SUNDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2021

Buhari’s Ecological Interventions Unprecedented, Says Mustapha Daji Sani in Yola Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has said for the last five years, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has given out 280 ecological intervention

projects, noting that such feats were unprecedented in the history of the country.

The SGF disclosed this yesterday at the commissioning and handing over of road and storm water drainage at the Federal College of Education (FCE) Yola, Adamawa State,

noting that the Buhari-led federal government has resolved to carry along all parts of Nigeria in project implementation According to him, so far, 210 of the projects had been completed and commissioned while the rest were at various

stages of completion.

The road and storm water drainage inaugurated yesterday at the federal college of education were executed by the Ecological Fund Office (EFO), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

“The approval of this project

by Mr. President is testimony to the present administration’s promise that no part of the country will suffer any neglect” The SGF also revalidated his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress

(APC), adding that the exercise provided a unique opportunity to rebuild the party’s strength ahead of 2023 general polls.

"This is a very important exercise, because what we are basically doing is refreshing Continued on page 5

Trump Acquitted for Second Time Following Historic Senate Trial… Page 9 Sunday 14 February, 2021 Vol 26. No 9443

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Presidency Proposes Nationwide Town Hall Meetings over Insecurity NSA, security chiefs to meet govs, religious leaders, women, youth groups, others Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The presidency has proposed town hall meetings in the six geo-political zones in response to the growing security

challenges in the country. It says it expects to generate ideas on the way forward from the meetings.

A statement by the Office of the National Security Adviser

(ONSA) said to work out the modalities of the meeting, the federal government would confer with state governors, religious leaders, women, and youth groups. ONSA said the

move was in furtherance of the government’s commitment to addressing the multiple security threats facing Nigeria. The statement said the National Security

Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), had convened a meeting of the General Security Appraisal Committee (GSAC) on February 11. The meeting,

which was attended by the service chiefs and heads of law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies, discussed Continued on page 5

InfraCo May Be Game Changer for Nigeria on Infrastructure Development Right appointment critical to company's success, say experts Tobi Soniyi With the right appointment, the recently established infrastructure company by President Muhammadu Buhari which is set to take off with an initial seed capital of N1 trillion may well be a game changer for Nigeria's development efforts. The take off funds is to be provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Pension Funds, and Africa Finance Corporation.

According to financial experts: “It is a great idea to have such a company dedicated purposely for infrastructure advancement.

However to achieve the lofty idea behind its establishment, the key to its success is getting the right appointments in place to run it. A person with the right skills set, and well verse in infrastructure development and innovative

skills to raise funding along side a team equally competent and focused.”

They further emphasised that with the right appointment to lead the company, the N1 trillion seed capital may well rise in value to over N15 trillion if it's well structured and managed.

The infrastructure company is expected to be wholly infrastructure focused and to help facilitate the development of critical infrastructure development in the country.

The company will also be able to issue bonds to meet critical financing needs.

Going by the statement announcing its establishment issued by Bashir Ahmad, Personal Assistant on New Media to President Buhari,, the company is designed to deliver infrastructure from farm gates to the market.

The President had in a Continued on page 8

I'M A BONAFIDE MEMBER OF OUR PARTY...

L-R: MD/CEO of the Federal Housing Authority, Senator Gbenga Ashafa; Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola,SAN; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Interventions and National Youth Leader, APC Extraordinary Convention and Caretaker Committee,Mr Ismaeel Ahmed and Chairman of Registration Committee of Lagos State, Dr Mohammed Bashir, shortly after Fahola's revalidation of membership at Ward G3, Unit E002, State Junior Grammar School, Itolo Street, Surulere, Lagos, Friday

Lagos Charges Lekki Toll Gate Protesters with Breach of Peace, Quarantine Act…Page 10

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Oyo Imposes Curfew on Shasha Community, Closes Market indefinitely Fayemi condemns Yoruba-Hausa clash, canvasses dialogue Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan Oyo State Government yesterday ordered the indefinite closure of Shasha market, in Akinyele Local Government Area, following a crisis that erupted since Thursday.

The government also imposed dusk till dawn curfew on the community.

A statement by Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, said the governor took the steps to forestall a further breakdown of law and order in the area.

Also in his reaction, Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, condemned the violent clash between some Yoruba and Hausa traders in Shasha market, Ibadan.

Fayemi in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, on Saturday, called on the warring traders to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.

He sympathised with the government and people of Oyo State, especially families that have lost lives and properties during the violent clash.

Three persons were feared dead at the market and its environs when violent clashes erupted between Yoruba and Hausa traders in the early hours of Friday. The Yoruba were said to be reacting to the death of a cobbler, who was attacked with dangerous weapons by a Hausa trader in the market on Thursday.

Adisa said in the statement that the curfew would run from 6pm to 7am. The statement warned residents of the affected area to go about their legitimate businesses peacefully, as anyone caught perpetrating violence would face the wrath of the law.

The statement read, “His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde has directed the immediate closure of Shasha market indefinitely following reports of a breach of peace in the area. The governor has also approved the imposition of curfew on Shasha. It will run from 6pm to 7am.

“Residents of the affected area are enjoined to go about their legitimate businesses within the hours stipulated by the law.

Anyone caught disrupting the peace of the community will be made to face the wrath of the law.”

Meanwhile, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1, has urged the warring groups to sheathe their swords and embrace an amicable settlement of their differences. The monarch, who bemoaned the high level of insecurity in the country in recent times, spoke in Ibadan on Saturday after holding virtual meetings with relevant stakeholders, including Hausa/ Fulani leaders in the ancient city.

Oba Adetunji, in a statement by his Personal Assistant/ Director of Media and Publicity,

Mr. Adeola Oloko, said for all citizens to truly belong to the nation called Nigeria, people must eschew violence and bitterness and ensure that minor conflicts do not degenerate to unnecessary tension.

The first class monarch said, “Many of our compatriots have been living with each other for a long time. We grow up and attend schools together. People from diverse ethnic groups do inter-marry and give birth to lovely children.”

Oba Adetunji stated that it was a surprise to him that crisis could break out in Sasa and culminate in large-scale destruction, such as the burning of property belonging to neighbours.

“Immediately the report of the crisis got to us in the palace yesterday, the governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, was the first person I called and we have his promise that appropriate action would be taken, as sinners would not go unpunished.”

The monarch urged the governor to consider the possibility of compensating all those affected by the crisis. A s.

Fayemi Condemns Clash Governor Fayemi said regardless of the cause of the disagreement that led to the mayhem, a peaceful resolution of the conflict

remains the best option.

He urged the Yoruba and Hausa raders in the area and in different parts of the country to see themselves as brothers and partners in progress, adding that disagreements should not always be allowed to degenerate into violence, maiming and killing.

The Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), warned that the Shasha crisis, if not curtailed, could ignite pockets of crises in different parts of the country, adding that that could be disastrous for the country.

“We do not need any act of violence leading to unnecessary death of citizens. Now is the time for the leadership of various

ethnic nationalities, trading groups and the security agencies to halt the orgy of violence in Shasha area and work towards ensuring peace in different parts of the country.

“We will enjoy enduring peace and progress through dialogue, mutual respect and understanding for one another.

Violence and attendant death and destruction would only spell doom for the country.

“While commending Governor Makinde for his timely intervention in the crisis, we also express our sympathy to families of the victims as well as those who have lost properties and businesses during the crisis.”, Fayemi added.

DOWN TO EARTH...

Lagos State Governor, Babaji Sanwo-Olu takes time out of his tour to buy roasted plantain (boli) by the road side in Bariga... yesterday

PRESIDENCY PROPOSES NATIONWIDE TOWN HALL MEETINGS OVER INSECURITY the threats of kidnapping, terrorism, banditry, armed robbery and the consequences of these threats on lives and property.

The NSA said as part of a renewed commitment to make Nigeria safe and secure, the GSAC meeting resolved to strengthen inter-agency coordination, stakeholders’ engagement, and consultation in order to find lasting solutions

to the multiple security threats.

According to the statement, “Working with the service chiefs and heads of security and intelligence agencies, the NSA is coordinating a Wholeof-Government and Whole-of Society approach that cuts across the legislature, judiciary, ministries and departments, states and local governments and the civil society to ensure that every stakeholder plays a

role in securing our towns and villages.

“The NSA believes that addressing these threats call for the deployment of all national assets, including the cooperation of all Nigerians.

“To that extent, the National Security Adviser will be leading a delegation of heads of federal law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies to the geo-political zones to hold

town halls meeting with the state governors, traditional and religious leaders, members of the legislature, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), youth and women organisations.”

The meetings, the statement said, are expected to provide direct assessment of the security situation, generate local feedback and recommendations, encourage geo-political synchronisation of effort among states, and create

a pathway to lasting peace and security.

The ONSA said the first of the town hall meetings had been scheduled to hold in Kaduna State on February 15 with the seven governors of the Northwest states.

The statement further said, "The federal government is deeply concerned about the current spate of criminal activities and is taking major steps to

strengthen the capacity of security agencies, while upgrading the security architecture, and implementing a multi-pronged strategy that involves political, humanitarian, economic and security measures.

"The federal government is equally committed to working with the states and community leaders to strengthen peace, security and development in all parts of the country.”

and that responsibility includes renewing your membership and making sure that you are a formidable party member.

“Because time will come when the basics will be asked including what is your membership status. I came all the way from Abuja today. I didn’t do any work, because I needed to come here to revalidate my membership as a bonafide founding member of this party,” he said.

He recalled that at the time

the party was formed, “I was the deputy national chairman of one of the legacy parties, so I’ m a founding member.

"This exercise is very important. So, it is not a useless exercise. It is a credible exercise. We need to refresh our membership; we need to add more members to open up the doors for new members to come in, so as to build a formidable force that can guarantee us the victory that we desire in 2023,” Mustapha maintained.

BUHARI'S ECOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS UNPRECEDENTED, SAYS MUSTAPHA the party by bringing in new members and also asking those that are still members to revalidate their membership, because in the course of the last six years, so many things have happened and we cannot claim that the members that started with us are still part of us.

“The exercise is so to recruit new members and give old members the opportunity to revalidate their membership and any party that does not have strong membership base at

the polling station level, ward level, local government level and state level cannot claim to be truly a party that is reflecting the yearnings of the people of the country.

"I’m commending the leadership of the party for this exercise, because it is very important that we know the members we have, who are the new ones that we have received, who will have an opportunity of exercising their franchise of the same level with even the

old members.

“So, I want to commend this exercise and urge our people in Adamawa to come out in their great numbers to ensure that they register, because this will determine what will happen in 2023 and into the future we need to build a solid membership,” he said.

Asked to comment on the sentiments by some high ranking officers of the party, who were of the opinion that the exercise was an illegality,

Mustapha said every party has processes of how to refresh its membership and it’s very important even in religious organizations.

“You find out that every year you subscribe afresh by paying some dues in our tribal unions. Every year you subscribe afresh in paying their dues, it is just a process of refreshing the membership and getting the members to be conscious of the fact that they have a responsibility to the party

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NEWS

Don’t Set Nigeria on Fire, NBA, Falana, Odinkalu Warn Bauchi Governor Say his statement an invitation to anarchy

Tobi Soniyi, George Okoh in Makurdi and Sylvester Idowu in Warri For saying herdsmen were justified to bear arms, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State yesterday came under heavy criticism, with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and some senior members of the bar calling on him to withdraw the statement in order not to throw the country into chaos.

NBA President Olumide Akpata, Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), and former Chairman of the Governing Council of National Human Rights Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, in separate interviews said the governor crossed the line, when he said herdsmen bore arms to defend themselves from cattle rustlers.

Special Adviser, Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Benue State, Mr. Ken Achabo, also yesterday described Mohammed's justification of herdsmen carrying arms as an open invitation to anarchy in the country.

They all warned that such a statement should not come from someone holding an executive position as governor of a state.

According to them, allowing herdsmen to bear arms when they have not been issued licence to do so is capable of throwing the country into disorder, as other citizens, too, would be justified to exercise their rights to defend themselves.

Akpata said, “If the governor of Bauchi is saying everyone should carry arms to protect themselves, that flies in the face of the law. The law is clear on who can carry arms and the regulations and control of arms.

“His statement is a clear disregard for the law, which the NBA has been drawing attention to. The law is very clear on who can carry arms and who cannot. When leaders make such statements, they are calling for anarchy. If one group can carry arms, the other group would say, why not me?

“People in authority should be mindful of what they say. They must be careful with what they say, because people are listening.

Our people take their cue from their leaders. When they hear or see what their leaders do, they believe it is okay to follow suit. Leaders must be extremely careful. The NBA will not subscribe to allowing people, who are not legally empowered to carry arms, to do so."

Fálànà called on Mohammed to immediately withdraw his statement, stating that nobody in Nigeria has the power to bear AK47 and other arms and ammunition without a licence issued by the appropriate authorities under the Fire Arms Act. He said, "Since there is no

REVALIDATED AS APC MEMBERS...

Former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and his wife, Bolanle display their new membership cards after their registration at his country home in Epe... yesterday evidence that the cattle rearers carrying AK-47 rifles are authorised by the president, the statement credited to the governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, is an invitation to and a justification of criminality. It is tantamount to an executive justification of criminality."

Fálànà warned that except the members of the ruling class called themselves to order, they could plunge the country into another civil war.

“If cattle rearers are encouraged to bear arms, those who are being attacked with those arms have the right to defend themselves,” he said.

"They have the right to acquire their own weapons to defend themselves in exercise of the right to self-defence guaranteed

by Section 33 of the Nigerian constitution."

Fálànà called on the governor to withdraw his statement before other citizens acquired their own weapons to defend themselves and their families.

He quoted profusely from the Firearms Act Cap R.11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, specifically citing Section 3, which provides as follows: “No person shall have in his possession or under his control any firearm of one of the categories specified in Part I of the Schedule to this Act (in this Act referred to as a ‘prohibited firearm’) except

in accordance with a licence granted by the President acting in his discretion.

“4. Personal firearms: No person shall have in his possession or under his control any firearm of one of the categories specified in Part II of the Schedule to this Act (in this Act referred to as a ‘personal firearm’) except in accordance with a licence granted in respect thereof by the Inspector-General of Police, which licence shall be granted or refused in accordance with principles decided upon by the President."

Odinkalu, on his part, said everything about the governor’s statement was offensive.

According to him, "First, he deliberately lies about the contents of the constitution in order to justify a non-existent right of herdsmen to carry arms and procure more AK-47s.

"Second, he says the government has failed Fulani herdsmen, implicitly suggesting the government has been good to others at their expense, when the reverse is, in fact, the truth.

"Third, he speaks like he is not government, when, indeed, he has embodied and been in government at all levels since 1999. Fourth, he tries to glamorise these so-called forestworshipping herders like they are modern day saviours. He has not heard of forest reserves, obviously.

“By the way, these are the same herders that the same northern governors at whose forum he was speaking told us four years ago were all foreigners. Everything about what Bala Mohammed did in that clip is venal. He should be ashamed of himself."

For Achabo, there was no legal and political basis for what the Bauchi State governor said, because, according to him, no provision of the Nigerian constitution allowed private individuals to own and openly carry sophisticated weapons. He decried the wanton destruction of lives and property perpetrated by the arms-bearing herdsmen, especially, in Benue State, accusing them of rape, maiming, killings, and destruction of farmlands and farm produce. He said this had rendered thousands of people homeless and made them internally displaced persons in their own homeland.

Achabo wondered why Mohammed would support herdsmen to carry sophisticated arms but condemn the call on the federal government

by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State for a state of emergency on the security situation in the country.

“By the position of Governor Mohammed of Bauchi State, Dr. Samuel Ortom was right to call for the establishment of state police and for citizens of Nigeria to be allowed to carry

firearms for protection," he said.

Achabo appealed to the people of Benue State to remain calm and not take laws into their hands, as Ortom was not resting on his oars to ensure total security of lives and property of the populace. He appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to support the open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law to engender peace and social coexistence.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a former Delta State governorship aspirant, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, also condemned Mohammed for rationalising arms bearing by herders. Onuesoke, however, supported Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai's position that bandits should not be offered money but eliminated.

Addressing a press conference in Asaba, the state capital, Onuesoke said it was not only shocking but also embarrassing for a governor, who is the chief security officer of a state, to make such statement, especially at this time of widespread insecurity across the country.

Onuesoke also reminded Mohammed of the Nigerian Firearms Act (1990), which provides "that no person shall have in his possession or under his control any firearm or ammunition except such person has a license from the President or from the Inspector

General of Police".

He stated, “If the governor says because of the hazard of their business, then the okada riders, the keke riders, the taxi drivers, farmers, traders and, in short, all Nigerians should carry AK-47, because there is no business without hazard.”

Onuesoke said what was expected of Mohammed was to caution the herdsmen to respect the law and the people on whose land they do business, instead of forcefully occupying their lands, terrorising innocent citizens and molesting their women.

“As long as those in authority in the north continue to make this kind of statements, the herders’ crisis will continue to aggravate and embolden these people to do the kind of criminal activities that they are doing,” Onuesoke said.

Supporting the call by ElRufai to confront bandits headon, Onuesoke said, "Members of this group destroy human life, create a severe environment that is not conducive for investment.

Farmers are too scared to go for farming, which is impacting negatively on food supplies in our nation.

“These gangs must be removed from the soil of our dear nation. Do we have to wait until our nation gets to the point of no return? Definitely, no! Time to take the fight to them.”

often lamented that it inherited dilapidated infrastructure when it came to office in 2015.

The President had since continued to invest in railway and roads construction which are considered critical infrastructures needed to kick start the nation's economy.

The federal government

under Buhari is exploring innovative ways to expand investments to stimulate recovery.

In a report it released last year's November, Moody’s Investors Service said Nigeria required at least $3 trillion over 30 years to close its infrastructure deficit.

INFRACO MAY BE GAME CHANGER FOR NIGERIA ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT follow-up tweet on Twitter, disclosed that InfraCo will be one of the premier infrastructure finance entities in Africa and will be wholly dedicated to Nigeria’s infrastructure development.

THISDAY checks reveal the model of the company which was developed with concept designs from the

National Economic Council (NEC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria, is expected to play a crucial role in reinvigorating the infrastructure growth across all sectors of national economy.

Buhari noted that the board of the InfraCo will be chaired by the CBN Governor, while the board will include the

MD of NSIA; President of Africa Finance Corporation, representatives of Nigerian Governors Forum and Ministry of Finance, and three independent directors from the private sector.

The Infra-Co will finance public asset development, facilitate infrastructure

rehabilitation and reconstruction and also drive investments in cutting-edge infrastructure projects for roads, rail, power and other key sectors.

The company will also be free to go to the capital market to raise money.

The Buhari government has

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Trump Acquitted for Second Time Following Historic Senate Trial The Senate yesterday acquitted former President Donald Trump by 57-43 in his second impeachment trial which ended on Saturday, voting that Trump was not guilty of inciting the deadly January 6 riots at the Capitol.

The move to the trial's finishing stages was a final twist after the House managers' surprise request for witnesses had appeared to extend the trial indefinitely. The Senate voted 55 to 45 to consider witnesses -- with five Republican joining Democrats -- after the managers said they wanted to hear from Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, a Washington Republican who had told CNN new details about House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's phone call with Trump. But after several hours of intense negotiations between Senate leaders, the managers and Trump's legal team, the managers agreed to enter Herrera Beutler's statement into the trial record as evidence and move forward without hearing from witnesses.

On Saturday morning, Democratic senators had expected House managers to move past witnesses onto closing arguments and a final vote. But the lead impeachment manager, Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, announced when the trial got underway that the managers

wanted to subpoena Herrera Beutler about her knowledge of McCarthy's phone call, following a CNN report Friday.

Herrera Beutler, one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump last month, confirmed in a statement Friday that McCarthy said the President told him on the call, "'Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.'"

The trial recessed after the witness vote and Senate leaders tried to hash out the next steps.

Calling witnesses could have opened up the trial to a lengthy new phase, as Trump's team vowed to call hundreds of witnesses in response, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Republican senators demanded that each side receive an equal number of votes.

Closing the House managers argument, Raskin played to senators' sense of history in urging them to convict the former President for inciting the rioters to attack the Capitol on January 6 and failing to stop them after the violence had unfolded "This is almost certainly how you will be remembered by history," Raskin said. "That might not be fair. It really might not be fair. But none of us can escape the demands of history and destiny right now. Our reputations and our legacy will

be inextricably intertwined with what we do here, and with how you exercise your oath to do impartial justice."

Trump's lawyer Michael van der Veen argued that Trump did not incite a riot that had been preplanned, again repeating the falsehood that the rioters represented both left and right fringe groups, when video evidence and court documents conclusively show that the riot was perpetrated

by Trump supporters Concerns that calling witnesses would backfire After the last-minute decision calling for witnesses, House Democrats ultimately decided to cut a deal because of the unpredictability of how that would turn out and fears that doing so could backfire and undermine their case, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the discussions.

Democrats didn't make a decision to call Herrera Beutler to testify until shortly before the proceedings began Saturday morning, sources said.

The managers debated until nearly 3 a.m. ET Saturday morning about whether to call witnesses following news of the McCarthy call.

According to a Democrat familiar with the matter, House Democratic impeachment managers did not tell top Senate Democrats they wanted

witnesses until five minutes before the proceedings. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer didn't even know until that point, but he told the managers Friday night and Saturday morning that Senate Democrats would support whatever decision the mangers made -- and reiterated that point on a caucus call Saturday.

"After the vote, it was clear the managers had no plan," the Democrat said. "Senate Democrats gave them the votes, but the managers didn't know what their next step was."

They ultimately settled on submitting her statement to the record as long as Trump's attorney made a public statement agreeing to submit it as evidence. The reason: They believed that pushing forward with her testimony would add little beyond her statement and could potentially cost them GOP support, while dragging out the proceedings further.

GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah and Ben Sasse of Nebraska voted in favor of witnesses.

Before the vote was finalized, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said he was changing his vote to yes -- the idea being to support Trump's lawyers also calling witnesses in addition

to the managers' request.

The sources told CNN that Democrats were uncertain how Herrera Beutler's testimony would come across after she was subject to cross examination, with some concerns that she could potentially undercut their case if there were holes in her account.

Moreover, if they called other witnesses, it could also backfire. For instance,

McCarthy could provide testimony that defended Trump, undermining what they believe is a rock-solid case that Trump incited the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol, the sources said.

Plus witnesses would not ultimately change GOP senators' minds, they concluded, while hearing from witnesses could bog down the Senate for weeks and imperil President Joe Biden's agenda.

Clara Harriman (nee Edewor) Passes on

The Harriman and Edewor families have announced the passing of their matriarch, Clara Harriman (nee Edewor).

According to a family source, she died peacefully in London with family at her side, at the age of 89 on Monday 18 January 2021.

Mrs Harriman's love for family and friends, close and extended, near and far, was a priority.

A beautiful life so admirably lived and remembered by all those whose hearts she touched.

The family celebrates her life knowing she is resting in the arms of the Lord.

She was born in December

23, 1931, got married to Leslie Harrima.

She lost her husband in 1995 in Lagos. She relocated to UK in 2013.

May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

Harriman

Access Bank Petitions LPPC, LDPC, Wants Seplat Lawyers Punished Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Access Bank PLC has written the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) and the Legal Practitioners' Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), demanding the sanctioning of Mr Babajide Koku (SAN) as well as Etigwe Uwa (SAN), both lawyers to Seplat Petroleum Development Company, for alleged professional misconduct in the handling of court case between both companies.

In the petition against Koku and Uwa, the bank stated that both senior lawyers engaged in acts unbecoming of legal practitioners and contravened well established legal principles in bad faith.

Access Bank had through its receiver-manager Mr Kunle Ogunba (SAN), taken over the corporate office of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited over a debt based on a court order.

The ruling which was thereafter appealed by Seplat, had granted it leave to possess the corporate offices of Seplat and to freeze its accounts over a loan obtained by Cardinal Drilling Services Limited, which according to the bank, was utilised by Seplat.

However, the indigenous oil firm had insisted that its property could not be taken over because the loan, running into millions of dollars, was given to Cardinal Drilling and not directly to Seplat.

In the letters to both bodies, Access bank accused Koku of “Aiding and abetting his client’s engagement in acts contravening well established legal principles and illegalities all in bad faith to prevent his clients from fulfilling their corporate responsibilities.”

The bank further maintained that the senior lawyer “Engaged in acts calculated to deliberately obstruct, delay and ultimately affect the administration of justice.”

It stated that the email written conveying the execution of the order of the Court of Appeal to the bank was replete with fallacies, insisting that notwithstanding the fallacies contained, Koku failed to immediately caution his client Dr Ambrose Orjiako to refrain from instructing his company Seplat from making such misleading statements.

“It is pertinent to state that the suspension of the interlocutory injunction was to be secured by a Bank Guarantee issued in favour of

the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal in line with the ruling of the Court.

“It is indeed elementary and Mr. Jide Koku SAN, a member of the Inner Bar ought to know that the suspension of the interlocutory orders made by the trial court in FHC/L/ CS/1588/2020 shall not take effect until the lodging of the security (Bank Guarantee in favour of the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal) ordered by the Honourable Court.

“However, till date Seplat being directed by its Chairman Dr. Orjiako has failed to lodge the said bank guarantee issued in favour of the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal within 21 days of the said ruling and the office of the Deputy Chief Registrar after the requisite filing at the Court of Appeal Registry.

“Furthermore, Seplat being directed by its Chairman, Dr. Orjiako published several notices, alleging that it had repossessed its Head Office,” Access bank noted.

It added that a public notice released by Seplat was also replete with fallacies, all intended to deceive the general public and whip up public sentiment in favour of the

company.

“A close examination of the public notice will reveal this mischief particularly the fact that the said publication deliberately seeks to mislead the general public into believing that the entire building, housing companies other than Seplat was closed up, thereby portraying the bank as irrational,” it said.

The bank further stated that Uwa under the direction of Orjiako violated the interlocutory order of the Federal High Court by taking pictures inside the said asset at 12:27am when indeed the Court of Appeal delivered its ruling around 10:00am.

It argued that in the instance, the ruling delivered by the Court of Appeal has not been executed by either the bailiff/deputy Sheriff of the Court of Appeal or the Federal High Court.

“It is befuddling for Seplat being directed by its chairman to allege that the said order had been executed, save for the deployment of illegal means approved by its chairman in any such purported execution,” Access maintained.

Quoting Rule 15 (2) (a) of the Rules of Professional Conduct

for Legal Practitioners 2007, the bank said that a lawyer shall keep strictly within the law notwithstanding any contrary instruction by his client, and if the client insists on a breach of the law, the lawyer shall withdraw his service.

Flowing from the above, the bank affirmed that Koku having failed to withdraw representation of his client in breach of the law , but rather encouraged, defended and corroborated in such illegalities had breached the rules of professional conduct.

“We urge the committee to determine this instant petition in favour of the petitioner and hold that Koku is indeed guilty of professional misconduct and conducts unbecoming of a legal practitioner and proceed to sanction this conduct to serve as a deterrent to other legal practitioners,” it said.

On Uwa, Access Bank accused him of deliberately making, publishing and/or causing to be published false statements of facts and law and participating in making extra judicial statements calculated to prejudice and/ or interfere with the fair trial of a pending suit

It also said the senior lawyer aided and abetted his client's engagement in acts contravening well established legal principles and illegalities all in bad faith to prevent his clients from fulfilling their corporate responsibilities.

The bank stated that Uwa “Engaged in acts calculated to deliberately obstruct, delay and ultimately affect the administration of justice and failed to observe promises to opposing counsel thereby failing to adhere to agreements implied by such promises.

“Why did Etigwe Uwa storm the asset accompanied by heavily armed policemen while he was fully aware that the petitioner had caused to be filed a Notice of Appeal to the Supreme Court alongside an application for injunction pending appeal?

“How did Etigwe Uwa procure policemen on illegal duty to accompany him to attempt to repossess the asset in a gestapo like manner, without the mandatory Sheriffs of the Federal High Court?

“Is Etigwe Uwa’s attempt to foist the Apex Court with a situation of fait accompli a conduct becoming of a legal practitioner?,” the bank queried.

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NEWS

Lagos Charges Lekki Toll Gate Protesters with Breach of Peace, Quarantine Act

Suspects granted bail As defence minister warns against fresh protest Heavy police presence deters protesters Adegboruwa threatens to pull out of judicial panel Tobi Soniyi, Segun James, Rebecca Ejifoma in Lagos and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Lagos State Government yesterday filed charges at against ten #ENDSARS protesters arrested on Saturday even as many failed to show up for the protest amid heavy presence of police who had condoned off the Lekki Tollgate Plaza, the venue of the protest.

They were arraigned before a mobile court and were granted bail in the sum of N100,000 each.

A copy of the charge obtained by THISDAY reveals that ten suspects namely Answer Harrison (m), Adekanbi Kayode (m), Yomi Orungbamila, Anjorin Joseph Seye, Paul Terkuma (m), Dayo Keshinro (m), Belema Briggs, Anisere Sodiq (m), Olanrewaju Olonta (m) and Damilare Abímbólá were charged before the Lagos State Magistrate Court, Yaba Magisterial Division.

They were charged with three counts including breach of the peace and violation of po public health law of Lagos State.

The charges read: COUNT 1 That you the above named defendants on the 13th of February, 2021 at Lekki Toll Plaza in the Yaba Magisterial District did conspire among yourselves to commit a misdemeanor to wit conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 412 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

"COUNT II That you the above named defendants on the 13th February, 2021 at Lekki Toll Plaza in the Yaba Magisterial District been a public place gathered yourselves to harass and causing unnecessary alert and panic in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 168 (1) (é) and punishable under Section 168 (2) of Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

"COUNT III

That you the above named defendants on the 13th of February, 2021 at Lekki Toll Plaza in the Yaba Magisterial district did fail to comply with the restriction, prohibition Quarantine Law which prohibit any social gathering to avoid spreading and contacting CoronaVirus disease (COVID-19) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 5 of the Quarantine Act. Q2 of Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 as domesticated under the Public Health Law CH: P: Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

However, the charge by our correspondent was not signed and has yet to be filed probably because it was a weekend.

Our correspondents report that only fewer protesters showed up for the protest many failed to show up probably intimidated by heavy presence of security operatives.

The few who braved the heavy security presence were promptly arrested.

Also yesterday, a member of the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry into alleged police brutality, Mr Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa, SAN, said the arrest, detention and dehumanization of protesters at Lekki Toll Gate was unacceptable.

In a statement he said: "I cannot in good conscience continue to sit at any Panel of Inquiry to heal wounds and end police brutality, when fresh assaults are being perpetrated with impunity. Consequently, I am presently consulting with my constituency within the civil society, as to my continued participation in the EndSARS Judicial Panel."

The State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu had earlier ordered the immediate release of the 35 arrested #OcupyLekkiProtest demonstrators.

The protesters, with the hashtag, 'OccupyLekkiProtest', were nabbed in the early hours of Saturday February 13 after they attempted to start a fresh protest against court ruling on the toll plaza.

The CP's order came after two lawyers, Oladotun Hassan and Ayo Ademiluyi from the law firm of Femi Fálànà,

SAN, made moves to free the arrested protesters, and ensure that their fundamental human rights are not violated.

The lawyers said: “We condemn in its entirety the conduct of the Rapid Response Squad and Lagos State Special Taskforce of the Lagos State Command of the Nigerian Police Force.”

They further accused the police of foisting an atmosphere of intimidation on the ordinary citizens of our jurisdiction.

But the police allowed those protesting under the auspices of the #Defend Lagos to go ahead as they stormed the toll plaza with fliers which they threw at journalists at the tollgate The flier read;, "let's protect what the destroyers left behind while we rebuild Lagos. Join us in protecting our heritage."

Also yesterday, Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi warned against another protest at the Lekki Tollgate saying that the federal government would not allow unpatriotic elements to destabilise the country under any guise.

He said: "There is a basic responsibility of the government. That is to protect every Nigerian, whoever he is.

We always believe that given the necessary intelligence, no agent of government will sit down and fold his hand without doing something.

"This EndSARS issue, if you recall, the Minister of Information has briefed this nation and alerted that something like this is coming.

We know we are always prepared. This is our job----to ensure internal security.

"We must plan for it. We do not want to be taken by surprise. If you want us to be taken by surprise, then, there is no need to call us protectors. If EndSARS is to take place on Saturday, we will ensure that we have peaceful counter plans that we will put in place to ensure that mistakes are not made in protecting the people.

"You know the composition of the EndSARS crowd. Over 60 per cent of them are people who do not even know why they are there. They just come to take part. Some of them are rogues, some are there

to steal. They want to do whatever they think. There are few actual people.

"The genuine ones, we want to get them enlightened. They should stop doing things that will create collateral damages for the country. We need people who will seat down and use their brain. Sit down with the government and see what we can do.

"We ask them -what are your problems. In the initial one, when they said this is their problem, even Mr. President spoke. They gave 5-point demands; and they were attended to. But if some people want the country to be governed the way they want, we are not elected to serve particular people. We were elected to serve this country.

"Whoever is involved in this EndSARS issue, the military and the government will not allow it to happen. But we will be as good as any other citizen to protect this country.

"We are not going to be harsh on anybody. We will maintain the law and peace to the best of our ability.

We can use force when it is required. When you use force, we don't say you will go and start killing people.

We can use minimum force commiserate with what is seen on the ground. And that is where some people are getting it wrong.

"We can not sit down and then you shoot at somebody and we allow you to go because somebody thinks that you are one that can kill and go away. Please give us time, in this country, we are in a state where we want everybody to look up and see what he can do for this country, not what the country can do for you."

Meanwhile, a civil society organisation, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, has called for the release of all protesters arrested at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.

SERAP also said it would pursue legal actions if the arrested protesters are not immediately and unconditionally released.

“We urge Nigerian authorities and the Nigeria Police Force to immediately and unconditionally release #EndSARS protesters detained

simply for peacefully exercising their human rights.

Authorities should also cease harassing people peacefully exercising their human rights.

“The United Nations and concerned governments should press the Nigerian authorities to end the crackdown on peaceful protesters, and unconditionally release those arbitrarily detained.

“We’ll pursue appropriate legal actions if the #EndSARS protesters arbitrarily arrested simply for peacefully exercising their human rights are not immediately and unconditionally released.

Peaceful assembly is a fundamental right,” it said in a string of tweets.

Also yesterday, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome described the arrest, taking away in a Black Maria, and detention of Debo Makaroni and other peaceful protesters at the Lekki tollgate as patently illegal and totally unconstitutional.

In a.statement he issued, Ozekhome.said: "At least the Nigerian Constitution has not been abrogated by this dictatorial government of impunity. Sections 40 and 41 of the said Constitution give Debo and other Nigerians the right to peaceful assembly and association, and the right to freedom of movement.

"Even under military dictatorships, as one of the founding fathers of the CLO - the Civil Liberties Organisation - ( the first indegenous human rights organization in Nigeria founded on 15th October, 1987), I was allowed to demonstrate and protest on the streets by successive military juntas.

"Debo and the other protesters have done no wrong to protest. It has not been shown that it was violent. Is the Federal government truly saying Nigerians should no longer protest? Then, the FG should dissolve the people and select or elect another one of its choice."

Also yesterday, a member of the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry into alleged police brutality, Mr Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa, SAN, said the arrest, detention and dehumanization of

protesters at Lekki Toll Gate was unacceptable.

In his statement the senior lawyer said: "My heart is very heavy. I’m saddened and devastated. My soul is sorely troubled at this time.

"For decades before the advent of this administration, Nigerians have risked their lives, liberties, their times and their energies, their resources, to win back this country on the side of democracy and good government, from military dictatorship. Some have paid the supreme price with their lives."

Adegboruwa said he was totally overwhelmed with the images, videos and sundry evidence of police brutality of armless civilians, who ventured to protest at the Toll Gate.

He said: "In one particular video, I saw citizens of Nigeria being dehumanized, striped half naked and cramped together in a rickety bus.

This is totally unacceptable.

"While we are yet to come to terms with the events of October 20, 2020, it becomes worrisome that the security agencies have not learnt any positive lesson from those occurrences. I commend the protesters for their peaceful conduct.

"I cannot in good conscience continue to sit at any Panel of Inquiry to heal wounds and end police brutality, when fresh assaults are being perpetrated with impunity. Consequently, I am presently consulting with my constituency within the civil society, as to my continued participation in the EndSARS Judicial Panel."

Adegboruwa demanded the immediate release of all those arrested in connection with the protest.

"On no account should anything happen to any of them while in the custody of the police," he added.

He appealed for calm on all sides, in order not to escalate the worsening security situation across the land.

"I cannot fail to point out the fact that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is a product of protest and civil disobedience. Let history vindicate the just.'

Adegboruwa.

Defence Minister Tasks Governors, Others on Banditry Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Minister of Defence, MajorGeneral Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd), has tasked governors and other political office holders to go back to their localities and fight poverty through creation of employment opportunities as part of measures to contain banditry and other security concerns being experienced

in the hinterlands. Magashi spoke on Saturday in Kano during a meeting with some journalists, shortly after revalidating his All Progressives Congress (APC) membership at Galandanci Ward, Gwale Local Government Area.

The minister said, "I am the Minister of Defence and the defence of this country is entirely my responsibility. We

have the mandate to ensure that the lives and property of people are protected.

“I will also refer you to the promise Mr. President made to Nigerians in 2015, that is, security, economy and corruption. If in the process the policy has had some people, who think that they should be given independence to do what they want to do, in order

to bring this country down, so be it.

"But certainly, we cannot sit down and watch people to be talking the way they want to. Let them do their own obligation to the people.

Let all the governors go do their own obligations. They have so many things that they can do to stop this banditry and other security issues.

"But crying that we should

do that or should not do this will not solve the problem.

Let everybody go back to his people. Everybody, I mean, all political office holders should go back to their localities and see what is happening there. There is poverty, there is neglect, there is no school, no healthcare centres, nothing!

"So, if they can concentrate on that alone, I think the

nation will be better off.

But, certainly, I admire the governors saying their voices, but we will all analyse it and we will be able to come up with ideas so that the federal government will remain neutral on every issue that will divide this country.

We will not be agents that will divide this country.

Certainly, it will not come from President Buhari."

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EDITORIAL

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

INSECURITY AND THE FEDERAL CAPITAL The security agencies could do more to contain the threat of criminals

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hile the security and safety of all people in Nigeria remain the primary responsibility of the federal government, we must highlight the strategic importance of Abuja not only as the seat of power but also the home to all foreign embassies and international agencies. If the city is therefore not safe, then the conclusion would be that Nigeria is not safe. That precisely is the situation today with the rising wave of violent crimes within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). What started with occasional cases of opportunistic criminals robbing unsuspecting passengers inside commercial vehicles has since escalated with residents now harassed, brutalised and violated by bandits, kidnappers and armed robbers.

Initially, the rising When residents tide of insecurity was of the capital city confined to the satellite communities of a country not which are home to only move around low income earners. with a sense of Angry youths bereft of opportunities and foreboding and fleeing the war zone fear but also feel others in the Northeast had been uncertain about moving into communities the capacity of like Kuje and Gwagwalada that are often under the authorities attack. Perhaps nothing to deal with the exemplifies the insecurity challenge, then in the FCT than what is there is a problem currently happening at Pegi, a sleepy, serene resettlement community in Kuje area council that is fast becoming a den of Kidnappers. Almost on a daily basis, sporadic gunshots announce the arrival of either kidnappers or armed robbers. On Tuesday, gunmen suspected to be kidnappers abducted three persons along GaubeKabbi road in the same Kuje area council. The kidnappers had flagged down a pick-up van heading to a nearby farm to load charcoal and abducted the driver, his conductor and the woman who hired them.

While that axis of the FCT has become notorious for heinous crimes, nowhere can be considered safe. Not even the city centre or highbrow areas like Maitama and Asokoro where armed robbers now operate almost every

Letters to the Editor

night. There are also reports of incursions by insurgents. Last September, there was a circular from the Nigeria Customs Service alerting Abuja residents on the existence of terror cells.

“Information reaching the Comptroller General of Customs reveals the existence of Boko Haram terrorists in and around the FCT. Further reports have it that they are planning to attack some selected targets within the territory,” the circular said.

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S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS OLAWALE OLALEYE, TOBI SONIYI MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI , PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS ERIC OJEH, PATRICK EIMIUHI ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

hen residents of the capital city of a country not only move around with a sense of foreboding and fear but also feel uncertain about the capacity of the authorities to deal with the challenge, then there is a problem. It’s either the security agencies are not doing enough or their response to the challenge has been heavily compromised. More challenging is that the insecurity has since spread from the fringes to the city centre with striking regularity. In one audacious attack, gunmen opened fire on a public transport vehicle and seized some passengers. Last week, a reporter with The Punch newspapers and two others were kidnapped from their residence at Kubwa, Abuja and released days later after ransom was reportedly paid. Reports of kidnap are now almost a daily occurrence while the Abuja-Kaduna highway is still as risky as ever, despite the best efforts of the military and security agencies.

That the nation quivers under threats of unknown colouration, with sundry mischief makers prancing forward to contribute whatever they can for reasons of their own made the Senate to pass another resolution on Wednesday. But the authorities should be worried by latest developments. Debate in the senate over banditry, kidnappings, Boko Haram insurgency, herdsmen attacks, among others, nearly degenerated as many of senators clashed along ethno-religious lines. The conclusion at the end of plenary was that President Muhammadu Buhari should act to save the nation from impending anarchy.

It ought to concern the president that confidence in the security agencies is declining at a time when public confidence is rapidly shifting to sectional and regional security arrangements. There is a general apprehension that the authorities are not getting the right information concerning the security situation in the country. And where they are getting such information, they are not well processed. And even when they are, the courage to carry them through is grossly lacking. The implication is that there is no honeymoon period for the newly appointed Service Chiefs. When a government cannot guarantee the security of life and property for citizens and residents in a country, anarchy beckons.

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.

LAI MOHAMMED AND THE BURDEN OF SPOKESMANSHIP

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here is more to Lai Mohammed than meets the eye.

He is more controversial than he is understood.

And he has chalked up quite a reputation for himself as an unabridged talker. Lai does not mince his words. He says them as they erupt from his consciousness.

He could be carefree in his cadence but firm in delivery. Lai is Lai. Loved, hated, reviled, mocked and hailed all the same -- depending on the political divide.

I am one of Lai’s harshest critics.

I have a reason to be. And my position has not changed. But I would like to share my encounter with the minister of information whom I had described as ‘’the most dangerous man in Buhari’s cabinet’’ in a previous article. My meeting with the minister was scheduled for 12pm on Friday. I got to his office 30 minutes before the

time and took brief residence at the lobby. I was absorbed in surveilling my wristwatch. I had thought the minister, as it is customary with government officials, would keep me waiting for an hour or two.

Yes. I have had depressing experiences with some political leaders in this regard. Some of them lack discipline for time. They could keep you waiting as much as forever.

One actually kept me waiting for three hours.

Lai sauntered into the meeting room at exactly 12pm. I checked my time. For me, this shows respect for his guest. And it also reveals a part of the minister that has been submerged in the gale of controversies he sets off anytime he speaks. I understand the minister is disciplined when it comes to time. Some seemingly infinitesimal gestures matter. Keeping to time tells a great deal about character.

Well, we went into the business of the day. The minister spoke on an array of national issues. I asked him why the government wants to stifle free speech and press freedom by sponsoring bills against social media at the National Assembly. He explained the government’s position with a surfeit of gesticulation. Let me share a bit of what he said here.

Lai: ‘’We wrote out letters to stakeholders NUJ, Guild of Editors, Twitter, Google, and Facebook. We wrote them letters; even online editors, lets come and sit down together to regulate this platform because if we don’t, you’ll be the ultimate loser; because if your platform is described as a fake news platform, you’ll lose business; you’ll lose credibility. And we have copies of the letters. Some outrightly said they were not coming. So, even as we speak today, we are not abandoning that, we believe

that it should be all stakeholders, we are only just coordinating. We did not go to national assembly to ask for a law to regulate social media, we invited stakeholders; platform owners, practicing journalists and everybody. Yet we were rebuffed but no government will fold its arms and allow fake news and disinformation.’’ Really, considering the way social media was deployed for mass assault in the US by former President Trump, I think we need to be having conservations on how to insulate our country and its citizens from the perils of this Frankenstein technology.

The burden of the spokesperson; the spokesperson is the whipping child.

He is the patsy and chopping-block for all of government’s missteps. He takes buffeting but not plaudits. I think it takes a bit of reflection to understand the knotty position spokespersons find themselves.

Some of us will do much worse if we are in that stead.

A bit of understanding, sometimes,

is needed because we forget that the enterprise of government is heavily dependent on making tough decisions and calls that could be unpopular but not without some merits -- if we care to weigh both sides on a fair scale before falling into the lure of coordinated uproar.

Yes, the government spokesperson’s role is to argue the merits of tough decisions in favour of the government. But the error spokespersons like Lai often succumb to information dissemination and management, is the invincible tone of the “government is always right” and the brazen annotation that there is very little that the people can do about it -- which is fundamentally the instigator of the public outcry and distrust that assails government decisions.

And we must not stop holding the government and its officials to account.

It is our bounden duty as citizens.

––Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist

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OPINION

MAKING VACCINATIONS A JOYOUS CARNIVAL MOVEMENT Celebrate at supermarkets, pharmacies, churches, football fields, writes Rajendra Aneja

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o where will you enjoy the carnival, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador or Curitiba?

They are all fantastic,” exclaimed my excited secretary Angelica. I had just been transferred to Brazil. I did not know that Brazil waited the entire year, for the festivities in February. The carnival lasts officially for 10 days, for a month unofficially and for a full year in exuberant spirit. My first exposure to the Brazilian carnival in Salvador, taught me the role of music, dance, pleasure and regalia in invigorating the country.

It also educated me on the importance of making any idea a mass movement to succeed.

The Carnival spirit permeates the launch of new products in Brazil. Every launch is a call for music, song and dance. In developing countries too, new product introductions are often accompanied by music and dance in the countryside.

Joyous Spirit: The world has been through a brutal nightmare in 2020 due to Covid-19. So, the launch of the vaccines across cities and villages, whilst being administered systematically, should also be a carnival. Happy days could return. Countries which are vaccinating their populations, should make the process and the centres cheerful.

People across the world are perpetually excited to meet famous movie stars, dancers and singers. In communities which are sluggish or reluctant to take the jabs, the presence of a movie star for the day, will enthuse people to take the jab. Imagine if Tom Cruise or Scarlett Johansson took the jabs at a community centre and stayed for the day, chatting with fans. It would draw out the most reluctant residents. In Africa and Latin America, music and dance can enliven vaccination centres and lure people.

Deploy Airports, Corporations: Most international airports have massive waiting areas. Due to the pandemic, most international flights are suspended. So, the free spaces can be used for vaccinations. Airports can play vibrant music on the public address systems, to enliven the vaccinations. Similarly, trains have been suspended or are running skeleton operations in many countries. Empty railway platforms can also be deployed for vaccinations.

The corporate sector can contribute in the vaccination endeavour, after the vaccines are freely available. They can inoculate their employees in the offices itself. Prizes or cash awards could

be given to the first 10 percent of the employees who get vaccinated.

Many global events scheduled for 2020 like the Olympics in Japan, T-20 World Cup in Cricket, Expo-2020 in UAE, etc., had to be postponed due to the pandemic. After the host countries of these events are inoculated and the events proceed, there should be amplified revelries.

Mass Movement: Apart from joy, the dissemination of vaccines across countries has to become a mass movement to arrest the spread of the disease. Governments have to bond with the private sector. We need innovative thinking to vaccinate billions of citizens rapidly. We need to break a few conventions. Walgreens, the 5,000-chain pharmacies run by Walmart, has said it can deliver 10 to 12 million doses a month. These pharmacies have already inoculated a million Americans. Pharmacies can become vaccination centres. They can vaccinate through the nights.

London is experimenting with 24-hour vaccination, through the nights. Developing countries should follow this lead. In Las Vegas, a night club, Wynn Resorts, is administering 800 vaccinations daily, at its clinic, in partnership with the Nevada’s Medical University Centre. Microsoft and Starbucks are partnering to create command centres for monitoring the vaccine rollouts, through sharing technology and rollout models. UK is planning to deploy shopping malls, stadiums and even cathedrals to inoculate its citizens.

Religious Places: Commencing vaccinations at the Vatican will send a loud and clear message to the entire world. Vaccination centres should also be opened at mosques, across the world. In India, temples should become vaccination centres.

Latin America has some renowned football stadiums, including the Marcana in Rio de Janeiro, which can accommodate over 78,800

In the villages of Asia and Africa, schools can be used for inoculating the local communities. Imagine gaily decorated ‘Vaccination Vans’ playing music, accompanied by health workers, visiting clusters of villages to inoculate people as they enjoy a skit or a dance

persons. These should be used to vaccinate neighbourhood communities. If there is any resistance to the vaccination, health authorities should rope in a prominent local soccer star and make him the role model, by inoculating him first.

The Manaus Opera House, built in 1892 in Manaus, the city most severely impacted by Covid-19 in Brazil, can also be arrayed for vaccinations. If India starts inoculations at the Taj Mahal, New York at the Statue of Liberty and London at Big Ben, imagine the message of determination that goes around the world. Every national monument, with open spaces, should be deployed to save lives. If not now, then when?

Pubs and Schools, too: Health authorities can even deploy large pubs and bars for vaccination. All hyper and supermarkets should have vaccination facilities. Five-star hotels can allocate some of their larger halls, for vaccinations.

In the villages of Asia and Africa, schools can be used for inoculating the local communities. Imagine gaily decorated “Vaccination Vans” playing music, accompanied by health workers, visiting clusters of villages to inoculate people as they enjoy a skit or a dance.

Israel has many lessons in the vaccination drive. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has led the vaccination from the front. He received the vaccines at the airports personally. He was amongst the first to take the jab. He framed his injection. He visited vaccination centres to enthuse the health workers and the vaccine recipients.

Celebrate Success: Inoculating 5 to 7.8 billion people in the world, within a year or so, is an epic task. Perhaps we can deploy music, dance and creativity to make the vaccinations an exuberant mass movement. When a village or town completes its targeted inoculations, a celebration should be declared for a day.

The festivity should be accompanied by lights and crackers, to mark the milestone. Most people across the world have missed celebrating Christmas, Eid, Diwali and New Year in 2020. Brazil could have a mini-carnival, when it completes inoculating its entire population.

So, when a village, city or a nation inoculates all its citizens, it is time to light a candle or a cracker.

–– Aneja was the Managing Director of UnileverTanzania.

He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and the author of books entitled,“Rural Marketing across Countries and “Business Express”. He is a Management Consultant.

Okonjo-Iweala: A Win for Nigeria, Africa and Multilateralism Simbo Olorunfemi writes that Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General of the WTO is an unprecedented diplomatic victory for Nigeria

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hen President Buhari on June 4th, 2020 announced the withdrawal of the candidacy of Ambassador Yonov Frederick Agah, Deputy Director-General and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for the position of Director-General for the organisation, replacing him with Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, quite a few feathers were ruffled, home and abroad. At home, some could not find justification for taking out a man with such depth of experience on international trade and WTO in particular, having been with the organisation since 2005 when he was appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador to the WTO, serving as Chair of the WTO's General Council in 2011, among other notable positions.

From abroad came stiffer opposition to this replacement. For some reason, Egypt strongly felt it amounted to pulling the rug under its feet and that Nigeria was only sneaking behind to re-open the shop when the window for nomination, as mutually agreed on within the African Union, had closed. Indeed, Egypt was right to the extent that the process set in motion by the AU for coming up with an ‘African Candidate’ had lapsed before Nigeria pulled out what appeared to be a joker from her pack. Having taken the position at its summit in Niamey in July 2019 that the AU should do everything to ensure that the next Director General of the WTO is African, it was agreed that interested countries should present their candidates to the African Union by the end of November 2019.

The African Union, at its Executive Council’s 36th Ordinary Session held in February, had endorsed the candidates from Benin, Egypt and Nigeria “as the short list for the African candidates to the post of Director General of WTO and REQUESTS the Ministerial Committee on African Candidatures within the International System to consider the matter and report to the Executive Council’s 37th Ordinary session with a view to agreeing on a single African candidate.” The candidates were – Dr Agah (Nigeria), Éloi Laourou (Benin) and Abdel Hamid Mamdouh (Egypt). But then, on account of Covid-19, the AU Summit that had been scheduled to hold in Chad in July, at which a final

decision would have been ratified, had to be cancelled.

Also, whereas, the selection process for the next DG of WTO had been expected to start in December 2020, as a result of the sudden decision in May, 2020 by the Brazilian career diplomat, Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo to step down on 31st August 2020, a year before the expiry of his mandate as WTO Director-General, the General Council had to immediately launch the selection process for a new Director-General for the WTO in June, thus kick-starting a frenzy towards the emergence of a new DG, which by convention had to come through consensus among the 164 member-states.

How that development led to the decision by Nigeria to have a change of candidates, with Okonjo-Iweala who years back had been linked to the same WTO, coming to the picture, is unknown.

The point, however, remains, that Nigeria had not before then and could not have even made a formal presentation of the Agah candidacy to the WTO. Rather, what was done was a participation in the process set up by the AU, which, as earlier explained, had not reached conclusion. But understandably, Egypt, perhaps seeing itself as the favourite, buoyed by the rich resume of its candidate, a trade lawyer, with extensive experience in international trade and the WTO, having worked in different capacities within the WTO, especially within the Secretariat since joining the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the predecessor to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), in 1990, was quite miffed at the hand played by Nigeria.

But her request to the “Ministerial Committees on Candidatures to officially inform the African Group in Geneva that candidature of Ambassador Yonov Frederick Agah of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been withdrawn and disqualified, and that Mr. Abdulhameed Mamdouh of the Arab Republic of Egypt and Mr. Eloi Laourou of the Republic of Benin are currently the only two endorsed African candidates” was quite an over-reach. She cited a legal opinion by the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), purportedly given during the Ambassadorial level Ministerial Committee

on Candidatures meeting, which she said was held on June 4, “regarding Nigeria’s nomination of a new candidate to the post of WTO-DG, in which the OLC clearly highlighted that – from a legal point of view – such a nomination is not in conformity with the Executive Council decision EX.CL/Dec.1090(XXXVI), since the council’s decision has specifically endorsed the three names of candidates as submitted by the Ministerial Committee’s report after thoroughly examining the qualifications and professional experience of each of the three above mentioned candidates.”

But even if that was the opinion of the Counsel, apart from it just being another advice with no binding effect, the position canvassed and its premise upon which it stands clearly have no evidential basis in the document that Egypt makes reference to. Nothing in the Executive Council decision EX.CL/Dec.1090 (XXXVI) cited by Egypt makes mention of candidates by their names or infers that the endorsement decision was only on the basis of the qualifications and experience of these candidates.

Rather, the Council simply endorsed “the candidates from Benin, Egypt and Nigeria) as the short list for the African candidates to the post of Director General of WTO.” Also, the matter had only been referred to the “Ministerial Committee on African Candidatures within the International System to consider the matter and report to the Executive Council’s 37th Ordinary session with a view to agreeing on a single African candidate,” which, as widely reported, had not yet taken place. Indeed,Egypt had pushed the envelope further than it could have legitimately done, as the AU process was quite distinct from that of the WTO. As witnessed in the case of Kenya, non-participation in the process set up by the AU or not abiding by the procedure could not legitimately stop a country from directly participating in the process set up by the WTO. – Olorunfemi works for Hoofbeatdotcom, a Nigerian Communications Consultancy and publisher of Africa Enterprise (See concluding part of the article on www.thisdaylive.com)

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 14, 2021

15

LETTERS

T

FAREWELL, LATEEF KAYODE JAKANDE

he passage to eternal glory of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande on February 11, 2021 was a rather sad day for our democracy as he was the last man standing among the few politicians that gave genuine meaning to the now abused buzzword ‘progressives.’

He was a true disciple of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and was mentored by the Ikenne-born philosopher through the twin professions of journalism and politics.

After he left Ilesha Grammar School where he discovered his innate flair for writing which culminated in his editing the school’s magazine, he joined the services of the Daily Service in 1949. He transferred his services to the Nigerian Tribune owned by Chief Awolowo in 1953 and became its Editor-in-Chief in 1956 at the tender age of 27.

His editorials were brutally frank and pierced the soul of the then colonial authorities and wrote a widely popular column where he lent his voice to the decolonization struggle. He was instrumental to the establishment of the International Press Institute and the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.

Jakande

He initially wanted to further his education in the United Kingdom by either studying law or economics but the vicissitudes of life occasioned by paucity of funds nailed that ambition to the coffin.

The country returned to democracy in 1979 with the birth of the American-style Presidential System of government which was the hallmark of the defunct Second

Republic. He heeded the call of his kinsmen to contest the governorship primaries of the then Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). He got the ticket and went on to be elected the first civilian Governor of Lagos State, defeating heavyweights like the late Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya of the National Peoples Party fame.

The then 50-year-old governor settled down to work and faithfully implemented

the cardinal programs of the UPN in making life better for the citizenry especially the hoi polloi who have always borne the brunt of bad governance since the Union Jack was lowered.

He believed that hardworking Lagosians should own their houses and not be at the eternal mercy of shylock landlords and embarked on the construction of housing estates in Amuwo-Odofin, Dolphin, Ijaiye, Oke-afa, Abesan, Ije, Epe, Iponri, Ipaja, Abule Nla, Surulere, Iba, Ikorodu, Badagry, Anikantamo, Isolo, etc.

He ensured the construction of free primary and secondary schools across the states which made quality education affordable to the poorest of the poor as he was a firm believer in the potency of education as a poverty alleviation tool.

He established the Lagos State University with satellite campuses all over the state as well as residential quarters for its academics in Ojo and Badagry. He used his contacts as a widely travelled man to ensure that books were free as well so that the financial burden was greatly reduced on the parents. He built many roads and opened up the state which was then the political capital of the country. He was

A GLOBAL PAN DEMONIC VIA-US

D

ear reader, kindly apply King James Version of Holy Bible in a careful search out of this article. In 2019, a series of my Scriptural Paraphrases and Illustrations in Ehugbo Dialect (SPIED), was published on this tabloid. No sooner was I done publishing than the Corona Virus (COVID-19) detected in 2019, broke out. Unlike Ebola Haemorragic Fever which has remained contained in tropical Africa, COVID-19 was soon to take on a global dimension and was declared ‘Pandemic’.

The disease not only led to government shut down, it shut down Churches. Both the Presbytery and the Holy Roman Catholic Church of God as well as the Market (Synagogue of Satan) were shut down Mk11:15, Rev2:9. The air-borne disease, which we are told is a variant of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), continues to confound the logic of science and reason of philosophy such that we inevitably have to concede to the cosmic realm.

The truth is that COVID-19 is a Pandemic Virus, parody of which is ‘Pan Demonic Via Us’, via us because, we are the vectors of the contagion and the root cause, for plagues as evident from Exo 9:27 Eph6:12 are brought about by the sin of Kings, rulers of darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness of people obtaining in the heavenlies with Satellite tree, Satan-light tree which as implicit in Gen3:6-7 represent the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

The contagion is spread like

the wings of an air-craft borne by ill-wind and ‘Trade’, tradewind represented by the World Trade Center, the Manhattan twin towers, sky-scrappers, Skype, demolished by an angel on 9/11 and was put back up, but do not ants build hills? Yet have they no knowledge. It is not for what but why that the Lord will judge and as it is with Hiroshima and Nagasaki, so it was with Sodom and Gomorrah. But going back to my un-folding brief, darkness is the harbinger of plagues.

This is made clear in Psm 91:5-6 quote “…thou shalt not be afraid …of the terror by night… the pestilence that walketh in darkness…” so it was, that the Dr. we saw not, Dr. Sawyer, breezed in, under the cover of darkness air-borne by wind from Liberia with Ebola, a plague, which the LORD did not put upon Nigeria.

Similarly, pitch darkness was an impetus for the 7-plagues of Egypt, the Diseases of Egypt Dt28:60. Darkness speaks of the rare total eclipse witnessed in 2019, of the sun and moon which are for signs of the time and seasonal weathers of chance, by force majeur, of the King-domain of the variable cause, a cumulative causation of domino effect Gen1:14, Exo10:21, Rev19:16. The Locust ravaging the horn of Africa, signifies plunder and famine, such that people shall be looking for jabs not jobs. Jobs that have been virtually taken over by digital devises that are good means to bad ends, for they are a product of technology and science which according to 1Tim6:20, is falsely so called. Governments are now eager to pay people for

staying home doing nothing, just to halt the spread and to keep their nation in states of liquidity and their economies afloat.

The plague is characterized

by Frogs Exo8:6, frogs known as ‘Mbara awo’ in Igbo, Barawo in Hausa, meaning ‘thief’ which according to Jn10:10 “…comes not but for to steal to kill …” resulting in death from the sting of the adder, an infection with venom, representing the grave and piles of corpses that stink Exo7:18, signifying flies Exo8:24 and so says 1Cor15:54-56 ”…

O death where is thy sting, O grave where is thy victory… for death shall be swallowed up…” that death is the adder, serpent swallowed up by the rod of Moses as a fore-shadow, which was counterfeited by Egyptian magicians as lies, Lice Exo8:18, the lying wonders of the devil an attribute of the plague Exo 7:12. The plague is attended by hailstones the size of cricket balls Exo9:22, as experienced in Australia in November 2019 and Boil Exo9:9, boiling point temperature in gradual attainment due to climate change, such as was recorded in Australia in 2020, such that people resorted to dedicated public Spas. These will gradually result in severe drought and famine and intense struggle, over dwindling resources, such that the beast-mark, a chip on the fore-head and arm shall become a regulation of access to digital trade with crypto currency Rev13:16-17.

For money shall eventually fail not backed by productivity, such that the note of promise can no longer be kept by the

federal reserve as legal tender and medium of exchange in store as the value of vain choices. This will invariably lead to conflict of powerful interests on a regional scale to be followed by a global war represented by pool of bloodshed Exo9:20, a property of the plague. The conflict is preceded by the drying up of Ogun River, by the scent-of-water from on-high, water hyacinth, poured out from the vial of the 6th angel Rev 16:12, Job14:9 and the emergence in 2016, of D.J, the 1st Trump that is sound, whose second coming will coincide with a resurgence of Aryan racism, the teaching of Nazis and Conspiracy theorisation.

The interval between the first pandemic of 100yrs ago and the pandemonium of the 1st world war might be shorter than that between this 2nd pandemic and the 3rd and last war which was given fuller consideration in my 1st SPIED in the published series ‘Last War Is ISIS Not North Korea’.

COVID-19 is not only via us, it is Pan-demonic, demons that are ‘Many’, a ‘Legion’, according to Mk5:9. In the matter of legion, Re-Legion, religious bigotry against the coming HE that WAS and IS and IS, WARS of ISIS, Islamic States In Syria shall aggravate the conflict Rev 1:4 11:17 but the war shall be triggered off by the soon coming HE that IS and WAS ISWAS, Islamic States in West African States Rev1:8. The coming 3rd war is the star-war and Armageddon.

–Eleje-Abili Willy, Lagos.

Read the full article online www.thisdaylive.com

an advocate of community policing for better security and wanted to create a state police which was shot down by the then Federal Government led National Party of Nigeria (NPN). He created the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (Lastma) to better manage the traffic situation in the state. He expanded the transportation services in the state to include that of ferries and linked one from Festac to Marina. He was in the process of building a metroline which will terminate at Yaba before the sad military incursion of the regime of Muhammadu Buhari which put the spanner in the works of the noble project.

Health is wealth goes the age-long cliché and it greatly reflected in his administration’s cardinal focus. He built a general hospital in Ikorodu and Badagry. He established a red brick factory in Badagry as well as a coconut factory.

Baba Kekere as he was fondly called shunned all forms of ostentation and rose above the vice of the pilfering public funds. He lived in his modest Ilupeju residence and didn’t move into the official government residence. He drove his car and cut all forms of red tape and waste.

He ensured probity and accountability from his cabinet members. There was no financial scandal throughout the duration of his administration.

Jakande was indeed a miracle worker. How was he able to achieve so much within a relatively short period of time – barely four years and three months. Before his nomination to fly the UPN flag, he had gone around all the towns, districts and constituencies in Lagos State.

He commissioned papers

aside from the knowledge of the state he garnered during his working visits to different areas. The study included funding. His was the first budget to hit and surpass the N1billion appropriation mark in the history of the state. From his administration, Lagos became the most financially buoyant state in the whole of the federation, generating billions of Naira every year in internally generated revenue (IGR).

His was a clear departure from the norm of reluctance governance that has tragically defined our governance as many of our so-called political leaders assume office unprepared for its rigours.

He was unarguably the best governor – civilian or military that the ‘Centre of Excellence’ ever produced and it is tragic that with the enormous disposal of its resources in modern times that his achievements is yet to be matched.

In later years he served the late General Sani Abacha regime as the Works and Housing Minister during the heady days of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). This decision cost him the respect of many highly revered Yoruba leaders and elders and it made him to have a near pariah status when democracy finally returned in 1999. His service to Abacha doesn’t in any way blight his gargantuan achievements in the fields of journalism and politics where he devoted his entire life to.

His was a life of dedicated public service propelled by the burning desire to serve the common good and to use it as a platform to empower the downtrodden.

–– Tony Ademiluyi, Lagos.

Douye Diri's One Year in Office

I

t is not a surprise that the virtue of love, humility and care would run through in honour of Senator Douye Diri to commemorate one year in office. These are some of his intrinsic qualities, the defining features of his existence. It is his right to be so described that way.

As a commissioner, who works closely with the governor, I am pleased to be associated with the Prosperity vision led by Douye Diri. The current stability, repositioning of the state as an ideal national and international tourist choice for economic development in this one year is priceless.

I am more delighted to align with Diri's policies aimed at diversifying the state economy and placing it on the path of sustainable growth and development.

The state is gratified with the resolute development strides in ensuring that the state harnesses all tourism potential in the eight local govt areas and to show them to the

world.

The good people of Bayelsa State recognizes Diri's enthusiasm to ensure that the Bayelsa State Council for Art and Culture maintained the zenith and premium position in the 31st National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) held in Jos, Plateau State, November 2020.

Bayelsans acknowledges Diri's resolve in preserving and promoting the Ijaw heritage for socio-economic development of the state. And Bayelsa State is increasingly becoming a construction hub.

Within one year, there is no doubt Diri is prepared to attract investors and tourist into key sectors to fulfil the aspirations and yearnings of every Bayelsan.

It is my prayer that God grant the governor more grace to fulfil purpose and take the good people of Bayelsa to their place of prosperity.

–Dr. Oti Orugbani, Commissioner for Tourism, Bayelsa State.

16

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2021 • T H I S D AY

17

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 14, 2021

BUSINESS

Editor: Kunle Aderinokun 08033204315, 08111813084 Email:kunle.aderinoku@thisdaylive.com

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO and Africa Tomorrow, February 15, 2020, Nigeria’s former Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, will be formally appointed as the director-general of the World Trade Organisation, WTO. This is coming after the United States dropped its opposition to her selection. Nosa James-Igbinadolor looks at what Africa’s relationship with the WTO would be like under Okonjo-Iweala’s leadership

N

igeria’s former Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, will be coronated as the next director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), tomorrow The former World Bank managing director’s long and treacherous road to the leadership of the global trade group was smoothened with the election of President Biden, who signposted support for her last week, assuring her of victory in the consensus-centric race when members meet to vote in Geneva tomorrow.

During the presidential campaign, Mr. Biden had promised to reject his predecessor’s antagonism toward multilateral institutions, therefore encouraging the other 163 WTO members to delay for months a Ànal decision on the next director general until the new administration came into power.

Dropping the United States’ opposition to Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s selection was the new U.S President’s way of signalling a change in trade policy direction from his predecessor’ cantankerous and ultra-masculine strategy that ultimately inhibited global cooperation.

Mr. Trump’s policies ultimately rendered the WTO ineͿectual in the last Àve years.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, therefore, has a laborious and uneasy task of reviving the e΀cacy and capacity of the WTO as the major driver of international trade and global competitiveness.

As noted by the Washington Post, “even supporters of the WTO agree that it needs substantial changes in deciding and enforcing the rules of global trade. Trump’s refusal to permit the appointment of new judges kneecapped its appellate system and ability to settle disputes.

Rules that require all-member approval thwart any agility.”

It was perhaps this understanding that compelled the Harvard-educated development economist to warn in July last year that what the WTO needed was a shake-up. “They need something diͿerent. It cannot be business as usual for the WTO. They need someone willing to do the reforms and lead.”

For Okonjo-Iweala, gaining the backing of the United States is the start of what will obviously be a long and tedious assignment.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant ascendancy of economic nationalism will be a test for the new incoming WTO Chief.

Okonjo-Iweala has made it clear that her Àrst priority would be to ease the Áow of goods, particularly protective gear, drugs and vaccines, at a time when countries are hoarding supplies.

She had warned last year, “that the outcry in virtually every country about the lack of equipment and supplies to test for and protect against COVID-19 will lead countries to re-examine their supply chains for critical health and livelihood related products. This will lead to a surge of nationalism with respect to the need to produce pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and equipment domestically. Even countries that traditionally had no capability in these areas will seek to develop the same.”

She had hoped, “The realisation that the economic costs of a pandemic can be huge, far surpassing investments in research and prevention, will lead to billions more dollars of investment in research, vaccines, therapeutics, and non-medical methods of prevention. This will mean that trillions of dollars in economic losses, loss of life, and loss of livelihoods for millions of poor people all over the world will be averted”.

What’s in it for Africa?

Africa accounts for approximately 27 per cent of total WTO membership and 35 per cent of WTO developing countries’ membership.

Trade is vital for Africa’s development and

Okonjo-Iweala

to generate enough good jobs to absorb the 17 million young people who enter the labour market every year. But, for too long, global trade regulations have left the continent holding the short end of the stick.

Although there have been improvements in African trade and economic performance since the domestic reforms of the late 1980s and 1990s, its performance has continued to lag behind that of other developing country regions in Asia and Latin America. Africa’s share of global trade has remained very low. As noted in an article by the International Development Policy Group of the Graduate Institute Geneva, “although a few African countries, mainly oil exporting ones, have performed relatively well, the majority have seen the share of their world trade decline.

A complex set of internal and external factors account for this decline and low African share in world trade. Competitiveness rankings are low, as reÁected in Global Competitiveness indices.

African countries have not su΀ciently diversiÀed.

There is still large dependence on one or two primary commodity exports. As a consequence, they have been aͿected by swings in commodity prices. Domestic markets are plagued by internal barriers to trade, such as low level and poor-quality infrastructure, corruption, blunting of price signals. African markets remain small with regional markets insu΀ciently integrated.

They have also been aͿected by protectionism in developed country markets, through both tariͿ and non-tariͿ barriers.”

One of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s greatest achievements was leading a team, which negotiated a whopping 18bn debt write-oͿ in 2005 for Nigeria, helping the country obtain its Àrst ever sovereign debt rating.

The country’s debts date back to the early

1980s, and had ballooned to more than $35billion due to penalties and late fees during the 1990s.

She told the BBC, last year, that it was the ordinary African that she was most concerned with. She said that she wanted to “Àgure out how to get women and youth, who are behind these engines of growth inAfrica, to beneÀt more from world trade.”

She was also keen to make sure that the continent moves away from exporting raw materials and instead “adds value to the goods or products we produce for the global market.

“For instance, we import 94per cent of pharmaceuticals on the continent while we can produce these locally in Africa.”

While trade talks may seem cryptic and take place behind closed doors, their consequences can aͿect everyone’s live. From the petty trader, who criss-crosses a border several times a month, to the consumer buying an imported item in a market, to someone with a job in a manufacturing industry, they are all aͿected by the rules of trade.

InAfrica, trade is viewed as a driver of growth, a way towards sustainable development and as a tool for poverty eradication.

Ms. Vera Songwe, a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, noted in 2019 that, “The debate on the beneÀts of trade has dominated this decade, and Africa has cast its vote for more and better trade with itself. In March 2018,African countries signed a landmark trade agreement, the African Continental Free TradeAreaAgreement (AfCFTA), which commits countries to remove tariͿs on 90 per cent of goods, progressively liberalise trade in services, and address a host of other non-tariͿ barrier.”

“Creating a single, continent-wide market for goods and services, business and investment would reshape African economies. The

iimplementation ofAfCFTAwould be a huge step fforward for Africa, demonstrating to the world tthat it is emerging as a leader on the global trade aagenda,” Caroline Freund, Global Director of Trade, Investment and Competitiveness, posited.

T According to the World Bank, the African C Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement will create the largest free trade area in the m w world measured by the number of countries participating. “The pact connects 1.3 billion p p people across 55 countries with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) valued at US$3.4 trillion. d IIt has the potential to lift 30 million people out of eextreme poverty, but achieving its full potential will depend on putting in place signiÀcant policy w rreforms and trade facilitation measures.

“The scope ofAfCFTAis large. The agreement w will reduce tariͿs among member countries and ccover policy areas such as trade facilitation and sservices, as well as regulatory measures such aas sanitary standards and technical barriers to ttrade. Full implementation of AfCFTA would rreshape markets and economies across the region aand boost output in the services, manufacturing aand natural resources sectors.

“As the global economy is in turmoil due to tthe COVID-19 pandemic, creation of the vast AfCFTAregional market is a major opportunity A tto help African countries diversify their exports, aaccelerate growth, and attract foreign direct iinvestment.”

The rubrics, goals and objectives of the AfCTA aaren’t incompatible in anyway with those of tthe WTO, and Dr. Okonjo-Iweala could help pilot it towards more support for the continent. p That could be in oͿering technical help, trade T aanalysis and policy expertise, turning the dream of free trade acrossAfrica into reality. In addition, o sshe will possess the moral capacity to pressure African political leaders to design and implement A ssensible trade policies that support growth.

As posited by Prof. Pat Utomi of the Lagos Business School, “The whole thing about B iinternational trade is that the comparative aadvantage that parts of the world bring to the ttable makes for everybody’s greater prosperity.

It is in the mutual interests of all that trade be more equitable.”

Africa should demand a level-playing Àeld from the WTO. A level-playing Àeld that rejects import barriers in developed economies, including tariͿ escalations and stringent standards for Ànal goods that have limited Africa’s ability to move up value chains.

In addition, shifting rules, which the University of Cambridge economist Ha-Joon Chang described as the phenomenon of rich countries “kicking away the ladder” with which they had climbed to the top, remains an obstacle to Africa’s eͿective integration into the global economy. Advanced economies do not allow developing countries to adopt the industrial policies that they themselves used to transform their production structures and diversify their exports. It is the expectation that the WTO would recognise this dissonance and help support Africa in this regard in the continent’s trade with developed economies.

As argued by Africa Business in a September 2020 report, perhaps the most serious indictment against the WTO system is the agricultural subsidies developed countries’ governments provide, at the expense of millions of Africa’s poorest farmers. These subsidies not only depress world food prices, making it di΀cult for African producers to compete, but also lead to excess production being dumped in African markets, which wipes out local industries and thus threatens food security.

There is, thus, an expectation that a WTO led by Okonjo-Iweala would critically look at this as a means of supporting Africa, while at the same time ensuring that Africa is not locked out of critical discussions and policies that aͿect global trade.

18

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 14, 2021

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Zainab Ahmed

Godwin Emefiele

Kristalina Georgieva

IMF’s Panacea for Economic Recovery, Growth

James Emejo examines the wide-ranging recommendations by the International Monetary Fund to both the Àscal and monetary authorities on the pathway to economic stability and recovery amidst a second recession, and aggregates experts perspectives on the advice

I

f anything, the IMF (Nigeria) StaͿ Country Reports, also known as Article IV Consultation, has become an annual ritual whereby the fund had continued to deploy its array of instruments to gauge the health of the Nigerian economy.

By so doing, the Breton Woods institution, where applicable, applauded credits to the government where it feels the right policies have been adopted and as well condemned policies which are not orthodox and failed its empirical analysis.

IMF’s recommendations are often taken seriously partly because of the integrity of the organisation as well as its near role as International Lender of Last Resort (ILLR) to countries in a Àscal crisis.

No doubt, the fund, has in the recent past, inÁuenced some of the government’s economic decisions by issuing conditions for approving some loan requests by the federal government.

The infamous federal government’s austerity measures introduced in the 1980s to contain the Àscal crisis which emerged following the drop in global oil prices among others is an example of the strong inÁuence the IMF has on policy choices in various countries.

There’s no doubt the recent increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 5 per cent to 7.5 per cent was not unconnected with pressures from the fund on the to boost resource mobilisation.

The IMF had also been vocal about the need for the federal government to end petrol subsidy, a contentious topic that has now been Ànally laid to rest through the recent deregulation of the downstream sector.

Furthermore, the IMF advisory also has impact on foreign investors who rely on its reports to make investment decisions.

However, toeing its long established tradition, the fund last week released its 2020 country report, urging the federal government to double up on its resource mobilisation eͿorts by raising VAT to 10 per cent by 2022 and further to 15 per cent by 2025.

The fund noted that the “Nigerian economy is at a critical juncture - a weak pre-crisis economy characterised by falling per capita income, doubledigit inÁation, signiÀcant governance vulnerabilities and limited buͿers, is grappling with multiple shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

It said real output is projected to contract by 3.2 per cent in 2020, with a weak recovery likely to keep per capita income stagnant and no higher than the 2010 level in the medium term.

The IMF pointed out that policy adjustment and reforms are urgently needed to navigate the current crisis and change the long-running lackluster course.

The Washington-based institution, therefore,

advisedthegovernmenttorelyinitiallyonprogressive and e΀ciency-enhancing measures with higher tax rates, while awaiting a more sustained economic recovery.

The2020ArticleIVConsultationfurtherstressed the need for urgent policy adjustment and more fundamental reforms to sustain macroeconomic stability and lift growth and employment.

Among other thing, it called for a more Áexible exchange rate adding that the Naira is currently overvalued by 18.5 per cent.

The IMF further prevailed on the CBN to introduce more clarity in foreign exchange as well as work towards a uniÀcation of multiple exchange rates.

But, analysts believed some of the IMF’s recommendations are currently unimplementable give the country’s precarious macroeconomic parameters.

They particularly opposed any further raise in VAT especially as Nigerians are currently grappling with the adverse impacts of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.

In separate interviews with THISDAY, analysts also believed that though there’s need for reforms in foreign exchange management, a complete currency Áoating is particularly di΀cult given the challengs in the country’s productive capacity especially in the areas of exports at the moment.

The fund, though Nigeria over measures taken to address the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which have exacerbated pre-existing weaknesses as well as notable reforms undertaken in the Àscal sector, including removal of the fuel subsidy and steps to implement cost-reÁective tariͿ increases in the power sector, nevertheles, urged the CBN to focus more on price stability and enhanced Ànancial system vigilance to contain stability risks.

Directors noted that multiple rates, limited Áexibility, and foreign exchange shortages are posing challenges. They recommended a gradual and multi-step approach to establishing a uniÀed and clear exchange rate regime with the nearterm focus on allowing for greater Áexibility and removing the payments backlog.”

The IMF directors observed that the accommodative monetary stance remained appropriate in the near- term, stating that tightening may be warranted if balance of payments or inÁationary pressures were to increase.

In the medium term, they advocated that monetary policy operational framework should be reformed and central bank’s Ànancing of budget deÀcit phased out in order to reduce inÁation.

However, they welcomed the resilience of the banking sector and called for continued vigilance to contain Ànancial stability risks.

They noted that COVID-19 debt relief measures for banks’ clients should remain time-bound and limitedtothosewithgoodpre-crisisfundamentals.

The IMF directors welcomed recent progress in structuralreformsandcalledforcontinuedreforms aimed at promoting economic diversiÀcation and reducing the dependence on oil and increasing employment.

In addition, they stressed the need to strengthen governance and anti-corruption frameworks, including compliance with Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) measures.

The directors also welcomed the ratiÀcation of the African Continental Free Trade Area and underscored that implementing trade-enabling reforms remains critical to rejuvenate growth.

“In the short run, the recommended policy mix is heavily tilted toward exchange rate adjustment given constrained capacity on the monetary and Àscal fronts.

“In the medium term, revenue mobilisation is a top priority. In the short run, Àscal policy should address economic and health impact of the pandemic in a transparent and e΀cient manner.

“SigniÀcantrevenuemobilisationwillbeneeded in the medium term to reduce Àscal sustainability risks arising from low debt-servicing capacity.

“With high poverty rates, revenue mobilisation will need to rely on progressive and e΀ciencyenhancing measures, with higher value-added and excise tax rates awaiting a Àrm economic recovery,” the IMF added.

Howeve, reacting to the recommendations by the IMF, economist and Chief Executive, Global Analytics Company, Mr. Tope Fasua, argued that there has not been a direct correlation between currency devaluation and productivity in the country despite previous exercises.

He said:”There has to be other factors responsible for growth in productivity because devaluation has not spurred that productivity here.”

Headded:”AlsotheMarshallLernerConditions in Economies already let us know that devaluation will hurt you if your exports are not price elastic.

“Our exports are not price elastic as the world will buy just the amount of crude oil it needs from us and the price is set by the markets while the volumes are set by OPEC. “So even if this is a right advice it is an incomplete advice. I agree that we should increase taxes but again we need to try and do the right thing beforewebecomeguineapigsforexperimentation by global economic bodies whose main concern is whether we can pay our debts or even fulÀl balance of payment terms.”

Fasua said:”My thoughts are that we need to get out of this vicious cycle of devaluation and tax increases.

“Ordinarilyweshouldbethinkingforourselves rather than wait for international bodies to help set our agenda after all we should know our economy more than anyone else. *Since we have started devaluing in 1985/6 it’s

been a one way track of devaluation and misery and apparently there are negative eͿects that are usually ignored. Looks like as we were devaluing the Naira we were also devaluing the people.”

Also, reacting to the latest IMF advisory for Nigeria, an Associate Professor of Agricultural EconomicsatUniversityofPortHarcourt,Anthony Onoja, said Nigeria should strive to manage its foreign exchange policy well to avoid regular devaluation.

He pointed out that increasing VAT at a time when all countries in the world are implementing stimulus packages to their citizens is a “very draconian policy and could potray insensitivity on the part of the federal government.

Onoja further argued that increasing VAT will only reverse the momentum of economic recovery the country is gradually experiencing.

According to him:”I do not understand why Nigeria is always at the mercy of the Bretton Woods organisations. Countries like Ethiopia have refused to devalue their currency despite their economic challenges.

“The Birr is still strong till today. This was how Nigeria got hoodwinked into devaluation and the country’s currency fell from 85 Naira to $1 to the present 391.5 Naira to $1.”

On his part, acting Managing Director, UCML CapitalLimited,Mr.EgieAkpata,however,faulted the fund’s recommendation that VAT be raised to 10 per cent in 2022 and 15 per cent by 2025.

He said such suggestion by the IMF is “misguided if they think it is the magic bullet to Àx FGN Ànances”.

According to him:”Only 15 per cent of VAT goes to the federal government with the balance going to state and local governments.

“Increasing VAT will have very little impact on the structure of FGN Ànances. But much higher VAT will have a huge negative impact on majority of the population who are faced with falling per capita income.”

Akpata, howeve, pointed out that the fund’s view on the Naira and Nigeria’s foreign exchange market is consistent with most rational recommendations - overvalued o΀cial rate and too many fx windows.

He said:”However, there are parts of the report that suggest the IMF is not up to date with the strucure of the Nigerian economy.

“Contrary to the IMF view, the Nigerian economy is very diversiÀed with only one sector making up over 20% of GDP. What is not well diversiÀed is sources of exports and federal government revenue.”

Also, commenting on the IMF’s oͿer for economic prosperity, economist and Managing Director/Chief Executive, Credent Investment Managers Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Shelleng, said there’s no doubt that the Naira is overvalued as its true value is being reÁected in the parallel market, But he added,”I am not advocating for a complete Áoat but rather an adjustment to reÁect the current reality” adding that “a free Áoat of the Naira would be devastating”.

He pointed out that with the CBN unable to meet FX obligations of exiting foreign portfolio investors,thepressurewasmovedontotheparallel market, which made prices soar to over N100 against o΀cial rates, stressing that the “supply demand dynamics are clear”.

He stressed that the multiple exchange rate system has further provided avenues for roundtripping which further makes a mockery of the o΀cial rates.

“With over 90 per cent of our FX inÁows coming from proceeds of oil sales, we are at the mercy of global market dynamics. Oil prices drop and it squeezes our FX liquidity and puts pressure on our reserves,” he said.

Shelleng also contended that though the adjustment of the rates to reÁect the true value of the Naira will cause inÁationary pressures in the short term however, with more stability and a clearer picture of the value of the Naira, it will certainly be more encouraging for investors to enter the Nigerian economy.

This, according to him, would in turn “bring in more foreign exchange which will help increase liquidity and more importantly help to diversify our sources of FX”.

However, he said the calls for increase in VAT is ill-timed.

Hr said:”With an already depressed economy facing a number of Àscal challenges especially very low growth, the increase in VAT will be detrimental to economic growth.

The structural issues faced by producers already pushes up cost of production therefore the increase in VAT will further create inÁation as the increased cost of production will be borne by the end user.

“This will reduce consumption especially for low-income households which make up the larger percentage of the Nigerian population. Lower consumption leads to lower growth.

19

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 14, 2021

BUSINESS/ENERGY

$ 9LVLW WR 'DQJRWH 5HÀQHU\ $IULFD·V /DUJHVW With an estimated investment of $15billion, the Dangote ReÀnery and Petrochemical complex under construction in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos, is expected to be Africa’s biggest oil reÀnery upon completion in December 2021, reports /DQUH $OIUHG

L

ike a fairy tale come to life, the magic that is the multibillion-dollar Dangote ReÀnery and Petrochemical Complex sited on 2,600 hectares of swampland in Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos can now be seen by all, sceptics and supporters alike.

Promoted by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, the complex is reputed to have a pipeline infrastructure arguably the largest in the world. It has 1,100 kilometres gas pipeline to handle three billion standard cubic feet of gas per day and a 400MW power plant that can meet Ibadan DISCO’s total power requirement.

It also has a gas processor, the world’s biggest plant for ammonia and urea, used in making plastics and fertilizer, and a fertilizer plant that will utilise the reÀnery by-products of raw materials. One of its many deliverables is connecting the Niger Delta to the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) in Lagos.

Covering a land area of approximately 2,635 hectares - about six times the size of Victoria Island - the reÀnery complex’s infrastructure facilities include a pipeline system, access roads, tank storage facilities, and crude and product-handling facilities. A marine terminal, including a breakwater, jetty, and harbour, has also been developed as part of the project.

Other facilities developed to support the project include an administrative building, guardhouses, Àre station, and pump stations. Dangote has already built a jetty near the project site to receive heavy equipment for the reÀnery construction.

At the outset, the entire venture was estimated to cost $9bn, with $3bn in equity from the Dangote Group and $6bn to be raised in loan capital to build the world’s largest reÀnery in an oil-rich nation that relies, alas, on importing petroleum products because of its dilapidated reÀneries.

Now a $15 billion investment, the reÀnery arm will have the capacity to process about 650,000 barrels per day of crude oil, making it the largest single-train reÀnery in the world, satisfying local consumption of over 200 million people and having more than enough to create a market for $11billion per annum of Nigerian crude.

It is equally expected to increase Nigeria’s reÀning capacity two-fold by processing various light and medium grades of crude to produce Euro-V quality clean fuels including polypropylene, 10.4 million tonnes of gasoline, 4.6Mt of diesel, and 4Mt of jet fuel a year.

“We have other opportunities. Agriculture is there. Petrochemicals are there, Nigeria has more arable land than China.

If we Ànish our gas pipeline, it can generate 12,000 megawatts of power. That’s huge. That’s more than what we are looking for in Nigeria, and we can supply the rest of West Africa,” Dangote had said sometime in 2020.

He added, “Nigeria will soon become the biggest and only urea exporter in sub-Saharan Africa for the Àrst time, and we are not only exporting, but we are also exporting big time. Fertilizer exports alone will generate about $2.5 billion in revenue annually.”

On a tour of the facility last year, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin EmeÀele, said when fully operational, the project would increase its workforce from the current 34,000 to over 70,000.

David Pulling of Financial Times describing the layout of the project said, “(It’s) so big, so audacious and so potentially transformative that it is like Africa’s Moon landing and its Panama Canal — a Pyramids of Giza for the industrial age.”

“If Aliko Dangote, the billionaire businessman behind what even he calls

Dangote petroleum refinery site

Lanre Alfred; Dele Momodu; and Femi Otedola

his ¶crazy’ $12bn project, can pull it oͿ, he will go down as the continent’s John D Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and Andrew Mellon combined.”

There was no mistaking the excitement on the visage of billionaire Femi Otedola as he led some of his associates to the gasp-inducing complex last Sunday.

Otedola, who would later confess that he had not been there for about a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, said he was impressed by the level of work done so far.

The day after, he posted on his veriÀed Instagram handle: “Yesterday, I visited the Dangote ReÀnery and Petrochemical project, what I personally call the DANGOTE WONDERLAND. Not been there in a year and now it’s almost completed!

Kudos to my brother, Aliko Dangote.”

Call him what you want, but recognise him for what he is: a futuristic magnate cum problem solver and an eͿective one

at that. Dangote is soft-spoken, but the patriotic yet, real believer in Nigeria and her people and potentials, is driven by a Àerce determination to bring progress to his beloved Nigeria and the African continent. It is the quality of his choices that distinguishes him from both the dreamy minion and hackneyed aristocrat.

With a combination of guts and genius, he has transmuted from just being an entrepreneur interested in a particular business to becoming a respected and renowned empire builder. He is one of those risk-taking individuals that struck out on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success, to prosper themselves and their society.

No wonder that every year, he tops the rating of billionaires. According to Forbes’ latest list of Africa’s 2021 billionaires released Friday, January 22nd, Dangote maintained his top position as the richest man in Africa — for the 10th consecutive

time — with a net worth of $12.1 billion from last year’s $10.1 billion.

“For the tenth year in a row, Aliko Dangote of Nigeria is the continent’s richest person, worth $12.1 billion, up by $2bn from last year’s list, thanks to a roughly 30 per cent rise in the shares of Dangote Cement, by far his most valuable asset,” Forbes said.

In its Billionaires Index, Bloomberg, a daily ranking of the world’s richest people, rates Dangote the 117th richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of $17.6billion. In calculating net worth, Bloomberg states that it strives to provide the most transparent calculations available. Each billionaire proÀle contains a detailed analysis of how that person’s fortune is tallied.

Dangote had his entrepreneurial epiphany early in life.

He noted, “I can remember when I was in primary school, I would go and buy cartons of sweets and start selling them just to make money. I was so interested in business, even at that time.”

By the time he was in his late teens, his entrepreneurial streak had germinated fully, and he was ready to take on the world. With a loan from his very inÁuential uncle, Sanusi Dantata, he established the Dangote Group dealing in commodities and building materials. He moved to Lagos in 1977.

Over four decades later, the Dangote Group has become an octopoidal conglomerate - with the Dangote Cement emerging as the largest in sub-Saharan Africa while superintending the sugar, salt, and Áour markets.

That he is globally referred to as the richest African alive is no shtick. He is worth every penny and more adduced to him. According to Forbes, as a man to envy and emulate, a businessman dealing in every sector of the global economy, Dangote has been Africa’s richest man for over a decade in a row. A redoubtable philanthropist, he donates substantially to diͿerent charitable causes across the world.

20

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 14, 2021

SPECIAL REPORT

3URELQJ &UXGH $OORFDWLRQV WR 'HDG 5HÀQHULHV In the twilight of this past week, Shell was said to have admitted to stealing some of Nigeria’s crude oil. A subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, balked and admitted to under-reporting the volume of crude oil it takes out of Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta and shortchanging the federal government in the process. Two authoritative government sources familiar with the development told an online media platform that Shell admitted to the discrepancy following a protracted probe by industry regulator, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), into the volumes of crude oil it reported to the agency that it lifted between 2016 and 2018.This is obviously a tip of the iceberg of stealing of the nation’s oil; going on in the upstream. The downstream theft may not yet be known to Nigerians and perhaps, the government or the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). In this report, THISDAY investigations reveal a major window in which crude oil is being stolen or diverted daily without anyone in the appropriate quarters paying attention. This massive but silent stealing of crude oil was discovered in the discrepancy spotted in one of the national oil company’s reports. &KULV 3DXO writes

T

HISDAYinvestigations have revealed some disconnecting dots in the corporation’s reports, pushing up red Áags that have prompted a dig into one of NNPC’s reports for the ordinary Nigerian to, as much as possible, have a clearer understanding of a missing 5.2 million barrels of crude oil in 2018.

Understandably, due to the highly sensitive nature of this investigative report, no one in the industry was ready to make any comment, including the Corporation’s Group PublicAͿairs Manager who is yet to respond to THISDAY inquiries as at the time of Àling this report.

The red Áags were discrepancies discovered in the report of the second half of the year, in review, where over Àve million barrels of crude oil supposedly declared to have been allocated to the Direct Sales Direct Purchase (DSDP) operations were reported to have been allocated to the ailing NNPC local reÀneries.

The DSDP agreement allows for sales of crude oil to reÀners, who will in turn supply NNPC with an equivalent worth of petroleum products.

According to the corporation’s release, the deal eliminates middlemen; allowing NNPC to take control of crude oil transactions with its partners.

In a circular it released in 2020, for the 20212022 batch of potential bidders, the corporation reiterated that the DSDP bid applies, only to international companies that own a reÀnery with a capacity to process Nigerian crude oil grades; a globally recognised large volume petroleum product trading company; and a company engaged in Nigerian oil and gas downstream activities with the trading of petroleum product expertise. In other words, the crude stock is meant for reÀning in reÀnery facilities outside the country.

Under the sub head, 10 – Year Monthly Crude Oil Pumped to Local ReÀneries (barrels), table 11 on Page 20 states that in 2018, the local reÀneries had the following amount of crude oil allocations: January: 1,813,795, February: 1,594,027, March: 1,311, 840, April: 1,287, 472, May: 2,358,280, June: 2,371,646, July: 1,391,566, August: 132,341, September and October had zero allocations.

The supply would resume in the months of November and December with 700,344 and 619,950 respectively; bringing the total supplied to the dysfunctional reÀneries to 13, 581,261 barrels of crude oil.

As outlined in table 15 of the 2018 report, with the subhead, 4uarterly Domestic ReÀning (Crude oil balance), in the opening stock column, supplies to the reÀneries came from: Ugheli Blend, Bonny Light, Escravos Light, Urals, Seplat, NPDC Crude and Slop.

In the 3rd quarter, these bodies supplied as follows: Ugheli Blend - 37, 789.20, Bonny Light-657, 834.52., Escravos Light- 930,586.00.

Seplat-33,152.00., while the NPDC Crude made

Barrels of oil

no supplies even in the last quarter of that year.

In the fourth quarter, supplies were made in the following order: Ugheli Blend- 37,799.20, Bonny light- 1,146, 611.92, Escravos light902,015.60, Urals- 90,975. 60., Seplat-33,152.00., while Slop supplied the third highest in the quarter at 279,263.98.

The total opening stock for the year was 3,057, 573.12.

Although, the arithmetic applied to arrive at the total sum, here, is a bit unclear; that will be another point of inquisition for another day.

Similarly, unclear still, is the calculation of crude received.

For instance, under the crude oil received column, Ugheli blend which had a total opening stock of 37,799.20, was reported to have received zero crude oil for the entire year.

Table 16, which is the monthly crude oil receipt column, reports that in September and October 2018 when zero Crude oil was received and processed, in the books, Slop supplied a total of 7,888 in September and 7,754 in October.

However, this was not captured as processed in the same months of September and October; as zero Crude oil was recorded for the period.

In other words, no stock was processed. So, what happened to the over 15,000 barrels of crude Oil supplied by Slop in September and October 2018?

Under the subhead Quarterly Domestic 5HÀQLQJ &UXGH 2LO %DODQFH

Details of the sources of these deliveries include a total supply of crude oil from the following:

1. Bonny Light-6,858,364,60 2. Escravos Light – 6, 913,050,40 3. Seplat -23, 369.20 4. Slop – 68, 003, 66.

5. Total – 13, 662,787, 86 Meanwhile, page 21 , 2.4 of NNPC July 2019 report states that over 10.9million barrels, which comes to over 365,000 barrels per day lifted from June 2018- July 2019, were used ‘ in its entirety’ for the DSDP operations.

But in the 2018 report, June, which is supposed to be the month all allocations were sent to foreign reÀneries on the DSDP arrangements, was the month the local reÀneries had the largest allocation with 2,371,646.

Except for September and October-the months with zero supply- the reÀneries had a total of 5,215,847 barrels of crude oil at a period the

21

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 14, 2021

SPECIAL REPORT 3URELQJ &UXGH $OORFDWLRQV WR 'HDG 5HÀQHULHV

Barrels of oil

products were supposed to have been supplied entirely to foreign reÀneries on the platform of the DSDP. Unlike the same month of the previous year, in the subhead, 2.4 Utilisation of Crude Oil for Domestic Product Supply of the 2019 September report, NNPC lifted 10,665,632 barrels of crude oil from the daily allocation for domestic utilisation translating to an average volume of 355,521barrels of oil per day in terms of performance.

In order to meet domestic product supply requirement for the month of September 2019, the 10,665,632 barrels in its entirety were processed under the Direct-Sales-Direct Purchase (DSDP) scheme; while no deliveries were made to the domestic reÀneries for processing. Tables and charts in the report provide details of NNPC’s Utilisation of Crude Oil for Domestic Product Supply for the period of September 2018 to September 2019.

Questions: 1. Where did the over Àve million barrels go? Who signed them out? Who received them on behalf of the reÀneries?

2. What informs the quantity of crude oil supplied to the reÀneries? For instance, why would one month receive more or less than the previous or succeeding month?

3. Two months (September and October) had zero allocations, while the two months before and after them had allocations. Does this not indicate the inconsequential nature of the volume of products from the local reÀneries relative to the entire product declared for domestic consumption?

4. Does this, therefore, not throw up suspicion that crude supplied to and products reÀned in the reÀneries can be diverted and no one will know?

5. What happens to unutilised stock of Crude Oil after production? Nowhere, in the report is there a carryover of unused stock from a previous production round, recorded.

Adopted by the Nigerian government, the direct sale-direct purchase agreement (DSDP), which replaced the controversial oil processing agreement (OPA), was hailed for being a value-adding agreement, which has achieved one of the aims it set out to accomplish – the availability of petrol in the country, which saw the country enjoy Àve months of uninterrupted fuel supply, in 2018.

NNPC’s former group managing director, Maikanti Baru, had conÀrmed that the country had been relying almost totally on the agreement to satisfy the country’s demand for reÀned petroleum products because the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is the sole importer of reÀned products in the country and the cost incurred by the company in two months alone stood at $5.8 billion.

The DSDP agreement is a type of swap whereby a certain amount of crude is exchanged in return for the equivalent amount of reÀned petroleum products. It typically last for a year and the Àrst DSDP agreement was signed between the corporation and 10 oil companies in May 2017 and would expire in June 2018.

But that deal had gone beyond the year of its founding.

These deals had replaced the controversial oil-for-product swaps the corporation entered into under the last administration. NNPC’s use of swaps has also been prone to mismanagement in the past. A report by Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) in 2015 revealed that the contracts under the last administration contained many unclear or unbalanced terms and were sometimes poorly managed.

The report also raised questions about some of the companies selected and concluded that NNPC’s oil sales system during this period suͿered from high corruption risks and failed to maximise returns for the country’s citizens.

So, the DSDP was introduced to save a situation, the nation found herself, in the previous government. However, the operations of the new deal seem to have thrown up its own discomforting discrepancies that may present a worse predicament for the downstream than the one it is supposed to replace.

The word ‘entirety’ meaning the whole sum or sum total, entire amount or undiminished quantity-in this context- of crude oil, as stated in a 2019 report, gave away clues of certain dots that refused to connect.

In other words, the entire sum of over 10.9 million barrels of crude oil allocated for domestic supply, between June 2018 and July 2019, in the 2019 books were shipped out to foreign reÀneries on the DSDP arrangement. However, contrary to the claim made in the 2019 report, over 5.2 million out of that sum were reportedly supplied to the local reÀneries; in the 2018 books of the same oil company.

According to an analysis of its report published in the June 16, 2020 edition of Nairametrics, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) released its audited Ànancial statements for 2018, in which the national oil company noted that its reÀneries recorded losses of N154 billion.

“The nation’s three reÀneries located in Port Harcourt, Warri, Kaduna, reported combined losses of N154 billion. Kaduna ReÀning and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) incurred a loss of N64.5 billion; Port Harcourt ReÀning Company (PHRC) recorded a loss of N45.6 billion, while Warri ReÀning and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) recorded a loss of N44.4 billion. The losses also aren’t new as all reÀneries performed better than the preceding year 2017,” the publication stated.

The only thing more confounding than the

billions in losses, the publication noted, “Was the convenience with which Kaduna reÀnery conveniently recorded zero revenue for 2018.”

What, then, was the wisdom in allocating about half of one whole year’s supply to reÀneries that performed so poorly the previous year? Worrisome is the discrepancy in Àgures and context of these supplies; as it sends a bad signal as to the whereabouts of the 5.2 million barrels that were purportedly allotted to the dysfunctional reÀneries.

Were they reÀned in the local reÀneries? If so, it means a major deal would have been achieved as the reÀneries would have been celebrated for reÀning half of the products supplied in that particular year. But none of that happened.

On the other hand, if they had been added in their ‘entirety’ to the DSDP stock as stated in the 2019 report, then it would have been correct.

But then, why would six months of crude oil be said to be allocated to reÀneries that can barely reÀne a month’s supply in one report and the same volume of crude oil stock for the same period be recorded as shipped to foreign reÀneries on the DSDP platform?

This is the crux of the matter for the NNPC to shed light on.

At a closing average of $65 per barrel in 2018, these millions of barrels that seem unaccounted for, may have set the country back $339,030,055.

In a country, where missing millions or billions of dollars of oil money have become one too many, it will be no surprise if this discovery is treated with little or no concern by those who should be concerned.

Another major discovery, in this probe, is the fact that for all the talks about the daily fuel consumption rates surpassing the capacity of the reÀneries at full production level, the capacity of the local reÀneries may actually be su΀cient to contain domestic consumption of petrol products.

Nowhere, in any of the reports concerning crude oil allocations to both local and the DSDP reÀnery operations, was it stated that the supplies got any barrel beyond the 445,000 barrels per day domestic delivery limit. In other words, NNPC has actually never gone above the domestic crude oil allocation threshold; yet the nation had never experienced shortage or scarcity of fuel supply at the volume of crude reÀned for domestic consumption.

To further drive this product self-su΀ciency home, not all 445kbpd are used for the DSDP or whatever arrangements or deals the corporation applies to bring reÀned products home for domestic consumption.

Check out this excerpt, for example: In NNPC Monthly Financial Operations Report for The Month of December 2018, on page 13, (2.4), Utilisation of Crude Oil for

Domestic Product Supply, in November 2018, NNPC lifted 9,293,740 barrels of Crude Oil for Domestic utilisation translating to an average volume of 309,791.33 barrels of oil per day in terms of performance. In order to meet domestic supply requirement for the month of November 2018, about 8,593,396 barrels were processed under the Direct-Sales-Direct Purchase (DSDP) scheme and 700,344 barrels were delivered to the domestic reÀneries for processing.

According to chart 2.4.2 in the NNPC crude oil utilisation report, titled, Percentage Distribution for November 2018 Domestic Crude Utilisation, while the local reÀneries utilised 7.5per cent, DSDP scheme utilised 92.5per cent in the period under review.

In the PTD Crude Oil Utilisation for Domestic Product consumption chart, the local ReÀneries utilized 16.1per cent, while the DSDP scheme utilized 83.1per cent.

What this tells us is that at full operating capacity, the four reÀneries can still satisfy the petrochemical needs of Nigerians. In the end, this has put a lie to the conÁicting Àgures being bandied by the various bodies managing the nation’s downstream regarding the domestic consumption level of PMS and allied products.

The second discovery has to do with the disparity in the production ratio between the local reÀneries and the foreign reÀneries operating the DSDP deal. Considering the negligibly inconsistent volume of contributions by local reÀneries to the o΀cially ‘touted’ over 80per cent volume of imported products, it would appear that some of the handlers, of the domestic supply side, are hiding under the cloak of the far larger volume of imported products to do as they wish with the crude oil and the near inconsequential percentage of products coming from the reÀneries at home.

Little wonder, conspiracy theorists suggest that this impunity may have informed the rate of pipeline vandalism by the Niger Delta youths and their counterparts across the nation’s pipeline routes. According to the theorists, the youths may have considered the fact that if crude oil said to be supplied to reÀneries that have been pronounced unÀt for production go an unaccounted for, and without consequence to the bottom line of the nation’s economy, then their operations should be of no consequence to the government.

One hopes these Àndings will draw the attention of the federal government and the management of the NNPC to these leakages and wastages in a system that is clearly vulnerable to mindless corruption.

But then, this is just a tip of the iceberg.

The DSDP arrangement is another issue that promises to throw up issues that challenge the logic behind the deal and the true picture of what the operators of the nation’s downstream deÀne as ‘fuel subsidy.’

22

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 14, 2021

BUSINESS PERSONALITY MUSTAFA CHIKE-OBI

Exceeding Expectations at Fidelity Bank Mustafa Chike-Obi’s appointment as the chairman of Fidelity Bank’s board of directors has continued to generate excitement and expectations. Chike-Obi’s wealth of experience in the financial industry stands him in good stead. Being the pioneer managing director and chief executive officer of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), where he won accolades and admiration from stakeholders in Nigeria’s banking and financial services industry, expectations of him are even higher, writes Lanre Alfred

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f his dreams last, Mustafa ChikeObi, the current chairman of the board of directors of Fidelity Bank, will turn the age to gold.

He will challenge resolve and stretch the boundaries of motive till he chances on glory at the crossroads where wildest fantasies mesh with reality. He will also turn Fidelity Bank to the number one in every market they serve, and for every branded product they oͿer while making Ànancial services easy and accessible to its customers.

From afar, he cuts the picture of a man that seems too tightly packed up inside.

Some would say he is chock-full of ideas and Áights of imagination that are too densely cast to be undone. Unfastening Chike-Obi, thus, presents a tasking exercise. $ &KLS R; WKH 2OG %ORFN The son of legendary mathematician and politician, Prof. Chike Obi, still widely revered for solving a 150-year-old mathematical equation, the Chike-Obis are originally Igbo from Anambra State. But Mustafa and his brother, Balogun, were given Muslim/Arabic and Yoruba names, respectively. Mustafa was named after the Turkey Prime Minister during and after the First World War while Balogun was given a Yoruba name because his father was a student of Yoruba history.

“He believed that the Yoruba are the most organised among the ethnic groups in the south because of their war-like capabilities. There was a time the Fulani wanted to conquer Yorubaland, but they were stopped in Osogbo by the Yoruba army.

Balogun was a war chief in the Yorubaland, and that was why he named my brother Balogun. He liked the name,” explained Chike-Obi. He continued, “My father named me Mustafa for almost the same reason. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was a Prime Minister of Turkey during and after the First World War. Mustafa took Turkey from the primitive age to the modern age, and as a result, the country went from a Muslim state to a modern secular state. My father liked the way he helped the Turkish nationalists against the imperialists. So, for almost the same reasons, he named me Mustafa.”

A visiting professor to the University of Rhode Island, USA; the University of Jos, and the Chinese Academy of Science, the older Chike-Obi, who retired as a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Lagos, died in 2008.

Like his father, who the African Mathematics Union suggests was the Àrst Nigerian to hold a doctorate in mathematics; Mustafa is a First Class graduate of Mathematics from the University of Lagos.

He later bagged a Master’s degree from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

Charting His Own Path But while the old man chose to blaze a trail in academia and politics, Mustafa opted for the Ànancial industry and began his career at the Chase Merchant Bank where he worked from 1980 – 1982 as Head of Treasury Department. Instructively, he is reputed to have created the Treasury Department concept in Nigerian banking, which is now a critical part of the industry.

Mustafa Chike-Obi

Later, he moved to Goldman Sachs where he worked as Co-Head Trading, MortgageBacked Securities; and Bear Stearns & Co as Co-Head Emerging Markets Trading from 1992 to 1995.

After that, he founded Madison Park Advisors, a Ànancial service advisory and consulting Àrm specialising in hedge fund and private equity investment - located in New Jersey, U.S.A. He was also Managing Director of Shoreline Group from 2001 – 2006; and served as an economic adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

The Road to AMCON The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria was set up in 2010 following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s banking sector intervention, with the objectives of buying up non-performing loans from the banks, recapitalising them and Ànding buyers to run them transparently.

With his veriÀable body of work in investment banking and the Ànancial services sector; exposure, experience, and education; not forgetting his high level of achievements and accomplishments in the

global Ànancial industry. It beggared no surprise or shock that he was spotlighted as the man to lead the agency from inception and help it achieve its major objective to be a key stabilising and re-vitalising tool to revive the Ànancial system by e΀ciently resolving the non-performing loan assets of Nigerian banks.

In 2010, Chike-Obi was appointed the Àrst MD/CEO of AMCON by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Achievements at AMCON During his Àve-year tenure at AMCON, Chike-Obi stuck to the corporation’s three cardinal objectives: acquiring the toxic loans, managing them, and disposing of the acquired assets at a proÀt.

He also succeeded in setting the national tone for Àscal responsibility, accountability, and e΀ciency and credited with ensuring that the banking crisis was resolved in a commendable manner with the lowest possible loss of depositors’ money and at no cost to the national treasury.

Indeed, the laudable achievements of AMCON and the stabilisation of the

banking sector could be largely credited to the careful consideration and steady implementation of its mandate by ChikeObi. He stated, “AMCON was set up to stabilise, rather than bail out the Ànancial system. There are four major stakeholders in each bank: the shareholders, the management, the staͿ, and the depositors.

Those bailed out were the depositors and the staͿ. The depositors got all of their money back, and most of the staͿ were retained.

“Management was completely wiped out, so they were not bailed out, and all of the existing management was removed.

The shareholders lost, in many cases, over 90 percent of their investment, and so they were not bailed out. They were left with a nominal amount.”

Under Chike-Obi, banks were fully capitalised up to regulatory standards, and AMCON has ensured that the processes of doing all of these were at the minimum possible cost. That requires maximising recoveries, minimising expenses and maximising disposal of assets acquired.

AMCON has restructured over 50 per cent of NPLs it got in terms of value, with the implied recovery rate of the restructured loans at over 100 per cent.

Speaking of one of his success stories in the corporation, he said, “There were three banks that were bridged in 2011, although it was never part of the plan to bridge those banks when AMCON came into existence. Even though we had a mandate to recapitalise institutions, we never expected recapitalising to 100 per cent.

“Those three banks came about because they could not Ànd any buyers at the time, and we knew that we had to divest as soon as was practical, then stabilise and recapitalise the bank; doing so made it divestible.

We thought that we would recover 20 per cent of our investment in those banks, but we ended up recovering close to 30 per cent, so we did better than we expected.”

Exceeding expectations remains one of the strengths of Chike-Obi. After his tenure at AMCON in 2015, he returned to Alpha African Advisory Limited. This Ànancial advisory Àrm provides a range of Àrst-in-class service oͿerings to support clients in achieving their desired objectives, as executive chairman. That was in 2015.

Unbeknownst to him, he would be tapped to join Fidelity Bank to help it achieve its set objectives. Dr. Patrick Modilim, a senior partner at Patrick Modilim and Co, a Ànancial, business and management consulting services provider, described Chike-Obi as a good choice for the job.

His belief is based on Chike-Obi’s track record, especially his ability to manage bad loans at AMCON successfully, an ingenuity he expects him to replicate in his new o΀ce.

He said, “Managing bad loans is the most di΀cult aspect of banking. Anybody that can do that successfully is a very good hand. So I expect him to replicate that kind of ingenuity in heading the board of Fidelity Bank. The bank should perform better than it is doing having started operation even before some of the leading tier 1 banking brands in the country today.”

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 14, 2021

23

BUSINESS/ENERGY

Oil Price Recovery: How Sustainable?

During the week, global oil prices rallied from a one-year low to hit $60, a development that has been interpreted in various ways by market watchers. In this report, Emmanuel Addeh analyses the steady rise of oil prices over the last couple of months and examines the possibility of sustaining it vis-j-vis the usual industry uncertainties that have even become more pronounced with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic

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reduction in manufacturing capacity of many industries.Because of the lack of demand for reÀned products, crude oil reÀneries are being shut down in parts of the world, thereby reducing demand for crude oil leading to fragility in prices.

Energy prices will continue to beneÀt from demand-side optimism as the world continues to embrace the vaccines from PÀzer and BioNTech and other several jabs that have now been approved for use.

t took a while, but Brent prices, the oil against which Nigeria’s crude is benchmarked, has Ànally broken through the technical resistance level of $60/barrel and has continued on an upward swing, except for Thursday when it lost a few cents.

Although there are already projections that oil prices could rally to $70-72 per barrel in the coming months, same with the peaks of September 2019 and January 2020, however, there is still some level of pessimism as to how long this situation can endure.

The proponents of both sides of the argument as to the sustainability of the ongoing rise may not be wrong after all, depending on the data they are looking at based on current market fundamentals as ongoing re-balancing eͿorts remain fragile amid weaker estimates for demand and a recovery in supplies.

A Tortuous 2020 Nowhere in recent history has the global oil and gas market had such a bad year as 2020. The market had an especially volatile year, beginning with a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia and then compounded by the ravaging impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

There was a crushing impact on demand as countries began to lockdown, leaving oil-dependent sectors, critically devastated and the capacity of countries which rely on the commodity to survive almost at the end of their tether.

For the Àrst time, oil prices dropped to the negative zone, as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in April rallied its members and allies to agree on production cuts to stabilise the market.

In the main, oil oversupply and COVID-19 impact drove crude oil prices in 2020, although the US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) price, had started the year 2020 at $61 per barrel.

But as the market responded negatively in February of last year, to the competition between Saudi Arabia and Russia, followed by lockdowns around the world, the WTI price turned negative for the Àrst time in history in April, to -$37.63 per barrel.

With OPEC agreement and the development of vaccines against the virus, the bumpy road to recovery began, steadily hitting $60 last week Cautious Forecasts Two of the world’s most renowned bodies in the industry, the OPEC and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have cut their projections for key market indices for the umpteenth time.

The IEA, for instance, during the week cut forecasts for world oil consumption in 2021 by 200,000 barrels a day as the pandemic continues to limit travel and economic activity.

It boosted projections for supplies outside the OPEC cartel by 400,000 barrels a day as a price recovery spurs investment.

On Thursday, it maintained that the “renewed lockdowns, stringent mobility restrictions and a rather slow vaccine rollout in Europe have delayed the anticipated rebound.”

The Paris-based agency, which advises major economies, said in its monthly report, however, that the market’s prospects look stronger in the second half of the year with swollen oil inventories expected to decline sharply as fuel use picks up, and as OPEC and its allies keep a lid on supplies.

Sylva

“The outlook for the economy and for oil demand in 2021 is looking brighter despite the near-term weakness,” Toril Bosoni, head of the IEA’s oil markets and industry division, said, adding that, “A rapid stock draw is anticipated during the second half.”

It predicted that over the course of 2021, about 60 per cent of the demand lost last year should be recovered, while global consumption will increase this year by 5.4 million barrels a day to average 96.4 million a day.

In the short term, however, the IEA said market conditions face a temporary setback, saying that demand will decline by 1 million barrels this quarter versus late last year.

On its part, in its latest market report, an OPEC boosted estimates for the average volume of crude it will need to pump this year, by 340,000 barrels a day, because of a stronger demand forecast and signs that rivals are faltering.

OPEC projected that it would need to supply 27.5 million barrels a day to fully satisfy demand in 2021, or about 2 million more than it’s currently producing, but still trimming its initial demand projection by about 100,000bpd.

“The global vaccination rollout is gaining pace, infection rates are falling in some areas, improvements in treatment and the growing use of rapid testing facilities all lend support to an acceleration of economic activity after the Àrst quarter,” OPEC said.

Impossibility of Accurate Predictions When he talks about the volatility of the international oil market, Group

Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Mele Kyari, has always described it as a “voodoo” market. The statement simply underscores the impracticality of accurately predicting the market.

Since the oil crisis of 70’s and early 80’s, the price of crude oil had remained, mostly, in a $10-$30 band before breaking out of it in 2004. This breakout was primarily due to China-led oil demand growth and its impact on OPEC’s surplus oil production resulting in concerns about the tighter supply-demand situation.

The 2008 Ànancial crisis led to global recession, which resulted in an unprecedented fall in oil prices by over $100, from its all-time highs of $140 per barrel before resuming an uptrend due to economic recovery.

For the next 5 years, the prices hovered around the $100 mark whilst the shale boom in the US continued. That fall in prices from a high of $140 at a point to its spiral into the negative zone in 2020 aptly shows how almost impossible it is to predict the oil market.

Eyes on the Vaccine To a very large extent, how fast world leaders are able to ramp up vaccine distribution in the nations of the world will determine whether demand will increase in the coming months.

Although the market has largely rebounded, the thing for industry right now is not the low crude prices, but the decline in demand for reÀned products.

Demand has largely fallen because of lockdowns that have led to restriction, for example on Áights, land travel and even

Adherence to OPEC Production Cuts Will OPEC members and allies have the discipline to continue to adhere to the compulsory cuts and intermittent reviews? In part, prices are rising today because of the singular decision to embark on crude oil production curbs.

While Nigeria was targeting 3 million barrels per day at the time and had already exceeded 2 million barrels, the OPEC decision meant that the country had to roll back its progress in terms of its daily production which fell to as low as 1.4 million or thereabout at some point.

While the record production cut is a way of balancing the mismatch between supply and demand in global oil prices due to the coronavirus pandemic, Nigeria has borne part of the brunt , having to shut down some of its oil wells to comply with the OPEC quota.

On how this move saved the market from collapse, Secretary General of OPEC, Dr Sanusi Barkindo, highlighted the role played by the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC), the cartel’s framework for supply stability, in halting an excess crude oil volume of 1.3 billion into the market in 2020.

“I am sure each and every one of us can recall the dire situation the industry was in, which was most dramatically illustrated on 20 April 2020 when the price of WTI went negative. It was a visceral day, and one often described as ‘Black Monday’.

“It was a time when the industry faced a potential crude oversupply of nearly 1.3 billion barrels. There were even deep concerns that some storage hubs could actually reach tank tops.

“Thankfully, this never came to pass, in part due to the decisive actions of the DoC. Since then the DoC has shown great courage and Áexibility and has adapted as and when necessary to changing market dynamics, particularly with the post-summer advent of second and third waves of Covid-19.”

If the OPEC members and allies stick with the plan, the world may just see another huge rally in prices in the coming weeks.

Shifting Investment to Renewables The oil and gas industry faces opposition and huge threats from a public greatly concerned with the environmental impact of fossil fuels and investors, who are shy of putting their monies in oil and gas.

As it is, investments are shifting from the oil and gas industry to renewables.

There’s a real global energy transition, putting the future of oil and gas companies and oil-dependent countries increasingly in question.

Coupled with competition from America shale, there is a gradual shift from policies that have supported oil and gas production to policies that instead are starting to disincentivise fossil fuels.

Although not a threat in the short term, major oil companies have begun to execute plans to divest from crude oil to renewable energy sources. This will in the long-term aͿect demand and by extension prices.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 14, 2021

BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE

Debtors as Threat to Financial System Bayo Akinloye

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nethingthatisprevalentin the entire South-eastern Nigeria is entrepreneurial spirit.

The region is majorly dominated by men and women who are selfdriven in their determination to succeed, not minding the socio-economic challenges and lack of support from various levels of government as can be seen in other climes.

Indeed, it is a common knowledge that south-eastern Nigeria has bred more naira billionaires than any other region in the country.

Clearly, it was this entrepreneurial spirit he saw Áowing through the blood of his kinsmen as well as other factors that made the founder of the defunct Diamond Bank, Pascal Dozie, to strategically position the Ànancial institution to support businesses in the region.

Even though Diamond Bank had national spread, during its existence, the bank which has since been acquired by Access Bank Plc, had majority of its customers as south-east business owners, in its deliberate attempt to support his brothers.

From agriculture, construction, oil and gas, even operators of micro, small and mediumsized enterprises (MSMEs), Alaba traders, Nnewi, Idumota, ASPAMDA, Balogun, Onitsha, Owerri, Ariaria, Kano, and even non-igbo business, then saw the Diamond Bank as the go to Ànancial institution for support and business expansion.

That was why the bank then was a dominant player in the retail segment of the industry.

Unfortunately, lending is very risky because repayment of loans is not always guaranteed and most of the times depend on other factors not in the control of the borrower.

And the inability to manage loans, which make up the largest share of banks’ assets, would likely lead to high levels of non -performing loans (NPLs).

Indeed, NPLs erodes conÀdence and threatens the continuous existence of a Ànancial institution.

Some recalcitrant debtors are in the habit of moving from one bank to another, with a deliberate plan not to repay.

This, was the case of Diamond Bank as some of his kinsmen who collected loans from the bank deliberately refused to honour their obligations, thereby allowing the volume of NPLs to hurt its operations.

In fact, excessive NPLs was a major factor that weakened a lot of banks in the 90s as well as during the reign of Mallam Sanusi Lamido as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which even led to the creation of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to clean up the system.

Thereafter, the regulatory authority also restrained banks from granting further credit to potential borrowers with unserviced facility exceeding a certain amount or any amount of delinquent facility that was taken over by AMCON. Precisely, to clean up the mess in the sector then and revive some of the banks, the Sanusiled CBN had to inject about N700 billion in a bailout exercise as well as removed some bank chief executives who were deemed to be irresponsible.

To further buttress the damage recalcitrant debtors have caused on the Nigerian economy, AMCON recently revealed that 350 of its debtors owe it N3.6 trillion.

The corporation’s Group Head of Enforcement, Joshua Ikioda, disclosed in Abuja, that if the amount is recovered, it would be enough to complete the revival of the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi State, and capitalise over two million microbusinesses with N2 million each or 200,000 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with N20 million per SME. The move will create jobs for Nigeria’s unemployed youth and help develop the economy.

He also revealed that the debtors represent 80 per cent of the N4.4 trillion of the total outstanding debt to the corporation, adding that all agencies of the government and other stakeholders must support AMCON’s debt recovery eͿorts.

Wiwge

“This colossal outstanding debt of N4.4 trillion is bigger than the N3.85 trillion capital expenditure budget of the federal government of Nigeria in 2021.

“It is also bigger than the N3.12 trillion total foreign debt service and N3.7 trillion personnel cost for the year.

“It is also bigger than the N3.12 trillion for total foreign debt service for 2021,” the visibly angry AMCON o΀cial had said.

Clearly, this scenario which is capable of dampening conÀdence in the system is what Access Bank Plc trying to avoid, which has seen the bank aggressive in its debt recovery, especially legacy debts from the defunct Diamond Bank, which it acquired in 2019.

The bank is now in a legal tussle with A.B.C Orjiako, the chairman of Seplat Petroleum Development Company; Seplat as a company; Cardinal Drilling Nigeria Limited, another company associated with the businessman, and Kalu Nwosu, Managing Director of Cardinal Drilling Nigeria Limited, over an indebtedness put at $85.8 million.

The unfolding scandal comes at a time when the prediction is that the outlook for Nigeria’s banking sector will remain negative this year amid di΀cult operating conditions and sovereign pressures due to the pandemic.

The Seplat versus Access Bank Saga On December 2, 2020, the head o΀ce of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, a listed company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE) was seal up following a court order which permitted a receiver/manager, Messrs Kunle Ogunba & Co to enforce an ex parte motion requesting that Access Bank take over the oil and gas company’s head

o΀ce, due to the Cardinal Drilling Nigeria loan taken from Diamond Bank.

In its letter to the NSE, the oil and gas company had explained that Seplat was not a shareholder in Cardinal Drilling Company and therefore was not liable for its debt obligations.

It was gathered that in 2012, Cardinal Drilling Services Limited applied for and obtained a credit facility from Diamond Bank to buy CDS Rigs 101, 201, 202 and 203.

The loan was secured by a Àxed and Áoating Debenture over Cardinal’s assets and the Cardinal Rigs were allegedly used to provide drilling services to Seplat.

It was also gathered that CDS 101 and 201 were used to execute Seplat’s 2019 work programme and all four rigs were allegedly critical to Seplat’s future drilling plans and to shareholder returns by way of improved revenues and possible dividends.

But Cardinal Drilling was unable to service the facility, prompting Access Bank to approach the court to enforce its rights.

Seplat in the letter to the NSE had described Cardinal Drilling as a third party providing it with drilling services.

“We understand that Cardinal Drilling has outstanding loan obligations to Access Bank.

However, Seplat is neither a shareholder in Cardinal Drilling, nor has outstanding loan obligations or guarantees to Access Bank and did not at any time make any commitments or guarantees in respect of Cardinal Drilling’s loan obligations to Access Bank.

“Seplat strongly believes that there is no merit or justiÀcation for this action against it and has taken prompt legal action to vacate the court order pursuant to which the building was sealed.

“This action was taken by Access Bank

without any prior notice to Seplat, as required under Nigerian law,” it insisted.

Few weeks later, Seplat won an appeal to unseal its corporate head o΀ce. The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal on Friday, January 22 suspended the interim order issued by a Federal High Court sealing the o΀ce over the matter.

Justice Joseph Shagbaor Ikyegh, who led the three-man panel, while delivering a ruling on an application by Seplat for an order suspending the interim order made by Justice Rilwan Aikawa of Federal High Court, pending the determination of the appeal Àled by Seplat, held that the balance of convenience favoured the petroleum company.

Justice Ikyegh also held that Access Bank had nothing to lose if Seplat continued to discharge its obligation to its numerous clients, even as it lifted the order stopping banks from fulÀlling their obligations to Seplat under bank-customer relationship.

ButAccess Bank which is bent on recovering its debt, said it had Àled a notice of appeal at the Supreme Court to challenge the decision by the Lagos Division of Court of Appeal to unseal the o΀ce.

The bank maintained that the loan was utilised by Seplat.

The bank, through its solicitors, Mr. Kunle Ogunba and Associates, had argued that the learned justices of the court erred in law when they suspended the interlocutory orders made by the trial judge at the Federal High Court, thereby treating the substantive appeal at an interlocutory stage.

The bank in an a΀davit in support of the application before Supreme Court, stated that, “by discharging the said interlocutory orders, the Appeal Court judges, wittingly (via a motion) determined the main appeal

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 14, 2021

BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE

Orjiako

Emefiele

Debtors as Threat to Financial System which seeks to also discharge the interlocutory orders made by the trial court”.

The bank also stated that the learned justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law when they failed to dismiss the said application, same being an abuse of court process Àled to interfere with administration of justice.

It is therefore seeking an order setting aside the Appeal Court’s ruling delivered on January 22, 2021, as well as reinstating the interlocutory orders made by Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court on December 24, 2020.

The bank has also Àled a motion on notice for an order of injunction pending appeal at the Court of Appeal, for an order restraining the Seplat and others in the suit, which includes; Cardinal Drilling Services Limited; Orjiako, Nwosu, the baliͿs, sheriͿs and/ or any other person acting through them from taking further step towards enforcing, executing or giving any eͿect to the ruling/ order of the Court of Appeal delivered on January 22, 2021, pending the hearing and Ànal determination of the appeal it has Àled at the Supreme Court.

The assets aͿected by the Mareva order included; 25, Lugard Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos, 6, Agodogba Avenue, Parkview, Ikoyi, Lagos and the one at 11, Oba Adeyinka Oyekan Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.

However, few days after, Ogunba accused Seplat of embarking on blackmail and intimidation over his discharge of his professional duties to the bank.

The senior lawyer, was reacting to reports that he had been dragged to the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for alleged gross misconduct and unethical practices by the indigenous oil company.

Ogunba posited that the petition against him was meant to create all kinds of roadblocks which would delay the payment of the debt the oil Àrm owes Acesss Bank Plc. While noting that he had not been formally notiÀed of the said petition to prompt a formal response, Ogunba advised the oil company that rather than embarking on a wild goose chase, it should indeed begin the process of liquidating its huge Ànancial obligation to the bank.

Insisting that the attempted blackmail and

intimidation would not work, the senior lawyer noted that he was merely discharging his duties to his client in the court case between the two companies.

“It is obvious that the petition (if any) is an attempt to blackmail me and avoid the payment of huge indebtedness of Seplat to Access Bank Plc and nothing more.

“Seplat is better advised to take steps to liquidate its debt rather than attempt to intimidate me, a lawyer merely doing my duties as such. Once again, I reiterate the fact that the petition has not been formally brought to my attention for a formal reaction,” he stated.

He expressed surprise that he was being targeted by the oil Àrm rather than facing the issues at stake, asking Seplat to focus on the substance of the case, rather than attempting to hound him.

Orjiako on Familiar Path From all indication, Orjiako appears to be gaining notoriety as a bad borrower and analysts have stressed the need for commercial banks across the world and the Central Bank of Nigeria to reassess if he still possesses what bankers call the Five C’s of credit (character, capacity, capital, collateral, and conditions).

This is because in in 2019,AMCON through its lawyers had written all commercial and merchant banks in the country, directing them to forthwith, stop Sheba Exploration & Production Company and its President, Orjiako and Allenne Limited from withdrawing monies from their accounts domiciled in all the banks. In addition, the interim order by the court then, had given the Receiver/ Manager the mandate to take over all the assets of Sheba E & P, its subsidiaries and a΀liate companies, the personal assets of Orjiakor (including his homes at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, in London and Maryland in the US), his o΀ces and o΀ces of SEPLAT, a Áoating, production, storage and o΁oading (FPSO), as well as the shares of SEPLAT Petroleum and Development Company Plc and Platform Petroleum, pending the determination of the case.

Lexavier Partners Legal Practitioners, solicitors to AMCON, had disclosed this in a letter dated August 16, 2019.

SpeciÀcally, it disclosed that on August 15, 2019, Justice T.O. Taiwo, had in a ruling

at a Federal High Court, at the Abuja, in an interim order against the defendants and in favour of AMCON, had appointed Francis Chuka Agbu, (SAN), as Receiver/Manager.

Lexavier Partners Legal Practioners, in the letter had stated: “We refer to the above subject matter in which we act as Solicitors to AMCON, which is the plaintiͿ in the suit.

“We wish to inform you that on Thursday, August 15, 2019, the Federal High Court, holden at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, coral, Honourable Justice TO Taiwo, made the attached order against the defendants and in favour of AMCON. “By the said Order, your bank is mandated to henceforth prevent all further withdrawal(s) of funds and other debit transactions from the defendants’ account (s) domiciled with your bank and also furnish the Receiver/Manager within seven days from the date of this notice, with comprehensive statements in respect of each account.”

It had added: “The said account should be forwarded within the stipulated time to an address at Ikoyi. Please note that the attached order is binding and enforceable against your bank and shall remain so until and unless a subsequent order is made to the contrary.

“Consequently, we expect that your bank will fully comply with the order. Thus, we shall be constrained to initiate contempt proceedings against the bank and every responsible o΀cer of the bank in the event that the terms of this order are Áouted or in any way undermined by any action or conduct of the bank or any of its o΀cers.”

Meanwhile, the interim court ruling on the matter had stated that the judge had, “granted judicial protection to Francis Chuka Agbu, (SAN), the Receiver/Manager of the Ist defendant applicant herein vide the Deed of Appointment of Receiver of July 30, 2019, to take possession of and preserve the Àrst defendant, Shebah Exploration and Production Company Limited and all assets and undertaking wherever they may be found, including but not limited to those assets lying and situate at: 10c Lugard Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos; 25a Lugard Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos; MT Trinity Spirit, a vessel used as a FPSO facility and located in, around, and or within the Àrst defendant’s Ukpokiti oil Àeld, whether or not under the control of the Àrst defendant and wherever it is, within

or outside jurisdiction.”

It had also directed that, “all and any movable and immovable assets of Shebah Exploration and Production Company Limited wherever located, in Nigeria or outside of Nigeria, including the production facilities and all other assets belonging to the Àrst defendant and located in and around the Ukpotiki oil Àeld and to take possession of and inventory of all equipment, machinery and any chosen thereon.”

“That interim order is hereby made directing the SheriͿs of this Honourable Court to liaise with Francis Chuka Agbu, (SAN), as the Receiver of the Àrst Defendant to enter upon the following: The 2nd defendant’s property in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos; the 2nd defendant’s property in Maryland, United States of America; the 2nd defendant’s property in London, United Kingdom.

“An interim order directing all the Ànancial institutions listed in the schedule to this motion to disclose to, and or furnish the Receiver with all sums standing to the credit of the defendant in their custody by sending to Francis Chuka Agbu (SAN), as Receiver/ Manager, within seven days of receiving this order, a statement showing the outstanding balances of the Defendants.

“An order directing the Nigeria Police and all its o΀cers, including the Inspector General of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 2 and 9, and the Commissioners of Police of the Lagos State and Delta State Police Commands, their Deputies and O΀cers attached to them, as well as all other law enforcement agents/personnel to assist and protect the Receiver/Manager and the SheriͿ of this Honourable Court in the execution of the orders granted pursuant to this application, and secure and keep all the properties listed in prayer two above or all the properties aͿected by the said order of this court, pending the hearing and Ànal determination of the motion on notice before this court.”

The foregoing therefore underscores the need for the banking sector regulators to put in place policies that would ensure that bad borrowers are punished.

This will go a long in preserving the health of our Ànancial institutions as well as make it easy for banks to support ventures or ideas that have the capability of contributing to economic growth.

26

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 14, 2021

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dŚĞ ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐLJ ƐƵŐŐĞƐƚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ŝƐ ůĞƐƐ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶĞĚ ĂďŽƵƚ ĚĞďƚ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ĂŵŝĚƐƚ ǁĞĂŬ ƌĞǀĞŶƵĞ ƉƌŽƐƉĞĐƚƐ ĂƐ ŝƚ ƉƌŽƉŽƐĞƐ Ă ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ĚĞďƚ ƚŽ ' W ƌĂƟŽ ;ϰϬ͘ϬйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ĂĐƚƵĂů ĚĞďƚ ƚŽ ' W ƌĂƟŽ ĨŽƌ &z͗ϮϬϮϬ ŽĨ Ϯϵ͘Ϯй ;ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ tĂLJƐ ĂŶĚ DĞĂŶƐͿ ŝƐ ŝŶ ďƌĞĂĐŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϭϲʹϮϬϭϵ ĨƌĂŵĞǁŽƌŬ͘ DĞĂŶǁŚŝůĞ͕ ĂĐͲ ƚƵĂů ĚĞďƚ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƚŽ ƌĞǀĞŶƵĞ ƌĂƟŽ ǁŽƌƐͲ ĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϴϮ͘ϵй ŝŶ &z͗ϮϬϮϬ ĨƌŽŵ ĂŶ ĂǀĞƌͲ ĂŐĞ ŽĨ ϱϱ͘ϵй ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƐƚ ϯ LJĞĂƌƐ͕ ďƌŝŶŐŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŽƉƟŵĂůŝƚLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐLJ͘ dŚĞ DK ŚĂĚ ĚŝƐĐůŽƐĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ŝƐ ƚŽ ĂĐĐŽŵŵŽĚĂƚĞ ŶĞǁ ďŽƌƌŽǁŝŶŐƐ ĨŽƌ ďƵĚŐĞƚ ĨƵŶĚŝŶŐ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ ǁĂLJƐ ĂŶĚ ŵĞĂŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ĂĐĐŽŵͲ ŵŽĚĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽƉŽƐĞĚ ƚƌĂŶƐĨĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĚĞďƚƐ ŽĨ ƐŽŵĞ ^K Ɛ ĂŶĚ D KE ƚŽ ƚŚĞ &'͛Ɛ ďĂůĂŶĐĞ ƐŚĞĞƚ͘ tŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĂŬ ƉƌŽͲ ƐƉĞĐƚƐ ĨŽƌ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ ŝŶ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ƌĞǀĞͲ ŶƵĞ͕ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ŶĞĞĚƐ ƚŽ ĞdžĞƌĐŝƐĞ ĐĂƵͲ ƟŽŶ ŽŶ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐŝŶŐ ĚĞďƚ ůĞǀĞůƐ ŐŽŝŶŐ ĨŽƌͲ ǁĂƌĚ͘

tĞ ŚŽůĚ ƚŚĞ ǀŝĞǁ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ƚŽ Ă ĚĞďƚ ŵŝdž ƌĂƟŽ ŽĨ ϳϬ ;ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐͿ͗ϯϬ ;ĞdžƚĞƌŶĂůͿ ĨƌŽŵ ϲϬ͗ϰϬ ŵĂLJ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ůŽǁ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ƌĂƚĞ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶͲ ŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ϮϬϮϬ͘ &Žƌ ĞdžƚĞƌŶĂů ďŽƌƌŽǁŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐLJ ƚŽ ƌĞĚƵĐĞ ƚŚĞ ƌĂƟŽ ƚŽ ϯϬй ;ĨƌŽŵ ϰϬйͿ ĂƉƉĞĂƌƐ ƉƌƵĚĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŐůŽďĂů LJŝĞůĚƐ ĂƌĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƉŝĐŬ ƵƉ ǁŝƚŚ ĞĐŽͲ ŶŽŵŝĐ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ĨƌŽŶƚ͕

ƚŚĞ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ŝƐ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶƚ ŽĨ ŝƚƐ ĂďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ ŝƐƐƵĞ Ăƚ ůŽǁĞƌ ĐŽƐƚ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ĂŶĚ ƐƵƉƉůLJ ĚLJŶĂŵŝĐƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌͲ ŬĞƚ͕ ŚĞŶĐĞ ũƵƐƟĮĞƐ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ƚŽ ϳϬй͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ŝŶ ĂŶ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ǁŝƚŚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐͲ ŝŶŐ ƵŶĐĞƌƚĂŝŶƚLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĚŝƌĞĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ ŝŶƚĞƌͲ ĞƐƚ ƌĂƚĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƚĂƌŐĞƚĞĚ ĚĞďƚ ŵŝdž ĐŽƵůĚ ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŝŶƚŽ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ďŽƌƌŽǁŝŶŐ ĐŽƐƚ ŐŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ ĞůĞǀĂƚĞĚ ŵĞĚŝƵŵ ƚŽ ůŽŶŐ ƚĞƌŵ ŽƵƚͲ ůŽŽŬ ŽŶ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ƌĂƚĞƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ĂůƐŽ ĐƌŽǁĚŝŶŐ ŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝǀĂƚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ĚĞďƚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͘

'ůŽďĂů ƋƵŝƟĞƐ DĂƌŬĞƚ͗ WŽƐŝƟǀĞ WĞƌĨŽƌͲ ŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ KƉƟŵŝƐŵ ŽĨ &ŝƐĐĂů ^ƟŵƵůƵƐ 'ůŽďĂů Ks/ ϭϵ ĐĂƐĞƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƌŝƐĞ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ Ăƚ ϭϬϳ͘ϯ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ͕ ĂŶ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ŽĨ Ϯ͘ϲй ĨƌŽŵ ůĂƐƚ ǁĞĞŬ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĂƚŚ ƚŽůů ƌŽƐĞ ϯ͘ϰй ƚŽ Ϯ͘ϰ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ͘ dŚĞ h^ ƌĞͲ ŵĂŝŶƐ ƚŚĞ ŵĂũŽƌ ĞƉŝĐĞŶƚĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉĂŶͲ ĚĞŵŝĐ Ăƚ Ϯϳ͘Ϭŵ ƌĞƉŽƌƚĞĚ ĐĂƐĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬůLJ ůĂďŽƌ ĚĂƚĂ ƌĞǀĞĂůŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞͲ ƐƵƌŐĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ϭϵ ŝŶĨĞĐƟŽŶ ĐĂƐĞƐ ŚĂƐ ƐƚĂůůĞĚ ůĂďŽƌ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉŽŽƌ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ ŝŶ ĞŵƉůŽLJŵĞŶƚ͕ ƚŚĞ &ĞĚ ŚĂŝƌ͕ :ĞƌŽŵĞ WŽǁĞůů ĂĸƌŵƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŵŽŶĞƚĂƌLJ ƉŽůŝĐLJ ǁŽƵůĚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ĂĐĐŽŵŵŽͲ ĚĂƟǀĞ ǁŚŝůĞ ĂĚǀŽĐĂƟŶŐ ĨŽƌ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ĮƐĐĂů ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞƌĞďLJ͕ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĐĂƐĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ Ψϭ͘ϵƚŶ Ks/ ϭϵ ƌĞůŝĞĨ ƉĂĐŬͲ ĂŐĞ ĂƩƌĂĐƟǀĞ͘ ůƐĞǁŚĞƌĞ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶͲ Ăů ŶĞƌŐLJ ŐĞŶĐLJ ;/ Ϳ ĐƵƚ ŝƚƐ ĨŽƌĞĐĂƐƚ ŽĨ

Žŝů ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ŝŶ ϮϬϮϭ ďLJ ϮϬϬ͕ϬϬϬ ďƉĚ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƌĞŶĞǁĞĚ ůŽĐŬĚŽǁŶƐ͕ ƐƚƌŝŶŐĞŶƚ ŵŽďŝůŝƚLJ ƌĞƐƚƌŝĐƟŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƐůŽǁ ǀĂĐĐŝŶĞ ƌŽůůŽƵƚ ǁŚŝůĞ ĂŶƟĐŝƉĂƟŶŐ ĂŶ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ŽĨ ϰϬϬ͕ϬϬϬ ďƉĚ ŝŶ ŶŽŶ KW ƐƵƉƉůŝĞƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ƐƉƵƌƌĞĚ ďLJ ŚŝŐŚͲ Ğƌ Žŝů ƉƌŝĐĞƐ͘

WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ ǁĂƐ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ǁŝƚŚ ϲ ŽĨ ϳ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐŝŶŐ ǁͬǁ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ h^͕ ƚŚĞ ^ΘW ϱϬϬ ĂŶĚ E ^ Y ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƌŽƐĞ Ϭ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘Ϭй ǁͬǁ ƌĞƐƉĞĐͲ ƟǀĞůLJ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ h<͕ ƚŚĞ &d^ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϲй ĚĞƐƉŝƚĞ ǁĞĂŬ ŵĂĐƌŽĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĚĂƚĂ ĂŶĚ &ƌĂŶĐĞ ϰϬ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ Ϭ͘ϱй ǁŚŝůĞ 'ĞƌŵĂŶLJ͛Ɛ y dZ y ŝŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϰй ǁͬǁ͘ ,ŽŶŐ <ŽŶŐ͛Ɛ ,ĂŶŐ ^ĞŶŐ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌŽƐĞ ϯ͘Ϭй ǁͬǁ ĂŶĚ :ĂƉĂŶ͛Ɛ EŝŬŬĞŝ ϮϮϱ ŝŶĚĞdž ĐůŽƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ďLJ Ϯ͘ϲй ǁͬ ǁ͘

WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ Z/ ^ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ ǁĂƐ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ǁŝƚŚ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐŝŶŐ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ǁͬǁ͘ ŚŝŶĂ͛Ɛ ^ŚĂŶŐŚĂŝ ŽŵƉŽƐŝƚĞ ĂŶĚ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂ͛Ɛ &d^ ͬ:^ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ϰ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ Ϯ͘ϴй ǁͬǁ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞͲ ůLJ͘ /ŶĚŝĂ͛Ɛ ^ ĂŶĚ ZƵƐƐŝĂ͛Ɛ Zd^ ĂůƐŽ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ϭ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϵй ǁͬǁ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƌĂnjŝů͛Ɛ /ďŽǀĞƐƉĂ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ůŽƐĞƌ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϭ͘ϲй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶƐ ŽǀĞƌ ĞdžĐĞƐƐŝǀĞ ĮƐĐĂů ƐƉĞŶĚŝŶŐ͘

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27

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 14, 2021

/Ŷ ĨƌŝĐĂ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞůLJ ƐŬĞǁĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ϰ ŽĨ ϲ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ĚĞĐůŝŶŝŶŐ ǁͬǁ͘ 'ŚĂŶĂ͛Ɛ '^ ŽŵƉŽƐŝƚĞ ĂŶĚ <ĞŶLJĂ͛Ɛ E^ ϮϬ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝͲ ĂƚĞĚ ϲ͘Ϭй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘ϯй ǁͬǁ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ ĂŶĚ DŽƌͲ ƌŽĐĐŽ ĂƐĂďůĂŶĐĂ D ^/ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ϯ͘Ϭй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘ϯй ǁͬǁ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ^ŝŵŝͲ ůĂƌůLJ͕ DĂƵƌŝƟƵƐ͛ ^ D y ĂŶĚ ŐLJƉƚ͛Ɛ 'y ϯϬ ĨĞůů Ϭ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϱй ǁͬǁ ƌĞƐƉĞĐͲ ƟǀĞůLJ͘

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ƐŝĂŶ ĂŶĚ DŝĚĚůĞ ĂƐƚ ŵĂƌͲ ŬĞƚƐ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ƐƵƌƉƌŝƐŝŶŐůLJ ďƵůůͲ ŝƐŚ ĚĞƐƉŝƚĞ ƚŚĞ ĚŽǁŶǁĂƌĚ ƌĞǀŝƐŝŽŶ ƚŽ Žŝů ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ĂƐ Ăůů ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĞŶ͘ ^ĂƵĚŝ ƌĂďŝĂ͛Ɛ dĂĚĂǁƵů ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂƌƚ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ϯ͘ϴй ǁͬǁ ŐĂŝŶ͘ /Ŷ Ă ƐŝŵŝůĂƌ ǀĞŝŶ͕ dŚĂŝůĂŶĚ͛Ɛ ^ d ĂŶĚ dƵƌŬĞLJ͛Ɛ /^d ϭϬϬ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ϭ͘ϳй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϵй ǁͬǁ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ YĂƚĂƌ͛Ɛ ^D ϮϮϬ ĂŶĚ h ͛Ɛ y 'ĞŶͲ ĞƌĂů ĂůƐŽ ŝŶĐŚĞĚ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ďLJ Ϭ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϭй ǁͬǁ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘

ŽŵĞƐƟĐ ƋƵŝƟĞƐ DĂƌŬĞƚ͗ dŚĞ ĞĂƌƐ ^ƵƐƚĂŝŶ ŽŵŝŶĂŶĐĞ͙ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ ϯ͘Ϭй ǁͬǁ >ĂƐƚ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞƋƵŝƟĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĞŶĚĞĚ ƐŽƵƚŚǁĂƌĚƐ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŽŶ Ăůů ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ ƐĂǀĞ dŚƵƌƐͲ ĚĂLJ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ŝŶͲ ĚĞdž ůŽƐƚ ϯ͘Ϭй ǁͬǁ ƚŽ ϰϬ͕ϰϯϵ͘ϴϱ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƐĞůů ŽīƐ ŝŶ E' D ; ϰ͘ϯйͿ͕ 'h Z Edz ; ϭϱ͘ϳйͿ ĂŶĚ h D Ed ; ϳ͘ϮйͿ͘ ůƐŽ͕ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĨĞůů േϲϲϮ͘ϳďŶ ƚŽ േϮϭ͘ϮƚŶ ǁŚŝůĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ůŽǁĞƌĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϰй͘ ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚŝƉƉĞĚ Ϯ͘ϴй ĂŶĚ ϮϬ͘ϯй ƚŽ ϯϵϱ͘ϲŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ േϱ͘ϮďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚͲ ĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ & E, ;ϭϵϰ͘Ϭŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ E/d, ;ϭϮϬ͘ϭŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ĂŶĚ dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϬϵ͘ϱŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ DdEE ;േϯ͘ϭďŶͿ͕ E/d, ;േϯ͘ϬďŶͿ ĂŶĚ 'h Z Edz ;േϮ͘ϭďŶͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁĂƐ ůĂĐŬůƵƐͲ ƚƌĞ ǁͬǁ ĂƐ Ăůů ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌͲ ĂŐĞ ůŽƐƚ ƐĂǀĞ ƚŚĞ &Z / d ŝŶĚĞdž ǁŚŝĐŚ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϲй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ DdEE ;нϭ͘ϭйͿ͘ dŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚĞdž ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůŽƐͲ ĞƌƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϴ͘ϴй ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ĨŽƌ 'h Z Edz ; ϭϱ͘ϳйͿ ĂŶĚ h E ; ϭϭ͘ϮйͿ͘ dƌĂŝůŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ϲ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ ϱ͘ϳй ƌĞͲ ƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƐ ŝŶ E D ; ϭϴ͘ϬйͿ͕ // K ; ϭϬ͘ϳйͿ͕ E' D ; ϰ͘ϯйͿ ĂŶĚ h D Ed ; ϳ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞƐ ŝŶ K EͲ K ; ϰ͘ϰйͿ͕ EE&D ; ϯ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ &>KhZͲ D/>> ; ϰ͘ϲйͿ ĚƌĂŐŐĞĚ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĚŽǁŶ ďLJ ϭ͘Ϭй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϵй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌͲ ŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ƌĞͲ ŵĂŝŶĞĚ ƵŶĐŚĂŶŐĞĚ ǁͬǁ Ăƚ Ϭ͘ϯdž ĂƐ ϭϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ϱϭ ƚŚĂƚ ůŽƐƚ͘ D E &/d ;нϭϬ͘ϱйͿ͕ DKZ/^KE ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ hW ;нϵ͘ϭйͿ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ǁŚŝůĞ EE&D ; ϭϴ͘ϴйͿ͕ E D ; ϭϴ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ ZKz > y ; ϭϲ͘ϳйͿ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ

ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƌĞƐƵůƚ ƚŽ ĚŝƌĞĐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƚŽ ƐĞĞŬ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ͘

&ŽƌĞŝŐŶ džĐŚĂŶŐĞ DĂƌŬĞƚ͗ KW ĂŶĚ / >ŽǁĞƌƐ Kŝů ĞŵĂŶĚ KƵƚůŽŽŬ KW ĂŶĚ / ďŽƚŚ ůŽǁĞƌĞĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ϮϬϮϭ ŐůŽďĂů Žŝů ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ĨŽƌĞĐĂƐƚ ďLJ Ϭ͘ϭŵďƉĚ ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϮŵďƉĚ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ĐŝƟŶŐ ƌĞŶĞǁĞĚ ůŽĐŬĚŽǁŶƐ ĂŶĚ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŶĞǁ Ks/ ϭϵ ǀĂƌŝĂŶƚƐ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĐĂƵƐĞ͘ EŽƚͲ ǁŝƚŚƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĂŬ Žŝů ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ŽƵƚͲ ůŽŽŬ͕ ƌĞŶƚ ĐƌƵĚĞ Žŝů ƉƌŝĐĞ ƌŽƐĞ ϯ͘ϵй ǁͬǁ ƚŽ Ψϲϭ͘ϰϴďďů͘ ŽŵĞƐƟĐĂůůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ĞdžƚĞƌŶĂů ƌĞƐĞƌǀĞƐ ĨĞůů Ϭ͘ϳй ǁͬǁ ƚŽ Ψϯϱ͘ϴďŶ ;ϮͬϭϬͬϮϬϮϭͿ͘

/Ŷ ƚŚĞ &KZ y ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͕ ƚŚĞ E ƐƉŽƚ ƌĂƚĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ŇĂƚ Ăůů ǁĞĞŬ Ăƚ േϯϳϵ͘ϬϬͬΨϭ͘ϬϬ ǁŚŝůĞ ƌĂƚĞ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƌĂůůĞů ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝͲ ĂƚĞĚ േϳ͘ϬϬ ǁͬǁ ƚŽ േϰϳϯ͘ϬϬ͘ϬϬͬΨϭ͘ϬϬ͘ ƚ ƚŚĞ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ Θ džƉŽƌƚĞƌƐ ;/Θ Ϳ tŝŶĚŽǁ͕ ƚŚĞ E & y ƌĂƚĞ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƚĞĚ േϴ͘ϱϬ ǁͬǁ ƚŽ േϰϬϰ͘ϲϳͬΨϭ͘ϬϬ͘ ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ŝŶ /Θ tŝŶͲ ĚŽǁ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐ ƚŽƚĂů ƚƵƌŶŽǀĞƌ ƌŽƐĞ ϰϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ Ψϯϯϯ͘ϱŵ ĨƌŽŵ ΨϮϮϰ͘ϱŵ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ǁĞĞŬ͘

ƚ ƚŚĞ &D Y ^ĞĐƵƌŝƟĞƐ džĐŚĂŶŐĞ &y &ƵͲ ƚƵƌĞƐ ŽŶƚƌĂĐƚ DĂƌŬĞƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƚĂů ǀĂůƵĞ ŽĨ ŽƉĞŶ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ ƐĞƩůĞĚ Ăƚ Ψϳ͘ϯďŶ͕ ĚŽǁŶ Ϭ͘Ϯй ;Ψϭϭ͘ϲŵͿ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŽƌ ǁĞĞŬ͘ dŚĞ :ĂŶƵĂƌLJ ϮϬϮϮ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚ ;ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚ ƉƌŝĐĞ͗ േϰϰϵ͘ϱϮͿ ŚĂĚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĂĚͲ ĚŝƟŽŶĂů ƐƵďƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ ŽĨ ΨϭϬ͘Ϭŵ ƉƵƫŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƚĂů ǀĂůƵĞ Ăƚ ΨϭϱϬ͘ϰŵ͘ DĞĂŶǁŚŝůĞ͕ ǁĞ ƐĂǁ Ă ƚŽƚĂů ƐĞůů Žī ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ ϮϬϮϰ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚ ;ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚ ƉƌŝĐĞ͗ േϱϳϱ͘ϮϵͿ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ EĂŝƌĂ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƐŝŵŝůĂƌ ďĂŶĚ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ &y ƐĞŐŵĞŶƚƐ͘

DŽŶĞLJ DĂƌŬĞƚ͗ ,ŝŐŚĞƌ DĂƌŐŝŶĂů ZĂƚĞƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ d ďŝůůƐ ƵĐƟŽŶ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ŵŽŶĞLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ŝŶƚĞƌͲ ďĂŶŬ ƌĂƚĞƐ ƚƌĞŶĚĞĚ ůŽǁĞƌ ŽŶ ϰ ŽĨ ϱ ƚƌĂĚͲ ŝŶŐ ĚĂLJƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝͲ ƚLJ͘ ƚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ͕ KƉĞŶ ƵLJ ĂĐŬ ;K Ϳ ĂŶĚ KǀĞƌŶŝŐŚƚ ;KsEͿ ƌĂƚĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ Ăƚ ϭϰ͘Ϭй ĂŶĚ ϭϰ͘ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ĨƌŽŵ ϭϳ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ ϭϴ͘Ϭй ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞͲ ǀŝŽƵƐ &ƌŝĚĂLJ ĚĞƐƉŝƚĞ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ĚĞͲ ĐůŝŶŝŶŐ ƚŽ േϯϴϲ͘ϭďŶ͘ KŶ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ͕ ĐŽŶƐĞͲ ƋƵĞŶƚ ŽŶ ŝŶŇŽǁƐ ĨƌŽŵ KDK ŵĂƚƵƌŝƟĞƐ ǁŽƌƚŚ േϮϭϯ͘ϵďŶ͕ ƌĂƚĞƐ ƚƌĞŶĚĞĚ ůŽǁĞƌ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ K ĂŶĚ KsE ƌĂƚĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ Ăƚ ϴ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ ϴ͘ϴй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ KŶ &ƌŝĚĂLJ͕ K ĂŶĚ KsE ƌĂƚĞƐ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĨĞůů ƚŽ ϰ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ ϰ͘ϴй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĂƐ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ƐĞƩůĞĚ Ăƚ േϮϬϴ͘ϰďŶ͘

KŶ tĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ E Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŵĂƌLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĂƵĐƟŽŶ ;WD Ϳ ŝƐƐƵĞĚ͖ ϵϭ ĚĂLJ ;KīĞƌ͗ േϭϵ͘ϴďŶ͖ ^ƵďƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ͗ േϯϬ͘ϲďŶ͖ ^ĂůĞ͗ േϮϰ͘ϳďŶͿ͕ ϭϴϮ ĚĂLJ ;KīĞƌ͗ േϭϬ͘ϬďŶ͖ ^ƵďƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ͗ േϮϭ͘ϵďŶ͖ ^ĂůĞ͗ േϭϲ͘ϭďŶͿ ĂŶĚ ϯϲϰ ĚĂLJ ;KīĞƌ͗ േϭϰϬ͘ϬďŶ͖ ^ƵďƐĐƌŝƉͲ ƟŽŶ͗ േϭϰϲ͘ϮďŶ͖ ^ĂůĞ͗ േϵϬ͘ϭďŶͿ ŝŶƐƚƌƵͲ ŵĞŶƚƐ Ăƚ Ă ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂů ƌĂƚĞ ŽĨ ϭ͘Ϭй͕ Ϯ͘Ϭй ĂŶĚ ϰ͘Ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĐŽŵƉĂƌĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ƌĂƚĞƐ ŽĨ Ϭ͘ϲй͕ ϭ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϯ͘Ϭй͘ ůů ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŽǀĞƌƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞĚ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϱdž͕ Ϯ͘Ϯdž ĂŶĚ ϭ͘Ϭdž͘

KŶ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ E ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĞĚ KDK ĂƵĐƟŽŶ ǁŽƌƚŚ േϭϳϬ͘ϬďŶ ƚŽ ŵŽƉ ƵƉ ĞdžͲ ĐĞƐƐ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ͘ ĞŵĂŶĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĂƵĐƟŽŶ ǁĂƐ ŚĞĂůƚŚLJ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ϵϲ ĚĂLJ ;KīĞƌ͗ േϭϬ͘ϬďŶ͖ ^ƵďƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ͗ േϯϲ͘ϴďŶ͖ ^ĂůĞ͗ േϭϬ͘ϬďŶͿ͕ ϭϴϳ ĚĂLJ ;KīĞƌ͗ േϮϬ͘ϬďŶ͖ ^ƵďƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ͗ േϰϲ͘ϯďŶ͖ ^ĂůĞ͗ േϭϵ͘ϬďŶͿ ĂŶĚ ϯϲϮ ĚĂLJ ;KīĞƌ͗ േϭϰϬ͘ϬďŶ͖ ^ƵďƐĐƌŝƉͲ

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ƟŽŶ͗ േϮϯϮ͘ϯďŶ͖ ^ĂůĞ͗ േϭϰϬ͘ϬďŶͿ ŝŶƐƚƌƵͲ ŵĞŶƚƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŽǀĞƌƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞĚ ďLJ ϯ͘ϳdž͕ Ϯ͘ϯdž ĂŶĚ ϭ͘ϳdž ǁŝƚŚ ƐƚŽƉ ƌĂƚĞƐ ŽĨ ϳ͘Ϭй͕ ϴ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ ϭϬ͘ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ƐĂŵĞ ĂƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĂƵĐƟŽŶ͘

/Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĞĂƐƵƌLJ ďŝůůƐ ƐĞĐŽŶĚĂƌLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ŽŶ Ă ƚƌĂŶƋƵŝů ŶŽƚĞ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐ LJŝĞůĚƐ ƚƌĞŶĚĞĚ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ŽŶ Ϯ ŽĨ ϱ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĚĂLJƐ͘ Ɛ ƐƵĐŚ͕ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ƌŽƐĞ ϰϯďƉƐ ǁͬǁ͘ ĐƌŽƐƐ ƚĞŶŽƌƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŵĞĚŝƵŵ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƌǀĞ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƐĞůů ŽīƐ͕ ƵƉ ϵϰ ďƉƐ ǁͬ ǁ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƌƚ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƌǀĞ ƚƌĂŝůĞĚ͕ ĂĚǀĂŶĐŝŶŐ ϯϯďƉƐ ǁͬǁ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶŐ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƌǀĞ ƌŽƐĞ ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂůůLJ ďLJ ϯďƉƐ ǁͬǁ͘

/Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ E ƚŽ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶ ŝƚƐ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ŵŽƉ ƵƉ ŐŝǀĞŶ ĞdžͲ ƉĞĐƚĞĚ KDK ŵĂƚƵƌŝƟĞƐ ǁŽƌƚŚ േϮϲϬ͘ϮďŶ͘ ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ĞůĞǀĂƚͲ ĞĚ͕ ǁĞ ƐĞĞ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ƌĞƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ LJŝĞůĚƐ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞĞŬ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ƌĞƚƵƌŶƐ͘

ŽŶĚ DĂƌŬĞƚ͗ ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ZĞƐƵƌͲ ĨĂĐĞƐ dŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ďŽŶĚƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĚ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ƌŝƐŝŶŐ ŽŶ ϰ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϱ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĚĂLJƐ ďLJ ϵϵďƉƐ ǁͬǁ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϵ͘Ϭй ƌĞůĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ǁĞĞŬ͛Ɛ ĐůŽƐĞ ŽĨ ϴ͘Ϭй͘ ĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ƚĞƌŵ ƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ͕ ǁĞ ŶŽƟĐĞĚ ĂŶ ŽǀĞƌĂůů ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ŽƵƟŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ LJŝĞůĚƐ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƌƚ͕ ŵĞĚŝƵŵ ĂŶĚ ůŽŶŐ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƌǀĞ ƌŝƐŝŶŐ ϵϴďƉƐ͕ ϭϲϬďƉƐ ĂŶĚ ϮϵďƉƐ ǁͬǁ ƌĞͲ ƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘

ƚ ƚŚĞ ^^ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚ ƐĞŐŵĞŶƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌͲ ŬĞƚ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ůĂƐƚ ǁĞĞŬ͛Ɛ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌͲ ŵĂŶĐĞ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ĨĞůů Ϭ͘ϭй ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ ϳ͘ϲй͘ dŚĞ ĂŵďŝĂŶ ϮϬϮϮ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚ ĞŶũŽLJĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ͕ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ϯ͘Ϯй ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ǁͬǁ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ LJŝĞůĚƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĂŵďŝĂŶ ϮϬϮϰ ĂŶĚ ϮϬϮϳ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ĨĞůů ϭ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘Ϭй ǁͬǁ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ŽŶͲ ǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ 'ŚĂŶĂ ϮϬϮϮ ĂŶĚ <ĞŶLJĂ ϮϬϮϰ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ Ă ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌͲ ŵĂŶĐĞ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚƐ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ Ϯ͘ϵй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϭй ǁͬǁ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘

&Žƌ ƚŚĞ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞ ǁĂƐ Ă ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϰ͘Ϯй͘ ^^ E< W> ϮϬϮϭ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ LJŝĞůĚ ĚŽǁŶ ϮϴďƉƐ ǁͬǁ ǁŚŝůĞ E/d, E< W> ϮϬϮϮ ƚƌĂŝůĞĚ͕ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ϮϰďƉƐ ĚĞͲ ĐůŝŶĞ ŝŶ LJŝĞůĚ ǁͬǁ͘ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ LJŝĞůĚƐ ŽŶ E Z' E Z'z >d ϮϬϮϮ ĂŶĚ K E< ϮϬϮϰ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƌŽƐĞ ϭϵďƉƐ ĂŶĚ ϭϭďƉƐ ǁͬǁ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘

/Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ĐŽŶƟŶͲ ƵĞĚ ƐĞůů ŽīƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ďŽŶĚƐ ŵĂƌͲ ŬĞƚ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ĂŚĞĂĚ ŽĨ &ĞďƌƵͲ ĂƌLJΖƐ ďŽŶĚ ĂƵĐƟŽŶ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚƐ ƐĞŐŵĞŶƚ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ƚĂƌŐĞƚ ƐƉĞͲ ĐŝĮĐ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŽƉƟŵĂů ƌĞƚƵƌŶƐ ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂů͘

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˜ ˾ FEBRUARY 14, 2021

MARKET NEWS

Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank Approves 2020 Financials Goddy Egene The Board of Directors of Infinity Trust

Mortgage Bank Plc last Thursday approved the audited financial statements for the year

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

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

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

ended December 31, 2020. According to company, the AFS would be filed with

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 11Feb-2021, unless otherwise stated.

the Nigerian Stock Exchange on or before March 30, 2021.

“Consequently, the closed period restricting all directors and insiders from transacting in

the Shares of the bank remains in place until 24 hours after the release of the AFS,” it said.

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: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 158.35 159.93 6.91% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 27.24% Nigeria International Debt Fund 362.50 362.50 -9.16% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 115.25 115.25 1.00% 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 N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A 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 N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 0.55% Anchoria Equity Fund 133.37 134.83 0.32% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.19 1.19 -10.20% 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 18.46 19.02 1.79% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 393.92 405.80 -1.61% ARM Ethical Fund 35.34 36.41 4.84% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.20 1.21 -1.60% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.05 1.06 -5.81% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 0.48% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 127.30 128.20 0.90% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.45% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.05 2.05 -42.58% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.19 2.23 -25.30% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.95% Paramount Equity Fund 16.03 16.34 0.28% Women's Investment Fund 133.17 134.69 0.06% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.23% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 130.23 131.10 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 108.86 108.86 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 1.27% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.17 1.19 -2.12% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.52 1.52 -4.20% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 1.16% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1.08% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,169.82 1,171.77 -2.56% 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 1,343.23 1,343.24 -4.01% FBN Balanced Fund 185.71 187.09 -1.05% FBN Halal Fund 109.79 109.79 -1.56% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.19% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 123.43 123.43 1.51% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 123.57 123.57 1.50% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 150.83 152.76 -0.23% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH Treasury Bills Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.72% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 127.56 128.10 18.56%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 0.19% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.70 2.77 17.94% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 156.23 156.74 0.54% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.16 1.20 23.27% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1.62 1.65 5.42% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.21 12.33 8.83% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 1.50% PACAM Equity Fund 1.59 1.61 PACAM EuroBond Fund 109.06 111.65 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 133.56 136.51 12.29% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.01 1.01 0.77% 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 2,521.35 2,532.80 -2.01% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.57% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -0.85% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 0.52% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 -0.12% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.34% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -3.33% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.24 1.24 0.73% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 111.54 111.54 0.41% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD 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 United capital Sukuk Fund N/A N/A N/A QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +2349031100041 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.31 12.44 3.83% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.58 13.70 11.17% Zenith Income Fund 24.15 24.15 0.72% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.70%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

121.29 52.51

0.46% 0.21%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.36 121.76 98.45

13.46 121.76 100.31

1.05% 0.02% -0.92%

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

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

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market 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

3.88 5.83 17.73 1.00 20.04 179.88

3.92 5.91 17.83 1.00 20.24 181.88

2.58% 2.40% 8.31% 0.91% -2.34% -18.65%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.05

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2021 • T H I S D AY

29

30

FEBRUARY 14, 2021 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

Three Years in Captivity: Would Buhari Be Carefree About Leah if She Were a Muslim?

O

n February 4, 2017, it was reported that the Congress of the United States had cited Nigeria as the worst place in the world to be a Christian.

Buhari’s minister of information, the aptly named Lai Mohammed, denied that this was the case and raved and raged against the US Congress’ report.

But was the US Congress lying?

The Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa, a Nigeria (EYN), which is English for the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, is one of the oldest Christian denominations in Northern Nigeria.

EYN is the largest national congregation of the Church of the Brethren in the world, but not for much longer. Their buildings are being destroyed and their members are being killed, and these killings are being suppressed in the media by the Buhari administration.

According to documentary evidence provided

by Reverend Joel Billi, who is the head of the EYN denomination in Nigeria, 700,000 members of their congregation have been displaced, while many pastors and over 8,370 lay people have been killed.

This is just one denomination. Other denominations that operate in Northern Nigeria, such as the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), have their own tales of woe.

And who can they turn to for help? No matter what you might think about the Trump administration, at least that regime was concerned about the plight of Nigeria’s Christians.

On April 30, 2018, President Trump confronted Buhari privately and openly before the press on Nigeria’s mistreatment of Christians and asked him to do something about it.

Not satisfied by the Buhari government’s actions, the Trump administration placed Nigeria on a blacklist of countries that impugn religious freedoms, with then Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, tweeting as follows: “Today the U.S. designates Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, the DPRK, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as countries of concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for engaging systematic, ongoing, egregious religious freedom violations.”

But since the inauguration of President Joe Biden, the Buhari administration appears to have been emboldened to continue in its policies that impugn religious freedoms, because of the body language of the newly minted US President.

Look at the way the Nigerian Presidency came hard on Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, over his Christmas homily. They even coordinated with Islamic groups that incited violence against Bishop Kukah.

And what does America, a nation that was founded by European pilgrims, as a beacon for religious freedoms, do?

One question that troubles me today is why US President Joe Biden is so much more concerned about the rights of the LGBTQ community in Nigeria, but less about Christian rights? Christians are more endangered in Nigeria. Tens of thousands of Nigerian Christians have been killed for their Christianity. How many gays have been killed for their homosexuality?

Thousands of churches have been firebombed, burnt, demolished or otherwise taken over. I do not think I have ever read that a gay club has ever suffered such a fate in Nigeria.

So, again, why is Biden more concerned about the LGBTQ community than the Christian community?

I read President Biden’s Executive Order “on Advancing the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Persons Around the World”. What about an Executive Order to protect Christians. Come to Nigeria and see who is suffering between Gays and Christians!

This week marks the third anniversary of the abduction of Leah Sharibu. The Trump administration was concerned with Leah’s fate, and I sincerely hope the Biden administration will show some concern for Leah.

On February 19, 2018, radical Islamic Terrorists

Leah Sharibu of the Boko Haram sect abducted 110 girls from Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe, in Nigeria 5 girls died on the day of their abduction, while all others were released in March 2018 except the lone Christian girl Leah Sharibu as she refused to abandon her faith and convert to Islam.

I, Reno Omokri, have been to 35 nations campaigning for her release, and urge you to join the effort by following the hashtag #FreeLeahSharibu.

I have not collected a dime from any country, foundation, church or mosque. The Free Leah Sharibu campaign is something I was inspired to do after listening to her mother speak to me and tell me about her pain.

Yet, despite my efforts, the Buhari administration has directly and indirectly falsely accused me of making money from this campaign. On December 23, 2020, President’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, described Leah as an “unfortunate Christian” girl and accused me, falsely I might add, of making money from my efforts.

I challenged and still challenge that notorious liar, Garba Shehu, to prove his allegations. It is so sad, because it is obvious that an administration that can make such a wicked statement would not lift a finger to help Leah. So, it is up to us.

We must stand in the gap. We, as Nigerian citizens, must rise up and demand that Boko Haram free Leah. I hate to say this, but would the Buhari administration be so cavalier about Leah Sharibu if she were a Muslim? In proof of this, I present the leaked audio call by a Katsina official stating that the government paid a ransom for the release of the over 300 male students abducted by bandits on December 11, 2020 at Kankara.

Nigerians may want to note how Buhari personally and publicly led the struggle to free Zainab Aliyu, a Muslim girl who was arrested in Saudi Arabia, after the drug, Tramadol, was found in her possession. Consider the speed at which a

normally sluggish Presidency acted when Zainab was in trouble.

Buhari has not shown that level of speed or commitment to Leah’s cause. I wonder why? Is it because they consider her an “unfortunate Christian girl?”

Other than being a Christian, what is Leah’s crime in the eye of the Buhari government? Her father is a policeman, who has served and continues to serve the Nigerian state. Why were the Kankara boys worthy of release, after paying a king’s ransom, while Leah continues to languish in Boko Haram’s custody, even when the Buhari administration has repeatedly boasted of their “back channels” link to Boko Haram?

Leah Sharibu has all but been forgotten by the Buhari government. The only time they remember her is when they want to make false allegations against me of profiting from the #FreeLeahSharibu campaign. It is so sad that a girl whose only crime is that she refused to abandon Christ has been abandoned by a government that refused to abandon crisis!

But as much as they want Leah to be swept under the carpet, we will continue to sweep her out of the carpet and back into reckoning. And I will not go away until Leah Sharibu is freed.

Reno’s Nuggets

A cow eats grass and gets fat but if a lion eats it, it won’t thrive. Never compare yourself with others. Run your race. What works for one person may kill you. Focus on the gifts God gave you and don’t be envious of the blessings He gave others.

Always aspire to improve your situation. But that does not mean you should be discontented.

Discontentment makes rich men feel poor and contentment makes poor men feel rich. Pursue money, but also pursue contentment. They are not mutually exclusive. #FreeLeahSharibu #RenosNuggets.

31

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 14, 2021

with ChidiAmuta e-mail:chidi.amuta@gmail.com

ENGAGEMENTS

Beyond a Republic of Herdsmen

B

y a curious subterfuge, cattle and their handlers have finally managed to conquer centre stage in our national attention and discourse. Our security agencies and nearly all state governors are now engrossed in some form of interrogation of the herders’ menace. A few weeks ago, all the governors of the South West states held an urgent unscheduled meeting. The herders’ menace was the only item on the agenda. Earlier this week, all the 19 governors of the northern states similarly converged mostly virtually on the same note. Similarly, few days ago, the National Assembly announced that on resumption, it will join the raging cattle and herders debate. At the federal level, Ministers, nabobs of power and the usual Aso Rock chatter appliances are avoiding the long horns of the cattle and the sharp knives of their herders through all manner of creative verbal escapism.

That is where we are now, at the sorry juncture in our national descent into laughable oddity where the most important issue in national discourse is an epidemic of security discomfort caused by cattle and their herders. The herder as trouble maker is the latest iteration of Nigeria’s growing army of seasonal attention seekers.

Suddenly, we are now divided on the basis of where people stand in relation to herders and their cattle and all the violence and mayhem they have unleashed on us all. Anation beset by a cocktail of frightening existential problems is sadly frozen on cattle herders and their criminal trail.

Mind you, we are not discussing our epic inequality and mass poverty. We are not debating the total institutional decay in our system of governance. Our economists are struck dumb on our options of economic survival in the post-pandemic era. No clear strategy has been articulated by those paid to do so on how best to end an embarrassing spate of unprecedented insecurity. There are no serious panels and study groups examining options to remedy the desperate disrepair in our healthcare and education systems.

Our university students have been locked out of campus for the better part of the last one year. Our medieval infrastructure is being tackled in fits and starts through a series of ‘patch patch’ contracts.

Above all these, all we are now left with is this obsessive preoccupation with a peasant debate about cattle, their herders and the dangerous nuisance they have become.

As a result, all manner of unexpected actors have come centre stage to lead the national conversation on insecurity. Some cattle breeders association called Miyetti Allah that no one heard of prior to the Buhari presidency has emerged from prehistoric obscurity into national prominence. It now has a voice that is at once political and geo strategic. It has graduated from a special interest association of cattle traders into a faction of the geo -ethnic scramble for national pre-eminence. They now attract newspaper front page headlines.

Miyetti Allah leaders now sit at table with state governors to deliberate not just on how best to escort their cattle to markets across the country but on the security of states and the nation.

As matters stand now, we might go into the 2023 election season with cattle and their herders as well as the nationwide insecurity they have generated as the major public issue for campaigns. And if care is not taken, the electoral outcomes of key contests in 2023 may in fact be influenced, if not determined, by the positions of key politicians on herdsmen, their wares and violent criminal ways. This is the tragic state of Nigeria’s march into modernity in 2021: literally a Federal Republic of cattle rearers with citizens as mere subjects and victims! It may also be part of the unintended legacy of this season of political and cultural regression.

May be it is a fortuitous accident born of prolonged tolerance.

Suddenly, the harmless itinerant herdsmen that have long been part of our ancient cattle rearing and transportation culture have made a dangerous detour into unfamiliar and dangerous departments.

They have entered a competition for pre-eminence as agents of violent criminality. Today, if the police were to rank the principal suspects in major crimes involving the misuse of firearms all over the country in recent months, the activities of herdsmen would occupy a position somewhere towards the top of the scale. From innocently escorting their cattle across distances to grazing fields and markets throughout the country, herdsmen have diversified into criminal enterprises ranging from transactional kidnapping, armed robbery, serial rape and wanton destruction of farmland. Supposed herdsmen are killing people on an industrial scale, burning people’s houses on their grazing route communities, razing whole communities and spreading hate and instability even in places that had hosted them for decades.

Regrettably, the matter has been gravely mismanaged. As a consequence, we may be gradually headed for a sad place. Quit notices along ethnic lines are being recklessly issued by both governors and sundry ethnic mob leaders. In some cases, forceful evictions of fellow Nigerians is being encouraged by otherwise responsible citizens. Ethnic mob leaders have been officially enabled and conferred with a new impetus and fresh importance. Threats of reprisals and the free exchange of abuse and incendiary rhetoric by all manner of sectional champions have worsened a bad situation.

Political adventurism of the sort that thrives in Nigeria has found a fertile climate and abundant raw material. It is a free for all for different tribes of mischief merchants and reckless power opportunists.

Sadly, both the governments’ handling of the herdsmen matter and the general public discourse on it have been full of political heat and little common sense or enlightenment. Let us make no mistake about it. The major political origins of the herdsmen matter is rooted in the origins and nativity of the Buhari presidency. The president is

Buhari himself a known cattle farmer with a small ranch in Daura. No one knows whether his investment in this enterprise includes ownership of a few itinerant herders and their flock among the many squads roaming the length and breadth of Nigeria. There is a widely canvassed notion by Miyetti Allah that the president may in fact be one of their key patrons. In addition, the president’s Fulani nativity is not disguised.

While no one can point precisely at too many overtly pro -Fulani statements by Mr. Buhari, his overtly provincial nepotism and nativism indicate a narrow definition of who he considers ‘his people’.

Never mind the political correctness of ‘I belong to all…” Therefore, a great deal of the debate on the herders menace is conditioned by a certain sensitivity to the president’s stake, body language and ecological location in the matter. Understandably, the positions of major political stakeholders on the herders crisis range from studied silence, deliberate obfuscation to studied indifference and disguised support clothed in political double speak.

Predictably, politics, emotions and primordial sentiments have been allowed to mix and flood the scene thereby clouding sensible policy discourse. Politicians are playing up the north-south divide.

Sectional minded people are blaming the matter on a silly Fulani plot to overrun the rest of the country for whatever reason. Some regionalists are even using the herdsmen aberration to advance the raging arguments for a restructuring and balkanization of the country into insular enclaves literally fenced off from the excesses of troublesome neighbours. In the process, the rationality and policy clarity that ought to drive public debate on a matter of grave national importance is nowhere in evidence.

Stripped of political undertones and diversionary manoeuvers, however, I see the herdsmen menace as a function of three elements that can be separated and decisively dealt with by any serious minded government. These are, first, an urgent need to modernize our cattle industry in a manner that phases out migratory grazing.

Next is the urgent need to treat crimes by herdsmen as simply crimes and therefore subject them to the same law enforcement and criminal justice regimes to which other criminals are subject. Third is to face the challenges of diversity management as a principle of governance in a diverse polity.

We need to face a reality. The present practice of migratory cattle grazing across long distances and vast expanses has expired. It belongs to an ancient stage in the development of human societies and cattle farming. Strictly speaking, we are confronted with a crisis of regulation in a sector of the agricultural industry. Cattle rearing and breeding are business undertakings mostly by private individuals. It requires appropriate regulation to protect the larger public from the abuses to which it, like any other form of business, can be subject. When a form of business becomes stuck in a mode of production that lags behind the current state of best practices in its industry, it is overdue for oversight intervention. Part of the regulatory responsibility of government is to compel practitioners in that industry to embrace more modern and less disruptive methods.

Worse still, if the reluctance to modernize poses a threat to public good and safety, it is time to phase out or outrightly proscribe the practice of that industry in its present form.

Even from point of view of profitability of a from of business, the present primitive grazing of disease riddled and underweight cattle across thousands of kilometers in the country cannot guarantee a healthy meat supply nor be a profitable business proposition for the cattle owners. The paltry return on investment for cattle owners and the general low wages of the herders may be a factor in making violent crime attractive for them in quest of more decent incomes.

For a country that parades itself as hungry for competitiveness in agriculture, the present subsistence peasant stage of our cattle industry ought to bring nothing but shame. On the global scale of cattle production, Nigeria ranks abysmally low.

For the avoidance of doubt, there is no relationship between productive cattle farming and the ancient nomadism we seem stuck to. Most modern societies have since left that behind. Even Nigeria has largely turned its back on antiquated cultures but only clings to some aspects when it is politically convenient. Those in Abuja and the state capitals arguing in favour of retaining open grazing are themselves clutching sophisticated smart phones, driving state of the art cars and living in Hollywood grade homes with touch screen everything. But they conveniently want to consign millions of our countrymen to a pre-Medieval mode of agricultural production that imprisons them in congenital wandering and unrelieved poverty.

The nations with the largest cattle inventories and which produce most of the world’s meat stock have no migratory grazing. According to FAO figures on World Cattle Inventory, the top six countries are Brazil (212 million), India (190 million), China (114 million), United States (90 million), Ethiopia (54 million) and Argentina (51 million). Nigeria has only 20 million heads of mostly disease riddled, emaciated cattle and ranks 14th in the global inventory, accounting for a miserable 1.36% of the global number. But we lead the world in the number of violent crimes attributed to cale herdsmen. As a matter of fact, the other leading cattle producers have no nomads or herdsmen at all. Has anyone heard of Indian, Chinese or American nomads killing people and burning houses?

Our challenge is therefore one of modernization of cattle production as a sub set of our overall agricultural production strategy.

Happily, Mr. Buhari has relentlessly harped on agriculture as focal to his agenda. Let us then insist that within the next 24 months, it will become criminal to be found roaming Nigeria with cattle. In return, the Central Bank should dedicate funds to encourage settled cattle farming through the establishment of ranches and large-scale cattle farms. The northern states should in fact compete as to who achieves 100% settled cattle farming fastest in return for a federal grant. I guess the settled cattle farms should boast of modern amenities and would create massive employment opportunities both for re-trained herdsmen and other unemployed young Nigerians.

On the matter of criminality and law and order, the matter is simpler. Herdsmen who veer into criminal undertakings pose only a challenge of crime control and law enforcement. Crime remains crime as defined by our criminal code and should be investigated, prosecuted and punished accordingly irrespective of the colour, size, ethnic origin or faith of the criminal. Herdsmen, traders, farmers, fishermen or any other category of Nigerians who commit crimes should be treated equally in line with the democratic principle of equality before the law.

To content ourselves with referring to the new mindless criminals as Fulani ‘herdsmen’ is to use occupational and ethnic profiling to glorify the activities of common criminals.

On the law and order aspect, we may be overburdening the federal government unfairly. It is strictly not a federal government burden when criminal herdsmen commit crimes in various states.

State governors as state chief security officers and their various attorneys general have a responsibility to ensure law and order in their domains. The various state police commissioners have a clear mandate when it comes to dealing with criminal activities within their states. It would be a sad day when attorneys general in states apprehend and prosecute criminal herdsmen and some overbearing federal agency orders a reprieve.

The political challenge of the herdsmen crisis belongs in a different realm. It is the zone of diversity management in which nearly all tiers of our government have fared poorly. Asituation in which itinerant cattle herding has become historically synonymous with the Fulani, demands that we take a closer look at the peculiar sociological and cultural challenges of the Fulani as an essentially migrant nationality in the nation. Previous efforts to use political fiat to find settlement for the Fulani all over the country have not helped the cause of the group. Political contrivances like the failed RUGAsettlement scheme, the Water Resources Bill and other gimmicks have merely tended to isolate and profile the Fulani as a territorially ambitious and conquest minded group. These gambits have merely united the rest of Nigerian nationalities against the Fulani in a needless cloud of political suspicion.

There are ckear policy options if we want to confront the peculiar problems of the Fulani in the context of the migratory herding culture. Nigeria is not the only country that has had to confront a similar problem. Israel inherited a similar situation with Bedouin desert Arabs when Israel was established. These groups had settlements and migrated from one location to the other with their livestock.

They were an insular culture onto themselves and sought to keep the territories where they settled or through which they migrated their livestock. But their pattern of livelihood did not guarantee them full citizenship rights in education, property ownership, modernization and even optimum agricultural productivity. They also tended to disturb the peace in clashes with the new settlers and even the authorities.

Israel dealt with the matter as a challenge of modernization of agricultural production and the spread of the benefits of citizenship to all irrespective of pre-existing ethnic or cultural peculiarities. The government applied a combination of settlement modernization and integration, affirmative action in education, agricultural credit and modernization of animal farming techniques. There were programmes of deliberate empowerment of the Bedouin communities to a point where they have become hardly distinguishable in terms of standards of life and enlightenment from the rest of Israeli society. They still have their cultural identity but as full Israeli citizens.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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SUNDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2021 • T H I S D AY

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

14.2.2021

JANE MADUEGBUNA MY HUSBAND, I AND OUR LOVE LIFE Though she prayed for a companion who will stick closer than a friend, she wasn’t thinking of loyalty in the real sense of the word. What was unmistakable to her was that she saw her husband as a man of vision. It is that vision that has kept the Maduegbunas together in business for years. In this piece, Vanessa Obioha explores the life’s episodes of Jane Maduegbuna, the Executive Director of Afrinolly Creative Hub, a happy wife, and mother ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯͲ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

COVER

If Love Is Yours, You Don’t Fight for It

H

er cheerfulness is unmistakable. Be you a friend or an acquaintance, on first meeting, you are likely to be infected by the bubbling mien of Jane Maduegbuna, the Executive Director of Afrinolly Creative Hub. Although there are times when that geniality is misleading. For instance, during the MTN Y’ello Star production last year, her blood pressure shot up. No one suspected her state of health. However, her husband, Chike noticed something was wrong and insisted she visit a hospital where it was confirmed that her blood pressure had skyrocketed. That was a second episode. The first time was when one of her daughters caught an adverse cold.

As she sat at the Southern Sun Hotel’s lobby, enjoying the soft splashes of the blue fountain, Jane was the image of a calm woman.

“I’m not calm oh,” she said, “Wait till you see me in my atarodo form.” She was on a mini-vacation with her husband in the hotel. The Maduegbunas hardly go anywhere separately. Their love story will make a good Nollywood romance. He from a poor background, she from a wealthy background and together they faced daunting challenges and built a business empire that celebrates Nigerian creativity.

“It was us against the world,” she revealed.

Though she prayed for a companion who will stick closer than a friend, she wasn’t thinking of loyalty in the real sense of the word. Actually, what was unmistakable to her was that she saw her husband as a man of vision even when others didn’t. But Jane had always been the rebel at home. The one given to unconventional behaviours. Unknown to Chike, he was the one who sowed the seed in her to desire the extraordinary and the bizarre.

“Following rules and convention is the most boring thing to me,” said Jane matter-of-factly, as she reeled out instances when her choices stood her out. On the surface, it would look like she was acting on impulse, when, for example, she cut her hair. However, the deeper reason was to manage her tendency to sweat a lot.

“If I want to go somewhere or look different, I wear a wig.”

Her proclivity towards oddity may be seen in mundane desires like making a fetish of her meals during pregnancies.

“In the morning, it has to be Agoyin beans. If it’s not Agoyin beans, there’s going to be a problem that day. Don’t cook it for me. I had the Agoyin woman that brings it. The day she wasn’t around, ask my husband: it was terrible,” she rolled her eyes, laughing.

“My husband says, ‘you are the most easily impressed pregnant woman I know.’ In the afternoon, it must be draw soup, okra, ogbono. And if you’re making ewedu, make sure you put iru. In all my pregnancies, I had to have orobo. Coke was my first favourite brand but I used to say, if you can’t find Coke, just get Pepsi. So, they will get me this giant Pepsi bottle. In fact, I have the weirdest meal.

Coke was the only constant thing. Once, I hear the pop sound from the bottle of Cola drink, then all is well with the world. Nothing else mattered. I was at peace.”

Jane is in her 23rd year in marriage and not a few things have turned full circle. Could it be that God is reminding her of something because today she warns her daughter against having a sweet tooth?

Even now, Jane doesn’t wish anyone to encounter her rebellious side.

“Right from my youth, I have always been a rebel. In my university days, I went everywhere that the road could take me. But as much as I went out, I wasn’t a party person. I could enter a party and just find a spot and that’s where I’ll sit. But if I’m alone with friends, then you could have a party. To date, I don’t like crowds. But if you see me at a crowded party you think I do, because I mix easily.”

That lifestyle fitted the profile that her father, the one she famously calls “jaiye-jaiye master” (one who loves the good life), assumed. He was the commercial manager of a company and worked under white bosses who loved him. Every Sunday was brunch with the family at the Federal Palace Hotel and if he heard of a new hotel, even in Badagry, he was willing to check it out.

“One person who taught me diligence was my father; loyalty and being content. I’m not after wealth. I’m not. Growing up, he used to tell us, ‘I rather show you a good time than you meet a guy who does something small and you think he is amazing.’”

It’s not exactly a shock that Jane is not the lawyer her father wanted. In the first instance, her father cajoled her into the legal profession. “I wanted to study International Relations because I saw my uncles, aunties, in that profession and as much as I was an introvert, I love meeting people. My father insisted I study law. Festus Keyamo was my course mate at the time.”

A few stints in law offices could not convince the ED to pursue the profession wholeheartedly.

“I think the adjournments in court got the best of me. Those days, there were no air-conditioners in the

Maduegbuna

court and we were sweating with the wigs and we wore black.

Since I stopped law, I don’t own anything that’s a jacket. The only time you see me wear a jacket is when I travel out,” she disclosed.

Of all the factors that contributed to the success of the Maduegbunas, it is Chike’s willingness to surrender everything including his right to lead that has ensured that they remain together and on top of their game. In more ways than one, he is everything she prayed for in a husband. Only on a few unavoidable occasions does he go anywhere without her. Friends and family members have to know her as his mascot, even to the point that they wish for their kind of relationship and readily approach the Maduegbunas for answers to problems in their relationship.

Jane started to talk about their relationship cautiously but soon opened up in a rush.

“I remember telling my brother that my goal was to marry a man who thinks of the sun and moon of me,” she ventured, then waited, considering if it was well said before she proceeded. “I have to see it visibly and I have to know it’s genuine. My husband calls me Ajebee (a short form of Ajebutter). That’s the name he gave me from the first day we met. But you could see the sense in all he does. You could see this sense of gratitude. When we married, he took me everywhere. I got tired. ‘Can’t you travel alone? Must I follow you like a handbag?’ At first, it was fun. But later, I just wanted to stay alone. But he wouldn’t pay attention to me. It was either I leave with him or the trip is cancelled. If you invite him on a business trip and there’s no provision for me, he would pay for my trip and we would go together. Only on a few occasions has he travelled without me and he usually cuts the trip short.

“I remember telling my mom one day about it and she said:

‘Hey, look at foolishness. These are what people are praying for and that’s what you are complaining about.’ I sat down one day, whether it’s a vision or a dream, all I kept hearing is, ‘you asked for a friend close to you, you asked for somebody inseparable…’ And I’m like ‘oh is this it?”

Jane does not credit herself with too much.

She has the humility to give all the kudos to her husband. “I now found out that that which I was wishing for is already happening because all our accounts are literally in my name. The bankers don’t know him.”

It can be said convincingly that Jane has applied her training as a lawyer, her freespirited disposition, and her ability to hold a conversation and convince people to buy from her to their business. She started selling things on the side as she gradually withdrew from the courts. She dropped the wig and gown altogether as her trade grew in size. But things took a big positive turn when she and her husband found what she calls “passion points.”

“Any business,” she emphasized, “that has a passion point component to it, we are there. Because when you deal with people’s passion points, they will find the money. For instance, music, it’s a passion point. That’s where the youths are domiciled.”

The Maduegbunas started with football, now they have delved into Nollywood and this is where they appear to have established an increasingly popular brand called Afrinolly. But Afrinolly is not limited to the film industry. it is a hybrid of creativity and technology. Unlike other businesses that felt the biting financial constraints of COVID-19 last year, for the Maduegbunas, it was an exhausting year.

“We were working constantly.”

The manifestation of success in business for the Maduegbunas has come in varying degrees, but it always brings waves of joy.

Jane counts herself lucky to be married to a man who is always brimming with ideas.

Explaining how Afrinolly was born, she said, “Chike has always been the creative one. I told somebody my only challenge with him is how to curb the stream of ideas. Because he comes up with 20 ideas in a minute. Anybody that works with us knows. Every day I’m so grateful to God for the privilege and the life I have and for using me as a poster child of the fact that there’s nothing God cannot do. Sometimes like this year when I see deals coming towards us, I’m like hey, is this us? When no one looked at us my pastor, Tunde Bakare of The Latter Rain Assembly, was the one that gave us N9 million to start the first business.”

Jane gives a ringside perspective that is completely overwhelming about crawling days of Afrinolly before it took a quantum leap and became unstoppable. The company started in 2012. The previous year, it won the Google award for the best app in 2011.

“There’s a funny thing about us is that we start something, we know what we want, but we don’t know what society calls it. When we started Afrinolly, we tried to give the app to people who we felt strategically needed it because we knew mobile was the next frontier, but a lot of people didn’t understand what we were talking about. And I guess that’s the biggest problem we have. When Chike comes up with these things, it’s usually futuristic. Ninety-nine per cent of our clients are usually businesses from abroad because they seem to understand strategic trust; we are on par with where they want to go. He has the gift of coming up with creative ideas that command resources both for our partners and us, which is what we’ve now changed Afrinolly Creative Hub to.

“Our tagline is ‘Creative Ideas that Command Resources.’ It was a phrase that was spoken to us five years ago by our pastor. It is who we are. As a rule, whatever business we can’t find how our client is going to make money, we don’t touch. Because if you don’t make money, you won’t stay with us for long. Funny enough, every business we have done is by referral, not adverts. From Facebook to Ford Foundation, every business we got has met us in our office.”

Her compelling narrative about their love life is very instructive.

“Love doesn’t need to be fought for. If love is yours, you don’t fight. There’s just this agreement.

‘Are you coming with me? We are going together.

Are we fighting everybody? We are fighting them.’

If you are the one fighting, then there’s something wrong.”

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹ͼ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

59

GLITZ VALENTINE’S DAY FOCUS

With COVID-19 Pandemic, Love Business is on a Crawl Vanessa Obioha looks at how the love business is faring in a pandemic era

T

his year’s Valentine’s Day celebration is in a different shade of red due to the enduring coronavirus pandemic. In a pre-pandemic era, the airwaves and billboards would be replete with irresistible valentine giveaways, sales discounts, fashion, and music shows, lavish candlelit dinners in exquisite restaurants as well as romantic getaways in a lush hotel.

But with the pandemic and the economic hardship, the love business is on a crawl.

“The recession and inflation are biting hard,” said fashion designer Feron Aaron, known for his indigenous Valentine Lingerie Show. “Unlike previous seasons when we received orders two weeks before Valentine’s Day, this year, we are hoping to see more last-minute purchases.”

Valentine-themed shows organisers are forced to either move their shows online or cancel as social distancing rules are still in place. Already, Feron kicked off his new lingerie collection campaign online on February 1. A single model was used for a photoshoot, donning the erotic see-through pieces Feron hopes will keep the embers of passion burning and improve positive body image. The images are uploaded on different social media platforms, sometimes accompanied by a

video.

For Ayoola Sadare, the organiser of ‘Love is a Beautiful Thing,’ Valentinethemed music, and culinary experience, the show is cancelled for the year.

Although George Residence’s management, a hospitality group, and a subsidiary of IBIC Holdings was affected by the lockdown period of last year, it has since adapted to the lifestyle changes. It has put in place safety and health measures to ensure that clients who patronise their short lets still have that memorable feeling of “a home away from home,” said the Managing Director, Yangu George.

“One optimistic view of the pandemic is that individuals are now paying more attention to personal health and hygiene. As humans, we are created to adapt to circumstances and provide solutions that are sustainable. So indeed, the celebrations may take on a new hue, but we’ll adapt and forge ahead nevertheless,” he concluded.

With the limitations in social gatherings, most Valentine’s Day gift vendors are crowding the online space.

Jerry Adeyeri, a public relations officer, said that he has been inundated by different vendors on his social media platforms.

“From pastries to sneakers to hair products,” he said. He eventually patronised the sneakers vendors.

“The pandemic would have been a better opportunity for local businesses to grow, but the unfriendly government policies are hindering their progress,” argued Feron. However, he said that fashion gift items such as fragrances, underwear will be in high demand this period.

But with the challenges of the pandemic still looming, is love even in the air? Are couples in the celebratory mood of Valentine’s Day, a day whose provenance is like a tree with many branches?

Sadare thinks so, even if it is marked with caution.

“Love is too beautiful and inexplicable to be stopped by a pandemic. The shows are only superficial means of love. They (shows) may not be in large droves, but people will celebrate love.”

His thoughts are echoed by relationship expert and founder of Trueflutter dating app, Dare Olatoye.

“Love would still be in the air on Valentine’s Day. The highest expression of love is sacrifice. We create something out of nothing, so regardless of the pandemic, people would still like to spend time going out for dinner and have fun memories.”

Going out this Valentine’s Day is however nightmarish for Adeyeri. He plans to take his fiancée to the cinemas.

“Considering that it falls on a Sunday, the plan is currently hovering around a cinema experience. However, I am worried about the crowd. It would be a nightmare.

So, the backup plan is to Netflix and chill at home,” he said.

Anita Aiyudu-Adesiyan, who works with the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, is marking the love day indoors.

“Spending it at home since we’re still working remotely. I’m sending my husband a love breakfast tray with other gifts. I think we may also have a candlelit dinner and watch a cheesy movie later,” she gushed.

She has no clue yet what her husband would give her.

One of the effects of the pandemic generally on love and dating is the different perspectives it generated. Of course, the definition of love has been evolving over the years but “the pandemic has allowed people to reflect on life and what is most important. So a lot of people will shift from superficial love to genuine love,” said Sadare.

Olatoye voiced similar sentiments: “The pandemic has modified dating in so many ways. When you check the analytics on dating apps, the activity on apps has risen by 200 per cent. The pandemic has made people view life from a different perspective.

People have had an epiphany, asking questions, and appreciating love and life more. People want to settle down, not only as a result of boredom but companionship.”

The pandemic may have threatened to shut down the love business, but one thing is certain: it couldn’t stop people from expressing and celebrating the famed Valentine’s Day. The best way to do this according to Olatoye is to “identify your partner’s needs, and that means a lot to the person. A gift doesn’t have to be expensive.

It’s the thought that counts.”

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FEBRUARY 14, 2021 ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

GLITZ FEATURES

February, Valentine & Love Love For Self, Others & Country

By Fela Bank-Olemoh (FBO)

H

i there, It’s a new month and a good time to pick up conversations around the concept of February, Valentine & Love.

Across the world, February is largely themed as the month where people express love to friends, family and loved-ones.

What does it mean to truly love, you ask?

Matt Chandler said; “People don’t like love, they like that flattery, flirty feeling. They don’t love ‘love’ — love is sacrificial, love is ferocious, it’s not emotive. Our culture doesn’t love ‘love’, it loves the idea of love. It wants the emotion without paying anything for it.

It’s ridiculous.”

So, a true test of love is the willingness to give up something of value for the one you claim to love. Love being practiced with the right intentions will involve sacrificing time, money and self for the sake of the one you profess to love.

At the heart of it, Love starts with you.

Though there are several other perspectives to love; Let’s look at love from these three prisms.

Love For Self

Practicing self-love can be challenging for many of us, because of our inability to fully understand the concept of self-love. It’s not about being self-absorbed or narcissistic, it’s about being in touch with the total wellness of our mind, body and soul. To understand, appreciate and express love, you must exercise self-love.

Self-love is accepting yourself for who you are with all your shortcomings as you strive to improve daily. If you can’t do this, how will you accept others? The concept of self-love speaks to you fully understanding who you are. It’s about self-examination and though this can be tough; like you being under a microscope, it is the starting point for self-appreciation and a building block to love others and country.

The reality is, someone who cannot love him/herself will find it difficult to give or receive love.

So, one of the things you should do this season is to commit to loving yourself regardless of how unlovable you may think you are; and not just in the month of February but throughout your life. Have you made mistakes before? Accept those mistakes and move on. Mistakes are part of the discovery journey towards self-awareness, that leads you to the path of a value-adding life.

Remember, loving yourself is a prerequisite to loving others.

Love For Others

We’re all familiar with the quote, “Love your neighbour as yourself,” but let’s be honest- loving your neighbour does not always come easy.

Our human nature is selfish, we find it easy to love ourselves, our family, wives and children but when it goes beyond that sphere we struggle. That probably ties into our Darwinian survival-of-the-fittest, every-man-

kill-or-be-killed ffor-himself, h lf k ll b k ll d predatord mindset. As tough as it may seem loving others is the right path to thread.

Similarly, love expressions can be seen in how we relate with humanity.

For instance, volunteering our time and resources is one way of expressing love for others. If there is one thing we need in our world today, it is more love for others. This is because it is inspirational and the basis of human interaction.

Thus, we can see that everybody responds to love and something inside of us wants to be loved. So, you must make a choice, every single day, to care about others.

On a lighter note; Did you know that people that show love live longer? This is backed by science! Believe it or not, ‘Kind’ people age slower than the general population, and people who volunteer regularly have a 44% lower chance of dying early than those who don’t volunteer.

Volunteering as you well know, is a way of expressing love for others and this I hear is even more beneficial than exercising 4 times a week!

So, with that in mind and the statistics for the average age of Nigeria’s mortality rate, which is 53.7 years for males and 55.4 years for females; it makes common sense for Nigerians to show more love and volunteer as this could indirectly increase our chances of living longer.

Love For Country

Is our country perfect? No! But we keep progressing.

Can we do things differently? We definitely can.

So, as we rightly demand value from our country, we must patiently commit to see it thrive.

Jenn Monroe focused on the future and said; “To love your country is to desire to see it become the best version of itself, to point out its failures, to recognize how we each have been complicit in allowing its worst to persist, to work together to create a community in which every resident has all that they need — love, food, shelter, health, peace, prosperity — and are truly treated as equals in every regard.”

Hence, love for our country, means

engaging the country productively and not wanting to destroy it. So, you can’t claim to love your country and be corrupt or willing to cut corners. Rather, you should know that those acts bring gradual retrogression.

I have recently questioned a lot of people that claim to love this country when I saw their reactions to the different prevailing issues within the nation over the past years. I saw some people ready to tear down the nation and I asked myself if that is truly an expression of love or something else entirely.

This also makes me recall a popular judgement by a certain wise King who ruled between two women both claiming to be the mother of a child. He revealed their true feelings and relationship to the child by suggesting the baby be cut in two, each woman to receive half. With this approach, he was able to discern the non-mother

as the woman who entirely approved of this ruling, while the actual mother begged that the sword be sheathed, and the child committed to the care of her rival.

Some consider this approach to justice a standard example of an impartial judge displaying wisdom in making a ruling.

My take from this story is that when you truly own something or love something, you don’t want it destroyed.

Thus, as we go through this season of love, let’s ensure we commit to loving ourselves, others and country all through this month, year & beyond.

Lastly, to commit to all these expressions of love, love for God is essential.

So, as you love, don’t lose track of that.

Till the next time we meet here, remember we all have “A Role to Play”.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯͲ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

61

GLITZ FOCUS

Awogboro

Atake

Ajose-Adeogun

Ogunbanjo

A Akinrele

Akinkugbe

Ani-Mumuney

Lagos Motor Boat Club: No Longer at Ease At a time when bewildered observers expect that reason and maturity would prevail, and frayed nerves calmed for peace to reign, principal players in the festering crisis at the Lagos Motor Boat Club are still throwing barbs at one another, writes Lanre Alfred

A

s things stand, the tempest rocking the Lagos Motor Boat Club is not subsiding anytime soon. Consequent upon the exposé of the crisis that has pitted principal players in the club against one another, Demola Akinrele (SAN) whose initial article, ‘Comedy of Errors,’ ruffled some feathers, has shed further light on the issues at stake.

Akinrele’s letter to the secretary of the club dated January 13 titled, ‘Re: State of Affairs in the Club,’ is a reaction to an earlier one by Ladi Ajose-Adeogun, an ex-commodore, who showed interest in being a trustee, demanding apology and retraction of statements made in ‘Comedy of Errors’ which the latter said bordered strongly on character assassination.

Deploying wit and satire in his character analysis of some of the protagonists of the crisis, Akinrele in describing Ajose-Adeogun said, “A man with a genial and benign demeanour which belies a gift of cunning genius. He can reside in the shadows and procure other souls, larger or smaller than his in the bondage of his own mission, utilizing their own inner flaws to his advantage. He is the invisible conductor of the orchestra of vengeance.

“He was present at the meeting when the trustee gave the direction, and he sought privately and unilaterally to entreat him to alter his directive to no avail. In the circumstance, as an ex-commodore, his duty, which was higher than that of any of the others was clear - to advise his group to comply. After all, he had a close relationship with the trustee, having served as his vice, and later became commodore with his encouragement.

“It is customary for Ladi Ajose-Adeogun to be a guest at the trustee’s house for social functions. He wooed the trustee like a bridegroom would woo a bride. It is a notorious fact that he would like to be a Trustee someday; the first one of our generation on account of his seniority in age and Commodoreship.”

Akinrele then asked, “Why would a man who quests for the occupancy of an institution be a party to its violation or diminution? No man destroys the thing he loves unless an event of profound disappointment provokes a temporary derangement. What then went so wrong that the godson would become an inexorable revenger against his godfather? Is there a parallel from the tragedy of Othello where Iago was passed on for Cassio and he

became a challenger of his erstwhile godfather?”

Expectedly, Ajose-Adeogun found these assertions offensive and excoriated Akinrele, “(He) chose to use his article to assassinate the characters of several members including myself.”

Ajose-Adeogun then requested the committee to call him “to order and have him tender his apologies whilst withdrawing his comments/ allegations against me.”

Unruffled and unbothered, perhaps, Akinrele asserted that the comments he made in his publication were “honest, fair and an accurate description of the personalities involved in this drama.”

He explained further, “It was a literary piece interspersed with humour, satire, and subtlety within the limits of poetic licence. I do not share the view that anyone’s character was assassinated, including that of Mr. Ladi AjoseAdeogun. Indeed, with regard to his good self, I complimented his gifts and thereby illuminated his personality. I am, therefore, compelled to state that there is no basis for me to tender an apology or retract my statement.”

Alleging a misrepresentation of the meeting with the Trustee (Prince Francis Awogboro), Akinrele averred that Ajose-Adeogun had “caught himself in a muddle of recollection of the facts of two separate meetings.”

According to him, the first was a virtual meeting that Ajose-Adeogun had with him, Femi Fowora and Folabi Balogun, both former Commodores in August 2020, to suggest improvements on the operations of the club. He added that the second was the meeting they had with the trustee at the instance of Dapo Oshinusi in October 2020 wherein the then commodore (Dapo Majekodunmi), Ajose-Adeogun, Balogun and he was present.

Akinrele maintained that it is due to the confusion of the narrative between these two meetings that Ajose-Adeogun concluded that he requested the trustee to ask Jide Coker to stand down. It would be recalled that Coker’s aspiration to be a Duty Officer, which a section of the club frowned at and asked him to step down, led to his subsequent expulsion for allegedly going ahead to aspire thus, stoking the embers of crisis now threatening to consume the club.

Akinrele held that Ajose-Adeogun’s allegation that he requested that the trustee ask Coker to step down would be inconsistent with the state of play concerning the elections.

“Mr. Dapo Oshinusi’s invitation of the trustee to intervene was, in my opinion, actuated by an apprehension of the paucity of support for

himself and other nominees proposed by Mr. Ladi Ajose-Adeogun’s group. If he was confident on the polls, he had no motive to visit the trustee. I am further reinforced in this opinion by the fact that all the nominees withdrew severally at different times, inclusive of Mr. Dapo Oshinusi on realizing that they were unable to get the electoral support to sustain a contest.”

He described as ‘false and incendiary’ two comments made by Ajose-Adeogun alleging that the trustee threatened to tear down the board, stating, “The Trustee simply indicated that he would put a red pen across the name and insert his signature to signify the author.”

Akinrele added that Ajose-Adeogun knew that the trustee was not in a position to join issues with him and, therefore, “it was unfair to have made statements which are unverifiable, particularly having regard to his predilection to muddle facts as I have earlier indicated.”

Meanwhile, in a Memo to Yinka Akinkugbe dated 8 January 2021, Eyimofe Atake (SAN) had rued the reference to his role in the disruption of the AGM of the club. He had detailed his role in a lengthy reaction of 20 pages to Yinka Akinkugbe’s memo, which Atake said, “accuses several people of various conduct including Trustee Prince Francis Awogboro and the Committee of the club.”

He said, “I remain bound by the video evidence. The video evidence will show that I was defending the Trustee, Prince Francis Awogboro energetically, robustly, and vigorously. I did not display ‘disruptive behaviour.’ I had the floor of the AGM that had been so hesitantly, half-heartedly, grudgingly and unenthusiastically given to me by the ex-Commodore, Dr. Dapo Majekodunmi (Dapo), and my audience was listening to me rapturously save for a few hecklers like yourself in particular and some others in general, who interrupted my speech with their unreasonable gratuitous comments, taunts, and jeering. Being one of the chief hecklers, can you say - hand on heart - that it is good manners to jeer, taunt and heckle while I was speaking? Would you not call heckling, taunts, and jeering ‘disruptive behaviour’ especially if you are the Chief Heckler or one of those leading the

heckling?”

Atake continued in his Memo: “the video evidence will show that I had no reason to be ‘disruptive’ while I had the floor as my aim was solely to defend the Trustee whom you, Yinka, and your group wanted to damage by spreading scandalous claims with the intention of damaging his reputation. Does it make sense for me to ‘disrupt’ my speech Yinka? Only others can disrupt my speech. As you rightly pointed out, Toks Ogunbanjo’s speech was ‘delivered in silence to the club’. Note the operative words ‘in the silence to the club’ as quoted from your letter at page 3, paragraph 1. If I was ‘disruptive’, as one who was strenuously opposed to Toks’ speech, it would have been thought that the time to do so was when Toks was reading his speech ‘in silence to the club’ and not when I was making my speech. Like I said I am bound by the video evidence and it will show that, I remained in one place, next to my seat and never moved around.

And that I never ‘disrupted’ my own speech”.

Atake stated further that on the contrary, he was the one that was almost physically attacked on more than two occasions when making his speech especially when he defined the word ‘vandal’ as used in Tokunbo Ogunbanjo’s letter to the committee.

“It was enormously remarkable astonishing, that an elder Prince Francis Awogboro, an 82-year-old accomplished professional, a man who has worked extremely hard all his life and has been successful professionally and in business could be insulted in that way by being called a “vandal.”

Yet when I referred to the letter of the October 16 (not the authors of the letter), just the letter as being “scurrilous” hell more than broke loose and it became abundantly clear right at the point of my opening statement that those who use venomous language to address others cannot even accept straightforward and candid language that criticizes their scandalous and reprehensible scribble.

Like I have stated, I am bound by the video evidence upon which I rely most strenuously.”.

Meanwhile, close sources say that Senator Tokunbo Ogunbanjo has gone to the home of Trustee Francis Awogboro with a close family friend of the Awogboro’s to plead with him to forgive him for his conduct at the AGM of the Lagos Motor Boat Club. Ogunbanjo also followed up with a letter of apology dated 27 January 2021 apologising unreservedly for his conduct.

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HighLife Andy Uba at it Again!

Uba

W

here does he get his confidence from?

Knowing the heart of man and the fickleness of people’s loyalty, where exactly does Senator Andy Uba get this earth-shaking confidence from? These are the questions on the lips of observers after the good Senator reportedly bragged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) ‘s gubernatorial party ticket will alight on no one else but him.

To be sure, Senator Emmanuel Nnamdi Uba (Andy Uba for short), is a man with a charismatic and magnetic personality—a people’s person. His political profile is both historic and indicative of a progressive and somewhat liberal mind. But are these enough to justify the oomph with which he evidently expects to run through his fellow APC governorship aspirants?

While speaking to some of his supporters in Awka, Anambra State, on February 9, 2021, Senator Uba boasted that the APC gubernatorial party ticket is his for the taking. He said that his momentum, if granted the ticket, would outstrip that of 2007 “in the 326 wards and 21 Local Government Areas of [Anambra] State...a record [that] has not been equalled by any governorship candidate in the State to date.”

Uba also reminded his supporters that his opponents in 2007 were only satisfied with briefly visiting Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi and a few other towns in Anambra. In contrast, he took the time to campaign in “dusty villages and hamlets,” taking his “message of paradigm shift.” Apparently, Uba’s time as presidential aide to former President Olusegun Obasanjo was not spent making noise but learning to rouse others to his banner.

In truth, Uba’s time as Obasanjo’s right-hand man only polished his aptitude for human relations and politics.

This prepared him for his 2007 gubernatorial campaign (under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP) where he reportedly pulled out all the stops to win. Although he has attempted the Anambra high seat on other occasions (under Labour Party), this is the first time Uba is certain that he is coming out on top if given a chance. Overall, bluster or no bluster, Senator Andy Uba cannot be ignored.

with KAYODE ALFRED ͮͶͯ​ͯʹ͵ͳͷͶͮ͵˜ ̋×ËÓÖ: ÕËãʮÏâ̶͓ãËÒÙÙ˛ÍÙ×

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

Belema Oil Founder, Tein Jack-Rich, in the Eye of the Storm The cesspool of adultery scandals in high places has welcomed another high-profile victim.

But Tein Jack-Rich, the billionaire oil and gas businessman behind Belema Oil Producing Limited, has refused to be consumed by it. With the sturdy support from his gorgeous wife, Elizabeth, Tein is fighting tooth and nail, running from pillar to post, consulting and conferring with friends and associates who know how to manipulate and manoeuvre narratives in the media to absolve himself of allegations of being the money man behind the actress, Destiny

Etiko’s recent acquisition of a glimmering white PRADO SUV. The curvy actress had posted the car on her Instagram page in celebration, which opened a floodgate of insinuations and point-blank accusations that she could not have afforded the car based on her fees from acting. Destiny is a D-List actress popular only in the Asaba section of the movie industry. She, however, found fame on social media due to her generously-endowed derriere.

She was forced to deny the allegation that she was dating Tein, a married man with kids.

Destiny claimed that she had never met him and cursed those peddling the rumour.

Jack-Rich

Oniru Rolls Royce: Oba Gbolahan Lawal Gets New Ride American fashion designer, businesswoman, and writer, Rachel Zoe, noted that “style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.” After watching him spend more than six months as the monarch of Iruland and in his characteristic modest cast, the family and friends of Oba Gbolahan Lawal finally convinced him to wear his status as he should.

The 15th Oniru of Iruland, Oba Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun the Second, has got himself a Rolls Royce Cullinan. This is coming after months of his friends and well-wishers insisting that the Oniru embrace his royal status, and wear that status with the natural furnishings expected of him. A somewhat interesting adjuration, it is not without merit, especially because Oba Lawal is modest and inclined to simplicity rather than a needless extravagance.

The Rolls Royce Cullinan reportedly landed in Oniru’s garage a few days ago, cementing his person and style in the stratum

of kings and influential nobles of this world.

Naturally, considering Oba Lawal’s rousing touch to the winds of development ongoing at Iruland, Victoria Island, Lagos, the Cullinan just barely caps his royalty.

To the aware, the Rolls Royce Cullinan is no middling vehicle. The model is the first SUV (sport utility vehicle) built for all sorts of terrain and weather, with comfort and luxury in equal measure. This indicates that the Oniru is not about spreading his colourful feathers before all and sundry, but a King prepared to travel the length of his kingdom for maximum interaction. All in all, a practical vehicle for a practical monarch.

Since his official coronation in June of 2020, Oba Lawal has spent his waking hours pursuing his people’s welfare and the progress of his Iru Kingdom. The hearts of the Iru people are fully with the Oniru, and why not? Oba Omogbolahan Lawal is a godsend! Indeed, a king is the symbol of power and progress—and Oba Gbolahan Lawal is not letting down his people.

Oba Oniru

Ehi Ogbebor and Transporter Lover in the News Again

Ogbebor

There is a place for gossip and fairy tales, but that has never dissuaded anybody from blowing on the fires to wreck a home or business. This is the trend around prominent Nigerian women starting 2021, especially as the dividends of their good work (in the form of super-expensive cars and luxury homes) are available for all to see.he reputation of Lagosbased businesswoman and interior designer, Ehi Ogbebor, is taking a serious beating, as claims that she denied being in a relationship with Musiliu ‘MC Oluomo’ Akinsanya (President of National Union of Road Transport Workers) continue to make the rounds. This is even more conspicuous because of similar tales that Nollywood actress, Destiny Etiko, has also denied a romantic relationship with a popular businessman and oil mogul.

This is not the first time that Ehi Ogbebor and MC Oluomo are targets of social media firing range. When Ogbebor (who is the founder and CEO of one of Nigeria’s biggest luxury interior designing enterprises, Sayaveth

Interiors & Hotels) built her super lavish mansion, it was the envy of all and sundry.

However, because it seemed unreasonable (to some folks) for a successful interior designer to make and spend tens of millions for personal comfort and style, Ogbebor was accused of not giving due credit to her financial backer— who was supposed to be a man.

Ehi Ogbebor defended her pride and dignity back then, and she does the same now. She has encouraged whoever has proof that she denied her relationship with MC Oluomo to come out and face her.

Obviously, the said relationship is important to her—which defeats the allegation in the first place.

In any case, folks have argued that Ogbebor herself deserves what she is getting: why expose your private life to social media eyes if you don’t want social media tongues to wag? Nevertheless, Ehi Ogbebor wants her fans and followers to know about her relationship with MC Oluomo — no denial anywhere.

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HIGHLIFE

Political Amazon, Kemi Nelson, Rocks at 65

Nelson

It was Tennyson that wrote these timeless words: though much is taken [from us], much abides...that which we are, we are. Chief (Mrs) For Olalekan Adebiyi, the Nigerian construction industry is his playground, backyard, and workstation. The man is one of the few who are qualified to call themselves professional contractors in the industry. With so many persisting construction works bearing his name and the name of his company, LaraLek, it is no wonder that Lekan Adebiyi has been designated by many as Nigeria’s biggest indigenous contractor. The man is not just building blocks, roads and bridges, but a lasting legacy as an innovative builder and contractor.

LaraLek Ultimate Constructions is the brainchild of Lekan Adebiyi.

The company’s engineering footprints are all over Lagos: Church Road, Agbelekale; Giwa Street and AboruAbesan Link Road in Agbado OkeOdo LCDA; 10-lane Oshodi-Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road— with three express lanes and two-service

Kemi Nelson, renowned political figure and administrator, is one of a handful that remains of a once noble and glorious breed. Even the regulations against the spread of the Covid-19 virus could not dissuade her friends and fans and family from celebrating her 65th birthday a few days ago. For her 65th year, Chief Nelson convened her friends and associates for a session of thanksgiving, worship and praise, with hymns and exhortation. While a few of her family members were at her home (in Ikeja, Lagos) for the event, a number of others joined via Zoom.

The group that joined via Zoom included Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and his wife, Oluremi Hamzat; First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun; and more than a hundred other prominent figures of society.

All of these were received by Chief Nelson and her husband, Mr. Adeyemi Nelson.

Moreover, even though the event was handled by ministers of Archbishop Vining Memorial

Man with Midas Touch: Olalekan Adebiyi’s Great Exploits as Construction Giant

lanes in each direction; and the sevenkilometre Ayobo-Ipaja road, in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos.

These contracts contribute to Adebiyi’s reputation as Nigeria’s biggest indigenous contractor. However, it is the man’s personality and pursuits that keep him at the top of the construction contracting food chain. Folks find it hard to believe that Adebiyi does not have any university training in construction, engineering or architecture. The same people find it inconceivable that Lekan Adebiyi holds the highest honour in engineering for those who did not study engineering.

Inspiring Mileage of Julius Rone as UTM Offshore Becomes First Indigenous Company to Get LNG Licence These are the best of times for the UTM Group boss, Julius Rone. The renowned businessman and his team’s efforts are finally yielding sky-reaching fruits as the company cleaves the title of being the first indigenous company to get Licence to Establish (LTE), the first floating LNG production plant in Nigeria.

Likely, Julius Rone and his family and the many team members are not the only ones excited about the news. To be the first indigenous oil and gas company licensed by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to establish a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) production plant in Nigeria is no joke. Considering the popularity of the oil and gas sector, as well as the goldmine of opportunities this licence is bound to unearth, the fact that Rone came out on top speaks to his genius and foresight, and the progressive team of

Church Cathedral, GRA, Ikeja, all eyes were on the Nelsons, especially the celebrant— who still dazzles at age 65. It was a time of celebration and honesty, with gospel artistes and songs further colouring the event— besides the one-man band on site. While Chief (Mrs) Nelson took her time to slice one of the many cakes gifted to her customarily, much was said in her honour. The minister in charge dubbed her evidence of God’s goodness and encouraged her to emulate those who draw more people to Christ, not those who fixed their minds on getting and saving more money and acquiring properties.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, on his part, referred to Chief Nelson as an all-round paragon: of fashion, of politics, and of just causes. Deputy Governor Hamzat capped it all with prayers for long life, sound health, and strength to accomplish more for Lagos and its denizens, and women in general. It was a happy and glorious celebration for a happy and glorious Amazon, Chief (Mrs) Kemi Nelson.

Rone

UTM Offshore Ltd that never hesitate to reach up and pluck stars from the sky.

According to the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Adebiyi’s approach to construction is innate, innovative, and something to emulate. Furthermore, Lekan Adebiyi is renowned for his emphasis on endurance (i.e., longlasting construction), excellence (beauty, especially) and economy (of space and cost). These are the substructures underlying LaraLek’s fierce reputation. For all these and more, Lekan Adebiyi has built an empire in the construction business. His network of associates is widespread and very deep.

DPR presented the License to Rone’s company in Abuja on Monday, February 8, 2021. According to the DPR Director/CEO, Mr. Sarki Auwalu, the licence follows the government’s insistence on having Nigerian companies run the Nigerian oil and gas sector: owning the production plants, and at liberty to decide the direction of the sector.

But the licence represents more than just the first true involvement of indigenous oil and gas companies in the establishment of LNG production plants: it is also a big win for oil-producing regions of Nigeria, especially Julius Rone’s Delta State. Thus, Rone isn’t just the ‘Jewel of the Niger Delta’ in name only; the man is bearing the torch of progress and sustainable development.

What else is there to say? This is a time of celebration for every indigenous oil and gas company: if Julius Rone and his UTM can do it, so can others. And then in a matter of years, they will all be jewels of the regions and states—as Rone is.

RIGHT OF REPLY :

Who Is Afraid of Rainoil Chairman, Gabriel Ogbechie?

That billionaire businessman-cum-politician, Ned Nwoko, has refused to explore the path of peace in his unprovoked war against a fellow townsman, Chief Gabriel Ogbechie, indeed, speaks volume of his character as he has continued to push false narratives targeted at the hard-earned reputation of the chairman of Rainoil.

The problem began in few years ago when Ogbechie courteously challenged Ned’s abuse of the due process in acquiring landed property in their community, Idumuje-Ugboko In retaliation, Ned, whilst the community elders were seeking peaceful resolution to the land crisis in the palace, had petitioned the police that someone was killed in the process which turned out to be false. Afterward, two of the community youths were arrested. In the course of the investigation, nobody was found to have died in the palace. But based on Ned’s petition to the police, the arrested youths were taken to court and remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the conclusion of the investigation. Few days after, Ned wrote another petition to the police against the Crowned Prince of the community and president general of the Idumuje-Ugboko Development Union (UDU), Mr. Okey Ifejiokwu and both of them were also arrested. That was when prominent personalities in the community

decided to intervene, including Ogbechie.

However, Ned hatched a dangerous plot when Ogbechie secured a lawyer for the release of the community union president, assuming that Ogbechie was supporting people against him. He wrote a petition to the police that his wife told him that one Wale Jana overheard the two detained community youths where they were hatching the plot to kill him (Ned), alleging that they mentioned Ogbechie as their sponsor.

Based on the petition, Chief Ogbechie and other people were invited by the police for interrogation. When Ned was asked to present the said Wale Jana who he said overheard the suspects discussing his assassination plot, Ned changed the story. He said the person who actually heard the suspects planning to kill him was not Jana but one Ossy Boise. When he was asked to present the Boise, Ned said the guy was dead. Then the police asked him to tell them how the Boise died, where he died, what killed him and where the autopsy report is. Ned could not make available all those proofs. Consequently, the case was dismissed by the police.

Oddly, Ned later pushed the story to the public domain that his dead second witness, Boise, was poisoned and that Gabriel Ogbechie was fingered in his death so that Boise wouldn’t be able

to testify against him (Ogbechie) in the case.

Predictably, Ned’s narratives were clear falsehoods, based on two premises.

The first premise is that, in the petition that he wrote alleging plot to kill him, he mentioned a Wale Jana as the person who overheard the suspects. When he was asked to present the Wale Jana, he changed the story that it was not Jana but one Boise. The second premise is that, when the two community youths were arrested, they were arrested and detained for murder. When they were taken to court, the judge said that they should be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the conclusion of investigation. But Kuje Correctional Centre was overcrowded and because of the coronavirus protocols, the two suspects were remanded at Suleja Correctional Centre. In other words, Ned was not aware that the suspects he claimed were overheard plotting his assassination in Kuje Correctional Centre were indeed being detained in Suleja Correctional Centre.

Therefore, the unending media attacks on Ogbechie by Ned Nwoko, were based purely on envy and fear of the unknown. r .BZPXB -BXBM XSPUF JO GSPN -BHPT

Road to 2023 Presidency: Yahaya Bello Contender or Pretender?

Bello

I

s Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello of Kogi State the King or the Joker in the pack of cards that is Nigeria’s list of potential presidential candidates?

That remains to be seen. In the meantime, his supporters are splashing social media with posters and posts of the young governor wearing the mantle of national leadership and taking over from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

While there are whispers that political figures as the All Progressives Congress national chieftain, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar will emerge as candidates for Buhari’s seat in 2023, there are also mentions of the 45-year-old Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello. In fact, the governor’s supporters are not holding back at all, even going so far as to maintain that presidential power should be zoned to the North-Central for once and that Bello is the obvious choice for APC and Nigeria.

Initially assumed to be a joke, Governor Bello’s suggestion as a potential successor for President Buhari is gathering momentum.

A few voices even dare to say that Bello is just what the country needs — a detribalised visionary who can see beyond his nose, personal interests and pockets to guide Nigeria towards the utopian Promised Land. Is all this a joke? Perhaps not.

Governor Bello himself has explained that his Kogi’s development is his chief concern at the moment. However, this is the characteristic response of folks who would eventually emerge in the name of being pressured by others — which is exactly the drama with Bello.

Interestingly, natives and residents of Kogi State have a bit to contribute to Bello’s I-mightI-might-not position: some have publicly stated on social media that the governor is unworthy and incapable since he allegedly has done nothing in Kogi State but demolish statues.

All in all, the young governor is popular with many Nigerians (mostly because he was one of the few who spoke against the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown directive in early 2020. Time will tell whether this popularity will be enough motivation for him before 2023, or if the joke — assuming it is one — will lose its bite before then.

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Hon. Ned Nwoko – My Humble Advice

Let me speak as one polygamist to the other. I hear you are my senior colleague with about seven as against my three. I just lost one making me drop further down the pecking order in our society and making you far, far my senior. Lord, you see this thing I have been hearing has made me to be thinking one kind.

I did not want to concern myself, after all, it is a village matter and Nsit Ibiom where I come from no even near this your village IdumujeUgboko. I am not sure you guys have village stream or any virgin damsels left for me to come and take, so I decided to ignore all the noise.

But last Sunday, I read a piece once again concerning my brother Gabriel Ogbechie, which got me a little bit more worried.

So I decided to make my independent investigations to truly understand exactly what is going on as a known busybody. My brother, the things I have learnt are not only disturbing but scary. A litany of petitions, accusations of murder, thuggery, arrest of a king? All sorts, over land for a university and staff of office of the legitimate king? I will not

go into details as from where I am writing, I will never get the full story and as such it would be kind of risky taking a position before I get a call from FCID say I don attempt to murder person. You know me I cannot stay in cell for one minute talk less of years that I have heard some people from your village have stayed over this matter, which is really not an issue. If you want to build a University for the community, that is a laudable push but it is now seemingly turning into a huge albatross for the community.

I am sure the community and its leaders will not be as dumb as not to see the immense benefit that a private university in their space would bring to the community especially if the vision comes with very good intentions.

The community I hear is sceptical of your intentions hence their position but even this can be resolved without all this mayhem and reputational damage that have been going on. See, me I am really choosing my words as I no get power, time and resources (I still dey find school fees) to be dragged into this matter. My brother, you remain one of the two

ICC – LEAVE FORMER SERVICE CHIEFS ALONE Now I better understand the nominations of former service chiefs to be ambassadors and the rest. I had jumped into the matter and started yabbing our President. You see my oga Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun had once advised me to be calming down.

When there is an issue, he had said, calm down, listen to all sides before taking a position. But did I listen? No o I just jump into the matter blazing away. The next minute I see an article about the ICC investigating the Nigerians Armed Forces over human rights violation. Is something the matter with this yeye ICC people?

We are here saying that the service chiefs did not do well and they are there trying to punish them for even the little that they did. They say it is one Gambian that is leading the push and that in nine years she has not secured any conviction and that it is this our own she wants to use to secure her legacy.

I say something is wrong with her head. Abi, can’t she see the litany of woes that we daily face? Can’t she see the blood flowing on our streets, the decapitation of our civilian population and the rape and torture of our mothers and daughters? Why is she also not investigating the bandits and terrorists abi the war

crime definition na for one side? The coward. What is stopping her from taking an on-the-spot assessment of the Sambisa Forest or even coming to the North East villages and see for herself what is happening?

This is what you get when you have weak leadership who will rather hide under diplomatic cover for those whose jobs it is to protect us. You will stand boldly and say - to hell - but you see we cannot do that because we will still go behind to beg for handouts. Everything ties together.

Our weakness makes us international whipping boys even for menopausal, low-level performing prosecutors. We have suffered.

Buratai

Adanu

IG ADAMU – LEARN TO IGNORE My brother, let me put this one behind first. We have seen an uncanny resemblance between you and American rap star, Snoop Dogg.

The resemblance is so uncanny that if not for fear of koboko, I for say make we try DNA to see who really be who. Anyways that is not why I am writing you today. I have just read that you may have started the process of suing one ragtag online publication for N2b for pushing that you spent N2b to lobby to extend your tenor. My brother, there are some fights you should not bother about. These people are the greatest confusionists in the land, not only the weak and ineffective leadership you have served. They, in my mind’s eye, are the worst because they control the mind and the narrative.

most successful and prominent sons of your tiny village so to be dragging yourselves on the pages of national papers is not the best.

Other hamlets are finding themselves in the news for very positive reasons, but anytime we hear of your hamlet na on murder matter or young virgin no longer in the market.

It is not good. I think you should rise as a prominent Nigerian, influential politician and well-brought-up son of Idumuje-Igboko and stretch out an olive branch and seek otherwise very peaceful means to solve whatever is the itch in your buttocks.

This is truly embarrassing my brother, and I am no longer enjoying it. I used to like you and liked you more when you captured that beauty –oh Regina, that was a wonderful coup, my brother. Oya, do the right thing, throw the olive branch, protect your ancestors’ traditional stool, and join hands with Gabriel who me I know for his kind heart and willingness to be a force for good and begin to rebuild relationships so that your village can once again know peace. Na beg, I dey beg. I come in peace, my lord. Thank you.

They sow seeds of discord and disharmony with their banal lies and fortitudes. Whether you lobby or you no lobby, whether you pay or no pay is not my business. My own is the alarmist diversionary tactics of the gutter press and the inimical role they play in destroying society’s cohesion.

My brother just ignore and see off your extended three months even though me sef do not understand why them give you or if the precedence thereof will augur well for the force but that that is na between you and the person who give you the extension. Let’s concentrate on life after service. What are your plans sef? Please no open security company o, you no go get business for obvious reasons. Try come dey do theatre with me, but you will need to smile some more.

You dey hardly smile, I wonder why.

Anyways, calm down and leave those chickens, the market is already dealing with them by not taking them seriously.

On the Duke Summit, anybody wey post anything from them is kicked out. That is fact. So my brother, well done and stay blessed.

ROTIMI AMAECHI – THAT WAS LIKE OJUJU CALABAR Ojuju Calabar was what we used to call masquerades those days in Shomolu. Every masquerade was Ojuju Calabar no matter what tribe it came from and our mothers will be using them to scare us if we refused

Amaechi

Nwoko

to retire to bed early. So what I saw the other day on Channels TV was like Ojuju Calabar for me. It was scary and at the same time, amusing. When the masquerades are parading the street, you are afraid and at the same time excited.

When it comes towards you, you run away for fear, but you still remain intrigued and keep coming back. I was scared for Amaechi that day o but couldn’t leave the screen because I was intrigued at Suen’s attempt at pushing him to the wall and his attempt to wriggle out. He was asked about his thoughts on the herdsmen wahala and insecurity as a leader.

Amaechi start to move from confidence, fear, arrogance to nonchalance, and finally drag his pretty wife into the matter all to sha escape without being blown up.

This Seun is not a normal person o, he kept squeezing, sensing Lord Amaechi’s discomfort. Oga talk na, he would say and Amaechi will be saying please call my wife let me ask her if her chop money has finished.

Laugh nearly kill me. I am sure if it was not live TV, Amaechi for stand up and squeeze that yeye Seun ear.

How can you attempt to embarrass the Emperor of the South-South?

The man building train tracks to

Fani-Kayode

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LOUD WHISPERS the Niger Republic? Who has ever done that ever? Seun listen to me - Amaechi is minister of Transport and not chief of Defence so it is not his job to answer that kind question.

If you ask him why keke Marwa is now the official mode of transport for single light-skinned women, now you are asking him question within his purview. But asking him that kind question is like na PDP send you. Kai, Seun you need to go back to NUJ o.

My brother, you need to calm down abeg. Lol. CHIEF FEMI FANI KAYODE – THE NOMADIC POLITICIAN As I write, there are conflicting signals. Yahaya Bello has said Chief Kayode has joined APC, well Chief Kayode has said that although he has been having cross-political discussions, he has not left PDP. My brother make I just talk my own. This is the height of unseriousness, the apogee of disappointment and a big letdown to the very few who have hung up to your words. Anyhow, you want to define this, it remains what it is - an odiferous lack of sensitivity to the tenets of principled leadership.

Now get me straight. I have nothing against the APC or their leaders for that matter.

I also really do not have anything against cross carpeting after all Atiku is the king of that dance, but for your own case in particular, you had gone too far afield to even attempt this.

You have abused, cursed, shouted and screamed all sorts of perfidy against this party, its leaders and their ideology to even be thinking of this not to talk of having so-called discussions. Throwing meaningless and ambiguous terms like ‘you stand for justice, you fight against evil’ are just very cosmetic and banal explanations that fall flat in the face of right-thinking engagement. My lord, I retain my personal respect for you but you have lost me on this one.

The good thing is that there is really no electoral value being shifted in this purported move except the media bylines that will last for just two minutes and we move on. We need a different Nigeria. A Nigeria led by principled, ideologydriven sentiments that will provide stability with which people-centric policies will be laid on. Thankfully that seed has been sewn and it is germinating, and soon soldiers of fortune like this would be a thing of the past. We need principled centred leadership and not wavy leadership that swing according to the torrents of self-adulating needs.

I am angry, boss. Very angry cos I believed you. I believed in you but with this, I weak. I am now a laughing stock at the Duke Summit and the Habib Bank alumni. They say Edgar see your man, he go soon go prostrate for Buhari. Get me right once again, I have nothing against your joining APC even me I dey think am to join APC when I see their programs but what is galling me is this turncoat for no real long term reason. It’s good, though. Go ahead and join APC, it’s the way the cookie crumbles.

YISA SOFOLUWE – MY CONDOLENCES People will always start tributes with “the news of the passing of Mr Lagbaja has come to me as a rude shock.” The statement used to intrigue me. Rude shock, never used to see the connection. However, the news of the passing of legendary Yisa Sofoluwe did not come to me

efforts, this still happened.

The arrogance of that statement can be annoying. Yisa was humble, a patriot and a major figure during the golden years of our football history.

I had the rare privilege of playing against him during a charity match I had organized while at BGL and he came with other football greats including Samson Siasia and Etim Esin to play. He carried himself with humility and refused to be carried away with is stardom. He will surely be missed, and this was not a rude shock. It has come with the resignation to the Almighty because he knows all. Rest well, bro.

Madlion

as any rude shock but came to me as a thought-provoking and humble experience. Coming from the passing of my wife and mother within six months, I have stopped seeing death as any rude shock but with the

inevitability and resignation of the power of the Most High as it is meant to be. When you say rude shock means that you have done all you needed to do to stop it and it came as a shock to you that despite your

PAUL USORO, SCOT TOMEI, UDO UDOMA – ‘NDITO AKWA IBOM DAKADA’ In Ibibio, Dakada means stand up.

Yes, our state needs to stand up to the immense possibilities of our heritage. The state is rich in culture, deep in traditions and affluent with raw talent. I have refused to work with the state government because of my strong belief in the followership as a direct response to failing leadership nationwide.

The people have built a N3 trillion entertainment industry with little or no serious government support.

We will not go cap in hand to the government or any government for that matter to deliver on our promises of opening up the space to massive job and wealth creation, youth empowerment and infrastructural development.

This is why I am calling out not just to the names mentioned above

but all right-thinking Akwa Ibom citizens to once again stand up and say we will move our state from the backwaters of development into the forefront of massive engagement, leading the country into the next century. Private sector-driven policies and initiative must support the government as we move. So, my people, I have moved into Akwa Ibom to deliver on the promise of opening up over 1,000 of our massively talented youths into leadership in theatre.

We are bringing the legendary Professor Ahmed Yerima into Uyo for one week to give free clinics in all aspects of theatre, and we are bringing both local and international media to showcase our power. It’s time for us to stand up. Dakada, ndito Akwa Ibom – ibiom beckons.

INI EDO – AN ACTING GENIUS Ini Edo – An Acting Genius Come and see the picture of this ebony princess sent to me by my production czar, Ifeanyi.

You will get goose pimples o. Those who know will know that I am about to take my next production to Uyo in Akwa Ibom, the land of my heritage.

By the time you will be reading this

Ini Edo

I would be in Uyo enjoying rich afang which I will wash down with fresh palm wine.

So I decided to use this damsel who shown like a thousand stars in Kunle Afolayan’s citadel for the lead role in my new play - Ibiom.

My sister Elvina Ibru gave me the contact, and the voice came on the phone, and I fainted. I never wake up yet o.

When I wake, I will write the story, for now make una leave me.

BOBRISKY – A NATIONAL DISGRACE? For those of you who are not very frequent on social media, Bobrisky is a multi-millionaire crossdresser with large followership. He has been variously described, amongst others, as a national disgrace by him who I will not mention his name. His push for the alternative lifestyle including the abhorrent same-sex practices continue to tease, taunt, annoy and intrigue the larger society. But what some of us have missed is the huge marketing and commercial power this boy has unleashed. Daily millions of goods and services are being exchanged on the back of his bleached skin.

Millions are exchanged by a coterie of stakeholders who leverage on his weirdness to create wealth, jobs and opportunities for an otherwise disenfranchised youth segment. I choose to look at the commercialization of his sex life and not if he is actually bending down to be drilled by an amorous sugar daddy or zaddy as he calls them. For him to have over 12million ardent followers, then we may just be losing the fight against the alternative lifestyle. My people truth be said in the next five years homosexuality will be commonplace in this country.

Come and beat me. Go and watch what our kids are watching on social media and TV and you will see how they are powerfully zombied in the land. So Bob cashing in on this to make a bulk and raise thousands out of poverty becomes imperative. Just random thoughts though, I am open to diverse opinions on this. Private chat me let’s engage. Thank you.

PATIENCE MADLION’S NEVER-SAY-DIE ATTITUDE She is a lion, and truly her name is Madlion. Her husband was a lion, a tough security consultant who was kidnapped and later lost his life in the war against insecurity in the nation. She, however, has refused to be bogged down by the misfortune, carrying on with the legacy of her husband in driving the home and businesses. I came in contact with her on the Lifeforte Parents WhatsApp forum and her engagements, her approach to the issues on the platform, and her fire attracted me. I reached out and found out her story.

Went on Channels TV online platform to watch her husband postulate on the country’s security situation and its effect on agriculture. That is one area we are not looking at today.

Insecurity is impacting negatively the food crop chain in the country. Today, Mrs. Lion has a following in excess of 15,000 women who not only have the sorrow of insecurity to share but who have decided to make a difference by leaving behind their black mourning gowns and impacting society through hospital engagements and other such interventions. Well done, madam.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯͲ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

Femi Otedola’s Untiring Love for Humanity Lulu-Briggs

War Not Over in Lulu-Briggs’ Family?

O

n January 1, many breathed a sigh of relief, while some others shouted a thunderous Hallelujah, when the details of the burial of the late Rivers State-born billionaire, Benson Lulu-Briggs, founder of Muni Polu Foundation, were finally announced.

To those familiar with the alleged circumstances surrounding his passing and the sharp disagreement among his family members, soon after he passed on, the news was heart-warming.

Despite the family’s claim that it has put behind it the reported disagreement and that it is ready to give the late billionaire businessman a befitting burial on Saturday, March 13, 2021, Society Watch exclusively gathered that the ‘war’ might not have been over, after all!

A source revealed that although preparations are ongoing to give the billionaire patriarch a befitting burial, the wife of the deceased, Seinye Lulu-Briggs, still has an axe to grind with the family.

According to the source, Seinye is miffed that she was not available when the burial date was agreed upon.

The source further hinted that Seinye claimed that she only read about it on the internet, just like any other person.

However, one of the children of the deceased, Dumo, is said to be unperturbed about her decision, maintaining that what matters to him at the moment is to give his late father a befitting burial.

“He has worked tirelessly to ensure that every matter stalling the funeral rites of his dad was resolved, and his mortal remains committed to mother Earth. So he remains unruffled over Seinye’s decision,” the source added.

Since Dumo officially got the heirloom of the LuluBriggs’ chieftaincy when he was announced as the new Iniikeroari - the paramount head of Oruwari House of Abonnema - he has vowed that his first major task would be to ensure that his father has a peaceful rest, while also keeping his legacies intact.

Given this development, some top dignitaries and powerful friends of the late oil mogul are said to be in talks with her even though she is allegedly not showing any signs of shifting ground.

Since the death of the business magnate, Dumo and Seinye have been at each other’s jugular.

The deceased’s body has been in a morgue in Ghana, where he breathed his last on December 27, 2018, as a result of a suit instituted by Seinye.

For some time now, veteran journalist and celebrated romance writer, Kayode Ajala, had been praying ceaselessly for an angel to offer him a lifeline in his moment of distress.

Ajala, the editor of the defunct Hints magazine, published by Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, a former Minister of State for Petroleum, joined in the prayers by his lovely wife, Linda, since he was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, resulting in highly-elevated urea and creatinine.

Mercifully, gangling and good-looking Ajala said to be in dire straits, would not have to wait for too long on the sickbed, as billionaire Femi Otedola, Chairman, Geregu Power, has reportedly offered to defray his medical bills.

An elated Linda was quoted as saying, “Mr. Femi Otedola is God-sent! We can never thank him enough. He’s been taking care of the bills and promised to continue until Kayode gets better. I pray Almighty God continues to bless him and his family.”

This latest effort by Otedola has further foregrounded his abiding fellow-feeling and love for humanity.

In the past years, Otedola had put smiles on the faces of several eminent Nigerians

including Majek Fashek; Christian Chukwu, a former captain and coach of the Super Eagles; Peter Fregene, a former Green Eagles goalkeeper; Victor Olaotan, an actor; Inih Ebong, a former associate professor, Department of Theatre Arts, University of Uyo and Sadiq Daba, a broadcaster and actor. The list of beneficiaries of his largeheartedness is inexhaustible.

Interestingly, his philanthropy, nay largeheartedness has not gone unnoticed, as he has been recognised and honoured at home and abroad.

He teed off the year with the coveted ‘Philanthropist of the Decade’ award by Thisday newspaper. The board of Thisday newspaper had awarded 24 individuals and institutions for their contributions to Nigeria’s socio-economic and political growth.

Otedola was so honoured, according to the awards committee, given his recent hefty donations to public causes and lifting the needy.

It is not surprising that the billionaire is the people’s choice for philanthropist of the decade.

His singular donation of N5 billion to assist children of terror-ravaged North-east remains unexampled.

Otedola

He made the donation through Cuppy Foundation, a non-profit organisation founded

by Florence Otedola (DJ Cuppy), his daughter.

She is a board ambassador for Save the Children and a member of the organisation’s Africa advisory board.

Rev. Mother Esther Ajayi’s New Interest Rev. Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi, without a doubt, is one of Nigeria’s most accomplished Christian leaders and notable clerics.

Ajayi, the founder of the fast-growing Love of Christ Generation (C & S) Church, one of the biggest white garment churches on Clapham Road, South East London, has continued to win souls into the vineyard of God through her spiritual fervour. And the church, with the active support of her husband, Ademuyiwa Ajayi, has grown in leaps and bounds.

Besides, Iya Aladura, as she is fondly called, is loved by all for her uncommon generosity.

But in recent times, she seems to have also Ajayi

developed an interest in real estate, as evident in her acquisition of a large expanse of land in the Lekki axis of Lagos, where she has partly erected and now completed a megachurch complex.

It was gathered that, but for the COVID-19 induced lockdown, the state-of-the-art worship centre that can sit thousands would have been opened and dedicated with fanfare last July.

The Lagos-born preacher had donated a building to the Lagos State Police Command Special Protection Unit in Ikeja a few weeks ago.

Former Top Oil Player, Abu Jibia, Hibernating

Jibia

Abu Ali Jibia, who was into the oil and gas business, was once touted as one of the “biggest boys” in Delta State.

In fact, as one of the celebrated deep pockets, his popularity soared to the neigbouring states.

However, his fame began to decline following his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, accused of being involved in illegal bunkering sometime in 2013.

His company’s vessel, MT Swordfish, which was worth several millions of dollars, was also seized by the anti-graft agency.

Jibia alongside others was arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful dealing in Automated Gas Oil, (AGO), popularly called Diesel, unlawful distribution of adulterated

petroleum products, and dealing in petroleum product before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court, Lagos in a suit marked FHC/L/216C/2013.

The matter, which had suffered several adjournments before it was struck out in late 2020, is said to have dug a hole in the pocket of the former multimillionaire as he lost a fortune while he was fighting to regain his freedom from the grip of the law.

Since the case was thrown out, the former multimillionaire is back to his cocoon and has not been seen in any social function. This, a source revealed, has to do with his unenviable financial situation.

Mildred Okwo’s La Femme Anjola to bow in Theaters La Femme Anjola, the buzzy crime thriller from the stables of The Audrey Silva Company Limited, directed by Mildred Okwo and starring Rita Dominic and Nonso Bassey (in lead roles) will launch locally in theatres nationwide on the 19th of March 2021. The film will be distributed by, Silverbird Distribution, the company, which distributed their earlier releases The Meeting and Surulere In response to the prevalent realities of the film industry, La Femme Anjola will also release digitally for the rest of the world on a paid platform using assets specifically created for this. This move is expected to be a landmark one as La Femme Anjola becomes the highest profile Nollywood film to explore distribution and exhibition opportunities outside of the mainstream avenues currently existing.

The coronavirus pandemic has radically altered the way that the film industry does business with lockdowns and social distancing measures preventing audiences from experiencing films communally. In the United States, Warner Bros’ revolutionary new direction put its entire 2021 theatrical slate on their streaming platform HBO Max for the films’ respective first month of release,

Scene from La Femme Anjola

concurrent with a global cinema release.

The long-awaited thriller which borrows heavily from the film noir elements of Hollywood’s golden age has been at least five years in the making. The bulk of this time was spent sourcing the big budget funding that could deliver a film on the scale that producers Okwo and Dominic envisioned. With the funding secured in March 2019 from Lagos based GTI Securities as well as other private investors, Okwo finished up production in time for a 2020 release only for the rollout to be interrupted by the Covid 19 pandemic.

With this model, producers of La Femme

Anjola are going where the audience is by outlining an inclusive distribution drive that accommodates the wide interest generated home and abroad from the film’s steamy teasers.

Okwo is optimistic that the investment in making quality Nigerian films with a strong universal appeal will be worth the effort and that this novel release plan will be successful. “A lot of money and resources was put into the film from the talent to the production design and special effects. We want to give people a good time obviously, but we also want to be able to make good returns, so more people are encouraged to invest in Nollywood.”

La Femme Anjola is the story of a young man Dejare (Bassey) who becomes entangled in a deadly game of cat and mouse when he meets and falls for a mysterious woman Anjola (Dominic) whom he simply cannot have. The Tunde Babalola scripted thriller is uniquely Nigerian with plot details touching on elements of greed, betrayal, desperation and the lure of the Nigerian dream. The film was shot in locations in Lagos, Nigeria and Cape Town (South Africa).

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

14.02.2021

DEARTH OF NIGERIAN MUSIC DOCUMENTARIES Fatai Rolling Dollar

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 14, 2021

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ARTS & REVIEW\\OPINION

DEARTH OF NIGERIAN MUSIC DOCUMENTARIES As the nation advances on the tracks of becoming a world's music capital, Nigeria is in dire need of cinematic narratives about the heroes of its music history, writes Yinka Olatunbosun

N

igerian music are cultural signposts that are often under-explored by Nigerian film makers.

Music is the Weapon by Stephane TchalGadjieff, Finding Fela by Alex Gibney, Faaji Agba by Remi Vaughan-Richards, Assurance

by Berlin-based DJ Juba, My Father’s Book by Kagho Idhebor and Kagho Akpor are only but a few of existing music documentaries that have touched the hearts of audience at film festivals and cultural institutions where they are mostly screened. Today, one of the largest film streaming platforms, NETFLIX has a collection of music documentaries based on music genres, music stars, music phenomenon, music producers, famous disc jockeys and other music-related themes. At the moment, they have only one from Nigeria- Falz Experience. The Falz Experience seemed like a hurriedly cooked breakfast with mashed up scenes from concerts, totally lacking in deep insights into the world of Folarin Falana, the main subject of the visual narrative. Yet, Nigeria is fast becoming a global music capital.

Anywhere in the world, music landscape is constantly evolving.

Many famed artists of the 40s and 50s could have been forgotten but for the existence of archival materials that constantly restore their memories. Millennials are likely to be lost when names like Chubby Checker, Millicent Small, The Penguins, and The Supremes are dropped. But it won’t be strange to find some of them who will speak eloquently of Frank Sinatra, Tunde Nightingale, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Bobby Benson and a whole lot more because they had been exposed to some archival material either within a formal or non-formal learning environment.

Now, we face a scenario where most contemporary Nigerian music artists rely on the social media to document their lives. The process is, at its best, haphazard, mostly illogical documentation.

You may call it organic. They capture a few daily routines, shows and then pictures of their endorsement deal contract signing moments. But what exactly really makes good content for music documentary? From a journalistic point of view, there must be a story or a theme, conflict, impact and how that music was influenced by the popular culture of the period. Then reliable sources could be the subject, his music associates, music journalists of the period, news stories, newspapers, concert footages, pictures, encyclopedia and others. Aserious documentary film maker who wants to make a story out of Aretha Franklin will be grounded in knowledge of the civil rights movement in the US and how that shaped the music and cultural landscape from which the diva emerged. Also, to understand how gangster rap evolved in America, one needs to connect the crack business and showbiz before setting the camera on tripod.

"A scene from Falz Experience" Truly, any detailed music documentary movie around the late pop diva Whitney Houston will touch on subject matters such as the influence of the church in pop culture, vocal strength, crack epidemic, co-dependency, media attention, toxic relationships and music career in general. Amusic documentary on Bob Marley would capture the political climate in Jamaica, rastafarianism, consciousness music, reggae roots in London, cannabis, Pan-Africanism amongst other themes. Really, music documentaries play a significant role in educating the world. Documentaries such as Quincy, Hip-Hop Evolution, Rocketman have been quite insightful on the cross-generation of musicians and the price of fame.

Nigerian music artists of this period who are breaking into UK and American markets are more inclined to grant interviews to foreign media, creating a western archival material that may not necessarily provide a truly holistic perspective to their music background or career. Nigerian music artists hardly take respected music journalists or film makers on tours to document that aspect of their career. The whole eco-system of documenting music has not been cultivated.

Our young music stars are not investing in music hubs; they are mostly clubbing and, in some cases, fighting themselves.

When Majek Fashek died in June 2020, just a few radio and television stations gave him a mention. The post-humous tribute in Nigerian media downplayed the music persona of Majek, with no thanks to his battered image of drug addiction in the media. That should signal to many of our successful Nigerian music stars that beyond globe-trotting and making commercially viable music, documenting their own true stories for future generation is a path that they must travel.

“I encourage young Africans to take up the camera and document history – those memories that make up the fabric of existence.

To move forward we have to know where we come from,” so says Bolaji Alonge, a culture journalist and international photographer behind the “Eyes of ALagos Boy" brand. His work hinges on the culture, lifestyle and documentation, leading the next generation of culture advocates who see the power of music in interpreting life and history.

TRIBUTE

Sanya Osha (For Uzor Maxim Uzoatu, Boroja I, Obi of Ikate, on the occasion of his 60th birthday)

"N

a poor I poor no bi craze I craze,” the oft-repeated phrase is a defining axiom in Uzor Maxim Uzoatu’s text of street knowledge. My most inspiring times with him were when he installed himself — with of course widespread approval from numerous friends — as the Obi of Ikate, a decrepit neighbourhood in the Surulere area of Lagos. Maxim maintained an apartment in Ikate where he stationed himself nightly at one of the several bars and one eatery in particular, I think it was Mama Nnobi’s.

At the eatery, Maxim would entertain his friends, particularly those who happened to be writers, poets and artists, with plans and tales about writing the Great Nigerian Novel.

Dulue Mbachu, a journalist and novelist, Adewale Maja-Pearce, a well-known writer, and Maxim’s brother, Emeka were usually around, lacing Maxim’s off-beat anecdotes with injections of scepticism, outright disbelief and raucous laughter.

Those were the sunny, carefree days of the glorious reign of the Obi of Ikate. Bleak times arrived soon after when the 1993 June 12 presidential elections — presumed to be won by the redoubtable MKO Abiola — were annulled by the military. After a brief colourless

The Mystique of Maxim

Uzoatu with Soyinka interlude during which Ernest Shonekan presided over the country, General Sani Abacha and his cohort of heartless goons seized political power. The Obi, in those trying and uncertain times, managed to keep his cool and humour.

Indeed, Maxim’s humour is the most distinguishing quality about him. He is exceedingly serious without really being serious. He could dispel problematic knots of hostility by merely being present. It is almost impossible to remain angry in his luminous company which is invariably filled with light and laughter while he earnestly plots his next avalanche of literary and journalistic spates of activity.

At first, Maxim lived like the eternal bachelor, free as a bird and uncommitted as an elegantly wasted libertine. He simply glided wherever his

muse guided him, offering sparkling couplets of street wisdom replete with Nietzschean rhapsodies and paradoxes within a city of unrepentant cynics and ruthless cut-throats.

Ordinarily, anyone ought to be permanently scarred by such a traumatic experience. But not Maxim who went on to marry and have kids and still remained a perambulating street bard, blessing all and sundry with his bright spirits, infallible bonhomie and unflagging energy for life, laughter and the bitter-sweet ironies of fate.

Maxim welcomes everything and everyone because his heart is as expansive as the sea. But Maxim is also a magician, an alchemist of sorts, because he is able to penetrate sorrow and gloom with brightness.

He is the undying sun-child who transmogrifies desolate horizons at the mere touch of his hands. But he will discourage you from harping on this marvellous gift. This gift of life, laughter and unspoken love.

His love shines through when he eulogises our numerous unsung heroes such as Ashikiwe Adione-Egom, the maverick motor-park economist and many others like him who have made enormous sacrifices to augment our cultural and intellectual lives without asking for anything in return, not even our respect and acknowledgement.

Maxim squarely belongs in those seemingly anonymous circles, a rare gathering of selfdisregarding warriors whose relentless voices and admonitions seem to reverberate louder when they flit out of nameless stretches of

wilderness.

They are our ethical and secular John the Baptists calling for change, enlightenment and edification as we sink into greater abysses of degradation, depravity and amorality. As we increasingly become a nation without worthy heroes, with very little hope, our Maxims are proficient reminders of what we ought to have become, the hopes we cruelly crushed underfoot like roaches and crickets just so as to satisfy our desires for cruelty. We could never become completely free of our gluttonous appetites for philistinism and vileness.

And then comes Maxim, kicking against the pricks, fearlessly calling out our pomposity, myopia and inhumaneness. He is undoubtedly a transformative humanist who makes humanism all fun, laughter and gaiety. Again, this speaks to his alchemical spirit, snatching elusive light out of the jaws of darkness. He it is who finds triumph amid heart-breaking carnage and bloodshed. Maxim, he who perpetually haunts dark, dingy bars on blighted shores in broad daylight. Once again, the magic and mystique of Maxim.

Let us learn to honour and cherish our Maxims, those rare elemental beings whose blessings we are able to ignore only because we have become too drunk on them. Let us canonise them because they reflect the best within us and project eloquently the possibilities that lie before us. Perhaps more than his creative words, Maxim’s aura and presence are the most transformational elements about him.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 14, 2021

CICERO

Editor:Olawale Olaleye mail:wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com, SMS: 08116759819

IN THE ARENA

For Security, A Compelling New Roadmap In the face of damning failure of a structured and centralised national security architecture in a presumptive federation, the time for fundamental course correction is now, writes Louis Achi

A

ccording to Jeb Bush, Florida State’s 43rd governor from 1999 to 2007, “Great countries need to secure their border for national security purposes, for economic purposes and for rule of law purposes.” In Nigeria, these fundamentals, if not absolutes, are being strangely gamed with.

The consequence therefrom, in part, represents the key drivers of the unending bloody crises – insurgency and criminality – that criss-cross the national landscape and willy-nilly birthing a potential breakup scenario. It is clearly time to look at the fundamentals and do a bold course correction to save the ship of state.

Since the military abrogated the four regional governments and imposed a unitarist federation in 1967, the federal government continues to hold on to the police, armed forces and other security agencies grimly. This has spawned damning consequences for management of crime and insecurity at the grassroots, provoked ‘controversial’ regional/non-state self-help security initiatives and more.

Sovereign states set up security institutions to meet their core remit of protecting New Service Chiefs their citizens from both internal and external aggressions. Today, in Nigeria, this crucial role is sorely defied as the country comes increasingly under multidimensional threats from criminals and crisis entrepreneurs.

Dozens of innocent lives and soldiers are wounded and lost every day to avoidable insecurity.

Churches, mosques, residential buildings, schools, farmlands and land/maritime passengers are not safe as they are daily invaded, attacked and kidnapped by bandits, rogue herdsmen and terrorists. By the last count, no less than 5000 lives had been lost in the last five years to these inhuman depredations.

Not many know that over two million Nigerians – about the population of Gambia (2.348 million in 2019) – are internally displaced by insurgency in the Northeast region. Attacks even appear to be scaling up notwithstanding deployment of security forces to these conflict theaters. Worse, political interference and corruption are key factors that have undermined and skewed justice delivery to hapless victims.

Prominent political stakeholders, the legislature, elder statesmen, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), important sociocultural platforms, prominent clerics and traditional rulers have spoken up against the unfolding bloody infamy and seeming reluctance or incapacity of the executive to deal decisively with the debilitating challenges to the Nigerian state.

Last month, former Senate President Bukola Saraki called on President Buhari “to provide leadership by taking measures that would reassure Nigerians to keep faith with a one united, peaceful and progressive Nigeria.”

His words: “I have watched with concern the recent development in Oyo and Ondo States, in which quit notices were given to Fulani herders and there were subsequent burning of the property of the Fulani herdsmen in some parts of Oyo State. These have increased tension and unduly raised the temperature in the country.

“The ugly developments in these two states are symptom-

atic of the continued threat to the unity of our country that we have witnessed on a higher scale in recent times and in different parts of the country, including the Southeast and South-south zones.

“It is important for President Buhari to rally all interests and everybody at the leadership levels to a round table, in order to discuss and find appropriate solutions.

“President Buhari should call all relevant politicians and stakeholders together – former heads of states, retired and serving security chiefs, present and former leaders of various arms of government, traditional rulers with relevant experience – everybody must be made to contribute ideas on how to save our country from insecurity, disunity and invasion by criminals.”

Perhaps, in response to these legitimate expressions of outrage and deep concern, President Muhammadu Buhari recently dropped the military service chiefs and appointed new hands. Just last week, the president ordered the arrest and prosecution of all illegal arms bearers in the country irrespective of their ethnic affiliation.

Indisputably, the proliferation of arms is fuelling insecurity across the country. However, curiously, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State proclaimed last week that, Fulani herdsmen, his ethnic kin, had the right to carry AK-47s to defend themselves.

Going forward, according to the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, briefing Defence correspondent in Abuja, last week, “In line with the reorganisation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria with the appointment of new service chiefs, the operations of the armed forces are equally being reorganised to tackle the security challenges in the country effectively.

“In this regard, the service chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Leo Irabor (GSS) commenced

an action at all levels. These include carrying out strategic, administrative, operational and logistics adjustments, changes and reviews, to improve the security situation in the country.”

Will a change in Nigeria’s security architecture lead to a reduction in the security challenges? Human security is a holistic concept that encompasses human rights, good governance, access to education and healthcare and ensures that each individual has opportunities and choices to fulfill his or her own potential.

Integrating a human security approach in the National Security Strategy can help identify and address cross-cutting challenges and prevent them from spiraling into conflict that are being currently experienced.

New national security architecture must include decentralization of security agencies. The central command model suggests a dodgy agenda and has failed woefully. Other traditional components address inclusivity, management, decision-making and oversight structures and institutions, as well as national policies, strategies and plans.

Many institutions and agencies contribute to national security management – so coordination of decision-making is key. Crucial decision-making structures like the National Security Councils, can cover policy, legislative, structural and oversight issues, and might co-ordinate or implement policy, or assess and advise.

Legislative involvement in security decision-making is also essential for ensuring public support and legitimacy.

The legislature can review draft laws, providing consent or suggesting changes, and influence budgets. CSOs, et cetera, can also contribute to oversight. They can give feedback on policy development and implementation and promote public awareness and debate of security issues.

Clearly, the time for new security architecture to save Nigeria is now.

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

Of Criminal Herders and Jungle Justice

R

Buhari

eports of unceasing invasion by herders into private properties have continued across the different parts of the country, even though the fears from this have been exacerbated by the nefarious activities of the criminal ones amongst them.

But, there’s yet another disturbing slant to this concern. It is the resolve by people of other ethnic nationalities to not only seek self-help and take laws into their hands, but also their resort to jungle justice by going all out to kill suspected criminal herdsmen and their cows. This might not augur well at the end of the day.

Unfortunately, this has been made possible by the

lack or absence of leadership by the government, this time at all levels. While the states were hoping that the central government would lead decisively to stem the tide, the people had also trusted the states to define their powers within the federation and deliver leadership.

Unfortunately, the situation is niggling! With the likelihood of a reprisal in other parts of the country, that the nation might be inching towards a fratricidal war is palpable, sadly, under the watch of a supposed general. Thus, between the criminal herders and the administrators of jungle justice, it’s a matter of six and half a dozen. Only a firm leadership can stem the unfurling ugly tide.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 14, 2021

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What Does Fani-Kayode Want?

Evidently, a former Minister of Aviation, and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, is up to something lately, writes Adedayo Akinwale

L

ast week, a former Minister of Aviation and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Femi Fani-Kayode was in the news. Though Fani-Kayode has always made headlines, because he has not ceased to viciously attack the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari’s government for their alleged cluelessness, ineptitude and lack of direction.

Since he proclaimed himself the voice of the voiceless, even the north as a whole has received its fair share of his tirade. He had at some points alleged Fulanisation and Islamisation of the country by the Buhari-led government.

In fairness to Fani-Kayode, he has been consistent in attacking the present administration, and justifiably so. The Buhari-led government has fallen short of the expectations of Nigerians in all ramifications. The PDP chieftain’s fearlessness has, therefore, won him so many admirers and followers especially, from the South, Middlebelt and the Christendom. He also became a friend to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

wonderful evening with President Goodluck Jonathan in his Abuja home last night. None like him,” he stated.

Contextualising Bello’s Narrative Nonetheless, Bello would later reveal that Fani-Kayode had defected from the PDP to APC. In a short video that trended during an APC event in Kogi, Bello said the defection was one of his achievements as the head of the youth mobilisation committee for the party’s membership registration and revalidation.

He said: “Our brother and friend, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has joined our party in good faith. He is joining our party to come and add his own positive energy and make contributions to ensuring that APC is a party to beat.

“Remember, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is a foundation member of the All Progressives Congress. Now, he has decided to join our party, approached me and by the mandate given to me by our party, I must not segregate,” the governor said.

Even as the criticisms from Nigerians over his rumoured defection continued unabated, the former minister reiterated: “Though we have had meetings across party lines and we are in a season of political consultation, I have not left the PDP.”

The Defection Rumour When his rumoured defection filtered in last week, it left many surprised and to wonder what could be the motive behind the move to a party he made people to believe he hated passionately.

Could it be part of the plot to present a southern President in 2023? Could it be part of the plot to lure a former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to the ruling party and offer him the ticket to contest in 2023? Or what could be his reason per se to have considered defecting into the same party that he has consistently demonised for the past five years.

Recently, four APC governors from the North met with former President Jonathan, as part of the alleged plot to draft him into 2023 presidential race A group of 10 politicians from the South, comprising notable figures from Bayelsa, home state of the former President, had been given the mandate to begin a media campaign that would midwife the plan. The group, led by a chieftain of the APC from Bayelsa and Jonathan’s political ally, was said to have met on two occasions to discuss the modalities of rolling out the campaign.

The political strategy and the plan of the Northern governors was for the South-south to kick start the campaign, while they play a supportive role in convincing the APC to give its ticket to the former President.

A source privy to the meeting said the campaign would be anchored on the need for the South-south to complete its tenure in 2023. “They believe that since every other zone that produced the President ruled the country for eight years, the South-south should be allowed to complete its tenure”, he said.

The source added that Jonathan was interested in the project, which was why he had refused to publicly deny his continued linkage to the 2023 presidency on the APC platform.

“The plan of these APC governors is to allow power return to the north after four years since Jonathan is entitled to only four years. If the plan goes well, Jonathan will defect to the APC and a significant number of politicians in PDP across the South-south including Bayelsa will join him,” he said.

The Buni, Bello Meeting A few days after the meeting of the four northern governors with Jonathan, Fani-Kayode, an ally of the former President met with the Caretaker Chairman of the APC and the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala-Buni and his Kogi State counterpart, Yahaya Bello. The former minister wrote on his Facebook page: “It was an honour to have spent quality time with my friend and brother Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State last night.

“We had a very frank, candid, fruitful and productive discussion about the way forward for our country. This is a clear case of politics without bitterness and of building bridges. This is a time that we as Nigerians must all come together as one to save our country.” The following day, Fani-Kayode also met with

More Meetings to Follow Fani-Kayode Buni, which was believed to be part of the plan to announce his imminent defection to the ruling party.

However, when the rumour of his alleged defection to APC became more pronounced and having received some bashing from his followers and others, who see him as the voice of the voiceless, he was forced to post another statement clarifying the issue.

“Yesterday afternoon I had the distinct honour and pleasure of having a very productive and important meeting with the National Chairman of the APC, Governor Mai Buni of Yobe State and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

“We discussed the state of the nation, pressing national issues, party politics and the way forward. These meetings are wideranging and ongoing and I am delighted to be involved in them.

“Despite the obvious benefits and wisdom in this noble initiative, it amazes me that some people should feel that it is wrong for me to sit with other leaders in the country to discuss issues, which touch and concern the national cohesion, future and stability of our country. “This is a time in which we must set all our differences aside, build bridges and come together as one lest our country drifts into fratricidal butchery and civil war. It is right and proper for us to talk and to attempt to join hands across political, religious and regional lines to save Nigeria.”

Fani-Kayode reassured his supporters that he would never compromise or jettison his core fundamental principles for any reason, adding that he stood firmly on his honestly held opinion that there was need to enthrone equity, justice and fairness in this country for it to survive.

He said he also believed in restructuring the country and in a vigorous and effective fight against terrorism, adding that the fact that “I am in talks with leaders from a cross section of political parties, including the ruling party, does not in any way derogate from this and does not mean that I will ever change those views.

The PDP chieftain noted that despite their differences, as leaders and statesmen, they must all sheath their swords and ensure that the country never goes down that path.

In spite of his blatant denial, the former minister, on Thursday night, met with the Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle and then went on to confirm this on his Facebook page.

“I had the honour, pleasure and privilege of spending much of Thursday evening with my friend and brother, Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State in his Abuja home. We had a frank, cordial and productive meeting about the way forward for our nation. Thanks be to God!”

Acknowledging the Dissenting Voices Apparently, not every member of the ruling party was happy about Fani-Kayode’s planned defection to the ruling party, and the Director General of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Salihu Lukman, has wasted no time in letting his feelings known.

He described the newly found love between leaders of the party and Fani-Kayode as scandalous, adding that the elementary rule of decency would require some good distance between the leaders of the party and Fani-Kayode.

Lukman, in a statement wrote: “We need to appeal to all our leaders, especially, the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee and all the thirteen members to always remember that they are entrusted with the responsibility they have today to democratise our party. They are not Sole Administrators. To democratise will require more meetings and consultations. Their actions should reflect decisions taken at meetings or at least from wider consultations! “For our leaders to associate themselves with Mr. Fani-Kayode, is simply rewarding scandalous behaviour. Mr. FaniKayode has fabricated stories, distorted, insulted and damaged information about our party and our leaders.

“Elementary rule of decency would require some good distance between our leaders and such a person. Not even the Ward leaders, where he is located should be associated with him except for reasons of family ties. By the way, the Caretaker Committee of our party should avoid a situation whereby it takes decisions on issues that are very weighty without consultations. On no account should anyone with the kind of baggage of Mr. Fani-Kayode be invited to join the party without clearance from a statutory structure of the party. In this particular instance, the National Caucus should be the clearing house.”

The Meeting with Jonathan

PDP’s ‘Siddon Look’

A day after his meeting with Buni and Bello, Fani-Kayode led a team to visit Jonathan in his Abuja home. Though the main agenda of the meeting was not revealed, it may not be unconnected to a grand plot to prepare the ground for the former president to join the ruling party “My team and I had the honour and privilege of spending a

In all this, the main opposition party, the PDP has refrained from reacting to the development despite the rumoured defection of Fani-Kayode. Unlike what happened, when it was clear that the Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi was on his way to APC, the PDP issued a statement denying it and also set up a team to meet with Umar to persuade him to stay in PDP.

NOTES FOR FILE

Marwa’s Wondrous Works

Marwa

A fortnight ago, a former military administrator of Lagos State, Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa, was appointed the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) by President Muhammadu Buhari and since then, there’s been an all-different feel in the agency.

Talk about capacity, dedication and commitment to results, Marwa has never been found wanting, often capping this with professionalism. For all that he touches, he always leaves behind a mark – of honour and hard work for posterity.

News of different arrests by officials of the drug

enforcement agency since Marwa took charge has renewed hope that with the right people in the right places, Nigeria could get back her groove. It’s only a question of time! It may seem early for such profiling in the reckoning of some people. However, where the principles of sanctions and reward are held dear, it is just spot-on.

Although Marwa has just begun and the room for more positive impressions is nearly endless, identifying such feats as they come and motivating him to do more is the way to go. Indeed, at NDLEA, a new sheriff is in town!

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Lateef Jakande Came Prepared!

His records of achievements speak volume and his place in history is immutable. This is why the late former governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, by every definition, remains a model and standard. Shola Oyeyipo writes

W

hat is there to say than to admit that the late first civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande came really prepared for the leadership, which was exemplified in his stellar performance?

When his death was announced at the age of 91 last Thursday, not only did he live long enough to see the state he nurtured from the cradle grow, his achievements reverberated as all the who-is-who in Nigerian politics paid glowing tributes to him.

What Jakande represented during his lifetime particularly, during the period he served as the governor of Lagos State, was well captured in the tributes of notable Nigerian politicians, who marked him out as a rare breed and a purposeful leader.

President Muhammadu Buhari posited that Jakande lived for the good of others and Nigeria and that his achievements in Lagos State would always be remembered.

“Former Governor of Lagos State, Chief Lateef Jakande, lived for the good of others, state, and country, and his legacy of standing for all that was right for humanity would be long remembered.

“His imprint on the commercial nerve center of the country, Lagos State, which was the national capital, will continue to awe and inspire, reminding everyone of the strength of character and sacrifices of the visionary leader,” Buhari noted in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Femi Adeshina, adding that he was a patriot whose contributions to the growth of democracy, good governance and wisdom would remain across generations.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote a letter to Jakande’s widow, Madam Abimbola Jakande, part of which read: “But by no measure can he be described as an ordinary man. He was, by all measure, a great man, an ardent patriot, a frontline journalist, an astute politician, and reputable administrator, a profile earned over the last five decades.”

The Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan, reckoned that the late journalist-turned-politician first made outstanding contributions to the development of the journalism profession in Nigeria, an achievement he replicated, when he ventured into politics, saying: “His feats and carriage as the governor made Alhaji Lateef Jakande a permanent face of progressive politics, which primary concern is the welfare and wellbeing of the people.

“Throughout his tenure as governor, he faithfully implemented the four cardinal programmes of his party, the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria. His numerous legacies continue to be appreciated, particularly in the education, health and housing sectors of Lagos State.”

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who described Jakande as a man of peace, who lived all his life serving humanity, said his invaluable contributions made Lagos what it is today.

Vice President Atiku Abubakar also wrote that until his passing, Jakande “remained one of the last icons of our nationhood and in whose life are enormous examples that we can get inspiration from in the much-needed drive in rebuilding our psyche as a people.”

Former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, in a tweet said Jakande was an extraordinarily hardworking and visionary leader, whose achievements as a governor are still being felt by the people of his home state, because he lived a full life in the service of his state and country.

Former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu noted that, “The deceased stood as one of the most incisive and brilliant editorialists of his generation, who practiced journalism with the most audacious courage in defence of freedom, liberty, and equity even in the thick of vicious military dictatorship. As an accomplished journalist, Pa Jakande shone even more brightly as a governor and true leader of Lagos State.

There’s no debating the fact that he was the best of his generation and even more instructively, remains a huge challenge to many generations afterwards, even in death. Jakande simplified leadership and lent credence to the saying that, there’s nothing esoteric about governance

Jakande According to Tinubu, “Papa Jakande could appropriately be described as the ‘last of the titans’ ranking with the likes of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Pa Abraham Adesanya, Bola Ige, Olabiyi Onabanjo, Balarabe Musa and Aminu Kano, among others.”

He underscored the fact that Jakande was a matured statesman who was never given to histrionics or fanning the embers of disunity.

On his part, the incumbent Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said Jakande left impeccable records in Lagos State and that it explains why he remains a reference point for governors in Lagos and other parts of the country to date.

Aformer Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, likened Jakande’s passage to the fall of “an Iroko tree as well as an elephant,” saying he left giant footprints behind.

Citing his remarkable achievements in journalism and government, Osoba said Jakande “will be remembered in history as a personification of the best in journalism and as a political colossus.

Jakande singlehandedly founded both the Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ).

“Jakande was the first black Chairman of the International Press Institute made up of publishers editors all over the world. He was a foundation member of both the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Guild of Editors.”

Osoba, therefore, described him as an astute politician, who left giant footprints wherever he had the opportunity to serve at state and federal level. In his lifetime, a lot of people poured eulogies on the late former Lagos State governor for his enduring legacies in the state and at the national level, when he was Minister of Works.

At his 90th birthday on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, noted that Jakande was a man whose legacies could never be forgotten. He said he was a revolutionary and transformational figure in the political history of Nigeria.

“The largest number of houses ever built by any state government in one cycle, including even the federal government, was built under the Jakande’s administration.

“He has shown that governance to the common man is possible and it is possible to impact on the lives of our people if we are dedicated and committed,” Osinbajo said, urging current leaders to learn from Jakande.

As governor of Lagos between October 1, 1979, and December 31, 1983, Baba Kekere or LKJ as he was also known and a staunch disciple of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Jakande, was able to write his name on the sand of time, because his government built the current Lagos State Secretariat, which houses all the state ministries as well as the popular Round House used by all the governors of the state that came after him.

His government built the Lagos State House of Assembly, the Lagos State Television (LTV 8), the Lagos Radio, Lagos State University, the General Hospital in zones across and promised free health care, the Teacher Training College, and the College of Education.

An important landmark of the Jakande administration was the construction of low-cost houses in Ijaiye, Dolphin, Oke-Afa, Ije, Abesan, Iponri, Ipaja, Abule Nla, Epe, Amuwo-Odofin, Anikantamo, Surulere, Iba, Ikorodu, Badagry, Isheri/Olowu, Orisigun and other parts of the state.

It was he who also established the Water Management Board and Waste Disposal Board on August 18, 1980, constructed the Adiyan Water Works to increase water supply in the state to 18.16 million liters per day, improved and expanded the Iju Water Works, which earlier opened in 1915 and by so doing increasing its daily capacity to 204 million liters from 159. He bought and commissioned the giant car crusher equipment with the capacity to crush 45 used vehicles per day.

He constructed some parts, rehabilitated some parts, and resurfaced Epe/Ijebu-Ode Road, Oba Akran Avenue, Toyin Street, Town Planning Way, Alimosho-Idimu-Egbe Road, Idimu-IbaLASU Road, Victoria Island/Epe Road, and opened an asphalt plant for the Lagos State Department of Public Works.

It was during his regime that the Electricity Board for Rural Electrification was created and saddled with the responsibility of putting streetlights in place. He modernised, expanded, and commissioned Onikan Stadium in 1982.

In the area of education, his government created a singular school system, implemented free education in which beneficiaries are in different important positions around the world.

From 605, he increased the number of primary schools in Lagos State to 812 with 533, 001 enrollment against the 434, 545 pupils in schools, when he came to power in 1979.

Secondary schools were increased to 223 with 167, 629 students as against 105 schools with 107, 835. It is on record that his government between March and August 1980 constructed 11,729 classrooms with a maximum of 40 children per class. By 1983, he had constructed over 22, 000 classrooms.

Abeneficiary of Jakande’s free education in Lagos, who went on to graduate from Geography Department, University of Ilorin, Mr. Kazeem Amao wrote: “One of the finest governors in Nigerian history. I remember checking for my size of three pieces of free school Uniform in the early 80s, in my headmaster’s office at Agege local government. Primary School. He was a G.O.A.T.! A very true Greatest Of All Times in Nigerian Political sphere.”

Jakande launched the Lagos State ferry services in July 1983, with two commercial passenger boats named ‘Baba Kekere’ and ‘Itafaji’, which ran the Mile 2 – Marina (CMS) route on the Lagos lagoon.

He took possession of the Lagos State Printing Corporation in July 1980 and started financing it. He set up the first State Traffic Management Authority, put in place a small-scale Industries Credit Scheme, which preceded the EKO Bank, and more.

When President Buhari ousted the democratically elected former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari in the military coup of 1983, Jakande experienced one of the low points in his political career when he was convicted of treason.

He was eventually pardoned and freed after which he became the Minister of Works under the late Gen. Sani Abacha’s military government. He said he was persuaded by the late winner of annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

His achievements as Minister of Work are also legendary.

Though his two parents were from Omu-Aran in Kwara State, Jakande was born in the Epetedo area of Lagos Island, Lagos State. He studied at the Lagos public school at Enu-Owa, Lagos Island, the Bunham Memorial Methodist School, Port Harcourt (1934–43), and later King’s College, Lagos in 1943, before he left for Ilesha Grammar School in 1945.

There he was the editor of a literary paper, The Quarterly Mirror.

But in 1949, Jakande started his journalism career with the Daily Service, and later in 1953, he joined the Nigerian Tribune. Three years later he rose to the position of Editor-in-Chief of the Tribune.

Awolowo, who was the publisher, urged him to contest the Lagos governorship election, which he won in 1979.

He was the first President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and was also the first chairman of the Action Party of Nigeria (APN) formed in November 2006. He lived a quiet life until his demise last Thursday and was committed to mother earth on Friday.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was not left out of the commentaries that trailed Jakande’s death. The party’s Zonal Director, Media, and Publicity, Lere Olayinka, used the opportunity to take a swipe at President Buhari.

“It is our admonition to President Buhari and his APC not to shed crocodile tears over the death of Jakande. It is on record that Buhari canceled the Lagos Metroline network initiated by Jakande then and went ahead to pay compensation to the French company that handled it, costing Lagosians over $78 million.

“If not because of Buhari’s 1984 act of wickedness, transportation problems in Lagos would have been solved permanently. The metro line project would have made life easier and changed the face of transportation in Lagos,” the statement stated.

There’s no debating the fact that he was the best of his generation and even more instructively, remains a huge challenge to many generations afterwards, even in death. Jakande simplified leadership and lent credence to the saying that, there’s nothing esoteric about governance.

Indeed, he came prepared and this is evidenced by his stellar performance. He was a superhuman, both in leadership and governance.

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President Buhari validating his membership of APC recently

APC REVALIDATION EXERCISE:

The Road to Golgotha It’s beginning to look like the the ongoing membership revalidation exercise by the All Progressives Congress might turn out a misadventure, writes Chuks Okocha

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) membership registration is enmeshed in crises in many states of the federation – starting from Osun, Delta, Kwara, Rivers and Imo States among others that are yet to manifest the inherent crisis. Many party chieftains have queried the rationale for the exercise, describing it as a civilian coup to hijack the party by President Muhammadu Buhari’s men against Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his team.

Many others have equally described the revalidation exercise as the road to self-destruct by the party. They likened the exercise to the crisis that would befall the APC and eventually weakens the party to the extent that the centre would no longer hold thereafter.

The exercise has polarised the party in camps. Those opposing it like the Bola Tinubu, Bisi Akande and Adams Oshiomhole are against Buhari and the Caretaker Committee, headed by the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala-Buni, who initiated it.

But one thing is certain, after the revalidation exercise, the interest of new members would be protected and this would lead to elections from the wards to the national level, where new leadership would be enthroned. In this, there would be winners and losers, naturally.

However, many see the exercise as a means to whittle down the influence of Tinubu on the ground that the committee members that were dispatched to coordinate the exercise in Lagos were nominated without Tinubu’s input despite the central role the former Lagos State governor was

believed to have played in making the party what it is today.

Former governor of Imo State, Roachas Okorocha, who is now a senator, had prophesied that the only chord holding the APC from disintegration was President Buhari. He contended that the moment Buhari’s tenure as President ends, crisis of unimaginable consequences would envelope the party. But, surprisingly, the crisis is already manifesting while his tenure is still valid courtesy the revalidation exercise.

Take for instance, as part of the engulfing crisis, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has faulted the views of the three leaders of the ruling APC on the exercise. Fayemi disagreed with the views of Akande, Tinubu, and Oshiomhole.

After revalidating his membership at Ogilolo Ward 11 unit 09, Ekiti State, Fayemi disagreed that the exercise was unconstitutional or illegal.

The governor, who is also the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), added that the reason for the exercise was for the party to know all its members and not deregister them.

“The APC Constitution in Article 9 stipulates that our register must be updated every six months. So, Baba Akande never said we should not register or revalidate our membership. He only tasked the leadership on the way it should be done to earn credibility.

“We don’t want to deregister anybody, let members revalidate their membership, and those who are non-members but interested should also feel free to join us, that is what the exercise is all about,” he said.

But Tinubu, alongside his friend, Akande, and Oshiomhole had faulted the registration exercise, describing it as an

aberration.

Akande, last week, questioned the decision of the party leadership to call for a re-validation of membership register less than ten years after the party was initially formed in 2014. He noted that if not properly managed handpicking the leadership of any political party might spell danger for such a party.

He maintained that calling for an update of the membership register less than ten years after the formation of the party was an aberration that should not be taken lightly by the leaders.

Tinubu, on his part, said he endorsed Akande’s position on the ongoing membership registration and revalidation exercise and described it as a waste, urging the party leadership to embark on true reconciliation.

But, defending the exercise, one of the founding members of APC and a close ally of the President, Osita Okechukwu, who is the Director General of the Voice of Nigeria said, “My little understanding of political party’s administration for over forty years in liberal democracy posits that revalidation of membership and continuous registration of members are both valid exercise.

“It is neither unconstitutional nor undemocratic for Section 9(4) of APC’s Constitution made provision for update of membership. Valid in the sense that the leadership may at any point of time find credible reasons to revalidate its membership, like in this instance.

“Methinks His Excellency, Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary and Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has valid reasons to

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CICERO/ISSUE t THE ROAD TO GOLGOTHA t embark on revalidation and registration of members of our great party.”

The VON Boss asked that, with the unprecedented move in and move out – jumbo-jumbo and topsy-turvy – that became the metaphor of party politics Nigeriana, “is it not pragmatic to know the exact membership database of the great party?

“For the avoidance of doubt, is revalidation and registration not more beneficial to Comrade Oshiomhole, given the scatter-scatter in Edo State politics in the last one year?

“I am one of those interested in accurate membership data for effective electoral planning. In some wards, you have more than 1,000 registered members and when election comes and after voting, our party scored less than 300 votes, is it not good to close this kind of gap? It is my candid view that this is one of the valid reasons for revalidation and registration,” he stated.

To the theatre of crisis so far, in Delta State, the scribe, Sanusi Musa, resigned without giving reasons for his action.

In a WhatsApp post, Musa said: “I have found myself in a position that I did not envisage and I don’t think I am able to discharge my duties for personal reasons.”

The APC secretary of the state caretaker committee, Chidi Okonji, alleged that the chairman of the registration panel, Wilson Anyaegbu, was doing the bidding of a certain leader of the party in the state. He alleged that nominees for registration officers came from an Abuja-based politician.

He said party leaders, including the Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo; NIMASA Director, Victor Ochei; founding leader, O’tega Emerhor and Great Ogboru, among others, were schemed out.

“As we speak now, the exercise has not started in any part of Delta State, because the committee chairman is hoarding materials,” he said.

Keyamo also said the exercise in Delta might lead to chaos if not well handled and has asked the committee managing it to ensure a balance of all delicate interests. Keyamo alleged plans to hijack the exercise in the state by an unnamed political leader.

He raised the alarm in a protest note, dated February 10, to Buni, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie OmoAgege, Anyaegbu and other top party leaders.

He said there should be no discrimination in the distribution of registration materials in the state, stating that as a minister, he was not asking for any undue advantage during the registration.

In response to the crisis in Delta, the party has suspended the exercise. The state’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Sylvester Imonina, announced the suspension in a statement on Thursday in Asaba.

“The Delta APC Chapter hereby formally announce to teeming party faithful that following pockets of complaints, the National Caretaker Committee of the party has deemed it necessary to suspend membership registration/revalidation exercise in the state.

“Though the party is aware that members of the public and party faithful were in high spirit and were looking forward to taking APC to a higher level by mobilising all and sundry who believe in the party for the exercise, unfortunately, the expectation of party faithful had been put on hold for no fault of theirs. In fact, the suspension of the exercise came when it was least expected.”

In Imo State, Dan Nwafor, a factional chairman, insisted that his faction was not in a hurry to commence the exercise and should conduct the exercise.

He said they were waiting for the court to decide which faction was the authentic in the Southeast state.

In Kwara State, caretaker executive committee members loyal to the suspended state chairman, Bashir Bolarinwa, described the exercise as a sham. The Vice-Chairman of the caretaker committee, Chief Sunday Odebiyi, told reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, that the executive members were not carried along.

“Assuming that without conceding that the chairman, Hon. Bolairnwa is suspended, are we all also suspended?

Is the majority members of the executive committee here present also suspended? So, why did the Senator Danboyiled team sidestep all of us?

“If this is bad, what is happening on the field is worse. The guidelines of the registration are being severely raped across all the 1,872 units without exception,” he said.

Odebiyi alleged that registration materials were being hoarded.

The exercise in Osun suffered a setback over the logistics challenge. At polling units in the state yesterday, no registration was conducted in places like Odi-Olowo via Union Baptist Church, Fagbewesa, Ogo-Oluwa, Alekuwodo, YTD School and Okini. Some officials said materials were not yet supplied. Only a few units had registration materials.

Osun State of House Assembly Speaker, Timothy Owoeye registered in Ilesha; former Osun State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Chief Sunday Akere registered in Igbajo; Special Adviser to Osun Governor on Civic Engagement Olatunbosun Oyintiloye registered at Ibokun and Osun APC Caretaker Chairman Prince Gboyega Famodun registered at Igbajo.

The Osun APC Caretaker Publicity Secretary, Mr. Wole Adunola, explained that, “We supposed to start the registration yesterday but due to logistical challenges, we are unable to start yesterday”.

The Chairman, Registration and Revalidation Committee for Anambra State, Bello Tukur, said recently that his

Continued from Page 72

Tinubu during his membership validation exercise

Tinubu during his membership validation exercise committee would not tolerate inflation of figures or any form of manipulation during the process.

He warned those planning to inflate figures in the register or induce members of the committee, to have a rethink or have themselves to blame.

Tukur said: “There’s no room for any form of manipulation. This exercise excludes those tendencies. If someone thinks he can inflate any figure and get it into the register, he is making a serious mistake.”

In Gombe, former governor Danjuma Goje said there was no need querying the legality of the exercise.

“I don’t want to go into any legal argument on this matter, because there is no need for it. As you can see the exercise is going on smoothly and that is all that matters. I want to advise all our party members to make sure they come out and register and keep their card very well, because it is your weapon to realise your political ambition,” he said.

Immediate past Governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko AlMakura validated his membership of the party yesterday at Gayam ward, Lafia. Al-Makura, who represents Nasarawa South senatorial district at the National Assembly, expressed satisfaction with the exercise in the state.

“This is one of the most fundamental activities of any political party, the exercise, where the party will enumerate details about its membership. To me, it is the beginning of

success in the party administration,” he said.

Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi said the Southeast required more forms for the registration and revalidation as more people in the zone were yearning to join the party. He spoke after visiting Buni, at the Party’s national secretariat in Abuja. Umahi said he visited the party secretariat to make case for more registration materials for the Southeast.

From the look of things, the exercise is less controversial in states where the helmsmen are part of the President’s team, but problematic in areas like the Southwest due to the inherent presidential interests of the stakeholders.

But political party analysts believe that while Tinubu’s influence in the party might have been reduced when compared to what was obtainable in 2014 during the pre-merger talks, the ruling party would be making a huge mistake thinking the former Lagos state governor and by extension the ACN bloc could be pushed out of the party without a fight.

Thus, if the brewing crisis is not managed, and the party allows Tinubu’s camp to pull out, it might be the beginning of the end for the APC in the Southwest.

Above all, analysts see the exercise from two angles. It will either make the APC to become stronger or destroy it, because of the crisis that might crop up as a result. But how the party intends to survive the self-inflicted crisis that’s already brewing is yet to be seen.

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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 ˾ BRUARY 14, 2021

POLITY

Makinde in Ibarapa: A walkThrough theTrouble Spots Taiwo Adisa

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arly in January, a torrent of bad news started emanating from the Ibarapa axis of Oyo State.

The stories were about kidnapping, attacks by killer-herdsmen and destructions of farmlands across Ibarapaland.

Incidentally, those attacks were on the heels of the alarm earlier raised by Governor ‘Seyi Makinde when he declared in Saki, a key town in Oke Ogun axis of the state in December 2020 that some criminal elements were crossing the international borders into the forests around Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa. He said that the state would not allow criminal elements seize hold of the state and terrorise its people.

Though the state had deployed a combined team of state actors and non-state actors to comb the forests, reports of herdsmen attacks and violence kept emanating from Igangan, Idere, Ayete, Lanlate, Tapa and parts of Ibarapaland. On January 9, in the aftermath of the killing of Dr. Fatai Aborode and a business woman of note in Ibarapa, the Oyo State Security Network Agency codenamed Amotekun, embarked on a joint exercise to rid the forests of Ibarapa North, Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East and Iwajowa Local Government Areas of criminal elements.

That exercise brought together the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Amotekun Corps and even Miyetti Allah Vigilantes and it marked the return of normalcy to the troubled area.

A government delegation led by Sunday Odukoya, Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security was deployed to ascertain the true situation and ensure peace.

As the bad stories won’t go away, the governor again on January 24 deployed the retired Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Fatai Owoseni (rtd) accompanied by the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Ngozi Onadeko, to the troubled areas. The delegation, which held meetings in Igangan, AgoAre and Tede in Ibarapa and Oke Ogun axes, insisted on the need for peaceful coexistence after meetings with monarchs, youths, and Hausa-Fulani leaders.

At the meeting in Igangan, Owoseni debunked insinuations Governor Makinde had abandoned the people, adding that at least 51 suspected perpetrators of kidnapping, rape and banditry are currently in police net. He emphasized the need for vigilance by all, saying “If you see something, say something.”

On Sunday, January 31, Governor Seyi Makinde launched a peace/fact-finding mission to the trouble spots of Ibarapaland.

It was a two-day trip that afforded him the benefit of hearing directly from different layers of stakeholders and seeing the extent of the crisis first-hand. The trip also afforded the governor the opportunity of combining investigation with consultation,

Makinde while he made critical declarations at the same time. He was able to silence those who criticized his style of first receiving detailed briefing before embarking on the all-important trip.

From Eruwa in Ibarapa East Local Government, the governor kickstarted his consultations; this continued in Igbo-Ora in Ibarapa Central Local Government, with a meeting that started at 9 p.m. and lasted till the early hours of February 1.

At the meeting held at the Igbo-Ora home of the chairman of the Oyo State Water Corporation, Dr. Anthony Adepoju, leaders of Ibarapa community took turns to brief the governor on the extent of the crisis.

Hon. Okediji Daniel Olusegun, chairman, Ibarapa NorthWest Local Council Development Area told the meeting that the displaced Seriki Fulani of Igangan, Alhaji Saliu Abdukadir, was the source of the tension that had grown between the Ibarapa people and the Hausa-Fulani, as according to him, the said Seriki was linked to series of infractions. Others who addressed the meeting included Olaoniye Sarafa (Ibarapa Central), Diji Odegoke (Ibarapa North-East), Adekunle

Waheed (Ibarapa East), Gbenga Obalowo (Ibarapa East), Shittu Liazu (Ibarapa North).

A common thread that ran through their submissions was the fact that crisis rocking Ibarapaland started around 2007/2008 and that the Fulanis started coming to the area in numbers with the claim that they were invited by others who told them there is abundance of land in the area and that there was peace.

The community leaders said that things took a sad turn when some of the Fulanis graduated from ordinary vandalism of farmlands to attacking farmers, kidnapping, rape, and killings. The leaders said that the attacks became vicious from March 2019 and that different communities in Ibarapaland have altogether paid in the region of N50 million as ransom for kidnap victims.

Odegoke, chairman of Lanlate LCDA said that the attacks were already scaring agricultural investors from the town.

He said: “We have since July 2020 put a hold on receiving Fulani visitors and with that decision, peace is returning to our area.”

Other community leaders who spoke included Abideen Olamilekan, Obande Sarafa (Ayete), Akeeb Salami (Lanlate), Hon. Shola Fakorede (Idere), Hon. Peter Ojedokun, a member of Oyo State House of Assembly and Onifade Olugenga Michael (Igangan).

The governor was told that the killing of Dr. Aborode, a well-known farmer and philanthropist and some business owners in Ibarapaland angered the people and led to the ‘Fulani must go’ slogan.

Besides the Igbo-Ora meeting at Adepoju’s residence, early morning meetings were held at Igbo Ora town hall, Idere and Igangan. The governor equally visited the homes of victims of attacks by the killer herdsmen including the home of the slain Dr. Aborode.

While speaking at Igbo-Ora, the governor told the gathering that he felt their pains, adding that a failure of intelligence partly informed the inability of security agencies to nip the criminal activities in the bud.

“We regret the loss of lives of our compatriots who have been cut down in their prime and the thing is that we must not lose any more lives,” the governor said, adding that community leaders should request to see him as quickly as they want it once security matters are concerned.

He also told the people that there is the need for enduring peace but that the people must correctly characterise the enemies so as to be able to work out an enduring peace.

–– Adisa is the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Oyo State.

Read the full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

Politics: How Vulnerable is Kwara Gov? Bashir Ibrahim Olaitan

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have taken time to follow the politics of Kwara especially regarding the crisis within the rulingAll Progressives Congress (APC) and concerns that the sterling pro-people performance of GovernorAbdulrahmanAbdulrazaq may not fetch him a second term.As a political observer, I do not think those making such claims have sat down to look at the map as things stand today.

I admit that who wins in 2023 could be more about political calculations and sentiments than the performance of anyone.

However, even if viewed from this prism, it does not appear that the Governor is as vulnerable as some ‘wannabe’ analysts are making it look like. The Sarakis, especially Senator Bukola Saraki, will play an important role in the politics of 2023. Many people in Kwara State will pitch their tents based on a question they would be faced with: do we want the Sarakis to come back? Regardless of whatever they feel towards the current situation, people will ask themselves if they want Bukola Saraki back as controller of their political destiny.

And as what? He cannot contest for Governor again. He may want to go back to the senate. I do not know if calculations will favour his comeback as Senate President. If not, does Bukola Saraki have the decorum of David Mark to return to the Red Chamber as an ordinary floor member? I do not think so. So, if he does not contest for Governor, won’t anyone he supports, including possibly a Bolaji Abdullahi orAliAhmad, RasakAtunwa, or anyone from the North senatorial district, be viewed as a prospective errand boy? Do people really want that again? This sentiment will play out. TheAbdulfattahAhmed experience does not favour any candidate that Saraki may want to support. I call that a plus for the incumbent Governor if he plans to run again. So far he has proven to be his own man. It is a plus for him that despite his alleged support for many candidates in the 2019 poll, there is nothing to suggest that he is making them his errand boys to the extent we saw pre-2019 under Saraki.

Beneath the noise about party control is a Governor with increasingly strong support base. Do not misunderstand it. Nine in 10 of those fighting him in theAPC today never really supported him in the run up to the polls. His emergence was treated like the PDP giving Senator SimeonAjibola its ticket in 2015. He was written off from when he emerged. So, the current fight really has not depleted the Governor’s political base as he never really enjoyed the support of these gladiators from day one as a candidate. Many of them became inactive after the primaries, discomforted that they lost the

ticket to the ‘dark horse’. So, nothing has changed. This does not mean the Governor should not make overtures to get more friends from their ranks.

For me, I feel the Governor is stronger politically now compared to 2019. Perhaps because of his noninterference, over 95 percent of elected public officers in Kwara State are obviously with him. Just recently, the three senators, five out of six House of Representatives members, and 22 of the 24 members of the Kwara State House ofAssembly announced what amounted to a vote of confidence in him by electing to backAbdullahi Sanmari as the new party chairman. This says a lot.Add that to the overwhelming support he enjoys from his colleague Governors who appear to have come through for him as some vocal few in the KwaraAPC recently sought to edge him out of relevance. It is a case if they (the Governors) can take what is being served to their colleague in Kwara!

APC power brokers must remember that the governors have learnt a few things from theAkinwunmiAmbode imbroglio in Lagos.

They displayed that skill most viciously in the handling of the Edo debacle. The rest is history. The hawks in theAPC, especially those from the western flank of the country, also appeared to have learnt to eat the humble pie as we recently saw in Ondo. My argument basically is that no Governor is a pushover anymore.

The happenings in Kwara StateAPC are not about party supremacy or good governance. It is about politicians wanting to control the party structure to suit their own 2023 calculations. So efforts being dissipated on painting one person as the aggressor and another as the victim are baseless, dubious, and fruitless.All the gladiators are fighting for their own political future.

Back to the argument on the strength of the Governor. It is interesting to note that the former governorship aspirants who are fighting the Governor do not necessarily command better followings than those backing him. The snag with those fighting him is that they have lesser resources even as their goodwill is daily being deflated on account of their choice of language in their public engagements. The vocalAkogun Iyiola Oyedepo is a case study.

Arguably three in five persons who listen to his newly launched radio station are convinced he is not the ‘progressive’ he wanted them to believe he is. He is proving he is there for what is in it for him. The questions that attend his programme say so much. So a lot of them are already wasting their political capital in a bid to fight dirty and win public sympathy. Strangely, majority of the vocal ones are radio generals. The real political generals have not really deserted the Governor. Top former governorship aspirants with

solid presence in the state like Moshood Mustapha, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), youthful Yahya Seriki and industrialist Jani Ibrahim are with the Governor, possibly because of their beliefs that only one person can serve as a Governor at one time. The political machines of Belgore and Mustapha are particularly strong. Besides, they appear to have more moral justifications to want to fight the Governor than any other aspirant. The Belgore camp has been on ground since 2011 when the post-Lawal era struggle really picked up. He possibly has reasons to feel entitled than many of those warring against the Governor. But the top lawyer is not known to do so.

Moshood Mustapha, for his part, was controversially disqualified on the eve of the governorship primaries. MM, as he is fondly called, could claim to have enthroned the erstwhile chairman BOB. While Belgore’s men and allies are seen with the Governor, Mustapha has openly declared support for and commended the Governor for appointing his men into government offices. Ibrahim, an influential stakeholder that was the chairman of theAPC Strategy Group, is also standing with the Governor.

The above, to be sure, does not mean the Governor should not reach out to his foes within the party. What the above means is that he is not as vulnerable as some pundits may want us to believe.

There is something that is not being said yet. It is that the whole noise is about some persons either wanting to pocket the Governor or seeking a power sharing arrangement in a most predatory, arrogant, and daring manner. They have not hidden this in their radio and social media commentaries. If what we knew of the pre-2019 poll is a guide, including glaring sabotage of the campaign, very few of those staking claims to the victory should be taken serious. Minister Lai Mohammed is rumoured to want to become a godfather to whom the Governor must defer. This is a desire Nigerians are most weary of, especially in Kwara with a bitter experience of godfatherism.

Head or tail, the Kwara Governor remains the man to watch in the political development of the state. So far, the battle for the soul of the party looks certain to end in a victory for him and his backers who include overwhelming majority of elected officials as well as party elders who would not concede to a Lai Mohammed becoming their leader. The most important asset in this whole issue is the fact that the Governor is known to have performed within the Kwara realities. For clarity, he truly does need to widen his support base; but the situation now does not suggest a man without enough arsenals to crush his adversaries if he so wills. t%S 0MBJUBO JT UIF )0% %FQU PG )JTUPSZ 6OJWFSTJUZ PG *MPSJO

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FE ͹ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

TRIBUTE

Tribute to Prince Tony Momoh Godwin Obaseki

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celebrate the life and times of a great son of Edo State, a quintessential gentleman, a wordsmith extra-ordinaire, a royal without par and a true, detribalized Nigerian, Prince Tony Momoh.

Prince Momoh, who was born into the revered Momoh royal house in Auchi, in Etsako West Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State, lived an exemplary life in service to humanity and the upliftment of others.

A gracious gentleman, Prince Momoh started out life a teacher. He went through teacher training college and then earned degrees in Mass Communication and Law, turning out to be one of Nigeria’s most versatile journalists, who groomed comrades and fellow lovers of knowledge committed to truth, justice and equity.

From his days at the Daily Times Newspaper, to his time as Minister for Information and his foray into politics, Prince Momoh maintained a cherished, rare panache for excellence, displayed exemplary courage and passion and motivated everyone around him to be the best version of themselves.

Meek and gentlemanly, his was story of care and love, for others and for country. He commanded an inspiring passion for the development of Nigeria and worked in his little corner of the world to ensure everyone had a fair short at success, in life or in the professional world.

At home, Prince Momoh was a detribalized Nigerian, who loved all and welcomed them with opened arms.

His modest home in Anthony Village, Lagos, was a refuge for all. It grew to become a home for reformation for young men and women from across the country. He never met the parents of this children of Nigeria, who stayed with him, but raised them as his own, grooming them into successful, responsible Nigerians.

His lovely wife, a restauranteur, opened her food court to the many children that flocked around the unassuming Prince. The restaurant served as a soup kitchen of sorts for many, where Prince Momoh picked the bill of this children. There was, in fact, no distinction between his biological children and those he sheltered. Everyone was one, ate from same plate and stayed in the same home.

In his latter days, Prince Momoh became a force to reckon with among the progressives and worked assiduously to enshrine democratic ideals in Nigeria’s body polity. He was fierce and unapologetic about his convictions and spoke truth to power, no matter whose ox was gored.

He would be remembered for his wit and candour, an unflinching commitment to the unity of Nigeria and a large heart, which thought ill of no one and was always welcoming to others no matter the tribe or language.

On behalf the Government and people of Edo State, I mourn the passing of our great son and noble ambassador of our people.

Momoh Adieu, Prince Tony Momoh –– Godwin Obaseki, Governor, Edo State*

PERSPECTIVE

Dapo Abiodun: A Profile in Excellence Kayode Akinmade

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atchers of political developments in the South-West geopolitical zone would no doubt have noticed the calm and tranquility in Ogun State in recent times. Although The Gateway State, contiguous to Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital, is not without security challenges, it is one of Nigeria’s safest states at the moment, a thriving destination for business and tourism in spite of the global ravages occasioned by Covid-19. This has not been by accident but by deliberate design. An inkling of what to expect under an Abiodun administration was in fact provided soon after Prince Dapo Abiodun, the state governor, assumed office on May 29, 2019. A gang of kidnappers had seized five members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) who were on their way to a minister’s conference at the headquarters of the church at Ogbere-Sagamu section of the Benin-Lagos expressway. Because of past developments, there was apprehension across the country regarding the safety of the victims. But Governor Abiodun, who was at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at the time, did not despair.

He quickly cut short his trip and returned home. On getting back to Abeokuta, he requested for helicopters from the Presidency and was quickly obliged. All of the hostages were rescued unhurt, to roaring national applause for the Ogun helmsman and the police anti-kidnapping unit.

By immediately equipping the state police command with communications equipment, 200 motorbikes and a hundred Hilux patrol vehicles on assumption of office, the Iperuborn prince gave notice of his intent to seek peace and pursue it, and actualize happiness for the Ogun populace. But the intrigues of politics have a way of truncating even the best security arrangements in any clime, and this is why Governor Abiodun’s determination to forge a common Ogun nexus beyond party lines deserves applause. Apprised of the fact that the political environment must be conducive for peace to thrive, he has strived to be governor of all, to listen to the objections of naysayers and to plug perceived loopholes.

In Ogun, there is no more the accustomed

political rancour accompanied by violence and disruptions to the socioeconomic order.

As noted by many analysts, Governor Abiodun has shunned vindictiveness and rabble rousing in office. He has not been on record raining abuses at anyone, apparently because he subscribes to the Yoruba concept of moral and intellectual maturity and behavioural dignity, encapsulated in the term Omoluabi. An Omoluabi is not a perfect human—there is no such entity—he or she is an individual who has internalized the core values of the race and fully embraced its culture, including the values and ethos of respect for the community, departure from social vices, and religious vitality. As governor, Abiodun has been ready to forgive repentant instigators and fake news peddlers in spite of the huge backlash he received from their action, a case in point being the young lady who claimed he supplied spoilt beans to residents as Covid-19 palliatives.

He regularized the appointments and promotions made without due process by his predecessor at the eleventh hour, thinking of the pains the families of those affected would suffer if he sent them packing. That surely makes for peace and tranquility. Even when within the Ogun All Progressives Congress (APC) disputes arose and the faction loyal to him was given legal imprimatur, he refused to throw his weight around, firmly believing that he would be judged based on his fidelity or otherwise to his covenant with the Ogun people.

In a way, though, the foregoing is hardly surprising. If the fact that many gave him no chance when he announced his ultimately victorious run, in part because of past failures, did not make him falter or dither, neither would the challenges that come with being in office. Whether as a governorship aspirant or candidate, Abiodun ran against the establishment. The conspiracies were thick and so was the social media onslaught unleashed to hijack the party structure from him after he had won election. But he remained focused on his campaign promises, his covenant with the people. After all, as our elders say, you pay attention to the person with whom you are trading in a market, not the noise of the market.

To all intents and purposes, Prince Abiodun cherishes this covenant and is following it to the letter. Without frills or fuse, he has succeeded in so short a time in fostering

stability within the polity. Ogun State, or more appropriately its politics, is no longer boiling: Prince Abiodun’s presence has brought calm.

He has held and continues to hold meetings with individuals of diverse political backgrounds, intent not on silencing the political opposition but on restoring bipartisan trust in governance. The message is clear: There must be peace and tranquility. Society can only develop under a peaceful atmosphere.

And the rewards have come in multiple folds: from education to health, education, urban renewal, housing and agriculture, the Abiodun administration has reached great milestones in record time.

His ISEYA mantra involving infrastructure, social welfare and wellbeing, youth empowerment, culture and religion, is quite apt. In just a year, he completed building over 50 roads. The roads included the Epe-Ijebu Ode and Sagamu-Abeokuta federal roads, Itoikin-Ibefun-Ijebu Ode, Iperu-Ilisan, Sango-Ojodu Abiodun, Ilaro-Owode, Abeokuta-Sango-Ota-Lagos, Osi-OtaAwolowo-Navy-Kola and Balogun Kuku in Ijebu Ode, Opako Bridge in Adigbe, Abeokuta and Akute-Ajuwon-Alagbole road. The creation of Ogun State Public Works Agency (OGPWA) facilitated massive construction, rehabilitation and maintenance projects while creating job opportunities. The administration saw to infrastructure development in the Agbara-Atan-Ota, Ewekoro-Ifo and SagamuOgijo industrial hubs, set up Tech Hubs for the state’s youths to harness the gains of ICT, began building a school per ward up to model standard across the state, saw to the promotion of teachers and distributed textbooks and teaching materials to public schools in the all local government areas while installing education management information system equipment to aid data collection and analysis.

It also resolved the lingering crises in the state’s higher institutions. It equipped public hospitals with state-of-the-art technology amid massive recruitment of various categories of health workers, set up Covid-19 testing and treatment centres and doubled the agreed allowances of health workers. It revived the Arakanga water treatment plant to supply potable water to Abeokuta and its environs.

It undertook massive recruitment of youths into the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), and organized trainings for artisans in plumbing, electrical and building works are under the direct labour initiative of

Abiodun

the state ministry of housing.

In agriculture, the Abiodun government is planning to build an agro-allied airport to aid the development of the state as a destination of choice for agriculture in Nigeria. Last year, among other feats, it empowered 54 pilot youths who had successfully completed three cycles of broiler production with each making profit of N150.000 per cycle, linked 4,462 participants to inputs and credit to the tune of N700 million in the cassava value chain, and 1,065 participants to inputs and credit to the tune of N300 million in the rice value chain through the CBN/Ogun State Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP). It also linked 800 participants to inputs and credit to the tune of N360 million under the Ogun State Government/Federal Government/IFAD Assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) took things to another level entirely, while 394 maize farmers, 54 rice farmers and 21 poultry farmers benefitted from the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) through the CBN. The list is endless.

From the foregoing, it is clear that Prince Abiodun is determined to take Ogun State to the next level through vision, disciplined conduct, and single-minded pursuit of the common good. His is, definitely, a profile in excellence.

–––Akinmade sent this piece from C27, City of David Estate, Gwarimpa, Abuja.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 14, 2021

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CICERO/INTERVIEW

Atolaiye: How Buhari Can End Insecurity International Coordinator of the Nigeria Diaspora Network, Mr. Samuel Atolaiye says Nigerians living abroad are afraid of coming home, because of kidnapping. He spoke with Tobi Soniyi. Excerpts:

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own problem. We as citizens should sincerely be our brother’s keeper. Our diversity should be used as an advantage and not a tool of oppression. We all should say no to bandits, Fulani Herdsmen illegally occupying people’s farmland, raping and kidnapping and killing people. This action should be called out for what they are – criminals – and must be stopped.

veryday, Nigerians in Diaspora are inundated with gruesome videos and pictures of innocent people being killed by Fulani Herdsmen.

Yet, the security agencies appear helpless. How can the killings be stopped?

You are correct that Nigerians in Diaspora receive videos and news of people being killed by Fulani Herdsmen. This information is really disturbing. More disturbing is the fact that Nigerian security agents appear helpless and do not seem to have a realistic plan to mitigate the situation.

Though we received news of people killed but no news of people being prosecuted for those inhuman actions. It is time to bring these killers to book and teach others a lesson that Nigeria is a country of rule of law.

To resolve the issue, the root cause of the problem needs to be identified. In an effort to resolve the Fulani killings, some basic questions need to be answered, such as, what is the true identity of these killers? Are they truly Nigerians or are they foreigners? If they are foreigners, how did they find it easy to migrate to Nigeria and become ‘supposed’ landlords?

What action needs to be taken to ensure they return to their country so that Nigerians can peacefully coexist as we desire as a true nation?. Once we are able to have answers to these questions, we can then nail down the strategy to use to flush out these bandits and Nigerians can have peace.

The governors are called the chief security officers of their states but they don’t control any security apparatus. What should states do to protect their people?

The governors as the chief security officers of their states, is a glorified title. While it is the duty of the government through the police and other agencies to provide security and to protect the life and property of Nigerian citizens, we are all aware that the security agencies are controlled by the federal government and the states governments are at the liberty of the federal government on effective security in their states.

This is the reason we are advocating for state police.

More than anytime, state police is a must have in Nigeria. I sincerely believe that state police is the solution to our security challenges. State police go hand-in-hand with community policing. Having people within the locality to be part of policing is a great advantage.

If you bring people from different areas that do not understand the culture and lifestyle of the people they are policing, they will not be able to understand how to handle suspects and efficiently conduct investigation without disturbing the system. Local people will trust local police more than the federal agencies.

Once the community notices strange people within the community, they can easily notify state police to monitor, investigate, arrest, or do the needful to help in avoiding criminal activities.

All security apparatuses are under the control of the federal government. Yet, they are either incapable of addressing the security challenges or are unwilling to do so. What should the federal government do?

The security situation in the country is overwhelming and the federal government should restructure federal agencies to a more effective tool that will address the present situation and meet the needs of the citizenry. Things have changed to warrant a comprehensive reform of our security apparatus. The internet is here, so also is the social media. These are tools that could be utilised to tackle the modern day security challenges. The question is, do our security agencies have enough equipment to fight crime in this country?

Agencies should be truly professional and share intelligence with themselves for effective crime fighting in the country. There should be complete trust and effective communication among the security agencies to upscale the nation’s security architecture. The issue of ethnic favouritism should not be a parameter to determine actions/inactions within the agencies. This awareness among the agencies can only be achieved by adequate training. The federal government must be responsible for such training for the officers.

Another thing that the federal government can do

Atolaiye is for the security officers to be well compensated (salary-wise) and other benefits especially, having life insurance, incase of death or any accidental situation while fighting criminals that may happen, their families can be well taken care of.

Other areas the federal government will have to explore to combat the security situation include gaining employment for its citizens. There is a high level of unemployment in Nigeria especially, amongst the youth. So many graduates are flooding the streets seeking employment within the country.

Also, Nigeria has very porous frontiers, where movements of individuals are largely untracked. The result of this is smuggling of weapons, drugs, and other equipment that all promote violence into the country.

Above all, the government should look at solving the issue of corruption within the society. Corruption has become a cancer that is eating deep into the very fabric of the society and it is destroying Nigeria cultural integrity that leads to criminality.

Is there any role for the international community in tackling the security challenges in Nigeria?

Security challenges have been a major problem confronting this great country and it is as a result of bad governance over the years. Yes, there is a role the international community can play in helping to resolve the security situation in Nigeria. The world is a global community. The UN Security Council has the primary responsibility for international peace and security. The General Assembly and the SecretaryGeneral play major, important, and complementary roles, along with other UN offices and bodies.

Through regular meetings, the General Assembly provides a forum for member states to express their views to the entire membership and find consensus on difficult issues. Though this role is more into conflict resolution. However, the UN can have a serious discussion with Nigeria on the security issue in the global subject of peace. That is about the only thing I believe the international community can do.

Nigeria is a sovereign nation that must tackle its

At the center of the kidnappings, banditry and killings is the demand for greener pastures by herdsmen. In the process, they clash with farmers resulting in deaths. How should the government resolve the farmers/herders clashes?

Realistically, grazing should not be an excuse to destroy farmlands. Proper understanding and respect for each other as human beings could avoid clashes.

The government should stop these herders from moving from one state to another and set up ranches.

By so doing, farmers will be protected.

Presently, the herders trample on farms. Sometimes, they uproot farmers’ cassava to feed their animals.

This should be controlled-ranches with farmland, where food for the cattle is grown. The ranches should also include processing plants for milk and other necessary vitamins for feeding the cattle.

Growing up in the 70s, we had Fulani living with us in the community. The Fulani have settlements with their families and cattle. They mingle and integrate very well with the community. Farmers go about their normal business without having their cattle destroy farmlands. Life was good. However, what is happening today is a different scenario. The government appears not to be doing enough or I would rather say that government action to ensure security of life and farmland is not felt by the citizens and there is a large complaint.

These so-called bandits and herdsmen that are responsible for these horrendous acts must face the full wrath of the law. The government must demonstrate that Nigeria is not a country of lawlessness. Those that are not citizens must be deported immediately.

This is the only way for the government to gain the confidence of the Nigerian people especially, those that are being affected on a daily basis.

What should the people do in the face of continued government’s negligence and abandonment?

This is a very daisy question but I will try to answer it as much as possible. I am of the opinion that people should not take law into their hands. People could organize themselves into vigilante groups, properly licensed by the government to protect their community. This should be done in conjunction with the security agents within the state.

The vigilante group should be properly equipped to carry out their activities. Their activities should be solely to protect and ensure peace and not to be used as a witch-hunt or as a political tool to settle scores with political opponents and the government should license firearms used by these groups.

What is the implication of the government’s failure to protect the people especially, for a government that is banking on agriculture to diversify the economy from crude oil?

The problem really is that with the persistence raping, kidnapping, and killing by the bandits without repercussion, Nigerians believe that the federal government is unwilling to stop these crimes.

It appears that some of the herders also work with criminal elements that engage in kidnapping, while some combine animal rearing with kidnapping.

People have suffered and are still suffering untold hardship by the loss of means of livelihood (farmland) and families.

Economy is suffering. Jobs cannot be created.

Farmers are becoming poorer. No one wants to invest in farming. People are afraid to travel by roads. The problem is not going to disappear, unless the government takes decisive action. The states’ position is further weakened by the fact that they don’t have a police force of their own. No state police. The military and the police are not trusted by the people.

I believe that President Buhari is a good leader. He as a person is not corrupt but his government must do something immediately to address this issue so as to erase the people’s opinion that a corrupt system of leadership cannot guarantee the protection of human rights, because corruption itself is an abuse of the rights of the people.

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SUNDAYINTERVIEW Lai Mohammed

Mohammed...insecurity is why Buhari’s works are not noticed

Amnesty International Is Becoming an Irritant Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, recently briefed some journalists on the feats of the federal government in infrastructure development, security and the COVID-19 management.

Olawale Ajimotokan presents the excerpts:

W

ith respect to infrastructure, there are many projects across the country by government and through private partnership. How will these impact the country, when they eventually come on stream and what do we expect from the federal government this

year on projects?

You see; infrastructure is the basis for development.

But, unfortunately, like Mr. President said too, when you have security challenges it overshadows whatever progress you are making in other areas. That is the truth of the matter. No administration has made the type of progress we have made in terms of infrastructure. And it is showing now in terms of how it is going to help the economy.

Take for instance a 326 kilometres Ajaokuta-ItakpeWarri rail line. It was started in the 80s but it took this administration to complete 30 years later but the import of that is that we are looking at least a million passengers a year and about 2-3 million metric tonnes of goods that would be ferried by that line.

That line is now being extended to the Warri Port so

that it would be seamless infrastructural development so that when it gets to Warri Port, first it can ferry goods from the Port all the way to Ajaokuta and Itakpe especially, raw materials and finished products. People do not see the import of that now.

Two, but for COVID-19, we should have commissioned the Ibadan-Lagos dual carriage standard gauge railway. It will reduce traffic on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and enhance security. The beauty of the particular Lagos-Ibadan railway is that it has been extended to Tin Can Island.

So, containers meant for outside Lagos will now be discharged at the Inland container terminal outside Abeokuta so that if you have containers to clear at Apapa and your container is going to Ilorin, you don’t have to come to Lagos. You can imagine what that would be. It means you won’t see the trailers with the containers you see on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

Talking about infrastructure, the Ajaokuta, Kaduna Kano gas pipeline is going to change the entire industrial outlook of Nigeria.

The emphasis the administration has put on gas as a substitute to petro and AGO is going to be the impetus we need for industrial revolution. You can imagine the

sheer number of industries that will come up using gas.

And of course the gas expansion programme of the federal government is also there. It is part of our own infrastructural initiative and you spoke about the PPP in the area of infrastructure.

It is COVID-19 that is preventing us from showcasing this. The 43 kilometres road made by Dangote between Kabba and Obajana has been completed. It is one of the best roads in the country today. It was completed using local materials. It is the first experiment on large scale of cement being used for roads and what we are told is that it will even last longer than bitumen.

There is the Apapa-Oworonsoki Tollgate. It is the biggest project in Lagos by Dangote. When I said by Dangote, it is actually by the federal government. Let me explain what happened. The federal government knows that it does not have the money. It approached companies like Dangote, who would construct these roads but they would get deferred payment. Federal government would also calculate how much they spent and look at how much they ought to have paid in tax.

So probably over 10 years, Dangote would have paid

Continued on Pg. 72-73

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SUNDAY INTERVIEW t "./&45: */5&3/"5*0/"- *4 #&$0.*/( "/ *33*5"/5 t in tax the amount of money for that project. So, it is a win-win situation for everybody. Dangote is using its local materials, which would have sold anywhere. So, he has a ready market. For that, he also does not have to pay tax. Federal government, it’s a win-win for us, because we don’t have the money. We know it would take us 10 years to recoup that money from Dangote, who is our forebear.

What that is going to do is that it will completely eliminate the gridlock at Apapa. It is not only here that is happening. There is the collaboration between the LNG and private sector at Bonny Bodo for a link bridge. The Federal government is doing a lot in the area of infrastructure development. Our own style is that it should not come from us alone. Let us go together, because we don’t believe in propaganda.

There is serious concern about security situation in the country. Recently, the president announced the nomination of new service chiefs. What do you expect from this?

First, the appointment and engagement of service chiefs is the exclusive prerogative of Mr. President. And that is because he is best positioned to know exactly which area of security needs to be revamped and who’s best to handle it. There is no point second guessing his appointment or his choice, but don’t forget that in his New Year speech, he promised Nigerians that he was going to reenergize and restructure the security apparatus in a manner that will meet the ever-changing demands of our security.

The cheering news for us all Nigerians is the fact that when you look at the background of the new service chiefs, almost every one of them had at one point or the other been involved in the prosecution of the war against insurgency, which means they would not be new to the challenges and will be able to take off from the brilliant performance of their predecessors. So, there is good expectation that being new to the conflict and having been at the one time or the other commanded the force that is dealing with the insurgency, they will hit the ground running.

I think that when we look at the recent exploits of the Nigerian military in the fight against insurgency and banditry, they have been making a lot of successes in the last months especially, in January and before then. So, we look forward to them, building on the successes especially, since they have the experience and have led the Commands at various times of their career.

Do you agree that the appointment of the Service Chiefs is as a result of pressure on the administration, considering that the opposition has always been critical of the handling of the insurgency in the North East?

No. Like I said the disengagement or engagement of service chiefs is the exclusive prerogative of Mr. President anywhere in the world. He is the Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces. There are many things that we don’t see that he sees: he receives reports from both formal and informal sources and he makes the decision as the buck stops on his desk.

So, I don’t think it helps matter saying that was it late or early in choosing the new Service Chiefs. There is no point second-guessing the President on this issue.

He is the Commander-in-Chief and he makes the calls and based on his perfect and complete understanding of the situation, and he is the only person who has a comprehensive view of the situation.

What is your opinion on the quit notice being given to Fulani herdsmen in Southwest? Do you think it is right for the Southwest to issue quit notice to herders and what do you think should be done to ensure that peace and security returns to the region?

I think we should stop playing politics with the issue of security. And we should not bring ethnicity and religion into the issue of security. Yes, it is true that the governors are the chief security officers in their states and they would do everything possible to maintain peace and stability in their states. I believe the matter of quit notice or no quit notice has been politicised completely. I am glad the two governors had met the President and the matter is being resolved.

They have briefed the President and every stakeholder, whether political, religious and are all working to be

Honestly, my view is that Amnesty International is becoming an irritant and I think they are purveyors of disinformation and fake news

on top of the situation. I want to appeal to the media not to sensationalise this kind of report. People are giving different interpretations and headlines. But the truth of the matter is that the issue of security should not be politicised, otherwise, we will never resolve it.

We are already in the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic and there is a spike in cases. What are the plans of government to curb the situation? And what is being done to change the conspiracy theories around COVID-19 Vaccine particularly in the North, where there is concern about Pfizer-made vaccine?

It is true there is a rise in the number of people, who are testing positive to COVID-19. It is also correct that there is rise in mortality. This is directly attributable to the disregard Nigerians have for the directive of the various authorities like the PTF, the Centre for Disease Control, the state level and other agencies. The crux of the matter is that many Nigerians still live in denial.

They don’t believe there is COVID-19.

And for many of them, when we announced that so many people have tested positive and so many have died, these things just remain as figures and numbers until when those who are closed to them are victims that they begin to realise that this is a serious matter. In the first instance, we don’t have the health infrastructure to support this kind of total recklessness on the part of Nigerians.

On the conspiracy theories on the part of Nigerians, more than the vaccines, we need Nigerians to understand that the Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions are still the most effective way of interrupting and slowing down the infection in Nigeria and consequently slowing down the mortality rate. Nigerians also must appreciate the fact that they must continue to take personal responsibility.

We are not talking about anything that is external, but what can affect them. If you go out today, one in 20 Nigerians are not wearing masks and out of five that wear masks, only one will wear it correctly. We have no respect for social distancing. I think it is about time we took the matter seriously. I think the good news for me is the fact that Mr. President has signed a regulation that sort of criminalises violation of any COVID- 19 protocol. I think the most important thing today is the government has a taken a very huge step in signing the quarantine regulation.

Now there is also the big question about the Vaccine.

I think there are many issues about the Vaccine. The first is the affordability of the Vaccine. The second is the safety of these vaccines. The third is the availability of these vaccines not talking about the logistics of these vaccines. Already there is a big scramble the world over. I think as at today, the population of Africa is about 1.3 billion people and I doubt if we have secured half a billion vaccines so far.

While the various governments and fellow Nigerians focusing on how to source these vaccines, whether it is Pfizer, Modena or Oxford AstraZeneca, a bigger problem, which is the vaccine hesitancy has arisen against the background of conspiracy theories for these

vaccines. It’s not only conspiracy theory about the vaccines, but also conspiracy theories even about the virus itself.

Some people have introduced religion, some people don’t just believe in science, but the truth of the matter is that COVID-19 is real. People must have confidence in the vaccine, because the vaccines, if they are not safe the federal government will not recommend them in the first instance. That is why it is already said the president, the vice president and the governors will be the first to take these vaccines, to convince everybody that these vaccines are safe.

The Amnesty International has alleged that the federal government is liable on the issue of #EndSARS. You are not known to take this kindly, are you?

Honestly, my view is that Amnesty International is becoming an irritant and I think they are purveyors of disinformation and fake news. Why did I say this?

Amnesty International came up and said according to their report that 12 people were shot at the Lekki Toll Gate. And we challenged them if anybody has proof of people that were killed at the tollgate they should go before the judicial panel of inquiry. Give the names and addresses. And let us forget legality, three months, 100 days after the Lekki shooting, if anybody has lost a relation, a son, a daughter or a ward, won’t she or he has come forward?

And we are waiting. And it is the level of contempt that Amnesty International has for Nigeria that it is not a respecter of our judicial system. What Amnesty International ought to do if there is any judicial evidence is to go before the judicial panel of enquiry or at least wait for the outcome of the judicial enquiry. And of course, for Amnesty International, there are two sets of rules: one for Nigeria in particular and one for other parts of the world.

Otherwise, when #EndSARS protesters leveraged fake news and disinformation, to kill 37 policemen, because it was the fake news by the media using social media that led to the looting, killing and arson by the hoodlums. Now back to the curfew, Nigeria media questioned the declaration of the curfew from 4pm when at 12 noon, but when they went to invade Capitol Hill in Washington DC, how many hours were they given for the curfew?

Two, the same media, including CNN that described the #EndSARS protesters as harmless and peaceful protesters, when they went to Capitol Hill, they took them as insurrectionists. The same media that said we were wrong to try to regulate the social media, when Instagram and Twitter suspended the President of America, because they said he was using that platform to spread fake news and was dangerous, EU today has agreed that social media is causing disunity and violence everywhere. But when we said to Nigerians that we must regulate the social, the world took up arms against us. How come that the same CNN that went and concocted lies against us is now the one championing the crusade in America that social media must not be used for fake news and disinformation?

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NEWS

News Editor: Gboyega Akinsanmi E-mail: ÑÌÙãÏÑ˲ËÕÓØÝËØ×Ó̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙט͸΀͹ͽͺͻͽ΁ͺͽͻ

FG Increases Debt-GDP Limit to 40% Says limit below 55% W’Bank/IMF threshold Approves issuing promissory notes to settle arrears

Gboyega Akinsanmi

In a new drive to bridge funding gaps, the federal government has increased its borrowing limit from 25 per cent recommended under the 2016-2018 medium-term debt management strategy (MTDS) to 40 per cent in the 2021-2023 MTDS. The apex government defended its new strategy on the ground that the borrowing

limit “is well below a 55 per cent threshold, which the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommended for countries in Nigeria’s peer group.

This was contained in a document THISDAY yesterday obtained from the official website of the Debt Management Office (DMO), a government agency established to centrally coordinate the management of Nigeria’s debt.

The DMO had said Nigeria’s

total debt profile rose to N31.

009 trillion ($85.897 billion) as of June 30, 2020. The figure comprises debt stock of the federal government, 36 states of the federation and the Federal capital Territory.

It had also claimed that the corresponding figures for March 31, 2020 were N28.628 trillion or USD79.303 billion. The increase in the debt stock by N2.381 trillion or $6.593 Billion was accounted for by the $3.36

Billion budget support loan from the IMF. Amid rising public debt and dwindling national revenue recently, the DMO observed that it had prepared the 2020-2023 MTDS in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

It listed the stakeholders to include the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Central Bank of Nigeria, Budget Office of the Federation, National Bureau of

ARREST IN BREACH . . .

One of the protesters arrested at Lekki Toll gate by officers of Lagos State Police Command in breach of his constitutional rights yesterday

ETOP UKUTT

Statistics and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

It said the federal government “has increased from 25 per cent to 40 per cent in order to: accommodate new borrowings to fund budget deficits and other obligations of the federal government.”

It, also, disclosed that the federal government had resolved to issue promissory notes to settle government arrears; and, the ways and means advance at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) “This ratio is still well below the WB/IMF’s recommended threshold of 55 per cent for countries in Nigeria’s peer group,” the DMO said.

Based on the current public debt stock, the DMO said the federal government’s borrowing needs in the medium-term (as stated in the 2021 Appropriation Act, MTEF, 2021- 2023), as well as future global trends.

It added that borrowing “will be from domestic and external sources but a larger proportion of new borrowing will be from domestic sources using long-term instruments while for External Borrowing, concessional funding from multilateral and bilateral sources will be prioritised.”

Compared to the previous MTDS, DMO’s document revealed that total public debt to GDP was 10.35 per cent on December 31, 2015, the year

President Buhari assumed office.

Under the 2016-2019 MTDS, the DMO revealed that the borrowing threshold increased to 19 per cent In 2015, the DMO put the ratio of domestic debt to external debt to 84:16, though moved to 67:33 on December 31, 2019 contrary to a 60:40 target.

DMO’s document, also, revealed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its meeting on February 10 approved the new Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy for Nigeria, for the period 2020-2023.

Under the new strategy, according to the DMO, the federal government will target a 10-year average tenor of obligations in its portfolio, mainly from the domestic markets, with long-term securities making up at least 70 per cent of the stock.

It said the new strategy “will also ensure that government debt is sustainable.The implementation of the MTDS over the years has helped in managing the structure of the growing public debt, and ensured debt sustainability, as well as effectiveness in public debt management.

“With the approval of the FEC of the MTDS, 2020-2023, the strategy will be implemented to support economic development while ensuring that the public debt is sustainable,” the DMO wrote in its document.

Borno Rewards Doctor with N13.9m for Serving in Boko Haram Territory Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri The Borno State Government has rewarded a 65-year old medical doctor from Ogun State, Dr. Isa Akinbode with a sum of N13.9 million and a brand new car for leaving his comfort zone to provide professional services in a community under the threat of Boko insurgency.

Akinbode, at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency, was living in the General Hospital, Monguno, offering healthcare

services to patients even when the town was faced with the severest threat from the terrorist group.

Akinbode, who graduated from the University of Maiduguri, later joined the Borno State Civil Service where he served for 22 years before he retired in 2016 at Monguno General Hospital.

After his retirement, the medical practitioner remained at the Monguno General Hospital to offer voluntary medical services to the victims of insurgency despite that he was abducted and subsequently

released by the Boko Haram insurgents.

Akinbode’s bravery and selfless service first caught the attention of the state government when a former governor of the state, Senator Kashim Shettima visited Monguno.

He then directed officials of the state’s ministry of health to engage the doctor as a contract staff, though bureaucratic procedures and formalization of the process stalled the process.

Despite the delay, Akinbode’s

HURIWA Asks Embassies to Reject Allegations against Buratai, Others Tobi Soniyi The Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) has asked embassies in Nigeria to discountenance allegations of human rights violations made against immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai by a group known as the Eastern Rights and Intelligentsia Coalition.

The right group in a statement by its National Coordinator Mr Emmanuel Onwubiko and National Media Affairs Director Miss. Zainab Yusuf, defended the records of Buratai as well as other immediate past service chiefs recently named as envoys by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Amnesty International had issued reports detailing alleged

human rights violations committee on the watch of Buratai.

Among others, Amnesty International accused the army of extra judicial killings, torture, extortion, arbitrary arrest and detention as well as sexual philandering or exploitation.

But HURIWA dismissed the reports as baseless.

The group noted that even though the military under Buratai disagreed with reports of gross violations of human rights alleged by the human rights watchdog, the retired army chief put measures in place to eliminate rights abuses by the personnel of the Nigerian Army.

It described the retired military chiefs as reputable Nigerian statesmen with unblemished records of

professional services rendered to Nigeria who have no case in any local or international judicial fora.

HURIWA said it wrote letters to 31 embassies against the backdrop of earlier letters to same embassies by the Eastern Rights and Intelligentsia Coalition calling for the prosecution of the former service chiefs at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague, Netherlands for crimes against humanity and human rights breaches.

The statement said: “On assumption of duty in July 2015, Lt Gen TY Buratai was never in doubt as to the enormous challenges he has to surmount in order to restore the dignity of an army and the nation terribly shattered by Boko Haram terrorists.

dedication was never affected as he continued to offer services in the difficult terrain.

But luck finally smiled on the medical practitioner Friday when the state governor directed that he should be paid arrears of N13.9m which accrued since the day his predecessor gave an order for his contract employment.

Zulum also directed that henceforth, the contract should be formalised for monthly entitlements, even as he presented him with a gift of Toyota Highlander.

Making the presentation at the Government House, Maiduguri, Zulum said the people like Dr. Akinbode “are the kinds of people that need to be encouraged.”

He said: “Dr. Akinbode lives in Monguno despite all the security problems. My predecessor had during his visit to Monguno, directed that he should be engaged on a contract basis. Unfortunately due to some bureaucratic procedures his reengagement has not been formalized.

“In fulfillment of the promise

of my immediate predecessor, I decided to re-engage him on contract basis retrospectively. We are paying all his entitlements salary in arrears. I am giving him a cheque of N13.9m. I have also approved his reengagement from 2016 being the date of his retirement.”

The governor, also, approved the recruitment into the Borno State Civil Service of Akinbode’s daughter, who studied Public Administration at the University of Maiduguri.

Delta Mulls Asaba Airport Upgrade as United Airline Begins Operation Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba The Delta State Government has revealed plans to upgrade the Asaba International Airport to a ‘Category 9’ airport to enable the facility to receive bigger planes.

Special Projects Director of the airport, Mr Austin Ayemidejor, stated this shortly after the arrival of United Nigeria Airline’s maiden flight to Asaba.

The United Nigeria aircraft, marked 5N-BWZ, which was fully booked with passengers, touched down at exactly 11.40 am on Friday.

Ayemidejor said with activities at the airport steadily peaking, the Asaba Airport upgrade had become imperative in order to welcome

bigger planes.

The state government had also written to the Nigeria Airspace Management Authority (NAMA) to increase the operational hours to 11:00 pm.

Ayemidejor said: “We intend to upgrade the airport to category nine, which will make it have the capacity to receive Boeing 737 and Boeing 777 but we have recently applied to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for approval, to enable us operate beyond sunrise to sunset by extending operational hours to 11pm.

“Once that is done, there will be more activities and it is important to let you know that this is the fifth airline that is operating into

the Asaba Airport. Already, we have Air Peace, AZMAN, Aero, and Arik. United Nigeria is the fifth airline that is coming in.

“The sixth airline, ValueJet is likely to come in a couple of weeks, and we have assurances from the Managing Director of Ibom Air that very shortly they too will start operations (into Asaba) perhaps by the second week of March.

“The level of activities here is very encouraging because the market is large, it’s very huge; and, so we need more airlines to operate here. We have lots of patronage from the eastern parts of the country, particularly the Onitsha area, and the other cities around Delta in terms of patronage.”

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NEWSXTRA Handover C’tte Unsettles Akeredolu’s Commissioners, Special Advisers *RY PD\ DQQRXQFH FDELQHW GLVVROXWLRQ $V DSSRLQWHHV OREE\ IRU UHDSSRLQWPHQW James Sowole in Akure Members of the Ondo State Executive Council are jittery about their fate as the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu constituted a Handover Strategy and Implementation Committee to review their performance, THISDAY has learnt.

Findings have also revealed that the governor had concluded a plan to dissolve the State Executive Council any moment from now in preparation for the effective takeoff of his second-term administration.

Multiple sources disclosed this plan to THISDAY yesterday, observing that the governor would soon direct all his political appointees that were not in the cabinet rank to properly hand over before his inauguration.

Akeredolu had constituted a Handover Strategy and Implementation Committee, a six-man

committee set up to ensure that all commissioners, special advisers and other political appointees properly hand over before inauguration.

Among others, the committee was mandated to coordinate the hand over process; ensure government’s records are appropriately archived; facilitate the off-boarding of current administration personnel and ease the on-boarding process of incoming personnel.

The committee, chaired by the Head of Service, Mr. Dare Aragbaiye, comprises Dr. Patrick Tolani, Ms Cecilia Akintomide, Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, Mr. Omololu Elegbe and Mr. Babajide Akeredolu as members.

With the committee in place, THISDAY learnt that all political appointees, especially members of the State Executive Council have become apprehensive wondering whether they would have a role to

play in the new government that will come into force on February 24.

A government source told THISDAY that some commissioners were already apprehensive of their fate, considering the terms of reference of the committee, which started work immediately after inauguration last month.

The source noted that the state economy might not allow the governor to accommodate a large number of political appointees in the second term considering the state’s undue exposure to debt.

According to the Debt Man-

agement Office, the state’s debt profile has increased from N68.3 billion in December 2016 to N73.9 billion in June 2019 Some political appointees, who privately spoke with THISDAY, however claimed that they all worked to ensure that Akeredolu secured the ticket of the party and won the October 10, 2020 governorship poll.

They referred to the votes Akeredolu garnered in the election in their respective units, wards and local governments, to justify their claim for deserving

reappointment.

But the fear of losing out in the power game compelled some commissioners, special advisers and senior special assistants to lobby a senior female aide of the governor believed to have some influence on the governor.

Dousing tension about the mandate of the six-man committee, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo said the committee was constituted to recommend and advise the government on result-oriented structural

processes and practices for existing MDAs. He added that the committee would also set Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for returning and new appointees and MDAs as well as develop a baseline for all sectors to serve as a benchmark for improvement.

He said the committee would carry out systematic review of the operations of the administration in the last four years with a view to evaluating its performance and to identifying areas of service improvement.

Bandits Kill Father, Son for Resisting Abduction John Shiklam in Kaduna A father and his son have been killed by bandits in Baka village, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna state for resisting abduction.

The incident, according to a statement by Samuel Aruwan, Kaduna State commissioner for internal security and home affairs, occurred on Saturday, when the bandits invaded the community.

Aruwan said, the bandits shot sporadically on arrival at the community and forced their way into the residence of their victims- Dan’Azumi Musa and attempted to kidnap him and his son, Sanusi.

He said Musa and his son were shot dead by the bandits after they resisted attempts by the hoodlums to abduct them.

Aruwan said: “On a sad note, security agencies have reported that armed bandits in the early

hours of Saturday invaded Baka village, Igabi Local Government Area.

“According to the report, the bandits, while shooting sporadically, forcefully gained entry into the residence of one Dan’Azumi Musa, a farmer in the area, attempting to kidnap him and his son, Sanusi Dan’Azumi.

Upon resisting the bandits, they were both shot dead.”

The commissioner said, “Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed sadness over the attacks and condoled the family of the slain father and son, while offering prayers for the repose of their souls.”

Kaduna is one of the states in the north west zone with an increasing rate of banditry occasioned by invasion of communities, killings and abductions.

People are being killed or abducted by bandits almost on a daily basis.

IMO Backs NIMASA Marine Litre Action Plan The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Kitack Lim, has said the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Marine Litters and Micro Plastic Action Plan will provide major support to ensure a clean and healthy ocean ecosystem not only in the Nigerian coastline but the entire region.

The Secretary General made this assertion in his goodwill message to the launch event of NIMASA’s Revised Marine Litters and Micro Plastic Action Plan held virtually at the agency headquarters recently.

Kitack Lim stated that the world is dependent on the rich ocean environment and international trade provided by shipping clusters and the protection of the ocean is vital to ensuring a healthy planet.

In Lim’s words, “Shipping must be balanced with the safety of life at sea, the long term health, and diversity of oceans and the conservation of the marine environment.

“Marine litter is a great concern and the discharge of garbage from ships has been prohibited since the

1980s by the MARPOL convention and additionally by the London convention with each protocol regulating and also prohibiting the dumping of plastics at the sea.”

The secretary-general said IMO, in cooperation with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and other relevant international organizations is striving to implement the IMO Action Plan on marine litters and to contribute to the global solution for preventing marine plastic litters from entering the ocean through ship-based activities.

Declaring the proper launch and take-off of the action plan, the Director-General of NIMASA Dr. Bashir Jamoh said 80 per cent of marine litters in the Nigeria environment originated from land-based sources.

According to him, NIMASA is committed to the reduction and elimination of unnecessary dumping and improper waste management and to ensure a cleaner and safer marine environment to support a healthier and sustainable human life.

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES . . .

L-R:: Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo; Bayelsa Governor, Doye Diri; Commissioner for Works, Moses Teibowei; Paramount Ruler of Imiringi Town, Chief Lucky Chukuigue, during the inauguration of a Bridge in Imiringi, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State... yesterday

Firm Initiates Contempt Proceeding against FCMB, Heritage Oil MDs Tobi Soniyi A security services company, Eraskorp Nigeria Limited has initiated a contempt proceeding against the Managing Director of First City Monument Bank, (FCMB), Mrs. Yemisi Edun and the Managing Director, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, (HEOSL) Mr. Naeem Atiq Sadiq for allegedly disobeying an order of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

The firm claimed that the duo have refused to obey an order of the court restraining them from interfering with specific HEOSL accounts domicile with FCMB containing the sum of $4,567, 500.00 pending the hearing and

determination of the motion on notice filed before the court.

Consequently, Eraskorp, through its lawyer, Anthony Omaghomi filed Form 48, which is a notice of consequence of disobedience to order of court before the Federal High Court in Lagos in suit number FHC/LCS/1467/2020.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke had on December 10, 2020, while ruling on an application filed by Eraskorp Nigeria Limited, granted an interim order restraining Heritage Oil from tampering with specific account domicile in FCMB. Aneke restrained Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited from tampering, utilizing, interfering, dissipating ,

withdrawing, paying or transferring funds in the accounts with Nos: 4135082019 (Naira account), 4135082026 (Dollar account), 4135082033 (Naira cash call account), 4135082040 (Dollar cash call account), 4135082095 (Naira revenue account) and 4135082105 (Dollar cash account) all with First City Monument Bank (FCMB) to the limit of the sum of $4,567, 500.00 pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed before the court.

The court also directed the respondent (HEOSL) to immediately appoint two members of its company for the purpose of constituting the Performance Assessment Team in line with

Clause 1 and 10.2 of the OML 30 Facilities Protection Services Agreement entered into between the parties.

But, the applicant in a letter dated February 2, 2021 written to the Group Legal Counsel, First City Monument Bank, entitled ‘’Disobedience of court order in suit No: FHC/L/CS/1467/2020’’ accused the bank of conspiring with Heritage Oil (respondent) to dissipate the funds from account numbers 4135082040 USD and 4135082033 NGN respectively.

The letter stated that since the interim order is to last till the hearing and determination of the motion on notice, all parties must maintain status quo until the motion on notice is determined.

NANS: Dangote to Compensate Families of Dead Students Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) said the Dangote Group has agreed to pay compensations to the relatives of students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, killed during a road mishap.

This was contained in a statement by the National President of NANS, Sunday Asefon, revealing that an agreement had been reached at a meeting with Dangote Group that families of the deceased would be compensated.

Six students of the university and nine others were killed on January 23, when a truck belonging to Dangote Group, rammed into

a shopping complex in Akungba Akoko.

Shortly after the accident occurred, Asefon had promised to seek justice for the victims, assuring that their deaths would not be in vain.

In his statement yesterday Asefon said the compensation pact was reached with Dangote group after a meeting with the management of the conglomerate, on Thursday .

He said the meeting was attended by himself, NANS’ Senate President, Com. Chuks Okafor, Vice President National Affairs, Yasiz Tanko, NANS Zone D Coordinator, Samuel Kappo and other elected Executive of NANS, as well as the leadership

of NANS JCC in Ondo State.

With the tragic way with which the autocrash occurred and the attendant pains it had inflicted on the victims’ families, Asefon said it was imperative for the company to compensate the families of the deceased students.

NANS’ president explained that aside from financial compensation, Dangote Group was mandated to give employment to qualified members of each of the bereaved families.

“We made it clear that where there are no qualified family members for employment, Dangote should award scholarships up to the university level to a member of the family. We requested that Dangote through tax arrangements

with the federal government should fix the Isua-Akungba Akoko road where the carnage happened.

“That in the company’s Corporate Social Responsibilities, that a project should be executed for AAUA or Akungba metropolis and should be named after the victims of the January 23 , 2021 truck crash to immortalize all, including our fallen students.”

He said an all -inclusive committee “has been set up to ensure the agreements reached at the meeting are executed within the stipulated time. NANS under my leadership will do everything possible to ensure improved welfare and adequate protection of the interest of Nigerian students local and global.”

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NEWSXTRA Only Certified Teachers Will Teach in Classrooms, Warns TRCN 9RZV WR GLVPLVV XQTXDOLÀHG WHDFKHUV 6RRQ Gboyega Akinsanmi Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has disclosed that only qualified teachers accredited by the Council would be allowed to engage in the teaching profession in country.

TRCN, an agency of the federal government established by law to certify and accredit teachers at all levels, noted that it would dismiss all unqualified teachers in its determination to raise the

standard of education in Nigeria, TRCN’s Ondo State Coordinator of TRCN, Mr. Adesina Akande, disclosed this plan in Ondo on Friday at the matriculation of postgraduate students on the Professional Diploma in Education Programme being jointly run by TRCN and Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo.

Akande revealed that the Council had been working since 2006 to ensure that only professionally qualified teachers

certified by TRCN will teach in all classrooms from the elementary schools to tertiary institutions across the country.

“Since 2006, efforts have been made by the Council to flush out all teachers from the numerous public and private schools at all levels of education in Nigeria who are not registered with TRCN as well as those who do not have a degree in education,” Akande stated.

The TRCN State Coordinator,

however, revealed that the Council is partnering with institutions across the state to ensure hitchfree registration with the Council for all professionally qualified teachers, while also providing training in collaboration with teachers’ training institutions like Adeyemi College of among others for those who aspire to make a career in the teaching profession.

Akande enjoined the newly matriculated students to ensure

that they live up to expectations of their training aso that they will continue to enjoy the dividends of the profession, adding that the new salaries for teachers will be implemented soon.

Speaking at the event, the College Provost, Dr. Samuel Akintunde urged the 93 matriculants to fulfill the oath of allegiance they have sworn to, maintaining that the College reserves the right to withdraw students found wanting in

learning and character.

Akintunde stated that the oath places a premium of reasonable behavior on students during their stay in the College, all-round involvement in academic activities and maintaining decency throughout their studentship.

The Provost maintained that “any student found wanting in learning and character, the College reserves the right to withhold the award of a Diploma certificate to him or her,” he said.

‘Engaging Ex-service Chiefs will Boost Fight against Insurgency’ Fani-Kayode’s Return Can Destabilise The Coordinator of Advocacy for Advancement of Peace and Harmony in Africa Initiative (ADAPHAI), Sulaimon Suberu has said engaging ex service chiefs has dual positive impacts on the fight against insurgency.

Suberu made this observation in a statement he issued at the weekend, saying President Muhammadu Buhari “has proven to the world that he is a sensitive leader with an enviable trait of rewarding hard-work.”

After their retirement, Buhari had nominated a former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin; a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai; a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas and a

former Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar as ambassadors-designate.

With their nomination, Suberu noted that engaging the ex-service chiefs with further sensitive responsibilities after retirement has dual positive impacts on the ongoing fight against insurgency.

He noted that Buhari’s decision would naturally boost the morale of those soldiers and officers at the front-line, and increase their confidence in the system to be more committed.

He added that it would also afford Nigeria the golden opportunities of tapping the wealth of knowledge of these ex-service chiefs in tactical diplomacy and global security architecture.

He said serving as non-career

ambassadors after meritorious service to curtail a large-scale insurgency with overwhelming success “will bring about dynamism to Nigeria’s foreign policy, especially in the area of pattern of involvement in security issues within the comity of nations.

“It is a common knowledge that one of the greatest banes of victory against the current war to nip terrorism in the bud is the cumbersome process of accessing necessary weapons from producing countries abroad.

“The expertise of these exservice chiefs in the intricacies of armament will help Nigeria to facilitate negotiation and importation of such military hardware.

APC, Warns German Chapter The All Progressives Congress (APC), German chapter, yesterday warned that the ruling party would find itself in a mess if a former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is allowed to return to its fold.The chapter, also, warned that the return of the former minister could generate friction that would disorganise a party already in leadership crisis.

The Publicity Secretary of the chapter, Mr. Akintunde Hareef Akerele gave this warning in a statement he sent to THISDAY from Canada yesterday.

According to him, if interest is the only permanent political component, APC should not make it cheap to the likes of Fani-Kayode to abuse.

He, therefore, argued that liberal

and conservative ideas “are not built to be desecrated by individuals because they are bigger than them.”

Rather, he urged the APC to grow its progressive ideas through a seamless process of attracting only like minds of progressive ethos and not seasonally recycling self-seeking opportunists of low esteem.

He said APC “is not opposed to dissent, but it has to be on the issue and for the betterment of our people.”

He, however, observed that FaniKayode had rebuffed the rumors that he had joined the party on Twitter but days before that day he was drawing a parallel of supposed Islamic cleric’s meeting with Fulani bandit and that of the cleric’s meeting with Atiku in 2019.

He added that it was “a welcome development that he confirmed he is still in his party; for whatever reason that he met with Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State let’s give him the benefit of the doubt was a discussion across party lines.

“Time will tell what delicacy they are preparing that makes the house to get burnt, but in fairness he is another good riddance that should not be allowed in the fold.

“Fani-Kayode is politically inconsequential and irrelevant other than the fact that he has a mouthpiece with which he spews resentful rhetorics that enshrine discord.

Words are like eggs. Once they are broken, they cannot be pieced together again.

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NEWSXTRA

INEC: Senate, Courts Can’t Create New Constituencies

Insists such power rests with commission Explains why it can’t review existing districts Chuks Okocha in Abuja

A constitutional crisis might be brewing between the Senate and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over a directive to it by the upper chamber to restore two state constituencies in Delta State in what appeared to be new boundary delineations.

The Senate had last Tuesday approved the restoration of Ethiope West State Constituency (1) in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State

from the present Ethiope West State Constituency.

This was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, at plenary.

The development, however, came two months after the upper chamber had approved the restoration of Abraka State Constituency in Ethiope East Local Government Area from the present Ethiope East State Constituency.

In his lead debate, Omo-Agege urged the upper legislative

chamber to approve the restoration of the constituency in compliance with the declarations and orders of the Federal High Court and Section 115 of the 1999 Constitution.

Omo-Agege noted that persistent agitations by concerned leaders, electorate and stakeholders in the constituency led to legal action at the Federal High Court in Warri with Suit No: FHC/WR/CS/21/2015.

By implication, it means additional two extra seats in the Delta State House of

Assembly.

However, INEC argued that it was part of its constitutional duties to delineate constituencies and that it was not ready to do so at the moment.

In an interview with THISDAY, the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education, Information and Publicity, Festus Okoye said: “As part of its cardinal duties on election management, the Commission is empowered by the Constitution of the Federal

Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to create and review electoral constituencies.

“More specifically, sections 71, 73, 91, and 112 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) set out the modalities and guidelines the Commission must follow in the delineation of Federal and State Constituencies.

“More specifically, section 91 of the Constitution provides that ‘Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a House of Assembly of a state shall consist of three or four times the number of seats, which that state has in the House of Representatives divided in a way to reflect, as far as possible nearly equal population provided that a House of Assembly of a State shall consist of not less than twenty-four and not more than forty members.

“Furthermore, section 112 of the Constitution provides that ‘Subject to the provisions of Section 91 and 113 of this Constitution, the Independent National Electoral Commission shall divide each

state in the federation into such number of state constituencies as is equal to three or four times the number of federal constituencies within that state.

“The challenge the commission faces is that the review of Electoral Constituencies was carried out in 1996 by the defunct NECON wherein the existing constituencies were reduced to reflect the result of the 1990 population.

“The commission then, under the leadership of Dr. Abel Guobadia took steps at fully implementing the requirements of the Constitution when it attempted to restore the ‘suppressed’ constituencies,” Okoye explained.

He explained that INEC was only mandated to seek consent and approval of the National Assembly, when it exercises its power to review the division of every State/ Federal Constituencies at interval of not less than ten years as provided for in Sections 73 and 114 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Four Arrested for Burning Amotekun Operational Vehicle in Ondo James Sowole in Akure

REDEEMING ENVIRONMENT. . .

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha (middle), during the inauguration of roads project through Ecological Fund Office in Yola, Adamawa State.... yesterday

Suleiman: North Supports Tinubu’s Presidential Aspiration Tobi Soniyi

The Director General of Tinubu Support Organisation, Mr. Aminu Suleiman has said that the entire North and its people are behind the presidential aspiration of All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu He spoke at the commissioning of Information and Communication Technology Youth Training Center donated to the people of Itire-Ikate in Lagos by Niyi Amir Gbodimowo, a chairmanship

aspirant in the forthcoming local government elections in Lagos State.

Suleiman claimed without proof that all governors and political leaders in the North have resolved to work hard to ensure that Asiwaju Tinubu takes over from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

Suleiman said the north owed Tinubu a debt of gratitude because Buhari tried three times to become president, but was unsuccessful until he (Tinubu) came into the picture.

He said: “Now it is only fair to reward Tinubu for all that he has done for Nigeria.” Suleiman called on rich Nigerian youths to emulate the Gbodo Foundation and Niyi Gbodimowo by providing services that would help their community develop.

He said that if all Nigerian youth could emulate Gbodimowo, the nation would have a better future.

The commissioning was attended by dignitaries, top government officials as well as thousands of people who expressed delight at the siting

of such an important project in Itire-Ikate.

Among the dignitaries, who attended the event are Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Agboola Dabiri and Commissioner for Tourism, Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, the Chairman of Itire-Ikate LCDA, Dr. Ahmed Apatira who was represented by Mr Murley Anochirim as well as a representative of the Federal Government College, Ijanikin Old Students Association Mr. Olufisayo Ogundawo.

Host Communities Accuse FUTO of Plotting to Manipulate MOU Amby Uneze in Owerri

Eleven communities, which hosted the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), yesterday accused the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Francis Eze of plotting to manipulate the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) they sealed with the federal government on the land where the school is built.

Counsel to the communities, Chief Sam Anokam made this allegation at a news conference he addressed alongside all representatives of the host communities in Owerri, the

Imo State capital yesterday.

The host communities had said that the federal government had forcefully taken no fewer than 4,455 hectares of their land in 1982 and that since then, they had suffered untold hardship for want of farmland.

The communities, which have been calling on the federal government to release the land it forcefully acquired, comprise Avu, Obinze, Umuanunu, Ihiagwa Ancient Kingdom, Dindin Ihiagwa, Eziobodo, Eziokele, Emeabiam, Obibiezenna, Umuoma Nekede and Okolochi.

Speaking on behalf of the

communities yesterday, Anokam alleged that the vice chancellor was playing tricks with the contents of the Memorandum of Understanding by deviating from the clauses of the agreement thereby shortchanging the host communities from getting what was approved by the federal government.

He stated that part of the plot “is the vice chancellor’s refusal “to sign the MoU reached in 2019 as part of the effort by the federal government to resolve the perennial impasse that had brought acrimony over the years between the host communities and FUTO.” Anokam, also a chartered estate

surveyor, noted that FUTO “has refused to sign her own part of the agreement. We understand that they are not happy that the federal government decided to give back certain portions of the land presently occupied by FUTO to host communities.

“As a matter of fact, we approached the federal government and a technical committee known as Ministerial Technical Committee on FUTO Land Matters with the Federal Director of Lands as Chairman, and representatives from FUTO and host communities and others as members was set up.

Men of the Ondo State Security Network Agency codenamed Amotekun Corps, have arrested four suspects over the burning of the corps’ operational vehicle and motorcycles.

The suspects whose identities were not released by the security outfit due to ongoing investigations were arrested in a forest reserve in Owo Local Government Area of the state.

The Commander of Amotekun Corps in the state, Chief Adetunji Adeleye disclosed this during a news conference in Akure, saying the suspects were also linked with the killing of a farmer and a member of the vigilante group in Ago Sanusi along Ute Road in Owo.

The operational vehicle of the security outfit and some motorcycles, were burnt by bandits, when Amotekun Corps were responding to a distress call at Ago Sanusi where a farmer and a member of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria were murdered by suspected herdsmen.

While disclosing that the arrested suspects were not herdsmen, Adetunji said the armed herders who were sighted in the forest took to their heels upon sighting his men.

He said: “We didn’t arrest any herder in Owo. The people arrested were people we suspected were connected to the arson, but we will look at it as murder and arson as well as wanton destruction of property.

We arrested four within the first one hour of the incident there.

NEMA Elevates 212 as DG Demands Greater Commitment Bennett Oghifo and Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

The Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Air Vice Marshal Muhammadu Muhammed (rtd) has approved the promotion of 212 staff of the agency.

The agency disclosed this in a statement by its Head, Media and Public Relations, Manzo Ezekiel yesterday saying the staff members were recommended for an upgrade following their successful performance in the recent promotion examinations.

Of the number of workers promoted, according to the statement, 144 were put forwarded by the Senior Staff Establishment Committee after a rigorous examination and interview process, with the result endorsed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Develop-

ment; Sadiya Umar Farouq.

The statement added that the Junior Staff Establishment Committee conducted the examination for the other successful 68 staffers.

It said the newly promoted members of staff “cut across the civil service Grades Level 4 to 17.

They include one substantive director on Grade level 17; 14 deputy directors on Grade Level 16 and 16 assistant directors on Grade Level 15.”

Others are 10 staff that moved to Grade Level 14; 3 of them to assistant chief on Grade Level 13 and 13 officers to Grade Level 12.

Also, 24 members of staff were promoted to Grade Level 10; 53 of them to Grade Level 9 and 10 staff moved to Grade Level 8, while 25 were elevated from junior cadre to Grade Level 7. The others were 43 staffers that were promoted to their next ranks between Grades Levels 4 and 6.

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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 ˾ BRUARY 14, 2021

Teju Abisoye

Teju Abisoye is the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF).

She is a lawyer with extensive experience in development finance, project planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian projects, government interventions and investment opportunities. She is a 2021 Amujae Leader of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Centre

Fatima Akilu

Onyebuchi Ajufo

‘Gbenga Sesan

Fatima Akilu is a psychologist and a public speaker in the areas of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) and Counter Terrorism and the Executive Director of Neem Foundation, and the former Director of Behavioural Analysis and Strategic Communication at the Office of the National Security Adviser in Nigeria

Ajufo, Buchi is responsible for Client Service and Delivery for africapractice’s West Africa hub. She has over a decade worth of experience in Strategic Communications and Engagement across a variety of industries (from Oil and Gas to Finance to FMCG, the Public Sector and beyond)

‘Gbenga Sesan is the executive director of Paradigm Initiative, a pan-African social enterprise working on enhancing digital inclusion and digital rights, with regional offices in Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia and Zimbabwe. He is a 2007 Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellow and a 2020/2021 Stanford Digital Civil Society Fellow

In Search of Nigeria’s Next-Generation Leaders: Challenges of Ethics and Good Governance The challenges of good governance, ethics, and accountability in Nigerian leadership can make or break the future of Africa’smostpopulous nation if specific issuesare not resolved asamatter ofurgency, Bayo Akinloye reports

T

he #EndSARS movement was considered a manifestation of the divisions and frustration with established governance structures. Against this backdrop, on January 14, 2021, a select group of Nigerian civil society leaders had a roundtable discussion convened by Africa Practice, in partnership with Leadership and Values Initiative (LEVI) of the World Economic Forum Africa Regional Strategy Group, to examine the intricacies of inclusion, technology, and gender representation.

In the 2020 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), Nigeria scored only 45.5 percent (average across all governance indicators) and ranked 34th out of 54 countries. The country did not fare any better on the 2020 Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Transformation Index. Its governance was placed within the ‘weak spectrum;’ economic transformation within the ‘very limited spectrum,’ and political transformation within the ‘highly defective spectrum.’

Inclusion and Youth Representation In the 21st century, no conversation about governance and leadership can occur without acknowledging the concept of inclusion. While inclusion in Nigeria is not as elaborated as it is in more established democracies, calls for more robust youth and gender participation have increased throughout the African continent, especially Nigeria.

More than 50 percent of Nigeria’s 200 million citizens are under 30. Nigeria’s bulging youth population remains heavily underrepresented in governance circles. So far, all Nigeria’s civilian leaders have been older than 50. A combination of structural and systematic exclusionary practices are to blame, experts say.

Godfatherism and the weaponisation of wealth are commonly meted out by political elites when recruiting youths.

Samson Itodo, the founder of Yiaga Africa and convener of Not Too Young to Run, explained, “This defective recruitment approach should lead to a re-evaluation of how we recruit our leaders – within and beyond the political system.”

Itodo’s observation underscores Nigeria’s current system of recruitment into politics, which is not known as meritocratic.

Because of this, many well-intentioned and capable youths are exempted from decision-making. With no seat at the table, 2.2 percent of House of Assembly seats belong to people between the ages of 25 and 30. At the same time, 11.7 percent of House of Representative seats belong to people between 30 and 40.

Of youths polled by the African Union’s Office of the Youth Envoy, 95.8 percent said they would like to run or serve in public office if given the right opportunities and access. The panel cautioned that more robust youth representation is not a solution, due to what can be described as the absence of a servantleadership culture. Harsh economic realities and the allure of political wealth have led many young people to view public office first and foremost, as their ticket out of poverty – a culture that successive generations have cultivated.

To resolve this, Teju Abisoye, the Executive Secretary of Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, (LSETF), said, “We must inspire our youths with the right examples, showing and teaching them the reality of exactly what it takes to hold public office. The onus must be on society to reframe its political priorities, and to refocus our expectations and perception of public service, to overcome

prevailing and pejorative views.”

Seeking Balance in Gender Representation On the subject of inclusion, the importance of gender representation was highlighted by the discussants. Recognising that Nigeria’s patriarchy has deep roots is an essential first step towards addressing female under-representation in the nation’s governance systems, the panel concluded.

Only four percent of legislators in the National Assembly are women, and women hold only 16.3 percent of ministerial positions at the federal level. The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced patriarchal tendencies. The combination of school closures and economic hardship has conspired to lead many families to marry off their daughters for economic gain, one panellist noted.

More generally, the pandemic has led to a “re-domestication of women and a regression in the progress” achieved since the #MeToo movement’s advent. Consequently, the urgency Nigerians attach to challenging bias and stereotypical representations that perpetuate harmful gender norms is now “more acute than ever.” It is believed that fast-tracking women in sectors with an outsized impact on society — like a public office — should assume a greater priority.

The fact that Nigeria remains characterised by patriarchy and hierarchical leadership, with older men occupying senior roles, underscores and exacerbates the gender challenge. Dr. Fatima Akilu, the Neem Foundation founder, noted regarding the drive for “true” change, “It is imperative that we confront the culture of gatekeeping, as research has shown that once women are allowed into positions of authority, they perform very well.”

It is thought that taking a bottom-to-top approach can contribute to tearing down societal gates put up against women, including both cultural and religious instruments of subjugation.

Meanwhile, it was agreed that traditional pathways into politics and public administration work best for men because they were designed that way, consciously or unconsciously.

Thus, the panel encouraged new pathways that will open more entry points for women must be created. The panellists believe that more women should be inspired to occupy public office roles; for this to happen, women must see themselves in the examples they are shown.

Therefore, it is imperative that women from all backgrounds are attracted and promoted to politics and public administration.

At the same time, identity politics continues to undermine Nigeria’s electoral democracy, restricting all candidates’ viability, irrespective of gender or ethnicity. Itodo emphasised this point, saying, “Representation goes beyond fulfilling a democratic ideal. When we speak about representation, we must ask ourselves the question, for what? It is essential that women, young people or persons with disabilities, when included in governance systems, are actually empowered to make decisions that can lift people out of poverty.”

The bottom line: equality can’t wait, and no one in a position to act should wait either. The “onus rests with male leaders,” who are in the majority.

Weaponisation or Democratisation ofTechnology?

Technology is a valuable tool for enhancing governance and accountability. It is believed that inclusiveness can be strengthened by democratising internet access and leveraging technology to open up more civic engagement channels. Technology can reduce entry barriers for persons who might otherwise be excluded from participatory democracy and policy debate.

In some cases, the intersection between technology and governance extends beyond formal channels such as e-governance to social media and text messaging. Although social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and more recently, Clubhouse, are popular platforms for political discourse, there’s growing evidence that ‘lower-tech’ messaging platforms like WhatsApp or Signal are exploited as safe spaces for dialogue and debate.

‘Gbenga Sesan, the CEO of Paradigm Initiative, made a case for embracing these as tools for inclusion. He explained, “As we look to technology as a tool for civic engagement and participation, it’s important that we don’t focus only on the most expensive and the best looking, but instead, we consider the efficacy of the platform.”

Technology can both democratise debate and improve policy advocacy. A wide spectrum of platforms should be harnessed, in the panel’s view. Otherwise, Nigerians run the risk of perpetuating ‘the echo chamber effect’ - a term used to reflect conformity of opinions resulting from social media fragmentation.

Technological exclusion and the unconscious dismissal of different manifestations of technology were cited by Akilu as a cause for concern and are most prolific in areas where insecurity proliferates. Akilu explained further, “Harnessing technology as a tool of inclusion mitigates the prevalence of insecurity.”

The Neem Foundation, which provides trauma services in IDP camps across Nigeria, has leveraged technology in areas where security and government presence is limited. The foundation provided trauma services to up to 7,000 people by leveraging mobile penetration and access.

While the federal government employs social media as a public communication tool, it remains a reluctant adopter, the panel observed. Social media can be both a destabilising force and a powerful tool for enhancing governance and accountability. The disputed elections in the United States of America and social media platforms’ weaponisation by some nefarious groups are a case in point.

The decision by certain technology firms to de-platform then-President Donald Trump in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol insurrection, drew attention to some of the moral challenges associated with regulating social media. Their decisions were met with criticisms from leading democrats in Europe, including Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel. Finding the right balance is a challenge for all regulators, and the federal government would be wise to consult extensively to identify the right path for Nigeria, the panellists added.

The panel also considered the emergence of the Social Media Bill in Nigeria. In this case, the panel believed that the government’s response was characterised as less motivated by the need to standardise norms and more about exercising control.

Continued on Page 81

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ BRUARY 14, 2021

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A

lapomu of Apomuland, Oba Kayode Adenekan Afolabi, recently marked the first year anniversary of his ascension to the throne of his forefathers. Supported by his wife, Olori Janet, Oba Afolabi hosted some of his brother Obas and other dignitaries at his palace in Apomu, Osun State

Olori Janet and Oba Kayode Afolabi; Alapomu of Apomu

Representatives of Oonirisa

L-R- Hon. Owoeye Speaker Osun state House of Assembly, Hon. Maruf Olarewaju Majority Leader Osun state House of assembly

Alara of Ilara Epe, Oba Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo and Atayero of Aramoko, Oba Olusegun Aderemi

Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi and Atta of Ayede Ekiti, Oba Abdulmumeen Adebayo Orisagbemi

Olugbon of Orile Igbon; Oba Francis Olushola Alao and High Chief Yemi Elebuibon, Araba of Osogbo

Osun State Commissioner of Fnance, Bola Oyebanji and his wife, Sekinat

t IN SEARCH OF NIGERIA’S NEXT-GENERATION LEADERS: CHALLENGES OF ETHICS AND GOOD GOVERNANCE` t Continued from Page 80 Sesan highlighted this, saying, “While disinformation and misinformation are genuine concerns, one of the solutions to combating the problem is proactive disclosure by the government.”

He cited the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as a great example of the government’s ability to leverage social media to combat fake news. In that sense, technology can contribute to good governance and accountability by providing a channel for publicising commitments and statements and keeping people and institutions accountable for them.

Harnessing Public-Private Partnerships One other point on the table was that more consultation and collaboration with the private sector could serve society well.

Partnerships are the foundation on which progress is built.

Diversity in ideas, resources, networks, and expertise creates better and more robust results.

Also, they reduce waste and can overcome infrastructure gaps. They can be a valuable mechanism for ensuring continuity and accountability in delivering government policies and services. What’s more, they can put in place some checks and balances and greater levels of accountability given the shared decision-making and shared resource allocation processes as evidenced by the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF).

Civil Society Organisations’ Role Additionally, civil society organisations have a vital role in advancing accountability in service delivery as initiatives like BudgIT, which has afforded the public visibility on government expenditure, have shown. Such tools equip citizens with the information they need to hold leaders accountable.

Akilu underscored the crucial role that a coordinated response from civil society actors can achieve. She noted that

“when civil society comes together in a more united front, we have more strength and more capacity to influence.”

Civil Service and Good Governance That good governance cannot exist without strong ethics and professionalism in the civil service, was a view shared on the panel. Abisoye asserted, “The efficacy of the Nigerian civil service rests in the hands of capable and qualified workers.”

The cumbersome administrative practices that proliferate across the civil service, it was argued, resulted from unqualified administrators, or a lack of commitment to reform.

Consequently, according to the panel, the most simple and basic processes continue to be challenging, stating that all areas of professional service are being disrupted and must adapt.

Nigeria’s civil service should be no exception. Through its Learning Management Service and Key Performance Indicators (and the provision of training and individual performance evaluation), Lagos State provides a benchmark.

The panellists concluded that the country must equip its public administrators with the confidence to adapt to change and embrace technology. Those who refuse to could be assumed to be purveyors and perpetrators of bad governance and corruption.

Wrap-ups Laying out the context for this conversation, Buchi Ajufo, Director at Africa Practice, identified that good governance remains a critical challenge for Nigeria; as finding the right formula to address Nigerians’ many concerns and aspirations, has thus far been impossible for the leaders.

She also drew attention to the fact that in pursuit of good leadership, Nigerians focus on individuals and their personalities rather than on the systems and institutions that breed good

leadership.

Despite the democratic gains in governance since the 1990s, the absence of widespread value-based leadership, according to the panellists, continues to impede the wealth creation needed to tackle poverty and underdevelopment, while consolidating economic growth. This absence of good leadership and strong institutions also contributes to the insecurity threatening to destabilise the nation.

The panel believed that inclusive governance - the full and effective participation of all sections of society - provides the surest mechanism for improving policy-making and accountability. To realise its vast potential as a nation, the panellists recommended that Nigeria must strive to ensure that historically marginalised groups, such as women and youths, are better represented in the nation’s governance structures, while also seeking to cultivate values-based and ethical leadership at all levels of society.

Another point raised was that values-based and ethical leadership requires intentional action from those in government and concerned stakeholders. To have good representatives at the helm of affairs, the panellists said people must elect good leaders. To elect good leaders, they said Nigerians must have the necessary information and tools to make informed choices.

It was emphasised that Nigerians must take responsibility for their role in calling for accountability from their leaders and recognising the power they have to motivate for change.

Elected officials and other public servants, must perform their responsibilities with empathy and professionalism, said the panel.

Jackie Chimhanzi, CEO of the African Leadership Institute, stated, “Servant leadership is the essence of good leadership, it should never be about yourself, it should be about the people you serve.”

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FE ͹ͼ˜ ͺ͸Ͱͯ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

INTERNATIONAL Lateef Jakande and the Lagos Metroline We Never Had: Federal Wickedness versus Lagos Foresight

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lhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande (LKJ) died on Thursday, February 11, 2021 in his Ilupeju residence, Lagos, but to live on forever for a simple reason: his entire life and belief is commitment to reduction, if not outright removal, of the burden of the poor without having to offend the rich.

Burden reduction or elimination is particularly challenging at the educational, economic, transportation and socio-cultural levels. In trying to address the various challenges, he faced the wickedness and short-sightedness of the Federal Government of Nigeria but his development foresight and focus remain indelible.

In paying him tributes, many observers put emphasis on his many achievements. And true enough, he is a man of several parts.

He is seen as peerless and a major pillar of ‘contribution of the Nigerian Press to Nigeria’s development. In the words of Lanre Arogundade, former Chairman, Lagos State Council of NUJ, LKJ was ‘from journalism to politics... such a wonderful pioneer of enduring media legacies - from being the Managing Editor of the Nigerian Tribune, to establishing the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), to the setting up of the first weekend 24/7 broadcast station in Nigeria, Lagos Weekend Television/Lagos Television (and being the) first Executive Governor of Lagos State...’ (The Nation, Friday, February 12, 2021, p. 3).

More important, he envisioned the Lagos State University and also put an end to the shift system in both primary and secondary school education in Lagos. Asiwaju Tinubu sees him as the inspirational father of modern Lagos State, who was ‘largely self-educated, yet he rose to become a man of great knowledge and a pre-eminent figure in Nigerian journalism.’’ He is an accomplished journalist who ‘stood as one of the most incisive and brilliant editorialists of his generation.’’

And perhaps most importantly, Bola Tinubu has it further that the Jakande administration not only ‘conceptualised and actualised the Lagos-Badagry Expressway that opened that whole sector of the State for development,’ but also that LKJ ‘was a mature statesman never given to historionics or fanning the embers of disunity. At difficult moments in the nation’s history, such as the struggle against military dictatorship, he took personal painful decisions that cost him a lot but his integrity was never impugned.’

Without any whiff of doubt, there can be no disputing the exemplary leadership of LKJ. Two incontrovertible empirical cases can serve as illustration of our observation. The first is the housing project he came up with in 1994 when he was Minister of Works and Housing under General Sani Abacha

Federal Housing Scheme

The lifestyle of LKJ is very simple and inexpensive. He brought his lifestyle, with its dint of hard work, modicum of honesty, and dignity of purpose, to political governance when he was Minister of Works and Housing and Executive Governor of Lagos State.

He was Minister of Works and Housing from December 1, 1993 to February 8, 1995. He came up with a low, medium and high level housing projects in various parts of the country in 1994. I applied for a medium-level detached three-bedroom house at a cost of N200,000 (two hundred thousand naira) only. Payment of twenty percent of the total cost, that is, N40,000 (forty thousand naira) was required. Many Nigerians, especially the low-income cadre, were very happy about the housing projects that were designed to be built with local materials and also by direct labour.

I took much interest in a detached 3-bedroom bungalow and therefore not only paid the required deposit of N40,000 but my wife took a salary advance from her bank, Skye Bank, to offset the deposit of N160,000 (One hundred and sixty thousand naira) only.

Most interested applicants had much hope in the project, not necessarily because of the project per se, but essentially because of the person and integrity of LKJ who accepted to serve under General Sani Abacha. However, there are two main issues that should be noted about the housing projects and the person of LKJ. First, LKJ argued that the sum of N200,000 only would be enough to build a three bedroom detached bungalow. I chose FESTAC for the location of my own bungalow. However, Major General Abdulkareem Adisa, who succeeded LKJ as Minister of Works and Housing, came up with a new argument that, under no normal circumstance could any three-bedroom detached bunga-

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not only seen as an action governor, but also as an action minister whose ‘incorruptible nature came to the fore,’ and who disliked unprofitable foreign tours at the expense of the State.’

Now that LKJ has passed on and there is no official information on the housing projects, and more importantly, in the absence of non-allocation of houses and no refund of deposits, what should the law-abiding depositors do? Go to a law court? Organise public protests? If corruption is galloping and has become an institutionalised noisome problem in Nigeria, the reasons are partly explained by the fraudulent actions of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

This fraudulent attitude was also manifest at the level of the Lagos Metroline (LML) project.

Lagos Metroline (LML)

Jakande low be built with only N200,000. He therefore sharply increased the cost of purchase by 400% to N800,000 (eight hundred thousand naira). The new required amount of deposit was N160,000 at the rate of 20% of the total cost price. In the strong belief that better days would still come, I paid the new deposit for a bungalow that apparently would not be built.

Many questions can be raised regarding the housing projects at this juncture: what really is the situation with the project as at today? Were houses ever built? If yes, where? Indeed, there is no information to enable good answers. What we know is that there were no known houses built in FESTAC or in Lagos. Reports had it that deposits collected in Lagos were diverted to the projects in the North. Why is this so? Why must monies collected be taken elsewhere?

Most unfortunately, LKJ who advertised the housing projects in April 1994 and promised to allocate the completed houses not later than December 1994 could not do so for various reasons of force majeure. His successor, Major-General Adisa, who jerked up the cost prices, had no better idea or solution to the housing deficit in the land. The truth of the matter is that the Federal Government acted purely as a pen- or business- robber, collecting public monies without building houses for which deposits were paid.

Without any jot of gainsaying, the Federal Government is the most fraudulent entity in Nigeria, the most corrupt, and the most anti-Nigeria. LKJ who wanted to do and build, was prevented.

Abdulkareem Adisa who would not do but increased the prices, bastardised the whole scheme. Up till this moment of writing, there has never been any issuance of letter of allocation. There has not been any house and there has been no refund of deposits made.

When the Federal Government is fraudulent why will its appointees not also be fraudulent? Why should anyone therefore expect any meaningful outcome from the war against corruption?

LKJ was in office from 1993 to August 1998 as Minister of Works and Housing. During his tenure, he attempted to address the housing deficits on a nation-wide basis, but to no avail. It was not because of lack of focus or know-how but political chicanery on which governance of Nigeria was based by that time. He was

Imagine if the French Consortium, Interinfra, had been allowed to construct the LML at a cost of N590 million when it was considered to be exorbitant, imagine if, at the end of another call for international tender, the new contract price of N689 million had been settled for, imagine if Government’s negotiators had objectively considered the implications of breaching validly contracted agreement before denouncing it, imagine the fact that Nigeria eventually paid N675 million as damages for contractual breach, when the total contractual sum of the LML project was N689 million, and imagine if Government and its officials had thought deeply before acting, rather than thinking after action, LKJ’s dream of a comfortable future, of one hundred years from now, the Metroline would have expanded from the North-South route to other states, could have been inspiring. However, it is only in Nigeria that patriotism does not pay, that honesty of purpose is sanctioned and that people put in public positions to defend the national interest are the very people actually killing Nigeria softly. How do we explain Gbolahan Mudasiru’s inability to pay N689 million but his ability to pay N675 million damages? This is the Nigeria we all live in. LKJ, Farewell!!!

LKJ was governor of Lagos State from 1979 to December 1983.

Within the first year of his administration, he placed an international advert calling on international manufacturers to submit proposals to build a modern Metroline in Lagos, with a view to solving the problems of bottlenecks in Lagos State, as well as providing jobs for the people of Lagos. Six manufacturers from six countries responded: Canada, Spain, France, Great Britain, Japan and West Germany. Only the Japanese consortium, MITSUI and the French consortium, INTERINFRA, were shortlisted on the basis that they were leaders in the state-of-the-art train technology.

In this regard, the LKJ administration eventually signed a contract on a feasibility study with the MITSUI in June 1980 at a cost of one million naira. The choice of the Japanese consortium was largely influenced by cost considerations. The MITSUI offered to build the LML for N370 million (three hundred and seventy million while the French INTERINFRAtendered to build the LML for N590 million. The understanding of everyone was that the LML would be totally made in Japan, but which was designed not to be so, a situation that prompted Governor Jakande to place another advert on the basis of the MITSUI’s feasibility report in June 1981 in order to determine the definitive contract price.

Again, the French consortium tendered to build the LML at its initial quotation of N590 million, while the Japanese increased its own from N370 million to N500.24 million. In light of the cheaper price of the MITSUI, and particularly because the MITSUI was already registered as a company in Nigeria, the Japanese quotation was given a preferential treatment. The contract was given to the Japanese and the project was colourfully launched in August 1981.

However, the MITSUI could not live up to expectation. As explained by the LKJ government then, the Japanese ‘could not honour the terms of the contract signed in June 1981. By late September, the Japanese consortium, which had signed a contract for the construction of a 28.5 kilometre length of mass transit between Marina and Agege for about N600 million was asking for a contract price of over N400 million for a 10.5 kilometre length spanning Marina and Yaba. The contract was consequently terminated.’

Two points are noteworthy here. First is the character of inconsistency shown in the quotations of the MITSUI. It initially quoted N600 million for the construction of the LML for the whole project length of 28.5 kilometres, but was later asking for N400 million for the construction of only 10.5 kilometres, an amount that represented only 36% of the 28.5 kilometre length. In terms of total contract price, the Japanese were simply asking for a contract sum of N1,085.7million for the realisation of the total length.

It was against this background that the LKJ government was compelled to renegotiate with the French INTERINFRAanother agreement. The French this time tendered in September 1982, that is after twelve months of what was considered as very ‘serious negotiation efforts,’ to construct the LML at a new cost of N689.45 million for the whole length of 28.5 kilometres. In other words, the French consortium increased its price by N99.5 million. Without any shadow of doubt, this new contract price was still cheaper than the N1,085.7 million quoted by the Japanese.

In order to appreciate the efforts of LKJ and the elements of bad governance in Nigeria, some quick points are noteworthy. First, the LKJ administration ensured that the project would be well funded.

LKJ made it clear that ‘the cost of establishing, operating and maintaining a Metroline is not beyond the means of the Lagos State Government. The Federal Government does not need to be more involved than it was when Alhaji Shehu Shagari was the President.

We can do without the World Bank...’ Put differently, the Federal Government of Nigeria was to serve only as guarantor while the Lagos State Government was to be responsible for the payment of the contract sum.

Secondly, the French was made to accept the funding of the project to the tune of 85%, but subject to the acceptance by the Government of Nigeria to serve as guarantor. The COFACE, which is the French Export Credit Agency that insures financial risks abroad, insisted on this requirement. Third, and perhaps more importantly, the LML was designed to be self-financing after its first four years of operation. The LML was projected to operate with N12.5 million but to generate N62.5 million at the end of the fourth year.

But where are we today in terms of the political and transport governance of Lagos? The environmental forces that militated against the achievement of the federal housing projects similarly militated in favour of the failure of the LML project. This is where a good foresight was allowed to be overwhelmed by unnecessary acts of wickedness Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 14, 2021

SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

CAF CONFEDERATION CUP

Enyimba, Rivers United Take Supremacy Fight from NPFL to Continent Fisayo Dairo

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ivalries in global club football have often been conÀned within geographical co-locations.

There’s also national rivalries such as Nigeria-Ghana, Argentina-Brazil etc.

These rivals tend to put every happening around them aside and throw everything to games that pit them together.

Players’ movements across these teams are also accompanied by resentment from fans of the departing club, fuelling the tension among both groups when and where their paths cross again.

For Enyimba FC of Aba, two-time African Champions League winners and Rivers United of Port Harcourt (formerly Dolphins), there has been a good dose of rivalry for the past two decades during which they consistently played in Nigeria’s top Áight league.

Within that period, both teams have enjoyed domestic successes, famous continental recognition, contested gruelling Àxtures, seen players cross from one team to the other and even managers alike; but these have seemingly gone unacknowledged in terms of articulated football rivalries.

In actual fact, Abia and Rivers states share boundaries. They are however not just bound by these boundaries but witness plenty of socioeconomic interactions on a daily basis with the Port Harcourt-Aba Road one of the busiest in the country in terms of inÁux of traders and commuters day and night.

To put it in proper perspective, billions of Naira are interacted between Port Harcourt and Aba, one of Nigeria’s commercial hub on a daily basis and the proximity of both cities has been a major factor. Traders board vehicles for as low as N700 these days to prosecute the journey that has turned to a little over two hours now due to the state of the roads.

Indeed, as someone quipped recently; Aba is the Mainland, while Port Harcourt is the Island (in mild reference to Lagos City division).

On the football pitch, Enyimba and Dolphins (now Rivers United) were the biggest names in Nigerian football in the early 2000s with both clubs dominating the league and Cup competitions.

While Enyimba won the league three times in a row from 2001-2003, Dolphins took over the baton by winning league and Cup double in 2004 and reached the Ànal of the CAF Confederation Cup in 2005.

As years go by, these teams continued in their consistentlevelofparticipationwithRiversUnited, especially attracting players from Enyimba into their fold, often tempting them with the riches

Rivers United FC players celebrating their good run in the domestic scene. Will be at ‘war’ with Enyimba in Aba this afternoon

of the fabled Garden City and an opportunity to challenge the growing supremacy of the People’s Elephant.

In the past Àve years alone, Rivers United have signedrenownedleaguestarslikeMarksonOjobo, Nzube Anaezemba, Ugochukwu Leonard and Chinonso Okonkwo directly from Enyimba even before the much publicised transfer of Ifeanyi Anaemena and Theophilus Afelokhai last year.

Enyimba and Rivers United go toe-to-toe on Sunday in the next instalment of their unsung rivalrybutonabiggerscalethistime;theTotalCAF Confederation Cup. Both teams were involved in a mini battle at the abrupt end of last season over which team goes to the CAF Champions League or the Confederation Cup with United unwilling to accept the Points Per Game (PPG) tie-breaking explanation.

Victor Okemka Ezeji is a legend of the Nigerian League and he represented both Enyimba and Rivers United during his playing career. He underlines the derby status of the game in a

chat with www.npÁ.ng.

“For me, I think it’s a local derby if you ask me because the journey is not up to two hours. It has always been a Àerce game because players make up their minds that Enyimba is a big platform so there is always something to play for,” began Ezeji who won the league with Enyimba in 2003 and Dolphins in 2004.

“From 2002, there was no time I played against Enyimba that I didn’t score against them. It is a very tough game, it has always been like that because of the rivalry, the boundary, they are not far apart so perhaps players want to do their best especially against Enyimba.”

Ezeji, born to Abia State parents but has lived most of his life in Rivers State also alluded to the PPG dimension of the battle and how the forthcoming matches could serve as some form of poetic justice for whichever side that wins.

Hecontinued:“Itisgoingtobeaveryverytough game because there is so much to play for in this particular encounter. It was the PPG/WPPG saga

before the season started and Rivers United felt they were supposed to play in the Champions League and not Enyimba but somehow Enyimba played in the CAFCL and have now dropped to meet them in the Confederation Cup. “I think it is time for Rivers United to either tell Enyimba we are better oͿ than you or Enyimba to tell them look, we are still the Champions of Nigeria andAfrica. It is going to be a very massive and explosive game because the players of both teams know what is at stake.”

One man that will be the cynosure of all eyes today is IfeanyiAnaemena, a former vice-captain of Enyimba who left the club at the end of last season after Àve productive seasons with the People’s Elephant to pitch his tent with Rivers United.

Anaemena has been key for his new club in their matches both domestically and on the continent and seems fully aware of the pedigree of his former club in matches like this.

See concluding part on www. thisdaylive.com

AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREMIER LEAGUE Ndidi Man-of-the-Match as Leicester Djokovic in Race to be Fit on Fightback to Beat Liverpool Day of Intriguing Match Ups Nigerian midÀelder, Wilfred Ndidi, played all 90 minutes yesterday and emerged Man-of-theMatch as Leicester City staged an astonishing late comeback to beat Liverpool as the Premier League champions collapsed and paid the price for another defensive calamity involving keeper Alisson. Ndidi provided the assist for the third goal that nailed the Reds co΀n and was deservedly voted MoTM by Foxes supporters.

Ndidi’s Super Eagles teammate at Leicester, Kelechi Iheanacho, was an unused substitute during the game Liverpool had looked forward to cementing their top-four aspirations when Mohamed Salah put them ahead after 67 minutes with a clever Ànish. It was a piece of individual brilliance in the penalty area by Roberto Firmino that led to the advantage for the Reds.

Leicester - who were not at their best even though Jamie Vardy missed two glorious Àrst-half chances - suddenly bounced oͿ the canvas to sink the champions with three goals in a chaotic seven-minute period.

The Foxes saw a 78th-minute penalty award ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and even though James Maddison’s resulting free-kick found its way into the net past Alisson it was initially ruled out for an oͿside against Daniel Amartey before being given after a VAR check.

Leicester’s second three minutes later was another horror show for Liverpool keeperAlisson, whose poor clearances contributed to two goals in Manchester City’s win at AnÀeld last Sunday.

This time the Brazilian recklessly dashed out to clear Youri Tielemans’ long ball, only to farcically crash into debutant defender Ozan Kabak, leaving Vardy to run the ball into an empty net.

And Brendan Rodgers watched the Foxes rub salt in his former side’s wounds as Harvey Barnes applied a composed Ànish to Wilfred Ndidi’s pass with Àve minutes left.

Leicester go second while Liverpool’s third successive league defeat means their place in the top four looks in peril.

Novak Djokovic is facing a race to be Àt for his last-16 match against Milos Raonic on a day of intriguing match-ups at the Australian Open today.

Gland Slam winners Garbine Muguruza, Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, Dominic Thiem, Iga Swiatek and Simona Halep are also in behindclosed-doors action.

Djokovic suͿered an abdominal injury during his third-round win over Taylor Fritz and did not practise on Saturday.

“I don’t know if I will step on court,” the Serb said after Friday’s victory.

The world number one has been given the maximum time to recover as his match against Raonic is the Ànal one on Rod Laver Arena on Sunday.

Eight-time Australian Open champion Djokovic needed courtside treatment against Fritz and later said he thought he had torn a muscle, adding: “I don’t know if I will recover from that in two days.”

The top seed has a perfect record of 11 wins from 11 matches against 30-year-old Canadian Raonic, including three-set victories in the Australian Open quarter-Ànals in 2020 and 2015.

Five Grand Slam winners play on the same court in the women’s singles fourth round on a brilliant-looking schedule on Rod Laver Arena.

It begins at 00:00 GMT with Spain’s Muguruza, a winner at the French Open and Wimbledon, facing Japan’s Osaka, who has won the US Open twice and triumphed in the Australian Open in 2019.

“I don’t think we’ve played each other before,” said Muguruza, who has not dropped a set so far.

“I am just happy with being in the second week of a Grand Slam. It shows my game is there.”

Williams, 39, is one Slam away from matching Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 major singles titles and is second on Rod Laver Arena.

She takes on 22-year-old Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, with the seventh seed aiming to reach her Àrst Grand Slam quarter-Ànal.

Sunday February 14, 2021

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“Bala Mohammed’s statement is a clear disregard for the law which the Nigerian Bar Association has been drawing attention to. The law is very clear on who can carry arms and who can not. When leaders make such statements, they are calling for anarchy. If one group can carry arms, the other group would say why not me?” – The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata reacting to Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed’s statement that herdsmen carry arms to defend themselves.

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In Loving Memory of Lateef Jakande

Y

ou won’t believe this. As the Lagos state governor-elect in 1979, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande was so much in a hurry to hit the ground running that he appealed to all headmasters and principals not to demand or accept fees for the new academic session starting in September – in line with the free education policy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). But there was a snag: he was going to be inaugurated on October 1, by which time schools would have resumed. Navy Captain Ebitu Ukiwe, thenmilitary governor of the state, had to politely remind Jakande that he remained the de facto governor till October 1 – and there could only be one governor at a time!

Jakande genuinely wanted to serve. He desired to better the lives of the people of Lagos, the nation’s seat of power then. He had a dream – which did not include primitive accumulation of obscene wealth. He had a plan – which was not about personal aggrandisement. He was a journalist, an accomplished one at that, but he was not planning on using the power of the media to promote self-hagiography. He wanted to work. He put his dream into a plan, turned his plan into action, and, in no time, he became the darling of the people. In four years, Jakande was indisputably the star among the 19 state governors, appropriately nicknamed “Action Governor”. He was authentic.

How did Jakande do it? He got his priorities right. You can never be wrong when your motive is pure: to serve the people, to make their world a better place. For a man who did not attend a university or school abroad like his contemporaries – but rose to the very top of his profession – he was very clear that education was the key to development. He inherited a dilapidated education system, evident in inadequate classroom infrastructure and shortage of personnel. Schools were run in morning and afternoon shifts to ration resources. Many students would hawk in traffic all morning and go to school in the afternoon, sweaty and tired, to learn Pythagoras Theorem. That was wicked!

What did Jakande do? He used his brain.

With little money (he said Ukiwe told him Lagos was surviving on federal bail-outs), he adopted a short- and medium-term approach.

He built temporary sheds to accommodate all students in the morning. Within a year, he had added over 10,000 classrooms, catering for a maximum of 40 students per class.

Opposition politicians ridiculed the sheds as “poultry classrooms”. In the medium term, he built permanent structures, many of them three-storey classrooms. In all, he added over 22,000 classrooms to what he met. By 1983, Jakande had created more than 200 new primary schools and doubled the number of secondary schools.

Also, he raised the teaching capacity by investing in training and expanding the Lagos State College of Education (now renamed after his opponent in the 1979 governorship election, Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya, a former commissioner for education in the state).

His critics ate their words as enrolment and attendance soared and results improved.

Lagos state soon became a shining example in education. As Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, former minister of sports and one-time Kwara

Jakande state commissioner for education, would say: a classroom can look like a five-star hotel but with zero knowledge input – it is the quality of instruction that matters. Jakande proved this to the cynics.

What do the people need? Good healthcare.

Jakande built hospitals and health centres all over the state. Medical care was free, as promised by the UPN. A living witness is my senior colleague, Comrade Kayode Komolafe, deputy MD of THISDAY, who survived a horrific car accident in February 1984 and was unconscious for two weeks. He narrated this to me a few years ago: “Without the free healthcare, I would have died! We were still enjoying free healthcare weeks after the military coup. They later said there was no money and scrapped it. For the three months that I was being moved in ambulances from one hospital to the other, I did not pay one kobo.”

That was then, comrade.

What do the people need? Shelter. Perhaps one legacy that many easily remember Jakande for was his massive housing project. The lowincome estates are still standing all over the state. He delivered 21,000 housing units and 18 housing estates within four years. But that is not the whole story. The real gist was: those who bought the houses did not have to know the governor or any commissioner. All they did was buy the lottery tickets. The houses were sold through an evidently transparent process.

You didn’t need to know anybody. One of my current colleagues told me she benefitted from the scheme. Imagine the housing crisis in Lagos without those Jakande estates today!

Yet, for all his undisputed and celebrated achievements as governor – which earned him the endorsement of many as “Baba Kekere” (“Mini Awolowo”, if you will) – Jakande lost to Maj. Gen Shehu Musa Yar’Adua in the Lagos leg of the staggered presidential primary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1992. I was not expecting him to win the SDP ticket (you certainly needed more than Lagos and even the entire south-west to do that) but it was scandalous that his party members in Lagos did not deem it fit to vote for him.

I wouldn’t pick Yar’Adua ahead of Jakande any day, even if I was half-asleep. That was when I began to question the place of merit in Nigerian politics.

Jakande was so shocked at the outcome

that he, rather petulantly, challenged Yar’Adua to a popularity walk on the streets of Lagos.

Yar’Adua replied in kind, asking Jakande to, instead, engage the Lagos young guns of his political movement in the street contest.

The young guns were Yomi Edu and Dapo Sarumi, who drove the Yar’Adua machinery, the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), in the state. I must confess that a part of me still loved the romantic story – that a Fulani came all the way from Katsina to defeat a Yoruba in Lagos and another Yoruba aspirant, Chief Layi Balogun, in his home state, Oyo. It was good for the headlines and advanced the cause of national integration.

Jakande’s next political adventure was a nightmare. In fact, it diminished him and he never really recovered from it. He served in the cabinet of Gen Sani Abacha, who came to power after the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election won by Bashorun MKO Abiola. As Abacha unleashed mayhem on the south-west following opposition to his government and unrelenting calls for the deannulment of June 12, Yoruba activists asked their kinsmen in the cabinet to resign. Jakande, who was minister of works, refused. Others, including Chief Ebenezer Babatope and Chief Olu Onagoruwa, also stayed put. That was how they were classified as outcasts and betrayers.

Yet, there was a back story – and this is hardly retold these days. The decision of Abiola’s camp to serve in Abacha’s cabinet was collective, based on the ridiculous assumption that Abacha would hand over to Abiola on April 1, 1994. Abacha clearly made a fool of them. More so, Abacha was already in a killer mood when Abiola’s associates were being asked to resign. Abacha’s men were throwing bombs and assassinating people everywhere.

Onagoruwa, his attorney-general who disowned some decrees that had ouster clauses, was sacked.

His son, Toyin, was assassinated. Several people were assassinated. Many June 12 activists had to flee the country.

An amazing thing about Jakande was that all his accomplishments were in four years.

You see, if you are good, you are good. You don’t need a million years to make a difference.

Awolowo was deified based on what he did as premier of Western region from 1952 to 1959.

The rest was bonus. I also want to point out that the Three Titans – Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Awo – overshadowed other performers in public office. By all accounts, Sir Michael Okpara did very well as premier of Eastern region from 1959-1966, just as Audu Bako, a police officer, was great as governor of Kano state from 1967-1975. But the Titans remain the Titans. You can’t begrudge them.

I will forever celebrate Jakande as a selfless leader who used the resources of Lagos state to care for the masses through programmes and projects that we could see and feel; who revamped a collapsing education sector; who opened up the state for physical development with key initiatives in housing and road infrastructure; who executed water projects to cater for millions; who expanded markets to boost the retail economy; who envisioned the metroline project that would have saved Lagosians from transportation headaches today; and who lived in his modest house in Ilupeju right from before he became governor in 1979 till his death on Thursday at 91. Sun re, Baba Kekere!

And Four Other Things…

HERDERS AND HARDLINERS It appears we are finally trying to take ourselves seriously over the menace of the herders. I am seeing movements up and down and what appears to be a concrete attempt at stemming a certain slide into anarchy, amidst rising ethnic tensions in this fragile country. I am also seeing some hardliners finally accepting or promoting the idea of ranching. It is sad that it took us this long to come to our senses. Still, I would like to warn that ranching will not end the insecurity. There is the menace of herders that can be addressed through ranching – but there is also the menace of criminal networks of kidnappers that ranching will not resolve. It is not just the herders. Deeper.

LEKKI AGAIN I was really worried ahead of the planned protests at Lekki Toll Plaza, the epicentre of the End SARS agitation of 2020, on Saturday. I am not usually worried about peaceful protests. They are integral to building and sustaining a democratic culture.

It is the potential for hijack that scares me, as we saw in the mayhem that followed the otherwise peaceful protests last year. I do not see Lagos state recovering from the ensuing destruction in the next five years; the material losses were enormous. The deaths are irreparable. Whatever issues are causing new tensions should be addressed.

The law courts, it has to be said, are an important part of democracy and should also be explored. Options.

MAINA SERIES Have you seen it all? No, you haven’t. After Abdulrasheed Maina, the former pensions task force boss, had displayed all the drama in this world – running away from the country twice in the two acts – in his trial over allegations of fraud, his son, Faisal, has pulled another one on the country. Having refused to attend trial since November last year, Faisal has now reportedly fled to the US – even though his Nigerian and American passports are in the custody of the Nigerian government. How did he do that? Hon. Sani Umar Dangaladima, member of the house of representatives, who stood as surety for Faisal, has forfeited his property estimated at N60 million as a result. Nigeria!

CELEBRATING SOFOLUWE Yisa Sofoluwe, former Super Eagles’ defender, died on Tuesday after an illness.

He was just 53. Sofoluwe – nicknamed ‘Dean of Defence’ by the inimitable commentator, late Ernest Okonkwo – was one of my favourite defenders, even though he played for a rival club, Abiola Babes (I was a fierce supporter of Leventis United FC, the only club I ever supported wholeheartedly). For all his talent, he never played abroad. In 1988, a conman, purporting to have a note from John Fashanu inviting Sofoluwe for trial with an English club, duped the rightfooter. He returned to Nigeria completely embarrassed. He was a humble and quiet man who served the country diligently.

Adieu.

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