SUNDAY 3RD MARCH 2019

Foreign Trade Hits N32.26tn in 2018 Declines by 5.1% in Q4 James Emejo in Abuja Nigeria's total merchandise trade increased by 39.31 per cent to N32.26 trillion (year on year) in 2018 compared

to N23.16 trillion in 2017, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

NBS noted that the volume of total merchandise trade in 2018 was the highest recorded

since 2014, and almost doubled the pre-recession levels.

However, total trade dropped by 5.1 per cent to N8.60 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2018 (Q4 2018)

compared to N9.06 trillion recorded in the preceding quarter, the NBS noted.

According to the Foreign Trade Statistics in Goods (Q4 2018), which was released

by the statistical agency at the weekend, total export stood at N5.02 trillion in Q4, representing an increase of 3.5 per cent over Q3 and 28.5 per cent over Q4, 2017.

The import component stood at N3.58 trillion in Q4, indicating a decline of N631.6 billion or 15 per cent when Continued on page 8

Southern Kaduna Coalition Accuses PDP Leaders of Betrayal … Page 12 Sunday 3 March, 2019 Vol 24. No 8729

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TODAY'S WEATHER

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ENUGU 25°C-28°C

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I Will Not Be Cowed, Says Atiku, IBB Urges Him to Work with Buhari Inaugurates legal team to challenge result EFCC arrests son-in-law Former military president advises Buhari to heed cry for restructuring Shola Oyeyipo, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Laleye Dipo in Minna In an apparent reference to the arrest of his son-in-law by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in penultimate Saturday’s election and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said neither intimidation nor blackmail

will make him “mortgage the mandate of Nigerians as freely expressed” at the polls on February 23. Atiku stated this in a statement yesterday in Abuja by his media adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe. Alhaji Babalele Abdullahi, who is finance director of Atiku’s group of companies, was arrested in Abuja.

The former vice president’s declaration also came against Continued on page 8

Suspected Bandits Kill 29 in Zamfara Attack

Olaseni Durojaiye

The police in Zamfara State disclosed yesterday, that 29 people were killed by suspected armed bandits in Shinkafi Local Government Area of the state.

According to the police spokesperson, Muhammad Shehu, the victims, in a convoy of vehicles conveying traders from Shinkafi market on their

way back to Kwari village in Shinkafi Local Government Area on February 28, were ambushed by the armed bandits.

“On 28 February, 2019 at about 23.45hrs, a divisional police officer (DPO) in charge of Shinkafi received a distress call that on the same date that vehicles conveying traders Continued on page 8

See THISDAY Weekly Guide to 2019… Pages 84-85

THE GODFATHER AND HIS SONS...

L-R: Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Lagos State APC Gubernatorial Candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the state's Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, during a solidarity visit to Tinubu at his Bourdillon, Ikoyi, Lagos residence... yesterday

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

PAGE EIGHT I WILL NOT BE COWED, SAYS ATIKU, IBB URGES HIM TO WORK WITH BUHARI the backdrop of rumours allegedly sponsored by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the presidency that he was prepared to back down from the legal challenge of President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory at the presidential election if certain conditions were met by the latter.

But Atiku’s announcement yesterday of the inauguration of a legal team to begin his challenge of the election outcome put paid to the story.

Meanwhile, a cross section of political leaders from across the country yesterday condemned the February 23 presidential election as fraught with irregularities, saying Buhari’s victory is illegitimate. The Forum of Nigerian Leaders and Elders (FNLE) commended the main opposition PDP presidential candidate for challenging the poll outcome in the court.

But in Minna yesterday, former military president Ibrahim Babangida advised Atiku to work closely with Buhari in order to defend Nigeria’s common interests, in his first public statement on the presidential election outcome and congratulatory message to Buhari. Babangida also cautioned the president against seeing his political opponents as enemies and urged him to focus on solving the problem of insecurity, particularly, the Boko Haram menace.

Atiku Vows Not to Mortgage Mandate The former vice president, in a statement yesterday, vowed never to “mortgage the mandate of Nigerians as freely expressed on the 23rd of February, 2019.� That was as his son-in-law was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in what was widely suspected to be an intimidation plot.

Abdullahi, who is the finance director of Atiku’s group of companies, was arrested about 8.30am Saturday in Abuja by EFCC operatives, who allegedly invaded his Maitama residence. “They were, however, not given access into the house until his lawyers arrived,� the statement by the former vice president’s media aide said.

The statement alleged that the arrest was a desperate attempt to pressure Atiku into conceding defeat in the presidential election and congratulating Buhari.

It stated, “The EFCC agents numbering about two dozen came in two regular vehicles, an 18-seater Toyota bus (registration Abuja CS 522 RSH) and a Hilux van. “They came with a search warrant to search the house and office of Babalele and found nothing incriminating. “They then proceeded to his office at Oakland Centre in Maitama and found nothing incriminating there.

However, they took away

some documents of landed property. “Not done, the EFCC officials stormed his Wuse residence where they again found nothing incriminating after the search. “Afterwards, Babalele was taken away to the EFCC office in Wuse to make a statement alongside Mr. Lawan Ayuba. “It was gathered that the petition relied upon to invade the residence and office of Babalele was authored by a brother of the wife of President Buhari.�

The statement added, “As a law abiding citizen, Atiku Abubakar recognises the constitutional role of the EFCC and, indeed, any other agency of the government to carry out investigations, but will not be cowed by any attempt to blackmail him into mortgaging his mandate.�

‌Constitutes Legal Team Atiku at the weekend inaugurated his legal team, headed by Dr Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, to challenge the result of the February 23 presidential election. This was disclosed

by Atiku’s media adviser in a separate news release on Saturday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on February 27 declared Buhari as winner of the election. But Atiku on February 28 announced his rejection of the result citing malpractices, including the alleged use of the military to intimidate and suppress voters in PDP strongholds.

He also alleged connivance in electoral misconducts by INEC officials, security agents, and the APC, leading to the concoction of figures for the ruling party and falsification of returns from the polling units. “Consequently he had given notice that he will use all available legitimate means to challenge the result of the election,� Ibe stated.

The statement said the PDP presidential candidate met with members of the National Peace Committee on Thursday night. It said the meeting had prompted concerns in some quarters that Atiku might have been prevailed upon not to proceed with the challenge of the poll.

The former vice president was quoted as saying in the release, “I have just inaugurated my legal team and charged them with the responsibility of ensuring that our stolen mandate is retrieved. “I am encouraged by the presence of fearless men and women of the Bench. The judiciary, which had in the past discharged itself ably, is once again being called upon to deliver judgement on this matter that will be untainted by lucre and uncowed by the threat of immoral power.�

Atiku assured Nigerians that “sooner than later these noble dispensers of justice will give a

judgement that will represent a historic denunciation of electoral fraud and mandate bandit.�

Buhari’s Victory Illegitimate – Nigerian Leaders Political leaders under the aegis of FNLE said the last presidential election was marred by misconduct and the winner could not boost a legitimate mandate. It commended Atiku for deciding to challenge the election in court.

The group comprises prominent Nigerians, including leader of Pan-Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF), Chief E K Clark; Convener, Northern Elders Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi; Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; President-General, Ohaneze, Chief John Nwodo; and President, Middle Belt Forum, Dr. Pogu Bitrus.

The leaders had declared support for Atiku in the build up to the election on the grounds that he was capable of improving the Nigerian economy and bringing about the much talked about restructuring.

FNLE said in a news release on Saturday, “The forum observes that the elections have revealed massive irregularities and outright abuse of the electoral laws, the rules and regulations of INEC as well as the failure of security forces to remain neutral and operate within the highest standards of their calling. “The Peace Accord was ridiculed by deliberate and open abuse of organs of the state, the denial of rights of many citizens to vote and blatant abuse of all the commitments made by the administration. To decline to challenge obviously fictional figures, failures to respect key elements of the electoral process such as use of Smart Card Readers and preventing agents and observers’ access to all processes is to condone the massive setback which this election represents for the country.�

The group said, “The outcome of the elections was clearly premeditated in the refusal of the president to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill and the orchestrated suspension of Justice Walter Onoghen as the CJN shortly before the composition of Electoral Tribunals.�

It said its position was based on a review of the poll before, during, and after the election.

FNLE said Atiku’s decision to go to court was “patriotic, responsible and ultimately the highest contribution to the democratic system. Some other person would by now be soaking ‘baboons and dogs in blood.’ “The forum calls on the judiciary to uphold the highest standards of integrity and commitment to its hallowed role by doing justice to the appeals that will come before

it knowing that the eyes of the world would be on them.

We are aware that attempts are being made to demoralise and intimidate the judiciary to remove a conducive context for litigations. We remind the judiciary that it is the last defence of our democratic process. “We appeal to all Nigerians to continue to show faith in the democratic process and remain law-abiding as we await the decisions of the judiciary on a matter that will ultimately determine the quality of our democratic process and the nature of the nation we all call our own.�

Reiterating their decision to back Atiku’s presidential ambition, the body stated, “In endorsing the candidature of Atiku for the election, we did anchor our support on identifying a candidate among many good candidates we interacted with who can retool Nigeria to move on the path of development as a true federal entity. The pattern of voting in areas where there were semi-free elections showed an overwhelming endorsements of our position by popular votes. And the polls results have shown further a badly divided polity that needs a unifier and not a divisive person as a leader. “We insist Nigerians must stand firm and ensure they are governed by a legitimate leadership.�

enemies; not even opponents, but fellow compatriots who merely disagreed with him on how best to move our country forward.�

He further advised, "Now that the President has won his re-election bid, he should confront with renewed vigour the most urgent problem confronting Nigeria: ‘insecurity of lives and property’�.

According to him, “The Boko Haram insurgency remains a threat to many Nigerians particularly in the North-east sub region, while the twin evils of kidnapping and armed robbery/armed banditry also remains a major national menace. “The president must pay priority attention to these security issues.�

Babangida advised Buhari to be more creative in formulating policies that would improve the economy, create employment opportunities and give hope to the youth. “The President may wish to heed to the yearnings of reasonable Nigerians for restructuring and seek all constitutional means to devolve some powers presently exercised by the Federal Government to the other tiers of government,�

Babangida said.

Babangida Congratulates Buhari, Urges Atiku to Work with Him

In the meantime, PDP has described a fabrication the story that Atiku was making some demands on Buhari.

The party in statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said the presidency and the APC knew that their electoral robbery could not stand before any noble justices and are now attempting to use all sorts of blackmail and shenanigans to derail the quest by Nigerians to reclaim the stolen mandate at the tribunal.

He stated, “Without mincing words, Atiku Abubakar had not, and will never, make or accept any condition from

The former military president, commenting for the first time on the outcome of the February 23 presidential election, urged unity between the winner and the runner-up.

Babangida said in a statement, “I call on the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to close ranks and work with the winner of the election in an objective and constructive manner so that democracy will continue to thrive in our country at this crucial period of renaissance. “I urged him also to endeavour and prevail on his admirers to eschew bitterness and violence. They must be prevailed upon to understand that politics is a game in which there must be only one winner.�

Congratulating Buhari on his victory, Babangida observed that the "electioneering campaign was very strenuous and the contest very keen.

That despite the turbulent terrain of politics, the President submitted and subjected himself to this process. Indeed, it is a clear testimony that he believes in the democratic process and ideals.�

He charged the re-elected president to "heal the wounds of the heated campaign exchanges by embracing those who contested with him. “The President must resist the temptation to see them as

PDP: Our Presidential Candidate Made No Demands on Buhari

President Buhari regarding the rigged February 23, 2019 presidential election, which he (Atiku) clearly won. “However, let it be known to President Buhari and the APC that Atiku Abubakar and the PDP are standing shoulder to shoulder with Nigerians in this collective determination to take back the stolen mandate and we are not ready for any form of negotiation with anybody on this matter. “Our party and candidate remain committed to the huge sacrifices made by Nigerians in ensuring our collective victory as delivered at the polling units across the country; we are mindful of the pains that Nigerians are passing through since the subversion of their will at the polls; we are sensitive to the expectations that millions of compatriots place on our shoulders in this struggle and we will never let Nigerians down.�

The party claimed to have all the authentic results from all the polling units as well as forensic evidence of manipulations by the APC and INEC, adding that it would bare them all at the tribunal and the court would give justice to Nigerians.

Ologbondiyan noted that the party shall devote every energy necessary to reclaim its mandate and have Atiku declared President, in line with the will of the people as delivered at the polling units on February 23, 2019.

He stressed that anything short of this was not acceptable and no amount of false reports, connivance, contrivance, intimidation, harassment and fresh attacks on its leaders, including the Director General of its Presidential Campaign, Senate President Bukola Saraki, whose residence was besieged by security agents last night, can alter this resolve. “On that note, the PDP states unequivocally that nothing will change its resolve to pursue this despicable electoral fraud unknown in our political history, to its end,� the statement said.

SUSPECTED BANDITS KILL 29 IN ZAMFARA ATTACK from Shinkafi to Kwari village were ambushed by suspected armed bandits while coming back from Shinkafi Market. “The police quickly responded by leading a joint team of PMF/CTU and military to the scene of the incident with a view to ascertaining the authenticity of the report and take action that will restore normalcy in the area and its environs and further arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act.�

He stated further that, on getting to the scene, 13 corpses were found, while 16 other corpses, mostly members of civilian JTF were later discovered littered as the surrounding bush was combed by the joint security operatives.

He however assured

normalcy had been restored in the area, following an improved deployment of Joint police and military personnel to the area, to complement the existing security emplacement. “The state Commissioner of Police, Celestine Okoye, while condoling the government and people of the state over the unfortunate incident assures all residents of the state that, the police will continue to collaborate and partner with other security agencies and all relevant stakeholder to ensure security, safety and peace of Zamfara State at all times. “Members of the public are enjoined to continue to support the security agencies in their efforts to rid the state of criminal elements,� Shehu said.

and by 12.7 per cent when compared with Q4 2017.

Furthermore, the value of manufactured goods exports rose by 14.97 per cent in Q4 when compared with the value recorded in Q3, but decreased 36.6 per cent against the corresponding quarter in 2017.

The value of crude oil exports in Q4 was 1.98 per

cent higher than in Q3 2018 and 29.95 per cent higher than in Q4 2017.

Meanwhile, India, Spain, France, South Africa and the Netherlands constituted the country's major export trading partners in Q4 while China, the United States, Netherlands, India and Belgium were the major import trading partners.

FOREIGN TRADE HITS N32.26TN IN 2018 compared to Q3 estimates, but showed an increase of 69.6 per cent when compared with the corresponding quarter in 2017.

NBS said the increase in export value and decrease in import value (relative to Q3 2018) resulted in a favourable trade balance of N1441 billion or 125.5 per cent over the preceding quarter.

However, crude oil export,

which stood at N4.22 trillion, remained the mainstay of the economy and took the largest share of total exports (84.2 per cent) in Q4. The non-oil products accounted for 4.6 per cent of total exports, while other oil products accounted for 11.2 per cent of total exports in the review period.

According to NBS, the

value of total exports in Q4 increased by 3.52 per cent compared to the level recorded in Q3, and was 28.46 per cent higher than Q4 2017 estimates.

Agricultural exports rose by 115.1 per cent in Q4 compared to Q3 2018 and 696.8 per cent compared to Q4 2017.

The statistical agency further stated that the value of raw material goods exports in Q4

was 26.7 per cent higher than the value in Q3 and 7.7 per cent higher than the value recorded in Q4 2017. It stated that the value of solid minerals exports decreased by 20.6 per cent compared to Q3 estimates and 67.7 per cent against the corresponding quarter in 2017.

Exports of energy goods increased in value by 6.1 per cent in Q4 compared to Q3

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MARCH 3, 2019

9

SUNDAY COMMENT

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

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND ITS AFTERMATH There is urgent need to strengthen key institutions while security agents on election duties must be professional

A

lthough majority of the local and international observers have adjudged the 23rd February presidential and national assembly elections fairly okay, what transpired during the exercise highlight the challenges of holding free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria. Going forward, there is an urgent need to strengthen key institutions and improve on the use of smart card readers while security agents on election duties must remain neutral and professional before, during and after the ballots are cast. That is the best safeguard for deepening democracy in Nigeria.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu in the early hours of Wednesday declared the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari re-elected for another term of four years.

But the main opposition candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared the results as fraudulent and pledged to seek legal redress. Even the re-elected President Buhari underscored the fact that there were problems with the poll. “Election is not war, and should never be seen as a do or die affair. I pray that we all accept the democratic approach to elections, however contentious,” said Buhari.

With violence becoming a defining feature of elections in the country, we agree on the need for some fundamental reforms in our polity. The presidential and national assembly elections were marred in some states by outright brigandage, abduction of election officials, burning of election materials and shooting to death of some innocent citizens. In Lagos, security agents, aided by thugs, invaded some polling centres, disrupted the

process, manhandled voters, destroyed and burnt electoral materials, including ballot papers and boxes. In Bayelsa, two people were killed, including the official photographer of the state government.

It was a similar story in Amukpe near Sapele in Delta State where two men were also killed. But perhaps the real theatre of violence is Rivers, a state with little history of political compromise and where mindless killing has become a way of life.

F

It is sad that 20 years after the restoration of democracy in Nigeria, what is being replayed in 2019 is desperation for acquiring power at all costs

Letters to the Editor

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hat happened in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during the recent Presidential and Parliamentary elections, where President Muhammadu Buhari emerged victorious, despite losing in the FCT to his closest rival Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has clearly demonstrated that this government and indeed the FCT Administration are firm believers that the will of the people is sacrosanct and must never be subverted for any reason.

As it happened, the candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar scored the most votes of 259,997 in the contest in the FCT, against the 152,224 votes that was scored by President Buhari. The Senatorial candidate of the PDP, Phillip Aduda, also defeated Zaphaniah Jisalo of the APC with wide margin.

While several explanations have

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

our years ago during the 2015 general election, Rivers State witnessed an orgy of bloodletting with no fewer than 60 lives lost. In the present one, elections in six local governments were cancelled because of violence, some of it inflicted ironically by law enforcement agents. At a particular centre, INEC officials accused some soldiers, policemen and Directorate of State Security (DSS) operatives of disrupting collation of results while shooting sporadically into the air. The post-election statement by INEC indeed confirms the culpability of security agents in the malpractices that occurred in some states of the country.

It is sad that 20 years after the restoration of democracy in Nigeria, what is being replayed in 2019 is desperation for acquiring power at all costs. Unfortunately, it seems also rewarding to indulge in violence as there were no reports that anybody was ever punished for such crimes; and perhaps the reason for the prevailing culture of impunity. Yet, we are worried about the resort to violence, especially when there is really no evidence that the interest of the downtrodden (often used as cannon fodder) is being served. It is very clear that with eyes to the enormous spoils of office attached to the nation’s political positions from the presidency to local councillorship, many of our politicians would do anything, (including killing their opponents) in order to ensure easy ride at the polls.

Therefore, as we have canvassed in the past, there is need for a review of the remunerations and other perks of public office holders in our country. Perhaps we will begin to see a reduction in this violent approach to politics and elections if and when the fat allowances attached to the elective offices are slashed considerably. Meanwhile, as we approach the governorship and houses of assembly elections next weekend, we again call on all the authorities, particularly the law enforcement agencies, to stick to their professional duties while INEC should be alive to its responsibilities.

When innocent lives are lost in the course of elections, even where the outcome conforms to popular expectation, the end does not justify the means!

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.

Peaceful Elections In The FCT been made for this outcome, including the notion that the FCT is inhabited mainly by people from the geographical regions that have strong affiliations with the PDP, some pundits and political analysts have however gone to the extreme by blaming the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello for this outcome. Their claim is that the Minister’s unwillingness to dip into the public coffers to make money available for politicking may have dampened the morale of voters in the FCT. But a clear look at this position however shows that those making these statements may still be clung to the dark ages of Nigeria’s electioneering history where elections are characterized mainly by financial inducements of voters and electoral umpires, amongst others.

This is because anyone who keenly observed what happened during the recently concluded elections will

see clearly that voters gave their support to whomsoever they chose, irrespective of money factors. In the North where Muhammadu Buhari is a phenomenon, the support for him was overwhelming. The PDP candidate Atiku also received much support from the South which has always been a PDP stronghold. So, to lay the blame for the pattern of voting in the FCT on the FCT Minister is a tad misleading.

Clearly, what happened in the FCT is that the will of the majority prevailed in a peaceful atmosphere as the minister promised before the elections. At no point before or during the elections did the FCT minister promise that he would deliver the FCT to the president. The minister merely gave reasons why President Buhari should be reelected for a second term to continue his people-oriented policies. He also guaranteed that the elections would

be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere and obviously he delivered on this. This is unlike what happened in some parts of the country like Rivers and Lagos States where certain persons tried to play God, which resulted in the unfortunate loss of lives and properties.

Unlike what happened in these states, the FCT minister moved before hand to ensure that there were no security lapses by holding various meetings with security agencies in the FCT to iron out issues of logistics. The FCT Administration also held meetings with various stakeholders in the FCT like the politicians, media organizations, election observer groups, traditional rulers and the original inhabitants to ensure that the election was done in a peaceful atmosphere.

The minister’s message at all these meetings was very loud and clear: peaceful, free and fair elections in the FCT. So whoever that is saying a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should dip into the public coffers to make money available for electioneering, against the provision of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral

Act, should be seen as an enemy of the state and the people. Malam Bello over the last three and half years that he has been in charge of the FCT has demonstrated that he is a respecter for the rule of law which is exemplified by the manner that he has ran the affairs of the FCT Administration, devoid of rancor and scandals. Even this much has been attested to by many notable persons, including members of the parliament and the international community.

At any rate, the FCT is not the only supposed stronghold of the APC that did not live up to expectations during the presidential and parliamentary elections.

Edo State which is the home state of the APC Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, also failed to deliver majority of the votes to the president, despite that the governor is also of the APC. All of these demonstrate that the present government is committed to practicing democracy based on the will of the people, even if it is not in their favour.

––Danladi Akilu, Durumi II, Gudu District, Abuja

10

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MARCH 3, 2019

NEWS

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

Guber Election: Osinbajo, Tinubu, Ambode Hold Emergency Meeting Gboyega Akinsanmi The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo yesterday held a meeting with the National leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on the need “to ensure the APC candidate in the state, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu win the March 9 governorship election.

The meeting was also attended by Tinubu’s estranged godsons including former Lagos

State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and Chairman of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN), among others The meeting was sequel to the formal inauguration of Free Lagos Orange Movement, a similitude of political campaign that sunk the re-election of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki during the just concluded National Assembly election.

At the meeting, THISDAY findings revealed that effort was

directed at resolving disagreement between Ambode and Sanwo-Olu and make work towards achieving victory at the forthcoming governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

Findings, also, revealed that the meeting frowned at some members of the APC accusing Ambode of funding the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Mr. Jimi Agbaje and

working with the agents of the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

THISDAY learnt that the meeting commended Ambode for accepting the outcome of the October 2, 2018 governorship primaries and spearheading the campaign of the APC candidate until the aggrieved governors in other states of the federation.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. habit

POLITICS WITHOUT CONVICTION...

L-R: Chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Ademola Popoola; Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi: former Oyo State Governor, Christopher Alao-Akala and his wife, Chief Kemi Alao-Akala after a meeting with Alao-Akala at his residence, Ibadan...yesterday

Aruna yesterday, Ambode yesterday denied allegation that he was working with the agents of the PDP presidential candidate in the just concluded presidential election.

Ambode noted that he was busy working for the election of the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu contrary to some reports in a section of the media.

He said that having publicly declared his acceptance of the decision of the party on the party’s governorship primaries, he would never take any action to undermine the prospects of the party in the ongoing elections.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has been drawn to a report in the March 1 edition of The Nation.

“Specifically, the contentious report published on the newspaper’s front page without any by-line, insinuated that Ambode might be working with an opposition party through former Commissioner for Energy & Mineral Resources, Mr. Wale Oluwo.

“The report also attempted to hold the responsible for the alleged activities of Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi because he supported the governor’s gubernatorial ambition during the primaries of the APC in October 2018.

“The governor wishes to make it abundantly clear that,

having declared publicly his acceptance of the decision of the party on the primaries, he has not and will never take any action to undermine the prospects of the party in the on-going elections.

“It is human to aspire and the capacity of each individual to manage the negative outcomes of a legitimate aspiration differs. But that should never be the basis to link His Excellency to whatever action of certain individuals who might have shared his vision in the past but have proceeded to pursue their own interests as adults and citizens without any influence from or recourse to the governor.

“Ambode’s decision to stand by the party that has given him the platform to serve Lagosians meritoriously is based on the principle of justice, responsibility and loyalty.

“He has everything to gain from the victory of the party’s candidate Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu as the Governor of Lagos State on March 9. He looks forward to handing over the affairs of the state to the candidate of the APC come May 29.

“It is therefore disturbing, unfair and sad that a respected medium such as The Nation, which enjoys the goodwill of members of our party and is appropriately positioned to verify the falsehood of these fictitious and sponsored hatchet job chose not to observe the journalistic dictum of “if in doubt, leave out in the breach.

NBC Shuts Jay FM over Alleged Breach of Broadcasting Code Station denies allegation, cites political victimisation Seriki Adinoyi in Jos The National Broadcasting Commission has shut a private radio station, Jay FM in Jos, Plateau State for alleged breach of broadcasting code of conduct.

The Managing Director of the station, Clinton Garuba disclosed this at a news conference he addressed yesterday, describing the allegation the NBC brought against as unfounded and political At the conference held at

the head office of the station, Garuba accused the Department Security Services (DSS) and the NBC of conniving to shut down the station.

He said the shutdown directive came in a letter on Friday night, which referred to previous letters of warning and fine on two separate issues dated February 16 and 18 respectively.

“While the former was a warning for airing a ‘News Sound Bite’ by Bishop David Abioye charging his followers

on how they should vote, the latter was a N100, 000 fine for airing a News Commentary titled ‘does Buhari deserve a second term?’ authored by a listener,” he said.

“The question is will be that between the 18th of February 2019 when JAY FM was sanctioned and the 1st of March, 2019 when JAY FM was shut down, what exactly did JAY FM air to warrant a shutdown?” Garuba asked.

Garuba said a claim by NBC that its broadcast might

lead to a breakdown of law and order was not true, challenging the commission to cite an instance any misconduct.

Garuba urged to the NBC to reopen the station before the governorship election to enable it inform the electorate and also to mobilise them to partake in the election.

Garuba said the reason for shutting the station was not tenable, adding that the action was targeted at preventing it from covering the March 9 governorship and State House

of Assembly election.

He insisted that there “are forces within Plateau state government that are not comfortable with the station and had boasted that they would shut down the broadcast outfit before the governorship and State Assembly polls.

“After the widely applauded coverage we had during the Presidential and National Assembly election, the NBC claimed that station’s continued broadcast may lead to breakdown of law and order.

“As ground breaking as this allegation appears to be, the commission did not give one instance where the station was involved in any form of breach or improper conduct that would warrant a heavy sanction as a shutdown.

“The NBC, Jos Zonal Office only, said it has been directed that the station be shutdown.

The normal and usual process would have been for the Zonal office to monitor, sanction and report to the headquarters.

But they did not do this.

Police Withdraws Criminal Charges against Eunisell

Fire Kills Family of Six in Kano Ijaw Council Tasks Buhari on He said, “When we heard N’Delta Development Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano some noise at the early hours, we

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Tragedy struck in Kano yesterday when fire burnt a family of six to death beyond recognition.

The incident, which occurred at Bawo road, Hausawa quarters in Kano metropolis, affected the head of the family, Mr. Isaiah Jonathan, his wife, his three children including a new born baby and the younger sister of the wife.

An eyewitness, who spoke with THISDAY privately, explained that the fire incident started from the sitting room and prevented the victims from coming out of the house.

He narrated how the incident occurred, noting that the residents woke up when they heard the deceased shouting calling for help before the fire gutted the entire house.

The decision of the Inspector General of Police (IG) to withdrew the four- count criminal charge filed against an Industrial Chemist and Group Managing Director of Re Care and Eunisell Limited, Chika Igenga, turned dramatic following the protest by the nominal complainant.

Igenga alongside one of his companies, Eunisell Chemicals Limited and one Suraj Yakubu were to be arraigned last Tuesday, before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja, on offences bordering on false information, forgery and false impersonation.

But the planned arraignment has suffered five adjournments attributed to the failure of the

police to produce the suspects in court.

However, when the case was called, the prosecution counsel, Faith Dimka informed the court that she has the instruction of the Inspector General of Police to withdraw the charge.

“My lord, the matter is scheduled today for arraignment but my lord, I have received directives from my office to withdraw the charge for a possible out of court settlement.”

The defence counsel, Mr. F. Onoja did not object to the withdrawal of the charge saying he was not going to ask for cost.

Accordingly, Justice A. B. Mohammed struck out the charge marked CR/361/16 between Inspector General of Police vs Chika Ikenga and 2 ors.

thought robbers have visited us.

But when we came out, we saw fire which burnt some part of the house.

“It was difficult to put out the fire. We saw them trying to pull out the burglary proof. We could not find ladder to get there and rescue the victims,” he said.

The Kano State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement by its Public Relation Officer, Mr. Abdullahi Kiyawa, a Deputy Superintendent of Police..

Kiyawa said, “At about 0325hrs control room call and inform patrol team that there was fire incident at link 39 Bawo Rd Hausawa all the family of one Jonathan, his wife, three children and their maid all burnt to ashes.

Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has asked the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in last elections and President Muhammadu Buhari, to expedite action on ongoing projects in the Niger Delta, now that he has been re-elected.

The youth body listed the Brass LNG and Petrochemicals, Brass Fertiliser, Train 7 of the Bonny LNG project and the Bodo-Bonny Road as some of the projects that should receive expeditious action by the president. A statement by the Spokesman of the umbrella body of Ijaw youths, Daniel Dasimaka described Buhari’s victory as a testament to the

level of acceptance he enjoys in different parts of the country.

The council urged the president to consolidate on the efforts and support he received from the Niger Delta region to develop the area in his second term in office.

“We congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and urge him to treat his victory as a victory for all Nigerians and to see the entire country, including regions and states where he did not win as his constituency.

“We call on the President to effectively utilise and build on the massive support he and his party received from the Niger Delta in general and the Ijaw nation in particular on his race to reelection by developing the region and Ijaw land.

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NEWSXTRA NEITI: Poor Policy Perception, Absence of Mining Majors Plague Solid Minerals Sector Govt has attracted more investors in three years, says minister Kingsley NwezehinAbuja Low policy perception index, a product of policy inconsistency over the years, weak regulatory architecture have alienated mining majors and minors from investing in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has said.

Nigeria is considered a global haven for 54 unexploited mineral resources strewn across 22 states of Nigeria.

However, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Abubakar Bawa Bwari claimed that government’s interactions with investors and investment inflows into the sector improved significantly in the past three years to the point that the perception problem has changed, leading to the influx of investors into the mining sector.

In its latest report titled “Improving Transparency and Governance for Value Optimisation in Nigeria’s Mining Sector,” NEITI identified low perception index, weak regulatory architecture and the absence of mining majors as the bane of the sector. ‘’Given the review of Nigeria’s extensive and comprehensive mining regulations, it is obvious that the country boasts of a regulatory framework that can measure up to some of the best

in the world. However, it is obvi- ore and energy mineral coal, also tions is very attractive by global doing business policy initiative, ment is also a major incentive, as ous that efforts to give Nigeria a compares favourably with these standards, especially for a green three years tax holiday among obtains in South Africa and the world-class regulatory architec- countries and is much lower than and brown field exploration and other incentives, the sector re- USA. This is unlike Chile and mained largely unexploited.

Australia that collect 6 percent ture have not produced the kind the USA’s regime of 4-10 percent. mining destination.

“While Nigeria’s efforts at “The government policy of and 5 percent respectively and in of investor interest and patronage “The tax holiday incentive of an initial period of three years from attracting mining investors with exemption from customs and somecases, stillcollectsadditional that was intended. ‘’It is very probable though that the commencement of opera- the introduction of the ease of import duties for mining equip- import processing charges.” with increased investor awareness of the continuous reforms to fine-tune the process and address the gaps, investors will come around to the emerging reality and begin to take advantage of the huge potential presented by the Nigerian mining industry. ‘’This potential is reflected in the globally referenced Fraser Institute annual survey of mining companies 2014, which also compared Nigeria with other known global mining destinations such as Chile, Australia, United States of America (USA) and South Africa.

The indices used by the institute are in relation to corporate tax, the royalty payment regime, financial incentives, lease duration, customs duty and ownership requirements”, the report said. The report also said Nigeria’s corporate income tax rate of between 20-30 percent “compares favourably with those of South Africa, Chile and Australia, and is much lower than that of the United States of America at 40 percent.

“The royalty regime of 3-5 per- L-R: Founder-President of Wellbeing Foundation Africa, Toyin Saraki, fielding questions from Moderator, Noella Coursaris Musunka, at the cent for metals, gold, copper, iron Corcodia Africa Initiative in London...recently

BEYOND GIVING AIDS...

Opposition Parties Adopt Oyo PDP Guber Candidate Fayemi: Financial Burden to increase before the election Alli (ZLP), showed interest in inde noted that the coalition Olaitan in Ibadan “have agreed to work for the forming a coalition to defeat is an open book which gives Delays Cabinet Constitution Kemi the ruling All Progressive room for other parties in the After series of protracted victory of Makinde.”

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi at the weekend ascribed delay in the constitution of his cabinet to pervasive injustice and financial burden allegedly caused by the administration of former Governor Ayodele Fayose.

Fayemi gave the reason during a telephone conversation with his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, noting that he did not constitute the State Executive Council to enable him correct some imbalance in the spirit of continuity.

He said part of the imbalances were nonpayment of salaries, gratuities and pension of active and retired workers and political appointees under that government, saying these had created serious clog in the wheel of the administration’s progress .

Fayemi said the priority of the state government “has been how to pay those outstanding benefits to make lives meaningful to civil servants and not to bring more financial burdens under the guise of appointments.

“This is not to say that my government will not appoint people in the State Executive Council, but that shall come at the right time. We have to put our priority right by being prudent and strategic in whatever we do.

“Everyone knows the implication of having a crowded cabinet. You have to pay their

emoluments and that come with finances which we cannot afford now, we are being prudent in our financial dealings.

“We came on board four months ago, and we are just settling down. We are confronted with how to make workers comfortable by paying outstanding salaries allowances as well as pension and gratuities.

“Salaries now are being paid as and when due. We paid February salary last Thursday and we have earmarked N100 million monthly to pay backlog of gratuities of retirees and that we are doing zealously.

“We met a lot of injustices on ground apart from salary crisis . We met a state where children in primary schools were paying taxes when we came. We had to stop that because of our commitment to free education policy of government.

“Government had fully taken over funding of all public schools. Just last week, we approved a sum of N42 million for the payment of WAEC fee of all our students, that is what government is all about.

“So, nothing is amiss with our government, we are only being prudent, set our priority right and stabilise before making further appointments. Don’t forget that we just conducted a major election and the House of Assembly poll is still coming in Ekiti.”

meetings and discussions, leading opposition parties in Oyo state have adopted the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Seyi Makinde in the March 9 governorship election.

The governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) disclosed the decision of the opposition parties to adopt Makinde at a session with journalists yesterday.

After the meeting of the opposition parties yesterday, Ayorinde said the SDP and some other parties expected

The meeting of the opposition parties which held at the Bodija residence of a former ofthe state, Rasheed Ladoja till late Saturday night, had been inconclusive for days owing to the inability to finalise talks and agree on modalities of the coalition for the proposed government of unity.

When the talk on proposed coalition started before the last presidential election, five governorship candidates including Otunba Christopher Alao-Akala (ADP), Senator Olufemi Lanlehin (ADC), Seyi Makinde (PDP), Bolaji Ayorinde (SDP) and Sharafadeen

Congress (APC).

However things took a new turn when Alao-Akala backed out of the plan citing his alleged denial of support to run on the strength of the coalition by Ladoja and thereafter declarsupport for the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu.

At yesterday’s meeting, however, both the ZLP candidate, Alli and his ADC counterpart, Lanlehin were absent at the final leg of the meeting where Makinde was adopted.

While speaking with journalists after the meeting presided over by Ladoja, Ayor-

opposition to ‘plug in to’.

He said, “The interpretation of the smile we are wearing after our meeting is that the state is moving forward. We are very happy with the development. As you can see, Mr. Makinde is here and smiling, “I am here smiling. Some of our other colleagues are still with their other caucuses.

I believe they are also smiling. We are happy because we are working on how to form a coalition government in Oyo State. That is why we are happy. We have agreed to work together for a candidate.

Eschew Electoral Violence, US Southern Kaduna Coalition Accuses PDP Leaders of Betrayal Tells Guber Candidates John Shiklam in Kaduna The Coalition of Southern Kaduna Nationalities (CSKN) yesterday asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna North to explain the dismal performance of the party in their respective domains during the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections in Kaduna state.

The coalition lamented that former National Caretaker Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi; the state’s former governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Yero; Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi and the PDP Governorship Candidate, Hon. Isa Ashiru were all from Kaduna North, but could not

deliver their local government areas (LGAs).

The leader of the coalition, Dr. Yusuf Gandu Magaji expressed the concern at a news conference he addressed yesterday, saying he was disenchanted with the PDP in Kaduna North and demanding explanation to what led to their shameful defeat.

The APC won the presidential election in 14 LGAs, mainly in the Kaduna Central and North with 993, 445 votes while the PDP won in nine LGAs, mainly in the southern part of the state, polling 649,612.

In the senatorial contest, the APC won the Kaduna North and Kaduna Central while the PDP won Kaduna South.

Francis Sardauna in Katsina The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington has admonished the governorship candidates of various political parties to observe decorum and imbibe spirit of sportsmanship before, during and after the election.

The ambassandor, who made the call in Katsina, Saturday, when he paid abcourtesy visit to Governor Aminu Bello Masari, at the Government House, insisted that the U. S government was not supporting any candidate in the forthcoming election.

Mr Symington reiterated that the US Embassy would not interfere in the country’s electoral process, adding that his visit to the state was to talk to political office seekers who have interest in

governing the state on the need to maintain peace.

He said: “My visit to Katsina is to talk to those who seek to lead Katsina in the future about some of their ideas. We never have a candidate in an election. We never take side but we do take side in peace. So, as the people of Katsina look forward to participate in this election next week, they should note that security is very fundamental and the security is not the job of security persons alone but of everybody in the state”.

He urged Nigerians to go out and exercise their franchise on the day of the election and shun acts capable of truncating the electoral process, adding, “And remember, as you vote, it is your choice. We have no candidate, no party, except the very democratic process itself”.

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OPINION Olisa Agbakoba Is Wrong on Atiku Anthony A. Kila argues that Atiku Abubakar should go to court because it is healthy for the democratic process

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y any standard and generally speaking, Olisa Agbakoba is a good man: He has a known profession wherein he has excelled and continues to lead, he stands for his well-articulated ideas at any time and if need be he pays and he has paid for it severally.

When he supports, he never does it as a follower, rather he does it as an ally and he always make clear his conditions and positions. His rise to fame and fortune is neither sudden, miraculous nor mysterious. He has earned every accolade he has and when you reason with him you don’t feel you can see why he is who he is. By the Nigerian standard of today, all these make Olisa Agbakoba a great man.

That said however and lest we become guilty of what we accuse others of, it is important that we clearly and publicly state that in the case of Atiku Abubakar, Olisa Agbakoba is wrong. There is no other way to put it than calling it wrong. Agbakoba is wrong on the advice he gave Atiku on his present options and on his future prospects.

In case you missed it, right after announcements

by INEC of the of results of the presidential elections wherein as candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar lost his bid to unseat the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari who ran on the platform of his APC, Atiku and his party rejected the result, indicating that there was a heavy dose of voter suppression in his strongholds and that of the PDP, as well high inflation of votes in the strongholds of his opponent, Buhari and the APC. Atiku and his party further claim that they have proof of this malpractices and that they intend to go to court to challenge Buhari’s victory, expose the irregularities and overturn result declared by INEC. Olisa Agboka in his reaction to the election results amongst other comments advised Atiku not to go to court, he also urged Atiku to join forces in building the movement of the third force in the country. Two very related issues here: one legal and the other political. On both counts Agbakoba is wrong.

There is an amusing side on the legal front: A lawyer that advises a litigant not to go court is not a common occurrence. Personally, I would like to see more of such occurrence, but not in a case like

this one. Whilst it might sound common sensical and indeed noble of Agbakoba to dissuade Atiku from going to court, in reality such recommendation if heeded deprives the system of valuable contributions the judicial arm of government can make to the development and consolidation of democracy in Nigeria.

For me, this is neither about Atiku nor the PDP: Going to court when any party feels that the democratic process has been compromised for the benefit of any other party is a chance for the system and those operating it to prove that the system is indeed free from distortion and that those elected through it have true legitimacy to govern. For posterity sake, investing some time in court is a good idea because it clarifies which are the myths and realities of the electoral process, it also allows us to improve imperfections that the court case might uncover.

In a fair court hearing, both sides will have a chance to put forward their cases and the judgment will assure all that justice has been done. There can be

Going to court when any party feels that the democratic process has been compromised for the benefit of any other party is a chance for the system and those operating it to prove that the system is indeed free from distortion and that those elected through it have true legitimacy to govern

no justice if there is no hearing. It is not a good scenario in which those that embody close to half of the voting population feel that they have been robbed of victory, there should be an avenue that leads to closure and the court is such avenue.

It is also very dangerous for the system if people get used to the idea the court is a waste of time, if anything we should be working towards more credible courts that can be seen to be above partisan limitations and corruption.

On the political front, Agbakoba is wrong when he calls Atiku to join in leading the third force movement: That is simply not his world. I suspect Atiku has no interest in the third force and I also suspect that those truly interested in the consolidation of the third force movement will struggle to list Atiku as part of their icons.

Atiku is legitimately a proud member of the establishment anchored in the PDP and APC, their politics is practiced through zoning and rallies, their funding is based on a model wherein a few fund many, their structures are based on who is in power today and who was yesterday and the influence of such power on people, they don’t really focus on the future.

When Atiku left the PDP for the APC he had no problem settling in, when he left the APC back for the PDP he had no problem settling in there either because those two parties are just sections of one world: His world.

Let us be clear: He is not the only one that belongs to the world but we are talking about him today.

The third force if it really wants to count for something in Nigeria needs learn to recruit more soldiers and less generals, focus on ideas not personalities, work based on facts and data not myths and desires, interact with the willingness to sacrifice not impose and above all needs to commit and dedicate itself to institution building.

Olisa Agbakoba is wrong; he (Agbakoba) not Atiku should join hands with others in leading the third force movement.

––Kila, a Jean Monnet professor of Strategy and Development, is currently Director of Studies at Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies

Our Demands From Mr. President President Buhari should address the needs of the people, writes Ayo Baje “No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth” ––Plato

I

f only our political leaders put the overall interest of our dear nation above their self-serving whims and caprices; if only they see servant-leadership as their moving mantra and if only the led majority would come to grips with the truism that democracy is indeed, theirs to dictate. That is, instead of fearing and worshipping their so-called ‘elected’ leaders, and if they have been doing that Nigeria would have moved faster into the 21st century technologically-powered knowledge economy.

But here we are in 2019 still grappling with the basic issue of conducting free, fair and credible elections; still battling with the rampaging monster of mass poverty in the midst of plenty. Here we are, still refusing to understand, or better still, accept the glaring fact that only a politically and economically restructured Nigeria, away from the bloated centre would get us, eventually out of the woods.

Yes, incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari has scored a bull’s eye by winning the much coveted presidency for a second term but that is only a part of the larger picture. And what could that be? To get the answers, or at least part of it, yours truly was out there on the busy streets moving from one newsstand to another at the Agege, Fagba, Ogba, Alausa axis of Lagos State, listening to the varied opinions of fellow Nigerians on their expectations from the winner. Call them members of the People’s Parliament, if you like but their views matter.

“Please, whoever knows Mister President should tell him that we are no more under the jackboots of military dictatorship, where might was right. He and his party, the

APC should stop intimidating the opposition with the instruments of naked power - brute force and coercion.

“It is not possible for all of us to toe his line of policies and actions. He should open his mind to views outside his own. Credible opposition remains the beauty and bastion of democracy”. This came from a middle-aged, apparently learned Yoruba man dressed in green khaftan at Ogba.

“As far as I am concerned, my grouse with President Buhari is his one-sided political appointments, especially with security apparatus skewed in favour of the North. It shows that he does not trust other ethnic groups. If so, why is he referred to as Nigeria’s president? He should see himself as belonging to the entire nation”. This came from a bearded Igbo man, probably in his’40s, airing his views at Fagba.

“In my candid opinion, what the president needs to do right away is to constitute an economic think-tank.

Erudite economists like Boyo, Rewane, Utomi and some others drawn from the academia should be given a free hand to critically analyze the state of the nation and fashion the best way forward.

“It is a crying shame that Africa’s largest oil producing nation should be the global capital of extreme poverty. We need an enabling environment for massive industrialization and by extension, job creation. Emphasis should shift to small and medium scale enterprises.

“One can hardly understand why state governors collect sundry bailout funds and federal allocations every blessed month yet, refuse to pay salaries and they go back to collect more! And let me add the caveat: he should be ready and willing to listen to them and of course, act on their piece of advice.” The shrill voice came from a fair-complexioned lady, perhaps in her 30s who added her view after buying a copy of a newspaper at Alausa, in Ikeja.

“As for me, we hear of the North angling for political power every time but honestly our leaders, not just the president but state governors and local government chairmen have to do much more to reduce poverty.

More money should be pumped into agriculture. We need more farm produce as well as adding modern technology to go into processing and preservation, so that we too can export, instead of only consuming.

“Also, the Almajeri schools built under former President Goodluck Jonathan should be resuscitated and new ones built. We need more hospitals, more pharmacists and doctors because of some diseases peculiar to us. Our youths are severally enmeshed in the sniffing of hard drugs. They need urgent intervention from our leaders.” Adamu, who claimed to hail from Kebbi State said. He spoke at a vendor’s stand not far from the popular glass house, Abule-Egba.

“What the president should do to be seen as a man of integrity is to fight the issue of corruption without allowing for political influences. How do we explain the Barugate, the Mainagate, the IDP sleaze, and the long time it took to begin looking at the grasscutter’s allegations?

“Even worse is the issue of allegedly corrupt former governors or ministers who stole their states blind while in other political parties being welcomed to the ruling party with open arms? Is that the way to fight corruption?” The Akwa-Ibom- born Ekene spoke in his ethnic group’s characteristic accent. That was at Ogba.

Agreed, no one or leader is perfect. But what matters most is meeting the needs of the people who elected them into power. That is by articulating their vision in line with constitutional provisions and party manifestos.

What will President Buhari be remembered for?

––Baje wrote from Lagos

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MARCH 3, 2019

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LETTERS Lagos: Model of Enabling The Physically Challenged

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hough the Nigerian constitution operates on the principle of rule of law, there is obviously in place a social class system that discriminates against certain members of the society. One of such class of people is the physically challenged, sometimes derogatorily referred to as the disabled.

More often than not, if a typical Nigerian comes across a physically challenged, the first impression on his mind is that of a useless and hopeless person. And he shows this by sometimes arrogantly offering alms. The dearth of baseline information about this social category, especially in developing nations, including Nigeria, usually clouds our knowledge about their potentialities (ability in disability).

Indeed, cases abound of discriminations against persons with disability in getting access to public education, medical care and employment. Most offices, shopping malls, banks and other public buildings are erected with little or no consideration for mobility for the impaired members of the society. Automated Teller Machines, (ATMs) in banks are built in such a way that those on wheelchairs cannot access them.

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or this level of application, it is expected that preceding SPIED articles have been carefully searched out with New King James Bible. You would agree with me that names are derived from a matrix of numbers spelled as alphabet. Afa birth, a bet on weather, whether profit or loss as bank on a count number of name of secondus, the afa di beta and first-us the afa di best as the beast.

Alpha beta or best rights to seasons of life-time and chance which is the type of cumulative causation and domino effect as sign meant for zo. Zo, as come, a calling of stars to their destiny as what the day holds. Holdings of enter-pre-noahs as enter-price water, the aqua-elf, of sex garment and her-vestures of male-factors of re-production of goods at age of being up to things as the agenda of hooking a woman as catch of fish at the river-bank. Bank of the cash as return on income with a grouse as gross profit by the net-agenda.

Agenda of ogbor-manufacture at elia-isa-bet, Eliaisha-bath, a feast on holiday.

Holy-day-7 and night of rest as zoo-ike in trance for sheet of heaven in bed at upper-room of mess. Mess that comes as commerce, ‘ahia aturu’ for ‘igote’ articles of theirs sold as soldiers of Dothan, from cast afore as stalls in den of lions. Denmark-et of lions, lying on by the pool of bet elia-isha. Elia isha bet, the age

Ambode

This is in spite of a law, which recognizes and preaches that all people be treated equally, regardless of their physical state.

Stemming from their inability to access basic facilities, all empirical evidence point to difficulty for the physical challenged to have a sustainable livelihood. Interestingly, at a political rally in January 2015, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode made

a solemn promise to stand by them if elected as governor.

Today, true to his promise, management of People with Disabilities (PWDs) in Lagos State has received tremendous boost consequent of initiatives and empowerment programmes put in place by the government to improve the socio-economic status of PWDs residing in the state.

The government has steadily employed and

institutionalized empowerment strategies which have no doubt expanded the prospects of persons with disabilities in the state and expectedly changing the established perception or narrative of people seeing them as beggars to those with skills and attitude to become wealth creators.

The state, having identified challenges faced by this special people, crucially backed its intention with laudable initiatives such as ‘Ability Expo’, ‘N500 million Disability Trust Fund’, ‘free ride on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and LAGBUS buses’ among others to give PWDs sense of belonging.

The process of integrating PWDs into social investment net actually started with the creation of Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) which co-ordinates the education, social development, welfare and inclusion in of People Living with Disability in governance.

Also, in its bold bid to showcase its inclusive social development credentials, LASODA initiated ‘Ability Expo’ as an annual event through which PWDs who are into various enterprises, especially those that produce goods and services, are given the opportunity to showcase their businesses to the world.

Also, individuals, groups, insti-

Alpha-Beta Order of puberty when boys attain man-age-mate in get of fit as feet. Feet to go down into the pool as a wade-in, wedding of his woman as bride-price-enter.

Enter price of one cent as entrance fare, affair at income through the veranda of her-villa known as Gabatha.

One cent amiss to-ask as tax of males and fee-males, of his mother Elisabeth, his mother, a metaphor for his wife, to take in 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 saith 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 Gabatha-temple Jn19:13, known as ‘ikpu-ulo-ogo’, a figurative reference to bath-sheba-veranda or the veranda of mess.

Mesopotamia, 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’, ie 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. Lk23:33-43, Gen28:12, Gen24:1-15, 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 Gen 37:20, 28, Acts 8:27-40, Mt17:27, Jdg21:21, Mk 11:17, Acts 10:10, 2Sam11:8 etc. 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, a stirring will as fit to wade, into to his womannakedness by her man. So, nakedness ‘otor’, is between the head-man and motive-power and his date, the woman and she-cargo.

Car-goes 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 Cents of sprites, the Elf of aqua Jn4:52. Elf that tour and dock at a 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 case-

history of a certain man by the pool of isa-Beth-esda.

When Jesus, the Doctor, the duck of Tor-Tivs, Oteiovum-ala agbara, Otor-mor, motor, tax-iing to a halt on the liver-pool, alighted and saw him, 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, asked, ‘wilt thou be made whole’.

Replied the impotent man, Mahath-mantrics, eeshi-esdaa bet, Owu-utu, Ony-Ibi-lis, pass me not by, bye-pass me not. I have no arm to make a fist of men-u, am a man-u-knocked out, not even boys quarter talk less of a half testis, nnem laram niyi erikwalam ie mother waist, waste me as one sent, a-hither-to-fell into pool, am a mo-rass-star-ifari-see, a contrive-vans and false-hood of penny-IS, one cent swallowed up by a fish I cannot hook, leaving me no body to grow as man with the van and driver of screw, otor-agbara na eyim egwu.

Then, ordered Jesus, the alpha and omega-bet, the cause and effect-Tiv, your afa at birth is Jacob, crooked but I hereby make you erect as Israel, a beta afa ‘Rise take up thy bed and walk’ your mother to your own home. Afterwards, Jesus findeth the man in the Temple-(of his en-trance), and said unto him, ‘behold, thou art made whole (cheat no more heaven in bed), lest a worse thing come upon thee’.

––Eleje Abili-Willy, Lagos.

tutions and other stakeholders whose line of businesses are disability-concern related are allowed to participate in the special exhibition.

Majority of PWDs in business are into small scale businesses and lack means of letting the people know what they do or sell because of lack of funds to embark on advertisement in the media and participating in some popular exhibitions. Hence, the “Ability Expo”, as an exhibition, bridges the gap for people with disability in the state, as people come to see what they have to offer and also patronize them through purchases. As a matter of fact, all MDAs are duty-bound to reserve specific quota for PWDs in any programme they may wish to embark upon for the benefit of the public.

In order to sustain on-going efforts to improve the lots of PWDs in the state, the state government recently recorded yet another landmark feat with the granting of financial incentives and assistive devices distributed to clusters of PWDs in the state. This took place at an event held on February 12th, 2019 at the Blue Roof, LTV 8, Agidingbi, Ikeja, tagged ‘The Official Presentation of Assistive Devices and Empowerment Grants to Persons Living with Disability in Lagos State’.

The devises were distributed and a good sum of money given out to different clusters that include Joint Association of Persons living with disabilities, National Association of persons with physical disability (Lagos Chapter), Lagos State Association of the deaf, National Association of the blind, Association of parents of children living with

intellectual disability, Spinal cord injuries association of Nigeria (NSCIAN), Lagos Chapter, The Dwarf Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter and Lagos State Albinism Society.

The import of this particular enabling project should not be lost on all of us. If we are truly desirous of ridding beggars from our highways and streets across the nation, this is really the way to go. A New York Times bestselling author, Richard Paul Evans, once said: “Broken vows are like broken mirrors. On the other hand, a vow kept is a prized mirror. It radiates happiness and satisfaction in people. Testimonies and mood of the participants especially persons with disabilities at the Blue Roof event say it all.

It could be recalled that in 2017 LASODA Governing Board organized entrepreneurial and empowerment programme through which 500 PWDs were given N100,000 each as non-repayable financial grants for various small scale businesses. Also, PWDs that are interested in skill acquisition were provided with opportunity to learn various vocations at workshops organized by LASODA. So what happened recently is not a mere event but a sustainable project.

It is in this light discerning minds will expect corporate bodies to hearken to the call of the government for collaboration to boost this renewed effort towards making life more meaningful for People Living with Disability.

––Rasak Musbau, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

Error on The Certificate of Return?

W

hile congratulating the Presidentelect President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice Presidentelect Yemi Osinbajo for their victory in the just concluded presidential election held on Saturday 23rd February, 2019, I wish to most humbly observe the following errors on the Certificate of Returns issued to them on 27th February 2019 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC): “Certificate of Returns to the Office of the President” and also “Certificate of Returns to the Office of the Vice President”. In my modest view and if one may ask: president and vice president of where and what?

The narratives should have been “Certificate of Returns to the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or Certificate of Returns to the Office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Another error was the assertion that says: “I hereby certify that Yemi Osinbajo of All Progressives Congress (APC) has been elected to the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” instead of the Office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Much as one must commend the tireless sacrifice and efforts of INEC towards ensuring a hitch free exercise, one would however wonder why such an avoidable error could be allowed to manifest without being detected by the INEC Secretariat, more so that such errors were made on the Certificate of Returns of the President and the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In view of the above, I humbly and respectfully wish to suggest that the certificates be immediately withdrawn with a view to correcting and returning them as appropriate, please.

Mohammed Habib, Amina Court Estate, Apo, Abuja

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

INTERNATIONAL Nigeria’s 2019 Elections, Election Observation Missions and Deepening of Corruption at The Next Level

T

he mania of organisation of Nigeria’s 2019 general elections does not only show why Nigeria’s future is, or cannot but be, bleak in terms of both national unity and deepening of democracy, but also clearly why there will always be contradictions in the conduct of the elections, on the one hand, and the conduct of the official anti-corruption battle, on the other. There is no disputing the fact that the pillars of the 2019 were built on violent manifestations of corruption. This is part of what the international election observers have couched as ‘challenges’ or ‘serious tension’ in their reports. Yet, their concluding report is that the 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections of February 23rd, 2019 were free, fair and credible. This is arguable.

For instance, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs congratulates ‘President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election on February 23. It will continue to stand by Nigeria and to provide its full support for the implementation of the country’s priorities, especially economic diversification, job creation, counter terrorism and the fight against corruption.’ This congratulatory message does not care much about whether an election was rigged or fraught with any violence. The bottom line remains how best to advance France’s national interest.

More interestingly from the perspective of the British Minister of State for Africa, Harriet Baldwin, she said that ‘along with our international partners, the United Kingdom believes that the Nigerian people can have confidence in the result.’ She therefore, offered her ‘congratulations to President Muhammadu Buhari on securing a second term as the Nigerian President. The UK is a longstanding friend and partner of Nigeria and the Nigerian people and a stable and prosperous Nigeria benefits Africa and the world.

More importantly, Harriet Baldwin admitted that there were challenges and, therefore, has urged aggrieved people to seek redress in the court. As she put it, ‘we encourage Nigerian authorities to examine all allegations of wrongdoings carefully, and take the necessary action against individuals found responsible... No one should die in the exercise of their democratic rights’ (vide the daylight.ng). Most unfortunately, many people died as a result of the election violence.

Many issues are raised with this British observation and encouragement. First, Harriet Baldwin said the Nigerian people ‘can have confidence in the result,’ she did not say the Nigerian people ‘should have confidence.’ In other words, like any typical British person in whose blood capillaries there are always jots of attitudinal caution, not to say dualism, Harriet Baldwin avoided saying that the election results were fraught with unacceptable challenges. If the Nigerian people want to accept them, yes they can. Even though in other statements, impression is given that the British and other election observers have their solidarity with the people, the truth is that all the international election observers have adopted the policy of many Nigerian politicians who are neither cold nor hot and who also seek self-survival and relevance under the policy of collaboration with AGIP (Any Government in Power).

The international election observation missions are only interested in any government in power in Nigeria for reasons of national interests. Let anyone be fraudulent with the organisation of any election, let anyone die, let there be impunity or otherwise, it is not really a big deal for the British and others. What is more important for all of them is, let the processes of democratic elections continue to grow and whoever emerges as president-elect, regardless of the illegality of mania of election be allowed to govern. The adjudication of the grievances can remain pending in the court.

The APC-led government appears to understand this type of policy mentality well: rig elections and win and let complainants go to court. And true enough, the courts in Nigeria are currently suffering from President Muhammadu Buhari’s subjugation of the rule of law to the national security interest. Put differently, the rule of law does not any longer take precedence over the protection of what PMB considers as national interest. The proponents of good democratic governance believe that the determination and protection of any national interest should first be subjected to the application of rule of law but the attitudinal disposition is against.

Most unfortunately, too, this is what the EOM are coming to give active support to, working directly against what they are preaching. They are preaching in favour of development of

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Buhari democratic culture in Nigeria, with unending emphasis on the importance of democracy as the best form of government in contemporary international relations. On the other hand, however, they condone elections that are meant to be democratic, free and fair, but which are not, and are still presented as credible to the world. This cannot be helpful to the good and honest people who are sincerely committed to a more united, more vibrant Nigeria and more knowledge-driven society that will be permanently free from political chicanery and deliberate machinations of official corruption.

Second, the British Minister of State said the UK is ‘a longstanding friend and partner of Nigeria,’ why has this long standing ties not impacted on deliberate election rigging? If the belief that a stable and prosperous Nigeria will benefit Africa and the world, will this ever be possible if the foundations of the prosperity will also be corruption, because election rigging is another method of sustaining corruption? Encouraging election rigging or promoting election violence with the objective of making it difficult for someone to vote or to out-rightly deny a person from voting is not only an act of dishonesty, but also a manifestation of engagement in an act of corruption per excellence. We are saying in essence that the results of the presidential elections of February 23rd, 2019 were fraught with visible intimidation in many ramifications. An exegesis of the manifestations of the election is necessary at this juncture.

Elections and Challenges The first part of Nigeria’s 2019 general elections, that is, presidential and legislative elections, was initially scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 16th, 2019. For alleged reasons of force majeure, largely informed by logistical and operational reasons, the election was postponed at 2.44 am on February 16 until Saturday, February 23rd, 2019. Indeed, the presidential and National Assembly

The truth as at today is that the 2019 elections have only succeeded in deepening the national divide. PMB should therefore tread more cautiously, especially in the areas of nepotism and promotion of dictatorship in a democratic setting. All these problems can only further deepen the current foundation of political governance, which is officially corruption-ridden. Peace seekers can continue to seek peace, but let the foundation of peace be predicated on the removal of the obvious challenges that appear to have been deliberately orchestrated.

This is how electoral peace can have an enduring character in Nigeria

elections took place as scheduled this time.

However, the organisation of the elections, and particularly the visible challenges at the polling units and collation centres, are perceived differently. Some believe that the elections were free, fair and credible. The international election observers belong to this school of thought. Another school of thought has it that, true, there were some challenges and that it is difficult to have a perfect election, and therefore, the election results should simply be accepted as they are presented. More important, there is the school of thought that has condemned the whole election as a sham because of the sharp practices that were openly manifested, and, therefore, have decided to challenge the presidential election results in the court.

This is basically the Atiku Abubakar school or the PDP School.

In all the three cases, each school of thought has elements of truth in its argument. The epicentral truth is that Nigeria’s 2019 General Election was deductively designed to be fraudulent in all ramifications. The election observers were also very economic with the truths in their assessments of whether the election was peaceful, violent, free, fair, and credible. The Nigerians that have been acquiescent to the election manoeuvrings are not less guilty. I am therefore submitting here that, on the basis of published information on the elections, the future of democracy in Nigeria, the unity of Nigeria and national patriotism is not only very bleak, ‘the next level’ of the APC-led government can only be for the conscious deepening of corruption in Nigeria.

Put differently, it is argued that the 2019 general elections of February 23rd, 2019 have too many visible contradictions and unbelievable sharp practices which are consciously ignored by the INEC, which is required to be independent and non-partisan. If the INEC was not trust worthy, not reliable, if the elections were in many places rigged or tainted with violence and people acquiesce to it, then what is it that should be expected of the future? The rest of this article provides an empirical exegesis of well known cases as published to show that Nigeria has critical problems, that the international observers make them complicated by writing their reports on the bass of half-truths, while Nigerians are left to be fighting themselves with little or no good thinking of the implications.

First is the role of the Election Observation Missions (EOM).

There were eight EOM. ECOWAS Election Observation Mission, African Union Election Observation Mission, Commonwealth Observer Group, European Union Election Mission, National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute Election Observation Mission, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa Election Observation Mission, and the United Nations Special Representative to the Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel.

The cardinal objective of all the EOM is the same: observe the manifestations of the voting and report. The meaning of observation, in terms of status, that is, observer status, in international meetings is clear cut: observation with or without actual engagement. An act observation requires physical presence to see what the stakeholders are all doing, interpretation of what is seen, and reporting what had been seen and interpreted on the basis of objectivity of purpose On Saturday,16th February, in reaction to the postponement of the election by the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, all the leaders of the eight EOM issued a joint statement in which they advised Nigerians on the best way forward. They called on Nigerians ‘to continue to remain calm and supportive of the electoral process as INEC works to implement its new timeline.’ More important, the EOM leaders not only ‘urged the INEC to use this time to finalise all preparations and ensure that the new election dates are strictly adhered to, and that INEC should ‘provide regular updates and information to the public on its preparations in the coming days and weeks to enhance confidence and trust in the process,’ but also made it clear that the Heads of the EOM, together ‘stand in solidarity with the people of Nigeria in their desire for credible and peaceful elections,’ as the EOM ‘continue to closely observe preparations across the country.’

These statements were good for the purposes of the need for a fair, free and credible election. Perhaps more importantly, the assurances that the EOM leaders were on the side of the people of Nigeria in the quest for a fair, free and credible election cannot but be noteworthy and commendable. The problem, however, is that, even though impression is always given that the purpose of an EOM is to give assistance in the facilitation of election processes, the truth is that, consciously or otherwise, the observation and the report on it are always cautiously silent on the real problems of the elections. Rather than assist Nigerians, they have created biases, distorted the truths about the elections, and by so doing, have misinformed the international community. Let us explicate at this juncture the report of the ECOWAS-EOM for illustration.

The ECOWAS has a team of 200 accredited observers, 170 of whom have the status of Short Term Observers and the other 30, a Long Term Observers’ status, all deployed to 31 States across the Six Geo-political Zones of Nigeria, inclusive of the Federal Capital Territory. As a Member of the ECOWAS, Nigeria is entitled to be assisted by the regional organisation on the basis of the provisions of the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, as well as the Programme of Assistance to Member States which are organising general elections.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

5 ) * 4 % ": t SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 2019

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 3, 2019

18

CICERO/

PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY POLLS

The Winners, the Losers With eyes fixed on next week’s governorship and state houses of assembly elections, identifying some of the crucial winners and losers from the presidential and national assembly elections could be a good way to close that chapter, at least, for now, writes Olawale Olaleye As it is with every contest, there is always a winner and a loser and so, the February 23, presidential and national assembly elections did not fail to produce individuals for the two categories.

Although the elections have been largely disputed by the opposition and others who share their sentiments, what is not in doubt is that winners have been declared from the polls, whilst the losers are by their standing identified.

It is also worthy of mention that INEC has fixed next weekend for the supplementary presidential elections, the import of which no one can tell as it is. Indeed, a majority of the people had asked to what end was a supplementary election needed, when Mr. Muhammadu Buhari had been returned as president-elect.

Perhaps, the supplementary election is being considered to merely fulfill all righteousness, it does not appear it is a process that would alter the current situation, in terms of recognising the winners and identifying the losers.

Traditionally, this idea recognises not only those individual, who ran for office, but also those who made their victory as much as their defeat possible. This is why the list is not limited to the occupiers of elective offices that were contested, won and lost.

THE WINNERS… Muhammadu Buhari

Candidate of the All Progressives Congress and president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari is the biggest winner in this election. Whilst it is correct that his victory is already being challenged, by his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar, he has however won a keenly contested election with 15,191,847 votes according to INEC. His victory is particularly instructive, because he had been dismissed on account of age, poor health, unimpressive performance – all of which were confirmed by many of the polls conducted ahead of the elections.

But against all of these odds, he has been declared winner of the election and remains the number one winner.

Bola Tinubu

The Co-chairman of Buhari’s presidential campaign council and one of the national leaders of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is yet another important winner. The South-west has always been considered a critical state, Lagos being at the centre of action and so, its leaders are natural winners in the election.

Unfortunately, the results posted by Lagos and South-west in general were not commensurate with the expectations from a crucial swing state. At this point, victory has been earned and so, the winners must be counted. Tinubu is a winner!

Rotimi Amaechi

He was the director-general of the campaign and so had a great stake in its outcome. Unfortunately, Amaechi may not be excited about next weekend’s elections, because his party would not be fielding candidates for any of the offices in his homestead, Rivers State, he however, approached the presidential elections with all that it deserved.

Indeed, his efforts paid off, when he was able to reduce the Rivers naturally intimidating votes to almost nothing, thus giving Buhari a competitive advantage in an area he otherwise stood no chance.

He is definitely a winner.

Aisha Buhari

Outside Buhari’s running mate, the individual whose place is first in the heart of the president is his better half, Aisha Buhari. There was no doubting the fact that the First Lady has not been happy about a few things in the government of her husband, she still desired his victory and so, when results were announced, ‘she danced like David danced’ in celebration of their victory. She is a winner by all standards.

Yemi Osinbajo

As the running mate to Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo shares in the collective victory of their joint ticket. Osinbajo comes across as a major asset to the Buhari presidency, providing the intellectual bulwark needed for the business of governance.

As an ally worthy of Buhari’s trust and confidence, it is a general belief that Osinbajo earned it and not a status attributable to him, having had his fair share of the internal politics of the power house.

That he could weather it through also confirms his loyalty and the reason he was re-nominated for the office. Although unable to deliver his polling unit in Lagos, he shares as much joy as Buhari in their victory.

The Cabal

Here is a group of people believed to be the engine of the power house – those who literally call the shots. There is no doubt about the fact that the people in this category are almost faceless and of course unpopular before the average Nigerians, they are believed to be part of those who plotted the Buhari victory and as such, deserve their accolades as winners.

APC Governors and Members Adams Oshiomhole

The National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole is another crucial winner in the Buhari victory. Although he would naturally pass for a liability than an asset given the way he has tended the party since assuming office, not to talk of the fact that he could not win his home state for the president, he still shares in the collective victory of the party as its head. It is therefore understandable why he has been so happy since the results were announced.

Governors elected on the platform of the APC, whether or not they delivered their states are part of the natural winners of the election. In addition are all members of the party, including their representatives at all levels, who worked tirelessly to see that the president emerged victorious at the end of the day. They are by their reckoning winners and it is incontrovertible.

Buhari Support Groups

Across the federation are uncountable support groups, a majority of whom claimed to have volunteered to work for the president’s reelection. It was no surprise that they saturated everywhere, particularly, the social and traditional media, canvassing for Buahri’s election, even when some of them merely supported as a result of bandwagon effect.

Whatever informed their choice, the truth is that they have won too and deserved to be called their names – winners.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 3, 2019

CICERO/

THE LOSERS…

Atiku Abubakar

Truth is that if anyone had told the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar that he lost the election, he would still disagree at this stage and explain that it was the reason he had challenged the results. Unfortunately, the subsisting reality is that by polling 11,262,978, he lost the election to Buhari and remains so until the courts he has approached say otherwise.

It is unlikely that even the supplementary election slated for next weekend would change anything. It is however worthy of mention that in spite of the character assassination that typified the campaigns, Atiku put up a good fight and rattled Buhari in many places. That nonetheless, he is the number one loser.

Peter Obi

Former Anambra State governor and Atiku’s running mate, Peter Obi is another loser.

Although the whole of South-east was delivered for his sake having come from that part of the country, his home state posting the best result in the zone, he could not do more than that and so, their entire votes from the zone didn’t change the fate of their aspiration. He is a loser.

He is though not satisfied with the conduct of the election, having earlier complained of harassment by security operatives and disenfranchisement, this changes nothing.

Olusegun Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun was one of the few, who stuck out their necks for the PDP candidate, because of their beliefs in the fact that Buhari was no longer suitable for the country. Apart from writing letters and granting interviews, he made up with Atiku after almost 15 years of standing in his way for the same office.

But with Buhari’s victory, Obasanjo naturally falls in the category of losers – a big time loser he is.

Buba Galadima

An old ally of Buhari, who fell out with him, because he believed he was not the kind of leader Nigeria deserved, Buba Galadima, held nothing back in opposing his friend.

In fact, they are so close that one of his daughters currently works with the president.

That he was picked up by security operatives on the day of the election showed how bitter their rivalry had become. But at the end of the day, Buhari won, leaving him as just another loser.

The Generals Bukola Saraki

The loss of the outgoing Senate President, Bukola Saraki is overwhelming. Not only did he fail to deliver Atiku as the DG of the PDP campaign, he also failed to deliver his own election and those of others in his state.

Sadly, he lost across the board following a movement that was lacking both in ideology and focus – o’to ge, and without any leadership direction. He is in fact, the next big loser after Atiku and Obi.

A group of generals and top military officers including former president Ibrahim Babangida, Gen. Aliyu Gusau and Lt-Col TY Danjuma were believed to be some of the strongest backers of Atiku. But as it turned out, Buhari won.

Although Babangida has said only last night that Atiku should close ranks and work with Buhari, meaning he’s already moved on in the spirit of the ongoing rapprochement.

They are all losers.

Afenifere, Ohanaeze and PANDEF

Some prominent socio-cultural and political groups like the Afenifere, Ohanaeze and Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), rose during one of their meetings in the lead up to the elections and declared support for Atiku. Indeed, they received bashing from many of Buhari’s intolerant supporters, who could not stand the opposition.

And now that their preferred candidate has lost, they also remain losers pending when anything changes.

PDP Governors and Members

Governors of the opposition PDP, their lawmakers at the state and federal levels as well as other members of the party across the nation are classified losers in this election.

It does not matter whether or not some of the governors delivered their states, that their candidates did not win makes them share in the defeat.

Pollsters

Predictions from renowned pollsters across the world had projected an Atiku victory. But like the American scenario of 2016, which said the election was Hilary Clinton’s to lose, but where all predictions failed at the end of the day, Nigeria too caught that bug as their predictions of an Atiku win did not come to fruition. They can’t but share in the loss too.

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

TRAVEL

Stakeholders at the event

At WTM London, Stakeholders Proposed Integrating West African Tourism as One Destination West Africa Tourism no doubt is gradually slipping into comatose. But the recently concluded 2018 World Travel Market in Excel London, United Kingdom ended on a good note with stakeholders addressing the issue of West Africa becoming an integrated travel with its slogan “Boundaries Unlocked,� writes Funke Olaode

A

n integrated West African travels provide unlocked boundaries and great opportunities of rapid tourism growth worldwide.

However, West Africa still appears to lag behind and even below the average growth rate of tourism development on the African continent.

According to UNWTO data, international tourist arrivals grew six percent in the first six months of 2018, compared to the same period last year, reflecting a continuation of the strong results of 2017.

Europe, Asia and the Pacific led growth in the January-June 2018 period, with arrivals increasing to seven percent in these regions.

The Middle East and Africa also recorded sound results with five percent and four percent growth, respectively, while the Americas saw a three percent increase during the same sixmonth period.

Notwithstanding, these robust tourism numbers from most of the regions, Africa tourism only grew by a mere four percent. Of these, the West Africa sub-region registered the lowest numbers in term of travel and tourism.

When talking about West Africa, it is referred to very large sub-region of the African Continent with an estimated population today of over 385 million, spanning 15 countries, from small Cabo Verde in the far west, with just over half a million inhabitants, to giant Nigeria in the south of the sub-region with almost 200 million.

West Africa is a diverse patchwork of countries, ranging from massive deserts in the north to lush tropical forests in the south, and just about every terrain and climate imaginable in between. The flora and fauna of this vast sub-region of the African Continent create the backdrop and context of the myriads of its colourful inhabitants. Whether inhabited by desert nomads in the northeast or peoples in the forest of the southern part of the subregion, or the swelling number of millions of city dwellers, West Africans are diverse, rich in cultural traditions and lively peoples by nature.

Indeed, outsiders are generally astounded by the diversity of peoples and cultures, and the open friendliness of the West Africans they come in contact with. These are indeed the strong ingredients and rich stuff that bodes for the enormous potential for tourism development in West Africa.

Yet, only a minuscule number of the hundreds of millions of West Africans know much about other countries in the sub-region and still far fewer numbers have travelled from one country to another. As tourists in the subregion, the numbers become infinitesimal.

Against the aforementioned of lack of continental identity, Minister of Tourism and

L-R- CEO, WATO, Ola Wright, President, Ghana Tourism Authority , Akwasi Agyeman and President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria, Sale Rabo Transport and Minister of Maritime Economy, Cabo Verde, Dr. Jose da Silva Gonçalves said collaborative effort would be needed to be able to achieve much to be able to catch up with the developed world in tourism. Gonçalves made this known at the West African Tourism Minister’s Stakeholders Forum held on Monday November 5th during 2018 World Travel Market in Excel London. According to him, he said he was often struck by the awe on many fellow West African faces when they ask him where he is from as only the elites seem to have knowledge of the small archipelago nation, some 500 km off the West Coast in the Mid Atlantic.

He added: “I sadly admit that we West Africans do not know each other well and have much to learn about how diverse yet how similar we are to one another in spirit and disposition. This likeness is nowhere more evident than in our fantastic Music! We need but to turn on a West African beat to see people gyrate and vibrate. However, I am optimistic that travel and Tourism will bring us closer together. Of course, once we overcome some logistics hurdles that seem to impede our getting around visiting each other.�

Speaking further, he pointed out: “Although, no visas are required today for West African citizens to travel from one country to another, major travel impediments remain. Air transport in particular, and transport infrastructure generally, remain, to date, the biggest challenges

for travel and tourism development in Africa in general and for West Africa, in particular.

Fortunately, major investments are underway to build ports and airports and airlines are being launched or re-launched, in some cases. The solemn launch by African Heads of States of the Single Africa Air Transport Market in Addis Ababa in January of this year gave a strong push to the materialization of the Yamoussoukro Decision that had been lingering for decades. To date, some 26 countries have signed on, but an equal number have yet to come onboard, and we hope would join soonest�.

In her address, Chief Executive Officer, West Africa Tourism Organisation (WATO), Ms. Ola Wright said efforts at building more connected West Africa using West Africa integrated Travel (WAIT) project is already reaching new heights and breaking new grounds in each area of challenge that confronts tourism success in the region. “The vision of WAIT, which was put in motion about a year ago is on course as we continue to gather steam in unveiling fascinating destinations that have been off the beaten tracks for many years, our focus has not shifted,� Wright stated.

In deploying the strength of WATO, the WAIT project Wright said took off with launch of ARIYA 2017 during the WTM, Ghana took front seat in championing the mission of WAIT

by signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with WATO and soon after hosted the first WAIT Forum which was held in Accra in March 2018 and had five West African Countries participating. While WATO as an organization is doing so much to achieve its set objectives by making West African a destination hub, she noted that many African countries have gone further than pay lip service to the call for cooperation among one another so as to boost the commerce of tourism in the region.

She concluded by saying that as the organization move forward, its target is in sight and will not relent in its efforts to realise a West African Visa. “With one country after the other opening up its borders to its neighbours and international travellers, West Africa will become a huge, diverse, profitable, but single destination for a large number of tourists whose varied interests are met in every way. And with WAIT, the wait will soon be over. The borders are unlocked,� she concluded In applauding this laudable move that would put West African nations on the global map of tourism if realized, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, said for tourism business in West Africa to be viable, tourism operators have to see it as a business not only that, both private sector and operators must be integrated so that the revenue, which is part of GBP can be well accounted for. “Beyond the aforementioned, we need to invest more in marketing and promote relations between local entrepreneurs and private sectors. Above all, government should start seeing tourism as a vehicle to drive the economy and also see both business and tourism going hand-in-hand.

President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria, Rabo Saleh Kareem, in his words said in talking tourism, power of technology must be emphasised. “The power of technology helps to move tourism forward cannot be over-emphasised as it plays a crucial role in promoting tourism that is sustainable. This will also help to sell the region to the world,� Kareem noted.

Though connectivity is still an issue, Kareem believed with the right infrastructure the problem can be solved.

The question is that can the idea of West Africa as a single destination work considering differences in language, currency and who pays for the technology.

Well, stakeholders at the forum believed harnessing West African tourism potential with the slogan ‘One destination’ is achievable if all stakeholders can be committed to the cause and government should demonstrate political will by seeing the sector as a vehicle to drive the economy and generate more income for their various countries.

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Nigerian Stock Exchange building, Lagos

After Record Loss, Nigeria’s Equities Market Rebounds Investors in the Nigerian equities market witnessed the largest single daily loss since the beginning of 2019 after Nigeria’s presidential election with All Share Index dipping by 1.63per cent on the last trading in the election month. However, the trend may be short-lived as the market recorded a gain on Friday, the first day of trading in March, reports Bamidele Famoofo

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he four business days that followed the presidential elections in Nigeria won’t be forgotten in a jiffy by investors in the Nigerian equities market as a big drop recorded in market capitalisation and All Share Index also translated to a big loss for them.

Market capitalization dropped from about N12.194trillion on Monday, 25th February to about N11.829trillion on Thursday same week, representing N365billion loss in investors’ equities portfolio.

The NSE-All Share Index (ASI), which tracks performance of stocks listed on the platform of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as a result of sell-offs by investors declined from 32,700.12 points to 31,721.76 points on the last trading day in the month of February.

A report from Cordros Capital Limited on how the market fared in the review period indicated that the drop in ASI on the last day in February was the largest single day decline recorded in the market so far in 2019 as it attributed the loss to sell-offs across bellwether stocks in the equities market. “Against marked sell-offs across bellwether stocks, the Nigerian equities market closed the last session of the month on a negative note as the ASI dipped by 1.63% -- largest single

day decline since Jan 31, 2019 -- to 31,718.70 points�, the report disclosed in part.

As a result of the performance in the last four days in February, Month-to-date returns moderated to 3.80 percent while Year-to-date stood at 0.92 percent, according to Cordros Capital.

It was a all round loss especially on Thursday, February 28, 2019 with Banking sector index closing negative to the tune of -4.56 percent, meaning that investors who hold bank shareslost about five percent of value of their stock in that sector for the day. Equally, investors in the Industrial Goods sector shed -2.18 percent of value on the same day. Others are Consumer Goods (-2.02%), Oil & Gas (-1.56%), and Insurance (-0.97%). Notable stocks include, GUARANTY (-6.85%), WAPCO (-0.39%), NB (-4.45%), OANDO (-9.92%), and AIICO (-5.19%), respectively.

Meanwhile, experts have assured investors in the market that the fundamentals for recovery remain strong medium to long term even while the market continues to digest election results. “As the market continues to digest election results, we guide investors to trade cautiously in the short term. However, stable macroeconomic fundamentals and compelling valuations remain supportive of recovery in the mid-to-long term�, Cordros Capital said.

Meanwhile, the month of February could not be labeled a period of doom for investors as it ended on a positive note overall as ASI

appreciated by 3.8 percent to close on Thursday at 31,721.76 points compared to 30,557.20 points which opened the second month of the year.

Also, compared with the performance in January when ASI closed on a declining note, investors amassed N434billion from trading as market capitalization moved up from N11.395 trillion in January to close at N11.829 trillion on February 28, 2019.

As earlier reported by THISDAY, the market had recorded a decline in January as general elections jitters kept most investors away from the market. However, investors increased their patronage in February as they anticipated the release of corporate results for the year ended December 2018. Also, some investors felt the political uncertainties were reducing. Hence, the market appreciated in the month of February.

Besides, the growth would have been higher but for the decline recorded in the last two days of the month after the results of the presidential election were announced and President Muhammadu Buhari declared the winner.

The NSE ASI had appreciated to a high of 32,700.12, while market capitalisation rose to N12.194 trillion on Monday. However, the NSE ASI closed the month at 31,721.76, while market capitalisation ended at N11.829 trillion.

A review of the performance of the equities market a week penultimate the elections showed that the NSE All-Share Index and market

capitalisation depreciated by 0.61 percent to close the week at 32,515.52 and N12.126 trillion respectively.

Breakdown of performance in the week showed that a total turnover of 1.481 billion shares worth N17.647 billion in 20,449 deals were traded by investors on the floor of the Exchange in contrast to a total of 2.834 billion shares valued at N28.138 billion that exchanged hands last week in 28,739 deals.

But contrary to the results, the week after the elections when all sectors recorded losses especially on the last day of the month of February, the Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.038 billion shares valued at N10.170 billion traded in 12,232 deals; thus contributing 70.07 percent and 57.63percent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Conglomerates Industry followed with 193.204 million shares worth N306.521 million in 1,330 deals. The third place was Consumer Goods Industry with a turnover of 72.042 million shares worth N4.381 billion in 2,990 deals.

However, in line with the assurances from experts, the market on Friday, March 1, the first day of trading in March, launched a recovery bid as ASI appreciated by 0.34 percent. Index value moved up to 31,827.24 while market capitalisation increased to N11.868 trillion having gained N40billion in one day.

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Despite Revenue Boom, Nigeria’s Debt Burden Mounts Though revenue, totaling N5.76 trillion, flowed into the coffers of the federal and state governments in 2018 from the federation account, more than the preceding year, the drive to grow revenue from independent sources by states recorded a drop, while debt remains a huge burden at N22.428 trillion, reports Bamidele Famoofo

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evenue shared by the federal government and the states in 2018 was put N5.76trillion, which represents an increase of N1.57trillion over N4.17trillion total revenue shared from the commonwealth of Africa’s largest economy.

The amount drawn from the federation account and shared among both the federal and state governments in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 represented 67 per cent of funding for the N8.6 trillion budget for fiscal 2018.

Going by figures provided by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the government at the centre got N3.19trillion representing over 55 per cent of the total amount shared. That amount represented about 50 per cent of funding for the 2018 budget. On the other hand, government at the state level which also includes the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) shared N2.57 trillion or 44.6 per cent of the lump sum.

Compared to disbursements made by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in 2017, total revenue in the review fiscal period recorded an increase of N1.57trillion or 38.13 percent from N4.17trillion in 2017 to N5.76trillion.

Breakdown of FAAC revenue sharing showed that the Federal government received about N810billion above the N2.38trillion in 2017. It represents a 34 percent revenue growth. The states got more in real terms with total revenue increasing to N2.57trillion in 2018 from N1.79trillion in 2017. It represented about 44 percent or N780billion boost in total revenue.

Revenue Components There are four major sources from which the FAAC is financed. They are the statutory allocation purse, value added tax (VAT), NNPC refund and forex equalisation fund. Though the statutory allocation is a major contributor to the pool of fund shared by the FAAC, the forex equalisation fund made the most improved contribution to the pool in the review period with revenue increasing by 430 per cent from N24.24billion in 2017 to N128.41billion in 2018. Funds contributed from net statutory allocation to the pool increased from N2.12 trillion in 2017 to N2.8trillion as at end of December 31, 2018, representing an increase of 32.1 per cent while VAT contribution to the revenue purse moved up 12.7 per cent from N139.39 billion to N156.98billion in 2018. The growth in VAT contribution has been attributed to the renewed effort by government to drive revenue through taxation. Also, the revenue improvement in statutory allocation could be traced to improved oil price in the international market, which boosted government revenue in 2018.

Meanwhile, an appreciable decline was recorded in the NNPC refund to go the federal government in the review fiscal year with revenue dropping by 67.4 per cent from N32.74billion in 2017 to N10.66billion in 2018.

Disbursement The month of May in 2018 recorded the biggest revenue growth when compared to the value distributed in the comparable period in 2017. Revenue shared by FAAC to both the federal and state governments increased by 82 per cent from N148.30billion in 2017 to about N270billion in 2018. On the top five charts, January recorded a growth of 66 per cent from N158.87billion in January 2017 to N262.92billion in the same period in 2018. With a 53 per cent increase in revenue in 2018 compared to 2017, the month of March was the third most favourable month

A bridge under construction... the government has said its borrowings go into infrastructure development

for government as regards revenue growth while in June and August; revenue grew by 51 per cent and 50 per cent respectively. In June 2018, FAAC shared N263.04billion, a 51 percent rise over N174.34billion distributed among the three tiers of government in the same period in 2017 while the N266billion shared in August represented a 50 percent increase compared to N177billion in the period in the preceding year.

Meanwhile, the month of July was the month in 2018 when FAAC members shared the biggest revenue. Revenue distributed among members in the month stood at about N296billion, the largest chunk in the year.

Delta and Akwa Ibom States received the highest allocation of N213.63billion and N202.37billion respectively in 2018 while Osun and Cross River States received the least allocation of N22.84billion and N36.95billion.

Summary of 2017 distribution showed that the Federation Account Allocation Committee disbursed the sum of N2.38trillion to the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2017 while states received a total of N1.79trillion within the period under review.

The amount disbursed to the FGN comprised of N2.12trillion as Gross Statutory Allocation, N139.39billion as Valued Added Tax (VAT), N32.74billion as NNPC refund to FG and the distribution of N24.24billion from the Forex equalisation fund.

In like manner, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States received the highest allocation of N143.61billion and N119.63billion respectively in 2017 while Osun and Cross River States received the least allocation of N10.44billion and N23.45billion.

2019 Fiscal 2019 looks promising for government as FAAC disbursed the sum of N649.19billion to the three tiers of government in January 2019 from the revenue generated in December 2018.

The amount disbursed comprised of N547.46billion from the statutory account,

N100.76billion from VAT and N976.53million exchange gain differences. “Federal government received a total of N270.17billion from the N649.19billion. States received a total of N178.04billion and local governments received N133.83billion. The sum of N45.36billion was shared among the oil producing states as 13per cent derivation fund,� statistics from NBS showed.

Revenue generating agencies such as Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) received N4.69billion, N4.04billion and N8.04billion respectively as cost of revenue collections.

Further breakdown of revenue allocation distribution to the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) revealed that the sum of N216.57billion was disbursed to the FGN consolidated revenue account; N4.81billion shared as share of derivation and ecology; N2.43billion as stabilisation fund; N8.15billion for the development of natural resources; and N5.82billion to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

IGR Statistics provided by NBS suggests that while distributable revenue from the federation account increased in 2018, efforts by government at the state level may not be doing enough to boost revenue from internal sources as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as at third quarter in 2018 recorded a decline. “The Q3 2018 states and FCT IGR figure hits N264.38billion compared to N279.78billion recorded in half year 2018. This indicates a negative growth of -5.08 percent quarter on quarter.�

Meanwhile, 17 states recorded growth in IGR while 20 states recorded decline in IGR quarter on quarter at the end of Q3 2018.

Meanwhile, full year 2017 state IGR figure stood at N936.47billion compared to N823.16billion recorded in year 2016.

This indicates a growth of 13.77percent

year on year. At the end of half year 2017, total revenue generated by states was put at N453.83billion as against N482.64billion in half year 2016.

Debt Data from the Debt Management Office revealed that Nigeria’s total public debt stock stood at N22.428 trillion in 2018, having risen from N21.725 billion it ended 2017. According to DMO, the value of foreign debt stock was $21.591billion (N6.614 trillion) while domestic debt hit N15.814 trillion at the end of 2018, compared to the positions at the end of 2017, when foreign debt stock was $18.913 billion (N5.787 trillion) and domestic debt stood at N15.937 trillion.

Threat There are assurances that Nigeria will sustain its current revenue level from oil, going by the plan by OPEC to cut oil production according to a statement recently credited to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari spoke in Abuja when he received the Special Envoy of King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, Minister of State for African Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the State House.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, quoted Buhari as saying that, “As a responsible member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Nigeria was willing to go along with the Saudi initiative in limiting output so that prices would go up.� The statement said the president wished that there was no need for cut because of Nigeria’s large population and the need to secure more money, stating, “I wish we can produce more.� However, he assured the envoy of Nigeria’s support for the initiative, saying, “I have listened carefully to the message. I will speak with the minister of state for petroleum. I will call for the latest production figures. I know that, it is in our interest to listen. We will cooperate.�

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CBN Standardising Nigeria’s Financial Education

The Central Bank of Nigeria has made effort to restore the glory to the country’s ivory towers by ensuring their products are well-equipped to respond to the needs of the various sectors of the economy, particularly the financial services sub-sector, reports James Emejo

CBN headquarters, Abuja

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here is no gainsaying that the quality of education in Nigeria has deteriorated of the years.

Evidences to buttress the rot in the educational system are not far-fetched.

Only recently, the country was stunned by a video which went viral on social media whereby a teacher couldn’t read basic instructions in Edo State.

Also, many students though in their senior secondary schools are unable to read and write. Even tertiary institution graduates are not left behind in the mess which had rocked the education system.

Most graduates of universities, colleges of education and polytechnics are currently unable to make good sentences let alone, have the requisite skills to be given gainful employment.

As a result, the scenario had cost the country so much in terms of employees productivity especially in the public sector where workers’ skill set is questionable with a lot of incompetence.

Government’s inadequate funding of educational institutions had been severely blamed among other things for the decay in the sector as its negative impact cut across all sectors of the economy.

Also, the inability of corporate institutions to find qualified graduates in their respective organisation could be traced to the rot in the educational system.

Although, the country had recorded breakthrough in the academic space in the past through the various universities, most of the ivory towers are currently basking in the euphoria of past glory when Nigeria was a country to reckon with in terms of the quality of graduates

it turned out.

But today, companies find it difficult to engage graduates because of lack of requisite skills and knowledge in specific disciplines.

It was against this backdrop that the inauguration of the CBN-funded world class Excellence Centres in select universities across the country had been highly commended.

Late in January this year, President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the N9 billion Centre of Excellence at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu Campus built solely by the CBN- emphasising his administration’s commitment to reverse the falling education standards in the face of dwindling resource.

The president had said government attached premium on education being the bedrock of societal development and lamented that facilities in universities and other institutions of higher learning had over the time dilapidated.

Nonetheless, he assured that, “Our administration is committed and determined to continue to reverse this situation even in the face of dwindling resources�.

Buhari, who commended the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, for the brilliant initiative to restore glory to education, further stressed that the commissioning of the centre was part of his administration’s determination to address the situation, adding that the centre represented a landmark for “our students as it provides them a conducive environment and well equipped facilities in their educational pursuit.�

The president said: “I want to note

here that this administration places much premium on education as it is the bedrock of societal progress. “The state of education in terms of outreach, quality and affordability is a direct bearing on our national aspirations and collective desire towards poverty reduction, securing the nation, narrowing the infrastructure gap and giving hope to our younger generation for a brighter future.�

Commending the apex bank, he said: “I wish at this juncture to commend the CBN for this gesture which goes beyond just providing this physical structure to include partnerships with the university administration especially in terms of funding support.�

He added that the immense challenges in the education sector called for the type of partnership between the CBN and the universities, adding that the initiative will not only benefit the CBN but the entire country.

Emefiele, however, explained that the initiative was part of the CBN’s determination to address the problem associated with dearth of skilled manpower which had undermined the country’s potential for growth.

He said the centre, which was the third to be so established had been designed to among other things, also curtail the pressure on foreign exchange occasioned by educational tourism as well as check the brain drain syndrome.

Emefiele said:“Basically it is the contribution of the CBN towards uplifting the standards of education in Nigeria. “It is a centre of excellence mainly for postgraduate studies and finance and accountancy. We have these centres now

in three places like University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and University of Ibadan.�

Elaborating on the project, the apex bank governor said: “Each of these projects costs nothing less than N9 billion. The second phase of this has about seven centres that is coming up and it is coming under the CBN endowment programme. “The last administration in CBN did set up a N10 billion endowment programme about nine years ago. And as we speak, that endowment had grown to about N23 billion. “ The apex bank boss further noted: “The centre is an exclusive postgraduate centre that will have collaborative efforts with other universities like Harvard and Stanford University and all that. “So, you can imagine the standards that will be provided here. It has 150 postgraduate accommodation, 500-seater auditorium as well as a teleconference centre where students can stay in a classroom and receive lectures and seminars from universities globally.�

He said: “It has an e-library and a conventional library. The classrooms are well-furnished and I can assure you that when people say that the government is not investing in education, we are trying to use this as an expression that government through the CBN under its intervention programmes is trying to do something to uplift the standards of education in Nigeria.�

Also, explaining the rationale for setting up the centre as well as its impact the economy, CBN Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, told THISDAY that the UNN Centre of Excellence promises a “very cosy atmosphere for learning and the learning is not the undergraduate learning.�

According to him: “This centre which has e-presence learning, a professor in Harvard or Princeton or Cambridge or Oxford can give lecture and interact with the students right from there. “And it has two libraries, one elibrary and one conventional for research.

So if you like, this is a top line infrastructure for learning.�

Okorafor said: “We chose to go into this intervention because you realise that the quality of graduates and post graduate teaching and learning had dropped. “Like we are stimulating agriculture and other sectors, that we also needed to set an example, set a standard here so people can come in. “Because education is at the core of even our own (CBN) productivity as a monetary authority because people have been saying so many Nigerian graduates are unemployable.�

According to him, it is in reaction to that phenomenon that we have established this and this is our own modest way of saying that we cannot allow educational institutions to go on like that.

He further assured that the institution would not be allowed to rot away as the “maintenance will be done by us initially and gradually passed on to and we will make enough provision to ensure that this does not go bad. “It is a centre for research and updating your learning, skills with the best you can get anywhere in the world.�

He added that the key subjects which would be given priority at the centre included economics, finance, accounting and statistics among other finance related disciplines.

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Are Nigerians Jettisoning Banking Services?

There are signs of increased apathy to banking services in Nigeria as the volume of currency outside the banking system as well as number of inactive bank accounts are rising, reports Bamidele Famoofo

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recent report from the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System, (NIBSS), revealed that Nigerians abandoned 10 million bank accounts in 2018. The implication being that just in one year, no banking transaction was performed in 10 million bank accounts.

According to NIBSS, the number of bank accounts abandoned by customers, considered ‘inactive bank accounts’ rose by 28 per cent to 46.7 million in 2018 from 36.7 million in 2017.

For clarity purposes, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) guidelines on dormant accounts says, “an account shall become inactive if there has been no customer or depositor-initiated transaction for a period of six months after the last customer or depositor initiated transaction.�

The report further showed that in five years, inactive bank accounts grew by 73 per cent while active bank accounts grew by 35 per cent. Inactive bank accounts increased by 19.61 million from 27.09million in 2014 to 46.7 million in 2018 as against active bank accounts which rose by 24.75 million to 71.2 million in 2018 from 46.45 million in 2014.

Some reasons cited for the uncomplimentary development in the banking system by NIBSS include among others; unnecessary charges levied on customers of banks by the banks. “Most Nigerians do not like unnecessary reduction in their bank accounts and when this happens, they tend to withdraw all cash from that account and never use it for transactions�, NIBSS added.

An educational consultant and entrepreneur, Mrs. Adejumoke Obafemi, aligned with the position of NIBSS as she told THISDAY that one of the reasons why she considered moving her company’s account from one of the top three banks was the uncomplimentary handling of her banking transactions by the bank. “I believe the staffers are doing some shady deals on my account because there are times when my money is missing in my account without any debit alert and when that is only reversed many days after l lodge my complaint to them�.

According to NIBSS, Some bank customers also abandon their accounts as a result of the activities of hackers while relocation was another major reason for bank dormancy. This has to do with bank customers who migrate to another country, thereby leaving their accounts inactive.

Other reasons listed by people close to the financial industry for rising Inactive bank accounts include ownership of multiple bank accounts by some bank customers, breakdown in bank-customer relationship, Biometric Verification Number (BVN) issues, incomplete account opening documentation and Know Your Customer (KYC) challenges as well as increased efforts against money laundering and other financial frauds by banks and the regulatory authorities.

A banking hall

Meanwhile, some economic pundits have cited economic difficulties and business failures as well as rising job losses as the major causes.

No Hassle Economic statistics from the CBN for the fourth quarter of 2018 also recently made available for public consumption suggests that there was no dearth of funds in circulation in the review period as implied by rising inactive bank accounts.

According to the CBN, the currency in circulation at the end of December 2018 rose by 20.9 per cent to N2.329trillion compared with the growth of 1.4 per cent at the end of September 2018. “The development relative to the preceding quarter reflected mainly the 19.4 per cent and 7.5 per cent increase in its currency outside banks and demand deposit components respectively,� the fourth quarter report of the CBN disclosed.

Total deposits at the CBN amounted to N15.7trillion at the end of December 2018, indicating a 6.5 per cent increase above the level at the end of September 2018.

The increase was attributed to 13.0 per cent and 9.5 per cent rise in the other deposits of the private sector and the federal government respectively.

Of the total deposits at the CBN, the shares of the federal government, banks and private sector deposits were 49.6 per cent, 30.6 per cent and 19.8 per cent

respectively.

Reserve money rose by 4.9 per cent to N7.135trillion at the end of December 2018, compared with the increase of 7.0 per cent at the end of September 2018. The development reflected the increase in total bank reserves.

On money market development, the CBN disclosed that it was generally stable in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Liquidity was buoyed by inflow from fiscal injections, Federal Government bonds, Nigerian treasury bills and maturing CBN bills.

Outflow, such as the sale of CBN bills, FGN securities and provisioning and settlement for foreign exchange purchases, impacted market liquidity.

Overall, banks continued to access the intra- day and standing facilities window to meet their short-term liquidity needs during the review quarter.

In addition, total value of money market assets outstanding at the end of the fourth quarter of 2018 was N11.897trillion, showing an increase of 0.4 per cent, compared with 1.4 per cent increase, at the end of the third quarter of 2018.

The increase was as a result of the 12.5 per cent and 1.5 per cent increase in bankers’ acceptances and FGN bonds outstanding, respectively, during the quarter under review.

Assets and Liabilities Meanwhile, the total assets and liabilities of commercial banks stood at

N37.14trillion at the end of November 2018, representing 0.4 per cent decrease below the level at end-September 2018.

According to figures obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria, the funds were sourced, largely, from foreign liabilities; drawdown on reserves and acquisition of credit from the central bank.

The funds were used, mainly, for payment of matured demand deposits, and settlement of claims on Central Bank and Federal Government. At N19.75trillion, banks’ credit to the domestic economy, at end-November 2018 showed an increase of 2.0 per cent above the level at end-September 2018.

The development reflected the 9.0 per cent and 32.8 per cent rise in claims on the federal government and state and local governments respectively, which more than offset the decline in claims on other private sector in the review period.

Total specified liquid assets of the banks were N12.16trillion at endNovember 2018, representing 56.8 per cent of the total current liabilities.

At that level, the liquidity ratio was 3.0 percentage points below the level at end-September 2018, but 33.42 percentage points above the stipulated minimum ratio of 30.0 per cent.

The loans-to-deposit ratio, at 65.04 per cent, was 0.13 percentage points and 14.96 percentage points lower than the level at end-September 2018 and the prescribed maximum of 80.0 per cent, respectively.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍťËœ ͺ͸͚Î

25

Ëš

Glo New Products Rollout and Anthony Joshua as Brand Promoter Fifteen years after the Globacom brand was launched, its handlers appear to have changed the gear to position the African brand through its new communication direction as a pathway to Nigeria’s digital future, reports Raheem Akingbolu

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t the inception, Globacom was positioned as a telecoms brand that was conceptualised to make telephony and allied services accessible and affordable to every African across all levels of society. As a result of this, the brand, from inception, has espoused certain fundamental values.

Within the first few days of its birth, the promoters of the brand were quick to let subscribers know that they were coming into the market with a world-class company that would never relent in investing in the best, cutting edge, up-to-the-minute technology and methods. To them, Nigerian consumers deserve nothing, but the best at all times. Over the years, it has also been positioned as a brand that would give subscribers on the network value for money. “We believe that we must at all times give cogent reasons for our existing customers to stay with our network and for prospects to join us through consistent quality that is second to none and pricing that does not exploit or unduly stretch our consumers,� the company emphasises this from time to time to give patrons yardstick to measure its brand promise in line with the brand propositions.

Against the Odds Despite the seeming resistance in the market place by existing brands, the brand has consistently stuck to its never-say-die spirit, knowing well that nothing good comes easy; that success requires guts, a bold and daring attitude and hard work. Looking back in the last 15 years, Glo has not only confirmed that nothing is impossible, it has given the giants in the industry a run for their money.

Though many products were introduced to win consumer loyalty, its promoters went further by identifying various customer empowerment schemes that were put in place to bond more with patrons of the brand.

Few weeks ago, another chapter was opened in the anal of Nigerian telephony market through the company’s huge investment in relevant technology to add value to the lifestyle of the customers. Since then, consumers have continued to describe the various products as game changing products and services that provide best value to customers now and in future.

As if it was enshrined in its provenance, the Nigerian brand has not looked back in its determination to build Africa’s biggest and best telecommunications network, hence the need to help its subscribers to stand tall with the rest of the world.

When the company came out with ‘Glo With Pride’ as pay-off, only few market watchers took it serious, but by re-enforcing its vision to revolutionise telephony in Nigeria and becoming the first network to launch on the per second billing platform and roll out world class services covering thousands of cities, towns and villages in a few months of operations, competitions were humbled. This singular act opened up the telecoms category to every citizen irrespective of ethnic nationality, creed or income as it enabled them to be one with the rest of the world.

Among other forward looking products, the company has since launched a slew of futuristic products and services such as: offering of 2.5 G when others were on 2G, first to offer MMS and the first telecoms brand to offer international SMS connectivity to over 804 networks in 174 countries. Other pacesetter offerings are: BlackBerry solutions, international prepaid roaming, voice SMS, personal ring-back tunes and Magic plus, with a comprehensive bouquet of SIM-based information services.

Changing Gear In what looks like a testimonial to the soaring Nigerian spirit with the capacity to assimilate global best practice and deploy same at home for the advancement of society at large, Glo appears to be evolving with the times as times were evolving.

In a desperate move to catch up with changing demographics that skewed towards the youth, the company needed to connect with the “now� person, who was challenged by limited job opportunities and a harsh economic environment. As such person set to take charge of their lives and realise their full potential in businesses and enterprise, social relationship and other facets of their lives, the brand recently launched over 10,000-kilometre Glo 1 submarine cable, which provides tonnes of terabytes of data per second to West Africa. This is in addition to its nationwide fibre optic backbone, which is believed to have greatly enhanced the network’s power and efficiency.

Speaking with journalists recently, the Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Technical, Mr. Bisi Koleoso, said, “Glo 1 is providing more cost effective services to our teeming subscribers across West Africa and ushering in prosperity to the doorsteps of the common man. However, life is always dynamic and being a network that drives the future as well as yearning to connect

unusual. But Koleoso was quick to state in his welcome address that, as the innovation leader in Nigeria’s telecoms space, Globacom was committed to ensuring that Nigerians were not left behind in the march to a digitalised world, hence the need to digitalise major services that could improve living standards.

Koleoso pointed out that Glo Health Care was a digital health assistant designed to offer Nigerians access to best doctors in the world directly on their phones. Speaking while taking journalists through a presentation on the array of products and campaign deplored to reshape the industry, Koleoso said the product was conceptualised to enable Nigerians connect with at least 300 specialised doctors worldwide.

For easy understanding, the deputy COO also added that the product has been domesticated into major languages; Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba¡

Adenuga

subscribers to the world real-time, Glo is constantly evolving.�

To drive its new communications strategy, the brand has rolled out new products, which include: Glo Drive, Glo Health, Glo Entertainment Portal, Glo Mobile Money, Glo Call Connect Service, World Connect and Glo Titi, the Artificial Intelligence platform.

If there is anything that sounds unusual about its current communications approach, it is the courage to bring on board the Heavyweight Champion, Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua, as a brand promoter. Since his emergence on the world boxing scene, Joshua has attracted a lot of scrutiny from Nigerians trying to establish if he had any attachment to his roots, Nigeria. Such lingering doubts have been laid to rest with the new TVC unveiled by Globacom recently. In the commercial, Joshua gave a ringing announcement of his status as a Nigerian.

The bricklayer-turned boxing champion in the commercial revealed the parallels between him and Glo. Some of these include (a) the never-say-die, can-do spirit of Globacom which undergirds and constitutes the philosophy of the telecommunications giant is shared by the champ who says in the TVC, “You need strength?� Yeah, that comes from the hard knocks that life throws at us. And we are Nigerians, we know all about that.�

He went on to compare life’s challenges with boxing, saying, “It’s like when we are up against the rope. You don’t stay down, you’ve got to fight. You have to dig deep to be a world champion.�

Trumping his Nigerianess, Joshua announces: “There’s always been a big piece of my heart as a Nigerian, and I do believe that it is that piece that sets me apart. It always says to me, ‘never give up; dream big! We come from a nation of warriors and that is why I believe in Glo. We have that same tenacity and that Nigerian fighting spirit, that make us game changers! We are relentless. We don’t just face our challenges; we step into the ring to win again and again and again. If you believe in yourself, there is no limit to what you can achieve. Yeah, I used to be a bricklayer in England, but now I am heavyweight champion of the world!�

New Course for Healthcare Though many products were introduced, the decision of the company to prioritise healthcare through Glo health sounded

Boost for Entertainment Industry With a new entertainment portal, the Glo Entertainment Portal, which offers a single point of access for millions of digital entertainment content through Glo CafÊ, the company has further showcased its commitment to promote local content in the entertainment industry. In a way, pundits see the entertainment portal as a melting point for both local and international artist because of the provision of a single point of access for all digital content through Glo CafÊ, which supplies premium content of top international labels. ¡ With over two million local and foreign songs and over 12,000 Hollywood, Nollywood, and Bollywood movies on Glo CafÊ and Glo movie cafÊ respectively, the Glo brand has surely created a unique platform for existing and upcoming artists to explore and sharpen their skills.

Besides, for making accessibility possible to more than 10,000 games from top gaming developers across the globe as well as provision of music, comedy, sports and short videos from top music channels, the brand has thus created a one-stop-shop content platform for Nigerians. This is in addition to the promise of more than 62 live channels on Glo Mobile TV. What further demonstrated the patriotic posture of the brand is the parade of various Nigerian artistes that represent the old and the young generations in ‘Glo’s We Got People Talking’ song. Among others, the highly emotional song parade legendary King Sunny Ade, Davido, Olamide, Flavour, Sani Danja Dimension and many supporting artistes.

Glo Mobile Money One of the products, which have been hailed by industry watchers as being timely, is ‘The Glo Mobile Money’. According to Koleoso, the new product is an agent network which would hasten the drive towards a cash-light Nigerian society by enabling financial transactions on the mobile phone and extending financial inclusion to over 60 million unbanked people in the country. The product is considered apt for this era because of the general clamour for cashless society.

ArtiďŹ cial Intelligence Service Tagged ‘GLO TITI’, the artificial intelligence platform introduce at the forum would engage customers directly and assist them to get information about data plans, prepaid plans and value added service (VAS). This enables customers to choose the most convenient plan, resolve issues and ask questions any time of the day without any human interface.

Speaking about this, the group Chief Technical Director, Sanjip Roy, in his presentation, said over 2,000 generators, and 6,000 new batteries had been swapped for better power availability for the network. He also stated that about 1,000 kilometres of fibre have been rechanneled to the ongoing road constructions across the country.

Roy said: “A new e-band microwave radio technology has been deployed, resulting in increase in backhaul bandwidth to 1.5 and 2 GB per link. More than 1800 BTS and equal number of nodes have been swapped in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Rivers states. Also supplied and deployed are 1000 microwaves to modernise the transmission network to IP. The capacity of Glo 1, Globacom’s submarine cable, has been upgraded to 300G, giving huge bandwidth for mobile and Enterprise business.

Two other products that would excite Nigerians in the next few days are the Glo Drive and Glo Call Connect Services.

While Glo Drive addresses problems subscribers face with storing their data by offering limitless storage capacity in the cloud, Glo Call Connect helps subscribers stay connected all the time even if the subscriber’s phone is switched off, has zero balance, or is out of coverage area. The last is the Glo World Connect, which ensures that business executives stay connected to their offices anywhere in the world by offering them the most affordable roaming data in 60 countries with over 6.4 million wifi hotspots worldwide.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍťËœ ͺ͸͚Î

BABA YUSUF

Yusuf

Free Trade Zones Are Veritable Platforms for Economic Growth As the federal government makes effort to diversify Nigeria’s economy from oil, if well harnessed, revenue generated from free trade zones could surpass what the country currently earns from the hydrocarbon and sustains the economy. This position was articulated and reinforced by the immediate past Managing Director of the NAHCO Free Trade Zone, Mr. Baba Yusuf, when he speaks with Chinedu Eze. Yusuf, who is a member of and knowledge contributor to the Geneva-based World Free Zones Organization (World FZO), also believes, aviation, being a catalyst for economic development, if fully exploited as window for export, could translate to exponential growth of airport free trade zones. Excerpts:

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍťËœ ͺ͸͚Î

In Free Trade Zones, Regulatory Compliance is Key to Avoid Sabotage

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any people read about the Free Trade Zone but they don’t really know what it is and what are the beneďŹ ts and what is all about, what can you tell us about it?

I will speak about the free trade zone from two perspectives. First of all, I will talk about it from the general perspective and also from the aviation perspective. A free trade zone is a designated area within a country either at the border or within the country so designated free trade zone or special economic zone set up to promote international trade foreign direct investments. So, in essence they are specially designated to encourage economic development and growth. Investors can invest, set up industries, light assembly platforms, real estate, logistics hubs and systems, or other types of businesses in the designated free trade zones and benefit from various business incentives therein. So typically, you have tax holidays, you have waivers of custom duties as ways of triggering or catalysing economic activities within that zone especially with benefits and impacts for the free zine companies, the immediate communities and the country at large.

Examples of free trade zones in Nigeria are the likes of Onne Free Trade Zone, which is an oil and gas free zone, the upcoming Dangote Refinery, Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos. There are other free trade zones and other special economic zones across Nigeria.

Now brining it to aviation, the airport free trade zones are the same platforms, but they are within airports. Examples of airport free trade zones are the Dubai Airport Free Trade Zone (DAFZA), the Shannon Free Zone in Ireland, the Singapore Changi Free zone, etc., which are located within and around major international airports. In Nigeria, NAHCO Free Trade Zone (NFZ) happens to be the first airport free trade zone in Nigeria. And for us, it is to leverage this opportunity of a free trade zone to provide efficient logistics platform for international trade.

It provides warehousing services especially for transshipment, light assembly platforms, and other logistics support services for telecommunications pharmaceuticals, fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs), information technology (IT), Luxury items, etc.

How far has NAHCO gone in terms of patronage?

The NFZ project has progressed from start-up phase in 2014 to a full operational phase when I took over as MD/ CEO, seven months ago. Since I resumed, we have focused on growing the business whereby, the phase one warehouses of NFZ will soon be 100 per cent occupied. We also secured land from FAAN for the development of NFZ Phase 2 located also within the cargo section of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. We also already started preparation for the development, which will commence soon. We also undertook some expansion initiatives that have yielded positive results.

Within the last seven months, the NFZ has been more visible. We have also prepared the zone for growth and development by achieving over 90 per cent performance across key performance indicators (KPIs) for the financial year ended 2018 over and above 2017 financial year.

Looking at the volume of export and the volume of import, what do you think would be the exponential growth of the trade zone in the next ďŹ ve years to 10 years?

Aviation is a catalyst for economic development. Because the aviation platforms, that is, the airports, give quick access to market, the nature and transactions of businesses have drastically changed and improved globally in the past 20 years. Usage of aviation as a logistics platform is increasing by the day, and to that extent, we expect exponential growth for NFZ, the airport free trade zones and indeed, the Nigerian aviation sector going forward, especially in terms of exports. The opportunities that the airport free trade zones present to international and local businesses are legion. One of the critical examples of such opportunities is trans-shipment, where major

Yusuf

logistic companies or major organisations that do global businesses can use Lagos as their trans-shipment hub for the entire sub-Saharan Africa or for West Africa. So, for example, you bring in all your goods and locate them at the Nahco Free Trade Zone warehouse within the airport, which is less than one hour away from Ghana, 30 minutes away from Lome and six hours away from London. And then you move these items on demand with compliance with regulations. This reduces logistics timelines, enables operational excellence, provides cashflow efficiencies and savings with consequent impact on profitability.

It is worthy to note that the Free Trade Zones are highly regulated, and therefore compliance with regulations of the Nigerian Exports Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) and the Nigerian Customs Service are key. This is to safeguard the abuse of the Free Trade Zones lest they become hubs for economic sabotage. Therefore, compliance with the regulations is very critical.

Non-compliance with any of the regulations of NEPZA and the Nigerian Customs and in the case of Airport Free zones, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), international conventions like Annex 17 of ICAO are also key amongst others could lead to forfeiture of operating licences and probably prosecution and therefore compliance is very important.

Let us go back to the question of how NFZ will grow, or to that extent how it will add value to the economy? I mean it is just the beginning because for us we expect rapid growth for the free zones industry in the next five years and beyond, in terms of aviation logistics, value addition and exports with significant impact on the Nigerian GDP.

You are knowledgeable about NFZ at the airport, but we learnt that you’ve left the company. What are your reasons?

You know as the saying goes, “The only constant thing in life is change.� NAHCO is a company I love, I appreciate the board, management and staff for the opportunities given to me to serve. However, my perspective and outlook in the past two to three months started changing to looking at how I can increase the scope of my contribution and impact across industries, especially; aviation, free trade zones and agriculture. That is what informed my decision to voluntarily resign as MD/ CEO, NFZ so that I can focus on how we can influence and drive positive narratives, influence conversations and policies in ways and means that they will impact the economy of Nigeria; supporting government and private sectors to trigger economic growth, of course my beloved NAHCO is a member of the aviation community.

So, you can look at it from the perspective of me trying to add value to the larger community not losing sight of my constituency.

NAHCO is now collectively a group of

companies, how do you look at its future?

Well, NAHCO is a 40-year-old company if I am right, and companies that are 40-year-old companies, I think, you can safely call them institutions. Nahco has become an institution and I think with the right vision and strategy, it can only go from strength to strength. Examples like Coca Cola, Marriott and our dear First Bank are companies that have endured over time, evolving and reinventing themselves and I think that is what is happening with NAHCO. At this point NAHCO is poised for reinvention and I think for NAHCO it is going to go from strength to strength. We can see that some key players in the aviation sector are at the helm of affairs to take NAHCO to greater heights. I use this opportunity to wish the new leadership of NAHCO well. Also, I pray and hope that NAHCO will continue to grow from strength to strength, I will continue to support NAHCO and indeed the aviation industry growth.

Nigeria is import dependent but there have been recent efforts to increase exports of quality goods and services from Nigeria especially agricultural produce to other parts of the world, how do you see the success of government efforts so far? And what do you think may be the inhibitions and what do you suggest could be a way forward?

Given the current global economic realities, diversification is the way forward for economies; in Nigeria, today, it has become imperative for us to look at options and alternatives to hydrocarbons for economic sustainability and growth. One of the critical success factors is for us to create platforms and systems, whereby, we can promote diversification of the economy, trigger additional or improved economic activities and at the same time facilitating the enablement of these businesses in ways and manners that they will be successful and impact the economy, short to long term. It’s been the past three to four years that this has been happening and we have seen how it has been impacting our economy and more importantly, how it has impacted the common man. Go to villages across the Nigeria and you will see how agribusiness is growing and people are really flourishing and it now brings to reality the need for us to upscale our infrastructure, standardisation and global competitiveness.

From agribusiness, to movement of fastmoving consumer goods, regional hubbing, promoting regional and international trade. The airport free trade zone will be a key factor in the success of changing the game of our economy.

Nigeria is geographically and strategically positioned for quick access to key markets by air, therefore the airport free trade zones are veritable platforms of economic development and prosperity.

The way we have seen the recent progress and improvement at the passenger terminals of our

airports in Nigeria, leveraging the Presidential Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business, the airports and other relevant policies, we need to as a matter of urgency, execute same on the cargo terminals of the airports. The cargo terminals remain critical platforms for economic growth.

Talking about inhibition, the cargo terminals of the airports so far remain the weakest links as far as the current aviation reforms are concerned. We therefore, need to quickly close those gaps and improve those platforms from environmental to infrastructural, policy, systemic, process, security, standardisation and regulation challenges.

On regulations, the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority, the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian CivilAviationAuthority (NCAA) are key stakeholders to the success of the airport free trade zones. Compliance to regulations is critical to the operation and sustainability of Free Trade Zones.

The laws are there, the regulations are there and the platforms are there; are there rooms for improvements? The answer is yes, especially in the area of infrastructure.

I believe that it is time that we the players in the private sector synergise and strategise and ensure that we fully leverage existing policies to better our current situation. We will collaborate with other stakeholders to support policy improvement especially in the next dispensation, which will commence in the next two months.

One of the takeaways is for us to progress by leveraging extant laws and regulation.

Government has done a lot in the last two to three years to provide the framework and the enablement for business improvement.

The Presidential Executive Order, the single window, one-stop-shop model are very key to removing the multiple pain points that elongate processes with adverse impact of our businesses and international trade.

We need the buy-in of critical stakeholders in ensuring the success of this with positive impact to the economy. And I believe that more need to be done to that effect in terms of execution. And we believe that, it is not the sole responsibility of government but rather a collaboration between private and public sector in trying to see how we can boost our export in terms of agribusiness, and in terms of the local manufacturing industry.

Let’s look at the volume of passenger movement in Nigeria, inbound and outbound.And let’s look at the fact that airlines dictate to handling companies, do you see the strengthening of aviation handling companies in Nigeria viz-a- viz inbound and outbound passengers and airlines coming in and the domestic airlines?

Well I think it is not just about Nigeria, it is a global economic reality because globally, the airlines are also looking at their economic realities. They are trying to cut down operational cost, increase efficiencies and make more profits. The new airlines global template, in terms of pricing and service demands, is hitting the ground handling companies really hard. But I still believe that the ground handling companies can grow and add value because they are still critical to the airlines. The ground handling companies need to innovate with better survival strategies based on efficiencies and innovation. They need to review their own strategies by reviewing the framework of services and see how they can now recalibrate their service structure.

Now that you have left NAHCO, what do you intend to do?

I will answer you by adding to the answer, I gave you earlier, and that is I am looking at how we can impact a wider aviation constituency, the Nigerian free trade zones industry and indeed the Nigerian economy. So, we are going to look at how we can do that, by bridging gaps within value chains across some industries and sectors.

We will also provide support trying to ensure that those little things that matter are brought to the fore, because, it is those little things, the little details that matter, because when they add up, they can sometimes take down a super structure. We will foster synergies and collaborations for positive outcomes for stakeholders and ultimately for Nigeria.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ARCH 3, 2019

POLITY

Enugu Guber and Ugwuanyi’s Wind of Victory Louis Amoke

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ith the successful completion of the presidential and national assembly elections, the stage is now set for the governorship and state assembly polls, where the Enugu State governor and gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is poised to clinch a landslide victory.

The outcome of the national assembly election in Enugu State was overwhelming as the candidates of the PDP swept all the positions. This feat was indeed a reaffirmation of the party’s strength in the state as well as the governor’s swelling popularity and acceptance by the people. It goes a long way to predict the outcome of the March 9 governorship and state assembly elections in the state.

It is on record that Enugu State since 1999 has remained a PDP state, with its candidates occupying all elective positions, ranging from the National Assembly, State Assembly, Council Chairmanship and Councillorship, despite the fact that the party lost power at the national level in 2015.

Today, the party through Ugwuanyi’s peace and good governance initiatives, uncommon leadership style and absolute faith in God, who he gives all glory, honour and adoration, having entrusted Enugu State to His hands, has continued to enjoy the tremendous goodwill, solidarity and support of the people.

As a true man of the people with track record of inestimable humility, vision, simplicity and candor, Ugwuanyi has established a closer relationship with the masses and united political, religious and traditional leaders borne out of his firm belief in the unity, peace and progress of Enugu State.

The governor’s ability to manage issues of divergent interests and accord everybody their due respect irrespective of class, religion, ethnicity or political affiliation is outstanding and has contributed immensely to the success story of his administration, which came on board when the nation’s economy was in recession.

His administration’s ideology, which centres on peace and grassroots development initiatives was carefully conceived to promote rapid development, alleviate the suffering of the people, give the neglected a sense of belonging and open up new areas for socio-economic expansion. The sound vision has stood the governor out as a great achiever and grassroots leader.

For instance, out of the over 450 kilometers of roads executed in the past three and half years by his administration, rural communities have the lion share against the urban centres. Today, there are avalanches of signature projects registered across the length and breadth of the state that positively impact the lives of the residents, such as the historic and undulating Milliken Hill road, Ngwo, Enugu and the Opi-Nsukka dual carriageway in the University town of Nsukka. Communities that were hitherto neglected had been remembered with one legacy project or the other through the rural development programmes of the government such as the “one community one project� initiative.

Workers’ salaries are paid on the 23rd of every month even without receipt of the federal allocation or when the date falls on a Saturday or Sunday. The state government also pays the 13th month salary as Christmas bonus.

The state pensioners who receive their pensions as and when due, recently paid the people’s governor a symbolic Thank-you visit for payment of arrears of gratuities owed them from January 2009, from the monthly N100 million approved by his administration for the said purpose.

The education sector has received priority attention as over 589 primary and secondary school blocks, have been constructed, renovated and equipped with ICT facilities while more than 4000

Ugwuanyi teachers were recruited to improve the standard of learning in the state.

In the health sector, besides completion of the state-of-the-art Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre, Enugu and construction of District Hospitals across the state, the positive impacts of the state’s primary healthcare programme in the rural communities through Free Maternal and Child Healthcare and the integration of Faith-Based Organizations have strengthened delivery of medical services to the grassroots.

On empowerment, 3400 traders have so far benefited from the first and second phase of the Enugu State Traders Empowerment Scheme while 1000 youths (now increased to 2000) were usefully engaged to clean up the state under the Enugu Clean Team Project.

As scholarships were offered to 680 indigent engineering students of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu and Enugu State Polytechnic Iwollo, Ezeagu LGA, to promote the harnessing of the beneficiaries’ potentials for knowledge transfer, economic growth and self-reliance, 750 unemployed youths were trained and assisted with finance to establish their various businesses of practice, under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Skill Acquisition Programme of the state government.

The prevailing peace and security in Enugu State have encouraged foreign and local direct investment and earned the state the enviable status as one of the most peaceful and safest states in the country - a fact the INEC accredited observers for the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly Elections confirmed.

Consequently, Enugu State was recently rated by the World Bank Group as the second most advanced state in Nigeria towards the frontier of global good practices with regards to Ease of Doing Business.

The state under Uguwanyi’s watch has received other avalanches of outstanding ratings and commendations. These landmark feats, which are the hallmark of good governance include, the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Administration’s verdict, which named Ugwuanyi as the best governor in judicious utilization of the bailout funds; the recent Economic Confidential magazine verdict that listed Enugu among the seven states that are solvent with impressive over 30

percent Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to fund additional economic activities; the BudgIT report, which listed Enugu, Lagos and Rivers as the only three states out of the 36 states of the federation that have fulfilled obligations to their workers, among numerous others.

In recognition of all these milestone achievements, four leading national dailies - The Sun, Vanguard, Leadership and Independent Newspapers - this year honoured Ugwuanyi as their Governor of the Year 2018, a feat that is unprecedented in the nation’s history.

All these landmark achievements and others too numerous to mention, have indeed earned Gov. Ugwuanyi a gale of endorsements for his re-election by virtually all spheres of the society, including non-indigenes.

For instance, while Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN) and Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province (Anglican Communion) have endorsed Gov. Ugwuanyi’s re-election declaring that there is “No Vacancy in the Lion Building in 2019�, the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Samuel’ Emeka Kanu Uche, described the governor’s second term bid as “sacrosanct�.

Remarkably, all the traditional rulers in Enugu State, for the first time in the history of the state, gathered and unanimously endorsed the people’s governor for a second term and presented him with an “Ofo’ as a symbol of authority for their support and endorsement.

The traders, civil servants/organized labour, pensioners, political leaders, students, youths, artisans, academics, nonindigenes, and over 450 support groups, among others are also in the list of mature, revered and independent-minded stakeholders that have unanimously endorsed Ugwuanyi’s re-election.

Recently, the coalition of governorship candidates of different political parties in Enugu State unanimously endorsed Gov. Ugwuanyi for re-election “to complete the good work you have started in our state�.

The candidates totaling 26 in number, through their Co-ordinator, Dr. Vicgenial C. Odumejemba of the National Conscience Party (NCP), said the endorsement was in recognition of the “sustainable security and peace in the state�. The governorship candidates added that it was because of the governor’s “humane and down to earth dealings with issues without discrimination� and “prudent spending and refusal to embark on unnecessary loans as an economic expert and debt manager�.

They therefore, pledged to mobilize their teeming supporters to vote massively for Gov. Ugwuanyi, stressing that the governor has been “carrying along all political parties in the state and running an all-inclusive government�.

According to them, “the former Governors, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani and Barr. Sullivan Chime, served 8 years each and Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi will be supported to serve 8 years as well.�

Besides all these, Gov. Ugwuanyi has remained committed to a vigorous door-to-door campaign at market places, communities and streets of the state, canvassing for votes and establishing a direct contact with the people, urging them to come out en masse and vote for him and other candidates of the PDP in the state.

From the foregoing, it is therefore, an undisputable fact that Ugwuanyi is the candidate to beat in the forthcoming governorship election in Enugu State - signposting that the wind of victory is around the corner and March 9 elections will surely end in praise in the state. Let’s make it happen again, for Enugu State is truly in the Hands of God! Amoke writes from Enugu State

Amosun and the People’s Verdict Rotimi Durojaiye

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igerian voters made their decision at the Presidential/National Assembly polls on Saturday, February 23, 2019.They discharged their civic obligation according to the dictates of democracy.

The social contract says the people, the repository of power, must select those who must exercise that power on behalf of the people. And thanks to their decision, 109 candidates have become Senators in the National Assembly.

They have moved several steps up the ladder and taken on a new hyphenated title: Distinguished-elect. You can almost feel the power inherent in that new title. They and the 360 members of the House of Representatives are the newly-anointed political kings and, if you insist, queens in National Assembly.

And thanks, but no thanks, to the electorate who made the decision that denied others the chance to become what they sought to be.

When the time came for the electorate in Ogun Central Senatorial District to choose their Senator, they did not waste their votes. They gave it to their preferred choice, Ibikunle Amosun, the incumbent governor of the state who had equally represented them in that capacity between 2003 and 2007 under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Amosun, 61, won

because he received more votes than his co-contestants across the six local government areas that make up the Senatorial District. Score was: Amosun, 88,110, Mrs. Titi Oseni-Gomez of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), 37,101, Mr. Solomon Sanyaolu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) polled 33,276 votes, Mr. Gbenga Adenmosun of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) had 10,039 votes while Solomon Olufemi of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) polled 6,510 votes A jubilant Amosun in Abeokuta said words were not enough for him to express his deep appreciation to the good people of Ogun Central Senatorial District for their uncommon display of loyalty and commitment to his Senatorial election. “I am overwhelmed by your continued support. In year 2003, you gave me a mandate to represent you at the Senate and you have by this election renewed this mandate. I pledge to effectively and efficiently represent you in the 9th Senate. I also want to thank all the good people of Ogun State for the support given to my administration in the governance of Ogun State. It is also pertinent to commend you for the overwhelming votes given to President Muhammadu Buhari in the just concluded election. “On behalf of Mr. President, I say a big thank you. I also wish to put on record the peaceful conduct of the election by INEC and the excellent security arrangement by the security agencies in Ogun State. To all the security agencies Army, Navy, DSS, and most especially the Nigeria Police and other paramilitary

agencies, I say WELL DONE,� the Senator-elect said.

Governor Amosun has shown leadership in the governance of Ogun State since he came on board on May 29, 2011. He met an economy with and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) below N750 million monthly in 2011 and grew it over the years, through deft economic management, to an average IGR of about N8 billion monthly. This IGR has made Ogun State highly attractive in the committee of sub-national state economies.

As at 2011, the World Bank assessment of the 36 states in Nigeria, on the Ease of Doing Business, had Ogun State in number 29 position, but on assumption of office, Governor Amosun deliberately selected a core team of professionals and provided adroit leadership to implement an economic plan that has resulted in Ogun State being rated as one of the top four states in Nigeria for Ease of Doing Business according to the World Bank report in 2015.

The Amosun-led administration also embarked on an expansive infrastructure drive and improved security of human life and properties which aided the enhancement of the status of the Gateway state and translated into it becoming the most industrialized state in Nigeria. ––Durojaiye is Amosun’s Special Adviser on Information & Strategy.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

29

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ARCH 3, 2019

POLITY

Akinlade’s Agenda for Ogun ÓÞÒ Ă”Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ĂžĂ?Ă˜ ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ? ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš ĂšĂ™Ă–Ă–Ëœ ÞÒĂ? ĘŽĂ‹Ă‘ĂŒĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă?ĂŽ Ă?ÙÚÖĂ?Ă? Ùà Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ě™ Ěš in Ogun State, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade has reeled out a ďŹ ve-point agenda that will be the focal point of his ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă’ ΠÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă?ĂžËœ Gboyega Akinsanmi writes

T

he Ogun State governorship race has never been this competitive. As if the drama going on in the state has not been funny enough, the ruling party has just suspended the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun.

At least, three reasons show the dynamics of interest the Ogun politics has generated in the last one year, which almost cost the APC victory in the last presidential poll in the state.

First, the APC is riddled with internal rift rooted in the conduct of its congresses and primaries in 2018. The rift eventually produced two different governorship candidates – Hon. Adekunle Akinlade from the faction of the incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Mr. Dapo Abiodun from the camp of the state’s former governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba.

However, the APC National Working Committee (NWC) simply accepted the outcome of the process that produced Abiodun. The NWC accepted the outcome on the ground that the Osoba faction held its primaries for various elective positions in line with its guidelines. Rather than assuaging the aggrieved members, the decision fractured the fabrics of the APC. This decision culminated in the second dynamics that edged the Amosun faction out of Ogun APC. It, also, led to the adoption of the APM as an alternative to the APC in the state, which Akinlade claimed, was chosen to fight injustice he and thousands of Ogun people that voted for him during the APC primaries the Amosun faction conducted on October 2, 2018.

Eventually, the APM, a purely unpopular political platform in Ogun State until its adoption, nominated Akinlade its flagbearer for the March 9 governorship contest. His nomination has earned the APM, not just state-wide acceptance, but also national recognition given its irresistible force and the resolve of its promoters to produce the state’s next governor.

The third dynamics revolves around the highly convoluted interest the governorship contest has generated in the state. Like the case of the APC, the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) produced two factional candidates – Senator Buruji Kashamu and Mr. Ladi Adebutu. Till date, two of them are still horn-locked in series of legal battle to determine the legitimate candidate.

Away from the intrigues in the PDP, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) produced Mr. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka. Unlike other contestants, Isiaka is a two-term governorship candidate in the state, first on the platform of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) in 2011 and later on the PDP in 2015. The Action Democratic Party (ADP) fielded former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole as its candidate, whose nomination indeed x-rayed the intense race for Ogun House.

Amid these political dynamics, Akinlade said he “remains a governorship candidate to beat in the state.�

Also, he claimed his vision for Ogun State “stands him out among other governorship candidates.� Besides, he said Ogun people “have been an impetus for him since the race began. We are simply on a mission alongside Ogun people.�

Succinctly, the APM candidate revolved his aspiration around the people and the state, even though critics said he would be a stooge of the incumbent. However, he explained that nothing was really driving him in the race for Ogun House outside his vision for Ogun people; his conviction to directly touch the lives of ordinary people and the popular support he claimed the people had accorded him in virtually all local government areas (LGAs).

With this mindset, Akinlade said the governorship contest “is not about me in person or my ambition to govern one of the most strategic states in the country. It is not about my boss, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. It is not even about the new platform we adopted to realise my aspiration. “Rather, it is about thousands of people that voted for me during the primaries. It is about the future of our state and its teeming population irrespective of their ethnic and religious backgrounds. It is all about the injustice that forced us out of the party we laboured to build together. It is all about our vision to put Ogun State on the map of the world.�

Even in the face of this injustice, Akinlade said his vision was never blurred; neither had his blueprints for peopleoriented governance lost its originality or its content.

Rather, according to the APM candidate, “our vision for new Ogun is ever clearer; our resolve always stronger; and our conviction for the next government in the state is still unwavering.�

Akinlade’s passion for Ogun people, in reality, belies the

Amosun

Akinlade

argument of his critics that he is a political puppet and that his government will be an extension of the Amosun administration if he wins the March 9 governorship contest. He never denied that Amosun brought him to the government. He however, said he would complement Amosun’s programmes and projects.

Unlike other political gladiators in the South-west, Akinlade claimed that Amosun had no plan “to make him stooge in government. My leader is not that kind of person.� Rather, the APM candidate explained that Amosun “is just fighting injustice to secure the future of Ogun State and its people only in the spirit of continuity and popular will.�

In a somewhat persuasive approach, the APM candidate recently reeled out his vision for the people of the state. He, simply, christened it Agenda for New Ogun.

In part, his vision is clearly an article of continuity, which x-rays his conviction to continue with Amosun’s programmes and projects and which other governorship candidates have not identified with.

In other part, Akinlade’s vision is a horde of fresh ideas, which in truth will distinguish his future government from the previous governments in the state. He wrapped this vision in five broad points – rebuilding education system, developing strategic infrastructure, creating jobs, boosting internally generated revenue (IGR) and attracting foreign direct investments (FDIs).

Unequivocally, Akinlade cited the strategic importance of a robust education system. Two reasons informed Akinlade’s decision to make education the nucleus of his governance blueprints for the state. First, he ascribed it to teenage pregnancy, which he said, was on the rise in the state. Second, he cited the challenge of unemployability among the fresh graduates.

Contingent on these challenges, the APM candidate said education “is a priority to us. It is a priority because the growing trend of teenage pregnancy, now a major challenge in every part of the state. Besides, it is a priority due to the need to make our graduates and youths employable.� He, thus, emphasised the need to partner industries in the state “to improve the employability of the youths irrespective of their academic status.�

Apart from rebuilding education system, Akinlade pointed out the need to develop strategic infrastructure projects, which according to him, will impact directly on the lives of ordinary people – artisans, farmers, traders, among others. He admitted that the Amosun administration concentrated on the state capital and other major cities, which he justified.

He, thus, defined his objective of developing strategic infrastructure, first to complement what Amosun started and also to meet the need of the people. He gave an example of such need. He said majority of Ogun people “are farmers living in different localities. It, thus,

becomes strategic to build roads that will lead to farm settlements across the state.�

He cited the example of border roads “linking Ogun State to other neighbouring states, especially Lagos State.�

He recognised the burden the rising rate of unemployment placed on the state. In other states of the federation, he observed, this burden has exacerbated security challenges, forcing some youths into some heinous crimes. At this instance, Akinlade promised to create at least, 25,000 jobs annually.

He mentioned two major sources through which he would create jobs. He, first, cited the need to develop the capacity of farmers in Ogun West to boost crop production and food security. He, also, identified the centrality of aquaculture “to the people of Ogun East, especially those living in the riverine communities. We must invest in these two areas to create more jobs.�

Aside, Akinlade underscored the significance of boosting IGR, which according to him, was at the centre of his vision for new Ogun. His first mission would be to raise the state’s IGR to N15 billion or N20 billion. For his critics, that might sound impossible. But he said he had devised two main strategies to realise this ambitious goal.

Specifically, Akinlade cited different statistics, which showed that Ogun State “has the highest number of industries in the country.� However, according to him, this has not transformed to wealth because majority of the people working in these industries do not reside in our state. And tax law requires that citizens must pay tax to states where they are living.

Given this retrogressive trend, the APM candidate promised “to create an enabling environment, where companies can profitably operate and where their staff members will choose to live. So, we will implement programmes and projects that can make Ogun State a choice state of residence, especially for the people working here, but are residing in Lagos.�

He disclosed his plan to leverage on the instrument of voluntary compliance to boost the state’s revenue profile. He said the policy was similar “to the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAID) introduced at the federal level when Mrs. Kemi Adeosun was the Minister of Finance. We will encourage it to enable us generate more IGR.�

He equally placed premium on attracting foreign direct investments (FDIs) to the state. He explained three major ways to make Ogun investment destination, not only in Nigeria, but also in Africa. First, Akinlade cited the need to improve the state’s security environment. Second, he revealed the plan to invest in strategic infrastructure. Third, he promised to improve the state’s easy of doing business ranking.

30

˜ ˞ MARCH 3, 2019

MARKET NEWS

NSE Moves to Deepen Participation in Fixed Income Market Goddy Egene The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) will tomorrow organise a fixed income workshop in line with its commitment to improve the capacity of its members and enhance investors’ participation in the fixed income market.

According to the exchange, the workshop will bring together about 200 stockbrokers, dealing

members and other key capital market stakeholders to explore opportunities available in the fixed income market, as well as address the concerns and build the capacity of our members interested in trading fixed income on the exchange. “All fixed income securities (with the exception of zero-coupon bonds) provide some form of regular interest payments

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

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

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

to investors. This makes the fixed income market especially attractive to investors whose main investment goal is providing themselves with a steady income,� the exchange explained.

This workshop is coming on the heels of the launching of Mutual Funds Trading platform by the NSE in collaboration with Fund Managers Association of Nigeria (FMAN), Association of

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 28Feb-2019, unless otherwise stated.

Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) and the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc. The launch of the trading platform will enhance market professionals, issuers, fund managers and investors with a reliable, efficient and an adaptable exchange hub in Africa, to save and to access capital. Through this platform investors can

pool funds into chosen basket of securities which have proven to be a veritable means to optimise returns and reduce risks.

Also, the trading platform will help market participants to facilitate electronic transactions with seamless interaction between NSE, CSCS Plc, fund managers and brokers dealers. Investors would have the benefit of a single view of their mutual fund

investment and ease variety of transactions like subscription, redemption, cancellation among others.

The Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema said:�We are delighted to provide a solution that will enhance visibility for the listed mutual funds and promote financial inclusion, while stimulating retail investor participation in our market.�

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 164.37 164.82 3.92% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 11.00% Nigeria International Debt Fund 279.08 279.66 2.25% 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 1.02% ACAP Income Funds 0.62 0.62 11.82% 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 13.28% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.28 2.31 2.83% 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 17.30 17.82 4.27% ARM Discovery Fund 369.09 380.21 3.49% ARM Ethical Fund 29.20 30.08 3.40% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.59% 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 103.22 103.95 2.01% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.54% 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 13.83% Paramount Equity Fund 12.06 12.16 2.11% Women's Investment Fund 105.59 106.10 1.89% 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 14.24% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 101.62 101.78 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 102.33 102.92 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 13.36% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.84 0.85 Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.15 1.15 3.10% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 12.39% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 11.83% 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 1,227.84 1,227.98 3.57% FBN Heritage Fund 144.36 145.68 0.66% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 15.62% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 115.80 116.22 1.68% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 115.74 116.16 1.87% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 150.55 152.76 0.37% 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 1.23 1.25 #VALUE! Legacy Debt Fund 3.31 3.31 1.92% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 0.73% 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 3,025.61 3,057.47 1.41% Coral Income Fund 2,815.83 2,815.83 2.81% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.26% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 109.09 109.64 1.94% 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 13.48% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.19 2.21 1.86% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 14.93% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 123.78 124.03 -0.89%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.16 1.19 1.73% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 109.09 109.64 30.67% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.61 11.71 0.95% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.48% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.37 1.40 7.51% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.41 12.47 1.68% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.55% 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 121.90 122.45 0.96% 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 1.02 1.02 2.14% 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 2,370.38 2,384.79 4.60% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 196.78 196.78 4.81% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.97 0.99 3.16% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 251.61 251.64 3.82% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 168.33 170.20 3.18% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.31% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,615.84 8,719.27 3.25% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.12 1.12 3.71% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.19 1.21 0.08% United Capital Bond Fund 1.63 1.63 2.36% United Capital Equity Fund 0.70 0.71 -1.61% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.47% United Capital Eurobond Fund 108.94 108.94 1.56% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.09 1.10 0.40% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 11.40 11.56 7.90% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.49 12.61 4.25% Zenith Income Fund 21.01 21.01 9.10% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.97%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

5.95 118.85 51.93

-39.35% 0.04% 0.00%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

114.39 89.58

116.86 91.26

-2.47% 1.04%

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 Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.09 7.26 14.85 12.63 153.20

4.13 7.34 14.95 12.83 155.20

2.26% -4.65% -0.69% 2.18% 6.69%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.24

17.42%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

Thevalueofinvestmentsandtheincomefromthemmayfallaswellasrise.Pastperformanceisaguideandnotanindicationoffuturereturns.Fundpricespublishedinthiseditionarealsoavailableon each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

03.03.2018

Julie Okah-Donli Daring Things Others Dread

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 ˞ ͹, Ͱ͎ͯ͡

COVER

Heroines of NAPTIP-Okah-Donli, surrounded by female oďŹƒcers of the agency who are committed to the cause of humanity

Julie Okah-Donli

On Her Mission and Love for Nation For the kind of work she does and the menace she grapples with, you do not expect to see a serenely adorable woman. She wears a touch of smile that embodies her passion for humanity.

With an endearing mien, she goes about her daunting duties with unrelenting fervour. Meet the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Julie Okah-Donli. Her activities at the helm of affairs of the agency have put Nigeria on the global map in a positive light. Cerebral and committed, under her watch over 13,000 traffic victims have heaved a sigh of relief. With the impressive achievements of the agency in the last one year, Okah-Donli is more than determined to keep restoring dignity to humanity, writes Funke Olaode

J

Okah-Donli

ulie Okah-Donli’s love for her fatherland is unquenchable. Beaming with confidence, her mission was clear as the Cable News Network (CNN) beamed its searchlight on human trafficking in Sub-Saharan Africa with focus on Nigeria at a Forum on Human Trafficking, anchored by Richard Quest of CNN in Italy sometimes in 2018.

Sitting among a panel of discussants mostly Europeans whose mission was to discuss human trafficking and how it could be curbed.

She boldly made it clear to her counterparts that pointing accusing fingers is not going to help. Rather, that the destination countries must give full disclosure during information sharing about the traffickers, and they must be prosecuted from both sides, there should be joint investigations and operations between countries.

Human trafficking in sub-Saharan Africa has frequently grappled global attention and no end seems to be in sight. But in the past one year, Okah-Donli has hit the ground running with one mission, to rid the nation

57

MARCH 3, 2019 ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

COVER

An Amazon and Her Fight against Human Trafficking out of this global phenomenon.

That Okah-Donli is passionate about her job is an understatement. The author of ‘Parenting in the 21 Century’ has always been an advocate for women and children’s rights, protection of children from all forms of abuse such as sexual and physical.

In recent time, NAPTIP as an agency seems to have come into the limelight, she said the agency’s intention is not to play to the gallery but to achieve its aims and objectives.

“There is no magic in the unveiling of NAPTIP as an agency. NAPTIP was created by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2003 in response to the disturbing issues of human trafficking. It is one of the agencies under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Justice. The agency is mandated with the coordination of all laws on trafficking in persons, work in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, relevant organisations and institutions in the fight against human trafficking, and carry out awareness creation on the dangers of human trafficking. “NAPTIP is further tasked with investigation and prosecution of offenders, counselling, rehabilitation and reintegration of victims, and researching into current issues and trends in trafficking in persons. The agency has different department performing various functions. It also has range of powers.

What is going on now is that we have taken steps to unveil the agency by exercising all powers conferred on it by the enabling law that created it. Also, under the present administration, the agency has become more proactive and more responsive to Nigerians,” she said.

NAPTIP has an agency has been able to record great feats since its creation and also within the last one year which could be attributed to the collective efforts of Officers and Men of the Agency as well as collaboration of its partners and stakeholders.

“To make it more effective, zonal offices were created across the geo-political zones, massive awareness creation and enlightenment programmes that have brought the issues of human trafficking into the limelight thereby drawing global

attention to the phenomenon. Of significant note were over 13,000 victims who have passed through the NAPTIP shelters.

“Today, they didn’t have only psychological support, they were also provided with skills, education, medical supports, empowerment, reunited and reintegrated into their families and society.

We have many victims who have graduated from tertiary institutions. In fact, last year, three of such graduated from the universities, with one having a second class degree upper division in Accounting. These are all under the sponsorship of NAPTIP and three of them are now employed and working in various zonal commands of NAPTIP,” Okah-Donli disclosed.

“Development and publication of the National Policy on Protection and Assistance to Trafficked Persons in Nigeria; this document has been adopted

by ECOWAS Member States for care and support to victims of human trafficking; development and publication of a guideline on National Referral Mechanism for Protection and Assistance to Trafficked persons in Nigeria. NAPTIP has become a training ground for other countries including European countries to learn good practices in the fight against human trafficking as a number of them now send officials on study tour of NAPTIP with a view to establishing a similar agency in their countries; commenced a 30-minute news magazine programme on television on NTA International at 8.30 pm on Wednesdays,” the NAPTIP boss added.

Hardworking, passionate and committed to duties, Okah-Donli always has her ears to ground. Nigeria recently was in the eyes of the world following the revelation that some Nigerians were trafficked and trapped in Mali. She said the development was informed by the visit of a fact-finding team she sent to Mali last December.

She explained: “The agency had been receiving series of calls and reports from stakeholders and even trafficked victims in Mali over their painful exploitative conditions. As a responsive agency, we

cannot afford to look away while our promising youths mostly girls are being subjected to servitude and forced prostitution not only in Mali, but anywhere around the world. So we decided to send a delegation made up of members of National Assembly, Officers and Directors from NAPTIP, the Media and of course some personnel of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Mali. The report that was brought back by the delegation was emotionally devastating. They visited few of the identified areas where our girls are being sexually exploited precisely the mining regions of the Country. The team found out that an estimated population of over 20, 000 Nigerian girls are strongly suspected to be trapped in the regions. “They are clustered in make shifts nylon shanties where the sexual exploitation is taking place without access to medical care and other necessities. Painfully, few of them were said to have been sighted in their school uniforms which simply implies that they may have been abducted on their way either to or from school. A few of them said to be trafficked to the Northern part of the country are said to be radicalized by the terrorists thereby posing serious danger to not only Nigeria, their home country, but the entire Africa.”

The NAPTIP boss explained further: “We have commenced plans to bring them back to Nigeria. In the first place, this type of operation cannot be carried out alone, hence we have opened discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant MDAs, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Nigeria Embassy in Mali, Embassy of Mali in Nigeria, IOM, Interpol and other international partners. So, within the next few weeks, another delegation shall be visiting Bamako for serious discussions on evacuation with the Malian authorities. The team shall also commence profiling of the girls with a view to determining those that would be evacuated bearing in mind that we cannot force them back.”

Her efforts in restoring dignity in humanity are well pronounced. With the impressive outings and activities of the agency in the last one year, Okah-Donli stated that NAPTIP will not rest on its laurels as it progresses in restoring dignity to humanity.

“NAPTIP seeks to build upon the momentum from 2018, to consolidate on its efforts and ensures a robust national response to the scourge of human trafficking in Nigeria. We shall increase our awareness creation and public mobilization with a view to ensuring behavioural changes especially among youths and even parents,” she said.

“We shall devote more efforts at sensitizing the rural dwellers and also increase our networking with partners and other stakeholders. We have finalized plans to inaugurate anti-human trafficking task force in all the states of the federation, as well as reinforce partnership with the local government authorities, public and private sector as part of our grassroots countertrafficking strategies.”

Born on December 30, 1966; an indigene of Bayelsa State, Okah-Donli has a degree in Law from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and was called to the Bar in 1992. In 1990 while at ABU Zaria, she won the Dean of the Faculty of Law Award as the winner of the Moot Court competition.

A woman of many parts, she had held many positions in the government and in the private sector. She was a manager at Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); company secretary/legal adviser at the Nigerian Capital Market Institute; and head of the Abuja regional office of the UBA Trustees Plc. She was the deputy head of chambers of Legal Resources Alliances; executive assistant to the Governor of Bayelsa State between 2007 and 2012; and the principal partner at Julie Okah & Co. She is also a philanthropist engaged in a number of charity works and the founder of Julie Donli Kidney Foundation.

When she is not busy, this amiable mother of two relaxes by playing gulf and hanging out with friends. But more than relaxation, her thoughts are always focused on the menace of trafficking in Nigeria.

“There is so much evil going on in the world, parents must be very vigilant at all times to protect their children from being trafficked or abused,” Okah-Donli lamented.

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FOCUS

Bimbo Esho

A Music Collector and Her Quest for Musical Eternity Bimbo Esho lives music – so does her father, Femi Esho. Together, the duo is bridging the gap between yesteryear music and the present-day generation. Daughter and father’s mission is to bridge generational gap between the music of old and new trend. The young Esho, superintending over Evergreen Musical Company Limited has continued to blaze the trail. Funke Olaode writes about her inspiration, her father’s vision and their quest for the promotion and preservation of Nigeria’s music of yore

N

ot many museums or archives can boast of mind-boggling monument or artefacts that run into thousands in their archives. But one name that has broken the jinx many times over is Femi Esho who is the chairman of Evergreen Musical Company Limited, an outfit which mission is to promote and propagate indigenous music of yesteryears. The 72-year-old Esho from Ilesha in Osun State then used to sneak out of school in Ilesha to Lagos with his ‘partner in crime’ and renowned socialite, Lawrence Omole, to listen to highlife music of big bands such as Bobby Benson, Victor Olaiya and so on.

He would watch the band, collect their music from the DJ. Right then, a genius of music collector was born. Sixty years after, Femi Esho has turned that childhood passion into a business and

more importantly a museum of sort.

The soft music of yesteryears from Ayinla Omowura was booming from two old loudspeakers position at the corner of his office somewhere in Surulere. Engraved on his office corridor were photographs of musicians of yesteryears. At the Evergreen Musical Company, everything reminds of yesteryears.

Though still very vibrant in his business, Femi Esho is gradually passing the baton of his interest and business to one of his children, Bimbo, who is currently the Managing director of the company. Talking passionately about how her father influenced her, the Anthropology graduate of University of Ibadan said apart from her father, her intensive creativity in her fashion, painting, music has helped her passion to toe her father’s line of business.

With more than six decades of music collections and archive that boasts of

With over 100,000 records at her company’s disposal, one may conclude that Evergreen’s vision to preserve Nigeria’s musical legacy has come to stay. But Bimbo is of dierent view. “This project should be in the public domainâ€? said Bimbo. “Evergreen Music Heritage Foundation was founded with the aim to see how it can collaborate with government and seek for a space where we can keep all the music in our archives. It is not Esho property but a public property. A white man came from South Africa, a professor of music, came to our oďŹƒce a few months back and admitted he has never seen something like this

Esho

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MARCH 3, 2019 ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

FOCUS

On Music, Reinvention and Immortalisation over 100,000 records, the Eshos sat down in 2003/2004 to ruminate on the family’s legacy.

“My father, Mr. Femi Esho, who happens to be largest collector of music in Nigeria, is somebody who is known among the social circle as a ‘music person’ and first point of call when it comes to the music of old. There is no way you can do music in Nigeria without going back to your root. Even when you listen to music of nowadays the oldies are still there. We sat down and said what do we make out of all these collections and we agreed that we can actually bring it out and turn it into business. We transferred them to CD and get the copyright from the owners.

Overtime, we noticed that the elitist class which my father belongs were also thirst for this idea. Most of the musicians are dead and everybody has lost hope but we saw this as an advantage because we have a record of every Nigerian music you can ever think off. And everybody keeps coming in that they want their works. Evergreen goes into agreement with terms on royalty that we pay. We do not only do business with them we also carry them along. For instance, if we are having a concert, we invite these musicians to perform so that the world can still see them. Our approach is business mix with relationship.”

Continuing, she said: “Apart from giving out works on request, what we do is to do it raw as it is and put it in CD’s so that people can buy it. What makes it different it that is it different from ordinary CDs you buy along the road. Here, we put CDs and add their biography and their songs. The remixing, which is another level we are planning to go into is to bring both the old and the young together just like what they did for Tuface and Victor Olaiya. It is like lets the Evergreen continues.”

“The Evergreen Musical Company is there to preserve, to promote and reissue works of Musicians in Nigeria generally especially the old ones. What we do is to continue to promote and to propagate our own music. We have a lot of music genres that we don’t want to fade away such as agidigbo, apala, and highlife.

These are music that we believe are roots music. We will continue to promote it so it doesn’t go into extinction.”

Has Evergreen ever been threatened by the new genre of Music? Bimbo waved it off just as she explained how her company works.

“Why the threat isn’t going to work is that we have been in this business for years and we understand it. When you study the Nigerian music properly you find that the new trends of music are like Orits Wiliki, Mike Okri, Blacky and all that. They were the face of Nigerian music in the 90s. They were hot on radio, TV etc. They are music that is seasonal: it comes and goes as a song for that time but that is why it cannot be a threat. So evergreen music will remain forever,” she added.

The company’s impact in bridging the gap goes beyond musicians who are already dead. They also partner with living legend such as Chief Ebenezer Obey to reissue his music.

“I spoke to Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey recently and we have got the copyright to reissue his work. As at today, Chief Commander’s has the highest number of songs recording; 680 tracks that don’t sound alike with 80 CDs with his biography. Our company is the only company that has the right to sell Fela’s music in Nigeria.”

How does her company deal with piracy? “Well, the issue of piracy will always be there, but we have put our

own in a certain class where it cannot be easily doubled because it is not a street music or everyday music. And the way we do our packaging is more of collectors’ items and not for all comers because we see it from institutional point of view, a collector’s item that you see it as a legacy.

As part of her company’s effort to revive indigenous music and bring living legend to the consciousness of their fans, Evergreen held a programme in December 2018 titled, Faaji Agba Eko. “Evergreen has been organizing a lot of programmes with the purpose to continue the promotion of music of old and living legend. We organized this concert to let people know that Victor Olaiya is still alive. When we organized a programme for Victor Olaiya’s 60 years on stage, many people knew him then that he was alive and about three months after, a promoter organized another event with him and Tuface where they collaborated.

“We also had Faaji Eko in 2017 where we awarded about 10 Nigerian musicians who started the real indigenous roots, the progenitor of Waka music, Batila Alake, and Habibu Oluwa.

Most of them were dead but their children were there. Uncle Jimi Solanke, an icon of folk music was also honoured.

Those are the things we are trying to do that their legacy is continuous. We also used it to celebrate Lagos at 50. The one we had in December 2018 called Faaji Agba Eko was majorly to celebrate all the old icons and that is why we invited Jimi Solanke, Shina Bakare, an Afro Jazz Musician, and Yinka Davies. We bring in different generations together and celebrated them. Fortunately for us, the APC gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, came in and said he wanted to be part of it. The PDP running mate to Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Mrs. Yemisi Busari, was there.”

With over 100,000 records at her company’s disposal, one may conclude that Evergreen’s vision to preserve Nigeria’s musical legacy has come to stay. But Bimbo is of different view.

“This project should be in the public domain” said Bimbo. “Evergreen Music Heritage Foundation was founded with the aim to see how it can collaborate with government and seek for a space where we can keep all the music in our archives. It is not Esho property but a public property. A white man came from South Africa, a professor of music, came to our office a few months back and admitted he has never seen something like this. He said if they go into our archives, they can actually bring out 30 PhD theses. A lot of people from various universities: head of department, dean and so on come here to also do a research because they only read about it but they don’t see it.

“Recently, Akin Euba was celebrated at University of Lagos with

Apart from giving out works on request, what we do is to do it raw as it is and put it in CD’s so that people can buy it. What makes it different it that is it different from ordinary CDs you buy along the road.

Here, we put CDs and add their biography and their songs

collaboration with MUSON. He is one of the generations of classical musicians in Nigeria. He introduced Yoruba hymns into piano. When I went to the archive, I saw his record that he doesn’t have. He has sung some Yoruba classical music – things like that don’t belong to us. It is a public thing. By the time we put into public a lot of ideas will come in. We can even create a Hall of Fame for every musician in this country where they can have something about everybody: Their biography, or video clip of what they wore, guitar they played, etc. But we can’t do that alone we need government partnership. That is what I am going to propose to Lagos State government, we can make it a tourist centre and a place where people can come and perform just like Freedom Park so that this music can be preserved over and over again.

I believe with commitment on our part and sincerity on the part of government it is achievable,” she concluded.

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GLITZ CULTURE

Dr.Sally Mbanefo, Commisioner Diaspora Aairs, Indigenous Artworks, Culture and Tourism; Right - HE Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra; Left - Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Otunba Gani Adams agging o Anambra Homecoming Festival by launching and declaring the whole ministry and the special rotunda project a walk in exhibition centre and tourism resort

Reliving the Anambra Homecoming Festival Soul-lifting Christmas carols, electrifying theatrical performances, inauguration of the Owerre-Ezukala cave and palm wine tasting festival, among other events heralded the maiden edition of Anambra Homecoming Festival. Omolola Itayemi writes

F

irst of its kind in this part of the world, Anambra was lit for an unprecedented four days in December when it celebrated its citizens both home and abroad to a homecoming festival synonymous with arts, culture, business forum, Diaspora portal and palm wine tasting festival.

It’s no secret Nigerians in Diaspora contribute a huge chunk to our national development. One of the easily identified contributions of Nigerians in Diaspora to the domestic sphere is the remittance of foreign exchange. Whilst statistics suggest that worldwide remittances by the global Diaspora community are estimated at more than $100 billion; Nigerians in Diaspora remitted more than $5 billion to Nigeria in 2005. These remittances were dedicated mainly to supporting family, friends and investments. These remittances also help with targeted poverty alleviation.

Little wonder, Governor Obiano has a ministry dedicated to it. He was in Vienna, Austria in November 2018 where he talked business with one of Europe’s strongest Diaspora body, NIDO. Who else to better steer this ship than the commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Indigenous Artworks, Culture and Tourism, Dr Sally Mbanefo, a financial guru, artist and former Director General of NTDC-Nigerian Tourism Development Commission.

Organised by Mbanefo’s ministry, the maiden edition of Anambra Homecoming Festival celebrating friends of Anambra and homecoming of the Diaspora in Awka got off to soul-lifting music with the Anambra Christmas Carol of Nine Lessons at the Hollywood Garden and Event Centre on the road to Government House in Awka. Youth was the fair on display, underpinning the vast reserve of talent of the young ones in Anambra State. The youthful choir got a standing ovation.

On the second day, the arts-loving Governor Willie Obiano undertook the grand commissioning of the Mmilioma Anambra art exhibition that marked Commissioner Sally Mbanefo’s ministry as a Permanent Art Exhibition Centre ably supported by Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Otunba Gani Adams, members of Anambra EXCO, the Diaspora and representatives of Oyo, Lagos and Ondo State.

The sculptures and paintings of the master artist, Chidi Okoye, were aesthetically on display in the rotunda and walls of the ministry.

The central sight is the “Mmilioma Anambra� sculpture displaying a maiden pouring the water of life into a larger communal bowl. There

is also “Irunne�, a high relief composition of grandmother’s face with the strong presence of daughters leaning on the strength and integrity of motherhood.

The governor, while inaugurating the permanent art gallery at the ministry remarked that “what we are doing today is to lay a platform of encouragement for talents exhibition and exposition. Anambra State is a paragon of creativity and parades artist of different genre.

This gallery is a talent beckons for artist and a reminder of the fact that we appreciate our talents. We appreciate our talents and we shall do everything to ensure encourage them.�

Friends of Anambra shared joy with the returnees and homers on the Diaspora Day. Mbanefo said, “The treasure in living together joyfully entails that homecoming and keeping in touch with one’s roots is immense. Homelands are the bastions of a Diaspora’s strength. This makes experts in development economics advocate a healthy and harmonious regular interaction between homeland and Diaspora. “Though the economic benefits of such regular interaction between home and abroad are often noticeable in the GDP and other indexes of the economy, the real treasure in such a harmonious relationship is the human capital.

Anambra State’s wealth in human resource is not quantifiable. At home and in Diaspora, the state’s economic impact is hugely impressive.

What feeds that huge economic growth is the rich homeland and Diaspora harmony.�

Incidentally, Anambra happens to be the only state in Nigeria with a ministry that attends to Diaspora matters. The launching of the epochal Anambra State Diaspora Portal by Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa reflects Governor Obiano’s “Think Home Policy�.

The Anambra State government collaborated with the United Nations to launch the Palm Wine Festival in the homecoming fiesta. Participants had the rare opportunity of tasting the best of Anambra palm wine and tasty cuisine. The palm wine tasting festival is designed to educate, inspire and connect entrepreneurs, governments, captains of industries, nation builders and sundry enthusiasts to effectively understand Anambra’s pride of place in a connected world.

The 2018 palm wine tasting fest was organized in partnership with the United Nations within the context of Sustainable Development Goal 17 (SDG 17). Aare-Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Otunba Gani Adams oversaw the sumptuous ceremony.

The carnival was a steamroller as the youths and adults alike celebrated in style. The Mmanwu Festival kicked off at the Ekwueme

Square with ancestral spirits springing forth and dancing onto the highway. Titled elders such as Chief Pete Edochie superintended over matters to ensure that the uninitiated did not break the taboo of the masked spirits.

Well over 40 works of art were on display on the curatorial direction of Sir Chuka Nnabuife.

The Ije group of young artists showed ample evidence, at the exhibition, that there are young artists in Anambra State poised to break the records of the likes of Prof Ben Enwonwu. The works of the young ones shared space with established artists such as Chuka Nnabuife, Chidi Okoye and Nkiru Ekemordi. The esteemed Obi of Onitsha Nnaemeka Achebe, Agbogidi, a renowned art connoisseur added regal presence to it all.

Bob Manuel Udoku, Veteran Thespian turned politician was on hand to cherish the young Thespians who reprised the drama at the homecoming festival. The youthful actors of an abridged one-hour staging of Things Fall Apart equally got a standing ovation from the very grateful audience. Every scene in the drama was a refresher of sorts, especially the symbolism that Okonkwo and Umuofia represented in the precolonial Nigeria.

Except for the ages of the casts, who are mainly undergraduates, the young thespians gave a good account of themselves as they thrilled guests to a rich drama presentation of Things Fall Apart, a true homecoming bouquet for Ndi Anambra and their friends. The choice of the book may not be unconnected with the fact that the author, the late Prof Chinua Achebe, was from Ogidi in Anambra State, and Things Fall Apart, which is one of the most translated African literatures, is 60 years old this year.

Present were Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe; Otunba Gani Adams; Secretary to the State government Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu; Head of Service, John Harold Uduh; Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Indigenous Artworks, Culture and Tourism, Mrs Sally Mbanefo; her Permanent Secretary, Mr Tony Ezenwaka; Director of Programmes, Nigeria Diaspora Commission, Obienu Tobechukwu represented Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba.

Others included Health Commissioner Dr. Joe Akabuike; his Trade and Commerce counterpart, Dr. Vincent Madubuko; Very Rev Monsignor Jerome Madueke; Chairman, House Committee on Culture , Kingsley Iruba.

The vision of Mbanefo in initiating the Anambra Homecoming Festival was more than met in this maiden edition. The motto of “Ka

anyi luo uno� (let’s return home) reverberated all over Awka and indeed the entire state while the festival lasted. “This is why Anambra State government always creates opportunity for the sustenance of that relationship through such programmes as this annual homecoming festival, which is marking its maiden edition this year. This year, the festival package comprises several aspects of our people’s arts, culture and tourism. The goal is to, once more, create a memorable opportunity for all Ndi Anambra, home and away, to freely enjoy homeland in an atmosphere of security, joy and love, while celebrating with citizens and friends of Ndi Anambra. Hence, a whole day of activities in the seven-day festival is dedicated to friends of Anambra,� she said.

According to her, the exhibiting artists have made distinctive studio creations that communicate the attributes of the special homecoming event, which is holding for the first time in Anambra State and the entire Igbo land during the Xmas and New Year season.

She added that through their creativity, “we see ourselves and our society in ways that make us feel nostalgic about homeland and see our lifestyle in new days. The exhibition collection is rich. It is a delight to savour.�

The third day brought to fore the developmental phase of the festival, the inauguration of Owerre-Ezukala Cave and Waterfall, Orumba South LGA, Anambra.

The natural tourism site which has several caves also harbours an alluring waterfall in a very scenic rainforest region, has been crying for enhancement which takes only the wisdom of Governor Obiano to do under the supervision of Dr Mbanefo.

Igwe Thomas Ogbonnaya, the Owerre Ezukala, said: “Governor Obiano has done well.

We, the people of Owerre Ezukala, will never forget him, not only for his general policies and projects, but particular the enhancement of this natural blessing and gift from God to our people and state. This is a development which we have been crying for so long a time, but we are happy that he has not only listened to us but has turned our prayers into a reality. May the almighty God bless him.�

The Ikolo musical jam climaxed it all on the fourth day. With the launch Diaspora portal, designed to promote Igbo culture, especially the language, which many Igbo indigenes cannot speak these days, it is a huge relief to see culture take its rightful place in the society...�Ka anyi luo uno�.

MARCH 3, 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

61 with LANRE ALFRED 08076885752

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

Celebration of Life... Globacom Top Shot, Gladys Talabi, Buries Husband, ‘Olu’

Williams

Kojo Williams Celebrates at 60 One of the foremost fixtures on the Lagos social scene in time past, tall, dark and handsome Kojo Williams, turned 60 days back. For the former chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (as it was then known), there were no echoes of a big party to celebrate his remarkable coming of age, a reminder of how quiet the dark-skinned gentleman has become in recent years. The seasons pass but Kojo remains grand, like the nurturant guardian whose tenderness and warmth blesses the land.

In 60 years, he has blossomed into a man of affluence and integrity. 60 years may be a tiny fraction of time, yet he looms large across generations into eternity. The story of his exquisite manhood resonates with a pleasant peal. The dandy son of the late Chief Sebastian Babatunde Williams, a sportsloving business mogul and philanthropist, divorced his first wife Dr Remilekun Williams, a successful dentist, many years ago over what was termed irreconcilable differences.

However, Kojo has overtime carved his niche in the business and social spaces, a magnate and entrepreneur of immense worth. His place in the pantheon of Nigeria’s most successful businessmen undoubtedly assured by the impact of his earthly endeavours. As he made his grand entry into the league of sexagenarians, the evidently gracious and reticent businessman enjoyed the undisguised love and goodwill of friends, family and business associates. There was so much joy in his household and workplace; though not one to throw gaudy parties.

Olumuyiwa Talabi, the husband of Gladys Talabi, the very hard-working executive director, Legal/Security Services at Globacom, was a very lucky man. Unlike his ill-fated peers, he did not evaporate without an eyewitness.

Yes, Olu, as he was fondly called, did not groan in dying, twisting the sweaty sheet around his chest. He did not gasp for breath feeling as if his senses drowned while he thrashed alone in the dark.

Nobody has such terrible memories of Mr Talabi. When his time was up, the foremost marketer died and departed the world, leaving priceless memories behind for his loved ones.

Olumuyiwa Talabi, died on February 4th, 2019. He was 70. If money and love were enough, his beautiful wife, Gladys, could have mustered the whole world to save him and fulfil her vows that they would grow grey together but death had other tragic plans. It extinguished the brilliant flame of her husband and heartthrob thus casting her in inconsolable grief. He was known to all and sundry as an exemplar of the good husband. He used his considerable fortune to better the lot of many and was loved for his compassion towards the downtrodden.

He was like a beacon of hope for them, and for others, a model of virtue and grace.

Yes, nobody makes lovely corpse.

But Olumuyiwa did! Even in death, he cuts a perfect portrait of loveliness and humanity at its finest. Few people get to transit from being utterly indispensable to “eternally unforgettable.” A real husband does. And if he is some husband to treasure, he may be succeeded but he can never be replaced. Like the brightest daffodil amid a bouquet of flowers, Mr Talabi exudes enviable humaneness even in his wake.

Like a renaissance artist intoxicated by the muse, Gladys chose to paint beautiful and everlasting pictures in memory of the father of her children. The beauty is in the detail. In a precedent-shattering ceremony that was at once sorrowful and uplifting, Olumuyiwa was remembered as a man of unimpeachable nobility whose life of compassion and style transcended the

Gladys Talabi and her husband

familiar and often pedestrian vanities of humanity. The ceremony attracted the crème of Nigeria’s high society.

A product of the Igbobi College, Lagos and the University of Lagos where he read Philosophy and Political Science for his Master’s degree, the deceased served the USA Wheat Associates as Marketing Coordinator for Nigeria and Sub Saharan Africa for 22 years before his retirement in 2016. At the well-attended funeral service, his wife was a picture of anguish and despondence. Olu, as he was fondly called by peers, was interred at the Vaults and Garden in Ikoyi. In her tribute, Mrs Talabi wrote, “So much to write and remember, beautiful and cherished memories, enough to carry me and keep me strong for the numerous years ahead,

loving from the very beginning to the very end. I will miss my friend, older brother, husband, confidant, adviser, number 1 fan, my mirror, my teacher, my listening ear, human guide, companion, prayer partner and gist mate. Take care my husband and best friend, my dearie, love you always.’’ They had been married since 1978.

Yes, even if the trillionaire Globacom boss, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr., had his way as he is wont to in business, he would have bullishly negotiated with death to name its cost and spare the life of his wonderful staff’s husband. Gladys was devastated and inconsolable. She raved and ranted about her loss, tearing and tugging at her hair.

Billionaire Lagos Contractor, Lekan Adebiyi, Opens His Multi-Million Naira High-Rise Complex For Wife

Standing regally at the intersection of Agidingbi, a few streets from Alausa, the Lagos State seat of power, the new multi-storeyed complex built by billionaire Adebiyi Olalekan, the construction magnate behind Laralek Ultimate Limited, has officially opened for business. Imposing and eye-catching, it is hard to miss as you drive or walk by.

The complex is now a beehive of activity. And it is bound to get more frenetic in the days ahead as many of the shops open for business. The Laralek boss, a very close friend of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode stunned the residents of the area with the audacious purchase of the land on which the community’s Central Mosque was built to build the complex.

In spite of the vehement opposition of the owners of the land and worshippers, the otherwise self-effacing billionaire demolished the mosque and in less than four months, erected the eye-popping multi-storeyed edifice that sticks out in the skyline of the neighbourhood like a malignant tumour. Before now, rumours abounded that the property belonged to Governor Ambode because of its location

and the sensitivity of demolishing a mosque yet, without a breakout of crisis. Sources have now revealed that the property is Adebiyi’s gift to his wife, Omolara, whom he worships the ground she treads.

To placate the dissenting voices, Adebiyi built a mosque elsewhere for them. Indeed, Adebiyi and Governor Ambode are very close; with those in the know saying that he is to Ambode what Deux Projects’s Tunji Olowolafe was to former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola. Some of the construction projects in the state usually go to him except those he rejects or so the sources affirm.

For instance, Laralek – derived from his and wife’s names – is behind the ambitious 10-lane Oshodi –Murtala Mohammed Airport expressway. Prior, he had handled, among others, the reconstruction of roads in the Alimosho–Ipaja–Ayobo environs and the urban renewal programme of the outgoing Lagos administration. By virtue of this, Adebiyi’s wealth has quadrupled in that short space of time. All that now belongs to the past as Adebiyi is smiling to the bank even more with the opening of the complex.

Adebiyi

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HIGHLIFE

Taming Of A Lion And Its Cubs...Governor Abiola Ajimobi Eats the Humble Pie Hours after the results of the national assembly elections in Oyo State were announced, with Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the only member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state to lose his seat, he made a video to accept defeat, congratulate the winner and talk about his next plan. According to the governor who proudly calls himself ‘Ko Se Le Ri’ (Never seen before) to underscore that he is the only governor of the state to complete a second term, he had given his best to the state and deserves to rest, reminding those in his presence that he would soon be 70, as his wife snuggled up to him like a lovelorn teenager. The governor would turn 70 in December 2019. He lost a bid to represent the Oyo South Senatorial District, a seat he occupied between 2003 and 2007 during which he was deputy minority leader. Keen watchers of the Oyo State political scene say Ajimobi may have been sent on political retirement. At 70, sources say he would not make the ministerial consideration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Again, he did not deliver Oyo State to the president which Alhaji Atiku Abubakar won with a sizeable margin.

The greatest beneficiary of Ajimobi’s retirement would be his wife, Florence, originally a Lebanese, but was born and raised in Nigeria. She has been married to Governor Ajimobi for more than 35

years.

Apart from his aides and political followers, the greatest losers would be the governor’s extravagant children, particularly, the glamorous Abisola, who is married to billionaire industrialist, Kola Daisi’s son, Kolapo. Abisola is a fashion-loving young lady who spares no expense in her jet-set lifestyle.

She is the CEO of Florence H/AKD Lifestyle, a Christian Louboutin shoe shop on the island named after her mother. She counts among her friends American reality television show stars, the Kardashian stars and had appeared on their popular Keeping Up with the Kardashian Show a couple of times. Her best friend, Malika, is also best friends with Khloe Kardashian. Regarded as one of the ‘Rich Kids of Instagram’, her IG page drips sheer luxury, high-end fashion, lavish living and globetrotting.

Ajibola, her younger sister and mother of twin boys, is more reserved but no less glamorous. When she gave birth to her twins in 2016, the governor put everything else on hold to celebrate their arrival with a lavish party in his Abuja residence. Ajibola got married in 2015 to Ayokunle, son of the late Justice Ajayi. It was a destination wedding that held in Beirut, Lebanon and another in Ibadan.

Her gold-sequinned gown designed by Lebanese luxury fashion label, Elie Saab is reportedly worth N25million. Sources

E Ajimobi

close to the governor say his kids need not worry as he has settled them for life with investments and savings.

Hope Rising for Billionaire Dapo Abiodun’s Guber Ambition

Abiodun

Everything being equal, Prince Dapo Abiodun, successful businessman and proprietor of Heyden Oil and Gas among other lucrative ventures, has every reason to start warming up to occupy the Ogun State Government House from May 29th.

The governorship election is slated for Saturday, March 9thand one of the power blocs in the state, the Kesington Adebutu’s supporters, have reportedly thrown its weight behind Abiodun. Like the Adebutus, Abiodun hails from Iperu Remo in Ogun State. Abiodun’s journey thus far has been strewn with thorns and thistles.

A very good friend and financier of the incumbent, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Prince Abiodun was shocked to the marrows when the governor told him in no uncertain terms that he would not support his governorship ambition. Amosun would shock the people of Ogun State and indeed, discerning Nigerians, when news emerged in October 2018 that he had unilaterally drawn up a list of candidates for the party and subsequently announced Adekunle Akinlade, a member of the House of Representatives, as his anointed for the governorship ticket. If Abiodun

Who is After Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar?

was aghast, he didn’t show it. The Iperuborn prince went about his ambition without fuss. Angry members of the APC in Ogun could read between the lines – Amosun simply wanted a lackey that he could easily manipulate from his obscenely-appointed country home in Ibara GRA, Abeokuta. And Akinlade ticks all the boxes. A happy-go-lucky 48-year-old dandy who is more dilettante than diligent, Akinlade is married to a former beauty queen, Chinenye Ochuba.

When the governorship primary held on Wednesday, October 3rd, Amosun’s candidate was roundly beaten by Prince Abiodun who polled 102, 305 votes.

Akinlade came a distant third with 23, 443 votes. Predictably, Amosun went ballistic, stumping and swearing, spitting into the air and receiving it with measured cadence. Alongside other disgruntled governors, he scurried to Abuja where he met with the President but nothing came of it. Amosun tried every trick in the book to impose his candidate but the party stood its ground, insisting that Abiodun is its substantive candidate. With nowhere to go, Akinlade, alongside other loyalists of the beleaguered governor, defected to the All People’s Movement, APM, ostensibly on Amosun’s orders, stating overtly and covertly that it is either Akinlade or nobody for the governorship seat. He went ahead to publicly declare that he would work for the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari but not for Abiodun. To actualise his objective, Governor Amosun reportedly held a meeting with Ladi Adebutu, the factional governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State, whose candidature was nullified in favour of Senator Buruji Kashamu.

Amosun reportedly bargained with Adebutu to work for Akinlade in return for heavy patronage if the APM won. But here is the good news, all Adebutu’s men have all joined Abiodun.

asy going billionaire businessman, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, who has his hands in several lucrative pies including oil and gas, real estate and telecommunications among others, has consistently remained self-effacing in spite of his power, influence and wealth. Very popular in and around Abuja and beyond, he prefers to do his business and philanthropy without making a song and dance of any related accomplishment. A national honours holder of the Member of the Federal Republic, MFR, Alhaji Abubakar who owns AA Oil, was therefore aghast when he was romantically linked with a Lagos-based On-AirPersonality, Toke Makinwa. The report claimed that Alhaji Abubakar was not only besotted with the lady but had showered expensive gifts on her including designer wears, bags and jewellery and a mansion in Ikoyi. In a rebuttal by his lawyers, George Ikoli & Okagbue, the report was faulted in its entirety, stating, “The publication was made with the intent to portray our client as an unfaithful, dishonest, adulterous, insincere, promiscuous and dishonourable man.� The lawyers also wrote that the publication was capable of and has indeed brought Alhaji AA to disrepute, public scandal, odium and contempt and has severally compromised his character, reputation and integrity. The lawyers said he is a man of integrity and in such matters, he is above board. It is not the first time the Kogi State-born billionaire would be forced out of his shells. Some years back, when reports emerged about the mystery ownership of a massive mansion opposite Transcorp Hilton, in the upscale Maitama District, Abuja, he had to come out to clear the air.

He said then that he acquired the plot of land where the structure was erected in 2005 from an indigene of Zamfara State at a cost of N1 billion.

The trained building technologist said, “This building belongs to me.

I bought the land occupying this building around 2005 from one man from Zamfara State. I bought it for N1billion because of the location.

Thereafter, a thought came to me. By the way, I am a builder. I specialize in building houses of model quality.

Any house I build is usually very special.� He added, “The whole idea about that is just for everyone to know that it is very possible to replicate the type of things we see in overseas countries in Nigeria.

So, I resolved that since I had the opportunity of acquiring this land, I would put up a structure that would be equal to none in the entire city and maybe the country.�

We hereby retract the said article in entirety and apologize for the embarrassment the said article must have caused the businessman.

MARCH 3, 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

What Becomes of Yomi Ogunsola?

Ifeanyi Ubah

Andy Uba

Chris Uba

The Man Who Tamed The ‘Gods’… How Ifeanyi Ubah Toppled The Apple-Cart of Enfant Terrible Tin-Gods Even when the world sniggered at his audacious political ambition and semiliteracy, Ifeanyi Ubah, the rambunctious millionaire owner of Capital Oil, never wavered. Now, while naysayers are still asking themselves how it happened, Ubah has blustered his way into the National Assembly.

At the presidential and national assembly elections held last Saturday, Ubah was adjudged winner of the Anambra South Senatorial Seat after polling 87,081 votes. He beat heavyweight contenders like the Uba brothers; Chris and Andy who contested on the platforms of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, respectively; and the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA’s Chief Nicholas Ukachukwu. Interestingly, the oil mogul won the election on the platform of the virtually unknown Young Progressive Party, YPP. This victory, which would see him as the only YPP senator in the 9thAssembly, is the climax of a longsought political office.

In 2013, still a newbie in politics, he sought the People’s Democratic Party, PDP ticket to contest for the Anambra governorship election but lost out. The Labour Party gleefully offered him its ticket and he came a distant fourth in the election.

He would later resurface as the mastermind of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, a non-partisan organization designed to ‘promote good governance, individuals of impeccable character fostering the continuation of transformation by former President Goodluck Jonathan’. The TAN team was a spectacle wherever they went across the country propagating the reelection of Jonathan. Ubah reportedly wept when Jonathan lost the election.

He contested again in 2017; firstly, again, in the PDP, which denied him its ticket; and eventually, the APGA. It was here he wanted to actualise his senatorial ambition but was denied by the party which initially preferred Bianca, widow of its founder, the late warlord,

Chief Emeka Ojukwu. Bianca lost to Ukachukwu in the primary.

Indeed, like every great warrior that must learn to endure and overcome the adversities of life, Ubah has fought many battles in his 47years on earth; both in politics and business where he made fame and fortune. He was subsequently charged to court. A Lagos High Court ordered his release but this was overturned by an Abuja High Court. Ubah spent 44 days in detention and was made to cough out N2billion out of the N11bilion owed the NNPC. The rotund proprietor of Ifeanyi Ubah FC, a Nigerian football club was released June 19th, 2017. But his woes were just beginning. When the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON published the list of delinquent debtors in October 2018, Ubah’s Capital Oil topped the list with over N115billion debt overhang. And now that the oil and gas industry is no longer what it used to be, sources close to him say he intends to use politics to revive his finances.

The tide has changed. New men of power are being thrown up across the country courtesy the general election. However, while the party lasted, very few men were as connected as Yomi Ogunsola in Kwara State. Married to Ronke, Senate President, Bukola Saraki’s half-sister, Yomi is so powerful and influential in the affairs of the state that virtually all the rich and powerful people both in and out of government courted his acquaintanceship. Among all the Senate President’s siblings, Ronke has a special place in his heart and he treats everything that has to do with her with so much care and diligence. Yomi, her husband, is the greater beneficiary of this filial love. By extension, the state governor, Abdulfattah Ahmed, sees an ally in Yomi and is comfortable doing business with him. Sources say Yomi helps the state governor manage his portfolio of investments and he knows where every corpse is buried in that regard. So influential is he that Governor Ahmed grants all of his wishes, according to very close sources to the State House.

Yomi is indeed an institution on his own. Besides his intimidating wealth and flourishing reputation, he hand entrenched himself in government and the socio-economic and political systems of Kwara State. He was already being primed for a major political position before the devastating loss of Saraki at last Saturday’s elections. Governor Ahmed, on the other hand, was also denied a senatorial ticket by Saraki meaning that political wilderness awaits him. The situation might not be any different for Yomi who had invested so much hope in Saraki maintaining his power base.

Brothers From Hell... How Politics Divided the UBA Brothers Like a thief in the night, the end may have stolen in on the Uba brothers’ viselike grip on the politics of their native Anambra State nay their senatorial district. The oldest of the brothers, Ugochukwu, an academic, represented their senatorial district between 2003 and 2007. At the time, the second brother, Dr Andy Uba, until then a U.Sbased medical doctor was serving as the very powerful Special Assistant on Special Duties and Domestic Affairs to President Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2007, Andy contested for the governorship of Anambra State and won but was ousted after 17days due to a court ruling that Peter Obi, who was earlier sworn in as governor after the ouster of Governor Chris Ngige, was the substantive governor. Andy returned in 2010 on the claims of being a governorin-waiting but was overruled by the court again. Andy would later win the same senatorial seat in 2011 and was reelected in 2015. Their youngest brother,

Chris, otherwise known as Ochiaga (War General) is a popular grassroots mobiliser who came into national consciousness for masterminding the abduction and removal of a sitting governor, Dr Chris Ngige, in 2004.

Since then, Chris has grown in fame (or infamy as the case may be) as the godfather of the PDP in the state. The only thing missing was that unlike his two brothers who bore the cognomen, ‘Senator’, Chris hadn’t earned it and he resolved to get it. Thus, he launched a senatorial bid in the PDP. During a recent campaign, Chris was quoted as saying, “I have sent a lot of people to the Senate, and I even sent my elder brother, Nnamdi (Andy), but I don’t understand what he is doing there. That is why I want to go there by myself. If you send me there for just one term, in the next election, you people will buy me gifts and beg me to go again.” In the buildup to the 2015 general election, the Uba family unanimously agreed that Andy

should vacate the Senate seat for his younger brother while he contested for the governorship election held a year earlier. Andy reportedly agreed, but after losing out at the primaries, he breached the family agreement and insisted on vying for the Senate seat.

Despite entreaties by senior members of the family to get him to respect the earlier agreement, Andy stood his ground, which led to a serious crisis within the family. Consequently, Ugochukwu and Chris pitched tent with former Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Engr. Ernest Ndukwe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who came second in the result declared by INEC. Alas, Andy won.

In the recent election, Andy was keen on returning to the hallowed chamber, having in mind that as a ranking senator from the Southeast on the platform of the ruling APC, he

stood a chance of becoming the Senate President or even Deputy Senate President. Conversely, lurking in the corner was oil and gas businessman, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah, who had crisscrossed different parties in search of political power and recently defected from the APGA to the obscure Youth Progressive Party, YPP, to contest for the Anambra South Senatorial District election. In the last five years, Ifeanyi had amassed a lot of goodwill and following due to his philanthropic activities. Last Saturday, Ifeanyi won the election thus ending what the people of the area had come to accept as the “Uba brothers’ senatorial dynasty.” Now, the truth may have dawned on the entire Uba clan like a pall of eternal damnation that the enemy within is hardly the proverbial outsider eager to cause filial disaffection in pursuit of personal gains; the enemy within is none other than selfish ambition.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MARCH 3 , 2019

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Leo Stan Ekeh’s Low-Key Birthday celebrations While many in his class would paint the town red or travel round the world and spend several millions of Naira to celebrate their birthdays, the Chairman, Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh, would rather celebrate his business achievements.

However, this does not mean that he is not appreciative of God’s blessings in his life.

He only detests carnival-like celebration on such occasions.

So, when he clocked 63 recently, the billionaire businessman held a low-key birthday in his office.

The birthday shindig, it was gathered, was arranged by members of his staff to celebrate him.

The Imo State-born entrepreneur comes across as a restless spirit.

Indeed, if he were a writer or an artist, one would be right to say that his muse has never left him.

But more important, he is in constant quest to rule his world: the nation’s e-commerce sector.

Society Watch gathered that the high-flying billionaire’s net worth is certainly underrated in Nigeria, perhaps for his humility and simplicity, unlike many of his counterparts who flaunt their wealth unnecessarily.

The source revealed that he has one of the most expensive private jets around, while he also has eye-popping buildings in choice areas in London, Paris, New York and Dubai.

For his business acumen and dexterity, he is one Nigerian business mogul who rubs shoulders with other top businessmen around the world.

Finally, Opeyemi Bamidele Bounces Back For Opeyemi Bamidele, this is the time to rejoice, as he emerged victorious in the last senatorial poll in Ekiti senatorial district.

With the victory, it is obvious that the former commissioner is no longer in the political cold.

For a fact, the Ekiti State-born politician received his political tutelage under the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, having served as a commissioner under him while he was the governor of Lagos State.

Much later, Tinubu ensured his victory in the race to the House of Representatives in 2011 under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

To say that Opeyemi also enjoyed a robust relationship with Tinubu until 2013 is to state the obvious.

But he later literally played Oliver Twist, when he began to manifest traces of a man who was over-ambitious.

Many said he was under some illusion over the dummy sold to him by some sycophants or political hangers-on.

He dreamt of becoming the governor of Ekiti State, while Tinubu was interested in returning the then former governor, Dr.

Kayode Fayemi.

All entreaties to make him forego his political ambition fell on deaf ears.

Determined to actualise his dream, he dumped ACN and pitched his tent with the newly structured Labour Party.

But it turned out a wrong political step, which he later paid dearly for.

Because his ambition to be the number one citizen in the state did not see the light of day, he became a spoiler, as the party was polarized, thereby leading to the emergence of Ayo Fayose of PDP as the governor of the state.

But like a prodigal son, he quickly made a dramatic comeback to the All Progressives Congress, APC, a party he so much vilified towards the build-up to the governorship election in the state.

Then, many attributed this to desperation for power, political relevance and even lack of ideology.

Some even said that he was simply afraid of going into political oblivion; so, he quickly retraced his steps and ate his vomit.

But today, the story has changed, and he can’t be happier.

Bamidele

Segun Awolowo Plans Big For Daughter’s Wedding

Awolowos

When the CEO, Nigeria Export Processing Council, NEPC, Segun Awolowo Jnr., and his amiable wife, Bolanle, sent out invites for the

wedding of their daughter late last year, many had looked forward to the wedding that was promised to be a grand one in the new year.

But it was a shock when it was postponed, following the passing on of the groom’s mother.

Having got over the unfortunate development, the popular family is set to play host to the world, as their first daughter, Seun, will be walking down the aisle with her heartthrob on April 22.

The wedding promises to be a society affair, as pieces of colourful Aso-ebi have been going round with invites to those who matter in the society.

It is the marriage of the first grandchild of Abbah Folawiyo, a known top matriarch of the Lagos society. So, it is already generating a lot of buzz.

Top government functionaries, corporate colossi and captains of industries, heads of diplomatic corps and other guests are expected to grace the occasion.

Amazon of Oil, Nkechi Obi’s Passion

Ekeh

Her name rings a bell in the oil and gas industry, having put in many years in the sector.

Indeed, when she talks, many fall over themselves to listen to her because of her wealth of experience.

But if you think this is all about Nkechi Obi, vice chairman of Techno Oil, you will be underestimating the power of this beautiful entrepreneur.

Recently, Obi, who graduated with a B.Sc. degree in Economics from the Lagos State University (LASU) in 1988, proved to all that she is equally a great and charming orator.

She has continued to wow as a motivational speaker across the country, sharing her wealth of experience in entrepreneurship It was also gathered that she has been taking the youth on a voyage around her childhood when she learned the business of selling textiles under the tutelage of her mother at the ever-bustling Balogun Market in Lagos.

She is said to be passionate about youth development, and she seizes every opportunity to advise them to develop the

latent entrepreneurial skills that God has deposited in them.

For Obi, the journey to the enviable height in the oil industry has been laced with thorns and roses.

In the beginning, it was tough, but she held on to her beautiful dream. She started by marketing lubricants and later ventured into the sale and distribution of petroleum products.

Over the years, she has sown in sweats, so it is not surprising that she is now reaping in bountiful harvests.

From her humble beginnings, Obi was able to nurture Techno Oil as a leading indigenous oil and gas company in less than a decade.

Her immense contribution to the sector has earned Techno Oil a dominant role in the distribution of petroleum products across the country.

She is usually driven by an abiding quest to change the lives of her compatriots for the better.

Besides, no one would tar her with the brush of a wheeler-dealer in her day-today business activities.

Obi

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍąËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

SOCIETY WATCH

Amosun, Bankole Settle Rift The smouldering war between Chief Alani Bankole, father of a former Speaker of House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and the incumbent Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, is finally over.

The Bankole patriarch had been having a running battle with Amosun over his landed property that was said to have been acquired illegally by the state government.

Society Watch gathered that since the large expanse of land was taken over by the Amosun-led government two years ago, Bankole had been most troubled.

The former All Nigerian Peoples Party chieftain filed a suit against the state governor before an Ogun State High Court and won the first round of the battle.

However, Amosun was said to have kicked, as he headed for the Court of Appeal, seeking to set aside the ruling of the lower court.

It was also gathered that Bankole, the Oluwo of Iporo Ake, vowed to fight the battle to the end, even with the last drop of his blood.

In an effort to regain his land, Bankole reportedly petitioned the Inspector General of Police, claiming that Amosun had deployed policemen attached to his office as security on the property with the commencement of a project on the site by the government.

In the end, Bankole is now a happy man, as his efforts paid off.

Amosun

Bankole

A source revealed that the large expanse of land was returned to him in January this year.

The source also disclosed that the ‘war’ was settled out of court with the involvement of top Egba personalities, including the Alake of Egbaland as well

as the Oluwu of Owu land in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

However, another source claimed that Amosun literally sheathed his sword due to his senatorial ambition and the desire to be in the good books of many in the state.

Rev. Esther Ajayi’s Kind Gesture It seems Rev. Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi, the founder of the Love of Christ of Generation (C & S) Church, London and The Esther Ajayi Foundation, has entered a covenant of sorts with her Creator to dedicate the rest of life for the service of humanity.

If you are in doubt, you will have a rethink when you consider her passion for philanthropy buoyed by Anatole France’s words: “Without genuine love towards humanity, there is no love for motherland.�

Her generosity, particularly in recent times, has launched Ajayi, also known as Iya Adura, into the hearts of many across the country and far beyond the shores of the Nigeria.

Last week, she, once again, showcased her magnanimity when she donated N10m to the ailing Nollywood star, Babatunde Omidina, who is to undergo a surgery in the United States of America, USA. The amount so far remains the biggest donated by anyone for the actor.

Without a doubt, this has further confirmed her love for her fellow human beings, an act inspired by Hebrews 13:16: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.’’ She loves giving back to her society without blinking an eyelid.

Indeed, philanthropy comes naturally to her.

However, she loathes people singing her praise over such acts of humaneness.

Ajayi

Igbinedion’s Diary of Losses This is certainly not the best of times for the household of the Edo State-born billionaire, Gabriel Igbinedion.

For some inexplicable reasons, the popular and wealthy family has suffered a series of losses in the last few days.

Just a few days ago, the former Governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, lost his second son, Osaretin, to the cold hands of death in a fatal accident in Dallas.

Osaretin, a graduate of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburg, died alongside his cousin, Esosa Oyemwense.

As if that was not enough, Ms. Omosode Igbinedion lost her bid to return to the House of Representatives in the recently held National Assembly elections.

Dennis Idahosa, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been declared winner of the Ovia Federal Constituency in Edo State.

Idahosa, a former Commissioner in Edo, polled a total of 28,509 to defeat the incumbent, Ms Omosede Igbinedion, daughter Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, who scored 23, 345 votes.

Before the election, the people of her constituency had vowed not to return her to the House over what they termed as bad representation.

Society Watch learnt that she took this with a pinch of salt until she was kicked out at the poll.

Many complained that the lady, who was voted into the lower chamber in 2015 was becoming too arrogant and had not contributed anything to the development of her constituency since she was elected.

Now, it is believed that her constituents had not made an empty threat.

Igbinedion

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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 ˾ MARCH 3, 2019

LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Mr Preisdent – I Won’t Do It! So in confidence I declared to my followers and the good people of Shomolu that I will take my bath in the full glare of the public if the President, Mr. Muhammadu Buhari, was declared winner of the presidential election. My confidence was built on two platforms – Aisha Buhari’s statement that two people were ruling the country and also on the fact that social media was agog with stories and hit that we were all Atikulated. Mbok, all 75m of us on Facebook and internet were Atikulated o and as such Buhari had started packing his bags and begin to head to Daura or wherever it is he came from. My people, my confidence was bolstered when during the elections, I saw the President stretch his long neck to peep and see what or who mummy voted for. This to me was a sign of panic. I immediately went on line and reaffirmed my vow and even added that I would do it fully nude and the whole place went agog with debate. The Duke must dance naked in the public

square the APC people like Demola Adekoya screamed while the PDP people assured me that there was nothing to worry about. My people, as the results started trickling in, I began to realize that I may have boxed myself into a corner and finally the results were officially announced by this INEC people at 4am. Buhari was declared winner and immediately the enemies started calling, recommending the roads or venues for my public bath. My Oga Tunji even recommended Costain roundabout just under the bridge on the way to NB Plc. Others have said Ikorodu Road near Fadeyi while I have also heard Obalende Bus stop. I am just looking at them. Me, The Duke of Shomolu and Ajanaku of Apata, the 53rd to the British Crown and the only cousin to her majesty with Ibibio blood to come and bath in public exposing the crown jewels to mere commoners because Oshiomhole and Co perform magic win election? I laugh.

Please all of you listen carefully especially Dapo

Onogoruwa, read my lips. I WILL NO DO IT at least until Mr Atiku Abubakar makes that phone call congratulating his opponent then I will reconsider my stance and you know that one go hard. The elections have come and gone and from what we are seeing it looks like the elections were very far from ‘free and fair’. PDP has stated reasons for rejection and have gone ahead to indicate their desire to head to the courts. For me, let me just say that we are tired of all these old people with their archaic way of doing things. Four days to announce result, state where governor cannot vote, thousands now vote, more people voting than those who registered.

The great boys of the gutter, destroying ballot boxes and injuring and maiming people in the process and disenfranchising people and you say I should come and bath. Bath ko bath ni. Una go wait tire. Please let us all come and do and go that is those of us from 45years and above should come and go and hand over the nation to

Atiku

Tinubu

Akpabio

Ajimobi

MR. ABUBAKAR ATIKU – MY ADVICE

see how history will judge you. Leave everything to God, the peace and stability of Nigeria and the safety of all 180 million of us plus the temporary ones from Niger Republic who come in during elections and go back should be paramount in your thoughts right now. So sir, stand up, flush the toilets and don’t forget to wash your hands and use air freshener, make you no kill person and come out to your living room and stand boldly open your mouth and climb into the dizzying heights where only Awolowo, Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello, MKO Abiola and OB………. Kai that last one hang for my mouth- belong. My Lord, well done and God bless you.

underwater and before you know it come and have ‘Eze Igbo of mammy water” and be voting for Agbaje.

Nigerians should learn to mind their business and concentrate on eking out a living for themselves and families instead of bothering themselves with things they will never understand. That reporter has committed high treason and he should be careful otherwise na me go chase am commot Lagos.

Mbok someone should help advise the MD of that bank that got their own bullion vans seized by those people who were red the other day, that during interrogation, he should wear caftan with cap that has some signs on top and answer with style too, is it your own? What concern you? Show me who gave me contract? Whatever happen, to him, he should write it in his biography which he will title, ‘ the Animal Farm – that is Nigeria.’ I go buy the book. Only in Nigeria’s war against corruption. Laugh

and then you will be waiting for me to write column so you can read. Please me I don’t know how Akpabio got to this point where he cannot even win one chin chini Senatorial election in an uncommon way. What kind of uncommon defeat is this? How can he be so uncommonly treated like a common politician who if care is not taken may not even be able to win local council election in Akwa Ibom again. Well, my people have shown an uncommon principled stance against drunken aspirations, they have united against the personification of the people’s will and given Akpabio and those who sent him a bloodied red nose. I am just sitting here eating my Afang with good pounded yam and well-cooked periwinkles and laughing at him. I think he should try for the Presidency after this, that is his only route to redeem himself. This change will surely come, na small small. He don start.

MR. GODSWILL AKPABIO – AN UNCOMMON HUMILIATION

AJIMOBI – NO MORE CONSTITUTED AUTHORITY

This was a legend. He stood tall in Akwa Ibom and ruled it with a heavy hand. The man did wonders for Akwa Ibom moving it from the backwaters of rural fiefdom into the front seat of urbanization and collective self-worth.

He was god and his words were law.

The people loved him and they fell on their knees for he was their emperor.

Today, he has been totally humiliated, demystified and thrown into the rubbish bin of history. How did he get here? Mbok don’t ask me. When you people will not be reading newspapers, how will you know what is happening

You can say anything you want about this election but for me they have shown that the seeds of democratic rebellion have been sown and by the next electoral cycle they will be in full bloom. Shebi we saw some of the voting trends where people did not show respect to giants o. They voted their conscience and Irokos started dropping and falling like stubborn grass. No greater Iroko fell than the constituted authority of Oyo. The man just fell like sugar cane.

My friend and brother Lami Adekola who is gradually growing in political

Look, this is not the time to be confused. In fact, this is really not the time to be listening to all sorts of advice. I think you should lock yourself up in a toilet, pull your pants, seat on it and do a deep and careful reconnaissance of what just happened.

Think of your life, your role in our nation and the unique position that you find yourself having fought a credible and truly worthy battle against some very strong feudal forces. You have tried, you have fought long and hard and you have earned enough respect. But do you want to continue in the charade? Do you want to further subject yourself to the ridicule of a dance without music? Should you stop the music at this point? Should you pull back and continue to touch lives privately and devout the rest of your life to humanity and all that is Nigeria. If you ask me, I think your best bet is to forget this court case thing, it will not work. You will not achieve anything. Do you really think this baba wey no trust him wife, did you see the way he peeped at her paper during the elections will now come and respect court judgment make he step down? The Baba has kuku said, nobody can unseat him. You had the golden opportunity with the elections but fate thought otherwise. My leader, leave it, take the phone, call him, if you don’t have credit, I will send you N500 recharge card. You don’t need to talk too much. Don’t even greet him and if he invite you for lunch just say you are not hungry but thank him.

Just tell him one word, congrats and

BULLION VANS – ARE THEY YOUR OWN? Mbok people don’t like to mind their business o. So two bullion vans were driven into a compound in Ikoyi and one busybody reporter now left his house, took his bath, ate breakfast and told his wife he was going to work only to go to Alausa to ask this kind question? He got the answer he deserved. Wetin concern you, Baba screamed bending his neck as he spoke the way Unilag girls do when they want to ridicule their toasters. Baba did not stop there o, he even challenged the ‘boy’ which I’m sure had not paid his house rent yet to show him any government contract he had received or any government agency he had worked or been part of o. A man can do whatever he likes with his money o, he can even drive the bullion van into the lagoon to make sure these ‘Igbo’ people will not go and buy all the land

Yakubu

the next generations who are not driven by such shallow prisms like ethnicity, nepotism, tribalism and crass insensitivity and cannibalism or how else would you describe chopping off someone’s arms so she cannot vote abi is that not what we saw on video? The saga continues, this na just part two- we dey watch, PHCN never take light.

Na wa.

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MARCH 3, 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

Duke

stature from the Ogbomoso end was the first to hint me that it was looking like the Iroko would be felled. Me I did not believe o. I said let us wait and see and true to his words, the Iroko dropped and he quickly acquiesced thanking the people of Oyo State for condoning him for all these years. Well, some will say it is Ayefele’s head that caught up with him. I would say they carried the wrong ‘ebo’ to the wrong junction. It should have dropped at orita metta but he be like say na Lagos Ibadan Expressway dem drop am on the way out of Ibadan. Any ways thank you sir, you tried for Oyo people. God bless you.

DINO MELAYE – SONGS OF PRAISE ‘What shall I say unto the Lord, all I have to say is thank you Lord. Thank you Lord, thank you Lord all I have to say is thank you Lord. Mbok Dino I am going to church this Sunday for thanksgiving for you and may even pay tithe sef. As I watch you kneel down in full supplication to the Lord giving thanks and praises for your victory, I could not help but join you.

As I write, the songs keep going in my head – thank you Lord, thank you Lord, all I have to say is thank you Lord. Abi from the 600 policemen that surrounded your house, to the ones who carried you inside bus making you jump out to the ones who made you collapse in hospital, today you have been vindicated and God has shown once again that no weapon shall touch his chosen one. Ohhh mboek the songs are just coming, ‘today o, I will worship your name, today ooo I will worship your name. Mbok the war just start o, you must continue to hold tight to our father and not any godfather.

His people do not need godfather but the Holy Spirit. You will conquer, you will fly and you will not fall by the way side. Welldone bro and God bless you. Mbok where is the party o? I must come o. Me sef don suffer for you.

Banky W

Ita-Giwa

Mr. Buhari – Where is the Party?

Oga this is not time to be doing stiff and disciplinarian. You have been adjudged by your INEC to be the winner of this thing we have called election with over 15 million votes so there must be party o. It is not to be wearing starched agbada with long cap and be saying, ‘I am humbled’ that is not what we want to hear jo.

Declare abeg, the remaining Trader Moni, instruct Osinbajo to release and let’s have one big party o. Abi what else can we do? Let’s enjoy our lives and see if we will heal from the most factitious elections since the civil war. Some people say, we have been taken backwards for like 20 years, that we have lost national cohesion and that we have never been so divided since the end of the civil war. So the onus is on you to throw this party and let’s see if the wounds will be healed. I know you now, you will be saying you don’t have money.

You don’t need money abeg, the baba

in Ikoyi can release one bullion van and we can have street parties nationwide. Let’s dance and drink on your head na. Or you want to wait and see how the court cases will go. I will not accept abeg, you are the maximum ruler, since when have you been afraid of courts, na suspension go greet all the judges.

Mbok, boys have worked for you throw something them way. Me, I will send you a very reluctant congratulatory message. For me, you may have won the war but at a very huge moral loss. You have shed a huge toga of your credibility as you scratch your way back to power but then again, you should now seat down and try to be truly a national leader. Leading a push to heal the nation, and building a lasting legacy and not continue in the narrow parochial tendencies we have seen in your first term. We go talk, no problem.

BANKY W – I APOLOGISE! Please, my brother I am sorry.

Kindly forgive me for not giving you a chance, I was one of the Pharisees who did not support your vision. I even wrote a bad article against your candidacy and devoted a whole afang summit railing against you and your drive. I attended the last BBC debate at the Civic Centre and scoffed at you as you spoke laying all my disinterest at your relative inexperience and lack of depth. But you have surprised not only me but millions of Nigerians with the way you took the fight to the goliaths of this world. You have earned our respect and we look forward to working with you in building a strong

Buhari

and virile youth-based push towards self-actualization. Big English but at least you don get the message. Well done and God bless you.

SENATOR FLORENCE ITA-GIWA AND THE AFANG SOUP As the results were being reeled out by a continuous line of badly dressed INEC returning officers, I was getting

depressed. When they announced Bauchi and I saw the gap the great Buhari was giving our man, my throat just went dry. This Buhari even if it is juju, the man na hurricane o. These people for Kano, Bauchi and Katsina will just be voting for him the way, Ijaw people eat fish. That is how my phone started ringing and when I looked it was my ever so sweet Senator Florence Ita Giwa. Mbok Ekanmi where have

Bash Ali

you been? I have not spoken or seen her in a while. You know she is a beautiful person both in and out and I like having discussions on the Nigerian Project with her. Her wealth of experience and front-seat view that she brings to every discussion is usually a delight for me. But this time, she was calling to invite me to come and eat Afang at her new restaurant on Victoria Island Lagos. Look let me tell you people that there is no soup more delicious than a well-made Afang soup by an Efik woman. I am looking forward to this visit with the eagerness of a just released prisoner going on his first date. Nma please make sure dey garnish the soup with ekwong, periwinkles and unam ebot. Kai. I pity you guys that have not been invited.

You sef, go look for a title and give yourself, one of the many benefits of being the Duke of Shomolu.

BASH ALI – MANY HAPPY RETURNS I hear this legendary boxing champ is celebrating his 63rd birthday this week. What most people do not know is that I had once almost sparred with the champ at the Army Sports camp in Shomolu. He was at the peak of his career and was getting ready for one of those major bouts. He was using the sports camp as his training base.it was one of those ASUU strikes and I was home from school, so we and the gang, we used to call ourselves, hommies and led by the great Lambert Ike sauntered into the camp to watch him spar. Then it was me, Lambert, Chidi, the late Uche, Nnana, Omaks that made up the clique.

We ruled Shomolu deciding what happened and who went where. So we heard that the champ was in our hood and decided to pay him a courtesy call.

The great champ received us warmly and allowed us watch his training. Then he asked for one of us to take the ring with him. Now this was when body building was reigning and Lambert and Chidi were the kings in Shomolu then, their chest was huge with skinny legs and they walked up and down Shomolu preening and carrying all the sweet girls to the detriment of the rest of us. The bold and confident Lambert was the one who took up the challenge. They gagged him up and without any prior training except the small small street boxing in our Morocco area, lambert withstood the onslaught from the world champion for about ten minutes earning everybody’s respect. The champ was humble and very accommodating. We hung out with him that day and since then Lambart became our leader for life.

Happy birthday champ and many more years. Sorry I could not come to Ikotun, Uncle Tayo go don vex but no problem you are the people’s champ and you are celebrated. God bless.

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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 ˾ MARCH 3, 2019

NEWSXTRA APP Asks Court to Disqualify Nwosu from Imo Governorship Race A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has been urged to disqualify Ugwumba Uche Nwosu from participating in the forthcoming governorship election in Imo State.

This is sequel to an application brought by the Action Peoples Party (APP) against Nwosu alleging that he was nominated by two different political parties in violation of the Electoral Act.

The court has directed the plaintiffs, APP and Uche Nnadi, to serve Nwosu with the originating process for him to come and show cause why he should not be disqualified from further participation in the Imo governorship election.

The court, however, refused the plaintiffs’ application for an order compelling the Independent National

Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop recognising Nwosu as a candidate.

Instead, the court directed that the originating process be served on Nwosu by advertising same in a national newspaper, and adjourned the case to March 8 for definite hearing.

The plaintiffs stated that in October 2018, Nwosu submitted a nomination form to

Pension Scheme Should Be Structured to Support Macro-Economic reform, Say Ambode, UNILAG Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, UNILAG, Prof.

Oluwatoyin Ogundipe have explained how contributory pension scheme, (CPS) can help in supporting the nation’s macro-economic reform.

They made the remarks at a two-day workshop for civil servants in Ikeja, Lagos, where they emphasised the strategic significance of the scheme to the national economy.

At the workshop, Ambode said an area in which the economy stood to benefit from the CPS law was through the

scheme’s ability to support the overall macro-economic policies of reform.

Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Benson Oke said the last two decades had witnessed a growing support of the idea that enterprises were better run by private individuals and that the role of government should be limited to providing a conducive regulatory and institutional framework that will enable the private sector to thrive.

“Many countries around the world have adopted

privatization as an avenue for reform and have often employed similar laws to support the process. The contributory pension scheme and its enabling legal regime will thus facilitate such reforms better than the prior arrangement.”

According to him, the law would continue to stem further growth of pension obligations and provide a platform for addressing this liability, as well as imposed fiscal discipline in the budgetary process because pension obligations would be accurately determined.

INEC as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 Imo State governorship election.

They said Nwosu further submitted two valid court orders made by the High Court of FCT, Abuja, and Federal High Court, Owerri, recognising him as the authentic candidate of the APC in the Imo governorship election.

While he continued to hold

on to his nomination as APC candidate, as ordered by the court, the plaintiffs claimed Nwosu also submitted another nomination form to INEC to the effect that he had been nominated by the Action Alliance (AA) as its candidate for the same election.

They stated that by the provisions of Section 37 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), multiple nomination led

to automatic disqualification of the candidate. Based on that provision, the plaintiffs want the court to compel INEC to disqualify Nwosu.

Section 37 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides that where a candidate knowingly allows himself to be nominated by more than one political party and or in more than one constituency, his nomination shall be void.

Group Cautions NLC against Occupy Ogun Protest Olaseni Durojaiye A pro-democracy group, the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), has criticized the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for calling out the Ogun State workforce on a protest on the eve of a major election.

It described the planned labour protest as “patently political” and a brazen, unabashed tactic to sway the electorate in favour of a political party.

The advocacy group, according to a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Ganiyu Lasisi, described the protest fixed for Tuesday and planned to snowball into

full-blown industrial action as “premeditated and designed to arm-twist Governor Ibikunle Amosun into a self-serving political course, especially coming on the heels of alleged nocturnal meetings of union leaders with some politicians.”

According to Lasisi, “The industrial action is not about non payment of salary, as no worker is being owed salary by the Amosun administration.

This agitation can only be politically-induced as no reasonable union would call out workers on a strike in order to make a political statement, which is the manifest intent of the current agitation. This goes against the

provisions of Trade Dispute Act and Civil Service Rules.”

Lasisi said the Organised Labour, which honoured Governor Ibikunle Amosun at the national level in 2016 with the Excellence Award in Leadership in recognition of his being labour-friendly, should not be seen to recant so soon, noting that Labour should not simultaneously approbate and reprobate.

“At the risk of being dubbed the government mouthpiece, we hasten to say that the current government of Ibikunle Amosun pays above the minimum living wage and we stand to be corrected.

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

AN EVENING OF HONOUR FOR BISI SILVA PAGE 71

03.03.2019

ADEREMI-IBITOLA'S PATH TO SELF-DISCOVERY Ibitola

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 ˾ MARCH 3, 2019

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ARTS & REVIEW\\VISUAL ARTS

ADEREMI-IBITOLA’S PATH TO SELF-DISCOVERY Winning the coveted Art X prize with Access 2018 with an interactive art installation has been a stepping stone for Bolatito Aderemi-Ibitola who assiduously refines her art through a series of art residencies, writes Yinka Olatunbosun

F

or hours, she was on her feet at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos which is the traditional venue ofArt X Lagos. That was November 2018, being the second time we met. The first time was in Ikoyi where she was declared the 2018 winner of ‘Art X Prize withAccess’. She was demonstrating how her interactive art installation works for the audience and relishing the assortment of reactions that followed. BolatitoAderemi-Ibitola is an unassuming artist with a quiet strength that has catapulted her art across the borders.

Recently, she partook in an art residency in Kumasi, Ghana and the Nigerian media has been fascinated by the project, which she spoke freely about during this electronic interview. The value she places on human interaction is beyond her art. She wanted to be as conversational as possible even in the absence of a face-to-face meeting.

She would later reveal that the residency in Kumasi, Ghana was organised as the Performance International Artists Residency, PIAR. “The focus of the residency is performance art and performative objects,” she began. “What I mean by that is that things operate in time and are moving. That’s the medium I like to work in. At the residency, I focused not just on performing but on how things fan perform without me or the body or human experience.”

Two main projects stood out in the residency for her.

“One was a large performance installation that had multiple aspects to it and I will just break that down for you now.”

Aderemi-Ibitola made a performative sculpture out of biodegradable materials such as black soap and some wood and put it in an uncompleted building for a special outcome.

“I hope that it will interact with this environment which it did. After a few days, you could see the change in the exterior of the sculpture. The piece is called, ‘Waiting for Rain’. When it rained, the object will change even more.

“A part of that installation was its performance aspect. When it rained, I left instructions for other performance artists to partake in that project so they were meant to attend to that body and carry out the instructions that I had left for them.”

Aderemi-Ibitola’s works are better seen than imagined. That human experience is what will drive people to galleries and exhibitions because they will encounter an unusual moment that attests to super creativity.

She found the same energy in Taiwo Aiyedogbon, another Nigerian artist at the residency in Kumasi with whom she developed a collaborative piece, purely experimental using glass pieces and digital art form.

“I took some glass pieces, thinking about reflection and things,” she disclosed. “Some glass pieces that not only reflected the image but refracted and took sounds that we had collected and some digital capture and emotional capture and live stream projected through the room with some video elements as well. The idea of the installation is that you enter into a space where you have multiple reflections of yourself, whether through the sequence that you are hearing and

Wash Me Clean to I'm Whole Once Again, a performance art by Aderemi-Ibitola

the images that you are seeing in real time, reflecting through the pieces of glass. You’re seeing a projection of yourself through videos that were captured live by the way. And you will expect to hear secrets of yours and others in the space.”

That brought to mind the act of surveillance.

Perhaps, potential collectors may see the dual function of her art installation in terms of aesthetics and functionality. This human-sensitive installation can easily serve as a human tracking tool. That she couldn’t dispute.

“The part that was collaborative is that I took the sound that were gathered from Taiwo's performance project. After gathering, I put them into the performance installation. I had a wonderful experience, working primarily with other African artists, a lot of them from Ghana.”

The host known as Crazinist Artist (Va- Bene Elikem Fiatsi) is a performance artist working in gender. He is also an activist, speaking about ‘trans’ issues.

“Seeing the way he operates in the space motivates me to think more politically about my work and seeing how he had taken the step forward from being an artist to an activist was inspiring,” she said.

“For all of us as performance artists, it was a great opportunity to be working in his space and studio and just getting ideas from him.”

After a month working at the residency, she felt ready and excited to do more work. It is indeed a season of residencies for the young artist. The next

residency for her now is supported by ART X. It is at Gasworks, an arts gallery in South East London.

“For me, that’s going to be amplifying the work that I already started in Kumasi,” she said, excitedly.

Right now, her work is influenced by the philosophy of decay and growth, the concept of regeneration and how these concepts are intertwined.

“In Kumasi, I was looking at how objects were interacting with their environment,” she explained. “The piece was decaying right in front of us and that’s why it was changing colours and that can also be read as growth or movement. That’s the direction my work is going now. I look at how the society interacts with the different elements and how people are thinking about our government. The Nigerian government is stifled by different elements, taken over by formal or non-formal agents. I am looking at how the people on the streets are interacting with these agents.”

Along with her studio practice, AderemiIbitola loves to do in-depth research that will crystallise into material works. Her research takes different dimensions. They can be developed from everyday conversations, interviews and direct experience of a particular phenomenon.

“I’m moving away from an artist-scholar to an

interested citizen to see how these spaces of corruption and banality are affecting us everyday. This is making me want to do something different. I’ve been talking to a lot of people and those conversations can really influence my work in art.”

Bridging the gap between aesthetics and art appreciation has been the concern of art critics since the evolution of interactive art in the contemporary art scene. While some collectors are open to new ideas, some prefer the conventional art pieces and keep a distance from the growing digital art forms.

Aderemi-Ibitola argued that the disconnect doesn’t exist only for her kind of art.

“I don’t know if this is really about interactive art and digital art. I think It is art in general or performance art. For performance art, it is appearing as a phenomenon and it’s a different kind of surprise. It’s a different event that creates a kind of bewilderment; that cluelessness and that surprise with which people enter into my work; that process of discovery is part of my work. It’s part of the experience that I’m trying to make for the viewer. My work is nothing without someone to interact with it. It doesn’t do anything unless someone’s there. Like my digital installation in Kumasi, if nobody is there, the piece does not come alive. It turns on when there is movement. It’s a surprise when you are arriving in a space and then you see a digital rendering of yourself – an actual reflection of yourself. That changes the way you move. I do almost nothing to bridge the gap.”

Looking back at Kumasi, Aderemi-Ibitola admitted that the city is not as cosmopolitan as the part of Lagos where she lives and works. In spite of that, there are certain similarities in Lagos and Kumasi that created a sense of déjà-vu.

“The way people sell and how their wares are arranged is like the way it is in Lagos markets.

People still walk around in their traditional clothes and they are proud of their history and legacy.

“With Kumasi, there were more echoes of the Asanti tribes and their legacy all over the place.

Everywhere you turn, you will see the Adinkra symbols. Even Within the church, you find Adinkra symbols,” she recounted.

Residencies usually allow the artists the time to experiment with less distractions. That was the same story for Aderemi-Ibitola. In Lagos, she would get assistants to build large installations but at the residency in Kumasi, there was no such luxury. All she had was her hammer, nails and the will power.

That independent moment made a significant impact on her personal work ethics.

Aderemi-Ibitola is also a beneficiary of the late art curator, Bisi Silva. Whilst working on a theatre art project with Ifeoma Fafunwa called Street of Naija, she was in dire need of a space for rehearsals when the CCA came to mind.

“Bisi Silva, without hesitation, offered the space for us to do what we needed to do,” she recalled.

“I think that sums up her legacy. She always gave others room to create.

“The stories we shared and the discoveries we made couldn’t have been done without the generosity of Silva. The CCA library has unique books that you can’t find elsewhere and people's stories are preserved in the library. Anyone would tell you that it was a huge loss. I’m thankful for all she did for us all.”

She is preparing for the UK art Residency slated for April.

AWARDS

INTERSWITCH ANNOUNCES HEADLINE SPONSORSHIP OF ‘ONE AFRICA MUSIC FEST’

O

ne Africa Music Fest has announced its first-ever headline sponsorship with Interswitch, highlighting a shared commitment of taking the best of Africa to the world.

The multi-faceted partnership between the two organisations was solidified on Wednesday, February 13. One Africa Music Fest and Interswitch have come together to engage customers through entertainment and lifestyle. Speaking on Interswitch’s partnership with One Africa Global, Mitchell Elegbe,

Group CEO of Interswitch remarked that “Africa is a youthful population and we are extremely proud of the renaissance that has been witnessed, notably in the entertainment sector, particularly with our music, which has boomed and garnered global acclaim in recent years on the strength of sheer resilience and a spirit of enterprise. This is mirrored by the growing influence of the One Africa Music platform, and as an integrated payment brand focused on enabling commerce and wealth-creation in African markets, we remain relentless in our quest to actively engage and reward our consumers across the continent, leveraging platforms that best resonate with their

identified passion-points, such as the One Africa Music Fest.”

Similarly commenting on the development, Paul Okoye, CEO, One Africa Global/One Africa Music Fest said “It’s been my life’s mission to showcase Africa to the World, I am excited and equally proud to announce this partnership! As two proudly African brands united by a common vision to showcase the very best of what Africa has got to offer, we are on a journey to take Africa to the world and I am happy it is with Interswitch and its flagship consumer brand, Quickteller”

This year, the Interswitch One Africa Music Fest will take place in New York on August 10 at The Ford Amphitheatre, in London on August 24 at The SSE Arena, Wembley, and in Dubai on November 15 at the Festival Arena, Festival city Dubai.

Interswitch, through its consumer brands specifically Quickteller, an e-commerce and electronic payment platform, will be running promotional campaigns for new customers to stand a chance to win an all-expense paid trip to any of the Interswitch One Africa Music Fest events happening in New York, London and Dubai.

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ARTS & REVIEW\\TRIBUTE

Cast of Hear Word led by Ifeoma Fafunwa in tribute to Silva

AN EVENING OF HONOUR FOR BISI SILVA Yinka Olatunbosun

A

great number of members of the art community in Lagos bade farewell to the outstanding curator and global citizen, Bisi Silva in a solemn ceremony that followed her funeral service last Thursday. The black theme for the outdoor event was an indicator of the general mood of many who considered her death as untimely and a monumental loss to the art scene, both domestic and international.

In celebrating her life and times, an exhibition of memorabalia from some of the art projects curated by Bisi Silva was staged at the Freedom Park, Lagos Island by the Centre for Contemporary Arts, an organisation that she founded about a decade ago.

A bicycle wheel installation titled, “Richardson Ovbiebo's Clan" was quite a catch within the white walls of the exhibition hall. The work was described as a continuation of the artist's interest in social economies found in Lagos.

Beneath the glass against the wall were the paper clippings- a pot-pourri of programme notes and posters from past exhibitions curated by Silva as well as CCA's tenth anniversary in December, 2018. These exhibitions include El-Anatsui at 70 exhibition titled, “Playing with Chance", Kelani Abass' solo exhibition titled, “Asiko” which featured paintings and installations- some of which were on display.

Additionally, works from artists, Ndidi Dike and Taiye Idaho were reminders of the late curator’s interest in developing individual artists, allowing each to have a distinct voice.

CCA's contribution to the art knowledge economy under the watch of Silva was articulated through a showcase of the literary pieces that had been published by the Centre.

One of them is J.D. Okhai Ojeikere’s book.

With culture activist, Jahman Anikulapo as the compere for the evening of tributes, the memories of the late curator were evoked through a series of tributes and performances. The music interlude was a medley of eclectic collections which were symbolic of the cosmopolitan lifestyle that Silva lived.

Sinmidele Adesanya, the founder of Mydrim Gallery in Lagos was the first to pay tributes to Silva. Describing the late curator as her friend and chief consultant, she chronicled their friendship and journey through art discoveries.

“She made me travel the world. Bisi was the brain behind the Institute of Visual Arts and Culture. She made life so interesting. She organised an art workshop at the Ahmadu Bello University and brought speakers from all over the world to broaden the understanding of art,” she revealed.

Adesanya also recounted Silva's last moments in Lagos after a protracted battle with cancer.

“She was an eternal optimist. She didn’t let the illness wear her down. She kept working. No one can tell the story of the visual arts in Nigeria without the mention of Bisi Silva,” she said in an emotional speech.

That same emotion welled up in another leading art curator, Sandra Mbanefo-Obiago during her speech where she described Silva as “a star”. Being a widely travelled curator as well, she understood how Silva's international repute travelled ahead of many curators from Nigeria. She ended her tribute on a very touching note.

“I’m so honoured. I’m so proud and I’m so empty,” she said.

Nothing compares to the priceless tribute from Mojibafe Oladunjoye, a nephew to Silva who said he’d

keep his tribute short as his late aunt would have wanted.

Describing her as “Ajala traveller" and “dynamic thinker", he made some highlights of the lessons he learnt from his late aunt.

“Be good to people. Show empathy. She taught me how to read. She’s the only one I know who reads junk mails,” he recalled.

He switched to French while reading a quote from Helen Keller which roughly means, “All that we deeply love becomes a part of us.”

Next, it was the turn of artists, who had enjoyed Silva's mentorship. One of them, Taiye Idahor gave Silva the credit for building her self-confidence as an artist.

“Bisi taught me how to talk. She made me have the confidence that I have today. I worked with her part-time and then full-time,” she said.

Speaking for the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), the cultural activist, Toyin Akinosho recalled Silva's biting commentary in her informed criticisms of Nigerian art.

After the goodwill messages from Arterial Network in Harare, the cast of “Hear Word" led by Ifeoma Fafunwa paid homage to the lost curator in the presence of the curator’s sister and actress, Joke Silva.

A documentary movie on Bisi Silva directed by Remi Vaughan-Richards was screened after the audience had joined Seun Olota and his team in performing Frank Sinatra's “My Way”.

AUCTION ROMISICHEI’SSTRENGTHOFPURPOSEEMERGES ARTHOUSEAFFORDABLEAUCTION’STOP-SELLER Yinka Olatunbosun

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wo Rom Isichei’s oil on boards, titled “Strength of Purpose” I and II emerged the top-selling works at the Arthouse Contemporary’s fourth annual Affordable Art Auction held on February 21, at the Kia Showroom, Lagos. The works sold for N 1,150,000 and N 1,116,250, respectively. Closely trailing these Isichei’s works at an impressive N 1,057,500 was Pita Ohiwerei’s 1999 oil on canvas “No Woman No Cry”.

Also, Bunmi Batatunde’s bronze sculpture, “Possibilities”, sold for N1,034,000, while Twins Seven Seven’s “The Great Fisherman”, a mixed media on board from 2001, sold for N 998,750.

The auction, which featured 97 lots from emerging and established artists, hauled in a total of NGN 27,047,750 during the evening’s sale.

This edition expectedly also featured charity lots by A. Akande, George Edozie, Nwachukwu Ike and Chibuike Uzoma, in support of the Arthouse Foundation, the non-profit

artist residency programme in Lagos, raising a total of N 1,280,000. The proceeds from these charity lots will go directly to supporting the programmes of the Arthouse Foundation, including its residencies, workshops, talks and public events.

The Affordable Art Auction aims to engage new collectors with all works of art estimated below one million naira. As the sister edition to the May and November auctions, the Affordable Art Auction features artworks that are scaled to an affordable and accessible price point.

The Affordable Art Auction was generously supported

by Kia Motors, Le Connaisseur, Chocolat Royal, 7UP and The Guardian.

Founded in 2007, Arthouse Contemporary is an international auction house that specialises in modern and contemporary art from West Africa.

Arthouse Contemporary, which has announced its call for entries for its 22nd auction, aims to create awareness of the scope of contemporary art in the region, encourage international recognition towards its talented artists and strengthen the economy of its art market.

Sandra Mbanefo-Obiago at the event

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MARCH 3, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

with RenoOmokri THE ALTERNATIVE Myths Busted by the 2019 Nigerian Presidential Elections

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he 2019 elections have come and gone. The riggers have rigged and exposed their fabled integrity as a myth, and the cheated have declared their position.

But there are many things that have been brought to the fore by this election. A pattern that has exposed inconvenient truths in Nigeria’s body politics. But as the case a lot of times, we as a people, are more likely to emote than to reason.

Thus, these patterns are showing up and are hardly noticed by Nigerians, but they are there and they are what they are.

One of the myths that the consistent patterns of elections in Nigeria puts to lie is the myth about our population.

2015 was a highly contested election and 2019 did not disappoint. Some might say it was even keener than 2015. In both, Nigeria was so mobilised, that it almost looked as if we were preparing for war, rather than elections. People were charged.

Both elections trended on Twitter and Google worldwide and not just in Nigeria. Yet in both instances, less than 30 million people voted.

Nigeria’s population is NOT 190 million. Our population is exaggerated because of the politics we play. UK has a population of 66 million and 33 million voted in Brexit. How come Nigeria, with 190 million population consistently has less than 30 million voters in highly contested elections?

Consider that only slightly more people (5.5 million) voted in Nigeria’s February Presidential elections than the number that voted in Egypt’s Presidential elections that returned Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as President. Yet, we are expected to believe our population is twice that of Egypt’s Mind you, the 28 million people who ‘voted’ in Nigeria, consist of perhaps 20 million real people and maybe 8 million ‘ghost voters’. When you consider this fact, you will see that we have just about the same electorate as Egypt. Let’s stop deceiving ourselves that we are 190 million people The reason why ALL the elections in Nigeria since 1999 have registered low voter turnouts (always less than 50%), is not because people do not want to vote. It is because the people who are expected to vote do not exist. We exaggerate our population like we do almost every other thing in Nigeria.

Get the Bank Verification Number data from the CBN, which is available online and you would notice that outside of Lagos, BVN enrolment does not correspond to population figures for allegedly populated states. Even Lagos’ enrolment does not correspond, but it is less suspicious.

I do not know how much we are. But I know how much we are not. It is almost certainly a fact that our population is not 190 million. That population figure is a myth and as long as we play our brand of Nigerian politics, we will never know our true population.

That is one myth busted. Another myth is the legend that President Buhari is popular in Nigeria. This election proves that to be false even with the inflated numbers. And I will let the votes speak for themselves.

The total votes casted for the two main parties in the 17 Southern states were 9,195,201. PDP had 5,703,387 even with the voter suppression in Akwa-Ibom, Delta and Rivers. APC had 3,491,814. This data reveals that Buhari is NOT popular in the South. He IS a regional leader.

If Southern Nigeria were like Zanzibar, which chooses its own President separately from the rest of Tanzania (that is how the

Yakubu Tanzanian Constitution works), Buhari and the APC would be minorities. Buhari is a Northern leader, not a Nigerian leader.

And then even in the North of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari is popular. True. But his popularity is concentrated in the Northwest and Northeast. And that popularity is tied to ethnicity and religion, not to capacity and vision. The votes prove this.

The total votes cast for the two main parties In nineteen Northern States is 16,847,403 with the APC getting 11,547,809, while PDP got 5,299,594. Almost all of Buhari’s Northern votes were from the NW/NE. In Seventeen years, Buhari has not been able to extend his popularity beyond these zones.

If Southern Nigeria were like Zanzibar, which chooses its own President separately from the rest of Tanzania (that is how the Tanzanian Constitution works), Buhari and the APC would be minorities. Buhari is a Northern leader, not a Nigerian leader.

But perhaps my best take from the election is the behaviour of voters in the Southwest and what that means for Nigeria going forward, especially when you take into consideration that as the Southwest goes, so goes the nation, in terms of trends.

The Yorubas of the Southwest proved again that they are the most sophisticated voters in Nigeria. This election was fraught with massive rigging, but there is redemption. Notice how Yoruba voters gave their votes to PDP even though APC has a Yoruba Vice President?

I doff my hat to the Yoruba nation. They are not a tribalistic people. By voting for an Igbo PDP Vice President even when

APC had a Yoruba Vice President, they showed political maturity. And it is unfair to them to say it was Igbos in the SW that gave the PDP this 50%. PDP won in Oyo and Ondo, solid monolithic Yoruba States, The voting pattern of the Yoruba in this election shows that merit is more important to them than ethnicity. Other regions have to learn from them. In terms of political maturity and tolerance, they are light years ahead of other regions of Nigeria.

Don’t allow any separatist leader to deceive you that Yorubas hate Igbos. Look at the facts. The behaviour of the Yoruba this election season should be appreciated by the SE. Drop whatever animosity you have against the Yoruba.

By their voting pattern in this election, the Yoruba proved that when they see competence, they ignore tribe. Let us learn how to play politics from the SW. Don’t confuse the desperation of Bola Tinubu with the behaviour of the Yoruba this election.

They voted their conscience. They did not vote their tribe. I am so impressed that almost 50% of them voted for Peter Obi over Yemi Osinbajo. I acquired a new respect for them.

The Igbo of the Southeast would do well to learn from the SW. They had a good hand in this election, but they did not post it well and a lot of the blame goes to Nnamdi Kanu.

I saw his tweet condemning foreign election observers and it was obvious to me that like his arch nemesis, Muhammadu Buhari, Nnamdi Kanu is blame focused rather than solution centred.

Nnamdi Kanu shouldnt heap blame on foreign observers.

True, the APC rigged. But Nnamdi has his share of massive blame on how this election turned out. His unwise call for election boycott dampened voter enthusiasm in the SE. Yes, he called it off, but the damage was done. Why did he make such a move? The ONLY person it helped was Buhari. It did not help Atiku Abubakar and it certainly DID NOT help the Igbos.

Reno’s Nuggets There are 2 big scams in the world. The first scam is the belief that pain killers actually kill pain. No they don’t. They just manage pain. The second is the belief that a salary can cure poverty. No it doesn’t. It just manages poverty. Stop being scammed. When a rat is eating your toes, it blows air on it so you dont feel pain till it is too late. You job is the rat. Your salary is the air. Your sack is the time when it is too late. Salary cant make you rich. Save your toes. kill the rat by starting your own business #RenosNuggets

Reno’s Darts Dear President Buhari, Congratulations on your stolen mandate. You DID NOT win an election. You won a selection, but lost integrity. I congratulate you for your theft. If God spares my life and yours, I will torment you every step of the way. Congrats for revealing your true nature. There is now no difference between you and the politicians you look down on with disdain. You are corrupt, like them. You rig, like them (only less intelligently). Unlike them, you pretend to be a saint.

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.

PERSPECTIVE

Atunwa Versus Abdulrahman:The Rising StarVersus the Dark Sheep Abdullahi Babako

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his is a tale of two leaders, and it is one that has been told throughout history in many forms. It is a tale of hard work versus exploitation; merit versus nepotism; competence versus ineptitude, and experience pitted against cluelessness.

It is a tale of an achiever, placed side-by-side against a non-starter. It is an account of a peoplecentred leader, competing against a merciless businessman. It is also a story about choice and human nature. This is Kwara’s story as we head into the March 9, 2019 general elections.

Please, permit me to tell you how it goes.

Born on 17th October 1969, Rt. Honourable Razak Atunwa, the candidate for Kwara State Governor on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), served as a Commissioner in five different Ministries between the years 2005 and 2011, following which, he became the Honourable Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly.

A United Kingdom-trained lawyer, Atunwa, who currently represents Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency, in the 8th National Assembly, also has a Masters of Law Degree in Public International Law, a distinction that earned him his appointment as the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Justice, where he has spearheaded several oversight initiatives.

Known fondly by the moniker, “Atunwa One”, throughout his life in the public service, the former Speaker has presented himself as an approachable, inspiring and empathetic leader, who always puts

representing Oke-Ero/Isin/Irepodun/Ekiti Federal Constituency the needs of his constituents above his own. of Kwara State in the National Assembly. Makanjuola, a lawyer, On the other hand, Atunwa’s opponent, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman, champions has also served as the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Senate President and as the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture in his main selling-point as being a son of the first Northern lawyer the Sixth National Assembly, where he pushed for the creation and in Nigeria, Alhaji A.G. F. Abdulrazaq (SAN). An alleged secondary school graduate — whose credentials are still the topic of controversy establishment of a National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) — in order to guarantee the fundamental right to food of all citizens. in the public arena — Abdulrahman came up by utilising the Alabi, who is Abdulrahman’s running mate, has been a close connections of his family to start a petroleum portfolio business that confidant of the Abdulrazaq family for many years, while also has been involved in several contentious dealings over the years. serving as the front-man of their fast-food chain, Drumstix. Alabi, a Abdulrahman, who presents himself as an oil magnate to the bosom friend of Isiaka Abdulrazaq, the younger brother of Abdulpublic, acquired his wealth through First Fuels Ltd., a company that rahman, was selected as the prospective deputy governor, based on was largely stagnant after the 2011 fuel subsidy probes that exposed a promise by Isiaka to help fund his elder brother’s campaign with billions of dollars in corruption in Nigeria’s oil sector. However, after at least N5billion. According to credible reports from Kwara APC President Muhammadu Buhari came into power in 2015, Abdulrahinsiders, Alabi’s selection as running mate to Abdulrahman, created man’s younger brother, Isiaka Abdulrazaq, became the Chief friction in the party, as it nullified the preferred candidates of the Financial Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). This development led to the resuscitation of First Fuels Ltd., Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, for the deputy governorship seat. which, alongside 49 other companies, participated in NNPC’s illegal While Atunwa functions on consensus in decision-making, taking awards of over $25billion in contracts without due process. into account the varying perspectives of all stakeholders in any The gap in experience between both candidates is further process, Abdulrahman, has been called shrewd, unforgiving and expanded by the choices of their running-mates in the forthcoming vindictive. The whispers of his business-dealings with several notable gubernatorial elections. Knowing that the development of Kwara Nigerians in the oil sector are the stuff of dark folktales, as he is State requires competent hands at all levels, after consultations with believed to employ underhanded methods to collect bad debts. party stakeholders, Atunwa chose Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola as his Deputy, while Abdulrahman chose his younger brother’s best friend, ––Babako is a resident of Ilorin Mr. Kayode Alabi, as his own Deputy.

Known as a silent performer who gets things done, Hon. (Reader should See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com) Makanjuola of the PDP, is a two-time Honourable Member

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

IN THE ARENA

The Road to Next Level Presidential and national assembly elections over, focus is now on President Muhammadu Buhari’s next level agenda, writes Olawale Olaleye

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t was not a surprise that the path to the February 23 presidential and national assembly elections was paved with tension and apprehension and eventually resulted in serious violence in many parts of the country. Some of the projections ahead of the elections had suggested that the elections, particularly, the presidential bout would be tight and tough and indeed, it turned out so.

That may just be the end of the first phase of the struggle for the nation’s top job. It’s been signed, sealed and delivered with the declaration of Muhammadu Buhari as the presidentelect. However, the controversial outcome of that phase had birthed yet the second one, albeit not unexpectedly and that is the legitimate right of the opposition to challenge the outcome.

Presidential standard bearer of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had already gone to court, having declared the elections as the worst in the history of the country, comparable to none, he added.

But whilst the nation starts to follow through with the drama of the pending legal fireworks, it is trite to pay attention to the current challenge, which is, looking up to the promises of the ‘next level agenda’ as propounded by the duo of Buhari and his lieutenant, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

Although the president had given an insight into his second term in office, when he said “my last lap of four years will be tough”, that may not have entirely the inherent idea behind the next level.

Buhari, who spoke while hosting the Federal Executive Council (FEC) explained that his second term would be tough, because Nigerians are easily forgetful!

He reckoned insisted that the next four years of his government would face the economy very squarely because of the huge unemployment rate bedeviling the country, which he said had become a huge problem to everybody.

Suffice it to say, however, that in 2015, the change movement rode to power on the tripod of Security, Economy and Corruption, which screamed CHANGE. The narrative at the time suited the mood of the nation and sold like wildfire.

There was no debating the nation’s deteriorating security situation, not made easy by staggering corruption, which resulted in an otherwise struggling economy.

Therefore, cashing in on the situation was not only smart at the time; it was the only route to Aso Rock.

But because the government hardly did well in those three boxes in the first term, the need for a change, of course, became imperative since it could not run confidently and effectively on its own record.

Ahead of the elections penultimate Saturday, the government and ruling party ran on five agenda, captured in its document titled the “next level”. They are one, jobs; two, infrastructure; three, business, entrepreneurship development; four, Human Capital Enhancement Services – Healthcare, Education and five, political inclusion.

Although a few of these projections already sit well with some of the key performance indicators of the government in the nearly four years that it’s been in power, the need to expand and contour them to suit the new thinking is the

focus now.

This much the president-elect alluded to in his acceptance speech at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat. He sought a reunification of the country by urging his supporters not to gloat over the PDP defeat, which is already being challenged, and at the same time promised inclusiveness in the coming dispensation.

His words: “I thank the millions of Nigerians, who voted to re-elect me as your president for the next four years.

I am deeply humbled and profoundly grateful to you for judging me worthy of continuing to serve you and for your peaceful conduct.”

While noting that the elections were relatively peaceful, he affirmed that troublemakers in a handful of states attempted to disrupt an otherwise orderly process, and maintained that the security agencies would bring to justice all those arrested in the process.

“I am very sad at the grievous loss of lives during these elections. Security agencies will step up their efforts to protect voters in the forthcoming State elections,” he said, adding that, “I would like to commend our security agencies, as severely overstretched as they are, for handling the difficult task of securing the country during the election period.”

In appealing to his supporters not gloat or desist from

humiliating the opposition, Buhari said, “I will like to make a special appeal to my supporters not to gloat or humiliate the opposition. Victory is enough reward for your efforts”, even as he thanked both the “Domestic and International observers for contributing to the success of our elections and for their interest in our country and our developing democracy.”

In his many promises, he reiterated that “The new administration will intensify its efforts in Security, Restructuring the Economy and Fighting Corruption. We have laid down the foundation and we are committed to seeing matters to the end. We will strive to strengthen our unity and inclusiveness so that no section or group will feel left behind or left out,” he stated.

Fair or not, the first round of the elections is over in spite of its many and staggering imperfections, but going forward, the need to heal the country of her bitter division and properly position her within the development challenges and needs have become inevitable.

Importantly, it is pertinent to stress that the dust so far raised by the outcome of last Saturday’s election is not in haste to settle, the reason government must look beyond the immediate distractions and hit the ground running without any inhibition, knowing full well that the next four years would be tough.

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

How Not to Tell the Yakubu Story

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INEC Chairman, Yakubu

rom his first assignment as the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to his most critical challenge being the elections of February 23, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has hardly impressed anyone, not on account of his tongue or creed, but the capacity to effectively deliver on a task he knew would challenge him nearly four years ago.

From his field staff to his Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) across the federation and the professors contracted as collation officers, INEC stinks and the stench

oozing out of its corner smells just one thing: incompetence. When professors are unable to deal with numbers at such critical occasion year in, year out, you dare to wonder what performance they put up at their respective posts from where they were outsourced.

But again, what do you expect of the INEC leadership, the one offensively said to have been casually recommended by the president’s age-long photographer? It is only compassionate to forgive his inadequacies but not condone any more of much, going forward. Penultimate Saturday’s elections not only fell short of expectations, they reduced significantly the gains of the 2015 episode.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MARCH 3, 2019

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BRIEFINGNOTES For Atiku, the Battle Has Just Begun Result of the February 23 presidential election is a no retreat, no surrender option for the PDP and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, writes Olaseni Durojaiye

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s reactions continue to trail the 2019 presidential election, which many including foreign and local observers have described as keenly contested, much is still desired in the country’s electoral process, amid growing concerns.

And for reasons, which include the fact that the two main contenders – President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – are Muslim Fulani brothers from the North of the country, the election was unusually tough and tight.

Some of the reactions that have so far typified the outcome of the elections were calls on the PDP candidate not to challenge Buhari’s victory, concede defeat and congratulate the winner in order for the country to move on. However, the decision by the opposition PDP and Atiku to challenge the outcome of the election in the courts may have some merits, at least, for the reasons of deepening the nation’s democracy.

On a personal note, too, it may be unfair on Atiku given that even President Buhari challenged the outcomes of the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections in the courts, up to the Supreme Court and never at any of the occasions congratulated the winner. Of course, President Buhari’s resort to that course has advanced the cause of democracy in the land. So, why not if Atiku decided to tow the same course?

Analysts contended that it is not enough to dissuade the PDP and Atiku from embracing that cause on the basis of the avalanche of commendations that have trailed the elections or the sea of congratulatory messages to President Atiku Buhari from friendly nations across the globe.

A statement from the UK’s Minister of State for Africa, Harriett Baldwin, said the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was consistent with Parallel Voters Tabulation (PVT) employed by the civil society for the election even as it urged aggrieved parties to seek redress within the ambits of the law while ensuring peace and harmony.

Baldwin said through the poll, “The Nigerian people have demonstrated resilience and a commitment to democracy,” adding that “We urge any party or individual, who wishes to challenge the process to do so peacefully and through the appropriate legal channel and we encourage Nigerian authorities to examine all allegations of wrongdoing carefully, and take the necessary action against individuals found responsible.

Instructively, Baldwin, in the statement noted that “No one should die in the exercise of their democratic rights,” even as she pledged “the UK’s contribution “to support Nigeria and its civil society in drawing lessons from these elections and strengthening its democracy.”

Besides the UK, some African leaders also congratulated Buhari. King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco described Buhari’s victory as an affirmation of the level of confidence Nigerians have in their president and promised to work with him to advance the interests of both countries. In the same vein, President Alpha Omar Conde of Guinea extended his congratulations, describing the re-election of Buhari as a dose of hope for the West African region.

It is noteworthy that the superlative and the congratulatory messages have not however drowned the discourse in the polity bordering on some of the worst forms of electoral shenanigans that were recorded during the elections.

Rather, many commentators and stakeholders lamented the uncomplimentary incidence of violence, brazen intimidations, and allegations of high profile rigging, underage voters as well as compromising electoral and security personnel.

For instance, the PDP running mate, Mr. Peter Obi noted that a massive eight million Igbos were disenfranchised during the presidential election. The fact that the mathematics of the vote difference between the winner and the loser did not tally in many instances, speaks to the need to take Obi’s allegations seriously as commentators and analysts insisted it was enough cause for Atiku to challenge the outcome of the election at the courts. Reacting to the outcome of the election, Obi said the results declared by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from Anambra state was unacceptable to the party and alleged that INEC disenfranchised over 8 million registered voters in the South East in Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Addressing newsmen at his Onitsha residence, Obi lamented that the elections were systematically planned to ensure the zone did not fully participate in the presidential election and argued that only 20 per cent were able to cast their votes out of 10 million registered voters in the region.

“You will recall that on the Election Day, I said the process was clumsy and we also had major problem of card readers and most people could not vote.

“When over 400,000 Card Readers got burnt, it became clear that something was wrong somewhere and INEC could not save the situation and they will not allow people to vote manually. But in some other parts of the country, people were

allowed to vote manually and it was accepted by the electoral body. The impressive turnout of voters was discouraged by the performance of the electoral body last Saturday.

“Now, how can you tell me that a state like Yobe and Borno produced the number of voters that is higher than Anambra and Ebony States put together?

The two states are areas that have been at war and I wonder how they got Card Readers that are working so well despite the war situation that they found themselves.”

According to him, the country retrogressed instead of building off on achievements of the 2015 general election. Obi further decried the harassment and attacks members of his party suffered in the hands of security agencies targeted at intimidating them.

Though he said it was not in his powers to announce any demand for the cancellation of the election, he was quick to add: “It is left for the party to make its position clear on the matter.”

Some commentators have therefore welcomed the decision of the party to challenge the outcome of the elections and interpreted it as a move help to “draw lessons from the election” and “strengthen democracy”, a move that the nation’s foremost international ally, the UK has also pledged to support, working with Nigeria’s civil society organisations.

Interestingly, PDP and Atiku have not only indicated their resolve to challenge the outcome of the election in the court, the decision has also received the backing of some observers.

Besides the allegations raised by Obi, some analysts also hinged the need to probe the outcome of the election on huge underage voters, which they described as massive in favour of the APC. Indeed, the unwholesome practice of underage voting in the region has for long blotted the nation’s elections with not much attention paid to it let alone finding a lasting solution to the aberration.

Atiku made known his resolve to challenge the results of the election in a statement on Wednesday. He said the election was not free and fair and such was not credible, adding that he would have congratulated President Buhari and offered his hand of cooperation by helping to unite the Nigeria by being a bridge builder between the North and the South if the election was free and fair.

In the statement titled “Democracy will not be emasculated in Nigeria,” the former vice president stated that there were predetermined malpractices in many states across the country.

“However, in my democratic struggles for the past three decades, I have never seen our democracy so debased as it was on Saturday, February 23, 2019. 2007 was a challenge, but President Yar’Adua was remorseful.

“In 2019, it is sad to see those who trampled on democracy thumping their noses don on the Nigerian people,” the statement read in part.

Clearly, Atiku has yet again demonstrated that he is a formidable candidate and not a push over. How he was able to rally the PDP, which was until few months to the election enmeshed in intra-party rancour to post such formidable performance is a proof that he is a force to reckon, thus the conclusion that his turn to rule the country could just be a dream deferred.

Whether he will yet again throw his hat in the ring come 2023 even with the jostling and permutation that the nation’s presidency will go to the South may be a matter for time to unravel.

It is sacrosanct, however, that it is within his constitutional rights to do so. And if it so, who says he cannot contest again, after all, President Buhari contested on three good occasions spanning 12 years before he made it at the fourth try.

NOTES FOR FILE

The Violence Is Reprehensible!

Adamu

The presidential and national assembly elections may have come and gone, the violence that trailed the exercise in many parts of the country is totally reprehensible. Not only were they going to mar the elections, they eventually tainted the outcome of the elections in crucial swing states.

From Lagos to Oyo, Borno, Kogi, Rivers and several other states, the violent turn of events was disturbing and exposed the nation’s primitive nature. The number of persons, who died in all of the attacks

was unnecessary and remains a dark spot to the many shortfalls that have come to sculpt the elections.

It is though disappointing that President Muhammadu Buhari refused to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill the many times it was taken to him, citing redundant excuses, it is apparent now that a genuine, patriotic and strong electoral reform is required in collective interest otherwise it would seem that every election year would easily pass as the harvest of deaths.

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Amosun

Okorocha

To What End is Their Suspension?

Suspending two governors, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, a few days to another major election is curious, writes Olaseni Durojaiye

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fter winning the last presidential election and also securing majority seats in the parliamentary elections, the suspension of Governors Ibikunle Amosun and Rochas Okorocha of Ogun and Imo States by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), does not portray the party as having learnt from history.

Rather, the perception being pushed out by the party’s NWC as a result of its action is suggestive of the fact that it is set to mismanage its electoral success, much like it did in 2015.

The suspension could only have come as a surprise to those unfamiliar with the intrigues and power play within the party. In fact, the move to suspend the duo had been on the table within the party since the weeks after the reconciliation committee set up by the party hierarchy, in the aftermath of the crisis-ridden primary elections, failed to broker truce submitted its report.

While the doves within the party sued for peace and carried the day at the time, the hawks resuscitated the push in the wake of the fallouts from the party’s presidential campaign crisis in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The hawks eventually had their way on Friday, when the NWC announced the suspension with a further recommendation to the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) to expel Amosun and Okorocha from the party.

Announcing the suspension, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Lanre Isa-Onilu said apart from Amosun and Rochas, the party also suspended the Minister of Niger Delta, Usani Uguru and the Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu.

“Notably, these individuals have not shown any remorse and have actually stepped up their actions.

The party reviewed the serial anti-party activities of the concerned individuals before and during the last presidential and National Assembly elections in their respective states and resolved to enforce party discipline in line with our constitution.

“The NWC noted how the suspended members have continued to campaign openly for other parties and candidates that are unknown to our great party, even as they have constituted themselves as opposition to APC candidates in their respective states.”

The suspension has however elicited different interpretation from within the polity. One, many

champions of party discipline and supremacy see it as a welcome development. Those behind this perspective argued that the duo had overreached themselves and rebuffed all efforts to agree on the truce proposal offered by the party, leading to the argument that if they are not reined in, they might set a bad precedent in the party.

Even then, there were those who, maintained that the party hierarchy had failed the justice and equity test on account of the many loud allegations of fraud and corruption that trailed the party’s primary election process.

Those in this school insisted that the refusal of the party hierarchy to submit itself for probe in the face of the allegations was suggestive of culpability on the part of the party executive led by Adams Oshiomhole, who was interrogated by men of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the heat of the crisis.

Another interpretation to the suspension, although somewhat pedestrian, borders on suspicion of ‘use and dump.’ Those pushing this narrative claimed that the apparatchik tolerated the excess and recalcitrance of the two governors and that of the Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) Osita Okechukwu in order not to rock the both a little too much in their respective states.

The narrative to support this line was that doing away with the trio before the presidential and parliamentary elections could have adverse effect on the performance of the party’s presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari in the election. And this draws easy plausibility given that the two sitting governors contributed to the performances of the party in the presidential election as they helped to garner votes for Buhari.

Interestingly, some of those who support the suspension and argued that instilling party discipline was the right way to go, also raised the red flag on account of whether or not the party’s decision was founded on justice. This school particularly faulted the party primaries held in Ogun State and labelled the election a sham, adding that the committee set up to conduct it were handed a script by the party hierarchy.

According to them, the script was to deliver a preferred candidate irrespective of the wishes of the party members in the state. Besides, media reports were to the effect that the primary conducted in the state was a sham.

A deeper interrogation of the issues at play revealed that whatever the two governors became was a function of the party, even if some critics of the duo continue to insist that they overreached themselves. There is no

better way to substantiate this position than the aloofness of President Buhari in the whole matter.

Twice, in Owerri, Imo State and Abeokuta, Ogun State, Buhari reportedly told party faithful, who thronged the campaign venues to vote for the governorship candidates of their choice even when the APC governorship candidate was right there beside him.

Such statements simply emboldened the duo the more, which perhaps explained why they carried on with the fight. The president’s body language at those times could have been interpreted to mean: You guys are fighting a right cause, carry on with it.

Another interpretation of the president’s aloofness bordered on non-interference with the work of the party’s NEC. Given the party’s recent history, such aloofness can only be counterproductive especially, when the crisis continues to linger. The same posturing typified the emergence of Bukola Saraki as Senate President leading some political analysts to conclude that the party has learnt nothing from its recent past.

Whether the suspension will ultimately heal the deep-seated suspicions and intriguing power play and animosity within the party will be revealed in the fullness of time, given that Okorocha had weeks told reporters that if he opened his mouth and spill what he knew, Nigerians will race down Aso Rock.

Of particular concern, however, is how the party manages its electoral success in both the presidential and parliamentary elections, and still delivers developmental dividends of democracy to the generality of Nigerians.

Unfortunately, the party, with the suspensions does not seem to have learnt much from its recent past.

Clearly, a pertinent takeaway from the suspension is that APC leadership needs to change its combative management style. The suspension of Amosun in particular and this is mindful of the controversy surrounding Okorocha’s election in the senatorial election could lead to further distractions for the party and the government being the ruling party.

This is so because some of his sympathisers, especially his political associate from the days of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), who came into the APC from the other legacy party, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), may want to fight his cause.

This scenario has the potential to spill into the senate and the many implications for good governance are better imagined when the discerning recalls the early days of the current red chamber.

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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 ˾ MARCH 3, 2019

CICERO/ISSUE

Wike Set for Coronation on Saturday With APC not on the ballot, Lulu-Briggs of Accord Party sacked by the court, and with 58 other candidates endorsing him, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, may be coasting home in his re-election bid, writes Ernest Chinwo from Port Harcourt.

B

arring anything that could stop elections holding in Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike, may be returned as governor without any strong opposition.

The major opposition party in the state, the All progressives Congress (APC) earlier shot itself on the foot when it allowed internal squabbles grow to the level it was de-listed from the ballot by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on orders of the court. The Supreme Court had also upheld the annulment of the congresses that led to its primaries to choose its candidates, thus effectively ruling it out of the National Assembly, Governorship and State Assembly elections.

While the party has been struggling to enlist itself on the ballot using different courts, the INEC has refused to budge insisting that it would not go against the Supreme Court judgment. The APC is still making moves but how and if it would get enlisted one week to the polls is yet to be envisaged.

Again, last Thursday, a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt ordered the removal of Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs as the governorship candidate of the Accord party in Rivers State for the 2019 Governorship Election.

In a three-hour judgment, the Presiding Judge, Justice Emmanuel Obile, declared that Precious Baridoo, who was duly nominated during the October 4, 2018 Accord party governorship primaries is the authentic candidate of the party.

Obile stated that Lulu-Briggs did not participate in the party’s October 4, 2018 Governorship primary and so could not be the party’s candidate.

He ordered INEC to remove the name of Dumo LuluBriggs as the Rivers State Governorship Candidate for Accord Party and enlist the name of Precious Baridoo as the candidate of the party.

While the judgment did not delist Accord from the ballot, Lulu-Briggs, who defected from the APC with his followers after the adoption of Tonye Cole as the party’s gubernatorial candidate, is seen by analysts as stronger opposition than Baridoo.

Lulu-Briggs has however vowed that he would not succumb to “diversionary tactics of opponents” in his quest to become the governor of Rivers State.

He also accused Governor Nyesom Wike of being behind the legal tussle over the party’s gubernatorial ticket in the state because of his (Wike’s) fear of standing election against any credible opposition.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, Lulu-Briggs said he is still in the race for the office of the governor of the state despite the judgment of the Federal High Court.

He said: “My quest to liberate Rivers State from the shackles of wicked politicians who want to continue to punish and impoverish our men and women, instigate our youths into violence and bloodshed and deny our children quality education, is still on track.

“Dumo Lulu-Briggs is still in the race by the grace of God. I have no godfather but God the father, and by the grace of God and the will of Rivers people, we shall triumph and start the process to secure the future of every Rivers man, woman and child.”

Describing Baridoo as a surrogate of Wike, he said his legal team has already approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the decision of the Federal High Court as well as to seek for a Stay of Execution order over the judgment.

Added to the above, governorship candidates of 58 political parties in the state last Friday re-affirmed their endorsement of Wike’s re-election.

The candidates, under the aegis of Coalition of Governorship Candidates, also declared that they would work for Wike’s success during the Governorship Election on March 9.

Unarguably, the APC remains the main opposition party in Rivers State. While the PDP remains the party with vast majority in the state, the APC was expected to use “federal might” to try to unseat Wike. The experiences during the last Presidential and National Assembly polls in the state where the army and security agencies were alleged to have aided chieftains of the APC in their quest to return President Muhammadu Buhari lends credence to the belief that the APC would do anything to unseat Wike.

Also, Lulu-Briggs is seen by some analysts as the next best option for APC to unseat Wike since the major opposition party in the state is not on the ballot. The belief is that LuluBriggs could be used to unseat Wike as a better devil, being a member of the Buhari family. The Accord adopted Buhari as its presidential candidate and actually campaigned for him.

Besides, Baridoo is seen as Wike’s surrogate, having led the coalition of governorship candidates to adopt Atiku and Wike as presidential and governorship candidates respectively during the PDP Presidential rally in Port Harcourt.

Incidentally, both the APC and Lulu-Briggs blame Wike for their travails, an accusation the governor has consistently denied.

The APC accused the governor of destabilising the party using the Senator Representing Rivers South East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe and factional Governorship Candidate of the party to destabilise the party in the state. The APC said Wike sponsored all the court cases that led to the de-listing of the party by the

Wike courts. The governor denied involvement in the crisis rocking the APC in the state. He however blamed the Transportation Minister and leader of the APC in the state, Chibuike Amaechi, for failing to resolve differences in his party and his impunity in imposing a governorship candidate on the party to the exclusion of other aspirants for the party’s woes.

Similarly, the governor has distanced himself from LuluBriggs’ travails in the court.

A statement issued last Friday by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications and spokesman of Rivers State PDP Campaign Council, Emma Okah, said Wike has no hand in the disqualification of Lulu-Briggs as the Accord party governorship candidate in the State.

He stated that Lulu-Briggs, as a lawyer and a seasoned politician, ought to know that the steps he took to annex the governorship slot of the Accord party when there was an existing candidate, were wrong and against the letters and spirit of the Electoral Act and extant laws and therefore has himself to blame and not Wike.

While commending the courage of Lulu-Briggs in “dumping the APC at a time when impunity reigned supreme in Rivers State Chapter, Okah said it is wrong to condemn impunity in one party and go to another one to perpetrate it.

“It is therefore wrong for Chief Lulu-Briggs to assume that Governor Wike sponsored the oppressed candidate in court simply because the victim of injustice is not a man of stout means,” Okah said.

But while the coast seems clear for Wike’s re-election, there are palpable fears that the APC, using security agencies and the INEC, might scuttle the elections in the state.

Wike had accused the 6 Division, Nigerian Army of working with Amaechi to cause chaos in the state and ensure that governorship and house of assembly elections did not hold in the state next Saturday.

Addressing journalists on the last Presidential and National Assembly elections, Wike accused the army of aiding the disruption of the electoral process at collation centres in the state and plotting to same in the coming elections in favour of the APC. The governor also said the army was planning to assassinate him and blame the police.

“I know what they are plotting now; they want me to come out and there will be a shootout on me and they will kill me and claim it is the police that shot me. That is what they are plotting,” he said.

The Coalition of Governorship Candidates in Rivers State also accused the APC and INEC of plotting to sabotage the Governorship and State Assembly elections in the State.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, Chairman of the group, Samuel Ihunwo, said credible intelligence at their disposal indicates that the APC has compromised INEC to

deliberately exclude the name and logo of one of the political parties from the ballot papers for the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in Rivers State.

Ihunwo said based on the intelligence, the affected political party would proceed to the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to inevitably nullify the outcomes of the March 9 elections in the State.

He stated: “We are astonished at INEC motivations for becoming an accessory to such treacherous acts, which offer the most simple but lethal legal ground and weapon to any mischievous person or political party to nullify the said elections and terminate the rights of Rivers people to enjoy the fruits of their votes in the Governorship and Houses of Assembly elections.

“Equally worrisome is the report that where INEC fails to effect the exclusion of the designated political party from the ballot papers by Wednesday 6th March 2019, the alternative plan is to resort again, to the use of the army to disrupt, disorganise and scuttle the distribution of election materials from the State Registration Area Centres to the various wards and units across the entire State.

“Furthermore, in the event that the elections manages to hold, the plan also includes using operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to harass and force electoral and collation officers to cooperate and comply with the rigging template and directives of the APC.” There are also fears in the state that the APC might use other means to perpetrate violence that could be used to cancel elections in the state.

Trending in the social media is a message that the APC plans a four-day march in the state to ensure that Wike does not come back as governor.

The trending message reads: “Violence looms in Rivers, as “operation kick Wike out” an APC launched four-days mass protest led by the transportation Minister himself, Chibuike Amaechi, begins on Monday - Thursday 4th - 7 March 2019.

Please those of us on the roads should be mindful and security conscious while walking, in case of anarchy don’t run on the roads rather take cover in safe places until it’s safe to avoid stray bullets. Please be safe!!! They will gather at Isaac Boro Park every morning from 9: am daily.”

While the message has not been confirmed as authentic, it casts more doubt on the minds of the people and will definitely affect voter turnout in the state.

It is therefore obvious that while Wike may have a smooth ride in Saturday’s governorship election, the APC may just throw a surprise that may ensure that elections do not hold in the state, or that even if it holds there are loopholes that may create grounds for its annulment. The events of the next week will definitely state where the state is headed.

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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 ˾ MARCH 3, 2019

CICERO/CABINET

Ambode

Keyamo

Will Keyamo, Ambode Make Buhari’s Cabinet?

Based on their roles in the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari, not a few people see Festus Keyamo (SAN) and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as bright spots in the imminent cabinet of the president, writes Bayo Akinloye

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overnors Rochas Okorocha and Ibikunle Amosun of Imo and Ogun states respectively, are considered some of the most vociferous supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari. Their unalloyed loyalty to the president and the All Progressives Congress was seen as non-negotiable. That was soon put to the test following the contentious governorship primaries in Imo and Ogun in which Okorocha and Amosun’s protégés – ‘anointed’ governorship candidates – failed to clinch the party’s ticket.

In a derring-do style, the duo made their protégés switch their political allegiances to other parties in a bid to realise the dream of their political godfathers. To Buhari, that was disturbing as the presidential election approached. There were fears that the crises rocking the two states would have adverse effects on the fortunes of APC in the general elections.

In the end, the party and Buhari survived the scare, at least in the presidential and parliamentary polls.

However, the scars are there, political observers say, for Buhari to see following his re-election.

As a devoted man to his avowed cause, the president is said to fall head over heels in love with individuals who have demonstrated unalloyed loyalty to him and his party – and he will no doubt reward them with political appointments.

Regarding the last governorship primaries conducted by the APC, a lot of acrimony was generated across the country and one situation stuck out like a sore thumb: the governorship primary in Lagos State which ultimately pitted the party’s National Leader and ‘generalissimo of Lagos’, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu against Ambode, who had sought a second-term ticket from his party.

Eventually, Ambode lost the party’s ticket to Tinubu’s ‘anointed one’, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Rather than being a party pooper, Ambode stuck with that unpalatable but inevitable choice. He decided not to do anything that would jeopardise the chances of APC in the general elections. He went about – from Lagos to Kaduna – campaigning for Buhari’s re-election with many commending his political grit and foresight.

He is also demonstrating similar fervour for the election of Sanwo-Olu, his erstwhile political rival and ultimate usurper.

“We are going to campaign heavily for him (Buhari).

I am also committed to ensuring that the APC wins the governorship election come 2019. We support the candidacy of Babajide Sanwo-Olu and we would make sure that APC retains Lagos State and the centre.

“Just to be very clear, as an average Nigerian, not necessarily as a governor now, I will pitch my tent with, endorse and vote President Muhammadu Buhari in this forthcoming presidential election.... I believe at this auspicious time in this country that the right person that can actually take us to the next level and the next trajectory of the prosperity and progress of Nigeria is President Muhammadu Buhari,” Ambode had told journalists during one of the president’s campaigns.

To many people, he is the next big thing after Babatunde Fashola, leading public analysts to assume that he will be a bright spot in Buhari’s forthcoming cabinet.

Judging by his achievements as Lagos governor and political temperament, they believe he is one minister Nigeria should not miss having.

Both critics and admirers of Ambode in equal measure acknowledge his work ethics, public service ingenuity, and resultant achievements in the spate of four years. They wanted more of him but the insatiated godfather that even Buhari could not placate had had enough, accusing the incumbent Lagos governor of failing to follow the party’s blueprint. In all this, some hope he will be given an opportunity in Buhari’s new cabinet to shine further.

Yet, there is one person that stood out in the bid to return the incumbent president to power. His strident voice and sometimes virulent criticisms are evident in his press statements and TV appearances. As a human rights activist and one of Nigeria’s outstanding lawyers, Festus Keyamo is seen by many as an individual who will be a shining light in Buhari’s cabinet, if the president decides to form a new one.

Keyamo is an experienced lawyer. He has done well personally for himself. People thought he was the wrong man to be the spokesperson for Buhari’s campaign. Many might not have liked the style he adopted, the approach and the way he went about defending Buhari and the APC government. But his critics acknowledged that he has demonstrated the kind of passion and energy in every press statement he issued and television appearances he made like no other campaign organisation’s spokesperson.

Keyamo, who clocked 49 in January, put on display his youthful vigour throughout the presidential campaigns. He is articulate, incisive and insightful.

Awarded and inaugurated into the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2017, Keyamo that same year, was also awarded the Global Human Rights Award by the United States Global Leadership Council in Washington for his efforts over the years in respect of protection and promotion of human rights and the crusade for transparent and accountable governments in Nigeria.

In April 2018, Keyamo was appointed as the Director of Strategic Communications of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. In response to attacks against his principal, the fiery lawyer was unstinting. For instance, he picked on the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, asking him to quit the presidential race as investors in 9Mobile and Keystone Bank punctured the share-grabbing allegation the latter made against the Buhari family in a statement titled, ‘We call on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to retain some honour by throwing in the towel now’.

The statement followed the rebuttal by investors in Etisalat, now 9Mobile, and Keystone Bank that the family members of the president had nothing to do with both companies.

“The result of the fact-check which was published in some news outlets clearly shows the depth of desperation, deceit and debauchery to which the Atiku campaign has sunk. They have no moral compass, no scruples, and no direction in their present attempt to smear just everyone in sight in order to run a campaign of ‘we-areall-corrupt.’

“Rather than respect the feelings of Nigerians by offering clear-cut responses to straightforward allega-

tions of tax-evasion, grand corruption in and out of office, impending sealed indictment waiting for him in the US, Atiku Abubakar has decided to drag the world down with him as he goes down in a blaze of infamy.

He has decided to go wild with unsubstantiated allegations against the President and Vice President, throwing caution to the wind in the process.

“We alerted the public about this impending avalanche of fake news a few days ago. This is the classic hallmark of a sinking campaign boat, clutching at straws, as Nigerians have woken up to the realisation that these are deceitful people who have nothing to offer.

That is how its Vice-Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi was reeling out false statistics with a straight face throughout the Vice-Presidential debate. To date, he has not apologised to Nigerians for taking them for a ride. It is a real shame.

“We call on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the PDP to apologise to Nigerians and especially the family of the President for adopting this unwholesome tactics and telling tales by moonlight that have clearly backfired.

Instead of making a mockery of a serious campaign with such infantile lies, Atiku Abubakar should admit it is all over for him and the PDP, throw in the towel and endorse the candidacy of President Buhari,” Keyamo had said.

On another occasion, in a TV debate with Senator Dino Melaye, the senior lawyer exhibited his unapologetic ability to stand up for a man he believes in.

While appearing on Channels TV Melaye had compared Buhari to the late African dictator, Idi Amin, and asked the president to apologise to Nigerians for making a statement that many construed as a death threat to ballot box snatchers.

Melaye said: “I am utterly disappointed in my president. I am completely in shock that in a democratic setting, a president will speak with the anointing of Idi Amin of Uganda, the president will use the word ‘ruthless’, the president will order killings of Nigerians without going through legal procedures. That is totally unacceptable. I expected that by now the president should have apologised to Nigerians.”

But Keyamo did not take that lying down, as he replied: “I think I have listened to so many uninformed comments. What the president said is 100 percent correct, defensible and I will urge him to repeat it over and over again.”

His devotion to Buhari and passion for the campaign were not misplaced as he admitted following his appointment as the president’s campaign spokesperson.

“Let me put it on record that I was indeed consulted before the announcement. Upon the offer, I wholeheartedly and proudly accepted the challenge to do this for the good of my country and for posterity. For in President Buhari I have found an approximation of the lofty values I cherish and have fought for all my life,” Keyamo had explained.

From the foregoing, many believe he will have more roles to play in Buhari’s second coming as a democratically elected president. But no one has the clairvoyance of whether he will be absorbed into the president’s cabinet in the case of a reshuffle. But here is one Nigerian everyone might be putting their money on to perform excellently well as a minister.

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Bukola Saraki

SMS: 08116759819

ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™ĂœË? Olawale Olaleye Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ë? ĂĄĂ‹Ă–Ă?Ë› Ă–Ă‹Ă–Ă?ĂŁĂ?̜ÞÒÓĂ?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ù×

George Akume

Mao Ohuabunwa

Biodun Olujimi

Those Who Will Not Return to Ninth Senate

With the resumption of the National Assembly postponed for obvious reasons, the failed return bid of 27 senators and some members of the House of Representatives automatically takes an interesting space in the story of the outgoing eighth assembly, report Deji Elumoye and Shola Oyeyipo

R

esult of the National Assembly election as released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last week showed that several members of the federal legislature, who won their parties’ primaries last October lost at the rescheduled election held across the country on Saturday, February 23.

In the Senate, out of 66 Senators, who ran for last Saturday’s parliamentary poll, 39 were successful while 27 others failed to make it back to the upper legislative chamber.

Top on the casualty list is the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who lost his Kwara Central senatorial seat to Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe of the APC, while the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banks, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim (PDP Kwara South) lost to Lola Ashiru of the APC. In Abia State, only one of the three

Godswill Akpabio

Andy Uba

Senators is not returning to the 8th Senate in June. It is Senator Mao Ohuabunwa representing Abia North on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who lost to a former governor of the state and candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Orji Uzor Kalu.

Senator Binta Marsi Garba (APC Adamawa North) was defeated by Ishaku Cliff of the PDP while Ahmadu Abubakar (APC Adamawa South) also lost his return bid.

Other Senators, who lost in their return bid include Nelson Effiong (APC Akwa Ibom South); former two-time governor of Akwa Ibom state and erstwhile Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio (APC Akwa Ibom West); Victor Umeh (APGA Anambra Central); Andy Ubah (APC Anambra South); Isah Misau (PDP Bauchi Central); Suleiman Nasif (PDP Bauchi North); Barnabas Gemade (SDP Benue East) and George Akume (APC Benue West).

Also on the losers’ list are Senators

Shehu Sani

Duro Faseyi (PDP Ekiti North); Senate Minority Leader, Biodun Olujimi (PDP Ekiti South); Muhammadu Shitu (PDP Jigawa North East); Shehu Sani (PRP Kaduna Central); Suleiman Hunkuyi (PDP Kaduna North); Ahmed Obembe (PDP Kogi Central); Atai Aidoko (PDP Kogi East); Suleiman Adoke (PDP Nasarawa South); Tayo Alasoadura (APC Ondo Central); Yele Omogunwa (APC Ondo South); Adesoji Akanbi (APC Oyo South); Monsurat Sunmonu (ADC Oyo Central); Ibrahim Dambaba (PDP Sokoto South) and Mohammed Hassan (PDP Yobe South).

However, in the House of Representatives, it was an all-round defeat for the PDP in Kwara State. In Ilorin West/Asa federal constituency , Alhaji Abdulyekeen Alajagusi of the APC defeated Hon. Abdulrazaq Mohjammed Lawal of the PDP. For Ilorin South/Ilorin East federal constituency, Abdulganiyu Cook Olododo of the APC ousted Hon. Abdulwahab Oladimeji Issa of the PDP and it is the same story in Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun federal

Victor Umeh

constituency where Tijani Kayode (APC) defeated Hon. Olarinoye Tope Olayonu.

In Patigi/Edu/Moro federal constituency, PDP lawmaker, Hon. Hassan Mahmud Babako gave way to Ahmed Ndakenne of the APC, who defeated him at the poll. Hon. Abubakar Musa of the PDP was also defeated in Baruten/Kaiama federal constituency

by Malam Mohammed Bio (APC).

Olawuyi Abdulraheem (APC) also emerged victorious over Dare Bankole of PDP in Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/OkeEro federal constituency.

In Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium federal constituency, the Speaker of Akwa-Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Onofiok Luke defeated Hon. Akpan Daniel Effiong. It was similar scenario in Eket/Onna/Esit Eket/ Ibeno federal constituency, where Patrick Nathan Ifon of the PDP won.

Nwankwo Ferdinand Dozie of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) representing Anaocha/Dunukofia/ Njikoka federal constituency of Anam-

Barnabas Gemade

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍťËœ ͺ͸͚Î

Those Who Will Not Return to Ninth Senate

Aidoko Ali

bra State lost his seat to Valentine Ayika of the PDP. For Ihiala federal constituency, Hon. Chukwuemeka Anohu was thrashed by Muoma Ifeanyi of APGA. Hon. Sopuluchukwu Ezeonwuka of PDP’s return bid failed in Orumba North/South federal constituency.

Okwudili Ezenwankwo of APGA will be the next representative of the people from that constituency. Azodo Eucharia of PDP also lost his re-election to Oba Umeorji of APGA in Aguata federal constituency and the lawmaker, who represented Oyi/Ayamelu federal constituency, Hon. Onyewife Gabriel (APGA) was defeated by Vincent Ofumelu of the PDP. In Edo State, INEC declared Mr. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, the candidate of the PDP as the winner of Oredo federal constituency, with 32,895 votes. Ihama defeated seven other candidates, including the incumbent APC candidate, Iyoha Osaigbovo, who emerged second with 23,352 votes.

Similarly, INEC declared Mr. Dennis Idahosa (APC) winner in Ovia federal constituency. He polled 28,509 to defeat the incumbent, Ms. Omosede Igbinedion (PDP), who scored 23, 345 votes.

The decision by the member representing Ego/Ikpoba Okha federal constituency of Edo State, Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, to defect to the APC cost him his re-election bid.

The lawmaker was defeated in the election by PDP’s Jude Idehen.

In Ekiti State, the PDP candidate and House member for Ekiti South II federal constituency, Segun Adekola, who polled 25,707, will not be part of the next assembly, because former

Suleiman Hunkuyi

Isa Misau

Tayo Alasoadura

Chief of Staff to Governor Kayode Fayemi, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu, won the election with 41,864 votes. Hon Ayodele Oladimeji representing Ado Ekiti/Irepodun-Ifelodun federal constituency in Ekiti State did not win his re-election too.

He was defeated by Fatoba Olusola Steve of the APC. In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Hassan Sokodabo of the PDP defeated the incumbent member for Abaji/Gwagwagalada/ Kwali/Kuje federal constituency, Aliyu Angulu. APC’s Karu Elisha will replace Hon. Binta Bello Maigari of the PDP as the representative for Kaltungo/Shongom federal constituency of Gombe State in the ninth assembly.

INEC’s Returning Officer in Katsina State, Dr. Godwin Ojochogu, declared the APC candidate, Salisu Isansi, as winner of Katsina Federal Constituency, with a score of 58,314 votes to defeat Aminu Chindo of the PDP, who scored 21, 454 votes.

Out of the 24 House of Representatives federal constituencies in Kano State, APC won in 19. In Rano/Kibiya/ Bunkure federal constituency, the incumbent Speaker of Kano State House of Assembly, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum emerged victorious.

He polled 62, 455 votes to defeat the candidate of the PDP, Sani Muhammad Aliyu Rano, who scored 33, 296 votes.

Also, in Takai/Sumaila federal constituency, former Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters, Abdurrahman Kawu-Sumaila, won the House of Representatives seat, ousting

Hon. Garba Umar Durbunde of PDP. Meanwhile, the two chambers of the National Assembly failed to reconvene last Tuesday. At the Senate, with only eight members of the 109-man Senate at the resumption of Senate plenary, the upper chamber of the National Assembly yesterday adjourned plenary by two weeks due to lack of quorum.

The Senate had on January 24 adjourned plenary to enable Senators to participate in the National Assembly election rescheduled for February 23 and was to resume plenary yesterday.

Upon resumption of plenary, the Senate after considering the vote of proceedings of January 24, as read by Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, adjourned sitting till Tuesday, March 12, to enable its members be part of campaigns for the governorship and state assembly elections coming up on March 9.

When the Senate President called the Chamber to order, to kick-start the business of the day, only eight Senators including the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, were present.

With this development, Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, quickly observed that the Senate could not deliberate on any issue, because the required quorum of one-third which is 37 out of 109 was not formed as stipulated in Order 10 (1) of the senate standing rules.

Lawan explained that many Senators were still held back in their senatorial districts, because the results of their elections had not been announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He, therefore, moved that the Senate should adjourn sitting till March 12, expressing optimism that INEC would conduct the governorship and state assembly elections on March 9 as scheduled.

Senate Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda, seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

The Senators at plenary include Saraki, Ekweremadu, Lawan, Sola Adeyeye, Aduda, Abu Ibrahim, Fatima Raji-Rasaki and Gbenga Ashafa.

Senate President, in putting the adjournment issue before his colleagues, expressed concern about the delay by the eight-man Senate ad-hoc committee on the National Minimum Wage Bill headed by Senate Chief Whip, Senator Sola Adeyeye, to submit its report.

Responding, Adeyeye explained that the delay was caused by the failure of the committee to sit as members could not turn up due to preparations for penultimate Saturday’s presidential and national assembly elections.

He also told his colleagues that he made efforts to cause the committee to work on the bill through electronic deliberation but did not get the attention of other members.

On whether his committee could conclude its assignment in the next two weeks, Adeyeye said he has some health challenges to attend to, and therefore, could not assure the Senate of the time frame to complete work on the bill.

He disclosed that he might have to travel out of the country in the near future to attend to his health.

Some of Those that Got Re-elected

Ike Ekweremadu

Ahmad Lawan

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu (PDP Enugu West) has won election into the Senate for a record five times since 2003 Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan (APC Yobe North) is a three time Senator and was a two-time member of the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007 Philip Aduda (PDP FCT) has been in the Senate since 2011 and

Dino Melaye

had served as a two-time member of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2011.

Ali Ndume (APC Borno South)A third time Senator and Senate Leader at the inception of the 8th Senate in June, 2015 before his removal in February, 2017.

Danjuma Goje (APC Gombe Central)-A third time Senator and former governor of Gombe state

Adeola Solomon

(2003- 2011), he is Chairman of Senate committee on Appropriation.

Dino Melaye (PDP Kogi West)Re-elected for a second time as Senator, Melaye, a former member of the House of Representatives (2011-2015), is Chairman of Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Adeola Solomon (APC Lagos

Danjuma Goje

West)-Re-elected for a second time as Senator, Solomon, a former member of the House of Representative, is Chairman of Senate committee on Local Contents.

Akpan Bassey (PDP Akwa Ibom North East)- Re-elected for a second time as a Senator, Akpan, a former Commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom state, is Chairman of Senate Committee on Gas.

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SPECIALREPORT

Saraki

Uduaghan

Akume

Akpabio

Markers of Feb. 23 Elections As with every contest, penultimate Saturday’s presidential and national assembly elections left in its trails many crucial markers worthy of dissection. Olawale Olaleye writes

I

t was typical that the presidential and national assembly elections would record some upsets at the end of the day. It is called upset because they happened in the least expected places and to the most implausible actors with frightening capacity rating.

From the South to the North of the country, many states recorded such upsets that would for a very long time shape the political anatomy of the country and also remain very crucial talking and reference points.

Although politically, nothing is ever considered static, until the current situation changes, perhaps with another election, the earth-shaking upsets recorded penultimate Saturday in the different states of the federation would remain some handy reference points in some intelligent political science classes in the foreseeable future.

Saraki: A Dynasty’s Test of Time

As far as this election is concerned, the real talk of the town is the loss recorded by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, whose party, the PDP lost all the positions in Kwara State from the presidential poll to the National Assembly seats, with the governorship looking very likely to follow suit.

Presently, no one has been able to properly analyse what could have been responsible for such a colossal loss albeit in an election believed to have been grossly marred by irregularities. However, in the days ahead, some of these complicatedTinubu...Strategist explanations would begin to give way. But from preliminary observations, what appears to be going on in Kwara now is that the Saraki dynasty is going through a test of time as with every empire, details of which would come to the open with time. The truism of the saying that no empire lasts forever might have caught with the family, greatly assisted by an insatiable bitter member and beneficiary of the dynasty.

Loved and hated at the same by his people, curiously, for different reasons, those who revile the dynasty, appear to have something in common and as such, refused to see the good side. Those who love him, on the contrary, have first accepted the imperfections of the dynasty and would rather deal with the bright and promising side.

Human and fallible, what has just hit the Saraki dynasty could either be temporary or permanent, but this would be largely contingent on how the scion of the family, Bukola Saraki handles this all-time overwhelming challenge that threatens to extinct the family’s place in the annals of the body polity. But a majority of his people, indeed, many of his traducers believe that the intelligent, smart and futuristic Saraki would bounce back. History is replete with instances.

Exposing the South-west Fragile Walls

One of the most shocking performances in the recent elections was the result posted by the almighty South-west. With Ondo and Oyo won by the PDP, whilst marginally losing Ekiti, Ogun, Lagos and Osun to the APC, there is no debating the fact that the political strength cum relevance of the South-west is more mythical and practical.

Strategically, it is evident that the South-west is well positioned with enviable and vantage edge in the zone even as its history shows that it boasts immense political sophistication, when compared to its peers in other zones.

But whilst the latter day self-styled leaders of the zone had enjoyed the labour of their founding fathers, they have not been able to take this feat befittingly some strategic notch up.

When totaled and subtracted from those of the PDP, the votes that the dominant

party in the zone, APC, polled did not suggest it was what it had always called itself, thus exposing its fragile and rather feeble political walls.

Although the South-west votes could be deemed sophisticated, when genuinely analysed since it is about the most cosmopolitan zone in the country, the political behavior of the people also showed that they do not have a politically recognised leadership and therefore swing in the direction they prefer based on their conviction. Those who claim leadership are no doubt self-styled impostors. Indeed, one of the most threatened states in the zone today is Lagos, where the self-styled leader, Bola Tinubu reigns supreme. To say that his inability to work with other allies in the zone through collegiate decision-making leadership is first the challenge he’s dealt with over the years.

Lagos though has so much money to keep the leadership alive and sustain the façade of its dominance for a while, the truth and reality of where it truly stands is always exposed each election year, with such poor showing, starting with the 2015 elections as example. And when the votes from the state were computed and subtracted after the February 23 elections, the miserable 130 votes is beneath the state and inconsistent with its supposed place in the body polity.

Pause for a moment and ponder what would have happened had the Igbo voted in areas where their population was deemed high? APC would no doubt have lost the election to the PDP in Lagos, even though many people believed the results of the elections in the state were greatly tampered with.

Now, with Kaduna, Katsina and Kano maintaining their place in the nation’s politics, the entire South, not just South-west, remains at the mercy of the north, having connived with an obviously smarter north to reduce the vote relevance and advantage of the South in some of their swing states, just to see Buhari emerge.

However this is considered, this election has further affirmed the place of the North West in particular in the political artery of the country and through conscious conspiracy, relegated the South-west and the entire south. This, for sake of posterity, was how the recent election exposed the fragile political walls of the South-west and the entire south in general.

Melaye: An Instructive Takeaway

Dramatic and controversial, the brilliant showing by the Senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, Dino Melaye is instructive, beyond the mere celebration of an electoral victory.

Melaye was one of the major character features of the eighth senate, who entertained as well as challenged the senate, sometimes with his brilliant submission on issues of national importance or his frivolity while dueling with the opposition. He would also pass as one of the senators, who fought many battles that could have consumed the faint-hearted especially, given his association with Senate President Bukola Saraki.

From his many battles with the security agencies to the ones with his governor, Yahaya Bello, who even sponsored a recall process that failed against him, the lesson in the Melaye brand is that regardless of your inadequacies and challenges, do not leave your primary beat and political base untended.

Unlike Bello, who is presumed to be unpopular in the state even though he is governor, Melaye has been a good representative to his people, who also saw through his persecution and stayed the cause. Not only did the recall process fail, attempt to stop his re-election was also a grand failure.

His personal foibles regardless, the Melaye brand offers some instructive and positive lessons in how to manage one’s failings and keep the enemies guessing. As it is, Bello is the one to buckle up ahead of his day with the court of public opinion.

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SPECIALREPORT Markers of Feb. 23 Elections

Ubah

Continued on Pg. 80

Amosun

Akpabio: It’s an Uncommon Slump

Former Akwa Ibom State governor and outgoing Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio seemed to have ‘died’ by his own sword. Having come from a part of the country with peculiar nature of politics, Akpabio was one man, who failed to learn from his own success story.

He was a commissioner under former governor Victor Attah, whom the former governor dreaded to succeed him. But after the familiar horse-trading and particularly the intervention of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he made it through and the first thing he ensured on assuming office was to retire Attah, albeit politically.

However, unlike Attah, he succeeded in installing a successor despite all odds and rather than maintain his leadership of the state, he rebelled against his own creation, forgetting that history always comes handy at such a desperate time. He fell to the sword of his naïve political student, thus automatically crowning Governor Udom Emmanuel as the new leader in the state.

And if by next weekend, Emmanuel repeats his winning streak and puts the APC in its place, Akpabio might have to go and queue behind Attah in the retirement dungeon of Akwa Ibom State. His fate was as a result of arrogant miscalculation capped by his survival desperation. Indeed, it was an uncommon slump from the hill top.

Akume: A Simple Message from Benue

The people of Benue State were equally not left out in the events that marked the elections of two Saturdays ago. The elections witnessed the climaxing of the political rivalry between two allies-turned-foes – George Akume, former governor and outgoing senator and Samuel Ortom, incumbent governor and former minister.

Their rivalry arose from both the governance and politics of the state. Whilst the Akume gang hinged their opposition to the running of the government, which by the way was one of the things that pushed Ortom out of the APC, the governor pushed back with the politics of their leadership, which he always claimed was responsible for the unceasing killings of his people.

Thus, the two of them had hedged a bet ahead of the elections to settle their scores at once. For this first round, however, Ortom, with the help of other leaders in the state, retired Akume from the Senate and subtly further stamped his feet on the political soil of the state.

In the final analysis, it was a message from the people of Benue to Akume, for failing to stand up to be counted when it mattered the most but instead, chose to play the politics of the body count of his people in support of the federal government.

Amosun: Surviving the Minefield

One of the governors that a majority of his enemies thought would be swept away by the whirlwind of the recent elections was the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun. His battle started during the primaries of the APC in October last year.

The outcome of the elections had forced him to choose a most difficult path, which was pitching tent with his choice candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, who eventually left the APC in the thick of the crisis that had since pitted some leaders of the party in the state against one another.

Interestingly, while Akinlade left the APC to join the APM (Allied People’s Movement), Amosun stayed back in the APC, held down the structure and went on to win his election penultimate Saturday, when many had thought he would be taught some thorough lessons.

But with the governorship election due next Saturday, the governor has since been everywhere campaigning with his candidate, even though his party has its candidate too, Dapo Abiodun. Whilst Amosun has won the first leg of his battle, the final and main one is next Saturday, which would afford the actors in the state to know their strengths.

Curiously, a quick analysis of the votes of the last elections showed that Amosun survived the minefield, not because other leaders in the state and party chose to work with him, but on the strength of his own capacity to mobilise and pull it off.

But with his suspension by the party at the weekend, tension has naturally risen in the state ahead of next week. This is even the more disturbing with the alleged mobilisation of forces from neighbouring states to fight Amosun, in what has come to confirm the fears of a desperate attempt to annex Ogun by people described as expansionists.

Uduaghan: It Was Never Going to Happen

Former Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan’s aspiration to the senate was shattered during the February 23 elections. Uduaghan had left the PDP to join the APC in a predominantly PDP state, because he wanted the senate ticket on a platter, when there was an incumbent, James Manager.

But the interesting thing about Uduaghan’s ambition was that even in his household, it was a gospel truth that he could not pull off what he dared. If as a sitting governor, he could not make it happen, whatever stoked the confidence to retry

Melaye

Kalu

as an ordinary citizen, who has been aloof from the power-centre in the state, was nothing but sheer deceit.

As predicted variously in the run-up to the elections, Uduaghan lost that election and further established the place of the PDP in the state. His ambition was never going to happen in the first place.

Ubah: A Personality Bigger Than Party

The Chairman of Capital Oil, Ifeanyi Ubah would go down in history as one individual, who scored big in the just concluded national assembly elections and his scores are in two parts.

First, Ubah ran on a relatively unknown party, Young Progressives Party (YPP) that was given no chance whatsoever and won. And two, despite running and winning from an unknown party, he also retired a sitting senator, Andy Uba and his brother, Chris, both of whom ran on the platform of the APC and the PDP respectively.

Ubah’s election is actually a major victory for democracy, because what this translates into is that if, and when Nigeria graduates to the point of embracing ‘independent candidacy’, there are many personalities that would be free from the bondage of political parties, run on the strength of their names and win elections, for as long as they are popular and the choices of their people.

Ubah, in spite of his many limitations, pulled this off, even though he has been around too for some time. And to think that he is quick to embracing new and unknown parties to pushing his ambition, he probably enjoys challenges, because it is challenging – financially and otherwise to travel that route.

Kalu: And the Bones Rose Again…

After many years of running round and pondering his options, a former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu finally made it penultimate Saturday, when he defeated incumbent Senator Mao Ohabunwa in the battle for Abia North senatorial seat.

Kalu’s victory also comes with an interesting but evolving pattern in the state.

With him now, there are two former governors of the state in the senate representing their districts. Theodore Orji was elected into Abia Central in 2015 and re-elected on February 23.

THISDAY had reported some weeks ago that the people of Abia had decided to be sending their former governors to the senate for effective representation, since it appears the fad in other parts of the country.

What this means is that by 2023, the incumbent governor, Okezie Ikpeazu could also find himself in the senate and by implications, it would be the first time that any state of the federation would have come-by such a feat. Above all, this is victory for Abia’s charter of equity, which dictates the current power rotation with a view to ensuring equity across all interests.

Okorocha: One Battle Down, One More to Go His excesses notwithstanding, the outgoing Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, like his counterpart in Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun, fought a good fight in the just concluded presidential and national assembly elections.

Okorocha, who was elected senator for Imo West on the platform of the APC, has a choice governorship candidate, Uche Nwosu, in another party, Action Alliance (AA), is determined to deliver him next Saturday, a situation which makes the election in the state no less a do-or-die and it is putting it mildly.

However, that in spite of his persecution, he was able to win his senate seat even though there were allegations of manipulations, means he is a serious force to watch out for on Saturday. Although now suspended for alleged antiparty, pray next week’s election does not claim lives in Imo and other states that are apparent flashpoints.

Okorocha

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍťËœ ͺ͸͚Î

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with DEMOLA OJO demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

SOCIAL MEDIA BITS

Last week on social media, election results trickled in, the opposition kicked but the President was declared winner...

T

he whole of last was like one long hangover. The week was drawn out with all attention centred on the results and aftermath of last Saturday’s elections; presidential especially and to a lesser extent, the National Assembly.

The country came to a near standstill, as voters – and those who didn’t bother to vote for various reasons, especially the belief that voting is a futile endeavour – waited endlessly to know who secured the mandate to lead Nigeria for another four years.

The dust has settled now and there’s calm but there was palpable tension in the days following the elections, until the early hours of Wednesday, when the winner - the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari – was officially declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commis-

sion (INEC).

Many lessons can be drawn from the elections and the aftermath, amid the belief – especially by the opposition, and many other Nigerians as documented on social media - that INEC is not really independent.

An important lesson, reiterated by one of the successful contestants of a House of Representatives seat, Akin Alabi (founder of Nairabet), is that elections are not won on social media.

This point is worth emphasising because the general mood of social media preceding the election (including the results of a majority of polls) tilted towards exasperation with the present government and a desire to try something different, a situation the main opposition candidate, Atiku Abubakar, seemed prime to benefit from.

However, the results released by INEC

MARCH 3, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

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SOCIAL MEDIA BITS saw the incumbent leading by close to three million votes. There are different ways to make sense of these figures, against the backdrop of the past three and a half years of the Buhari administration being one of a devaluation of the income of the average Nigeria.

During this period, fuel prices and the dollar to naira exchange rate, increased by almost 100 per cent.

If you believe the PDP and its flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar, the elections were rigged in favour of the incumbent who was so cocksure, he never entertained the possibility of defeat. “I will win and congratulate myself,” he said a few days to the election.

The PDP presented pieces of evidence – especially on social media – to prove that numbers were inflated for the APC in some instances, and reduced for the PDP in others.

Among the arguments, was the number of votes recorded in Borno and Yobe, two states that have borne the brunt of attacks from Islamist terrorists. This was juxtaposed against reduced voter numbers and cancelled votes in the South East especially, a major stronghold of the main challenger.

However, there might just be another

way to distil the results and make sense of it. It could be seen as a battle of ideologies, of capitalism (expressed through Atiku’s promise to privatise the NNPC, the state-owned oil company), and socialism (expressed through the ruling party’s Trader Moni initiative, which seeks to redistribute wealth to favour those at the bottom of the income ladder).

In essence, if you’re reading this paper, you’re among a minority of Nigerians that are literate and have access to information via print. Those who consume information via social media are also part of this minority.

According to the latest statistics, 91 million Nigerians live in extreme poverty. This is a number that certainly, isn’t on social media. However, many of them, - some in the remotest of places – were able to cast their votes. Majority of these votes were most likely - cast for President Buhari.

Atiku Abubakar and the PDP don’t think this is the case,. They have decided to challenge the result in court. In the meantime, President Buhari foresees a tough four years for Nigerians, a scenario the Bloomberg predicted if Buhari were to be re-elected president.

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THISDAY WEEKLY GUIDE TO 2019

Bindow

Ikpeazu’s

Obiano

Ortom

The Road to 2019 Flashpoints to Watch (XXV) As this series on the 2019 elections winds down, being the one but last edition, there is no mistaking the fact that next Saturday’s election would be determined heavily by the outcome of the presidential and national assembly elections in a majority of the states, while local dynamics would prevail in a few others, writes Olawale Olaleye

I

t is natural and almost certain that the outcome of the presidential and national assembly elections would give a direction to next weekend’s governorship and state assembly polls. This is however not total. There are a few states with peculiar internal dynamics, whose posting would be determined largely by their peculiarity, regardless of what the result of the last elections says.

Although the internal contradictions in a majority of the states would also play up, either for their good or bad, what cannot also be underestimated is the impact of the outcome of the presidential and national elections, the basis of which would form the projections this week ahead of next Saturday.

ABIA It’s Ikpeazu’s to Lose!

With two senate seats to PDP’s credit and one to the APC, coupled with the presidential election results, which gave 219,698 votes to Atiku Abubakar and paltry 85,058 to Muhammadu Buhari, incumbent Governor Okezie Ikpeazu might just be on his way back to the Government House. Although there are other considerations that could aid his reelection like the Abia Charter of Equity, it does not mean the opposition would not try to route him, which means he cannot afford to take anything for granted.

ADAMAWA It’s Dicey!

Although the incumbent governor, Jibrilla Bindo, is of the APC, he lost two senate seats to the PDP in the last elections, being the home state of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku. In addition, the state also lost the presidential election with 378,078 to PDP’s 410,266 votes. This

makes the governorship battle dicey for the APC, although not impossible. It is dicey here and the race is to the swift here.

ANAMBRA The Joke is On Obiano Governor Willie Obiano has many things at stake here. He probably gambled badly in the last election. He openly declared support for Buhari at the expense of his brother, successor and benefactor, Peter Obi. To that extent, he lost all the senate seats in the state – two to PDP and one to a relatively unknown YPP. Thus, while a governorship election would not be holding in the state, elections of members of the state assembly is critical and so, he needs to double up his stripes and gets tougher otherwise he might conclude his race as a loner governor and by extension bury his party, the APGA.

AKWA IBOM Waxing Stronger Perhaps, not many people gave Governor Udom Emmanuel any chance in the last elections. With his benefactor, Godswill Akpabio on the other side, including the series of harassment he experienced in the lead up to the elections, it was almost concluded that the APC would annex the state. But the governor proved everyone wrong.

He not only delivered the presidential election to the PDP with 395,832 polls to APC’s 175,429, he also cleared the three senate seats, including Akpabio’s seat. He might be waiting for his crowning next Saturday.

retain the governorship seat, although not without a fight from the PDP. But with a good result from the presidential bout which claimed 798,428 votes to PDP’s 209,313, coupled with clearing other seats, the APC appears quite comfortable here.

347,668 votes, it still does not change the fact that the opposition party rules supreme in the state as it cleared the three senate seats, among others. This suffices that Governor Samuel Ortom might be warming up to be returned to office next week.

BAYELSA Solidly PDP

BORNO APC Not Shaken

One of the unsung upsets in the last election was the ability of the APC to win a senate seat in Bayelsa State, particularly the one which covers the district of former president Goodluck Jonathan.

But that cannot change the fact that the state is PDP’s. And since there is no governorship election here, the party is likely to clear all the state assembly seats.

It did not do badly in the presidential poll, delivering 197,933 to Atiku, while APC did well too with 118,821.

CROSS RIVER All the Way PDP APC’s inability to put its house in order has only enhanced the chances of the PDP in Cross River State. The battle over APC’s governorship candidate is still ongoing even when the election is days away. Although the party has suspended one of the parties, Usani Usani, it does not take care of the subsisting disaffection.

This however manifested in the last election, where the PDP cleared all seats and also delivered its candidate with 295,737 votes to APC’s 117,429. The election is Governor Ben Ayade’s to lose.

BAUCHI Comfortably APC’s

BENUE Still Within PDP’s Reach

Election here may not be more of a serious contest as the ruling APC is likely to

The results of the presidential poll was close, given PDP’s 356,817 to APC’s

In the presidential election, Borno posted one of the most queried results, having delivered the APC with 836,496, while the PDP polled some miserable 71,788. To cap this, it also cleared the senate seats significantly. APC can afford to take things for granted here.

DELTA It’s a Straight Fight By retaining two senate seats and conceding one to the APC, however with a good posting at the presidential level, the PDP is clearly still in charge in Delta. It delivered PDP with 594,068 votes, while the APC had 221,292. That notwithstanding, PDP is still the party to beat here. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is good to go.

EBONYI A Sure Bet! With three senate seats in the bag and posting 258,573 votes to APC’s 90,726, Ebonyi clearly has nowhere to go. As a South-east state, it is PDP’s – a sure bet more or less.

EDO A Room for Battle Although the state delivered two senate seats, it was however unable to deliver the president with its 267,842 votes to PDP’s 275,691. Like Bayelsa and

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THISDAY WEEKLY GUIDE TO 2019

The Road to 2019: Flashpoints to Watch (XXV) OYO Its Surprises Are Unending

Anambra States, Edo State governorship too is not up for grab but the state assembly seats, which might be stiffly contested. The outcome of the presidential elections has created the room for serious battle.

Nothing is sealed in Oyo yet. Yes, the party has two senate seats; it however failed to deliver Buhari. While the APC scored 365,229, the PDP garnered 366,690 votes. Currently, the party is seeking every alliance possible to deliver the governorship. But the Oyo that many people know can throw up surprises at any time.

EKITI Unapologetically APC! By clearing all the senate seats and also delivering Buhari with 219,231 votes as against PDP’s 154,032, Ekiti is not bothered about what next Saturday holds for it. Besides, it is also not in for the governorship contest, therefore, it would have the time to concentrate on the assembly election. It’s likely going to be an all-APC affair.

OSUN Hanging in the Balance

ENUGU Nothing Has Changed Still Surprisingly, the opposition was able to grab one of the senate seats here, but the ruling PDP delivered its party and candidate at the presidential election with a handful 355,553 votes to APC’s 54,423 votes.

However, for next week’s governorship, the PDP candidate, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is the man to beat. His vantage position has been further enhanced by APC’s internal crisis, which has seen its candidates saunter in and out of the courts.

Nothing has yet changed for the PDP.

Dankwambo

Adelabu

PLATEAU Will It Cave In? Judging by the results of the presidential election, which gave PDP victory with its 548,665 votes to APC’s 468,555, the party is not standing well in the state. The governorship might be at great risk except the party and Governor Simon Lalong do something fast. Its senate election is also not impressive.

GOMBE A Lost State Outgoing governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo is of the PDP and has spent eight years in the saddle. Sadly, he was unable to deliver his state. He lost the three senate seats and did poorly at the presidential election, polling 138,484 to APC’s 402,961. It could be assumed therefore that the governorship is gone too, except of course, miracle happens. It is a lost state.

IMO It’s Open to All The dynamics of Imo politics is different from all other states and it has always been so. While the state lost the presidential election to the PDP by polling 140,463 votes to the opposition’s 334,923, the battle for the senate seats was yet another intense struggle as they both shared the seats. However, the dynamics for the governorship is going to be different.

The parties on the trenches are PDP, APC, AA and APGA – all boasting nearly equal strengths. The election is therefore open to all, with the smartest dusting the others.

JIGAWA An APC Haven With 794,738 votes to PDP’s 289,895 at the presidential election and three senate seats, Jigawa is clearly an APC haven. The election is not a contest; it’s a crowning.

KADUNA Strongly APC, But… Having cornered two senate seats, polling hugely at the presidential run, Kaduna should naturally go to the APC. Indeed, some 993,445 votes to PDP’s 649,612 cannot be glossed over. But with the poor attitudinal disposition of the governor, the election of next weekend cannot be said to be a walkover but a serious battle.

KANO Acting True to Type In Kano, Buhari polled 1,464,768 while the PDP polled 391,593, in addition to clearing the senate seats. That’s too much to contemplate where the next election might swing except the unexpected happens.

KATSINA It’s Sai Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari’s sentiment is incurably pervasive being his home state. Like Kano, Katsina too posted 1,232,133 at the presidential election as against PDP’s 308,356. The party also has

Osun too struggled to clinch two senate seats. But the result of its presidential election is disappointingly close. While polling 347,634 votes, the PDP scored 337,377 votes. Sure not on the ballot for governorship on Saturday, its state legislature is. And it is not going to be an easy task.

RIVERS As Wike Awaits Crowning

Amosun

Yahaya

the senate seats. Even if heaven changes its colour, Katsina remains Buhari’s comfort zone.

be taken for granted. The governorship is not a done deal yet.

KEBBI APC Isn’t Worried Here With its senate seat intact, result of its presidential run is also encouraging.

It polled for Buhari some 581,552 votes, leaving the PDP to struggle with 154,282.

The ruling party is not perturbed here. It appears to have it all under control.

KOGI Nothing Is As They Seem Governor Yahaya Bello has proven to be incapable of holding down his own, time and time again, even though he is quick to take ‘selfies’ with the president. Apart from being unable to stop the president’s most ardent critic in the senate, Dino Melaye, he also struggled to deliver the state to Buhari.

He polled 285,894 as against PDP’s 218,207. His seat too is not up for grab in the election of next week, but his choice of those in the state assembly is not a certainty yet.

Nothing is at they seem here.

KWARA Observing Cautious Optimism Naturally, the results of the last set of elections should give a direction of where Kwara might head next weekend. With the three senate seats gone and a good posting of 308,984 votes to PDP’s 138,184, the governorship and state assembly seats look like a walkover for the ruling APC. But the Kwara dynamics could change next weekend. It is a possibility that cannot be thrown away on account of the excitement that greeted the last election. It is important to observe cautious optimism.

LAGOS

Not a Done Deal Yet Lagos has the three senate seats and also posted some poor 580,825 to PDP’s 448,015 votes. But this cannot guarantee the party’s victory especially if the voting pattern is taken into serious account. The PDP is gradually proving formidable and cannot

NASSARAWA A Fight to the Finish While it is commendable that the APC cleared all the three senate seats, the result it posted is short of expectation. With 289,903 to PDP’s 283,847, the party cannot afford to go to bed here. It is going to be a fight to the finish.

NIGER Looks like an APC Show Three senate seats in the bag and a good report from the presidential election to show for, Niger APC’s 612,371 vote to PDP’s 218,052 is indicative of an APC affair.

ONDO A Class Uncertainty After putting up a poor showing at the last elections, from the presidential to the national assembly bouts, APC in Ondo is in trouble. The result of its presidential election, which saw the APC polling 241,769 and PDP 275,901, is a confirmation of the fears by many that all appears not well. Although not holding a governorship election, ensuring one house at the state assembly also appears impossible.

OGUN It’s Amosun versus Others Ogun APC under the leadership of Governor Ibikunle Amosun did fairly well with the senate and presidential elections.

While clearing the three senate seats, it also delivered Buhari with some paltry votes at the presidential poll – 281,762 to 194,655 votes.

But the dynamics of the governorship is different. Other APC leaders want Dapo Abiodun, their candidate, Amosun desires his choice candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, although now in another party. The election Ogun is going to be tough and uneasy for all, more so that Amosun has been suspended. It is very fluid.

In Rivers, Governor Nyesom Wike is running against himself. Apart from the fact that the main opposition APC is not fielding candidates for any of the offices, the candidate of APGA, Dumo LuluBriggs, who could have given him a tough time, has been stopped from running by the court. And now, other contestants have stepped down for him. He also delivered the PDP with 473,971 votes to APC’s 150,710. He is only waiting to be crowned governor. Sadly so!

SOKOTO Is It Goodbye Yet? With other positions gone and a poor showing at the presidential contest with APC’s 490,333 to PDP’s 361,604, the governorship is definitely a hard nut to crack for Governor Aminu Tambuwal. He could push harder though.

TARABA PDP Can Still Do It Again The margin of defeat might not be too significant, including the sharing of the senate seats – Taraba remains traditionally PDP’s. It polled 374,743 votes to APC’s 324,906. But Governor Darius Ishaku must sit up to make it happen.

YOBE Impregnably APC As one of the states that delivered big for the APC with 497,914 votes to PDP’s 50,763, Yobe is in a comfortable place, in addition to keeping the three senate seats. It seems impregnable.

ZAMFARA

Standing on Buhari’s Mandate Apart from doing well at the senate elections, Zamfara, which was enlisted for the elections late, also delivered the APC with 438,682 to PDP’s 125,423 votes. The governorship poll may not be as difficult.

The name of the president is still valid for marketing in the state.

FCT: Proudly PDP! t is clear that whatever election

I

that holds at the FCT might go the way of the FCT. The voting pattern in the last election proved that as possible. While Atiku polled 259,997 votes, Buhari polled 152, 224. Thus, subsequent elections in the FCT are predictable.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍťËœ ͺ͸͚Î

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SUNDAYSPORTS

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

Rakitic Goal Wins El Clasico for Barcelona

I

van Rakitic scored a delightful winning goal as Barcelona triumphed 1-0 in a tight Clasico clash with Real Madrid to move 10 points clear at the top of the LaLiga table.

Barca won 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu to reach the Copa del Rey final in midweek and, three days later, they prevailed once more at the home of their bitter rivals in a game that saw captains Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi involved in a flashpoint.

Rakitic struck the only goal with a cute chip that beat Thibaut Courtois with Barca comfortably holding Los Blancos at bay to inflict more Clasico misery and consecutive home league losses on Madrid.

And with Santiago Solari’s side now 12 points behind Barca, the title race may be almost over as a contest, although Atletico Madrid can stay in the hunt by winning at Real Sociedad today.

Gareth Bale was a surprise starter but the Wales forward wasted an early free-kick opportunity, with a Messi chip floating off target at the other end.

Barca took the lead in the 26th minute, Rakitic racing clear of Ramos and delicately dinking a fine finish over Courtois after swapping passes with Sergi Roberto.

Courtois made a fine save to deny Luis Suarez before Luka Modric headed over the crossbar, the first half ending in controversy as Ramos avoided punishment after clashing with Messi.

Rakitic netted a sublime winner to send Barca 10 points clear at the top and 12 points ahead of Madrid

Karim Benzema missed a great chance shortly after the restart, although the offside flag was raised as he failed to turn home Casemiro’s cross, then Vinicius Junior was denied by Marc-Andre ter Stegen as Madrid pushed for an equaliser.

Bale made way to boos as Solari turned to Federico Valverde and Marco Asensio before introducing third substitute Isco in a bid to change the game, but despite late pressure on Barca’s goal the champions held on to perhaps strike a decisive blow in the title race.

Speaking at a pre-match news conference, Ernesto Valverde dismissed his side’s treble chances and claimed their result at the Bernabeu would not decide the title.

But Barca’s points advantage is now double figures, they are in the final of the Copa del Rey and on track to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. Valverde, whose team did the double last term, can expect to answer more questions about the treble in the weeks to come.

In Wednesday’s Copa fixture, Vinicius had the run of the Madrid left wing with Nelson Semedo unable to keep him out of the game.

Only the Brazilian’s lack of composure prevented his side leading at half-time.

Barca dropped Semedo and moved Roberto to right-back to counter the threat of Vinicius and he not only managed to restrict the teenager’s effectiveness but also created the winning goal for Rakitic.

Madrid captain Ramos is no stranger to disciplinary issues and he again courted controversy moments before the interval by appearing to shove his forearm into the face of Messi, the defender perhaps spared the intervention of VAR by the half-time whistle.

Bale, meanwhile, was booed off by the Madrid fans after struggling to make an impact in what might well prove to be his final Clasico appearance for Los Blancos. They have now lost all five LaLiga Clasicos at home to Barcelona when Bale has played.

Federer wins 100th Top Spot at Stake as Liverpool Visit Everton ATP title in Dubai

Roger Federer has won his 100th ATP Tour title at the Dubai Tennis Championships - 6,600 days after winning his first in Milan. The 37-year-old Swiss - a 20-time Grand Slam champion - beat Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 6-4.

Federer’s first ATP title came at the Milan Indoors on 4 February, 2001, when he beat Frenchman Julien Boutter. “It is an absolute dream come true right now,� said Federer, who will become world number four tomorrow.

He is just the second man, after American Jimmy Connors in 1983, to reach the landmark. “I’m delighted. It’s great to win my eighth here in Dubai and in combination with my 100th singles title,� he added. “To win in Marseille and then come here was difficult for Stefanos. “I don’t know if Stefanos was born when I won my first title (he was, in August 1998). It’s a privilege [to play against possible future champions] because I’ll be watching them on the TV. It was a treat to play Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. I’m sure Stefanos will have a wonderful career. “Tennis is in good hands regardless if I’m there or not.� Federer broke Tsitsipas, 20, in the first game of the match before saving two break points at 5-4 to see out the first set.

The Greek - who will break into the world top 10 for the first time tomorrow - held his nerve in the second set until 4-4, before Federer broke his serve once again to wrap up the final in 69 minutes.

World number 11 Tsitsipas was Federer’s 50th different final opponent and the 25th different nationality.

Federer will have to win 10 more titles to beat Connors’ men’s record of 109, while Martina Navratilova holds the all-time record having won 167 women’s singles crowns during her career.

RESULTS & FIXTURES

Tottenham Bournemouth Brighton Burnley Man United Wolves West Ham Lazio Real Madrid Watford Fulham Everton Napoli

1–1 0–1 1–0 1–3 3–2 2–0 2–0 3–0 0-1 v v v v

Arsenal Man City HuddersďŹ eld Crystal Palace Southampton Cardiff N’ United Roma Barcelona Leicester 1pm Chelsea 3:05pm Liverpool 5:15pm Juventus 8:30pm

Jurgen Klopp is expecting a “loud and wild� atmosphere when Premier League leaders Liverpool travel to Everton for the Merseyside derby today.

Liverpool thrashed Watford 5-0 on Wednesday to maintain their one-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table. Both teams have 10 games left to play and Klopp is expecting a tough encounter against Everton. “Of course, the fans of Everton don’t want us to win anything and probably for our fans it’s the same the other way. But in the game, it’s only very emotional and passionate. “I hope it will be like that, that’s how football should be. At Goodison they really support their team, so now let’s go there and use the atmosphere of course. It will be loud, it will be wild, it will be everything - and we have to deliver on the pitch as well.�

Liverpool beat their Merseyside rivals 1-0 in December thanks to a last-gasp goal from Divock Origi.

That result means Everton are winless in 18 matches against Liverpool in all competitions. “It is a special game for both, for the city also, for our fans a special match, for their fans also a special match,� said Everton boss Marco Silva. “I managed my first Merseyside derby last December and what I felt was a special match for both teams.�

This will be the 200th top-flight meeting between Everton and Liverpool, becoming only the second

Origi scored a late winner for Liverpool against Arsenal in the reverse fixture earlier this season fixture to have been played that many times in the top English league after Aston Villa vs Everton (202).

Everton are winless in their last 18 encounters with Liverpool in all competitions (D9 L9), their longest ever such streak against their Merseyside rivals.

Despite remaining unbeaten in their last 16 league

meetings with Everton, Liverpool are looking to do the double over the Toffees for just the third time in the last eight seasons (also in 2011-12 and 2016-17).

Premier League meetings between Everton and Liverpool have produced more red cards than any other fixture in the history of the competition (21).

Lukaku Brace Lifts United, Lloris Saves Spurs in Derby Draw Manchester United moved into fourth place in the Premiership table with a dramatic 3-2 win against struggling Southampton at Old Trafford yesterday.

Yan Valery smashed a fierce drive past United goalkeeper David De Gea for a memorable first goal of the young Southampton defender’s career in the 26th minute.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team equalised in the 53rd minute as Brazilian midfielder Andreas Pereira bagged his first Premier League goal with a long-range curler.

Romelu Lukaku, back in form after a long barren spell, put United in front six minutes later with a composed finish.

James Ward-Prowse drew fourth-bottom Southampton level with a superb 75th-minute free-kick.

However, in the 89th minute, Belgian forward Lukaku made it four goals in two games with the last-gasp winner.

Paul Pogba’s stoppage-time penalty was saved

Lukaku celebrates scoring the winner for United yesterday

by Angus Gunn, but Solskjaer’s unbeaten domestic run as United boss has now reached 15 games. “The belief is there, they have gone so long without losing games (domestically). The dressing room is bouncing at the moment. They were class finishes from Romelu,� Solskjaer said.

Riyad Mahrez fired Manchester City back to

the top of the Premier League as the champions won 1-0 against Bournemouth, while Hugo Lloris saved Tottenham in their draw with north London rivals Arsenal yesterday.

Pep Guardiola’s side sit two points above Liverpool thanks to Mahrez’s second-half winner at Dean Court. The only frustration for City in a hard-fought victory were injuries to Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones, which could significantly impact their bid to win an unprecedented quadruple.

De Bruyne hobbled off after the Belgian midfielder suffered a hamstring injury in the first half.

City, who are already without injured duo Fernandinho and Aymeric Laporte, also lost England defender Stones with a groin problem just after the interval.

But, showing the depth of City’s squad, it was Mahrez, who had come on for De Bruyne, who finally gave the champions the lead in the 55th minute. Mahrez claimed his first league goal since December, the Algeria winger driving his shot under Bournemouth ‘keeper Artur Boruc.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MARCH 3, 2019

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NEWSXTRA Kaduna to Constitute Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Kajuru Killings John Shiklam in Kaduna The Kaduna State Government yesterday disclosed that it would constitute a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the violent conflict and killings in Kajuru and Kachia Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

The state governor, Mallam Nasir el- Rufai disclosed during a visit to Karamai village where 40 persons, including a police man, were killed

by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on reprisal attack.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, el-Rufai sympathised with survivors of the attack which took place last week in Kajuru and Kachia Local Government Areas.

He said building sustainable peace in the area required that all the facts around the violent conflict be established. el-Rufai was accompanied

Wike Has No Hand in Your Travails, PDP Tells Lulu-Briggs Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has said Governor Nyesom Wike has no hands in the disqualification of Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs as the Accord party governorship candidate in the State.

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Thursday sacked Lulu-Briggs as the governorship candidate of Accord party in Rivers State and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delist his name and enlist one Precious Bariddo as candidate of the party.

In reaction to the court decision, Lulu-Briggs blamed Wike for his travails and also accused the Baridoo of being a stooge of the governor.

But in a statement issued by the Director of Information and Communications of the state PDP Campaign Council, Emma Okah yesterday, the PDP said the governor should not be blamed for the travails of the governorship aspirant.

President of Wellbeing Foundation Africa, Mrs. Toyin Saraki has tasked global donor agencies and leaders to adopt a paradigm shift towards development oriented interventions meant for Africa even as she called on Africans to lead such interventions.

Saraki made the call in London while addressing the inaugural Concordia Africa Initiative where she challenged those convened at the Concordia to adopt an approach that favours aids to the continent as co-investment as opposed to the donor-beneficiary narrative.

The Concordia Africa Initiative was founded by Nicholas Logothetis alongside Eminent personalities including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; wife of former British Prime Minister of Britain, Mrs. Cherie Blair; Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Mr. Liu Xiaoming and First Lady of Namibia, Mrs. Monica Geingos.

Speaking at the forum, Saraki said the donors “must approach our challenges from

and prayed at the mass grave where 15 of the 40 residents killed, were buried.

The governor commiserated with the people on the loss of lives and sympathised with the pain of the survivors.

He appealed to people to resist any temptation to vengeance even in grief, noting that the cycle of attack and reprisal can only bring pain.

He called on all communities to avoid any resort to self-help and report their complaints, suspicions and observations to the law enforcement and security

agencies.

He condemned the attackers, describing them as godless people who are wantonly violating the injunctions of the Holy Books of Christianity and Islam.

El-Rufai said the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) had already visited the survivors and is handling the provision of relief for the traumatised survivors.

He assured the people that the state government will address the issue of access road into the area in conjunction

with Kajuru Local Government Area and find ways to address the absence of communication network in the area.

El-Rufai had earlier been criticised for visiting Fulani communities where he said 130 Fulani were killed, but allegedly did not visit Angwan Barde community where 11 people were first killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The attack was to have sparked up the circle of reprisals between the native Adara people and the Fulani in the area.

The statement said LuluBriggs “is a lawyer and a seasoned politician who ought to know that the steps he took to annex the governorship slot of the Accord Party when there was an existing candidate were wrong and against the letters and spirit of the Electoral Act and extant laws. He therefore has himself to blame and not Wike.

Okah commended LuluBriggs for dumping the APC at a time when impunity reigned supreme in Rivers State Chapter, noting that it. It is wrong to condemn impunity in one party and go to another one to perpetrate it.”

He said, “It is therefore wrong for Lulu-Briggs to assume that Wike sponsored the oppressed candidate in court simply because the victim of L-R: CEO, InfraCredit, Chinua Azubike and Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, North South Power Company, Olubunmi Peters, at a guarantee injustice is not a man of stout meeting in Abuja to seal the N8.5 billion 15-year 15.60 per cent Series 1 Guaranteed Fixed Rate Senior Green Infrastructure Bonds Due 2034 under a N50 billion Debt Issuance programme...recently means.”

The statement urged LuluBriggs “to leave Wike out of his political travails and allow God’s time and preferences to prevail.”

GREEN BOND...

Hoodlums Attack Ondo SDP Guber Poll: Survey Predicts Candidate, Destroy Campaign Vehicle Ikpeazu Victory

Saraki Tasks Donors to Adopt New Strategies Olaseni Durojaiye

on the visit by the heads of the security agencies in Kaduna State, including Rear Admiral D.M. Dogonyaro of the Nigerian Navy, General O.J. Akpor, the Garrison Commander, 1 Division Nigerian Army, Air Commodore I.A. Sani of the Nigerian Air Force and Ahmad Abdurrahman, the state police commissioner.

Also on the delegation were Priscilla Ankut and Saleh Momale of the Kaduna State Peace Commission.

The delegation inspected the destruction left behind by the attackers in Karamai

a position of honesty and move away for the ‘aid narrative.’ Coinvestment from communities is necessary for sustainable impact - if only from the perspective of human resources.

“There are inherent strengths which make African-led philanthropy particularly effective. I identify these primarily as the fact that our work is community-led and therefore both more effective and sustainable; and the flexibility which comes from embedded networks leading to the ability to influence policy decisions at a national, regional and global level with datadriven advocacy.

During the dialogue moderated by Noella Coursaris Musunka, Saraki called for overseas investors to work with African and community-led partners to achieve sustainable successes and impact: “We have the brain power and excellence in Nigeria and throughout Africa to bring our health indices up to global standards. To build capacity we must in part look to strategic partnerships to help us deliver results to the frontline.”

James Sowole in Akure Suspected hoodlums at the weekend attacked the campaign train of the Social Democratic (SDP) candidate for the Ondo State House of Assembly, Akure South Constituency II, Mr. Ebenezer Adeniyan.

Adeniyan’s campaign train was reportedly attacked, at Oke Aro, Akure, the state capital during a tour of some wards of the town preparatory to the March 9 House of Assembly election.

The action of the suspected hoodlums disrupted the campaign activities of the candidate as the attackers who shot severally into the air, damaged some vehicles in the train.

An eye witness said the hoodlums “were all armed with dangerous weapons including guns and matchetes.

We were on the tour of two wards in the constituency area. And at the end of the tour, we went to Oke Aro to meet a political friend.

“Unfortunately, on our way back, we made a brief stop at the Abiodun junction to greet some community leaders. But as we were about to take our leave, the three masked men came running towards us

from the street, and smashed the windscreen of our music truck.

“They shot into one of our branded cars through the windscreen but the courageous people in the area gave them a hot chase. Immediately, they flew the area and starting shooting in the air to scare people away and ran away in same direction through which they came”, he said.

Reacting to the attack, Adeniyan expressed great shocks and grief at the damages done on his campaign vehicles by the hoodlums.

Adeniyan said he suspected his opponents for the attack because of his chances, stating that the attack had been reported at the B Division Station of the Ondo State Police Command in Akure.

On his part, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Ondo State Command, Mr Femi Joseph said the Commissioner of Police , Mr Udie Adie had ordered investigation into the matter.

He said the command had told politicians to always inform the police before embarking on any campaign so that the police can give them protection.

James Sowole in Akure An independent media consultancy organization, Space Integrated Services Limited has predicted victory for the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu in the March governorship election in Abia state.

In a pre-election opinion survey conducted by the organization across the 184 wards of the 17 local government areas of Abia State, the organization stated that it interviewed a total of 3,650 people of ages eighteen years and above including students, civil servants, human rights activists, private individuals, political class, and clergy among others.

The opinion survey stated that many of the respondents interviewed weee of the strong opinion that the zoning arrangement which started in 1999 at the governorship level of the state, must dominantly influence the voting pattern of the people of the state come March 9, 2019.

“Over 88 per cent of the respondents from Abia South Senatorial Zone of the state believe in the zoning formula

of the state and it includes the Ngwas and Ukwas where the incumbent governor hails from and also part of the Abia Central Senatorial bloc of Osisioma, Isiala Ngwa south and Isiala Ngwa north all of the Ngwa extraction” it said.

“Both candidates of the APC and APGA, Dr Uche Ogah and Dr. Alex Otti are all from the Abia North senatorial Zone which ruled the state under Dr.Orji Uzor Kalu between 1999-2007 and the respondents said that they would make insignificant outing in the zone except in Aba a cosmopolitan town but the indexes still favoured the incumbent who has made significant strides in the development of infrastructure in the commercial city of Aba, the commercial hub of Abia state” it stated.

Speaking to journalists yesterday in Lagos,the Head of Research and Communications in the company, Kingsley Odeh said that 90 per cent of the Aba respondents would vote for the incumbent governor for a second term to complete many of the ongoing infrastructural projects within the city for which they commended him.

Sunday March 3, 2019

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MISSILE

Okorocha to Oshiomhole “Adams Oshiomhole was determined right from the outset to destroy APC in the South-East and unknown to party chieftains from the zone who had genuinely supported his chairmanship.” – Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo following the governor’s expulsion from the All Progressives Congress by the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

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Going Forward or Backward?

T

he conduct of the 2019 general election has, expectedly, become the subject of heated discussions and debates everywhere — offices, schools, homes, newspaper vendor stands and social media.

Predictably, supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari are satisfied with the outcome which favoured their candidate, while those in the corner of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the flag bearer of the leading opposition party, have questioned the integrity of the elections. In the opinion of Buhari’s supporters, the overall result reflected the wishes of Nigerians. Atiku’s supporters are, however, crying foul. Like Buhari did thrice, Atiku will challenge the outcome in court.

In December 2018, I made presentations on the 2019 presidential election to a group of corporate executives in Lagos and thereafter to my colleagues at TheCable. I started my projections with the south-west. I said Buhari was not more popular in the zone today than he was in 2015, and that he would win there but with a narrower margin. I was right. His 612,000 margin of 2015 was reduced to 260,000.

I also said Atiku would get more votes from the south-west than Buhari would get from the south-south and south-east combined. I was also right. Atiku got 1.77m from the south-west while Buhari scored 1.4m in the south-south and the south-east put together.

I projected that the north-central would go Atiku’s way. I was wrong. Buhari got 2.46 million votes — taking four out of the six states like he did in 2015 — while Atiku scored 2.02 million.

To be honest, I never saw that coming. I was thinking more about pre-2015 voting patterns and the recent herders/farmers clashes — although, on hindsight, I would say only Benue and Plateau are really in the thick of the crisis. The development in Kwara is historic — the Saraki dynasty finally fell. Or did it? Given that Senator Gbemisola Saraki is in APC and her brother, Senate President Bukola Saraki, is in PDP, it may be a case of the baton changing from one Saraki to the other. Watch this space.

On the north-east, I still remember my words: “I don’t know what Buhari gave them to eat, but he will always win in Borno, Yobe, Gombe and Bauchi. They have always voted for him since 2003.” Someone who hails from that axis looked at me in a way that showed he disagreed. The thinking was that because Boko Haram was still very much alive, the people are disappointed with Buhari and would vote against him. I said it does not work like that. It is a devotion to Buhari. Most people’s minds were made up long ago. And I was right. I also said Atiku would win Adamawa and Taraba. I was right, but I exaggerated his margins. The two states were more competitive than I projected.

I moved to the north-west and reasoned that the zone would determine the overall winner.

I said Buhari always does well in the northwest — which has the highest number of states and highest number of votes in the country.

I, however, said unlike in 2015 when Buhari rolled over Jonathan by over five million votes in the zone, he would not beat Atiku by the same margin. Was I right? Buhari defeated Atiku nationwide by 3.9 million votes — but in the north-west alone, he had 3.7 million more than Atiku! If you are thinking what I am thinking, you would agree with me that the north-west is the real deal. It has always been so since 1999.

Seven states cannot be a joke!

Nevertheless, I got my conclusion wrong. I

Yakubu, INEC chairman

predicted a “very tight” race and said the winning margin could be in hundreds of thousands or at most a million. I was completely wrong, judging by the final results announced by INEC. A margin of 3.9 million votes is not the definition of “tight”. In the end, Buhari has held on to his traditional base in the far north, made gains in the south-south and south-east (from 616,838 votes in 2015 to 1.4 million in 2019), maintained his new base in the north-central and just managed to keep the south-west on his side. Those are my preliminary observations on the official results.

A PDP supporter is reading this and calling my analysis “bunkum”. Atiku himself has described the election as “the worst” since 1999 — a dubious distinction previously conferred on the 2007 polls when people hardly voted. There are various complaints of malpractices, all boiling down to allegations of voter suppression in Atiku’s strongholds and vote inflation in Buhari’s safe havens. The role of the military in the southsouth has also been questioned by Atiku, who believes it was responsible for the low figures from Delta, Rivers and Akwa Ibom. I am happy that these grievances will be addressed in the courts rather than on the streets. We have shed enough blood in this land.

While this controversy rages, I want to offer a critical overview of the first half of the 2019 elections. Have we regressed or progressed — compared to four years ago? For starters, more voters were registered and more PVCs were collected but the turn-out was lower. Total votes cast were less and total ballots rejected were more. This is not progress, if you ask me. It is not a good testimony that 5.5 million collected PVCs in Lagos and only 1.1 million voted. The shortfall is ridiculous. The disrupted votes in Ago and Surulere were in thousands, so it cannot explain the low turnout in Lagos. We have to explain the voter apathy despite all the noise on social media and the like.

Despite the postponement of the elections by one week for logistical reasons, there were still reports of late arrival of materials, missing result sheets, multiple voting, manual accreditation and other issues. Many will argue that these issues were not widespread enough to undermine the final outcome, but INEC needs to step up. I also thought the final results of the presidential election should have been announced earlier than Wednesday morning. I reckoned that we held three elections same day, had nearly 100 political parties on the ballots, and voting closed

at 6pm — not at 2pm as it was in 2015. These factors caused delays. We need to improve the speed.

It is also very important for us to take a second look at the number of parties taking part in the presidential election. It’s becoming a joke. I think there is confusion somewhere. In 2002, the Supreme Court ruled that INEC does not have the power to deny political parties registration because the constitution guarantees “freedom of association”. However, the court did not say they must participate in presidential elections.

We need a regulation that says for a party to participate in the presidential election, it must meet some requirements. For one, I would suggest that a party must have won at least a seat in the House of Reps in a previous election.

Furthermore, I was very sad about the reported intimidation of voters of Igbo origin at Ago in Lagos. As someone with interest in how we can intelligently manage our ethnic and religious differences for the sake of the peace and progress of Nigeria, I see no sense in trying to suppress the political choice of anybody. If Yoruba leaders would not tolerate the intimidation of their kith and kin in other parts of Nigeria, why should they endorse same of other ethnic groups in Lagos? It all boils down to my diagnosis of the Nigerian problem: the manipulation of our differences for political gain disguised as group interest.

Why set Nigeria on fire because of personal ambitions? That’s backward.

Finally, I remember telling my colleagues at TheCable two days to the election that unfortunately, many people would die because of these elections. I stood right in front of them in the newsroom and declared: “Guys, by this time next week, there will be many dead bodies, most of them poor and lowly people, because of these elections. No politician is worth dying for.” As at last count, the body bags were in excess of 20. What a waste. What a needless waste. This is not a sign of progress. Sadly, it has become part of our political culture for lives to be wasted. The winners will enjoy their booty.

The losers will reconcile with the winners. Life goes on. The dead die in vain. Shame.

It was not all bad news though. Judging by the voting figures from 2015 and 2019, I think we are finally getting to the real voting population of Nigeria. Obasanjo scored 24 million in 2003, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua also got 24 million in 2007 while Dr. Goodluck Jonathan had 22 million in 2011. However, since the introduction of biometric voter cards and electronic accreditation in 2015, the winning figures have come down to 15 million and the winning margins are becoming more reasonable. I have always believed we sex up figures in Nigeria. I don’t believe our population is up to 190 million. We cannot be more than 120 million. The truth is coming out gradually.

In all, I do not believe we made enough progress with our elections this year compared to 2015.

INEC is still basically a shambles in terms of logistics. Voter intimidation remains in some places. Violence and deaths are still features of voting in Nigeria. State institutions, such as EFCC and security agencies, are still not neutral.

Voter turn-out remains disappointing — it should be going up, not coming down. Why should we have more registered voters, higher PVC collection rate and less voter turn-out? When the dust has settled, INEC needs to commission a study on this. But let me end this discussion on an optimistic note: cheer up, it could have been worse!

And Four Other Things…

HOT SEAT President Buhari lost the two Presidential Villa polling units to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar by a margin of 17 votes (1,030/1,013).

This came as a shock to many, but the Aso Rock jinx is real. Sitting presidents hardly win there. In 2015, Buhari defeated Jonathan 613-595 — a margin of 18 votes. In 2003 and 2007, Buhari won the Presidential Villa against the PDP. Jonathan had broken the jinx in 2011 when, as president, he defeated Buhari by 1,232 votes to 696. The conventional wisdom is that a sitting president should ordinarily enjoy the votes of those who live within and around the premises of power, but only once has that happened in this democratic dispensation. Jinxed!

HOME DISADVANTAGE Am I the only one who found it amusing that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Jide Sanwo-Olu and Mr. Jimi Agbaje all lost their polling units in the presidential election? Of the lot, it must be quite humiliating that Atiku was not supported by his Yola neighbours.

In December 1998, Obasanjo lost his Abeokuta ward in the local government poll, but managed to win his polling unit in subsequent elections, although he could not win Ogun or any other south-west state in the presidential poll. Is this a case of prophets not having honour at home — or prophets not popular enough on their own streets? Goodness!

SPREAD OUT Alhaji Atiku Abubakar won 13 of the 17 southern states, while Buhari won 14 of the 19 up north. Atiku did not win any of the three northern geo-political zones, while Buhari claimed the south-west.

Atiku had a better spread: he won at least two states in five zones. Buhari did not win any state in two southern zones, but he did far better than expected in the south-south and south-east, thus having more spread in 2019 than 2015. Buhari’s spread this time around suggests that he is finally burying the electoral baggage that hovered around him for over a decade. Now, he has to run an all-inclusive government as he promised after his victory. Imperative.

AND FINALLY… Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Zamfara state, angrily ejected refugees from his shelters after the February 26 elections. He could not believe they still voted for the All Progressives Congress (APC) despite their condition. He said: “I have asked all the IDPs residing in my Shinkafi houses to immediately pack out because they are not serious in life. These are people who had to leave their villages due to insecurity caused by a government that could not provide such basic necessity to them, yet they went and sold their votes trying to bring back the same gang.”

Devotion.

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