this country.

So many youths are dissatisfied with the quality of governance

60

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R ˞ ͯ͹, Ͱ͎ͯ͡

FOCUS

Understanding the Fresh Attempt to Bring Down R. Kelly Vanessa Obioha

S

ince the New York Times’ expository on disgraced Hollywood mogul, Harvey Weinstein, in 2017, the #MeToo movement has become an indomitable force, bringing down powerful sexual abusers whose influential persona were once untouchable.

From Hollywood to the media, each year has witnessed the demystification of such men from their towering status. According to a compilation made by a media outlet, Vox, over 250 celebrities have been accused of sexual abuse in the past two years. A large percentage of that number operate in the arts and entertainment scene. Twenty-seventeen recorded about 59 celebrities in the art and entertainment sphere who were publicly reported of one sexual misbehaviour or the other.

That same year saw the ousting of former host of Fox News, Bill O’Reilly by his employer 21st Century Fox that had repeatedly assisted him in settling women who reported of his unruly sexual behaviour at the workplace. The company could not continue covering his bad deeds when a New York Times exposÊ made the settlements public. The agreements totaled about $13 million.

By July, singer R. Kelly was the subject of a report in BuzzFeed which reported that Kelly is holding multiple young women against their will in what their parents are calling an abusive sex cult. The hashtag #MuteRKelly then was started by Oronike Odeleye and Kenyette Barnes.

However, it wasn’t until Weinstein’s floodgate of sexual harassment later that year did the #MeToo movement gained traction. Although the American actress Alyssa Milano was credited to have started the hashtag movement, it was the American activist Tarana Burke who created the phrase in 2006 to give the opportunity to women who were sexually victimized. Time’s Up campaign which is an organization focused on fighting sexual harassment, abuse and discrimination in the workplace followed next.

The staggering numbers only reveal the degree of this abuse on a celebrity scale. There are ordinary citizens who also victimize vulnerable persons and are walking the streets free.

So far, the #MeToo movement has been very focused on its objective to bring powerful men to the book. But often times, that aim is tilted to favour the women. While the ratio of sexually abused women to men is very high, there needs to be a balance.

Cases of men sexually abused by older women receive little or no attention. Often times, petty arguments have been advanced to rubbish or sideline such claims.

For instance, Asia Argento, a victim of Weinstein’s sexual assault was accused by an actor Jimmy Bennett last year of assaulting him when he was 17, the public attacked him that he was old enough to enjoy the act.

The spectacle showed how unfair the world can be to a male victim. There are times when the activists blow the story out of proportion. So much concentration is placed on the abuser and the act that the victim’s role is not questioned. Why? With the recent wave of events surrounding the singer R.Kelly, the #MeToo movement which has wielded so much power in the past year and a half may find a very defiant personality in R.Kelly.

The singer has been a subject of various sexual allegations dating back to 1994 when he was heavily pilloried for marrying the late singer Aaliyah who was then 15. Their marriage certificate indicated she was 18.

The marriage though was annulled the following year.

R. Kelly

In 1996, Kelly was sued for $10 million by Tiffany “Tia� Hawkins, an aspiring singer and then–high school student in Chicago, who claimed she met the star when he lectured her choir class. According to the lawsuit, Hawkins began having sex with Kelly in 1991, when she was 15 and he was 24. The relationship ended in December 1994, when she was 18, the court documents state; distraught, she slit her wrists in an attempt to kill herself.

By 2002, the Grammy winner was accused of 14 charges of child pornography. The case, which took a record six and a half years to go to trial in Chicago, focused only on a single videotape that prosecutors alleged showed him having sex with a 14-yearold girl. Kelly was acquitted of all charges in 2008.

Since that last trial, efforts have been made to bring down the singer. Last year, BBC released a documentary, R. Kelly: Sex, Girls, and Videotapes, which examined the numerous allegations of sexual misconduct and assault against the singer. That documentary kicked off the #MuteRKelly on Twitter and saw music streaming platform Spotify removing his music from their curated playlists. The singer’s lawyer, publicist and longtime assistant also severed ties with him.

But none had resonated with the public like the recent Lifetime docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly� which detailed abuse allegations against R. Kelly in six episodes. Aired from January 3-6, the series featured dozens of testimonials from survivors, activists, police officers, and legal experts, as well as Kelly’s family members and former employees on the predator lifestyle of the idolized singer.

The documentary generated a new wave of backlash for the singer and ironically increased his music streaming numbers according to Nielsen music.

Like previous celebrity accusations, his counterparts who have worked with him have come out to diss him or publicly renounce their friendship, all of which carry a sense of hypocrisy as claimed by Tamar, sister of Toni Braxton who tweeted that they are enablers of his actions.

Daughter Calls Him a Monster His daughter, Joann Lee Kelly took to Instagram to denounce her father. Calling him a monster, she apologized to all the women who have been hurt by her father’s actions while stating that her relationship with her father has not been the most lovable father and daughter relationship. “The same monster that you all confronting me about is my father. I am well aware of who and what he is. I grew up in that house,� her lengthy statement on her Instagram stories read. “My mother, siblings, and I would never condone, support or be a part of ANYTHING negative he has done and or continues to do in his life.�

JoAnn who goes by the name Buku Abi is one of the children Kelly had with his ex-wife, Andrea.

Kelly’s Attorney Denies Allegations Against Singer An attorney for the singer Steve Greenberg reacting to the several accusations levelled against the singer labelled the new documentary a “for-profit hit piece full of falsities, full of mistakes.� “There’s women saying things, which is of course their prerogative, but there is no evidence that any of it happened.

Their show was a complete fabrication and fraud. We are pulling together the evidence to prove that,� Greenberg said in

an interview.

Though he denied the allegations, he acknowledged that the women have thrown themselves to the singer in the past, thinking that Kelly would help in their music career only to become disgruntled when the results are not immediate, thus resorting to issuing false allegations against the singer.

While he added that Lady Gaga’s decision to remove the duet she had with Kelly from all streaming services was a politically correct action, he however questioned why some of the women didn’t come forward after a 27-minute video surfaced in 2002 that showed a man purported to be Kelly engaged in sex acts involving an underage girl.

Kelly’s Aloofness Kelly who turned 52 on January 8 is yet to make a statement. CNN uploaded a video on its YouTube channel that saw the singer balling in a Chicago club to mark his birthday. By Friday, the court ordered inspectors to search his house, including an inspection on his recording studio in Chicago which was described in the documentary series as his hub for the supposed sex cult.

That aloofness is what has kept the singer away from the bar for so long.

Though prosecutors in Chicago and Atlanta have called witnesses to come forth with their stories, Kelly harbours this confidence that everything would be swept under the rug like previous occasions since there has been no evidence yet to truncate his freedom. This in a way turned out true when police officials stormed his residence in Chicago’s Trump Tower on Friday after receiving a tip that Kelly was holding two women against their will. Officers reportedly interviewed Kelly and the women but found no evidence of wrongdoing.

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High Life

61 with LANRE ALFRED 08076885752

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

Forbes’african Billionaires… How Globacom Chairman Emerged Stronger on World’s Rich List, Now Richer By $3.9bn

Funtua

Man Without Ego... The Unprecedented Humility of Abubakar Isa Funtua Humility is not a peculiar habit of self-effacement; rather like having an inaudible voice, it is a gallant respect for reality and one of the most difficult and central of all the virtues. Abubakar Isa Funtua, the son of Alhaji Isa Funtua, undoubtedly appreciates its essence.

Little wonder like anxious teenagers waiting for their bar mitzvah, many Nigerians, near and far-flung, are eager to know who Abubakar is. This palpable and pervasive anxiety is expected because of the selfeffacing nature of this cheerful and relentless giver. Frankly, it would not be a heresy to say that Abubakar is not a run-of-the-mill successful entrepreneur fixated on lining their pockets and thriving on cronyism. Abubakar thrives rather on giving back to the society more than he has ever made from it without any recourse to tokenism. Those who know this unrepentant altruist are acutely aware that he orbits in his self-imposed mission to alleviate the endemic suffering and poverty in Africa, while bringing innate gravitas to the art and act of philanthropy. Abubakar keeps a low-profile and avoids any form of scandal that can jeopardize his name and that of his family. You could be forgiven for imagining that he was shepherded by his father who persistently counselled him that where strength fails, boldness at least will deserve praise.

Becoming an entrepreneur extraordinaire is not mere lip service; it takes consistent effort and focus to grow from just being an entrepreneur with interest in a particular business to becoming a respected and renowned empire builder. Think Dr. Mike Adenuga, GCON, CSG, CLH, the Chairman of the telecoms giant, Globacom. Frequently likened to a champion and sometimes, a business genius, Adenuga effortlessly depicts the image of a modern-day General of Commerce.

Interestingly, however, nothing excites Adenuga as much as his octopoidal conglomerate. Yes, very few of members of Nigeria’s affluent club can achieve every great feat in their youth and remain quiet and self-effacing, like an avatar of the Himalayan thrust. While some are busy pushing status and their immense bulk in a desperate dash for socio-economic and political acclaim, Adenuga affects tact and humility, without ostentation or pretence.

Adenuga is a force of nature. A rare factor on the African continent.

You could be forgiven for ascribing to him, superhuman smarts. For a man who has learned and mastered intricate business as the genius conductor assimilates Mozart’s aria, you can never ornament the words enough to describe his unparalleled verve and genius. If Adenuga were a lab scientist, he would have reordered groups in organic chemistry and calculated the anti-derivatives of functions that he will effectively deploy in real life—all with a modest amount of energy.

Adenuga

Some would liken him to ‘The Factor’ on the African continent, a towering force of hope and entrepreneurial depth. Little wonder, he and others are still standing firm on the Forbes list of billionaires for

2018, released a few days ago. The rankings also show that Dangote, Adenuga and Abdusamad Rabiu top Forbes’ African Billionaires. Curiously, Dangote saw his wealth drop by $2bn from $12.2bn in January 2018 to $10bn in 2019. But Dangote retained his position as Africa’s richest man for the eighth consecutive time. Adenuga, with interests in oil exploration and real estate, moved up to be Africa’s second richest man. The American magazine said Adenuga’s net worth dramatically increased from $5.3bn to $9.2bn because he provided more detailed information about his assets. Yes, it’s often said Adenuga covets no vanities thus unlike many of other billionaires; he demands no free verses, heroic couplets or ornamental rhymes to glorify his personage as a man. Adenuga is hardly given to such infectious vanities.

Interestingly, Abdulsamad Rabiu, chief executive officer of BUA Group, featured on the list for the first time since 2015. Folorunsho Alakija, whose net worth dropped to $1.1 billion from $1.3 billion, was ranked 19th. The rank was a tie with South African banker, Michiel Le Roux. Commenting on the reduced net worth of the personalities, Forbes said, “Buffeted by plunging stock prices and weaker currencies, the number of African billionaires has shrunk to just 20, down from 23 a year ago. “Four people fell off Forbes’ annual list of the continent’s richest since last year while one returned to the ranks after a four-year absence. All but four members of the list have smaller fortunes than a year ago.”

Best Friends Forever… Otunba Fasawe And Atiku Abubakar

Atiku

Fasawe

Old friends are best. King James used to call for his old shoes, saying they were the easiest for his feet. But former President, Olusegun Obasanjo thinks otherwise. That is why he did away with his very close friend, Otunba Johnson Fasawe, though they have since

resolved their disagreement. Otunba Fasawe, an Ondo-born businessman, hit the limelight when President Obasanjo assumed office in 1999.

Due to his closeness to Obasanjo, he walked the corridors of power without restrictions, and many courted his

good graces. His influence with the former president knew no bounds and as a result, many influential people sought the grace of Otunba Fasawe in a desperate bid to get one favour or the other from the former president. The shipping magnate’s complimentary card used to read ‘Personal Friend of the President of the Federation’.

It was, however, astonishing to see beautiful relationship between the two friends collapse. Fasawe’s tacit support and sympathy for the then Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, happened to be his greatest undoing. This did not go down well with Obasanjo particularly in the days of the heady face-off between Obasanjo and Atiku, and it led to the unceremonious exit of Fasawe from Aso Rock.

Perhaps it was in bid to spite his former bosom friend and president that Fasawe decided to pitch his tent with Atiku, perhaps not; but it was interesting sighting Otunba Fasawe with the former Vice President. Fasawe has become to Atiku what he once was to former President Obasanjo and the duo have since waxed stronger in friendship, but this no longer rankles Obasanjo. The duo have been sighted together at all times. If Atiku succeeds in his incessant bid to become the nation’s president come 2019, Fasawe may once more become a regular face in Aso Rock, the corridors of power.

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HIGHLIFE

How Love Tamed Sonny Kuku at 75‌ Mo Abudu’s

Like an ancient mariner whose heartbeat dwarfs echoes of his incredible exploits, Ijebu-born business mogul, Oloorogun Sonny Kuku, commands the awe of many of his peers and admirers in Nigeria’s high society. Sonny Kuku, joint chief medical director, Eko Hospitals, is one of the triumvirate that established the highly successful hospital.

Dr. Kuku clocked 75 some days ago.

But to the dismay of his friends and family, the astute businessman didn’t roll out the drums in an elaborate manner.

He has reportedly shunned several overtures made to him by members of his family to celebrate his birthday in a grand manner. Hitherto known for his loud and extravagant way of life, the veteran socialite is letting go his old ways, preferring to fritter a few naira on only important celebrations like the wedding ceremony of his children. With his new wife, a former beauty queen, Susan Hart, Sonny is in the seventh heaven.

Susan is gifted in love. Like the fabled enchanteur from the renaissance era, she has got Olorogun Sunny Kuku forever pacing the Hadrian’s wall of her shoulder and dreaming of her maiden castle. In the same breath, she has got him perpetually hooked on her cocktail of love. Since his eyes held with hers and they experienced their first touch, she sent shockwaves of love through his veins like radiant energy. Thus Olorogun Kuku became a string to be played by the nimble fingers of Susan, his beloved wife.

Very few women are capable of such feat. Indeed, very few wives are able to keep their husbands fulfilled and perpetually devoted to their wedlock.

Susan is capable of such deed. As you read, the ravishing beauty savours blissful matrimony with her husband.

She relishes every minute of her gardenfresh union, basking in the glory of being an elegant consort of the renowned Olorogun Sunny Kuku.

Daughter, Temidayo, Holds Wedding Introduction

Kuku

Homecoming‌Bode Opeseitan Returns To Glo Several Months After

Opeseitan

It’s often said, there is something about Globacom that makes its former workers return there years after leaving.

Some say it has to do with the job security and convivial working environment; a number of other ex-staff say it is because the chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga, quadruples as a teacher, leader, father and mentor before being an employer. Bode Opeseitan, a pioneer staff who resigned in July, 2017, according to him, to run a family business, is now back in the fold as Director, External Communications &

PR. The brilliant journalist is one in a long line of ex-staff of the preeminent telecommunications company to return after seeking pastures greener elsewhere. And he knows why this is so.

Describing Adenuga as a quintessential leader with an unimaginable capacity to ride above the storm of the past and reset his relationships with people when he felt the need to do so, Opeseitan put the issue in perspective in a widely syndicated article entitled ‘Adenuga at 65: Why the gold digger remains the real McCoy’. He wrote, “Dr. Adenuga treated me more like his son than an employee.

When I wanted to leave Globacom last year to run a family business, Chairman was displeased. Somehow, he felt I would stay with the business longer. However, having spent 14 years supporting in my own little way our much appreciated Chairman’s vision, I pleaded to be excused. Chairman took it harder than I envisaged. Since I made my intention known in April last year until I left in July of the same year, all channels of communication came to a near screeching halt. Knowing that I was not doing anything deliberately to hurt Baba or his business, I stuck to my plan.�

According to him, “Almost one year later, Dr Adenuga reached out to me and

said the unthinkable. One of Africa’s richest men apologized for the way the system took my decision to leave.

He painted my modest contributions glowingly and asked me to return if I wished. I deeply expressed my gratitude to him for his support over the years.�

Opeseitan stated further, “Severally (sic), he has recalled or reabsorbed former members of staff who left in the most dramatic circumstances. Some came back voluntarily while he himself reached out to others. For him, it is not about the sentiment but the value the individual has to offer. Yet, there were exceptional instances when he reabsorbed people mainly because he pitied their prevailing circumstances.�

A Fellow of the World Press Institute in Macalester College, Minnesota, USA; Poynter Institute, Florida, USA; and the Reuters Foundation, UK; Opeseitan worked at African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc for eight years, rising to the post of Editor, Tribune on Saturday.

After leaving Globacom, he set up SA&B Mega Resources Limited, a fully integrated African marketing communications company with a global vision and a convergence of professionals from competitive markets within and outside Africa.

+ Set To Marry Caverton Group Chairman’s Son, Adebola Makanjuola The first leg of the wedding ceremony between Temidayo Teniola Abudu and Adebola Teslim Imohiosen Makanjuola kicked off with an Introduction (Writing-in), place on Saturday 5 January 2019, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The bride is the daughter of Mosunmola Abudu (aka Mo Abudu), the globally celebrated television mogul, corporate titan and CEO of EbonyLife TV and Tokunbo Abudu, a prominent lawyer and businessman.

The bride’s paternal grandfather, Chief Olatunde Abudu, legal luminary and astute businessman, played host to the guests at his expansive mansion in Abeokuta.

The groom, Adebola is a Project Manager at Visionscape Nigeria.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Business/Trade and Commerce from University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom; and a Master of Arts in Global Business Management and Leadership from Regent’s University, London.

The groom, Adebola is the son of Chief Oluremi Muyinudeen Makanjuola, the chairman of Caverton Group and Lady Cassandra Omage.

A seasoned banking professional, Makanjuola ranks prominently on the upper rung of Nigeria’s elite ladder of successful and wealthy businessmen.

Described as a very industrious and enterprising man, some of Makanjuola’s business interests include Caverton Helicopters established in September 2002 as a charter, shuttle and maintenance company. Makanjuola was at the event with his wife, Chief (Mrs) Yoyin Makanjuola, a veteran educationist.

Temidayo and Adebola got engaged last August. The traditional and engagement ceremony has been slated to hold in March, while the white wedding will hold in the United States during the summer.

Friends and associates of the couple’s parents were also on ground to lend their supports.

Sosoliso Boss, Vincent Ikwuemesi Goes into Annoymous Cocoon Good fortune attracts goodwill.

If you plan a coup and succeed, you become an instant national hero; fail and you are condemned as an evil criminal.

In business, it’s the same difference between bankruptcy and making a fortune. Ask Victor Ikwuemesi, he knows.

The proprietor of defunct Sosoliso Airlines has a fair idea of what it means to lose your place as the toast of the high society. Back then when he was

the darling of the crème da la creme of Nigeria’s upper class, his influence was as strong as his resolve to exert it wherever the need arose. But no sooner disaster struck following the crash of one of his aircraft than the Sosoliso boss tasted the flipside of acclaim.

The Federal Government revoked Sosoliso’s operating licence after the unfortunate plane crash, which claimed the lives of over 50 Port-Harcourt, Rivers State-bound students of Loyola Jesuit

College and Pastor Bimbo Odukoya among others. Sosoliso was one of the airlines grounded by the administration of President Obasanjo when it could not pass the recapitalization test.

Perhaps if he had paid the mandatory compensation meant for the families of those who passed away in the crash, he would have not been in this predicament. Since his airline business nosedived, Victor has diversified into another business.

Temidayo Abudu

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HIGHLIFE

Loyal To The Bone… Why Kola Karim is Supporting Atiku Abubakar At a time when romancing or identifying with the presidential aspiration of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is viewed as anathema or felony among supporters of the government of the day, with the concomitant shrivelling of campaign finances, a silver lining has appeared in the Waziri’s dark campaign cloud. The diminutive businessman and Group Managing Director/ CEO, Shoreline Group, Kola Karim, has thrown his weight, warts and all, behind Atiku. It was reliably gathered that when the searchlight was beamed on prospective sponsors of the Atiku campaign, necessitating their slinking into their shells, while bank MDs who usually funnel funds to top political aspirants followed suit, Atiku and his advisers turned to some international businessmen for help, some of who stopped taking their calls for fear of state-motivated witch-hunt. Only Karim has decided to brave the odds. And he is ready to support the Atiku campaign organisation.

While there are posers as to what emboldens him to openly support Atiku, a source said he feels beholden to the PDP under which he made a killing courtesy

his acquaintanceship with the former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani AllisonMadueke. It was during her reign that Karim’s Shoreline partnered with Heritage Oil to purchase the lucrative OML 30 which contains 11 oil fields. So, putting his money where his mouth is should not be held against him. The son of a policeman and an entrepreneurial mother who ran a small commodity trading firm, he studied management, finance and later obtained an MBA from Harvard. The Shoreline Group has interests in all essential industries, from electricity to oil and gas, construction, engineering, commodities trading, logistics and agro-allied products and operates in almost ten countries. Not long ago, the company acquired a 51% stake in Entrepose DBN, a leading provider of construction and mechanical services to international oil companies and junior oil companies in Nigeria with the view to accelerating the development of Entrepose DBN and expanding its reach across the Nigerian industrial sectors to create a leading Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor for key onshore and offshore oil and gas projects in Nigeria.

Abudu

Samad Returns To The Forbes Billionaires’ List Three Years After In a year that saw many billionaires lose chunks of their money due to plunging stock prices and weaker currencies, with the number of African billionaires shrinking to 20 from 23 last year, cement mogul and chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, returns to the Forbes Africa’s Richest List. He was knocked off the list in 2015 but his return was facilitated largely, according to the influential American magazine, by the merger of his Kalambaina Cement firm with publicly traded Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, which he controlled.

“Rabiu now owns 97% of Kalambaina, which operates a new cement production facility, and started selling cement in mid2018. Separately, Rabiu’s OBU Cement recently expanded its operations, adding a new production line,” the magazine

stated.

Indeed, the BUA Group commissioned its $350 million Kalambaina Cement Plant in Sokoto State in July 2018 with an installed capacity of 1.5 metric tonnes per annum and is the largest single private sector-led investment in North West Nigeria.

From the ancient city of Kano, Samad, a silver spoon, is the son of Isyaku Rabiu, one of the richest and most influential businessmen in northern Nigeria in the 1970s and 80s. After his education at the Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, he returned to Nigeria at the age of 24 to take over his father’s vast multimillion naira businesses. Samad started BUA Group in the late 80s as a private company specializing in iron and steel, shipping, port concessions, real estate

and agricultural and industrial chemicals among others. Over the years, the company has evolved into a massive conglomerate playing in a wide range of sectors including oil and gas and shipping. His breathtaking mansion in the fortress of the wealthy and powerful, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, is said to be one of the best. That is not all; he has prime properties in Abuja, London, South Africa and the United States of America.

He also owns a private jet; and expensive cars in London and Lagos. Beyond his strides and successes in business and other endeavours, his rating and renown as a billionaire, Rabiu is a power dresser.

Despite the shield and myth that money has created around him, Samad is reportedly a down-to-earth family man.

Rabiu

Gbemi Saraki Becomes Prominent Member Of Buhari Campaign Group

Gbemi Saraki

Gbemisola is the younger sister of Senate President Bukola Saraki. The University of Sussex, UK, Economics graduate was first elected a member of the House of Representatives in 1999 on the platform of the All People’s Party, APP, before being elected a Senator in 2003 as a PDP member. She was in the Senate between 2003 and 2011. Attempts by their late father to make Gbemisola succeed her brother as Kwara State governor tanked badly as Bukola blatantly refused, preferring to pitch

his tent with the incumbent Governor Ahmed Abdulfattah. So committed to the ‘Gbemisola for governor’ project was their late father that he went ahead to float the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN). Bukola simply refused to release the Saraki structure for Gbemisola. This polarised the family but father and son reportedly made up before he passed on in November 2012. As if that were not enough, Bukola took over Gbemisola’s seat in the Senate thus leaving her in political wilderness or so. She would

defect to the APC on the eve of the 2015 elections. Reports suggest that the silver spoon siblings have been reconciled considering that she was even appointed

by President Muhammad Buhari as the Pro Chancellor and Chairperson of the Federal University Otuoke, Baylesa State, the home town of the former president, Goodluck Jonathan. But happenings around them suggest otherwise.

Bukola is back in PDP and Gbemi is a prominent member of Buhari campaign organization.

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Jumoke OkoyaThomas’ Sterling Attributes

No doubt, Omooba Jumoke Okoya-Thomas , apart from being the daughter of the late Molade Okoya-Thomas, has good leadership qualities.

As a member of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2015, she single-handedly sponsored several bills that impacted her people positively.

She is also seen as a rallying point and a woman who can make things happen for the women and other members of her party members.

A source revealed that these qualities explained the reason the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju BolaTinubu, entrusted more responsibility unto her as the Women Leader of APC. “Jumoke Okoya-Thomas is held in high esteem by a lot of people.

She is one woman who can make things happen for the women and the generality of the members of the party. She is kind-hearted, loyal and amiable.

“We all know the roles women play in elections and Olajumoke is capable of mobilizing the women ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ in other activities of the party,” the source disclosed.

The 61-year-old woman is also said to have devoted her life to the service of her Creator.

She is a teetotaler and lives her life in conformity with her faith.

Born on January 20, 1957, she has a diploma in Senior Managers in Government from Harvard University and a diploma in Secretariat Administration from the Burleigh College.

While in the House, she was ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ on public procurement and also ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ Banking & currency, diaspora, niger delta and women in parliament as well as the chairman of the House Ĵ ȱ ȱ ǯ

Okoya-Thomas’

Popular Jeweller, Martha Najomo’s Daughter, Christabel Weds In Style About 15 years ago, celebrated pilot, Capt. Chris Najomo, and his beautiful wife, Martha, gave out one of their daughters in marriage, amidst pomp and circumstance.

The wedding, for obvious reasons, was the talk of town for a long time.

Between then and now, the couple had honoured invitations to countless wedding ceremonies at home and abroad.

But it will not be wrong to say that one of the secret desires of the couple was to witness another day when they could gladly re-enact the event of 15 years ago, even in a grander style.

Interestingly, their prayers seemed to have been answered when their beautiful daughter, Christabel, and her Kenya-born lover, Zacheus, came home sometime last year to express their intentions to live as husband and wife for the rest of their lives.

It was one piece of news that gladdened the heart s of Najomo and his wife, the brains behind the popular jewelry shop, Seraphina Gems.

Pronto, preparations began! For them, no stone must be left unturned to make the day most memorable for their daughter.

As soon as the family began to send out the colourful invites, bearing some very romantic notes, there suddenly began a buzz over the planned wedding.

After several weeks of planning, the Najomos, on January 3, played host to eminent personalities from across the country when their daughter bade bye to spinsterhood, as she was joined in a traditional wedding with her love at the Balmoral Convention Centre of the Federal Palace Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The ceremonies, no doubt, lit up the social milieu. For the Najomos, the New Year couldn’t have started on a more interesting note in their memoirs.

The hall, which was filled to the brim, bore lovely décor, which must have also gulped some millions of naira.

It was accentuated with the presence of gaily dressed guests, who walked into the

Najomos

hall with majestic splendour.

Both Najomo and his wife gave each guest a kingly treatment that further confirmed their good sense of hospitality.

One of the highlights of the event was the grand entry of the couple in a new Rolls Royce into the hall. As they made their way into the hall in that dramatic way, the general impression could be captured in this three letters word: wow!

Also, as proof that the parents of the bride did not spare any expense to make their daughter happy, Ebony Band and BJ Sax were engaged to serenade the guests with good music on the occasion.

But the hall became more electrified when sensational hip-hop artist, David Adeleke, aka Davido, mounted the stage. The award-winning artiste, with a

commanding stagecraft, literally arrested the attention of the excited guests while he performed five of his hit songs.

While the event lasted, the joy in the heart of the bride’s mother, Martha, was so thick that it could be cut with a knife.

Beaming a winsome smile, the beautiful jeweller, who was dressed in a sea blue, fully stoned Swarovski with diamond and coral beads, looked so regal.

Among the dignitaries in attendance were Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman Zinox Group; Chief Bode George and his wife, Roli; Chief Mike Inegbese of Ineh Mic Motors and wife, Mary; Sen. Daisy Danjuma; Sophisticat boss, Lanre Ogunlesi; popular designer, Mudi; Mayor Akinpelu and Ogun State Commissioner for Information, Dayo Adeneye.

Key to DJ Cuppy’s Success Between the earth and sky above, nothing can match a grandmother’s love.

Yes, a mother’s love is beyond what anyone can capture in black and white.

Interestingly, the import of this eternal truth is not lost on Florence Otedola, otherwise known as DJ Cuppy.

It is even evident that she appreciates the meaning in a similar quote by Barbara Cage that says “A grandma is warm hugs and sweet memories. She remembers all of your accomplishments and forgets all of your mistakes.’’

Ask the talented daughter of billionaire Femi Otedola, she will definitely tell you how much she loves her grandmother, Lady Adedoja Otedola.

Society Watch gathered that the love between duo is beyond words.

Little wonder, she does not visit Nigeria without paying homage to the grandma. She captured this recently in her Instagram page, where she wrote, “My grandma’s prayers protect me.’’

A source disclosed that the beautiful singer does not only have the support of her ever-prayerful grandmother, she also enjoys her encouragement.

No doubt, the pretty and brainy lady

DJ Cuppy and her grandma, Florence Otedola

has been a delight. Her dexterity has earned her accolades as well as awards in Africa and beyond. She is definitely making her billionaire father proud.

In the past years, she has been taking

her career to greater heights beyond the expectations of many. And she has continued to prove to her traducers that she is ready to rule the scene for a long time to come.

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SOCIETY WATCH

Discordant Tunes in Late Benson Tunde Buraimoh’s Lulu Briggs’ Family Rising

Briggs

If reports reaching Society Watch is anything to go by, then, the planned burial of the late Benson Lulu Briggs may be disrupted in some way, especially if the alleged disunity in the family is not checked in time.

A source who is close to the family of the Rivers State-born founder of Moni Pulo Ltd revealed that a myriad of crises is currently rearing its ugly head in the family, which has to be resolved before his remains can be committed to the mother earth.

It was disclosed that Lulu Briggs’ wife, Pastor (Dr.) Mrs. Seinye, since his death two weeks ago in Ghana, has been acting in isolation, a situation that defiled the Abonema tradition.

The source said she had already fixed January 24, for the burial without consulting any of the deceased’s kinsmen and the children; hence, the hullaballoo among the family.

She was also said to have vowed that she would not participate or release funds if her wish is not carried out.

In fact, the source further disclosed that the children have not been allowed to enter Briggs home since his death.

“Before High Chief Lulu-Briggs’ death, his family frowned on her decision to take him to a hospital in Ghana, where he eventually died. Now, she is making her own funeral plans without the

consultation of any members of the family and Abonema elders,” the source disclosed.

It was also revealed that another crisis that might affect the funeral of the oil magnate and philanthropist is a raging war among the Briggs compound chiefs and the court case with the Amanyanabo of Abonema.

It was gathered that there are fears that youths from other compounds might disrupt the burial if this is not amicably resolved.

The late Lulu-Briggs was also named one of the 10 richest Nigerians in 2014 with an estimated net worth of $500 million. He was the vice chairman of the now-defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN, the dominant political party in Nigeria from 1979 to 1983.

His oil exploration and production company was awarded its first oil block in 1992, when the then Nigerian President, General. Ibrahim Babangida(retd.), was encouraging indigenous participation in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry.

The company currently has oil blocks in Ondo, Abia and Akwa-Ibom States. Its flagship project, OML 114, produces 10,000 barrels per day.

Along with his wife, a pastor, he funded the O.B.Lulu Briggs Foundation, which provides humanitarian services to rural communities.

Tunji Owoye’s Burden Again Tunji Owoye, Managing Director, Elephant Group Plc, is in the news.

In 2017 when his trial began over the alleged importation of urea fertilizer components used in making Improvised Explosive Devices, IED, he never envisaged the current turn of things in the proceedings.

But Owoye, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, has since been trying hard to wriggle himself out of a legal jigsaw threatening the foundation of his business.

Recently, the Appeal Court dismissed his appeal filed against the National Security Adviser, as it affirmed the judgment of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos dismissing a suit instituted by Elephant Group Plc against the National Security Adviser NSA and the Attorney -General of the Federation, AGF, for lacking in merit.

It was gathered that Elephant Group Plc commenced legal action at a Federal High Court, Lagos against the NSA and the AGF jointly and seeking the declaration that the company is entitled to fully utilize the End User Certificate issued in its favour by the NSA to import 60,000 metric tons of NPK 15-15-15 and 60,000 metric tons of urea 46%.

It further claimed that the NSA and its agents cannot deny the validity of the importation of the cargo by the company, having obtained the licence to import same, and having paid all the requisite levies as prescribed by the Nigerian Custom Services and an order awarding damages in the sum of N500 million as exemplary, aggravated and general damages as well as special damages in the sum of US$1,041,532,000 being the accumulated demurrage paid on the three vessels at the time of filing the suit and US$655,000 as incidental charges cost of the legal action assessed at N50 million.

It was also revealed that Elephant Group Plc, in its case, stated that by an end user certificate dated January 13, 2015 issued to it by NSA, it became entitled to import

60,000 metric tons of PK 15-15-15 and 60,000 metric tons of urea 46%.

The legal tussle all started when Owoeye imported 13,199 metric tons of urea 46% on board a vessel MV Team Tango and fulfilled all requirements for chattering vessel to convey the cargo to Lagos.

However, the vessel and cargo were said to have been refused clearing and discharge by the NSA, without any official explanation, a situation that made the company to file an application seeking the release of the cargo.

The NSA and AGF, in their counteraffidavit, alleged that the company imported the urea into Nigeria without the permission of National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC. It was also alleged that the importation was done without a valid end user certificate from the office of NSA, which is prerequisite to the importation of the said chemical substance into Nigeria.

It further stated that the user certificate relied on by the company to import the said 13,199 metric tons of urea had expired since January, 2016, as the life span of end user certificate for the purpose of importing restricted chemical is for 12months.

The respondent further claimed that the company also was well aware that it had fully exhausted the End User Certificate dated the 13 January 2015.

At the time the company initiated the importation of urea into Nigeria, there was already a ban on the importation of the substance into the country.

The respondent added that sometime in 2015, all stakeholders of importation of chemical and fertilizers in Nigeria were invited to a meeting on November 30, 2015 at the office of NSA, where the President of the Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria was in attendance.

The respondent also stated that the

Profile

Tunde Buraimoh representing Kosofe Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly is acknowledged as very intelligent.

Perhaps, this explains why the profile of the respected politician and lawmaker, who is currently seeking a second term in office, has been on the rise.

He is said to be enjoying the support of his constituents due to his contributions to the development of the constituency in the past years.

It was gathered that while he was a former Chairman of Kosofe Local Government, Braimoh made quite an impact, not just in the lives of his constituents, but also outside of the Kosofe community.

His achievements endeared him to the people, who rewarded him with a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly, as the Lawmaker representing Kosofe Constituency II. So far, he has not disappointed them. Their love and support for him continue to soar with each passing day and this is because he is never far away from them.

The good-looking politician remains one of the fashionable men in Nigeria.

Owoye

ban on the importation of urea became imperative due to increased use of such chemical for the production of improvised explosive devices by terrorists and militant groups in Nigeria.

Delivering her judgment, Justice Hadizat Shagari held that “It is pertinent to note that as at the time the importation of the cargo was initiated in June 2016, the company had no permit to import urea 46% into Nigeria because the chemical had been banned due to security threat. Therefore, the company’s case did not succeed, and the court cannot enforce illegality.

“Consequently, application for the confiscated urea to be released is not granted and it is hereby dismissed for lack of merit.”

In the same vein, a judgment delivered by the Appeal Court , Lagos Division, held that “This appeal is to be dismissed and is hereby so dismissed.”

Buraimoh

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

APC: The Dogs of War Don’t mind me abeg, this title is too dramatic but how else will I catch your attention if I don’t shock you? You see, what we have seen from the videos circulating on the recent APC campaign opener in Lagos is more or less a small war o. As I watched the video, I shook my head in amazement and disgust. As my friend Ambode was talking, hailing his performance and that of the APC in Lagos, the thugs were going at themselves.

Multiple gunshots were heard, people were scampering and lives were being dispatched to the great beyond. I am writing this piece at 5a.m in the morning, unable to sleep, not because of APC wahala but for other issues I will not mention here, I am not privy to the official position of the APC but knowing them very well, this

would be the work of PDP thugs who were sent to destabilize a purely democratic activity. They will respond by sending out more Sanwo-Olu’s pictures and banners.

Na wa. This our politics is something else, a place filled with grandstanding big mouths, hypocritical big men all standing on the support of thugs who having their own agenda release the kind of violence we saw yesterday. The simple explanation for what happened yesterday was the fight for positioning as to who gets the largesse and patronage that would come from the rally. Simple!

There is no other explanation. What we have is politics of thuggery and enforcers.

Thugs are now beyond the reach of the law and the police remain almost helpless in curbing these things because of the powers

behind. Well, what the rest of us can do is to continue to mind our business or how do you want to intervene? Is it to go and collect knife stab on your neck, or collect stray bullet? Let the Pharisees continue, one day true salvation will come. I tell you I have gone on the mountain top and I have seen a new Nigeria. A Nigeria free from the excesses of these pharisees , a Nigeria where votes will count and where all freeborn sons of this great country will stand shoulder to shoulder in the push towards an egalitarian society. I tell you I have the vision and will come down from the mountain top and proclaim freedom, I will shut it, FREEDOM! Be like say, I get malaria. Freedom ke, during the age of the Jagaban? Mbok, make I go find something take, I dey dizzy.

Amaechi

Tinubu

Zakari

Rev. Adeyemi

ROTIMI AMAECHI – I SEE THE END Mbok, I really do not envy my brother, Rotimi Amaechi, at this point. First with these tapes that Reno has released and then the court decision nullifying everything APC in Rivers state and before I forget the appointment of Tinubu to lead the campaign, it looks like the demystification of the man is complete. Kai, how are the mighty fallen? Amaechi is now in my books as irrelevant as they come and to rub insult into the wound may no longer get access to the free lunch, he used to have with the president. Or if na you , you go still dey chop with person wey yab you like that? You see, no matter how the presidency or even Amaechi himself tries to clean this up, the point that the center no longer holds within the inner caucus of the ruling party has been established. Amaechi in those tapes at least the part I listened to showed a high level of frustration at the president and his policies. The question to be answered at this point is why he is even still in the system? If I were the president, I will show him the door o.

Simple! At least this one is not service chief and the only troops he commands na the ones under Tonye Cole and with what just happened in Rivers, what value would he be bringing to the table again na. Poor Amaechi, it is over. Retirement calleth thou, back to the creeks and a life of anonymity as a fisherman or may be Nollywood actor.

Pele.

decision at us. We no gree and if nobody will talk, I will scream. That night when we met, it was agreed that we will have a bolder Buhari, a better prepared Buhari and a much more engaging Buhari. So how this decision of throwing Tinubu into the equation came about beats me. All this our inner cabal people who are cowardly coming to me to complain secretly are just the main problem. I have told them that If they cannot face you and tell you the truth, they should stop disturbing me with their tears. But my lord, how did you arrive at Jagaban over and above people like Adams with the beautiful wife or Amaechi? - Oh that one the tapes did him in. But then again, Tinubu is not the one that has the ticket o. Tinubu has not ruled us for the past three years so how will he answer questions bothering on governmental actions or inactions? My lord, I beg you to reconsider, no be so dem dey do election na. Let us even give you the benefit of the doubt because as we sit, we really do not understand the expectations or terms of engagement of this new position given to my lord -Jagaban. So we would hold our breath.

But let me ask, is it a salaried job, does it come with a car loan and medical? Will there be any kind of appraisal and does it involve foreign travels? So maybe we should hold our horses until we get some more clarifications. But let me state it here very clearly upfront- if you need our support, we need to see you, hear you and feel you. No hiding behind the Jagaban, Ko le werk !!!!!!. Thank you Sir.

for his military uniforms. To me, all that no matter, the woman just no get the physical requirements for the job.

That’s all. When I finish, come and see the way these pastors clapped for me and were shaking their heads. The leader of the delegation, proclaimed that ‘truly there is no wiser man in the whole of Nigeria’ and begged that I should help them beg that albino boy Freeze to slow down on his campaign against the payment of tithe. I vexed and walked them all out of my palace.

What effrontery! Freeze keep on the pressure.

ASIWAJU BOLA TINUBU – NO, NO, NO!

AMINA ZAKARI - THE DUKE TAKES A POSITION

over-wisdom will not put me in trouble one day o. But at a time like this I usually thank God for imbuing me with the level of wisdom he has given me. So when a delegation of Retired General Overseers of Pentecostal Churches paid a courtesy call on me in Shomolu this matter came up. I was asked for my position. Well after downing a fresh bowl of afang with fufu prepared by my maid – the duchess is on strike in solidarity with NLC on this minimum wage wahala - I took in a deep breath and came up with the wisest decision ever. Amina should step aside. Simple.

I am placing my decision simply on the premise that she does not have the required complexion to lead such a sensitive national assignment. How for the life of me would a dark lady be allowed to collate votes? How will she collate the votes well? You see, for this kind of sensitive task, a light-skinned and very sweet-looking lady with a melodious voice should be used. So that as she is announcing the results on TV, we will all be concentrating on the voice, the sweet eyes and the way her lips will just be announcing the votes that way there will be peace and all candidates will not dare to contest the results. You see wetin that Orubebe man did the last time, do you think if it was Cossy Orjiakor or Genevieve Nnaji that was announcing votes or even that legislator who shouted at DSS when they captured the National Assembly he would dare? Mbok, they have said Buhari na uncle, father, suitor and ex-boyfriend. Her people have denied all of these claiming that she is from Jigawa and that Buhari only came to their house only once to borrow money and to also see if he could get starch

This is not what was discussed and agreed. My lord you cannot throw this

You know I can be wise like the biblical King Solomon. I used to fear that

Tunde Balogun, APC Lagos State Chariman

REV SAM ADEYEMI – JUST GO! OK, I have to be very careful here o because I am not sure of the source of the gist. But I will still talk abeg. I have seen a report that says that this gentle and amiable pastor has stopped collecting tithes in his church. Like I said, I am not sure if this story is true because a man cannot deliberately remove food for him mouth, Freeze or no Freeze. That said, let us assume that the story is true, then the great man should not just stop at this but should immediately appoint auditors to look into the books of the church with a view to making refunds to the ‘gullible’ parishioners and also stepping down because he would have lost credibility.

Abi how you want explain am again?

If someone has for all these years been preaching on something and on the back of that thing which he is now agreeing was wrong doctrine built this huge empire, corralled billions and ‘fooled’ people, he cannot just draw the line and say it is enough na. Abi, can a doctor who operated on your liver instead of your kidney now say

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LOUD WHISPERS

Melaye

sorry? Let’s continue next time I will be more careful. My people help me put mouth in this thing na. I pray the story is not true because if it is, then I will lead a movement in the court that would ask for reparations from not only this pastor but from all of them. So my dear Adeyemi, please if you are thinking of stopping Tithes, DON’T just continue and be looking for Bible portions that will justify it because if you just recant kperen, we are coming o and we no go take sorry o. Na refund, exile and castration we go dey push. We are on standby.

DINO MELAYE – PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE? This Dino can be making shame to be catching we his followers abeg.

I am very reluctant to proclaim him a Prisoner of Conscience because this would put him on the same scale as Nelson Mandela and Etubom Rex Lawson. Those ones when they faced arrest, they stood boldly and with heads held high they stated their position.

Even the world-famous alleged kidnapper Evans did not show the kind of cowardice that Dino has shown, you see the way that one stand and be facing camera and be talking boldly and confidently. This our senator will go and be looking for trouble and be singing abusive songs, abusing everybody and be jumping up and down like he is a Jagaban and when the small arrest come, he will faint and be crying like baby looking for breast milk. Mbok, me I don tire for all these games abeg, I will soon renounce my followership of the man abeg. Abi who wants a leader who will be crying and begging for oxygen in small arrest? So he cannot be me, when EFCC came for me, as they walked in, they said are you Joseph Edgar, I said yes. They said, you are under arrest and I said can I see the warrant. The man politely showed me the warrant and I said ok, two things: let me piss first and let me call The Duchess. They agreed. I went into the toilet hoping that the window was opened so that I could jump out and run to my mother in Uyo but unluckily the ‘idiots’ had just put burglary proof a day earlier. So I came out and called Duchess, sent her a picture of the arresting officer, got meal times and made sure that my Afang was delivered to me all the time I was there. So all these rolling for ground, jumping out of moving vehicles and shouting my BP and not being able to stand trial because of malnutrition is nothing but empty cowardice abeg.

If you know all these, then don’t be looking for trouble. You don’t have to be as vocal and combative as you have been if you no get mind abeg. You can be a sleeping senator like your other colleagues and life will be sweet. Mbok,

Fowler

Okunola

BUHARI, Don’t Be Afraid They have reported that the president said he was disappointed with the Nigerian Police and when asked what he would do to the IG of Police who is reported to have completed his required service period, he was said to have remarked that he will soon take action and that he is watching. My lord, nothing to watch just do what you have to do. We cannot afford any kind of uncertainty at that level. If you are taking him out, do it TODAY or let the man be. We cannot afford any kind of uncertainty this period, a few weeks to elections and with all the wahala that is going on in the country. If you ask me for advice, I will not answer simply because I have malaria. But seriously, be like say you dey fear small my lord.

As I read through the report, I cannot but stop to snicker feeling that this is one decision oga wished he could

give to Tinubu just like the campaign wahala. Saying that the people below are ambitious and as such one has to be careful in taking this decision in my mind be like style style fear. Kai, my lord you remain the Commander In chief of the Armed Forces, former GOC, retired General and conqueror of the shoeless wonder from Bayelsa.

This should be a very simple decision. So let’s not delay where are we going sir. Is the IG staying or is he leaving? If his colleagues got extension, then he should except you are looking for a replacement from Shomolu. I wish you luck as you get ready to do the needful and for the IG, let’s talk I get solution. Let’s go to the Cherubim and Seraphim people, they say they are burning one million candles for Buhari, we will not need so much. Only 100 candles will be enough and matter solved. Let’s talk

Akindele

one pass me o. Head of Service? How? Where? But like I have said, I will not say a word. I wish my brother a fruitful period in office even as I pray that God in in his infinite wisdom will lead and guide the young man aright as he embarks on this journey through a mine field that is the blueprint that was designed by the lord of Bourdillon and that has made Lagos the best city in the world. All quiet. Let’s move on. Next.

SHEHU SANI – TALES OF THE HAIR The sweet and amiable senator has come out on his Facebook page to beg Nigerians to beg the very beautiful wife of the Kaduna State governor to leave his hair alone. That she has been going on and on about the hair. Me I don’t blame her o, the hair is ugly. I don’t even know the name to give it.

The thing looks like it wants to fly and with a small stubble at the front doesn’t do justice to the senator’s good looks.

My brother it is looking like the hair is what made us lose the APC ticket. I tell you, you will not believe and the babes at the Ahmadu Bello University are also complaining. Please just try and cut the hair, it is really masking your very handsome face. That style is not reigning again. It was the legendary Art Alade who popularized it in the70s during the famous Bar Beach show but now he don go. Even Ben Bruce don cut him own only you cannot be stuck in the 70s. I know a very good barber in Surulere – Jatto he is very good with this kind of archaic hair. Pease reach me privately and I will give you his number.

Na only N1,000 with all those bumper allowances you get at the Senate, that should not be a problem. Thank you, my lord, as you heed this advice.

FUNKE AKINDELE – CONGRATULATIONS!

Buhari

stand up from that hospital bed and go and face your fate like a man. Enough of the childishness.

BABATUNDE FOWLER, WELL DONE! They say you have collected over N5trillion in various taxes for last year.

I did not hear this on time, because if I had, I would have come to hug you at Alibaba’s last show. Yes, I was seated two tables away from you and was tying my Akwa Ibom wrapper seating with the Duchess and a member of the British Royal Family. The man even asked me who was that chubby man with glasses over there; he looked important and I said that was my brother Babatunde Fowler our Tax czar.

If I had known I would have said, the

man who raised N5 trillion. But that said, I will still recommend you to the Queen of England for a knighthood.

You truly deserve it. I have watched you from the sidelines and have seen how you performed in Lagos and how you have replicated same at the centre.

You have really shown that we can do it if we truly set our minds to doing it. well done, when you are less busy you can come over to Shomolu for a plate of Afang and Yemi Shodimu’s Palm wine.

God bless you sir.

MURI OKUNOLA: NO COMMENT When some things pass you, you keep quiet na. So please I really beg all the people calling and asking me to comment to let me be o. Even this

We here in Shomolu have received the news of your delivery of a set of very beautiful twins with glee and happiness.

Within the next few days, I will release an official statement on this matter and declare two work free days to enable us join in the celebrations. We remain very loyal and committed to your continuous growth both personally and professionally as you have continued to bring joy and laughter to our dreary lives through your performances. It is in this regard, that we will be naming four streets after you, your husband and the twins in Shomolu all near the canal. When you are ready, kindly send your official birth certificates of all four of you because I still have to take the request to Alausa for approval and even if we don’t get the approval, it does not matter, at least I have tried. Pele. Well done and God bless many more twins coming your way, the prophets have seen it. Bye.

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ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

13.01.2019

FOR LAGOSIANS, A FIESTA TO REMEMBER A performance at the fiesta

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 13, 2019

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ARTS & REVIEW\\CONCERT

One of the fiestas performances

FORLAGOSIANS,AFIESTATOREMEMBER For eight days, A-list artistes thrilled thousands of revellers across five locations in Lagos, as they prepared to usher in the New Year. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

S

urely, One Lagos Fiesta must have left a pleasant aftertaste in the palate of many. This annual end-of-the-year out-door party hit a new high with an unprecedented attendance of 300,000 participants from across Lagos State at its grand finale held at the Eko Atlantic City venue. And this, by far, surpassed a previous attendance record, which was believed to have attracted about 200,000 revellers.

Five different venues across the state had pulsated with the performances by both indigenous and globally-renowned Nigerian A-list artistes during the eight-day party, organised by the Lagos State Government. Indeed, the event – simply known by its abbreviation, OLF – was an interrupted fiesta of fun and excitement, which trailed into the early hours of the New Year.

As the musical show reached a climax with the grand finale at the Eko Atlantic City, revellers were treated to spectacular display of fireworks and had the opportunity of participating in a raffle draw. The raffle draw eventually produced Ayodeji Omoboye, a resident of Ikorodu, as winner of a brand new car, while consolations prizes were presented to other winners.

Before this grand finale, thousands of participants across the five venues of the state partied, while millions of viewers across the globe watched, thanks to not just the stateowned broadcast station, but also the state government’s social media platforms, which provided real-time updates from all the OLF centres.

A-list artistes like Burna Boy, Timaya, Olamide, Mayorkun, Grammy-nominee Seun Kuti, Teni the Entertainer, Harrysong, StyleP-

lus, Sound Sultan, Adewale Ayuba, Mr. Real and Slim Case, among others, held court at the various OLF venues. There were also opportunities for a posse of upcoming artistes – mainly residents of the five old administrative divisions of Lagos: Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island, and Epe – to showcase their talents and expand their visibility before mammoth crowds of revellers, a privilege they ordinarily wouldn’t have had the privilege of gathering.

Talking about talents, the state government has made no secret about its intention to shop for new talents. Hence, at the Lagos Grows Talents, LGT, segment of the event, a set of cyclists called GKB Unicyclists from Ikeja emerged the first-place winners, while Isaac Mike, whose stage name is Bright Izzy and Samuel Olanrewaju/ Joseph Oyebola, with the stage name Johnkay (both from the Epe centre of OLF) emerged the second and third place winners, respectively.

Besides the clinching of the N1 million star prize by the GKB Unicyclists as winners of the Lagos Grows Talents, the Unicyclists group of young boys and girls also made history by breaking the record of previous editions of the competition that had only produced rappers as winners.

To allay the safety concerns of revellers, top-notch security personnel ensured that things were in order across the five venues of the OLF. This attested to the fact that the state government would brook no incidences of any break down of law and other in any part of the state before, during and after the festive period.

Prior to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s tenure, the annual event used to be a one-day event, tagged the Lagos Countdown, which held only at the Bar Beach venue in Victoria Island on December 31.

All that changed since 2015 when Governor Ambode and his team favoured the expansion of the end-of-the-year revelry to a major fiesta

holding in five venues simultaneously over a period spanning eight days.

According to the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Steve Ayorinde, the concept is intended to provide a win-win situation to the three key stakeholders involved: the residents, the artistes and government. The people, according to him, are the major beneficiary of this fiesta, which in his opinion is now Africa's biggest end-of-the-year concert. This is both as fun-lovers and as beneficiaries of the growth in local economy that the fiesta brings especially to areas like Badagry, Epe and Ikorodu.

Also among the beneficiaries are artistes, Ayorinde added. This, he explained, is because of not just because of fees they earn in the process, but also because of the opportunity they have to perform in multiple shows, especially before huge crowds in places where promoters would hardly have taken them to. For the state government, he continued, this is a platform to assure the populace of its intention to fulfil its promise of inclusiveness, consequently develop local economy, create joy and tourism opportunities for the people as well as reducing crime rates.

Already, there are many revellers, who also commend the fact that the fiesta has positively impacted on the economy of the state. To buttress this point, they cite its increase to five locations and to eight days, which means a total of 40 concerts held across the state at the end of it all, each year.

An obvious fall-out of this is the impact on the informal economy. This is through the provision of direct and indirect employment, increased job opportunities for food hawkers, artisans and above all, boost the security of

the entire state compared to what it used to be in the past before the annual event.

Ayorinde had at the pre-event press conference – held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, which was attended by some of A-list artistes billed to perform at the event – assured a coterie of journalists of a hugely successful outing.

“As a government, we are encouraged by the noticeable achievements recorded as a result of hosting this event and we are taking advantage of this year’s edition to fête millions of Lagosians who have supported this initiative running for the fourth consecutive year,” he told the journalists at the conference.

“The One Lagos Fiesta draws parallel with other international crossover events in the world, especially during the countdown night of December 31, and with the unique features associated with the fiesta, it is anticipated to attract over two million direct participants across the state and over 90million viewers via live television and live streaming on social media.”

The idea was to leverage on the strategic position of Lagos as the continent’s economic and socio-cultural hub, which throbs with a vibrant art scene. Indeed, it had always been the tradition of Ambode’s administration to use such opportunities to drive development and market the state’s potentials to domestic and foreign investors who would, in turn, contribute meaningfully to his vision of transforming Lagos into Africa’s model megacity.

With several other innovations, including the most recent, which saw a raffle draw winner going home with a brand new car, OLF without a doubt will remain a major legacy project of Governor Ambode, who though trained as an accountant, has shown so much goodwill to the arts and culture community by raising the profile of the sector in the state.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 13, 2019

ARTS & REVIEW\\MUSIC

Weird MC

Sasha

Blaise

NIGERIAN FEMALE RAP ARTISTES AS ENDANGERED SPECIES Yinka Olatunbosun probes the dearth of Nigerian female artists in a male-dominated rap music industry to unearth the untold story of women in the music scene

T

ake it or trash it, one of the most emblematic music collaborations ever recorded in Nigeria’s hip-hop history is the classic track, “Too Much” from the legendary DJ Jimmy Jatt’s The Definition album. A clear masterpiece featuring the best female voices in Nigeria’s hip-hop namely, Blaise, Sasha P, Kemistry and B.O.U.Q.U.I (pronounced Bookie), it represents the best documented moment in Nigeria’s music culture, where women rocked the microphone as though they owned it. And they did.

Actually, the 90s and the early years of the new millennium constituted a milestone for many female rappers, both home-grown and returnees. One can name it ‘the rap boom’ period in Nigeria’s music history. Sadly, in recent years, the plummeting figures of female rap artists in Nigeria had propelled a lot of rhetorical questions in the media as regards the whereabouts of many of these artists and why they have totally abandoned music when their careers peaked or even before it took off.

Worldwide, hip-hop or rap is absolutely dominated by men because the earliest known rap battles started with the street rappers, mostly male. However, many of them had female protégées and it was a different taste entirely when a female voice runs over some heavy rap material. For strange reasons, the template for female hip-hip artiste’s image began to evolve after the years of the Salt ‘n’ Pepa, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte to become sexually appealing. The unwritten code for female rap artistes from the period of Young Mafia and the birth of Lil Kim was all about exploring the female sexuality instead of wit to sell this brand of “supposed’’ intellectual music.

Irrespective of their pedigree, the stories of Nigeria’s female rappers are very similar. It could be parental rejection, record label’s preference for male artists or other competing career interests that the individual artist may peddle that serve as obstacles for progressive music career.

Weird MC, a UK-born rapper and perhaps the most zestful female performer Nigeria has ever produced didn’t enjoy parental support in her early years. Her story mirrors BOUQUI’s, a professor ’s daughter who opted for gospel rap. Weird MC dropped out of a law degree programme at the Ogun State University, toyed with basketball before returning to the UK where she participated in several rap battles, one of them being Club 291 contest, where she made it to the top three. She came back to Nigeria to drop the Simply Weird album with the song, “Allen Avenue” ruling the airwaves not topping the sales chart.

After a decade, Weird MC dropped a beautiful cocktail of multi-genre sounds in the album, “After Da Storm”. “Ijo Ya”, a dance track from the album had such cross-over appeal that was lacking in the previous album owing much to her infusion of rich African elements in language and drums. She earned a nomination at the The Headies in 2007 with that hit song produced by Don Jazzy and JJC.

Born Anthonia Yetunde Alabi, Sasha P today is regarded as the ‘First Lady of Rap’ in Nigeria for her phenomenal success in Nigeria and internationally as a recording artiste. Though a lawyer by education, she got her break in music when she joined Eldee’s Trybe Records. Much later, while in search of greener pastures at Storm Records, she released her debut album, First Lady, which includes “Adara’’, a hip-hop anthem chronicling her challenge as a female artist with an overriding theme of optimism. Till date, she is the most decorated female rapper in the continent, winning Best Female Artist at the MTV Africa Music Awards. In 2013, she announced that she would take a break from music to pursue other interests- fashion and humanitarian causes.

Blaise, touted as the best rival to Sasha P in rap artistry, is an architect with preference for lyrical construction. Blaise is arguably the fiercest lyricist to date in the female hip hop territory in Nigeria with eruptive punchlines, tight rhymes and unique voice. She sprang from the Nigerian rap crew, Da Trybe to record some of the most daring hard-core rap, seen in such collaborative tracks like “I No Send You’’ and “Lasan’’.

The whole story will be incomplete without the mention of the contributions of the likes of Munachi, Mo’cheddah, Kel and Eva Elordiah.

They represent the last set of top-charting hip-hop queens in Nigeria but had to pursue other competing interests when the stage-lights began to fade on their music.

At the moment, there is no female parallel to Olamide, Phyno, Reminisce, Vector, M.I., YCEE and others.

To get an insider ’s perspective into real reasons for the gradual extinction of female rappers in Nigeria, THISDAY sought the views of the awardwinning Nigerian-German singer-songwriter and producer who is known for initiating a monthly concert series, Afropolitan Vibes, Ade Bantu.

Bantu, who has strong hip-hop roots in Germany with lots of international collaborations remarked that the challenges facing Nigerian female hip-hop artistes are not peculiar to the rap game but to the music industry at large.

“I think it is just a reflection of the society at large,’’ he explained. “Women had always been sidelined in the history of music in this country.

It is only few women that had been allowed to shine and stand shoulders-high alongside their male colleagues. There are very few women who have had an enduring music career. Remember someone like Salawa Abeni, who is an exception and Onyeka Onwenu who veered into politics and then back to music. Going back to hip-hop in this country, women are constantly sidelined. Women are relegated to the position of dancers and video vixens.’’

Women are literally voiceless; mere animated ornamental displays in music videos. Surely, women

do not have to strip or dance when they have the same intellect as the male rappers to make money moves.

“There has been a shift in the culture; it has become more of a stripper culture,” Bantu said further. “Women that represent the culture look and act like working strippers-talk about the likes of Nicky Minaj. Even in America, it is difficult to find dignified female voices in the mainstream who are successful. There are a couple of them that have had commercial success but going back to Nigeria, the hip-hop scene is misogynistic and the music scene itself does not have a structure.

Everyone is self-financing his or her career. For an artist to pick up rap as a sole genre, then you know that your commercial viability is limited.”

The producer also observed that rap music is tied to the youth culture or young people and is very dynamic.

So, to sustain a career for five, 10 or 20 years is almost impossible for a male let alone a female artiste.

“When there is no structure, you have to finance your own production,” he added. “A lot of women in music, not just rap music, have had some bitter experiences where record label executives are demanding sexual favours from them. Every female Nigerian artist can attest to this. In this society where everyone is kind of complacent, it is very difficult for a female to sustain her career in music, let alone, rap music.”

Invariably, it is in vain for a female singer or rapper to be gifted in the artistry if she can’t twerk to the tunes of the industry’s pipers. One of the strongest criticisms against some female rappers is the strength of their performance.

“I think when it comes to stage performance, the Nigerian music scene is still lagging behind,” Bantu argued. “We have exceptions in some younger artists like Burna. Specifically, in the hip-hop genre, it is usually between the DJ and the artists. But now, I think things are shifting and some are performing with live bands.

It all boils down to the economics of music. For you to sustain a band, you need to have funding. It is very expensive to maintain a band. As a female, being the one that is in control of the band, you need to have that respect. You call up some band members and they keep acting silly and funny. People have problems generally in this country. You can attest to that. Take that over to the music scene, you can imagine what you will get.

A woman can easily get discouraged when managing people.” The singer-songwriter also observed that the society mounts undue pressure on female musicians as a whole. The women must look sexy, wear stilettos, maintain a figure of a model on the catwalk.

“At the same time, they want you to be as good as the male. They set standards that are unattainable. If you are not a tomboy, you appreciate your naturalness and you are just being yourself, people will put you in a certain pigeon-hole. Look at what has happened to the likes of Weird MC. Women are not allowed to develop,’’ he remarked.

The way out of this misery for these women, he concluded, is to have dependable forerunners. It means that the female music pioneers have to take the responsibility of mentoring the greenhorns.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 13, 2019

CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

Reining In the Motor ParkTouts The transport unions are a menace that must be tamed without delays, writes Olawale Olaleye

I

n spite of a swift introductory marketing of its candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, which started earlier than the official campaign kick-off

by INEC, the formal ‘flag-off’ of the governorship campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, last Tuesday, was a total disaster, least expected in Lagos, Nigeria’s cosmopolitan city, where the ruling party is presumed to be lord over everything and everyone.

Even more curious is the fact that the lead victim of the violence that erupted midway into the event was the number one ‘official thug’ of the APC in the state, Musiliu Akinsanya, a popular member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) otherwise known as MC Oluomo, who was reportedly stabbed multiple times in the neck region. He is currently recuperating at a Lagos hospital.

The development painted a morbid picture of vulnerability by the ruling party and government in the state, not to say the least, the harmless and innocent people especially, that the national elections are just weeks away.

Some reports had it that hoodlums suspected to be members of the NURTW had invaded the Skypower Ground, Ikeja venue of the rally with dangerous weapons and engaged one another in a bloody factional melee, as if there was an earlier attack on one faction for which a reprisal was inevitable at the rally.

The situation naturally sent jitters across the campaign ground as party members scampered to safety to avoid being hit by the flying bullets. Security operatives though had tough time bringing the situation under control; that the hoodlums could access the venue despite the heavy security presence was itself a puzzle that must be solved.

Outgoing Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who was making a speech at the time, had to leave the stage immediately and was reportedly guarded out of the venue together with his deputy, Idiat Adebule; the APC governorship candidate, Babajide Ambode and Sanwo-Olu riding together in a motorcade to the rally venue Sanwoolu and other prominent members of the party, who attended the rally. called Team Lagos was largely populated by these thugs, mostly Many people were reportedly injured in the violence that members of the various transport unions and cult members in the ensued, including journalists, who were said to have sustained state – deadly and unsparing. ‘minor bullet wounds’. Some accounts also had it that at least two Alleged armed and heavily funded by the state, this group people were feared dead as a result of the violence. has remained a major menace to the peace of the state as it each That the political leadership in Lagos had built an amoral time caused chaos and unrest in different parts of the state. relationship with the leaders of the various transport unions in the Unfortunately, the impossibility of having many captains in the state as against providing the kind of leadership that that would same ship further widened the cracks in the various factions, thus put them in check and regulate their activities as a critical sector exacerbating the gang rivalry often witnessed in different parts of of the economy, is one of the prices the politics of the state would the state. have to pay for a long time.

What happened on Tuesday in Lagos was a disturbing Anyone familiar with the excesses of these union leaders and pointer to what might come on February 16 and March 2, when their members would contend that the state is not just sitting on a the presidential and governorship elections would be held all over box of open explosives, but walking the path of a wild bushfire, the country. It is not news that heavily armed thugs are always at which is often difficult to put out and could be totally destructive. political rallies. But what obtained in the past was that with the These are thugs they have encouraged over time and incorporated presence of the police and other security agencies, they would as part of the political stakeholders in the state in the bid to hold keep their low till the event is over before they unleash. down the levers of power.

Sadly, on Tuesday, they had become so emboldened that right The political leadership in Lagos took this so seriously that in the middle of speech-making by a sitting governor and with it once sought to bring every of the thugs under one cover, when heavy security presence, the boys came down heavy and hard and some years ago, it formed a group called Team Lagos. The soended the rally abruptly without even pondering the implications.

That was indeed worrisome and should be a cause concern for anyone, who reasons differently but rightly.

There is no debating the fact that the political leadership in the state is culpable in the violence of Tuesday that disrupted the APC rally. Also culpable are the police, who never act in time or envisage crisis and when crisis finally dawns, they also scamper to safety. Otherwise, how does anyone address the fact that the stabbed leader of the thugs, Oluomo, had days before the rally held a meeting with his allies, where he was heard in a video that had gone virile, encouraging violence and pre-empting attacks from their opponents, yet, the police did not act or bring him in for questioning.

But the same police could go and keep vigil at Senator Dino Melaye’s house and insisted it would not go until they arrested him, a man who could be indulged on personal recognition even by the court of law. Yet, the thugs, who constitute both nuisance and menace to the society, are often given security to look after them. That is the Nigeria that the Lagos Darwinian political leadership has created. Sadly, they are unable to see the danger in the choice they have made.

It is a broken window; it festers gradually and with time!

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

P

Atiku

Atiku’s Northern Invasion

residential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar appears to be changing the narrative as well as the tide of campaigns in the very heart of the north. His gospel of getting the system to function again seems to be resonating even with the deaf and dumb and this is evident in the turnout he records each time his campaign ship berths in any part of the country, the north particularly.

From Sokoto to Niger to Kwara and Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Atiku gospel appears to be sweeping through as he confidently challenges the status quo, tears down what he consistently

describes as the lies of the APC government and party, and confidently pushes the message of ‘changing the change’ as well as getting the system working again. That the entire north is currently agog, not for anyone else but Atiku is a mystery.

This has, however, become instructive, because that is the traditional base of the incumbent, Buhari. The assumption had been that Buhari was very popular and grounded in the north, such that no one could challenge or compete with his kind of crowd-support. On the contrary, Atiku is known to be very popular too and across the board, but allegedly without a support base. That theory might have been punctured in the last few days with his current invasion of the north. Anything is possible on February 16.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 13, 2019

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BRIEFINGNOTES

Onnoghen: A Justice in the Eye of the Law NEWS ANALYSIS

Olawale Olaleye

E

xcept the unintended shows up, the stage is set for the arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Onnoghen at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) tomorrow over allegations of false declaration of assets.

A statement by Ibraheem Al-Hassan, Head, Press & Public Relations at the CCT yesterday in Abuja, stated that “The Code of Conduct Tribunal has scheduled Monday, 14th of January for the commencement of trial against current Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Onnoghen Nkanu Walter Samuel for alleged non declaration of asset.

“This was consequent to application filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau to the CCT Chairman yesterday for the trial to commence against the Chief Justice of Nigeria on six count charges.”

A civil society group, Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), was reported by TheCable, an online news portal, as having launched the legal move against Onnoghen through a petition to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), listing a number of allegations against him, chiefly false declaration of assets.

In the petition dated January 7, 2019, the group accused Onnoghen of owning “sundry accounts, primarily funded through cash deposits made by himself up to as recently as 10th August 2016, which appear to have been run in a manner inconsistent with financial transparency and the code of conduct for public officials”.

For instance, the group said Onnoghen made five different cash deposits of $10,000 each on March 8, 2011, into Standard Chartered Bank Account 1062650; two separate cash deposits of $5000 each followed by four cash deposits of $10,000 each on June 7, 2011; another set of five separate cash deposits of $10,000 each on June 27, 2011, and four more cash deposits of $10,000 each the following day.

In addition, the group noted that Onnoghen did not declare his assets immediately after taking office, contrary to section 15 (1) of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act; and that he did not comply with the constitutional requirement for public servants to declare their assets every four years during their career.

The group further noted that his Code of Conduct Bureau Forms (Form CCB 1) for 2014 and 2016 were dated and filed on the same day and the acknowledgement slips were issued for both on December 14, 2016 — at which point, they said, Onnoghen had become the CJN, having assumed office on March 6, 2017.

Although section 3 (e) of the Third Schedule (part 1) of the 1999 constitution, provides that the Code of Conduct Bureau shall “receive complaints about noncompliance with or breach of the provisions of the Code of Conduct or any law in relation thereto, investigate the complaint and, where appropriate, refer such matters to the Code of Conduct Tribunal”, however, since officers of the law are meant to be disciplined by the National Judicial Commission (NJC), the possibility that the CCB would refer this particular case to the CCT is unlikely even if the allegations were found to be true What is likely to happen is that it might have to refer it to the NJC, which is chaired, incidentally, by Onnoghen. But at this point, he would have to excuse himself from the process, even though no CJN has been tried before apart from the arrest of some justices.

Interestingly, since the news of the move to probe Onnoghen came to the fore, it has been seen from different angles by different people, depending on which side the individual is speaking from.

There are those, for instance, who contend that the timing was first not right and that putting the CJN in such an obnoxious corner a few weeks to the general election, could mean stoking a needless constitutional row, with staggering insinuations about compromise or refusal to play ball.

The thinking in the opposition is that because the ruling party has seen that Onnoghen was not one to play balls with the ruling party on election matters and that should he remain in office till the time of the election, then presidential election cases might suffer terrible blow in court, because he would not tag along with them.

Already, the opposition has begun to drop the name of one Dennis Aghanya, who is said to be the author of the petition against Onnoghen, saying he was President Muhammadu Buhari’s media aide and former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct CPC. This school however contended that the CCT could not try the CJN, because according to it, by virtue of the judgment of the Court of Appeal in respect of the case of Justice of Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, any serving judicial officer could not be tried by the Code of Conduct tribunal or even court, until the NJC had dealt with the matter.

To that extent, this school contended that it was based on the judgment that the CCT discontinued the

Justice Onnoghen

trial of a Supreme Court justice, Sylvester Ngwuta, who also was being tried for alleged false declaration of assets.

It is argued that it was in lieu of this that the Federal High Court once struck out money laundering charges against the Supreme Court justices.

There was yet another viewpoint, which argued that since the infraction committed by Onnoghen was constitutional, the politicisation of the argument was doing injustice to the constitution and other extant laws of the land, which forbid any public office holder from concealing their worth as part of the condition for such office.

Those in this school maintained that the argument about timing and compromise were being economical with the truth especially, since the presidential election has always been won and lost at the polls and not in court.

This group therefore maintained the position that dealing with constitutional infractions was an action that considered time as being of the essence and not

such timing, which is being considered politically discomforting. Whether or not it was election period, the position was that there is a situation that must be addressed pronto.

In the final analysis, the ongoing move to try Onnoghen might have presented itself as a good test case for the constitution and the laws of the land, because after all, the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki went through similar experience and came out unscathed.

Indeed, that the CJN would be taken through the curve of trial over allegation that could impugn his integrity and that of the judiciary as an institution could be considered a good bet for the development of the nation’s legal system and nation-building in general.

However, attempt to truly politicise this and vindicate the opposition would definitely backfire, the result of which would be dastardly for the ruling party and put to context, the political definition of the timing of the trial.

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CICERO/REPORT

Wike

L-R: Cole and Abe...Friends or foes?

2019: Is Rivers APC Aiding Wike’s Re-election?

With the protracted internal crisis and legal tussle besetting the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, the party may be unwittingly making Governor Nyesom Wike’s return to power easier than anticipated, writes Ernest Chinwo

B

arely five weeks to the 2019 general election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) party in Rivers State, is still enmeshed in crisis and litigations on whether it has any candidates and who the candidates should be.

The Monday, January 8 judgment by the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt cast further gloom on the chances of the party having any candidates.

Deciding on two separate suits brought before it, the Presiding Judge, Justice Kolawole Omotosho, declared illegal, null and void the direct and indirect primaries conducted by factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State during the pendency of the matter before Justice Chinwendu Nwogu of the State High Court.

The court also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising any candidates of the APC for the 2019 General election in Rivers State and went on to order the commission to remove the names of all APC candidates from the ballot and other electoral materials.

In the suit brought before the court by Senator Magnus Abe and 42 others against Rivers APC, Omotosho in his judgment declared that both the indirect and direct primaries conducted by factions of the APC were illegal as both took place during the pendency of the matter before the state high court.

He noted that the judgment of Justice Chinwendu Nwogu nullifying the primaries of the APC in Rivers State is yet to be set aside by an appellate court, hence it remains valid.

The court, therefore, held that the names sent by the faction of the APC controlled by the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC to INEC for the elections were illegal and should be disregarded.

He also posited that the direct primaries conducted by the Senator Magnus Abe faction were illegal, because the National Working Committee of APC did not monitor or participate in the processes.

He said both the Abe and the Amaechi factions had no leg to stand in view of the judgment hence both factions were disqualified from participating in the elections.

However, in another suit filed by the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asking the court to compel INEC to obey the judgment of the Rivers State High Court nullifying all Rivers State APC Primaries and congresses, the court granted an injunction stopping all candidates of the APC in Rivers State from parading themselves as candidates for the

2019 general election.

Omotosho also granted a mandatory injunction directing INEC to remove all APC candidates from ballot papers and other electoral materials.

Reacting to the judgments, both factions of the APC said they would appeal against the judgments.

While the faction controlled by Amaechi was happy the court did not declare Abe the governorship candidate of the party, it said it would challenge the judgment barring it from presenting a candidate in 2019 general election.

“Firstly, we totally agree with the Court that Senator Magnus Abe and the 42 other members of the party, who claimed to have emerged through an alleged direct primary election, were not and therefore could not be declared candidates of the APC in the 2019 general election in Rivers State. This was because the National Body of the APC never authorised or conducted the alleged direct primary as required by its constitution and guidelines, neither did INEC monitor same.

“However, we do not agree with the Court that the Davies Ibiamu Ikanya and Peter Odike-led Executive Committee of the Party in Rivers State was still subsisting. The APC has the powers to dissolve its Executive Committee and that power was exercised on 21st of May, 2018.

“The APC having dissolved that Exco, it ceased to exist and could not be resurrected, even if the Court finds, albeit wrongly, that there was no valid Congress to replace the dissolved Exco,” a statement signed by Chris Finebone of the Media and Publicity Department of the party said.

The Tonye Cole Campaign Organisation also said they would appeal the judgments, insisting they hoped the superior courts would favour them.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt had on December 12, 2018 upheld the judgment of the State High Court declaring the congresses held by the party as illegal, null and void as they were held in defiance of a court order.

The party has also proceeded to the Supreme Court to try to upturn the judgment.

While the fate of the party remains uncertain, many big wigs of the APC have blamed Governor Nyesom Wike for fuelling the crisis. Indeed, they have accused Abe and his group of being sponsored by Wike, an accusation Abe has denied at every point.

A chieftain of the party, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has repeatedly said Abe was working with Wike. He called on Abe to formally declare for the PDP or drop his governorship ambition.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt after the Monday judgment of the Federal High Court, Eze said, “The latest judg-

ment had made it clear to Senator Magnus Abe, who was the initiator of the litigation, that he had been used by Governor Nyesom Wike in a plot to destroy the APC in Rivers State and had in the process burnt his own fingers by writing off any chance he might have had with the party.”

But Abe has reiterated that he remained a member of the APC and would do everything to ensure the success of the party and President Muhammadu Buhari at the polls.

While the legal fireworks continue with each side hopeful of victory, analysts believe that the cases remain a major distraction to the APC and that it might be too late for the party to come out of the crisis to defeat Wike and the PDP in the state.

They say the APC has boxed itself into a corner of discomfort as any negative decision of the Supreme Court could spell doom for the party in the 2019 elections in the state.

Secondly, the division in the party is almost irreconcilable between supporters of Abe and Amaechi. A supporter of Abe and former commissioner told THISDAY, “Instead of me to support Amaechi or any of his candidates, I will vote another party.” This is really the mood in the Abe camp. Most of them have vowed to end what they described as the “era of godfathers in Rivers APC”.

It is also difficult to imagine an Amaechi supporter campaigning or voting for Abe, considering the bad blood already generated in the party. The situation has resulted in the APC becoming a shopping ground for other parties.

The Action Democratic Party (ADP), for instance, has called on aggrieved members of the APC to join its ranks.

A chieftain and founding member of ADP, Dr. Acho Nwokogba, addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, called on “patriotic and visionary” members of APC in Rivers State to defect en masse to the party following the Federal High Court judgment barring all APC candidates from the 2019 general election.

He said though ADP was “not laughing” at their misfortune, there was a need for responsible members of APC to contribute to the development of the state, adding that it was this class of people that ADP was inviting to join it.

“We hate to sound like we are beneficiaries of our opponents’ misfortunes. But we have always presented Action Democratic Party as a credible alternative party to both APC and PDP,” Nwokogba said.

While it is common knowledge that only the APC could give the PDP a reasonable challenge in the state, the NWC of the APC appears not to be doing anything visible to resolve the crisis and embark on reconciliation of the factions.

With just a few weeks to the elections, the curtain may be drawn against the APC and the party may be unwittingly aiding Wike’s easy ride back to the Brick House.

NOTES FOR FILE

It’s Tinubu’s Campaign Council!

The composition of the APC presidential campaign council has just one clear unambiguous message: it is a Bola Tinubu affair. Although President Muhammadu Buhari appointed himself as the chairman and Tinubu, co-chair, by eventually handing over the entire campaign structure to Tinubu with a mandate to deliver, confirms the fear of many about the former Lagos State governor’s desire to take over the APC structure ahead of his 2023 presidential bid, and Buhari is playing along.

Pray Buhari wins the election, the idea of positioning Tinubu is believed to have been informed by Buhari’s alleged resolve to compensate him for betraying the understanding they had pre-2015, that they would run on the same ticket as president and vice-president. Thus, in the last three and a half years, Tinubu had been in and out of favour with Buhari, before eventually assuming this prominent but enviable place, allegedly deploying to use, the tools of blackmail, threats and intimidation amongst Buhari, Tinubu and other members of the campaign others. Although there is a different school which contends that the decision to have Tinubu ‘greedily’dominate the structure like he had always council after their inauguration last Monday

wanted was because of the need to have a fall guy to blame should Buhari fail at the poll. And since his unbridled ambition would not let him read some of the equations very clearly, he becomes a ready and willing candidate for the filthy assignment.

Sincerely, apart from heavily populating the council with his people and being handed, the control, a situation he desired in 2015 but vehemently denied given Rotimi Amaechi’s imposing presence within the circle, the place of the Director-General and others has been effectively reduced and made inconsequential.

But the question is simple: with his role in the many crises in the party and across the states, can Tinubu actually deliver Buhari on February 16, 2019? Well, much as many would doubt this because here is a man overwhelmed by ambition and blinded by his lust for power as against the collective goal of progressivism, he still deserves a benefit of the doubt.

Many congratulations to the soul of Buhari’s campaign council!

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 13, 2019

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Masari

Yari

Shettima

Z AMFARA , B ORNO , K ATSINA

The Making of a Security Headache As if they all held a meeting, governors of Zamfara, Borno and Katsina States all cried out over the worsening security situations in their states. Samuel Ajayi looks at the underlying messages in their outcries and why the nation might have to brace for tough days ahead Katsina

T

he Katsina State governor, Aminu Bello Masari, cut a pitiable picture as he addressed an extraordinary security meeting at the state capital, Katsina, less than a week ago. Pitiable because he sounded helpless and surprising because most in the rest of the country were not aware that Katsina State was facing such challenge as well. His words: “The citizens are on a daily basis being harassed by bandits and kidnappers that are on rampage in the state The Katsina Government organised this one-day joint security and stakeholders meeting to proffer solutions to the state’s current insecurity challenge. Our state is currently under serious siege by armed robbers, kidnappers and armed bandits who arrest rural people at will and demand ransom, which if not paid, results in the killing their victims.

The people of Katsina in the 34 local governments now sleep with one eye closed and the other opened.

Our state is in a dangerous situation. Travellers are afraid of being stopped on the highway and arrested by kidnappers who demand ransom,” He now enjoined his fellow citizens to “make sacrifices that will make our state safe and will allow people to go about their lawful business without fear of being arrested by armed bandits and kidnappers.”

Zamfara

Zamfara does not fare better. The state has been under siege for months if not years but it seemed to have gotten out of hand as villages upon villages were being sacked and farmers were being killed.

Governor Abdul’aziz Yari has said that the problem could affect food production this year.

Yari lamented the incessant killings in the state and condemned the prevailing situation where as the chief security officer; he could not take decisions on strategies for protecting the state and its people.

“We have been facing serious security challenges over the years but in spite of being governor and chief security officer of the state, I cannot direct se-

curity officers on what to do or sanction them when they err. As chief security officer, the nomenclature is just a name,” he said The governor also lamented that it was sad that killings in the state had continued despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s order to security agencies to bring an end to the incessant killings.

“We cannot keep quiet while our people are being killed daily. We are going to cooperate with all stakeholders to bring the situation to an end,” he said.

Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, has also warned the federal government to nip in the bud the killings do something about the killing in Zamfara State before the nation had another Boko Haram crisis in the state. The Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, said the wanton destruction of lives and property by bandits in the state was unacceptable.

Borno

Last week Monday, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State raised the alarm that the security situation in the state was getting worse. He added that he has not openly criticised President Mohammadu Buhari because he has always been given free access to developments concerning the security situation in the state.

Shettima was not alone in expressing discomfort concerning the security situation in the north-eastern state. The governor had held a security meeting at the Government House, Maiduguri. In attendance were traditional rulers, security chiefs, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and others. He told the meeting that the aim of convening the important meeting was not to pass blames or to pass any kind of verdict on our security agencies.

“I think the most inhuman way to go is to gather and condemn those who are putting their lives on the line and giving their lives in efforts to find peace. We are principally here as a family, as a people all affected by the situation in Borno State, to discuss suggestions that will hopefully contribute to combined ongoing efforts towards addressing the problem,” Shettima said.

He called that the security challenges being faced in the state should strengthen “our abiding faith and resolve to continually do whatever we can, in support of our military, the police, the DSS, our Civilian JTF, all para-military agencies and political authorities at the federal level, to end the Boko Haram insurgency.”

Coincidence or Sign of a Failing State The security challenges in the three states have shown that perhaps, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, might have to look back at when it was in opposition and asks itself same question it was asking the ruling PDP then. It is instructive that these three states are under the control of the ruling party and even one of the states, Katsina, is the home state of the President. Apart from this, they are his strongholds as he seeks re-election. Will he rise to the occasion and restore law and order in these states?

Some social media commentators who spoke with THISDAY claimed that there might be more to the security challenges being faced in these states.

That-boy Olusegun, a Facebook user, said he was particularly concerned about Zamfara. He said suddenly, there is increase in killings and attacks by bandits after it was announced by the INEC that the ruling APC won’t be able to present a candidate for governorship election in the state.

“If the ruling party could not present a candidate and now the governor is openly calling for state of emergency to be declared in the state, I won’t be surprised if it was a game plan to ensure that opposition parties don’t have a upper hand in the state during the elections. Nothing is beyond the ruling APC,” Olusegun said.

As for Borno State, perhaps, the claims by the ruling party that Boko Haram has been “technically defeated” might have come too soon. There are daily reports of the insurgents attacking military bases and particularly the fishing town of Baga. While the military authorities have dismissed some of these reports, the fact that the state governor himself has cried out shows that may be, the hen has finally come home to roost.

From Zamfara to Katsina and Borno, it is obvious that something does not just add with nation’s security situation.

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J ÍšÍťËœ ͺ͸͚Π˞THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

PERSPECTIVE

Appreciating Ugwuanyi’s Passion for his People Louis Amoke

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nugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, through his recent assistance to victims of fire outbreaks in the state, to enable them overcome their challenges, has indeed reaffirmed his long-held belief that the greatest objective of government is to alleviate the suffering of the people.

When the unfortunate incidents occurred, Gov. Ugwuanyi as responsive leader, sensitive to the plight of the people, did not only visit to sympathize with them, he also offered financial assistance and relief materials to ameliorate their pains.

For the assisted victims who include widows, petty traders, tricycle operators, commercial bus driver, furniture makers, homeless tenants and labouring landlords, “our humble and compassionate governor has wiped away our tears, and given us a new lease of life when all hope was lost�.

As a humble leader, given to kindness and compassion towards the needy, lowly and downtrodden, with firm commitment to peace, vision and good governance, Gov. Ugwuanyi who is seeking re-election in March this year, has continued to keep faith with the people and the promises he made to them to “deploy government services to create fair and equal opportunity for every willing citizen to make a living, create wealth, educate our children and enjoy life in a peaceful and secure environment�.

Despite the state’s lean resources, the governor’s acts of magnanimity, love and compassion, his new ethos of leadership and development trajectory have rekindled the confidence of the people in participatory democracy as the true heroes of democracy - giving them a sense of belonging.

His rising profile as a great achiever, faithful servant of God, man of peace and the most popular and acceptable leader in the annals of the state, with all the trappings of patriotism, among other indicators, stand him out as the candidate to beat in the coming election in Enugu State.

Appreciating his swelling popularity, His Eminence, The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, had described Gov. Ugwuanyi as a popular leader widely celebrated by both indigenes and non-indigenes because of his humble disposition, closeness to the people and commitment to peace, security and good governance.

The governor’s unprecedented achievements and unusual style of leadership remains outstanding beyond the horizon of politics, positioning him as a unique brand on the positive side of history. It is on record that his administration has so far spent close to N50 billion on road construction and rehabilitation in the past three years and half years, covering about 450 kilometres.

This landmark achievement is in addition to bold initiatives in other sectors of development that have positively impacted the lives of the people. Some of these include qualitative and affordable healthcare delivery, sound education, peace and security, workers and pensioners welfare, human empowerment, investment promotion, et cetera.

All these exemplary leadership qualities informed the people’s unflinching support and solidarity as well as the

Ugwuanyi gale of endorsements for his re-election by virtually all spheres of the society, including the political, religious and traditional institutions - both in the state and beyond.

For instance, the Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, during the recent prayer session at the Government House, Enugu, to herald commencement of work after the New Year celebration, declared that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s re-election “is going to be a walkover by God’s grace�.

The outspoken cleric, who had earlier endorsed the governor for a second term in office on different occasions, described him as a peaceful leader who is good to everybody irrespective of class, religion or political leaning, saying: “Gov. Ugwuanyi is the Joshua of Enugu State who will lead us to the Promised Land�.

According to him, “there is no alternative to Gburugburu (Ugwuanyi) in 2019. He has done well and therefore, No Vacancy in the Lion Building�.

Also recently, the 21 autonomous communities in Enugu South and Nkanu West Local Government Areas that make up Awkunanaw, presented ‘Ofo’ to Gov. Ugwuanyi as a symbol of their solidarity and endorsement of his re-election bid and proclamation of more successes in his political career.

The people who also conferred on the governor a Chieftaincy title of “Omereoha of Awkunanaw� by the traditional rulers of the autonomous communities, at Obuoffia Square, the ancestral

home of Awkunanaw, expressed delight with the governor’s peace and good governance initiatives.

They pointed out that the newly constructed road leading to Obuoffia was remarkable being the first road project executed in the community. They therefore declared that “Gov. Ugwuanyi is the only governorship candidate the people of the state are sure will leave office in 2023 for power to rotate to Nkanuland, Enugu East Senatorial District�.

A few days after, 12 autonomous communities in Akpugo, Nkanu West LGA, also unanimously endorsed the governor for a second term in office for his uncommon leadership style and giant development strides across the state, especially in ‘Nkanuland’.

The people applauded the governor for the construction of Ndiagu-Akpugo road, which they noted was the first state government road project in their land and for rehabilitating the Ameze Water Scheme as well as appointments of their sons and daughters into sensitive positions.

Besides the overwhelming endorsements by the people, another factor that is working for the governor is the strength of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State. Enugu State, since 1999, has remained a PDP-controlled state, whole and entirely, with its candidates occupying all the elective positions at the national, state and local government levels.

This enviable PDP formidable strength in Enugu State coupled with the popular quest for continuity and consolidation of the existing gains of democracy have indeed sunk deep into the hearts of the people of the state, who have virtually endorsed the governor’s re-election bid and patiently waiting to defy rain and sunshine to ensure that their votes count for the good works to continue.

This commitment could be easily extracted from the prayers and encomiums poured on Gov. Ugwuanyi recently by the victims of the fire outbreaks he assisted.

The jubilant beneficiaries, while on thank-you visits to the Government House, after receiving the governor’s donations, displayed different dance steps and praised God and thanked the governor for the surprise package. It was indeed a harvest of gratitude and jubilation for them as they described the day they received their donations as “the happiest day of our lives� and prayed fervently for the governor’s victory at the polls.

Excitedly speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries of replaced burnt tricycles and commercial bus, John Obalezi, said: “We are here because the Governor of Enugu State visited when our keke and bus were burnt and asked us not to cry again that he will wipe our tears. “We are here because he invited us today and bought new keke for us and bought a bus for the bus driver. We came to thank the governor and pray for him and his victory in the coming election to complete his 2nd term�.

According to the bus driver, Sunday Ugwu, “I am very happy.

Today is the happiest day of my life. I did not believe it was going to happen like this. I don’t have much to say than to thank the Lord and the governor. I am overjoyed. I did not know that my bus will return again. I thank the Lord and my God. I thank the governor, Gburugburu. Let him continue to lead us in Jesus Name. Amen�.

Other beneficiaries were also dumfounded at the governor’s milk of human kindness and empathy towards them, proclaiming that his re-election bid will surely end in praise for Enugu State is truly in the hands of God! ––Amoke writes from Enugu State

RIGHT OF REPLY

One Lagos Fiesta: Still the Best, Biggest Akinlolu Fadairo

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y attention has been drawn to an article in last Sunday’s This Day under the Highlife column by one Lanre Alfred, in which the writer, neither attempting to review nor critique the last edition of One Lagos Fiesta, clearly betrayed his bias in passing jaundiced judgement on an event he obviously did not attend. Disappointingly, he then chose to compare a major state event which holds across five venues simultaneously in eight days and in its fourth edition last December with a one-off Old School music show apparently organised by the writer’s friends and benefactors.

One would not have bothered to attempt to defend a government project without being sent let alone respond to such an hatchet job, but seeing that rejoinders and complaints have become ceaseless to articles by this same writer, the last being the corrigendum from a director in Glo, against who Mr. Alfred had recently published an inaccurate account of his return to the telecoms giant, I thought a clarification was indeed necessary in order to educate the writer and draw the attention of his ‘employers’ to a growing pattern of misinformation and

half-truths that This Day platform is being unwittingly turned to on account of Mr. Alfred’s bias and partisan interest.

In his inchoate article, the writer described OLF as a One Lagos Fiasco that dashed hopes and that previous editions were more successful than latter editions.

This of course is an ignorant summation and a deliberate falsification of facts apparently to please his paymasters. Mr. Alfred, therefore, deserves to be educated. To start with, how does a report on a music fiesta or any musical show at all fits into the focus of Highlife column, which by its own admission is all about the “amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous�? Or has a lifestyle column that stretches over three columns suddenly become a platform for journalistic jamboree and mumble jumble in order to feed the writer’s own lifestyle?

Anyway, there have only been four editions of OLF since 2015, an idea borne out of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s Project THESE (Tourism Hospitality Entertainment and Sports for Excellence) to give a sense of belonging to every part of the state.

OLF was therefore a deliberate improvement on the Lagos Countdown concert of the previous administration that held only on Crossover Night on December 31 and only at Bar Beach.

But then, the maiden edition of OLF among the four editions so far was clearly the smallest

Governor Ambode (right) at the fiesta in terms of scope and execution, naturally being the first, perhaps experimental edition. It held only for five days and without the now phenomenally popular Lagos Grows Talent segment that chooses and rewards budding talents in different areas of creative endeavour.

As one of the technical partners that have been privileged to work on the OLF project since 2016, it is delusional for a writer to therefore say OLF

was better in its early years. Which early years could the writer be referring to when it is the same team of technical partners together with government committee that has managed the last three events since 2016, anchoring each edition over eight days on four pillars: Children’s Corner that entertains kids from 11am till 5pm each day; the Lagos Grows Talent that pre-selects talented youths from all the five divisions of Lagos State, then give 10 finalists an opportunity to compete for cash prizes and honour on final day at Eko Atlantic City; the main concert each nigh for eight straight days and the development of local economy in each of the venues.

Instructively, the latest edition of OLF, whether the likes of Mr. Alfred believes it or not, was the biggest and the best since this people’s fiesta birthed in 2015. The Victoria Island zone had to be moved to Eko Atlantic in 2017 (from Bar Beach) because the old venue could no longer contain the last day crowd.

Same Eko Atlantic was used for the last day of this recently-concluded last edition with more than 300,000 people; unprecedented and undoubtedly the biggest crowd of OLF and perhaps of any open-air pop concert in Lagos in recent years. –––Fadairo, an events producer is a technical partner to OLF (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 ˾ ANUARY 13, 2019

POLITY

2019: Of Political Travellers in Ogun State Soyombo Opeyemi Traveller, you must set forth At dawn I promise marvels of the holy hour...

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he 2019 general elections hold in Nigeria in about a month from now.

Senator Ibikunle Amosun is the incumbent governor of Ogun State. He hails from Ogun Central Senatorial District. He defeated the senator representing the district in the 2003 general elections to emerge a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He triumphed over the candidate of the then governor to emerge the state’s helmsman in 2011. He repeated the feat in 2015 to serve the good people of Ogun State for another term of four years.

From the foregoing, it is evident Amosun is used to victory (He’s still believed by many to have won the 2007 governorship poll, even though he accepted the judicial verdict). However, the reading public should not misunderstand this. Power comes from God. But our God is an embodiment of hard work. You cannot sleep in your house, expecting God to deliver victory to you in a contest in which you’re expected to play a huge part.

And one must mention in parenthesis that losing an election does not necessarily imply you didn’t work hard - a free and fair contest is what is paramount.

Wrote Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, in his memoir, You Must Set Forth At Dawn, “Early morning departure was my favourite hour, you caught the road’s exhalation as it rose from the tarmac with the sun’s heated awakening, piercing the early mists in a proprietorial mood - you owned the road and all that lay revealed along its rises and plunges, its contortions and its arrow directness on both flatland and crests that sometimes appeared aimed at a horizon shimmering at the very edge of the world. Even the rarest encounter with another vehicle in that sublime hour was an act of generous concession on your part - it is only your early morning kindness that permitted it to trundle past, another wraith from the bowels of the earth.”

That was the vintage pen of Soyinka pronouncing - figuratively - that early risers among travellers owned the road to success - a productive stretch of the imagination!

While Amosun has heeded the counsel issued by the literary icon, his opponents in the February 16, 2019 elections are still in bed!

Amosun has hit the road. Like a traveller, he has set forth at dawn. Despite his intimidating political status, which gives him a clear-cut head start among the contenders for Ogun Central Senate seat, he has refused to take the voters for granted.

Apart from a few posters around Abeokuta metropolis, which the majority of voters take no notice of, it is difficult to know if Amosun has contenders for the 2019 Ogun Central senatorial seat beyond the state capital.

Where are the competitors? Please, try if you can easily recall any name from the other parties. But you have them as candidates of political parties on the INEC list. They will certainly contest the forthcoming polls.

Amosun

They are still in bed - yes, majority of opposition candidates vying for elective offices in Ogun State - are in deep sleep, even after dawn. What manner of travellers are they? Worse, many of them have no political track record to lean on, even if that were sufficient.

What then is their game plan?

Some opposition elements now resort to campaign of calumny against Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who fought insecurity to a standstill in Ogun State. They weave tendentious narratives around the persona of the governor in order to bring him into disrepute.

Imagine the oral diarrhoea from some procured activists: “The Governor of Ogun State, who swore to protect lives and property in Ogun State, should not be seen to directly and indirectly be in the forefront of heating up the polity of his state for any reason whatsoever...”

“However, we are very worried and disturbed that Governor Ibikunle Amosun, by his utterances, has become a threat to the peace and tranquillity of Ogun State, because he has been quoted copiously in the media as boasting that all hell will be let loose in Ogun State, except his anointed candidate for the governorship of Ogun State, by fire and force, becomes the person he will hand over power to in 2019.”

Where exactly did Amosun issue those threats? “... quoted copiously in the media...” Can these emergency

activists name a single medium where the governor issued a threat?

Of course, they won’t find any because such never existed in the first place.

A choreographed mendacious propaganda - such as Save Our Souls Letter to President Buhari by some sponsored activists - seeking to equate Amosun’s rejection or indignation against injustice as tantamount to “heating up the polity” can only mislead the unwary. It will not guarantee them victory either in the February 16 or March 2, 2019 elections. To quote the inimitable Wole Soyinka once more in his seminal work against injustice, tyranny and tyrants, The Man Died: The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny. In any people that submit willingly to the ‘daily humiliation of fear’, the man dies.

These better-life politicians, whose preoccupations are mischief, mudslinging, propaganda, hitting below the belt and scoring an offside goal, will begin their campaigns one or two weeks to the election. They will invite press men to accompany them to one or two local councils, cities and towns. They will not go to the rural areas like Amosun. They won’t do ward-to-ward campaign like Amosun; village-to-village and house-to-house.

Yes, you could see the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun, in a cloud of dust, sweating it out in the scorching sun in out-of-the-way villages. Lo and behold, not even a single poster of these late-riser opposition politicians could be sighted anywhere in the remote villages. They are fair-weather politicians, the city political class who have no regard for the commoners, hence cannot identify with their low estate.

Governor Amosun spoke heart-to-heart with voters at the grassroots. You could feel the bond, the aura of ‘this is our own man’, a sense of shared humanity perfumed the atmosphere in those distant wards, which the city politicians and late risers among the political travellers would not even know exist.

When the results are announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and hard work is rewarded, these slumberers and late risers will be the first to cry foul. They will claim electoral manipulation in favour of the incumbent governor.

They will raise all manner of dust. They may even go as far as filing needless petitions at the Election Tribunal in the hope of winning through the back door - but our courts know their antics.

Winning election is not all for a political party or politicians that know their onions. There’s need for political education and sensitisation.

“Your PVC is your weapon of liberation. Do not be a servant in your own land. Do not sell your PVC under any guise. Some politicians will come and tell you to exchange them for money.

They want to deceive you; put you and your children in bondage.

Do not mortgage your future. Go to the polling booths and vote candidates that are consumed with passion for your welfare. Vote performance. Reward hard work.”

That was the kernel of the message of Amosun from one point to the other during the electioneering and it resonated with the electorate as they dispersed from one ward to the other appreciating better times ahead with Muhammadu Buhari as President, the man with a tall cap - an early riser - representing them at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly and his ilk taking over as the Governor of Ogun State and Members of the House of Assembly in the next political dispensation.

––Soyombo, a media practitioner, sent this piece via densityshow@yahoo.com

MESSAGE OF CHRIST

Change the Tree, and the Fruits Will Change Joshua Adeyanju.

Luke 6 vs 43....45 For a good tree brings not forth corrupt fruit, neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruits.

44.For every tree is known by his own fruit.For thorn,men do not gather figs,nor of bramble bush gather they grapes.

45.A good man,out of good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart,bringeth forth that which is evil.for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

T

his is one of first major sermon of Jesus,early in his ministry.popularly known as sermon on the mount Jesus was speaking to a large congregation ,but usually in a style of parables to the religious institution of Pharisees.

Jesus said, good tree brings forth good fruits.and corrupt tree corrupt fruits.

In vs 45. Jesus gave interpretation of the parable,saying a good man,out of good treasure of his heart, brings forth that which is good and an evil man out of evil treasure of his heart bring forth that which is evil. Out of the abundance of the heart,the mouth speaketh Tree, in this parable represent individual, institution,state or a nation.

While fruits represent conduct,way of life, social values,character, behavioral pattern and behaviour.

Jesus emphasize that tree can only bring his kind. grape tree grape fruits. Thorns can never give fig fruits.

So if an individual is corrupt,don’t expect

virtue,justice, trustworthiness or selfless service.

Because, his conduct is from the treasure of his heart.

Proverbs 4 vs 23.

Keep your heart with all diligence,for out of it are the issues of Life.

Your heart, is a function of what you see, What you hear, information you are exposed.

So Solomon says in proverb,we need to keep our heart with all diligence.Dont be careless .For out of it are the issues of Life.Love. hatred. Truth and dishonesty. kindness or mean.humility or pride,all these flow from the heart.Based on the exposure.

Genesis 3 vs 1 ..6. recorded the exposure of Eve to serpent, the devil. She became corrupt, a liar and selfish.

This rubs over adam. and Cain also inherited this selfish nature.

For you to become profitable in 2019.

It is inside out,not outside on Mathew 12 vs 33 Either make tree good, then the fruit also become good,make the tree corrupt, then the fruit is corrupt Jesus says,fruits can never. change outside the tree.

Our institution can Never change, if we individuals don’t change. Our church will not be pillar of truth, and house of prayers, if we don’t change.

Out of abundance of the heart mouth speaks The heart is a function of what you see and perceive.

Proverbs 23 vs 6 & 7 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye,neither desire his dainty meat.

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

Unless our view of life, perception of life changes, Luke 6 vs 45 our thinking and life can not change.

Jesus says life is worth more,than raiment,more than food.

Man’s life is not measured by abundance of material things he possess.

Mathew 6 vs 21..23 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also The light of the body is the eye, if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light But if thine eye be evil,thine whole body shall be full of darkness.

To clean ourselves, our society, institution,nation ,we change our world views.

Jesus said Mathew 5 vs 29 If thine right eye offend thee pluck it out and cast it from the, for it is profitable for thee,that one of your members should perish and not that the whole body be cast into hell.

Jesus says, you, and I, and our society should pluck out all bad habits, bad way of life, bad morals, bad values so as to have a greater 2019.

Jesus says,it is always inside out,not outside in.

If we change tree the fruit will change.

From the presidential villa, to the state house, to the royal palaces, to the school teacher, journalist, shoe cobler, market trader and road side trader. Let us stop to have evil eye.

Let us stop to chase vanity.

Life is more than, raiment and food.

A man’s life is not in material possession he gather.

Love your neighbor irrespective of tribe,faith or creed.,tolerate ourselves as Nigerians since our society is complex,multi etnic,multireoigious,show kindness. support the weak.defend justice.provide social security where there is abundant goodness and peace. Seek first, kingdom of God and his righteousness.

Change the tree and the fruit will change.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 13, 2019

79

CICERO/INTERVIEW

This is a Government of Blood and Killings, Says Afegbua Prince Kassim Afegbua is one of the spokesmen for the PDP presidential campaign organisation. A former member of APC and commissioner for information in Edo state, he bares his mind on a number of issues bothering on the preparations for the 2019 elections. Bayo Akinloye presents the excerpts:

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here’s been so much hoopla about the 2019 elections and the preparedness, the PDP. What fresh ideas are you bringing on board that would make Nigerians trust your party again?

It is not about what fresh ideas we are bringing aboard. It is about the commitment and determination to see through fresh ideas to make their impact felt by the people. The APC in less than four years has shown a manifest incapacity to manage the collective patrimony of the country. It has been running from pillar to post without any discernible policy framework to confront the developmental challenges threatening our very foundation. The PDP has the reach, network and spread across the country to recruit capable hands that would drive governance and the economy. It will create jobs, open up the space for more private sector involvement in the economy of the country. The business of government in contemporary times is to amongst other things create enabling environment for businesses to thrive, build the necessary infrastructure and provide security to safeguard the people’s investment. Once those critical infrastructure are in place, they would naturally stimulate enterprise.

The level of insecurity now is alarming and quite frightening. The job losses in the last three years have remained the highest in the history of the country. We Afegbua cannot continue to rotate on the same axis and expect different result. We must take deliberate actions that would responsibly address a couple of these challenges.

What different approach do you intend to apply to mitigate the scourge of insecurity in Nigeria?

Well, it is quite unfortunate that we have come to this sorry pass. A situation where killings have become the most visible item on the menu list of government engagement cannot in any way provoke development and investment. The PDP intends to overhaul the security architecture of the country in terms of personnel and technology. We will explore the technological resource to device ways and means to combat crimes and criminalities. We will carry out training and retraining in critical areas of counter-terrorism and motivate our security personnel with incentives that would make them committed to the task of securing the country. The security agencies under this government are working at cross purposes. There is no synergy and proper coordination. Information sharing is limited and the tendency for one agency to try to outshine the other has been most prevalence. Once such scenario exists, you cannot get the desired result.

This government of Muhammadu Buhari has shown clearly that it lacks the capacity to contend with insecurity and other developmental challenges across the country. The country is heavily polarised along ethnic and religious lines. This is a government of blood and killings. There is too much of bloodletting and mindless killings. We have become mourners on our land. We write condolence messages everyday to assuage the feelings of those who lost their dear ones. There is no feeling from government quarters because the response rate is often too empty and drab, and in some instance, almost non-existent. This government has shown clearly that it doesn’t have what it takes to manage our disparities and forge a common national agenda.

An Atiku presidency will introduce new paradigms in combating insecurity in whatever form they come.

Technology is a key resource that would be exploited to get cracking. This level of assassinations, wanton killings, bloodletting, and kidnappings should worry all of us. From Zamfara, through Kaduna to Plateau and Benue, rivers of blood are flowing on a regular basis.

From Taraba to Yobe, Adamawa to Borno, it has become a theatre of war. For how long are we going to continue to lament over the failures of this government presided over by a slow and sluggish president whose wife told us has been hijacked by two similarly old men. We are in serious dilemma and we need everyone who has the love of the country at heart to join in this rescue mission.

There are those who hold the view that 2019 elections might be rigged like other elections. How do you react to that?

The 2019 elections should be the responsibility of all those who share in the national aspiration of the country to come out and vote against the continuation of this incompetent government. This is a government of nepotism, cronyism, favouritism and selective amnesia. This is a government of provincialism and

alert members of the public particularly those from the two zones not to take them serious. It is sheer opportunism for the APC to use 2023 to trade across the zones when they know in their heart of hearts that only a particular zone can produce the president at one given time.

The APC has suddenly become a party of liars, full of deceits and dishonesty. It is ridiculous for the President to assure the South-east that it will be their turn when in actual fact his Vice-president is also assuring the South-west of same position. This is what you get when government lacks focus, lacks understanding of the prevailing issues, lacks honesty of purpose and cannot possibly rationalise what is right at every point in time. To them, it is a do or die for 2019, whether they concoct lies, manufacture fake narratives or pretend over anything, it doesn’t bother them. They are desperately trying to cook up fake assurances to get votes knowing full well they have performed abysmally low in the last three years. So, Nigerians must shine their eyes very well. We cannot allow a government of “baba go-slow” to occupy the center-stage of leadership at a time when we should be running to catch up with other countries across the world. This is not a time for trial and error. It is not a time for cabals to dictate the leadership pendulum. prependalism. It is a government that divides rather than unite. It is a government that has created a wide gap between the rich and the poor.

It is a government of unemployment, job losses and killer of initiatives. It is a government of insecurity, economic stagnation, moral atrophy, and socio-political axyphixiation. This government thrives on hypocrisy, lies and double standard. Therefore, the 2019 election will be a referendum against all the ills in the system namely, hunger, deprivations, extreme poverty, malnutrition, insecurity and mindless killings which have all become the central themes in the life of this administration. It is going to be a contest between the APC and the rest of Nigerians captured in other parties and several others who want good life for themselves. We cannot continue to celebrate under-employment, unemployment, and job losses as if nothing is amiss. We must rise in unison to ensure that the votes actually count to usher in a new dawn in the way and manner that elections are conducted in Nigeria. They will attempt to rig especially now that the APC is not campaigning, but with the resolve of the people, we will overcome them.

I asked this question against the backdrop of the fact that the president declined to sign into law the Electoral Act 2010 amendment bill a couple of weeks ago?

It wasn’t an amendment meant for the opposition.

It was an amendment that was meant to strengthen the processes of election to make them credible, free and fair.

It was an inclusive law that tended to provide answers to some of the nagging issues of electoral misconduct and electoral abuses. It was meant to checkmate certain infractions and procedures that are capable of producing faulty election outcomes. But the president preferred to apply selfish rules than taking an altruistic position with respect to free and fair election. Having been a beneficiary of an amended Electoral Act in 2015, he feels threatened that if this bill becomes law, it will checkmate the intention for rigging. We find the position taken by the President rather curious. On the one hand he talks about commitment for credible, free and fair election, on the other hand, he turns down the law that should give birth to that free and fair election, a law that should ordinarily have strengthened the processes.

That’s why some of us question the so-called integrity of the President. It is sheer hypocrisy. Sheer double standard. But as partakers in the electoral process, we will continue to insist that the right things be done, we will mobilise our people to keep vigil on possible areas of manipulations by the ruling party that appears scared stiff as 2019 beckons.

You issued a statement accusing the APC of ‘hawking’ the 2023 presidency? What did you mean?

Well, the 2023 election is not our primary concern. It is also interesting that the president and vice president of the same government will be dishing out different promises to different zones for the sake of wooing them for votes. How can the president be promising the Southeast and his Vice-president promising the South-west.

That’s simply fraudulent. It was just our own way to

But some Nigerians believe that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar cannot be trusted because of the corruption tag put on him.

Isn’t that a problem for PDP? I find it funny that the APC has been running this narrative for sometime now. Funny in the sense that when Atiku was in the APC prior to 2015, they were blind to such perception. He provided the APC funds, vehicles and private jet to facilitate the campaigns. He donated money and also donated his spokesman, Garba Shehu, who is now one of the presidential spokesmen.

They grabbed his money, grabbed his logistics and celebrated his support. Suddenly because he now decides to contest the presidential election under the PDP, they opened all their mouths in condemnation.

That’s sheer double standard and contradiction which has become the hallmark of the APC. The president and the APC are behaving like the Chichidodo bird, who feeds on maggots but hates the smell of faeces. But we all know maggots are products of excreta.

You said you are fighting corruption, Nigerians are dying in the hands of grinding poverty and excruciating hunger. Who does that? The end product of anti-corruption is better life for the people. But in President Buhari’s world, poverty and hunger are the end product of his anti-corrution crusade. When a man sees himself as holier than thou, he needs to be properly examined. It is not possible to have just one man to be a saint in a continent of sinners. The corruption in this government has become monumental but the pretense is what confuses the public. Go to Daura and see new houses springing up, and check the ownership of those houses, you will then know that this government is synonymous with corruption. Atiku is a wealth creator who has been in business for over three decades. We all know him to be a rich man and no one has indicted him for corruption. Nigerians would prefer to have a man who can manage men and resources to preside over the country than a man who is reputed to have 150 cows that never multiply to create further wealth.

Are you confident that INEC will conduct free and fair elections in 2019?

We are hoping they would conduct a free and fair election in 2019 given the calibre of the chairman, Professor Mahmood. But we are not going to sleep and expect that miracles would happen. We will monitor INEC and its officials to ensure that they follow the right course to deliver credible election for the country. We are still calling on the parliament to veto the Electoral Act amendment Bill to give ample opportunity and legal backing to some of the innovations being introduced in the process. The APC should actually be ashamed of itself. Priding itself as party of progressives, yet being afraid of doing what is right to strengthen the processes for credible election, is to me a most unfortunate thing.

We will insist on the right things to be done and the 2019 election is one that has attracted local and foreign attention hence we do not think the INEC will fumble.

The media has a role to play. The civil society has a role to play. Nigerians from all walks of life have their different roles to play, because when we get it right, the Nigerians will all celebrate.

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The Senate in session

For N’Assembly, Lessons From 2018 As National Assembly reconvenes this week to consider the 2019 Appropriation Bill presented to it by President Muhammadu Buhari last December, Deji Elumoye and Shola Oyeyipo write that the experience of the lawmakers in 2018 should come handy in their projections into the New Year

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espite the fact that Senators and House of Representatives members, who won their respective parties’ tickets are currently busy in their various senatorial districts and federal constituencies, canvassing for votes, the eighth National Assembly will resume plenary this Wednesday after about a month adjournment.

During the four-week legislative break, some of the lawmakers were actively involved in both national and local campaigns of their respective parties.

For instance, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon.Yakubu Dogara, were both in the forefront of the campaign by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Saraki as the Director-General of the Atiku Campaign Council led other party faithful including Dogara to campaign for PDP and Atiku in Lafia, Nasarawa State and Jos, Plateau State, among other places.

The Senate President also took time off to campaign for his re-election as Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District as well as the election of the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Justice, Hon Rasak Atunwa, as governor of Kwara State on the platform of PDP. With the federal lawmakers returning to their legislative duties this week, priority is expected to be given to the 2019Appropriation Bill before the Assembly.

TheAppropriation Committees of both the Senate and House of Representatives headed by Senator Danjuma Goje (APC Gombe) and Hon Mustapha Bala (APC Kano) respectively will need to do everything possible towards ensuring that all the Ministers and heads of extra ministerial departments appear before the relevant committees to defend their respective budget quotations.

The speedy passage of the Appropriation Bill by the National Assembly is of the essence while not forgetting that President

Buhari was late in presenting the proposals unlike in 2017, when the 2018 Appropriation Bill was laid before the Assembly as early as November 7.

The forthcoming general election scheduled to begin on February 16 through to March 2 may also slow down the consideration of the budget estimates, because most of the lawmakers will be actively involved at the polls and it may not be until mid-March that the full complement of the two chambers of the National Assembly will be able to fine-tune the budget estimates for this fiscal year.

As the nation awaits the passage of the 2019 Appropriation Bill by the Assembly, the 2018 legislative year was associated with a lot of things happening within and outside the two chambers of the National Assembly and which could give force to the 2019 projections.

Take for instance, 2018 was a year characterised by unending disputes between the President Muhammadu Buhari-led executive and the two chambers of the legislative arm of government.

It is however worthy of note to identify the fact that in the year that just ended, the no-love-lost relationship between the federal government and the lawmakers, dates back to June, 2015, when the duo of Dr. Saraki and Hon. Dogara assumed office as Senate President and Speaker respectively without the approval of their former party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

There is however a great deal of possibility that the rivalry would continue this year, not only because they are now in different parties but because this is an election year.

Issue of Budget Padding Budget padding gained a place of prominence in the Nigerian political lexicon in 2016. Though it is something that had been on over the years, the face-off that emanated between the executive and the legislature brought it to fore that year and it resurfaced again in 2018. Just a few days into 2018, President Buhari raised

the alarm that the National Assembly was tampering with the 2018 budget sent to the Assembly by cutting essential projects and inserting non-essential ones.

Expressing discontentment when he was signing the 2018 budget into law, Buhari said: “I am concerned about some of the changes that the National Assembly has made to the budget proposals that I presented. “Many of the projects cut are critical and may be difficult, if not impossible, to implement with the reduced allocation. Some of the new projects inserted by the National Assembly have not been properly conceptualised, designed and cost and will therefore be difficult to execute.�

According to President Buhari, federal lawmakers reduced N347 billion in the allocations of 4, 700 projects submitted to them and injected 6, 403 projects of their own, which amounted to N578 billion.

The allegations were collectively denied by the two chambers.

The chairman, Senate committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, and his House of Representatives counterpart, Hon Abdulrazak Namdas, faulted the submission of President Buhari.

The 2018 budget will go down in Nigeria’s history as one that was haphazardly padded and has remained largely unimplemented to date. Perhaps, the 2019 budget would walk away from this stigma.

Gale of Defections Call 2018 a year of defections and you will not be far from the truth. The gale of defections that hit the NationalAssembly reached its climax when 37 members of the House of Representatives and 14 senators dumped the APC for the PDP. There is no doubt that the APC equally profited from the defections with some lawmakers, including PDP members, joining the ruling party (one of such was former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio) but it was glaring that the defection

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For N’Assembly, Lessons From 2018 the ruling party (one of such was former Senate Minority Leader, Senator GodswillAkpabio) but it was glaring that the defection of both Saraki and Dogara to the opposition PDP unsettled the APC. In what was more the fallout of the party primary, the APC continued to lose its members to the PDP, even till the end of last year, 2018 and in spite these defections, the APC maintained that it has a comfortable lead in terms of number in the National Assembly.

But to ascertain how true that is may require more than mere census, because just like Williams Shakespeare once wrote, “There is no art to find the mind’s construction in the face,� so also, it may be impossible to say where some lawmakers stand, even though the last may not have been heard of defections.

The DSS Invasion The sack of a former Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Lawal Daura by then acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), when masked DSS operatives took over the premises of the National Assembly, shortly after thugs invaded the Senate chamber and stole the mace while plenary was ongoing remains one of the dark spots of 2018.

The understanding among the lawmakers and many Nigerians was that following Saraki and otherAPC members’ defections, the leadership of the ruling party opted to embark on kangaroo impeachment of the Senate President, using security operatives to pave the way for pro-government lawmakers to carry out the illegal act.

Unfortunately, the outcry generated by that thoughtless decision from the corridors of power changed many things in the executive/legislative diatribe in 2018. Indeed, the international community was worried and disturbed by that development, the reason many reckoned Osinbajo sacrificed Daura.

Thus, looking into the new year with the fear of such misadventure of 2018 is natural but that is no longer in fashion and might have died with last year.

A Turbulent Year for Saraki When Saraki and his supporters were heaving a sigh of relieve after the two-man panel of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) led by its Chairman, Danladi Umar, discharged and acquitted him of the 18-count charge of false asset declaration and other related offences, Saraki was again entangled in yet another crisis.

He was said to have questions to answer over his alleged relationship with five armed robbery suspects, who were involved in the April 5, 2018 heist of some banks in Offa, Kwara State. Over 30 people, many of them police officers, were killed.

Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, said “The gang leaders namely, Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, SalawudeenAzeez, Niyi Ogundiran and some of the other 17 suspects arrested for direct involvement and active participation in the Offa robbery admitted, confessed and volunteered statements that they were political thugs of Saraki and the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed.�

Both Saraki and Ahmed maintained their innocence, saying the allegation was politically motivated. The case is not yet closed, even though the principal suspect, Michael Adikwu had reportedly died in police custody amid suspicion of murder.

Nothing however says it is uhuru yet for Saraki.

By occupying a preeminent place in the scheme of things, it does appear he would remain a factor that the ruling party would chase after, moreso as Atiku’s campaign DG. Omo-Agege’s Suspension Drama Another unforgettable episode of last year in the legislature was when the lawmaker representing Delta Central senatorial district on the platform of the ruling APC, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege was suspended on Thursday, April 12, 2018 during plenary over his remarks that the amendment of the 2010 Electoral Act was targeted at President Buhari.

He was suspended for 90 legislative days for rescinding on his apologies over his support for President Buhari. He was however pardoned by the Senate leadership after the Senate Committee

Saraki, Dogara and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu during a joint sitting of the National Assembly

on Ethics had recommended that the senator be suspended for 181 legislative days.

The issue later took a new dimension on Wednesday, April 18, when thugs allegedly on the prompting of the suspended lawmaker stormed the Senate Chambers, caused confusion and made away with the mace, the symbol of authority of the legislature.

Although the mace was recovered later in the day around theAbuja National Stadium, where it was allegedly abandoned by the invaders, nothing had since been heard about the suspected mace thieves, who the police later claimed were arrested.

the president left his prepared speech, and told the lawmakers: “Distinguished members, let us conduct ourselves properly.

The world is watching us; we are supposed to be above this.�

Eventually, the President laid the document before the lawmakers, and he equally got a huge support from APC members, who shouted ‘Sai Baba,’ to subdue the chants of ‘Freedom come by struggle,’ by the opposition PDP.

Lawmakers, Police Cold Tie Obviously, the slogan, ‘Police is your friend,’ may not be applicable to the relationship between the federal lawmakers and the Police High Command. Two thousand and eighteen was indeed a year of several face-offs between the lawmakers and the police authority.

A lawmaker representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Senator Isah Misau, alleged that the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, impregnated a serving deputy superintendent of police (DSP), Esther, an act which he said contravened the Police Act, adding that the IGP was also having affairs with two other policewomen whom he allegedly gave special promotions.

That aside, lawmakers vehemently condemned the police boss over wanton killings nationwide and his inability to stop it and the Senate was particularly disenchanted about what was considered the witch-hunt of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Dino Melaye, who the police succeeded in arresting last week after police personnel had kept vigil at his Maitama residence in Abuja.

Several attempts to summon the IGP to appear before the lawmakers fell on deaf ears, making the Senate President to tag the IG the most partisan police IG ever. In fact, the Nigerian Senate ended up declaring IGP Ibrahim Idris unfit to hold public office.

Toying with Parliamentary Idea While there were several bills presented in the course of 2018, a bill to amend the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria to reintroduce a parliamentary system of government, which passed first reading in the House of Representatives last December, was of particular interest.

The bill was sponsored by 71 lawmakers, who sought to change the system of government from presidential to parliamentary and have the government run by the parliament.

One of the major differences between these two systems is that in a presidential system, the President is directly voted into power by the people while in a parliamentary system, the legislature is supreme and elects a prime minister from among members of parliament as head of government.

There is also no clear separation of powers in the system between the legislature and the executive as the ministers are also appointed from the parliament, thus, it is collective responsibility.

It was the British-styled parliamentary system that Nigeria practiced until the collapse of the first republic on January 15, 1966, when the military took over power.

It is not clear if the lawmakers were genuinely committed to pursuing the constitutional amendment bill to a logical conclusion, it is however a move already enjoying the support of many leaders and so, it would be on the watch list of a lot of observers of the legislature. Perhaps, the move would be reenacted in the new year.

Buhari and the 2019 Budget Drama President Buhari will not in a hurry forget the experience he had in the hands of the lawmakers, when he presented the 2019 budget to a joint session of the federal lawmakers last December.

The President, no doubt, got a shock of his life when he was booed with screams of “no�, “no�, “lies� each time he made reference to the achievements of his three and a half years administration.

Apparently taken aback by the open display of disdain for him by the lawmakers, at a point

Death in the House Sadly enough, many lawmakers lost their lives in the year under review. In March, the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Hon Umar Buba Jibril, who represented Lokoja/Kogi federal constituency died. The cold hands of death also snatched two Senators.

Senator Ali Wakili representing Bauchi South senatorial district died in March while Senator Mustapha Bukar, who represented Katsina-North senatorial district also died in April. Another House member, Hon. FunkeAdedoyin, a vibrant

lawmaker, who represented Irepodun Isin/Ekiti/ Oke-Ero federal constituency of Kwara State also died in 2018. Just some few hours to the end of 2018, the death of another House member, Hon. Abayomi Ayeola, was announced. He died on December 30 at a private hospital in Lagos, after a brief illness.

The two-term lawmaker had clinched theAPC ticket at the party’s primary in October to seek a third term in the House in 2019. He was until his death the leader of the Lagos caucus at the House of Representatives.

The 2019 Projections‌ Now that election is around the corner, the Senate President and the Speaker belong to the opposition party, PDP and are working closely with Atiku Abubakar, PDP’s presidential candidate to unseat President Buhari. There is however no sign that peace will return between the executive and the legislative arms of government.

The interpretation of this is that the National Assembly and the Presidency will only be able to relate just as they have been relating till May 29, when a new government comes on board and if President Buhari is re-elected, he would only be able to condone the lawmakers until the 9th National Assembly is inaugurated on June 9.

The PIGB and Oil Politics In August 2018, President Buhari refused assent to the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), but going by the position of Saraki that the National Assembly would not hesitate to mount necessary pressure to get presidential assent to the bill, it would be expected to resonate before the expiration of the time of the eighth National Assembly in 2019.

According to Saraki, the resolve by the legislature to mount pressure to ensure that the bill gets presidential assent is necessary, given its importance to the development of the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.

Confronting the General Election After all said and done, the lawmakers who succeeded at winning their respective party tickets to return to the National Assembly will face the electorate in the February 16 presidential and National Assembly elections.

Already, there is going to be about 85 per cent turnover among the current crops of lawmakers as many were unable to pick their parties’ tickets, therefore, the National Assembly will receive some new set of lawmakers come June, 2019 and the learning process will continue for an all-critical institution of state.

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with DEMOLA OJO demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

SOCIAL MEDIA BITS

Last week on social media, two musicians got hitched, the President talked facts, and INEC presented interesting ďŹ gures...

ust like the week before, last week ended with some more drama from Senator Dino Melaye. He had spent the week at the Police Clinic in Abuja before being “whisked away by masked policemen.� Apparently he was transferred to the DSS Hospital in Abuja.

But Senator Melaye was having none of it. He refused to go into the hospital and rather, decided to sleep on the floor outside, thus adding another scene to his catalogue of cringe-worthy performances.

Rather than gain sympathy from the public, he has attracted ridicule on social media with commentators claiming he deserves an Oscar for acting.

Interestingly, it was his birthday last week. It could have passed unnoticed but for Senate President Bukola Saraki, who sent him good wishes, starting with good health.

Saraki is probably uncomfortable with the treatment meted out to his loyalist. He suspects he’s in the firing line too and has raised the alarm on social media.

He is preparing to go campaign in his home state of Kwara but fears the Police have sinister plans for him too. If anything untoward happens to him, the Inspector General of Police should be held responsible, he says.

A large part of the week was devoted to the fallout of the THISDAY/Arise TV interview with President Muhammadu Buhari. It was an extremely rare event which was initially meant to be a live broadcast but ended up being a recorded one, due to the insistence of the President’s handlers.

They shouldn’t have worried: the President seemed pretty comfortable and was brutally honest in the no-holds-

JANUARY 13, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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SOCIAL MEDIA BITS barred interaction. While he was bashed for his performance on twitter, he probably did his prospects at the election a world of good, putting to bed assertions that he is in no shape to govern.

However, his grasp of the workings of the economy is in doubt; at a point, when presented with a superior argument that contradicted his views, he retorted; “It’s because you work with figures and I work with facts!”

Talking about figures, isn’t it weird that INEC’s official total number of registered voters for this year’s elections is 84,004,084?

Fours and eight, the numbers the APC are using to campaign for the president.

“4+4” they say, as they hold aloft four fingers on each hand, a gesture reminiscent of the Rabia sign that first appeared in late August 2013, thought to originate from Turkey and used in social media and protest marches in Egypt by the Muslim Brotherhood.

President Buhari’s social media aide Lauretta Onochie isn’t bothered one bit.

She’s a Christian and can’t be Islamised she said on social media. Four is the number of judgement she contends, while eight is the

number of new beginnings.

Meanwhile, two of Nigeria’s most influential singers have become one, as they say. Adekunle Gold and Simi are embarking on a new beginning as a married couple. Both have collaborated on a number of songs in the past.

Popular rapper, actor and comedian, Falz, trended alongside on twitter because he has also teamed up with Simi on a few tracks too. Falz was playfully teased on social media for losing out to Adekunle Gold.

A day after, Falz dropped a single called “”Talk” from his forthcoming “Moral Instruction” album. In the song, he took a swipe at political parties and religious bodies among others, as he touched on a range of societal ills.

This led to Fela trending on social media, as comparisons were made between Falz and his conscious music on one side, and other artistes (Burna Boy and Wizkid especially), who emulate the late legend stylistically, rather than in content.

Fela’s son Seun Kuti coincidentally granted an interview at about the same time, vowing not to let people bastardise his father’s legacy.

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JANUARY 13, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

The #AmaechiTapes and the Low Budget Lai Mohammed Called Tolu Ogunlesi

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any Nigerians would have by now heard my #AmaechiTapes. Let me assure Nigerians that they are genuine, un-doctored and reflect the private thinking of not just Rotimi Amaechi, but even many leading members of the selfish elite that imposed an inept and nepotistic leader on Nigeria.

If you have paid attention to the whole saga, you would know that Rotimi Amaechi himself has not said anything with regards to the tapes. He has sponsored various faceless and known minions to try to muddy the waters, but he himself has not said anything about the tapes.

Rotimi Amaechi and his ilk know that Buhari will bring Nigeria to ruins if he wins a second term. They know that in 2014 when Goodluck Jonathan was President, Aliko Dangote’s net worth was $25 billion, but by 2017, Dangote was worth less than half of that, at $12.4 billion. That is not the end of the story. Forbes released its latest rich list on Wednesday January 9, 2019 and Dangote is now worth $10.3 billion. He has shed 60% of his 2014 worth. No wonder he rejected his appointment into Buhari’s Re-Election Campaign Council.

These guys know the truth, including Bola Tinubu, but greed, personal aggrandizement, lust for power and inordinate ambition will not let them speak that truth publicly.

I actually implemented my plan like a military operation. I set up the Buhari Presidency because I know exactly how they operate. The engine of the Buhari government is propaganda and I anticipated them. I knew if I released the full #AmaechiTapes, they would say it was fake. So, I started with a 7 second sneak peak and pretended that was all I had.

And like a fish to its bait, the Presidency, through Tolu Ogunlesi, admitted that the voice is actually Amaechi, but they claimed that it was from 2014, and that Mr. Amaechi was referring to former President Jonathan.

Tolu swallowed my bait, hook, line and sinker and then some more. Tolu had been sidelined for years at the Villa and he sensed that this was his time to shine and earn his pay and perhaps betray his real boss, El-Rufai, by worming his way into the hearts of the two-man cabal now controlling Nigeria from behind the scenes.

And so on the same day that Mr. Ogunlesi made a fool of himself, I released the full audio which cleared any doubt as to which President, Rotimi Amaechi was referring to.

In a state of panic and confusion, Mr. Ogunlesi then made a 180-degree turn. No longer was it from 2014.

No! The new line is that it was doctored. And so I released Part 2 and they claimed it was edited out of context. I give them kudos for coming up with creative excuses. That I give them.

But let me now take some time to address the character known as Tolu Ogunlesi. Tolu is someone I know very well. This is someone who would see me when I was in office as SA to former President Jonathan and would kiss my behind, calling me ‘oga’ and boss in front of witnesses like Dr. Andrew Okolie and others. I actually even invited Tolu to review one of my books, Shunpiking: No Shortcuts to God (it never happened and Mrs. Omotayo Omotosho reviewed it).

This was a fellow who would call me and ask me to speak to Reuben Abati about following him on Twitter, which I accomplished even though Reuben Abati warned me about him (I should have listened). Tolu would talk with me on phone and we would exchange banters about beautiful women, like Bianca Ojukwu (not in a disrespectful way).

I even preached the word of God to Tolu when he took to Twitter to insult and castigate Bishop David Oyedepo, Senior pastor and founder of the Living Faith Christian Church International. In December 2011, Tolu had gone on a rant insulting the man of God because he slapped a witch who said she was “a witch for Jesus”, and I called him and appealed to him to respect the mantle of God over Bishop Oyedepo, to which Tolu responded to me thus ‘let Oyedepo go and die for our sins like Jesus Christ’. I kid you not!

In fact, one of the themes of the Jonathan years, the term ‘breath of fresh air’ was actually coined by Tolu, and it was used on the back cover of one of the books I wrote to promote the Jonathan administration, with credit duly given to Tolu.

I actually thought Tolu Ogunlesi was my friend and I looked forward to leading him to Christ as I have done with Senator Ben Murray-Bruce. I would call Tolu

Abdullahi Abubakar to rub minds with him about media strategy and we would discuss as friends. I passed on a sensitive document to him so he could help me dispel fake news. I had so much confidence in him, because I thought he was a gentleman.

But boy, I was in for a rude shock. I could not believe how Tolu Ogunlesi stabbed me in the back, and not just at any time, but during my most trying time in office, when I was set up for something I was innocent of (my then boss asked me never to discuss that particular episode in public), it was precisely Tolu Ogunlesi that drove the knife deepest in my heart.

It was actually the most trying period of my life, when I thought my world was collapsing. If I did not have the love of God, I may have sunk into manic depression. I expected help or at least compassion from my so-called friend, but the most vicious blow of that dark period of my life was struck by no less a person than Tolu who I had looked to for friendship. I never knew that Tolu was gunning for my job, which he now has. With friends like Tolu, you do not need enemies!

If you are not a friend to a person, be bold enough to tell them to their face instead of pretending and then choosing their most vulnerable moment to stab them in the back and backbite them to oblivion. I do not know why people engage in eye service. There is no one on earth important enough to pretend to. No one!

What Tolu Ogunlesi did to me, he also did to His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar. Most people do not know that Tolu Ogunlesi was Atiku Abubakar’s media strategist between 2012 and 2014 before Tolu betrayed Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku Abubakar was extremely financially generous to Tolu Ogunlesi. Tolu knows I am a meticulous record keeper and I challenge him to deny this and he will know my reputation for record keeping is not a myth.

Atiku Abubakar housed Tolu at the most expensive hotel in Abuja, Transcorp Hilton, were Tolu and others I would not now name regularly met to fashion out strategies for an Atiku Presidency in 2015.

But unknown to Atiku at that time, Tolu was an agent of Nasir El-Rufai, a mortal and implacable enemy of Atiku Abubakar.

You see, the most consistent trait in the character of Tolu Ogunlesi is serial betrayal. And this is the reason he is treated like a leper at Aso Rock Presidential Villa today.

As a matter of fact, Bashir Ahmad, the Personal Assistant to President Buhari on New Media, who is supposed to be under Tolu, has more access to the President than does Tolu. I mean who would trust a betrayer who is only loyal to his stomach?

Let me inform Tolu that my sources at the Villa are probably even better than his. If he thinks I am bluffing, I refer him to a meeting at the Villa chaired by Laolu Akande, the spokesman to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and whose agenda was on how to discredit me because of the grief I was causing the Buhari administration.

At that meeting, Mr Arukaino Umukoro, SA to the President on Communication and Projects said ‘every-

And finally, someone should please tell that sidelined riff-raff of a presidential assistant NEVER to compare himself to me. There is a big difference between the sickly looking mercenary and I. Principles control my loyalty while opportunity controls his loyalty. My God is in heaven, his god is his belly body needs a friend like Reno’.

Why was that said about me? Because I am known for my loyalty. In the rain and in the sun, I am for my friends, no shaking, not ever! Is there any human being on earth, including his wife that can say that about Tolu? If there is such a person, then I pity the fool!

But suffice to say that he is treated with scorn and disdain at the Presidential Villa because he was brought in by Nasir El-Rufai. El-Rufai is seen as over ambitious by the cabal, so Tolu Ogunlesi, coming from him is considered a mole.

Ever the betrayer, Tolu tried to ditch El-Rufai and attach himself to the Aso Rock cabal, who do not like El-Rufai one bit. He struggled, unsuccessfully, to worm himself into the hearts of the cabal and kitchen cabinet members. But they still do not trust him. Bashir who is a PA got an office space right at the Villa, Tolu did not.

For months, Tolu Ogunlesi roamed around frustrated until at the intervention of Babachiir Lawal, the former and disgraced Secretary to the Government of the Federation, he got an office space at the new Federal Secretariat complex.

Since Tolu Ogunlesi does not know the meaning of friendship, let me educate him -a friend is someone who is for you. A friend is not for what you are for (that is a colleague). A friend is not against what you are against (that is a comrade). No. A friend is just for you, in good times and bad times.

If there is one thing Tolu Ogunlesi, his real boss, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi have in common, it is serial betrayal. They have no loyalty in them besides the loyalty to their stomach!

Let me end this piece by quoting a verse from The Holy Bible: “For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.”-Psalm 55:12-13.

And finally, someone should please tell that sidelined riff-raff of a presidential assistant NEVER to compare himself to me. There is a big difference between the sickly looking mercenary and I. Principles control my loyalty while opportunity controls his loyalty. My God is in heaven, his god is his belly.

Reno Omokri Bestselling author of Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years, and other books. Avid traveller. Tormentor of Muhammadu Buhari and the APC.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 13, 2019

NEWSXTRA Aviation Experts Flay FG for Budgeting N8.5bn for Suspended National Carrier Chinedu Eze Industry experts have severally criticised the federal government for budgeting N8.5 billion for the planned national carrier, which was suspended indefinitely in October last year.

THISDAY investigations disclosed that there was no indication that the suspension of the plan to establish a national carrier would be lifted before or after the February election.

But THISDAY findings showed that during the plan to establish the national carrier, the federal government made fiscal commitments, which it intends to honour, hence the budget of the aforementioned, as N500 million was already earmarked for the payment of Transaction Advisers engaged in establishing the national airline.

Multiple sources told THISDAY that yhe fund earmarked for the national airline might be a rehash of the 2018 budget in the 2019

because it showed nothing had changed and the new estimate did not seem to take congnisance of the indefinite suspension clamped on the project.

One of the sources said, “I think the budget was the work done in 2018. The government already had the commitment to pay the Transaction Advisers.

“They might have been given half payment and if you recall during the stakeholders meeting in November last year, the Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika said commitments were made and those commitments would be honoured. So those funds would be put to honour those commitments.”

The insider, who is a top official of the Ministry of Transportation, told THISDAY that the estimated fund in the budget is not even enough to buy couple of airplanes; unless the money is meant to be used to establish offices for the planned carrier.

Also industry experts under the aegis of Aviation Round Table (ART) have condemned the federal government for earmarking the money in the 2019 budget.

President of the think-tank

body, Dr. Gabriel Olowo excoriated the federal government for setting aside the sum of N500 million for Transaction Advisers in the budget, describing as fund as misplaced.

He noted that a little percentage of such amount of money if allocated to technical professionals in the country, would give the government appropriate advice on how to go about the birth

of a befitting national carrier for the nation.

Olowo insisted that the government was not following the right path in establishing a new national carrier for the country and urged it to

N134bn Ogoni Judgment Debt: Shell SEEKING WOMEN SUPPORT L-R: Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha; wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo and Wife of Imo State Governor, Mrs. Okorocha Loses Appeal at Supreme Court during the 2019 presidential rally held in Owerri, Imo State...yesterday SUNDAY AGHAEZE. for him to argue 36 additional grounds of appeal.

Upon the new application at the apex court, the respondents’ lawyer, led by Lucius Nwosu, SAN, filed a preliminary objection. It must be noted that the appellants against whom judgment was entered at the court of appeal are Shell companies – Shell International DV of the Netherlands, Shell International of UK, and Shell Development Company of Nigeria Ltd. Nwosu, assisted by Lawal Rabana, SAN and others, argued that the findings of the Court of Appeal dismissing their appeal were based on facts, adding that the law is that an appeal must arise out of the decision complained against.

He stated that if the decision complained against was based on findings of fact, the constitution requires that you cannot appeal them except you first seek leave of the Court of Appeal.

The respondents’ lawyer contended that since that notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal was filed without leave, it meant that, that notice was incompetent and cannot be amended because it would mean putting something on nothing and expecting it to stand.

However, in December 2017, the judgment creditors (Ogoni chiefs) commenced garnishee proceedings at the Federal High Court in Owerri presided over by Justice Lewis Allagoa.

They urged the CBN to pay them N122.53 billion out of FirstBank’s account in its custody.

THISDAY gathered that they calculated the principal sum of N17 billion and the accrued 25 per cent interest charge per annum to arrive at the sum of N122,533,403,392.

In January 2018, Justice Allagoa granted them a temporary order (garnishee nisi) ordering the CBN to pay them the sum from FirstBank’s account with it.

But the CBN asked the court

not to make absolute the temporary garnishee order it granted six chiefs representing the Ogoni community, compelling it to pay the sum of N122.53 billion on behalf of FirstBank.

CBN’s lead counsel, Professor Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) while responding to the garnishee proceeding, stated that making the order absolute and compelling the CBN to pay out the huge sum would be against the interest of justice because the matter was still pending at the Supreme Court.

He also argued that compelling the CBN to pay the N122.53 billion from FirstBank’s funds domiciled with it could have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s oldest and biggest lender by assets and deposits, and a systemic impact on the rest of the financial system and wider economy.

With the dismissal of the Shell’s appeal last Friday, it is not clear if the application filed by the Ogoni chiefs seeking garnishee absolute against FirstBank and reserved for ruling by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos would not be granted.

Reacting to the Supreme Court judgment yesterday, Nwosu said: “With this decision, therefore, all arguments of FirstBank that Shell was on a further appeal at the Supreme Court for which they were renging from honouring their obligation that was due by virtue of their guarantee has completely collapsed and as of today, the guarantee is standing at N134 billion, contingent liability of First Bank’s assets. And that there is a garnishee order nisi attaching First Bank’s money at the CBN which since had been served on the Central Bank.

“With this judgment now, the central bank is under an obligation to set aside that amount of money with interest still running from First Bank’s account to satisfy that judgment debt based on what the law says under garnishee orders.”

2018 Budget Achieved 75% Performance, Says FG Obinna Chima The federal government has put the performance rate of the 2018 budget at 75 per cent.

Director-general of the Budget Office, Mr. Ben Akabueze, disclosed this during an interactive session with editors in Lagos at the weekend. Akabueze said the federal government did not spend up to the projected amount on capital expenditure.

According to him, “As for the extent of implementation of the 2018 budget, usually budget is expressed in terms of how much is your projected expenditure.

“We now have the final numbers for the last quarter and we reckon that total performance is about 75 per cent. That means we didn’t spend about N2.2 trillion we projected to spend.

Sadly, the bulk of that shortfall

comes from capital revenue.”

Earlier, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, in a presentation on the 2019 Appropriation Bill, said the amount provided for recurrent expenditure in this year’s budget proposal rose to N4.72 trillion, from N3.52 trillion in 2018, because of the intended minimum wage hike. Udoma explained that the technical committee on minimum wage constituted by the president last week was mandated to look for ways of raising additional revenue to ensure that payment of the higher minimum wage did not affect resources available for capital expenditure.

He added, “We all want a larger budget. Indeed, Nigeria deserves a much bigger budget.

Our budget is too small for our

needs. However, we have to find the money. But there is no point having a large budget that you can’t fund. This is a budget that I believe we can fund.

“I believe that as we get more revenue, we would continue to increase the size of our budget.”

The minister said the $60 per barrel crude oil benchmark adopted for the 2019 Appropriation Bill was appropriate, saying analysts generally believe the recent decline in crude price is for the short-term.

However, Udoma pointed out that before the budget is passed into law, the government would continue to monitor developments in the international oil market and engage the National Assembly if at any time the crude oil benchmark appears over

ambitious.

“We still reserve the right to engage the National Assembly and make adjustment. We have sustained our efforts to improve public financial management through the comprehensive implementation of the Treasury Single Account as well as the IPISS,” he added.

Speaking on measures by the government to ramp up revenue, Udoma said the president had directed the immediate restructuring of the Joint Venture Oil assets to reduce government’s shareholding to 40 per cent. He said this would help free up resources and enhance spending on infrastructure, adding that whatever is realised from the initiative would be ringfenced and used only for infrastructure projects.

Customs Arrest 21 Smugglers, Seize 4,180 Bags of Rice

Sanwo-Olu: Fourth Mainland Bridge Not Our Priority

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

Concerned with the seeming slow pace at which some critical road projects are being executed in Lagos State, the governorship candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said the construction of Fourth Mainland Bridge would not his priority if elected.

He said this while fielding questions from respondents on radio programme recently, assuring Lagos residents of their commitment to ensure early completion of the Lagos-Badagry expressway.

Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his running mate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, emphasised the need to ensure the completion of ongoing criticalroadprojectsthatincludedthe Lagos Badagry expressway According to him, both Badagry and Lekki-Epe expressways are so critical to the economy of Lagos, that

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday disclosed that its Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘B’, Kaduna, had arrested 15 smugglers in Kaduna; two in Katsina and four in Kano, who would face prosecution before court of competent jurisdiction.

The custom service, also, disclosed that the unit has impounded 53 vehicles with 4,180 bags of foreign parboiled rice in 50 kilograms bags each and other contraband value at N218 million in January, 2019.

The Comptroller of the Federal Operation Unit, Mr. Kebbi Mustapha gave the figures at a news conference he addressed at the State Command, Katsina yesterday.

The comptroller said the goods were impounded in Kaduna, Katsina and Kano states based on credible intelligence officers of the service on patrol gathered within the period under review.

Mustapha said 21 persons “have been arrested in connection with the seized items. We have impounded 54 vehicles used as means of conveying the smuggled items in three states within my jurisdiction. These vehicles were loaded with 4,180 bags of parboiled rice.

“In Katsina, 1,520 bags of parboiled rice were seized; 1,260 bags of rice were also impounded in Kano, while in Kaduna state we seized 1,400 bags of the same rice. Other items seized include vegetable oil and many bales of second-hand clothes.

no effort must be spared to ensure their early completion. To this end, issue of the proposed 4th Mainland Bridge may be delayed.

Specifically, the governorship candidate explained that the ongoing 60-kilometre LagosBadagry expressway projectbeing executed by the state government should be completed as early as possible.

He noted that the project “has two major intermodal transport schemes namely; the LagosBadagry Expressway and the Light Rail Mass Transit with their accompanying infrastructure- 10 lanes superhighway taking off from Eric Moore interchange and traverses westward through Orile Iganmu, Alaba Oro, Mile 2, Festac, Agboju, Iyana Iba, Okokomaiko, Iyana Era, Ijanikin, Agbara, Ibereko and terminated at Badagry.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 13, 2019

NEWSXTRA Peoples Trust Will End Security Challenges, Joblessness, Say Olawepo-Hashim, Agbakoba Propose N50,000 Minimum wage-Hashim Promise to provide jobs, enhance security Gboyega Akinsanmi The Peoples Trust (PT) officially unveiled its presidential campaign in Abuja yesterday with a promise by its leaders to redeem the country of the current state of hopelessness, insecurity and youth unemployment.

The PT presidential candidate, Gbenga OlawepoHashim and its National Chairman, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) made the promise yesterday after inaugurating the party’s presidential campaign at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja yesterday.

At the inauguration, Olawepo-Hashim noted that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari had worsened the security situation of the country, adding that 11 out of 19 Northern states are already groaning under the scourge of insecurity.

He said that Nigeria “is presently at the cross roads with existential challenges.

This is a turning point in the

history of Nigeria. We are at a point where we will exchange instability for security.

“We are at a point where we will dump poverty for prosperity, we are at a point where we will stop the wave of violence and hatred and build a truly united Nigeria; where the live of every Nigerian will count.

“Today, 11 out of 19 States of Northern Nigeria have literarily been overrun by bandits from across the border and violence caused by agents of disunity and destruction.

“The southern states have literarily been overtaken by kidnappers, robbers and all sorts of violence induced by the present state of the economy of the country.

“At the bottom of these massive upheavals in the land is youth unemployment, which has climbed to about 33 to 36 percent. Now we have more youths that are unemployed than youths that are gainfully employed. The national unemployment average has also climbed to 24 percent of the

Osinbajo: FG Earned $94bn in Two Years Gboyega Akinsanmi The Vice President, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo at the weekend disclosed that the federal government earned $94 billion between December 2015 and December 2017, which he claimed, had helped the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari execute some strategic infrastructure projects.

Contrarily, the vice president disclosed that the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan earned a whopping sum of $383 billion between 2010 and 2014, noting that there was nothing to show for the huge revenue.

He reeled the figures in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande on Friday, noting that only a long period of honest and truthful leadership committed to the welfare of Nigerians could guarantee a prosperous future for the country From 2015 to 2017, Osinbajo explained that the federal government “earned just $94billion, yet we started the Lagos-Kano railway. We are now passed Ibadan. We completed the Abuja light rail which they started and could not complete.

“It was when we came in work progressed on LagosIbadan expressway. In every state, we are doing a major road.

Why? It is because the President does not allow anyone to steal the money. If you have small money, you can do a lot if you are not stealing it; that is what we have shown; that with small money if you are not stealing it, you can do a lot.”

On the bane of Nigeria’s development, Osinbajo noted that the reason nothing works in our country “is that of theft of public funds. The federal government “earned $383billion between 2010

and 2014. That is the highest any government in the history of the country has earned in four years.

“But there is nothing to show for it. Where are the roads? Where is the railways? This money was just wasted or stolen. That was what happened,” he said.

Osinbajo compared the APC government with the then PDP government, claiming that after four years of earning the highest amount, you could not point to anything that the PDP government did.

The vice president said, “Mambilla Hydro project started 40 years ago and nobody touched it. Nothing was done about Aladja-Warri rail line, Lagos-Kano rail line and Port Harcourt- Maiduguri line.”

Osinbajo equally canvassed that only a long period of honest and truthful leadership committed to the welfare of Nigerians would guarantee a prosperous future for the country given the challenges that had hindered Nigeria’s development across different sectors over the years.

He said, “I want to emphasize that the reason why we believe that a second term is important, is because it is necessary for our country to have a long period of honest and truthful leadership.

The problem of our country has never been ideas or projects. It is honest leadership that has always been the problem.”

He said Nigeria’s projected population growth, the attitude of past leaders, amongst other factors, has made it necessary for only persons with proven integrity be voted into elective positions in all future elections.

“By 2050, Nigeria will be the third most populous nation of the world, third after China and India.

If our leaders steal money the way theyhavebeenstealingmoneyover the past years, millions of Nigerians will be dying all over the place because then the population will be more than what we have today.

population.

“Our resolve is to build a new economy that will guarantee jobs for our teeming youths, empower our women with the capital to take their place in the society and not just in the ‘ ozza ‘ room.

“We are resolved to expand our economy to a $4trn

economy within 10 years. We will restructure the way power is organised between the states and the federal government by devolving power to the states as presently constituted so that they can mobilise more local resources to address problems.

“We will empower the states to have their own police side-

by-side with the federal police, so that the internal security can be enhanced. We will create a national guard as an intermediate force between the Army and the Police so that we can restore internal security rapidly to the country.

“We will build a Nigeria where every Nigerian will be proud of

his own passport because of our initiatives on foreign policies.

We will create an environment where more youths will have access to education by increasing budgetary allocation to the educational sector. We will make the necessary social investments to take our people rapidly out of poverty.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

L-R: Wife of celebrant, Mrs. Folashade Okoya; Chairman Eleganza Industries and celebrant, Chief Rasaq Akanni Okoya; his wife Alhaja Kuburat Okoya while disteibuting food ltems to the less privileged to mark his 79th birthday held at Oluwanisola Estate Ajah Lagos ... Friday MUBOPETERS

Borno Elders Make Ogun Police Seize 34,000 Cartridges, Arrest Three Suspects Case for Arming CJTF Femi Ogbonnikan in Abeokuta The Ogun State Police Command yesterday disclosed that it had intercepted a truck conveying 34,865 live cartridges from Togo through Ilara, a border town in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of the state.

The command equally arrested three suspects namely a Togolese, Isa Muhammad and two Nigerians; Alabi Fayemi and Seyi Bamgbose in connections with the smuggling of the live cartridges.

THISDAY checks showed that the suspects were arrested at a stop-and-search by a police patrol team stationed at Olorunda, a border community between Abeokuta North and Imeko Afon local government areas of the state.

While parading the suspects at the Imeko Police Station yesterday, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmed Iliyasu said the suspects were arrested by a border patrol team, led by an Assistance Commissioner of Police (ACP), Shettima Muhammad.

GCUOBA Holds Founder’s Day Jan. 16 The Government College Ughelli Old Boys’ Association (GCUOBA) at the weekend said it would hold its 2019 Founder’s Day celebrations on January 16.

Also, the college’s class of 1969 announced the donation of a renovated and refurbished block of classroom worth N50 million as part of activities to mark 50th anniversary of their admission into the school.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary General, Mr. Robinson Idoko and Class of 1969 Publicity Secretary, Felix Eguabor.

The statement said activities to mark the reunion and 50th anniversary of the Class of 1969 would kick off today at the

residence of Mr. Chief Donatus Umukoro in Ughelli, at 10 a.m..

The statement added that it “will climax with the commissioning of the N5 million worth block of classroom refurbished with modern amenities, which will house the school’s Junior Secondary School 1.

“Founder’s Day celebration, Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elections will hold on Wednesday January 16 between 8 a.m and 5 p.m The refurbished block of classroom will be commissioned by GCUOBA President General Worldwide, Prof.

Oritsegbemi Omatete will unveil the classroom block same day.”

TobiSoniyi Borno elders have requested President Muhammadu Buhari, to consider arming the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members to help combat the Boko Haram insurgency intheNorth-east.

The request, it was gathered, is contained in a letter they submitted to the president last Monday, when the elders, led by Governor Kashim Shettima, met with the president behind closed doors.

The elders demanded to know why the 800 ex-CJTF members, recruitedintothearmywerenotdeployed to the state since they are “fearless and understand the terrain better” than most soldiers deployed from other

partsofthecountry.

The observation was seventh in the letter while there is a corresponding (fifth) demand for the president to order the immediate deployment to Borno State, the 800 soldiers drawn from ex-CJTF fighters.

A delegation comprising two former governors, traditional rulers, elders, national and state assembly members, local government chairmen representatives of unions of women, labour, journalists, religious leaders including the state chairmen of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI), led by Shettima met the president and presented the letter to him.

Army Unveils Measures to End Kidnapping, Cattle Rustling in Katsina Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Nigeria Army has unveiled Egwu Eke III (Python Dance) as part of effort to curtail kidnapping, cattle rustling and armed banditry in Katsina State and its environs.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai inaugurated the new measure yesterday, noting that it aimed at revamping the already existing operations of the Nigeria army all over the country to tackle heinous crimes.

Buratai said it became imperative to close the gaps between existing operational

bases to avoid criminals and bandits escaping from one operation theatre to another without being notice, hence the launching of the operation.

He urged the troops “to be courageous, focused and work hard in synergy to end the problem of insurgency, kidnapping and banditry confronting the nation.

Buratai, who was represented by the General Officer Commander 8 Division, Maj.Gen. Steven Olabanji, said the Nigerian Army had resolved that no hiding place for criminals terrorising innocent people in the North-west.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍťËœ ͺ͸͚Î

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SUNDAYSPORTS

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

Solskjaer’s United Face Tottenham Test at Wembley

O

le Gunnar Solskjaer faces the biggest test of his Manchester United managerial stint so far with a trip to play Tottenham at Wembley today.

Solskjaer could become the first United manager to win his first six games in charge in all competitions after he guided them to a 100 per cent record over the festive period.

The interim boss disagreed that this will be his toughest test, but wants to go to Wembley and play in the same attacking philosophy that has seen United score 16 goals in five games. “You get tested every single game in the Premier League - no doubt about it - but of course this is against a top, top side,� Solskjaer said. “If we want to get closer to them and go past them we need a good performance and a good result. “You always adapt to any opposition. We play one of the best teams in the league. Of course we have got to be aware of their strengths. “But we need to attack teams. That is our strength, going forward as a team when you look at us now, with the way we have played.�

Tottenham won the reverse fixture 3-0 at Old Trafford earlier this season and will be bidding to do the double over United for the first time in Premier League history. Tottenham will assess Lucas Moura for the visit of United. The Brazil forward missed the midweek Carabao Cup win over Chelsea with a knee injury and will face a fitness test ahead of today’s game. Eric Dier (appendicitis) and Victor Wanyama (knee) miss out, while Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembele are back in training but not match fit.

Manchester United are set to welcome back Paul Pogba. The Frenchman missed last weekend’s FA Cup win over Reading because of a knock to the back of his right leg but United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes the midfielder is ready to return at Wembley today.

Marcos Rojo has returned to his native Argentina as his injury is taking longer to heal than anticipated,

Lucas Moura scored a brace in the reverse ďŹ xture at Old Traord that Spurs won 3-0 while Chris Smalling (foot) is a doubt and Eric Bailly completes a three-match suspension.

Spurs are looking to win three consecutive top-flight meetings with Manchester United for the first time since September 1960.

Manchester United have lost their last three away Premier League matches against Spurs - they had lost just three of their first 23 against them in the competition between 1992 and 2014 (W12 D8).

Spurs could become the first team since Everton in 1987 to win four consecutive home top-flight matches

against Manchester United.

Manchester United have lost two of their last three matches at Wembley in all competitions (including this exact fixture last season), as many as they had in their last 15 at the ground (W8 D5 L2).

Manchester United have won just four of their last 17 away Premier League matches in London (D4 L9).

Tottenham haven’t lost consecutive home league games since May 2015, when they lost against Aston Villa and Man City.

After winning their last four league games against

fellow ‘big six’ opposition last season, Manchester United are winless in their five such matches this term (D2 L3). Victory here would see Ole Gunnar Solskjaer equal Matt Busby’s record of a Manchester United manager winning their first five league games in charge of the club.

Harry Kane and Lucas Moura (2) were on the scoresheet in Tottenham’s 3-0 win in the reverse fixture - only Clint Dempsey in 2012/13 and Jermaine Jenas in 2005/06 have scored home and away against Man Utd for Spurs in the same Premier League campaign.

Ndidi Scores in Leicester Defeat, Chelsea Beat Newcastle, Stay Safely in Top Four Iheanacho, Balogun Benched Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi scored his second league goal of the season for Leicester City who lost 2-1 at home to Southampton in yesterday’s English Premier League game at the King Power Stadium. It was Ndidi’s 21st EPL appearance of the season for The Foxes.

James Ward Prowse gave Southampton the lead from the spot after 11 minutes. Shane Long doubled the lead for the Saints on the stroke of half time, but Ndidi halved the deficit in the 58th minute.

His compatriot, Kelechi Iheanacho was an unused substitute for Leicester in the game.

At the Amex stadium, Leon Balogun was an unused substitute for Brighton Hove Albion who lost 1-0 at home to Liverpool. Balogun has made eight appearances for Brighton and has scored

once in the EPL. At Selhurst Park, Isaac Success was benched in Watford’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace. An own goal from Craig Cathcart gave Crystal Palace the lead but the Watford defender made amends restoring parity for the Hornets. Tom Cleverley sealed the win for Watford in the 74th minute.

Cardiff City played out a goalless draw at home to Huddersfield Town while Burnley defeated Fulham 2-1.

inside Kepa Arrizabalaga’s right post.

Chelsea, though often frustrated by a massed Newcastle defence, found a way through in the 57th minute when Eden Hazard forced his way down the middle and laid off the ball to Willian who curled an exquisite shot into the top corner of Dubravka’s goal.

Newcastle, struggling in the relegation zone, lacked midfield quality, but made up for that in ambition.

Salomon Rondon, Ayoze Perez and Christian Atsu all had chances on the break but could not find an equaliser for former Chelsea boss Rafael Benitez.

Nadal: Murray Taking Right Decision to Retire Andy Murray’s impending retirement was a decision he had to take because he is “suffering�, says long-time rival Rafael Nadal.

The 31-year-old Briton announced on Friday that he will quit this year, and this week’s Australian Open could be the final tournament of his career. “When you are going on court without a clear goal because you cannot move well and you have pain, then it is the time to take a decision,� Nadal said.

Nadal, 32, knows more than most players what it is like to battle injury having had a catalogue of serious problems over the years, with his knees and wrists in particular.

But the Spaniard, a 17-time Grand Slam singles

RESULTS & FIXTURES

Ndidi

Skilful finishes from Pedro and Willian earned a Chelsea a 2-1 win over battling Newcastle United in the Premier League yesterday, keeping the London side safely in the top four.

A pinpoint lofted pass from David Luiz in the ninth minute found Pedro and the Spain forward deftly chipped the ball over Martin Dubravka into the net.

Despite Chelsea’s overwhelming possession, Newcastle enjoyed a couple of chances on the counter late in the first half and Ciaran Clark equalised from a corner in the 40th minute, squeezing his header

West Ham Brighton Burnley Cardiff Crystal Palace Leicester Chelsea Everton Tottenham

1–0 Arsenal 0–1 Liverpool 2–1 Fulham 0–0 HuddersďŹ eld 1–2 Watford 1–2 Southampton 2–1 Newcastle v Bournemouth 3:15pm v Man United 5:30pm

champion, says he has never “arrived� at the point of feeling he had to quit the sport. “I always had the feeling that we’ll fix it,� said the world number two, who begins his Australian Open campaign against home wildcard James Duckworth tomorrow. “But, of course, there are periods of time that you don’t see the light. It is tough. “I know it is hard mentally. It is tough when you have one thing, then another thing. “Andy has probably been fighting to keep going for a long time. If he doesn’t feel that the injury can become better, he has probably done the right thing for his mental health.�

Scotland’s Murray first met Nadal, who has won 17 Grand Slam titles, when they were teenagers and played against each other at junior tournaments.

The pair have met 24 times as seniors, with the Majorcan winning 17 of the contests. “I always had good relationship with him,� said Nadal. “We shared moments in my academy. We shared courts in the most important stadiums in the world, competing for the most important things.

That’s impossible to forget. “So all the best to him. We will miss him. But today is him. Tomorrow another one. We are not 20 any more. Our generation, everyone is more than 30 - these kind of things happen.

Murray “He will be a very important loss for us, for the world of tennis, for the tour, for the fans. But that’s life. It seems like he had not a very long career because today players are playing that long. But he’s 31 - 10 years ago, if he retired at 31, we would say he had a great and very long career.�

Sunday January 13, 2019

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Price: N400

MISSILE

Atiku to Buhari

“Any attempt to force Justice Walter Onnoghen to vacate his office, four weeks to an election for which the unpopular Buhari administration has shown every intention to manipulate, is a move pregnant with negative meaning” – The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, reacting to the plan to arraign the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

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Justice Onnoghen in the Dock

J

ustice Walter Onnoghen, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), is in the dock. Not in the dock yet, but you know what I mean. He is to be charged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) on Monday over allegations of false declaration of assets.

It is actually a six-count charge, but it all boils down to asset declaration affairs.

Although we hardly take things of this nature seriously in Nigeria, they constitute a serious breach by public officers. I won’t be surprised if most Nigerian public officers are in violation. If all public officers were to be scrutinised over their compliance with the law, only a few would come out alive.

If Onnoghen is found guilty, he would immediately have to vacate office as the Chief Justice. He could be banned from holding public office for a maximum of 10 years. He would also forfeit all the assets that he did not declare, as alleged by the CCB. According to reports, Onnoghen has already been asked to resign ahead of his trial, although I can bet my laptop on it: he would ignore such order or advice.

Whatever the CCB has on him must be treated as allegations for the time being, and allegations do not amount to a conviction in law. Onnoghen will hold on to the very end. He would certainly want to prove his innocence. He won’t go down just like that.

What I have just said are the simplest things about the Onnoghen case. Things are more complicated than I have made them look. I am expecting nothing but legal fireworks as the trial commences. There will be ethnic and religious insinuations and there will be political interpretations as well. I would like to focus on the legal aspect in today’s discussion, although I do not by any means suggest that there are no political undertones. I am old enough to know that a gun doesn’t kill except you pull the trigger (copyright: James Bond). I also went to school, and that means I should be able to read between the lines and not swallow everything I am served — head, thorax and abdomen.

Here we go. A civil society group, the Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), submitted a petition dated January 7, 2019 to the CCB, alleging a number of infractions committed by Onnoghen. The petition was received by the CCB on January 9, 2019. The charge sheet filed by CCB before CCT was dated January 10, 2019. Pardon my ignorance: this efficiency is out of this world. This is the kind of public sector efficiency that we have been praying for in Nigeria. We are almost getting there. But, on a serious note, the speed amazes me. Perhaps investigations had already been concluded before the petition was submitted to the CCB. If not, for the CCB to conclude investigations within 24 hours, Canadian bureaucrats — reputed as the world’s most efficient — would be jealous. Onnoghen’s spokesman, Mr. Awassam Bassey, initially said the CJN was unaware of the petition, much less the content. But it has now

Onnoghen

emerged that the CJN even wrote a statement in response to the allegations.

In the past, if an accused public officer admitted that there was an error in his or her asset declaration, no further action was to be taken. The irony, though, is that the Supreme Court, headed by Onnoghen, ruled that this no longer applied when Senate President Bukola Saraki pleaded it in his case. The law has been amended.

Where are we? According to Section 24(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, “Prosecutions for all offences referred to in this Act shall be instituted in the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the Attorney-General of the Federation or such officers in the Federal Ministry of Justice as the Attorney-General of the Federation may authorise so to do.” Is the Office of the Attorney-General involved in this case? We cannot say for sure, but I would assume that there may be other laws that allow the CCB to prosecute without the AGF donating its prosecutorial power to the bureau. Whatever the case may be, government is one. That may not be an issue.

And now to the crux of the matter: can the CCT try a judicial officer? Something is telling me there is a due process issue at play here. There is a famous case appearing to show that the CCB may need to retrace its steps. In May 2018, the CCT struck out a 10-count charge by the federal government against Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court who was accused of concealing his assets. He was one of the judges whose residences were raided by the secret police in 2016. Ngwuta’s lawyers argued that CCT lacked the jurisdiction to try him, based on sections 318, 158(1) and paragraph 21 (B) of the 3rd Schedule of the 1999 Constitution.

In simple words, allegations against judicial officers are supposed to be referred to the National Judicial Council (NJC), the body constitutionally empowered to discipline them. What the NJC is supposed to do is to examine the allegations and suspend the affected judicial officer. Thereafter, the case will be referred to the CCB for prosecution by the CCT. They call it “due process”

or “procedure”. The CCT accepted that it lacked the jurisdiction to hear and determine the case against Ngwuta and then struck out the case. In fact, the Court of Appeal had made a similar pronouncement in the case against Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa in December 2017.

Because nothing has changed since then (the sun still rises in the east), could the CCB have hurt its own case so early in the day? I know little about law but I can assure the CCB that the first argument Onnoghen’s lawyers will make is that the CCT lacks the jurisdiction to try him. I know the counter-argument, though: Onnoghen is the NJC chairman and cannot be a judge in his own case. But I have a counter: that is why the word “recuse” was invented so that judges can excuse themselves from some cases. I know the “counter counterargument”: the NJC will find it hard to indict its own chairman. Too bad, but neither are we allowed to take the law into our hands in a democracy.

Am I saying the CJN is above the law and if found guilty of breaching the Code of Conduct he should be left off the hook?

No. I would never make such an argument even if I was born yesterday. Nobody is above the law in a democracy. We do not have two sets of laws — one for the high and mighty and the other for the wretched of the earth. Anybody who has broken the law should face the music. The only problem is that once processes and procedures have been so well defined in law and tested in court, there is nothing else we can do than to respect them. We just have to find a way of following these processes to achieve our purpose.

Not surprisingly, there has been a deluge of outrage over the Onnoghen case. Some have imputed sinister motives. There are insinuations that Onnoghen was not wanted as the CJN in the first place because he is from a certain part of the country. He was appointed as the acting CJN by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2016 but his name was not forwarded to the senate for confirmation until March 2017 when Buhari was away on medical vacation.

Onnoghen is the first CJN from the south since 1987 when the late Justice Ayo Irikefe retired. Given the poisonous pre-election atmosphere in the land, I really wish we could do without this controversy.

There are insinuations about the role the Supreme Court may play in the 2019 elections. In fact, the petitioners pointed to the elections as one of the reasons Onnoghen should be put on trial. That is why the timing of the petition and the swiftness of CCB’s treatment of it cannot be treated as routine bureaucratic efficiency. But even if we are to ignore all the allegations and insinuations, we cannot ignore the processes and procedures for the discipline of judicial officers as prescribed by our laws. No matter the weight of evidence the federal government has against Onnoghen, it must pursue justice in a way that those who want to fault it will have little or nothing to say.

And Four Other Things…

SHETTIMA’S SORROWS Alhaji Kashim Shettima, governor of Borno state, broke down in tears before President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock on Monday.

What would make a grown-up man weep?

Too much destruction by Boko Haram. Too many dead bodies. He has been governor of the state for nearly eight years, and nearly every year has been flooded with sorrow, tears and blood, as Fela would put it. I call Shettima the unluckiest governor in the history of Nigeria. He told Buhari that Borno people expected him to crush Boko Haram.

Shettima is clearly disappointed because of the reversal of fortune, but we must keep faith with the troops as they redouble effort to contain the resurgence. Troubling.

IGP’S TENURE One of the most intriguing events unfolding in the country ahead of the general election is the fate of Mr. Ibrahim Idris, the inspector-general of police. Having served as a policeman for 35 years, he was due for retirement on January 3, 2019. He will clock 60 on January 15. The standard practice is whichever comes first — 35 years of service or 60 years of age. However, there is yet no sign that he is ready to go. If anything, it appears President Buhari would like to extend his tenure. Idris, whom the president accused of dereliction of duty in the Benue crisis, would certainly love to preside over the policing of the elections. Expect legal challenges, though, if his tenure is extended.

Tricky.

DOGARA’S DIG One thing I cherish in life is consistency. If you condemn an action by the goose you must also condemn a similar one by the gander. I saw people condemn President Jonathan for things they are now praising President Buhari for. I have also seen people condemn Buhari over the same thing for which they defended Jonathan.

What this suggests is that many critics are motivated more by sentiments than facts or the national interest. I find it very difficult to respect the opinion of such people. Speaker Yakubu Dogara said as much last week when he pointed out that the northern elders who condemned insecurity under previous government have now gone quiet.

Hypocrisy?

AND FINALLY… In DR Congo, the more you look, the less you see. I was still celebrating that an opposition candidate had won the presidential election when word started filtering out that the ruling party might have rigged against its own anointed candidate, Emmanuel Shadary! It now appears Felix Tshisekedi of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDSP) did not win the election. The Catholic Church said the result did not match data collected by its 40,000 election monitors. No wonder, Tshisekedi was busy praising President Joseph Kabila, the incumbent, after “winning” the poll.

Kabila himself accepted the result without shedding a tear. Fishy.

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