SUNDAY 7TH APRIL 2019

In Jordan, President Calls for Economic Inclusion of Underprivileged Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday in Dead Sea, Jordan, that opening up more economic opportunities to underprivileged groups was integral to the realisation of global peace. Buhari stated

this when he addressed the two-day World Economic Forum on Middle East and North Africa, which opened on Saturday.

The president, who attributed Boko Haram terrorism in Nigeria to lack of inclusion, lamented that while

some individuals experienced increasing opportunities for prosperity, others barely struggled to survive. He said it was situations like this that triggered tensions and conflicts.

Buhari told the world leaders, “It is at this point

that we must ask ourselves how we, as a region, got to this point. The answer, at least in the case of Nigeria, is the lack of social and economic inclusion.

“As Nigeria celebrated being the largest economy in Africa and one of the

fastest growing economies in the world, Nigerians were migrating in droves through harsh desert conditions and across treacherous seas to seek what they believe would be a better life in Europe.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I strongly believe that the

lack of social and economic inclusion was the root cause of many challenges we are experiencing.”

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, Continued on page 8

NERC: Nigerians to Pay between N36,000 and N67,000 for Electricity Meters… Page 8 Sunday 7 April, 2019 Vol 24. No 8763

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Buhari to Unveil $70m Oshodi Transport Interchange Gboyega Akinsanmi President Muhammadu Buhari has agreed to inaugurate Africa’s first mega bus terminal, Oshodi Transport Interchange before May 29, officials of the Lagos State

Government have confirmed.

Besides, the president will equally unveil the 10-lane Oshodi-Murtala Mohammed International Airport road, another iconic transport infrastructure project the administration of Governor

Akinwunmi Ambode executed under two years.

The state’s cabinet-ranking officials disclosed the plan to inaugurate the two strategic transport projects purposely developed to serve at least one million commuters in the

metropolis daily.

One of the state officials, who spoke with THISDAY in confidence, described the transport interchange, as the first of its kind in Africa, which he said, was similar to Victoria Terminus in London,

the United Kingdom.

At the time Ambode formally sealed the contract to construct the transport exchange at the height of economic meltdown in 2016, the project was then awarded at a whopping cost of $70

million Constructed purely by an indigenous construction firm, Planet Project Limited under the leaders of Mr. Biodun Otunola, the official Continued on page 8

Adeleke is Qualified to be Governor, Says Appeal Court PDP: Judgment has castrated Abuja High Court verdict Tobi Soniyi in Lagos and James Sowole in Akure The Akure Division of the Court of Appeal yesterday affirmed the qualification and eligibility of Osun State’s governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke, to seek election as governor.

Presided over by Justice M.A Danjuma, the court dismissed the appeal against the judgment of an Osun State High Court sitting in Oshogbo which had confirmed the eligibility of Adeleke to contest for the governorship of Osun State.

The court had Justices R.A Abdullahi and P.A Mahmoud as members of the panel.

But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in reacting to the judgment, said it has castrated

the judgment of the High Court, Abuja, because it had nothing to stand on.

The Osogbo High Court had ruled that Adeleke was qualified to contest for the governorship having been educated up to secondary school level.

Not satisfied with the high court decision, the runner up in the gubernatorial primary election, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi proceeded to the appellate court to challenge it.

The appeal court agreed with Adeleke and consequently dismissed the appeal on three grounds.

It held that the trial court had no jurisdiction to entertain the suit and that the sponsored petitioner, one Kingsley Awosiyan from Ife Central had no locus standi to file Continued on page 8

Onnoghen's Resignation Draws Mixed Reactions... Page 10

THE PRESIDENT MEETS THE KING...

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) at a meeting with the King of Jordan, Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa taking place at the Dead Sea in Jordan... yesterday

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

PAGE EIGHT

NERC: Nigerians to Pay between N36,000 and N67,000 for Electricity Meters Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says going forward, Nigerians would pay between N36, 991.50 and N67, 055.85 to get electricity meters installed and maintained at their premises by approved third-party meter providers of the distribution companies (Discos). The arrangement comes under the Meter Asset Providers (MAPs) scheme, which NERC signed off for Discos to facilitate massive deployment of meters to

electricity consumers, close up the huge metering gap, and reduce the estimated billing practice.

In a statement yesterday made available to THISDAY in Abuja, NERC’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Dr. Usman Arabi, said the commission had issued MAPs permits to agents that were successful in the procurements conducted by Abuja and Jos Discos. It said the approval of MAPs agents for Abuja and Jos Discos was in accordance with section 4(3) of the MAP Regulations 2018, which requires

all electricity distribution licensees to engage MAPs that would assist, as investors, in closing the metering gap and eliminating the practice of estimated billing in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

Accordingly, NERC said Abuja Disco had appointed Mojec International Limited, Meron Consortium, and Turbo Engineering Limited to provide 487,000, 213,000 and 200,000 meters, respectively. It said Jos Disco had appointed a consortium of Triple 7 and

Mojec International Limited to provide 500,000 meters to customers under their networks.

The power regulatory agency explained that it had directed that the rollout of meters should commence no later than May 1. It added that customers of Abuja and Jos Discos should expect meters to be installed in their premises within 10 working days of making payment to MAPs, after the rollout date, in accordance with section 18 (3) of the MAP Regulations 2018.

NERC stated, “MAPs shall

charge a maximum of N36, 991.50 for single phase meters and N67, 055.85 for three phase meters. These costs are inclusive of supply, installation, maintenance and replacement of meters over its technical life.

“The Commission shall monitor closely the rollout plan of distribution licensees and overall compliance with the regulation and various service agreements by the MAP and electricity distribution licensees.”

Recently, the Discos, through their umbrella group, the

Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), claimed they had been relieved from the responsibility of providing meters for consumers under their networks. They said NERC had taken off that job from their schedule and given to third-party operators under the MAP scheme.

However, NERC swiftly responded that the job of providing meters for electricity consumers was still that of the Discos, warning them not to shirk the responsibility.

The statement added that the judge “erred in law by failing to take note of the expiration of 180 days for ruling on preelection matters” adding that “Even when a December 2018 judgment with respect to the issue was presented, the judge chose to ignore it. We note that the judge violated the law by adjudicating over a matter whose filing and hearing period had expired.

Adeleke’s third reason for faulting the judgment was that the judgment ignored the evidence produced by the West Africa Examination Council, which listed “all students who sat for the May/June examination in 1981 alongside the senator, in addition to the certified true copies of his school certificate result.

“From the evidence produced by the Council, it is crystal clear that Senator Ademola Adeleke was, indeed, educated beyond the minimum requirement of ‘up to secondary school level’ as stipulated by law and therefore qualified to run for the office

of governor in accordance with Section 177 (D) of 1999 CFRN (as amended). Notwithstanding, the judge still went ahead to rule otherwise.

“The only statutory body empowered by law to determine authenticity of a secondary school results is the West African Examination Council and they confirmed the authenticity of Senator Adeleke’s result by producing the CTC of the same result. What evidence did the judge therefore base his ruling on?”

Lastly, Adeleke said, the judge was wrong to conclude that he forged the senior secondary school statement of result, which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He explained that having been shocked by the evidence produced by WAEC showing that he sat for the May/June 1981 examinations, the plaintiffs, again, went on to have the principal of the school to appear in court to confirm the authenticity of the statement of results.

“The principal appeared and

confirmed that the statement was genuinely issued by the school and that any error noticed on the statement was that of the school, not that of Senator Adeleke. The school did not, at any point, disown the statement of results,” he said.

He said the school “owned up to the error, which was not about forgery”, and that “From the foregoing, we affirm that the judgment of the Bwari court is a travesty of justice, a purchased ruling designed to negatively affect the outcome of Osun governorship judicial process.

We declare unequivocally that the ruling, being so glaringly against tested facts and the law, cannot stand.

“It is also clear that the ruling cannot, in any way, stop the reality that Senator Ademola Adeleke fulfilled constitutional requirements to be Governor of Osun State. We appeal to our numerous supporters and good people of Osun State to remain calm. This is another failed bid in the efforts of detractors and enemies of democracy.”

environment, comparable with other transport terminals around the world including Stratford and Victoria Bus Station in the United Kingdom.”

The statement, therefore, said the transport interchange would consolidate all the 13 city and interstate bus parks into 3 multi-storey terminals, providing standard facilities including waiting area, loading bays, ticketing stands, drivers lounge, parking areas, rest rooms, accessible walkways and pedestrian sky-walks linking all the 3 terminals.

According to the statement, other components of the terminal include 20 lifts and escalators,

two sky-walks connecting the terminals to each other, Architectural LED Lights, passenger concourse, public address systems, bus depot, passenger drop-off areas, taxi and car parks, passenger lounge for intercity commuters, loading bays, passenger information systems, etc.

It, also, explained the benefits of the transport interchange, which it said, ensure the reduction of the traffic congestion and chaos traditionally experienced at Oshodi with a reduction in the scattered and unruly transport activities, leading to a world-class excellent transport experience for

commuters and an improvement in the standard of life of Lagos residents.

With the consolidation of all transport activities, the statement said a lot of the informal economic activities “will be brought into the tax-net of the State government and Oshodi would thus be rebranded as the new and iconic face of Lagos.

“With the ongoing pace of works, the project is billed to be completed this month, and operations commencing soon after. Commuters around Lagos can therefore look forward to having a comfortable, accessible and world-class transport system.”

and the Middle East must focus on policies predicated on shared economic prosperity for all citizens and pay attention to investment and trade.

“Opportunities exist in key job creating sectors, such as agriculture, health, tourism, ICT, infrastructure as well as textile and garmenting, to mention a few. Our new, inclusive and diversified Nigeria is definitely open for business.

Our population, resources, policies and programmes make it the most attractive investment destination in Africa,” the president added.

According to the statement, the host, King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, said inclusive growth would be beneficial to the entire world, especially after creating an enabling environment for youths and women.

"The king of Jordan said

opportunities must be expanded fast, while noting that the challenges we face are not only problems to be solved rather they are opportunities for collaboration,” the statement said.

“UN Secretary General Secretary-General António Guterres said the world will be better off with stronger collaboration, commending Jordan for playing a historical role in restoring peace in the Middle East, especially between Israel and Palestine.

"The founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Professor Klaus Schwab, who congratulated President Buhari for his re-election for a second term, said discussions at the forum will focus on new ideas, entrepreneurship, innovation, environment, peace and reconciliation,” Adesina said in the statement.

ADELEKE IS QUALIFIED TO BE GOVERNOR, SAYS APPEAL COURT the case.

The court also held that the matter was brought to court outside the stipulated 14 days after the conduct of the primary election.

The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal had in a spilt judgment declared Adeleke winner of the governorship election.

Reacting to the judgment, the PDP said the decision was gratifying because the case had no substance.

The PDP reaction was signed by the party's Director of Publicity for South-west Zone, Ayo Fadaka.

The statement read: "We take due cognisance of the victory of Senator Ademola Adeleke at the Court of Appeal, Akure on issues concerning his qualification to contest the gubernatorial elections.

"It is gratifying to note that the matter was resolved in his favour, particularly as there is no substance to this red herring accentuated and sustained by the APC for such a long time. This

judgment has most fortunately castrated the curious verdict of the FCT High Court, Bwari.

"While we await hopefully the removal of all roadblocks that the APC has installed to forestall the inauguration of Adeleke as Governor of Osun State, we express our confidence in the Judiciary to do the needful in ensuring that justice and fair play continue to remain as the threshold upon which our democracy is built", PDP said.

However, while the tribunal judgment is pending on appeal, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Bwari, Abuja, nullified his candidature for the election.

The trial judge, Justice Othman Musa held that Adeleke was not qualified to run for the office of a governor for allegedly not being educated up to secondary school level as required by Section 177 of the Nigerian Constitution.

Reacting to the judgment, Adeleke gave four reasons why he believed the judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Bwari, Abuja, nullifying his candidature for the

September 2018 governorship election in Osun State, would not stand on appeal.

In a statement titled, ‘Flawed Bwari judgment against Senator Adeleke cannot stand’, issued on his behalf in the name of his campaign organisation, and signed by a lawyer, Niyi Owolade, Adeleke said: “While we are set to appeal the judgment, we also find it compelling to put the records straight by listing out the fatal flaws in the ruling and why it cannot stand before any court.”

According to him, the judge ignored critical evidence to rule against validated facts and submissions.

First, Adeleke said there had been “two rulings delivered in September 2018” which “held that Senator Adeleke satisfied all requirements of the law to contest for office.”

He stated that the Tuesday judgment breached the “precept” that “once a court of coordinate jurisdiction has ruled on a matter, court of similar jurisdiction cannot entertain it.”

BUHARI TO UNVEIL $70M OSHODI TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE said the transport interchange was a people-oriented project that would help at least one million residents commute easily daily.

He, specifically, compared the socio-economic value of the transport interchange with the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, which according to him, was designed to serve about 40,000 people daily.

While the airport would only serve the elite, the official noted that the transport interchange was conceived “to reduce travel time on Lagos roads; unlock gridlocks associated with the megacity and help people commute without stress.

“That informed Ambode’s

decision to construct other bus terminals – Ikeja Bus Terminal, Berger Bus Terminal, Yaba Bus Terminal, Oyigbo Bus Terminal and Race Cross Bus Terminal – to make Lagos function like other megacities in the developed world.

“This is the kind of project the governments at different level should invest in. The project will serve larger population and not just the elite. Ambode’s burden to relieve commuters’ pains of gridlocks informed the conception of the project.”

A statement from Planet Project Corporate Communication Office explained the rationale behind the transport interchange, which it

said, was informed the peculiarity of Oshodi, West Africa’s busiest transport interchange in West Africa, with over 13 parks and 5,600 buses loading per day.

It said Oshodi “has over 100,000 passengers and 1 million pedestrians daily, with 76 percent of its land area dedicated to transport and related activities. This leads to serious traffic congestion and other environmental issues.

“Our concept seeks to transform Oshodi into a world-class Central Business District (CBD) with business, travel and leisure activities conducted in a serene, secure, clean, orderly and hygienic

IN JORDAN, PRESIDENT CALLS FOR ECONOMIC INCLUSION OF UNDERPRIVILEGED in a statement, said the president also submitted that changes taking place across the world in technology, population, migration, trade and geo-politics had been yielding both positive and negative results in different parts of the globe. Adesina said Buhari called for more collaboration across borders to reverse the tides of frustration fueling conflicts, describing the Middle East and Africa as the regions that have grappled with "dramatic shifts and shocks" from recent global events.

According to the statement, the president said Africa was blessed with very young, vibrant, enterprising population and abundance of natural resources.

He added that such endowments had resulted in notable economic growth rates in the world.

Buhari, however, lamented that in spite the rich natural

endowments, Africa, particularly the North and sub-Saharan Africa, was host to deadly terrorist groups, such as Al Qaeda, ISIS, and Boko Haram, in the last one decade.

The president was quoted as saying, “It is my view that no region of the world has felt the full impact of these dramatic shifts and shocks like the Middle East and Africa – North and Sub-Sahara.

“On one hand, our region is blessed with a very young, vibrant, enterprising and dynamic population. We also have valuable natural resources that are the envy of many nations.

“These assets and endowments contributed to our region experiencing some of the highest economic growth rates in the world. On the other hand, however, we have also been hosts to some of the deadliest

conflicts in recent history. The deaths, damages and destruction caused by terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda, ISIS and Boko Haram over the last 10 years will take decades to repair.”

But, according to Adesina, Buhari observed that terrorism around the world, including the activities of Boko Haram, had been significantly degraded, insisting that while insurgents are no longer in control of any part of Nigeria, the country has borne the burden of rebuilding the devastated territories.

He said the Nigerian leader canvassed cooperation among nations as a necessary element in overcoming the enemies, especially in the digital age.

Adesina quoted Buhari as stating, “In this digital age where physical borders no longer exist to protect even the most secured nations, the only way to overcome predatory

and divisionary forces is for all well-meaning nations to work together for the greater good of mankind.

“Simply put, cooperation amongst sovereign nations is no longer a choice. It is an absolute necessity.

"We are extremely grateful to the many countries that have stood with Nigeria to confront this global scourge and, in particular, the Kingdom of Jordan under the leadership of His Majesty, the King.

“Furthermore, our economic diversification and social inclusion policies are also yielding positive results. Our country has now returned to the path of growth. We are making gains in the ease of doing business indices.”

Buhari stated that Nigeria had achieved moderate and inclusive growth in the last four years and stressed that both Africa

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ APRIL 7, 2019

9

SUNDAY COMMENT

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

LEADERSHIP OF THE NINTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY The legislature needs experienced and competent leadership

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he jostling for the leadership of the ninth National Assembly, expected to be inaugurated in June, has started in earnest.

While we are mindful of the almost universal convention that the majority party produces the presiding officers in the legislature and the fact that seniority of ranking plays an important role, the lawmakers are not answerable to the executive.Therefore, at a period when majority of Nigerians view the National Assembly and its members in lessthan-flattering terms, nothing should be done to further erode the credibility of an institution that is critical to our democracy.

For the presidential system of government which we practice in Nigeria to work efficiently, Baron de Montesquieu, a French jurist and philosopher, advocated the necessity for powers to be separated among the three arms of government (executive, legislature and judiciary) in a way that each can act as a check on the other. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that has an overwhelming majority in the coming National Assembly, must allow this principle to prevail in the emergence of the presiding officers when the ninth session is inaugurated. The party should put its house in order so that both the senate president and speaker of the house of representatives can emerge in a manner devoid of acrimony or imputation of imposition from the executive.

In order to accomplish their objectives with the lawmakers, political parties usually develop a legislative agenda (including the election of presiding officers) and execute it through persuasive tactics. That is what we expect the APC to do if it wants to achieve its objective.

The party has put forward the current majority leaders in both chambers of the National Assembly (Senator

Ahmed Lawan for Senate and Femi Gbajabiamila for the House of Representatives) as their nominees. Lawan is the highest ranking member in the National Assembly. He was first elected into the House in 1999, and the Senate in 2003, where he has been ever since.

Gbajabiamila has also been a House member since 2003. So, both come highly recommended. But the decision of who presides over either of the chambers is not that of the APC but the members themselves.

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Only credible, competent and firm leaders can enable the National Assembly live up to its responsibility to the people of Nigeria

Letters to the Editor

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ivers of sorrows, tears and blood! That was the description of the state under review from a concerned analyst. For me, that was apt, at least as far as the recently concluded 2019 general elections in the state were concerned.

The demons of undemocratic forces were unleashed on the electoral sphere by power-poaching politicians. And they romped on unashamedly in full swing, for all the civilized world to see.

That represented what an election in the 21st Century Nigeria should never be.

List them - from ballot box snatching by paid thugs to dare-devil shooting spree by armed hoodlums; from the crude invasion of private residences of some political bigwigs to the unconstitutional militarization of the electoral process. It was one sordid spectacle one prays should not have a replay in the unfolding drama of the absurd that Nigeria’s seasonal elections

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

his is why APC must learn from its own history. The failure to manage the pre-leadership and post-leadership election in 2015 led to mutual suspicion between the executive and legislative arms of government at the federal level. This mutual suspicion hampered the required cooperation between the two arms and impeded smooth operations of the government. While we therefore do not oppose the idea of party supremacy, such must never be pursued at the expense of separation of powers which is the hallmark of a presidential system of government.

To avoid the type of unnecessary distraction that almost marred the leadership of the outgoing National Assembly, there is also a compelling need for the lawmakers, as elected representatives of the people, to be mindful of the expectations of Nigerians as they prepare to elect their presiding officers. These expectations include revival and diversification of the economy, employment generation, strengthening national security, curbing corruption, tackling electricity crisis and general infrastructural decay, improving health and the educational system, among others.

In this challenging moment of our democratic experiment, a vibrant and effective legislature led by competent leaders has become imperative. The legislature is the engine room of democracy. It is the theatre of politics.

And to the extent that law reforms the society, the quality of legislation made by the National Assembly matters.

Yet, only credible, competent and firm leaders can enable the National Assembly live up to its responsibility to the people of Nigeria.

More than at any time under the current dispensation which started in 1999, we need independent- minded leaders who can foster the independence of the legislature if our country must make progress. The National Assembly therefore should be encouraged to choose leaders with rich legislative experience who can carry everybody along, command the respect of their colleagues and restore the dignity of the embattled legislative institution.

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.

Nyesom Wike’s Symbolic Victory have been turned into.

Not that the movie-like, bloodletting spectacle was the first of its kind in the oil-rich state. No!According to the Human Rights Watch “the epidemic of violence that has plagued much of the Niger Delta in recent years has its roots in the corrupt, violent and unaccountable nature of politics in the region”. The seemingly intractable war between rival gangs was aimed at gaining access to patronage dispensed by state government officials. Yet, there is more to be done than said in combating the state’s disastrous level of poverty and unemployment.

Of curious interest is the trend of the state always being turned into a theatre of war of attrition between two political bigwigs or rival gang leaders. For instance, back in 2003, it was between the then Rivers State Governor Peter Odili and the Federal Minister of Transport Abiye Sekibo.

Also, both the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF), led by Asari Dukobo, and the Icelanders or Niger Delta Vigilante (NDV), led by Ateke Tom held the state’s security architecture by the jugular.

Ditto for the 2007 elections. Then Soboma George, a young man who has been involved in gang activity for years, and a subordinate of Ateke Tom called the shots. During the 2007 elections some local election monitors reported seeing Soboma and several of his lieutenants travelling around Port Harcourt dispensing money to polling agents and a political party’s supporters.

In July 2013 a nauseating drama in Rivers State House of Assembly that had some members exchanging blows and smacking another’s head with the mace took place. It was an off shoot of the rift between then Gov. Rotimi Amaechi and the former First Lady, Patience Jonathan.

The same Amaechi has allegedly played an ignoble role in the use of federal might in River State, during the recent elections, apparently to unseat the people’s governor, Nyesom Wike. He aligned his forces with the AAC candidate. But as far as the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshionmhole, was concerned Amaechi was on his own, worse still on a wild goose chase! This time around the pendulum of power has swung back in Wike’s favour and there is wild jubilation across the state and deservedly so!

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Prof. Teddy Adias, Gov.Wike, PDP’s gubernatorial candidate won 19 out of the 21 local government councils with an astounding votes of 886,264. That is, against that of his rival, Awara Biok-poboma of the African Action Congress who polled 173,859. As many as 249,324 votes were cancelled in areas where the election did not take place due to violence. Good enough, Wike has wisely dedicated this hard-won victory to God and the good people of Rivers State. The PDP

at the national level says it is the victory of good over evil while the state chairman reiterates that Wike’s victory “should serve as a lesson and reminder to all political office holders, not to take the people, to whom power belongs for granted”.

That is the essence of democracy- the people, the people and the people - their wishes and aspirations, their dreams and desires, and for the leaders to set in motion, policies, programmes and projects that meet the people’s crying needs. That brings us to the million-Naira question.

Does Wike truly deserve this resounding victory? Yes, he does. He has turned Rivers State into a vast construction site, with solid achievements in the critical areas of infrastructural development. But there is more to be done. And that has to do with the healing process. He has to make the paradigm shift. Amaechi too should know that in democracy, the people’s franchise is what matters and should learn to sheath the long sword of acrimony.

––Ayo Oyoze Baje, Lagos.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ APRIL 7, 2019

NEWS

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

Mixed Reaction Trails Onnoghen’s Resignation Falana blames suspended CJN Ozekhome attributes exit to pressure from ‘cabal’ Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Alex Enumah in Abuja The sudden resignation of the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, received mixed reactions among lawyers and politicians at the weekend,

with some accusing him of bad timing.

Others said his decision to leave was good for the judiciary, and yet others blaming President Muhammadu Buhari for precipitating a bad example.

Onnoghen, who is facing

trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over asset declaration issues, was suspended by Buhari in January, in an unprecedented development that was widely alleged to be politically motivated.

Surprisingly, Onnoghen resigned as CJN on Friday,

barely a day after the National Judicial Council (NJC) was reported to have recommended his compulsory retirement.

Consequently, senior lawyers gave the resignation mixed reviews Saturday.

A human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) con-

LONG LIFE ...

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo with the celebrant, Lt. Gen. Ladipo Diya Rtd, at the 75th birthday cerenony Duya in Lagos yesterday

demned the way Onnoghen was suspended by Buhari, though said the former CJN should have thrown in the towel immediately after admitting infractions bordering on asset declaration.

Falana said while criticising the manner of his suspension by the federal government, he had called on Justice Onnoghen to resign because he had admitted that he forgot to declare his assets.

“But the NBA misled his lordship by its resolution to order boycott of courts in solidarity with immorality.

In justifying the action of the ex-CJN the NBA refused to pay attention to the injunction of the late Lord Denning (the master of bourgeois jurisprudence) that a judge should not be perceived as a law breaker.

“Initially, the main allegation against him was that he failed to declare his assets. He admitted the contravention of the law by saying that he ‘forgot’. That was when he ought to have bowed out. But he stayed on and allowed himself to be misled by politicians and lawyers.

“No doubt, the Buhari regime did not want to appoint him on grounds of corruption.

He had been indicted by the Eso panel in 1994. He was also confronted with allegations of corruption but he promised to turn a new leaf. Due to public pressure, he was appointed.

“He played into the hands

of the government. The NBA and senior lawyers stood by him. Lawyers filed cases at the federal high court and national industrial court to stop his investigation and prosecution.

“The federal government reacted by charging him at CCT, which suspended him from office in questionable circumstances. Even though he had boasted that he was innocent, he called his driver as a witness and closed his case at the CCT. “The same day the NJC indicted him based on serious allegations of corruption and unlawful enrichment levelled against him by EFCC. Hence, NJC recommended his compulsory retirement.

In a hasty move to prevent his sack, he resigned his appointment.”

In his case, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN) said the resignation of Onnoghen would help to burnish the image of the judiciary.

“The resignation of Hon Justice Onnoghen is a welcome development, which is good for the image of the judiciary and the country as a whole.

“My humble appeal to the president is that he should, please, accept the resignation so that we can put the whole episode behind us while all the lessons learned in the process are not lost on us,” he added.

Oyo Govt to Enact Grazing Control Law Before April 30 Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Oyo State Government yesterday disclosed that its House of Assembly would pass grazing control bill into law before April 30 aimed at forestalling the age-long farmersherdsmen conflict in the state.

When finally enacted, the state government revealed that any person that violates the legislation would face a twoyear imprisonment and a fine of N500, 000 depending on the

section breached.

The incumbent governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi gave highlight of the bill at a stakeholders’ meeting the State Police Command organised yesterday to promote peaceful deliberation between farmers and herders in the state.

If the bill becomes effective on or before April 30, the state will join Benue and Ekiti States, among others, which have enacted anti-grazing laws to put an end to nefarious activities

of Fulani herdsmen that often stoke farmers-herdsmen clashes across the federation.

At the meeting yesterday, the governor promised to ensure that grazing control bill is passed into law in the state before the 30 April to forestall the age long farmers and herders conflicts.

Ajimobi, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Community Relations, Mr. Abidemi Siyanbade, said the state government “has made a lot of progress in dousing

the incessant conflict between the farmers and herders in the state.

“Before the end of this month, grazing control bill to address the issues between farmers and herders will be passed by the state House of Assembly. We will see to it that the peace committee meeting at the local government levels will be revived.

“The grazing control law will also address how cattle can be brought into the state

and how herders will register.

Local herders are not the problem, but the major and the imminent problem is with immigrant herders.”

Also at the meeting, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Shina Olukolu, condemned herders’ use of minors as shepherds in absolute terms.

He said the herders “have no ability to control the animals, stating that it gives room for the animals to unwittingly stray into farmers land to

wreck havoc.”

However, the Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr. Adeniji Moses lamented that the grazing control bill “has been promised since 2016 and nothing has been done about it.”

On his part, the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Yakubu Bello commended the state police command for organising the stakeholders’ meeting.

NDLEA Arrests 121 Drug IBEDC Staff Electrocuted in Ibadan Suspects in Katsina

Buhari Felicitates with Olagunju at 60

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Omololu Ogunmade

A staff member of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Mr. Adewale Adegoke has been electrocuted to death around Onireke in Ibadan North West local government area of Oyo state.

Adegoke’s death was revealed in a statement the management of the distribution company issued yesterday in Ibadan, describing the incident as sad and unfortunate.

The statement read in part: “It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we at IBEDC hereby confirm the unfortunate passing of our staff, Mr. Adewale Adegoke during the course of duty this morning as he was involved in an

electricity related incident.

“He was confirmed dead at Teju Hospital where he was rushed immediately after the incident at Onireke after all efforts to resuscitate him at the scene of the accident proved abortive.

“Our sincere condolence and prayers go to the family.

We are currently investigating the course of this unfortunate incident.”

THISDAY checks revealed that the power supply to areas such as Dugbe business district, Onireke quarters, Adamasingba, Sabo and suburbs, was faulty on Friday afternoon.

Consequently, it was gathered, officials of the power distribution company, in vain, made frantic effort to trace the fault and correct it.

Francis Sardauna in Katsina The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Katsina State Command, has apprehended 121 suspects of drug peddling including students of tertiary institutions in the state between January to April 2019.

The agency, equally, disclosed that within the period, 65.6082 kg of cannabis sativa, 10.746 tablets of psychotropic substances and 3.8 litres of codeine were seized from the suspects.

The Assistant State Commandant of the agency in charge of Operations and Intelligence, Dechi Elisha David disclosed this at a press briefing yesterday, noting that the suspects were

nabbed at Kofar Marusa, hotels, Kofar Guga, motorize patrol and some parts of the state.

According to him, items seized from the suspects include, Cannabis Sativa, Tramadol, Exol, Dapsol, Diazepam, Codeine, Rubber Solution and Formalin, popularly known as Suck and Die”, he added.

He explained that at least 77 persons with drug abuse predicament were counselled, while 46 drug dealers were convicted at the state division of the Federal High Court, Katsina.

David, however, said the command had embarked on constant raid of drug peddlers’ hideouts across the state to checkmate incidences of violence and crimes in the state.

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday congratulated former Acting Managing Director of Bank of Industry (BOI) Limited, Dr. Waheed Olagunju, who turns 60 today.

Buhari conveyed his message in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, congratulating him for always making himself available for service to the nation and humanity.

The president, also celebrated with all family members, friends and associates of Olagunju, noting that Olagunju’s service to the nation “is centrally motivated by his fear of God

and sense of patriotism.”

Buhari commended him for playing a significant role in supporting the vision of diversifying the Nigerian economy through innovative and actionable ideas that translated into growth of more Small and Medium Enterprises across the country.

As Olagunju turns 60, Buhari prayed that the almighty God would grant him long life, good health and strength to continue serving the country.

Olagunju, currently Executive Director of Small and Medium Enterprises, joined the Bank of Industry’s precursor institution the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB) in 1990 as a Senior Manager.

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NEWSXTRA Buhari: It’s Ridiculous to Suggest I’m Indifferent to Insecurity Says he understands the pains of the victims and their families Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja Worried by allegations of indifference to incessant killings in some parts of the country, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said such insinuations were ridiculous and misrepresented his effort to arrest the situation. Buhari, who has consistently condoled with families of victims of persistent killings by attackers often from his native Fulani, described himself as one of the unhappiest leaders in the world.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, Buhari said there was no way he would be happy in the face of constant and gruesome killings of innocent Nigerians. He said he understood the pains and trauma that families of victims of such killings went through.

The president related how his concern about the security situation in the country had necessitated constant security meetings with a view to understanding the issues and motivating the security agencies to live up to their responsibilities.

He said ending savage killings remained a key priority of his administration.

“How can I be happy and indifferent to the senseless killings of my fellow citizens by bandits? I am human and I understand the pains of the victims and their families,

who have been traumatised and impoverished by constant ransom demands by bandits,” the president stated.

He said, “The politicisation of tragedy reveals the darkest sides of our primitive politics.

Almost every week, I summon my security chiefs to get an update on the strategies being devised to defeat these mass murderers.

“There is no issue that dominates my mind every 24 hours like security because, as an elected president, protecting the citizens of my country is one of the primary functions of my administration. I constantly listen to our security personnel in order to understand their problems and needs, and I have never hesitated to attend to those needs in terms of motivating and equipping them to respond effectively to our security challenges. It is, therefore, ridiculous to suggest that I am indifferent to these killings.

“I have ordered rapid and robust deployment of troops to all the areas currently under attack from bandits and we are determined to tackle this challenge ferociously until these remorseless killers are crushed and utterly defeated.”

The president also pledged that he would do whatever it required to ensure the country’s security system was well positioned to confront public enemies with determination.

He implored communities where banditry is active to

SDP, Ude Ask Tribunal to Nullify Alagboso’s Election Tobi Soniyi The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate for the Federal House of Representatives of Orlu, Orsu and Oru East Constituency in Imo State, Mrs. Christina Ude, has asked the Natiomal and States House of Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Owerri, Imo State to nullify the election of Chief Jerry Alagboso of the Peoples Democratic Party on the ground that the election was invalid by reason of non compliance with the law.

In her petition, Mrs Ude stated that after the February 23 election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not declare any of the contestants winner because the election was marred by violence and other malpractices.

Instead, INEC, she said fixed supplementary election for the constituency for March 9.

While the contestants were waiting for the supplementary election, the petitioner stated that INEC on March 4, unlawfully declared Alagboso, the PDP candidate winner of the election.

Mrs Ude and her party, SDP raised four grounds upon which they asked the tribunal to nullify the election and order a freh poll.

According to them, the names of all the political

parties that took part in the election were not reflected on the declaration of result sheets.

They stated that the summary of result sheet on INEC Form EC8D (11) was mutilated.

They also alleged that INEC presiding officers failed to enter the names and scores of all political parties into the polling units result sheets.

They therefore asked the tribunal to void the certificate of return issued to Alagboso and to issue an order directing INEC to conduct a fresh election in the constituency.

Mrs Ude had earlier called for a fresh election citing gross irregularities and fraudulent manipulation of results by INEC’s staff, corpers, opposition party and security operatives attached to polling units.

She said: “The issues within the 29 polling units in the three local government areas, as observed by my agents, were a gross manipulation of electoral process, intimidation of voters by both hired thugs, security agents alleged to be working for some political parties.

“While in some polling units, agents and adhoc staff were seen thumb printing the ballot papers, there is also available records of total discovery of vote buying in Oru East and Orlu Local Government respectively.”

support and cooperate with the security agencies, particularly the recently launched Operation Puff Adder by the

Nigeria Police, to battle bandits and kidnappers.

Buhari regretted that bandits had informants within some

communities, adding that it is reprehensible that certain communities have signed protection deals with bandits

at the expense of other communities, thereby creating complications and frustrating government’s interventions.

AFRICA’S FIRST MEGA TERMINAL...

Oshodi Transport Interchange constructed by the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at a cost of $70 million

Dokubo: Meetings with Ex-Militants Aided Peace in N’Delta Sylvester Idowu in Warri and Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa The Coordinator of Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Prof. Charles Dokubo yesterday said consultation with major stakeholders in the Niger Delta including top ex-militants, helped stabilise peace in the volatile region.

Dokubo, also the Special Adviser to the President on the Niger Delta, attributed the achievements recorded by the amnesty office to the unwavering support of President Muhammadu Buhari beyond consultation with major stakeholders in the region.

He made the remarks during separate interactive sessions with journalists in Warri, Delta State and Yenagoa, Bayelsa State to mark his first anniversary in office yesterday Dokubo, who spoke through

his media assistant, Mr. Murphy Ganagana, noted that his meeting with the region’s top five former agitators and over 100 others who belonged to other phases, aided in the relative calm in the oil-rich area.

In Warri, Dokubo said Buhari’s commitment “to ensuring peace and development in the Niger Delta, the amnesty programme focuses on training and employment of beneficiaries.

“Let me place on record that we are able to achieve all these because of the staunch and unalloyed support of President Muhammadu Buhari has been giving the Amnesty programme and the Niger Delta as a whole.

“On his fatherly watch, we have since re-worked the programme to focus on not just training but also job creation and empowerment of already

trained beneficiaries. I can confirm to all stakeholders gathered here today that President Buhari loves the Niger Delta and its people,” Dokubo said.

According to him, some achievements made in the past year include meetings with critical stakeholders of the oil-rich region, as well as leaders of ex-agitators to foster peace.

He mentioned others achievements to include completion of two vocational training centres in Agadagba, Ondo state and Kaiama, in Bayelsa state, reintegration of thousands for varying trainings and formal education and also, provision of job opportunities for trained beneficiaries.

Speaking Yenegoa, Dokubo said that aside the ex-militants, he also consulted deeply several times with elders and leaders from the region to

ensure that there was peace, which he said, would further bring development.

“We have engaged critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta geared towards deepening peace in the volatile region.

Apart from this, we also met key Niger Delta elders and stakeholders in Lagos.

“We met with over 30 phase one leaders of Niger Delta exagitators at the Abuja Sheraton in furtherance of these peace efforts, also the coordinator parleyed 70 phase two the next day” he said.

Among high ranking exwarlords who the amnesty boss had discussions with were: Bibopre Ajube, aka ‘General’ Shoot-at-sight, Victor Ben, alias Boyloaf, representatives of Ateke Tom and Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo.

I Can’t Withdraw Petition against CNN African Voices Profiles Three Ugwuanyi Alone, Says Ayogu Eze Niche Athletes Segun James The governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, Senator Ayogu Eze yesterday said he would not withdraw election petition he filled against the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi without consulting his party.

Eze, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information n the 7th National Assembly, however promised that he would never be a distabilising factor in the development of the state.

He made the remarks when a delegation of stakeholders of Enugu North Senatorial District visited him at his Enugu residence, asking him to withdraw election petition

he filed against Ugwuanyi in the interest of peace.

Among others, the delegation, which was led by Senator Chukwuka Utazi, comprised a member representing Nsukka/Igbo Eze South Federal Constituency, Hon. Pat Asadu; Senator Fidelis Okoro; a former Chairman of Enugu PDP, Mr. Vita Abba and Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Dr. Dan Shere.

Addressing the delegation, Eze said he would all within his power “to promote development within our state.

I will not be a destabilising factor in Enugu State. I need to tell you that I will not constitute a cog in the wheel of the progress of our people.

The Globacom-sponsored CNN International’s magazine programme, AfricanVoices, this weekend continues its tradition of bringing to viewers the accomplishments of trendsetters on the continent with the inspirational stories of three outstanding African athletes.

A vignette of the programme released by CNN indicates that the three athletes being featured have carved a niche for themselves by driving social change in their countries through the promotion of body fitness.

They are Tshepo Nkhabu of Lesotho, Mitu Monteiro of Sal, Cape Verde, and Kenya’s Saloni Kantaria.

Globacom stated that it was

proud of the achievements of these young Africans who have not only recorded astonishing achievements in their fields, but have also inspired thousands of youths in the process.

Nkhabu, who has always believed that “giving is the mother of all successes”, founded a cycling organization called “Hands of Life” at the age of sixteen. In doing this, he addressed the need in his local community of Mafeteng for a recreational centre for youths to use to grow, learn, and develop their leadership skills.

The organization has now availed youths in Lesotho a favourable environment to pursue their talents and imbibe leadership skills.

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OPINION Dousing Tension in Our Electoral Process Political offices should be made less attractive, argues Adewale Kupoluyi

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he nation’s just-concluded general elections can be described as a mixed grill of positive and unpleasant experiences. While some politicians were elected into various offices across the states without acrimony, the elections did not go without the bitter stories of ballot snatching, rigging, killings, abductions and falsification, among others.

The atmosphere was soaked in tension in many places that voting took place. This could largely be responsible for why there was general voter apathy. The desperation to get into public offices at all cost could be the basis for why political activities have assumed frightening dimensions in recent times.

No doubt, our electoral system is tension-filled, from the beginning to the end. Ecological analysis of political process shows a direct linkage between tension and violence. The current political system makes it extremely difficult to breed a generation of leaders that are passionate to render selfless service to their fatherland because many people are scared away from politics. Tension begins immediately a party wins an election. The losing party rushes to the election tribunal; whether there is merit or justification for doing that or not is another ball game. Huge resources are committed to fighting legal tussle in a bid to reclaim ‘stolen mandate’.

In our dear country, opposition politics in not what it should be. What do we have? It is finding of faults and engaging in a genre of criticism where nothing good is seen about the ruling party. Little attention is paid to evaluating the quality of governance with a view to adding value that could impact peoples’ lives positively. When elections are fast approaching, various aspirants spring up to vie for elective posts. In most cases, those contesting have godfathers, who tell them what to do rather than doing what the people expect them to do, as their representatives.

Those aspiring to assume leadership positions are usually handpicked to serve particular interests by clinching to power by all means and creating tension.

Nigerian political parties hardly observe internal democracy that allows for the emergence of natural leaders.

As mentioned, what usually happens is that rich aspirants or those with powerful sponsors simply handpick their stooges to run for elections. Victims of imposition either decamp to other parties or remain within and fuel disaffection. This trend has dominated our political landscape.

Prior to elections, for fear of loss and inability to garner popular support, politicians patronise thugs and other

unconventional means either to silent potential opposition or hindrance that could come their way. Hate speech and extra-judicial killings are weapons that politicians deploy in advancing their causes. The tension builds up to electioneering.

All manners of parties spring up with inchoate manifestoes, philosophy and programmes. At the last general elections, without prejudice, most of the presidential aspirants had no business to vying for the highest position in the land. It amounted to sheer mockery of the entire process for someone that is not popular at the local government level, not to even talk about state, to aspire to become president of Nigeria! This is uncharitable and laughable. This is not to say that people should be prevented from exercising their constitutional freedom of association, but the point here is that, there is need for sincerity of purpose and realistic aspiration. There is no point funding mushroom parties. The rat race to avoid going into oblivion by such parties fuels tension.

There is always tension over pre-election and post-election attacks on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices and security personnel. Oil prices are similarly not spared from the tensed up political climate.

For instance, few weeks before the polls, international Brent crude oil futures were sold at $67.28 a barrel, up 16 cents, while the United States’ West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $57.39 per barrel, up about 13 cents.

Another factor responsible for tension during elections is the proliferation of small arms in the country. At the end of

The neutrality of the security services and responsible conduct of party agents would largely bring about the desired electoral process that would stimulate the emergence of desired leaders required for our democracy

electoral activities, persons in possession of illegal arms tend to commit armed robbery, kidnapping and other crimes in the society.

Deployment of military during elections is gradually becoming the norm and inducing tension. This is an absurdity. The role of the military during elections should be limited, except when absolutely necessary. The use of military during polls seems to have been abused as the soldiers take laws into their hands and flout electoral regulations. Innocent citizens, electoral observers and journalists were reportedly maltreated and assaulted by military men. This increases tension and discourages the conduct of peaceful elections, just as indiscriminate shift in election dates induces anxiety. What do we have at the end of the day? Compromised and inconclusive elections!

When results are to be announced, electorate stay glued to their television and radio sets, tensed up.

There is need to fix a few things so as to get our elections right. To begin with, there is need for attitudinal change that suppresses avoidable tension. Elections should be sacred and sacrosanct. Conducive environment must be put in place to engender free, fair, credible and transparent elections. Tension jeopardises, deteriorates people’s health and distabilises orderliness. Political offices should be made less attractive such that desperation to get into political offices is downplayed. Political arrogance that suggests that power is the birthright or exclusive occupation of certain segments of the polity stirs tension.

Candidates with such mentality would stop at nothing to get into power and invariably brewing tension associated with ‘do-or-die’ politics.

As a way forward, politicians should desist from creating tension by polarising the electorate. Security operatives should conduct themselves with dignity and integrity. The unbiased and neutrality of the security services and responsible conduct of party agents would largely bring about the desired electoral process that would stimulate the emergence of desired leaders required for our democracy. Nigerians should not be discouraged from participating in the prevailing tensedelectoral process. Apathy favours the perpetration of the political class that is ever ready to mobilise die-hard supporters to the polling booths to do its billing. The people should reclaim their destiny through active civic responsibility under a tension-free climate where real democracy thrives.

––Kupoluyi wrote from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

The Case for Improved Primary Healthcare Adaeze Oreh canvasses for more investment in the health sector

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n my regular visits to rural areas of Nigeria to run medical clinics, I often encounter children severely dehydrated from diarrhoea. These children are terribly weak, frail and sometimes unconscious. Sadly, diarrhoeal disease is still one of the leading causes of childhood deaths across the country.

We know that diarrhoea is prevented through education about safe water, hand washing and sanitation, and is treatable with simple medicines. However, many Nigerian families lack even basic health knowledge, sanitation or the money for medicines. A majority of the population lives on less than USD 1.25 per day, yet nearly all health care is paid for privately. It is not unusual for Nigerian patients to sell their possessions to pay for medicine and I have often seen patients’ relatives in hospital car parks begging passers-by for help. This is time spent away from school, work and business. In other words, health crises often bring life to a shuddering halt for whole families.

According to the Legatum Institute’s Prosperity Index of 2018, Nigeria is seventh worst in the world in basic health, health infrastructure and preventative care, just ahead of war-torn Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This picture of our healthcare is hard to reconcile with Nigeria’s current status as Africa’s largest economy.

Over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s 195 million people live in rural areas with little or no access to primary healthcare.

This means that most people receive poor treatment or no treatment at all for road traffic accidents, malaria, HIV, chest infections, heart disease, diarrhoea and complications from pregnancy and childbirth. These ailments, which are Nigeria’s leading causes of death, are almost all preventable or treatable.

Sadder still, we lead the world in maternal mortality. One in five women who dies in childbirth worldwide is Nigerian

and Bill Gates recently described Nigeria as “the most dangerous place in the world to give birth”.

This is why accessible, affordable healthcare is a top priority for Nigerians, according to polls conducted by Nigeria Health Watch and NOI Polls, and was a top talking point for candidates in the recent general elections.

However, almost as consistently, health takes a back seat once the election season ends, despite emphasis by the World Bank and World Economic Forum on the importance of investing in “human capital” through health and education. Typically, the federal government spends less than six per cent of the national budget on health and only a tiny fraction of that on primary healthcare.

At the state and local levels, this is an even more dismal one-three per cent.

However, recently we’re seeing signs that things might be different this time. The recent roll-out of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund and a federal government plan to revive 10,000 primary healthcare facilities across Nigeria is a welcome departure from this pattern and a source of hope for under-served populations, even if we still have a long way to go.

The 2019 allocation to healthcare is 4.1 per cent of the national budget. Just over a quarter of that will go to primary healthcare - mainly for the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund and childhood vaccines - adding up to approximately N82 billion.

This hefty allocation for primary care sends a strong message about government’s recognition of basic healthcare as a critical path to development. However, it falls short of the Abuja Declaration of 2001, which committed signatories to spend not less than 15 per cent of national budgets on healthcare. Nigeria’s commitments under the UN-agreed Sustainable Development Goals to end epidemics like Ebola and Lassa fever and substantially

reduce deaths and illnesses by the year 2030 will also require more spending.

The first step towards improving the health system has been taken with the release of the budgeted funds.

Now we must ensure that the money is well spent. Too often, where primary care centres have been built, they are under-staffed, lack essential medicines or are abandoned shortly after inauguration. More robust primary care centres can deliver excellent returns in terms of lives saved. They will also serve as strong support bases for the new specialist hospitals and “centres of excellence” that have dominated recent spending, by ensuring early detection and referrals for diseases like cancer.

International donors including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Christian Aid have identified primary healthcare as a major focus of their funding commitments to Nigeria over the next few years, targeting common diseases and childhood vaccinations.

While very welcome, this aid cannot replace government investment and our own responsibility for building a better health system for all Nigerians.

World Health Day is today, April 7 and its theme is universal health coverage. Nigeria’s state and federal governments could make the day a truly meaningful one by pledging to invest at least 15 per cent of future national budgets on health and 60 per cent of that total on primary care. As Nigerian citizens, we must also insist that our leaders keep the goal of affordable, universal healthcare at the top of the agenda. If this is not done, I fear I will continue to see too many children with preventable diarrhoea, and we will all continue to see millions of Nigerians suffering and dying needlessly from preventable and treatable ailments.

––Dr Oreh is a family physician and a public health expert

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LETTERS For A More Robust Senate

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he activities of the legislature are largely misunderstood by a majority of Nigerians even after 20 years of democratic rule. The reason is not farfetched – the incursion of military rule which greatly set the supposed Giant of Africa aback for decades by suspending both the constitution and the legislature. They ruled largely by decrees and fused both executive and legislative functions together.

It is little wonder that most Nigerians don’t care who their legislative representatives are, preferring to focus more on those in the executive arm of government.

The year 1999 marked the beginning of democratic rule after 16 years of military interregnum. The constitution posited a bicameral legislature with the Senate as the highest making law body in the clime. There was more than a passing interest by the then executive led by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to determine who the Senate President will be. Even though the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had the majority in the Senate, it was polarized along two broad factions – those who wanted Obasanjo to have his way and the other who preferred the senators to choose their leader without any executive interference.

Obasanjo had his way and the late Chief Evan(s)

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Saraki Enwerem was elected as the pioneer senate president. He was impeached after some dirt was dug up on him.

This paved the way for the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo who was the senate’s choice to become the helmsman of the apex lawmaking body. The Oyi of Oyi and Ekwueme of Ogbunike as the charismatic trained political philosopher was fondly called was also impeached for alleged corrupt practices.

His apologists contend that it was his independence

and resolve not to allow the senate become a mere rubber stamp that led to his downfall. Anyim Pius Anyim took over from him and he gave Obasanjo some sleepless nights with all attempts at impeaching him hitting a brick wall. Chief Adolphus Wabara was propped up

by Obasanjo after ensuring that Anyim didn’t return to the hallowed chambers. He was also impeached by his colleagues and Ken Nnamani took over with his famous declaration that he had thrown

away the banana peel. His independence ensured that the third term agenda of Obasanjo was roundly defeated.

David Mark had the distinction of being the country’s longest serving senate president between 2007 and 2015 and was independent to the core. He brought a lot of stability to the system. He was popularly elected by the senators and played a noble role in ensuring that Goodluck Jonathan became President in 2010 when the cabal was hell bent on ruling the nation by proxy through a dead Umaru Yar’Adua.

History was made in 2015 when the ruling PDP was defeated by the opposition APC. The APC then penciled down Senator Ahmed Lawan for the Senate Presidency.

The current Senate President, Bukola Saraki didn’t take this lying down as he desperately wanted to be the nation’s number three man. Someone sent out a message which deceived 51 of the senators that there would be a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the International Conference Centre. Saraki then exploited this to be elected unopposed with Ike Ekweremadu from the PDP as his deputy. This greatly angered the party as the PDP would never have considered sharing power with their arch rivals.

This was betrayal of the highest order and the party did all they could to teach

Tele-Ikuru Pilgrimage

he Ethiopian eunuch who, as in Acts 8:27, was in great authority under Queen Candace and in charge of her great treasure had “…come to Jerusalem for to worship”. As in 1Sam6:11-12, Jerusalem was a township, tow-n ship of cart in ark. Cart-ark, catarrh ‘ume’ coterminous with energy.

Energy of man, to take mother home as Ume-ikuru ya, the breath of life into nostril of man by the Lord as iku-ume.

Nkume, the Lord-stone of amu, sobriquet for peter-fishers’-coat, a sex-gamete Gen2:7, Dt23:1 Jn21:7.

Peter, the step-in stone of Israel, being Joseph Gen49:24.

Joe, self-help-in-step to pool of Bethesda as own man Jn5:7, Acts8:38. Own-man-peter, a cast in stone, dead on a-Ladder-ura Acts10:10-16. Ura a lad asleep, lulled by the mother as Deer the bush-meat and slang for his dear wife Gen27:3.

Wife from port-afar to take, as in wife from Otu di otele ikuru. Tele-ikuru as the breadth of stone-throw, cast afar in-height of Jerusalem, for immersion in depth of the pool at baptism. A-barb-yisim Jdg16:19, 1cor11:14, ie a barb of hair for-to worship. Pho-to-warship, a frigate, free-gate of a-docka-yard of Joe-sex garment, as a rip of Adams’-vest Gen39:12. Adam, to whom Eve gave the forbidden fruit as her vest. Harvest of Eve the ogor-mkpuru osisi.

Ogor the in law and harvester of the fruit swallowed

by Adam with the seed

Gen3:5-6. Seed-time of life, a life-timing chain of cumulative causation. Curse-nation ie ikwu, the caste of peter as off-springs by mother in-law, in a cycle of debt to her daughter, the Ogor gbara ugwor. Ugwor-agba ogor as the female, fee-malefactors, the thief in debt. In-depth of the pool to ask, heard as what, worth of axe-head 2kg6:5-6. Tax on head of males, as the fruit of his mothers’ labour, at a ripe age-grade known as elia, isa bet at pool.

Elisabeth, the mother of Man in-debt-bed, bet-Isa-ugwor as his bail out from prison to enter 2kg4:1-7. Enter-price-sons orkwuruh as token of loveaffair. A fare of entrance-port, dead on arrival Lk7:14. Arrival of a body-mass of dead-weight, awaiting stone in-step to pool for a quickening. Quickening of step mother in the pool of water, at sea. Sea, man in his-nap, mere made whole number of name as afa-birth.

Alpha-bet on left-incarnate as the name of birth-right to wife for helpmeet. Help-meat pie, Pi equals 22/7, the 16th letter of Greeks, used to denote the ratio of circumference of a circle of vaginal-hole to the cast-dieameter. Diameter-ing the cast in evil triangle of the plot. Lot-cast as ask a Miss Cinderella whot Lk23:32-43. Ask of what, to do something-queer. Square root cause of engine—cylinder shaped as ‘U’-knock. Eunuch in the circumstance, circuminstance as the example ‘X’.

Sample of Joes’ gamete at

port-afar for test of IS Jn19:28.

Testis of Okikpo the Sumo, heaviest weight wrestler and native. Thieves, the male-factors charged with amass of wealth and bastion of otor-rity Acts8:27.

A mass-bastion, a masturbation, a ladder-ur. Ura a lad, as sleep of Joe with mother, the Egyptian-mammy-water and queen of the south chamber Job9:9 Mt12:42. Chamber-lain in coffin as okporo isi-axe jiri eji.

Okporo ijiji, the flies of Egyptian apothecary of dis-carded corpse Gen50:26 Ecc10:1. Corpse embalmed with lump of fig 1cor5:6, 2kg20:7. Fig, figuring out whole number of name, on the left palm of the right-incarnate as a leaven up to Joes’-self.

Joseph, a peon detected in 1964, as a mega-star.

Star-Omega-bethel-lia-isa.

Isa the King of domino effect.

Kingdom minor effect of Asia. Asia minors’ sign, as minus of Toyota-sumo. Total sum of Tivs, the male-factors of re-production. Product of se-kwoi-ya-ancients. Quotients of stone that the right angle tried as the heavy weight of body-mass. BODMAS as follows: ‘B’ Bracket in wrestling on ‘O’, off-day break for ‘D’ vision of ‘M’ multiple-ration in ‘A’ addition. A diction mbene-fact oratory in a-Ladura-Iyas’-prey.

Prey, iya hunted as the man of queen. Mannequin, the statue erected as false-hood of penis Ezek13:18. Penny-IS-head, upon which hand-kerchief is made.

Kerchief of handmaid contivevans of amu in holes. Armu-pit

of sub-traction in a grim star-swap-hilli. Up-hill task of all kines lowing. All kinds of swallowing-pill at the grim age.

Pilgrimage on ura-Lada-otor motive. Motive of coin-inside hence, the pool it hitherto fell.

Ahitophel coincidence of tail, or head. Head tailor sewing pillow of kinds. Kind of name re-numbering matrix at conference of his cousins from Abia-course, the ikwu-Ne-tion.

Equation of left type-righted assignment of the Peon, on Key-BODMAS. Peono-key body-mass, awaiting pool stirring-will as otor-motive that is sinister.

Sinatra that is not frank but Frankenstein name calling.

Calling in thy mention of Jacobs’ wrong size that siezed him as Isaus’ time of life.

Lifetime name calling by ambidext-star ‘mkpomihu’, the first-face to face and double dealer of cards. Abrahams’-card of whot, what is your name to ask Jacob, for his calling as Israel at the nick of his lifetime.

Lifetime nick-name calling by the fourth- dimension-faced Man-frankincense, the AX of ‘Y’ and IS of ‘X’, AXIS of the plot, the peace of Land-LORD, made as cross sign of plus.

Surplus -Abba-gathering Jn6:9-13, of Christ-MAS BODha, I-Am, aha-Jesus, Yamaha, the Colt of Triumph at entry, Algebra card-Abraham, A-bracard-Abra, the Quotient and the Quorum, Quadratic-equator, Equilibrium-isostasy.

–––Abili Willy, Lagos

Saraki the lesson of his life. He was hauled before the Code of Conduct Tribunal to answer for some past sins. The o toge movement in 2019 ensured he would not return to the senate.

The incoming ninth senate which will be inaugurated in June promises to be full of intrigues as some ranking senators are already jostling for who becomes the Chairman of the National Assembly. The APC has already allegedly adopted Senator Ahmed Lawan as its preferred candidate while Senator Ali Ndume is breathing fire and brimstone that he must contest and has even rolled out his agenda if elected. Some PDP senators are saying that they want to be part of the electoral process and wouldn’t play second fiddle.

Remi Tinubu, Teslim Folarin and a host of others are said to be angling for the deputy senate presidency slot as experienced ranking senators.

The intrigues and power play is extremely raw. The National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was quoted to have said that the mistake of 2015 shouldn’t be allowed to repeat itself in reference to the controversial way that saw the emergence of Bukola Saraki.

The APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole has also drummed up support by throwing the party supremacy card to determine who sits on that highly exalted chair.

The senate made up of 109 people is the highest representative of the Nigerian people. There is need to have

an independent senate free from the apron strings of both the executive and the party.

An independent legislature is one of the beautiful gifts of democracy and it shouldn’t be tampered with no matter the circumstances. When the chips are down, the people have the power to recall their senators and not a party chairman or some national leader whose positions are unknown to the 1999 constitution. It is tragic that after two decades of unbroken democracy, the hapless common man is being denied the so-called dividends of it. It is autocratic for a few men who call themselves party leaders to decide who the nation’s highest elected representative becomes. The people’s representatives should decide without any undue interference from the party and the executive. The voice of the senate is the voice of the masses and this should be reflected in the election of the principal officers. With regard to the senators, the job of the party ends after they secure the flag to run for the respective seats. The party should at this point take a back seat and allow the will of the people to prevail. History has shown that previous attempts to install party- backed principal officers have always ended up in a fiasco.

Saraki may have had his flaws but he was no stooge of the executive. It will be sad if his successor is a mere rubber stamp.

- Tony Ademiluyi wrote from Lagos

Placing Gov Yari on Responsibility Scale

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have seen bad students of history say that when it was Goodluck Jonathan, we blamed him and never blamed Kashim Shettima. But today, "due to hypocritical tendencies," we are sharing the blame for Zamfara between Muhammadu Buhari and Abdulaziz Yari. This for me is unfair to Shettima.

Recall that Jonathan and Kashim were at loggerheads simply because Kashim wanted the Boko Haram problem to be solved while Jonathan hardly even believed there was a problem. A pointer to this was when Chibok girls were abducted. It took Jonathan two weeks to even believe there were any abductions. This was how it went on with Jonathan's presidency frustrating every Shettima's attempts at curbing the Boko Haeam insurgency.

This is the opposite of Zamfara's case. Yari is never ready to face the challenge. At some point he announced his resignation as the chief security officer of the state. Funny enough however, he neither vacated the seat nor resigned as the chief accounting officer of the state. He is yet to take any responsibility as far as the insecurity of Zamfara State is concerned.

Now compare Yari with his neighbour, Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State. El-Rufai has been

up and doing. Aside that he is taking preventive measures, at any point crisis erupts, he rises to the occasion to thwart it. He holds security council meetings frequently and whenever the need arises to seek federal assistance, he does so willingly.

Only recently, he personally foiled an attempt at a kidnap on the Abuja-Kaduna Road.

While Kaduna State is not entirely bereft of kidnappings and attacks, fairness demands that we note here that El-Rufai’s commitment towards curbing the security challenges have reduced the rate at which crimes are being perpetrated. Assuming he is like Yari, Kaduna State would have been a terrible place to live today.

My point of emphasis is that the governor is very instrumental in the administration of a state. Without their willingness and commitment to promote peaceful coexistence thereby placing the foundations for development, little can be done to foster peace. However, on his part, the president has a constitutional tool that allows him to declare state of emergency in Zamfara State to have Yari off the stage and secure the place. This is what the president has failed to do.

–– Mukhtar Jarmajo, Bauchi

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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 ˾ APRIL 7, 2019

SPECIALREPORT Onnoghen:WasResignationHisBestBet? After going through what has been touted by a section of the public as the worst form of humiliations in the hands of agents of the federal government, the suspended Chief of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, last week resigned from his positionfollowingrecommendationsoftheNationalJudicialCouncil,andwhichalsoexposedNJC’sperceiveddouble standardsinthematterofhissuccessor,TankoMuhammad.Inthisreport,DavidsonIriekpen andTobiSoniyiexamine someof theintricatedynamicsthatarecurrently playingout atthe top echelon of the judiciary

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fter about three months of being in the thick of the storm, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, last Friday, tendered his resignation. He was said to have sent his resignation letter to President Muhammadu Buhari. THISDAY gathered that Onnoghen turned in his resignation letter last Thursday evening, a day after the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended that he be compulsorily retired for misconduct The embattled CJN is still standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on an alleged six-count charge of failure to disclose his assets as required by the law for public office holders. The charge was preferred against him by the federal government following a petition filed at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) by one Mr. Dennis Aghanya, an associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, and a director of the Anti-corruption and Research Database Initiative.

He alleged that Onnoghen owned “sundry accounts primarily funded through cash deposits made by himself up to as recently as August 10, 2016, which appeared to have been run in a manner inconsistent with financial transparency and the code of conduct for public officials.”

The trial commenced at the CCT on January 14, 2019, but Onnoghen was absent. It was then adjourned to the following week, because the embattled former CJN faulted the summons procedure. The next hearing was slated for January 22, 2019 but he again failed to show up in court this due to three orders by the Federal High Court and National Industrial Court.

Following his absence again, President Muhammadu Buhari suspended him from office on January 26 and appointed Tanko Ibrahim Muhammad as acting CJN. His office was thereafter sealed by the police.

Buhari swears-in Tanko Muhammad as acting CJN

His Position as CJN Had Become Untenable

As the first Chief Justice of Nigeria to be arraigned for a criminal offence, Justice Walter Onnoghen’s decision to retire from the bench will save the judiciary from further embarrassment.

The sundry allegations levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission including receiving money in foreign currencies from lawyers and the findings by the National Judicial Council that he could not offer valid defence to the allegations, are such that make his continued stay in office as CJN untenable.

Even though, the authorities may have difficulty proving beyond reasonable doubt that he has committed an offence, the CJN has lost the moral right to continue in office not just as the Chief Justice of Nigeria but also as chairman of the National Judicial Council, a body that disciplines erring judges.

The allegations even though unproven in a court of law have significantly damaged Onnoghen’s moral standing and weakened his reputation to such an extent that even if he was cleared of all changes in his ongoing CCT trial, there was no way he could have returned to office. He must have recognised this fact himself long before he came to his decision to retire or resign.

Second are the humongous benefits that would accrue to him with the resignation. Investigation revealed that Onnoghen’s retirement benefits in cash and kind will cost tax payers about N2.5 billion. As part of the package for a retired chief justice, a house will be built for him in Abuja with a nine-digit sum for furnishing — in addition to a severance gratuity that is 300 per cent of his annual basic salary of over N3.3million, as well as pension for life.

Just like state governors, a retired chief justice is entitled to a number of domestic staff and sundry allowances for personal upkeep. This package for judicial officers was put together by the NJC long before Onnoghen became the CJN in 2017. However, if he was dismissed upon conviction by the CCT, he would not be entitled to any benefits.

THISDAY gathered that those, who advised the embattled CJN to resign might have thought that if he allowed the CCT to convict him, not only would he forfeit the monies in the accounts, which he did not declare to the federal government, he would also forfeit the mouth-watering benefits he would enjoy should he not take the option of resignation. In addition, he would be barred from holding public office for 10 years.

Unprecedented Prosecutorial Speed

THISDAY checks revealed that one of the thinking that aided Onnoghen’s resignation stemmed from the unprecedented speed that characterised the petition, investigation, charges prosecution and the body language of the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar, which all point to the fact that his conviction might have been predetermined. These played out during trial.

Even though the option of resignation was a tough decision for Onnoghen to make, For instance, the defence team had noted the speed with which the charges against OnTHISDAY gathered from a credible inside source that there were no other alternatives left for noghen were filed and alleged connivance of the CCB with the petitioner, whose charges had the embattled CNJ under the current circumstance. The source disclosed that the option of resulted in his allegations. resignation was first put on the table for him, when he refused to appear at the start of his The petition, which birthed the charge against the former CJN was written by Dennis trial before CCT, but he ignored it, thinking that the case would fizzle out in no distant time.

Aghanya, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State. Dated Investigation revealed that even though a lot of event unfolding in the course of the trial January 7, the petition was received by the CCB on January, 9, according to the first prosecumight have immensely contributed to his eventual resignation, the decision by the NJC to tion witness, James Akpala. recommend his compulsory retirement to President Buhari after deliberating on the petition Akpala, a senior investigative officer with the Bureau, told the tribunal that his office filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may have received the petition on January 9 and began investigating on January 10. He added that a seriously accentuated the option. team of investigators from his office visited Onnoghen’s office on January 11, where they The NJC had last Wednesday said it had determined the petitions against Onnoghen, and the acting CJN, Tanko Muhammad, and sent its findings to the president for consideration. It obtained his written statement in addition to bank documents to support the allegations.

Responding to questions from Onnoghen’s counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, Akpala was gathered that members of the council unanimously agreed that Onnoghen had particularly lost every moral authority to continue as CJN with the litany of allegations bordering on admitted that they completed their investigation and submitted their report to the CCT before the charge against his client was drafted and filed that same January 11, nearly three hours misconduct. before the report was submitted to the tribunal.

Many now believe that with the resignation, it would save Buhari from having to get The other concern was when the CCT rejected Onnoghen’s no-case submission. As soon two-thirds majority of the Senate to confirm Onnoghen’s retirement as stipulated in Section as Umar was done with the ruling on Friday, he adjourned the hearing to Monday for the 292 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, which might have been impossible to muster.

The section that “Judicial officer shall not be removed from his office or appointment before defendant to open his defence. This led to uproar in the courtroom, as lawyers from the defence objected to the short adjournment. They questioned the speed in the trial when the his age of retirement except in the following circumstances – (a) in the case of – (i) Chief tribunal could have given them enough time to prepare their case.

Justice of Nigeria… by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority While Awomolo was still on his feet, asking the tribunal chairman to allow the defendant of the Senate.”

What were the Options before Him?

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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 ˾ APRIL 7, 2019

SPECIALREPORT Onnoghen: Was Resignation His Best Bet?

Continued on Pg. 16

Judiciary as the Weakest Link

Onnoghen...eventually the path of honour sufficient time to prepare, Umar stood up and walked away, leaving other members of the tribunal to chase after him. As if this was not enough, when the defence announced the closure of its case, it asked the tribunal for a 14-day adjournment in line with practice direction of the court for such situations for it to file its final written address.

But responding, prosecution counsel, Mr. Aliyu Umar SAN, argued that no specific time duration was provided for in the practice direction and urged the tribunal to use its discretion in granting the request, adding that the tribunal should accord them the same amount of whatever days given to the defense for them to file their reply.

In a short ruling, tribunal chairman gave the defence three days to file its final written addresses, following which the prosecution can file in their response in another three days.

He subsequently adjourned till April 15 for the adoption of final written addresses by parties and fixing of date for judgment and ruling on all pending applications.

The Appeal Court Conspiracy

The final shocker for Onnoghen was the silence by the Court of Appeal on his case.

The former CJN currently has about four appeals pending at the court, either challenging his suspension from office or challenging the jurisdiction of the CCT to hear the charges filed against him. But since February 28, when the appellate court reserved for judgment, nothing has been heard from the justices of the court.

The judgment, which could have long terminated the CCT trial, particularly the appeal challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the case, has refused to come, setting tongues wagging that the court might have been cautioned to stay away from the case.

The first time the case came up in the court was January 22, was when the embattled CJN, who was initially scheduled for arraignment on January 14, 2019, ran to the court to stop the process. In a motion on notice brought by his counsel, Awomolo, Onnoghen asked the appeal court to restrain the CCT from going ahead with his trial slated for January 22.

He also asked the court to stop the suit requesting him to step down as the CJN. The senior lawyer submitted that it is settled law that once a matter is before the appeal court, trial courts cease jurisdiction, pending the determination of the matter at the appellate court.

But a three-man panel of the court led by Justice Abdul Aboki, while delivering ruling, refused request. It was therefore no need for an order and adjourning till January 24 for hearing of Onnoghen’s motion on notice. When the matter came up again on January 30, the court dampened the hope of the former CJN for reprieve, refusing to stay proceedings at the CCT. Instead, the appellate court dismissed Onnoghen’s appeal and asked him to return to his scheduled arraignment at the CCT. Many had wondered why the same Court of Appeal which shut down the trial of Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa could not save Onnoghen, when it was the judgment that was used to save a fellow Supreme Court judge, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, when the federal government had through the Bureau, accused him of false assets declaration shortly after he was arraigned for alleged fraud at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

In a decision of the tribunal in March 2018, it struck out the 10 counts charges leveled against Ngwuta, citing an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, which held that serving judicial officers cannot not be tried and that the only body empowered to first indict a serving officer of that capacity is the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Muhammad’s Inordinate Ambition

Many observers believe one reason why it was easy to get Onnoghen was because of the inordinate ambition of the acting CJN, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad. Checks revealed that long before Onnoghen became the CJN, against the order of tradition of seniority, the man who succeeded him in acting capacity, had always claimed to be senior on the Bench to him, and should be succeeding the then CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed.

Investigation revealed that the seniority war mainly waged from Muhammad’s end, got to a head during an official function at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), when he openly demanded from Mohammed that he be allowed to sit next to him, as the most senior justice of the Supreme Court, ahead of Onnoghen, who then, was the most senior, officially recognised, by the judiciary leadership.

An enraged Mohammed said to have told Tanko point-blank that longevity on the Supreme Court Bench must be followed. He reminded him that Onnoghen got to the Supreme Court ahead of him and going by tradition, the jurist from South-south was officially the most senior of the court.

Despite the matter being resolved in Onnoghen’s favour, Tanko’s camp was said to be upbeat, with sources claiming that he had been assured by the powers-that-be in Buhari’s government, that he would be appointed as Mahmud’s successor ahead of Onnoghen, the reason Onnoghen’s confirmation was needlessly delayed. But following the unsuccessful attempts to stop Onnoghen’s enthronement, the suspended CJN got an early lead, but as things stand today, Muhammad can be said to be having the last laugh.

There is no doubting the fact that the forced resignation of Onnoghen has exposed how weak the judiciary is amongst the three arms of government. Counsel to the former CJN, Awolomo, had last week alluded to this when he lamented the ease with which the executive arm of government has treated the nation’s number one jurist with indignity, saying it showed that the judiciary was weak, vulnerable and dependent.

The senior lawyer said his experience at Onnoghen’s trial has brought to the fore, the urgent need for institutional reforms and the need to ensure that agencies are made to be strong and independent.

“The case has clearly shown that Nigerian judiciary is very weak, vulnerable and not independent.

The security of tenure of a judicial officer is a mere wishful thinking. It is unthinkable that the head of the judiciary will be treated the way Onnoghen was treated and not a whimper came from the body of men and women of highest distinction in the legal profession. Is it not dangerous that the president can appoint a Chief Justice without the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC)?

“There is no association of Nigerian judges to speak a word. Let no public officers or judicial officer at any level throw stones, because if not all, most are guilty as Onnoghen. Nobody knows who is next, a precedent has been laid. The honourable Attorney-General of the Federation seems pleased. Men, who sit in judgment over fellow human beings, are representative of God on the earth and everyone shall face the almighty God, on the last day, to give account of his stewardship. On that day all secrets shall be laid bare.”

Awomolo carpeted the Nigerian Bar Association, saying by reason of personal leadership ambition, tribal sentiments, has been rendered ineffective, divided, weak and unable to speak boldly to secure the independence of the judiciary. He said situation where the executive arm of the federal government dominates other arms is not good for democracy to thrive.

“The framers of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as mended) omitted to give sufficient attention to the need for the CCT, to secure its independence, impartiality and noninterference from outside the court – a situation, where the executive arm of the federal government, is the custodian of the Code of Conduct for public officers, the enforcer of the Code of Conduct through the tribunal. It is the appointing authority of the members of the tribunal.

“In the proceedings in the tribunal, the executive is the accuser, the investigator, prosecutor, the witness and the judge, all roll together into one. This is unacceptable under the Constitution that guarantees independence of the three arms of government. There is urgent need for constitutional reform,” he concluded.

…NJC’s Volte-face on Acting CJN

Call it double standards, and you will not be far from saying the truth.

Until last week, the NJC would punish any judge, who accepted an appointment from the executive arm of government without the prior approval of the council.

In 2014, the then Rivers State governor and now Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi appointed Justice Peter Agumagu as the chief judge of the state. The NJC preferred Justice Daisy Okocha. For accepting the appointment, the NJC under the leadership of the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, accused Justice Agumagu of disregarding the council by accepting the appointment.

He was consequently suspended.

The Rivers State governor had on March 18, 2014 sworn in Agumagu after Hon. Justice Lambo Akanbi of a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had declared the NJC’s action of nominating only Hon. Justice Daisy Okocha for appointment as chief judge as unconstitutional.

The court in Port Harcourt therefore nullified the recommendation of the NJC in appointing Justice Okocha as the Chief Judge of Rivers State. The trial judge said Amaechi was not bound and could not be compelled to swear-in the individual recommended by the NJC. But that decision did not go down well with the NJC. The council said Justice Agumagu pretended to be unaware of the provisions in the 1999 Constitution as amended with regards to the appointment of a chief judge. NJC ignored the judgment and punished Justice Agumagu. His sin: accepting the appointment to be chief judge.

Last year, at its 85th meeting held on the 14th of March, 2018, NJC recommended the compulsory retirement of Mr. Justice Obisike Oji of Abia State High Court to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State. A statement signed by the council’s director of information, Mr Soji Oye read: “Hon. Mr. Justice Obisike Oji was earlier queried by the council for allowing himself to be sworn-in as acting Chief Judge, and thereby colluding in, and aiding an unconstitutional process. His reply was unsatisfactory and the council recommended his compulsory retirement.”

At the council meeting where the decision to sack Justice Oji was taken, Justice Tanko Muhammad was the deputy chairman of the NJC. Justice Walter Onnoghen was the chairman.

By the precedent established by the NJC, it was fairly settled that a judge needs the permission or approval of the NJC to accept appointment from the executive.

Fast forward to 2019, now that it is the turn of Justice Muhammad, it appears this is no longer the rule. The council did not find anything wrong in Muhammad accepting his appointment as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria from President Buhari following the suspension of Onnoghen.

The fact that the council chose to be silent on the decision it took pertaining to the petition against Muhammad further raises suspicion that the council was up to some mischief.

In the said statement, reference was only made to Muhammad in the introductory sentence which read: “The National Judicial Council reconvened today in an Emergency Meeting to consider the Report of the Five-Man Committee constituted to investigate the allegations of misconduct made against Hon. Mr. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, GCON and Hon. Mr. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR.” Nothing was said about the decision taken in respect to the petition against the Acting Chief Justice. However, it has since become public knowledge that the council gave the Acting CJN a clean bill of health. That decision contradicts previous decisions taken by the council in dealing with similar infractions. As a dynamic institution, the NJC is entitled to change its rule and can depart from its previous decisions. However, there ought to be sufficient explanation to the public on this otherwise the NJC risks losing credibility before the public.

As it is now, it is difficult to see the council as an impartial organisation. Rather, it has left the public with the impression that the council is an institution where different rules apply to different judges, depending on whose interest is affected. If Justices Agumagu and Oji could be kicked out for accepting appointments from their governors, there is no reason for Justice Muhammad to go scot free especially that he was part of the decision to kick out one of the justices.

The council, in punishing judges, who allow themselves to be used by the executives, appeared to be strengthening the independence of the judiciary. The decision to waive this rule now potentially threatens to erode the gains made in the past.

Also in the light of this decision, can Justice Oji and possibly Agumagu write to the NJC for a review of their cases? Or at best, will the NJC be willing to apologise to them by admitting that the council made a mistake in punishing them for accepting the appointments to be chief judges of their respective states? The council may have a better explanation to justify its decision and it will not be out of place to concede to it the benefit of the doubt. It would however serve the council better if this is made public. But in the absence of a cogent and verifiable reason to justify its decision, NJC might have done an incalculable damage to its credibility and independence.

There is a need, indeed, an urgent one for that matter for the council to explain or justify its decision with respect to the clearance given to the Acting CJN. Otherwise, the council may end up being seen as a cheap and willing tool in the hands of advocates of nepotism and sectional gratification.

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

INTERNATIONAL Dynamics of Development Setbacks in Africa: The Case of Sit-Tight Politics, Xenophobia, and Election Rigging

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f the people of Africa were to sit down and reflect more on why they are permanently enslaved, they would quickly discover that they are a priori first responsible for the enslavement. The time Africa’s former colonial masters were frequently held responsible for development setbacks in Africa has come and gone. The time we were told by Walter Rodney in 1973 how Europe underdeveloped Africa should also now belong to the past because Africa’s problems are now essentially African-created. In fact, the contemporary dynamics militating against development in modern-day Africa are not only very visibly evident, but, most unfortunately too, also acquiesced to by the people of Africa.

And perhaps more disturbingly, the people of Africa have unnecessarily become an acquiescent society of anti-civilisation. This should not be. There should not be any good basis for xenophobia in intra-African politics. Sit tight politics must be set aside by all means. Election rigging in all its ramifications, and particularly the issue of ill-defined citizenship, must be resisted by all means.

These are three major dynamics of development setbacks that must be removed before a people-driven democracy can be truly established in Africa and before the prevalent democracy of injustice and unfairness, which have come to characterise intraand inter-African politics, can be stopped.

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Sit-Tight Politics Let us begin with the issue of sit tight politics in Africa, and particularly with the current protests against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria. President Bouteflika was elected on April 27, 1999, meaning that he has been President of Algeria for twenty years. In other words, he has been President of Algeria consecutively for four terms of five years each. He indicated two months ago about his intention to contest for the fifth time in the April 2019 presidential election which angered the people of Algeria. Why the anger? Are there no other African presidents who have stayed in power for more than two decades and that are still imposing themselves on the people? The answer cannot be far-fetched.

President Bouteflika suffered a stroke in 2013, and, as a result, has not been able to participate in many public activities. He cannot walk. He is always on wheelchair. He hardly talks. Apart from that, age is telling on him: he was born on March 2, 1937.

At 82 years of age, the extent to which he can run around for state matters is, at best, very limited. In spite of this, he still wants to continue to be President of Algeria. But to this, the people of Algeria were vehemently opposed. The opposition was to the extent that the people do not only want him to step aside before the expiration of his tenure on April 28, 2019 but are also asking for a regime of completely new leaders. The youth, in particular, are asking for a complete change of elite.

In reaction to this, President Bouteflika has not only reconstituted his cabinet but has also promised not to contest in the April elections. He even promised to resign before April 28 and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Ahmed Gaid Salah, one of the confidants of President Bouteflika, has asked the Parliament to intervene in the matter and to invoke the argument of ill-health against the President.

And true enough, President Bouteflika is not medically fit to govern Algeria. If he is not physically fit and has not been having public appearances since 2014, why should he still be thinking of imposing another five-year tenure of his burden on the people?

If President Bouteflika could not do his best for his people in ten years or two terms of five years each, and for that matter, in twenty years, what really is the proof that he has fresh ideas that can change the lot of the people? Why must he die in office?

President Bouteflika, in his intended fifth tenure in office, is said to be planning to ‘reinforce separation of powers, strengthen... the role of the opposition and guarantee rights and liberties.’ Why is he now planning it and not in the past two decades? Why is it that it is only when African leaders are compelled to leave office or have immediately left office that they have more wisdom to do the right thing?

More interestingly, he actually has been in government since 1963 when he was appointed the Foreign Minister. He was in this position until 1979. He presided over the end of the Algerian civil

Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika...resigned from office war in 2002 and put an end to the emergency rule in February 2011. In fact, the period he has been in government is indeed long.

His intention to remain in power is an abuse and exploitation of democratic freedom. It is an expression of the policy of sit-tight in government. This is a major dynamic of development setback for the people of Algeria.

Xenophobia as a Development Setback A second issue is that of xenophobia and mistreatment of people of Africa in countries that are not theirs. South Africa, Libya, and Ghana are cases in point. In South Africa, for example, xenophobic attacks are of two types: hatred by Nigerians for one another, killing themselves for business and ethnic, but vain, reasons. The other type is the xenophobic attitudinal disposition of South Africans vis-a-vis foreigners, especially Nigerians.

The hostility vis-a-vis Nigerians has a national character, contrary to the interpretation of the Government of South Africa.

First, there is the political rivalry between Nigeria and South Africa for the leadership of Africa. To a great extent, Western European leaders tend to lend support to South Africa in this regard. Besides, South Africa made efforts to intervene in regional conflicts but against which Nigeria stood. The conflict in the Côte D’Ivoire is a good illustration of this observation. Nigeria advanced the African Union’s principle of subsidiarity which requires that a dispute be first settled by the leaders of a region before the intervention of any other country, and particularly by the African Union itself. In other words, Nigeria was against South Africa’s military presence in the West African region.

A second reason is the controversy over Nigeria’s roles in the fight against the obnoxious policies of apartheid. Nigerians generally hold the strong belief that there should not be any good

When academic observers say Nigeria is not a nation, but a nation-state, they simply what to differentiate between the concept of‘Home’and‘Nigeria’as it is.True, there is nothing like‘citizenship of Nigeria’beyond paper framework, but a de facto‘ancestral citizenship’ which is contrary to the pretensions of Section 41(1) and Section 42(2) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution as amended. Mwangi S. Kimenyi and John Mukum Mbaku have offered their own explanation that‘home’does not mean Nigeria but the individual’s so-called‘ancestral land’within the country...’To justify this differentiation Kimenyi and Mbaku have it that, following the declaration of Mr. Goodluck Jonathan as winner of the 2011 presidential election, homes of his supporters, churches and police stations were set ablaze in Kano and Kaduna, leaving many people dead.This is why there is the urgent need‘to collectively reject the concept of citizenship based on consanguinity and geography and instead embrace a citizenship based on association’

reason for South Africans not to accommodate them in light of the various strenuous efforts made by them to assist in the struggle against apartheid and stop the exploitation of black South Africans by the White supremacists. Scholarships were given to South African students in Nigeria. Nigerian civil and public servants were compelled to contribute certain percentages of their salary under the South African Relief Fund project, formulation of an exception to apartheid as constituting a domestic affair of South Africa, and therefore, an exception to Nigeria’s foreign policy of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of other sovereign countries, etc.

The understanding of these contributions in South Africa are not appreciated. Brigadier General Buba Marwa, when he was Nigeria’s High Commissioner in South Africa, drew attention to a radio/television discussion programme during which allusion to Nigeria’s roles was made. It was said during the programme that Nigeria’s roles were essentially driven by economic motivation, rather than by altruism, defence of black dignity, defence of the black South Africans, etc. Nigeria was not believed to have done anything meaningful to the struggle.

In fact, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru once revealed when he was Foreign Minister the understanding of the issue by the Government of South Africa thus: the African National Congress (ANC) had an international and a domestic wing. It was the international wing that related more with Nigeria. The domestic wing had little or no dealings with Nigeria. In contemporary political governance, it is essentially the people of the domestic wing that are in power, and therefore, the domestic wing cannot be said to know much of Nigeria’s contributions, and by implication should not blamed.

Consequently, when Nigerians talk about their country’s contribution, and for that matter, with pride, if not with arrogance, the South Africans are not only unhappy with it, but are always very angered, especially when the same Nigerians are many times found wanting in the country. This brings us to the third rationale.

Nigerians have a mania of behaviour wherever they find themselves. They live big because they strongly believe that good life should be a resultant of their dint of hard work. The Igbo people are the main victims of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

And without scintilla of doubt, they are very hardworking. They are into retail and big supply businesses, but most unfortunately, South Africans are lazier than most of the foreigners in their country. They cannot do what the Igbo people and other foreigners accept to do. And yet, they are envious of them and people who toil tooth and nail to eke out a good living. This is one major reason for the problem of xenophobia in South Africa.

Many other reasons have been advanced for the xenophobic attacks in South Africa. They include poor and inadequacy of service delivery, stiff competition for resources, failure of early warning and prevention mechanisms in the area of communitybased violence, increasing inflow of undocumented migrants, high number of refugee and asylum seekers, as well as the involvement and complicity of the Local Authority members in the award of contracts for economic and political reasons.

What is particularly noteworthy about xenophobia as a development setback is the factor of who is responsible, the brutality of its expression, and the regional objective of the African Union.

Regarding the factor of who is involved, most unfortunately, it is on record that most incidents of violent attacks have been carried out, not by White South Africans, but by the black South Africans.

The problem is no longer that of ‘white apartheid’ but of ‘black apartheid.’ Who will Nigeria’s anti-’black apartheid’ policy now target?

As we have noted, the expression of xenophobia in South Africa is very brutal and barbaric, to say the least, since 1994. For instance, on May 11, 2008, Mr. Ernesto Alfabeto Nhamuave, a 35-year-old Mozambican ‘was beaten, stabbed and set alight in Ramaphosa informal settlement on the East Rand. Nobody had been arrested for his horrible murder. Police closed the case on 27 October 2010 after concluding that there were no witnesses and no suspects. In all, 62 people were killed.’ Let us assume that the reasons given by the Police was objective and therefore tenable.

Can this assumption be tenable in light of the incident of 27 February, 2013? On this day, eight South African police officers tied another 27-year-old Mozambican man, ‘Mido Macia, to the back of a police van and dragged him down the road. subsequently, the man died in a police cell from head injuries.’ Whatever the crime Mido Macia might have committed, he did not deserve that type of jungle justice, and if the South African law specifically provided for that type of punishment, the court should have first been allowed to make the required pronouncement. For me, the South African policemen involved were, at best, very brutish, very brutal, very xenophobic in all ramifications, and, of course, very reflective of the thinking of their influential traditional elite.

Was it not in September 1995 that two Senegalese citizens and one Mozambican citizen were thrown down from a moving train in Johannesburg by some South Africans? Why? Allegedly because foreigners were believed to be taking the job opportunities meant for South Africans. Also allegedly because foreigners were responsible for spreading AIDS in the country?

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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08033204315, 08111813084

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Emefiele

GODWIN EMEFIELE:

The Quintessential CBN Governor For an economy like Nigeria’s, it takes the ingenuity of managers to surmount the intractable challenges that are associated with its management. Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, appeared to have been cut out for the job as he not only leads the CBN to maintain monetary stability, safeguard the country’s external reserves, act as a banker and financial adviser to the federal government, act as a lender of last resort to banks, but also to provide succour where none may have been expected. As he wraps up his engagement at the CBN, Kunle Aderinokun writes about the man, who is humility personified, and his contributions towards ensuring integrity of the economy

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henever the name, Godwin Emefiele is mentioned, what readily comes to mind is humility. He is not one who is given to frivolities. Governor Emefiele combines a great humility with an amiable mien, under which lies the toughness and knack for performance-cum-excellence.

These, he exhibits, as he discharges his duty at the commanding height of the nation’s apex bank.

Emefiele was appointed the CBN governor, when no one gave him any chance to become one; that he has served two presidents, namely former President Goodluck Jonathan and President Muhammadu Buhari

is a testament to his sound management policies.

Prior to his appointment to the exalted position on June 3, 2014, Emefiele was the group managing director/chief executive officer of Zenith Bank Plc, the post, he assumed after spending over 26 years in commercial banking. He had won the best graduating student award when, in 1986, he obtained a Master’s Degree (MBA) in Finance from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the same school, where he studied banking and finance and graduated with a second class upper division, two years earlier. He later had executive studies at Stanford University, Harvard University and Wharton School of Business. Even though his five-year tenure ends on June 2, Buhari has the discretion to renew his appointment.

Under Emefiele’s leadership, the CBN has recorded many feats, notably attributed to his uncanny ability to think outside the box when faced with the most difficult situation.

At a time when Nigeria was at a crossroads, Emefiele as the CBN governor, proved its mettle. He drove the apex bank to rise to the occasion to bring the economy out of crisis and forestalled another one. For instance, he held forth on the economy, when there was a lacuna on the fiscal side, as a result of president’s delay in the appointment of his ministers, particularly the finance minister, for six months.

It was to his credit that the apex bank defied the odds and barred importers of certain 41 items from accessing foreign exchange from the interbank market,

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Godwin Emefiele: The Quintessential CBN Governor which helped to avoid depletion of the foreign reserves. The 41 items were later increased to 43.

The CBN, had on June 23, 2015, in a circular signed by its Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Mr. Olakanmi Gbadamosi, explained that, “In the continuing effort to sustain the stability of the forex market and ensure the efficient utilisation of forex and the derivation of optimum benefits from goods and services imported into the country, it has become imperative to exclude importers of some goods and services from accessing foreign exchange at the Nigerian foreign exchange market to encourage local production of these items. According to the apex bank, the implementation of the policy will help conserve forex reserves as well as facilitate the resuscitation of domestic industries and improve employment generation.

“For the avoidance of doubt, these items are not banned, thus importers desirous of importing these items shall do so using their own funds without any recourse to the Nigerian forex market,” it added.

This bold step by the CBN later turned out to be the saving grace for the economy as it helped in bolstering the economy during the recession it entered into in 2016, and gave it the fillip to exit same. Emefiele sometime last year said the bank’s restriction of foreign exchange access to 41 import items in 2015 was in national interest as it helped to save the economy from collapse.

Even though he pointed out that the policy was restrictive of trade, it was necessary to protect the economy from the importation of items that could dampen the local production and economic growth.

He asked then: “Should Nigeria with insatiable taste for foreign goods to the detriment of the domestic economic realities (unemployment and imported inflation) throw its borders open to indiscriminate importation of goods and services?”

“This was the prevailing condition in Nigeria before the introduction of restriction of official foreign exchange for the importation of 41 items.

“It was an eclectic policy carefully crafted with a view to reversing the multiple challenges of dwindling foreign reserves, contracting Gross Domestic Production - recession and an embarrassing rise in the level of unemployment confronting the economy.

“The implementation of the 41 items, in addition to the other complementary macroeconomic policies, no doubt, was effective in lifting the Nigerian economy out of recession.

“For example, the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 1.40 per cent in the third quarter of 2017, up from 0.72 per cent, and contraction of 0.91 per cent in the second and first quarter of 2017, respectively. Also, there has been improved accretion to the country’s reserves,” the governor explained.

The nation’s foreign reserves stood at $44.7 billion as of April 3, according to the data published by the CBN. It rose to $44.43 billion on March 29 from $43.7 billion on March 22, 2019, representing an increase of $730 million.

Rising prices of oil at the global market and a surge in oil production in recent months may have aided the accretion to the foreign reserves, but CBN’s perennial efforts at building the reserves are very notable.

The CBN under Emefiele’s leadership has been aggressive in building the country’s foreign reserves with a view to protecting the value of the naira and insulating the economy from external shocks.

The foreign reserves, which stood at $23 billion in October 2016 because of the ‘haemorrhaging of foreign exchange’, significantly, moved up to a five-year high of $47.3 billion on April 5, 2018.

The last time the country recorded FX reserves at that level was in July 2013.

Besides, Emefiele-led CBN has also been able to ensure exchange rate

Cont’d from Pg. 19

Smallholder farmers busy on a plantation

stability from over N525 to the dollar in February 2017, to about N360 to the dollar, on the parallel market. Foreign exchange supply has also improved since the establishment of the Investors’ and Exporters’ Window, with inflows of over $50 billion through the window alone from April 2017 to date. The purpose of the window, according to the apex bank, was to boost liquidity in the forex market and ensure timely execution and settlement for eligible transactions.

In disclosing the inflow figures, CBN’s Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, stated that out of the total amount, the apex bank purchased about $9.67 billion. The surge in the inflows to the I & E window was attributed to offshore investors’ interest in Nigeria’s fixed income securities.

As part of its development finance initiatives, CBN in the five years of Emefiele, made a series of interventions to support farmers as well as small and medium entrepreneurs. Notable amongst the intervention programmes is the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).

ABP is in line with apex bank’s developmental function. Essentially, it was aimed at creating a linkage between anchor companies involved in the processing and small holder farmers (SHFs) of the required key agricultural commodities.

According to the CBN, the programme

thrust of the ABP is provision of farm inputs in kind and cash (for farm labour) to small holder farmers to boost production of these commodities, stabilize inputs supply to agro processors and address the country’s negative balance of payments on food. At harvest, the SHF supplies his/her produce to the Agroprocessor (Anchor) who pays the cash equivalent to the farmer’s account.

ABP has helped in making Nigeria become a major producer of rice, a clear departure from its former position of net importer of rice. Statistics revealed that over 900,000 farmers cultivating about 835,239 hectares, across 16 different commodities, had so far benefited from the programme, which has generated over 2.7 million jobs across the country.

No wonder that given the success recorded through ABP in rice and maize cultivation, the Monetary Policy Committee last November, recommended that the programme should be applied to other areas such as palm oil, tomatoes and fisheries amongst others.

Realising that over $500 million was being spent annually on the importation of palm oil; and this necessitated the central bank to include the produce among items not eligible for forex.

Emefiele had explained that efforts at supporting small scale farmers and SMEs were based on awareness of the critical role they can play in supporting

Just late March, to the surprise of all and sundry, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) chaired by Emefiele cut the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 50 basis points from 14 per cent to 13.5 per cent after keeping the benchmark unchanged for 33 months since June 2016. In announcing the decision, Emefiele, at the end of a two-day MPC meeting in Abuja, said the rate cut had become inevitable in order to boost economic growth

our economic recovery and growth, as well as in creating job opportunities for millions of Nigerians.

“So far, the CBN has through its MSME fund disbursed over N100 billion to the MSME sector, but we still feel a lot can be done. Under the auspices of the Bankers Committee, the sum of over N60 billion has so far been set aside under the AGSMIES fund to fund micro, small and medium scale enterprise businesses in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors of our economy.

“The CBN recognises that the greatest challenge confronting MSMEs and local farmers is access to credit, and that to unlock the growth potential in our country; these groups must access funding seamlessly.

“In response to this challenge, the CBN will in due course take action that will directly bring banking services to the rural communities through the licencing of a national microfinance bank, which will have a presence in all local governments in Nigeria, thereby supporting the channelling of credit to our rural communities.

“We will continue to explore ways, in partnering with the fiscal authorities, on how we can best provide farmers and SMES with the support they need to expand their operations,” he explained.

Just late March, to the surprise of all and sundry, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) chaired by Emefiele cut the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 50 basis points from 14 per cent to 13.5 per cent after keeping the benchmark unchanged for 33 months since June 2016.

In announcing the decision, Emefiele, at the end of a two-day MPC meeting in Abuja, said the rate cut had become inevitable in order to boost economic growth.

Nigerians had for long craved for a loosening of the monetary policy stance as high cost of borrowing appeared to slash returns on businesses and sometimes made it difficult for them to break even as well as discourage entrepreneurship amid inflationary pressures.

Essentially, the MPR acts as the baseline for interest rates in the economy and goes to determine the cost of borrowing from commercial banks.

Nevertheless, the CBN retained the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) at 22.5 per cent and liquidity ratio at 30 per cent.

But, according to Emefiele, the rate cut does not necessarily indicate an end to the monetary tightening cycle even though banks would be expected to adjust to the loosening in MPR so that its positive impact could be felt by customers.

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Emefiele, ‘Best CBN Governor Ever’

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hen the Chairman of Zenith Bank plc, Jim Ovia described the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele as the best CBN governor ever, some thought it was an overstatement. But it wasn’t. Ovia is hardly a man given to flippancy and pompous exaggeration. He is a man whose words carry wisdom garnered from several decades of work experience in the financial sector. So when he spoke those powerful words of compliment about Emefiele’s stewardship at the CBN, he knew exactly what he was talking about.

It is difficult to believe that five years have almost raced past since Emefiele took charge as the chief helmsman of the nation’s apex bank.

Against all odds, he has succeeded beyond expectations in steering the ship through the difficult, turbulent waters of recession and dangerous sharp turns, on the way to achieving monetary stability and recovery. Those who called for him to be sacked in the mad euphoria of change in 2016 have been put to shame. It must have been tough for this otherwise amiable man to stay focused on his goal, and refused to be distracted by the mad clamour for his ouster. One must also commend President Muhammadu Buhari for not yielding to the emotional partisan clamour to oust him then. He could have taken advantage of the strident calls. But he didn’t.

Today, we can all see the positive impact Emefiele’s critical decisions at critical moments have had on the economy: from his tight forex control banning of 43 items, to several revolutionary initiatives, like the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme(ABP) among others. The broad objective of the ABP is to create economic linkage between smallholder farmers and reputable large-scale processors with a view to increasing agricultural output, and significantly improve capacity utilisation of processors.

Other objectives include to increase banks’ financing to the agricultural sector, reduce agricultural commodity

EmeďŹ ele

importation and conserve external reserves, increase capacity utilisation of agricultural firms , create new generation of farmers/entrepreneurs and employment, deepen the cashless

policy and financial inclusion, reduce the level of poverty among smallholder farmers, assist rural smallholder farmers to grow from subsistence to commercial production levels.

The result is clear in the increase agricultural produce from this policy.

Emefiefle no doubt deserves credit for his massive support to this critical sector.

The Chelsea Fan at the Helm of CBN This encounter was first published in 2014 in THISDAY, a few days after Emefiele was appointed the CBN governor. It summarises the man Emefiele who has remained himself despite rising to the pinnacle of his banking career There is something about Godwin Emefiele that appeals to you from a distance. In more ways than one, your first encounter with him is likely to leave a humbling experience in you.

His calm and dignified mien resonates long after you may have left him; his very simple nature underscores a man unimpressed by the grandeur and prestige of his office.

Big titles and big talk are hardly a part of him. As you visualise and digest his personality, the picture of a man shaped by time, knowledge and the very ordinary things of life begins to emerge. Many say he is not an overtly ambitious person, they are correct, others say he is a fine gentleman, they are also correct, an even greater number believe he was the right successor to his boss and founder of Zenith bank, Jim Ovia. Well, time will tell. But going by the signals coming from the bank, the man who prefers to operate quietly away from public glare, hasn’t dropped the baton.

There is nothing about his carriage

that tells you of his social status, his disarming mien presents a contrasting picture to the high society glamour, paraphernalia and grandeur of his office. Until 2010, very few knew who he was; he adopts the philosophy of bees seen and not heard. When he succeeded his boss in August 2010 to steer the affairs of Zenith Bank, many believed then that a square peg had been found for a square hole. Three and a half years after, that confidence is proving appropriate; the bank is building on the successes recorded by its founder Jim Ovia whose tenure witnessed an unprecedented growth and expansion. From a startup bank to a mega bank providing quality banking services to its customers across the country and beyond.

Emefiele is a man who believes in hard work and loyalty and he minces no words about that when asked what values he looks out for most in his workers. “I value loyalty and hard work. Every worker has to work hard and of course must be loyal to the institution that puts food on his table.

It’s a minimum standard of expectation and I don’t think that is asking for too much.

On his philosophy of life. He laughed: “I am a believer in destiny. Every man’s life has been ordained by

destiny but you cannot say because your life is ordained by destiny you will not work. Hard work and focus will lead you to achieve your destiny otherwise that which was ordained for you will not materialise.�

Perhaps drawing from the above, Emefiele’s life and career path would have been significantly different today.

For some inexplicable reason, his childhood fascination was to be a doctor, but he switched to Banking and Finance. “I wanted to be a doctor, I wanted to study medicine in school but really can’t remember what happened that made me decide to change to banking and finance. I don’t know why I suddenly made that switch, but I did and even became a lecturer.�

Emefiele may not have known that the unseen hand of fate was guiding him on. His path was later to cross with that of Jim Ovia who persuaded him to abandon the classroom for the boardroom. And ever since, he has stayed loyal to his calling, rising to the pinnacle of his career.

Would such a man possibly be nursing a quiet regret for not reading medicine, I managed to ask.

His response was quick and direct. “Absolutely not. I have come to love what I do.�

And out of curiosity, one could not resist the temptation to ask how he socialises. He laughed yet again, a little bit unsure of how to answer.

Then in a very measured and businesslike manner he stated, “I am an introvert. So, I don’t do much of socialisation. I really don’t have many friends, and more than anything else, I cherish my old-time childhood friends who have been there for me over time, and I have been there for them. I don’t pick friends in my old age,� he smiled reassuringly.

However, like most Nigerians, Emefiele loves to watch football. If you think his favourite football club would be Arsenal, Manchester United, then you need to think again. ‘I am a Chelsea fan; I know a lot of people would expect me to be an Arsenal fan, but I am a big supporter of Chelsea club.

But the surprise does not stop there, he equally loves driving. “I like to drive myself particularly on weekends, I enjoy driving myself.�

He comes across as a man with simple needs, spartan, somewhat austere.

But you find him a jolly good fellow, surprisingly jovial when the chemistry is right; he comes down to the basics.

His pidgin English is eloquent and very Niger Deltan.

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Onadele.Koko

FMDQ OTC Records N34tn Turnover in 2 Months Bamidele Famoofo

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urnover on the floor of FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, where short to medium term yielding investment activities are transacted, stood at N34.27 trillion as at end of February, 2019.

The figure represented about 19 per cent of total turnover reported in 12 months in 2018. A sustained performance of the first two months would translate to a better performance in 2019.

Turnover in 2018 stood at N182.86 trillion representing an average of turnover of N15.2trillion monthly.

Breakdown of contribution of the various segments of the market to total turnover in January and February showed that T-bills accounted for about 43.30 percent attracting N14.84trillion or $40.90billion from investors. Foreign Exchange (FX) polled about N7.91trillion representing 23.1 percent of total transaction value in the period.

Repurchase Agreements/Buy- Backs contributed 16.2 percent of total turnover in two months at N5.54trillion. Foreign Exchange Derivatives also accounted for 11.85 per cent of turnover at N4.06trillion in two months.

Investors splashed N1.73trillion (about $4.78billion) on the Federal Government Bond in the space of two months which represented 5.05 per cent of total turnover the review months of January and February.

Other investment instruments on which investors staked their money include Unsecured Placements/Takings which attracted about N151.99billion or 0.44 percent of turnover and Eurobonds, N33.77billion, representing about 0.1 per cent of turnover. Other Bonds attracted

N111million from investors in the review period.

The top 10 Dealing Member (Banks) accounted for 74.79 percent (N25.63 trillion) of the overall turnover in the market, with the top three banks accounting for 50.30 per cent (N12.89 trillion) of this sub-section of the market.

Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and Access Bank Plc were the leaders in the value traded for the overall over-the-counter (OTC) market, ranking 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Other top dealing banks in the order of their ranking among the top 10 are Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited, Ecobank Nigeria Limited, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Coronation Merchant Bank Limited. The rest are Citibank Nigeria Limited, First City Monument Bank Limited and Zenith Bank Plc. FMDQ in its outlook for 2019 said, having delivered value-adding initiatives and solutions in line with its 2018 strategic focus - Market Diversification, FMDQ, leveraging on the effective support and collaboration of its stakeholders remains committed to continue working assiduously, in 2019, to deliver innovative and key market development initiatives.

The company disclosed that it would introduce new derivatives products to the financial market landscape, and expansion of the Nigerian derivatives market; activate new products such as repurchase agreement (Repo) with collateral management service and ensure full operationalisation of the DMS Market to further enhance market integration and retail participation in the fixed income markets.

Other key market development initiatives which the company said it would introduce in 2019 to further enhance market depth include Infrastructure/ Housing development, sustainable

finance development and development and launch of new/co-branded indices as well as financial market education and capacity building for its stakeholders through FMDQ Academy.

So far in 2019, FMDQ has maintained its support for the development of the Nigerian commercial paper (CP) market.

According to a report from the company, the month of March saw key activities in the CP quotations space on the Securities Exchange, wherein the Board Listings, Markets and Technology Committee of FMDQ approved the quotations of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc N5.18 billion Series 5 and N1.74 billion Series 6 CP under a N100.00 billion CP Issuance Programme and UACN Property Development Company Plc N5.62 billion Series 32 and N7.96 billion Series 33 CP under a N24.00 billion CP Issuance Programme, to its platform. “In addition to the efficient registration process, the quotations of these CPs on FMDQ will avail Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC and UACN Property Development Company PLC benefits which include, but are not limited to, enhanced investor confidence in the issuers, transparent/ relevant information disclosure on the issues, effective price formation and global visibility’, FMDQ disclosed.

Chief Executive Officer of the company, Bola Onadele.Koko, noted that in line with its strategic objectives to support institutional growth and stimulate continuous development of the economy at large, FMDQ has shown its steadfastness in aligning the Nigerian debt capital markets to international standards, through the promotion and provision of a world-class quotations service, availing issuers and investors the much-needed global visibility, confidence and protection in the markets.

Meanwhile, summary of activities in the market in 2018 showed that trading

activities in the treasury bills (T-bill) market contributed the largest to overall turnover, accounting for 39.44 percent of the total market turnover, whilst foreign exchange (FX) transactions (including FX derivatives) followed with a combined share of 37.04 percent, and Repos/Buybacks accounted for 16.50 percent. Bonds and Money Market transactions (including Unsecured Placement & Takings, Commercial Papers and Money Market Derivatives), on the other hand, had smaller shares of the market, accounting for 6.55 percent and 0.47 percent respectively. The turnover represents trades executed among Dealing Members, Dealing Members & Clients, and Dealing Members & the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

In addition to its market development activities, over the course of the year, FMDQ admitted the listings of fifteen (15) bonds with a total value of N315.52 billion. The OTC Exchange also admitted the quotations of sixty (60) commercial papers (CPs) with a total value of N505.30 billion. By their admission to the FMDQ platform, these securities have gained access to the full complement of the unsurpassed FMDQ Listings and Quotations Service, which includes, but is not limited to, improved secondary market liquidity, efficient listings/ quotations process, unprecedented transparency and information disclosure, global visibility and improved network effects. Whilst the year came with its fair share of challenges for FMDQ’s markets, the markets experienced a steady development, with growth primarily driven by trading activities in the Treasury bills (T.bills) and FX markets. In all, the total over-the-counter (OTC) market turnover saw a year-on-year growth rate of 28.74 percent, rising from the N142.03 trillion recorded in 2017 to in N182.86 trillion 2018.

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The Oil Palm Revolution

The on-going initiative by the Central Bank of Nigeria to reposition the oil palm industry will be a major catalyst for economic diversification and the ability to subdue the threats of dumping and smuggling, should agreements with critical stakeholders sail through, writes James Emejo

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he story has often been recounted how the Malaysians visited Nigeria and went back with some seed samples of the country’s oil palm.

The resultant scenario was that Malaysia is today one of the powerhouses of palm oil producers, earning significant foreign exchange from the commodity.

Nigeria used to be a major producer of palm oil when agriculture was still the mainstay of the economy, but the discovery of oil and obvious lack of foresight by the country’s successive leadership particularly the military era led to the relegation of the sector to the background.

The resulting implications had put the country in difficult economic terrain with attendant mass unemployment, poverty and fiscal constraints for government and given the fact that crude oil is predicted to unsustainable in the near future.

Nevertheless, the current administration has stepped up its intervention programmes in key sectors of the economy in a determined effort to diversify the economy from oil through the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

This is why the latest move by the CBN to seek to address the challenges, which had stifled the growth of the palm oil industry continues to be celebrated by stakeholders in the value chain.

The move, which is in furtherance of its intervention programmes in the agricultural sector of the economy towards economic diversification aims to identify “promising approaches� to revitalise the sector and enable the country regain its position as one of the leading global producers of palm oil.

If anything, the apex bank has demonstrated its capacity and willingness to intervene in key sectors with massive employment potentials, including its recent activities in the cotton, textile and garment industry, rice production among other initiatives that have had salutary effect on the economy.

The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, had at a meeting with the governors of the South-south and South-east states, including other critical stakeholders in the palm oil industry, expressed displeasure over the fact that Nigeria still expended close to $500 million on oil palm importation annually.

He said: “We are determined to change this narrative. We intend to support improved production of palm oil to meet not only the domestic needs of the market, but to also increase our exports in order to improve our forex earnings.�

The governor’s plan to encourage viable offtaker agreements between farmers and large-scale palm producing companies, by providing loans through the Anchor Borrower Programme (ABP) and the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) initiatives at not more than 9 per cent per annum to identified core borrowers, will be a game-changer for operators in the oil palm sector According to him, with an estimated three million hectares of land under cultivation, abundance of suitable arable land, the cooperation of state governments in the oil palm producing zone is desired to make land available to investors with proven financial and technical capabilities, who will be able to support developments of large scale palm oil plantations in the country.

He, however, disclosed that all the states in the South-south and South-east regions had already agreed to provide at least 100,000 hectares for the initiative, which is also designed to accommodate the smallholder farmers.

Emefiele also emphasised that the renewed focus by the CBN to support improved growth in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors was “clearly in line with the federal government’s determination to diversify the base of Nigeria’s economy away from reliance on crude oil, so as to insulate our economy from the vagaries and shocks associated with volatility in crude oil prices.�

He assured that, “soon every region of our beloved country will feel the positive impact

Oil palm plantation

of our intervention in the agricultural sector. “These efforts we hope will not only enable us to conserve our foreign exchange, but also create jobs on a mass scale. As these measures begin to bear fruits, we are very optimistic that our states will become more economically viable, given the massive economic activities that will occur from catalysing activities in our agricultural and manufacturing sectors. “Although the economy has recorded some investments in the oil palm value chain over the last three years, these investments fall short of our expectations, and our expected target of self-sufficiency in oil palm production is far from being achieved. “Prospective investors, both local and foreign, have at different fora identified the factors preventing investments in the sector to include, among others, difficulty in acquiring farmlands and the dearth of long-term funding sources at affordable costs.�

According to him, the stakeholders’ engagement had been expanded to include executive governors and other top government functionaries from the oil palm producing states to elicit their buy-in and set a partnership model that would, with immediate effect, stimulate investments in the palm oil plantations, such that within the next three to five years, the global share of the country’s oil palm production would more than double.

The governor said the vision in the oil palm segment is for Nigeria to overtake Thailand and Columbia to become the 3rd largest producer over the next few years.

Lamenting the shortcomings of the oil palm value chain, he said: “As some of you may recall, in the late 50’s and 60’s, Nigeria was not only the world’s leading producer of palm oil, it was also the largest exporter of palm oil, with close to 40 per cent of the global market share. “Today we are a distant 5th among leading producers of palm oil; we barely produce up to three per cent of the global supply of palm oil, with estimated production of 800,000 MT of palm oil, while countries like Malaysia and Indonesia produce 25million and 41 million tonnes of palm oil respectively.�

Continuing, he added: “We have also become a net importer of palm oil, importing between 400,000 – 600,000 MT of palm oil in order to meet local demand for this commodity. Despite the

availability of over 3 million hectares of farmland for palm oil cultivation, production remains low at close to 2 tonnes per hectare, relative to a global benchmark of 25 tonnes per hectare. “This is as a result of the maturation of existing palm trees, as some of these trees were planted in the 50’s, as well as low investment in replanting high yielding palm oil seeds. As some of you may know, the usual life cycle for optimum palm production is 25 years. “Ladies and gentlemen, if we had kept pace with our peers in supporting improved cultivation of palm oil, at the current global market price of $600 per tonne, and an assumed production level of 16m tonnes, Nigeria could have generated close to $10 billion worth of foreign exchange for the country. This analysis does not take into consideration the amount of jobs that could have been created in our rural communities from large scale smallholder developments.� “This conversation is indeed important as it forms part of our overall strategy to reduce our reliance on crude oil imports, diversify the productive base of our economy, create jobs and conserve our foreign exchange. Despite placing oil palm in the forex exclusion list, official figures indicate that importation of palm oil had declined by about 40 per cent from the peak of 506,000 MTs in 2014 to 302,000 MT in 2017.�

However, notwithstanding the lofty initiatives, smuggling and dumping remained a threat to the success of the intervention programmes.

The concern was aptly expressed by the Monetary Policy Committee of the apex bank during its two-day meeting last week.

The committee, which saw the dumping and smuggling as greater danger to the economy, had prevailed on all relevant institutions of the government to “address the menace of smuggling and dumping of goods into Nigeria, and encourage the apex bank to continue to explore available scenarios to deal with the activities of economic and policy saboteurs, including those involved in dumping and smuggling, in a bid to accelerate domestic production of goods in the country.�

Emefiele particularly assured stakeholders in the oil palm industry that the CBN was determined to deal with unrepentant smugglers, who are bent on frustrating its efforts to revive key sectors of the economy as well as create jobs for Nigerians.

He said: “Let me stress that we are not unmindful that our current focus to make life difficult for smugglers of the products being targeted under our intervention will be resisted by unpatriotic and recalcitrant beneficiaries of the status quo. “We will not be deterred by their criticisms, but will appeal to Nigerians to support these initiatives. No doubt, there will be initial pain caused by this new focus, but the medium and long-run benefits remain unassailable and glorious for our dear country.�

Also, in his views on reviving the oil palm sector, Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, expressed concern over the state of the research institutions that were critical to the progress in the sector.

He further sought for provision of incentives to operators in the value chain to make the segment attractive for investment.

He said there was also need to evolve a clear execution plan for the intervention.

According to Obaseki, where are we going to get the planting materials from? Our research institutes, which were created for this purpose are almost moribund. “I want to thank you Mr. Governor for providing low-cost financing for this programme, which requires long gestation period‌,â€? said the governor. “Like what (CBN) you are doing in the cotton business, we have to understand that for meaningful investment into the oil palm, we have to think of other incentives because we can’t create that gap. “People have to manufacture soaps and all the things that they require oil palm for. We must also think of how to create incentives for those that are currently in the business, for those who are going to be committing money, resources for growing palm estates. Let’s also think through how to provide incentives for them. “I hope that from this session, we should have a very clear plan that details what we need to do by who and when. Because we found working in my state, that the issues are not really the ideas. The problem and challenge we have is how to execute and with this gathering. I will we can come up with a clear execution plan so that we can grow our palm in this country and become as competitive as the Malaysians and Indonesians.â€?

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˚ that the Gencos can produce but the Discos do not want to take up because they lack the capacities to distribute them, on the other hand, the Discos disclaim the development, stating that they are largely not the sector’s limitation to stability.

Similarly, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has overtime claimed that the Discos have not invested enough to expand and stabilise their networks, adding that this alleged poor distribution networks and capacities often affect its transmission systems.

The TCN even stated that the Discos habitually reject electricity from it, and that this results to Gencos shutting down their plants and producing less power to amongst other things, safeguarding the national grid from system collapses and destruction of transmission equipment.

A power distribution station

Discos’ Renewed Call for Resolution of Power Sector Challenges Power distribution companies (Discos) in Nigeria seem to complain ceaselessly about their challenges in the country’s electricity market. They believe this is necessary as they recently called on the government to be swift in addressing the challenges of unstable electricity supply, reports Chineme Okafor

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ecently, electricity Discos asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sit up and comprehensively address the challenges in the country’s power sector without recourse to politics. They indicated that the sector was in deep trouble with more than N1.4 trillion revenue shortfall.

To drive home their point, the Discos declared they would only guarantee stable electricity supply to Nigerians, if the government would meet certain conditions including, that the government will allow for cost-reflective tariff in the sector; provide financial subsidies for people who may not be able to pay the right economical tariff in the case of a review; and create regulatory assets scheme for them to leverage in sourcing for finance to expand their operations and augment tariff shortfall.

In the event that the government is cautious of a public backlash over tariff review, the Discos explained that a regulatory asset framework would enable them source finance from banks to fund their operations, while subsidies over consumption for certain classes of consumers would cushion the impacts of a low or non-economical tariff on their operations.

Claiming that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has failed to review their tariff since 2016, the Discos through their umbrella body, the Association

of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) explained that this has substantially affected their obligations to Nigeria’s power consumers.

They in this regard indicated that Buhari needs to adopt a honest and proactive approach in any planned intervention in the sector.

Speaking at a meeting in Abuja, the Executive Director for Research and Advocacy of ANED, Mr. Sunday Oduntan, said the financial shortfall from this was now in excess of N1.4 trillion, adding: “There has never been a single minor tariff review since 2016. We have been expecting reviews since 2016, and anything short of that means that the sector will not work.�

Longstanding Challenges Besides the issue of tariff review, the Discos have also complained that they do not get a lot of support from the government to undertake their jobs. They often claim the government acts as if they are the reasons why stable electricity has remained elusive to Nigerians.

For instance, while the government claims the Discos do not want to fulfill their metering obligations to consumers and has even initiated a third-party scheme to provide meter to consumers, Oduntan, at the recent meeting stated that the Discos had fulfilled their metering obligations in the performance agreements signed with the government during the 2013 privatisation by 88 per cent.

He admitted they had lapses in this

regards, but added that the annual capital expenditure approved for them by the NERC has constrained their capacity to deliver more meters to consumers, in that, they are often not allowed to spend more than they have been approved to do and recover through the tariff as calculated in the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) framework. “The failures of the legacy years caught up with us when we came on board and in trying to roll out meters, we need to do a lot more. We have done quite a lot in our performance agreements. “There are a number of meters that we were required to provide within five years, and within the five-year period, we did 88 per cent of what we were required to do. But you need to understand that what we were required to do was far low compared to the nation’s metering requirement,� said Oduntan.

According to him, those who have meters will tell you they are happy, and those who don’t have meters have a right to be aggrieved. “So, metering now has been taken off the Discos’ primary responsibilities.�

Apart from the shortage of meters, which has created some distrust between the Discos and consumers, the government and Discos have also continued to disagree over generated volumes of electricity the Discos allegedly do not want to take from the Gencos.

On one hand, the government claims there is an excess generation volume of 2000MW

Sector Malfunctioned?

Going by the frequent quarrel between the Discos, government and the TCN, THISDAY spoke to experts especially a former chair of the NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, to deduce what may have happened and perhaps why progress has been relatively little in the sector, and he told the THISDAY that it was a self-inflicted development.

Amadi, who was head of the regulatory body during the 2013 privatisation and few years into the early stages of the exercise, explained that government and Discos were guilty of the failings of the electricity market.

He stated that he expected that at some points the government will fall out with the investors because they would not have been able to carry out the promises they made to upgrade the capacity of the sector. This, he added, was aided by the ambitious assumptions in the privatisation exercise, which the Discos had found very difficult to achieve.

Amadi also noted that there was the risk that politics will overcome real positive thinking in the sector, and that the government especially that of President Buhari, would in its desire for short-term political gains, will crowd out strategic objectives that should have been pursued in the sector.

Asked if he thought the Buhari government had contributed to the sector’s further declining fortunes, Amadi, stated: “When they came, there was a sense in which they swallowed the lines and fictions of the Lagos business class, which was that the regulator was killing the market, and they should give them the opportunity to grow it and they were swept off their feet.� “But this sector has to be fixed by an intelligent and capable public sector. What that means is that the electricity sector is not for easy experimentation because it has huge public good asset. It needs to be regulated properly and I had fears that the sanity we achieved briefly before 2015 will be carried away by the public sector sewage we were trying to clean out, and then fire NERC off the line.�

Amadi also believed the sector was rudderless with the regulator failing on its duties.

He opined that the government was rather fixated on shouting bouts with the Discos as against adopting smart regulatory approaches to solving the challenges of the market. “What we have not done in this sector apart from shouting down on Discos and others is that we have not used strategic regulatory tools to put upon them bearable, but significant burden and after now, it is the right time to review their agreements like their franchise areas which are too large and of course. The Act talked about unbundling retail and distribution so that customers can have choices on level of service supplies. “There are many things that can happen in this sector – we need an active regulatory process that will work with public spirited policy framework because we have had so much of self-interests masquerading as public interest – too much political projects here and there that cannot expand the network or create capacities. They are at best sound bites for political noise,� he added.

According to him, the future of the sector looks bleak on the back of what he listed to include the lack of technical improvements; flash-in-the-pan capacity growth; poor financial status; and the regulator allegedly dropping the ball on its credibility and market acceptability. “So, evidence based, we have moved backwards and it is fair to say we have not made progress within the last four years. In a chart of one to 10, we probably have recorded just two points, which is very poor because growth in four years after privatisation should be greater than growth in 10 years before privatisation when we did a lot of work and should be seeing rapid growth,� explained Amadi.

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Improving Credit Process with Personal Assets Acquisition Loans Dearth of credit facilities has over the years remained the bane of business growth. This cuts across micro, small and medium scale businesses. In this report, Ebere Nwoji writes that deposit money banks have evolved ways of breaking this jinx through launch of an array of credit- facilitating products and simplification of credit processes for Nigerians

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he portion of a country’s individuals and businesses with access to credit facilities from financial institutions has a direct relationship with the growth rate and development of that nation’s economy. Development increases with increased availability of credit. The ratio of active borrowers (individuals and businesses) to the total number of eligible borrowers is usually measured by economists as a measure of credit penetration.

Economists also measure loans against gross domestic product (GDP). In both cases a higher ratio is desirable.

Putting it simply, credit availability fosters economic development by enhancing both the production and consumption of goods and services.

Access to finance by businesses drives growth by funding investments in physical infrastructure, working capital, and human capital, which are factors that increase production and create efficiencies that boost productivity. On the other hand, when finance is made available to individuals it drives consumption growth as the beneficiaries are able to procure goods and services. This sustains their productive capacities and also sustains the investments by the businesses.

Credit penetration is still low in Nigeria. Analysts at Proshare, a financial information service hub report that Nigeria’s private sector credit to GDP ratio was 17.02 per cent for April 2018 compared to the Average ratio for sub-Saharan Africa at 45 per cent and a global average of 129 per cent. The USA and UK have ratios in excess of 200 per cent.

The Nigerian financial services sector has been doing its bit to improve credit penetration in Nigeria. For instance, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has consistently sought to improve financial inclusion while also making special interventions to improve credit availability in critical sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing in line with the federal government’s diversification efforts. The CBN also introduced credit bureaus to reduce the risks to lenders while constraining borrowers to consciously imbibe creditworthy behaviours.

Deposit Money Banks, Microfinance Banks and other lenders also continue to deepen their credit offerings with new products and improved conditions that aim to improve the eligibility of borrowers as well as the borrowing experience.

As earlier noted, making loans available to individuals is just as important as lending to businesses as the former completes the cycle by increasing the consumption of the outputs from businesses. Individual borrowers are either employees or self-employed business owners.

Self-employed business owners may obtain personal loans based on the salaries and allowances they are entitled to from their businesses or yet authorise that repayment for any loan facilities are deducted from company earnings.

For employees, who may be employees of public or private establishments, their monthly salary is usually the primary yardstick for credit extension.

Generally, the loan types available to employees include the typically short term offerings of credit cards, salary advance and salary overdrafts as well as the medium to long term asset acquisition loans and home loans.

Asset acquisition loans enable employees to procure personal assets such as cars, generators, and other household appliances and spread repayments over periods from one year to as much as seven years. As they enable the borrowing of substantially larger sums compared to the short term facilities and also address critical funding of lifestyle improvements, asset acquisition loans are in this wise more useful to employees and accordingly more desired. Usually no additional security is required from the borrower as the asset that is financed serves as collateral.

A view of marina, Lagos

Some factors however affect the availability of this facility chief of which is the usual requirement that the borrower makes a part contribution to the acquisition of the asset. This equity contribution which may range from 10% to 30% of the cost of the asset oftentimes portends a challenge of its own for intending borrowers as the many pressures on their monthly salaries make it difficult for most to save up the equity contribution. This problem which increases with the cost of the asset(s) has also worsened lately as inflation has lowered the disposable incomes of employees.

Another factor which has affected the performance of asset acquisition loans is the inability or difficulty for borrowers to make up funds in good time for the insurance premium. Usually in securing the facility the assets acquired are comprehensively insured to the benefit of the lender while the annual insurance costs over the course of the loan facility are borne by the borrower. A lot of borrowers who may be able to save up the insurance premium along with their equity contribution in the first year struggle in subsequent years to pay the premium. This delay poses a serious risk to the facility as any damage, destruction, or theft of the asset during this time means a total loss of the collateral securing the loan. It also leaves the borrower with an unpleasant experience.

Furthermore, some beneficiaries of asset acquisition loans have in some instances realised that they purchased substandard items from some not so scrupulous vendors while prospective borrowers also have a hard time locating vendors they can fully trust.

The recently introduced asset acquisition offering from Stanbic IBTC for instance is an example of how Nigerian DMBs are making improvements to the credit process in Nigeria.

This facility, christened Personal Asset Acquisition Scheme (PAAS) enables employees whose salaries are paid through Stanbic IBTC bank to acquire assets including cars, generators, laptop computers, and other household appliances but

also redresses the aforementioned problems.

Unlike regular asset acquisition loans, PAAS does not require borrowers to make any equity contribution (or part payment) to the purchase being funded by the facility. The asset is financed 100 per cent for the borrower which enhances loan availability.

The cost of comprehensive insurance over the duration of the facility is also financed along with the total cost of the asset(s). This ensures that there are no lag periods during which the bank faces the risk of asset loss due to delayed insurance premium payments, and also obviates for the customer, the unpleasant practice of setting funds aside each year to make up the insurance premium. In this way the objective of providing uniform and manageable monthly repayments for the customer is kept as the annual premium is oftentimes, substantially larger than the monthly loan repayments.

The facility raises the bar further on availability and convenience as all an intending borrower needs to do to get a loan is obtain the proforma invoice for the item(s) from a prequalified vendor and submit same at any branch of the bank upon completion of the application form. The request is appraised, the customer gets and executes the offer letter, and the asset is delivered in 24 hours.

Furthermore, the robust list of prequalified vendors that PAAS provides leaves any intending borrower with several options to procure any items along with the added comfort that there is no risk of buying fake or substandard items.

The provision of this facility has literally given to the middle class and new entrants to the labour market what football pundits call a “through pass� as it efficiently slides through previous hindrances to provide a clear opportunity to score the goal of convenient acquisition of lifestyle improvement assets.

Overall, the finance industry continues to explore ways to broaden the credit availability.

New operators have introduced financial tech-

nology (Fintech) to provide financial services to individuals and businesses in ways that continue to make it easier to save and transfer funds, obtain advisory services as well as access credit.

Banks still hold the primary responsibility of intermediation between the surplus and the deficit sectors of the economy, at least for now.

Consequently they work in tandem with the CBN to deepen financial inclusion through various means which include readjustment of “know your customer� requirements for certain categories of customers, creation of special products, adoption of new technologies, use of agent banking etc so as to bring more people into the financial system and thereby make more funds available for lending.

Banks have also invested heavily in technologies that automate the lending process for a faster and yet more efficient system and also cooperate by making timely and updated information available to credit bureaus to enable lenders make informed decisions on the credit status of prospective borrowers.

Other personal loan offerings from banks include Salary Advance which acts as a bridge for customers to access a portion of their salary when they experience unforeseen expenses and repayment is taken from their salary. This may be one-off or made available (revolve) over 12 months.

Customers may also be allowed to overdraw their salary accounts through an overdraft facility and their accounts will be normalised when the salary is paid in. Credit cards also provide a revolving line of credit to customers.

School Fees Loans are designed to enable customers to access funds to meet up with school fees payments while Rental Loans address the funding need for the payment of house rent. In addition, there is an array of credit cards Home Loans for customers to buy new homes or to refinance their current homes with flexible payment options and repayment periods that can be up to 20 years are also available from some banks.

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Why Having an Online Presence is Essential for Your Business Anita Solomon

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he presence of smartphones, laptops, and other devices have revolutionized business interactions and customers perception of a particular business/ service. Because of this, it is a lot easier to promote your website, advertise, and connect with customers from around the globe, and make more profit.

For instance, in Nigeria we have tons of small businesses getting it right and utilizing the benefits provided by the internet and social media to reach a wider audience. There are also a couple of “supposed multinationals� who didn’t get on the internet bandwagon on time because they were already household names. However, they did eventually, because they needed to maintain their place in their industries.

The truth of the matter is, as of today, you cannot be a “household name� or attain that level of success in your business if you do not have a reputable and fast growing online presence. A lot of people reach a conclusion on their opinion of certain products/services based on the information they find online (social media, search engine, websites, etc).

Even the recent Google #knowyourhustle campaign has successfully increased the populaces’ dependency on the internet for ideas, opinions, learning, and of course, business.

Now the question is, what happens when you are nowhere to be found online where your potential customers, business partners, and maybe distributors are constantly searching? I am not talking about opening a social media page or website for the sake of it and not doing anything to grow/build your business. Brand awareness, advertising, consistent content distribution, quality customer service, effective utilization of your website/social media, are all geared towards building a reputable presence online, which is absolutely essential for every business. Now, let’s talk about three reasons why your business needs an online presence. t 3FBTPOT 8IZ :PVS #VTJOFTT /FFET "O 0OMJOF 1SFTFODF 1. Reach Larger Audiences and Keep Your Customers Informed This may or may not come as a surprise to you, but customers actually expect your business to be online. People enjoy increased accessibility and will gladly lean towards where they’re getting it.

For instance, what do you do when you hear about a new product or service?

Do you start running to the nearest available shops/malls/offices in search for them? Absolutely not! I for one will immediately go online and research for more information about it. Who is selling or offering the product or service, the price, what customers are saying about the product, etc. Now, it doesn’t matter whether or not you have a better offer, if you are not readily accessible, your conversions will be lower.

Reaching larger audiences offering the same product/service is one of the perks of building your brand online. The fact that your target audience expects you to be more accessible is reason enough for you to indulge them. The internet is global. Think about it, how far will newspaper ads, billboards and handbills take you? But you have the capacity to reach millions of people around the world from the comfort of your home/

consumer needs effectively and efficiently.

How do you know how well you’re doing and what you ought to be doing without customer feedback? The good news is that you can know how your products and services are faring on the market through simple tools online. Your websites or social media accounts can utilize features such as opinion polls, and statistical tools to generate feedback.

If you are growing a community around your brand, feedback is one of the things you should look out for in order to adjust your drawing board by putting consumer needs first. This way, you build trust and confidence, while expanding your reach, improving on your services and building business relationships. So, if you want to know what people are saying about your brand? Go online, and while you’re there utilize all of the tools and features at your disposal on how you can improve your online marketing strategies. A lot of successful multinationals do this, and if you have any intentions of succeeding in business, you should too. office.

Why would any right thinking business person want to be laid back in this era of globalization? This point cannot be overemphasized!

Information can be easily disseminated on the internet so if keeping your customers up-to-date with your product/ service is a priority (which should be), then your best bet would be to stay online. t #SBOE #VJMEJOH JT &BTJFS In this case, brand building goes beyond increasing your reach/client base, it also involves building consumer trust.

Your availability online will give your potential customers or target audience the opportunity to get to know your brand, utilize your services, and eventually tag your business as “trustworthy’. The more people interact with your company and enjoy quality customer service/ feedback, the more you build your brand.

The internet is the easiest and most

convenient way to rank up customer interactions and build confidence in your brand.

Basically, your online presence allows your customers to interact with you constantly, and not just your brand, but also with other people who love or use your product/service. Growing a community around your brand is one of the surest ways to becoming an authority in your niche and dominating your space.

You would agree that this is a lot easier to accomplish on the internet than you would physically. However, these things will not just happen because you created a website or signed up on Instagram.

The key to maximizing the internet for brand success lies in principles such as; authenticity, value, customer service, advertising, and consistency. You can only get what you put in! t 6UJMJ[F .BSLFU 3FTFBSDI 'FFECBDL 4VSWFZT UP (SPX ZPVS #SBOE One of the proven ways to build a strong brand is by meeting your

'JOBM XPSET Having an online presence is important for all businesses especially in this era. A well designed and easy-to-use website on its own, can strengthen your corporate image and increase your credibility on all levels. With your contact information easily accessible and your business being opened round the clock with quality customer service, you can increase brand confidence and build trust. This for me, is stage one; thereafter you can begin to double your efforts while maintaining integrity, giving value, and have a substantial online advertising budget to boost your visibility.

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5 ) * 4 % ": t SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019

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27

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍżËœ ͺ͸͚Î

28

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IMF͛s

Ar cle I

IMF͛s Ar cle I ons lta on on Nigeria essons for Strong and Incl si e rowth

The International Monetary Fund (â&#x20AC;&#x153;the IMFâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;the Fundâ&#x20AC;?) published its report on the $ 1 ( & . 4 ' $ $( & $ 1 & &( ( . ( *$ , .& ( $ 9 ( ( 1 ( $ &($* 9 (*$ $ $ & ( &( $ .( , &(9 (4 ( $ & , $1 . . & ( Fundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s increasing focus on human capital, similar to the World Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last Bi9 * * ( $ ( $ <:;A4 ' & & . 3 & $ ( ( &( *& 1& $ &($* (*$ $ , ( 1 ( President Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration. Without human capital development, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth ( & . * * ( ( $ 2 4 ( $ $ & ( $ &( * & 1 9 (3 ( $1 1 0 $ ( ( &($* (*$ $ $ &4 ( & $ &3 . ( 1 1 $ $ 9 ( & $ ( $ 1 , $ ( 0( *$ 1 $& ( & $ & 1 (

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ons lta on on Nigeria essons for Strong and Incl si e rowth . * ( * ( ( $ $ ( 4 - . $ ( $ ( &( $ .( 3 & $ *$ $ .( &( ( <4?C <:;B3 . & ( & & ( &( ( $ ( ( * 9( $ 4 ' * 09 (& ( ( $ &( 1 , ( CBNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s target of 69B4:C3 ( * , $ ;;4>C (. <:;B <:<=4 *$ , .3 $ . & $ & & ( ( ( $ 1 ($ (1 * $ *&( (& . * *& ( & & ( 1 higher. As governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fiscal condition ( ( &3 ( $ & ( ( ( & * & ( ( & . * ( $ 2 4

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30

Ë&#x153; Ëž APRIL 7, 2019

MARKET NEWS

NSE Provides Multi-assets Platform, Deepens Investor Participation Goddy Egene As part of efforts to boost investor education and increase investor participation in the Nigerian capital market, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has opened an above-the-line marketing campaign that amplifies its credential as a leading securities exchange that provides investors with varied investment options such as stock,

fixed income, Exchanged Traded Products (ETPs) and more.

Themed: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Multi-Asset Sustainable Exchangeâ&#x20AC;?, the campaign will be featured across print, broadcast, outdoor and digital media.

Commenting on the campaign, Head, Corporate Communications, Mr. Olumide Orojimi, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The campaign is coming against the backdrop of the innovative

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

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

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

offerings NSE has birthed since its intentional transformation that commenced in 2011. During this period, the exchange has achieved phenomenal milestones, deployed cutting edge technology for trading and the use of artificial intelligence to monitor its market; upscale securities in its market with the flagship listing of the first Sovereign Green Bond in an emerging market; establishment

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 04Apr-2019, unless otherwise stated.

of an investors protection fund; launch of a corporate governance rating system and more recently the unveiling of the NSE Sustainability Disclosure Guidelines for quoted companiesâ&#x20AC;?.

According to him, as the exchange transits to a demutualised one, its credential as multi-asset securities exchange will be adequately communicated through series of creative messaging in this

campaign. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While investorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; appetite for capital market products continues to evolve, this campaign highlights NSEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offering which transcends stocks. We are committed to driving sustainable products, responsible investment in a market that is orderly and transparent whilst leveraging cutting edge technology.

This commitment is shared by all of our employees who continue

to champion the development of new and improved experience for investors in our market,â&#x20AC;? he said.

He explained that a multi-asset class, also known as a multipleasset class or multi-asset fund, is a combination of asset classes (such as cash, equity or bonds) used as an investment. A multi-asset class investment contains more than one asset class, thus creating a group or portfolio of assets.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.85 0.86 1.25% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 12.75% 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 13.68% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.27 2.29 2.20% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.33% Paramount Equity Fund 12.01 12.11 1.69% Women's Investment Fund 105.56 106.10 1.88% 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 13.22% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 101.15 101.37 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 101.41 101.77 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 18.85% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.82 0.83 Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.17 1.17 4.79% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,238.28 1,239.14 4.45% FBN Heritage Fund 143.04 144.24 -0.26% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.54% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 117.54 117.93 3.20% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 117.46 117.85 3.39% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 144.06 146.15 -3.96% 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 1.16 1.18 -5.13% Legacy Debt Fund 3.34 3.34 3.09% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 1.21% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 2,956.93 2,988.06 -0.89% Coral Income Fund 2,850.31 2,850.31 4.06% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.68% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 106.83 107.57 -0.50% 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 12.13% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.12 2.15 -1.15% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.32% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 124.00 123.19 -1.14%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ďŹ ncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.16 1.18 1.32% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,107.48 1,107.48 3.50% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.25 1.27 2.09% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.40 11.45 2.46% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.78% 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 125.96 126.63 4.37% 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 1.00 1.00 0.08% 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 2,358.75 2,372.19 1.92% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 197.26 197.26 3.74% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.94 0.95 -0.53% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 254.81 254.84 3.09% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 164.58 166.36 0.87% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.72% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,327.10 8,427.41 -1.90% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.13 1.13 1.60% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 11.04 11.20 4.87% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.34 12.49 2.88% Zenith Income Fund 21.45 21.45 11.30% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.83%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

5.40 119.82 52.08

-44.85% 1.78% 0.66%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.10 106.89 84.87

10.20 109.15 86.43

-4.23% -8.88% -4.29%

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

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.78 6.54 13.86 11.41 152.89

3.82 6.62 13.96 11.61 154.89

-5.59% -14.09% -7.26% -7.63% 6.47%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.24

17.42%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website and FMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

07.04.2019

MUTIU ADEPOJU The Damman Miracle of â&#x20AC;&#x2122;89 Remains My Best Moment ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

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COVER

The Adepojus

MUTIU ADEPOJU

Why I’m Called the Headmaster Deft feet, athletic body, intuitive fast pace, expansive vision on the pitch, robust midfield management and a head for goals; few footballers have that genius at a go. One of Nigeria’s greatest football midfield maestros, Mutiu ‘Headmaster’ Adepoju, fits that bill. An illustrious player, intrepid and indefatigable, he worked his socks off on behalf of the national team – be it the junior or senior national team – to ensure victories. Unassuming and a man of few words, Adepoju has won laurels on and off the pitch. Funke Olaode in an encounter with the footballer, who was part of the ‘Miracle of Damman’ in Saudi Arabia in 1989, reveals the side of a man many might not know before

H

is aura, mentality, sense of devotion and history-making success all made him earn a place among the pantheons of football greats in Nigeria and in the world.

Known to walk the walk and talk the talk when it matters most, he is head and shoulder above many of his peers. Ex-Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju is one of Nigeria’s football legends who have written his name on the sands of time. Soft spoken, humble and down-to earth, from the back waters of his hometown in Ibadan, Oyo State,

Headmaster as he is fondly called played his way into the nation’s consciousness and later put Nigeria on the global map.

His first goal at the famous ‘Damman miracle of ‘89’ when Mutiu and his teammates metamorphosed from ‘zero’ to heroes remains one of the greatest moments for Nigeria, making the whole world to stand still. After 20 years of playing football, Adepoju retired in 2005 to nurture the younger ones through his Headmaster Sports Academy. His name refuses to fade away; his contributions have become a reference point just as his moment playing the soccer was

remarkable. Like David Beckham of England, the Argentine football icon, Maradona, the Italian Roberto Bagio of that era who all wrote their names on the sands of time as football legends, ex-international soccer star, Adepoju, belongs to the league of unforgettable stars in Nigeria.

From Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Adepoju went on to become an international football star, and at the age of 19 put Nigeria on the global map. Not many Nigerians would easily forget the tension-soaked match between Nigeria and the former Soviet nation in 1989 during Under-20 FIFA World Cup in which Nigeria came from behind to win what many considered a ‘lost’ battle.

That feat late became known as the ‘Damman Miracle’ of 1989. As the narrative goes all the football personalities that mattered in the world converged on the oil-rich emirate in a football match between Nigeria and the former USSR. What made that moment memorable was how Nigeria came from trailing USSR 4-0 to winning the match.

The country later bounced back thanks to the first goal scored by Mutiu Adepoju, which later opened the flood gate of three other scores. Nigeria not only equalized but beat the opponent to reach the semi-final later against the United States. The ‘miracle’ continued as Nigeria beat the United States to reach the final. Nigeria, however, lost the final match to Portugal.

But that tournament remains one of the glorious moments as many football enthusiasts still remember that tournament with nostalgia. The memory refuses to go away just like the team that made it happened.

He was only 19 with his eyes fixed to conquer the world. Adepoju played roles in the golden era of 1994 squad that conquered Africa and later became fifth in the world. He played the qualifying matches for the USA 1994 World Cup. He was a member of the national team alongside Austin “JJ” Okocha, the late Rashidi

Yekini and Peter Rufai. He appeared for the country in the world cups and the African Cup of Nations.

Following his good performance at the Saudi tournament, Adepoju moved to Spain where he plied his football trade for the next 12 years scoring good goals over the course of seven seasons mainly representing Racing Santander and Real Sociedad. He played for the Real Madrid junior team, Castila.

Adepoju has not lost his athletic body, an attestation to his many years of sporting activities. Soft-spoken, down-to-earth and friendly, Adepoju has remained true to himself despite his international exposure and popularity.

The Super Eagles star had his primary education at Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) Staff School, in Ibadan where his father worked. He went on to attend Prospect High School, Aba Nla, in Ibadan. For his higher education he studied Physical and Health Education at the University of Ibadan.”

Adepoju had initially seen football as a pastime. By the time he grew older it became a passion and by the time he was 15, he saw playing football as a career. At what age did he develop passion for the round-leather game?

“At a very early age and just like every other boy of my age that might have interest,” he began. “I developed interest and actually played in the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) Staff School team and that was where I learnt how to play football. Although my uncle was a footballer, I took it a bit higher.

“I started playing in primary and secondary school. I became a professional footballer after finishing secondary school.

Although while still in secondary school I was playing for the junior team of Cocoa Research and later moved into the senior team. But everything started at CRIN Staff School.”

The former Super Eagles player added: “I continued to play for CRIN Football Club and later represented Oyo State in National

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APRIL 7, 2019˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

COVER Football Is My Life, My Everything

Sports Festival in 1985. And later I was signed

by FEMO Sports Club of Eruwa owned by the late business mogul, Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin. From there, I got admission into the University of Ibadan and was still playing for Ogundoyin Club. I later moved to Shooting Stars Football Club of Ibadan. When I was with Shooting stars I was invited to the under-20 national team.

“From Under 20, we went to play Saudi ’89 – the famous miracle of Damman of ‘89.

We lost in the final but the miracle of 30 years ago is still being talked to date where the Nigerian team moved from zero to become a hero. We almost lost in quarter final to Russia but miraculously equalized after 4-0 to move to get to the semi final against the United States. Again, we beat them to move to the final but Portugal beat us. It was one of the best moments for Nigeria as the entire world stood still.”

No doubt, Adepoju has written his name in gold as one of the most valuable players Nigeria has ever produced. He has recorded many feats in his career life. The best moment, he said, remains the ‘Miracle of Damman’ at Saudi ‘89. That moment redefined his career. Adepoju stopped playing football professionally in 2005.

He is known as the ‘headmaster’.

What was the genesis of that alias? “Well, it emanated from my ability to score goals with my head in the early 90s. I was in the national team then and when I was with under-20 I used to score many goals with my head and all that. It was Mumuni Alao of Complete Sports that gave me that name,” Adepoju explained.

Nigerians are lovers of European football in Nigeria and as someone who played for a long time in Spain, how does he think Nigerian football can be repositioned to be as relevant as European football?

His response: “I am La Liga ambassador in Nigeria and La Liga has a partnership with the Nigerian Football League. As you know

I played in Spain, as an ambassador, I am working towards making the partnership a great one and to benefit Nigerian football and youth development and all that. From the youth development it will revive Nigerian football.

“That is what we have been doing since 2016. We have organized football activities in conjunction with NLC. We brought coaches and in 2017, we organized under-15 tournaments for Nigerian clubs. With that we are trying to make sure that the Nigerian football grows and we have been trying on how clubs can be organized. La Liga is helping in making Nigerian football works.”

If there is anything that gives the football legend a dose of regret it was his inability to play for Real Madrid. His gave his reason: “The essence of signing for Real Madrid then was to get into the main team. For instance, while I was playing for Nigeria’s Under 20, I aspired to play for the senior team. I worked towards it and God granted my heart’s desire.

I worked hard to play Real Madrid’s main team but the problem then was that only three foreign players could play in the Spanish league and not like today where foreigners can be as many as possible.

“I actually played some friendlies with them, received training with them but didn’t play in the league. I felt it not as a form of regret because I realized that not everything you aspire for that you get. For me, discipline, determination, and dedication are key in whatever one is doing. If you follow your heart, work hard and pray, your wishes will be granted.”

Apart from playing football, what other passion does he have? “None, because since when I was a child I had always wanted to be a footballer. And once I knew that one can actually earn a living from it I embraced it wholeheartedly,” Adepoju stated.

“Although people didn’t attach much importance to it back then, I was able to go abroad and played professionally. Again, my Physical and Health Education degree could have given me an opportunity to coach one club or another but my passion was really in football.”

How rewarding is the game? According to him, football in his days was not raking figures like nowadays. “In terms of satisfaction and fulfilment it is rewarding – that what I know how to do best I get paid for it. Again, people knew and respected me for doing that and people appreciated one’s commitment to one’s calling. Honestly, this gives me joy,” the happy-looking former Super Eagles star told THISDAY. How is life after football? “It is not bad and I thank God for life of fulfilment that one is able to make a name and earn a decent living at the same time,” he answered. “I currently run Headmaster Sports Academy which is centred on improving and invigorating the mind of children in sport, exposing them to the value, ethics and the wonderful world of football both locally and internationally.

“For instance, we just went into partnership with Corona Secondary school to organize a sports programme themed ‘Easter Soccer Camp’.”

The first batch would open from April 7 to 12, while the second batch will kick off from April 22 to 27. The programme is for youths between 10 and 17 years. The unassuming ‘headmaster’ thinks that is own little way of “catching them young”.

Adepoju plied his trade for 20 years without falling into any scandal. He shared his life lessons: “If you want to be a successful footballer or sportsman you have to be disciplined. In life generally too one has to be disciplined because if don’t have selfdiscipline one can go astray. As a sportsman being disciplined has helped me to know when to draw the line when it comes to certain areas. And this has helped me even up to this moment to know what I can do and what I shouldn’t do.”

Adepoju has been married for over 20 years and blessed with four wonderful girls.

Any regret not having a male child? He waved it off, saying: “My girls are wonderful.

In fact, all of them are into sports. My first daughter stopped playing basketball when she gained admission into the university to study Telecommunication Engineering.

Today, she is an engineer. My second daughter is in her final year in Queen’s University in Charlotte. She plays football actively and she is one of the best in her team. My third daughter is about to get out of school and has stopped playing basketball too. And my last child who is 16 is into football. I am contented and happy with what God has given me.”

Adepojus

PHOTOS: ETOP UKUTT

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

ENTERTAINMENT

Ego Boyo

Kenneth Okonkwo

Liz Benson

Saint Obi

Sandra Achums

Sam Dede

The Leading Nollywood Actors of the 90s/2000s

The 90s was a remarkable era for the TV and film industry in Nigeria. Marked with family entertainment TV soap operas, the period also recorded a boom of video films with the release of ‘Living in Bondage’. The success of the film coupled with the new crop of stars that featured in it gave rise to the celebrated so briquet,‘Nollywood’. This week, Vanessa Obioha writes about Nollywood’s pioneering stars.

Ego Boyo- Boyo’s fame grew on the 90s hit TV series ‘Checkmate’ by the late Amaka Igwe. Her character Anna Haatrope was a favourite on the show, coupled with the chemistry she and her co-star Richard Mofe-Damijo brought to the screen; they were simply irresistible. Boyo would later flex her muscles in Nollywood, taking up acting and producer roles with movies such as ‘Violated’ and ‘Keeping Faith’; both have been adjudged great romantic films. In 2017, she produced a silent movie titled ‘A Hotel Called Memory’, directed by Akin Omotoso and starring Nse Ikpe-Etim and in 2018 Boyo played alongside RMD in the latter’s TV show titled Mr. X Family Show. Boyo is married to Omamofe Boyo, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer of Oando Plc. Liz Benson- Who could forget the beautiful Liz Benson in the 90s TV series ‘Fortunes’. Her beauty, particularly her eyes made many hearts flutter. But Benson who is now married to a clergy was good in her field. She interpreted her role Mrs Agnes Johnson so peerless that any production she featured in was considered a must-watch. Whether she is playing the sweet angel or the devil’s advocate, Benson lit up the screen with her charm. She was also very notable

in some Nollywood’s flicks including ‘Chain Reaction’, ‘Glamour Girls’ and ‘Conspiracy’. At the peak of her career, Benson surprised her fans in 1996 when she quit the movie industry. She became a born-again Christian and remarried in 2009 after losing her first husband Samuel Etim during her mid-twenties. Together with her new husband Bishop Great Emeya, they run a ministry in Delta state.

Recently, Benson made a comeback. 2014 saw the screen diva on Stephanie-Linus’ award-winning movie ‘Dry’. In 2017, she also starred in the movie ‘Busted’ and ‘Children of Mud’.

Larry Koldsweat: Koldsweat was often regarded as a Pete Edochie’s protégé. Their mannerisms were similar on screen that the actor too soon became a household name.

I real life, Koldsweat in an interview described Edochie as one of the kindest human beings he has ever met.

One his major feature was ‘Evil Men’ where he played a wicked character. Like some of his counterparts, Koldsweat who is also a musician later gave his life to Christ in 2003 and is now a clergyman. Though he did a bit of acting after his conversion but not as consistent as he used to be back then.

Saint Obi: His intimidating height and looks were hard to miss. Born Obinna Nwafor, the Imo-state born actor and model delighted fans with his charismatic aura on screen that he was nicknamed ‘Mr. Quality’. Some of his notable films include ‘Sakobi’ ‘Goodbye Tomorrow’, and the horror flick ‘Just A Mission’, he played alongside Nollywood actress Sandra Achums. In 2001, he made his film debut with ‘Take Me to Maama’. The film was said to be the first Nollywood flick to be endorsed by a corporate organisation (Coca-Cola Nigeria).

Though he is no longer active on the big screen, the actor is still involved in movie productions and is well known for his philanthropic activities. He even dabbled into music, opening a record label. Nowadays, he makes cameo appearances at events while still pushing his brand.

Sam Dede: ‘Issakaba!’ Who could forget Sam Dede’s role in the movie that revolved round a community vigilante group determined to quash the notorious activities carried out by armed robbery gangs. Dede played the lead character ‘Ebube’. His enigmatic bravura endeared him to fans and he soon became a household name for movies with similar themes. Apart from acting, Dede wears other

59

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

ENTERTAINMENT

The Leading Nollywood Actors of the 90s/2000s hard which include lecturer, director and politician. He is currently the Director-General of the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency.

Sandra Achums: Achums was like the Genevieve Nnaji of those early days of Nollywood. Her Nollywood debut was ‘Deadly Affair’ where she played ‘Bola’.

Her interpretation of that character catapulted her to spotlight, earning her many features on most Nollywood productions including ‘Nightmare’ and ‘Fatal Desire’. But Achums later quit acting in 2006 to relocate to Germany where she lives happily with her husband and children.

You can get updates on her on social media.

Eucharia Anunobi: Until her latest role in the Cut 24 Production film ‘Code Wilo’ Anunobi has been under the radar. Like her counterparts, she also gave her life to Christ and became a pastor. But the feisty characters she lived on screen back in the day cannot be easily forgotten.

From ‘Glamour Girls’ to ‘Abuja Connection’, Anunobi was the ‘it’ girl to interpret daring roles. Once she said in an interview that her religious status does not affect her acting career. In 2017, Anunobi lost her only son to sickle cell anemia. While she doesn’t wear her grief on the sleeves, it is apparent that he left a void in her life.

Uche Mac-Auley

Francis Duru: Nowadays, a chubby Duru can be seen playing roles in some films and TV shows but none can be compared to his greenhorn days in ‘Rattle Snake’. One of the pioneers of the home video era, Rattle Snake tells the story of Ahanna Okolo. Unable to make lemonades out of the lemons life served him at an early age, Ahanna goes into a life of crime that will have long-term consequences.

Duru played the younger version of Ahanna. However, one of his all-time movie was the gripping Opa Williams’ movie ‘Dust to Dust’. Other movies he featured in include ‘Mama Sunday’ and ‘Rampage’.

Eucharia Anunobi

Pat Attah: He played Ken in the TV sitcom ‘Fortunes’.

Admired for his handsome looks, Attah who hails from Anambra state was often seen as the Ramsey Nouah’s dark equivalent but the musician and actor didn’t stay long in the acting scene. After featuring in a few movies such as ‘Only Love’, ‘Love in Bondage’ and ‘Spirit of Love’, Attah was rumoured to have relocated to Germany.

There were speculations last year that he is geared for a comeback after posting captivating images of himself on his Instagram page.

Regina Askia: Her blue eyes glued many to their TV screens. The former beauty queen had acting break when she was cast as Tokunbo Johnson in ‘Fortunes’. She would later play other roles in films such as ‘Full Moon’, ‘Most Wanted’ among others. Now a family nurse practitioner in the USA where she lives with her husband and children, Askia is more famous for her advocacy roles in the medical sector across the continent.

Amaechi Muonagor: Hardly was Muonagor cast in a submissive role. He was always the authoritarian father or the wicked uncle with his intimidating stance and comedic antics. He was one of the regulars in home videos back then. Some of his films include ‘Igodo’, ‘Aki na Ukwa’ and ‘Dust to Dust’.

Ndidi Obi

Ann Njemanze: The feisty actress might have featured in many movies but none resonates as her character in ‘Domitilla’,a Zeb Ejiro’s movie about young girls who veer into prostitution as a means of survival. The name of her character would later become a moniker for anyone found in the flesh hawking business. Njemanze is still active in Nollywood in various capacities.

Alex Usifo

Uche Mac-Auley: Formerly known as Uche ObiOsotule,the black beauty lit up our screen with her charm and wit, particularly in the movie ‘Onome’ which also featured veteran actor ‘Olu Jacobs’. In 2016, Uche announced a comeback and explained that her long break from Nollywood after Tunde Kelani’s ‘Thunderbolt’ was partly intentional.

Ndidi Obi: For her brilliant interpretation of her character Nneka in Okechukwu Ogunjiofor 1994 groundbreaking movie ‘Nneka, the Pretty Serpent’s, Obi received her first award two years ago. The organisers of Legend of Nollywood Award honoured the lady who was among the leading actors in the 90s. Other movies she featured in include ‘Gentle Solution’ ‘Last Meeting’ among others.

Kenneth Okonkwo: This list won’t be complete without mentioning Okonkwo, the lead actor in ‘Living in Bondage’, the controversial film that gave rise to Nollywood. Though he didn’t quite his acting career entirely, Okonkwo is mostly known today as a lawyer and a politician.

Francis Duru

Alex Usifo: It took a while before the veteran actor realised his true calling. Though he featured in some of Nigeria Television Authority productions back in the 80s such as ‘The Return of the Natives’, it was however his iconic villainous character Talaab Abass in Zeb Ejiro’s 1988 soap opera ‘Ripples’ that shot him to limelight.

That character clung to him like a second skin. A major stakeholder in the film industry, Usifo latest act is in ‘Code Wilo’.

Anne Njemanze

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

ENTERTAINMENT

Amazon Boss, Jeff Bezos: His Marriage, Sex Scandal and Divorce How his wife became fourth-richest woman (worth at least $36 billion) in the world after divorce How the other woman, Lauren Sanchez broke Bezos’ 25-year-old marriage

Jeff Bezos With Ex-Wife, Mackenzie; Patrick Whitesell And Wife, Lauren Sanchez (Bezos’ Girlfriend) Patrick Whitesell, Lauren Sanchez, And Jeff Bezos

MacKenzie Bezos, the former wife to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, tweeted out her divorce settlement Thursday — hinting she will walk away from the marriage with more than $36 billion.

The marriage of the world’s richest couple had been on the rocks since at least earlier this year when Jeff Bezos announced, also on Twitter, that the pair would split after 25 years of marriage. The story quickly spiraled into a larger-than-life saga involving an extra-marital affair, political intrigue, and potential blackmail.

MacKenzie Bezos tweeted Thursday that the couple’s marriage was officially dissolved. She added that she was, “happy to be giving him all of my interests in the Washington Post and Blue Origin, and 75% of our Amazon stock plus voting control of my shares.”

Before the divorce, the couple owned 16.3 percent of Amazon’s stock, according to recent SEC filings. Based on Amazon’s current market value of $889 billion, MacKenzie Bezos’s financial stake of slightly more than 4% is worth about $36 billion.

Jeff Bezos’s stake, now slightly more than 12 percent, is worth about $109 billion.

Even with his reduced fortune, Jeff Bezos remains the world’s richest person, at least according to the latest calculations by Bloomberg.

Bill Gates, at number two, has a net worth of $102 billion. MacKenzie Bezos would likely rank around number 24 on Bloomberg’s list, making her the fourth-richest woman in the world.

MacKenzie and Jeff first met at investment management firm D.E. Shaw.

MacKenzie was a research associate and Jeff was a vice president. Jeff was the first person to interview MacKenzie — a fellow Princeton grad — at the firm. On January 9, 2019, Bezos announced that he and his

wife MacKenzie would file for divorce. They were married in 1993, after meeting at D.E. Shaw & Co, and shortly afterward relocated to Seattle to found Amazon, where MacKenzie was one of the company’s first employees.

Last January, the billionaire founder and CEO of the online retail giant Amazon, announced that he and his wife of 25 years, MacKenzie, would divorce.

“As our family and close friends know, after a long period of loving exploration and trial separation, we have decided to divorce and continue our shared lives as friends,” the couple wrote in the statement issued via Twitter.

Hours after releasing the statement, the National Enquirer reported that Bezos had been having an extramarital affair with Lauren Sanchez, a former host on Extra. Sanchez is married to Patrick Whitesell, a powerful Hollywood agent and supposed friend of Bezos. The Enquirer also published text messages between Bezos and Sanchez.

Bezos has found a new love in news anchor Sanchez. The 49-year-old is also ending her marriage to her husband of 13 years, Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell. Sanchez and Bezos are “in constant contact,” a different source said, adding the public knowledge of their romance “has had zero impact on their relationship.” The mum-of-three has hit world headlines after it was alleged she had an affair with the billionaire.

Los Angeles TV viewers will know Sanchez through her work as a former co-host on Fox’s Good Day LA from 2011 to 2017. She has also worked as an entertainment reporter. A qualified helicopter pilot, she specializes in film from the air and has her own aerial filming company - Black Ops Aviation.

According to Hollywood Reporter, she

served as a consultant on Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk.

Bezos has been secretly seeing Sanchez, it was claimed on January 10, 2019. Sources told The New York Post that Bezos and mum-of-three Sanchez got to know each other through her husband Patrick Whitesell, one of Hollywood’s most powerful men. He is an agent to stars including Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Kevin Costner, and Hugh Jackman.

Whitesell and glamorous Sanchez split in the autumn and she grew close to Bezos after coming to work for his space company Blue Origin. She is thought to have told her husband in recent weeks that she is seeing Bezos. It is also believed Bezos made his divorce announcement from wife MacKenzie believing that photos of himself and Sanchez could soon be made public. Reports claimed the pair stayed away from each other while Bezos finalised his divorce with ex-wife Mackenzie.

It is unclear but the People reported they have been spending time with each other in recent months.

Sources also told the celeb new service that Bezos and Sanchez looked friendly at a Golden Globes after-party on Sunday, January 6. A photo has emerged from as far back as April 2018 of them enjoying a meal together.

Before Jeff met his wife, he seemed to have a tough time meeting the right woman, according to Wired magazine. Consequently, he reached out to his friends for help. Jeff said he decided to ask his friends if they could set him up on blind dates.

He told the magazine that women just weren’t that into him. “I’m not the kind of person where women say, ‘Oh, look how great he is,’ a half hour after meeting me. I’m kind of goofy, and I’m not … it’s not the kind of thing where people are going to say about me, ‘Oh my God, this is what I’ve been looking for!’”

The hunt for a wife turned Jeff into a dating machine. He was serious about settling down and starting the next chapter in his life.

Eventually, dating became like second nature to him. He told Wired that he spent much of his time in New York looking for the one. “At a certain point I was sort of a professional dater,” said Bezos.

MacKenzie told Vogue Jeff interviewed her for her position at hedge fund D.E. Shaw. Sparks must have been flying during the interview because the two became an item soon after they met. MacKenzie was a research associate and Jeff was a senior vice president. Some employees might have been hesitant to make a move because of the power imbalance, but that didn’t seem to faze MacKenzie. She knew what she wanted and decided to ask Jeff out on a date. MacKenzie took a risk and it paid off. Their office romance blossomed, and they dived right into an exclusive relationship. Although MacKenzie originally took the job at D.E. Shaw so she could pay the bills, she ended up getting a lot more than she expected. Jeff and MacKenzie fell in love. They were engaged in three months and got married in 1993, just six months after their first date.

Jeff and MacKenzie have four children.

Despite their wealth, they have managed to remain down-to-earth.

Vogue noted in the 2013 interview that MacKenzie chose to drive a Honda minivan to shuttle the kids to school. And instead of relying on a team of nannies, MacKenzie told Vogue that she and Jeff decided to take care of the children themselves. At times, they even opted to homeschool their kids. “We tried all sorts of things, including offseason travel, kitchen-science experiments, chicken incubation, Mandarin lessons, the Singapore math program, and lots of clubs and sports with other neighborhood kids,” said MacKenzie.

APRIL 7, 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 Chioma GoodHair, Now Chioma Landlady A home is more than the roof above, a resting place after daily toil. A home is a shelter of dreams, a home protects the dreamer, a home allows the dreamer to dream in peace. And if the home is lavish and opulent, and ensconced in a place of grandiosity and comfort, so much the better, price be damned.

Not unexpectedly, Chioma Ikokwu, one half of luxury hair partnership Good Hair Luxury Brand, has got for herself a swanky new home in highbrow Ikoyi axis of Lagos. Coming before she turns 30, her new milestone is a statement that she has finally come to stay in the big leagues.

Popularly called Chioma GoodHair by her fans, the bubbling entrepreneur’s longtime partnership with Kika has proved to be a goldmine for them as they rake in huge amounts on a daily basis. With customers of no shallow pockets coming to patronize them from far and near, it is no surprise to learn that Chioma counts as one of the most loaded under 30s around.

And while some of her peers decide to take the route of endless trips abroad, dissipating their wealth on designer bags, clothes and jewellery that lose their sheen after some time, Chioma, who has a master’s in International Environmental Law and Commercial Arbitration, made the wise decision for such a young head to invest her money in a 5-bedroom, fully-fitted penthouse apartment in Ikoyi.

The house, HighLife gathered, is close to the residents of some other big boys and girls. In fact, she and her controversial BFF, Toke Makinwa, are said to be neighbours. Though there are some rumours concerning how she came by the huge amount of money needed to buy a house in such a posh location, those close to the beautiful lady insisted most of it came from her savings, with her parents stumping up a portion.

For the style queen, it has been a gradual climb from humble entrepreneurial beginnings in 2009 when she started her business, to becoming a proud landlady in one of the fanciest locations in the country. And she has made it abundantly clear that more properties are on the way in the near future. The sky is her limit.

with KAYODE ALFRED 08116759807

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

Awujale Celebrates 59th Coronation Anniversary ...His Undying Love for Mike Adenuga

Oba Adetona

Last Tuesday April 2, was the 59th coronation anniversary of Oba Alaiyeluwa (Dr) Sikiru Kayode Adetona CFR, Ogbagba II, the Awujale of Ijebuland and there was an outpouring of congratulatory messages saluting the revered monarch on another milestone. Whole pages of congratulatory adverts were taken in the newspapers by prominent individuals to pay homage to a long and eventful reign.

Oba Sikiru has been on the throne since 1960, the year of Nigeria’s independence, making him one of the longest-serving king regnants in Africa. He was born in 1934 and will no doubt be making his 85th birthday in grand style when the time comes.

Amidst the felicitations on adding another year on the throne, nobody was in more jubilant mood than billionaire industrialist and chairman of Globacom, Otunba Mike Adenuga. It is not just that he is celebrating his monarch, being an Ijebu native himself and also the Apesin of Ijebuland. It goes far deeper than that.

It will come as a surprise to many that the respected monarch and Adenuga are bosom friends. Not only that, but they are also bound by ties of blood. They share maternal grandparents. The Glo boss’ late mother was

the Awujale’s aunt and he even spent some time living with her. So, they are in fact cousins.

Little wonder the Awujale is always fond and overprotective of Adenuga. Whenever Nigeria’s second richest man encounters any difficulty, Awujale is always out fighting in his corner.

Adenuga on his part is never tired of seeking opportunities to demonstrate his love for the Awujale, whom he glowingly describes as his “very dear first cousin and family head”.

Whenever the Awujale is in a mood to relax, Adenuga is always on hand to escort him to choice destinations abroad for relaxation. On the financial front, he isn’t found wanting either. The Glo brand is always front and centre in terms of sponsorship whenever the kingdom of Ijebu is celebrating any event like the Ojude Oba Festival, the jewel in the crown of Ijebu cultural showpieces, which has been sponsored

by Globacom for more than a decade running.

The Awujale’s love for Mike is only heightened by the latter’s humility and decorum in the presence of elders. Despite being close friends and confidants and even cousins, coupled with his status as one of the foremost men of worth in the country, Mike always observes the correct manner whenever he sights the Awujale.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu vs Senator Ajayi Boroffice: Fight to the Finish Like two gladiators locked in a battle of wits and refusing to give up despite the bruises that litter their torsos, marks of blows given and knocks taken, two of the biggest names in Ondo politics, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and Senator Ajayi Boroffice have been at each other’s throats for a long time.

And if permutations are to be made based on recent events, the animosity between the duo is not going to abate anytime soon.

Unlike other politically motivated fights that begin and end with handshakes, the one between the governor and the senator representing Ondo North senatorial District looks like it won’t end in any way other than a knockout punch. So deep is their rancour towards each other that the once harmonious Ondo chapter of the ruling APC has become a house divided against itself with both anchoring opposing factions under a creaking umbrella.

The governor’s grouse about Senator Boroffice can be traced to the governorship primaries where the second-term senator stood against him and even contested his victory. Since then the two do not see eye to eye. If one of them is present at a function, the other usually shuns the occasion.

Despite several pleas to sheath their swords in the interest of peace, the battle has only intensified in recent times Governor Akeredolu, seeking his pound of flesh, tried to stop Boroffice from being picked as the APC senatorial candidate in Ondo State, only for his schemes to be truncated by the party’s national working committee who rewarded the senator with automatic ticket. Incensed to the point of apoplexy, the governor instructed his anointed candidate Dr Tunji Abayomi to decamp to the Action Alliance and contest against Boroffice.

Rotimi Akeredolu

Wale Tinubu... Champion Extraordinaire

Wale Tinubu

Chioma

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Who would have imagined that two of Yoruba’s most enduring money men, octogenarians and grandfathers too; Chief Wale Tinubu, the Group

Chief Executive Officer, Oando Plc belongs to that rare breed of men who possess the ability to consistently do more than they say. If he promises you a hill, better be sure you’re getting a mountain. For years, he’s sailed untroubled in the entrepreneurial ocean, navigating numerous business boats with grace and nous of veteran captain.

A man of no mean repute whose achievements can be composed into a platinum album, Wale beams with the glow of perpetual investors’ confidence in a clime notorious for its herculean business climate.

He perches atop oil and gas giant Oando like a majestic eagle. Vigilanteyed and sharp-nosed, he has never disappointed the shareholders’ trust and he isn’t about to start now.

When he took to the podium last year and confidently proclaimed his determination to elevate Oando’s fortunes to heights never seen and scarcely conceivable, there were quite a few raised eyebrows and skeptical looks scattered among the smattering of polite applause. Yet, with the company’s accounts for the business year recently turned in, there is no question about just

who is smirking now.

From a profit of 19.8 billion in 2017, the company’s income has soared by more than forty-five percent to 28.8 billion, an astonishing increase when inflation and the inclement trading conditions are factored in. What else could be responsible if not Tinubu’s Midas touch?

After delivering such a resounding slap to the face of his numerous doubters who insist on remaining blind and deaf to his incontestable greatness, Wale Tinubu could be forgiven for taking his feet off the pedals, if only just a little. But such is not the modus operandi of the nephew of APC chieftain Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He has already set bigger targets for the current financial year which he is working harder than ever to achieve.

On the menu are grand visions of turning Oando into a big, lean profitspinning model of organizational and operational efficiency, not to mention expansion plans geared towards widening Oando’s tentacles to other corners of the globe. With his not inconsiderable body of work available as evidence, no wise person will bet against Wale once again performing new fears of magic.

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HIGHLIFE

Trailblazer: Mudi Enajemo Set to Change the Face of Interior Decor in Africa Fashion is now big business. It is growing fast. Faster than the speed of light. Its practitioners are respected, raking in big money and living better lives. Some of the credits for the boom in the business are heaped on the doorsteps of Mudiaga Enajemo, the talented designer behind Mudi Africa.

Behind every successful fashion designer, there is a story of grit and sweat and battles to change perceptions and shape a unique identity that sells. Mudiaga Enajemo is no different. From a ramshackle house in Ketu where he lived on goodwill, he clawed and struggled his way to his current position of preeminence on the fashion scene.

The international clothier is someone who was ready to go the extra mile even when there was no visible road to walk on. Armed with his creativity and a single-minded resolve to become a reference point whenever connoisseurs of fashion are gathered, Mudi broke down the walls of want and erected in its place a magnificent legacy of clothing excellence.

The Urhobo dude is the first port of call for many people in the corridors of powers and halls of business.

Mudi Enajemo

He numbers presidents, governors, assembly members, captains of industries and myriad celebrities among his clients. Today, MUDI Africa’s stores can be found in major cities in Africa; Lagos, Abuja, Accra, Nairobi, Dakar and Johannesburg. He is well and truly on the mountaintop.

Having seen and done it all in the fashion scene, Mudi feels the time is

right to expand his horizons and etch his name in a different but related field. In the next few weeks, Mudi will kick start his new business concern, interior decor and we gathered all hands are on deck to see his new business successful.

In the same way that fashion can be seen as the art of clothing a body in a way that makes it stand out, for Mudi, interior decoration is the art of dressing a building in a manner that makes entrants never want to leave. A student of art renowned for his creativity right from primary school, there is no doubt that this latest venture of his will be a roaring success. The excitement in the air as the official launch draws nearer is nearing frenzied levels.

The few skeptics of his expertise in interior decoration need only pay a visit to his head office on Mudi Lane, Anthony Village which he decorated himself. The eye-catching edifice commissioned a few years back still leaves visitors mesmerized by the breathtaking blend of simplicity and artistry. Here, as in fashion, Mudi knows what it takes to go for gold. And his race will begin soon.

What’s Up with President Muhammadu Buhari Estate, Abeokuta?

Muhammadu Buhari

A white elephant might be the most harmless big thing, but a white elephant certainly causes a lot of harm. Thoughts like these are on the minds of many as they pass through Oke Mosan, Abeokuta and survey with shaking heads the huge landmass which was supposed to have been transformed into a beautiful and sprawling estate.

One of the legacy projects that

outgoing Ogun Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun reportedly boasted would help etch his tenure in the sands of history is President Muhammadu Buhari Estate, Abeokuta. Initially named Three Hills Estate, it was rechristened in honour of the president after he paid a formal visit to the state a few years back. It was expected to be completed in record time with the name alone seen as a magnet that would attract aspiring landowners in huge droves.

Barely three years after, what began as a clever ploy with an obvious happy ending in sight is threatening to turn into a white elephant of tragic proportions.

Weeks before Amosun hands over the reins in Ogun, nothing is happening on the site.

Rather than the expected edifices rising to kiss the landscape, there is only emptiness.

The place has been colonized by all manner of weeds and rodents. The few roads built at the beginning of the project are just lying there, strange emblems of civilization crisscrossing huge undeveloped patches of land.

Even the beautiful signage in the national colours of green-white-green identifying the estate is not spared from

the neglect. Some parts of it have fallen, a metaphor for the breakdown in the relationship between the president and the governor. It will not be forgotten in a hurry how Buhari’s campaign rally in Ogun descended into farce as he was repeatedly stoned, all while the governor used the APC rally to campaign for his anointed candidate in APM. Some people are alleging that the seeming abandonment of the project has something to do with the powers that be frustrating the governor as payback for his recent political antics.

There is another camp that swears that the governor never intended to build anything but was using Buhari’s name to score cheap political points. Others claim the governor did not deliberately abandon the project; merely that buyers haven’t been flocking in to buy up the estate which is being sold at a premium. A source close to the situation intimated that it is possible the governor overestimated the president’s popularity in Ogun and the estate’s name might actually have discouraged potential buyers.

Otunba Lekan Osifeso Returns to “First Love” How do you know the essence of a man? One way is to check and analyse his associates—those whom he surrounds himself with. And Otunba Lekan Osifeso has some of the brightest and most brilliant minds around him. After the rigorous gubernatorial campaigns in Lagos State, Otunba Lekan Osifeso who was one of the major actors in Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Obafemi Hamzat’s campaign team is back to his office in Abuja.

There is no gainsaying that nothing tastes sweeter than a forbidden fruit. In the same vein, nothing pulls the individual harder than a first love. Otunba Lekan had jetted to Lagos from his Abuja base to support

his brother and friend Obafemi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor-elect, before the presidential and governorship campaigns.

And after helping to score a landslide victory over the opposition, the call of his first love has proved too much for Otunba Lekan to resist and he has returned to his Abuja office.

The man at the helm of EBLA Construction is not someone who likes to joke with his business affairs. Burning with a fierce desire to ascend the construction mountain, Lekan treats things like politics as temporary diversions at best, rather than the main event. His focus remains on the construction game as he aims for the

jugular of more established players. He has declared war on their dominance, a young man, taking the game to the entrenched powers in a country for old men.

A firm believer in the Nigerian Project, Otunba Lekan’s contributions to infrastructure and development dot the landscape of several states but he remains unsatisfied with where he is in the industry.

At a time whe≠≠≠n his friends are still celebrating their victory in the elections, he has already packed his bags and vamoosed to Abuja in order to return to his neglected first love, construction. He refuses to rest on his oars while the boat stands still in the ocean.

Esther Ajayi

Glad Tidings! As “Iya Adura” Esther Ajayi Celebrates Birthday … Why She Moved Back to Nigeria Founder of Love of Christ Generation Church (C & S) turned a year older a few days back. The woman of God and fervent prayer warrior was in joyous mood as she celebrated the occasion with family and friends. The popular preacher who is one of the most visible white garment evangelists around frequently shuttles between her church in the United Kingdom and Nigeria, spreading miracles everywhere she goes.

“Common” is not a word that the discerning will associate with Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi Abimbola. In her hands, the impossible becomes the new normal.

Not many people ever thought that the two major white garment churches in Nigeria, Cherubim and Seraphim (C & S) and Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) would ever readily come together yet she made it happen. Her annual “Celebrate the Comforter” crusade brings leaders from both denominations together in a spiritual bonding exercise.

What many people might not know about the woman fondly addressed as Iya Aladura by her teeming fans is that she is a prolific philanthropist. In fact, her passion for the underprivileged is only rivalled by her spiritual ministry.

And this is why she has ditched her London base in recent times and is staying more and more in the country. Through her Esther Abimbola Foundation, she is reaching out to the poor and downtrodden, the neglected, and those requiring of rehabilitation.

She has taken up the gauntlet of contributing her quota to the alleviation of misery in her homeland. Hence her need to remain in the country overseeing her foundation.

Though she started the foundation in the UK, charity, after all, begins at home. Her foundation has already carried out lots of philanthropic and humanitarian projects in various parts of the country. Among its laudable activities is the ongoing rehabilitation programme for returnees from Libya and other parts of North Africa. It is also involved in efforts to assist those displaced by the menace of Boko Haram in the north.

APRIL 7, 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

Bishop David Oyedepo Wins with Canaan City Estate It is all well and good to minister to people’s souls, but without a roof over their heads, clothes on their bodies and food in their stomachs, the sheep will assuredly stray from the flock. Bishop David Oyedepo of Winners Chapel is cognizant of this truth that escapes the mind of other men of God. Hence he always incorporates community schemes into his broader mission of soul winning.

The stupendously rich pastor who presides over one of the biggest congregations in the southern hemisphere is a maverick of no mean repute who has invested far and wide and boasts perhaps the biggest business portfolio in the body of Christ. While it is undeniable that the Overlord of Canaanland attracts wealth by the lorry load, a lesser acknowledged fact is how every scheme he engages in is carried

out with the benefit of his burgeoning congregation in mind.

And now the charismatic and explosive man of God is at it again.

The dream of a gigantic housing estatecum-mini city which was floated few years back has materialized. The huge complex of colourful homes and first-rate amenities is said to comprise up to 15 000 residences, ranging from a single bedroom apartment to multi-bedroom mansions.

The best part of the humongous superestate dubbed Canaan City Estate is its self-sustaining model. In a move comparable to the famed Eko Atlantic project, it will have its own markets, parks and gardens, sports centres, pipe-borne water system, police department, fire and medical services, and power generation. Everything will be connected together by a network

of fine roads that look like they were transplanted straight from a First-World country.

It is no news that when he founded Covenant and Landmark universities, two of the best private schools in the country, he decreed preferential treatment for members of his church when it comes to admissions. It is more of the same with the current project.

According to those in the know, the Canaanland Housing project is adopting a strict “Church Members First” policy before outsiders are considered.

With repayment mortgages of up to 30 years on offer for the houses which are up for sale at mouth-watering prices, the Canaan City Estate has become a hot cake among property lovers who are rushing to buy before the prices balloon out of pocket range.

David Oyedepo

Great Feat … As Babatunde Okewale Bags Another Award in a clime that still pins the blame of extended barrenness squarely at the doorsteps of the woman, Dr Babatunde Okewale, Chief Medical Director of St Ives, is a conquering hero, galloping in to liberate them from personal and social woes. To the man moulded from the fires of single-minded determination, age is but a number, dreams delayed do not have to be dead dreams, and the reality of being a mother is often just a few specialist procedures away.

Since he rampaged into town with his message of motherhood for all, Dr Okewale has become the medical equivalent of a faith healer. Over the

years, he has garnered an indisputable clout as the premier gynaecologist in the country, sometimes seemingly fashioning healthy babies out of thin air.

His brainchild St Ives consists of three specialist hospitals, 2 IVF clinics and one family clinic. Established in 1996, St Ives is the closest thing to a Mecca for women of all ages seeking the fruits of the womb.

They come desperate, ready to risk it all in their efforts to cuddle a little tot born of their blood. And the bearded doctor is only too happy to answer their prayers.

Not many will forget in a hurry the story of the 67-year-old woman who, after an encounter with St Ives Fertility Centre,

Okewale

Monalisa Chinda in the News Again

Heart of Gold: Sam Adeyemi Donates to Refugees It is no news that hunger, war, deprivation and other ills have turned the world into a brutish place for the vast majority. Yet, every now and then, a ray or two of sunshine manages to pierce the clouds of gloom and disperse blessed relief on the world below. The few men and women who go beyond their primary remit to make the world a better place than they left it.

Planted firmly in the ranks of these champions of the needy is celebrated Pastor Sam Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre. A magnetic individual whose powerful messages of prosperity for all have made him the toast of the younger generation of Christians, he has a heart of gold that sees the plight of the downtrodden and the displaced as a challenge to be solved.

Unlike some so-called men of God who negate the Gospel of Christ with the lip service they pay to social issues, Pastor Sam Adeyemi never misses a chance to show that he cares. He arguably might not be able to feed five thousand people like Jesus did, but he can certainly help them settle down in a safe place. That was the intention behind the recent donation of ten million Naira to the United Nations High Committee on Refugees (UNHCR), an arm of the UN that helps people displaced from their original abodes by war or natural disasters.

“When people flee their homes, their needs become critical and their coping mechanisms compromised,” he said while handing out the cheques to the UNHCR representatives who promised to utilize it towards resettling selected victims of the recent crises which have ravaged Africa like a merciless beast.

In addition, Daystar, led by the charismatic Adeyemi, has entered into a partnership with the refugee body to provide emergency relief when the need arises. It will not be forgotten in a hurry how Adeyemi mobilized his church members to donate one million dollar for the cause at the height of the Ebola crisis in 2014.

finally put to bed after 35 agonizing years. Her breakthrough makes her the oldest recorded mother in Africa and second in the world. There are many more like her, willing testifiers of the efficacy of Dr Okewale’s worldclass, cutting-edge In-Vitro Fertilization procedures.

Inevitably, when achievement leads, accolades follow. The humble and unassuming doctor has not been able to successfully evade the honours that flood his way, a natural consequence of his game-changing work. The laurels on his brow are already worthy of a king, and they keep coming.

Monalisa Chinda

It seems that wherever superstar actress and flower girl of high society, Monalisa Chinda goes, controversy is never far away, following her around like a faithful shadow. The pretty entertainer has fallen foul of state laws as she is being pursued by the Lagos State Government for allegedly failing to pay her taxes.

And, rather than show up to state her case, the woman who cracked the Nollywood industry with the 1996 hit Pregnant Virgin, has shown more dexterity in staying away from court than she has shown in steering clear of her numerous brushes with controversy over the years.

Despite repeated summons by the court for her to appear, she has feigned deaf ears and blind eyes.

The case against her stems from her entertainment company Monalisa Code Productions, which operates out of highbrow Lekki, allegedly failing to render tax returns to the government as enshrined in law. Since 2017 when the company was dragged to court on a two-count charge, Port Harcourt-born Monalisa, who rode to stardom on the back of the hit 2007 soap opera Heaven’s Gate, has failed to show her face in court.

The exasperated judge, Adedayo Akintoye finally lost her cool on January 21 as she issued a bench warrant for the immediate arrest of the fair-complexioned actress who is on her second marriage after her first to Dejo Richards crumbled amid allegations of domestic violence and infidelity. But Monalisa remained unfazed as she went AWOL as usual the next two times the court reconvened.

As the case could not proceed in the absence of the defendant and her lawyer who was also nowhere to be seen, Justice Akintoye of the Lagos High Court in Igbosere had no choice but to again adjourn the case to June 2 while renewing the bench warrant.

It remains to be seen what happens in the standoff between Monalisa and the civil authorities. There are speculations that if she keeps up her game of cat and mouse, the court might issue an arrest warrant which would force the police to find and take her into custody so she could finally stand trial.

It seems that wherever superstar actress and flower girl of high society, Monalisa Chinda goes, controversy is never far away, following her around like a faithful shadow. The pretty entertainer has fallen foul of state laws as she is being pursued by the Lagos State Government for allegedly failing to pay her taxes.

And, rather than show up to state

her case, the woman who cracked the Nollywood industry with the 1996 hit Pregnant Virgin, has shown more dexterity in staying away from court than she has shown in steering clear of her numerous brushes with controversy over the years.

Despite repeated summons by the court for her to appear, she has feigned deaf ears and blind eyes The case against her stems from her entertainment company Monalisa Code Productions, which operates out of highbrow Lekki, allegedly failing to render tax returns to the government as enshrined in law. Since 2017 when the company was dragged to court on a twocount charge, Port Harcourt-born Monalisa, who rode to stardom on the back of the hit 2007 soap opera Heaven’s Gate, has failed to show her face in court.

The exasperated judge, Adedayo Akintoye finally lost her cool on January 21 as she issued a bench warrant for the immediate arrest of the fair-complexioned actress who is on her second marriage after her first to Dejo Richards crumbled amid allegations of domestic violence and infidelity. But Monalisa remained unfazed as she went AWOL as usual the next two times the court reconvened.

As the case could not proceed in the absence of the defendant and her lawyer who was also nowhere to be seen, Justice Akintoye of the Lagos High Court in Igbosere had no choice but to again adjourn the case to June 2 while renewing the bench warrant.

It remains to be seen what happens in the standoff between Monalisa and the civil authorities. There are speculations that if she keeps up her game of cat and mouse, the court might issue an arrest warrant which would force the police to find and take her into custody so she could finally stand trial.

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

When Fatima GandujeAjimobi Stirred Up a Hornet’s Nest “Arrogance and rudeness are training wheels on the bicycle of life, for weak people who cannot keep their balance without them,’’ says Laura Teresa Marque.

It seems Fatima Ganduje, the beautiful daughter of Kano State Governor, Abdulahi Umar Ganduje, is fast becoming popular with her controversial nature.

Though it is inexplicable if the confident and outspoken beauty loves controversy or not, it is bad enough that it has almost become a blot on her profile.

Perhaps, she doesn’t know how to maintain her cool in the face of slight provocation. Or she has forgotten that she is a celebrity of sorts.

The beautiful daughter of Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, last week, allowed her arrogance and rudeness to take the better part of her.

She recently threw caution to the winds, while she engaged in abusive words with her ‘detractors’ on her Twitter handle.

Society Watch gathered that problem started when she was taunted that her father would be booted out of office by his main political rival, Rabiu Kwankwaso when it appeared he was losing the Kano State Governorship election.

Though Kwankwaso was not contesting the election, his mentee, Abba Kabir Yusuf, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was giving the incumbent governor a sleepless night.

So, the Governor was not only being disturbed but his whole family was affected emotionally by the results that were trickling in before it was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Fatima, a social media savvy, was also taunted especially when her father- in- law, Governor Ajimobi of Oyo lost in his bid to install a candidate of his party, Adebayo Adelabu and his senatorial ambition.

Not done, after the governorship election went her father’s way, she came back with full venom and poured it on her detractors calling them unprintable names.

Many were shocked that her utterances were not in sync with her status as a daughter of the first citizen of the state.

But she never cared about whose ox was gored, as she gave those who abused her back in full measure.

Tonye Cole, Don’t Tarnish Your Name, for God’s Sake!

Gone are the days when the name Tonye Cole was synonymous with business acumen, entrepreneurial spirit, finesse, poise and class.

Nowadays, his name is associated with brigandage, violence and gangsterism, after ditching a successful business which brought him fame and fortune for the murky waters of politics.

Tonye Cole has over the years built a reputation as a polished and decent gentleman with a nose for sniffing out opportunities and turning them to gold, as he did with Sahara Energy alongside his friends, Tope Shonubi and Ade Odunsi.

But alas, Tonye has now put on the cloak of a crude warlord, taking orders and following in the footsteps of his friend and political godfather, Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State who is hell bent on installing his stooge or else, all hell break loose.

But while Amaechi is well versed in the game of violence-backed politics, Tonye Cole is a neophyte in the dark arts and is getting his

fingers burnt.

Following his emergence as (factional) APC gubernatorial candidate for Rivers State in controversial circumstances, the Supreme Court ruled a few weeks before the elections that the APC wasn’t eligible to field any candidate in the state.

This was a rude awakening for Tonye: following months of building castles in the air and fantasizing about his presumptive position, his ambition to be Rivers governor was up in smoke.

However, rather than retreat to tend to his business and lick his wounds in the shadows, Tonye was goaded by Amaechi into joining forces with another political party, the AAC and its candidate, Biokpomabo Awara, in a foolhardy attempt to wrest power from incumbent governor and PDP candidate, Nyesom Wike.

This was a plot that was doomed to fail from the outset despite voter intimidation and the full complement of state power at Amaechi’s behest. Tonye’s name is being

Tonye Cole

dragged in mud for is association with Amaechi on this mission impossible.

While Awara continues to wallow in the pipe dream of reclaiming what he describes as a stolen mandate, this is an appeal to Tonye Cole to retrace his steps and save his hard earned reputation which is currently being torn to shreds in the pursuit of his political ambition.

Many people look up to your persona as a businessman par excellence. Please don’t let them down. Save your name and reputation, for God’s sake!

Praises, Honour For Former NAFDAC DG, Akunyili

Akunili

Theologians must have forgotten to exempt the name of the late Prof. Dora Akunyili from the biblical version which says that the dead should bury

its own, while the living take care of theirs, but however, the holy book in that passage may give leeway to her kind of person to be ever celebrated by the living.

Penultimate Tuesdays in Abuja, the late czer of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC was celebrated in death during the 25th anniversary celebrations of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC. At the well-attended event, memories of the late Akunyili, who held sway as the Director-General of the Agency between 2001 and 2009 came alive.

Unarguably, there is no mincing the fact that she gave the Agency the recognition it is enjoying today.

Very fearless and dogged, she was the nemesis of the undisciplined

elements whose aim was to flood the drug market with adulterated products, thereby sending helpless Nigerians to their early grave.

For the first time, she was honoured with a posthumous award by the Agency.

While presenting the award to the family of the deceased, the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, showered praises on her for her hard work and incorruptible disposition.

The first lady also prayed Almighty God to grant her soul eternal repose, while she embraced the family and thanked them for the support and memories being kept in her honour.

Indeed, it was a season of honour for her, as she was also recognized in death by the organisers of the Miss Inspire Nigeria Beauty Pageant 2019 with Legendary Achievement Award for championing the course of NAFDAC.

Ayo Karim Unfazed Despite his gallant loss at the primaries of the Oyo State gubernatorial election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), billionaire businessman, Ayo Karim, seems to be undeterred, as he has got over the defeat.

The polo-loving dude has since gone back to the drawing board to make his dream come true in 2023, thus he has been canvassing for more awareness of the stakeholders and party faithful, with a bid to giving the populace a re-

assurance that the PDP victory at the last poll was only momentary.

No doubt, the billionaire businessman and Managing Director of Costain West Africa, has made a name for himself in Nigeria and even beyond.

His antecedents, over the years, precede him anywhere he goes and he is considered one of the most visionary corporate leaders in the country, with several awards in his kitty.

Ayo Karim

Jimoh Ibrahim’s Midas Touch

Ganduje-Ajimobi

Jimoh Ibrahim

Love or hate him, Jimoh Ibrahim, Chairman and CEO Energy Group, is a phenomenon.

His business strategies may not appeal to you, but what is incontestable is that he is blessed with uncommon business acumen.

Besides, his constant quest for knowledge beggars description, given the fact that he is already blessed with all the comforts of life.

Since he graduated from the Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile- Ife, he has studied in other world renowned universities such as Harvard, Cambridge as well as Oxford where he came out in flying colours.

For him, nothing is truer than the words of Brandon Travis Ciaccio: “The pursuit of

knowledge is never ending. The day you stop seeking knowledge is the day you stop growing.’’ Today, by virtue of his rare accomplishments, he is one of the few Nigeria’s businessmen who can rub shoulders with other top businessmen around the globe. Indeed, if the history of billionaires in Africa were to be documented, his name would stand out.

He is a rare gem, who set out to achieve greatness in life. Evidence of this, no doubt, manifests in all his business interests, which includes oil & gas distribution, hotels, resorts, aviation, banking, real estate, insurance, publishing and investments, among others.

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SOCIETY WATCH

About Bishop Tom Samson And His Worldy Treasures Except you know him too well, you may take him either for a hiphop act or a Hollywood movie star owing largely to his dress sense.

In some sense, he loves everything of the world and flaunts it without caring a hoot.

Bishop Tom Samson, the General Overseer of Christ Royal Church, is indeed a flamboyant man who loves everything money can buy.

He has the money and never blinks when spending it. At least, money is meant to be spent.

He has a collection of world’s most expensive cars such as Rolls Royce Phantom that was worth over N200m.

Though the Delta State-born pastor claimed it was a birthday gift from an admirer, a source who knew better countered that he was only being economical with the truth to stave off criticisms.

He also acquired. N80m

luxurious Hummer Limousine, Bentley among others state-of the art cars.

A source stated that the flamboyant man of God would soon join the league of other top Nigerians who have the latest Rolls Royce Cullinan in their garages.

It was gathered that he made the order shortly before his birthday and was supposed to arrive for his 52nd birthday on March 28. But this was not so.

Our source further revealed that the pastor is not minding the Bible verse in Matthew 6 : 19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and verm in destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourself treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

The fiery preacher, who has a

Tom Samson

fleet of exotic cars in his garage, was said to be planning to acquire a private jet to mark his 55th birthday in a couple of years.

Taiwo Afolabi’s Superlative Taste

Taiwo Afolabi

Billionaire businessman, Taiwo Afolabi, seems to have a unique

way of making his competitors go green with envy always.

He, no doubt, loves to make a definitive statement about everything he does Weeks back, he added to his fleet of wonders-on-wheels with two of the world’s most exquisite auto brands, Bentley Bentayga 2019 model and Bentley Continental GT, to the amazement of all.

It was gathered that the two exotic cars cost him a whopping N140m.

A source revealed that he ordered the cars in preparation for the opening of his much-talked about Mariot Hotel in GRA, Ikeja, Lagos next month.

The 251-room hotel built on 7,000sqm promises to offer

top-notch luxury services hitherto unseen in the Nigeria’s hospitality industry.

Its construction is handled

by DORI Construction and Engineering, while ETCO is behind the electrical installation.

The architectural masterpiece spreads through two major streets in GRA: Joel Ogunnaike and Oba Adejobi streets.

The hotel, which will be fully serviced by Marriot, has a number of facilities, including a lobby with retail outlets, ballroom and pre-function catering for 800-1000, executive lounge, business centre with meeting, seminar, board rooms, three to four food and beverage outlets, all-day dining, specialty restaurants and a rooftop club bar.

Habeeb, Mustapha Fasinro Bereaved It is no doubt that Habeeb and Mustapha are surely doing well in their respective businesses and are some of the big boys who make statements in the Lagos social scene.

Society Watch gathered that while Habeeb, the older brother is a top player in politics and entertainment, his brother, Mustapha, is a big player in oil and gas sector.

Habeeb, the owner of popular and leading radio station, Smooth FM, was once a member of the House of Representatives. He called the shots at the lower chamber when he represented Eti Osa Federal Constituency. He is also the promoter of the annual high-profile Smooth Luxury Concert, which features international artistes.

The younger brother, Mustapha, plays big with his oil trading

company, Linetrale, while he also has his hands in many pies like Gasoline, Automotive Gasoil, Dual Purpose Kerosene, Fuel oil, Bitumen, Naphtha, Condensate and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

But while the Lagos big boys have strong and wide appeal within and outside the social circles and are successful in their different businesses, they also have same passion: polo.

We gathered that Mustapha invested heavily in the game and as patron of the Linetrale Delaney Polo team, he is so much in love with one of the most expensive horses for the game, Argentine horses.

Well, that is not the story, as Society Watch gathered that the duo is not in good mood at the moment.

The reason is not unconnected

to the loss of their father, Alhaji Hassan Fasinro.

It was revealed that the nonagenarian, who died penultimate week, has since been laid to rest according to Islamic rites. His burial was witnessed by top personalities across the state as well as Nigeria.

Though the former Senator in the second republic lived a fulfilled life, his families were not happy with the death, as they were preparing for his 100 years’ birthday in September.

The birthday was promised to be a grand one. But as the popular saying goes, ‘’ Man proposes, God disposes.”

Alhaji Fasinro, before he became a Senator, was also a former town clerk of Lagos City Council and his political antecedent evokes goodwill till date.

Happy Moment for Oba Akiolu If a horse, as the Yoruba would say, could walk in the belly of Oba Ridwan Akiolu, Oba of Lagos, it would not tumble.

This feeling of excitement was even visible to the blind last Friday when he was declared as the authentic paramount ruler of Lagos by Justice Babajide Candide-Johnson at the Lagos High Court, bringing to an end 16year old suit seeking to dethrone him.

The suit was filed by two members of the Lagos Royal Family, Prince Adedoyin Adebiyi and Prince Rasheed Modile.

The Judge dismissed the suit on the grounds that the two plaintiffs failed to prove their case against the Oba. The judge also held that both their oral and documentary evidence were full of inconsistency, adding that the onus lied on who alleged a breach to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt.

The Judge further held that the court lacked the jurisdiction to upturn the long established custom of over 200 years for the enthronement of the Oba of Lagos.

The claimants had instituted the suit in 2003 against the state governor, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Babatunde Akitoye and Junaid Eko. Adebiyi and Modile were claiming that Akiolu was not entitled to the throne because he is not a member of a ruling royal family by not being a direct descendant of Oba Ado, the first Oba of Lagos.

They held that only members of the Ologun Kutere and Akinsemoyin ruling households were entitled to the throne.

The claimants also alleged that proper customary rules and procedures were not followed when he was appointed as Oba in May 2003.

A source disclosed that since the matter has been put to rest following the court declaration, the monarch has been in a happy mood while his friends and admirers have been trooping to the palace to congratulate him.

Oba Akinolu

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Prof. Osinbajo – Death, Not Your Portion God for saving us the very bad news that would have come from that incident. We must however continue in prayers and full supplication for not only your life but that of the nation. God has saved you for a purpose which in my estimation is to stand for good governance and to continue in the fight for the total emancipation of the common man. Mbok, while at it, please avoid helicopters and as my mother would say, ’How many times will something do you.’ Please try other modes of transportation if it is too much you can do horse carriages like the Queen of England. At least that one, if anything happens you can jump down and run. I

am telling you like you have righty stated if anything had happened to you, many people including myself who really did not attend any of your rallies would have been in trouble. So my lord please be careful o, pray every morning, cover yourself with olive oil. If you don’t have send trader Moni let me help you buy. Wait before EFCC will now start chasing me for misusing the funds, buy it yourself when next you are on your market runs. Try Onyigbo market or Dugbe in Ibadan. Life is good especially life as the Vice President of this our country. God bless you and may we not hear any bad news, remain blessed my paddy.

Prof. Osinbajo

Gbajabiamila

Herbert Wigwe

Abubakar Danlami Sule

Nnamdi Kanu

GBAJABIAMILA – SPEAKER?

no go want annoy any of them so the best thing was to just ignore and continue to do my business. But people will not let me rest.

Phone calls, emails all asking for my position and that they are waiting patiently for Sunday to read about my position. Well, all these busybodies that are disturbing me, the question now is why are they asking me to comment, don’t they know that me sef dey owe the bank and if I go annoy them, where will I see money to go to Supreme Court go argue my case? Do I even know where this Supreme Court office dey sef? Then all of una wey dey push me will now go and be minding their business. Mbok I no talk anything. Everything I have to say about the matter I have said at the afang summit and the duke’s summit and the only thing I will say here is that this is a total failure in relationship management, consensus building and negotiation. That is all. Both sides must begin to show maturity in their approach to this matter because honest to God the whole financial system can implode if this is not handled well. I didn’t take sides o, I don talk like elder statesman o, make account officer no go dust my file o. Let peace reign.

I trust Herbert na my paddy. But instead of waiting for traffic jam, I jump Okada and entered my Diamond Bank branch on Awolowo Road. My first pleasant surprise was to see this very beautiful girl that used to be with Access on the same road. I have been chasing her but the lady has been very adamant in her refusal to my proposal. I am suspecting that my account balance is a major deterrent. Na her business I no blame her shebi if Atiku had won this small election I for get position. Well, she smiled at me, ‘Mr Edgar morning how can I help you’ I say I want to withdraw. She say how much, I say N1,000 she gave me the form and I withdrew successfully. Mbok and then the alert hit my phone saying N1,000 debit and balance of N15,000. The message came from Access Bank. I was happy and thanked them and went to the Access Bank down the road to pay the N1,000 and the alert came in saying Credit N1,000, balance N16,000. My money complete, the merger has been deemed successful and a note of congratulations is fit at this moment.

Herbert well done, when I met you during my last interview, the one your oga Aig say make you no take me, I knew you were a great man because you did not ask me too many questions, I am sure you were hungry that day but it doesn’t matter I came out of that encounter with a strong positive vibe about your person and where you were going in life. Mbok, if you still have vacancy let me know. Are you looking for Deputy Managing Director? Let me send my CV. Welldone.

personally. He dropped some heavy bombs on me that brought real tears to my eyes. I cry o that day. I prayed for him o and see how my prayers have panned out. I have had a long history with my oga over 15 years. In fact the Fridge wey dey my bedroom na him give me money to buy am. I was his account officer at some point in my career as a stockbroker and in one of the transactions he called to say thank you for the way I had managed his portfolio. Mr. Sule or na Danlami, any one you wan call am is a consummate banker, a professional and one of the very few I truly respect in this market where you have a huge deficit in integrity. I worked with him at NAL Bank and used to admire his approach to work, his easy going way and the fact that he kept an open door.

Recently when I emerged Managing Director of one yeye company and I was given a list of those we were owing upon my resumption, they told me that these are the clients that were about to send us to Golgotha and with trembling hands I scanned the list and saw Mr. Sule’s name. I quickly called him and said, ‘My lord your boy don find job enter trouble o’. He came to see me and told me to calm down and that I should just take the list and work out a repayment plan with everybody starting from him. I fell on him regularly for advice as the storm grew. He was always very receptive and calm not minding that I was not paying him still advising, help calling other creditors and even having meetings with my Board in a bid to get them pay more attention to my situation. So you see why my days of poverty are coming near to its end. Congratulations to my lord of hosts and in his characteristic manner he has refused me organizing a party but that na him problem, I will still go ahead and do something as soon as I get visas for my Brazilian girls, we go party on his behalf.

Welldone and God bless you bro.

Your Excellency I am sorry I have not been able to wish you well since your electoral victory (?). I must confess as a true democrat yes o I am waiting for the end of the electoral appeal by Mr. Atiku before I send my undiluted congratulatory message to you and daddy. I am sure as an erudite scholar you will understand this position and will not mind. However, the thanksgiving service on your helicopter crash is making me have a tiny rethink. You see, God has a way of protecting his people. As my father used to say in the book of Habakuk …. I don forget, no vex anyways we remain eternally grateful to Almighty

These are indeed exciting times. My brother now has finally come full circle: From struggling in his constituency to now pushing for the speakership. He is in the right party and I am sure has the support of the high priest and lord of hosts in Bourdillon so it is assumed that his quest will not be so difficult. My brother mbok, when you finally emerge remember that the position is not for owambe or that kind party you threw the other time that caused rumpus on social media. In fact that attire you wore on that day wey you call Gucci hope you don burn am or donate am to museum? The thing was tacky. Kai. Shame catch me. Any ways, I am sure the role of a Speaker is very clear to you. You have to be above board and stand for freedom, civil justice and the protection of liberties. If you are not for these, better respect yourself and sit down. Because history will not be charitable to a clownish leader. I am telling you, it’s not just to be egged on by madam saying that it is our turn for the fun of it.

It must take a very deep reflection, strong belief in the tenets of democracy and a principled independent presence of mind.

Tenets that I really do not think you possess if we are to take your antecedents into consideration. This is my opinion. Well, what else can we do than to honker down for the next four years and wait for this wind to blow away. But then again, if you emerge, surprise us and let us stand up in surprise after your tenure and say ‘we are sorry, we never believed in you’. You can do it. Anyways, make we wait till you win first. You know me I can be too forward, no vex. Wish you well. Mbok I really need to migrate. I just tire.

INNOSON TRUST BANK Mbok laugh has been catching me all week since this matter broke. I really do not know how to address this issue considering its very sensitive nature. I have friends on both sides and as you can very well tell, the ditches are really deep on either side. So I

HERBERT WIGWE – HOW ABOUT A PARTY? Let me congratulate this suave gentleman for the seamless merger they recently achieved. You know I have N16,000 in my Diamond Bank account and as such I followed this merger very closely.

You cannot blame me. Early on Monday morning, I woke up, did my prayers and spent exactly five minutes of the time praying for Herbert and his team especially that Amobi wey no dey take my calls. I prayed for God’s guidance and continued blessing so that nothing will happen to this process, make I no go hear stories that touch on my N16,000. I cannot cry. After the prayers I wear my cloth, carry my Bible, call my lawyer Dipo Soetan to be on standby. I want go test the merger. As I look my phone, I did not see the mobile app, I did not panic.

ABUBAKAR DANLAMI SULE – SHINE SHINE BOBO My godfather has just been announced the acting Managing Director of Keystone Bank. Na my prayers o. I tell you. Last November I had gone to his office to solicit sponsorship for my play Oba Esugbayi.

My lord did all he could to get his bank to support but somehow it did not pan out and he called me later at night that I should not worry that he would do something

POLICE AGAIN !!!!

They say police anti-cult something

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LOUD WHISPERS

Dr Rueben Abati

have killed another young man o. I don’t have details but the way things are going, it’s looking like if you are faced with a choice between police and armed robbers, you will t likely run to the latter. The way these police people carry out their duties you will begin to ask yourself if we are a conquered people. The other day, their colleague ‘attacked’ me at Ojota and robbed me. It took the intervention of Commissioner of Police Edgal and a very brilliant officer to recover my money and apprehend the culprits. Now for whatever reasons they have snuffed the life from this budding young man who is reported to have just had a baby. Look Mr. Inspector General of Police this has really got to stop. People should learn to start taking responsibility. If this kind of thing will lead to the fall of the IG then I am sure they will sit up. The police cannot be going around like goons for hire and be doing these things. If they continue at this pace then hoodlums will have to retire because there would be nothing for them to do. We do not want to see the pictures of the culprits nor that of the Commissioner of Police going to commiserate with the family, all we want is robust reforms in the force.

The place is overdue abeg. Wetin be this?

NNAMDI KANU – STILL MAKING MOUTH This bobo really amazes me. His mouth ehn, is second to none. The man will say he will single-handedly finish the Nigerian Army, he will decimate the country and turn it into a big bowl of porridge and the very first opportunity he has he will just run away and appear in Israel kissing wall.

Now the court has revoked his bail and rightly so and he is saying he will finish Nigeria if they try it. This guy reminds me of my paddy in Shomolu, Oshi. Oshi can make mouth, he was the best boxer in the whole of Shomolu. He will tell us about his exploits at Oshodi and how with one punch he destroyed the ‘alagbara’ there.

In all of these, it never crossed our minds that nobody has ever seen Oshi in a fight, all was mouth, na so Nnamdi own be, na mouth. Propaganda king! I don tell am to come back, apologise, beg the people he need to beg and contest enter Senate.

With that kind mouth he will do a lot to bring development to his people like Dino is doing. You know see Dino, he dey shout, he dey threaten but he believes in the sanctity of the country and instead of calling for its decimation through nuclear bombs he will be fainting and jumping out of buses while still making his point. I don’t even know why the system is taking this person seriously. They should leave him alone to continue wandering the world, seeking relevance in his quest for a Biafra in Iceland.

He is the least of our problems. Mbok too much talk. Kai.

DR RUEBEN ABATI , CHIKE OGEAH, GABRIEL OGBECHIE CELEBRATE THE DUKE No be me. Who else is the Duke of Shomolu, who else has this kind agbari?

Sense will not kill me. So it’s my 50th this July and I am thinking how I will do this one

Chike Ogeah

Bolanle Austen Peters

Abike Dabiri – Calm Down!

You see, when you jump into matters or areas you are not totally qualified for, you will just be bumbling and tumbling around, causing confusion and complicating matters. Be like this lady never know that diplomacy is a specialized area that involves serious training and order. A political appointment shouldn’t just immediately throw you into the epicenter of the field. So the news of the five Nigerian boys being paraded for allegedly robbing a bureau de change in Dubai has hit us all with the same magnitude of anger. While we were still trying to digest, mummy immediately came out firing. I saw statements reportedly from her, stating categorically that the boys have brought shame to us and will now prompt the UAE authorities to start maltreating Nigerians.

Now this is my problem: the boys have not been convicted and we have not even heard their side. True from the reports, the evidence against them remains overwhelming but then again, they are still suspects. Have we given them consular access, do they have appropriate legal representation and we are now quickly throwing them away? Mbok this kind diplomacy wey mummy dey do na jankara one. The statement if at all should come from the Ministry of foreign affairs if we still have one and not from Special assistant or na Adviser (I know even know

wetin she be sef) on something to the President. The statement should have sounded like this: ‘We have received the news of the arrest of some individuals of perceived Nigerian heritage on an alleged charge of armed robbery.

While we do not condone any form of illegality, we remain very confident that the UAE authorities will treat this case along internationally accepted judicial processes while safeguarding their fundamental human rights.’

So this one wey Aunty don throw out na, na to show these people that these boys although purported criminals are now orphans and as such they are on their own. Na so America dey do? Which better country dey do so? The oyibo man wey kill him Lagos wife, did you see his home country issue that kind statement that now Nigeria will now be maltreating their citizens because of this one man? The pirates who come from all over the world to do things here don’t you see their Embassy people beside them hiring lawyers and ensuring that they are being treated according to international laws? Even Chinese people wey don finish us with substandard goods and all sorts of funny things, I never hear them authorities release this kind statement. Mbok, Mr. Buhari please give mummy Minister of Foreign Affairs once and for all make we rest abeg. I tire.

Collins Chikeluba

to contribute seminal essays to the book and they all graciously agreed. Dr Abati who just came back from Ogun politics where he gleefully contested and won from the back the gubernatorial elections to Hon. Chike Ogeah who is my real egbon in this Lagos even though na only once I chop for him house to Mr. Ogbechie who is a close friend due to the fact that me and Godrey his beautiful wife are very good friends and we once went on an Afang-tasting spree in Lekki. Godrey oya make we go Senator Ita Giwa Afang place that is our next port of call down to my former oga and mentor Mr. Kekere Ekun and Her Beautiful Excellency, Mrs. Onari Duke. This book promises to be a best seller and the launching will be strictly by invitation. So if you don’t get your invite know that you are APC. I dey joke o.

BOLANLE AUSTEN PETERS TAKES SOUTH AFRICA Last Sunday, I was on the phone with this delectable lady. She was briefing me about her sojourn to South Africa where she had taken her play – Fela . The footage I have seen and the commentaries show that she has done us proud. That this lady is talented is no longer news but the way she is breaking barriers and positioning our culture through this vehicle remains quite remarkable, I hope to write a book on her one of these days. She has really tried. I am so looking forward to this Easter’s showing of MOREMI. If you have not seen that play you should go see it. She is miles apart and the rest of us are just jokers in the pack, I tell you.

It is because of her, that I am not throwing up any production this Easter and instead pushing my play, 3SOME, to June, fighting Bolanle at the box office is not a joke. I tried it in December and realized that those who came for me came because they could not get a seat on her show. So this time, I relax I no fit die. Well done mummy.

Thinking of doing a book on you. Will come see you.

COLLINS CHIKELUBA AND THE KOHINOOR

Abike Dabiri

now. Everybody is waiting for me to start spending money wey I no get to do birthday party. You know how people like owambe even the Duchess has started drawing list and discussing with vendors. Me I am just looking at her, not knowing that I have my own plans. I have decided to write my

memoirs and launch it that day. So instead of me spending money I go dey sell the book that day. I cannot come and kill myself in this Buhari’s Nigeria. That is how I have started work on my memoirs, very powerful writings if I must say so myself. So to add more spice I approached these my Egbons

I know this my oga will not like that I am exposing him like this o. But nothing I can do because if you see what he has just dropped at the Lekki/Ikate corridor, you will marvel. The Kohinnor is an Elizabethan themed exquisite den for the savvy and sophisticated professional who is used to the good things of life and much importantly, can afford it. When I walked into the place, I was taken aback by the exquisite surroundings and the careful attention to detail. If you know oga Collins very well you will not be surprised at this.

The man can dress, the man get style and na fine man. He is a Director at Hamilton and George and one of the most gifted serial entrepreneurs in this land. The joint will be opening sometime in April and would be hosting the cast and crew of 3SOME, an epic play written by Canada-based Jude Idada and produced by Olisa Adibua and Alibaba.

We go still dey talk. Nothing dey happen.

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R ˾ APRIL7, Ͱͮͯͷ

PERSONALITY

Homtopua Zaida Dokpesi

Living My Dream, Charting New Paths Her beaming smile, endearing mien and courteous disposition all combine to introduce this consummate entrepreneur. Imbued with a rare sense of determination and devotion, she pushes her talent beyond the limit. Homtopua Zaida Dokpesi – a daughter of the famed media mogul, Dr Raymond Dokpesi. Rather than live in the shadow of her father, Homtopua has charted her own course, made her own name and is living a life not a few dream to have.Funke Olaode, captures her essence and excellence

I

t will be easy to wave off her achievements and industriousness.

Yet, it will be difficult not to pay attention to her story. Her beaming smile, endearing mien and courteous disposition all combine to introduce this consummate entrepreneur. Imbued with a rare sense of determination and devotion, she pushes her talent beyond the limit. Homtopua Zaida Dokpesi – a daughter of the famed media mogul, Dr Raymond Dokpesi. Rather than live in the shadow of her father, Homtopua has charted her own course, made her own name and is living a life not a few dream to have.

Her father, Dokpesi, is credited with redefining Nigeria’s broadcast ecosystem as the first private individual to operate a television station in Africa, AIT. Of course, having a very successful father often put children under pressure to excel as much as their parents or even do better.

Homtopua is not letting down the gauntlet – she has proved to be a multitalented and multitasking young lady that always puts a warm smile on the approving face of father.

Homtopua wears many caps: entrepreneur, accountant, economist, public speaker, author and consultant.

Describing her childhood, Homtopua said: “It was a happy childhood. With a patriarch like my dad, Ezomo of the universe at the helm of affairs, though he was always busy at the time but he was very strict with us as his kids, you knew there were certain things you couldn’t do as there were grave consequences. Even though I pushed the buttons sometimes but I was properly guided.”

Continuing, Homtopua stated, “He made sre wegot the very best to the best of his abilities and I am truly always grateful to him for the sacrifices’ he had to make to ensure we had all that we got.

From my father I have learnt persistence, determination, the zeal to push forward, innovation, to be focused on the prize and not be swayed by the distractions life may throw in your way. He taught me it’s okay to fall time and time again but when you do, you dust yourself and get back on your feet.

“No matter what pressure life may throw at me I have learnt to stay calm. From my mom, I have learnt how to be sacrificial and patience. We still enjoy our childhood.

Holidays are always a blast as there is sure no dull moment as it’s expected in a large family but obviously there are downsides as well but I believe the up moments outweighs the downsides.”

A well-grounded lady with knack for excellence, Homtopua’s early journey began at St. Leo’s Catholic Private School, Ikeja Lagos and divided her secondary education between Igbinedion Education Centre, Benin City, Edo State and Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, Ikeja in Lagos.

She proceeded to Oxbridge College, Ikeja Lagos for her A-Levels and later headed back to Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo state where she bagged a first degree in Accounting and master’s in International Business Economics from University of Westminster, Marylebone Campus, and London, United Kingdom.

As a child, Homtopua wanted to become a cardiologist because her dad had heart-related issues at the time so she wanted to be the knight in shining armour that would make everything okay. But as she grew older, she switched to becoming a Petrol Chemical Engineer but unfortunately Igbinedion University at the time wasn’t

Dokpesi

offering the course (and her dad insisted she did her first degree here in Nigeria).

Then accounting was her next option.

As her horizon broadened, Homtopua dreamt of an amazing future as an investment banker with JP Morgan, who worked until she was 30; then retired, got married, started a family and lived happily ever after.

“I am that individual who gets bored very easily so I noticed today I would feel like working on TV, tomorrow I feel it’s radio; next tomorrow I would want to be in space but with my creativity, I knew no limits. I never get bored when I am either in my creative space writing or creating pieces with my hands or thinking about other new ideas I had. I am comfortable in my skin and I did a thorough analysis of my person: my weakness, my strengths, my opportunities and my environment. At that point I decided to jump head long into the entrepreneurial world,” she admitted.

Her foray into the entrepreneurial world started as far back as when she was a teenager travelling on holidays, buying things and selling out of the boot of her car. As a youth corps member, she travelled, “bought work clothes as I had a lot of friends who were serving and always wanted to keep up with fashion trends”.

“I would willingly supply their needs.

I also had a network in Banex Plaza once there is a new model of blackberry out I get it first and distribute it through my network. I also gambled in producing ice block which is needed greatly by the artisan women who sell kunu and soft drinks,” Homtopua added.

Having discovered where her passion lies, Homtopua pushed herself further and explore her hidden talent in fashion. She throws more light on this.

“My journey into the world of fashion came as a result of an opportunity meeting

a need, and I was fortunate at the time to recognize the opportunity and I took advantage of it with both hands and turned it into a business that gave me and still gives me accolades, awards, opportunity to grace runways both locally and internationally and recognition in cash and kind way beyond my imagination. I started off with the clothes made with ankara, I diversified to heels, flats, slippers, sandals, clutches, bags, suitcases, umbrellas and that was in 2012 when the market was not as saturated as it is today.

“In 2013, I launched my cupcake and Zaida’s cougar milk which I would deliver to a lot of offices at lunchtime. In 2014, I launched a kid’s line, ‘kids by k’, for my son, which is being carried in stores in the UK, USA and Dubai. And I also started managing his modelling career. He is signed to top kids in the UK and WildChild Magazine in USA. In 2015, I launched my fragrance line which includes eau de toilette, body oil, scented candles and portable roll on buttons. In 2016, I wrote my very first motivational memoir and my first work of fiction, ‘Caramel Rush’. It’s on sale as eBook on Amazon stores worldwide and it’s doing well. Hard copies are sold in selected stores here in Nigeria.

“In 2017, I launched my Ankara Sneakers line at the Nigeria Culture Week, Finland and it was well received as it was an opportunity for the Finnish community to embrace our art, culture and fashion. In 2018, I launched my kids care line which includes the raspy van body wash, raspy van body polish and the chamomile body lotion leaves your kids’ skin baby fresh and baby bottom smooth. In 2019, I have just recently launched my handmade bags range, ‘Orimimasun’. And I have also just partnered a United States based Exchange to create a Cryptocurrency exchange that converts TBC (the billion coin) into bitcoin,”

the serial entrepreneur explained.

Coming from a household name like Dokpesi tends to create burden of expectations. Are there times Homtopua is under pressure?

“Oh yes! The burden of expectations from being a daughter of Raymond Dokpesi usually comes in different forms,” she readily agreed. “I remember when I was featured on ‘Young Boss’, a programme on NTA Network, I had a lot of feedback from people saying when they saw the interview coming up they believed the only reason I merited the interview was because I was a Dokpesi not because I had any substance inside of me but as they continued watching, they realised there was much more to me than just being a Dokpesi.

“There are those who believe you have a money tree planted at the backyard of your house once you scream out money it pours out. I have learnt over time to manage people’s expectations so I don’t let it get to me to put me under any sort of pressure.”

A kind-hearted young lady, couple of years back, Homtopua, a single mom started a non-governmental organization that caters for widows and single moms.

What prompted the move? Does it have to do with her circumstance?

“Not really,” she said. “I started running the NGO way before I even dreamt of being an active member of single motherhood. I had always mentored young girls between the ages of 18 to 25 years old and tried in my own capacity to empower widows who had been left to their own recourse on the death of their husbands. I run Zaida’s series on my blog that celebrates ‘mompreneurs’.

I use that as a medium to motivate young women and also to teach those interested in going into various industries the first hand information they may never have gotten. I volunteer in-workshops to teach teenagers how to be financially independent by using skills. I pass on to create jobs for themselves no matter how little they are.

“The spark to cater to single moms was lit on a certain day I had gone for my grocery shopping and I met a woman in tears with a baby on her back begging not for money but for baby food to be bought for her baby and the one she wanted was N1,000 at the time.

That caused a lot of ripples in my heart so I decided at that point to help as many women as I could with my little funds at my disposal.

I have a firm belief that indeed there are blessings from God when you raise and take care of a child and Almighty God who sees you doing in secret would reward you in the open.”

While she wouldn’t want to dive into her private life, Homtopua said her heart is not totally closed to loving again.

“Does a throat go thirsty because it has to deal with hiccups? Does a heart stop longing for love because it was betrayed by the one whom it trusted? My heart is always open to love again and again but just maybe this time my love won’t be blind it would wear glasses. I have learnt not to have regrets on what should have been. Instead I focus my time on recreating my future to what I would want it to be,” she philosophised.

As she forges ahead in creating more opportunities and becoming more successful, Homtopua has a desire: “As a successful businesswoman, my staying power is my desire and determination to achieve success by hard work, passion and persistence not just for myself but for every woman born into this maledominated part of the world.”

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

A REFRESHING TAKE ON OLA ROTIMI'S 1977 PLAY PAGE 71

07.04.2019

THE DIDI MUSEUMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S JOURNEY TO MASTERY Uzoatu with Jibunoh

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 ˾ APRIL 7, 2019

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ARTS & REVIEW\\EXHIBITION

THE DIDI MUSEUM’S JOURNEY TO MASTERY From very modest beginnings, Didi Museum in Victoria Island has turned out to become one of the most reputable art spaces in Lagos, Uzor Maxim Uzoatu writes

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egendary institutions almost always start from very trivial incidents. As a child, Newton Jibunoh had a much adored younger sister named Edith.

In his stammering, the young Newton could not get to grips with pronouncing the name Edith. What always came out of Newton’s mouth while trying to call his sister Edith was the word “Didi”. Soon, everybody else started calling her Didi!

Hence, the monumental Didi Museum, which stands on 175 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, owes its birth to Newton’s mispronunciation of Edith as Didi!

Take it from me because I am not a dispenser of Fake News!

The story of the roots of Didi Museum may be long but I can cut it all short because I heard the heart of the matter from the horse’s mouth, that is, the very personable Chief Newton Chukwukadibia Jibunoh – “building engineer, desert adventurer, environmental crusader, art collector, museum owner, social activist”, and above all else, a “desert warrior.”

Born on New Year’s Day in 1938 in the pastoral town of Akwukwu-Igbo in presentday Delta State, Newton doted on his sister Edith until the kids lost their parents quite early, within months of each other, in 1943.

Their mother, Zipporah, died first, only to be followed soon after by their father, Samuel, with Newton really having no clear memories and impressions of them.

While in secondary school, Newton suddenly got a message that the principal needed to see him. The young boy was very afraid that he may have committed an offence, as that could only have necessitated the summons of the school principal. He was frightened beyond words when he met the principal. The message the principal had for Newton was quite devastating: his beloved sister, Edith, had died, aged just 13.

Edith was born on May 11, 1941 and died in May 1954. Newton would later ask to know where her sister was buried, but nobody could tell him that.

Newton Jibunoh set up Didi Museum to immortalise her sister Edith whom he used to call Didi. The other dimension of the young Newton’s immersion in art started when as a choir boy he used to accompany the white missionaries and their acolytes in the mission of burning native idols. A precocious lad, he discovered that the missionaries did not always burn all the gathered idols and deities. They

Jibunoh, Ado Bayero, Sijuwade, Erediauwa (1)

kept some aside, which they took away.

It was in the course of his studies and travels abroad that he discovered that the idols carted away back then had found accommodation in the British Museum!

Newton Jibunoh decided to be going to the villages to be collecting the idols as artworks. The range of such iconic artworks collected from the 1960s to today can serve as a befitting testament to Nigeria’s very first private museum, Didi Museum.

Newton Jibunoh inspires in the company of royalty as the late Emir of Kano Ado Bayero, Ooni of Ife Sijuwade and Oba of Benin Erediauwa helped lift the Didi Museum innovation.

Legendary Nigerian artists, notably Ben Enwonwu, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Solomon Wangboje, Demas Nwoko, Yusuf Grillo, Uche Okeke etc, have passed on the baton of brushes to the younger ones such that Didi Museum is significantly hosting the new generation artists, Uche Edochie and Ayoola, in a pivotal exhibition entitled Journey to Mastery which opens at 5pm on April 18 and closes on April 27.

The Journey to Mastery exhibition lends pride of place to Didi Museum as the quintessential one-stop home of Nigerian art.

The United States-based modern master Olu

Oguibe has just sent a message to me in regard to Newton Jibunoh who “gave me my first one-person exhibition. Say hello for me.”

Newton Jibunoh is fond of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s twice-told story of how the first visiting white men gave out Bibles and asked Africans to close their eyes for prayers, whereupon after opening their eyes they found out that their lands and belongings were gone.

Jibunoh was in the team drafted to go to Britain to help retrieve Nigeria’s artworks before FESTAC 77. Of course, the British authorities stated that Nigerians could not take care of the works that had earlier been taken from their land.

With the refusal of the British to hand over the works for the FESTAC colloquium, Jibunoh went to the Oba of Benin, who told him of the artworks hidden in Isele-Uku. The Obi of Isele-Uku in the end gave Jibunoh the needed replica.

Jibunoh laments in hindsight that the British authorities may indeed be right in not releasing the artefacts, because the works domiciled in Nigeria’s National Museum

have since been destroyed!

Towards the cause of righting the wrongs, the Oba of Benin wants Jibunoh to set up a worldclass museum in Benin City.

Jibunoh is at liberty in giving out his collected works freely to be exhibited across the globe, for instance, in the branches of a Nigerian bank in the UK. “Artworks must be exhibited, not dumped,” he asserts.

He reveals that the climate control system put in place in Didi Museum is not enough to preserve all the works.

The fulfilment of his drive comes in the realisation that he helped to end the fad back then of decorating Nigerian house with European lilies and landscapes. Artworks are now the rage.

The new age artists, Uche Edochie and Ayoola, mounting the Journey to Mastery exhibition at Didi Museum from April 18 to 27 are on the cherished trove of extending a compelling tradition.

The dream that started out with the young Newton calling his younger sister Didi has in the end turned out a full-blown revolution in the world of art.

––Uzoatu writes from Lagos

DRAMA

Realism in The Wives' Revolt’s Scenic Design Yinka Olatunbosun

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small community in the NigerDelta was recreated on stage recently when theAfrican Radio DramaAssociation (ARDA) staged J. P. Clark's classic play, The Wives' Revolt at theAgip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan.

The first attraction for theatre audience was the set design and its nearness to the fictitious locale. The stage floor was sand-filled, yellow jerry cans were arranged against the wall which was created using a wall paper with clay structure, quite typical of a village setting. Rusty iron-roofing sheets were lit underneath by the naked single bulbs while a big blue water drum was placed downstage.A pile of bricks facing each other formed the cooking stand for the life-size aluminium pot, stoked by charcoal. These technical details, for which AyobamiAribisala has credit as the technical director, created the ambience for the story of women revolution embedded in the plot.

An oil-company offered a pay out to a host community.According to the directives from the community leader, the money was to be shared into three parts; for the elders, men and women.

Since the elders are all men, it means they have

A scene from the production the two-thirds of the money.As though that was not enough, Okoro made the proclamation banning the rearing of goats. Women are the goat keepers in the community thus they considered the law as very obnoxious and discriminatory.

The women mobilised against their husbands to ask for these decrees to be reversed to show gender balance. They deserted their homes, leaving their

husbands with the children and home to manage.

Dialogue played a very crucial role in the Wives' Revolt. While this may have been matched by spontaneous stage business, the verbal exchange between Okoro and his wife, Koko (Zara Udofia-Ejoh) unearthed the core issues that constituted the conflict of the drama namely the quest for gender balance. From the character of Koko, it is clear that the women are not seeking to be co-pilots in their homes as they still kneel down to serve food to their husbands.

But, the women did not want to be treated as if there are less than humans, devoid of feelings.

Their protest almost hit the rocks when they returned with afflictions from a rival community.

In the end, the decree was reversed and women were free to keep goats.

The use of follow-spot for the character of Okoro communicated the singularity of opinion, the one-sided nature of the laws of the land.

An intriguing part of the play was the baby backing scene. The baby's crying vocals were well-managed such that it never distracted the audience from enjoying the conversations on stage.

Microphones were not used in the production directed by ToritsejuAkiya Ejoh as this returned

the play to the traditional theatre practice where the stage voice is a primary factor for casting. Okoro (Toyin Oshinaike) is without a doubt one of the best in acting. But his voice, which is naturally hoarse textured, seemed to be strained in spite of his effort at projecting his lines. Idama (AlbertAkaeze) has a reverberating stage voice and it is quite ironical than he plays a supporting role, with speech relatively slower, almost placatory.

Folk songs added some ethnic tone to the performance as they were carefully arranged by the music director, Deborah Ohiri, a finalist on the music reality show, Project Fame Season 8.

The show ended with remarks from the Executive Director,ARDA,Alison Data Photo who said the play marked the end of the International Women's History Month. “ARDA's goal is to promote sustainable development with culturally competent, audience-centric communication methodologies that address root causes of the most pressing issues and proffer workable solutions.

We have chosen to stage ‘The Wives’ Revolt’ because its themes of gender equality and women’s participation in decision-making are still important.

The play is a thoughtful vision of a better and more equal society for all by none other than the third leg of the troops of the founding fathers of Nigerian literature.”

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ARTS & REVIEW\\ DRAMA

Another scene from the play

A REFRESHING TAKE ON OLA ROTIMI'S 1977 PLAY Yinka Olatunbosun

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heatre buffs thronged to the Terra Arena in Victoria Island, Lagos last Sunday. At this home of theatre performances, Ola Rotimi’s Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again was being staged for the second week running. The play, which was first published in 1977, was served with some thematic freshness against the sociological context of the current political climate in the country.

Starring Nigeria's contemporary theatre poster boy, Patrick Diabuah in the lead role of Major Lejoka-Brown, the plot is just as it was: an ex-military major veering into politics in the era of democracy. With the campaign ambition of “surprise and attack", Lejoka-Brown is caught in his own web. He has formed marital alliances with three women. Only Lizzie, whom he met as a soldier fighting in Congo is his legal wife.

Mama Rashida was the wife of his late brother whom he inherited according to tradition. Sikira, the extremely vocal wife has a very influential mother who is the President, National Union of Nigerian Market Women.

In the comical play, Lejoka-Brown is a clever politician. Putting aside his battle with his party, he is plunged into the domestic drama of Lizzie arriving in Nigeria on short notice. Lizzie has just completed her medical studies in the US but is oblivious of her husband’s other wife. On arrival,

she takes the other wives for her husband's domestic staff but meets with coldness from Sikira, who boasts of high cumulative frequency of sexual encounters with Lejoka-Brown just to make Lizzie jealous.

Lizzie comes to the Lejoka-Brown’s household with some feminist nonchalance. She takes the liberty to dress as it suits her, speak without restraint and play with her husband as though they are equals. Lejoka-Brown’s willingness to assert his patriarchal authority in his household is met with Lizzie’s wall of defence. Sikira who is desperate to earn the status of respect as Lizzie blatantly tells her husband that they are equals. Apparently, Sikira takes her feminism too far with bitter confrontation. Unable to manage the ensuing anger in Lejoka-Brown, Sikira decides to leave. When his fallout with his political party becomes news, Mama Rashida also leaves. His political disaster is linked to his marital squabble with Sikira and his macho treatment of other women in the party. Lizzie eventually has her husband to herself.

As for the Mosaic Theatre Production of Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again last weekend, there was a conscious attempt to stay committed to the 42-year old script. Performed to a three-quarter filled auditorium, the play has just two settings namely Lejoka-Brown’s home and the political party secretariat. The electronic backdrop was the alibi for the undetailed set design which typically should have a portrait of Lejoka-Brown or national emblem

like a national flag. Instead, the electronic backdrop was super-imposed on the real set design and it made one of them seem unnecessary.

Audience scrutiny of Lizzie’s characterisation was quite palpable in the auditorium. The young actress made a gracious outing on stage with her ingenious subtlety, moderating her emotions even in the case of outbursts. On the contrast, Lejoka-Brown was overtly dramatic, assuming the burden of bearing all the energy on stage. His Yoruba intonation was impeccable, a major milestone for a non-Yoruba actor who is associated with elevated roles of actor-singer in popular musicals such as Kakadu and Saro. Sikira fell for the temptation to be as melodramatic as her husband. Polycarp (Omololu Shodiya)’s character was a bit overcooked. He stalls to an annoying degree.

Lasting one hundred minutes, the play’s scene transition was incredibly slow, allowing music to be played to kill time. The duration of the play could have been less if the pace is well-timed and some elaborate dialogues are trimmed.

Agozie Ugwu, the producer-director of the play, drew a close to the curtain call by telling the audience about pending productions.

“I thank you all for coming. Without you, there is no theatre. This show is still coming next week Sunday. Please tweet about it and invite your friends.

Later in the year, we have shows in Abuja. We have some theatre for development in IDP camps to train and empower the vulnerable. We want to train them on acting, costume and make-up,” he said to a cheering audience.

ART PEOPLE

THEO LAWSON: The Master Art Space Creator at 60

Yinka Olatunbosun

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he story of unconventional spaces for art in Lagos is incomplete without the mention of Theo Lawson, an architect and long time partner to Yeni Anikulapo Kuti, the first child of the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Lawson became a household name in the art world when he began creating the extraordinary from the ordinary.

He reconstructed the Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s former residence at Gbemisola Street, Ikeja to a museum and a former colonial prison on Broad Street Lagos to a recreational cum creative hub known as the

Freedom Park.

At the just concluded IREP International Documentary Film Festival in Lagos , Lawson was honoured for the legacy that he lives and the ones he would leave. Interestingly, Lawson had a strong pedigree. His great-grand uncle was said to have been an Assistant Colonial Surveyor.

Furnished with Togolese ancestry, Lawson grew up as a Lagos boy. He was educated at the Igbobi College after which he went to study architecture in London.

London life was a sharp contrast to his Lagos life. He seemed bored with the methodology at school and wanted to explore his natural drawing skills. He found solace in Fela's music and later returned to Nigeria after which he served in Jos. Jos pro-

vided him with the rich visual depth he needed to whet his creativity. He lived there for five years, married with two children. The worrisome ethnic cleansing in Jos forced him to return to Lagos.

“You can’t help but be creative in Nigeria. You have to create your own opportunities. We had conceived Freedom Park since 1999. Someone just helped me mention it to Fashola about ten years later,” he said.

Lawson had also designed the tomb of Fela at his former residence with a touch of mosaic appeal. He also built Motherlan’, a creative hub that was famous for the shows of the afro-centric music sensation, Lagbaja which was his first major work in Lagos for the arts community.

Lawson

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APRIL 7, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

with RenoOmokri THE ALTERNATIVE Z a m f a r a Vo t e d f o r N e x t L e v e l , New Zealand and Jordan Did Not

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andits killed 50 Nigerians on Thursday April 5, 2019.

24 hours later, there was a loud silence from President Muhammadu Buhari. Not a word of condolence or comfort to the people of Zamfara. However, when a terrorist killed 49 people in New Zealand, within 4 hours the same Buhari was crying more than the bereaved. How can the world value your people if you as President does not value them? The funniest thing is that Zamfara voted for #NextLevel and New Zealand did not.

The recurring deaths in Zamfara have become too worrisome for comfort. A true leader would have gone there by now to perform an on the spot assessment of the situation to understand what he could do to put an end to the bloodshed of innocents.

On April 2, 2019, the media reported another set of Nigerians killed by bandits in Zamfara. The figure was put at 40. I waited in vain for President Buhari to say or do something and I saw a glimmer of hope when the Presidency announced that it would be issuing a statement. I waited with baited breath for the statement and then it finally came. The Presidency announced that President Muhammadu Buhari would be flying out on April 4th to visit Amman to honour an invitation by King Abdullah II bin AlHussein of Jordan to participate in the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa holding at the Dead Sea, Jordan.

Nigeria is not even part North Africa. Would King Abdullah II of Jordan visit Nigeria for an African Union summit a day or two after bandits had slaughtered even 10 Jordanians? I very much think not. But here we have President Buhari off to Jordan two days after bandits slaughtered almost 50 people in Zamfara. Does Nigeria even have a government?

What we have is just an old stone aged despot who cares only about himself and his family such that he can run to London at the slightest medical issue and do same for his son, but will not be bothered to even condole, talk less of visiting Zamfara when more than a 100 Nigerians are killed within a week.

When Obasanjo was President, tens of people were killed in clashes between Muslims and Christians and within days, President Obasanjo visited Plateau state on Wednesday May 12, 2004 and he refused to take sides with either Christians or Muslims. He sided with peace and justice.

When he was confronted by the Plateau state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, on why he visited only when Muslims were killed, Mr. Obasanjo retorted as follows: “What role have you played to bring about peace as CAN chairman in Plateau State? CAN, my foot! What kind of CAN chairman are you? Did your own Christianity teach you about revenge? You are an idiot. A total idiot. And I have no apologies for that”.

President Obasanjo then went on to visit all the crisis zones and a week later, he imposed a state of emergency in Plateau state,

Yari removed the governor, brought in a General and restored peace almost overnight. When you compare Obasanjo’s handling of Plateau to Buhari’s handling of Zamfara, you immediately see that Obasanjo was a President Buhari can NEVER hope to be!

For all pre 2015 talk of Buhari being a strong man who would deal with insecurity with an iron hand, the reality in Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Benue and the Northeast in the last four years has proven that Buhari is just a mere quota system general promoted above his competencies and as lily livered as a chicken shooed away by a fox!

Look at his policy of releasing repentant Boko Haram members, look at how his own Inspector General of Police publicly and flagrantly disobeyed his orders to relocate to Benue within 24 hours after the killings of last year, look at how his own home state of Katsina is now under the control of kidnappers, observe how cheap human life has become in Kaduna, his adopted home state.

There is no area in the security arena where President Buhari has outperformed his predecessors. In Proverbs 25:14, The Bible says “Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given.” That verse could very well have been written specifically for President Buhari.

How would the President feel at the summit if King Abdullah II asks him about those killed in Zamfara? The King would never respect Buhari because he knows that a man who loves outsiders more than his own people is obviously a man with a self loathing inferiority complex and such men are unreliable as allies. The other

participants at the summit would smirk at Buhari behind his back as a man who is touring while his people are dying.

Sadly, Muhammadu Buhari does not even place any store by the domestic media. He is notoriously taciturn at home. But as soon as he travels abroad and sees an ‘oyinbo’ he gets carried away and starts blabbing like a gossipy school girl. The President makes it almost impossible to respect him.

Even his wife does not respect him. The man is a fluke. He is an orange without juice, a gun without bullets, a renovated spray painted car without a serviceable engine. He looks fine from far, but he is far from fine. A scourge on Nigeria. A plague on the nation. If all of Nigeria is afraid to tell the emperor that he is naked, Reno Omokri will not be one of those people. This emperor is beyond naked. He is stark, raving naked, to his shame, and unfortunately, to ours!

Let me just say to the people of Zamfara state that as much as I would love to say I told you so (because you voted for a man who cannot be bothered to even notice when over a hundred of you are killed within a week), may almighty God send you a helper. And may it be soon.

Let me end by saying that if President Buhari treats Zamfara, a state that allegedly voted for him in a landslide, what hopes do states like Adamawa, Oyo and Rivers have? If you treat your admirers so shabbily, how will you treat those that don’t admire you?

Reno’s Darts

What a humiliating experience for the Judas of our time, Rotimi Amaechi. Defeated in his own LGA! The Rivers election confirms once and for all that no matter the amount of protein a lizard eats, it can NEVER be a crocodile. Federal might CANT transform potbelly to pregnancy. A worm can consume as much supplements as it wants, but it will never transform into a snake.

The blood of your own people that the soldiers you brought killed still cries out to God. Lizard of Ubima #AmaechiTapes

Reno’s Nuggets

From today, I will combine my #RenosNuggets with the hashtag #FreeLeahSharibu until Leah is freed. Pray for Leah. The closest journalist to Boko Haram told me he feared she’d been killed. I prayed and a week later, Boko Haram released a proof of life video. Prayers work! Even if you think you can’t do anything to help get Leah freed, just believe that she will be free. It may look small, but it is a lot!

Reno Omokri (For Dr. Goodluck Jonathan)

Thinker. #1 Bestselling author of Facts V Fiction: True Story of GEJ Years. Avid traveler. Table Shaker. Buhari Tormentor. Sharer of the Gospel, not the gossip.

PERSPECTIVE

Ambode: The Shape of Hope to Come Gbenga Ogunjinmi

The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done… Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), 26th president of the United States of America.

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radually, Nigerians are being led into the new world in which they would live under the second coming of President Muhammadu Buhari. Everyday since he was reelected, he has unveiled in bits what his encore presidency would look like.

He opened a chink shortly after the result of the February 23 ballot was announced. Buhari said he would run an ‘inclusive’ administration where all stakeholders would be accommodated. Days after, he widened the aperture, telling us what was in the offing: only men and women of integrity would make his cabinet.

Then in the closing week of March, he dropped more hints: he said he would put in all effort to ensure the best for Nigeria and Ambode her citizens when his second term begins on May 29, 2019. His no blemish. Nor do they have a baggage of scandals that slows words:” I assure you I will do my best during the second term. down governance. Still more: they must be on the same page We will work for Nigeria and her people.’’ each step of the way with the leader of government and other When leaders publicly make such solemn declarations, strategic functionaries of the system. they assume the aura and force of covenants or contracts that If truly we want Nigeria to move into the ‘next level’ of must be redeemed or honoured. You can’t break them for the greatness, the mantra the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, sake of your integrity and good name. Now running such waved before us to win the presidential ballot, then we must go an ‘impeccable’ administration in the interest of the people as for such men in the next government. All over the country, we Buhari is planning simply implies you populate your governcan locate them, not requiring a trip to Mars or some other outer ment with ‘good’ men and women,as the 26th US president planet. counsels above. They must be tested citizens whose past bears

One personality that easily springs up to meet these qualifications is Akinwunmi Ambode, the Governor of Lagos, who has been described superlatively as the ‘Governor General of Nigeria’. After a survey of the transcendent achievements of Ambode in all areas of performance in the economic powerhouse of Nigeria, Rauf Aregbesola, himself then a governor in Osun State, turned in the verdict that indeed Ambode is first among equals.

Receiving Ambode in his office in Osogbo, the state capital, Aregbesola said:’’ I recognize the Governor of Lagos State who by my own assessment is the Governor General of Nigeria. I say so for a very good reason. It is not a question of age of the occupant of that office or his tenure. It is simply an attestation to the fact that the economy of Lagos (under the guidance of Ambode) is about the summation of the economies of thirty states in Nigeria. One will be deceiving himself not to recognize that fact.’’ Aregbesola went on to ascribe the feat to what he called the ‘brilliant performance’ of Ambode.

Observers have said that Aregbesola only alluded to a national feat by Ambode. They assert that Ambode’s era has also earned Nigeria a positive place in contemporary annals, which put Lagos as the fifth largest economy in Africa. This makes it bigger than Cote d’Ivoire and Kenya, two of the continent’s most promising economies. Neighbouring Ghana, reputed to be one of Africa’s poster nations in national growth rates, also falls behind Lagos in the Ambode dispensation.

At the higher federal plane, the country can do with the wand Ambode deployed to give Lagos this facelift, now that President Buhari is shopping for a fresh and dynamic engine to take the country to the next level.

––––Ogunjinmi, a lawyer wrote in from Surulere, Lagos (Reader should See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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CICERO

Editor:Olawale Olaleye Email:wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com, SMS: 08116759819

IN THE ARENA

The Parliament Is Irrepressible!

The current attempt by the APC leadership to muscle the incoming ninth senate over the choice of her leadership might boomerang, writes Olawale Olaleye

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ince it was established the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) commands majority seats in both chambers of the National Assembly, its leadership has carried on as if that one feat was the only means to an end it desperately desires – issuing orders to grown men as if they were some high school students.

Between the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole and the self-styled national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, whose love for self than the country is bewildering, they have both held the party by the jugular in a manner that is not only less than noble, but suggests ulterior intentions of holding down the nucleus of the APC to fester personal agenda.

Curiously, their very valid reason for traveling such ignoble route was allegedly because of the need to prevent a reoccurrence of their 2015 experience. They have consistently arrogated some of the evident but avoidable failure of the current administration of Muhammadu Buhari to the non-cooperation of the National Assembly, the senate in particular. They reckoned things could have been significantly different had they pushed through their own agenda of determining who headed which chamber of the bicameral legislature.

Unfortunately, whilst they have yet to take their time to evaluate some of the factors that could have paved the way for the internal rebellion that gave rise to the emergence of the National Assembly leadership in 2015, which obviously took its root in 2011 alteration of the PDP structure for the National Assembly leadership of which they played a key role, they have begun to Saraki and Dogara...coming together to protect the parliament. make the exact same mistake, believed to In the senate, for example, there had been Evan(s) have galvanised the coming to office of the outgoing Enwerem, Chuba Okadigbo, Anyim Pius Anyim, structure through the unanimity of the parliamenAdolphus Wabara, Ken Nnamani, David Mark and tarians. now Bukola Saraki. Also, in the House, from Salisu Of the three arms of government, the legislature Buhari, it had produced others like Ghali Umar is especially notorious for its demands for indepenNa’Abba, Aminu Bello Masari, Patricia Etteh Dimeji dence. Not only is it conscious of the importance of Bankole, Aminu Tambuwal and the outgoing, the separation of powers, it is not oblivious of the Yakubu Dogara. pivotal value-adding functions of the checks and A majority of these leaders lost their position to balances that exist amongst the three independent the intrigues and fight for independence as well as arms. executive domination and in other instances, some Sadly, the executive sees and recognises the of them being framed for offences that were later structure differently. It would rather other partner quashed by the courts, many years after, as untrue. arms of government were subservient to it since the The takeaway from this is that the parliament cash domiciles with it. Therefore, while it is believed remains irrepressible and would always resist to have successfully intimidated and subdued the external control of its affairs. Indeed, the leadership judiciary albeit through its (judiciary) own cooperaof the party and the presidency could still have their tion, the legislature remains adamant, this being way by indulging in some high wire horse-trading the factor solely responsible for the constant friction and lobbying effectively to get a buy-in for their between the two. choice candidates.

Casting your mind back to the advent of the In any case, the individuals they seek to lead Fourth Republic in 1999, every attempt to subjugate the legislature are part of them, why not take a the legislature had always resurrected the ‘monster’ back seat, design the strategy and delegate the foot in the lawmakers and in such circumstances, convinced and determined to establish its independence. soldiers to deliver on the assignment and the result would have been achieved with the party leadership This is why between 1999 and now, each of the two walking away with its shoulders still very high? chambers of the National Assembly had produced But the condescending approach by Tinubu, seven leaderships respectively.

Oshiomhole and their partners in the take-it-byforce movement is usually met with reproach by the lawmakers and the determination to assert themselves as the decider of their own fate is therefore reinforced.

Ordering them in a particular way as though they are secondary school pupils or dishing out orders or asking them to leave the party as if they had no stakes whatsoever is the biggest mistake any political leader, supposedly with emotional intelligence, could make in this circumstance.

Perhaps, there is still time to make things right.

June is still a long time – long good enough to alter the current equation and dynamics. It is also still sufficient to completely unsettle the apple cart as it were. But to arrive at the first option, the leadership of the APC under whatever guise must understand and appreciate the fact that the parliament is irrepressible and to have their way, they must play their card and not the selfishly orchestrated plan of a few to seize control, beyond the current mandate that is even yet to take off.

Above all, if there’s anything disturbing in all of this, it is in the knowing that the party leadership has learnt nothing from the recent past and is yet doing things the same way that failed it in the past and expecting a different outcome. That, clearly, may yet be in a world unknown to history.

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

P

Olusola...PDP candidate

Is Eleka Still in Doubt?

enultimate week, the Court of Appeal, Abuja, dismissed a petition by the candidate of the PDP in the Ekiti State governorship election, Professor Olusola Kolapo, challenging the emergence of Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the election. A three-member panel of the court, led by Steven Adah, ruled that the January 28 decision of the election tribunal, which had first affirmed Fayemi’s election, was meritorious and therefore dismissed Kolapo’s appeal for lack of merit.

With the Appellate decision, Eleka and his party has also lost all the seats in contention, leaving the PDP more

devastated than it was before the Appeal. But the truth is that the Ekiti governorship election was though not perfect as is the case with every election, it however conveniently passed the minimum test of a free, fair and credible election. This is why the Ekiti matter is in no way comparable to the robbery that typified the Osun election, which held a couple of months after it.

Indeed, it would only take a criminal judiciary to pass the heist in Osun. But for the Ekiti election, it appears more like a no-case scenario and the earlier Eleka and the PDP realise this and move on without wasting further resources at the Supreme Court, the better for them. The Ekiti election was a clean, modest win and could stand judicial scrutiny.

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BRIEFINGNOTES

How INEC Failed to Build on 2015 Success INEC’s delivery of the 2019 elections is a colossal disaster, writes Olawale Olaleye

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f the performance postings of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the February 23 and March 9 elections were a testament to the level of incompetence at the commission’s leadership, those that followed as supplementary exercise were simply the capping of her gross yet inexplicable disappointment in the discharge of a critical national assignment.

For a commission that knew of this assignment four years ago and was handed without hesitation all that was needed for a successful delivery, what the INEC under Professor Mahmood Yakubu had posted since he came onboard as chair had been totally short of expectations, compounded lately by the disaster called the 2019 national elections.

It is pertinent to note that the commission had since 1998, when it was set up by former military ruler, Abdusalami Abubakar, witnessed some sort of progression in spite of her wobbly and disappointing start. But it has never had it this disconcerting.

When General Abubakar established INEC with Justice Ephraim Akpata as its first chairman, the late INEC boss had only 26 political parties to deal with, which was eventually pruned down to three parties PDP, AD and APP. Akpata’s headship of INEC drew criticisms in the wake of the 1999 elections and for obvious reasons. But it was excusable because it was the truly learning step.

He, however, died in January of 2000, which thus paved the way for the appointment of Abel Guobadia, who was responsible for the 2003 elections. His less than impressive efforts were overwhelmed by criticisms as the elections of 2003 were allegedly marred by widespread violence and other irregularities.

Guobadia retired in June of 2005 and was succeeded by Professor Maurice Iwu. The outcome of the 2007 elections earned Iwu damaging condemnations, a development that the major beneficiary of the election, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua confirmed and promised to address through reforms. But his passing won’t let him.

This however forced his successor, President Goodluck Jonathan to pander to public opinion and Yakubu...a crushing disappointment replaced Iwu with Professor Attahiru Jega in 2010.

Unlike his predecessors, reactions to the choice of Jega blame anyone for his failings even though he was quick to especially that his choice followed wide consultations, were claim his glory too. generally positive and across the board, except for a few His five-year reign ended on June 30, 2015, and though dissenters. he was qualified for re-appointment, the chances of such Although Jega’s performance during the 2015 elections became dim given the allegations of bias against him by naturally attracted some criticisms, he was seen to have camp of President Jonathan, in addition to the fact that he made conscious efforts to improve on the mistakes of his too declined to seek renewal of appointment for personal many predecessors and those that typified his early days at reasons. But on a scale of one to ten, Jega posted above the commission. average and could post seven from ten.

The 2015 elections were by far a gladdening improvement His refusal to seek renewal of appointment paved the way from what had been the pattern at the commission since for Professor Mahmood Yakubu, a man whose appointment 1998 that INEC was set up. Jega made himself the challenge as INEC chair was alleged to have been suggested by an and was determined to surpass his own record, counting age-old photographer of President Muhammadu Buhari and from the staggered elections he dealt with before the main evidently not on merit.

2015 polls. He also introduced a handful of reforms, which From the time he assumed office, Yakubu left no one in projected a better tomorrow for the electoral system. Jega doubt that he was the least qualified for the humongous task was not infallible, but he took responsibilities and refused to

of overseeing INEC. Perhaps, like everyone, who deserves their chance and time, the assumption that he would settle in with time and improve on his failings has turned out a mere wishful thinking. He has turned out un-teachable and a nightmare to the political hemisphere.

What generally gave up Yakubu and exposed his hitherto unknown incompetence was the supplementary election in about six states, where his men announced inconclusive elections. There is yet another argument that INEC was culpable in some of the circumstances that led to the inconclusive elections. It was accused of mismanaging the supplementary elections, condoned the violence and validated the monumental malpractices that characterised the elections, being clear indications that INEC under Yakubu can do no good for the collective lot.

Unfortunately, with the kind of leadership that Nigeria has just been gifted for another four years if he eventually gets away with the fraud that allegedly attended the elections of February 23, Yakubu might also remain in office to continue “with his good work”.

Of course, the general thinking now amongst Nigerians of like-minds especially those with enviable creed, is that if Buhari had any iota of integrity, it might be in the imagination of his otherwise mob supporters, who are unable to boast independent thinking let alone see the palpable wrong in the administration.

The president watched with troubling silence, the robbery that took place in Kano on March 23, when INEC’s supplementary election was conducted. Not only did thugs take over the polling stations and allegedly coordinated the direction of voting, they were reportedly assisted by some of the nation’s security agents, who were drafted to ensure security.

Scenario quite similar to this played out in other states like Bauchi, Benue, Adamawa and Rivers except for Plateau and Sokoto, where reports of violence were not as pronounced. The simple logic, therefore, is that if INEC could declare the initial elections inconclusive on accounts of cancelled votes that were made possible through malpractices, what therefore qualified the madness in Kano on March 23 to be admitted as validly conducted and produced a winner?

There is no debating the fact that the INEC as currently constituted is a monumental disaster and should Buhari overlook these evident failings, the 2019 mess would be a child’s play, when INEC gears up for another national assignment four years from now. This INEC appears compromised and unable to outperform itself.

Except government considers an urgent reform of the electoral system, starting with the approval of the electoral act amendment exercise and a change of leadership, elections in Nigeria would not only be her albatross, but a disaster waiting to consume her at the nick of time.

NOTES FOR FILE

Building Collapses and Bad Leadership

Ambode...too many collapses in Lagos

The spate of building collapses in different parts of the country is becoming genuinely disturbing especially, in Lagos, which is supposed to set the pace in terms of leadership and governance. This, of course, has called for a review of leadership dispositions in the country.

Otherwise the spate of building collapses in the country presupposes one thing and one thing only: poor leadership. When leadership is unable to follow up on policies and effectively enforce its own laws, what you get is a degeneration of governance, even where the

policies are sound and comparable to the best practices anywhere in the world.

The strength of a cracking leadership lies in its ability to make hard choices in the overall interests of all. Often, such choices are not especially pleasant to the people for whom they were conceived. In the long run, however, everyone begins to savour the beauty of such a choice. Regulating building approvals and enforcing them has become one compelling hard choice that government must embrace without emotional considerations. Enough lives lost!

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Buhari addressing the APC caucus

APC: A Future Dependent on the NOW With the 2019 general election partly over, the future of the ruling APC is now largely dependent on how it manages some of the challenges that attended its victory, writes Onyebuchi Ezigbo

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ast year’s election of a new National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole came against the backdrop of the need to refocus the party and to rally its members for the general election. The party had been enmeshed in crisis of confidence and uncertain political future.

Before his election at the party’s national convention held at the Eagles Square, in Abuja, the APC faced serious challenges in the management of internal party affairs and even in dealing with governance issues.

So the Oshiomhole-led national executive came when the party appeared to be in turbulence and needed a new direction and perhaps, a new identity in order to successfully prosecute its much-needed second term reelection bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The party had state congresses, which were dogged by controversies in more than half of the states in the country.

In most cases, stakeholders of the party in these states were in different courts fighting over the rightful leadership of the state chapters.

At the level of governance, the ruling party was operating a government that had the executive and the legislative arms consistently in “a cat and mouse game”, a situation that saw its members in the National Assembly largely polarised.

By extension, stakeholders of the APC were becoming antagonistic to each other and were fast retreating to their various enclaves, and trying to use the defunct legacy parties and groupings as alternative rallying points.

It was at this precarious stage that the Oshiomhole-led NWC was elected at the convention after several postponements. His task as the new man in the saddle was tough and compelling. While his predecessor, Chief John Odigie Oyegun was said to be diplomatic and sometimes, slow in acting on some of the issues, Oshiomhole was expected to do things differently, to be more firm, proactive and decisive.

Among the urgent tasks before him were how to quickly resolve the lingering leadership crisis in many state chapters of the party as a result of disputed congresses. Oshiomhole was also expected to address some of the concerns raised by members of an influential bloc within the APC known as the “new PDP” led by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, the House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and Governors Aminu Tambuwal, Abdulfatai Ahmed and Samuel Ortom of Sokoto, Kwara and Benue States respectively.

On the issue of resolving the leadership crisis in some of the state chapters, the party was able to reassert its authority

by brokering reconciliation among the warring factions and in some cases, going ahead to recognise the rightful leadership of the state executive. On the other, addressing the concerns of the nPDP group, which came in form of demands and ultimatum became more difficult to handle.

It was one of first real acid tests that was to prepare the former Edo State governor for the task ahead. He confronted the situation headlong trying to use the strong-arm position of the party to bring the agitators to toe line. This tactics failed thus leading to the exodus of many aggrieved members including Senator Saraki, Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso, Hon. Dogara, and some of the state governors from the party.

For Oshiomhole, it was good riddance. While Oshiomhole and other party loyalists believed the exit of the Saraki group was inevitable and that they had already planned to pitch their tent with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), analysts still considered the handling of the negotiations with the aggrieved stakeholders as rather rash, tactless, unintelligent and ill-advised based on the timing.

Although APC tried to play it down, the defection of these influential politicians to the PDP however elicited panic within the ranks of the ruling party and amongst its leaders as well as altered the APC calculations towards the just-concluded general election in the country.

The Primary Elections

A major assignment that the national leadership of the APC had to contend with was the conduct of primary elections to choose candidates that stood for various elective positions during the 2019 general election. First, the attempt

by APC’s national leadership to raise the bar on the issue of the cost of nomination forms which was initially set at N45 million for the presidency was met with outrage from both APC members and ordinary Nigerians.

After the matter was greeted with wide outcry and condemnation, Oshiomhole and his team at the APC national headquarters quickly beat a retreat and lowered the amount for sale of presidential nomination form to N22.5 million.

There were also significant reductions in the cost nomination forms for other elective positions following the outrage by Nigerians.

As part of its efforts to manage the likely negative effects of some of the disputed state congresses, the APC leadership adopted the direct primary election process in some instances. Also the decision was seen as a strategy designed to calm nerves in a charged atmosphere given the shaky structure the new NWC inherited.

Oshiomole explained that the leadership of the APC “decided that in order to ensure popular participation, and

to deepen democracy, the party first adopted direct primary in choosing its Osun State governorship candidate, Gboyega Oyetola, during the Oyegun-headed NWC.” Under the primary election guidelines approved by the National Executive Committee, APC said it would conduct direct primary election to validate President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential ticket he had no major challenger for.

It however declined to make the use of direct primaries compulsory for other positions. Rather, the party allowed the states to choose between direct and indirect options as it suits them. Many saw the danger of allowing two primary election modes by the party as an invitation to anarchy, because of the disagreement and rancour it would generate.

Based on his insistence that all must abide by the party’s position on the primary election methods, Oshiomhole attracted lot criticisms including those who accused him of dancing to the tune of his political ally and the national leader of APC, Bola Tinubu.

Some of the stakeholders, especially the governors alleged that Oshiomhole was trying to put a clog in the wheel of their efforts to secure a second term ticket or to install a successor of choice. Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, was among those, who criticised the primary election conducted by the APC in some states.

Aisha, in a post on her verified Twitter page, expressed disappointment over the processes employed during the election. She called on Nigerians to speak out against such impunity employed by the ruling party’s leadership. The First Lady was particularly irked by reports that the party leadership might have been supporting some persons to get automatic tickets while at the same time frustrating others in its bad books.

Aisha said: “It is disheartening to note that some aspirants used their hard-earned money to purchase nomination forms, got screened, cleared and campaigned vigorously, yet, found their names omitted on Election Day, these forms were bought at exorbitant prices. Many others contested and yet had their results delayed – fully knowing that automatic tickets have been given to other people.

“APC being a party whose cardinal principle is change and headed by a comrade/activist, whose main concern is for the common man, yet, such impunity could take place under its watch. Given this development, one will not hesitate than dissociate from such unfairness, be neutral and speak for the voiceless”.

Despite his efforts to ensure that primary elections conducted by the APC went smoothly, Oshiomhole found some of the states very troublesome. For instance, the governorship primary elections in Zamfara, Adamawa, Ogun, Imo, Rivers,

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CICERO/ISSUE t ‘APC: A FUTURE DEPENDENT ON THE NOW’tContinued from Pg. 76

Meeting of the APC leaders Cross River and Delta States became very turbulent that it almost cost the party the opportunity of fielding candidates for election in the affected states.

Some critics of Oshiomhole like the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, blamed him for the trouble that arose during the APC primary elections in some states. Okorocha accused Oshiomhole of triggering the crisis in Imo State APC after he allegedly ditched the governor’s son in-law, Uche Nwosu and handed the party’s governorship ticket to Senator Hope Uzodinma.

An embittered Okorocha later encouraged Nwosu to pick the governorship ticket of the Action Alliance (AA) to contest the election in Imo State. Also, a similar scenario in Ogun State saw the governor, Ibikunle Amosun daring the APC national leadership by sponsoring his favoured candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, a serving member of the House of Representatives.

Although the APC was lucky to win the governorship election in Ogun and Zamfara States despite the fallouts of the rancorous primaries, even though Zamfara is still in court for adjudication, it lost in Imo State to the PDP and was technically prevented from participating in the contest in Rivers State by court rulings resulting from intra-party feuds.

A Divisive Presidential Campaign

The presidential election campaign provided yet another litmus test on the level of cohesion and unity of purpose prevailing in the APC under Oshiomhole-led leadership. There were initial delays in the composition of the APC Presidential Campaign Council as a result of what insiders described as bickering over who gets what by top leaders of the party.

In what the campaign team later explained was a mere tactical approach, only the positions of the Director General of the Campaign Council occupied by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and that of the Spokesman, Festus Keyamo were announced by President Muhammadu Buhari. It was not until January that the party came up with a list of members of the campaign council for inauguration.

Again, Oshiomhole became the man to watch during the kick-off of the national campaign by the APC. Oshiomhole was no doubt at his best whenever he took on the opponent, the PDP. He was only able to add colour by throwing mere tantrums at the former ruling party over its alleged misrule. It was no surprise, therefore, that Oshiomhole got himself into trouble during the campaign tour when he faced hostile crowd of aggrieved party supporters in places like Imo and Ogun States.

It was particularly a pitiable sight at the party’s presidential campaign in Abeokuta, when the national chairman’s speech was interrupted by the angry and noisy crowd, who pelted the dignitaries with pure water sachets and other objects. At the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, Imo state, President Buhari, Oshiomhole and other members of the national campaign team were treated to an embarrassing display of the acrimony between Okorocha and the APC governorship candidate, Hope Uzodinnma.

Picturing a Post-election APC

With the conclusion of the presidential election and having won the election and secured majority seats in the National Assembly, attention has once again shifted to the ruling party with regards to how it would handle the election of the leadership of the two legislative chambers.

When in 2015 the nation witnessed an internal rebellion in the APC due to the zoning arrangement for principal officers’ positions in the National Assembly, it was taken for granted that the ruling party may not have been experienced enough to manage its victory at the polls. But now, in 2019 and having secured another mandate to govern the country for a second term, the expectations are that APC would get its acts together and ensure a seamless election of new leadership of the

Former APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun formally hands over to his successor, Adams Oshiomhole at the party secretariat, Abuja National Assembly.

Already, critics have started expressing concerns that the Oshiomhole-led NWC might be heading for a repeat of the 2015 experience, when the party failed to properly harmonise the varied interests within its fold and later paid dearly for it.

At a presidential dinner to honour the senators-elect of the APC held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja a fortnight ago, Oshiomhole flew a kite by announcing that the party had endorsed the current Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan as the next Senate President, having zoned the position to the North East. The action immediately elicited reactions from other senators, especially from the Northeast geographical zone.

One of the long-serving senators from the zone, Senator Ali Ndume immediately came out to challenge the party’s decision, insisting that he was going to put himself forward for the Senate President position. If the endorsement of Senator Lawan as Senate president by APC did not go down well with some of the of party leaders, then, a similar attempt to cede the House Representatives Speaker to the South-west is already generating controversies amongst not only party men but the entire country.

Legislators and stakeholders from the North Central zone have started lobbying the party leadership to zone the Speaker of the House of Representatives to their area. Also, the issue of zoning of principal offices of the National Assembly is currently generating serious debate among party leaders and other pressure groups.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has come out to oppose the creation of religious imbalance in the legislative arm of government. Thus, barring any last minute reconciliation amongst the APC lawmakers, the party might be heading for another showdown with recalcitrant members, who have threatened to stand against the preferred candidates during the election of National Assembly leaders in June.

Those who have expressed reservations in the ability of the party to resolve the current disagreement over the sharing of National Assembly leadership positions said the national chairman’s pronouncements so far on the matter do not give much hope for reconciliation.

While rating Oshiomhole’s performance as national chairman of the APC, his critics have expressed concern over what they described as his arrogant disposition, high-handedness, lack of depth in party management. They also accused him of employing the “Headmaster/student” tactics in tackling

disputes that ordinarily will warrant not more than a roundtable discussion to resolve.

Oshiomhole in the Eyes of His People One of those who will stand with the former Edo State governor regardless of critics’ position is his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Simon Ebegbulem. In his recent article to mark Oshiomhole’s 67 years, Ebegbulem chronicled some of the achievements so far recorded by former labour leader-turned politician.

He said Oshiomhole’s NWC has insisted on the supremacy of the party. “Whether you like him or not, under his leadership, President Buhari was re-elected. The APC is on the path of nicking the leadership of the 9th National Assembly, where it enjoys overwhelming majority just as it maintains a majority control in the states”.

The CPS also stated that for the first time in the history of the politics of the nation, a presidential candidate of a party, in the person of President Muhammadu Buhari, emerged through direct primary election.

According to Ebegbulem, this novel idea of conducting direct primary election for the president paid off as he was able to garner overwhelming victory across the nation in the just-concluded presidential election. He also gave Oshiomhole kudos for embarking on reforms that would make the party much stronger and people-oriented. One of the things the media aide said Oshiomhole did differently was his readiness to wield the big stick where necessary.

According to him, the promise that things would no longer be business as usual in the running of party affairs was something that Oshiomhole upheld. For instance, Ebegbulem said through his reforms, Oshiomhole made sure that ministers who were not at home with the party or their people were disqualified from participating in the primary election.

Also, governors who played gods in their various states against the party’s interest, including alleged involvement in anti-party activities, were either suspended from the party or queried. Again, the aide said that Oshiomhole has insisted on membership discipline, proper funding, party management and respect for party constitution. In all, Ebegbulem was of the opinion that Oshiomhole has not deviated from the promises he made ten months ago when he was elected as the chairman of the ruling party.

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CICERO/ISSUE

Wike

In Rivers, It’s Game Over!

LastWednesday’sdeclarationofthegovernorshipelectionresultsinRiversStatebytheIndependentNationalElectoral Commission,whichreturnedGovernorNyesomWikeasthegovernor-electhaseffectivelyputtorestweeksofintrigues, sponsoredprotestsandanxietythatcharacterisedthepollintheoil-richState,writesErnest Chinwo

T

he people and residents of Rivers State last Wednesday heaved a sigh of relief as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced winner of the governorship election in the state.

On the second day of the three days earmarked for collation of results already in its kitty, INEC took the entire state and indeed the nation by surprise, when it announced the completion of collation and declared Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the election.

The state’s returning officer, Prof. Teddy Adias, declared that Wike polled 886,264 to defeat the candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Biokpomabo Awara, who polled 173,859 to come second.

Although the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not on the ballot because of several court judgments against it, the leader of the party in the state and Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, three days to the election adopted Awara as alternate candidate and directed his party faithful to deliver the AAC candidate in the elections.

Out of the 21 local government areas where election took place, Wike won in 19 while Awara won in two. Elections did not hold in Abua/Odual local government area while no results were returned in Gokana.

Wike won in Amaechi’s home Local Government Area, Ikwerre, as well as in Port Harcourt, Andoni, Eleme, Opobo/Nkoro, Bonny, Okrika, and Omuma

Local Government Areas. He also won Tai, Ahoada East, Emohua, Etche and Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, Ogu/ Bolo, Obio/Akpor, Asaritoru, Degema, Ahoada West and Khana Local Government Areas.

AAC’s Awara however won in Oyigbo and AkukuToru Local Government Areas.

Adias stated that Section 47(b) of the Elections Guidelines stipulates that where there is willful disruption of election as was the case of Abua/ Odual, the electoral officer is empowered to enter zero as scores. He also said since no results were returned in Gokana as attested to by all party agents, the commission had to discard the results as it would be improper to rely on results from any source other than the one collated by the commission.

Adias also noted that the difference between Wike’s score and that of Awara was 712,405 while the total number of voters in areas where elections were cancelled or did not hold was 249,324.

“Nyesom Wike of the PDP, having satisfied the requirements of the law and having scored the highest votes is here declared winner and is hereby returned as elected,” Adias declared.

The declaration of the results ended weeks of anxiety as INEC had suspended the electoral process a day after the governorship elections, because of violence at collation centres allegedly perpetrated by the army.

Indeed, the statement suspending the election process stated that the INEC headquarters in Port Harcourt was under siege by men in military uniform.

Senior officers of the commission surreptitiously left the office at about noon on Sunday, March 10, when the military took over security, rendering the police mere bye-standers.

Addressing journalists before leaving the state headquarters that day, INEC Head, Voter Education and Publicity, Edwin Enabor said: “In fact, throughout the elections, we had many reports of insecurity, molestation, harassment and assault on our staff and ad hoc staff and the disruption of the electoral process throughout the state. In all the local government areas with the consequence that yesterday evening, we were unable to see the results.

“Now, it is about 1:00pm, the office is under siege by men in military uniform, Army uniform and uniform of the Air Force and the Police who have taken over the INEC office. They are stopping and screening people and clearing results before they enter the office to the extent that up till now, no collation had been done. So, that is the situation now.”

On the identity of the men, he said, “We don’t understand where the people are deployed from. We are not accusing the Nigerian Army but what we say is that the people in the office right now are wearing the uniforms of the Army.”

Interestingly, after the suspension of the process, the state was deluded with sponsored protests, intrigues and accusations.

The first unexpected development was the withdrawal of the deputy governorship candidate of the AAC, Chief Akpo Bomba Yeeh, from the gubernatorial race and his subsequent defection to the PDP on

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CICERO/ISSUE t ‘IN RIVERS, IT’S GAME OVER!’ t Continued from Pg. 78

Voters discharging their civic duty during the first ballot of the Rivers governorship election

Amaechi...familiar challenger March 25.

Yeeh also made allegations against Amaechi, to the effect that he wanted to use the AAC to remain the governor of the state by proxy. Naturally, the defection of the Awara’s running mate was a huge blow, especially given the allegations against Amaechi.

Yeeh alleged that Amaechi employed the services of the army and other security agencies to ensure that the election was rigged in favour of Awara. He however said the collated results showed that the people overwhelmingly voted for Wike.

Alleging that Amaechi forced him to sign an un-dated letter of resignation to be effective after their expected inauguration, he said “I was forced to sign an un-dated letter of resignation as the Deputy Governor of Rivers State to pave (the) way for Rotimi Amaechi to nominate another person as deputy governor.

“These were slavish conditions for any rational

politician worth his name to accept, but I pretended to play along, because doing otherwise at that time would have been too dangerous for the safety of my life, given Rotimi Amaechi’s desperation to remove Governor Wike from office and install his stooge in the person of Engr Awara against all odds,” he said.

He said though the AAC Campaign was never serious and never campaigned for the office of the governor of Rivers State, Amaechi during the adoption of the party, said that he would fund the elections and make everything under the sun is done to give AAC victory at the polls.

Yeeh’s allegations opened a floodgate of reactions and protests as the parties embarked on campaigns to firm their grounds. The APC/AAC alliance fired back that Wike bought Yeeh with N200 million after Awara rejected his offer of N3 billion, an allegation the PDP said was unimaginable and false.

But while the dust was yet to settle on Yeeh’s

defection, the Deputy State Chairman of AAC, Prince Amezhinim Atuma, also resigned his position and defected to the PDP. A deluge of protests opened and the peace of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, became slave to party-sponsored protests by groups of all colourations.

While some groups called for the redeployment of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga, and outright cancellation of the elections, others called for the speedy conclusion of the process and the retention of Effanga for a job well done.

Curiously, however, all the party agents that participated in the collation exercise commended INEC for a transparent exercise.

Reacting to the result, the state collation agent of the PDP, Austin Opara, said the declaration of Wike as winner has finally brought to an end the anxiety and agony of the people, which has lasted about three weeks.

Opara, a former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, said the time had come to rebuild the state and focus on healing the wounds inflicted on the people by selfish politicians.

“Rivers people can now heave a sigh of relief that this process has come to an end and the people have spoken that Governor Nyesom Wike is their choice.

It is now time for all Rivers people, irrespective of political parties, to join hands to rebuild our state and heal the wounds inflicted on our people by some selfish politicians,” Opara said.

The state collation agent of the AAC, Nenye Kocha, also commended INEC for a transparent exercise within a reasonable time. He however said the party would review the situation and issue a statement on the result announced.

Ironically, none of the major opposition parties, except Accord, has issued a statement since the declaration of Wike as governor-elect. Accord in a statement signed by factional state Chairman, Dr. Nnanna Onyekwere, said it rejected the results as announced by INEC. “The reason is that the results declared by INEC in Rivers State are the product of militarised election processes, armed thuggery, compromised election umpire and a massively disenfranchised electorate.

This is in addition to crass impunity by highly placed politicians as exemplified by the imposition of candidates and the primitive orchestration of crisis in opponents’ camps – acts known to INEC and tacitly encouraged by the election umpire.

“If we do not seek an end to these electoral and societal ills and make the votes of Rivers people count in 2019, the perpetrators of these ignoble acts would continue to get more and more emboldened and 2023 elections in Rivers State shall be a full scale war,” Onyekwere said.

Accord’s position notwithstanding, most residents are happy to return to their routine. For the average Rivers person, anybody who still feels dissatisfied should go to the tribunal and allow the people to have their peace.

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National Assembly complex

Race for N’Assembly Leadership Now in Full Swing A two-week orientation programme, which commenced last week in Abuja for all the newly elected 479 members of the ninth National Assembly has become a campaign ground for those itching to lead the federal legislature upon inauguration in June, report Deji Elumoye and Shola Oyeyipo

W

ith the general election gradually coming to a close and the Independent National Electoral Commission now presenting Certificates of Return to those elected including Senators-elect and House members-elect, the next battle might have shifted to the National Assembly for leadership race. But this would not come before its inauguration, which also follows its proclamation by President Muhammadu Buhari in June.

Ahead of the inauguration, the leadership of both the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), which has majority of the lawmakers-elect and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are at daggers drawn over the leadership of the next federal parliament.

While the APC is singing the winner-

takes-all song for the principal offices and chairmanship of ‘juicy’ committees in the legislative assembly, the PDP believes that its members have constitutional right to aspire to lead both chambers of the Assembly.

The public endorsement of the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, as the next Senate President by the APC leadership last week is also creating ripples among some of the Senators-elect, who are vowing to resist the imposition.

A Senator-elect and ranking Senator like Lawan, who is also interested in Nigeria’s number three office, Senator Ali Ndume, had criticised the reported adoption of Lawan, saying it was at variance with Section 50 (1a) of the amended 1999 constitution of Nigeria, which gave the members-elect the explicit right to elect their leaders on the floor of the Assembly.

Some other Senators-elect from the North East, where the APC has zoned the Senate Presidency to, also opposed the adoption

of Lawan as the issue was never discussed with the new legislators. They even added another dimension to the adoption of Lawan, saying the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who celebrated his 67th birthday with a colloquium in Abuja last Thursday, was out to ‘colonise’ the National Assembly ahead of his presidential ambition in 2023.

They have therefore advised President Buhari against handing over the National Assembly to Tinubu. A cross-section of the Senators-elect, said the recommendation by the APC that Lawan should be considered for the Senate presidency was a plot to hand over the parliament to Tinubu.

One of the Senators-elect, who spoke with THISDAY on the condition of anonymity, said since Tinubu had produced the Vice President in the person of Yemi Osinbajo and party’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, other contributors to the victory of the party, should also be rewarded.

“Lawan and Gbajabiamila are the candidates of Asiwaju. If they have their ways, it means Tinubu has extended his hold to the parliament. Already, he has the Vice President and the National chairman. What else is left for others?” adding: “People are just keeping quiet, because of their respect for Buhari, who believes that it’s payback time for Tinubu. It’s shouldn’t be so at all, because other people contributed and they should be rewarded, accordingly.”

Another ranking Senator from the North West said the quest by Tinubu to conquer the National Assembly was simply to lay the foundation for his 2023 presidential ambition.

“He deliberately brought his colloquium to Abuja, as against Lagos, his usual venue, because he wants to conquer the country.

He feels that it’s time for him to do so. He has pocketed Lagos and he is leaving no stone unturned to pocket the country. Some of us are of the view that neutral candidates

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Race for N’Assembly Leadership Now in Full Swing should be considered for the National Assembly leadership and not those whose allegiance will be for Tinubu and not the country,” he said.

The PDP Senate caucus is also interested in who becomes the next Senate President.

For now, it has said all Senators-elect have constitutional right to aspire to be Senate President, when the Ninth Senate is inaugurated in June.

At the last count, the party has 41 Senatorselect and may spring a surprise by backing APC Senator-elect outside the choice of the party as the presiding officer of the next Senate.

For the green chamber of the National Assembly, APC leaders including President Buhari, Tinubu and other party loyalists are believed to be rooting for the House leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila representing Surulere I federal constituency of Lagos State, to succeed Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Speaker.

Once bitten twice shy, the APC leadership says it is working hard to avoid the June 9, 2015 experience, when some of its members in cohort with some opposition PDP members, opted to elect Dogara as Speaker against the position of the party, which had elected Gbajabiamila in a mock election designed to suit their desire.

Oshiomhole categorically told newlyelected House members at the Shehu Yar’adua Centre, Abuja that the party was not prepared to share the principal offices of the House and headship of critical committees with the PDP, except positions reserved for minority members.

Ordinarily, Gbajabiamila is qualified for the job. As a lawyer, who was elected into the House in 2003 and having retained his seat for a record fifth term, he ranks among some of the savviest in running the affairs of the green chamber.

Gbaja as he is fondly called by colleagues is already working underground to enlist the support of all relevant stakeholders, including newly-elected members, returning members as well and party leaders in the bid to ensure that the party template, which favours him is eventually adopted.

He may have a stiff opposition in the incumbent Speaker, Dogara, who is said to be actively in the race too. Sources told THISDAY that the outgoing Speaker enjoys the backing of the PDP to vie for the speakership of the 9th assembly.

Recall that after Oshiohmole told his party members that they must ensure that only its members fill up leadership positions in the ninth Assembly, the opposition PDP disagreed with him on the grounds that its elected senators and members of the House of Representatives are constitutionally eligible to seek election into any presiding office of the two chambers of the National Assembly.

Though some had concluded that he was out of the equation, Dogara would bank on the support of 125 currently serving lawmakers, who have won their re-election across party lines, and would eventually throw his hat into the ring to re-contest.

“You cannot rule out the incumbent Speaker in the race for the speakership of the 9th assembly. Apart from the fact that he is ably qualified to be in the race, he is trusted and has been tested. The Speaker will easily rally the support of old lawmakers who know him and work with new members to retain his position,” said a ranking House member who spoke anonymously.

Other aspirants for the Speakership position include a female member, who has shown more than a passing interest in the position, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha. She has declared her intention to contest for the highest position in the green chamber even before the party would take any position on zoning the position.

A very active lawmaker, Onyejeocha, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Aviation and a fourth time lawmaker representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi/ federal constituency of Abia State, is not joking about her ambition. Not only does she possess the needed experience to take up the job, rather than considering her feminist status as disadvantage, her opinion is that it was time Nigeria gave a woman an opportunity to lead at the level of Speaker to see what difference she is

Ahmed Lawan

capable of making.

Convinced that she is marketable, the lawmaker stormed the APC interactive meeting with newly elected members with her manifesto for the 9th assembly speakership titled: ‘Seeking Your Support.’ and canvassed for the support and vote of her colleagues to secure the position.

“I believe I possess the requisite legislative skills, knowledge, experience and temperament to be Speaker of this great House,” Onyejeocha said, stressing that given the opportunity, she would improve on communication with the general public, facilitate improved internal communications among members, adopt a legislative agenda with a clear framework for compliance and monitoring and ensure improved lawmaking.

“A number of key reform bills were proposed, considered and passed in the 8th House of Representatives, chief among them are the constitutional amendment bills, which contained significant amendments such as financial independence for counterpart in the state i.e state assemblies.

Anumber of some constitution amendments were not assented to while some others key reform bills were not concluded or adopted by the 8th House with its term running out.

“These include bills such as the Police Reform Bill, Petroleum Industry and Governance Bill (PIGB), Universal Basic Education Act amendment Bill, the National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO) Bill, Audit Bill, Witness Protection Bill etc. I will work to ensure that these bills are revisited.”

Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas representing Jada/Ganye/Mayo Belwa/Toungo federal constituency of Adamawa State, has not only officially declared to run for the office of speaker of the 9th House, he is also embarking on robust consultations and discreet meetings with his colleagues, which are indicative of his seriousness.

Noting that as the Nigerian democracy grows, it requires competent and committed individuals with requisite experience and pedigree to build and strengthen institutions during his declaration, Namdas said “I am offering myself for the position of Speaker, because the ninth assembly deserves the best of leadership.

“I am convinced and I believe you are

Femi Gbajabiamila

aware that I possess the necessary legislative and personal credentials to effectively lead the House to enviable heights. As spokesperson for the House, I represented and defended the legislature effectively for four years hence I am better positioned to preside and speak for the House as Speaker.

“Apart from competence, experience, untainted personal record and excellent leadership traits,” he claimed, “We are presenting a new legislative charter, which is our contract with the Nigerian people.

This is a contract that will be driven by good laws and ethical legislative practices. We are desirous to enter into a contract with the Nigerian people for the good of the nation.”

Also in the race, a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Borno State, Hon. Mohammed Tahir Monguno, representing Jere federal constituency. He is capable of pulling off a surprise. Parading every qualification needed to become the Speaker, and as the leader of the Northeast caucus, who has equally been in the House for the fifth time, underestimating Monguno would only serve as the undoing of whoever does that.

Another lawmaker, Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub representing Gombi/Hong federal constituency, also from Adamawa State, has taken his ambition to vie for speakership beyond speculation.

Apart from putting up a campaign structure to actualise his dream, the twotime member of the green chamber told THISDAY that his interest in the job is basically to contribute to building a team of patriotic Nigerians that would address some of the major problems confronting Nigeria. These problems, according of him, are unemployment, youth restiveness, high level of insecurity and corruption, among others.

“There is so much to do within so short a time. Our nation requires nothing but men and women, who share the vision of a great Nigeria to beat a path of national vision and ambition so that others will follow”, adding that “I am vying for this position, because I am driven by the ideal of service to continue to offer my humble talents, treasure and time to see how I can adequately contribute to the growth and development of my country.”

Yakub said given the opportunity, he would work to facilitate executive-legislative

harmony and collaboration that would make for better Nigeria, adding: “I see the best years ahead and I know that we at the National Assembly particularly, we in the green chambers, can make it work.”

Like others, who had declared their intentions to run for the speaker position, Yakub has also indicated his readiness to abide by the zoning arrangement of his party, the APC. Interestingly, while others are jostling to become Speaker, Hon. Magaji Da’u Aliyu representing Birnin-Kudu/Buji federal constituency of Jigawa State, has declared interest in vying for Deputy Speaker.

Aliyu told journalists that he hopes to bring his legislative experience to bear in the day-to-day running of the House in that capacity. Also, a second time lawmaker, he said if elected as Deputy Speaker, it would offer him an opportunity to add value by working in collaboration with the Speaker to effectively relate with other arms of government.

“I have every qualification to become a Speaker. The requirement is that you should be voted for and my people have voted for me, but I believe people underrate the position of Deputy Speaker. The deputy is not a spare tyre. If you look at the president and vice-president, you will see that deputies are not spare tyres “As a deputy, I can be a source of communication with other arms of government and I believe I have the capacity to carry my people along. I am going to be a just leader, because what brings quarrel is injustice,” he said.

With all the gladiators throwing their hats into the ring, the election of the leadership of the 9th National Assembly will be interesting with all the issues and factors springing up almost on a daily basis.

It is only hoped that the ruling party, APC, would as soon as it releases the zoning formula for the Assembly positions, call a meeting of all stakeholders especially, the legislators-elect and stress the need for the lawmakers to speak with one voice on the day the 9th Assembly would be inaugurated.

This is the only way to avoid a repeat of what transpired on June 9, 2015 when the candidates supported by the party lost out when the presiding officers of the 8th National Assembly were elected.

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with DEMOLA OJO demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

SOCIAL MEDIA BITS

Last week, the President travelled, the suspended Chief Justice resigned, and the Police put on the spot...

A

picture is worth a thousand words the saying goes. Two of President Muhammadu Buhari’s trending pictures this week were of him on foreign soil or about to travel.

In the first, he was all smiles with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was against his re-election bid.

They were pictured having a laugh with the President of African Development Bank, Akinwunmi Adesina, on the sidelines of the swearing-in of the Senegal President, Macky Sall, for his second term.

The Nigerian President can afford to laugh and be in good spirits after also getting re-elected a few weeks ago.

Another picture of the president that attracted attention last week was of his departure to Amman to honour an invitation by King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan for the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa holding at

the Dead Sea, Jordan.

Observers on social media wondered what their president was doing at a North African/Middle-eastern summit at a time when they felt he had more important issues to face at home.

And the picture...well, he waved goodbye.

It is subject to different interpretations, but it could easily have been goodbye to the many problems in Nigeria.

Judging from social media, this ranged from the mundane – some suggested the heat was/is too much, literally – to the serious; kidnappings on Abuja-Kaduna expressway, to bandits wreaking havoc in in Zamfara.

Another issue of great concern this past week was the violent end to the lives of two promising young men; one by the police, the other by thieves.

The week started on a sad not when 36-year-old Kolade Johnson was murdered by a member of a police anti-cultism unit.

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

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Following the outcry of Nigerians, the police swiftly moved and apprehended the perpetrator. By the end of the week, 45-yearold Ogunyemi Olalekan was arraigned in court and charged with murder.

Hopefully, this serves as a deterrent as the manner some special units of the police appear and operate bears a lot of resemblance to robbers, prompting some, including Folarin Falana aka Falz the Bahd Guy, to wonder if there is any difference between them.

Unfortunately, robbers were the culprits as a House Officer at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Dr. Stephen Urueye, was stabbed to death hours after his graduation.

Urueye who graduated from the University of Lagos on Wednesday was stabbed a day after by hoodlums who were trying to rob him of his valuables, right in front of the hospital.

Reports on Twitter say the students have complained on numerous occasions to the management of the hospital regarding insecurity in the area.

By the end of the week, there was another incident when Odeh Stephen, a 29-year-old commercial driver was shot and killed at a checkpoint by a policeman in Ahoada,

Rivers state. The perpetrator has also been apprehended.

Stories like the above contribute to the despair in the land. But it is no justification for crime. Five Nigerian men were caught robbing a Bureau de Change in Dubai, after only just arriving a few days before. They had the means and resources to actually embark on the trip, which means poverty is not necessarily an excuse for crime.

Meanwhile, the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen finally resigned after putting up a fight. This was on the back of a recommendation by the judicial commission for him to be retired based on an indictment by the EFCC. Suddenly, the narrative has shifted from questions over his innocence or guilt to the possibility of him getting a soft landing: will he be allowed to retire with benefits or will he be dismissed and tried for corruption?

A judge has declared that Senator Ademola Adeleke, popularly referred to as the dancing senator was not qualified to contest for the governorship election that some other judges at the election tribunal ruled that he won.

The celebration which followed the tribunalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pronouncement have to be put on hold and with it, the dancing.

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POLITY

Kachikwu: A Man Diligent at His Work That the Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu was unanimously reelected President, African Oil Producers Association is a validation of his diligence at work, writes Shola Oyeyipo

O

n June 11, 2018, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu emerged the President, African Oil Producers Association (APPO). He took over from Michael Boukar, a Chadian.

APPO is quite an influential gathering of oil and gas ministers on the African continent and it has always been a platform, where decisions that guide African energy business and positions at the global level are fashioned out.

When top oil and gas executives, African continent’s leading energy ministers as well as international policy leaders converged on Malabo, the capital city of Equatorial Guinea for the 7th African Petroleum Congress and Exhibitions, aka APPO CAPE VII Congress between April 2 and 5, 2019, the council of ministers of petroleum and energy in Africa re-elected Dr. Kachikwu as president of the association for another term.

The body was created on January, 27, 1987 in Lagos, Nigeria to serve as a platform for cooperation and harmonisation of efforts, collaboration, sharing of knowledge and skills among African oil producing countries. With its headquarters in Brazaville, Congo, the Organisation changed its name from African Petroleum Producers’ Association to African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) in 2017.

Particularly noteworthy was the fact that the Nigerian Minister attended the event hoping to hand over to the Niger Republic minister but instead, his contemporaries all unanimously held an election and further extended his tenure for another year to enable him conclude the reforms he is currently carrying out in the organisation, which he started last year.

The organisation had moved its secretariat to Nigeria from Congo last year to allow key officials relocate near Kachikwu to allow him effectively drive the reforms.

With this development, it means that at end of 2019, he would be the first president of the association for the last three years, which is unprecedented.

While it is vital to underscore that the Nigerian minister, Kachikwu has attracted quite a number of laurels over the years for his performances in various positions he’d occupied, fact is, his recent re-election is coming on the heels of the conferment of an Outstanding Life Leadership Award on him for his contributions to the improvement of the oil and gas worldwide and for being the first person in the world to hold the presidency of Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC, Gas Exporting Countries Forum GECF and APPO while still sitting as Minister for State Petroleum in Africa largest economy, Nigeria.

Some of the member-nations of APPO are Nigeria, Algeria, Ghana, Congo, Chad, Benin, Cameroun Gabon, Egypt Libya, South Africa, Mauratania and Sudan and it has the Council of Ministers at the apex followed by the inaugurated executive board, then the Secretary General and managing Directors of National Oil Companies or Corporations.

The underpinning focus of the organisation is policy reforms aimed at boosting Africa’s influence in energy geopolitics and increasing cooperation amongst African countries. They hope of improving energy investment

Permit me the immodesty of saying Kachikwu has since March 2016, very much remained at the centre of the reform efforts in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. It is well pleased that he would deliver in this responsibility, given that it is very similar to what he has championed here in the domestic oil and gas front as minister in the last two and a half years

Kachikwu...in a class of his own in Africa and indeed growing the oil and gas reserves as well as creating attractive regulatory regimes for new investments is their goals.

At the June last year inauguration of Kachikwu as President of APPO, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had challenged the APPO peers to reform the organisation and position it to achieve it core mandates.

Osinbajo urged that the body should be remodeled to take the form of similar institutions that had succeeded like the OPEC Fund, such that non-OPEC members can begin to invest, saying “It is time for us to open up the APPO, such that none APPO member countries and private institutions should be able to invest,” adding that “The APPO fund ought to operate as an autonomous entity, independent perhaps, from the APPO secretariat, in the same way that the OPEC fund operates independently of OPEC itself.”

With Africa taking a more prominent role in OPEC discussions following the entry of Equatorial Guinea to the group of oil producers in 2017, the Kachikwu leadership has been working round the clock to set the agenda for African producers’ interactions with global producers and markets in 2019 and beyond.

The aim has been to create a strong unifier of African oil producers on the international stage. With new discoveries throughout Africa, from Mozambique and Namibia to Senegal and Mauritania, which have sparked fresh interest in exploration and production throughout Africa, APPO is set to welcome new producers into the fold.

While he has achieved considerable structural and funding reforms, particularly recapitalisation of the funds, Kachikwu has been addressing the issues of economic diversification to address the needs of post-oil economic development in the African continent as well as renewing efforts to mitigate African nations’ dependency on western technology and western markets for oil export revenues.

Judging from his achievements and acceptance at the continental level, it is safe to say that Kachikwu’s reforms in the Nigerian oil and gas sector encapsulated in what is called the ‘7 Big Wins,’ which focus on seven thematic areas namely policy and regulation; business environment and investment drive; gas revolution;

refineries and local production capacity; Niger Delta and security; transparency and efficiency and stakeholder management and international coordination are no flukes.

Importantly, on Thursday October 4, 2018, Kachikwu, performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the establishment of a 5,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd) modular refinery at Ibigwe field in Ohaji-Egbema local government area, Imo State.

It was a refinery developed by Waltersmith Refining and Petrochemical Company, and it is coming into existence with a 30 per cent equity contribution of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), one of the star parastatals of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. This was a significant achievement by every standard and many admired him for such efforts.

The words of Professor Osinbajo during his first inauguration as APPO president were instructive. He said: “Let me on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari and the government and people of Nigeria, thank you for the confidence you repose in Nigeria, manifesting in your unanimous agreement to place the responsibility for leading the reforms process on Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu.

“Permit me the immodesty of saying Kachikwu has since March 2016, very much remained at the centre of the reform efforts in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. It is well pleased that he would deliver in this responsibility, given that it is very similar to what he has championed here in the domestic oil and gas front as minister in the last two and a half years.”

“Given the progress achieved so far in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, I can therefore, confidently assure you that Nigeria and Dr. Kachikwu and his team would exceed our expectations regarding the APPO reforms.

“I want to assure you also that Nigeria would give you all the support you need to render his vision of making APPO hold the world’s major institutions reference on Africa’s hydrocarbon matters and indeed the pride of Africa.”

These are attestations to commitment and diligence and it is best to encourage the minister never to rest on his oars. It is better to make the sky his starting point and never the limit.

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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 ˾ APRIL 7, 2019

NEWSXTRA Group Assembles 50 Lawyers to Defend Bauchi Governor-elect Bala’s election excites Igbo community

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi A group of lawyers under the aegis of Bauchi Lawyers of Conscience (BOBALAC) yesterday promised to defend the state’s governorelect, Senator Bala Mohammed with 50 counsels if the incumbent governor, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar eventually approached the election tribunal.

Likewise, the Igbo community in Bauchi State pledged unalloyed support to the incoming administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing his victory in the March 9 governorship election as well deserved.

The two groups made the remarks in separate statements in response to the plan by the incumbent governor to challenge Bala’s victory at the Bauchi Governorship Election Tribunal.

In its statement yesterday, the lawyers of conscience said the recent move by the APC to go to the tribunal and challenge the election was a double speak and a form of insincerity after conceding defeat and congratulated the governor-elect.

The statement, which was signed by the group’s Convener, Shipi Rabo and Secretary, Musa Abdullahi, said having initially conceded defeat and congratulated the governorelect, Abubakar should have stuck to his words.

The statement said, “That is how statesmen behave. There are some issues to look at considering the hiring of four Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) by the national leadership of the APC as Abubakar recently instituted a legal action at an Abuja High Court

in which the APC was the second Plaintiff.

“But apparently because the said suit has more to do with his interest than that of the APC or President Buhari, it is believed that, it was Abubakar and his clique that foot the bill of the counsel that handled the matter even as the said counsel who is a learned silk happens to be a personal friend of the governor and his former colleague at the INEC.” As a group of lawyers, it added that its members “have no problem with Abubakar and the APC going to the tribunal to challenge the victory of the governor-elect.

“In fact, we welcome the development as it will afford us yet another opportunity to use our God-given skills to defend the people’s mandate as given to the governor-elect.

“In doing this, we convey our assurances to the governor-elect and indeed the people of Bauchi State that we are deploying the services of not less than 50 Counsels which include some very senior colleagues and successfully tested hands to compliment the efforts of the legal team to be assembled to defend the people’s mandate in terms of the impending election petition.”

In its own statement, the Igbo community said that the Igbos in Bauchi State voted massively for the PDP as this would be attested in all the polling units dominated by the Igbos.

The statement, which was signed by its President General, Mr. Dominic Nkwocha and the Secretary General Mr. Felix Onuorah, said the Igbo community disassociated itself from publications traced

Boko Haram: 1,400 Adamawa IDPs Face Starvation Daji Sani with agency report No fewer than 1,400 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Fufore, Adamawa State, are lamenting severe food shortages in the camp, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

One of the leaders at an IDP camp in Fufore, Bakura Umar, said in Yola on Saturday that the National Emergency Management Agency had not supplied food to them in the last three months.

However, an Operational Officer of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Abani Garki, dismissed claims of food shortages in the camp.

But Umar said, “About 1,400 IDPs, mostly women, children and elderly people are facing starvation due to the acute food shortage in Fufore camp.

“In the past three months, NEMA has not supplied food to the camp and we are facing hunger. Because of the situation, we have been going to Fufore town and other nearby villages to look for

food in order to survive.”

According to him, they have been in the camp since 2014 and that NEMA was giving them food items on a monthly basis.

He added that the IDPs in the camp were from Bama, Gwoza and Gamboru Ngala in Borno State.

Umar said they were brought to the camp from Cameroon where they fled to after Boko Haram overran their villages and towns in 2013.

He appealed to the authorities concerned to come to their aid.

Garki added that the agency “is aware of the delay in supplying food to the camp. But there is nothing like starvation in the camp.

“In fact, the delay was not as they claimed because we experienced a short delay in food supply in January due to some logistic challenges which affected us in February and March.

“The agency is trying all it can to ensure the IDPs are taken care of properly.”

to the Igbo Political Awareness committee with caption the “Igbo in Bauchi Disown PDP Governorship candidate’s posters.”

It said, “We wish to set the record straight and state that the Igbo community in Bauchi State as well as its leadership did not at any time instruct

Committee on Political Awareness to act on its behalf “We wish to state that the above committee acted on their own as it was revealed that the committee members were not consulted before such publication hence could not be said to have emanated from the committee not to talk of the

Igbo community.

“The swift reaction of the south east coalition for PDP on the March 7, 2019, barely a day was therefore in order as the Igbo Community being a pan social cultural group and nobody is permitted to talk on its behalf except the leadership.

“Against the above stated

background, we hereby categorically and unequivocally disassociate the Igbo Community from the aforesaid publication as such publication was not made with the consultation and mandate of the leadership of the Igbo community,” the statement said.

SO FAR, SO GOOD...

L-R: Executive Director, Dangote Group, Alima Dangote; President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Mr. Sam Ohabunwa; Director General (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye and PSN’s immediate past President, Mr. Ahmed Yakasai,during NAFDAC 25th anniversary celebration held in Lagos.

ETOP UKUTT

EU Backs ICC after US Revokes Prosecutor’s Visa Tobi Soniyi The European Union has expressed full support for the International Criminal Court (ICC), after the United States revoked the entry visa for the ICC chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, over a possible probe into US soldiers’ actions in Afghanistan.

On Friday, the office of ICC’s chief prosecutor confirmed that Washington had imposed a visa ban on her, stressing that according to the Rome Statute governing the organization, she has an independent and impartial

mandate.

But in a statement, EU expressed serious concern over the decision of the US. In a statement, the EU said: “The EU expects the US to ensure that any measures adopted by the US in relation to the ICC is in full compliance with their international obligations, having also due regard to the ICC-UN Relationship Agreement,” the EU said in a statement.

“The EU fully supports the ICC and its independence and remains committed to cooperate with the ICC to guarantee its effectiveness

and efficiency and expects States to lend the necessary assistance and support.”

The European bloc highlighted the key role of the ICC in its fight against impunity.

It also emphasized that protecting the neutrality and judicial independence of the ICC “is paramount to its effectiveness and proper functioning.”

Presstv.com reported that in November 2017, Bensouda asked ICC judges for authorization to launch an investigation into purported war crimes in Afghanistan by the Taliban militant group,

Afghan government forces and international forces, including American troops.

The court, however, has not yet decided whether to open a full-scale investigation.

The move against Bensouda came less than a month after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced restrictions on ICC staff who investigate US or allied personnel.

“I’m announcing a policy of US visa restrictions on those individuals directly responsible for any ICC investigation of US personnel,” Pompeo said at a State Department briefing on March 15.

Delta Sets up C’tte on Human Trafficking, Illegal Migration

Shun Corruption, Disloyalty, Ekiti Cabinet Nominees Urged

Sylvester Idowu

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The Delta State Government has inaugurated a 17-man Task Force Committee on AntiHuman Trafficking and Illegal Migration to tackle the problem.

The committee’s Chairman and state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Peter Mrakpor, stated this during a press briefing.

Mrakpor said the task force would embarked on several sensitisation programmes to take the message to affected individuals.

He, therefore, called on stakeholders such as the media, churches, mosques, traditional rulers, and others to join hands in the campaign.

He noted that it was important to change the mindset of the youth largely involved in such practices.

He said “We need to tell the youth that they do not need to be trafficked or travel illegally to be successful. Traffickers use people to work on difficult conditions and pay little.”

The chairman said Delta State recorded increased cases in illegal activities, saying trafficking was a threat to the future of people.

“The increasing migration of the youth in our state is alarming. Over 250 of them have been arrested by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking and are currently in cell in Benin City, Edo State,” he added.

The Director General of the Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Council, Ekiti State, Dr. Olusegun Osinkolu has urged the state’s cabinet nominees to shun corruption and acts that can derail the administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

Osinkolu gave the advice in Ado Ekiti yesterday said the new cabinet members should focus on how to help achieve Fayemi’s four cardinal agenda and transform the lives of Ekiti people, who are predominantly agrarian.

Fayemi had last week sent names of 14 commissioners designate to Ekiti assembly for

screening and approval and were later confirmed on the floor of the House on Thursday.

He will inaugurate the cabinet nominees next Tuesday and subsequently assign them to the Ministries they will superintend over almost six months the governor was inaugurated.

At a session with journalists yesterday, Osinkolu described the nominees as committed individuals in their respective communities aside from being party loyalists.

He added that he had no doubt that the nominees would discharge their duties diligently for radical turn around of the state’s socio-economic facets.

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

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SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by Demola Ojo Email: demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

FA Cup: Watford Battle Wolves for Final Spot against Man City

W

atford and Wolverhampton Wanderers meet for the eighth time in the FA Cup today, though each of those previous clashes pale into insignificance compared this afternoon’s clash at Wembley Stadium.

The unlikely pair face off for a place in the showpiece final against Manchester City, who stayed on course for the quadruple as they reached the FA Cup final after edging out Brighton also at Wembley yesterday.

Pep Guardiola’s side were nowhere near their best but a largely undistinguished contest was settled

by Gabriel Jesus’ stooping header after only four minutes, converted from Kevin de Bruyne’s perfect right-wing cross.

Watford’s run to the semis has not been as daunting as Wolves’, having had to battle past non-league Woking, Championship side Queens Park Rangers, and bottom-half Premier League teams Newcastle United and Wolves have enjoyed the more impressive campaign by virtue of this being their first season back in the big time, but it has also been a hugely encouraging eight months for Watford under impressive boss Javi Gracia.

Gracia is the ninth Watford boss to be appointed during the ownership of the Pozzo family since 2012, becoming the first to sign a contract extension with the club in that time when putting pen to paper on a long-term deal in November.

As well as competing for a place in the FA Cup final for just a second time, having finished runners-up to Everton in 1983-84, Watford are already assured of their highest-ever points tally in the Premier League era.

Their midweek win over Fulham, thrashing their opponents 4-1 after a half-time shuffle, leaves them eighth in the Premier League behind Wolves.

There is very little between the two teams in the Premier League, separated by just one place, one point and one goal.

Watford striker Isaac Suceess (right) keeps the ball away from a Wolves player in a Premiership game earlier this season The problem for Watford, though, is that they have won just one of their six games in all competitions at Wembley Stadium (2-0 vs. Bolton Wanderers in May 1999), losing each of their last four at the ground.

In contrast, Wolves have won their last six games at Wembley - only Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur

(both with seven) have won more consecutively at the ground.

That includes victory in their Premier League meeting with Tottenham in December, producing another impressive display to beat Mauricio Pochettino’s side 3-1.

Wolves have earned a reputation for giving the top six a bloodied nose this term, with Tuesday’s 2-1 comeback win against Manchester United - a little over two weeks on from beating the Red Devils in the FA Cup quarters - making it 13 points collected from a possible 30 in such fixtures.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men have taken more points from the established elite than any team outside the top group, in fact, though on the flip side they have all too often fallen short against the so-called lesser sides.

More relevant to today’s meeting, Wolves suffered a 2-0 loss to Watford at Molineux a little over five months ago in their only previous league meeting to date this term.

The reverse fixture scheduled for April 27 – could be a playoff fixture of sorts to see which of these sides, if any, plays European football next season.

All attention for now is on the FA Cup, though, and Wolves certainly boast more pedigree in the competition than Watford. The Midlanders are playing in their 15th semi-final - albeit a first since 1998 - and they lifted the trophy in 1960.

That is in comparison to Watford’s seven previous FA Cup semis, only one of which they have won to give them the joint-lowest progression rate alongside Fulham.

Neither of these sides would have expected to be in with a shot of cup glory this term. In a battle on two fronts, today’s match will have the feel of a final in many ways to supporters of both clubs.

Designated home side Watford are sweating on the fitness of Roberto Pereyra and Isaac Success for this weekend’s showdown, suffering from hip and knee injuries respectively.

Pereyra has been key to the Hornets’ success this term, starting 29 of their 32 Premier League matches, and Gracia will be desperate to get the Argentinian attacker back to full fitness.

Wolves have no fresh injury concerns for today’s match, meanwhile, maintaining their reputation as the fittest side in the division.

Barca Beat Atletico 2-0, Go 11 Points Clear Barcelona yesterday moved 11 points clear at the top of La Liga after two late goals ended the stubborn resistance of Atletico Madrid, who had Diego Costa sent off in the first half.

Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi scored superb goals to leave Barca huge favourites to win a fifth title in seven years.

Former Chelsea striker Costa was shown a straight red card for abusing referee Jesus Gil Manzano in the 27th minute. And Suarez and Messi made Atletico pay.

For most of the game, it looked like Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak would be the hero to counteract Costa’s villainy, making a string of superb saves to keep Barca out.

But with five minutes remaining, former Liverpool striker Suarez bent in a low shot from 25 yards that beat the Slovenian keeper and flicked in off the base of the post.

Just 60 seconds later, Messi was played though down the right, cut inside two

defenders and beat Oblak with a low shot for his 33rd league goal of the season.

Diego Simeone’s side were once again superbly organised, and had to be after Costa’s latest moment of ill discipline. Apparently angered by Manzano’s decision not to play an advantage, the Spain international confronted the referee and was shown a straight red card.

Several players were involved in an ensuing altercation, with Gerard Pique eventually ensuring that Costa left the field.

Left-back Jordi Alba had already hit the post after a glorious pass from Messi, and Oblak kept out Philippe Coutinho, Messi and substitute Malcom in another fine display.

He eventually made eight saves.

Atleti’s one good chance came as Rodrigo headed a free-kick over with 15 minutes left.

But Suarez and Messi then struck to leave Simeone’s side seemingly in a race with city rivals Real for second place.

The crowd of 92,453 chanted Champions after late goals from Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi

Bayern Thrash Dortmund 5-0 in Top of Table Clash Arsenal Set to Go Third at Everton German champions Bayern Munich thrashed title rivals Borussia Dortmund to move back to the top of the Bundesliga with six games remaining.

Dortmund, who were two points clear heading into this match, were shell-shocked following a ruthless first-half display from the hosts.

Goals from Robert Lewandowski, Mats Hummels, Serge Gnabry and Javi Martinez gave Bayern a 4-0 lead at half-time.

Bayern are chasing a seventh consecutive Bundesliga title. In a showdown described as the “biggest in Europe this season”, Dortmund’s title hopes suffered a blow and extended their losing streak at the Allianz Arena to five games.

At the start of December, the title race looked to be over with Dortmund nine points clear at the top, but Bayern took advantage of the stuttering form of their rivals to claw back the deficit.

And as if intended as a timely reminder of Bayern’s pedigree, Lewandowski became the second-fastest player to score 200 goals in the German top flight, doing so in 284 games.

His Bayern side are aiming to win a 29th league

title and could add the German Cup after reaching the semi-finals with a victory over second-division side Heidenheim.

Dortmund’s free-flowing football had propelled them to the top of the table with seven games remaining but they were taught a lesson by a Bayern side hungry to retain their title.

There weren’t any initial signs of a collapse - midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud hit the outside of the post within eight minutes as Dortmund looked bright.

RESULTS & FIXTURES

Newcastle

0–1

Man City

1–0

Crystal Palace Brighton

Juventus

2-1

AC Milan

Barcelona

2-0

Atletico Madrid

Bayern Munich

5-0

Dortmund

Everton

v

Arsenal

2:05pm

Watford

v

Wolves

4pm

Granit Xhaka and Laurent Koscielny face late fitness tests for Arsenal’s trip to Everton today as the Gunners look to leapfrog Spurs into third place in the Premiership.

Defender Koscielny (bruised foot) and midfielder Xhaka (groin) will be assessed while Lucas Torreira is suspended.

However, midfielder Aaron Ramsey is expected to be available after training on Friday following a groin issue.

With Tottenham and Manchester United not in action this weekend, the Gunners can strengthen their place in the top four in the Premier League with victory. A win would see them move up to third, two points above Spurs.

Manager Unai Emery said: “Each match is very important for that. If we win we are third. We want to win so we can hold this position. But it is a long way.

“We need to be positive but also realistic.

Realistically, Sunday is a very big challenge.”

Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck are long-term absentees for Arsenal.

Everton have no fresh injury concerns as they look for a third win in a row. Defender Yerry Mina misses out with a thigh injury while Marco Silva says goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is in the right frame of mind to face Arsenal after being involved in a scuffle last weekend.

“He has had full focus during the week to prepare for the next match,” said Silva.

Everton have lost seven of their last eight Premier League meetings with Arsenal (W1), including the last four in a row. They last lost five consecutively against the Gunners between May 1998 and April 2000.

Arsenal have beaten Everton 97 times in league matches - more than any side has beaten another in English Football League history.

Arsenal have scored more Premier League goals against Everton (107) than any side has against another in the competition’s history.

Everton’s victory against Chelsea in their last home game ended a run of 25 Premier League games without a victory against ‘big six’ sides.

5 ) * 4 % ": t SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019

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MISSILE

Sanwo-Olu to Security Agents “A situation where men and officers of the police and indeed any security organization will willfully cut down the lives of our youths is unacceptable. We should all speak against it. We must all rise against it” – Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor-elect of Lagos state,speaking on Saturday during a condolence visit to the family of Kolade Johnson who was killed by police in Lagos.

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Political Wars and Collateral Damage

A

n interesting and recurring debate in our democratic experience of the last 20 years has been: how can we wage the anticorruption war without the suspicion of selective justice and political vendetta? Justice Walter Onnoghen, the embattled chief justice of Nigeria, has just fallen on his sword after three months of intense controversy over alleged infractions. Ordinarily, we should not be arguing at all over the allegations against him. Failing to declare his assets as and when due is already a breach of the law and it is enough to unseat him.

There is no mitigation for “I forgot”. The punishment is written in black and white.

It should normally be cut and dried. There was a time the Code of Conduct law allowed “I made a mistake” but it has since been amended.

However, those sympathetic to Onnoghen argue that his ouster had nothing to do with his bank accounts and estacode, and that he is only a casualty of politics, triggered by the warfare between Governor Nyesom Wike and Amaechi in Rivers state. Onnoghen was believed to have taken sides. They say if Onnoghen’s case was simply about bank accounts, how many Nigerian judges will remain on the bench? Public officers receive payments into their personal accounts from sources that, if made public, could result in a scandal. Those who question the anti-graft war often ask why the bank accounts of other judges were not similarly scrutinised. They even allege that the EFCC masked the names of some lawyers who paid “wedding support” into Onnoghen’s accounts.

People have been asking questions about how APC financed its own electioneering and why most of those arrested by the EFCC were PDP supporters. I certainly do not have the answers. I can only say that these are some of the contradictions that the anti-graft war has had to contend with over the years, especially under President Muhammadu Buhari. My default position has always been that as long as the accusations against you are not fabricated, then you have to defend yourself, no matter your political affiliation or persuasion. But even that position is problematic because if two people commit a similar offence and only one is punished because of their political leaning, the essence of crime and punishment is defeated. People will easily figure out how to escape justice.

In another case, Mr. Paul Usoro, a senior advocate of Nigeria, has been in the eye of the storm for a while. In the run-up to his election as the president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in August 2018, quite a number of negative media reports began to swarm around him. He soon found himself in the net of the EFCC over allegations of money laundering. I have not been following the matter closely, but the headline that trended for a while was the N1.1 billion payment to his law firm’s account by the Akwa Ibom state government. In another story, N300 million was said to have been paid into the firm’s account by Chief Udom Emmanuel, the governor of Akwa Ibom state. In all, the EFCC is accusing him of

Onnoghen

laundering N1.4bn.

Usoro has denied the allegations of money laundering and will soon have his day in court. From snippets of his explanations I have read here and there, Usoro has continued to insist that the N1.1bn is “legitimate earning” by his law firm for legal services rendered to the Akwa Ibom state government dating back to the days of Chief Godswill Akpabio, who was governor from 2007-2015. He said the payments were made in tranches over a period of two years and not at once as being portrayed in the media. He also said the N300m payment from Emmanuel was not from state coffers and it was to settle the fees of the lawyers in the team that represented the governor in post-election litigation all the way from the petitions tribunal to the Supreme Court.

Why then would the EFCC just wake up one morning and pick on Usoro? Is there smoke without fire? That is the question people like me would love to ask. There may be fire and there may be smoke, but Usoro alleges that the fire is purely political and the smoke cannot be money laundering.

He said he is a victim of political vendetta.

Having represented Senator Bukola Saraki in the false asset declaration case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Usoro will naturally believe that the EFCC has come for him in vengeance, especially as Saraki won the case. It also does not help matters that the senate, under Saraki, repeatedly refused to confirm Mr. Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of the EFCC. Magu has been acting chairman for over three years.

Except the in-coming senate does the needful, Magu may end up serving a full four-year term without confirmation. Many of us believe that the senate refused to confirm him because of the way he has been “dealing” with a section of the political class since he was appointed. Typically, senate confirmation hearings are a joke. “Take a bow” is a popular line in the red chamber. I remember a senator ridiculously asking Mr Rotimi Amaechi at his screening in 2015: “How did you give a bloody nose to the PDP in the general election?” (I rephrased it). But when it came to Magu, the senators suddenly became diligent and decided that he failed screening. Regardless, Magu could

still have been cleared if they wanted, going by the character of senate screenings.

Nevertheless, Usoro’s matter is already in court, so there is an extent to which I can comment. In the end, the courts will listen to the lawyers, examine the facts and make a pronouncement. We just have to be patient. I must confess I happen to be one of the supporters of Magu because of the way he has been touching hitherto untouchable elements in the society. However, I am also intelligent enough to know that he needs to improve on his mode of operation. I am most worried when people’s reputation has been destroyed in the process and they spend years trying to clear their names.

They may be finally acquitted, but those who heard the beginning of it may not bother to wait for the conclusion.

The most painful thing, in my view, is when you are wrongly accused or the facts are deliberately twisted just to achieve a political end. Your name is ruined even if, legally speaking, nothing could be proved against you. An example that easily comes to mind is the ouster of Mrs Patricia Etteh as speaker of the house of representatives in October 2007 after she had spent just four months in the saddle. She had set the record as the first (and only) female speaker in the history of Nigeria, but some people were resistant to the idea that both chambers of the national assembly were being led by people of the same religion.

Also, some conservatives could not stomach subjecting themselves to the leadership of a woman. They moved against her.

Hon. Farouk Lawan led an “Integrity Group” that cooked up allegations of fraud against her. They said she illegally awarded contracts of N628million for the renovation of her official residence and that of her deputy. She was also accused of buying 12 cars. She was forced to quit and Hon. Dimeji Bankole was installed for religious balancing in the leadership of the national assembly. How many Nigerians today know that Etteh did not commit any offence, that she awarded no contracts (that’s the job of the national assembly tenders board, chaired by the senate president), and that she did not steal a kobo? Most importantly, how many Nigerians know that the house apologised to Etteh at its last sitting in 2011, saying there was no fraud? That’s the part that pains me the most.

Unfortunately, no matter how political we think corruption accusations are and the resultant collateral damage, the accused must still defend themselves. In a developing country and a developing democracy such as ours, it is very difficult for the government to resist the temptation of picking and choosing who to go after. It is also human to spare your supporters and target your opponents.

Since the EFCC was established in 2004, those at the receiving end have always complained about political vendetta. The good thing, I have to point out, is that the judiciary is there to deliver justice.

The accused, as in the cases of Onnoghen and Usoro, have to defend themselves, no matter how strong the suspicion of political motive. The bigger tragedy would be if the judiciary itself is too cowed to do the right thing. That, much more than vendetta, is what should worry us.

And Four Other Things…

CITIZEN KOLADE Many police officers, especially those of the SARS variant, have been killing innocent citizens for fun and getting away with, but Olalekan Ogunyemi, an inspector, might have pulled the trigger on himself when he allegedly murdered Kolade Johnson on Sunday, March 31. The hapless young man had gone to watch a football match at a viewing centre when his life was reportedly terminated by Ogunyemi who was looking for “cultists” — that is, anybody with tattoo, torn jeans or dreadlocks, according to police’s definition. My earnest prayer is that the killing of Citizen Kolade will finally lead to reforms on the use of firearms by the police. If not, Kolade’s death would be in vain. Tragic.

RIVERS OF BLOOD So after all the maiming and the killings, military occupation and unprecedented delay in the official announcement of results, Chief Nyesom Wike of the PDP has been re-elected as governor of Rivers state. It always seemed to me that Wike was going to win no matter what the federal forces did, although we must also not discount the fact that if APC had been allowed to field a candidate, it would have been tougher for Wike. What a pity that so many people needlessly lost their lives in the deadly battle between erstwhile best friends — Wike and Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation — for the soul of one of Nigeria’s richest states. Depressing.

HOW CAN? The next senate president or speaker should be a Christian, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

This, it said, is in keeping with the tradition of the national assembly since the return democracy in 1999. There is a small error of fact though: in 2007, David Mark and Patricia Etteh were senate president and speaker respectively. Indeed, in the second republic, we had Joseph Wayas and Edwin Ume-Ezeoke (later Benjamin Chaha) as senate president and speaker. In the third republic, Iyorchia Ayu (later Ameh Ebute) and Agunwa Anekwe held those positions.

These were all Christians. Who did it help?

While I normally favour “balancing”, I will not kill for it. Diversion.

AND FINALLY… We might have finally found the solution to crimes such as kidnapping and banditry.

Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna was driving on the road between Abuja and Kaduna when his motorcade ran into an operation by kidnappers at Akilubu village.

His security team quickly intervened and the criminals fled while their wounded victims were taken to the hospital. That gave me an idea. Can our governors be driving around their states everyday and blaring siren at full volume to scare away robbers, kidnappers and other miscreants?

It seems to work wonders. Since no kidnapper dare move close to a governor’s convoy, the citizens can enjoy from the executive privilege. Immunity.

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