SUNDAY 10 TH FEBRUARY 2019

Buhari: Our Economic Policies are Making Desired Impact Ambode promises to deliver Lagos Nseobong Okon-Ekong, Gboyega Akinsanmi and Segun James President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday declared that the

economic policies of his government were having the right effect, saying this is evident in the steady growth the economy has witnessed in the last three years. Buhari

stated this in Lagos during a town hall meeting with the business community. It was part of his presidential campaign visit to the state to drum support for his re-

election bid on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).

He later told a huge crowd of party faithful and supporters during the

campaign rally at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, that his administration was determined to bring to justice persons with proven cases of corrupt enrichment, vowing

that he has a sacred duty to send them to prison.

This was as Lagos State Governor Akinwuumi Ambode Continued on page 8

APC, PDP Mega Rallies Set to Shut Down Abuja on Wednesday… Page 8 Sunday 10 February, 2019 Vol 24. No 8708

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6 Days to Decision Time, How Nigerians May Vote Buhari has incumbency, Atiku momentum, in final push to the finish line

Katsina%

Zamfara

Atiku 30%

Buhari 40%

Kano

Buhari 65%

Atiku 60%

FCT

Buhari 50% % Atiku 50%

Buhari 45% Atiku 55%

Kogi

Buhari 45% % Atiku 55%

Buhari 30% Atiku 70%

Ebonyi

Buhari 40%

40% ari Buh60% u Atik

%

Cross River

Ati hari 3 ku 0 70 % %

Bayelsa

Buhari 30% Atiku 70%

Atik u6 0%

Imo

s

Buhari 30% Atiku 70%

Taraba

Bu

Delta

Buhari 45% % Atiku 55%

Benue

B Ati uhariAnamb ku 40 ra 60 % % E B n Ati uhar ug ku i 20 u Ab 80 % ia %

Buhari 45% Atiku 55%

er

Lagos Buhari 50% Atiku 50%

Edo

Riv

Buhari 45% Atiku 55%

Buhari 45% % Atiku 55%

Buhari 40% Atiku 60%

Ondo Ati Bu ku har 45 i 55 % %

Ogun

Nasarawa Buhari 45% % Atiku 55%

Atiku 50%

Adamawa

Plateau

Kwara

Ekiti

Buhari 45%

Atiku 45%

Buhari 55% Atiku 45%

Buhari 55% Buhari 50% Atiku 45%

Gombe

Buhari 55%

Buhari 55% % Atiku 45%

Niger

Osun

Buhari 60% Atiku 40%

Bauchi

Kaduna

Buhari 55% Atiku 45%

Borno

Atiku 35%

Atiku 40%

Oyo

Buhari 60% Atiku 40%

55

Buhari 60%

Buhari 60% Atiku 40%

ku

Kebbi

Yobe

Jigawa

Buhari 70%

40% ari 0% Buh tiku 6 A

Six days to the presidential election, which holds this weekend, some of the hitherto fluid extrapolations have finally paved the way for more distinct pictures on the state of play in the race for the nation’s crucial first round of elections.

From the state-by-state analysis of last Sunday, the week that just ended has seen both leading candidates of the two major parties – Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC) shift in their former positions in certain areas, based also on certain conditions.

Whilst the last seven days had seen Atiku rise impressively by taking a firm advantage provided him by the moments, largely occasioned by the plethora of endorsements as well as increasing sympathy from rather unusual quarters, Buhari too has struggled prominently to close some of the gaps that left him trailing Atiku in the state by state analysis of last week.

This notwithstanding, the task of closing the Atiku gaps, which have continued to increase remains the greatest challenge of the Buhari group

Buhari 60% Atiku 40%

Ati

Olawale Olaleye

Sokoto

AkwaIbom

Buhari 20% Buhari 30% Atiku 80% Atiku 70%

Continued on page 10

Hoodlums Attack APC Campaign Convoy, Set Nine Vehicles Ablaze… Page 84

2

5 ) * 4 % ": t SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2019

5 ) * 4 % ": t SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2019

3

4

5 ) * 4 % ": t SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2019

5 ) * 4 % ": t SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2019

5

6

5 ) * 4 % ": t SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2019

5 ) * 4 % ": t SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2019

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͹͸˜ ͺ͸͹΁ ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

PAGE EIGHT

APC, PDP Mega Rallies Set to Shut Down Abuja on Wednesday Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, will virtually shut down on Wednesday as both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have scheduled their mega rallies for the day.

While the PDP rescheduled its presidential mega rally to that day after it was denied approval to use the Old Parade Ground, Abuja, on Saturday, the APC has also booked the same day for its presidential mega rally.

The PDP had called off its rally earlier billed for yesterday after it alleged that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) denied it approval to use the Old Parade Ground (OPG) in Abuja.

The Director, Administration and Finance, Social Development Secretariat (SDS), the agency that manages the OPG, Hajia Safiya Umar, exclusively confirmed to THISDAY Saturday morning that PDP had agreed to shift its rally to Wednesday at the same venue.

On the same day, however, APC loyalists are billed to gather for the campaign rally in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection bid at the National Stadium, Abuja. The stadium has a capacity to hold 60,000 spectators.

But the PDP is yet to confirm when its rally would hold after issuing a statement on Friday announcing its suspension.

Spokesman of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, had on Friday, described the refusal of access to the OPG by FCDA as a provocative action against the party after it had made payments to the authorities and obtained official approval.

He stated, “For us in the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, this is part of the last kicks of a dying horse, which the Buhari Presidency now represents.

“We invite the world to note that this latest assault against the people’s candidate is also borne out of direct ill-will and hatred against him by President Muhammadu Buhari as well as his handlers, who have sought all ways to drag

him down, since they realised that Nigerians have reached a consensus on Atiku Abubakar, as the next President of our country.

“In any case, let it be known to President Buhari and the APC that the PDP and the people’s candidate will definitely hold our Presidential mega rally in Abuja irrespective of any further encumbrance they may attempt to foist.

Nigeria belongs to all of us and nobody can stop us from exercising our constitutionally guaranteed right of holding our rally in the FCT or any other part of our country for that matter,” he added.

The PDP therefore cautioned Buhari and the APC to note that with the level of consensus its presidential candidate enjoys throughout the country, noting that any assault on him is a direct assault on the overall aspiration and sensibilities of Nigerians as a whole.

The main opposition party restated that the more the presidency attacks the people’s candidate, the more his support base among Nigerians expands.

“However, any further attack

on our campaign will therefore attract very dire response from Nigerians who look up to Atiku Abubakar to salvage our dear nation from the social, economic and political despondency, which President Buhari has plunged it into,” Ologbondiyan warned.

The party’s spokesman said that from reports reaching the party, it is not also out of place for the Buhari Presidency and the APC to use this measure to test the will of Nigerians as precursor to their rigging plots.

He said, “We want to place on record, once again that any attempt to rig the February 16 election will be vehemently resisted by Nigerians, across board, who have reached a consensus to rescue their nation from the stranglehold of the Buhari Presidency.”

On federal government’s decision to replace national monument like Unity Fountain and City Gate with Broom statue, which is a symbol of the APC, Ologbondiyan stressed that all that Buhari can deliver to Nigerians apart from posters is the statue of a broom.

But Umar told THISDAY that the withdrawal of access to the OPG for the party was made to forestall bloodshed as an FCT APC faction was also due to assemble for a rally at the venue on the same day (Saturday).

She also confirmed that the PDP held a rally at the same OPG last week without any issue.

She however validated APC’s right to use the contentious venue, insisting that the ruling party was the first to book the ground before PDP. Umar also plainly refuted the insinuation that the SDS yielded to pressure from high quarters in making the decision, insisting that SDS is a revenue generating agency.

The DAF further clarified that when the controversy over access to the venue unfolded, they offered PDP alternative venues in the city, but in spite of all entreaties, PDP stuck to its gun, insisting it must be granted access to the OPG. "When the matter came up, we offered PDP alternative use of the field facing the Fire

Service, but they declined the offer," Umar said.

She further clarified that when FCTA intervened, PDP was presented with several options, including to move their rally to Zone 3 or to shift the campaign to either Sunday or Monday, after APC might have concluded their own rally.

"But they (PDP) categorically rejected our offers, in addition to offer for them to use the Pavilion close to the International Conference Centre. They rejected the offer on the grounds that the pavilion is too small," she declared.

But after much persuasion, the opposition party initially agreed to hold its rally at the Area 3 Sports Centre before it later said it was suspending it indefinitely.

"We gave them that venue at Area 3, after the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Chinyeka Ohaa stepped in and ordered the athletic team that was training there in preparation for a sporting programme to suspend its training, " Umar said.

The Minister of Transportation and Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, in his speech said the 2019 general election was a fight between the rich and the poor. He said the Buhari administration was on the side of the poor. Amaechi announced that the massive investment in rail transportation will not only provide jobs, but also revolutionise the economy.

“We recently launched the Iju (Lagos) to Abeokuta. We are taking that one all the way to Ibadan and it must be ready by April. I have told them to carry people free for three months before they start charging fares.

Itakpe to Warri is running. We are to have Lagos to Maiduguri and Lagos to Calabar. This government is working seriously for the people of this country,” Amaechi stated.

Speaking at the rally, National Chairman of APC, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, reassured the international community that the federal government was committed to a free and credible election. Oshiomhole said APC had no history of election rigging.

He said, “We do not believe in violence. On February 16, it will be a time for the people of Nigeria to show again that they have faith in President Buhari. The odds are in our favour. Contrary to the widely held notion, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been absolutely unfair to the APC. In Zamfara, we have been told we cannot contest the election because we did not hold a primary. There was primary in Zamfara and the court has said so, but INEC prefers to obey another court.

We will not join issues with INEC. We are products of struggle. If it is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), they would have been shouting blue murder. The court has said we did elections, INEC prefers to believe the one that said we did not.”

The governor said, “We appreciate the President in the last three and half years. The 2019 election is not about tribe and religion, but it's all about job, economy and infrastructure.

“In Lagos, airport road is making life comfortable for every Lagosians. PMB has refunded some of the money we used for projects in Lagos.

“We need to continue in that direction. The president has created the ground work for growth in the country.”

He assured the president that residents of Lagos would come out en masse on February 16 to deliver the state to Buhari and other National Assembly candidates of APC. Ambode commended Buhari for supporting infrastructural growth in the state, saying he would do more if given another mandate of four years.

According to him, “In and outside of the stadium, you can see the crowd that has turned out here and we are very grateful that Lagos has been signed, sealed and delivered to APC already. The message is very clear.

“We appreciate Mr. President for his support to our state in the last three and a half years.

The achievements that we have recorded in Lagos were possible because of his support. This election is not about tribe or religion, it's about infrastructure, jobs and the economy and the right path to go is to go to the APC. “If you see what we are doing in Lagos already, you will see that the airport road is not for the Yorubas or the Igbos or the Hausas, it’s about making life comfortable for Nigerians and that is why Mr. President has continually supported all our projects by even refunding some of the funds we used for capital projects so that we can complete more projects.”

The governor alleged that the return of PDP to power would only retard the country’s growth.

He told the crowd, “If you remember, the first two years of this administration we were in recession caused by the PDP, but in the last two years, we have stabilized, we have created the groundwork for growth and that is where APC is different

from the PDP. They will tell you that they want to make Nigeria work again, but ask them who destroyed Nigeria in the first place?

“Therefore, this election is about moving the economy forward and for this to be possible, we need to continue on the foundation that we have already made in the last four years. APC remains one party, we remain one nation and one family.”

The presidential entourage landed at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, about 10.13am aboard a Nigerian Air Force Boeing aircraft with registration number 5N-FGT, amid tight security. He was received by APC chieftains and supporters, including Ambode, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosu, Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, and Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

Others were the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Lagos State APC governorship candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Buhari left the airport for the palace of the Oba of Lagos before making a brief stop at the Lagos House, the official residence of the Governor of Lagos State, at Marina.

At the palace of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwanu Akiolu, the Oba described Buhari as a man of his words, and noted that the body of traditional rulers in the state was happy to receive the president.

Akiolu said, “Give Buhari another chance and you will see how Nigeria will move forward.”

The Oba also commended a son of the soil, Fashola, whom he said had been doing a fantastic job as the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, adding that there has been improvement in the electricity.

The huge crowd of APC supporters, who had thronged the Teslim Balogun Stadium from all corners of the state since the early hours of the morning, were entertained

by Fuji music superstar, Wasiu Ayinde Anifowoshe, better as K1.

BUHARI: OUR ECONOMIC POLICIES ARE MAKING DESIRED IMPACT promised to deliver votes in huge numbers for APC in the state, and the party’s national leader and former governor of the state, Senator Bola Tinubu, called former President Olusegun Obasanjo a terrible poll rigger in their remarks at the rally.

Buhari, who also visited the palace of the Oba of Lagos, arrived the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere venue of the campaign about 3pm. After thanking the people for defying the hot weather to receive him, he said he did not have much to add to the achievements of the administration that had been enumerated by Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, and co-chairman of the APC Presidential Campaign, Tinubu.

“We have made tremendous progress on the promises that we made to you in 2015. We will maintain the focus. We will continue to fight corruption, prosecute anyone found guilty and get them imprisoned. It is our duty and responsibility. I urge you to vote APC from top to bottom in the elections,” the president told the rally.

Buhari, who only spoke for about two minutes, scored himself high on efforts to bring a turnaround in the economy, secure the country, and provide jobs. He promised that Lagos would continue to receive great attention in terms of infrastructural renewal and all round economic growth.

Buhari: Our Economic Policies Delivering Growth, Progress The president told members of the business community during the town hall meeting that he had kept his promise to boost the economy, block leakages in government finances, increase capital expenditure and inflows, and implement the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), among others. The meeting, which was held shortly before the president proceeded to the Teslim Balogun Stadium for the rally, included representatives of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and

Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises.

Adesina quoted Buhari as saying, “I firmly believe that our economic policies are beginning to make the desired impact. Economic growth has resumed and is continuing to improve.

“Growth was higher in 2017 than in 2016, data even from external sources shows that it will be higher in 2018 than in 2017. I am confident that as we stay the course, it will be better still at the end of 2019.

“Inflation is coming down steadily, there is stability in the exchange rate and foreign exchange is readily available for genuine business. Foreign reserves are adequate and growing; capital inflows have increased and the trade balance is positive.

“We are paying off debts that were not even publicly acknowledged before now, including those owed to states, the electricity sector, oil marketers, exporters, backlog of salaries of workers and pensioners, amongst others.”

Buhari told the business community that he was a strong believer in infrastructural investment to promote development.

He stated, “I am happy that the results of the priority we have placed on this sector are beginning to show. Our commitment is reflected in the resources that we are providing for infrastructure. In 2016 and 2017, capital expenditure was up to N2.7 trillion while over N800 million has been released under the current budget.

“This has been complemented by the inception of the $650 million Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund, which will focus initially on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the Second Niger Bridge, the Abuja-Kano expressway, and the Mambilla hydropower plant.”

The statement also said the president highlighted completed and ongoing projects in the transport and aviation sector and expressed delight that the rail projects were generating excitement across the country because it would help local businesses to grow.

According to him, “The

Abuja-Kaduna railway is up and running. The Itakpe-Warri line is being test-run before going commercial. The completed portion of the Abuja light rail project is facilitating movement to the airport.

“The Lagos-Ibadan railway is nearing completion with people already taking test rides on the completed portions. We are determined to work at the same pace on the Coastal Railway Line and the line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.

“We completed the repairs to the runway in Abuja in record time, and just a few weeks ago, I commissioned the Baro Inland Port. All these achievements will help Nigerian businesses to grow.”

Adesina said the president also spoke on future plans to sustain the positive economic outlook, saying the federal government would raise more revenue to boost the economic fundamentals and increase the level and quality of government services in support of the private sector.

He quoted Buhari as saying, “I recently inaugurated a Technical Advisory Committee to identify new sources of revenue in this regard. This is also to ensure that government at all levels have the resources to pay the new national wage, which we are indeed committed to paying.

“Our economic fundamentals are strong and, in the next four years, by the grace of God, we are determined to stay the course in terms of partnerships with the private sector; support to the real sector; helping small businesses, providing infrastructure and an enabling business environment.”

Fashola had earlier explained that the party's campaign slogan, “Next Level”, held enormous promise for jobs and prosperity for all. Citing the example of the Mambilla Power Project, he said the project will create millions of jobs. He also hinted at approval to renovate all federal government-owned buildings, saying the president has already approved the maintenance, which will create jobs for various categories of artisans, including plumbers, carpenters, electricians and painters.

We’ll Deliver Lagos – Ambode Ambode reiterated the commitment of the state to Buhari’s victory.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 10, 2019

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SUNDAY COMMENT

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

A VOTE FOR A CREDIBLE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION The INEC, security agencies and other stakeholders must ensure the election is conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner

T

his coming Saturday, February 16, the 2019 presidential election will hold with 72 candidates in the race.

The past few weeks have witnessed a lot of drama. The leadership of some of the political parties has declared support for the candidates of other parties, sometimes without telling their own. A few underwhelming candidates have willingly withdrawn from the race while many whose names remain on the ballot hardly command attention from the electorate.

There have also been rash of endorsements by individuals and groups. Meanwhile it is safe to conclude that this political contest is mainly between the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Con gress (APC) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who is flying the banner of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Although the campaigns have been relatively peaceful when compared with previous elections, there have also been a few flashpoints.

More disappointing is the tiresomely familiar absence of any serious engagement on the critical issues of the day. Instead of marshalling how to tackle the deteriorating security situation, youth unemployment and forceful measures to rescue the stagnating economy, the campaigns have been more a show about who could pull the bigger crowd between the APC and the PDP. Besides, the campaign rhetoric is anchored on the same old vociferous politics of bitterness, rancour and mud-slinging, all of which are inimical to the development of the nation that the politicians claim they are fighting for.

What is lost to the candidates and their supporters is that democracy is more about serving the people

than just about winning elections or staying in power. As we therefore approach the last days of the crucial election, we urge all the candidates and their supporters to guide against statements and actions that may trigger violence before, during and after the ballots are cast and put the democratic experiment and the country at risk. Incitement to violence is unacceptable. Those who seek power must do so within acceptable limits and in a way that will not put the very people whose mandate they seek at risk.

W

Those who seek power must do so within acceptable limits and in a way that will not put the very people whose mandate they seek at risk

Letters to the Editor

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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

e understand that crimes of election violence are very difficult to prosecute in Nigeria because the people involved are usually those who should be responsible for preventing such crimes or for ensuring accountability for them where they occur. But the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Ms Fatou Bensouda, has always warned about the preparedness of her office to bring to book anybody who engages in acts of violence in the context of elections within our country, “including by ordering, inciting, encouraging or contributing to the commission of crimes that fall within ICC's jurisdiction."

It is encouraging that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given assurances that it is adequately prepared to provide a free and fair election that will muffle the worries of the electorate and indeed all Nigerians. We hope INEC chairman, Professor Mahmud Yakubu will live up to his word. Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and Smart Card Readers (SCR) must be handled transparently and they must add value and credibility to the election. All other materials for the elections (sensitive or otherwise) must also arrive the polling units on time while INEC must network with security agencies to ensure voters perform their civic duties in peaceful environment.

There have been reassuring words from the acting Inspector- General of Police, Mr Muhammed Adamu that his men and officers would stay above the political fray by discharging their responsibility professionally. We hope that the personnel of Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies that will be deployed in the elections across the country will also be neutral.

After all the critical institutions of state must have done their job, it is then left for the people of Nigeria to elect the person they want to lead them for the next four years in an atmosphere devoid of any form of coercion or violence.

May the best candidate win!

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.

Rails and The Path of Development

igeria started its path to development with a lot of vigor akin to that of a nation with potential. This development was further propelled by the availability of the railway system. Nigeria had a lot going for it in the railway sector.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation traces its history to the year 1898 when the first railroad in Nigeria was constructed by the British colonial government. On October 3, 1912 the Lagos Government Railway and the Baro-Kano Railway were amalgamated, starting nationwide rail service under the name Government Department of Railways. With the passing of the Nigerian Railway Corpora-

tion Act of 1955, the company gained its current name as well as the exclusive legal right to construct and operate rail service in Nigeria. The rail network reached its maximum extent shortly after Nigeria’s independence in 1960. Shortly after that, the NRC entered a long period of decline, inept management, and eventually a complete lack of maintenance of rail and locomotive assets. In 1988, NRC declared bankruptcy, and all rail traffic stopped for six months. After that, trains resumed where the tracks were usable. By 2002, passenger service was again discontinued altogether.

Starting in 2006, plans were made to restore the rail lines and add new locomotives with foreign assistance. In

December 2012 regular, scheduled passenger service was restored on the Lagos Kano line.

While all of these happened other nations continued on their path of developing the railway because of its importance. South Africa used the FIFA World Cup in 2010 to create a high speed train from Oliver Tambo Airport to Sandton, a journey reduced to just 24 minutes. Imagine if we could have such a system in Lagos from the airport, vehicular traffic would be reduced. The paramount thinking is adopting the method of China railway by setting up HSR high speed trains.

HSR trains, track and service are owned and operated

by the China Railway Corporation.

The China Railway High-speed (CRH) high-speed train service was introduced in April 2007, featuring high-speed train sets running at 250 km/h on upgraded track.

The Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Rail, which opened in August 2008 and could carry high-speed trains at 350 km/h (217 mph), was the first passenger dedicated HSR line.

High-speed rail developed rapidly in China over the past 15 years thanks to generous funding from the Chinese government, especially the economic stimulus programme during the Great Recession. The removal of Railway Minister Liu Zhijun for corruption and a fatal high-speed railway accident near Wenzhou in 2011 raised concerns about safety as well as affordability, financial sustainability and environmental impact. The HSR

building boom has nevertheless continued with the HSR network set to reach 38,000 km (24,000 mi) in 2025and 45,000 km (28,000 mi) in the longer term.

This speaks volumes and this is something we can all learn from.

High speed train moves goods faster and this can add about 0.5% to the GDP of every country. In order for Nigeria to be on that path of development I suggest a 20-year plan of 60,000km of tracks and a rapid improvement from the over 3000km we have now to 10,000km before 2025.

If these could be achieved, about 3% would be added to our GDP, cost of doing business would drop and tourism would greatly improve and productivity would be boosted.

––Rufai Oseni, rufai@rufai. com.ng

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͹͸˜ ͺ͸͹΁ ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

NEWS REVIEW

EU: We’re Not Here to Select a Leader for Nigeria Recalls 2015 message was very powerful, resonated far beyond its borders Buhari, Atiku must play by the rules, says Jonathan foundation Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa and Bayo Akinloye in Lagos The European Union (EU), yesterday, reiterated its delegation to Nigeria was not in the country to select who should take over governance after the February 16 presidential and national assembly elections.

Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West Africa States, Ambassador Ketil Karlsen, who spoke during a visit to the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, at the Government House, Yenagoa stressed that the organisation did not have any political aspiration in the country.

In the same breath, the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation has called on President Muhammadu Buhari, his major rival, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and other stakeholders in the forthcoming 2019 elections to play by the rules, even as it urged the federal government to ensure the protection of lives and property during the elections.

Apparently reacting to insinuations of interference by international observers, Karlsen noted that the body was only committed to the conduct of free and fair elections in the

country.

The EU Ambassador said Nigeria sent a strong message to the international community with the outcome of the 2015 general election that it was possible to have elections with acceptable results.

According to him, it was therefore in the interest of the EU to support the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria as part of the efforts to secure the stability, development, and creation of opportunities for its ordinary citizens.

He said: “We are visiting at this important moment ahead of the presidential election and of course, the state elections in so many parts of Nigeria to express to you the Governor, and your team the importance that we attach to have a free, fair and credible, peaceful and transparent elections in Nigeria.

“We are strong believers in the consolidation of democracy as the best if not the only way to continue stability and development and creation of opportunities for ordinary Nigerians. And that is why we reiterate again and again that for the EU and the international community at large, we are not here to select the leadership of Nigeria. That cannot be and should not be our aspiration.

“Our only desire is to see to a fair process of the election in this country, because that is what is providing that legitimacy of the democratically elected government, whether at the federal or state level.

“And Nigeria demonstrated wonderfully in the last election in 2015 how the outcome of a democratic election can prevail.

That message was very powerful within Nigeria but it resonated far, far beyond the borders of Nigeria, to West Africa and to the world.”

Responding, the governor expressed concern over the conduct of security agencies in the forthcoming elections, but assured that Bayelsa was committed to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.

Dickson commended friendly nations for their positions on critical developments in the country, insisting that the international community acted right to remind the country of its responsibility and duties to do what is right, fair and internationally acceptable, as a responsible member of the committee of nations.

“This is an important period in the life of this country. I thank the EU and all other friendly nations, who have made statements on critical

developments in Nigeria, reminding this country of our responsibilities and duties to do what is right, fair and internationally acceptable.

“Our country is not a pariah nation and we are not an island of our own. Nigeria, I believe, is a responsible member of the International community with rights and duties, and others have expectations, the legitimate expectations of what we should be doing and we are signatories to a lot of International treaties and protocols.

“We are all concerned about the elections, electoral body with respect to the behavior and conduct of the security agencies. We are all concerned whether the elections will be free and credible," he said.

But the Jonathan foundation made the statement as part of the outcome of a one-day peace conference, Peaceful Elections and National Development it organised recently.

“Stakeholders in the 2019 general election in Nigeria should play by the rules and avoid utterances and actions that may precipitate violence.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Security Agencies should be professional and non-partisan in the performance of their duties,”

he stated.

Continuing, the foundation said “The government of Nigeria should ensure the security of lives and property as enshrined in the nation’s 1999 Constitution before, during and after the 2019 general election.”

Noting that there was a connection between violent conflicts and underdevelopment, the Foundation charged Nigerian leaders and their African counterparts to strive to resolve conflicts through peaceful means.

Chaired by a former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the conference also witnessed the attendance of more than 500 important people, including former heads of state, members of the diplomatic community, development partners, the ECOWAS Commission, Nigeria Police Force, academia, civil society organisations, media, women and youth leaders.

The statement issued at the end of the conference made some recommendations that could help Nigeria and other African nations to avoid the usual post-election violence ravaging the region.

It said: “Politicians in Africa should use politics as a platform for building peace and

strengthening cooperation across cultures, religions, ethnicity and political alignment.

“African leaders and politicians should refrain from labeling opponents as liars, looters and enemies, as such unsubstantiated name-calling could trigger violent reactions.”

The document further urged that efforts should be made by national governments, civil society organisations and community leaders in Africa to prevent post-election crises.

It further added that regional and sub-regional organisations like the African Union and ECOWAS should encourage and promote good governance by establishing a reward system for exemplary leaders in Africa.

“Inclusive and people-centred leadership should be the focus of national governments in order to mainstream peace-building in the course of governance,” the communique stated.

It however concluded, that “Based on the foregoing, participants urged the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) to leverage on the vision of its founder in developing programmes to promote the conduct of peaceful elections and democratic consolidation in Africa for sustainable development.

Don’t Be Deceived by INEC’s Assurance of Neutrality, Wike Cautions Rivers Electorate Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has advised the electorate in the state not to be carried away by assurances by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it would be neutral in its conduct of the general elections.

He therefore charged the people to be ready to protect their votes and ensure that their votes count.

Wike spoke yesterday while addressing supporters during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Rally at Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area.

He advised the people not to be deceived by INEC’s claims that it would organise credible polls, adding that the people should remain vigilant to protect their votes.

The governor also charged Nigerians to vote for PDP across the country for Nigeria to return to the days of performance and development, stressing that it is only under the party that sustained development can take place.

"PDP is not a party of excuses. It is a party founded on development. It is a party of performance. That is why Nigerians must return to the PDP,” he said.

He urged the people of Rivers State to vote massively for Atiku Abubakar for the revival of the seaports “killed by the non-performing APC Federal Government in the state”.

"Atiku Abubakar through quality economic policies will revive the Trans-Amadi Industrial Estate and the two seaports in Rivers State.

"Atiku Abubakar will create jobs and ensure that the government works for the good of all Nigerians", he said.

While acknowledging Obio/ Akpor as the Local Government Area with the highest number of registered voters in the state, Wike urged the people to cast

90 per cent of their votes for the PDP and her candidates.

He advised PDP members to ensure that the party wins all the 359 polling units of the Local Government Area. He said that political patronage would be based on winning of polling units.

"You must deliver your polling unit. Victory of the polling unit is the ticket to political appointments. We don't want to hear any excuse that your polling unit result was snatched. You must protect the results ", he said.

He said that the PDP remains sure of victory in Rivers State because his administration has

satisfied the people.

Speaking further, Wike said only those who have impacted positively on the state should contest elections or promote candidates. He said as a minister he attracted development to the state and wondered why the Minister of Transportation has failed Rivers People, despite his opportunities in the APC Federal Government.

Director General of Rivers State PDP Campaign Council, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, said that all across Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the projects of Wike are a testament of his performance.

Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah said that the rally is a mass affirmation of the governor's acceptance by his people. He said that rally is more than a local government gathering.

He presented PDP Candidate for Rivers East Senatorial District, Senator George Sekibo; PDP Candidate for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Kingsley Chinda; PDP Candidate for Obio/Akpor State Constituency 1, Martins Amaewhule; and PDP Candidate for Obio/ Akpor State Constituency 2, Mr Michael Chinda to the people and asked them to vote for them.

his 60 per cent and Atiku 40 per cent. The Gombe ratio too has shrunk. Atiku now has 55 per cent and Buhari 45 per cent.

The Taraba score has also shot down. Atiku now has 60 per cent to Buhari’s 40 per cent.

Atiku 45 per cent. Osun is still too close to call and remains 50/50. But Ondo has improved for Buhari with 55 per cent and Atiku 45 per cent.

In Ekiti, Atiku has slightly closed in with 45 per cent while Buhari still wins with 55. The same equation is retained in Ogun albeit in favour of Atiku with 55 per cent to Buhari’s 45 per cent. The political situation in the state has not changed much. Nonetheless, Lagos is still a 50-50 per cent ratio.

for Buhari.

6 DAYS TO DECISION TIME, HOW NIGERIANS MAY VOTE in just about a week to the crucial election.

THISDAY’s continuous fieldwork, which last week reported a tight and tough contest between the two candidates, has shifted considerations in many of the states, since both men have also improved in their current standings, with higher percentages from where they earlier stood last week and shot down in the others.

North-west The state of play in Kano, for example, has changed from last week. The new picture presents a 65 per cent victory for Buhari and 35 per cent for Atiku.

On the religious front, Kano is predominantly Darika and Tijaniya. They are in high numbers and controlled by the traditional ruling house from Kano. They are not pro-Izala as such they will not do APC. It is not certain how the above will play to the advantage of the PDP. Even though the Kwankwaso factor in the Darika/Tijaniya sect is quite pro-PDP. This is

without undermining the Shia in Kano, who would also not do APC. Coming to Kaduna, Buhari is likely to get 55 per cent of the votes cast, while Atiku may post just 45 per cent. There is a shift here. This is because in Kaduna, zone one, zone three and half of zone two will do PDP. Ahmed Markarfi is the most influential person in zone one, and he is PDP. Zone three is Southern Kaduna and it is also 90 per cent PDP and also has the numbers. Zone two however may be shared 50/50. Kaduna State will tilt significantly towards PDP, because of the Shia votes The Katsina equation has though not changed. The reality is that Katsina is split between the Katsina and the Daura Emirates. The Katsina Emirate has the numbers over and above Daura. No doubt, Buhari would take Daura, but Katsina would go the way of PDP, because it is the home of the Yar'Adua’s PDM, of which Atiku is a critical part. There is also the Ibrahim Shema influence, which cannot be dismissed. Thus, Katsina would

still be 70 per cent for Buhari and 30 per cent for Atiku.

The Sokoto race too promises a decent fight. Buhari and Atiku would part with 60 and 40 per cent respectively in favour of Buhari. Certain recent developments in the state like the resignation of some commissioners counted against the PDP. But the equation in Zamfara has changed. Here the contest promises to give Atiku 60 per cent and Buhari 40 per cent. Kebbi still looks comfortable for Buhari with a 60 per cent advantage over Atiku’s 40 per cent. The same ratio is applicable in Jigawa, despite the Sule Lamido factor.

North-east The battle for North East too has changed. In Bauchi, for example, Buhari is now reduced to 55 per cent, comparatively to Atiku’s 45, while in Borno Buhari still maintains his 60 to Atiku’s 40 per cent.

The Adamawa gap too has reduced. Here, Atiku now boasts 55 per cent leaving Buhari with 45 per cent. In Yobe, Buhari is still good with

North-central The North Central struggle has not changed much. Benue will still deliver Atiku with 70 per cent, while leaving 30 per cent for Buhari. In Plateau, they still maintain their 55 and 45 per cent in favour of Atiku. The feat is repeated in Nasarawa, where Atiku goes home with 55 per cent and Buhari, 45 per cent.

Staying the same is Kogi State, which still looks good for Atiku with 55/45 sharing formula. The Niger equation too remains the same: Buhari with 55 per cent and Atiku 45 per cent. Kwara is still giving Atiku 55 per cent to Buhari’s 45 per cent.

South-west Naturally the battleground region, Oyo is still rooting for Buhari with 55 per cent and

South-east The South-east has remained immovable and so is its resolve.

Imo is still rooting for Atiku with at least 60 per cent to Buhari’s 40 per cent. Abia too is still 60-40 in favour of Atiku. Ebonyi is not changing her 60-40 ratio in favour of Atiku, while Enugu has gone a notch up for the PDP with 80 per cent for Atiku and 20 per cent for Buhari. A recent court judgment, which sacked the APC candidate, Senator Ayogu Eze, did not help the party.

Anambra, despite the Peter Obi factor, is still 60 per cent votes for Atiku and 40 per cent

South-south The South-south too is resolute in its stand for the PDP. Rivers is not changing the 80 to 20 per cent ratio in favour of Atiku.

Cross River is still solidly 70 per cent for Atiku and 30 per cent for Buhari. Akwa Ibom, despite the current challenges, has marked up and it’s delivering PDP with 70 per cent to Buhari’s 30 per cent.

Edo still maintains 55 per cent for Atiku and 45 for Buhari.

The APC recorded some gain in Delta and posted 30 per cent for Buhari to PDP’s 70 per cent for Atiku. In Bayelsa, the APC struggled to improve its standing to 30 per cent, while Atiku will still make do with 70 per cent.

It’s still a balance of 50/50 for Buhari and Atiku at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The FCT is up for grab.

Note: This is not a formal opinion poll but is reflective of THISDAY intelligence findings and research across the country.

Updated from last week.

-Editor

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ENABLING TRADE THE NIGERIA-CHINA CURRENCY SWAP DEAL

Before Buhari, trade with China was done using the dollar as the medium of exchange. This was a burdensome process given that the Reminbi(Yuan) had become a global convertible currency.

Global Trade

To deepen trade ties with China and help borrow best practice example, on how small businesses help contribute to economic development, President Buhari took this ground-breaking decision.

BENEFITS OF THE DECISION

$13

billion The deal is aimed at providing adequate local currency liquidity

3

2

1

$13.7 billion

Trade volume between Nigeria and China rose from $13billion in 2016 to $13.7billion in 2017.

Chinese manufacturers are now able to buy raw materials from Nigeria, which directly boosts sales of products of local businesses.

4

At current exchange rate, Nigeria will be saving N73 for every dollar.

To grow an economy requires local production and out-bound trade.

Buhari is balancing both perspectives.

We need to continue this kind of dynamism.

Buhari has consistently kept faith with Nigeria. He is not about to join the bandwagon.

Vote for the team that is working for you!

CHANGE IS A PROCESS.

ote

Endorsed by

buhari OSINBAJO president / vice president

5 ) * 4 % ": t SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2019

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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 ˾ FEBRUARY 10, 2019

OPINION Choosing Between Buhari and Atiku Oludayo Tade urges Nigerians to vote wisely during the forthcoming elections

T

he ever interesting world of Nigerian politics has been busy in past few months with different contenders to the positions of power and influence employing different campaign strategies to ‘buy’ votes and voters to make their political dreams come true. From local to national levels, the approaches are similar since our political history has featured similar actors who have become less innovative. Consequently, the campaigns have been more of a comic relief than an inspiration. We have witnessed sponsored rallies and counter-rallies; purchased endorsements; mobilisation of people to attend political campaigns to show a false image of a candidate’s popularity; distribution of food and monies at campaign grounds; abusing personalities rather than addressing issues; utilisation of social miscreants across parties; campaign violence and deaths. They all speak less to our problems— roads remain bad, poverty and unemployment occupy major prayer points in churches and mosques; insecurity (terrorism, robbery, kidnapping) is on the increase even as local ‘science students’ have made scientific discovery of ‘printing’ money from ladies underwear and sanitary pads. At the national level, the pre-election confusions has now been narrowed to two possibilities—Atiku or Buhari.

Perhaps the only way to stay healthy and sound in Nigeria in this build up to elections is to stay away from the emerging binaries—buharists/atikulates; hailers/wailers; next level/ getting Nigeria work again; and lately fé-Buhari/lé-Buhari and Atikú/hàtíìkú. While Buharists see nothing wrong in any step that Mr President takes, the atikulates believe otherwise and that their man holds the ace. Hailers are supporters of the incumbent while a critic of the present government is labelled wailer. But there are also insider wailers in Ogun, Imo and some other states where internal displacement has occurred through the instrumentality of the Oshiomole national leadership.

The campaign slogans of the two major parties are being reconstructed from both divides. For instance, those who do not believe in the incumbent see ‘Next Level’ as the process of deepening the depreciation in the value and worth of Nigerians as the poverty headquarters of the world. They feel it will be next level of poor allocation to education, health, and clannish governance. But the Buharists see ‘getting Nigeria working again’ as retrogression to the locust years.

Fé-Buhari (love and vote Buhari) is a construction that is associated with the lovers of President Muhammmadu Buhari.

To them Buhari remains the best for person to take Nigeria to

the ‘next level’. These hailers believe in the anti-corruption fight, security achievements and infrastructure being emplaced by the Buhari/Osinbajo government. This is February and so fé-buhari implicates show your love for Buhari and his accomplishments by casting your votes for him. However, some other persons have contrary opinion. This emerged from the street at the last presidential campaign held in Mapo Hall Ibadan. Someone was playing the music of King Wasiu Ayinde marshal (KWAM 1) with this line:moní Buhari yóó se eléèkejì (I say Buhari will do second term) sai buhari.....sai maigaskia but on the sidewalk was another person who echoed lé-buhari (chase Buhari) in response to the sai Buhari (hail Buhari) song. This counter response implies that not all people want Buhari. It is also important to see this as contradistinction with the ‘tsunamic’ Buhari of 2015.

Harmonising this opposites or better still recognising their existence is a critical appreciation of the feedback of how perception variations along different interest groups in relation to what is experienced under the ruling party in nearly four years.

Identity reconstructions of Buhari and Atiku have also come from the influential on campaign grounds. At a campaign in a state in the southwestern part of the country, the ‘constituted authority’ had differentiated between President Buhari and Atiku Abubakar. Nigerians, he asserted would have to choose between integrity and corruption or between atikú (we are dead) and áàtíìkú (we are not dead). In the former is the hopelessness of voting the PDP candidate and the consequences of not voting the Daura anti-corruption hero. Put differently, atikú (we are dead) would mean returning Nigeria to the years the Tradermoni

The behaviour of the security agents will make or mar the polls. Their loyalty should be to the country and not the office holders as presently experienced

coordinator describes often as grand corruption. Atikú also implicates that the present is forgone. Being dead is not only a sign of hopelessness but as the Yoruba maxim goes “eni tó ti kú ni ti e gbe” (it is only the dead whose dream is dead). No doubt Nigeria is ailing and it is the management of ailment that influences the outcomes. On a second look, do we have institutions that characteristically fit into the death construct in contemporary Nigeria? Our health institutions have been codenamed as death centers. Educational institutions are living corpses. The Nigerian infrastructure is miasmic. Millions of the poor people who dot the socio-political landscape of the country live only for today as tomorrow is uncertain.

On the flip side is áàtíìkú (we are not dead), a powerful hopeful construct which places the destiny of the country in the next four years in the hands of the electorate, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agents, political actors, thugs, PDP and APC and their standard bearers. If Nigeria is to remain hopeful of having a life and not die, the voters must vote wisely and think of who between the ‘two devils’ will meet their needs and connect with them—both (Atiku and Buhari) now represent known devils who are not likely to be threatened by “new angels. ”The electorate must ask which of the devils will boost their standard of living?

Which government will give our children quality schools?

Which one of them can give us life centers as against death centers as health institution? Which of these will provide jobs and assure national security?

More than that, INEC must remain impartial umpire and not declare concluded polls inconclusive. The air of tension blowing across the country is much to the extent that the slightest provocation and error may trigger violence. Similarly, the behaviour of the security agents will make or mar the polls. Their loyalty should be to the country and not the office holders as presently experienced. Their behaviour will determine if miscreants will have space or not and/ or whether voters will be intimidated or not and scared away as witnessed in 2018 Osun polls. Voters should also be empathetic by voting compassionate – and not avaricious – characters.

In the end, there are only two post February 16 possibilities: electorate can either fé-buhari by re-electing him for another four years or lé-buhari by voting him out of power. These two possibilities must be allowed to happen without let or hindrance and without the manipulation of the electoral process to give legitimacy to the winner.

––Dr Tade, a sociologist sent this piece viadotad2003@yahoo.com

Curtailing Electoral Violence in Nigeria The political elite must refrain from use of hateful language, writes Kehinde Akinfenwa

E

lectoral violence is perhaps the most pronounced challenge to Africa’s democratic resilience. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) presents to the world the latest episode of electoral antipathy on the continent. Following the provisional announcement of result of the December 30, 2018 general election in the sub-Saharan country, there has been civil unrest in major cities of the country, culminating in killings and arbitrary arrest. This has obviously amplified the health and economic crisis already bedevilling the country.

Electoral violence has served as a dress rehearsal to many civil wars in Africa, which has shaped its socio-economic and political destiny. Nigeria is within days of its sixth quadrennial elections since the end of military rule in 1999 and having enjoyed almost 20 years of uninterrupted civilian rule, its democracy ought to have transcended the quandary of political shenanigan but incidences of election-related catastrophe have not inspired such fecundity.

Since independence, Nigeria electoral history has been obsessed with violence. Prevalent forms of this violence exude in assassinations, arsons, violence-pruned campaigns, thuggery, election-related ethno-religious crisis, snatching of ballot boxes among others.

Electoral violence is a problem that has ravaged the entire bloodstream of the country’s political system and alienates the citizens politically. The senseless killings and destruction that trailed the 2019 primary elections in most parts of the country present a perturbing contradiction to the electoral aspiration of majority of the citizens as tension continues to rise about the general elections amidst a deeply tensed security environment and an already ailing economy.

Besides, the recent wave of unguarded and incendiary remarks emanating from the country’s political elite has further enliven the palpable tension and anxiety of both local and international electoral stakeholders.

Aggressive languages and hateful speeches between and among political parties and supporters; rumours of politically motivated attacks; violent activities of politically-charged youth; drug abuse are usually the absurdity that prelude elections in this part of the

world. Although, comparative political scientists have always argued that violence is a major feature of political life everywhere around the world, the pervasive acceptance, intensity and dimension in Nigeria’s political system is devastating and causing a great distortion to its social structure. In the face of this hostility, the fear of localized conflicts snowballing into nationwide crisis is the major concern of the international community.

The role of political elite in orchestrating and inciting election violence is well profound in our electoral landscape. In reality, they place high premium on electoral fraudulence rather than free and fair contest. The perfidious argument of them being passion-driven is ridiculous as the nation’s political memory is replete with instances of political parties circumventing electoral proceedings in the face of uncertain election outcome.

Despicably, the altitude of impunity in the country has emboldened this aberration. With the flurry of crimes trailing elections in recent years, it is intriguing to note that members of the political class responsible for instigating the plethora of violence as well as their foot-soldiers who undermine the electoral process by perpetrating these violent acts are never dragged before the law.

This portends that mayhem has occupied a significant portion in our electoral process. By desecrating the very essence of democratic principle and bequeathing common perpetrators of violence the economy and political artillery of the country, a fundamental disjuncture between the civil society and the state is activated thereby allowing corruption and impunity reign supreme. This, perhaps, is the radioactive by-product of some structural and attitudinal dislocations in our society as many of our leaders are products of violence-prone election.

Unless we improve the metrics for evaluating preventive measure and address the underlying drivers of conflict, elections will remain a flashpoint for violence and tension in the country.

The argument of building up the material capacity of the security sector is only advisable in cases where a well-trained and equipped police force presents a domestic guarantee for election security rather than a tool of manipulation in the hands

of an authoritarian incumbent.

For instance, in spite of the heavy presence of security personnel in recent elections in the country, the exercise was not devoid of searing hostility as there were tenable cases of assaults and battering so much that security officers were indicted of intimidating voters. Such is the outright criminality that has come to characterize Nigeria’s politics and the extent to which officials and institutions of government accept, encourage and participate in those abuses.

Consequently, the propensity of violence increases when security officials are perceived as abetting electoral injustice, thereby, incentivizing the already enraged supporters and sympathizers of the opposition. Nonetheless, election as an irreducible feature of democratic governance can sow the seeds of good governance if properly managed; it is the nexus and conduit-pipe through which a progressive society is attained, where accountability, social justice, rule of law, gender equality and quality leadership is deepened.

A judicial system that is subservient to political juggernaut is detrimental to socio-political harmony and justice anywhere in the world. Assault on our collective value has permeated the legal structure of the nation, allowing series of corruption and abuse of power to blossom in governance. Therefore, a virile and independent judicial system that will enthrone enduring democratic values will foster the development of a non-violent culture in our electoral affairs.

However, media organisations and consortium of civil society organizations have a key role to play in reducing electionrelated conflict dynamics and promoting a peaceful electoral environment. If given the civic space to participate and accorded the opportunity to express their objections, they bear the magic touch of ensuring that an electoral process is transparent, inclusive and peaceful by raising awareness of the electorate to clearly understand the power repose in them in reforming governance.

––Akinfenwa is of Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, Alausa, Ikeja

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 10, 2019

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LETTERS

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The Growing Problem of Shisha

he smoking of Shisha among young people poses a great danger to the next generation. Shisha (Hookah) is the new chill out fad spreading like bush fire in the harmattan. It is being projected in the eyes of the public as something fashionable, trendy and cool.

I have been on a tour of an advocacy visit to secondary schools spreading the message of "Drug Use Menace" in our society. To my surprise, students often ask the same question: "What's the health implication of smoking Shisha?" A couple of thoughts always come to mind: words and action create images and expectations. This is why we must be careful: what happens around children would and condition their thinking and actions.

They see these things in public imaginations as nothing short of normal and fashionable. This surely is one of the reasons I decided to share my thoughts. The rate at which children embrace Shisha is alarming.

T

Prof. Adewole, Minister of Health

So, for this assignment, I visited a few so-called Shisha lounge/bar/café and shops selling Shisha and its constituents. These lounges are strategically located at places frequented by youths.

Shisha is a glass-

bottomed-jar water-pipe (Hookah) in which fruit-flavoured tobacco and molasses/sugar covered with foil and roasted with charcoal is placed, making it tastes silky and smells sweet with a pleasurable,

unhurried treat. The tobacco smoke passes through a water chamber and is inhaled deeply and slowly via a hose pipe attachment.

The users puff dense clouds of smoke from their noses and mouths.

But it is worthy to note that young people are being deceived by those who claim that Shisha is a safer alternative to tobacco. Smoking Shisha harms almost every organ of the body and causes ill health. Carcinogens (aerosol, tar and heavy metal particles) and nicotine present in cigarettes which make them dangerous for human health are present in Shisha and, therefore equally or even more harmful.

Nicotine is the main addictive ingredient of tobacco. When somebody smokes a Shisha or cigarette, nicotine is rapidly absorbed by the lungs and delivered to the brain. According to a research by World Health Organisation (WHO) cigarette smokers generally inhale eight to 12 puffs over five to seven minutes, whereas a Shisha session lasts 20 to 80 minutes and involves 50 to 200 puffs.

Order of Hebrew Alphabet

o follow this level of application, it is important that reference is made to my three preceding articles of SPIED, namely: ‘Last War Is ISIS Not North Korea,’ ‘What Is In A Name’ and ‘Zodiac Signs of Israel’ respectively published in THISDAY of January 12 and 28 and February 3, 2019.

Any reader that has carefully re-searched with New King James Bible, the few juxtaposed scriptural references, would agree with me that, ‘Elia’, ie ‘Elia-isha-bet’ refers to a coming of age, of agenda you begin to have, while ‘Ogbor’, ie ‘Ogbormanu-facture’ refers to the productive and re-productive age-group and as we shall see in the following SPIED, ‘Ebiri’ refers to a co-habitation of age-mates.

But a woman is older than her man-age-mate, being at-least two years ahead of his puberty and having tasted the forbidden fruit up-front, the woman is supposed to un-cover her nakedness in advance of her man. Now the following topic just as scriptural Songs of Solomon may appear vulgar to an un-learned mind, but if the full-gospel is not addressed we can only end up in half-education.

To address the topic at hand, it would appear that the Jews observe a feast of Isa-bath-sheba or Isa-bet-elia.

A feast made on a holiday, the holy-day-7, for rest as zoo-ike in trance, for a sheet of heaven in bed Acts 10:10. A holiday feast in Mess that comes as commerce ‘ahia aturu’, at evilbeast mark-et-stalls afore-cast.

Cast-a-forestalls in market, to prevent not buying article of

theirs sold, as soldiers, a legion of cavalry, at Dothan, for 20 pieces of silver. Twenty ‘ohu’ co-terminous with slave ‘ohu’, Gen 37:28, Gen37:20, Gen37:17, Mk5:9, Rev13:18-16, Jn5:2 Mt17:24-27. As we now know, ‘elia’, ie ‘ogbor-ozizza’ as in Judg21:21-10, refers to a coming of age, of agenda of pleasure and treasure to seek. Agenda of age-mating, when a man can hook a woman as catch.

Catch as fish at the river bank.

Bank of the cash as returns on income that comes by net with a grouse as gross pro-fit of birthright at elia, the coming of age at puberty, when a boy attains man-age, to mate in his get of fit. Fit as feet to go down into pool, as a wade-in, wedding of a woman as his brides’-price to enter, enterprise pay of one cent to-ask as tax.

Tax of males and fee-males at ogbor-manufacture, the Elia-Isa-bet, or Isa-bath-sheba, a holiday feast 2kg4:1-7. Eliaisabeth which refers to his mother, a metaphor for the wife, to take in a get of fit.

Feet awalk mother to his own home known as ihi-ne, hirue ulo Jn19:27. ‘Fit’ or ‘feet’, a euphemism for testis, ‘ thirst’-IS sa ith Jn19:28. Testis from the abdo-men, that go down as feet to wade, into a sac of amu, for a drink of aqua-Elf, drank from a vas. Vast difference ‘iche’, coterminous with ‘iche’, ie stones in Ehugbo. Stones to-with, stand for en-trance asleep, ie ‘ima ura’ Mt26:67.

Entrance as pass at Gabathatemple Jn19:13, known as ‘ikpuulo-ogo’, a figurative reference to bath-sheba-veranda or the veranda of mess.

Messopotamia, the city of Ribeka as mother to take to his own home as in trance to port-afar, his wife.

Wife transported as-sleep in Egypt with sugar mummies.

Mother to sleep with as a man, that was a boy, buoyed in a wade-out of baptismal adumbration. A dumb-ration of help-meat-pi, at ready-made feast of Amu. Arm made fist as axe-head. Tax-head, upon a stone-cast as ration, in-between his thighs Gen24:2, in-between thigh as in dog-mate-in and out, as a go back and forth on a ladder-ura, the mast. Mast-Ur bu nation, masturbation, a mast of bastion of wealth and power by the mannequin of Candace in ‘ozi-moo-odibo’, a hide of skin in Ezotus, at labour-oratory, the upper room of layer-uzanna. Masturbation which would appear to be Igba-otor-moo-Tivs. Thieves, the two malefactors of re-production ‘nkwor’, the driver of van for a speed down church-hill ie Jerusalem as mad-rid of swines. Wines, a figure of tomb-‘ili-nkwor’ otherwise known in Ehugbo as ‘akuru’. Akuru-charge Caeser, to ask as the head of John the Baptist and Akuru-charge Pi, late incarnate, to ask as ‘ajuju-ese-pulu-uka’, sepulchre of Jesus in ask, of axe amiss.

Lk23:33-43, Gen28:12, Gen24:115, Gen39:12, Acts8:27, Acts 8:38-40, Jn5:4, Jn19:13, Mk5:1-15, Mk6:30-1, 2kg6:6-5 Ezek 10:10, Jn19:25-26, Dt23:1, Eph5:32.

It becomes a truth we can hold to be self-evident that, the test of man-hood is his feet to stand ie ikwu-otor-motivationagbara, as fit to wade, in to his woman-nakedness by her man. So, nakedness ‘otor’, is between the head-man and motive-power and his date, the woman and she-cargo. Cargoes as otor-motive power of man. Man-power, the aqua-Elf or spam-male-factors of fit. The

scripture therefore notes that ‘... both man and woman were naked and were not ashamed’ or shy. Shy-lock-wed, would then be the predicament of boys, for they cannot pass entrance of nakedness, enervated by love-fever, as Cent of sprites, the Elf of aqua Jn4:52. Elf that tour and dock at a yard. Yard of garment, gamette of sex at pool on wheel. Whirlpool, coterminous with nakedness known as otor or ire, coterminous with the tongue. This was the casehistory of a certain man by the pool of isa-Beth-esda.

When Jesus, Doctor, ie the tivs’-Tor and Duck of the yard, Otei-ovum-ala Agbara, Otor-motive, mammy-wagon, tax-iing to a halt on the liverpool, alighted and passing by, saw him. Jesus, with his nose to know, knew that the man had been now, a long time in that case. Jesus-wept, D’arriver and Passing-jah, holy wonderful, by whom all things were made and without whom was not anything made that was made or mere-made, Owu utu-nkeli, Leg-intimacy Jn19:33, asked, ‘wilt thou be made whole’. The impotent man replied, 7th knight-rest in zoo, Sir-fire-tongues for welding, 22/7 the Pi, Lot of ask amiss, a-dumb-ration of sharers, eeshi-esdaa-bet, pass me not by, bye-pass me not.

I have no arm to make a fist, no limb to climb pepe, am okri-kiri-prisoner, enter-pricesons of mother, dead at Beth, any bet is for the living, abum otor-pere, mpe mua fugi iguzo ie I no fit stand as an infant, lying-on as Lion, without bata, Nnem laram niyi erikwalam ie mother waist, waste me as one sent…

––Eleje Abili-willy, Lagos

Therefore, the volume of smoke inhaled in an hour-long Shisha session by any smoker is estimated to be the equivalent of smoking between 100 and 200 sticks of cigarettes. The end product of both cigarette and Shisha is the same: a smoke containing carcinogens including those responsible for cardiovascular disease (carbon monoxide), lung disease (volatile aldehydes), cancer (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), and addiction (nicotine).

Thus Shisha is implicated in many noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, tuberculosis, cancer, chronic lung disease and diabetes. The smoking materials are rarely cleaned.

A single hookah is enough for a group of 10 to smoke tobacco to their satisfaction, sharing also the mouthpiece which helps in the spread of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, herpes, and

influenza, among users.

But almost every young girl or boy trapped in this act is driven by the youthful belief that it doesn't harm.

Many also indulge in this unwholesome act as a result of curiosity to know how it differs from a cigarette, and peer influence. Yet the reality of Shisha is far from the rosy picture seen in music and movies.

Perhaps the most disturbing fact now is that people mix it with other drugs like hemp and the scent masked with flavours such as Apple, Mint, Cappuccino, Peach, etc.

Thus, just like cigarettes, pragmatic measures should be taken to curb or control this menace. Only through this we can create the appropriate map and plot the path of our journey to a better society for ourselves, for our children and their children.

––Yusuf Hassan Wada, Katsina

Who is Afraid of The Hijab?

T

o keen observers, one of the major sources of controversy in Nigeria has been the issue of the hijab. The hijab – a head gear donned by female Muslims – had generated a lot of hullabaloos in several quarters. From academia to the legal institution to the health institution to the media, and down to different work places, females putting on this head gear had been – and still are – made to face unspeakable persecutions and unwarranted stigmatizations. This had necessitated legal gymnastics in the country overtime.

It is clear a fact that Nigeria is a multi-religious society. In other words, it welcomes all shades of religions. It is even of particular note that the Nigerian constitution grants each individual the right to uphold and practise any religion of his wish without being persecuted or hounded.

Islam is one of the popular religions in Nigeria and beyond. A sizeable amount of Muslims lives in Nigeria.

The hijab, just like the five-daily prayers, is a well pronounced aspect of Islam.

Thus, repudiating those donning the hijab and calling for the ban of hijab is tantamount to banishing Islam which is in contrast to the dictate of the constitution.

It is therefore an act of sheer intolerance and illegality to stand in the way of the hijab.

This must be made clear in the first instance. To put it differently, those persecuting and maltreating the hijabites are not only violators of the constitution, but also enemies of humanity.

Cases of how female Muslims adorning the hijab were terrorized, persecuted and discriminated against abound in the public space;

though downplayed by the mainstream media. Even young girls at tender age are not let out in this barbaric trip.

They are mostly the victims of this endless animosity.

From Lagos to Ogun to Osun and other states in Nigeria, female secondary school students donning the hijab had been physically assaulted and psychologically traumatized by overzealous principals and teachers in flagrant disregard for the grundnorm of the land allowing them to do so.

The case of a nine-year-old girl who was molested by her principal in Ogun State for donning the hijab is of important note here. In what has become a routine activity, a principal in Lagos State also harassed five female Muslim students for the same offence. It should not be forgotten so soon that some female Muslim students of the University of Ibadan International School were also caged in the library, and subsequently sent out by their principal for the same offence.

Amasa Firdausa was, in the same vein, boycotted from the call to bar ceremony for this same offence. An overzealous doctor also harassed some nurses in Osun State for donning the hijab. Of recent, a corper was also discriminated against for donning the hijab.

The list is endless.

In most cases, what these fanatical and bigoted persons put up as defense for their ferocious act is that the hijab is not part of the uniform to be donned according to the extant law of schools, professions or organizations.

Then I ask: is there any law superior to the constitution that had granted the freedom of religion to everyone?

––Abdullah Abdulganiy, University of Ilorin

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 10, 2019

THISDAY WEEKLY GUIDE TO 2019

Ambode

Cole

Amosun

Ortom

The Road to 2019 Flashpoints to Watch (XXII) With just a week to the presidential and national assembly elections, the equations are no longer fluid, writes Olawale Olaleye

F

or the most of last week, the moist had begun to significantly clear off the hazy coast for the general election as the countdown to February 16 inches closer. The two leading parties and their candidates, APC’s Muhammadu Buhari and PDP’s Atiku Abubakar also closed the week with message rallies almost all-week.

But before rounding off the week with their message rallies, the week had also witnessed both candidates visit crucial swings states, where they keenly competed with crowd and also showed strengths in terms of popularity. In fact, the turnout at each of the rallies had also confirmed speculations that truly, the presidential election is going to be tight and tough.

Amid all these, however, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also extended the dates for the collection of PVCs to tomorrow and at the same time, vowed never to postpone the elections. In other words, INEC is more than ready to do Nigeria and the world proud by delivering credible elections at all levels.

Whilst both candidates continued to enjoy staggering endorsements from different quarters, including the one from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which had caused serious disaffection within the party as a result of the indiscretion of a few to abandon their own candidate, Donald Duke, the United States, on the other hand had dismissed insinuations that it had preference for any of the candidates.

Related to this is the allegation by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) that the ruling party had planned to frame up Atiku and other leaders of the party as part of their strategy to emasculate the opposition.

It is also interesting to note that the First Lady, Aisha Buhari has since been back from her medical treatment abroad but it appears she had been prevented from being a part of the campaign as she has maintained a genuinely low profile.

The news of the burning of the INEC office in Abia was another obnoxious development that set the rival parties in the state against each other. No fewer than 15000 PVCs were reportedly lost to the fire,

which many reckoned was not unconnected to sabotage.

Above all, the week was largely marked by some interesting polls, mostly by renowned international pollster, which clearly stated that the election was Atiku’s to lose.

Although THISDAY had set the ball rolling with its state-by-state analyses, which suggested an Atiku advantage, the follow-ups

by Williams and Associates as well as Teneo, two international pollsters was an icing on the cake for the opposition, a development that has naturally changed the tenor of campaigns ahead of the polls this weekend.

It was also not unexpected that some of the extrapolations at the state level focused more on their participation in the presidential and national assembly elections, since as the first round of elections they would largely define the way for others.

That notwithstanding, some of the crucial states are still battling with many internal but peculiar contradictions.

RIVERS Is it Over Yet? Last Friday’s Supreme Court ruling, which upheld a High Court judgment and by extension, affirmed that the APC would not field any candidate for the election is fast changing the direction of things in the state.

This is because the interpretation adduced to the judgment is that the end might have come to the APC in the state as far as the matter between Ibrahim Umar & 22 Ors vs Rivers APC is concerned.

But the party leadership has dismissed the interpretation as inconsistent with the actual meaning of the judgment, saying the apex court ruled that in line with provisions of the Constitution of the APC, the chapter legal adviser at the time the matter commenced, Mr. Chieme Chinweikpe, rightly represented the party directly or through legal appointees of his instead of Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN who was seconded by the legal department of the national headquarters of APC. This, the party said meant that the judgment given by Justice Chiwendu Nworgu was a consent judgment following thereto.

But while accepting the decision, having come from the highest court of the land, APC stated that the decision on legal representation was

the only matter the Supreme Court made pronouncement on last Friday and that it was expecting the apex court to rule on the all-important issue of jurisdiction of whether Justice Nworgu was right to delve into what it believed was an internal affairs of the APC with regards to primaries.

To that extent, the APC said the chances of his candidates were not imperiled as a result of that ruling.

Therefore, tomorrow, all eyes would on the apex court to rule on jurisdiction, which would finally lay the matter to rest.

LAGOS The Storm Subsides With the intervention of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the disagreement between Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and members of the state House of Assembly, it is the view of an average observer and stakeholders alike that the muscle-flexing in the state has been laid to rest, finally.

Although what had started like a child’s play was almost going to consume the governor with the idea of an impeachment that had been set rolling.

While the party struggled to shrug that off especially when it was obvious even to the undiscerning that the timing was poorly conceived, the presidential rally held by the APC in the state yesterday came with mixed bag of opinions.

While some thought it was a bit successful, others felt it was below par given the attention that Lagos currently enjoys in the scheme of things. And coming at a time that political analysts have identified Lagos as a crucial battleground state, the outcome of yesterday’s rally might as well suggest Atiku’s soaring popularity in the state.

In spite of that, the governorship candidate of the PDP in the state set a new standard for his electioneering when he said half of his budget as governor would go into education. Now, that is a development and issue-based debate that many would like to see come up between contestants. But then, nothing is cast in stone more so when Atiku has yet to hold his Lagos rally.

OGUN Waiting for Mr. President Apart from reports of violence, which appear to be colouring many of the campaigns in the state, everything still appears to be working in favour of Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his candidate in APM, Adekunle Akinlade.

Apart from the possibility that Ladi Adebutu, an aggrieved governorship hopeful on the platform of the PDP, might work with Amosun and his candidates, the fact that the national leadership of the PDP has distanced itself from the INEC recognised candidate, Senator Buruji Kashamu, also plays in favour of Amosun, who stands prominent to annex the openings.

More than anything else, tomorrow’s APC rally in Ogun State is a test case for the contending interests within and outside the party particularly, how they are able to hold their own without the resort to violence or needless and avoidable bickering. But certainly, the rally would signal what direction events would assume next weekend.

BENUE Still Gasping for Breath The battle in Benue State is monodimensional. The APC is determined to take over the state on the grounds of poor performance, while the PDP is clinging to power on the grounds that the continuous killing in the state is as a result of poor leadership offered by the APC federal government. For this reason, the APC and the PDP have consistently been at loggerheads, bickering over issues that are sometimes extraneous to the development of the state.

It was no surprise therefore that Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, last week, described as shameful, the statements made by Senator George Akume, Governor Simon Lalong and other All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders at the recent party’s presidential rally in Makurdi, the state capital, that the state government was raising an army of its by arming livestock guards.

He went on to accuse Akume of arming

19

FEBRUARY 10, 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 (XXI) people and playing on the sensibility of President Muhammadu Buhari to allow him use security agencies to rig the election. The politics here is already sensitive and such developments have further heightened the stakes for survival, which is the basis for their bickering in the first place.

is of superiority and ego and would be resolved once and for all at the polls. It will be laid to rest finally on March 2.

KOGI A Contest for Authority

TARABA Emerging Signs of Intolerance Perhaps, for unintended reasons, Taraba has played somewhat quiet since the journey for the 2019 elections began. Although it has its own peculiar challenges – social, political and governance – it has managed them well within the challenges presented ahead of the February 16 and March 2 elections.

Interestingly, it was forced out of its shell last week, when the convoy of Governor Darius Ishaku of the state and his deputy, Alhaji Haruna Manu, was attacked by hoodlums believed to be sympathetic to the APC. To think that about five persons lost their lives at the APC presidential campaign rally held at the Jolly Nyame Stadium in Jalingo and then, the convoy of the governor was attacked, it signaled nothing but a wakeup call for the governor that election had finally berthed in the state.

Much as Ishaku didn’t find it funny and refused to hide his feelings by firing at the opposition party in the state, accusing them of being responsible for the situation, the development set the state on fire, curiously at the eve of a crucial election and so, the reality is clearly staring everyone in the face.

Akeredolu

Yari

ZAMFARA On the Throes of Killings

ONDO In Relevance Fisticuff Since the contentious APC primaries, the party in Ondo has been weakened as a result. Suffice it to say that the situation was not by accident, it was a conscious move by some agents opposed to the consolidation of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to have that play out. And since the governor’s traducers seemed to have prevailed, things have really not remained the same.

Thus, when the PDP and the state government were at loggerheads last week over the forthcoming elections in the state, it was not quite shocking to many to see how the opposition rose stoutly against a government in power.

The PDP had accused the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, of plotting to use ex-militants to rig the forthcoming general election in Ondo South senatorial district in favour of the APC. PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Banji Okunomo, made the allegation, saying investigations and tipoff by the party revealed that the deputy governor held series of meetings with the ex-militants in the state particularly, from the riverine areas, seeking their support to realise his plan.

But Ajayi, in a statement by his Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Leke Akeredolu, described the allegation as disrespectful and distasteful, saying, “It is also a shame that a national party like the PDP would throw caution to the wind and deliberately embark on peddling complete falsehood in a desperate attempt to discredit an election that is yet to hold.”

Like it or not, these and more are the cases the APC would continue to deal with till after the elections and indeed, Ondo appears very vulnerable from all indications.

BORNO Knocked Down by No Fault of Its Reduced to a shadow of itself as a result

The February 16 and March 2 elections in Kogi do not include the governorship bout. Thus, technically, the governor, Yahaya Bello is safe for now. But he must secure the future of his won election now. Therefore, the scramble for votes in the coming elections must not leave him out of the equation.

It is interesting to know that there have been recriminations between the ruling APC in the state and the opposition PDP, which is alleging that the governor was stylishly raising an army for the election. Whether or not this is true, the allegation is weighty and stakeholders must reckon it would come to play at the appropriate time.

The block of the opposition is even and equal and also increasing and depleting by the day. The final analysis is what puts everyone in his place and that starts this weekend with the presidential election.

El-Rufai

Ganduje

of the unceasing insurgency in the region, Borno is not looking good for next week’s general election. The killings have not abated and the people seek to be part of a process that provides them choice for leadership.

Although INEC has reportedly designated eight camps for over 400,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) to exercise their franchise in the forthcoming elections, representing each of the eight Local Government Areas (LGAs), where elections may not be held due to Boko Haram crisis, the picture presented by this is not a pleasant sight to behold.

Weeks back, the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima had cried to President Buhari, when he lamented the ordeal of his people. The curious thing was that the situation was not this bad in the lead up to the election of 2015 as government had buckled up at this time. Limited by choices and knocked down by no fault of its, Borno definitely cannot run away from the challenge of insurgency as factor in this election.

another avoidable battle front for himself ahead of next weekend. The governor has so courted crisis from all known and unknown quarters that it would take more than grace to deliver the state to the APC. Besides, his tendency for religious division of the populace is his biggest undoing as he does this with so much reckless abandon. Naturally, the body bag gaffe has its consequences and they are not one to be played down at all.

KADUNA Effects of the ‘Body Bag’ Gaffe Known to always court crisis, the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai broke yet another record last week, when he said any foreigner, who interfers with the election would go back in body bags. This statement of his has been condemned variously, including the quarters it was originally directed.

Unfortunately, for el-Rufai, he just opened

KANO Who is Afraid of Who? Undoubtedly one of the states to watch out for during the elections, Kano, like Lagos, is clearly a swing and crucial state. This is not only in terms of population strength but also in terms of location – North West. Again, in Kano, there are just two main gladiators, behind whom every other falls: Governor Abdulahi Ganduje and former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.

This week, the PDP would be in Kano for its rally and preparation is already in top gear. However, for reasons not more than politics, the government had first denied the PDP the use of the stadium. This attracted a lot of condemnation before the governor intervened and gave it up for use.

Kano is too important for both parties but even more important is its relevance for the two gladiators. These are friends of many years, who had worked together as allies for over 15 years and suddenly, their friendship went awry on the altar of politics. The battle

A week before the first round of the elections and Zamfara State is still in a state of depression. There is killing everyday and both the state and federal government appear helpless. Sadly, these are not killings by insurgents but bandits that could be nabbed with effective policing.

The situation, like the one in Borno, got to a head recently and forced the governor, Abdul-Aziz Yari to ask for a state of emergency. Yet, nothing has been done and nothing appears as being done.

However, when this is combined with the political confusion on the horizon especially, that the ruling party in the state might not be fielding candidates at all levels, Zamfara is without doubt in a state of anomie. Election here is on the throes of killings.

ENUGU A Devastating Turn of Events A major twist to the political fate of Enugu State chapter of the APC was delivered last week, when a Federal High Court, Abuja, sacked the party’s governorship candidate, Ayogu Eze and recognised George Ogara instead.

Although Eze has vowed to reclaim his mandate, saying the judgment could not stay, that this is happening at such a time, when other candidates are putting finishing touches to their campaigns signifies a major setback to the campaigns of the APC in the state.

How Eze and his party are able to turn their fate around a week to the general election is yet to be seen. But what has happened to the party is enough to cost them at the polls.

SOKOTO The Time to Settle Scores is Now! Akin to what is currently playing out in Kano State, Sokoto too is clearly on the radar and awaiting an epic match between the incumbent Governor, Aminu Tambuwal and his predecessor, Aliyu Wamakko. They were a tact team in 2015, but today, they had fallen out, thus heightening tension in the state.

With both actors gallivanting about who has the biggest crowd and support, the battle to deliver Buhari and Atiku is not going to be an easy ride in the state, because the extrapolation transcends now. Many eyes are on 2023 in the state and so, playing hard and tight in 2019 is not negotiable.

Situating the Presidential Run

E

ven if the most ardent supporters of either of the candidates had thought otherwise, what is clear today is that the presidential race is going to be a very tight and tough race.

While Buhari and Atiku have continued to enjoy staggering supports and endorsements from even the least

expected quarter, some of the polls predictions of last week must have left the ruling party a bit disturbed.

This week, the two candidates will slug it out at their mega rallies on the same day – Wednesday – before winding down on Thursday and reviewing their chances for the Saturday election. Fingers crossed!

Buhari

Atiku

5 ) * 4 % ": t SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2019

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹͸˜ ͺ͸͹΁

BUSINESS

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A Toast of Foreign Investors In recent times, Nigerian insurance sector, despite its low returns on investment, has become the toast of foreign investor. In this report, Ebere Nwoji looks at a number of firms taken over by the investors as well as discussions for further take over of existing firms

W

ith recent acquisition of 29.9 per cent stake in NEM Insurance Plc by a leading African Private Equity Fund Manager, Advanced Finance and Investment Group(AFIG Funds) , which now positions the group as the majority shareholder in the progressive 60 year-old NEM Insurance and total acquisition of Ensure insurance by the Allianz group in July 2018 as well as on-going enquiries on the fundamentals of other insurance firms in Nigeria by foreign investors, the Nigerian insurance sector, seems to have become an object of scramble and partition for investment by investors from both European and other African markets.

Indeed, foreign investors are really taking advantage of huge market position of Nigeria due to population, low prices of insurance stocks and apathy of indigenous investors towards insurance stocks due to low yields to corner the existing firms to their side and if possible, chase indigenous investors out of the market.

A close look at what is trending in the industry in the past few years shows that dilution of ownership structure of the existing firms is becoming so customary in our time that choice of insurance firms that will underwrite their big time businesses by the insuring public is almost dependent on the stake of one foreign investor or the other in existing indigenous firms.

As a result, some insurance firms especially the hitherto big old firms who because of some kind of conservative attitude to investment have remained stand alone are now turning back on their own to woe foreign partners to come and take stake in their firms to not only inject fresh ideas also position them on the same pedestal with new generation companies with foreign investor partnership in order to win certain high ticket businesses.

Both Niger Insurance plc and RoyalExchange General Insurance plc before now, told THISDAY that they were looking for foreign partners that would help reposition and consolidate on their positions as market leaders.

While the immediate past Managing Director of Niger insurance Plc, Mr Kola Adedeji, in an interview with media men at the end of the company’s Annual General Meeting in Abuja said Niger Insurance was earnestly searching for foreign partners, Royal Exchange Assurance Managing Director Alhaji Muktari, said his company was searching for foreign partners but has resolved to do that with utmost care.

He however said the company needs foreign partners this time if it must be in tune with the trend in the market.

This sudden interest in Nigerian insurance market by the foreign investors dates back to 2012. But the tempo rose higher in 2013 after the regulator the National Insurance Commission launched “no premium no cover policy”, which made the business more attractive by putting more money in the vault of insurance firms.

In 2013, the then Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, had disclosed that foreign equities rose to 62.8 per cent in at least seven insurance firms, while many investors were also negotiating with other local underwriters on how they could invest in them.

Those leading in the race of foreign investment in Nigerian insurance sector were NSIA which acquired 96.15 per cent in ADIC Insurance, a former subsidiary of Diamond Bank Plc; Mutual & Federal Insurance Company, South Africa, which acquired 70 per cent of Oceanic Insurance Company Limited, formerly owned by Oceanic Bank Plc; Old Mutual Nigeria Services Company (Old Mutual Nigeria)also acquired 70 per cent of Oceanic Life Assurance Limited, a subsidiary of Oceanic Bank.

Others are UBA Capital Holding Limited/MMI Holdings, which had 50/50 per cent of UBA Metropolitan Life, formerly owned by United Bank for Africa Plc; FBN Holdings/Samlam Group SA, had 65/35 ownership of FBN Life, formerly owned

by First Bank of Nigeria; Assur Africa Holding acquired 67.68 per cent of Mansard Insurance, formerly owned by GTBank; while New India Assurance Company had 51 per cent stake in Prestige Assurance Plc. Few years after, more and more foreign interests were brought to bear in the activities of these companies .For instance, AXA SA acquired majority stake in Mansard Insurance in 2014 and changed the firm’s name to AXA Mansard Insurance; Metropolitan International Holdings (Proprietary) Limited acquired 100 per cent of UBA Metropolitan Life and changed it to United Metropolitan Nigeria Life Insurance Limited; Old Mutual completed the firm’s acquisition from Ecobank Group (after the bank acquired Oceanic Bank) and changed its name to Old Mutual Nigeria.

According to the regulator, the National Insurance Com-

Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed

mission, more than 12 foreign investors have ventured into the country to acquire new firms between 2012 and 2018.

On the reason for the ongoing interest and scramble for equities in Nigerian insurance firms, capital market operators in their analysis said even as at present, investment talks between foreign investors and Nigerian insurance firms are on-going because the outlook for the sector is positive.

One of the capital market operators who spoke to THISDAY on the development attributed this to low prices of Insurance stock and foreseen brightness of the sector’s future.

“As you are aware, insurance stocks are very affordable now since the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) introduced a new pricing methodology and par value rule January last year.

“Some foreign investors had targeted some insurance firms to acquire before the new recapitalisation policy of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) stopped them. However, after the recapitalisation was cancelled, the investors are making their way back to the negotiation table,” the operator said.

He explained that some of the investors were prior to the botched recapitalisation exercise, actually waiting to see firms that would meet the recapitalisatioon policy before it was cancelled by the industry regulator.

“Now they are preparing to return because the recapitalisation burden has been removed and their value on the stock market look very attractive. That is why investors are now looking at some of the companies for possible acquisition,” he said.

THISDAY checks on prevailing prices of insurance stocks reveal that over 14 stocks out of the 26 insurance firms on the NSE are currently trading below 50 kobo par value.

Market analysts said although the lower prices offered new entry opportunities in some of stocks, investor apathy for insurance stocks are basically caused by two major factors which are low returns on investment and unawareness of problem of insurance in Nigeria.

Another reason for the sudden interest, according to industry analysts, improvement on the capital base of the industry which positioned the industry as becoming more serious than ever.Before the 2007 mandatory recapitalisation exercise in the sector , of the insurance companies were indigenous underwriters, they had less capital, they suffered neglect by both investors and the insuring public as well as suffered negative perception and operated on a low scale.

Before the exercise, the sector’s minimum operating capital ranged from N150m, for life underwriters,N200m for non life and N350m for composite firms.

After the 2007 exercise, it was upgraded to N2bn, for life,N3bn, for non life N5bn for composite firms and N10bn for reinsurers. After the exercise, which reduced the number of operating firms to 59 , some the existing firms like Leadway and Custodian and Allied among others have

National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Mohammed Kyari

successfully raised their operating capital far ahead of the required minimum.

This new status began to not only attract big ticket businesses also attracted foreigners into the sector, who started by buying small equities in the companies and graduated to taking over the insurance firms.

Both management and board of the affected firms are optimistic that their new status will leverage them to operate optimally.

Speaking on the deal, Group Managing Director of NEM Insurance, Mr Tope Smart, said: “We are delighted to welcome AFIG Funds as a significant shareholder in NEM at such an exciting time in the company’s evolution. This partnership with AFIG Funds is the outcome of several years of constructive engagement, as well as a thorough internal strategic process to identify and engage with the best long-term institutional partner for our company. We look forward to continue to benefit from AFIG Funds’ extensive experience investing in strong African companies particularly in financial institutions. We believe this partnership will accelerate the realisation of our growth ambitions within Nigeria and across the continent. We are confident this will be a fruitful and mutually rewarding partnership.”

Some industry analysts said though the intended, but botched increase in minimum solvency capital of the industry by the regulator is likely going to attract more foreign investors into the country.

This is because according to the president of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria(CIIN) , Eddie Efekoha, who is also Managing Director Consolidated Hallmark Insurance plc, the increase in minimum solvency capital exercise though was cancelled has opened the eyes of members of the insuring public as some now bench their choice of firms that will underwrite their businesses on N9 billion capital.

This being the case industry analysts said the industry’s capital has automatically been upgraded and with the upgrading, more foreign investors will come into the country through partnership deals and acquisitions.

According to a stockbroker, who said his company is currently facilitating investment talks between foreign investors and a Nigerian insurance firm, the outlook for the sector is positive.

As you are aware, insurance stocks are very affordable now since the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) introduced a new pricing methodology and par value rule January last year.

“Some foreign investors had targeted some insurance firms to acquire before the new recapitalisation policy of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) stopped them. However, after the recapitalisation was cancelled, the investors are making their way back to the negotiation table,” the operator said.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͸Ë&#x153; ͺ͸͚Î

22

Ëš

Has Buhari Delivered on His Promises for the Economy?

With the Presidential elections around the corner, Nosa Alekhuogie examines the string of promises made by President Muhammadu Buhari during his long campaign in 2015 and wonders, if he has delivered on them four years after

B

etween 1999 and 2015, Nigeria earned a whopping N77.348trillion from her oil and gas sector, according to recent data from the Ministry of Finance. Between 2010 and 2014 when oil price rose to $112 a barrel, the country reportedly earned $383 billion from oil.

Despite this massive oil revenue, Nigeria was bedeviled with energy crises, high unemployment, low exports, low foreign exchange reserves, low income level and other social, economic issues because successive governments failed to make judicious use of the oil revenue.

In fact, Nigeria was rated among countries with the highest number of people living in extreme poverty. The poverty figure rose from about 82 million people to about 112 million in 2012.

The devastating effect of the poor economic situation on Nigerians prompted the Muhammadu Buhari administration to initiate various programmes, including the social investment programme (SIP) to ameliorate hardship faced by the most vulnerable, poor and unemployed Nigerians.

The SIP has four components which are being implemented across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

They are: the N-Power, which caters for unemployed graduates. It also comprises the Technical Hubs springing up around the country as well as the N-Power Stem Junior, which is about to commence. The other components are; the Home Grown School Feeding (HGSFP), Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) and Government Enterprises Entrepreneurship Programme (GEEP), which comprises the MarketMoni, the FarmerMoni and the TraderMoni.

Providing an update on the SIP recently, Special Adviser to the President on Social Investments, Maryam Uwais, said that since inception, government had provided N500billion for the programmes in the 2016, 2017 & 2018 budgets, with close to N250billion, being 23.63 per cent of the entire three years budget appropriated for N-SIPS having been released. For the 2018 budget, she said so far, 18 per cent of the amount appropriated for all the progammes had been received.

She explained that the Home Grown School Feeding Programme is a programme aimed at feeding young children in public primary schools, with the aim of improving their nutrition, increasing school enrolment and reducing the incidence of malnutrition. So far, government is feeding over 9,300,892 children in 49,837 government schools in 26 States. Also, 96,972 cooks with over a 100,000 small-scale farmers are being empowered through this programme.

Under the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme programme, N5,000 is given out monthly to 297,973 households in Nigeria. It is currently being implemented in 20 states.

Beneficiary households are selected by the communities directly, with their household and community data being uploaded onto social registers by trained enumerators at State and LGA levels to ensure government monitors their progress.

The GEEP is managed by the Bank of Industry. It makes available to micro-businesses credit facilities to improve their businesses.

So far, over 1.1 million beneficiaries across the 36 States of the federation have been provided with N27.4billion in interest free loans, ranging from N10,000 to N350,000.

In particular, the aim of the TraderMoni programme is to take financial inclusion to the grassroots, considering the daily contributions of millions of petty traders to Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic prosperity and

Buhari

development.

Uwais further noted that N-Power, the largest post-tertiary employment programme in Africa is currently employing 500,000 youth graduates. The beneficiaries are paid a monthly stipend of N30,000 and are deployed as volunteers into various sectors of need in the public space, such as health, agriculture, education and public finance. The beneficiaries are given devices to facilitate their service delivery, and as a continuous learning avenue. So far, government has supported 20,000 N-Power non-graduate volunteers, who have been trained in skill centres in every state, and given tool boxes to enable them apply their newly-acquired expertise in the building and automative industries.

Checks revealed that the current administration has also recorded some achievements in the areas of agriculture, electricity generation, transport and infrastructure.

For instance, power generation has largely improved in recent times, rising from 4,000 to 7000MW, while distributable power was put at 5,000MW. Although this is commendable, a lot still needs to be done to address a plethora of challenges, which have hampered regular power supply to homes and businesses.

Nigeria, through her rice revolution programme, is inching closer to selfsufficiency in rice production. In fact, the country is on the verge of hitting her six million MT of milled rice production target.

It is interesting to know that the number of rice farmers has risen from five million to over 11 million, creating a wave of new jobs in the economy.

The rice revolution has led to a drastic

reduction in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rice import bill of $1.65 billion annually by 90 per cent.

The rice revolution was largely driven by the Anchor Borrowerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Programme. In a speech at the third anniversary programme of the ABP, which was held in Abuja recently, Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, had described the project as â&#x20AC;&#x153;changing the narrative on agricultural investments in Nigeria.â&#x20AC;? The ABP, which has been in operation for three years, â&#x20AC;&#x153;has significantly improved the productivity of our farmers, and by extension, cultivation of critical agricultural commodities in Nigeria,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Also, in the area of agriculture, the Buhari administration has delivered 10 million, 50kg bags of feritilizer at a low price N5,500 (for 2017 alone).

The country now has annual savings of US$200 million in foreign exchange and 60 billion annually in budgetary provisions for fertilizer subsidies.

Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decade-long infrastructure deficit has been one of the major factors restricting her economic growth and damaging investment prospects. A well-developed infrastructure is not only essential for attracting foreign investment, it is vital for long-term growth and competitiveness of countries worldwide.

Besides, robust infrastructure helps to determine one countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success and anotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s failure in diversifying production, expanding trade, coping with population growth, reducing poverty or improving environmental conditions. According to the World Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World Development Report (1994), 1percent increase in the stock of infrastructure is associated with a 1percent

increase in gross domestic product (GDP) across all countries.

To address the infrastructure problem, the federal government in May 2018, launched the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), under the management of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority.

The PIDF kicked off with seed funding of US$1.3 billion to ensure that funding for critical projects will no longer be a problem.

Recognising that robust infrastructure is essential in the lives of the common man, this administration in 2014 upped the amount it was spending on critical infrastructure.

The sectors included Transport (N14billion), Agriculture & Water (N34billion), Power, Works & Housing (N106billion). In 2017 those figures were increased as follows: Transport (N127billion), Agriculture & Water (N130billion), Power, Works & Housing (N325billion).

Also, the federal government issued a N100 billion Sukuk Bond in 2017, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first sovereign Sukuk Bond. Proceeds from that Bond are being used to fund 25 major road projects across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

It is worthy of note that many of these projects had been abandoned in recent years because of mounting debts owed the contractors by the federal government.

In the rail sector, the administration has revealed its plan to upgrade Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 3,500km narrow-gauge railway network with an Interim Phase that will soon see passengers and freight businesses experience reduced travel time by rail between Lagos and Kano for the first time in over a decade. Already, the Abujaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Light Rail system had been completed and has been in operation last year.

The health system has remained weak, inequitable and dysfunctional over the past decades. Poor Nigerians still lack access to basic health care. Recent checks revealed that even the National Hospital, Abuja currently has no functional CT Scan machines. This has resulted in preventable deaths. In March 2018, the NSIA invested US$10million to establish a world-class Cancer Treatment Center at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), and US$5million each in the Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, to establish modern Diagnostic Centres.

While this is laudable, government is advised to take more aggressive step to address the problem in the health sector.

Anti-graft agencies are also enjoined to spread their dragnet to this all â&#x20AC;&#x201C;important sector, where those at the helm allegedly corner the huge amounts released by the federal government to equip the hospitals. Those found culpable should be prosecuted.

Also, one of the core pillars of Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign in 2015 was his promise to fight corruption, which is the bane of economic growth and stability. In this regard, the federal government in December 2016, through the Federal Ministry of Finance introduced the Whistleblowing Policy, which has since yielded N13.8billion from tax evaders and N7.8billion, $378million, ÂŁ27,800 in recoveries from public officials.

Also, N8.1 trillion was discovered to have been underpaid into the federation account between 2010 and 2015 by 15 revenue-generating agencies.

The Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are now remitting more money to the federation account. From its remittance of a paltry N51 million between 2010 and 2016, JAMB remitted N7.8 billion in 2017. As at March 2018, the TSA had recorded inflows of a total sum of N8.9 trillion from the MDAs.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͸Ë&#x153; ͺ͸͚Î

Ëš

Marina, Lagos

As Foreign Investors Sustain Outflow from Nigeria...

A sizable chunk of investment capital belonging to foreign investors found its way out of the shores of Nigeria through the equities market in 2018 compared to 2017. But the Central Bank of Nigeria has expressed the hope that the trend would soon be reversed with renewed efforts to put the economy in proper shape,reports Bamidele Famoofo

I

n the last three years, the rate of outflow of foreign portfolio investment from the equities trading segment of the Nigerian Stock Exchange has maintained a sustainable increase. Data churned out by the NSE in January which captured the activities in the market in 2018, showed that outflow of investment capital increased by 48 percent from N435.31 billion in 2017 to N642.65billion in 2018. Outflow rate was higher in 2017 at N435.31billion compared to N261.03billion recorded in 2016.

Report of activities of both foreign and domestic investorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; participation in the equities market provided by the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bourse suggests that the economy did not only suffer from increasing foreign capital outflow, but a decreasing inflow of money into the economy through equities investment by foreigners.

Inflow which gathered momentum in 2017 when N772.25billion flowed into the economy representing an increase of 201 percent compared to N256.52billion inflow in 2016, dropped by 25.4 percent to N576.45billion in 2018.

The immediate impact of that on the economy was that the All-Share Index (ASI) of the NSE decreased by 17.81 per cent from 38,243.19 at end-December 2017 to 31,430.50 at end December 2018.

Though All-Share Index (ASI) recorded growth for the fourth straight session as at Wednesday, February 6, 2019, with benchmark index moved up by 0.16 percent to 30,821.80 points, it remained far below the closing figure of 31,430.50 points registered as at end of December 2018.

Against that backdrop, the Month-to-Date gain increased to 0.87percent as at Wednesday, while the Year-to-Date loss dipped to -2.09 percent.

The implication is that every investor in the market has lost more than two percent of his capital this year.

Similarly, Market Capitalisation decreased by 13.87 per cent from N13.61 trillion at endDecember 2017 to N11.72 trillion at end-December

2018. Market capitalisation declined by 1.96 per cent to N11.49 trillion as at February 06, 2019.

But the reasons for the negative impact on the capital market and by extension the economy are not farfetched. According to investment experts and as well as the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monetary policy authority, the development largely reflects the impact of the progressive monetary policy normalisation in some advanced economies and the sustained profit-taking activities of foreign investors arising from perceived political risk in the build-up to the 2019 general elections.

Notwithstanding the shaky signs in the economy, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBN remained optimistic of the gradual reversal of the current trend in the medium term, given the current stability in the foreign exchange market and the external reserves position, as well as continued improvements in key macroeconomic indicators. Other reasons on which the MPC who met in January hinged itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s confidence is the relative stability at both the Bureau-de-Change (BDC) and the Investorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and Exportersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (I&E) window of the foreign exchange market, supported by the bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proactive exchange rate management policies. It also observed with satisfaction, the contribution to stability in the market of the implementation of the Bilateral Currency Swap Agreement (BCSA) with China and the inflow of the US$2.8 billion Euro bond. The committee also noted the marginal increase in the external reserves, from US$42.54 billion at end-December, 2018 to US$43.28 billion as at January 21, 2019, pointing out that these improvements would further strengthen investor confidence in the Nigerian economy.

Onyema, while presenting the 2018 market report in January said the cumulative transactions reduced by 5.44 per cent to N2.404trillion in 2018 from N2.542trillion in the preceding year.

Onyema revealed that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Domestic investors outperformed foreign investors by 4.54 per cent in December 2018. Total domestic transactions increased marginally by 0.64 per cent from N65.36billion in November to N65.78billion in December 2018. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In contrast, total foreign transactions reduced by 28.78 per cent from N84.36billion to N60.08billion driven by a reduction in foreign inflows, which reduced by 34.31 per cent from N34.97billion to N22.97billion and foreign outflows, which reduced by 24.86 per cent from N49.39billion to N37.11billion over the same period.

The NSE said between 2011 and 2015, foreign transactions consistently outperformed domestic transactions but domestic transactions marginally outpaced foreign transactions in 2016 and 2017, and remained almost at par in 2018. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Also, foreign transactions, which were N1.539trillion in 2014, declined to N1.219billion in 2018. Over a 12-year period, domestic transactions have decreased by 66.67 per cent from N3.556trillion in 2007 to N1.185trillion in 2018.The total foreign transactions accounted for about 51 per cent of the total transactions carried out in the financial year 2018 whilst the domestic transactions accounted for about 49 per cent of the total transactions in the same year,â&#x20AC;? he disclosed.

Onyema described the volatility in capital flows, especially FPI, as one of the downside risks to the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s macroeconomic outlook.

Foreign Vs. Domestic The NSE Domestic and FPI Report for December showed that total transactions at the NSE reduced by 15.93 per cent from N149.72billion in November to N125.86billionn in December.

NSE Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Oscar

Reactions Commenting on this development, some domestic investors, who are largely shareholders of companies listed on the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bourse described the foreign investors as casino players, who want to make money at the detriment of the economy while others attribute their action

to fears of the outcome of the forthcoming election.

A shareholder activist, Gbadebo Olatokunbo, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will describe the foreign investors as casino players. I have been a stock market player for more than five years and l know they are not here for the interest of the market.

They are here just to make money and if in the process of making money they harm our economy that is none of their business because we allowed itâ&#x20AC;?.

Olatokunbo alleged that stock brokers are happy with foreign portfolio investors because they enjoy turnover in terms of commission from them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will continue like that if we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t change.

Now that they are moving out, it is affecting the capital market and I hope steps will be taken to encourage genuine investors (that is domestic investors). We have Nigerians all over the world that have billions of dollars, but they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really trust people back home because when they send money to people in Nigeria to help them do something, instead of doing what they are asked to do, they use the money for personal things. So, they are no longer disposed to sending money home for investmentâ&#x20AC;?, Olatokunbo lamented.

Coordinator, Greenwich Shareholders Association of Nigeria Mr. Williams Adebayo, said a major reason why foreign portfolio investors were fleeing the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s equities market was for uncertainties of the 2019 general elections. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The world is watching Nigeria, and their fear is how the country would conveniently hold the election. Your mind will be where your money isâ&#x20AC;?.

Adebayo is optimistic that a peaceful election will attract the withdrawn capital to Nigeria. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If the election is peaceful they will rush back. There is no need for panic as politics and economy are interwoven. Rather, this period offers a very good opportunity for local investors to invest in equities if they have the money,â&#x20AC;? he said.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹͸˜ ͺ͸͹΁

CHINYEAKA OHA

Oha

In FCTA, Conformity with Abuja Masterplan is Sacrosanct Mr. Chinyeaka Oha is the permanent secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA). An experienced bureaucrat and chief accounting officer of the ministry, Oha is no stranger to the management of human and material resources. Indeed, as a finance manager, he served Enugu State government between 1999 and 2007 as the accountant-general under the administration of former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani before moving to the federal civil service. He also served as permanent secretary at the Ministry of Youth Development before he was moved to the Federal Capital Territory some years ago. As the Chairman of the FCT Land Use and Allocation Committee, Oha has grappled with the thorny issue of abuse of land allocation, which usually ends up with litigations. The perm sec and his land allocation team with the blessing of the FCT Minister, Malam Bello Mohammed, initiated reforms that saw some unscrupulous staff of the Land Department and the Abuja Information Geographic System (AGIS) sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation and prosecution.This effort has led to a drastic reduction in land scams in addition to other far-reaching reforms that restored confidence in the system. With the introduction of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) by the Federal Government, a lot of wastage points were eliminated, leading to the expansion of government’s revenue base. In this interview with Kingsley Nwezeh Oha, dwells on wide-ranging issues as they concern land allocation, investors, infrastructure projects, revenue generation and resettlement policy among others. Excerpts:

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹͸˜ ͺ͸͹΁

25

Land Titles Have Security Features Similar to Currency Notes

H

ow has the FCTA’s economic policy attracted investors?

We make sure we provide local and foreign investors a friendly environment to operate. Our investment arms such as the Abuja Investment Company Ltd, the Abuja Infrastructure Investment Council (AIIC) and the Department of Economic Planning, Research and Statistics, among other relevant bodies handle that for us.

Are there incentives for investors?

Where it is necessary, we are willing to offer concession and necessary tax rebate to encourage them. This is in addition to availability of sufficient human resources and raw materials as may be needed. The FCT has deservedly earned the status of the best and easiest place to start and grow business in Nigeria. It is no doubt, Africa’s investment haven -the highest investment-friendly destination in Nigeria.

What measures did you adopt to increase your revenue generation capacity?

We quickly keyed into President Muhammadu Buhari’s insistence on the 100 percent implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

It was and still is a major catalyst in increasing our Internally Generated Revenue.

What in specific terms did you do?

ity. Because of insufficient financial resources, government could not complete holistic resettlement of the original people of the FCT. However, as development approaches these communities, we relocate them accordingly. In some cases, we care out integration of some of the communities to modern development.

What is the state of your IGR today?

What role does Abuja Enterprise Agency play in meeting the goals of your economic policy.

We have been able to block all loopholes in all our revenue generating secretariats, departments and agencies (SDAs). We have also adopted the use technology in revenue collection, provided adequate and relevant training and retraining to relevant staff in this regard so as to help shore up our IGR.

With the commencement of operations by our revenue body, FCT Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), we are very hopeful that our IGR will greatly improve. We need to improve our revenue generation, because there is always room for improvement and we hope to get there.

Would you say, between the time it was set up and now, a certain amount has been generated as against what was obtainable before?

The FCT-IRS has so far generated N58 billion from tax and that was for the month of November alone and we are projecting N130billion for 2019. I think the chairman (FCT-IRS) addressed the press recently where he gave you those figures. We are improving and we are going to be better as we progress.

How were you able to cope with allocation to area councils in times of recession?

The FCT Administration took decisive measures to ensure prudence in financial management and expenditure. This financial discipline frees up finances for other essential service delivery in health, education, environment, infrastructural provision and transportation, among others.

This administration was also able to provide bailout to the area councils to enable them meet up with some of their basic financial obligations, especially payment of salaries of their staff.

However, it is pertinent to note that the FCTA does not touch area councils’ funds accruing from the Federation Account. We usually give them their share during FAAC meetings.

In addition to this statutory allocation, all the area councils are given one

Oha

percent of our IGR which they share according to agreed sharing formula.

Are there any changes to the land allocation policy in a way that would curb incidences of multiple allocations?

It is true that change is the only constant thing in this world. We therefore effect changes, to improve land management as required by prevailing conditions and changes. These changes are either with the Department Land Administration and the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS), not excluding other land related organs of the FCTA. Every now and then, we effect these necessary and compelling changes, which could be administrative and technological.

Consequently, we have been able to come out with land titles that have foolproof security features that are similar to those on our currency notes.

This administration has also strengthened Land Use Allocation Committee with a view to resolving issues with multiple allocations, and those of fake applications, which has been drastically.

How has AGIS fared in your estimation?

The Abuja Geographic Information Systems has done very well so far. Together with the department of Land Administration, AGIS has been

definitely updated the management of our geospatial data which is not only used for land administration but also used by other public and private organisations.

The organisation has brought in sanity and transparency in the administration of land in a manner that is effective and not complicated.

The AEA is the FCT Administration’s entrepreneurship and small scale businesses development vehicle. It conducts skills acquisition for the teeming youth in the FCT. It also equips them with take-off packages for their new or struggling business enterprises.

The agency takes care of business development in both the formal and informal sectors of the nation’s capital and liaises with other public, local and international partners to boost the Territory’s economy.

How has infrastructure projects in the last three years impacted the growth of the nation’s capital?

Evidently, there is unprecedented What is the state of your mass housing policy? There are many development of infrastructure across court cases and some estates are the territory. Construction of many projects that had been stalled for denot following specifications?

We have, to a large extent, brought in the private sector to partner in the provision of housing to residents, through the development of estates -low, middle and high income housing estates.

Generally, Abuja is dotted with numerous estates, and it is clear that the provision of services, such as road network within the estates remains the responsibility of the developers of these estates.

We are determined to ensure that they always keep to development guidelines, and these guidelines are being enforced by our relevant departments and agencies, including the Department of Development Control and others.

Have you fully resettled FCT indigenes?

Resettlement of the original inhabitants in the FCT is an ongoing activ-

cades has been revamped, and while some have been completed, and some are fast on-going.

There are many on-going road projects -roads, rail, water and electricity projects within the Federal Capital City and the satellite towns.

Where are we on the railway projects?

The Abuja Light Rail has already become a reality. It is a dream come true and we are determined to expand it to other parts of the territory, including the Nyanya axis and others, so that, together with the smooth road network, we can further improve a seamless movement across the territory and enhance economic activities in Abuja.

I believe you can recall that not long ago, Mr. President flagged off the Abuja-Kaduna rail line and Nigerians are enjoying now.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹͸˜ ͺ͸͹΁

ENCOUNTER ANAYO AGU

Why Other States Should Adopt Enugu SME Model By avoiding past mistakes, Enugu State is making steady progress in the promotion of micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME). Special Adviser to the Governor on SME & Investment Promotion), Mr. Anayo Agu, alluded to this in his interaction with Tobi Soniyi

I

f there is something Enugu State is doing better than other states, it is how it has tried to address the unemployment situation in the country through the promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises.

Over the past three and half years, Enugu SME Centre has helped the state distinguished itself as the model state in the South East Geopolitical Zone for micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) development.

While Nigeria has for long realised the importance of SME in economic development, it has not been able to take advantage of this to galvanise the nation’s economy. For one, SME initiatives are often politicised. Second, those initiatives are more often than not carefully planned.

They tend to be ad hoc and therefore lack sustainability. Another factor that has not allowed Nigeria to transform its micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) programmes into a bigger success is failure to recognise cultural influences on businesses.

However, Enugu State has been able to avoid these pitfalls and has transformed itself into one of the primary reference centres and a benchmark on SME development not just in the South-east Zone but in Nigeria as a whole.

Special Adviser to the Governor on SME & Investment Promotion), Mr. Anayo Agu, explains how the state is able to do it.

According to him, it is not about politics. “We listen to you; we are not interested in your political affiliation. We are interested in your business ideas. It is not about who you know, it is about what you want to do. Secondly, it is open to anyone living and doing business in Enugu. It is not just for indigenes alone.

Once you are living in the state and doing business here, we are not interested whether you are from Oyo state or Anambra state. We also have a rigorous financial literacy programme.”

When asked to explain what he meant by financial literacy, Agu said: “Financial illiteracy is one of the primary reasons most enterprises fail before their second anniversary. It has been identified as a major cause of most family disagreements including divorce. It is also adduced as a reason most graduates have low self-efficacy and are unable to start their own businesses or even own a small farm.

“Financial illiteracy is the principal cause of the inability of some beneficiaries of Enugu SME loan to repay as scheduled.

“Having recognised the above facts, ENUGU SME Centre is currently leading collaborative efforts through Enugu State Government bilateral relations with the German Government via its development agency, GIZ, to take financial literacy to the grassroots through the state science, technical and vocational schools, cooperative societies, and stakeholder groups particularly women in rural and urban markets.

“Furthermore, financial literacy is now a critical component of the curriculum of training on Master Class on entrepreneurship and enterprise development at Enugu SME Centre.

“It is expected that by year 2020, financial literary would have been mainstreamed into the teaching curricular for secondary schools and technical/vocational colleges in Enugu State. Furthermore, it is projected that about a million market women and social entrepreneurs would have been trained and given the knowledge and skills they need to take advantage of opportunities in their environments.”

Statistics show the Enugu SME model is working.

From May 29, 2015 to December 20, 2018, the Enugu SME Centre facilitated loan disbursement to over 2,500 micro, small and medium enterprises under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) N2 billion MSMEDF Programme

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwanyi

Agu

and the Enugu State -Bank of Industry (BOI) Counterpart Funding Programme.

The centre also facilitated the funding of over 7,000 out of over 10,000 micro entrepreneurs under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Program (GEEP).

The beneficiaries are creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs in various communities in the state. They are also contributing to economic development while stemming rural-urban migration and crimes.

According to Agu, loan beneficiaries funded under some of the participating partner banks- Umuchinemere MFB, Ohha MFB, Ifeanyichukwu MFB, Kenechukwu MFB, Obollo MFB and Akudiewa MFB have already repaid about N400 Million to the CBN under the first tranche of the state micro loan totaling N500 million of over 10,000 registered.

“These micro loans specifically targeted micro entrepreneurs and enterprises artisans and traders (men, women and young people) in rural communities, who were trapped in poverty and hitherto excluded and forgotten.

Without effective collaboration with our partner Micro Finance Banks, a transparent loan application process and inclusive governance, it would never have been possible to empower most of those beneficiaries who had no one in government”, he added.

According to him, Enugu isn’t just helping those with business ideas to realise their dreams, it is also helping them to create market for their products and services.

For instance, between 2015 and 2018, the centre hosted three zonal market access seminars in collaboration with the DFID GEM4, BusinessDay, CBN, BOI (2016), and the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) at the Pan-Atlantic University (2017).

So far, more than 2,000 participants have benefited from those trade events and attested to their effectiveness in match-making potential business partners and creating strategic alliances.

In February 2018, the centre in collaboration with Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Nigeria Export Promotion Council and Multimix Academy Lagos organised an Export-Import Finance Seminar for the South East Zone and Delta.

The export-import workshop, the first of its kind, has already resulted in the export of some products made in Enugu State to West and Central African markets.

In July 2016, the centre attracted and facilitated a visit by a delegation from the U.S. West African Travel Hub based in Ghana to visit SMEs in Enugu State for the purpose of identifying potential export products to the United States under the AGOA programme (African Growth Opportunity Act).

Artisans are also not left behind. Between June and October 2016, Enugu SME Centre held several enlightenment outreaches and stakeholder sessions for over 1000 members of the two leading auto associations in the state.

The centre also collaborated with University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) to train auto mechanics drawn from the two associations on the use of modern diagnostic tools for car repairs. About 35 auto artisans and mechanics participated in the maiden, one-month training.

People who are retiring from civil service are also not left out.

In September 2016, working in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Service and the South East Entrepreneurship Development Centre (SEEDC), the SME Centre held a one-day enlightenment seminar for Enugu State Civil Servants scheduled for retirement within five years. Over 500 potential retirees attended.

In February 2017, as a follow-up to the pre-retirement seminar, the centre officially launched a four-week intensive entrepreneurship and financial literacy training for those scheduled to retire within two years. The programme called Pre-retirement Entrepreneurship Education Programme (PEEP) has successfully trained its 25 pioneer graduates.

The graduates have formed a cooperative society and are exploring opportunities.

If the centre sustains the momentum, it will help the state’s Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to deliver on his promise to make government services and resources available to create equal opportunity for anyone, who is willing to make a living, create wealth, send their children to school and enjoy life in a safe and secure environment.

27

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ͚͸Ë&#x153; ͺ͸͚Î

Beri: Poor Risk Management Practices Responsible for Economic Setback Ă&#x2019;nĂ&#x;â&#x20AC;şnĂ&#x2DC;øâ&#x20AC;&#x161;Ă&#x201C;erĂ&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x161;Ă&#x2DC;sâ&#x20AC;&#x161;Ă&#x;heâ&#x20AC;&#x161;Ă&#x153;ønøĂ&#x2DC;nÂťâ&#x20AC;&#x161;¸Ă&#x2DC;reĂşĂ&#x;â&#x20AC;şrâ&#x20AC;&#x161;â&#x20AC;şÂşâ&#x20AC;&#x161;|øºeĂ&#x;ÂĄâ&#x20AC;&#x161;Ă&#x201D;â&#x20AC;şnsĂ Ă&#x203A;Ă&#x;ønĂ&#x;â&#x20AC;&#x161;Ă&#x2020;â&#x20AC;&#x161;|â&#x20AC;şĂ&#x203A;Ă Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;şnsâ&#x20AC;&#x161;{râ&#x20AC;şĂĄĂ&#x2DC;¸erâ&#x20AC;&#x161;â&#x20AC;Ś|Ă&#x201D;|{â&#x20AC; â&#x20AC;&#x161;øn¸â&#x20AC;&#x161; Ă&#x203A;eø¸â&#x20AC;&#x161;Ăşâ&#x20AC;şnsĂ Ă&#x203A;Ă&#x;ønĂ&#x;â&#x20AC;&#x161;â&#x20AC;&#x161;øĂ&#x;â&#x20AC;&#x161;NøĂ&#x;Ă&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;şnøĂ&#x203A;â&#x20AC;&#x161;â&#x20AC;?Ă&#x2DC;reâ&#x20AC;&#x161;{râ&#x20AC;şĂ&#x;eĂşĂ&#x;Ă&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;şnâ&#x20AC;&#x161;òesĂ&#x;â&#x20AC;&#x161;Ă&#x2019;ÂşrĂ&#x2DC;úøâ&#x20AC;&#x161;â&#x20AC;ŚNâ&#x20AC;?{Ă&#x2019;òĂ&#x2019;â&#x20AC; Ă&#x17D;â&#x20AC;&#x161;â&#x20AC;&#x161;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;nâ&#x20AC;&#x161;Ă&#x;hĂ&#x2DC;sâ&#x20AC;&#x161;Ă&#x2DC;nĂ&#x;erĂĄĂ&#x2DC;eââ&#x20AC;&#x161;âĂ&#x2DC;Ă&#x;hâ&#x20AC;&#x161; Omolabake Fasogbonâ&#x20AC;°â&#x20AC;&#x161;â&#x20AC;&#x161;sheâ&#x20AC;&#x161;sø¥sâ&#x20AC;&#x161;âeøĂ&#x161;â&#x20AC;&#x161;rĂ&#x2DC;sĂ&#x161;â&#x20AC;&#x161;Ă&#x153;ønøeĂ&#x153;enĂ&#x;â&#x20AC;&#x161;úà Ă&#x203A;Ă&#x;Ă reâ&#x20AC;&#x161;Ă&#x2DC;sâ&#x20AC;&#x161;ĂşrĂ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x201C;Ĺ&#x201C;Ă&#x203A;Ă&#x2DC;nÂťâ&#x20AC;&#x161;NĂ&#x2DC;ÂťerĂ&#x2DC;øusâ&#x20AC;&#x161;â&#x20AC;&#x161;eĂşâ&#x20AC;şnâ&#x20AC;şĂ&#x153;ÂĄâ&#x20AC;&#x161;â&#x20AC;&#x161;

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria recently warned that the country may soon slide into recession . Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your reaction to this warning?

about NCOSH. Most factories we visited in 2018 were not compliant to OSHA and NFPA codes. It is expected that the agencies implement the health and safety policies as should. They must also ensure equipment expired are disposed such that they are not be re-used. In the developed countries, they are disposed off in orange bags.

If the CBN is passing such a note of warning, then all, including government ,investors and individuals need to fasten their seatbelts so tightly,especially as economy activities in previous year have not been too pleasing to the ears ,such that the International Monetary Fund, I M F, projected a drop in growth from 2.1 percent to 1.9 percent. This is happening again this year as IMFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth forecast for the economy drop from the 2.3 percent its projected last year to 2 percent last month.

Several factors have been attributed to the struggling state of the economy including declining oil production ,contraction in the agriculture sector and late passage of 2018 budget. No doubt,these factors are quite influential,however, there are two key areas that have been overlooked as a critical part of the economy. These are safety and operational risk management practices . This is where we can talk of protection of lives, sustainability of our hard earned investment in all sectors, and then boast economy bouyancy. If all sectors were performing well without any provisions for disaster prevention or mitigation ,then we are not looking at development. As much as I know that the economy is full of prospects, what do we say of unforeseen events as droughts, fire outbreaks, conflicts and many others , have we any provisions to prevent or mitigate these ones which are inevitable at times?

I must say that not being prepared to confront accidental occurrence are largely responsible for the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s underperformance,as we keep reinvesting in disaster,thereby , shifting away from focus.

Are you saying that both government and private investors have not been proactive enough in the area of protecting investments ?

The core requirement for operational excellence is proactive risk mitigation for continuity and profitability. In this clime,we are good at reacting to occurrences, we really donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take action before emergency erupted.

Unfortunately, we have still not learnt our lessons. A general assessment of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance in the area of life, environmental, security and fire safety in 2018 revealed that the country has greatly retrogressed , no wonder the economy struggled all through the year.According to the statistics, 910 people died to Boko Haram insurgency in 2016, the figure increased to 967 in 2017. Report from Amnesty International also showed that not less than 1,814 deaths was recorded across 17 states in Nigeria in 2018. In the course of the year,there were cases of community displacement, fire disasters at various locations including markets, gas plant, petrol tanker and oil pipelines that swallowed away fortunes as a result of inadequate response framework, building collapse, unmitigated cyber risk and many others. The above figures show a declining state of security for life and properties in Nigeria.These are situations that distract focus and divert resources that should have been deployed to developmental projects.

How then can efďŹ ciency be attained and measured in risk management practices?

While some occurences could be inevitable,many at times, disaster can be averted or limited, if professionalism and standards were considered at all times.Op-

How can government intervene to raise the standards of safety in the country?

By adopting proactive and retroactive means, government can implement existing health and safety policies in both private and public sectors, this will also help an average Nigerian to understand how important it is to work and live in a safe environment.

Beyond this, there should be regular training programme for business operators, their employees and safety professionals and all that are concerned. Government should make adequate provision of resources in time of emergencies.

Fire services should be improved on by making adequate plans and provision for trained firefighters to get to fire accident places in less time for efficiency. More importantly, the enforcement players should be equipped and strengthened to carry out their work effectively.

How is NFPAWA helping to raise safety standards in the country and ensuring right risk management practices?

Beri

erational risk management is complex with vast multi-disciplinary interface.The chain starts from the government policy, project owner and financier through strategy, design, implementation, facilities, and insurance.

What about the equipment used in project execution, do they guarantee safety of lives and investments? Safety equipment are manufactured to protect lives and properties. Safety equipment may be in form of personal protective device or first response equipment like smoke and heat detectors, fire extinguishers, hydrant system etc., and they must be reliable.

A fake or substandard product is usually wrongly labeled or does not have a certification. Most end users do not know the quality of what they buy except for the labels.

That is why it is a good practice to have the correct label on each safety equipment.

Fake safety equipment are not reliable and they increase risk to lives and investment.

Lets take an example of a fire blanket, a safety device used to suffocate fires by covering a burning substance so as to remove the oxygen component of fire.

An ordinary cloth do not have that capability, so you can imagine what happened if a fake fire blanket is sold to the end user. It will rather leave the user at a very high risk.

It is therefore better to have none than to keep a fake one. Sadly,safety regulators and banks have neglected their roles in this regard.

How do the banks come in this picture ?

Safety is everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business, while it is exclusive preserve of regulators like the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and National Council for Occupational Safety and health (NCOSH), to ensure safety standards are met, the banks need to have the assurance that the businesses they lend to will continue without interruption due to occupational health and safety hazards. The bank is a strong institution that can control safety standards by simply asking for health and safety certifications before lending money for business owners.

Most businesses in Nigeria operate without adherence to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) laws, and this exposes workers to avoidable health risk. Financial institutions should ask for certifications that show that businesses they finance are fire protected and compliant to OSHA standards.

What is your assessment of safety regulators in the country?

There are various agencies that see to standards and safety compliance, chiefly, SON and NCOSH, under the sponsorship of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity.

While SON regulates safety of standards of products and processes in Nigeria, the NCOSH is responsible for creating safety awareness, inspection of factories and sealing of noncompliant factories.

Obviously, not many factory workers know

NFPAWAidentifies gaps in skill and knowledge in security, fire and safety operational risk management as a critical challenge to development and sustainability in the African region. This weakness continues to result in massive loss of life, environmental damage, economic hardship and financial losses. The effect of poor understanding and absence of set performance benchmarks for evaluating, assessing and investigating niche specific operational risks is now more glaring especially in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy. NFPAWAsought to bridge this knowledge and skill gaps through training in corporate governance, capacity building, consultancy, standardisation , advocacy, and proffering of targeted solutions , all geared towards public and private sector initiatives on life, fire & safety risk management.

Our capacity building goal is to ensure a sustainable pool of at least 500 well-trained emergency response personnel annually, to strengthen sectorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ability to respond efficiently and effectively to all crises scenarios, thereby reducing incidence of loss of lives and property when such events occur. Equally, this will ensure reduced exposure to risks that create disruption to business continuity, restore investor confidence, and drive sustainable private sector growth and inevitably economic development.

How is the organisation involving government at all levels to boost safety practices across all sectors?

The organisation sought to advance the highest standards of regulation and education by promoting best practices in compliance to local and international codes through the provision of professional certification.

NFPAWA partners regulatory authorities, public and private sector enterprises committed to best practice in life and safety risk management. Our programmes are not limited to the perspective or styles of corporate enterprise management, but also serve to facilitate avenues for security, fire and life safety solutions advocacy and anti-disaster management field training, for the utility, security and emergency management sectors.

28

5 ) * 4 % ": t SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2019

5 ) * 4 % ": t SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2019

29

Ë&#x153; Ëž FEBRUARY 10, 2019

30

MARKET NEWS

ETFs Boost Investorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Hope with Positive Performance Goddy Egene Things are looking up for investors in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as two of the funds have recorded year-to-date(YTD) growth.

The NSE provides a multiasset class platform that grants investors access to a wide range of financial assets such as ETFs, Fixed Income and Equities. These products give investors diverse options

and opportunities to set aside capital to meet various financial and investment objectives.

ETFs, which trade just like stocks offer diversification benefits and can be traded on the exchange through dealing members. The ETF market segment has become a dynamic space wherein investors can choose options in line with their objectives, risk appetite, time horizon or preferred asset class.

The ever-growing investment vehicle, gives both institutional

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sharesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on the

and individual investors access to a wide range of asset classes such as stocks, bonds, money market, commodities and investment themes, that is shariah investing, sectors, dividend yield among others.

There are currently nine ETFs listed on the NSE. And THISDAY checks showed that the Newgold ETF has recorded YTD return of 9.13 per cent, followed by Vetiva Industrial ETF with 4.9 per cent. Besides, Vetiva Griffin 30 ETF, Vetiva S

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: A ll fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 07Feb-2019, unless otherwise stated.

& P Nig. Sovereign Bond ETF, Lotus Halal ETF, Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 and SIAML Pension ETF 40 paid investors dividends in 2018.

According to market analysts, ETFs bring a wide range of investments within reach that might otherwise be difficult to access conveniently and efficiently. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For example, when you buy an ETF that tracks the NSE 30 Index, it gives you ownership and the performance

of all the securities listed in the NSE 30 Index. An investor that is interested in getting the performance of banking stocks can consider an ETF that tracks any of the Banking Indices listed on the exchange. Likewise, an investor interested in pension compliant stocks or shariah compliant investments, can access these via ETFs tracking these Index strategies are the go-to options,â&#x20AC;? an operator said.

Also, ETFs are advantageous

over traditional funds as the security can be traded throughout the day on the NSE as prices are quoted just like equities, thereby allowing investors quick entry and exit into the market. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The major consideration for an investor looking to purchase an ETF is the alignment of the ETF with their investing style and financial goals â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this is the fundamental principle for every investment venture,â&#x20AC;? the operator added.

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 0.85 0.86 1.71% ACAP Income Funds 0.62 0.62 11.18% 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 13.22% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.25 2.27 1.24% 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 102.32 103.04 1.12% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.25% 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 13.98% Paramount Equity Fund 11.64 11.94 -0.59% Women's Investment Fund 101.59 104.19 -0.95% 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 12.80% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 96.73 97.03 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 99.57 99.90 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.35% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.84 0.85 Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.14 1.14 1.94% 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 N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,205.79 1,206.57 1.71% FBN Heritage Fund 144.61 145.86 0.84% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 14.14% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 115.46 115.77 1.38% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 115.42 115.73 1.59% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 150.15 152.35 0.10% 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 1.21 1.23 -1.10% Legacy Debt Fund 3.28 3.28 1.23% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.03 1.03 0.46% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 2,959.74 2,988.65 -0.83% Coral Income Fund 2,796.34 2,796.34 2.10% 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 12.88% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 107.56 108.02 0.64% 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 13.43%

Vantage Balanced Fund 2.18 2.20 1.38% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.84% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 121.27 121.46 -2.92% 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 1.16 1.18 1.08% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,085.59 1,085.59 1.51% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.38 11.46 -1.13% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.36% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 119.64 120.24 -0.88% 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 1.01 1.01 1.27% 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 2,336.45 2,350.94 3.14% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 191.54 191.54 2.05% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.95 0.96 0.53% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 250.12 250.16 3.22% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 162.50 164.30 -0.40% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.13% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,474.41 8,578.59 1.60% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.11 1.11 3.35% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A ZENITH ASSETS MANAGEMENT LTD info@zenith-funds.com Web: www.zenith-funds.com; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 11.23 11.39 -39.53% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.36 12.48 2.67% Zenith Income Fund 20.87 20.87 8.38% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.87%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

5.95 118.46 51.87

-39.35% 0.14% 0.03%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.55 113.66 88.80

10.65 116.11 90.47

0.03% -3.09% 0.16%

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

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.22 7.13 14.70 12.74 147.89

4.26 7.21 14.80 12.94 149.89

5.37% -6.46% -1.65% 3.07% 3.01%

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 managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website and FMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

10.02.2018

Ik Osakioduwa The Real McCoy of Entertainment ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

32

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

COVER

Ik Osakioduwa

The Lord of the Air His exapnsive smile and the glitter in his eyes are some of his stri striking features. Always dressed to the nines, he has mastered m the genius of keeping his fans and audience asking for more. In all his endeavours, as he gives the best b and never settles for less. With his melliflous voice, handsome looks and talents, he is one man ma with a difference. Meet popular TV host and on-air-personality, IK Osakioduwa. o From hosting Big Brother Africa to Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, Vanessa Obioha writes Osakioduwa has recorded a good number of that Osakiodu milestones in his career m

F

rom the moment IK Osakioduwa walked Osakiod in, the atmosphere a changed to that of camaraderie. Looking camara a bit tire tired, he went around greeting everyone while everyon apologising for his lateness. ap His expansive smile and the glitter g gl itter in his eyes are some of h hi hiss striking features. feat Always dressed to the nines, he has mastere mastered the genius of keeping h of his fans and asking for more. aaudience udience as IIn n all his en endeavours, h hee gives th the best and n ever settle never settles for less.

W ith his m With melliflous voice, handsome looks and talents, he is one man with a difference. d Hid Hide original messag message Argu Arguably, IK is one of the mo of most sought-after master of ceremonies in the entertain th entertainment industry.

His charm an and mettlesome end mien have endeared him Niger to many Nigerians.

He was once called the real McCoy b veteran broadcaster, bro by Soni Irabor. He is one o of the few Irabor. media personalities who perso a to maintain have been able a streak of ssuccesses both in the med media and the entertain entertainment industry.

He can ssing, dance and crack jo jokes as well.

The broadcaster was firs first beamed to N igeria audience Nigerian w hen h when he joined tthe he rad radio station, R hyth FM as an Rhythm on-air personality in on-ai 2001 2001, shortly after h g hee graduated from tthe he U University of Lagos.

L ag His boss, F em Sowolu, who Femi was w as then the head o off p programming gave him the gav opportunity to o op p ccreate rea a crazy magnetic character m ag o air. on The magic

worked and IK, once a shy child became the Wild Child. On air, he was unpredictable and funny, drawing more listeners with his spontaneity.

Sowolu would later lead him to the path of greater opportunities when he suggested that he ahould audition for an Africa Magic TV show, Studio 53.

The TV host had no idea that few years later, the MultiChoice channel would give him a bigger platform that would beam him to millions of Africans in the continent.

He recalled with a tinge of nostalgia how he received the news of hosting the Big Brother Africa reality show in 2009.

IK said, “I was driving on this street (Adeola Odeku) when I got the call that I have been picked to host Big Brother Africa. I have to pull over, then started screaming. I put the call on mute so that they wouldn’t hear me scream. After I finished screaming, I unmuted the call and told them in a calm voice ‘That’s very nice. Thank you so much, very kind of you’.”

Yet, he was all nerves in the first show to the extent he didn’t think he was worth a second chance.

“I wasn’t expecting to be called back because I really bombed the first show.

It was a struggle. It’s nothing like what people imagine it is. That is why I have a lot of patience for presenters than most people do. Big Brother Africa is not only a live show, it is a huge show.

Not only are you live on TV, you are live to TV all over Africa. It’s a lot of people. They are all watching you live.

If you stutter they hear it, if you fall they see it, if you make a mistake they watch it and turn it to social media meme.

“While you are dealing with that, you only have one ear while you are on the show because one ear is blocked out with an earpiece for the producer/ director to be able to talk to you. While you are talking, you are listening. It’s actually multitasking because as you are talking, you are listening and also reading from the autocue machine while trying not to make your reading too obvious.

“My first day was a disaster. I got out there to face a maddening crowd, screaming they love you. (Well, they have been taught to love you). They are being nice and doing what they are supposed to do. But now that they are screaming, you can’t hear

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FEBRUARY 10, 2019 ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

COVER On TV, Temptations and Triumphs yourself speak over their screaming.

You can’t also hear the director so you are panicking. Nothing prepares you for that moment when all things hit you at the same time,” IK recounted.

Having regained his confidence, IK wormed his way into the hearts of many. He brought the wild and spontaneous radio personality and people loved him more. He would tease the contestants and often pull pranks on them to enliven the show. His savvy looks also added to his growing fame.

Quite a few expected that he would be the host of the rebranded Big Brother Nigeria when it returned in 2017.

However, lawyer and media personality who once wrote a column in THISDAY, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, was unveiled as the host.

“The danger is that people wanted presenters they are familiar with. I experienced such. But now I understand it. It is not that I’m better than Ebuka Obi-Uchendu but people just wanted to be familiar with the presenter,” IK added.

From being the host of Big Brother Africa, IK was once again chosen by MultiChoice to host its Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards. He has been a co-host since the inception of the awards.

In 2014, he veered into TV production, starting a talk show, Highlites with IK, on the Africa Magic channel. The show had a similar format to late night talk shows with commentary made on social issues and a good dosage of comedy.

“Highlites with IK was a yearly contract. It was a season programme that was renewed every year so it ran for three years and the channel who authorised the show, that is Africa Magic said they wanted to go a different direction for the year it stopped, 2017; which I totally understand because they are the market leader. They are creative and constantly adjusting and rejigging, re-evaluating the market.

“So they told me they wanted to pause the show, perhaps it may be revived eventually because they needed to rejig and they needed to berth some new shows. I don’t have a problem with that because it helped me to recalculate and look at the best way to do what I’m doing. Again, it gave us time to reassess the show: what were the pros, cons, what do people like most about the show,” he explained.

For that three year, the show ran, IK said he got positive feedback.

The OAP said: “The feedback was good. I think people loved it because

there was a spontaneous thing about the show. Humour was good. I think if there was any area I will say Africa Magic wanted to bring change was to make it a little more grassroots in its orientation, to reach out to more of the demographics that watch TV and consume the media.

“So we decided to think about it a lot more and comedy sells in Nigeria and humour was one of the greatest selling points of Highlites with IK. So we decided to extract all the humour and make it grassroots, fun, friendly, simple and no packaging to it. It’s user friendly, so we decided to give them a combination and over time we have been able to bring out content that we are giving the channel to make sure that we haven’t lost out on the talk show.”

For his new show which will start airing this February, IK is tilting towards comedy. He calls this one ‘Comedy Nites with IK’ which he described as a comedy club that will feature three comedians each episode.

About 13 episodes will be recorded for the first season.

Known for his great sense of humour, one wonders if comedian is one of the hats the presenter will like to wear someday.

“I am happy to be a funny presenter. I doff my hat to all the comedians who could do great comedy. I think it’s a hat I could wear.

I think I have some measure of the gift of a sense of humour. I’m not one for many labels. I’m quite content with being a funny presenter,” IK said.

Being popular also comes with its loads of troubles, particularly in a social media era. IK admitted that he has been a victim of fake news and is not quite surprised how people get infamous on social media, just to be famous.

He stated: “They take your views, smear it and rubbish it because it will get them views and likes. So they are willing to do it. I remembered sitting in my house, watching a show on TV – this was before I got married – and they showed a picture of me walking into a venue with a girl and they said it was IK’s fiancée. I don’t remember who the girl was. But I was holding her hand. She might have been a friendly person who said ‘hi’ and we shook hands for a second. But she was called my fiancée. Meanwhile, I was sitting at home with my real fiancée. They spread all sorts of rumours about me.

After a while you get thick-skinned.

You don’t get affected by it.”

My first day was a disaster. I got out there to face a maddening crowd, screaming they love you. (Well, they have been taught to love you). They are being nice and doing what they are supposed to do. But now that they are screaming, you can’t hear yourself speak over their screaming. You can’t also hear the director so you are panicking. Nothing prepares you for that moment when all things hit you at the same time Osakioduwa

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5 ) * 4 % ": t SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2019

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 10, 2019

POLITY

Jimi Agbaje’s Golden Silence Modupe Ogunbayo

“W

hy do you seemingly disappear after every election only to reappear just at the tail end of campaign primaries?” is one common poser often put across to Mr. Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje, the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos as he goes around conducting his business in that capacity.

People on the streets, campaign attendees, well-wishers and others not so inclined are wont to ask this particular question every time they meet him or are in proximity to his campaign materials. The question is obviously a mask for the subconsciously non-verbalised poser: “are you serious about your gubernatorial ambition?”

In many ways, silence could arise due to fears of reprisals if they speak up. Some are just born that way to be quiet about just everything even at great personal cost. Mr. Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje has not been quiet after every election he participated in due to these reasons. He first contested for the gubernatorial seat in 2007 with the Democratic Peoples’ Party (DPA). Prior to that election, he was offered lush incentives to contest under the banner of another more popular party. The party had a better chance at winning the election. It would also mean virtually no financial burden on him as the party was ready to bear his campaign costs. But, as the Americans say, “there is no free lunch anywhere.” This support came with “iron-strings” attached. The sort that would render him powerless in office as he would be micro-managed every step of the way. It is the sort of support that translates to Mr. Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje heavily filling the pockets of this “supporter” with huge sums of money monthly. Rippling out, this development is a sure way to hampering his development plans for Lagos. Mr. Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje pondered the development carefully. Finally, he decided to refuse the offer.

His rejection led to his exit from this group to forge his own career path with DPA. In doing so, he immensely sacrificed his nest egg, part of what he has laboured for all his life. He sold his bonds and stocks to raise the much-needed vital lifeblood of anything in life and especially Nigerian politics, money. He took a gamble with this because, unlike many inhabitants of Lagos, he already foresaw the entrenchment of an oligarchy if he did not act. As a core indigene of the state, he felt mandated to resist this onslaught. But, then, the odds were fraudulently stacked against him. He lost the election. Though he lost the polls, he is gratified he lost gallantly instead of winning but having terrible tales of woes to tell eventually. Mr. Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje stood up for something rather than fall for anything. He took a well-earned hiatus from the political space. This is well within his rights to do.

In 2015, he adjudged the timing was right. So, he entered the ring

Agbaje again to slug it out with other contenders, with the PDP. In 2007, there was a huge chunk of the electorate who are his devoted supporters. By 2015, that base has grown considerably larger as Lagosians bemusement with the political way of life in the state starts coalescing. Many of them want a change from the old order; they crave somebody with the moral courage and ethical independence to come to their aid. Upon the emergence of Mr. Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje, they fast embraced him. He was already within sights of victory when the usual political abracadabra happened again, and he was denied victory.

Elections are very expensive to run, especially in Nigeria. After sacrificing emotionally, psychologically and financially but robbed, Mr. Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje decided to focus on his business. It is not something he loves talking about often as he loathes undue publicity, but actually, Mr. Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje has several business organisations he oversees apart from the most famous pharmaceutical stores. He equally sits on the boards of many equally thriving companies and many of these were jostling for his attention. They could not be put aside.

But, the driving force behind why Mr. Olujimi Kolawole appears to not be in the face of Lagosians all the time after each election cycle

is deliberate. He believes in the various sublime forms associated with quietness. An age-old adage says that silence is golden. This is intended to signify the viability of keeping mum for the greater good of keeping the peace. Metaphorically, silence also share a feminine trait, it can be pregnant too. At such times, one keeps silent as a pointed foretelling of deeper or esoteric information which will soon unfold. At other times, silence is a form of dignified communication, a veiled allusion to a deliberate and sustained inclination not to speak up as a form of higher integrity code. Mr. Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje subscribes to all these numerous forms of communication in his intentional act of silence.

It is not a cowardly silence. Like any wise tactician, he keeps his peace till events and circumstances mandate his comment or action. He does not just speak just for the fun of hearing his own voice. During the 2015 campaigns, Mr. Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje protested the payment of toll on the Lekki-Epe expressway because the tollgate is untenable, as it is standing on a pre-existing road. The PDP governorship candidate however, disclosed that the toll payment on the Lekki-Ikoyi inner bridge would subsist, because the construction of the bridge started from scratch by the concessionaire company. He stated this aim at every public for a where this matter was raised.

On Feb. 1, 2018, the Lekki Concession Company effected a hundred per cent increase in some tolls collected at the Lagos-Ajah highway and the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge, jolting millions of residents. A protest was organized.

Many people in Lagos state expected Mr. Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje to be at the forefront of this agitation since he was adamantly against it. He did not. Acting right, for Mr. Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje, under the circumstances is not necessarily following the voice of the crowd but that of his inner convictions. He did not get involved in that protest otherwise; it will strongly be misconstrued as a way of settling cheap political scores with the outgoing governor because he was robbed of victory at the election. Many would fail to the objectivity of his action so, he bowed out. At the opportune time, he re-emerged to make the right sort of political presence by contesting the national chairmanship of the PDP. This abhorrence of needless attention is why Mr. Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje has been undertaking several foundations, charities as well as many successful business organisations apart from his famous “one-chemist shop” without attention. In reality, Mr. Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje is actually, a totally publicity-shy person. It is the will to stand on the right side of history and emancipate Lagos from political landlords that propelled him into klieg lights. Normally, he is very private.

Making the right and appropriate pronouncements at the correct time is the hallmark of Mr. Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje. “You just do not make noise just for the sake of it. I do not abuse the voice that I have on a whim or for cheap popularity. My response to issues is measured and genuinely though-out. After the people of this state vote me in as the next governor, Lagosians and indeed, Nigerians, would soon see how so,” he said.

–––Full Disclosure- Modupe Ogunbayo is the spokesperson, Jimi Agbaje Campaign Organisation

Buhari’s Financial Integrity as Electoral Capital Sufuyan Ojeifo

F

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo on January 30, this year, at the annual business lecture of the Lagos Island Club delivered by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, called out the president of Nigeria and candidate of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari, on the issue of integrity. Obasanjo sarcastically, in a veiled reference to Buhari, dismissed what he described as his “sanctimonious veneer of bogus integrity.”

The world knows where Obasanjo stands on the issue of presidential power politics in 2019.

The true position is that while his support for Atiku is negotiated, his derision for Buhari is writ large. In his characteristic disposition of openly criticizing his successors in office, he had last year written and caused to be published in the media a letter in which he accused Buhari of nepotism and incompetence. Remarkably, he has continued on the trajectory of making snide remarks about Buhari’s administration as occasions demand.

Buhari Such remarks coming from Obasanjo carry lightly the pillaging of our public treasury by some approbatory weight simply because of his successive administrations. But he is particupedigree as former military head of state and larly enamored of the Buhari persona. On this former president; even though his self-imposed particularly day, he had spoken glowingly of role of a moral compass has been variously the financial integrity of the Daura-born leader questioned and put down due to his doubtful in a way that touched my sensibilities in this moral credentials in office. His administration season of self doubt and national misunderfrom 1999 to 2007 recorded a number of blights standing. that have made it impossible for him to occupy To be sure, he does not engage in a blanket a moral high ground from which to speak defence of the Buhari administration. He only magisterially about the perceived shortcomings defends Buhari as an individual. This much of others. But trust Obasanjo! His claim to selfhe validated in our telephone discussions as he righteousness - the holier-than-thou attitude - is picked out some officials of the administration legendary. and the monuments they have either built or While I was ruminating on Obasanjo’s offare building to madness in parts of the country, the-cuff remarks about Buhari’s “sanctimonious particularly Lagos in the name of multi-billion veneer of bogus integrity” later in the day the naira estates and other items of property. When Lagos Island Club lecture held, I received a call I told him what Obasanjo had said at the Island from a friend in Lagos who is so passionate Club lecture, he fired back: “Have you been to about the Nigeria Project. He does not take

the Hilltop Mansion of Obasanjo in Abeokuta and the Presidential Library? We must question the source of the money with which the multi-billion naira edifice was constructed.”

My friend also hinted at the legend of the hilltop mansion of former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, in Minna as well as a few other known investments of some of our former leaders and concluded that they have helped to validate the near pristine position of Buhari’s integrity capital in the midst of the rot.

He spoke of the simple residence of Buhari in Daura and possibly the simple one in Kaduna while saying he was not sure he has any in Abuja. He was of the view that even if he has one in Abuja, it would not be as palatial as they come for former Nigerian presidents.

Interestingly, he had challenged me to counter his narratives. I considered his statement as rhetoric. He said that he had made up his mind to cast his vote for Buhari even if he ended up being the only one that would do so on February 16. According to him, “there must be a new attitude, a new narrative about exemplary leadership. Buhari is certainly not a saint, but he has very largely demonstrated capacity for propriety and accountability in public office.

With the support of the vast majority of Nigerians, the anti-graft war will be rejigged to gain firmer and clearly-defined tractions. That is my reasonable expectation from a Buhari second term in office.”

I quite understood the drift and the crux of his argument that continues to resonate in my consciousness days after. It is reflective of his belief that Buhari represents the last man standing in the community of honest leaders that has become almost extinct in Nigeria’s governance architecture and model. And, because there is a dearth of men of integrity, a manifestation of one or two archetypical leaders in the matrix of government produces some misconception, misconstruction and misrepresentation of character traits in the praxis of leadership interrogation

and appreciation. That is the tragedy that afflicts the Buhari rare leadership example.

Therefore, in order to deconstruct Obasanjo’s verdict that seemingly tended to undercut or discount Buhari’s integrity as an electoral capital, it is important to indict the obvious context of intense partisan frenzy in which the magisterial declaration was made. It is in this milieu of the nation’s cloak-and-dagger politics that I have chosen to attempt to join my friend to hold up the white flag of integrity that bears the name and imprimatur of Buhari for public scrutiny. The basis for the scrutiny should find anchorage in some comparison of his individuality with his predecessors’ individualities in the presidential saddle.

Surely, none in our recent history will be able to compare with Buhari’s Spartan leadership that feeds his revulsion for financial corruption and unconscionable acquisition of wealth through plundering and pillaging of public treasury. I have advisedly qualified Buhari’s integrity in the context of management of our nation’s financial resources to mean financial integrity because that is fundamentally the main purpose of governmental exertions: to manage the nation’s resources for the wellbeing of the citizens in the sphere of provision of infrastructure and other facilities.

Buhari, not being a saint, ye, being only human, may not be able to extricate himself completely from such charges as nepotism, for instance, which is a variant of corruption, his involvement or non-involvement in this and other manifestations of potential improper conducts can be explicated in a matter of degrees. Regardless, he will always be disposed to defend his actions.

Apart from a situation in which a leader’s hand is caught in the cookie jar of financial fraud, the other charges that verge on other variants of corruption can only be subjective and/or qualified.

Ojeifo contributed this piece from Abuja.

Continued online www.thisdaylive.com

FEBRUARY 10, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

High Life Agony of Celebrity Baby Mamas...

As Many Are Left to Take Care of their Kids Alone For many women, having a child of their own is akin to an intermittent burst of sunshine on a grey day. But away from the hippy, colourful Instagram posts and the bold fronts, raising a child alone in today’s world is no picnic. It is hard for all mothers, even those who desperately wanted children, but harder for single mothers on low incomes. They can’t take a rest unless the child falls asleep. There is no one to share the enchanting moments and tantrums of children with; and, worse of all, no one to reassure them that they’re doing just fine.

As much as the blessing of a child outweighs the tough stuff, single mothers worry when their kids are ill, sorrow when they’re unhappy; and are protectively furious when a bigger kid knocks them over at school or at play.

This is a reality that is dawning on a lot of female celebrities many of who became single parents due to early pregnancy, divorce, the death of a spouse, outright desertion, desperation, and in many cases, a matter of personal decision. The latter two categories are those who believe they have the wherewithal to cater for their child alone or those who feel too independent to be under a man. Deep down, or when in their own private corners, especially when no one is looking, they are groaning; things are hard. They knew it was going to be hard to raise a child alone, but nobody talks about how difficult it is or would be. In this article, we take a deep, introspective look into the lifestyle of Nigeria’s famous single mothers, their challenges and how they draw strength from their situations.

Ask Dabota Lawson, Ehizogie Ogbebor, the CEO Sayaveth Interior, they would confirm this...

61 with LANRE ALFRED 08076885752

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

Ten Years After... Timi Alaibe Remembers Wife, Alaere Bittersweet memories of a beloved enchantress As family and friends of Alaere Alaibe, commemorate her tenth year of demise, the life they shared and memories they made together, unroll like a winding road stretched out for miles to a small cafe at the end of the isle, the proverbial rendezvous with an untimely death.

The meadows sigh coolly with the wind to assert her place above the earth although she lies six-feet underground, where sharp sand mingle with bones and rotted flesh of the interred. It’s the 10th year since she died but her beloved friends and family will never forget her.

They remember the evenings they spent sharing war stories and fun memes. Secrets spilled and memories cradled together as they sought new worlds. All these are a thing of the past now; last month, January, marks the 10th anniversary of the celebrated fashion buff’s demise.

Every January brings back sad memories for the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe, who lost his wife, Alaere to lung cancer in January 2009. She left behind five kids, her husband and thousands of women who benefitted from her benevolence and

philanthropic activities especially through her Family Re-orientation Education and Empowerment (FREE), an NGO designed to help the women of the Niger Delta region resolve the development dilemma confronting them and also help them become literate and empowered.

Last January was no less a sad reminder of her passing for Timi.

But friends and family members who are strongly advocating that he remarries especially now that his kids are becoming adults constantly console Timi.

However, the Faculty of Management Sciences, Rivers State University, also has a 500-capacity library built in honour of Augustina Alaere Alaibe.

No simple or ornamental tribute could capture an essence of Alaere’s extraordinary appeal. Men were swayed by her beauty and poise, but her hold on women was even more phenomenal; she stoked intense feelings of gratitude and contentment in most people privileged enough to have made her acquaintance during a short spell on earth.

One decade since her sad departure from the mortal world, memories of Alaere assail her loved ones like a bittersweet

Alaibe

gust of cold breeze after a discomforting heatstroke. For the umpteenth time, family and friends of late Alaere smarted from the pain of recollection as they were forced to relive the humanity and magnificence that characterized her short spell on earth with them.

Bolanle Austen-Peters Celebrates at 50

Austen-Peters

When age 50 hit Bolanle Austen-Peters, it didn’t come with the baggage of shrivelled skin and greyed mane. Rather, it met a woman whose self-esteem is high up there and whose smile has retained the allure and shine of a life of contentment. In spite of being an art-lover, BAP, as she is popularly

known, shuns the limelight. But it was the svelte beauty’s 50thbirthday days back and friends and associates did not allow her to escape into her shells or bury herself in work as she was wont to.

Still smarting from the unfortunate deletion of her Instagram page by hackers, she had created another where she announced her birthday; “(I am) 50 today and thanking God for His mercies. My IG was maliciously deleted so this is my new handle. Thank you all for being part of my journey. This post opened a floodgate of good wishes from followers, fans and celebrities who have encountered her since she returned to Nigeria to set up Terra Kulture in 2003.

Commenting on her birthday post, a superstar actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde expressed surprise at BAP’s age and wished her more wisdom and grace. BAP later hosted friends to an intimate dinner where the shouts of ‘Life begins at 50’ rend the air.

She also went to church for a thanksgiving service and had a poolside party afterwards.

A law graduate of the University of Lagos, she went on to earn a master’s degree in international law from the

London School of Economics and Political Science. BAP, whose father is the legendary legal titan, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), founded Terra Kulture, an educational and recreational organization in 2003 to promote the richness and diversity of Nigerian languages, arts and culture. And she is in eternal awe of Tayo Aderinokun, the late former MD of Guaranty Trust Bank, who brought into her Terra Kulture dream and helped fund it. Now, Terra Kulture is regarded as the quintessential cultural hub for the protection of Nigerian culture.

Aderinokun may be dead, but BAP has not been short of benefactors. She found favour before the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, thanks to her good friend from UNILAG, Kazeem Adeniji, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice who deployed his closeness to the governor to swing a lot of deals her way. BAP is the brains behind Wakaa! The Musical, the first Nigerian musical to make it to the global stage; the Ebola movie, 93 Days starring among other top stars, American actor, Danny Glover; and Saro: The Musical, which was her first musical venture.

Perilous Slide: Why Young Ladies Are Killing Themselves for Big Bum Among the in-crowd now, the craze for the big bum and flat tummy is the fad.

Everybody wants a jaw-dropping, attentioncommanding derriere nay shape but not everybody can afford the services of a certified surgeon thus necessitating recourse to the cheap ones who are not entirely qualified for such. While there are skilled doctors trained for the high-risk cosmetic surgeries, quack doctors have also infiltrated the practice, leaving casualties in their wake.

The recent being a Lagos-based cosmetic surgeon identified as Dr Anu who is currently on the run after she carried out cosmetic surgery on a client, resulting in her death. Anu is the owner of Med Contour

which prides itself as body contour and cosmetic surgery specialists. Ordinarily, Dr Anu usually invites foreign doctors to help her out with the surgeries.

However, when a patient named Nne approached her for a Brazilian Bum Lift, liposuction and fat transfer on December 31, 2018, the doctor decided to personally carry out the procedure. It would end up being a tragic decision.

Accompanied to the hospital by her younger sister, Nne reportedly slipped into a coma but the doctor did not raise any alarm.

It took Nne’s sister who was anxious that the procedure had dragged on for too long to find out what happened as Dr Anu battled

to revive her. After raising the alarm, the lifeless Nne was taken to a hospital in Lekki before being moved to LUTH where she died eventually on Sunday, 3rd February.

According to doctors, fat had entered her lungs causing a blockage and subsequent complications. On hearing of her patient’s death, Dr Anu disappeared into thin air and has still not been seen. Interestingly, Nne is not the only one to have died in the process of reshaping their body; many young ladies have passed on while many are bearing lifelong impairments.

Yet, this would not serve as a deterrent to those wannabes who are eager to do body surgery.

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HIGHLIFE

Peter Obiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Love for Diamonds

Rabiuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; s BUA Celebrates 30th Anniversary Since the beginning of the New Year, it has been non-stop celebration in the offices of BUA Group, the wholly indigenous conglomerate owned by the billionaire businessman, Abdulsamad Rabiu. This year, BUA Group turns 30. While he is not given to outlandish celebrations, Samad knows the intricacies of throwing a ball that would remain on the lips of guests for a long time, which was what he did last Thursday. That day, staff, guests, associates and the different publics of BUA were feted at an elaborate dinner, gala and awards ceremony tagged â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A Night of Excellence: 30 Years of Unlocking Opportunities at the Banquet Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. Everything that makes a party grand was in abundance â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the entertainment and hospitality were second to none. There were also plenty of cheers to the staff and distributors of the company that went home with different categories of prizes.

BUA Group started in the late 80s as a private company specializing in the importation and marketing of iron and steel, shipping, port concessions, real estate and agricultural and industrial chemicals among others. Over the years, the company has evolved into an

octopoidal conglomerate with interests in a wide range of sectors including oil and gas and shipping. As a further testament of his business acumen, Samad recently completed a $1billion dollar ultra modern BUA Cement Plant at Okpella, Edo State.

At the inauguration ceremony of the three million metric tonnes per annum capacity plant, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The construction of this plant is, of course, a big boost to the Nigerian economy. It will provide thousands of direct and indirect jobs both for skilled and unskilled workers from the commencement of the construction of the plant to the smooth running of the operations process.â&#x20AC;?

According to the VP, if the level of production is obtained, it would boost Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s self-sufficiency in cement and her export capacity. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am happy to note that for the construction of power production facility for this plant, the BUA group has used the most modern and efficient gas turbine which combines low and economically value cost with a very high degree of reliability.â&#x20AC;? Frequently likened to a champ and sometimes, a business genius, Abdulsamad, a citizen of humanity and patriot whose commitment to national

A

Rabiu

and economic stability is beyond doubt naturally depicts the image of a modernday titan of industry. Having recorded a series of remarkable firsts in the highly competitive world of local and international commerce, there are more worlds for him to conquer. And Nigeria and Africa are better for it. Indeed, he has created a legendary brand in BUA, which is a blessing. Rather than submit to the rigours and pressures of commerce, he towers in excellence thus creating a powerhouse that Nigeria nay Africa is proud of.

A Tale of Two Brothers... Between Segun and Jim Agbaje

Jimi Agbaje

Segun Agbaje

It is not for a lack of creative and catchy ideas that the governorship campaign of Jimi Agbaje is being described in many quarters as blasĂŠ and boring; it is majorly an issue of funding. The Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Democratic Party, PDP, candidateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major headache is lack of money. At a period when even the national body of the party is in dire need of financial support given the non-availability of loose money as was the case in previous election seasons, Jimi has been running from pillar to post

for money to prosecute his ambition. Yet, it is cul-de-sac everywhere he turns. Even those who have are scared to support overtly or covertly for fear of being witchhunted. With those channels blocked, or so, political stakeholders and observers have been asking why Jimi is not getting the desired financial support from his younger brother, Segun, who is managing director and chief executive officer of one of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest financial institutions, Guaranty Trust Bank.

Insiders are swearing by everything

they hold sacred that Segun does not believe in his brotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ambition any longer, especially with the political dynamics of Lagos State, and as such, is not supporting financially in any way. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even though Segun was not MD in 2007 when Jimi first contested on the platform of the DPA (Democratic Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Alliance), he stood by his brother. Jimiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign that year remains one of the most sophisticated and far-reaching in the annals of electioneering in Lagos State,â&#x20AC;? recalled a source. Segun effectively became MD of GTB in 2011 but Jimi did not contest that year on the premise that the incumbent then, Babatunde Raji Fashola, deserved a second term. Jimi came out again in 2015 on the PDP platform but lost to a newbie, Ambode. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Segun was there for him then.

He supported him with all that he had and mobilised his friends and billionaire associates, believing that once his brother became governor, automatically, the account of the state government would move to the GTB,â&#x20AC;? said the source.

However, things didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pan out as planned. When the new administration came in, the state account was moved to Access Bank despite the pressure and propaganda mounted by GTB. It is in view of this that Segun has learnt to put his money where his mouth is. He doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t involve himself or the bank in politics.

side from his two-term tenure as a former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi came to a different kind of national acclaim with his famed frugal lifestyle.

Though a billionaire before he even ventured near politics, the vice presidential candidate of the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Democratic Party, PDP, once told a gathering of majorly young Nigerians that he owned just a wristwatch and which he has had for 17 years because â&#x20AC;&#x153;the purpose of a watch is to keep time. Why would I keep a watch at home? Whose time is it keeping?â&#x20AC;?

The claim would later be punctured as images of several wristwatches he had worn over the years emerged but nobody doubted his frugality considering other tales of how of he reduced his escort vehicles as governor and travelled with just one aide.

Despite this public posturing of frugality however, his Calabarborn wife,, Margaret (nĂŠe Brownson Usen), is an unabashed fashionista.

Apart from her taste for high-street fashion, Margaret is a diamond addict whose love for bling trumps every other fashion fetishes of hers. Her collection of exotic pieces sets her streets apart from her peers. When it comes to buying her favourite diamond accessories, no amount is too much for Margaret to spend. And she loves to play with exotic gemstones built on solid precious metals. From aquamarine to emerald, sapphire to topaz and even Italian corals, she stocks in the best craftsmanship. Not one to settle for basic gold jewellery like the regular society lady, she offers a far more discerning exhibition of high-end, well-crafted pieces that command attention immediately she walks into a hall. Sighted at a recent event organized for women

by PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, with all his wives looking resplendent in catchy outfits and accessories, it was Margaretâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gemstone-encrusted neckpiece that stole the show. The tight-fitted choker sat very conspicuously on her neck, effortlessly complementing the multicoloured Ankara all the PDP ladies wore. Regardless of her hubbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pious posturing, Margaret revels in her gaudy world of diamond collection.

Silenced in Plain Sight: Pitiful Fate of Deputy Bank Chiefs Ă&#x2019;ĂŁ Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2022;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x152;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;ĂŁ Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x153;

Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039; Ă?Ă&#x161;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17E;ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Life is a drag to many deputy bank chiefs, in Nigeria. They are the negligible indices in the scheme of things. The quiet characters whose industry and worth are forever smothered in the raucous din of over-celebrated and publicityhungry superiors. Thus the title: Deputy Managing Director (DMD), rankles many deputy bank chiefs, like rusty handcuffs

on the wrists of severely misunderstood and underappreciated patriots. Like most deputy governors in Nigeria, Deputy Managing Directors of banks are not known. They are mere figure heads.

People donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t reckon with them. Thus they are always quiet. Their superiors always take the shine off them. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really sad. No wonder some people would say

itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better to be a branch manager than to be the DMD of a bank. Have you heard about the DMD of Skye Bank, FCMB, GTBank, Wema Bank, First Bank, Diamond bank before? Certainly not!

This is because they are kept as stooges or Personal Assistants to the Managing Director in every bank.

Mrs. Obi

FEBRUARY 10, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

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HIGHLIFE

From Lagos To Mali: The Footprints of Entrepreneur Extraordinaire, Tony Elumelu

Elumelu

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc last Monday commenced full banking operations in Mali, extending its footprint 20 African countries.

Industry is dew-pearled, the future looms on wondrous straits and fortune flits

in auspicious circles around Tony Elumelu, whose daring dreams and exploits birthed UBA. Since he pooled his nerves and capital to establish what has become a formidable business and stakeholder in Nigeria’s banking sector, Tony has cause to rejoice.

Looking back indeed, helps put things in perspective; for instance, it helped him and partners appreciate their abiding luck.

It also helped them understand how worse things could have been, since he started UBA years ago. As you read, the founding team of the bank, are in a joyous mood. They are excited about how far they have gone. The bank, which also has global operations in the United States, United Kingdom, and France, had Ibrahim Keita, President of the Republic of Mali, at its latest launch in Bamako.

“Tony promised it and he did it,” the president said while speaking at the opening ceremony — referring to UBA Group’s chairman, Tony Elumelu, who had promised to bring the bank to Mali, years ago.

Keita also called on “African financial

institutions to follow the developmental philosophy of the bank and its chairman in growing infrastructure, deepening financial inclusion and being catalysts for eradicating poverty in Africa”.

In his response, Elumelu said, “UBA is Africa’s global bank, a leading pan-African brand, committed to democratising banking on the continent”.

“We are progressive partners for African corporates, institutions and governments whilst also helping to fulfil the financial aspirations of individual customers. Our train has finally arrived in Mali. We are here for mutual progress; we are here for shared prosperity,” he said.

Kennedy Uzoka, the group managing director, UBA Plc, expressed his enthusiasm on the group’s operation in Mali.

“We are in Mali to offer world class financial services that will surpass the expectations of our customers. I assure you that UBA is poised to deliver excellent services to the entire population of Mali,” he

said. Alhassane Sissoko, CEO, UBA Mali, told customers that the Bank is optimistic about the competitiveness of its franchise in Mali with strong potentials for accelerated market share gain over the near to medium term.

“The advent of UBA in Mali marks a turning point in the history of the Malian banking sector with new opportunities for businesses and individuals. We will always have in mind, the progress of our customers,” Sissoko said.

The event ended with President Keita wishing UBA well as he cut the ribbon to open the doors to the newest Bank in Mali.

“I wish UBA Mali a very good banking life and that their entrance into Mali will expand our banking sector even more,” he said.

Also present at the launch were Soumeilou Maiga, the prime minister of Mali; Adama Sangare, the Mayor of Bamako; Boubou Cisse, the minister of economy and finance; Harouna Touré, the minister of digital economy and communications, and many other dignitaries.

Nigerian High Society Honours Keem Belo-Osagie and Siblings At Mum’s Burial Boardroom guru and Corporate titan, Hakeem Belo-Osagie, recently lost his mother and celebrated the obsequies with a final outing party in Lagos.

Belo-Osagie’s mother, Mrs Maria Iyakekhue Belo-Osagie (née Bazuaye), died on Monday, January 14, 2019, at the ripe age of 89. She was the widow of Professor Tiamiyu Belo-Osagie, renowned medical practitioner and long-running gynaecologist to several first families, who died in 2005 at the age of 81.

The funeral rites for the BeloOsagie’s matriarch, kicked off on Thursday, 31 January, with a Christian Wake-keep. On Friday, 1 February, the funeral service took place at Ebony Vaults and Garden, Ikoyi, in accordance with Catholic injunction.

This was then followed by the Interment at the same venue. The event climaxed with a grand reception at Habour Point, off Ahmadu Bello, Victoria Island.

The reception party was sumptuous and was graced by the

high and mighty within the Nigerian social establishment. society.

The deceased is survived by four children - Hakeem and Myma Bell-Osagie, Sheri (a lawyer and corporate Amazon, who is married to Folarin, the son of the late FRA Williams), Rilwan Belo-Osagie (former Managing Director of FSDH Group), Lateef Belo-Osagie (the managing director of Hackett Nigeria Limited and chairman of Western Pacific Communications Limited); and many grandchildren.

Prominent among the dignitaries who attended the classy burial ceremony were: Governor Godwin Obaseki, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, Aliko Dangote, Tunde Folawiyo, Femi Otedola, Tony Elumelu, Wale Babalakin SAN, Hajia Bola Shagaya, Senator Daisy Danjuma, Adenike Makinde, Angela Adebayo, Kashim Immam, Bimbo Alase, Sisi Modupe Sagoe, Pelebo Banigo, Atedo and Dundun Peterside, Chief Sonny Asemota, Chief Johnson Oyewole Fasawe,

Belo-Osagie

Sena Anthony, Asue Ighodalo, Alake Dare, Sisi Abah Folawiyo, Bisi Abiola, Atinuke Saro, Fatima Adegunwa, Bashorun J.K. Randle, Yemi Cardoso, Anana Bode Emmanuel, Folake

Adeniyi, Afsat Oshinusi, Odein and Awuneba Ajumogobia, Maiden Ibru, Moji Awosika, Kayode and Bimbo Williams, Pamela Jibowu and many other dignitaries.

Not Yet Uhuru: Corruption Case Against Ex-Minister Akinjide Resumes Mar 6 When Goodluck Jonathan was president, certain men and women robbed Nigeria silly. They were like oars in every man’s boat. Like crooked thieves with hearts of steel, they had their fingers in every pie. The roll call of these characters seem endless and as the incumbent administration’s anticorruption fight intensifies, Nigeria stands to witness more shocking disclosures.

Interestingly, however, Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has

adjourned the trial of Olajumoke Akinjide, a former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, to March 6, 2019.

Akinjide along with Senator Ayo Adeseun and a Peoples Democratic Party stalwart, Chief Olanrewaju Otiti, are facing trial on an amended 24-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N650 million.

At the February 6, Akinjide’s counsel, Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, moved a motion asking the court to release his client’s international passport in order for her to

be able to travel to the United Kingdom, for her daughter’s wedding.

The application was granted by the court.

Counsel for Adeseun and Otiti, also brought an application before the court, seeking that the Judge should recuse himself from the trial on the grounds that he was a former employee of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and would, therefore, be biased.

Consequently, Justice Hassan fixed March 6, to rule on the application.

The defendants were re-arraigned before Justice Hassan on January 16, 2018, on the amended charges.

A prosecution witness, Usman Zakari, had told the court in his evidence that the defendants collected the money at the Dugbe branch of Fidelity Bank in Ibadan, Oyo State, on the standing instruction of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani AlisonMadueke.

Investigations by the EFCC had revealed that the N650 million was part of a total sum of N23 billion, which

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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 ˾ FEBRUARY 10, 2019

LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

The Duke – Let Us Pray What is left now is for us to pray as the elections approach. As usual, Nigerians are predicting the worse and before you know it, the Igbo will start running back to the East. Although this is not such a bad occurrence because amongst others, it would reduce the incidence of traffic congestion in Lagos. But we should as a people after years of this our democracy begin to be mature in our approach to these things. The combatants are ready after traversing across the length and breadth of the nation promising and derailing each other all in a bid to secure the support of the people as they aspire

once again to forge serial incompetence on us. You see, I as a person really do not have confidence in any of the candidates but as a true democrat that day, I will dust my PVC, wake up early and go and cast my vote knowing full well that the vote just may not count and even if it does, whoever wins will just be coming in to continue in the senselessness that we have been witnessing. You see, in a speech I gave at the last Afang summit I had stated very clearly that this contest was a contest of the lesser evil. What we are seeing is the continued dance of masqueraders. The same players recycling

themselves in borrowed robes singing the same old tunes and accusing and counter accusing each other and the rest of us jumping to take either side. We have also seen a measly attempt at creating a third force but unfortunately as it is our style, throwing up a pack of jokers. Anyways, let us all kneel down and pray for peace, transparency to all the things we worship from the scared halls of the traditional churches, to the gold laced halls of the prosperity preachers, from the shrines of the juju people to the communes of Guru Maraji. If for nothing else, we deserve the peace. Thank you.

Yakubu

Osinbajo

Obanikoro

Joshua

Duke

PROF YEMI OSINBAJO AND THE TALE OF BALAAM

come to Shomolu for a drink. No weapon sharpened……… you know the end of the statement, my hand is paining me jo. Bye.

room Hub both influential online platforms on the ETI OSA House of Representatives contest.

Firstly, when I got the invite the question on my mind was why ETI Osa and why just the House of Reps contest? One would have thought that the local government elections being the closest to the people would have interested the organizers but what is my own, did they come to ask me to contribute to the debate? So I just carry my big head go and listen. In attendance were such big political heavyweights like Azuka Ogujiuba, Olisa Adibua, Eunice Efole and Dotun Olakunri. The contestants were Banky W, the actor with the very beautiful wife, Ibrahim Obanikoro scion of the Obanikoro political dynasty, one woman like that, one man in black suit for PDP and one boy that came with Okada representing one party like that. As we entered, they gave us pack with puff puff inside and pure water and then we were asked to switch off our phones and that the debate would be conducted in pidgin. Ok, no problem. Banky being a music star was looking very fine o. Shave his head and beard and was on point. Wore two neck chains and beautiful native, I sure say na Mai Atafo sew am. Then the woman dress like the socialite she was, with gold accessories jingling and jangling everywhere and with English, a mix of pidgin and Yoruba combined to form a new language. The PDP guy be like those lawyers you see hanging around the court looking for who to bail, while the last boy looked like they just begged him to join so that number will be complete. Anyways, the contest was between Banky and Ibro. Banky was first off the bat with well-spoken English, good camera angles and strong positional play, spoke very fluently and was very poetic.

You know the kind gibberish, him brother Fela Durotoye dey talk, that was Banky, talk up and down with no substance. Say time has come, they will not agree again, he no get godfather, he will do it and he will turn Eti osa to Hollywood. As a music star he understands the issues that face the people as ticket buyers for him show don reduce, he knows just how people are suffering and that he is the person that will deliver the Local Government. For

Ibro that is Obaniokoro. He was the most experienced man on the podium, he is very close to Remi Tinubu and his father the great Senator Obanikoro was his godfather and Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu was his grand godfather. He had visited all the Islands in Eti Osa and has provided electricity in Takwa Bay although the ‘light’ never reach the people houses but the pole is there so he didn’t understand why he was even standing beside these inexperienced people. Mbok by the time he finished speaking, the small chops they had given me had finished so I had no real reason to stay again so I stood up and left. Well, I thank BBC and its partners for this show. God will bless them. When are they coming to Shomolu after all we too have candidates, abi?

Mbok, I am not sure if it is spelt, Balaam or Balak. But whatever the spelling is, let me tell you the story I heard immediately the news of the Vice President’s helicopter crash broke. A very brilliant person had quickly tied the VP’s air mishap which we have been told is the second in seven months to the biblical story of the prophet who was sent by the king to go curse the children of Israel. Against the Lord’s wishes, he embarked on his journey and in the process, the mule he was riding fell and as he tried to smoother the mule, it spoke to him. It admonished him and reminded him of God’s warning not to curse the children of Israel. This very brilliant writer compared this episode to that of the VP who he described as a wise and noble virtuous man and who was going around against the wishes of God to spread ‘lies’ and ‘curses’ against the children of Nigeria. This according to the writer is the reason the mule in this case, helicopter came down. He ended the gist by warning the VP to be very careful and retrace his footsteps.

Well, to me this na literature in English. The VP has a job to do and no helicopter or mule or horse should stop him. He has shown he is a trooper and as such must earn our respect and we really have no choice but to reward him in the polls. It will really be very tragic if after all this jumping out of helicopters and doing somersault in the dusty plains of Kabba, we now reject him in the polls. He has shown that he is a hero, the type we see in Rambo movies or how else do you explain his jumping on another helicopter to continue with his mission of ‘cursing’ Nigerians? Me enter another Helicopter? God forbid! Campaign done end o. we will be campaigning on Facebook and NTA. Anybody wey no go vote for me because he no see my face, make he enter helicopter. So to my lord, the Executive Vice President of the Federal Republic, I say well done and God’s protection as you continue with this your arduous task. God will protect you for us and not let us hear any bad news until the appointed time he has kept for you. Well done bro, when you are less busy

THE ATIKU PROSTITUTES AND WITCHES Mbok, come and see demographics. Come and see the new electoral college that has emerged for this our candidate: prostitutes and white witches. I swear even the APC did not see this one coming. The Atiku campaign is really not leaving any stone unturned as they aim at seizing power. I have just seen a news report that over 10,000 prostitutes have offered their services for the campaign. Now the first question that comes to mind is that, is this as a reward or support of a very good client? Mbok, make una no abuse or beat me o, it is only just natural to think this way or why would they now be supporting a candidate who has not supported their business? Let the Atiku campaign come out with a statement of their true position regarding this very influential and powerful political grouping and the reason they think they got this critical endorsement. You see every business or pressure grouping is taking sides either as reward or as an investment in this election.

For me I am thinking that it is either Atiku or Obi being a strong customer must have rallied this grouping to their side. Kai, this election, nothing we no go see. As we were just finishing digesting this one, another grouping this time white witches have come out to give their own endorsement. White witches, me I will not say anything before they render me impotent so I will just keep quiet on this one.

But as my father used to say, ‘show me your friends and I will tell you who you are’, this Atiku government if it emerges will really be exciting at least these two groupings should provide cabinet members for their support abi.

Laugh want kill me. Atikuuuuuu oya come and confess o, are you a customer?

BBC DEBATE – OBANIKORO TAKES IT So I was invited to the debate organized by the BBC in conjunction with Pulse and Media

ANTHONY JOSHUA GLOWS Mbok if you have not seen the latest advert from Globacom or is it Glo starring this proud Nigerian Heavyweight Boxer, Anthony Joshua then you should hurry up and go see it. Whoever wrote that script is a genius. The pride of being a Nigerian, the tenacity, the energy that is a Naija were on display. When I finished watching it, I smiled with pride and started sending it to all who cared to watch.

Forget that the firm was trying to plug its products and services, the message in the promo was so powerful especially at this time of national disappointment. Anthony Joshua for those of you who do not have TV is the world boxing heavyweight champion, a true Nigerian hero who has triumphed over serial adversity. The script played very beautifully with his struggles and emergence, while interspersing it with the Nigerian never say die spirit. I think we should all watch it and be inspired. It is not totally lost, Nigeria is a massively wonderful construct with some of the most brilliant people. God bless Nigeria.

DONALD DUKE – WELCOME, BUT… The courts have declared him the winner of whatever it was they did in their party.

They have even asked professor Jerry Gana to pay him N500,000 as cost. Well, for me this

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FEBRUARY 10, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

LOUD WHISPERS

Obi

na just an exercise in comedic distractions. So two weeks to a major election, a ‘serious’ party was just resolving the matter of its presidential candidate and with no real structures on the ground or national spread will now be carrying themselves to the polls hoping that people will vote for fine face. na wa.

So last Saturday someone reached out and said he wanted me to speak with Donald Duke. I quickly agreed o, because while he was governor at a meeting in the state house, I carried the files for my Oga for life Albert Okumagba, we were served some delicious Afang. Since then, I have been looking for that Afang and although madam is my friend, each time we chat and talk reach that side, she will use style and dodge. So you can see that for me this was an opportunity to corner her and collect my Afang not because I felt Chief Duke would say anything that mattered. So I agreed o and started getting ready for the meeting only for me to get a call cancelling it at the last minute. So you can imagine my state of mind as I am writing this. A presidential candidate that would stand up the Duke of Shomolu thereby denying him the opportunity of indulging in sweet delicious Afang cannot be a really serious one o. How will he convince the people that if we vote for him that he will keep to his promises? Anyways before they start to call me names, let me state it here very quickly that if we had sense, we should all have rallied round his candidacy as the most credible third force to oust these juggernauts who have held us hostage. Instead we carried them Sowore, Fela, Mohghalu, Aunty Ezekwesili and the other Rat Packs to decimate energy, speak English and plan to export Indian hemp as a credible alternative to oil export. For me, Donald comes with the experience, maturity and understanding of politics and government.

The youth should have come together in one voice to push him as our real alternative. We have not and as such missed that opportunity but the real question here is for Donald himself: Should you be taken seriously? Only you can answer the question. I am hungry abeg.

Agbaje

Obasanjo

GAC – What’s that – Can I Join?

Ok let me educate you people. GAC is the highest decision-making body in Lagos politics. I do not know the full meaning of the acronym, the person who gave me this gist did not tell me.

But no problem, I will explain their role. It is like the Council of State at the Federal level but this one, not all ex-governors are in it. In fact, I think the only ex – governor is the one at Boudillon. You see, you cannot be anything in Lagos without their say so.

You cannot even be a street chairman or estate chairman without being appointed and endorsed by them.

Membership is carefully chosen; you must be old, rich, Landowner usually a traditional title holder and most of all your loyalty must be firmly rooted and geared towards that road that leads you to the new Ikoyi bridge.

On face value this could pass for a cultural body or a pressure group like Afenifere but on closer look it carries more power and influence in the affairs of the state. So if you look very closely, you will see the role they played in scuttling Ambode’s second term bid and much more recently the role they have played in saving his life.

The House was bent on impeaching him and had thrown all the kolanut

chewing legislators at him and were only a few days away from delivering the death knell, when they were stopped by the powers that be. The GAC, I hear is so powerful that policy formulation is embedded in the body and then execution will now go to those we have democratically elected to serve us. It’s like an attempt to replicate the House of Lords in the UK. So you should not be surprised at the ‘fatherly’ role they played in resolving the crisis and the role they will continue to play in the affairs of Lagos. The GAC is the main thing and anybody who is not a member of the body or at least has an Uncle on it is just wasting his time in this Lagos.

Now my problem: why am I not a member? As the Duke of Shomolu I should be a major player in this very influential grouping. I should not only be a member but the permanent vice chairman. I have paid my dues in Lagos and really do not understand this snob. So let me make this public appeal to whoever is in charge of membership recruitment, to kindly send my admission letter immediately or we will be finding ourselves in front of the CCT. This is not an empty threat. Thank you.

PETER OBI IS HALF CHINESE AND HALF INDIAN They say it was Oshiomhole that said it o. So I Googled the report and saw that it was really credited to him. Well, he should know because he is married to a foreigner so he understands these bloodlines. But my wahala is how he came to this conclusion. Is it in Mr. Obi’s voice quality which is squeaky and geeky funny or is it in the shape of his eyes which is slant like the Asians? The one I do not understand is how the Indian ancestry was arrived at. Anyways, Peter Obi with that your thick Igbo accent so you are Chinese, kai. I could have been fooled. This election there is nothing we will not hear.

Nnamdi kanu has even gone further to say that Atiku is a Cameroonian. This is very possible o especially if you see that there is no real difference between Badagry people and people from Togo. He even went further to say that Atiku only became Nigerian as a result of referendum or plebiscite as he called it. These are the things that make elections exciting, the way words are bandied , the struggle to get bytes and the accusations and counter accusations all add up to make the whole season very excitable. If only we could just leave it at that instead of the violence, thuggery and inevitable rigging, we would all be very

Tinubu

fulfilled as Nigerians. While we are still at it, can we kindly check the ancestry of Osinbajo from the way he is jumping out of helicopters, one can be tempted to think that he too descended from the Ukanafons, a lost tribe found in the deep rain forests of Akwa Ibom known for magical prowess of disappearing i.e. strong juju.

AGBAJE AND THE IGBO VOTE I have just finished watching a video promo from the Agbaje campaign aimed at the Igbo vote. You see the Igbo vote is gradually becoming the game changer. Its influence was stamped the last time when a Lagos monarch asked them to jump into the lagoon if they tried anything funny. Any serious watcher of Lagos politics will discount the Igbo vote

at his own peril and you know that the Igbo are driven by commerce and their fierce independence makes it very difficult to corral them into a decisive block of votes. So for example if they all agree as a group to go one way and the landlord of one of them reduces the rent of his shop that is one vote lost to the cause. Anyways, I held a small discussion with a key member of Agbaje’s team and he hinted me although secretly that the Agbaje team was banking on four major factors to ‘free’ Lagos – the discontent of the indigenous people of Lagos found in Epe, Ikorodu, Badagry and the Islands of Inagbe, Takwa bay who have seen their state captured by a non-indigene. He pointed out that the APC candidate with his running mate are from Ogun State while other strongmen are from Osun. The next factor was

Austen-Peters

the Ambode factor- that people even within the APC structure were not happy with the way he was treated and would vote PDP in protest. I have severally confirmed this with people even in the fund-raising committee of Sanwo Olu swearing to vote Agbaje not understanding what was going on within the team. All the magic. Thirdly, those who are tired of the Tinubu hegemony and who need to break him by taking Lagos. According to this my source, members of this camp could be found everywhere- APC, PDP, beer parlors, churches, mosques, Aso Rock and even in Bourdillon and lastly and most crucial is the Igbo vote. My source believes that the Igbo have the numbers to take the power and it remains to be seen how this could be done.

Anyways, for me my advice to the Igbo is to think well and hard before they decide which camp to go because if they miscalculate this time, the lagoon will look like a walk in the park compared to what will happen to them.

Igbo think well o.

OLUJONWO OBASANJO – SON UNLIKE FATHER Well this boy has decided to go against his father’s position to support the candidacy of the incumbent president. This like I have said in the past is very admirable as it shows the clarity of mind, independence and the father’s maturity in watching his son, a child he paid his school fees and fed and clothed now go against his wishes. This thing reminds me of my uncle who was an Arsenal fan and having his son support Manchester United. As the match began, the father who was trying to do like OBJ, asked his son for his thoughts. The boy wearing his Man U jersey, explained to the father why they would win and the father laughed while taking a swig from his bottle of beer with his Arsenal jersey and struggling to cover his huge belly, looked at me saying, my son does not understand football.

As the match progressed, it became clear that the father’s team was going to lose, tension began to build. The truly inexperienced boy still believing in his father’s maturity kept on laughing and explaining the moves as his team took the father’s team to the cleaners. The boy no get sense, as the father breathing don change, him eye don dey red and him hand don dey shake. Me seeing this, I moved away from the baba and start to explain to am say na because rain dey fall, that he should not worry that they will cancel the match. All of a sudden Man U just score the fourth goal and the boy jump up in excitement to shout goalllllllll. He did not see the slap; all he heard was a loud sound and everything went dark. Kai, so as OBJ dey keep quiet now, dey play squash with this boy, I pity am. When results come out and OBJ no like am, he should just get visa to Australia o, me I am not there o.

BOLANLE AUSTEN PETERS – HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Let me just say happy birthday to this very beautiful sister of mine. Great woman. Did you see her MOREMI? It was mouth-wateringly exciting. She is doing things in the theatre space and I hear she is taking Moremi to South Africa. Well done my sister. It was her birthday during the week and I call tire but she no pick, no problem. I am happy for her. Guys watch out for my new play; it will make you cry.

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SPECIALREPORT

Edgal with other senior officers during the parade of suspects at the police command headquarters in Ikeja

Policing Lagos: Edgal was at the Core of a Megacity’s Dwindling Crime Rates

DECISION P

Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the community policing strategy of the Lagos State Police Command under CP Imohimi Edgal has yielded vibrant outcomes. er chance, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Imohimi Oluwole Edgal, can be termed the proverbial cat with nine lives. But those in the know are seemingly not surprised about his staying power.According to them, Edgal’s professionalism as an ‘operations’ man cannot be denied.

Last Yuletide was a proof of that as Lagos residents literally enjoyed a crime-free season. However, top of his achievements in Lagos was in extinguishing the flame of the ‘Badoo’ ritualist group that once held sway in Ikorodu and its environs, as well as getting over 860 individuals to renounce cultism in just over six months Edgal, who became a police commissioner in the state in August 2017 following his promotion by the Police Service Committee, took over from Fatai Owoseni. Prior to that, he was a deputy commissioner of police (DCP) in charge of operations in the Lagos Command.

From decimating the once-dreaded badoo gang, to the daily raid of criminal hideouts in blackspots, disbanding the reign of traffic robbers, effecting arrests of domestic violence perpetrators and even declaring war against sexual predators, Edgal has provided the much-needed impetus to effective policing in cosmopolitan Lagos.

Little wonder the jubilation that greeted the recent signal rescinding his redeployment to head the Explosive Ordinance Unit at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

decision, the CP wishes to assure the people of Lagos that their safety and security remains his priority.”

When the news filtered out, it was met with jubilation as officers loyal to Edgal released a hail of gun fire in celebration. To many security analysts, the jubilation was not out of the ordinary having critically appraised Edgal’s unrivaled crime fighting prowess since assumption of office.

2019

Redeployment Saga

Just few days back, a signal had circulated announcing the supposed end of an era for Edgal at the helm of Lagos affairs. To replace him, Kayode Egbetokun, a one-time chief security officer (CSO) of the then Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in 1999, was redeployed on acting capacity pending confirmation from the Police Service Commission (PSC). The signal had directed Edgal to redeploy to the Force Headquarters in Abuja to head the Explosive Ordinance Unit.

While industry watchers had speculated that Edgal’s redeployment could be a fallout of the recent violence carried out by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) during the campaign flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC), others posited that it was long overdue.

According to another school of thought, his removal might not be unconnected with his perceived closeness with the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, with whom he enjoys a robust relationship. On the day of the said handover, a little drama played out that saw Edgal emerging victorious.

Both Egbetokun and Edgal were about proceeding with the handover when a signal came from the force headquarters that status quo be maintained. No one truly saw that coming.

Further details later emerged that the new Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar Adamu, had graciously suspended the planned redeployment. According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, the IG in his wisdom had said the status quo should be maintained.

In a statement made available to THISDAY, Oti said: “The CP, who is well known for his discipline and respect for orders, was about handing over to Mr. Kayode Egbetokun on Tuesday when he received the directive to suspend the ceremony and await further instructions. While humbled by the

The Badoo boys

In the anals of Lagos, a terror group once held sway. Known as the Badoo ritual gang, their stock in trade was to smash people’s head before making away with their private parts. For a long time, they reigned supreme and their word was law in Ikorodu and environs. They seemed to defy all security aparatus, at least until Edgal swore to see their end.

Even before he became CP, Edgal as the deputy commissioner of police in-charge of operations had taken the war to the doorsteps of Badoo. His body language while still serving as DCP Ops sent cold shivers down the spines of these enemies of the state; an indication that if given the full opportunity to serve as substantive CP, the menace of Badoo in Lagos State would be history.

Thus, upon assumption of office as the police commissioner in Lagos, he swung into action immediately like a wounded lion; holding regular town hall meetings with stakeholders and community leaders in line with his policy thrust of community policing and community safety partnership. It was not surprising when he brought the reign of terror to abrupt end.

Eradicating Cultism

This was another vice that held sway in Lagos until Edgal. He exhibited the same zest in the fight against cultism in the state. The vigour and tenacity of purpose showcased in this fight forced no fewer than 860 cultists to renounce their membership and willingly surrendered their weapons of destruction within six months.

In one instance, over 200 youths from different cult groups like the Aiye, Eiye and Buccaneers, renounced cultism, just as they surrendered their arms and ammunition. Also surrendered were 15 locally made long guns, 30 bullets, 11 cutlasses, four axes, four double-barrel guns, five short locally made pistols and a sword.

But prior to the renunciation, two other batches had late 2017 also called it quits with cultism. Perhaps the first renunciation on November 7, 2017, was the trigger that others needed to follow suit, as no fewer than 500 youths in Ijede Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu, Lagos, voluntarily renounced their membership of various cult groups in the area.

They included cultists from Aiye, Eiye, Buccaneer, and KK among others. The youths, whose ages are between 17 and 35, also submitted their weapons. The weapons, which were displayed at the Ijede LCDA hall included pump action rifles, AK-47 rifles, locally-made guns and single-barrelled guns. Also displayed were cartridges of various types as well as axes and machetes.

It was therefore not surprising that after the success of the initial renunciations, another batch followed suit on November 29, 2017. On that occasion, no fewer than 120 youths renounced cultism and sur-

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SPECIALREPORT Fighting Crimes: The Edgal Phenomenon in Lagos Continued on Pg. 66

Lagos CP with other security personnel receiving the surrendered weapons from former cultists in Ikorodu rendered their arms and ammunition to the police at Oba Ajibade Agoro, the Ranodu of Imota Ikorodu Lagos state. The ceremony was significant because those were the same group that had unleashed terror on the community.

However, going beyond the renunciation, Edgal proposed a program for their reintegration into the society. He said those that renounced would be trained in various vocational skills to be accompanied by soft loans. Whereas, it may not be totally correct to say that cultism has been wiped out completely in the state, but a critical survey of cultism and cult-related activities in the state have nosedived tremendously.

War against Drug Abuse Edgal’s war against the burgeoning menace of drug abuse has been legendary. From one part of the state to another, he has made arrests of the cartels and has recovered huge consignments of drugs. In one instance, his target was on those that sell to school children. His zest in taming the menance was understandable given the recent drug abuse haze that seemingly permeated the society.

According to Edgal, when he took over office, the major challenges he faced was in fighting the war against cultism and drug abuse. Across different fora, his message was simple- an appeal to youths to shun hard drugs and report any drug dealer to the police.

Ardent Community Policing Advocate If there is anything that has stood him out since his assumption of office- first as acting Lagos CP before his confirmation by the Police Service Commission- it has been his staunch advocacy for community policing and safety partnership.

Under him, gone were the era of the community being scared to confide in the police about miscreants in their midst for fear of retribution. An ardent advocate of community policing, Edgal’s modus operandi has been to partner community leaders, who in turn sensitise their various communities on the need for synergy with the police.

Perhaps it is pertinent to state that these giant strides won’t have been possible without his passion for community partnership. Ab initio, on community partnership and Imohimi had said, “ When I resumed as Commissioner of Police last September, I came with a strategy, which was backed up by intelligence and technology because there were problems of major crimes such as armed robbery, car snatching, mugging, drug abuse, youth restiveness and violence against women and children.

“Thus, I introduced community policing and safety partnerships. I attended over 12 townhall meetings across the state, where I met with the people and explained the need for their close involvement in security. Thus, it is the intention of the police to allow the people take the front burner on how their community is policed.

“We want the people to be more involved in how their community is policed. Community policing involves partnership with the people and relies heavily on intelligence gathering. We would use community policing to get information from the public and process same.”

Fully keying into this mantra of community policing, Edgal has traversed the length and breadth of the state, engaging community leaders and stakeholders across board in the essence of community safety partnership. The positive result is that people are more open now to feed the police with valuable information.

Domestic Violence Perhaps one aspect of crimes that piques Edgal each time is domestic violence, child abuse and underage criminality. As CP Lagos, Edgal has shown that he is staunch hater of any form of domestic violence. To drive home his aversion for any form domestic violence, he incorporated the Gender Unit in the command and personally monitors its activities to ensure probity and fairness. A lover of children, Edgal has also shunned parents or guardians that abuse their children and wards under their care.

Irrespective of the status of the abusers in the society, Edgal has assured that the survivours are removed from such toxic environment and that justice is served.

Abhorrence for Rape, Incest This is an abhorrence that was rampant in Lagos before. Again, through the gender office of the command, Edgal has gone after such perpetrators and ensured justice was served for the survivours.

Above all, he also created awareness on the ills of these behaviors through mass media.

Discipline of Errant Officers If there is any area that the Lagos State Police Command has policed and is still policing the state with human face is in the area of civility and discipline of errant officers. As of June 2018, the breakdown of

Edgal being honoured with an award by the Human Rights Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, chaired by Mrs. Caroline Ibharuneafe officers either facing punishment or have been dismissed totaled about 95. This record Edgal said, is to serve as a deterrent to other police personnel wishing to toe the path of infamy.

The breakdown include eight dismissal, four reduction in rank, 43 major entry, three severe reprimand, four extra fatigue, 28 warning notices and five discharged and acquitted cases.

Pundits once praised his records, noting that it was the first of its kind in the annals of policing in Lagos, where a serving CP will epitomise what he preaches against indiscipline and corruption in the force.

However, it is pertinent to state that the number has since increased as Edgal’s zero tolerance for indiscipline is legendary. Little wonder the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) had once written to the erstwhile IG, Ibrahim Idris, about his stellar performance.

Challenges However, it has not been all rosy for Lagos helmsman, as there are still areas that needs to be worked on like the irascibility of divisions in carrying out their duties. Most often than not, the policemen at the divisions are a law unto themselves and thus needs to be checked.

Also, on issues of arrests and parade before investigation, most divisions make arrests and rush to the command without due investigations. Although it is on record that on several occasions, the CP has had cause to reprimand them to profile and release those who have no business with the offence they are being held for, as is usually the occasion during general raids.

On the issue of human rights abuses, it seems that despite the CP’s stern warnings and even disciplinary actions against errant policemen, there are some black sheep who are neck deep in rights abuses and this has continuously portrayed the command in bad light.

Notwithstanding these bad elements, Edgal’s quest to rid Lagos of crime is unquestionable and thus should be encouraged.

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FEBRUARY 10, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

The Supreme Court Trap

T

he Supreme Court of Nigeria has been compromised. That ought to be clear to anybody with discernment. The ordeal of Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen is just the tip of the iceberg. The Buhari administration has a hold on my other Justices.

In fact, this is not limited to the Supreme Court. The entire Nigerian judiciary has been compromised by the Buhari administration and the the administration of justice going forward is suspect.

Imagine that the head of the Code of Conduct Tribunal is publicly known to be a man tainted with strong and seemingly substantial allegations of corruption, yet he has been left at his position.

It is clear that that is a deliberate action. They have a hold over him and he has to do their bidding or else.

Just look at the whole Onnoghen saga. The Code of Conduct Bureau, with lightning speed, cooperated with President Buhari’s former spokesman, Mr Dennis Aghanya, and released Justice Onnoghen’s asset declaration forms to him. Yet, the same CCB would not release asset forms of persons suspected of corruption within Buhari’s inner circle, when requested to by members of the public.

For instance, relying on the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, Punch Newspapers on January 24, 2019, requested the asset declaration forms of the Chief of Staff to the President, AbbaKyari; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige; Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Babatunde Fashola (SAN); Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu; and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi amongst others.

Till date, the CCB, which released the asset declaring forms to Buhari’s former spokesman with dispatch, has ignored the Punch. What do you make of that? It is obvious that the CCB has been compromised and has become a sword in the hand of the Buhari cabal to be used on its political enemies and those, like Onnoghen, who they see as a stumbling block to their quest for dictatorial control of Nigeria.

That is why I was very upset when the Peoples Democratic Party commended the recent Supreme Court judgment on Rivers state which barred the All Progressives Congress from fielding candidates for the 2019 General Elections.

In its reaction to the judgment, the PDP got carried away and said inter alia as follows: “The courage displayed by the Supreme Court in delivering the judgment at this critical time in our national life has also restored the confidence of Nigerians in the institution of the Judiciary and our

dential elections. The cabal intend to rig the February 16, 2019 elections and their desperation is what led to the “body bag” comment by Nasir El-Rufai, a known tool of the cabal. The cabal know that when they do rig, there will be a vigorous legal challenge and a fight back by the world community.

The intention of compromising the Supreme Court is to ensure they rule in Buhari’s favour, should a case come before them (and that appears to be a likely scenario). By sacrificing Rivers and getting the PDP to hail the Supreme Court as restoring confidence in the judiciary, they intend that to validate the court and they will use it as a legal and public relations tool for the international community to say-hey look, after all the PDP affirmed and validated the court when it suited them and they are now crying foul, it is sour grapes.

The Peoples Democratic Party have already fallen for the trap, however, I would want to urge them to wise up and prepare for what may come. They must stop affirming the Supreme Court and ask their spokesmen to be less enthusiastic and more circumspect in their comments about Rivers and the judgment and any other judgment that might be given between now and the election.

A word is enough for the wise and I believe that the Peoples Democratic Party is wise enough to read this and realise that they have been played and to take steps to ensure that this does not happen again.

Reno’s Nuggets Malami, Attorney General of Federation democratic order.”

This is exactly what the Buhari cabal wanted and the PDP walked right into their trap. Let me explain further.

That the Supreme Court has been compromised is a fact. The APC never stood any chance in Rivers State. You and I know that. They were going to lose there and lose big time. All polls, not the PDP’s and the APC’s and even independent third party polls are clear on this fact. It is obvious. My belief is that the two members of the outer cabal that are used for dirty work by the inner cabal, Rotimi Amaechi and Nasir El-Rufai, sacrificed Rivers, via the Supreme Court, in order to bait the PDP to affirm and validate the court.

By saying that the Supreme Court’s judgment on Rivers’ APC had “restored the confidence of Nigerians in the institution of the Judiciary and our democratic order”, the PDP has done exactly what the cabal wanted.

This is not about Rivers. This is about the Presi-

Some ask me what I do that I have time and money to tour the world and live a life of abundance. The truthful answer is that I used my childhood and youth to serve God and God is using my adulthood and middle age to serve me success. God’s Word works when you work it. One bestseller, and I am still living my best life. The more satan tries to bring me down, the more God uplifts me. The John 10:10 Life is sweet #RenosNuggets

Reno’s Darts Osinbajo: Sir, Nigerians say we can’t point to a single project initiated, started and completed by our administration in the last 4 years.

Buhari: Osunbade, ask them to go and see the big broom at Abuja City Gate.

Share to #SweepOutBuhari

Reno Omokri #1 Bestselling author of Facts Versus Fiction: True Story of the Jonathan Years. Avid traveler. Table Shaker. Buhari’s Tormentor. PhD, London School of Savagery

POLITY

February 16 Election: Atiku is Godsent Odilim Enwegbara

S

ometimes I don’t even understand why I fight evil.

Most often I have difficulty understanding the power behind my doing some of the things I do particularly when it comes to my fighting evil.

One thing I know is that there is something in me that is far bigger than myself and that is very difficult for me to control. And once it takes off, I only find myself as a mere passenger. Because it is fully in charge, it drives me without my entertaining any form of fear. And above all, it does so with such immense energy.

But because the power is so overwhelming, I only find myself like a child innocently always enjoying a beautiful free ride.

It all started after a meeting I had in February 2016 with Mallam Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to Buhari. To my greatest shock, I was made to understand by Kyari that he the de facto president.

But what struck me most was making me understand that the government was actually operating without an economic blueprint.

I was alarmed that Nigeria’s 200 million people are being driven by a driver without a driver’s licence. I knew then that I had to alert Nigerians about my shocking discovery. But I needed some months to think through it and what I think would be the way out.

I started looking for how to contact Atiku, knowing fully well that the PDP crisis was partly due to lack of a serious potential presidential material, a potential challenger to Buhari’s 2019 candidacy.

Atiku I starting having meetings with Paul Ibe, Atiku media adviser.

But it required a number of meetings before Paul could even understand why I was seeking that Atiku should leave APC for PDP. But it wasn’t until mid 2017 that Paul and I agreed especially because Paul was already getting the signs from his boss.

So, rather than my happiest day of Atiku’s presidential bid going to be Feb 17 when Atiku will eventually be declared the winner of the presidential election and president-elect, they were the day Atiku announced that he was leaving APC for PDP and

the day announced his readiness to contest the 2019 presidential election under PDP. Why am I telling this long story here?

I am telling the long story to make my friends understand that my support for Atiku is a big asignment beyond my control, the same way my support for Obama who never even knew me was without any form of personal expectations. My support for Atiku even though has cost me a lot, it too will never be for any form of personal gains.

All I know is that Atiku will be an excellent president, the best president we Nigerians will never have especially since the history of Nigeria as an independent nation.

Agoodhearted president, Atiku will work tirelessly for his country’s economic prosperity. Being such a successful person from a very humble beginning and having to fight all these years to get to this level, Atiku will fight to bring hope to the hopeless people of Nigeria. We will all be a witness to how he will dismantle the status quo that has kept our country backwards and at best stagnant.

My happiness will be to live to see millions of forgotten Nigerians not just being remembered but, in fact, being mainstreamed into the country’s economic prosperity. I will be so happy because I too made my little contributions to making this happen.

Above all, having been able to overcome the potential threats to our country’s fragile unity, an disintegration that would have become inevitable if we could have allowed our dear country to remain in Buhari’s hands beyond May 2019.

Mine is going to be lifelong joy because I will proudly tell my friends around the world that Nigeria has finally stood up.

ARTS & REVIEW A

ADEOLA OSUNKOJOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LIFE AS A FEMALE MOVIE DIRECTOR PAGE 71

PUBLICATION

10.02.2019

A TOAST TO EL ANATSUI,

THE TITAN AT 75 El Anatsui

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 ˾ FEBRUARY 10, 2019

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ARTS & REVIEW\\TRIBUTE

A TOAST TO EL ANATSUI,

THE TITAN AT 75

The local visual arts community’s celebration of El Anatsui’s 75th birthday has rightly morphed into an art festival, writes Okechukwu Uwaezuoke

A

n “Odogwu” they called him. That is an Igbo word for a hero. At 75, El Anatsui’s profile shimmers before his teeming dewyeyed acolytes. A coterie of sculpture lecturers from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka’s Department of Fine and Applied Arts held an exhibition, which opened on Saturday, February 2, at the National Gallery of Art, Enugu, to commemorate his birthday.

The exhibition, titled Igwebuike (Igbo for “Strength in Unity), featured the works of Chijioke Onuora, Eva Obodo, Chike Akabike, Ekene Anikpe, Sabastine Ugwoke, Amuche Ngwu-Nnabueze, Livinus Ngwu, Uche Onyishi and Sunday Odoh.

A few days later at the same venue, the fourth session of the National Gallery of Art’s Art Appreciation Workshop, anchored by Professor Ozioma Onuzulike, was organised in honour of the septuagenarian artist. About the same time in Lagos, a solo exhibition, titled Icing on Burnt Cake – A Tribute to El Anatsui at 75, opened at the Thought Pyramid Art Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Indeed, there are good reasons for the local art community to coo over the trailblazing artist, who had been teaching art at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka since 1975. Not only have the former AKA Circle of Artists member influenced and inspired many artists, he has also invested in the development of art in Nigeria. As a patron of the annual Life in My City Art Festival in Enugu, he had sponsored its four top winners to the Dakar Biennale (called Dak’Art) in 2017 and pledged to sponsor additional six of the festival’s top winners to the next edition of the same event.

In addition, the artist has built a gallery at the university as a gift to a community, where he had experienced his phenomenal artistic growth. Born as the youngest of his father’s 32 children in the small Ghanaian town of Anyako in 1944 during British rule, he was later raised in a Presbyterian Mission House by his uncle, a Presbyterian Minister. Sensing as a boy that he “had a kind of calling” to be an artist, he enrolled at the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi to study fine art, which was then an "unimaginable" thing to do.

Anatsui’s break from the British-style curriculum, on which he was weaned,

Anatsui beside one of his works

came after a Eureka moment at national cultural centre in Kumasi, where he discovered the “adinkra” motifs.

Fast-forward to many years later, he had not only “indigenised” his art, he had also begun to interpret the word “sculpture” in new fascinating ways.

The US-based Nigeria-born art historian and critic once described his art as challenging “normal order of pictorial balance”. This is because Anatsui himself sees sculpture as something that explores the dynamics of a subject, a puzzle that assumes different forms.

For instance, one of his works, “Intermittent Signals”, looked different when it was displayed in 2011 from how it looked in 2007.

It was at a 2012 Bonhams Modern & Contemporary African Art Sale in London that El

Anatsui’s already glittering international profile was burnished. At the auction, one of his installations, a 350 X 500cm work titled “New World Map”, had sold for a record $850,000. The record-breaking Ghanaian Kente-inspired work, described by the Bonhams Contemporary African Art director Giles Peppiatt as “a massive hauntingly beautiful contemporary statement”, was a shimmering wall hanging, delicately woven with thousands of flattened bottle tops.

This record sale followed on the heels of the sale of another of the artist’s tapestry-like work for over $720,000 at a Bonhams charity auction in New York two weeks earlier.

There are indeed other similar rippling,

BRIEFLY

Lagos Asks British Museum to Return Historical Sculpture

T

he Lagos State Government has formally requested the return of an important sculptural woodcarving, known in the UK as the Lander Stool, from the British Museum. The sculpture was believed to have been taken from Nigeria in 1830 by one of the earliest known explorers of the interior, Richard Lander, one of the precursors of the colonisation of Nigeria by the British.

The request by the state government comes at a time its construction of a new cultural facility in Onikan, Lagos, the John K. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History nears completion. It also follows the appointment of international exhibition designers Ralph Ap-

pelbaum Associates (RAA) and architects, SI.SA. Lander, a recipient of the Royal Geographical Society Founder's Medal in 1832, was a renowned figure in the UK. He would later die a musket ball wound, after he was shot by the natives their territory during his final trip through the South-west region.

The formal request by the Lagos State government was delivered to the British Museum recently by the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts snd Culture, Steve Ayorinde who represented Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at a two-day symposium on emerging museum projects in Africa at the British Museum.

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, who also attended the event, announced the intention of his government to formally seek the return of

some Benin Bronze artefacts from various British museums once it has completed its new Royal Museum project. Both Lagos snd Edo States were joined by Ghana at the colloquium to outline plans for their various new museum projects.

Out of the three parties, only Lagos is ready with the J.K Randle Centre, which has reached 85% completion stage and is slated for unveiling in May before Governor Ambode leaves office. “The J. K. Randle Centre," according to Ayorinde is a worldclass cultural institution “that will enable the Yoruba people to reclaim their heritage from a colonial narrative, and present for the first time a high standard cultural and resource centre for millions of people in the state.”

shimmering installations by the artist, who marked his 75th birthday on Monday. It is to these and others that he owes his dizzying ascent up the ladder-rungs of fame. Anatsui once explained that the colourful bottle tops are cryptic reminders that African slaves were exchanged for European liquor during the transatlantic slave trade. As for the wall hangings’ apparent fluidity, they allude to the ever-shifting relationship between Europe, Africa and America.

Clawing his way up from out of the drudgery of an ivory tower existence at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he has risen to become one of the continent’s most phenomenal artists. That his works are currently housed in some of the world’s most prestigious museums – like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Museum and the Smithsonian – is a credit to his renown. At the 2007 Venice Biennale, one of his rippling metal tapestries drapped over the façade of a museum caused a stir among the aficionados.

In 2012, his 37-foot-high sculpture made of recycled pressed tin and mirrors woven together with copper wire, titled “Broken Bridge II”, was displayed at New York's High Line, an elevated park built on an old freight rail line in Manhattan.

Still on his notable exhibitions worldwide, he has been featured at the October Gallery, London (UK) in 2016 and in Hayward Gallery, London (UK) as well as in such reputable spaces across the US as Brooklyn Museum, New York in 2013, the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts in 2011, Rice University Art Gallery, Houston in 2010, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York from 2008 to 2009, the National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, D.C. in 2008 and the Fowler Museum at UCLA in 2007. He has also been exhibited at Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (Spain) in 2001, among other places, at the Palazzo Grassi, Venice in 2011, Nationalgalerie, Berlin (Germany) in 2010, Institut Valencia D’Art Modern, Valencia, Spain, in 2009 and Centre Pompidou, Paris (France), among other venues.

Besides featuring in Venice Biennale in 2007 and earlier in 1990, he has been at the Liverpool Biennale in 2002, Moscow Biennale in 2009, the 8th Osaka Sculpture Triennale in 1995, the first Johannesburg Biennale in 1995, 5th Havana Biennale in 1994 and the 5th Gwangju Biennale in 2004, among others.

After he was awarded the Venice Biennale Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement – a prize that “acknowledges not just his recent successes internationally, but also his artistic influence amongst two generations of artists working in West Africa” – he had gone on to bag an honorary doctorate degree from the US-based Harvard University on May 26, 2016 and the Praemium Imperiale award, as the first Ghanaian to win the international art prize, in 2017. Previously, he was awarded the Visionaries Artist Award from the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City and the 2009 Prince Claus Award.

Back on local art scene, his works have consistently been featured among the top five bestselling lots at the Arthouse Contemporary Limited auctions, held biannually in Lagos.

He has also twice been featured at the Terra Kulture-Mydrim Gallery Living Masters’ exhibition.

That his 75th birthday morphed into a festival of sorts should, therefore, surprise no keen adept of the visual arts scene.

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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 ˾ FEBRUARY 10, 2019

ARTS & REVIEW\\MOVIES

A scene from The Life of a Nigerian Couple

ADEOLA OSUNKOJO’S LIFE AS A FEMALE MOVIE DIRECTOR Yinka Olatunbosun

M

ovie directors are reputed for very busy lifestyles. When a rare opportunity came during a recent road trip to Ilorin, Kwara State, with female directors letting their hair down to unwind and talk about their productions at the Kwara State University (KWASU), it was a great chance to talk to the young filmmaker, Adeola Osunkojo, the last of nine children with a formidable portfolio of film and television credits.

As though oblivious of the time on the conspicuously placed wall clock in her hotel room, she warmly received her reporterguest, who reflected on the early activities of the day and why her background as a graduate of Creative Arts had been the nursery for her artistic growth. Her works speak for her. Tales of Eve, So Wrong So Wright, Binary Unit, Diary of A Nigerian Couple, and Help My Wife is Pregnant are some of the television series that she had directed. She also directed Season One to Seven of the popular music reality show, Project Fame and was an assistant director for the box-office hit movie, ’76.

Against the practice of directing are the nagging issues of producer’s interference, gender discrimination and cinema’s intrusive roles. Osunkojo, who propped herself up with a pillow spoke on her authorship and why her multi-genre film content differentiates her from others.

“Every director has a style and that is authorship,” she began.

“Over time, that style comes based on your experiences. I worked seven years as a reality show director and that tells in my work. A lot of times, we want to make videos that are our own expression of what is interesting or entertaining; how life is. If you really and truly want to be a film maker, and you want to tell a story, tell them your own way. The cinema is fun. It is not so serious.

The greatest film makers went against the status quo. We have opened ourselves to the creative opportunities in cinema that we know what is available for us to tell our story and if a technique does not work for me, I take it out and do exactly what I want to do. If anyone likes it, fine.’’

Osunkojo is a no-nonsense director with a stern face during shoots. Once, during a class production that she directed in her second year as an undergraduate, she had asked a classmate to leave her set when he was receiving a phone call instead of paying attention. While dealing with cast may not be difficult, the story takes a different twist when a director works with a producer who wants to control the production process. Osunkojo explained that artistic freedom in directing is not really absolute.

“The reality is that when it comes to authorship in directing, there are different levels,’’ she continued. “For television formatted shows like Project Fame, I had to work within that format and so the director’s work was to find the way to direct within the tenets of the format so it varies. The issue of artistic freedom for the director varies depending on the genre. For the television shows, you can have four directors working on a series.

“In ‘My Flatmates’, we have two directors. Our works must look the same and it must be like one person’s work. For us, it is where we use our resources that we insist on doing exactly what we want to do. We tell the story how we want to. Sometimes, you work with some producers who are very insistent on some certain ways and what I have learnt to do over time is to put it in my negotiation that I will have my final cut and then you can always put your input wherever you want to but at the end of the day, I want to have a final cut of it. That’s what film makers abroad also

Osunkojo have to fight for. Even the foreign film makers have the issue of artistic authorship and the freedom to make all the choices.

But in reality, you can’t have 100 percent freedom of artistic expression because there are too many factors.”

After screening her mockumentary sitcom at the Department of Film Production at KWASU, “Life of A Nigerian Couple” which fuses different film techniques such as pop-up art and talking heads, some among the campus audience were shocked to discover that a director can actually break rules for good.

“I don’t take filming so seriously and that is how I work,” she said. “At the end of the day, it is entertainment-not a thesis.

When you watch a movie, you can then write a thesis. Before you break the rules, you must know what you are doing.

Every rule has a limitation. No rule is perfect and there is no guarantee that it is going to entertain everybody. Know your rules and choose the one that works for you,’’ she said in reaction to her avant-garde techniques of filming.

As a female director, Osunkojo is not immune to the gender discrimination in her line of profession. Although directing is a female-dominated area in Nigerian film industry, women directors are not as respected as the male.

“People are brought up to have more respect for men, so it is important for you to understand how a woman functions in the business place. You must learn to put your foot down because people are going to try your resolve. People will

want to see how much they can insult you or take advantage of you because they assume you do not have enough, so you must learn to speak up.”

Facing cinema rejection is one of the plagues in the film industry.

The cinema owners dictate the kind of movies that will make box-office hits and are afraid of experimenting with any work that deviates from the regular template. Osunkojo has an interesting encounter with cinemas with the movie, “Charmed.’’ At the moment, television is where she is ‘grooming her turf’.

“Television gives you time to develop your style. Some director’s styles don’t evolve until five years of practice, it is a process, it can be a very long one,’’ she remarked.

Of course, film making is a very expensive investment no matter how small the budget is. Osunkojo advised that if anyone wants to venture into it, it must not be at personal expense. She learnt to source for money from the right sources without putting herself at the risk of sexual harassment.

“When I did the first season of ‘The Life of a Nigerian Couple’, I had N500,000 and I borrowed N500,000 from my mother and I had to pay her back. She is from Ibadan. When I got my salary, I kept only 20percent for myself. 80 percent was for paying people back and the money I made through distribution was what I made to do the second one. I added more money because I wanted better picture quality, more characters, and more locations. I don’t think it is a bright idea to use one’s personal money to make a movie. It is best to source for funding because that keeps you on your toes and you will want to repay the money that you borrowed. More money means that you can do more, it doesn’t necessarily translate that way but money helps. Sometimes, the difference between a television movie and a cinema bound movie is money. Money is so important in the film industry and we have to find a way to pull the money.

Even icons like Spike Lee went through all this – they have to look for money.”

Working on ‘76 as Assistant Director to Izu Ojukwu, an awardwinning film director is an experience she cherishes. She has shot and directed the documentary movie around the events of ’76 movie, titled 76: Behind the Story which she obliged this reporter to see while travelling through the Ogbomosho axis on the way to Lagos. Yet to be released, the director’s cut itself was like a full-length movie in the visual depth of narration and the emotions that it evoked. Scenes from the movie were juxtaposed with the actual footage and live interviews with the key players of the documented history.

“Izu Ojukwu holds a very special place in my heart,’’ she said as she recounted her experience with the period movie. “I worked with him in Alero Symphony and I was an assistant director but Izu made me look deeper. He is very big on details, wanting to know what the extras are doing. Izu taught me not to compromise but to take my work seriously because he says the film lives forever. 76 was a period piece so we had to start looking for things like newspaper clippings, cars and then we did a documentary on 76 where I interviewed the wives of the alleged coup plotters and the man who signed the death warrant of the said coup plotters, General Olusegun Obasanjo. I was able to see the perspective of the women and the former Head of State and both sides had good points. It is left for the audience to decide what they really think about the whole situation.’’

Osunkojo is one of the 17 female directors that form the subjects of the book, “Ladies Calling The Shots’’ written by Niran Adedokun.

The book is described by the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Steve Ayorinde as “a telling testimony about women who stood up to be counted behind the camera and succeeded in using their lenses to define the trajectory of a home-grown industry.’’

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F ͹͸˜ ͺ͸͹΁ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

INTERNATIONAL Fears of Foreign Interference and Intervention in Nigeria’s 2019 Presidential Elections: Quo Vadis?

O

ne critical issue retained national attention in the past one week in Nigeria: the question of interference and intervention, which was raised during the two-hour Tuesday Live programme on the National Television Authority (NTA). The programme was anchored

by Cyril Stober, a seasoned and respected journalist, on Tuesday 5th February from 10.30pm. The panelists included the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai, Mainasara Kogo Umar, a lawyer, Dodeye Arikpo formerly of the DSS and a Security consultant and Mohammed Bello Shehu, a former Student activist.

One challenge that arose from the discussion was how to have a free, fair and credible election on February 16, 2019. Within the context of this objective, the fears and implications of foreign interference and intervention in the elections were also raised.

They generated different arguments on whether interference has the same meaning as intervention and whether ‘interferences’ and ‘interventions’ by foreign countries in the domestic affairs over which Nigeria has exclusive competence are internationally lawful.

The position I took on the matter, which was the need to differentiate between an interference, a common feature of diplomatic practice, and an intervention, which is outlawed but still permissible within the context of collective security and Chapter VII of the UN Charter, apparently did not augur well with Mallam el-Rufai.

In reaction to this he stated that anyone seeking to intervene in Nigeria’s domestic affairs must expect to return home in ‘body bags,’ that is, dead. The statement generated interesting mixed reactions. That of the European Union Election Observer Mission to Nigeria is particularly noteworthy.

The EU Observer Mission made it clear that it is ‘aware of the comments by the Governor of Kaduna about non-interference by foreigners. The EU only deploys an election observation mission when it is invited to do so by the authorities of a country. The EU has been invited to observe all of the general elections in Nigeria since 1999. The INEC invited the EU to deploy an observation mission for the 2019 general elections.’ Put differently, the EU had never interfered in Nigeria’s election affairs since 1999. It is with this belief that the EU election observers have insisted that they ‘will continue their work across the country in the run-up to, and beyond, the 16 February elections.’

The PDP (People’s Democratic Party) considered el-Rufai’s statement as ‘incendiary’ and has, therefore, not only threatened to withdraw its commitment to the peace accord reached with the National Peace Committee on peaceful elections, but also called ‘on the international community to immediately impose a travel ban on el-Rufai for allegedly inciting violence in the country ahead of the general elections.’ Thus, a diplomatic row is already in the making. It can be contained if el-Rufai’s statement is considered and tenable in the context of the principle of non-intervention and not in the context of non-interference.

Interference and Intervention As we noted in this column on February 25, 2018 (vide Vie Internationale on “Interference in Russo-American Relations and the Indictment of Internet Research Agency LLC), the meanings of interference and intervention are, more often than not, confused.

We noted then that many observers and analysts often wrongly use interference to imply ‘intervention,’ and therefore to mean the same. Even in their ordinary meanings, it is still useful to differentiate between the two. In international law and relations, their meanings are quite distinct. However, the discussants at the Tuesday Live programme referred to above largely, but wrongly, predicated their submissions on the assumption that interference is synonymous with intervention.

This confusion is most unfortunate because of its implications within the context of Nigeria’s 2019 general elections and global developments. Many Nigerians, rightly or wrongly, not only hold the belief that the elections will be rigged, but also that they might engender destructive violence. This fear also created great concerns for the international community. The opposition parties, led by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), called on the international community to interfere and even sanction some APC (All Peoples Congress) politicians. It is this call on the international community and the controversy generated that is actually threatening the 2019 election, as well as national security.

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

El-Rufai For the umpteenth time, we insist here that when the word ‘interference’ is used in international relations, it simply implies that the act of interfering involves the use of diplomacy in crisis management, and particularly the use of pacific means of conflict settlement and means of complaint. In this regard, interference means a problem or a misunderstanding is still at the level of a crisis from a polemological perspective. It is when diplomacy fails in resolving a crisis and the crisis degenerates into the level of a conflict (involving the use of force) that we can talk about an intervention. An intervention necessarily implies the use of force. It is the use of force, which defines intervention, and that is why it is prohibited in international law and relations.

Interference is a daily, even a minute-by-minute, occurrence. As we noted in February 2018, ‘there is always an act of interference in every interpersonal or inter-state relationship. When people discuss an issue, they consciously or otherwise refer to a third person. They condemn or commend foreign statesmen when they make their comments. Such condemnation or commendation necessarily constitutes an act of permissible interference. There is therefore little or no problem with an act of interference but there is with that of an intervention.

It is useful to also note at this juncture that the principle of non-intervention in international relations is only valid at the level of unilateral intervention. No individual or group of countries is allowed to intervene in the affairs that fall within the domestic jurisdiction of any sovereign state. However, when an issue or a crisis falls within the purview of collective security, intervention is allowed. Thus, there are permissible and non-permissible interventions in international relations. This is made clear in Article 2, paragraph 7 of the United Nations Charter: ‘nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state or shall require the Members to submit such matters to settlement under the present Charter; but this principle shall not prejudice the application of enforcement measures under Chapter VII.’ It should be noted that, in this provision, it is the word

The statement by Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai was carelessly made because he ought to have made his statement within the context of intervention and not interference. Other interferential statements, urging international observers not to interfere but only to observe the elections only point to poverty of ideas and suggestions, if not intellectual myopia, because interference is intrinsic in any act of observation. Observation is the first step in any act of interference. Probably one should ask what the interventionists and noninterventionists would say now that the former US President, Bill Clinton, alias ‘Omowale,’ thanks to Olusegun Obasanjo, is coming to Nigeria to actually ‘interfere’ in Nigeria’s domestic affairs

‘intervene’ and not ‘interference’ that is used. This means that interference is not outlawed.

There is no country in the world that is not interfering legally or illegally. We already referred to the case of intelligence gathering which is part of diplomatic practice. All defence attachés engage in intelligence gathering. The important point of note is that their operational areas are not always in their host countries. Another point is that no country condones spying but it is allowed. It is allowed only to the extent that the spy is not caught. Spying is what is often referred to when it is said that diplomats engage in activities that are not generally compatible with the status of a diplomat.

In other words, all countries condone interferences to the extent that their core national interests are not threatened. If this is not so, there will not be any good basis to justify the existence of their intelligence agencies. For instance, Nigeria has the DIA(Defence Intelligence Agency which covers the military domain of intelligence gathering, the NIA(National Intelligence Agency) which is saddled with intelligence gathering at the level of foreign relations, and the DSS (Department of State Services) with emphasis on national security. For the purposes of national security and political stability, especially during and after the 2019 polls, government has drawn attention to intelligence reports indicating the likelihood of foreign interferences in the elections. It is even argued that the calls on the international community are aimed at disrupting, as well as possibly preventing the holding of the elections in order to allow for the declaration of a state of emergency, and therefore, the continuity of the Buharian administration.

From the foregoing, Nigerians should not be much bothered about foreign interferences but about foreign interventions. Even if the word ‘interference’ is used to imply intervention, the meaning cannot but also include the use of force. The Webster Comprehensive Dictionary of the English Language is quite clear on this. It says specifically that an intervention is, ‘in international law, interference of one country in the affairs of another by force or threat of force.’ this is what differentiates interference from an intervention. In this case, interference is an act. Intervention is also an act but the difference is made clear in how the act is manifested.

For instance, the same dictionary has it that the meaning of an interference varies from one discipline to another. In sports, it means the obstruction of the actions of an opponent in an illegal manner. In patent law, it is the conflict created by an application for a patent, that is claiming priority over an invention. In physics, it is the action of two or more wave trains or to counteract one another.

In its general ordinary or non technical sense, an interference is simply about meddlesomeness, that is ‘to enter into or take part unasked in the concerns of others.’ Interference as an act of interfering should be explained and understood at this level of non-authorised meddling. It is also at this level that the Nasir el-Rufai-newly generated controversy and emerging diplomatic row between Nigeria and the invited international election observers should be located.

Without jot of doubt, as noted above, it was my contribution at the Tuesday Live programme that prompted the initial controversy. I said interference should not be confused with intervention and that interferences are not only allowed but also that all countries of the world, as well as all peoples, individually or corporately, engage in acts of interference in international relations. As Mallam Nasir el-Rufai disagreed with the distinction in meaning of both concepts, there is the need for policy makers to thread more carefully to avoid further inducing President Buhari into error and diplomatic row over which the country has little capacity to manage in the event of deterioration and conflict.

By giving impression to the general public that an interference is necessarily synonymous with an intervention, the international election observers are implied as part of those who are coming to intervene and who must be sent home dead, for coming to use force in the electoral processes, and with the ultimate objective of preventing the natural election outcome.

To make the matter worse, Festus Keyamo declared in an NTA News Extra on Wednesday, 6th February that he had not only read international law to its highest level, and in this capacity, has submitted that no country is allowed to interfere in the domestic affairs of other sovereign states. He talked about non-interference in his interview but referred to the UN Charter which only talks about non-intervention, not in Article 2 (4) as referred to by Barrister Keyamo, but in Article 2(7).

If Nigerian policy makers had been more careful in knowing the fundamental distinction between interference and intervention, between non-interference and non-intervention, and perhaps most importantly, between permissible and non-permissible interventions, a topic on which Professor Rafiu Ayo Akindele, former Acting Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs has written many essays, the statement by Mallam Nasir el-Rufai would have been perfectly in order. If anyone wants to intervene in Nigeria’s domestic affairs contrarily to international law, the persons could even be carried home in body bags. They should simply be allowed to rotten and thrown to shirks to devour.

However, this is not the case. The concept of interference does not even apply at the level of the international election observers for many obvious reasons. The election observers are in Nigeria on the basis of the kind invitation of the Government of Nigeria.

Interference, as shown above, is meddling without being invited in the domestic affairs of Nigeria.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 10, 2019

CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

February 16 Elections: Between Nigerians and INEC Judging by INEC’s preparedness ahead of next Saturday’s general election, it is obvious that the elections, particularly that of the presidential race, is one between the electoral umpire and Nigerians, writes Olaseni Durojaiye

A

s the nation counts down to the next general election starting with the presidential election which is next Saturday, there are foreboding signs that the elections will be one between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigerian people.

This contention is backed by glaring signs that the leadership of the commission is not demonstrating convincing commitment to building off on the successes of the 2015 elections, which in itself will be a monumental disservice to the country and the international community. There are a handful of such signs.

From all indications, many registered voters could have been disenfranchised on account of their inability to collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) had INEC not extended the dates for collection. By INEC’s Election Guidelines and Regulations, the collection of PVC was meant to have closed last Friday, a time thousands of Nigerians scattered across all of the nation’s six geopolitical zones had yet to access their PVC and in many cases due to no fault of theirs.

Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians were deliberately frustrated by INEC staff from collecting their PVCs even after several visits to the collection points. Many of them had to make excuses a couple of times from their employers to either be absent from work or resume work late just so they could collect their PVC in order that they could perform their civic duty of voting their choice candidates in the forthcoming elections. But their efforts Yakubu...INEC on the watch were allegedly frustrated by the commission’s staff.

Several complaints about this in the print and electronic media condemnation of it has been loud among critical stakeholders in the electoral process. appeared not to have initially stoked the commission’s leaderIn the 2015 elections, what obtained was that different belts ship into action to device a seamless process of PVC collection. were allotted for accreditation of voters and voting proper. This Certainly, it would have been an indictment on the commission helped to ascertain the number of accredited voters before if a significant number of eligible voters had been shut out of the voting commenced such that it checked the chances of votes cast voting process eventually. outnumbering that of accredited voters’ right before hand. And A possible remedy was eventually devised and that was by where such was perpetrated it made it easy to detect when matters extending the collection time beyond last Friday, which autoget to electoral litigation stage. One of the strengths of this process matically opened a window to the effect till tomorrow, Monday, is that it easily comes handy when resolving cases of electoral February 11. But much may not be achieved yet if the process of dispute that bordered on over-voting, ballot-stuffing and any other collection and the behaviours of INEC staff in charge of releasing electoral frauds. the PVCs remain the same.

Some have argued that the process is time-consuming. Those The extension itself is yet another failing, given that the who hold this view argued that having to register, go back home commission had all of four years to prepare for the once-in-fourand then return to vote is also cumbersome. It may be, but it is years ritual. So, why the last minute rush? But while the extension definitely nothing too much to sacrifice for the benefit of a rancouris commendable, INEC can still push till mid-week if indeed it free election, after all, it is just for that day. intends to show genuine commitment to delivering effectively Besides, certain peculiarity of the Nigerian environment, dewith this election. mocracy and electoral process, which is still in its learning stages, Certainly, there are existential concerns with INEC’s preparaknocks off the argument about time factor. This is even more so tion for the forthcoming election. And this stems from one or two considering the penchant among Nigerian politicians and political unpopular provisions contained in its 2019 Election Guidelines and Regulations. Thus, by the commission’s published guidelines, parties to dispute every election results that does not favour them.

What more, the fact that the continuous accreditation and certain provisions do not favour free, fair and credible elections, voting model is a rather unwieldy process – where the processes of one of which is the adoption of continuous accreditation and accreditation and voting runs into each other, is even a compelling voting. reason to jettison the model.

The insistence of INEC to adopt the continuous voters’ Added to this is the reasoning that it takes transparency away accreditation and voting, against popular opinion exposed the from the process as it makes it difficult to juxtapose number of commission to fiery criticisms from various quarters just as the accredited voters against actual votes cast in case there is electoral

dispute.

Clearly, INEC got it wrong going for the continuous accreditation and voting model even against public disquiet about it. As the saying goes, why fix it when it’s not broken.

It is noteworthy that former INEC Chair, Prof. Attahiru Jega achieved so much with the 2015 general election, because he carried all stakeholders, including political parties along.

Carrying them along afforded him the smart choice of sometimes using them as sounding board, and some of their valid observations and suggestions were incorporated into the elections guidelines and regulations during his time. Eventually, he was widely commended not only for sticking to the agreed rules of engagements; he was also hailed on account of transparency.

Unfortunately, with the way INEC under Prof. Yakubu is going, it is left to be seen if history would be that kind to him post-2019 general election. There are credible concerns that even with the introduction of electronic transmission of results right from polling units onward, it might still be a case of one bad apple soiling the whole lot.

Interestingly, the international community has indicated interest in the electoral process, warning all players in the process of the consequences of truncating the process or abusing it.

Interestingly, the international community has indicated its deep interest in the forthcoming elections. Weeks back, the European Union inaugurated its Elections Observer Mission in the country with a charge on all stakeholders to ensure the success of the process even adding that the election presented the country with the opportunity to consolidate on the gains of the 2015 elections.

On its part, the United States government had also warned that it was placing certain players in the process under watch even as it disclosed that sanctions will be meted out to anybody that attempted to frustrate or truncate the process.

It is gratifying that the international community, particularly the EU, The Commonwealth and the United States are keen on a successful election and not just content with simply affording the country and its many institutions bilateral assistance as it is important that such assistance is justified with certain standards including the nation’s electoral process.

In the final analysis, it is important that the current INEC Chairman realises that the way things have panned out at the commission under his watch suggests that the election is between INEC and Nigerian electorate and definitely not one between the two leading political parties.

This is so because the parties have done their bits campaigning for votes and so far played by the rules it came up with, while Nigerians on their part have shown commendable readiness to exercise their rights to vote for their preferred candidates and parties during the elections. The onus therefore falls on the commission to ensure that everything goes well and the election is free, fair and credible.

No excuses will be tenable.

It is also noteworthy to remind Prof. Yakubu that being the one on whose table the buck stops, it is his name, career and reputation that are at stake, thus, he must ensure that the election is successfully conducted. He has a choice to make: whether to go the way of the heroes like the likes of Humphrey Nwosu and Jega or to go the way of Maurice Iwu and Ovie-Whiskey. The choice is really his’ and the world is waiting to see which one he eventually makes.

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

El-Rufai’s Reckless Indulgence!

J El-rufai

ust when you thought that with age and responsibility, people should increase in wisdom and also improve their disposition to certain things of life, the reverse appears the case with the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, whose increasing penchant for reckless, uncouth and irresponsible utterances is comparable to none.

It is, of course, not far-fetched that el-Rufai has grown to become this much a menace to self and his environ. He has been indulged over time for one reason or the other, thus unable to draw the lines or espouse decent exposure

at certain points in his sojourn in life.To say that his statement on the election is highly unstatesmanly is to assume el-Rufai is by any stretch of the imagination a statesman in the first place.

That he is not even close to the ideals he pretends to propagate is the very reason no one should take his ilk seriously. Otherwise how does anyone explain a sitting governor, not by sheer insinuation but through candid and express statement, instigating the killing of foreigners, because of an election? El-Rufai is definitely not the kind of leader for the future and even worse are those struggling to rationalise that twaddle!

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 10, 2019

74

BRIEFINGNOTES

Osinbajo

Fashola

Mustapha

Keyamo

Buhari,Nigeria and the Ethnic Choristers A worrying dimension of the impending presidential poll is the recourse to playing the ethnic card by some quite informed personalities to sway the electorate. Louis Achi looks at the positions marketed by Festus Keyamo, spokesperson for the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Re-election Campaign, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, within the context of next Saturday’s elections and those of 2023

E

xpressing a position on the troubling incidence of ethnic nationalism in Nigeria, former military President Ibrahim Babangida once held that the existence of multiple ethnic nationalities does not by itself necessarily constitute a problem or an issue with political consequences.

His words: “This situation alters in the process of social change or modernisation, when the interest of ethnic groups becomes elevated to the political realm.”

In his view, purposeful leadership could tackle the challenges which multi-ethnic nationalism poses for governance.

“The task before leadership at all levels of governance is the use to which government apparatus and public resources are ordered around public policy in order to reduce the destabilising dimensions of multi-ethnic nationalities and the forging of a wholesome Nigerian state within the federation,” he further noted.

Tensions spawned by ethnic nationalism, he recalls, “gave rise to the colonial investigatory committee usually referred to as the Willink Commission, which became the precursor of the multiple creations of sub-system state in the country between 1963 and 1996.”

Indeed, democracy would lose its defining egalitarianism if it foreclosed the free expression of viewpoints by its adherents – including often unreasoned perspectives by forces that seek to diminish and divide.

It would appear that the penumbra of electoral contests usually ramps up humdrum, unreasoned perspectives, which support a slew of often unsalutary agenda that diminishes and stunts, instead of rigorously researched viewpoints that inform and leverage society.

It could be recalled that speaking recently during a Channels TV’s programme, ‘Politics Today’, Keyamo said the “Yoruba can’t be foolish to see Ohaneze endorsing their son and keep quiet and say they will go and support that son. A senior advocate of Nigeria, a renowned professor, they will now leave him for a China man?”

As curious as the position was, Keyamo prefaced it by telling a national television audience how his mother is Yoruba. He laboriously explained how Yorubas will vote Buhari, because Osinbajo is their son as the Igbo will vote Atiku, because of Peter Obi, a ‘China man’ is their son.

Though seen as very disappointing by many, Keyamo’s position was still quite within his rights as a free democracy guarantees. But by labeling Peter Obi, the vice presidential running mate to Alhaji Atiku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a ‘China man,’ and asking Yorubas to reject him, not because he is unqualified, but because he is Igbo, Keyamo was essentially doing damage to a new Nigeria, which his principal

arguably, though pretentiously, espouses.

Worse, a human rights lawyer, now coming across as an ethnic rights advocate, Keyamo’s position sharply contradicts even the fundamental grounds on which he set sail as the official spokesperson for the President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election campaign: “for the good of the country and for posterity.”

In his new found championship of ethnic jingoism, the good of Nigeria and posterity greatly suffer.

Keyamo was even prepared to create disunity and ethnic division in the country to achieve his goal by vigorously trying to show the Igbo as tribalists, who were going to vote based on tribal sentiments. But electoral facts in the public square would appear to sharply contradict such flawed pitch.

In 2003, when Buhari picked a well-respected Igbo, Chuba Okadigbo as his running mate, Ndigbo voted overwhelmingly for Obasanjo. Even the fact that folk hero Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu was in this camp did not stop the Igbo from voting for Obasanjo.

Also, in 2007, when Buhari picked Chief Godwin Umeezeoke, another respected Igbo as his running mate, the Igbo voted for a Fulani/Ijaw ticket in Yaradua/Jonathan. At those points, nobody called them tribalists. The chanting then was that Igbos don’t love their own or themselves.

Unfortunately, with eyes on the 2023 presidential slot, Vice President reinforced this quirky narrative, when he recently visited the palace of the Alafin of Oyo. According to him, the Yoruba are those who will determine if a Yoruba person succeeds President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, that is, if Buhari gets a second term.

His words: “The 2019 general election is our own. We are not looking at the 2019 but 2023. If we get it in 2019, Yoruba (read: I) will get it in 2023, because if we don’t get it in 2019, we may not get it in 2023 and it may take a very long time to get it.”

According to Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, who accompanied Osinbajo, “This coming 2019 election is between Hausa and Yoruba on one hand and Hausa and Ibo on the other side. It is only a bastard in Yorubaland that will not support APC.” Still chanting the same ethnic mantra, Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Works, Power and Housing appealed to the Yoruba to vote Buhari for a second term. He had said at a recent town hall meeting organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture that voting for Buhari would amount to the presidency returning to the Southwest in 2023.

His call came against the campaign by many Southeast supporters of the president that a second term for Buhari was the surest and quickest route for the Igbo to become president in 2023.

Amidst the rivalry by the Southwest and Southeast for 2023, the secretary general of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Anthony Z. Sanni, also gave a warning to the two zones that the North may not be ruled out of 2023. In a coded warning to the two zones, Sanni affirmed that 70 out of the 76 candidates for the 2019 presidential election were Southerners!

Amidst the ongoing din, the Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha weighed in, assuring Ndigbo that the shortest route to producing a president of Igbo extraction is by supporting and voting for APC in 2019.

He urged them to ensure that President Buhari is returned in 2019. This position curiously contradicted those expressed by both the vice president and Babatunde Fashola.

“The 2023 Igbo Presidency agenda is not only realisable by sticking with President Muhammadu Buhari, but will also be a watershed in the lives of Igbos,” he said. He soon corroborated by the president’s media aide, Femi Adeshina, who also maintained that the Igbo actually deserve to produce the president after Buhari’s second term but advised that they must play their politics well.

Responding to the debate between Buhari’s Southwest, Southeast, Afenifere speaking through its spokesman Yinka Odumakin said that both advocates were on fool’s errand.

His words: “Both the Buhari advocates in Southeast and Southwest are not in tune with the mood of both zones. The mood of both zones is not Nigerian presidency in 2023, but restructuring in 2019.

“If we restructure the country in 2019 and everybody has the autonomy to run their lives as they want within corporate Nigeria, both zones may even say that they don’t want the presidency in 2023.

“In the First Republic, Ahmadu Bello refused to be prime minister of Nigeria; he sent his lieutenant to be the prime minister of Nigeria while he stayed back as premier of Northern Nigeria. So, both Fashola and Ngige and the rest of them saying that Buhari is the fastest route to 2023 are not in sync with the mood of their zones.

“The mood of their zones is that the fastest route to recovery for Nigeria and for every section of Nigeria is to restructure Nigeria in 2019. It is a mere diversion that resonates with nobody. The Yoruba had the presidency for eight years, did it make any difference? The South-South had it for six years.

What did it do for them? The North that has had it more than any other region what has it done for the ordinary Northerner?”In all, if the quality and scope of this debate represents a road map for achieving the dream of a new Nigeria, the emerging consensus is that Africa must then wait for the visionary leader-nation that would guide the continent’s transformation.

NOTES FOR FILE

The Polls Are Nerve-racking!

Atiku

Last Sunday, this newspaper, in its tradition of delivering responsible journalism as well as setting stellar examples in the political environment, did a state-by-state analysis of how Nigerians might vote during the February 16, presidential election, the summary of which suggested the election was looking good for the opposition candidate, Atiku Abubakar, all things being equal.

Andforreasonsofreliablybuildingsafetyintosomeoftheprojections of the fieldwork analyses, the Sunday THISDAY refused to come up with a conclusion, thus leaving the readers with an open mind to draw up their own inferences.

A day after the THISDAY report, an international pollster, Williams and Associates, released the results of its own fieldwork too and it also clearly projected an Atiku victory. Two days after this, another international poll expert, Teneo released yet a poll, which

again gave the election to Atiku with 57 per cent to Muhammadu Buhari’s 42 per cent, albeit with the fears of possible rigging by deploying the weight of incumbency.

Now, the interesting thing about these polls is that they also projected a Buhari victory in 2015 and it so came to pass. At the time, the opposition applauded these projections and recognised their authority in this area, because those projections were in sync with the prayers of those on this side now.

Unfortunately, since Sunday that THISDAY led the pack, the ruling party and their social and traditional media hawks have been unpretentiously uneasy – dismissing, discrediting and calling the polls their many chosen names. It is understandable though. When reality strikes, the shock is naturally inconceivable.

But a word for them: HYPOCRITES!

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 10, 2019

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Buhari Vs Atiku: The Groundswell Favouring the Articulated and Business-minded With positive local and international polls’ predictions as well as the groundswell of endorsements by all the socio-political groups in favour of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, it appears history might be on the verge of repeating itself, writes Adedayo Akinwale

I

n the run-up to 2015 presidential election, the name on the lips of Nigerians was Muhammadu Buhari – a born-again dictator-turned-democrat. He was thought as the messiah that Nigerians were waiting for, and the sweeping slogan was ‘change’. The reason was not far-fetched.

Then ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had become a god wreaking havoc on the socio-political and economic psyche of the masses. The administration led by former president Goodluck Jonathan had been enmeshed with corruption and maladministration.

Nigerians were therefore desperate for a change in government. It became a case of anyone but Jonathan.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) had smartly played on the emotions of Nigerians, which came with a change agenda to fight corruption that was already walking on the streets, reform the economy and battle insecurity, among others. The party promised Nigerians heaven on earth. It wasn’t difficult for them to convince Nigerians to vote for them as the continuity of PDP was considered suicidal.

Thus, with local and international polls, emboldened by staggering endorsement as well as foreign tacit support, the journey to Aso Rock became a smooth ride for Buhari and the APC, 12 straight years after Buhari’s three attempts at the presidency.

Three years down the line, nothing much changed. The more things changed, the more they looked the same. The ruling party’s performance has suddenly become a disaster. The dictatorial nature of Buhari is still as it used to be. His respect for rule of law has never been as bad. His nepotistic tendency is helplessly ever present.

The standard of living in the country has dropped sharply like the price of crude oil in the world market. Above all, his monumental failure in office has attracted the anger of Nigerians hence political analysts are of the view that Buhari’s re-election bid is a huge mistake that must not be repeated.

With just days to the presidential election, the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has become the new rally point, a unifier of the fragile country and a symbol of hope.

While no one might be expecting the former vice president to perform miracles if he eventually wins the presidential election, his message of hope has attracted the interest of Nigerians and the message arising from this is crystal clear; that Atiku will be far better than the incumbent president, which seems not to be aware of anything happening in his government.

In addition, international polls have also predicted a comfortable and decent win for the PDP candidate on a number of occasions. In September 2018, HSBC in its report put together by its Global Research Unit and titled: ‘Nigeria, Papering over the Cracks,’ said Nigeria’s current economic struggles look set to continue if Buhari wins a second term in office.

The financial institution posited that although the incumbent president’s “approval ratings sit near all-time lows,” a development it said “largely reflects the impact of Nigeria’s painful recession in 2016-17 and the sustained economic hardship that has accompanied his presidency, including rapidly rising joblessness, and poverty,” the president will once again lead the APC into the 2019 elections.

HSBC, however, stated that “A second term for Mr. Buhari raises the risk of limited economic progress and further fiscal deterioration, prolonging the stagnation of his first term, particularly if there is no move towards completing the reform of the exchange rate system or fiscal adjustments that diversify government revenues away from oil.”

But the Presidency in its reaction said it wished to make it clear to all Nigerians particularly, the global banking giant HSBC which said the second term of Buhari would stunt the economy, that what killed Nigeria’s economy in the past was the unbridled looting of state resources by leaders, the type actively supported by HSBC. It said a bank that soiled its hand with “millions of US

dollars yet-to-be-recovered Abacha loot”, and continued until a few months ago to shield the stolen funds of one of the leaders of the Nigerian Senate has no moral right whatsoever to project that a “second term for Mr. Buhari raises the risk of limited economic progress and further fiscal deterioration.”

Also in the same 2018, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Africa, the research unit of the London-based The Economist Magazine, said that the PDP would win the 2019 election.

“With the vote likely to be split in the North, Abubakar will find it easier to garner support from the country’s south, which has traditionally been a safe haven for the PDP. Again, last week, The Economist insisted that Atiku would win the February 16 presidential election. EIU Africa said the margin of victory was getting narrower as the election approaches, but Atiku and his political party will win the historic election.

It states: “Less than two weeks before #Nigeria’s presidential election. Abubakar has floated the idea of corruption amnesty. It is arguably an impolitic time for such a delicate proposal. Abubakar is hard-pressed to convince voters that he is a clean politician, having been on the receiving end of numerous graft allegations in the past. We retain our forecast for #Abubakar to win, but expected the margin of victory is narrowing as the poll approaches.”

Aside the international polls, which have all been in favour of the PDP presidential candidate, the United States government a few weeks back had tactically supported his candidacy by granting him a visa to visit the country after twelve years visa ban. This finally put a nail to the coffin of speculation that his inability to secure the US visa was due to an allegation of corruption against him.

His recent visit to the US afforded him the opportunity to meet with some US government officials.

His inability to travel to the US had formed a crux of the campaign of the ruling party going into the February 16, 2019, presidential election.

Atiku’s presidential ambition further received a major boost, when last week, he was endorsed by Afenifere Renewal Group, Middle Belt Forum, Ohaneaze Ndigbo, Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and Pan Niger Delta

Forum (PANDEF). The Forum of Nigerian Elders and Leaders had during its meeting held at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, thrown its weight behind the former vice president.

In the Nigeria political system, such endorsement was a major boost as such socio-political groups have a huge influence on their people in their respective domains. But the federal government immediately described the endorsement as a ‘voodoo’ endorsement.

But 24 hours after the endorsement by the elders of thought, a group of retired ex-military generals, hurriedly endorsed the second term bid of Buhari, to balance the unfolding political game.

The ex-generals were led by the former military administrator of Lagos state, Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa, (retd.), came along with 13 Major Generals, eight Air Vice Marshals, two Rear Admirals, 12 Brigadier-Generals, nine Air Commodores, 8 Commodores and 17 former military administrators to the presidential villa.

Without fear or favour, the ex-generals that endorsed the president’s re-election bid are not in the mould of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, former Heads of State Ibrahim Babangida, and Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, among others and as such, are not politically savvy to influence the voters.

Reacting to the endorsement, however, PDP’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said the endorsement was to create an aura that does not exist around Buhari.

“We consider this endorsement as name-dropping, just to create an aura that does not exist around President Buhari. Young officers are being killed and no General has spoken on how to curb the insurgency and banditry.

“Is it now that Nigerians are tired of the governance style of President Buhari that Generals will be endorsing him? When bandits are taking over Zamfara and even Katsina, the home state of Buhari? The PDP does not believe any General worth his salt will do that,” added.

Generally, the February 16 presidential election will not be a walkover for the ruling APC, because it will be a fight to finish between the party and the main opposition party, the PDP. And with the recent run of goodwill Atiku is enjoying, it won’t be a surprise if he wins the most coveted trophy of his political career.

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Adamu and Buhari

Insecurity on the Trail of General Election Amid growing security challenges in Nigeria, the police and other security agencies are expected to protect lives and property before, during and after the 2019 elections, writes Shola Oyeyipo

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ections are not just important but critical aspect of a country’s democratic process.

However, conducting violence-free elections has remained a major challenge confronting many developing countries, including Nigeria.

Thus, at every election Insecurity on the Trail of a General Election 2019 General Election and the Shadows of Insecurity Amid growing security challenges in Nigeria, the police and other security agencies are expected to protect lives and property before, during and after the 2019 elections, writes Shola Oyeyipo cycle, attention is not just on the electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but also on the institution saddled with the responsibility of providing security, the Police.

Ordinarily, some of the reasons for the sustained culture of electoral violence are hinged on inordinate quest for political power, religious and sectional differences, political rivalry and election rigging. But the situation in Nigeria has been escalated beyond that.

There is large scale insurgency in some states, herdsmen killings, banditry and all that are giving many people sleepless nights.

Whereas in climes where there is relative peace, the job of the police is well cut out. There is never the need for deployment of heavily-armed combatant officers and blockades along major highways, but as things are, the work of security operatives will even go beyond that in the forthcoming election. They must embark on violence prevention.

Though the overall agenda is for security men to provide cover for INEC officials and also to provide peaceful environment for the process from voting to collation of result and the announcement of results, but this must be done with the consciousness that the perpetrators of violence in the North-east and some other parts of the north are not just common political thugs but organised criminals, who have unleashed terror on innocent citizens over the years.

Residents in affected parts of Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Kebbi, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, Niger and Plateau States have lived with violence that is better imagined long before now but concerns are mounting as the countdown to the election draws closer.

The existential insecurity and well-known electoral violence were made worse when the federal government recently raised the alarm that the main opposition political party was mobilising bandits and members of Boko Haram to perpetrate mayhem in Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kaduna, and Zamfara states during the coming elections

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who made the allegations, even added that there were plans to attack some state governors and that the overall agenda was to disrupt the conduct of the election.

Expectedly, the PDP vehemently denied the allegation, saying it was a ploy to clamp down on opposition figures. Be that has it may, the police authority cannot take such issues with a pinch of the salt.

This is more so when the United States of America added its voice to alert Nigerians and its citizens in Nigeria on the need to be conscious of threats by members of Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa during the period of the election.

According to a statement published on the US official website in Nigeria on Friday, January 18, 2019, it raised the alarm that the insurgents had threatened to attack public places, thereby advising the people to be careful in their movements and keep a low profile.

“There is an increase in ISIS propaganda videos, specifically directed to Nigeria and the ongoing civil unrest in Borno State and the North-east.

“ISIS West Africa and Boko Haram have both stated their plan to disrupt the upcoming 2019 presidential election by conducting attacks on Nigerian security and infrastructure, as well as places of gathering such as markets, hotels, and malls.”

The US, therefore, warned its citizens in Nigeria to always remember to follow personal security precautions on a regular basis while it expects additional police and military checkpoints and possible roadblocks throughout the country.

The principal reason why water-tight security measures must be put in place by the Nigerian security is that reliable security analysts, who have been studying terrorists’ activities in Africa, have said more attacks were expected in the run-up to February 16.

A counter-terrorism specialist with the Modern Security Consulting Group (MOSECON) in Berlin, Yan St-Pierre, recently told a Nigerian newspaper that there were implications beyond Nigeria’s borders.

According to him, the intensity and regularity of recent attacks indicated Islamic States West African Province ISWAP now has a capacity for sustained warfare and a significant number of fighters and materials at its disposal.

This is surely not the best time to envy the police and other sister agencies. They have a lot on their hands. While they must be proactive in stopping mega scale attacks, it is also their responsibilities to ensure that miscreants and political thugs do not disrupt the election process by adequately protecting INEC staff and the electorate.

One soothing thing is that the acting InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar Adamu

is a thorough-bred and highly professional police officer, who rose through the ranks to become what some call a “super detective.”

He is equipped with requisite experience in international peacekeeping. Also, he has grown through the ranks in the INTERPOL and has experience policing diverse environments.

His professional expertise, exceptional leadership skills and rich national and international policing career must bring out the best of his ability to affirm his reputation as an officer with courage, calmness, incorruptibility, discipline, clear vision, and deep knowledge of policing dynamics.

He is expected by now, to have been abreast of the intelligence available to the US, which made it raise the alarm. Aside from that, knowing the terrain better, gathering necessary intelligence to curtail all forms of attacks against the election is very important.

Relevant agencies, especially the Department of State Security (DSS), will surely be of considerable assistance to the police in the area of intelligence gathering. And also, considering the international dimension of the threat, the military and other security setups would be expected to collaborate to give the country a hitch-free free, fair and credible election come February 16 and March 2.

It is, however, heartwarming that the police are already on the drawing board to act promptly and professionally. Sources close to the new police IGP said while he is keeping his card close to his chest, he is already drawing up charts that would accentuate the prism that there is a new sheriff in town.

Immediately he was named the acting IGP, Adamu promised that he would handle the forthcoming general election in the country in a professional manner. He equally assured the people that they would have a level playing field. He has said that repeatedly ever since.

“I have said it before and will say it again, the police are professionals and we have been given the assignment to secure the election, creating a level playing field for everybody. We will provide security before, during and after the election,” the acting IGP was recently quoted to have said.

Nigerians and the international community will hold him to these promises during and after the elections.

It was gathered that last Monday when he summoned all police commissioners to an emergency meeting in Abuja at the Force Headquarters, the main thrust was securing the nation during the election.

However Adamu plans to go about it, it must be clear to him that his litmus test is the forthcoming election. He must bring his experience on the table and justify why he was the most suitable officer for the IGP job at a time like this.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 10, 2019

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Uba

Uba and the Task of Selling Buhari to Anambra Senator Andy Uba is the chairman of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Campaign Council in Anambra State. He has the huge task of making Buhari and APC acceptable in a predominantly APGA State? DavidChyddy Eleke looks at how the senator can pull this off

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resident Muhammadu Buhari was in Onitsha, Anambra State on January 24, 2019 to canvass votes for All Progressives Congress, APC, and himself as the presidential candidate of the party.

During his speech, he begged the people of the state for votes, saying his government meant well for the people

of the state.

The presidential campaign rally, which held at the Holy Trinity field in Onitsha, saw the president say that his government was working hard on economy, security and the fight against corruption. The president, who first moved to the newly completed Zik’s Mausoleum, where he commissioned the project, was also at the palace of the traditional ruler of Onitsha Kingdom, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, where he met traditional rulers in the state.

Addressing a mammoth crowd, which gathered at the venue, Buhari said, “I am happy to have commissioned the Zik’s Mausoleum. I am just coming from there now. The road from Enugu to here (Onitsha), which was last done during the Abacha time, is being done again. We are also working on the Port Harcourt road to this place too, and I believe the minister of Transport (Rotimi Amechi) has also told you of the railway project, which will also pass from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, through some of your states.”

In the area of security, Buhari assured that his government was doing his best, while also stating that no local government in the North East was being held by members of the Boko Haram sect. On militancy, he said, “In the Niger Delta, we have reached an agreement with the militants, and production is going on. It is unfortunate that production has come down from over two million barrels per day to about half a million.”

In Anambra, however, there exists a number of projects by the present government, including the second Niger Bridge, the Enugu-Onitsha expressway project that is ongoing, the Onitsha-Owerri road project and of course, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum that has been completed and commissioned among others.

The President Buhari Campaign Council Chairman of Anambra State, Senator Andy Uba, who is also the Senator Representing Anambra South senatorial zone, in his maiden press conference to announce his appointment, promised to mobilise total victory for President Buhari in the state.

Uba spoke in Aguata, when he met with the leader-

ship of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his ward, Uga ward one, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, to intimate them of the task ahead, which is delivering President Buhari in the state.

He said his reason for beginning his campaign at the ward was to fulfill the saying that charity begins at home. He however assured that he would use his position to mobilise voters from the state to vote for himself as the senator representing Anambra South and most importantly for President Buhari, whom he adjudged as performing ‘very excellently’.

“There are a lot of things that the President is doing that the people do not know about, but what we are going to do is to take those good works to the rural people of Anambra and ensure that they assimilate this, and use it to see reasons why they should vote the president.

“There are projects like the Zik’s Mausoleum that have been abandoned for several years, but now constructed by the Buhari administration. There is the second Niger bridge, which is still ongoing and seriously too, and there is also the Enugu-Onitsha expressway. There are several more projects and our job is to tell the people of them and mobilise them to vote for President Buhari.”

The senator also added that Igbos had a lot to benefit from Buhari if they voted him, saying he (Buhari) was ready to support the South-east to produce the senate president in 2015, but could not find an APC ranking senator from the zone, leading to the position being clinched by another zone. He said if Igbos voted Buhari in the coming election, he was sure that the senate presidency would come from the south east, especially as the people were also ready to vote senators from the zone on the platform of APC. “You need to have people, who are ranking senators from the zone, who can be made the Senate President. I am vying for a seat in the senate for the third time, and that among other things qualifies me to be a ranking senator, who would be qualified to be a senate president.

“There are some people, who are contesting for the senate against me, but cannot as little as read documents. To be a senate president, you have to be a ranking senator, and you have to have been in the senate for at least eight years and must have a number of bills you have sponsored. So, Igbos must vote wisely in their choice of senators,” Uba said.

While speaking to THISDAY exclusively in Ufuma, Orumba north local government area of Anambra State on his plans to deliver the president in Anambra, Uba

stated that through hard work, the APC has gained acceptability in Anambra State, unlike in 2015 when the party was dreaded by citizens of the state.

He said, “In 2015, did you see this kind of crowd converge for APC? It did not happen. The people were aloof and not ready to listen to anyone, who would talk to them about APC or Buhari, but today the story is different.

“Just look around and see the number of people, who have converged here today, this is very significant.

It did not just happen; it was through the efforts of some of us, who joined the party. The people know us, and when we approach them and tell them that APC is the best place to be, they don’t argue about it.”

Uba remained upbeat about Buhari winning the election, while also expressing optimism that he would win the south senatorial election and also become the Senate President, having been in the senate for eight years and attained the status of a ranking senator with cognate experience.

“President Buhari in 2015 was ready to make an Igbo man the senate president, but he could not find a good ranking Igbo senator from the area. We urge you to vote for president Buhari, and also for me as the senator.

Senate Presidency is a bigger position than even the governor of the state. So, if we get the senate presidency, it will mean having something more than a governor in this area,” Uba urged the people.

The candidate of the party for Orumba North and South federal constituency, Uchenna Okonkwo-Okom, who also spoke at Oko Community, where Uba earlier visited, said the people of Oko Community were lucky to have Uba from their area, as his closeness to the presidency would help to attract projects to the area.

Okonkwo-Okom said Uba was the only senator that has represented the zone that had projects in every political Ward in the zone, which was made up of seven local government areas. He urged the people to vote for him.

Uba stated that the task of delivering President Buhari in Anambra State was not just a task for the members of APC in the state, just as he acknowledged that delivering Buhari in the state was the task of every well-meaning person, who appreciates the good work of the president.

He urged people of the state to rally round and work for the victory of Buhari, especially now that the party is very acceptable in the state, and also has the chances of producing a senate president in the event of their victory.

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The National Assembly Complex

N’Assembly Members in Crucial Popularity Test Next Saturday Next Saturday’s general election is a major popularity test case for a majority of the National Assembly members. Deji Elumoye and Shola Oyeyipo write

T

he election of the 479 members of the Ninth National Assembly will take place on Saturday, February 16, in all the 109 Senatorial Districts and 360 federal constituencies across the federation. It is the same day the presidential poll will also hold across the length and breadth of the country in line with the time table released last year by the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

While some if not most of the federal lawmakers won the return tickets of their respective parties, others were not as fortunate as they lost out during the party primaries held between September and October last year. Some others including eight Senators were lucky to have won the primaries to fly the gubernatorial tickets in their respective states and their election will be due on Saturday, March 2.

However, there are 66 senators, who would test their popularity among the electorate and they are picked from the different political parties, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

Specifically, the Senators contesting on the platform of the opposition PDP are the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki (Kwara Central); Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu West); Senate Minority Leader, Abiodun

Olujimi (Ekiti South); Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba South) and Minority Whip, Philip Tanimu Aduda (FCT).

Others are Senators Duro Faseyi (Ekiti North), Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara South), Atai Aidoko (Kogi East), Ahmed Ogembe (Kogi Central), Dino Melaye (Kogi West), Suleiman Adokwe (Nasarawa South), Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi Central), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North), Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North), Stella Oduah (Anambra North), Mao Ohuanbunwa (Abia North) Theodore Orji (Abia Central) and Eyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South).

Also re-contesting on the PDP platform are Senators Albert Bassey Akpan (Akwa Ibom North East), Gebshom Bassey (Cross River North), Rose Oko (Cross River South), James Manager (Delta South), Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta North), Mathew Urhoghide (Edo South) and Clifford Ordia (Edo Central).

Re-contesting PDP Senators from the North East and North West are Mohammed Hassan (Yobe South), Isa Misau (Bauchi South), Suleiman Nazif (Bauchi North), Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba (Sokoto Central), Ubali Shittu (Jigawa North), Danjuma La’ah (Kaduna South), Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North) and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano Central).

Flying the APC flag for re-election are the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North), Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi south) and Deputy Whip of the Senate, Francis Alimekhena (Edo North).

Others are Senators Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central), Adeola Olamilekan (Lagos West), Tayo Alasoadura (Ondo central), Ajayi Boroffice

(Ondo North), Yele Omogunwa (Ondo South), Abdulfatah Buhari (Oyo North), David Umoru (Niger East), Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North), George Akume (Benue North west) and Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa west).

The APC Senators seeking re-election from South East and South South are Senators Benjamin Uwajumogu (Imo Central), Andy Uba (Anambra South), Andrew Uchendu (Rivers South East), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North West), Nelson Effiong (Akwa Ibom South) and Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central) From North East and North West on the APC platform are Senators Ali Ndume (Borno South), Abubakar Kyari (Borno North), Binta Garba Masi (Adamawa North), Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf (Taraba Central), Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central) and Lawan Yahaya Gumau (Bauchi South).

Others are Ahmed Baba Kaita (Katsina North), Ibrahim Gobir (Sokoto East), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto South), Jibrin Barau (Kano North), Kabiru Gaya (Kano South), Abdullahi Yahaya (Kebbi North) and Mohammed Gumel (Jigawa North).

Those contesting on the platforms of other parties are Senators Victor Umeh (APGA Anambra Central), Monsurat Sunmonu (ADC Oyo Central), Shehu Sani (PRP Kaduna Central) and Barnabas Gemade (SDP Benue North East).

Some of the ranking Senators are already scheming to be principal officers of the Ninth Senate despite the fact that they are yet to be reelected. The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who is seeking re-election into the Senate for the third time after serving as a two-term governor of Kwara State from 2003 to 2011 is keen on return-

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹͸˜ ͺ͸͹΁

N’Assembly Members in Crucial Popularity Test Next Saturday ing as Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly.

Although he may be re-elected as Kwara Central Senator, because of his firm hold on the politics of his home state and has support that cuts across party lines among the Senators, there are other Senators, who are up in arms against him.

They include Senators Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North) and Ali Ndume (Borrno South), one of whom the ruling party (APC) is banking on to become the Senate President if the party still controls the majority after the February 16 election.

Though the outcome of the Saturday poll would not change the present membership and power configuration in the Senate, it would definitely determine the configuration of the 9th Senate in June.

No fewer than 251 out of the 360 lawmakers in the House of Representatives are seeking re-election into the Green Chamber of the National Assembly.

They include the longest serving member of the House, 59-year old Hon. Nicholas Ebomo Mutu, who was first elected to the House in 1999 on the platform of the PDP to represent Bomadi/Patani federal constituency of Delta State at the age of 39. He had since been re-elected for a record five times.

There is also Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, the Leader of the House, who has also been in the House since 2003 representing Surulere 1 federal constituency of Lagos State under the APC. He came in when he was 40 and has always been returned at successive elections. He enjoys massive support from his constituents, who consider him mature enough to become the Speaker of the Ninth assembly.

How such interest will play out if he was re-elected for the fifth time may be a dicey thing as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, is also in the race. He is also seeking re-election for the fourth time since 2007 and equally has the support of his constituents in Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency of Bauchi State. In fact, they requested that he should return to House. His backers are also of the opinions that he could still return as the Speaker if he won his re-election.

The Minority Leader, Hon Leo Ogor, representing Isoko North/ Isoko South federal constituency of Delta State has also been in the House since 2003. A ranking PDP legislator, Ogor is one of the most outspoken members of the house.

There are also Hon. Yakubu Barde of the PDP in Kaduna, who has been around since 2003, representing Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency, and Hon. Kabiru Marafa Achida (APC, Sokoto) who came to the House of Representatives in 2003 and has won his re-election since then. He represents Wurno/Rabah federal constituency.

However, while a significant number of the lawmakers were unable to secure their return tickets due to political intrigues, most others who got the confidence and support of their party members during last year’s party primaries would have the privilege of slugging it out during the election.

In Abia State for example, Hon. Prestige Ossy (Aba North/South, APGA), Hon. Uko Nkole (Arochukwu/Ohafia, PDP), Hon. Darlinton Nwokocha (Isiala Ngwa North/ South, PDP), Hon. Onyejeocha

Saraki taking the baton of leadership from his predecessor, David Mark

Nkeiruka (Isuikwato/Umunneochi, PDP), Hon. Samuel Onuigbo (Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South, PDP), Hon. Nkem Uzoma (Ukwa East/Ukwa West, PDP), and Hon. Solomon Adaelu (Obingwa/ Osisioma/Ugbunagbo, PDP) are most favoured to return with their experience if re-elected at the polls.

Adamawa state parades among others, a very experienced Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas (Jada/Ganye/Mayo Belwa/Toungo, APC). He is fingered as one of the lawmakers eyeing the speakership if re-elected.

Other serving lawmakers in the race are Hon. Yusuf Buba (Hong/ Gombi, APC), Hon. Sadiq Ibrahim (Fufore/Song, APC), Hon. Talatu Yohanna (Demsa/Numan/Lamurde, APC) and Hon. Philip Ahmad (Guyuk/Shelleng, APC).

In Akwa Ibom State, Hon. Emmanuel Ukote (Ukanafun/ Orukanam, APC), Hon. Henry Archibong (Itu/Ibiono Ibom, PDP), Hon. Francis Uduyok (Ikot Abasi/Mkpat Enin/Eastern Obolo, PDP), Hon. Emmanuel Akpan (Ikot Ekpene/ Essien Udim/ Obot Akara, PDP), Hon. Nse Ekpeyong (Oron/ Mbo/Okobo/UrueOffong/Oruko/ Udung-Uko, PDP), and Hon. Samuel Ikon (Etinan/Nsit Ibom/ Nsit Ubium, PDP) stand the chance to be part of the next assembly if they were successful at the polls.

In Anambra State, some of the lawmakers, who have been part of previous assemblies, particularly the eight national assembly and who are in the race are Hon. Chukwuemeka Anohu (Ihiala, PDP), Hon. Azabogu Ifeanyi (Nnewi North/South/ Ekwusigo, PDP) and Hon. Chukwuka Onyema (Ogbaru, PDP).

There are Hon. Ferdinand Nwankwo (Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia, APGA), Hon. Ben Nwankwo (Orumba North/South, APGA), Hon. Anayo Nnebe (Awka North/South, APGA), Hon. Eucharia Okwunna (Aguta, PDP), Hon. Lynda Chuba Ikpeazu (Onitsha North/South, PDP) and Hon. Chidoka Obinna

(Idemili North/South, PDP).

Also seeking re-election from Speaker Dogara’s home state of Bauchi are Hon. Zakari Salisu (Ningi/ Warji, PDP), Hon. Ibrahim Baba (Katagum, APC), Hon. Omar Tata (Zaki, APC) and Hon. Mohammed Garba (Gamawa, APC).

Hon. Agbedi Yeitiemone (Sagbama/Ekeremor, PDP) is the only serving House member in the race from Bayelsa State while from Benue State, Hon. Mark Gbillah (Gwer East/Gwer West, PDP), Hon. Aja Samson (Oju/Obi, PDP), Hon. John Dyegh (Gboko/Tarka, APC), Hon. Ochepo Adamu (Apa/Agatu, PDP), Hon. Dorathy Mato (Vandeikya/ Konshisha, APC), Hon. Iorember Wayo (Kwande/Ushongo, APC) and Hon. Adabah Christian (Ado/ Obadigbo/Opkokwu, PDP) are in the contest against candidates of other parties.

In Borno State, Hon. Mallam Gana (Kukawa/Mobbar/Abadam/ Guzamalai, APC), Hon. Abdukadir Rahis (Maiduguri Metropolitan, APC), Hon. Aliyu Muktar (Biu/ Bayo/Shani/Kwaya Kusar, APC), and another long serving lawmaker, Hon. Mohammed Monguno (Jere, APC) are in the race.

In Cross River State, it is a major test of popularity for serving PDP House of Representatives members namely Hon. Irom Michael (Obubra/Etung), Hon. Effiong Daniel (Akamkpa/Biase), Hon. Essien Ayi (Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South), Hon. Ngoro Agibe (Ikom/ Boki), Hon. Agom Jarigbe (Ogoja/ Yala), Hon. Edim Eta (Calabar Munincipal/Odukpani), and Hon. Idagbo Ochiglegor (Bekwarra/ Obudu/Obanliku), who are seeking re-election.

It is also a PDP affair for the House members seeking re-election from Delta State vis Hon. Nwokolo Victor (Ika), Hon. Ogor Okuweh (Isoko North/South), Hon. Nicholas Ossai (Ndokwa/Ukwani) and Hon. Julius Pondi (Burutu).

It is similar situation in Ebonyi State, where Hon. Sylvester Ogbara (Abakaliki/Izzi, PDP), Hon.

Chukwuma Nwazunku (Ohaukwu/ Ebonyi, PDP), Hon. Idunma Igariwey (Afikpo North/Afikpo South, PDP), Hon. Lazarus Ogbee (Ikwo/ Ezza South, PDP) and Hon. Edwin Anayo (Ezza North/Ishielu, PDP) are having their re-election bid challenged by candidates of other parties, especially those on the APC and APGA. Hon. Sergius Ogun (Esan NorthEast/Esan South-East, PDP), Hon. Ohiozojeh Akpatason (Akoko-Edo, APC), Hon. Johnson Ooghuma (Etsako East/West/Central,APC), Hon. Ogbeide-Ihama Omoregie (Oredo, PDP), Hon. Ehizuwa Agbonayinma (Egor/Ikpoba-okha, APC), Hon. Omosede Igbinedion (Ovia South/West-Ovia North/East, PDP), Hon. Aisowieren Patrick (Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode, APC) and Hon. Joseph Edionwele (Esan Central/West/Igueben, PDP) are House members from Edo State, currently on the field trying to justify why they deserve the peoples’ votes to return to the federal legislature.

In Ekiti State, we have Hon. Akinyede Awodunmila (Emure/ Gbonyin/Ekiti East, PDP), Hon. Segun Adekola (Ekiti South West/ Ikere/Ise/Orun, PDP), Hon. Sunday Oladimeji (Ado Ekiti/IrepodunIfelodun, PDP) and Hon. Kehinde Agboola (Ikole/Oye, PDP).

From Enugu State, there are Hon. Asadu Patrick (Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South, PDP) and Hon. Toby Okechukwu (Aninri/Agwu/Oji-uzo PDP) while the Federal Capital Territory has just Hon. Angulu Zakari, who represents Kuje/Abaji/ Gwagwalada/Kwali on the APC platform running in the Saturday election.

Other House members from the remaining states are now busy canvassing for votes in their various constituencies.

Therefore, by the mid-day on Sunday, February 17, there would be clearer pictures of those who will be returning to both the Senate and the House among the current members of the National Assembly.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹͸˜ ͺ͸͹΁

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with DEMOLA OJO demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

SOCIAL MEDIA BITS

Last week on social media, the Kaduna Governor issued a threat, while the Lagos Governor got a reprieve before getting trucks off the road...

“A

week is a long time in politics” goes the saying attributed to British Prime Minister Harold Wilson in the mid-1960s.

Penultimate week, the threat of impeachment hovered over Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as the Lagos State House of Assembly summoned him to defend what they described as extrabudgetary spending and gross misconduct. The Governor’s tenure (legacy too, you might argue) was at stake.

However, if you were in any doubt about who really “runs things” in Africa’s largest city (and fifth largest economy if it was a standalone country), what happened beginning of last week surely dispelled those doubts.

National leader of the APC and former

Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola TInubu, held a meeting with the warring parties.

“We held a meeting on behalf of entire Lagosians,” Tinubu said during his speech. “There is no impeachment.

Let there be more communication and consensus-building and understanding...”

That was it. Press conference, statement made, photo-op, crisis averted, on to the next one. Governor Ambode later presented his budget with no hassle.

Just in time for all parties to pull in the same direction and pull off what seemed like a magic trick in the eyes of many Lagosians: The trucks and tankers that have converted the highways and bridges in the “megacity” to trailer parks suddenly disappeared later in the week.

FEBRUARY 10, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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SOCIAL MEDIA BITS This, ahead of President Buhari’s re-election campaign in Lagos yesterday.

The reaction from Lagosians as seen on social media was of surprise at the speed and efficiency of the operation, then anger that this was possible all along but wasn’t deemed necessary. Now they wonder if these trailers will resurface just as fast.

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai might just be wishing that a particular sentence he uttered last week will disappear as fast as the trucks in Lagos. Or maybe not.

Because after threatening that foreigners who intervene in the forthcoming elections will return in body bags, he doubled down rather than back down.

These are the utterances of a patriot, he contends. But his position is difficult to defend. The best his supporters could do was differentiate between “observe” “interfere” and “intervene”... However, the image that “body bags” represents just won’t go away.

A few questions: Do death threats qualify as hate speech? Shouldn’t these threats be directed at terrorists that ElRufai had admitted paying money to in the

past? Why is he so jittery, thereby making unguarded statements? Does the APC feel threatened? Does this have anything to do with the litany of gaffes by Mr President?

Taken in isolation, President Buhari’s mistakes on the campaign trail don’t mean much. But the opposition were, again, excited to point out that the President incorrectly mentioned 2005 as the year he assumed office as a democratically elected president before going on to mistake the Niger for the Nile!

Meanwhile, the APC was happy to go to town with news that Nigeria recorded a milestone in the power sector with a combined generation, transmission and distribution of 5,375 megawatts. If they’re wondering why Nigerians on social media were not impressed, it’s because it falls short of the 7,000 megawatts that has been bandied by the same administration for months.

If you’re looking for something to be excited about, maybe the announcement by the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, that Nigeria “has signed an MOU for the domestication of passport production” is one.

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PERSPECTIVE

SRGIs: Focus on Nigeria’s New Revenue Blueprint Tayo Bajulaiye

O

ver lunch with four colleagues earlier in the week, a discussion on the recent political events in the country melted into one the new tax framework of the Federal Government, as contained in the recently announced Strategic Revenue Growth Initiatives (SRGIs), an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Finance.

It was obvious that the views expressed at the lunch table had been shaped by media headlines announcing a proposed increase in the rate of Value Added Tax (VAT) and the introduction of taxes on luxury items. Two of my colleagues, who obviously had not bothered to read beyond the headlines, expressed opposition to both, arguing that they are not what the country urgently needs.

The third person, who once lived abroad, said new taxes and increases in the rates of existing ones, even in places we call “saner climes”, are not known to get taxpayers rubbing their hands in glee, a position with which we all agreed. He continued by asking if we thought that oil revenue, on which the government, historically, is almost totally reliant for development, could adequately continue funding development in view of the serious decline in prices of oil in recent years. We all agreed that plummeting oil prices have left the government’s financial cupboard almost bare.

“What do you suggest?” I asked. His response, measured in tone and delivery, was that the government needs to generate adequate revenue from existing internal sources by being innovative in the mode of collection and seek new revenue sources. He had obviously been following discussions around the Federal Government’s new tax blueprint, arguing that for the country to make the type of progress her people desire, this is the way to go.

The most progressive societies in the world, he added, are those with efficient and effective systems of taxation, which is the most reliable and sustainable revenue source, not those dependent on resource-based revenues that are famously prone to price shocks.

While admitting that concerns about transparency, accountability and judicious use of public revenues cannot be wished away, he advised that Nigerians need to look at the new framework as one with the potential to address instability in public financing and induce greater demand for transparency and accountability.

We had to leave the lunch table and head to our respective destinations. On my way, I made a decision to educate myself on the new tax blueprint.

I found the keynote address delivered by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, at the unveiling of the SRGIs on 23 January. It assisted me in situating the position of my colleague, who attempted to lecture us at the lunch table. I saw his point of view and agreed with it.

The Finance Minister, at the unveiling, explained that despite the size of the Nigerian economy-Africa’s largest-the country finds it difficult to translate her wealth into revenues, a state of affairs that has had an asphyxiating effect on successive governments.

“We have faced difficulty in mobilizing domestic funds

Fowler necessary for human capital development and infrastructure that are both drivers of sustainable economic growth. Our current revenue to GDP ratio of about 7% is unsatisfactory and we are keen on exerting all efforts in turning this around,” the minister observed. With the subsisting financial weather and recent revenue performance, the minister further noted, there is a yawning gap between the target of 15% tax-to-GDP ratio set in the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

The figures are hardly heart-warming. Current contribution between oil and non-oil revenues to oil and non-oil GDP stands at 39%, while that of non-oil revenue to non-oil GDP stands at 4.2%. VAT- to-GDP ratio is a measly 0.8%, a considerable distance from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) average of 6.7% as at 2015.

The country’s excise revenue contribution of 0.1% is also way below those of skinnier economies of Ghana and Kenya at 1.7% and 2.9% respectively.

Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio of 7%, experts have said, is proof of the country’s long-standing failure to optimally extract tax revenue from its huge economy. Comparison of Nigeria’s VAT figures with those of many African countries make for a depressing read. Egypt, for example, has a VAT rate of 10%.

South Africa has 14%. Ghana, Zimbabwe, Mauritius and Namibia all have 15%. Tanzania has 18% and Morocco, 20%.

Given the figures posted by fellow African countries, the new tax framework, particularly its components such as the proposed increase in the rate of VAT on luxury items, looks well thought out.

Fears that the proposed increase in VAT rate carries the possibility of hurting the less privileged, thankfully, have been allayed by the minister, who stated that basic food items and drugs are not among items to be impacted by the new rate, which is expected to come into effect after an envisaged amendment of the VAT legislation by the National Assembly.

I have also observed that in discussions around the SRGIs, certain aspects have been glossed over by many commentators.

One of these has to do with the government’s promise to reduce the tax in some areas, while imposing in others.

“For Small and Medium Enterprises, government would reduce taxes. But there are some special taxes that we will be looking at imposing. If you have a private jet, we will be taxing you, specially, for that. If you have a yacht, we will be charging you for that and also in terms of excise duties. There are also some new areas where excise duties will be introduced,” the minister said.

Apparently on account of the country’s unimpressive records of announcing big-sounding and noble initiatives without adequate ground-level tactical plan to bring such to fruition, a few people have wondered if the SRGIs will not be thwarted by traditional systemic inefficiency. The fears are not without basis, but the times are changing and are set to change the more.

The government’s adoption and planned deployment of modern technology to grow revenue base and improve collection methods are likely to address the concerns. In this age of data, the possibility of considerably bigger revenue generation is enhanced. Agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service, Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Corporate Affairs Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria and Land Registries are rich deposits of financial data. And with the plan to improve collaboration among revenue-generating agencies, the opportunities of data and intelligence sharing to make collections more efficient are vast.

I am impressed by the minister’s stated desire to champion the digitalization of the revenue collection process, which has brought about improvement, as evidenced by the e-Solutions platform of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The platform has automated the tax process from registration to collection of Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) as well as collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) in key economic sectors.

Digitalization will similarly ensure more efficient tracking of revenue performance on a monthly basis and boost accuracy of historical trends monitoring, which will help in setting targets for major generating bodies as a way of ensuring optimal performance.

––Bajulaiye, a public affairs commentator, writes from Abuja.

Atiku,Obi Presidency, an Idea Whose Time Has Come Sule Ibrahim

T

he pace at which society is able to make meaningful progress is critically dependent on the quality and commitment of its leadership. For the better part of Nigeria’s history, poor, selfish, nepotistic, ethnocentric and religious freaks have ineffectively led her to disrepute and weak institutions. To remedy the situation will require more than a passing glance at the root causes of this catastrophic state of affairs and boldly confronting same with genuine solutions by an impartial, sincere and focused leadership.

The humongous bloodletting and general insecurity that have left many, faint hearted, including the abject poverty that has made our people destitute cannot be left to fester while a few individuals constitute themselves into a rogue cabal, tele-guiding an absent minded and often absentee president.

The Atiku personality is a realistic, purpose driven, goal oriented, cosmopolitan and enthusiastic nation building disposition, highly committed to addressing the fault lines in our quest for unity and audacious dealing with issues of restructuring, rule of law, empowerment, social justice and economic sustainability of all Nigerian citizens.

The Obi factor is a warm embrace to proven integrity, track record and selfless service premised on good conscience, open mindedness, prudence and outstanding management of processes with due

diligence and uncommon determination.

Throughout his public engagements, he has demonstrated capacity to get the job done and pursued uncharted courses with remarkable positive outcomes.

Notwithstanding the scheming or seeming conspiracy of regions to align solely and essentially for power grab, here comes another in the replica of Shehu Shagari and Alex Ekwueme, to make further amelioration to the scars of the bitter civil war.

Both these candidates have successfully run private enterprises to enviable success and without a doubt are imbued with the clinical passion to make a positive difference.

They are dogged performers who recruit suitable hands devoid of ethno-religious sentiments.

Most of the milestones recorded in the political evolution of Nigeria since the Babangida transition program have had Atiku’s input and sacrifice, including the support and consolidation of the M.K.O. Abiola candidacy alongside several democratic undertakings like seeking judicial reliefs over stormy circumstances with Obasanjo as well as presidential aspirations under different parties since 2003. The leading lights of the PDP government as of 1999 were brought on board by Atiku, just as he also headed the national council on privatisation.

Obi on his part was the first to reclaim his mandate through the courts and overcame all the turbulent trappings set before him honourably. He bequeathed a robust economy for Anambra state, undertook massive infrastructural development and achieved comprehensive, if not unparalleled, educational feats.

Obi (left) and Atiku Unlike the ‘promise and fail’ leadership that we have experienced, especially most recently, this duo are not known for rhetoric or careless talk, they say what they mean and mean what they say. Their enthusiasm about Nigeria is never in doubt as they are both broad minded, tolerant, deliberate and quite sincere. Given the current travails we face under this dispensation of propaganda, false claims on scarce achievements, terrible lies, suppression of the media, selective corruption fight, vote buying, impunity and militarisation of our democratic space, there is emergency on our hands and this credible

pair are most suitable to rescue our beloved nation and set it aright on the path of peace, progress, equity and positive exploitation.

By the way, they have verifiable certificates and are not shy about declaring their assets, even so they are available for citizen engagement and interaction. They are committed to rebuilding trust, transparency, accountability and social welfare.

A modern, self sufficient Nigeria is possible, it only depends on who to drive it, I give you Atiku Obi, please join the campaign and vote right. Let’s get Nigeria working again.

FEBRUARY 10, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

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PERSPECTIVE

SenateRace:AjimobiisBestChoiceforOyoSouth Akin Oyedele

B

y this time exactly a year ago, political pundits within and outside Oyo State had begun to pile pressure on the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, to mull over having another shot at the Senate. This is against the backdrop of his public pronouncements that he was calling time on active politics, climaxed by his jinx-breaking election as governor for two uninterrupted tenures.

He had vowed not to mount the soap box again, except to canvas for votes on behalf of his protégés. In the governor’s reckoning, 2019 is the destination point for his illustrious political career, having also served Oyo South Senatorial District in the Senate between 2003 and 2007 under the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD).

In the February 19, 2018 edition of the Punch Newspaper, a respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Adeniyi Akintola, said, “Ido Local Government is launching the campaign to endorse him (Ajimobi) to go to the Senate and by the grace of God, he shall make it. Of course, this isn’t his first time; he wasn’t a bench warmer there as he gave quality representation. In the Senate, he will be a pride to Oyo State and the South West.”

And since this move by the patriotic Ido elders and leaders, many other groups and individuals have asked the governor to take another shot at the Senate in the best interest of the state and the region. Having surrendered to the superior argument of his supporters, the governor participated in the October 2, 2018 National Assembly primaries of the All Progressives Congress. To underscore the beauty of democracy, his main challenger, Dr Fola Akinosun, refused all entreaties by party stalwarts to step down for the governor in deference to the political tradition that respects position and experience in such circumstance. But Akinosun eventually lost by 168 votes to Ajimobi’s 2659 as announced by the Chief Ademola Seriki-led electoral panel. Thus began another journey to the hallowed Red Chamber for the governor to represent Oyo South Senatorial District if elected by the historically appreciative and reflective electorate in the district.

In a short acceptance speech after the primaries, Ajimobi had said, “I look forward to going back to the Red Chamber to contribute my quota to the national debate and the progress of the nation. I wish to bring to fore my parliamentary experience to grow a Nigeria that the next generation will be proud of.”

Many reasons had been adduced by the proponents of Ajimobi should go to the senate, ranging from his enviable corporate and political experience, integrity, record of achievements, clout, robust political capital, inexhaustible physical agility, intelligence and most importantly because of his mettlesome disposition. Although, the uninitiated have derisively dubbed the Senate as the retirement place for two-term governors, but in advanced climes the Senate is populated by senior citizens who are regarded as the bulwark

Ajimobi of democracy. Advanced age is seen in western democracy as an asset rather than liability.

For instance, since 1981, the average age of representatives and senators in the US Congress has jumped from 49 and 53, respectively, to 57 and 61, according to Quorum. In the today’s 116th Congress of the US, Dianne Feinstein of California is the oldest sitting member of the Senate at 84 years old. She is known for being a liberal, left-leaning politician who has dedicated her life to serving the people of California.

Another asset that Ajimobi possesses is his impeccable educational attainment, having bagged a BSc in Business Administration and Finance from The State University of New York, Buffalo. He also obtained an MBA in Operations Research and Marketing, with a concentration in Finance, from the Governor’s State University, Park Forest, Illinois.

In 1979, Ajimobi became the youngest Manager at the National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company in Nigeria, and rose to the position of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company. As Managing Director he substantially improved the profitability of the company and the shareholders’ fortunes. In 2003, he voluntarily retired after 26 years of meritorious service in the Oil and Gas industry.

Whether at the regional, national or international platforms, Ajimobi is consistently acknowledged as one of Nigeria’s most gifted and effective leaders with the ennobling characteristics of great and noble statesmen.

During his first spell at the Senate in 2003, the governor and his AD colleagues, who were just six in number (with three others from Lagos State and one each from Ondo and Ekiti States), were hampered by their numerical disadvantage. In a sharp contrast, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had an overwhelming majority of 78 members, while the All Nigeria Peoples Party had 25 members.

To underscore the respect his colleagues had for him, he was appointed the Deputy Minority Leader of the 5th Senate.

In addition to his ably-discharged primary responsibility as a lawmaker, Governor Ajimobi deployed his personal resources and goodwill to carry out several grassroots projects in Oyo State, including the establishment of the first and the largest free vocational training center. The centre offers training in computer engineering, computer operations, telephone engineering, fashion designing, hair dressing, tie and dye etc. So far, the centre has turned out over 20,000 students. It has also been recognized and certified as a partner and training centre by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) of the Federal Government.

Between 2003 and 2007 Senator Ajimobi also identified communities that lacked potable water, where he sunk boreholes. He also carried out many empowerment and grassroots programmes for his Senatorial District.

During the infamous ‘third term agenda’ of the third republic it was alleged that some political jobbers, including National Assembly members, fell for the filthy lucre transported in the wee hours of the night in hefty Ghana Must Go bag by agents of the evil plot. It is on record that Ajimobi was among the very few that resisted the allure of the mint N50m doled to each pliant lawmaker to oil the botched civilian coup. Ajimobi was and is never afraid to speak truth to power no matter whose ox may be gored. When you talk about a contended man of integrity and patriotic zeal, Ajimobi stands tall. In the Senate, his views will be respected and he will not be in the league of absentee lawmakers or those whose voice are only heard during voice votes.

Apart from his unprecedented achievements in the past eight years, Ajimobi has also amassed enormous goodwill and respect within the top hierarchy of the APC. Today, he is a leading light of the party at the national, regional and state levels judging by the several assignments he had been saddled with, including his appointment as chairman of the APC national convention committee and chairman of the party’s 2018 presidential primaries national convention. The governor is highly connected to the centre, having been robbing minds with the topmost echelon of the leadership of the country and the APC in the last eight years.

–Akin Oyedele is the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Oyo State Governor Continued online www.thisdaylive.com

Ogbakor Etche Takes Stock, Charts Progressive Course Olaseni Durojaiye

A

few days before 2018 eclipsed into history, the people of Etche gathered at their headquarters, Obiri Etche, in Okehi, for the Ogbakor Etche Convention. The annual event was typically a cultural avenue for touching base and social reunion. But it also turned out to be a vast stocktaking and forward-planning exercise for the Etche nation.

Indeed, the December 26 gathering of Ogbakor Etche, the apex assembly of the Etche people of Rivers State, was a hugely successful outing that the people would remain proud of for many years to come. It drew participation from all segments of the Etche nation, both within and outside Nigeria. There was a keen sense of involvement by Etche sons and daughter from the two local governments they inhabit in Rivers State, Etche and Omuma local government areas.

Particularly noteworthy was the presence of the state governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike. President-General of Ogbakor Etche, Sir Machy Nwodim, JP, said it was the first time a governor of Rivers State would honour an invitation to the annual Ogbakor Etche convention.

The people’s rich cultural heritage was also on display, with the parade of masquerades and various dance troupes in an atmosphere of cordiality.

In his address at the gathering, Nwodim, who was also winding down his tenure as President-General of Ogbakor Etche, recounted some of the achievements of the Executive Council he led since the last two years. He noted steps taken by the council to deal with issues that had militated against the development of the Etche nation.

Among others, Nwodim said on assumption of office, he led members of the council on familiarisation visits to prominent Etche traditional rulers, individuals, and security agencies operating in the area. The council also paid a courtesy visit to the governor.

Nwodim said his council had been able to resolve communal conflicts that threatened the peace in Etche, including the ones at Egwi, Umuelem/Odufor, Akwu/Obuor/Mbakiri, UmuakaaUlakwo/Umunwauzi-Afara , Umuakaa/Umuarim-Ulakwo, and Umuakaa/Edonam-Mbah. They also resolved chieftaincy disputes at Mbah and Omuma clans, and the herdsmen issue in

Nwodim Etche.

The executive council under Nwodim made strategic representations on behalf of Etche ethnic nationality to the federal, state, and geopolitical authorities on issues of infrastructure, chieftaincy, and security. It initiated studies to properly document Etche history and academic progress, and instituted the Etche Memorial Day to honour illustrious sons and daughters, living or dead, who had excelled in their fields of endevour.

Nwodim, however, implored the leaderships of Etche and Omuma local government areas to adopt measures for the proper funding of the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Etche people.

He suggested monthly subventions to the organisation by the two local governments to enable Ogbakor Etche discharge its

responsibilities well, and a facelift to the Ogbakor Etche complex.

The outgoing President-General urged the incoming executive to ensure continuity of projects and programmes instituted for the good of Etche, and he appealed to the people to toe the path of peaceful settlement whenever there was disagreement.

Thanking the governor for honouring the invitation to the convention, Nwodim said Wike’s presence underscored his love for Etche people and his interest in their development. He recalled that upon assumption of office, Wike directed the reconstruction of the Igwuruta-Chokocho road, which had completely failed and was abandoned, cutting off Etche from the rest of the state.

“Almost simultaneously,” Nwodim said, “the governor directed the reconstruction of the Rumuokwurushi-Igboh, EtcheChokocho roads, and Chokocho-Umuechem-Ozuzu road.”

He added, “Following these, a new road connecting UlakwoAfara-Nihi was constructed, while Odufor-Akpoku-Ulakwo road, Umunju-Umuoroke-Umuelechi-Umuo kpurukpu-UmuaguUmueke Umugu and Umuelechi-Eberi road are on-going and nearing completion.

“Ogbakor Etche also appreciates the financial donation from His Excellency to the Diocese of Etche (Anglican Communion) for the building of the Cathedral.”

Nwodim also stated, “His Excellency gave Etche an identity, while believing that Etche Nation is capable of providing needed manpower in every phase of human capacity requirements by appointing Etche sons as a Vice Chancellor, Commissioner in the Civil Service Commission and a High Court Judge, amongst others.

“Sir, the Etche man has the culture of reciprocating gestures of love shown towards him. Ogbakor Etche, the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Etche Nation, having made these observations within your first term in office, and in consultation with the people, want to assure you that we shall return this show of love for Etche Nation by voting en masse for you in the forthcoming general elections. “Your Excellency, Sir, having known you and the love you have for Etche Nation, we are convinced that when you are sworn-in on the 29th of May 2019, you will execute more projects and give Etche more attention.

“In conclusion, Ogbakor Etche humbly requests that His Excellency assists us with the renovation, paving and fencing of Obiri Etche and provision of a bus.”

Continued online 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 ˾ FEBRUARY 10, 2019

NEWS

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

Hoodlums Attack APC Campaign Convoy, Set Nine Vehicles Ablaze Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja There was palpable tension yesterday when hoodlums attacked the campaign convoy of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Dei-Dei axis of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), setting at

least ablaze nine cars.

The violence occurred about a week to the general election and four days to the presidential campaign mega rallies scheduled by both APC and the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in

Abuja.

The convoy had the FCT Minister’s representative and his Chief of Staff, Bashir MaiBorno, the APC Chairman in the FCT, Abdulmalik Usman, the DG FCT Campaign Council, Hon. Musa Yahaya Mohammed, candidates of

the party to various offices in the forthcoming election as well as other supporters.

THISDAY findings showed that the convoy was attacked on its way to the palace of the Serkin Jiwa. The hoodlums set up a blockade around the Timber

FEAR NOT, MY SON...

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode welcoming President Muhammadu Buhari to the state at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja just before the presidential rally of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos...yesterday

Market axis along Dei Dei road and prevented the APC convoy from proceeding to the palace of the Sarkin Jiwa.

Several vehicles also had their windscreens smashed while some individuals sustained varying degrees of injuries.

A statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the FCT Minister, Mr. Abubakar Sani said the attackers pelted the APC convoy with rocks and other deadly missiles.

He added the vehicles in the convoy were set ablaze by attackers throwing petrol bombs. Other motorists, caught in the mêlée were also not spared as their vehicles suffered serious damages.

Although no life was lost, the timely intervention of the security personnel ensured that the situation did not escalate.

The hoodlums were said to have taken advantage of a PDP rally which was also holding around the Timber Market, to unleash mayhem on the APC campaign convoy.

The security detail attached to the office of the FCT Minister and others covering the event, however responded by firing shots in the air to calm the situation.

Unfortunately, the convoy was attacked again around the same spot while it was returning from the palace and heading to the grand finale of the APC FCT

Hamzat: 1999 Constitution Limits Roles of State Govts Gboyega Akinsanmi

The deputy governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), in Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat has described the 1999 Constitution as unprogressive, noting that the legal instrument largely limits the role of state governments.

Hamzat, former Commissioner for Works & Infrastructure, has equally assured Lagos residents that refuse collection would be prioritised if elected in next month election, saying the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) will not be subjugated.

He made the remarks at an

interactive session with journalists in Ikeja, explaining why Lagos residents should vote for the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the next election.

Beyond canvassing support for Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat explained how the 1999 Constitution “has been inhibiting the roles of the state governments in providing basic social and economic services for the citizens.”

He observed that land reform was critical “to housing development in the country. But we live in a country, which has a constitution that limits the roles of governments. That is why people

talk about restructuring.

“Why do we federal government having land registry in Lagos? It is an abnormality. Under the Land Use Act, the constitution says the power over land is vested in the governor. How do we create local government in Nigeria? Is it based on people? Is it based on land?

“Iflandisaparametre,whyshould Kano have more LGAs than Niger?

Ordinarily, Niger should have more LGAs. If the parametre is people, why should Kano have LGAs than Lagos? If you are using population, Lagos should have LGAs. So, it is skewed.Itisreallyskewed.”

He, also, cited the example of

the consolidated revenue, noting that federal government “takes 52.68 percent; state governments 26.72 percent and local governments 20.60 percent. It is no good enough.”

Constitutionally, the deputy governorship said local governments “are to pay teachers of public primary schools. But they lack capacity. We forgot how we got to the point we are today. The state government took over when the arrears of primary schools’ teachers were not paid.

“The state government paid on their behalf. And it was agreed that the local government allocation come, it is a first-line

Group Commends Ambode for Bello’s Wife, Three Aides Resolving Ikeja Obaship Dispute Involved in Road Accident Kayode Fasua Rising from a two-day meeting, a leading sociocultural group in the Ikeja community of Lagos, the Gbobaniyi Royal Association, has commended Governor Akinwumi Ambode for helping to resolve the chieftaincy dispute in the state’s capital.

The association in a communiqué signed by its president, Chief Tunde Alaran, and secretary, Mr. Samuel Soremi, applauded the governor for deciding to officially recognise the Ikeja Oba-elect, Prince Samsondeen Adeleye, more than four years after

his selection by the Ikeja Body of Kingmakers.

“We are immensely grateful to the governor for taking the bull by the horn, through official recognition given to our Oba-elect, Prince Samsondeen Adeleye, who is now attending social functions through official invitations extended to him by the state government.

“For over four years, Prince Adeleye has remained as Oba-elect amid pockets of opposition from people who did not even present themselves for scrutiny, during the selection process,” it observed.

Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja The wife of the Kogi State Governor, Mrs. Amina Bello has been involved in a car accident along the ObajanaKabba road on her way to Isanlu for the women’s rally of All Progressives Congress (APC).

The accident occurred at Kabba, an area where the helicopter conveying the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo crash-landed penultimate Saturday.

Alongside the wife of the governor, three aides of the Kogi State Government were involved in the road accident, though there was no record of death.

In a statement he issued yesterday, Bello’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Onogwu Muhammed confirmed the accident The statement listed others involved in the accident to include the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Women & Children to the Governor, Mrs. Kelechi Ajayi; the SSA on Women Affairs, Mrs. Ejura Edward and Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the governor’s wife, Mrs. Adesoro Olamide.

The government, however, thanked God that the aides all came out unhurt and were in perfect condition.

charge. We forgot how we got here. It was to solve a problem.

After paying salaries, a lot of local governments have nothing.

“In some cases, the state government has to give subvention.

Ikorodu LGA is a good example of such cases. The idea that LGAs have been taken over is a mirage.

It is just a mirage. Our fault is that we have LGAs listed in our constitution.

“Normally, it is the two entities that federate – states and the federal. We copied it from some people. Why are we doing our own in a crude way? That is the crudeness we are seeing,” Hamzat explained.

campaign at the Old Parade Ground.

The security team, who fired live bullets in the air helped to calm the situation and allow the APC campaign convoy to retreat and follow another route to safety.

The statement described the attack on the APC campaign convoy as coordinated.

After the incident yesterday, the Director General, FCT APC Campaign Council, Hon. Musa Mohammed, described the attack as unfortunate, saying intelligence information suggests that the attack may have been premeditated.

He was, however, quick to dispel the notion that some PDP supporters or ethnic elements were behind the attack. He said the ugly incident will be reported to the proper quarters to forestall a re-occurrence.

“I don’t consider it to be a crisis between two parties. It was a premeditated attack on the APC stalwarts but we didn’t have a privy knowledge of what was awaiting us. It’s quite unfortunate that it happened.

“On our way going, we were attacked and of course on our way coming back, we were also attacked. But as law abiding citizens, we retreated and took another route in order to avoid loss of lives. Unfortunately in the course of retreating, some of our vehicles were set ablaze.”

On the plan to achieve cleaner and safer Lagos, Hamzat stressed that the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) would not be subjugated, rather made to function effectively.

He explained the party’s plan on environment, saying the current waste structure would be rejig to ensure that LAWMA deliver on its mandate.

He noted that as regulator of the Private Support Participation, (PSP) would be made “to respond better in collection of waste in Lagos. We cannot make the mistake of subjugating LAWMA.”

Agbaje Promises Improved Remuneration for Teachers Olaseni Durojaiye The gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, Jimi Agbaje, has stated that if elected governor of the state he would make quality education affordable.

He also promised to increase the salaries of teachers in the state.

He stated this during a town hall meeting in Ikorodu, Lagos.

Agbaje, who expressed his concern over the poor performance of secondary school students in the state in the West African Examination Council (WAEC) noted that on average, only 20 percent of Lagos State students passed

WAEC in the last two decades.

“Quality education is the foundation for creating sustainable development.

Therefore, an access to affordable, available and highquality inclusive education is a high priority for us, in line with Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals,” Agbaje said.

He added that he would establish an education system that equips children with future-ready skills and qualifications from the primary to tertiary level in order for them to be globally competitive and develop innovations that will solve the problems of Lagos and by extension, the nation.

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NEWSXTRA Baru Inaugurates $60m Egbaoma Gas Plant in Delta Says gas flaring will soon become history Sylvester Idowu in Warri The Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru yesterday inaugurated Egbaoma Gas Processing Plant (EGPP), which cost a whopping sum of $60 million.

With the inauguration, Baru assured that gas flaring would soon become a history in the country, disclosing that the federal government “is seriously working out plans to commercialise flared gas in the country.”

He gave the assurance at the unveiling of the gas plant at Ebedei, Ukwani Local Government Area, Delta state. The gas plant is currently operated by PNG Gas Limited, a subsidiary of Gas Train Limited.

At the inauguration, the group managing director disclosed that the corporation “is aggressively pursuing growth in domestic gas supply capacity from the current 1.7 billion standard cubic feet per day to 5 billion standard cubic feet per day in the medium term.”

He noted that the new Gas Flare Regulations, which the federal government issued in 2018, “is aimed among other things to reduce the environmental impact caused by natural gas flaring in the country.

In no distance time, the group managing director

disclosed that the country “will soon start seeing results of the federal government’s efforts.”

Baru, therefore, directed all gas operators, whose assets are located with the area, “to ensure that gas is made available to the EGPP in order to maximize the plant’s capacity particularly in the Niger Delta.

He, also, disclosed that plans “are ongoing to expand the gas pipeline infrastructure. The expansion includes the ObiafuObrikom to Oben (OB3) gas pipeline which is less than 5 kilometres to Egbaoma Gas Plant.

“It can serve as a major evacuation artery of the dry gas produced from this plant to the market.

I also use this medium to assure Deltans and Nigerians that the journey to effective monetisation of our vast gas resources for sustainable economic growth and complete end to gas faring is underway and the future is bright.”

Chairman of Owel-Linkso Group and operator of PNG Gas Limited, Engr. Charles Osezua urged the NNPC to facilitate collaboration between gas producers and gas processing plants in the country to ensure that the environmental impact of using natural sources reduced.

Osezua, who is director of PNG Gas Limited, said

Army Arrests Six IPOB Members, Denies Shooting at Aba Traders Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Nigeria Army yesterday said it arrested six members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over alleged obstruction of troop movement.

It denied firing gunshots on traders, who were shouting anti-military songs.

A statement issued yesterday said obstruction of troop movement by the traders forced it to fire warning shots.

“The Division wishes to state that although there was an incident involving 144 Battalion patrol team with some traders at Asa - Nnentu spare parts market in Ugwunagbo Local Government Area of Abia State, at no time was anybody shot at, wounded or killed as lopsidedly and therefore wrongly reported.

“However, six members of proscribed independent People of Biafra (IPOB) were arrested and handed over to the Nigerian Police Abia State Command”, a statement signed by Col Sagir Musa, Deputy Director, Public Relations, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, said.

The army statement said “troops of the Battalion on exercise EGWU EKE

111 were alerted on the massive presence of some youths allegedly disrupting commercial activities and pasting posters with the inscription that ‘there will be no elections in Abia State and entire Biafra land, Support Biafran Referendum, Vote for Biafra, Vote for total freedom from slavery’, among others which were unusually widely pasted on private shops around Aloaji general area.

“Consequently, as a professionally responsive soldiers, the team moved to the area to ensure peace, security and no person was to be harassed or molested by miscreants or violent secessionist agitators.

“Unfortunately, some of the misguided traders and hoodlums loitering around started chanting anti soldiers commentaries with some of them boldly obstructing troops’ movements. This situation, necessarily, in the circumstance, caused two of the personnel to fire a warning shot to disperse the surging crowd.

“Since that day the situation has been calm and the outlawed IPOB posters have been removed. People are going about their normal businesses unhindered”.

this “will enable the objectives of the gas industry to be achieved. All these producers are your partners.

Use your office to bring us together to do what is best in our country, instead of duplicity of plants.

“NNPC should midwife, create the environment to make it possible for the likes of us to invest, so that

the objectives of the gas sector can be achieved for the benefits of our country”, he said.

NO DISAPOINTMENT...

L-R: Wife of the Speaker of the House of Respresentatives, Mrs. Gimbiya Dogara; her husband, Yakubu Dogara and Aminu Tukur at the reelection rally of the Speaker in Dass Local Government Area, Bauchi State... Friday

El-Rufai Meets Christian Leaders, Defends Muslim-Muslim Ticket John Shiklam in Kaduna Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai yesterday held a townhall meeting with some Christian leaders under the aegis of Pastors United for Change Association (PUCA), asking them to support his reelection.

He held the meeting some weeks after he defended his decision to run with a Muslim running mate, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, saying 67 per cent of Christians would not vote for him, even if the Pope was his running mate.

At the meeting yesterday, the governor said his decision for a Muslim running mate was not

based on religion and ethnicity, but on purely capacity to deliver.

He said the appointment of all those working with him were based on competency to get results, not minding their tribe, religion.

El-Rufai said his target “is to end the religious, ethnic division and unite the people of the state.

In my life I have never worked with people based on religious and ethnic consideration. Don’t look at what people said but what I have done in the past.

“Go through my records and see what I have done. On the issue of my running mate, we are encouraging women participation in politics. She is a compe-

tent woman. Only Kaduna State has male/female governorship ticket in northern Nigeria.

“Late Prof. Andrew Nok, former Commissioner for Education brought Dr. Hadiza Balarabe when we were looking for someone that can revive our primary health in the state and she performed excellently well.

“I do not know her before.

Her choice as running mate has nothing to do with religion. I am confident that my running mate will run the state effectively and will be fair to all in the state even if I am not around.

“When you get into office politics stop, you must be fair to all. Check our records in the last

three years and six months, we have worked. We built, repaired primary, secondary schools. We fixed our primary health centres.

“I am human and I can make mistakes like any other person. I will be fair to everybody.

We must unite our people for progress. I want Kaduna state to interact on the basis of humanity not religion and ethnicity.

In his remarks, chairman of PUCA, Apostle David Adeniran said with the explanation by the governor, they had understood that the he wanted a united Kaduna without religious, ethnic consideration.

Vote for Individuals, not Parties, Buhari Inaugurates World-Class Cancer Treatment Centre in Lagos Theologians Tell Christians Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Lagos unveiled the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Advanced Cancer Treatment Centre, with a pledge to ensure that facilities for the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of cancer are available to many more Nigerians.

During the inauguration, the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode described the centre as world-class, saying no Nigerian cancer patient needed to travel abroad again to receive treatment easily obtainable at home. ‘‘We, therefore, want to assure Your Excellency that we shall give what it takes to run this Centre as a pride to all

Nigerians. NSIAs investment is not only safe but will yield ample dividend to encourage other deep pocket investors to open up the health sector as a veritable investors’ haven.”

In the same vein, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, described the centre as the single largest investment in cancer treatment in the country by any administration since independence.

Adewole added that the facility could treat 100 patients daily and provide training for over 80 healthcare professionals, among many others.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the president promised to replicate the model across the country with a view to bringing quality, first-class healthcare services to cancer patients in Nigeria.

Kayode Fasua As Nigerians go the poll next Saturday to elect a new President and federal lawmakers, the Association of Christian Theologians (ACTS) has urged the Christian community not to vote on the basis of political parties, but according to the quality of their candidates.

In a statement issued in Lagos through its National President, Prof. Olakunle Macaulay, the ACTS expressed concern that some Christian clerics have desecrated the house of God by openly campaigning for or against politicians on the pulpit.

On the way to go during the election, the ACTS stated, “Christians should know that voting for a party is a great mistake, but voting for an individual is right. It is the individual that will represent you and give account of what happened in government office or parliament and he knows that

if his stewardship is not good enough, his integrity is at stake.

“Let us allow election to be based on integrity of the individual and not on party. Who is this person wishing to represent us at the Senate or House of Representatives? Is he or she known to us? What has he done to the community to be trusted that he will do better? We need to know.”

The body of theologians also cautioned Christians against political debauchery such as vote buying and selling, and joining the political bandwagon, urging that they should allow the Holy Spirit to guide them on where their votes should go.

“Politics in Nigeria is politics of deceit; hence people want to buy votes, whereas election should be based on the credibility of the representatives. Many people vote for the party that cannot speak for them, “the ACTS observed.

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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 ˾ FEBRUARY 10, 2019

NEWSXTRA Boko Haram Overruns Military Base, Kills Three Soldiers Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja with agency reports

Three soldiers were killed when Boko Haram jihadists raided a military base in northeast Nigeria, security sources said yesterday.

The attack happened at the Forward Operation Base in Ngwom village, some 14 kilometres (nearly nine miles) north of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri.

“Boko Haram infiltrated our base in Ngwom yesterday (Friday) at around 6:50 pm (1750 GMT) in which we lost three soldiers,” a military officer in Maiduguri told AFP. A second military source

said the Islamist militants left with two army vehicles and “demobilised” a mineresistant armoured vehicle.

“The terrorists also burnt two houses and a car belonging to our members in the village,” added a civilian militia leader in Maiduguri.

It was not immediately clear which of the two Boko Haram factions was behind the attack.

Most of the attacks on troops in Borno and neighbouring Yobe state since mid2018 have been claimed by, or blamed on, the self-styled Islamic State West Africa Province.

Others, though, have been carried out by fighters loyal

to long-time factional leader Abubakar Shekau.

Nigeria’s military has strongly denied claims the assaults on soldiers are an indication the group is resurgent, after repeated claims they were “technically defeated”.

The attacks underline the persistent threat from the group, including to civilians,

nearly 10 years after the start of the insurgency.

More than 27,000 people have been killed in northeast Nigeria and some 1.8 million others remain homeless.

In a Council of Foreign Relation (CFR) report on Friday, former US Ambassador to Nigeria, Sir.John Campbell said Buhari’s focus has been on defeating a resurgent

Boko Haram, dealing with an economic downturn amid a slow recovery of global oil prices, and battling corruption, but he has had little success.

Campbell wrote the Islamist insurgency in the northeast “has resulted in some thirty thousand deaths and the internal displacement of up to two million

Nigerians.

“Ongoing clashes between farmers and herders in the Middle Belt has at this point led to more deaths than those caused by Boko Haram.

“A low-level insurgency in the oil patch continues to threaten production. At the same time, there has been an upsurge of nonpolitical kidnapping across the country.”

EFCC Denies Poisoning Former Skye Bank Chairman Olaseni Durojaiye The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday denied that it poisoned an erstwhile Chairman of Skye Bank Plc (now Polaris Bank), Mr. Tunde Ayeni.

The commission, also, said Ayeni, Chairman of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Vice Chairman of ntel, was not dead contrary to some media reports.

It denied the report in a statement yesterday two months after the former Skye Bank boss was arrested and detained in the custody of the anti-graft agency.

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) had raised the alarm over alleged clampdown on opposition figures by the federal government using various state institutions.

Specifically, the CUPP alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secretly arrested Ayeni, who is a close associate of the consensus opposition candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Mr. Ikenga Ugochinyere in Abuja on Friday, the CUPP claimed that a credible source revealed that Ayeni is currently undergoing treatment in an undisclosed medical facility after he was

poisoned in the detention cell of the EFCC. The CUPP demanded for the immediate release of Ayeni from EFCC custody for proper medical attention. The parties also insisted that the case against the ex-Skye Bank boss should be charged to court immediately if indeed there was anything found against him.

In its statement yesterday, the EFCC lamented that the intention of this false alarm was to incite public opinion against the anti-graft commission.

The statement said, “We found it compelling to state in no unclear terms that Mr Ayeni upon arrest and conveyance to the Commission was neither offered food nor drink by our operatives.

“There was also nothing consumable: food, drink or water that was brought to him within the brief period he was with his interrogators. When he complained of illness and opted to see a doctor, which he was promptly obliged.

“We also wish to state that so far, there has not been any report of any dire health condition on Ayeni. It is likely there would not be. The public may wish to know that the commission in the course of its duties has become conversant with all manners of theatrics from some suspects who would elect not to cooperate.

LOOKING AHEAD...

L-R: President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Chairman, Forte Oil Plc, Mr. Femi Otedola and Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia at a meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and business leaders in Lagos...yesterday

INEC: Only Few Political Parties Have Submitted List of Party Agents AdedayoAkinwaleinAbuja Few days to the presidential and National Assembly elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday expressed concernthatonlyfewregisteredpolitical parties complied with the provisions of theextantlawregardingthesubmission ofnamesofpolling/partyagents.

Tothisend,theelectoralbodysaidthat allpoliticalpartiesthatsubmittedincompleteapplicationswithoutthespecimen signaturesandphotographsofthepoll/ party agents are strongly requested to regularisethisonorbeforecloseofwork tomorrow.

The INEC expressed this concern in

a statement its National Commissioner and Chairman, Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Festus Okoye issued yesterday.

The statement said the commission met with its Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from all the 36 States ofthefederationandtheFederalCapital Territory (FCT) in Abuja on Friday to furtherreviewitsstateofreadinessforthe generalelection.

At the end of the meeting, the statement said the commission decided “to drawtheattentionoftheregisteredpoliticalpartiesandmembersofthepublicto the provisions of the law regarding the submission of names of polling/party agentsbypoliticalparties.

“Section 45 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides that each political party may by notice in writing addressed to the Electoral Officer of the Local Government Area or Area Council, appoint a polling agent for each polling unit and collation centre in the Local Government Area or Area Councilforwhichithasacandidate.

“And the notice, which sets out the name and address of the polling agent, shall be accompanied by two passport photographs of each polling agent and sample signature of the polling agent and be given to the Electoral Officer at least 14 days before thedatefixedfortheelection.

“Provided that no person presently

serving as Chairman or member of a Local Government or Area Council, Commissioner of a State, Deputy Governor or Governor of a State, Minister or any other person holding political office under any tier of Government and who has not resigned his appointment at least three months before the election shall serveasapollingagentofanypolitical party, either at the polling unit or at any centre designated for collation of resultsofelection.”

The statement said most of the lists submitted “are not accompanied by the photographs and specimen signatures of the poll/party agents as requiredbylaw.

PDM Adopts Atiku Presidential Candidate

Bagudu, Adewole Seek Inclusion Wi-Pay to Unveil International Money Transfer Services of Cancer Treatment in NHIS

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) yesterday adopted the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as its candidate in next Saturday’s presidential election.

The movement disclosed this in a in a communique it issued after a one-day meeting at the Yar’adua centre, Abuja on Friday, naming Atiku as its preferred presidential candidate.

The communiqué was signed by Hon. Dubem Onyia (South East), Chief Bode Ajewole (South West), Chief Ejiofor

Onyia (South South), Dr. Bala Ahmed Tafida (North Central), Alhaji Kabir Bawa (North East), Barr. Fatima Abba (North West), and Dapo Sarumi (Chairman).

It explained that PDM was formed on August 2, 1987 under the able leadership of late Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, to be the conscience and voice of the masses.

The communique said that with the 2019 presidential election exactly a week away, it has become imperative, as founding members of the Yar’Adua Political Family to lend its voice to the conversations around the epochal electoral contest.

As the campaign for a review of the National Health Insurance Scheme Act gathers momentum, Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, has called for the coverage of cancer treatment in the scheme.

Likewise, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, who is leading the campaign for a review of the NHIS Act said 40 percent of cancer cases could be treated if detected early, noting that cancer was not a death sentence.

The duo spoke in Abuja at a cancer awareness event organised by the Medicaid

Cancer Foundation headed by Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu.

The governor said pressure was being mounted on government to include coverage of cancer treatment in the NHIS in order to ameliorate the plight of cancer patients in addition to advocacy for early detection and treatment.

“A lot of investment is going into cancer advocacy and awareness in the country as the minister itemised. We are moving to stages where the public awareness is so great that pressure is building up to ensure that cancer is included in the National Health Insurance coverage and will go a long way to help.

Wi-Pay Technologies today announced that it has successfully tested its online platform and soon to launch international digital money transfer services.

It will be recalled that Wi-Pay Global (the sister company of Wi-Pay Technologies) was granted an international Money Transfer Operator (IMTO) license by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in November 2016. Over that period the company has engaged in developing strategic relationships with some banks while it designed the operating

platform and integrating with local banks in Nigeria and Ghana.

“Our tenacity in the implementation process has ultimately culminated in this successful testing and we are quite excited about it,” according to the Chairman and CEO of the companyChamberlain Peterside speaking in Lagos recently.

Upon launching the operation in early 2019, the money transfer services will initially focus on the UK-Nigeria and Ghana corridors as the company strives to expand its footprint to other West African countries.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹͸˜ ͺ͸͹΁

87

SUNDAYSPORTS High Stakes as Man City Welcome Chelsea to Etihad Edited by Demola Ojo Email: demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

Demola Ojo

M

anchester City face a tough test in the title race as Chelsea visit the Etihad today. The champions are three points behind league leaders Liverpool but will return to the summit with victory today.

On the other hand, Chelsea need to avoid defeat to return to fourth place after being supplanted by Manchester United yesterday.

Chelsea beat City 2-0 earlier this season at Stamford Bridge so Man City manager Pep Guardiola knows his side is in for a tough game.

“You see the midfield players, the strikers, the best strikers in the world are there.

“The midfield players are the best in the world. A good keeper. Experienced defenders. Good organisation defensive, offensive. They know exactly what they want to do.

“I have a lot of respect. The game on Sunday (today) is a final for us. I want to feel that it’s an absolute final for us and we need to play in that way.”

Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea were the first team to beat Manchester City domestically this season with that win in December.

Sarri says Chelsea cannot win the Premier League but are aiming for a top-four finish, before suggesting Manchester City are the best team in Europe.

“At the moment Manchester City are the best team in Europe. I think we were lucky (in December), because we scored in a very difficult

U20 AFCON: Akinwunmi Confident F’Eagles will Reach Final The First Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, has charged the Nigeria U20 team to go all out in their semi final clash with Mali at the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Niamey on Wednesday.

Speaking after Mali pipped Ghana’s Black Satellites 1-0 to reach the semi finals and pick the last available ticket to the FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Poland this summer, Akinwunmi, who was Match Commissioner for the Mali/ Ghana encounter, said he has confidence in the Flying Eagles to reach Sunday’s final.

“I watched the Flying Eagles against the host team and the fact that they were able to hold their own in such atmosphere is confirmation that they know what is at stake and have the mettle to face even the strongest opposition.

“The Malians are strong, but so are all the four teams in the semi finals. The NFF will continue to give all necessary support for the Flying Eagles to go all the way by winning the trophy.”

Akinwunmi, in Niger Republic as a Member of the CAF Committee for Youth Competitions, had also visited the Flying Eagles at their training session last Thursday.

RESULTS & FIXTURES Fulham Crystal Palace Huddersfield

0–3 1–1 1–2

Liverpool Southampton Watford Brighton Fiorentina Parma Getafe Atl Madrid Tottenham Man City Athletic Bilbao

3–0 1–2 1–0 1–3 0–0 0–1 3–1 1–3 v v v

Man United West Ham Arsenal Bournemouth Cardiff Everton Burnley Napoli Inter Celta Vigo Real Madrid Leicester 2:30pm Chelsea 5pm Barcelona 8:45pm

Kante (in dark blue) scored the opening goal for Chelsea in a 2-0 victory over City in December

moment of the match. In that match we defended really very well because they had only three goal opportunities, no more.

“It’s not easy against Man City to give them only three, four opportunities. At home, I think they’ve scored 43 goals in 13 matches. More than three on average. We need to defend really very well.”

Manchester City are still without defenders Benjamin Mendy and Vincent Kompany. Left-back Mendy, who has missed the last four games, is being managed carefully as he returns from knee surgery and captain Kompany is still troubled by a muscular problem.

Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo (Achilles) is still out

long term but City have no fresh injury concerns.

Meanwhile, Antonio Rudiger could return to Chelsea’s starting line-up at Manchester City.

Defender Rudiger was not risked in last week’s 5-0 win over Huddersfield due to a knock, so Andreas Christensen deputised. The Denmark defender is likely to make way.

Callum Hudson-Odoi has been ill, so may not even be among the substitutes.

Man City have lost three of their last five Premier League matches against Chelsea (W2), scoring just four goals and never more than once in this run.

Chelsea have won on just two of their last nine visits to the Etihad in the Premier League (D1 L6), winning 1-0 in February 2014 and 3-1 in December 2016.

City boss Pep Guardiola has lost more league games against Chelsea than he has versus any other team in his managerial career (3).

City striker Sergio Aguero has scored five goals in his last five Premier League appearances versus Chelsea, including netting a hat-trick in April 2016.

Aguero has scored 11 goals in 11 home Premier League games for Manchester City this season, including two hat-tricks. He’s the highest scoring home player in the competition so far this season.

Chelsea’s Eden Hazard has had a hand in five goals in his last five games against Man City in the Premier League (3 goals, 2 assists), with the Belgian assisting both of the Blues’ goals in the reverse fixture this term.

50% of N’Golo Kante’s Premier League assists for Chelsea this season have been for Gonzalo Higuain (2/4), despite the pair playing just 148 minutes together.

Real Win Madrid Derby, Bale Scores 100th Goal Gareth Bale scored his 100th Real Madrid goal as they beat Atletico in the Madrid derby to overtake their rivals into second place. Casemiro put Real ahead with a volley but Antoine Griezmann equalised after scoring a one-on-one.

Sergio Ramos restored the visitors’ lead with a penalty and Bale converted from Luka Modric’s pass to ensure the win. Atletico ended with 10 men after Thomas Partey was shown a second yellow.

In-form Real Madrid have now won six of their past seven games, having drawn 1-1 with Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg on Wednesday and this deserved derby win moves them to within five points of La Liga leaders Barca who play Bilbao today.

Santiago Solari’s side opened the scoring when Casemiro was left unmarked and he sent an acrobatic volley flying past Jan Oblak as Atletico failed to clear a corner.

Atletico levelled as Griezmann chased onto an Angel Correa through-ball to slot under Thibaut Courtois, who had toy rats thrown at him by Atletico fans. The Belgian spent three seasons on loan at Atleti from Chelsea earlier in his career.

But Ramos scored his eighth penalty of the season to restore Real’s lead after Vinicius Jr had been fouled by Jose Maria Gimenez. Four of his previous seven had been ‘Panenkas’ - chipped down the middle - but this time he drove the ball into the bottom left-corner.

Vinicius was replaced by Bale in the second half and the Welshman smashed a low shot beyond Oblak for his landmark Real goal in his 217th game.

Bale has taken 217 games to score 100 goals for Real

Atletico were lacklustre as they conceded two goals in the first half of a home game for the first time since moving to the Wanda Metropolitano in 2017 - and the fastest in La Liga at the venue.

Griezmann’s goal, their one good moment of the game, came after a long video assistant referee delay, but he had timed his run perfectly.

Atleti had thought they had levelled for a second time when Alvaro Morata, facing his

former club, chipped Courtois brilliantly from outside the box - but the VAR team correctly ruled he was offside. Atletico had been unbeaten in 19 games before his loan arrival from Chelsea, but have lost both matches with him in the team.

A red card seemed inevitable for Diego Simeone’s side, who had six players booked and it eventually came when Partey fouled Toni Kroos for his second booking.

Liverpool Return to Premier League Summit

Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League with a composed display at Anfield, scoring three unanswered goals to condemn Bournemouth to an eighth successive away defeat.

Three days after Manchester City moved top on goal difference, Jurgen Klopp’s side responded in emphatic style to talk that the pressure of a title race was showing in their performances.

After a cagey opening in which Ryan Fraser tested Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, Sadio Mane settled any nerves by powerfully heading home James Milner’s cross.

Mane, who looked fractionally offside, has now scored in four successive Premier League games for the first time.

Georginio Wijnaldum had not been allowed to stay in the Liverpool hotel on Friday because of illness but he was in fine form, doubling the lead with a sublime lob over the helpless Artur Boruc.

Moments after the break, Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino combined in a move Klopp hailed “world class” to present Mohamed Salah with a simple finish from 10 yards, his 20th goal in all competitions this season.

Klopp’s side never looked in danger of losing their lead and moved on to 65 points, a tally which would have been enough for at least a nine-point lead in the title race in any of the last five seasons after 26 games.

The pace both Liverpool and Manchester City have set has continued to demand the need for almost unprecedented consistency in a title race and prompted questions of Klopp’s side after successive draws.

But here they crushed hope Bournemouth may have had after a solid opening quarter and Eddie Howe’s side never looked capable of testing the nerve of the home side after falling behind.

While Mane and Salah will win plaudits for goals, Firmino’s use of the ball throughout deserves praise, none more so than when his superb flick sent Salah into the box after half-time, allowing the Egyptian to coolly round off a fine team move.

Sunday February 10, 2019

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Price: N400

MISSILE

Wike to El Rufai “If El-Rufai gets away with this hate speech, it will send the wrong signal. The President defended the hate speech as the defence of national interest. That is not true.”

– Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike calling on the European Union to hold Kaduna State governor, Nasir El Rufai accountable for for saying foreigners will leave in body bags if they intervene in the forthcoming elections.

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

Buhari vs Atiku: Matters That Matter

W

hen Globacom, the Nigerian telecommunications giant, unveiled Anthony Joshua as its brand ambassador a couple of weeks ago, something delighted me. Even though I know that the world heavyweight boxing champion is originally from Nigeria, I always see him as British. After all, Joshua — who currently holds three of the four biggest world titles — flies the British flag. He represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics and won the superheavyweight gold medal. I had some good feeling watching him in the Glo TV commercial talk about “we Nigerians” and our resilience. He may be flying the Union Jack but he is still very much in touch with his roots.

Joshua once proudly told the world about his love for pounded yam, eba and egusi soup. Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr., Globacom chairman, threw a really good marketing punch by bringing the six-foot-six boxer home to “fly” the green-white-green flag.

Even though Joshua’s rendition of “Glo, I hail o!” does not sound pidgin enough, I will manage that for now. Reggae legend Winston Hubert McIntosh aka Peter Tosh sang: “Don’t care where you come from/As long as you’re a black man, you’re an African/ No mind your nationality/You have got the identity of an African.” Fly the British flag, hold the British passport, speak the British accent — the Nigerian blood still runs in your veins.

Many have chosen to deny their Nigerian roots — maybe out of anger, disappointment, arrogance or shame — but, as the saying goes in Urhoboland, “Talk am go, talk am come, Saduwa na Bini man”. (Saduwa is the Urhobo corruption of the Bini name, Osasuwa). I do not begrudge those who are ashamed to be associated with their Nigerian roots. We are not pulling our weight. The news coming out of Nigeria is often laced with embarrassing content. As we troop to the polling units on Saturday to elect the president that will pilot the affairs of the country for the next four years, the views from abroad are shaped by the pessimism that there will be rigging and violence. It is a shame.

There is this impression that Nigerians cannot pilot their own affairs decently. Many observers naturally expect ballot-snatching, voter suppression, underage voting, shooting, killing and outright falsification of results. It’s tough to be proud of Nigeria or to be proudly Nigerian under these circumstances, except you are dyed in the wool. But be of good cheer: we have done it before; we can do it again. Four years ago, we defied the scary predictions. Doomsday experts had said the CIA had predicted that Nigeria would break into pieces in 2015, and the elections were to be the trigger by their own calculations.

Four years on and we are still breathing.

Meanwhile, conventional wisdom had it that no incumbent Nigerian president would ever be defeated; even if he lost, he was expected to change the figures and sit tight. Well, we shamed the cynics. President Goodluck Jonathan not only lost, he picked his phone and congratulated his opponent, President Muhammadu Buhari, while final result was yet to be announced. It was not

Yakubu, INEC chairman

as if he did not have enough grounds to complain, cause trouble or head to the courts, but his heart ruled over his head and he did the needful. It happened here in Nigeria.

When we are written off, we are capable of showing the world that something decent can still come out of this land.

While we need all the peace we can get, we cannot be talking about peace without justice. Electoral violence may be senseless, but a feeling of injustice pushes people to the streets. Elections must not only be free and fair, they must be seen to be free and fair.

People must learn to defend their votes in an orderly manner. Those who foment trouble out of desperation must be contained as a matter of duty by the security agencies. We have shed too much blood and ruined too many lives at election times in this country.

It doesn’t make sense. Jonathan’s words — “my ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian” — should be the mantra for our politicians.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), theoretically the key institution in the elections, must be evidently neutral. I have confidence in the ability of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC chairman, to organise credible elections. But it is not all about him. The resident electoral commissioners, called RECs, have the capacity to wreck the elections. Yakubu will be in Abuja on election day. He cannot account for what the RECs will do in the 37 jurisdictions across Nigeria. But he can do something: he can let it be clear to them that those found wanting would face the law. Luckily, the courts are now jailing INEC officials. That should ram some sense into their heads.

The security agencies, in practice, play the key role in determining election outcomes in Nigeria. If they do their job very well — meaning they are non-aligned and they treat every voter equally while keeping the peace — all of us would be the better for it. In the past, security agencies were used to suppress voter turn-out in order to give undue advantage to some candidates. I recall that several years ago, soldiers deployed in a particular state on the eve of an election shot into the air and sang war songs all through the night. The people were so intimidated they did not bother to come out of their homes to vote. That is how voter suppression works.

Security agents also participated actively in ballot-stuffing. They provided cover for

the alteration of figures. In other instances, they arrested and detained influential political figures on the eve of elections in order to demoralise their supporters and give their opponents the upper hand. Vote-buying is another instrument of rigging. These are disgraceful things that damage Nigeria home and abroad. It is believed by many analysts that if the security agencies were to discharge their duties professionally, these issues would be well taken care of. That is how important they are. They can mess up the elections if they decide to be unethical.

If INEC conducts itself creditably well and the security agencies perform their duties professionally, we would be showing to the world again that we can do things decently.

Contrary to whatever some might be saying, it is not in the interest of anyone that the country should catch fire. No, we don’t need body bags. Nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. Not in a million years.

There is a Yoruba proverb that says “irorun igi ni irorun eye”. If the tree is not conducive enough, the bird cannot perch comfortably on it. No matter the candidate we support, it is the peace and progress of Nigeria that should ultimately matter to anyone who genuinely loves this country.

Saturday’s presidential election is essentially a straightforward heavyweight bout between President Muhammadu Buhari (APC) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (PDP). Buhari is the defending champion. Atiku wants his belt. It is going to be a “thrilla and a chilla”. We must also make honourable mention of the “third force” candidates — the cerebral Prof. Kingsley Moghalu (YPP), whom Prof. Wole Soyinka has endorsed, and Omoyele Sowore (ACC), citizen journalist with disruptive ideas. Fela Durotoye (ANN), Gbenga Hashim-Olawepo (PT) and Tope Fasua (ANRP) are also on the list of the record number of 73 candidates.

But it is clearly a two-horse race. That’s a no-brainer.

Finally, our politicians must watch their words and call their supporters to order. I am particularly concerned about the two leading candidates — Buhari and Atiku.

Their supporters should take the results in their strides rather than incite violence. By now, we should have gone beyond the typical Nigerian politician’s mentality of “if I don’t have it, then nobody else should”. They should be ready to concede. Jonathan has showed us the way. We should be moving forward not going backward. If any candidate feels strongly that he has been cheated, there is the option of litigation. At this age and time, we must look at the bigger picture of Nigeria’s progress. That matters a great deal.

Above all, the most important “candidate” that should be the “winner” is not even on the ballot: the Nigerian. We have been bruised and battered for ages. We have been squeezed, sucked and dumped like orange.

We ought to have given up on this country long ago. But as Anthony Joshua says in the Glo commercial, “We don’t stay down. We get up and fight.” That is resilience. We fall down, we get up. We renew our hope that Nigeria shall be great someday. We deserve a peaceful and progressive country that anyone with Nigerian blood can proudly show off.

That should be our drive, no matter who wins. Nigeria is bigger than Buhari and Atiku combined. Let that sink in.

And Four Other Things…

RECORD RUNS President Muhammadu Buhari holds the appearance record in Nigeria’s presidential elections, having been a candidate in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and now 2019. His cumulative 44.3 million votes in the past four polls are also the highest, averaging 11 million per contest. He has won once.

Next to him is Pastor Chris Okotie, who ran thrice (2003, 2007 and 2011) and scored 228,000 votes in all. The 2003 election was the first in which a “couple” contested. President Olusegun Obasanjo (PDP) was challenged by his ex-wife, Major Moji Obasanjo (Masses Movement of Nigeria, MMN). She was the first female presidential candidate, by the way. She died in 2009 at 65. Pioneers.

EXIT POLLS All the candidates that contested in the 1979 elections have died —Shehu Shagari (NPN), Obafemi Awolowo (UPN), Nnamdi Azikiwe (NPP), Aminu Kano (PRP) and Waziri Ibrahim (GNPP). Kano was the first to die (1983), Shagari the last (2018).

Also, all the candidates that contested in 1983 are no longer with us: Shagari, Awolowo, Zik, Ibrahim, Tunji Braithwaite (NAP) and Khalifa Hassan Yusuf, who flew PRP’s flag after Kano’s death four months to the election. Six of the 20 contestants in 2003 have also joined their ancestors: Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu (APGA), Gani Fawehinmi (NCP), MD Yusufu (MDJ), Pere Ajunwa (LDPN), Moji Obasanjo and Braithwaite. Exits.

APRIL FULL Nigeria has held eight presidential elections in all, three of them in April. In 2003, it was on April 19 (we called it 4/19 polls because of the massive rigging). It was held on April 14 in 2007 and April 16 in 2011. Those of 1979 and 1983 were held on August 11 and 6 respectively. The 1993 election was held on June 12. It was on February 27 in 1999. The 2015 poll could have been on February 14 — there was no love lost between the government and the opposition when it was moved by six weeks. We now seem to have permanently opted for February. Why? I don’t know, but Catholic bishops once complained that the April dates often clash with events lined up for Easter. Settled.

AND FINALLY… Many people have been asking me: “Simon, who will win the presidential election?” I don’t know why anybody thinks I have the answer. I am neither a fortune teller nor a pollster. Nevertheless, after coming under so much pressure — and determined not to disappoint my friends — I decided to consult my oracle. It did not disappoint me. It told me plainly that the winner of the February 16 poll is a northern Fulani Muslim. The oracle further told me, in unmistakeable terms, that the colours of the winning party include green and red — with a hand-held personal item as the party symbol. Finally, the oracle told me the winner is his 70s. Bull’s-eye.

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