SUNDAY 21TH FEBRUARY 2021

Lawan Accuses S'West Govs of Inciting Violence in Their States Says it’s failure of leadership Region's governors, traditional rulers, security chiefs meet on insecurity John Shiklam in Kaduna and Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, has said the Southwest governors should

be blamed for the recent ethnic violence, which erupted in some states in the region and targeted the people of Fulani extraction, because they instigated the crisis through

their unguarded utterances.

But, to prevent a reoccurrence, Lawan suggested that all those responsible for the killings and destruction of properties during the

crisis should be arrested and brought to justice, insisting that it was not enough to pay compensation to the victims of the crisis.

Speaking during an

interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Lawan described what happened in some parts of the Southwest particularly, in

Ibadan, Oyo State, as a failure of leadership.

“What happened in Oyo State and some states in the Continued on page 9

Sanwo-Olu Cautions Christian Leaders against Inflammatory Comments… Page 8 Sunday 21 February, 2021 Vol 26. No 9450

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Fulani Herders Can’t Forcefully Acquire, Settle on Land, Falana Tells Bauchi Gov Warns him against misleading herders Says Miyetti Allah has agreed to respect state laws Gboyega Akinsanmi No person, however highly placed he or she may be, is permitted to forcefully acquire land and settle on

it by force and arms in any state in Nigeria, a leading constitutional and human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) has said.

Falana, a former President of

the West Africa Bar Association (WABA), admitted that Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) “guarantees freedom of movement,” but

pointed out that the same instrument “never guarantees any person freedom to settle anywhere.”

He offered this legal opinion in response to THISDAY’s

inquiry with respect to a statement by Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed that citizens “do not need the permission of the Ondo State Governor,

Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) to live in the state’s forest reserve.”

Mohammed had made the Continued on page 8

Five Days After, Kagara Students, Others Still in Bandits’ Captivity FG: We won’t pay any ransom Gumi denies being part of negotiations to free victims Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja, John Shiklam in Kaduna and Laleye Dipo in Minna Despite speculations, which went viral about possible negotiations to free the abducted students of Government Science College, Kagara, in Niger State, the 27 schoolboys, 15 members of staff of the school, and their family members are still in captivity five days after the raid.

Besides, some 40 travellers, who were kidnapped eight days ago at Kundu village in Rafi Local Government Area of the state, remain with their captors, though 10 of them were released last week.

This is as the federal government vowed never to pay ransom to the bandits to secure the release of the victims. The government said at no time did it consider the Continued on page 5

SECURITY ON THEIR MINDS...

L-R: Governors Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo); Gboyega Oyetola (Osun); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Obas and Service Commanders in the State during the South-west Security meeting with Obas and the Service Commanders held at EXCO Chamber Governor's Office, Secretariat, Ibadan, Oyo State...yesterday

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PDP Reconciliation: Saraki Committee Makes Progress, Reconciles Members As party holds zonal congresses March 6 Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says as part of efforts to reposition the party ahead of the 2023 general election, the Senator Bukola Saraki reconciliation and strategy committee has recorded huge successes in the resolution of grievances and reuniting of critical tendencies in the party.

This comes as the National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP yesterday approved the conduct of its zonal congresses in the six geo-political zones on March 6.

In continuation of its work, the Saraki committee has waded into the face-off between Rivers State Governor Nyson Wike and his Cross River State counterpart, Senator Ben Ayade. Also, friends of National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, have intervened to try to resolve the rift between him and Wike, appealing to both camps to sheathe their swords in the overall interest of the party.

A party source, who disclosed the developments, said, "The chairman of the committee and other members have made crucial interventions to douse tension in various circles in the party. For example, Saraki had hosted a reconciliation meeting between Governor Wike and Ayade of Rivers and Cross River, respectively.”

Another source privy to the face-off between Wike and Secobdus said friends of both leaders had intervened to settle their feud.

The source said, "Both Secondus and Wike were invited to a meeting, which they both honoured, and I can assure you that the perceived misunderstanding is over in the interest of the party " The meeting took place in Port Harcourt, the source said.

The Saraki committee has equally settled the rift between the warring factions in Imo State

following the Supreme Court’s removal of Hon. Emeka Ihedioha as governor of the state.

On the eve of the committee’s inauguration on December 1 last year, the members had after series of separate meetings in Abuja with the feuding groups in Plateau State, moved to Jos, where it had a joint meeting with the Senator Jeremiah Useni and Jonah Jang groups. The effort

was to unite them to work together on the senatorial byeelection in Plateau State. Though, the party lost the election, the efforts succeeded extensively in restoring political relationships in the state.

In Imo State, the source said the committee, last Thursday, after a meeting with the Board of Trustees (BOT), received the report of a sub-committee set

up on the crisis in the state chapter, jointly headed by Rt. Hon Austin Opara and Senator MAO Ohunabunwa.

The report, which the committee had deliberated, upon showed that the lingering crisis in the state might be resolved soon.

The source stated, "Aggrieved members, who had cases in court have agreed to withdraw them."

It added that others had chosen

to move forward, forget the past, and work together to reclaim a state, which is traditionally a PDP state.

"In all, the PDP Reconciliation committee is set to reposition the party and stop the haemorrhaging being caused by the APC, which seeks to use the news of defection from PDP to the APC as a smokescreen for the serious division in its

own rank," the source stated.

THISDAY gathered that the Saraki committee was billed to meet some of the founding members and national chairmen, like Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Dr. Ahmad Ali, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, soon. It had last week held a meeting behind closed doors with former President Good luck Jonathan at his residence in Abuja

ABIODUN'S QUEST FOR PEACE ...

L-R: Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Director of State Services, Mr David Tuska and Brigade Commander, 35th Artillery Division, Abeokuta at the inauguration of the Peace-keeping Task Force set up by the Government on Farmer-Herders skirmishes in the state...yesterday

FIVE DAYS AFTER, KAGARA STUDENTS, OTHERS STILL IN BANDITS’ CAPTIVITY option of paying ransom to the bandits to secure the freedom of the persons abducted from the boarding school on Wednesday.

In a related development, a popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, who met some of the bandits last week and advocated "blanket amnesty" for them, has denied involvement in any negotiations for the release of the kidnapped persons.

THISDAY was reliably informed last night that kidnappers of the students, their tutors, and family members had so far not demanded any ransom in the negotiations for their release, contrary to earlier reports.

But the bandits have asked for N500 million before the release of the remaining passengers seized from the Niger State Transport Authority (NSTA) vehicle. The refusal to release the kidnapped persons is being interpreted to mean that the dialogue between the bandits and the state government might have collapsed as a result of the huge ransom being demanded. This assumption was probably given fillip by Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State, when he opposed giving ransom to the bandits because, according to him, they end up spending the money on the purchase of arms and ammunition used to terrorise the people.

But Minister of Information

and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who featured on a breakfast television programme yesterday, hinted that the government would not pay any ransom to the bandits. Insisting that the federal government would not tolerate criminality in any form, Mohammed said the authorities were considering kinetic and non-kinetic measures to secure the release of the Kagara victims. Though, he said invitation to engage the bandits was on the cards.

The minister said the government was keeping the overall strategy under wraps, and stressed that it was dutybound to look at the underlining causes of the criminalities raging in some parts of the country in order to address them.

Mohammed stated, “Bandits all over the world work with the psychology of people.

Deliberately, they target women and children, because this is what will attract a lot of global outcry.

That is exactly what bandits do all over the world.

“The government has put in place, all along, various strategies to contain banditry, to fight insurgency, to fight kidnapping. Some of these measures are kinetic; some are not kinetic. We didn’t get here overnight and that is why it is difficult to get out one day.”

The minister was detailed to Niger State along with his

colleagues from the Ministries of Police Affairs and Interior, the Inspector General of Police, and the National Security Adviser, to get first-hand information on the abduction of the Kagara schoolboys. He assured the public that the government was on top of the matter.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Gumi, who has denied involvement in any negotiation for the release of the abducted students, told THISDAY in a telephone interview that he went to Niger State on a peace mission with some leaders of the bandits and had nothing to do with the abductions in the state. He said the meeting with some of the bandits’ leaders had been scheduled before the two kidnapping incidents happened.

Gumi said, “I am not part of any negotiations. We just met some of these militants (in Niger State), trying to dissuade them from their militancy.”

He said during his meeting with the bandits, he asked them about the abduction incidents, and they agreed knowing the group that abducted the passengers in the bus, but said they did not know those who kidnapped students.

He stated, “We asked them (leaders of the bandits) about what happened and they said they know the group that abducted the bus and they said they will intercede and

see that they are released. But for the (school) children, they said they didn't know who did it, because it was too early for them to know.”

From his own observation and what he was told by one of the Fulani elders, Gumi said, “Those groups we met may be having problems with a splinter group.”

He said his peace mission had been scheduled more than one week ago.

“This is just a postulation, not confirmed, maybe some splinter groups want to show their rejection of peace, that is why they did it. The people I met with are not the ones who abducted the students, but they said they knew the group that abducted the bus,” he explained.

Asked why he did not attempt to intervene to ensure the release of the students, Gumi said, “We did, the overall commander of the group we met, promised that he would investigate those who abducted the children and get them released.

“You know, you are dealing with groups of militants with warlords, not one, and they have formed an alliance, because they are operating within the same area. So now, the biggest one said let's sit down and speak peace. There can be some few who did not hear about the call for peace or some splinter groups that don't want peace.

“We don't know. We are

just postulating, because the incidents happened, when we had scheduled our meeting. We didn’t go there for negotiations.

Our mission was before even the incidents. So, we were even surprised when the incidents happened, when we were trying to negotiate, to sit down with them.”

Gumi said his peace mission was targeted at the leaders of the bandits in Zamfara, Katsina and Niger states, stressing, “We were following the big militants to see how to pacify them. We were in Zamfara; we heard there is another one (leader of bandits) in Niger. There are even some still in Zamfara.

“We will go back to them and maybe in Katsina, there is a warlord. We are trying to see if we can pacify them. So, this, the abductions in Niger State, happened as a surprise to us too.”

Reacting to reports that the bandits demanded for N500 million for the release of the students, Gumi said, “That is nonsense! Nonsense! It is just nonsense!”

More facts emerged at the weekend on how a former senior staff of the college managed to escape from the bandits. It was learnt that the bandits first raided the residence of the staff, where he was kidnapped along with one of his wives and five children. According to findings,

the staff had his cloth tied to one of the kidnapped students, when they were being taken into the bush. The bandits were in front and back of the procession, but at a stage the student removed his shirt and took to his heels, giving the staff an opportunity to also escape.

But why the bandits did not shoot the staff and the student has remained a mystery, even though his wife and five children were among the 42 taken hostage by the bandits.

Receiving some state legislators, who paid him a solidarity visit on Saturday, Bello said the kidnapped students and others had not been released but he was confident "they will be released very soon".

Speaker of the House of Assembly, Alhaji Abdullahi Wuse, led the lawmakers, who said they had joined their faiths with those of other citizens of the state to pray for the safe release of all in captives. Wuse said the Assembly would soon amend the anti-banditry and kidnapping law to include informants, saying the bandits and their informants would face the same punishment. He also asked that traditional rulers should take record of people settling in their domains and make such information available to the government Continued on page 9

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NEWS

Sanwo-Olu Cautions Christian Leaders against Inflammatory Comments Segun James Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has cautioned against inflammatory statements among faith leaders and opinion moulders, warning that reckless utterances can aggravate the security crisis in the country. Sanwo-Olu said the nature of the country’s challenges required all leaders to refrain from incendiary comments that could stoke more division and violence, stressing that a crisis in Nigeria would be catastrophic for Africa.

The governor spoke at the 2021 Lagos State Interdenominational Divine Service (IDDS) held by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at The Apostolic Church, Ketu.

He was installed as Grand Patron of CAN in the state at the event themed, “A New Beginning, A New Dawn and A New Glory.”

Sanwo-Olu noted that Nigeria faced a difficult period last year following economic downturn occasioned by the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and paralysing nationwide youth protests. He said religious leaders must use their pulpits to preach peace and discourage war, adding that it is time for citizens to come together and give Nigeria the new beginning it deserves to surmount its challenges.

“It is time for sober reflection that must bring a new beginning for our nation,” Sanwo-Olu declared, adding, “We have all witnessed the challenges of our country, but we need to be careful not to turn the observed crises into an ethnic or religious war. We need to guard against utterances that may stereotype anyone or their tribe. We have a duty to isolate criminals in our communities, rather than introducing tribal spin into

every crime.

“Nigeria is the largest country in Africa. Where will we go? That’s why I said we need a new beginning and there are no other people that can help us lower the temperature and calm the frayed nerves than our religious leaders, whose voices are well respected.

As a nation, we have several battles to fight but we must refrain from adding political

instability to the issues.”

Sanwo-Olu said the problems troubling the country required collective action from every segment of society.

Despite the COVID-19 crisis and destructions during the #EndSARS protests last year, Sanwo-Olu said Lagos had weathered the crisis with a strong determination to sustain the progress it had recorded. He thanked

religious groups across the state for sustaining Lagos with prayers, and commended CAN for its spiritual support to his administration.

The South-west leader of CAN, Very Reverend Father Raphael Osegboun, decorated Sanwo-Olu as Grand Patron of the Lagos chapter of the association. Osegboun said the appointment was based on the Christian body’s

resolve to naturally fill the position with any sitting governor of the Christian faith.

The senator for Lagos Central, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was named Matron of CAN in the state, while Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi was appointed Grand Matron. Other awardees were the senator for Lagos West, Solomon Adeola, and Sir Olu Okeowo.

Chief of Staff, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, took the first Bible reading at the service from the Book of Genesis 1 Vs 1-6, which reminded believers how God created the earth and the heavens with the commandment of His words.

National President of CAN, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, inducted new state executive members of the association, led by Rt. Reverend Stephen Adegbite.

SANWO-OLU THE GRAND PATRON...

L-R: Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rt. Reverend Stephen Adegbite, decorating Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as Grand Patron of Lagos CAN during the Interdenominational Divine Service organised by CAN at The Apostolic Church, Ketu...yesterday

FULANI HERDERS CAN’T FORCEFULLY ACQUIRE, SETTLE ON LAND, FALANA TELLS BAUCHI GOV statement in defence of Fulani herders, whom Akeredolu had directed to quit the state’s forest reserve for alleged illegal occupation; kidnapping for ransom, killing of land owners and raping of women.

Mohammed, on a live television programme on Friday, had claimed: “Land is in the hands of the state and federal governments in trust. Nigerians do not need the permission of governors or the federal government to settle anywhere.

“You do not need the permission of the governor of Bauchi or the governor of Ondo to be in the forests of Ondo if you choose to live in the forests, because under Section 41 of the constitution, you are free to settle anywhere.”

In response to Mohammed’s claims, Falana counselled the governor that section 41 of the 1999 Constitution only guaranteed freedom of movement and not freedom to settle anywhere.

Under section 43 of the Constitution, however, Falana pointed out that any person “is entitled to own an immovable property in any state in Nigeria."

The senior lawyer explained: “If your house or land is compulsorily acquired by the government for public purpose, you are entitled to a just and fair compensation by virtue of section 44 of the Constitution.”

The senior lawyer, also, clarified that every person, who intends to settle in any state, would be required to acquire land under the Land Use Act. Upon the acquisition of the land, Falana noted that the owner “is required to apply for the approval of his/her building plan. No one is permitted to forcefully acquire land and settle on it vi et armis in any state in Nigeria.

"The owner of an illegally occupied land is entitled to sue for the recovery of the land and payment of damages for trespass. If the land belongs to the government, the property on it may be demolished without due process.”

Citing these compelling provisions of the 1999 Constitution, Falana warned Bala Mohammed “to stop misleading herders to acquire land for cattle business without complying with the Land Use

Act, Urban and Regional Law, Forestry Law, Anti Grazing Law in the affected states.”

The senior lawyer, therefore, drew the attention of Bala Mohammed to Section 42 (1) (e) and (g) of the Forestry Law Cap 56 Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

The section states thus: “Whoever in any forest reserve, except with the authority in writing of the prescribed officer, digs, cuts, turns or cultivates the soil or makes a farm or plantation; pastures cattle or permits cattle to trespass or trespasses in any part of a forest reserves in which trespass shall be prohibited by an order of the Governor or during any period specified in an order of the Governor shall be liable on summary conviction as the court may impose or to imprisonment for five years or to both.”

In specifics, section 42(2) of the law stipulates: “In addition to the penalty imposed under subsection (1) of this section, any farm or plantation or building or other infrastructure found on the reserve shall be destroyed and no compensation shall be paid in respect thereof.”

With due regard to these provisions, Falana noted that the leaders of the Miyetti Allah Association had entered into an agreement with the South West governors “to regularise the business activities of herders operating in Ondo State and other states in the region.”

On these grounds, Falana asked Bala Mohammed “to stop inciting herders to bear weapons without license and seizing forest reserves without authorisation."

He, also, advised him “to emulate Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State and a few others by embarking on the establishment of ranches for herders for the production of meat in commercial quantities.”

Under the leaders of Bala Mohammed as the of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from 2010 to 2015, Falana explained how thousands of houses were demolished on the grounds that they were illegally built on landed properties belonging to the federal government.

The senior advocate, specifically, cited the resolve of the ex-minister who wanted to demolish the entire Mpape housing occupied by over a

million people.

He noted that Bala Mohammed, then minister in charge of FCT, claimed that the owners of the various properties had trespassed on the land belonging to the Federal Government.

But he said the people, whose properties had been marked for demolition, briefed his law firm to seek legal redress.

On behalf of the community, according to Falana, we approached the federal capital territory high court for urgent intervention. In an epochal judgment delivered by Justice Kutigi, the planned demolition was halted.

He, also, cited how Bala Mohammed “has ordered that a house being used as a den of criminal activities in Bauchi be demolished and ordered that 1,000 rifles found therein be confiscated.”

He lamented that it was ironical that the same governor said last week that herders be allowed to bear AK 47 rifles illegally in spite of overwhelming evidence that the weapons were being used to take over farmlands, kidnap people and rape women.

He said: "If the building

warehousing 1000 AK in Bauchi was demolished by Bala Mohammed why is he asking Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to allow herders armed with scores of AK 47 rifles to operate in Ondo State without licences issued by the appropriate authorities?

In 2020, Falana claimed that the federal government paid monetary compensation “to the owners of the large tract of land which had been acquired for the Bauchi airport 38 years earlier.

"The Bauchi State Government made a strong case for payment of the compensation. The governor did not say that the property was a no man's land.

In the same vein, the Bauchi State Government “has been mounting pressure on the corporate bodies engaged in exploration of crude oil in the Alkaleri Local Government Area, Bauchi State to pay compensation to members of the community in Baranbo area.

“Bala Mohammed is not preaching that the oil companies can seize the land belonging to the people in the exploration area of Bauchi State without paying adequate compensation,” Falana observed.

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FG Moves to Remove Ghost Workers from Payroll Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The federal government has introduced control mechanisms to forestall the infiltration of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) platform by ghost workers. The move followed the implementation of the Human Resource (HR) component of the IPPIS in the Federal Civil Service.

The initiative was contained in a circular issued by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-

Esan. The circular, titled, ‘’New Procedure for enrolment of Federal Civil Service Employees on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) ref HCSF/CMO/ IPPIS1/1/502,” reminded ministries of the need to obtain waiver for employment from the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (OHCSF).

Furthermore, federal ministries were enjoined to obtain clearance from the Budget Office of the Federation indicating budgetary provisions in the relevant year for the

Obi’s Stinginess is Legendary, Says Uba What appears as hard verdict was recently handed over to the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi by Chief Chris Uba, who described Obi as one of the stingiest persons he has met.

The venue of Uba’s verdict was the last PDP meeting at Enugu, which was hosted by the Governor of the State, His Excellency, Hon. Emeka Ugwuanyi.

Not impressed by the quality of champagne presented to them by the host, Chief Uba, in the presence of Obi said jokingly that the meeting deserved better champagne and wine and not the type Obi served them when he was Governor.

Chris Uba then recounted one of his encounters with Obi at Government house as Governor. He said Obi usually served guests with champagne “Obele ego” and the quality of wine meant for students and when anybody complained, he would say that Government house was not a bar or restaurant.

Continuing Uba said: “The worst is that when one complained too much, he would start fondling with his calculator, telling one how many schools and hospitals the money saved

from buying costly drinks would help in re-building.

After throaty laughter by the host and others around, the host said he noted his observations, while insisting that Governments that did not cut costs would not achieve much . Meanwhile, he assured him, tongue in cheek, that more drinks would come.

Speaking on the encounter, Obi’s former Commissioner for Information, Chief Barr. JoeMartins Uzodike disagreed with Uba, insisting that People always mistake parsimony and prudent management of funds for stinginess.

“Obi is not stingy, but manages resources very well by curtailing all manner of waste, extravagance, and inappropriate use of state resources. He deserves an award and should be held out for emulation rather than being made a butt for lunch jollity,” Uzodike said.

Continuing he concludes: “If not for his parsimony which some people mistake for stinginess, would he have ended up as a governor who did more than others in terms of Infrastructure without borrowing a dime, but instead left over 75 billion Naira for his successor?”

payment of salaries of the officers to be recruited.

Yemi-Esan detailed procedure that must be followed before new employees can be enrolled on the IPPIS platform.

According to her, the process requires that all waivers granted by the OHCSF and appointment letters issued by Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) must be submitted to the OHCSF for confirmation and authentication.

Newly recruited employees, irrespective of their pool offices, must also be documented at

the OHCSF before proceeding to their relevant ministries of deployment.

In the case of officers on salary Grade Level 06 and below, the respective ministries will forward the list of all newly recruited officers to the OHCSF for authentication of waiver after which the OHCSF, upon documentation of all employees, and subsequent deployment, will open the registration portal and notify the ministries to complete the online registration forms, print out the confirmation slips (to

be signed by the Permanent Secretary and Director, Human Resource Management), and submit same to OHCSF. The ministries will thereafter forward the list of the new employees to the OHCSF, IPPIS-SW, for verification of document. After verification of each employee, the IPPISSW will scan all the relevant documents for uploading onto the IPPIS platform; and capture their biometrics before pay-rolling.

In order to clear all pending personnel and pay-rolling

issues, a committee, comprising relevant stakeholders, has been constituted to authenticate all waivers and appointment letters of staff of all core ministries issued by the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) or ministries for GL 06 officers and below in order to facilitate their enrolment on IPPIS platform.

The circular further requested all ministries to forward the list and documents of all newly recruited officers from the core ministries already enrolled on the IPPIS platform to the Director, IPPIS-SW.

Okowa’s Aide, PDP Mock Factionalised Delta APC Say facts about governor's achievements incontestable Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba Executive Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Communications, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, says relentless internal crises, prompted by selfish struggle for leadership and relevance by the various factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, have made the party a pitiable and laughable bunch. Oghenesivbe's assertion, contained in a media statement made available to THISDAY on Saturday in Asaba, comes on the heels of a heated altercation between the state publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, and publicity secretary of the state caretaker committee of APC, Mr. Sylvester Imonina.

The exchanges followed a press release on Friday, signed by Imonina, titled, “Pay attention to quality in road construction, Delta APC charges Okowa,” which the PDP described as lazy and baseless

criticism of a performing governor The governor's aide lampooned APC for what he called "deliberate diversionary tactics" through frivolous allegations against the Okowa administration. Oghenesivbe said the APC criticism was a face-saving measure due to "persistent in-fighting and politics of trade by barter among leaders of multiple factions within the party."

Oghenesivbe, in the statement titled, "Okowa Is Truly The Road Master," said APC had resorted to unfounded criticism of the Okowa government due to "the pitiable internal petty squabbles and constant selfish struggles for prime positions and political relevance in the triangular Ogboru (Great), Emerhor (O'tega) and DSP (Deputy Senate President) Omo-Agege factions of the party in the state.

"The monumental achievement of this administration in roads construction and rehabilitation,

numbering over 200 roads in five years, and across the three senatorial districts, was rightly commended by APC national government through the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, when he visited Delta State some years ago, and during that engagement officially recognised the Platinum Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, as 'The Road Master'” Oghenesivbe, who is also a member of the International Communication Association (ICA), accused the APC spokesman of ignoring facts.

Similarly, the PDP publicity secretary alleged that APC in the state was merely attempting to pick unsubstantiated holes in the Okowa administration's extensive development of infrastructure, including over 200 roads spanning thousands of kilometres, by isolating one road for criticism.

While listing the roads and bridges constructed by the Okowa administration, Osuoza said, "In order to effectively

tackle the infrastructural and environmental challenges in the Warri axis, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa established the Warri-Uvwie Area and Environs Development Agency (WUEDA).”

He explained, "Already, over N3 billion contracts have been awarded for storm drainages in the Warri-Uvwie metropolis and, with the flood control measures in place, the government is poised to undertake expansion and rehabilitation of the long Warri-Effurun-SapeleRoad, stretching to Enerhen Junction.

"It is, indeed, a pity that the APC, perhaps, because of its fractured nature in the state, has forgotten that it was the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who nicknamed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the 'Road Master' in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in road construction across the state, especially in the riverine areas, during the commissioning of some of the roads in those areas by the Okowa administration."

that media practitioners must assist the country to end fake news,” he said.

The meeting, which was held inside the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor's office, Agodi, Ibadan, had in attendance five governors including the host, Governor Makinde; Governors Akeredolu of Ondo, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State.

The meeting equally had in attendance the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of South-West, David Folawiyo, and security chiefs serving in Oyo State.

Others included the chairmen of Council of Traditional Rulers in each of the South-West states and some first class monarchs.

According to Akeredolu, the meeting was held to find lasting solutions to the lingering security issues in the zone.

Some of the traditional rulers who took part in the meeting

include the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III; Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi; Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Babatunde Ajayi; Olugbo of Ugbo kingdom, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan; Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunnjso 1; and Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao.

Also in attendance was the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko, and other heads of security agencies in Oyo State.

At the end of the meeting, the Chairman, South-West Governors' Forum, Akeredolu briefed newsmen about the resolutions of the meeting.

Akeredolu told newsmen that the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof Ibrahim Gambari; Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu and the Director General of the DSS, Yusuf Bichi couldn't make the journey to Ibadan to attend the meeting due to bad weather.

agreement with the people," Gide said.

In another development, three people were yesterday killed following attacks by bandits on communities in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The bandits were allegedly aided by some youths in the communities. But one of the persons suspected

to have collaborated with the bandits was reportedly lynched to death by a mob.

Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday, said the police were investigating the possible collusion of some youths with bandits in the communities.

LAWAN ACCUSES S'WEST GOVS OF INCITING VIOLENCE IN THEIR STATES South-west and probably the Southeast, was truly a failure of leadership. I will not only blame governors, the governors have a responsibility to protect people in living their states,” the Senate President said.

According to him, “The utterances of some governors in the Southwest region encouraged the indigenes, who felt their leaders gave them licence.”

Lawan, who said the crises happened, when the senate was on recess, also noted that the issues were discussed on the floor of the upper chamber of the National Assembly upon resumption.

“We were on recess, the issue was the first before the floor of the senate and it was debated on what happened in various parts of Nigeria and the murder of people in Oyo State, was among the issues we discussed.

“We did not approve of political leaders making inciting statements and causing confusion among the people. We condemned any tribe or some

irresponsible people, who insist that if you are not an indigene of a particular place, you will not come and live there,” Lawan contended.

Further, he argued that, “The governors held a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and he told them that the federal government will not tolerate utterances from any governor that will incite people leading to the murder of other people, who are considered as non-indigenes.

“The constitution of Nigeria gives every Nigerian the right to live anywhere in the country and pursue means of livelihood.

The Vice President met yesterday with the governors, it was agreed that those whose property were burnt during the crisis that occurred should be compensated.

“For me, yes, let compensations be paid, but those responsible for the killings must be brought to justice even when compensation is paid. The security agencies must fish out the perpetrators and bring them

to justice if we must address this problem.

“It is not enough to pay money to the families of those, who were killed, security agencies should go after those responsible for killings. The security agencies should arrest them and charge them to court.

This will serve as deterrent to anyone, who want to cause confusion next time.”

Insecurity: South-west Govs, Traditional Rulers, Security Chiefs Meet in Ibadan Meanwhile, South-west governors and traditional rulers met in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, yesterday, to appraise the security situation of the zone.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, who spoke at the

end of the meeting said that though the meeting was at the instance of the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the trio could not fly out of Abuja due to bad weather.

He said that the governors and the traditional rulers thereafter decided to meet to appraise the security situation in the zone.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor 'Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Akeredolu read a three point communique agreed to after the meeting: “That the meeting supported the decision of the National Economic Council (NEC) on forest management; that the nation's borders need to be fully secured and protected; that open grazing must be checked and looked at and

FIVE DAYS AFTER, KAGARA STUDENTS, OTHERS STILL IN BANDITS’ CAPTIVITY The speaker said, "We are deeply touched, we are deeply worried about the security situation in the state, especially, the abduction of students of the Government Science College, Kagara, and those on board of the NSTA. You need to reinforce your meetings with traditional rulers, because there is influx of strange people into

our communities "We must also go spiritual this time around and engage both religions to help pray against the current insecurity in the state. It is time to seek God's intervention."

Meanwhile, in a video, which has gone virile in the state, a leader of the bandits, Gado Gide, said they had accepted

reconciliation but asked if it was for only Niger State or the whole country. He also said they had accepted to attend peace meetings on the release of their victims because one of their own, a Fulani man, had assured them that a top cleric was coming to dialogue with them.

In the five minutes, 40 seconds video recorded in

Hausa, Gide asked those that came for the negotiation to tell the government to stop aerial bombardment of their people, which had led to many deaths, adding that the government should fulfil all parts of their agreement.

“We don't want a situation where we will regret attending the meeting and reaching

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FEBRUARY 21, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

EDITORIAL

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

OKONJO IWEALA’S WTO APPOINTMENT Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment holds substantial prospects for Nigeria and Africa

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n a season of bad news for the country, the appointment of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the new Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has brought a welcome relief. The historic development was formalised on Monday when the General Council agreed by consensus to select the former World Bank Managing Director as the seventh Director-General. By the appointment, Okonjo-Iweala has become the first woman and first African to head the WTO in its 73-year history.

While there are significant lessons from OkonjoIweala’s appointment, we recall that after a long process that started almost a year ago, she had last December defeated her remaining challenger, South Korea’s Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee by a sizeable margin. That was after securing the support of WTO members from Africa, Caribbean, European Union, Helping Africa China, India and produce more many other regions and countries across and, perhaps world. But the more important, the administration process more of the immediate of what she past United States’ President Donald Trump produces, is decided to ignore the an important majority consensus. The component of Trump team apparently any realistic plan viewed Okonjo-Iweala’s strong credentials as a to transform multilateralist incompatthe continent’s ible with its protectionist economies and isolationist ideology.

However, to the relief of Nigerians who enthusiastically rooted for the former finance minister throughout the race, the newly elected administration of President Joe Biden rejected the arbitrary and unjust position of its predecessor and announced its strong support for Okonjo-Iweala after Yoo's decision to withdraw her candidacy. OkonjoIweala’s victory after a campaign that had virtually assumed the status of a national project is therefore a heartwarming ray of positivity in the midst of longstanding economic challenges and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The national celebration that followed the announcement was an indication that the country is yearning for opportunities to come together

Letters to the Editor

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and celebrate.

Coming on the heels of Dr Akin Adesina’s successful bid for a second term as President of the African Development Bank after a tough battle against another US-led opposition (again under Trump), Okonjo-Iweala’s victory confirms that Nigeria is a country of many high achieving citizens. The appointment of several Nigerians to high positions in the Biden administration provides more evidence. Sadly, many similarly talented Nigerians within the country cannot thrive as a result of negative policy and governance factors which hold them back. That is why the country should go beyond euphoria in its response to the victory of Okonjo-Iweala. It is time for our leaders to take a long introspective look at the factors that make it difficult for Nigerians at home to replicate the kind of feats that have earned their compatriots the world’s respect and goodwill.

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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

n her inaugural speech, Okonjo-Iweala identified goals which are very relevant to the continent’s needs and challenges.

Her first priority is to tackle the economic and health challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic not as a charity issue but a critical strategic imperative to get the world back to work and trade back on track. This is good news for Nigeria and other developing countries that are fighting to fend off new variants of the virus in the midst of economic challenges. For the global economy to return to sustained growth, according to Okonjo-Iweala, all critical stakeholders “will need to get a tight grip on the pandemic by intensifying cooperation to make equitable and affordable access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics a key plank of the recovery.”

Meanwhile, beyond symbolism, Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment holds substantial prospects for Nigeria and Africa. Her focus on helping Africa maximise the benefits of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) within available WTO structures and mechanisms is another positive prospect. Helping Africa produce more and, perhaps more important, process more of what she produces, is an important component of any realistic plan to transform the continent’s economies.

To transform potential into benefits, practical action is necessary. Nigeria and other African countries must rigorously engage WTO under Okonjo-Iweala to further the continent’s priorities within the context of the institution’s systems. In a world devastated by the pandemic and globalisation in retreat in many regions, Africa must rise to the challenge of using every available opportunity to achieve sustainable development.

And the WTO under Okonjo-Iweala is a key asset in this regard.

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.

VISA ON ARRIVAL POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITY

oko Haram, ISIS, bandits, kidnappers, yahoo-yahoo boys did not come to Nigeria because of the implementation of visa on arrival policy.

The Nigerian government in March, 2020 suspended its visa on arrival policy over fears of further spread of coronavirus. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha made the announcement at a media briefing on March 20, 2020.

Visa on arrival is not a bad policy in itself, but the concern is whether the country has developed the right capacity to implement it without undermining Nigeria’s national security and assets.

Nigeria’s visa policy was first presented by President Buhari on February 4, 2020, at the Council chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The policy, according to Buhari, was announced to attract innovation, specialised skills and knowledge

from abroad to complement local capacity in Nigeria. “The new visa policy provides an avenue to achieve African integration by the introduction of visas on arrival for short visits to Nigeria for holders of passports of African Union (AU) countries,” he said.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) recently called on President Buhari to immediately proscribe the Miyetti Allah groups existing in the country as was done to IPOB as the first step to ending the raging herdsmen crisis in the country.

The association also urged the federal government to review its open visa or visa arrival policy as it had allowed armed herders from West African countries easy access into the country.

Addressing the media recently in Makurdi from a text with the theme ‘Why Buhari must act fast to save Nigeria from a second civil war and disintegration, the Benue

State CAN Chairman, Rev. Akpen Leva cautioned that the influx of the herdsmen was worsening insecurity in Nigeria. According to him, “Fulani herdsmen from countries like Chad, Mali, Niger, Cameroon and Burkina Faso, among others, have continued to troop into Nigeria. These are the herdsmen that are carrying highly sophisticated weapons and are killing Nigerians on their ancestral land.

Worried by this ugly situation, we call on the President Buhari to without further delay stop the policy of visa on arrival to enable Nigerian security agencies to check the influx of militia herdsmen and other security challenges. We must also point out that we have come to a level where anything that affects the Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria, the Presidency reacts with immediate alacrity but when other Nigerians are crying, it does not worry the presidency.”

There is no link between visa on

arrival policy and the emergence of Boko Haram. Visa on arrival policy started in 2020 and Mohammed Yusuf founded the sect that became known as Boko Haram in 2002 in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. He established a religious complex and school that attracted poor Muslim families from across Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

Yusuf's arrest elevated him to hero status.

The Nigeria Visa Policy 2020 was intended to attract innovation, specialised skills and knowledge from abroad to complement locally available ones. The NVP is a global visa system that will boost internal security because there is biometrics linked to online applications for each applicant. Chances of criminals beating the system are negligible.

Biometrics is to be conducted at port of entry which is a major boost to Nigeria’s national security. The Nigeria Visa Policy 2020 has security identity number which is like the nationalidentification number, or national insurance number which helps to boost internal security used by the governments of many countries as a means of tracking

their citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents for the purposes of work, taxation, government benefits, health care, and other governmentally-related functions.

I wish to throw more light on the issue of visa on arrival as many people are not aware and usually get embarrassed on it. I want to let all know that you cannot acquire a visa on arrival without a letter of approval from the delegation of national security in the country of your origin. So you need somebody to do this at least one or two weeks before your arrival. The visa on arrival policy will not compromise the country's security. The government together with the relevant stakeholders such as the Office of the National Security (ONS), International Police Organization (INTERPOL), and the Immigration Department will profile visitors to make sure that they do not have a questionable character before entering the country.

––Inwalomhe Donald, inwalomhe. donald@yahoo.com

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

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NEWS

News Editor: Gboyega Akinsanmi E-mail: ÑÌÙãÏÑ˲ËÕÓØÝËØ×Ó̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙט͸΀͹ͽͺͻͽ΁ͺͽͻ

Lagos Speaker, Lawmakers at Loggerheads over Administrative Divisions Bill

As traditional rulers, political leaders reject bill Tinubu urges assembly to step down proposal

Gboyega Akinsanmi

A privately initiated bill, which seeks to repeal the 1972 Administrative Divisions Law of Lagos State, has stoked dissension among members of the State House of Assembly, pitching them against the Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa.

Similarly, political leaders, traditional rulers and eminent indigenes across the state have disapproved the bill, which under its schedule seeks to

classify Alimosho as part of Badagry Division; Kosofe and Somolu as part of Ikeja Division and Eti-Osa and Lekki as part of Epe Division.

Multiple sources, who anonymously spoke with THISDAY on Friday, expressed grave concern about the new bill, lamenting that the proposal would disrupt the state’s administrative structures that the state had been using for 49 years.

The bill, which was allegedly sponsored by the speaker, had

sought to amend the Administrative Divisions (Establishment) No. 7 of 1972 with the aim of delimiting the five administrative divisions in the state.

Section 1(1-2), the bill read in part: “Without prejudice to the Local Government Administration Law, 2015, Lagos State is divided into five administrative divisions listed under Schedule I. Each administrative division shall be made up of the components of areas listed in the schedule…”

Under its schedule, the bill

proposed that Ikeja Division “shall now comprise Agege, Ikeja, Ifako-Ijaiye, Mushin and Oshodi; Badagry Division – Alimosho, Ojo, Amuwo, Badagry and Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Ikorodu Division – Kosofe, Somolu and Ikorodu; Lagos Division – Lagos Island, Yaba, Apapa and Surulere as well as Epe Division – Epe, Eti-Osa and Ibeju-Lekki.”

But the delineation of areas under the five administrative divisions under the new bill contravened the provisions of

IN THE SPIRIT OF RECONCILIATION . . .

L-R: Former Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu; Chairman of PDP Reconciliation & Strategy Committee/former President of the Senate, Fmr. Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and Niger State Governor, Alhaji Sani Bello at the Government House, Minna during the solidarity visit to the Government House over the recent abduction of teachers and students in Rafi Local Government Area, Niger State.

the Administrative Divisions [Establishment] Edict No. 3 of April 1968 that originally created Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos [EKO] and Epe (IBILE) after due consultation.

Consistent with the 1968 law, Ikeja, majorly an enclave of Awori people, encompasses Agege, Ifako-Ijaiye, Kosofe, Mushin, Alimosho, Oshodi-Isolo, Somolu and Ikeja. Badagry, a zone of culture mix between Awori and Ogu, comprises Ojo, Amuwo-Odofin, AjeromiIfelodun, and Badagry.

Similarly, Ikorodu, a traditional territory of Ijebu people in Lagos, consists of IgbogboBaiyeku, Imota and Ijede. Lagos [Eko], the heart of Lagos State, comprises Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Surulere, Apapa and Eti-Osa. Epe embodies Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Lekki, Ikosi-Ejirin and Eredo.

A source in the assembly, who privately spoke with THISDAY on the rationale behind the bill on Friday, claimed that the speaker of the assembly sponsored the bill, though he had denied any involvement on different occasions.

He explained that a bill could either be “a private member bill or an executive bill. If it is an executive bill, we will have known. So, the Delineation of the Administrative Divisions of Lagos State Bill is a private member bill. And the speaker personally sponsored the bill for personal reasons.”

He explained that the bill was sponsored “to boost Obasa’s senatorial ambition in 2023.

Under Lagos West, for instance, there are two administrative divisions – Ikeja and Badagry.

Since 1999, Badagry Division has not produced any senator while Ikeja Division has produced three.

“Ikeja Division produced Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi (1999-2007) and Senator Ganiyu Solomon (2007-2015). Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan, who has been in office since 2015, will complete his second term in 2023.

In 2023, according to him, Badagry Division should ordinarily produce the next senator that will represent Lagos West in the spirit of fairness. In Lagos East, for instance, senatorial office has been on a rotational basis between Epe and Ikorodu Divisions since 1999.

That has not been the case in Lagos West.

However, another source, claimed that the speaker, who hails from Agege, an area under Ikeja Division, “has been working day and night to clinch senatorial nomination, a real reason he sponsored the Delineation of the Administrative Division Bill to boost his senatorial aspiration in 2023.”

The source alleged that the new bill proposed “to bring Alimosho under Badagry Division. With this arrangement, it will pave way for Obasa under a guise that Badagry has already produced a senator while Agege has not.

SERAP Asks Buhari to Explore Other Options Instead of Selling National Assets Tobi Soniyi The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) yesterday advised the Muhammadu Buhari Administration to explore other options to raise funds to fund the budget instead of selling national assets.

A deputy director at SERAP, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare who spoke to our correspondent said: “President Muhammadu Buhari should stop selling public properties to fund the 2021 budget.

He said that the decision to

sell federal government properties was not in the national interest and not necessary.

“Rather than protecting valuable public property, the Federal Government has continued to sell public assets to fund the 2021 budget, contrary to the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended]. And the leadership of the National Assembly is letting the government of President Buhari get away with it. This has to stop.”

Instead of selling national properties, SERAP advised

Buhari to urgently “fix the current damaging budgeting process and address the systemic corruption in ministries, departments and agencies, tackle corruption in MDAs, and cut waste, salaries and allowances of high-ranking public officials.”

He said: “Selling valuable public properties to fund the budget is counter-productive, as this would be vulnerable to corruption and mismanagement.

It would undermine the social contract with Nigerians, leave the government worse off, and

hurt the country in the long run.

It is neither necessary nor in the public interest.”

He called for a change of the country’s fiscal situation which he said could be achieved through some combination of cuts in spending on salaries and allowances, and a freeze on spending in certain areas of the budget such as hardship and furniture allowances, entertainment allowances, international travels, and buying of motor vehicles and utilities for members of the National Assembly and

the Presidency.

SERAP further warned that budget deficit and debt problems threatened Nigerians’ access to essential public goods and services in addition to hurting future generations.

The group said: “If not urgently addressed, the deficit and debt problems would seriously undermine access to public goods and services for the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people who continue to endure the grimmest of conditions.

“If this trend continues, SERAP

will continue appropriate legal action to stop the Federal Government from selling public properties, and to have the government spend responsibly.”

The federal government planned to sell or concession 36 of its properties between January 2021 and November 2022.

The funds generated will be used to finance the 2021 budget.

The properties listed for sale are selected from energy, industries, communication and infrastructural sectors.

Bandits Kidnap 91-Year-Old Monarch in Katsina, Kill 3 in Kaduna John Shiklam in Kaduna and Francis Sardauna in Katsina Gunmen suspected to be bandits have kidnapped the 91-year-old Village Head of Kunduru, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed, in Kankia Local Government Area, Katsina State.

Likewise, bandits, who were reportedly aided by some youths, attacked communities in Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, an attack that led to the death of three persons.

Residents of the communities, where the incidents took place, separately spoke with THISDAY,

confirming deadly onslaught on their communities.

On Friday night, the suspected bandits, in a commando style, stormed the residence of the monarch in Kunduru after most of the residents had gone to bed, whisking him away to adjoining forests in the village.

A source in the village told THISDAY that the victim “is the father of Kashimu Ibrahim, one of the permanent secretaries serving with the Katsina State Government.

One of the monarch’s sons confirmed the incident to journalists in Katsina on Saturday on the

condition of anonymity, saying the hoodlums attacked the village riding on motorcycles.

He said the bandits came on Friday at about 10:47pm when most residents of the village were sleeping and moved straight to the monarch’s residence and abducted the monarch using motorcycles.

According to him, our father is sick for sometimes now, but I wondered why they kidnapped him. As we speak, his abductors are yet to contact the family.

However, the State Police Command was yet to respond to THISDAY inquiry as of Saturday

night.

In Kajuru LGA, Kaduna State, one person suspected to have collaborated with the bandits was said to have been lynched to death by an angry mob yesterday.

Kaduna State’s Commissioner for Internal Security & Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan confirmed the killings in a statement yesterday, saying the police “are investigating the possible collusion of some youths and the bandits in the communities.”

Aruwan said the attacks started in Ungwan Sha’awa, where the bandits killed one Ubangida Dogo

in his home, while his son, Jude was injured.

The commissioner said further that the hoodlums also attacked Ungwan Galadima in the same locality and killed one Bulus Gwamna. He added that another attack by the bandits in Ungwan Gamu claimed the life of one Daniel Danlami.

The statement said: “Security agencies are investigating alleged collaboration with bandits by some locals, during recent disturbing attacks in Kajuru Local Government Area.

“The sequence of reported attacks began in Ungwan Sha’awa in Kajuru

local government area, where armed bandits killed one Ubangida Dogo in his home. According to the report, his son, Jude Ubangida was injured by the bandits and is receiving treatment in hospital.

“As the bandits withdrew from the village, they also attacked Ungwan Galadima in the same locality and killed one Bulus Gwamna. In Ungwan Gamu along the same trail, one Daniel Danlami was similarly killed by the marauding bandits.”

Aruwan said preliminary investigations thereafter suggested that the bandits conducted these attacks with the aid of some local youths.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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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 21, 2021

OPINION

AFCFTA: THE NIGERIAN PERSPECTIVE

Igho B. Oghoghorie writes that the country should be prepared to match its words with deeds

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frica is on the cusp of economic rebirth. As the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) becomes operational, Africa is bursting with a new sense of hope and optimism in full expectation of achieving one of the African Union’s flagship 2063 Agenda projects.

The AfCFA is anchored on a framework to drive economic activities and usher a new phase of industrial boom. It seeks to redefine trade relations in Africa through the elimination of tariffs and non-tariff barriers to intra-African trade, facilitate free movement of persons and investments, establish a competitive environment and erect a structure for sustainable cross-border trade.

The AfCFTA will, no doubt, play a major role in driving Nigeria’s regional integration and development, with significant impact on its economy, Africa’s largest. The elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers will enable Nigerian businesses access the continental market for the export of goods and services, as well as secure a balance and sustainable export base to move the economy from its largely oil and minerals base. A wider continental market will also boost Foreign Direct Investment, and help improve productivity.

Yet an enlarged single market and integrated economy is likely to create economic imbalance among member states of the AfCFTA, as investors use African countries with lower production costs as a launch pad to export to countries with higher production cost. Nigeria will, therefore, need to conduct a gap analysis on its readiness, if it is to realise the benefit of the agreement.

There is, clearly, infrastructure problem in Nigeria. The symphony of problems that greets most infrastructural project is well rehearsed. First are the thundering bass of opposition, in the form of the location, from the geo-political zone(s) that stand to lose; the litany of abandoned projects and, finally, the entrenched lack of maintenance culture.

The infrastructural base of the country would therefore need to be strengthened, with a view to reducing business costs and enhance the movement of products across borders. Such move will include, but not limited to its road infrastructure, rail connectivity into inland dry ports and hinterlands, speedy, automation, single window platforms at ports, and providing for ships and aircraft.

Nigeria’s international trade policies will equally need to be reformed, in the light of the progressive elimination of tariff barriers provisions under the AfCFTA. There are, for example, some aspects of Nigeria’s trade policy and import tariffs which are underpinned by the need to protect and stimulate domestic production; prevent balance of payment problems; boost the value of the Naira; and strengthen the revenue base. Implementation of the progressive tariff will, eventually, impact on these policies and on customs duty revenue, a major source of revenue for the government.

Yet a narrowing revenue base will reduce the ability of the government to spend on essential areas of the economy, such as bridging the country’s infrastructure deficit and reduce the poverty level in the country. Nigeria would therefore need more fingers to plug the trickles of revenue leaks that may sprout from the dike before the leaks expands with the full implementation of the AfCFTA. Currency reforms, currently on-going, would need to be hastened and brought to fruition. The convergence of the different exchange rate should be expedited, with the Naira allowed to float freely so as to ease imbalance, boost economic activities and drive the recovery plans. Issues of market access, rules of origin, standards, SPS measures, technical regulations and conformity assessment would also need to be addressed.

In addition, the right building blocks would need to be erected to boost investor’s confidence, including adherence to the rule of law.

This would include bridging the gap between ratifying the AfCFTA and complying with the measures required for its implementation.

On a check list of non-compliance, Nigeria ticks every box. For

The infrastructural base of the country would need to be strengthened, with a view to reducing business costs and enhance the movement of products across borders

example, the ECOWAS Court of Justice, though sits in Abuja, its judgments are often not recognised and enforced contrary to the ECOWAS revised Treaty. Though the government’s approach may rest on gambling that its hard line position in disregarding the ECOWAS judgments and, by extension, the rule of law, may be worth the punt, it certainly will end its credit lines among friends. This could be seen from the 2020 Rule of Law Index by the World Justice Project, which ranked Nigeria 108 out of 128 countries surveyed.

Further, the expected volume of trade under the AfCFTA is likely to be accompanied with cross border litigations relating to trade disputes. The AfCFTA already has in place the Protocols on Rules and Procedures on Settlement of Disputes, modelled along the WTO system. It, however, only provides for disputes between member states, but silent on cross-border disputes, which are likely to arise amongst private citizens.

Nigeria would therefore need to reposition its justice system, with a view to making it attractive to foreign entrepreneurs that are more likely to engage in business activities in countries with credible, effective and efficient legal system.

The reform agenda would include the excessive delays in the resolution of business disputes, with efforts made to revamp the legal system to deal with cases in record time, and address the issue of enforcement of contract. The review of local laws, such as the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act, which confers exclusive jurisdiction over a broad spectrum on commercial matters, would also need to be carried out.

Nigeria would further need to embody the AfCFTA in its overall industrialisation and socio-economic and political agenda, and see it as going beyond the business community to embrace the general public.

Finally, the decision of the Nigerian government to ratify the AfCFTA, subject to Parliamentary approval, has clearly raised the width and depth of constructive public discussion in Nigeria, making Nigeria one of the continent’s de-facto think tanks. Nigeria should, therefore, see the AfCFTA as a significant moment, a turning point in history, and signal its commitment to implementing the agreement, and be prepared to match its words with concrete deeds ––Oghoghorie is a Consultant on International Economic Law, Abuja.

Moghalu: Prepared From Day One For President Kingsley Moghalu is eminently qualified to be president, writes Osondu Ahirika

O

ne of the buzzwords of the American Presidential sweepstakes is the notion of identifying and electing a man or woman who is prepared to lead the greatest nation ever known on the planet from day one. This is primarily where my beloved fatherland, Nigeria, has got it wrong all the time.

I dare say, without fear of contradiction, that this is the reason we suffer the patently sustained leadership deficit the nation has endured since her independence.

And this has grave consequences that we continue to aggravate.

As we engage in the ultimate search for Nigeria’s next President come 2023, we should, as a people, settle for a paradigm shift and get it right. Sadly, we’re not primed for that, if the pedestrian musings of our Labour Minister, and former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chris Ngige is the template for our leadership recruitment proceedings.

A news report on Ngige’s casual dismissal of the determined bid by Professor Kingsley Moghalu for the top job got me agitated, perhaps irritated. Hear Ngige’s argument. “… Moghalu, rather than aspire for the president, would have launched his aspiration by first contesting for the governorship or National Assembly…that’s how the game goes… Dr. Moghalu, my very good friend who was deputy governor of the Central Bank…. He said he was going to YPP. I called him and said ‘young man. You have not carried politics bag. You have not served anybody in politics’…. So, one has to carry politics bag and learn from his master. You have to learn the art of politics”.

Ingrained with the values of respecting our elders as a grundnorm of Igbo culture, I resisted the urge to vomit. What! Is Dr Ngige serious? It couldn’t get any lower, I thought, how anyone can abase the criterion for finding Nigeria’s presidential material. Methinks Ngige’s mindset signposts the thinking of the archetypal Nigerian politician or political contractors and godfathers. Leading a nation as complex as Nigeria is not, for them, a serious business or deserving of more empirically detailed profiling.

Prof Moghalu for most progressive Nigerians, is one of the very best foot forward, if we have to proceed with the questions of both visionary and competent leadership, on the one hand, and of a Nigerian President from the Southeast on the other — an idea whose time has finally dawned on a beleaguered nation. There are a handful of Igbos from that region who deserve a look-in for endorsement for the top job. But for me, Moghalu is the big deal.

Differing from Ngige’s puerile theory of presidential leadership recruitment through “carrying politics bag”, I submit that we must

weigh the capacity of anyone aspiring to be the President of Nigeria against four cardinal requirements, viz, Nation building capacity, Foreign Affairs Quotient, Economic Management National Security.

Once anyone who aspires for the high calling of leading a nation packs his ‘punch’ with these premium vistas, we have in such an aspirant a man ready from day one. Thankfully, Professor Moghalu cuts the grade and is more than eminently qualified, just as Dr Ngige, to be fair to him, conceded.

So who is Kingsley Moghalu?

In my subsequent treatise I will dig into his very awesome and brilliant profile. For the moment, it was back in 2018, when Moghalu launched out in his bold quest for the presidency. The Young Progressive Party (YPP), was his platform. A courageous shift from the two, or three, dominant Political parties in the country. Let’s weigh up Moghalu on the four essentials I outlined earlier.

On Nation building, he recently engaged us with a tweet of his road map. “My vision of Nigeria is of the Southeast as Singapore, the North like Dubai, the South-South like Norway, and the Southwest like Germany. A new truly federal Constitution with a regional structure for our country can create the incentives for this to become reality in 40 yrs.” What Nigeria needs is a man who can manage her ethno-religious and cultural diversities. A man who can unite over 250 ethnic nationalities into a cohesive unit, with each subgroup attuned to harness their full potentialities and excel while complementing other regions and increasing the collateral strength of the nation state.

I have never seen a Nigerian leader articulate and encapsulate in such acuity and brevity, that profound vision of building a nation out of Nigeria’s disparate parts as Moghalu has.

In October 2019, he convened a non-partisan citizens’ movement, ‘To Build a Nation,’ (TBAN). From this platform, Moghalu has advocated for electoral and political reforms and engendered the campaign for a new nation. The catchword of this product of his vision, To Build a Nation, encodes and defines infinitely, albeit in summation, what Nigeria needs in a President.

Foreign Affairs is for him a familiar turf. Moghalu was born in Lagos in 1963 to Isaac Moghalu, a Nigerian Foreign Service Officer and spent his early childhood in Switzerland and Washington, DC, where his father was posted.

In an apt response to Dr Ngige, Moghalu had put up a poser, “Who, for example, can stand shoulder to shoulder with world

leaders of powerful nations and be able to speak up for and negotiate Nigeria’s best interests bilaterally or multilaterally?

Lifetime careers in “traditional” Nigerian politics may not automatically provide the right answers for our countrymen and women in the world of the 21st century.”

Truth is, Moghalu has attained this status. Following his dad’s footstep at a higher level, he was appointed into the United Nations in 1992 and served as her peace emissary to many nations. In 2002, Moghalu was appointed to the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, as head of global partnerships and resource mobilization at The Global Fund to Fighing AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), a public-private international development finance organization and social investment fund with $20 billion in assets and investments in 140 developing and middle-income countries. Moghalu successfully raised billions for the Global Fund and built partners with governments, civil society and the private sector for health investment, so he knows public health and the public policy and financing that this challenge requires in a developing country like ours.

By 2006, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Moghalu to the high level Redesign Panel on the United Nations Internal Justice System at the UN Headquarters in New York. The Redesign Panel overhauled the transparency, internal justice and accountability system inside the world’s top global body. Justice. Transparency. Accountability. Nigeria cries out for these governance values.

Economic Management? Appointed Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria in November 2009

by President Umaru Yar’Adua (peace on his ashes), Moghalu played decisive leadership roles in the most vital artery of our national economy. He supervised and regulated a N17 trillion banking sector, led the implementation of reforms that stabilized the sector after the global financial crisis, supervised 3,000 CBN staff (50% of the total workforce of the apex bank) and led the team that introduced innovations such as the Bank Verification Number (BVN). All of this on top of being a member of the Monetary Policy Committee that successfully brought inflation down to a single digit 8% in 2013 (inflation is 16% today).

––Ahirika wrote from Uyo. (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 21, 2021

15

LETTERS

GOV MAKINDE AND PUBLIC OFFICE

I

n the Nigeria political sphere, governor’s office has become an attraction so much that everyone particularly those who nature has blessed with some billions of naira, suddenly appear from nowhere with aspiration to lead their states, oblivious of daunting tasks involve. However, many have got away with this anomaly, as there are no express or implied constitutional provisions compelling anyone on the need to have held one important and visible office or the other - Senator, Parliamentarian or even Deputy Governor, before aspiring to lead as governor. This constitutional deficiency accounts for the major reason why there is always maddening crowd of aspirants hustling to be governor of states across the federation.

But, it’s important to stress that governor’s office is meant for tested and trusted administrators who might have distinguished themselves in other lesser offices. The job is for an accomplished and resourceful personality who is reasonably vast in the political dynamics of the state, as well as conversant with the setup, citizenry, traditions, cultures and norms of the people of the state he intends to lead.

As a matter of fact, it’s compelling that an aspirant must have been familiar with the political class, political blocs, leaders of thoughts and other major stakeholders prior to his ascendancy. It’s also important that a would-be governor must have been in familiarity with the notable traditional rulers so that his job becomes easier when he eventually emerges.

Most importantly,

Makinde

governorship aspirant ought to have reasonable knowledge of the major pillars in the stateeducation, agriculture, economy, infrastructure, as well as security architecture. Does Governor Seyi Makinde fulfil all these?

The answer is No! The governor has never in his existence had anything to do with public office.

Besides few political leaders he’s compelled by family bond to interact with, within Ibadan metropolis, Makinde’s interaction with political leaders, political blocs, leaders of thoughts and other stakeholders across

the state prior to his emergence as governor was almost non-existent.

Of course, his capacity then, to interact and connect with traditional rulers was quite limited.

Obviously, he’s also not accustomed to happenings in the economy, development in agricultures, education, etc., before his assumption of office.

And because he’s not deeply rooted in the political dynamics of the state, his knowledge of security intelligentsia, particularly those widely acknowledged troubled spots is very limited. This is why it was easier for Sunday Igboho to hijack

rein of governance from him to unleash mayhem in Igangan, Ibarapa area of the state teaching the herdsmen and their royal father unforgettable lessons.

Sadly, it was reported that the governor had comprehensive knowledge report ahead of Igboho warring adventure to the troubled area, yet, he couldn’t arrest the situation. The same reason accounted for the pandemonium that engulfed Shasha market in Akinyele local government area, right there under his nose.

What’s the genesis of the avoidable mayhem? A cart

A RMOURED TANK ON A BUJA-K ADUNA H IGHWAY

T

he adversities brought upon the Nigerian state by criminal gangs in the South and Islamist terrorists in the North do not serve our country any good offering but smart entrepreneurs and business-branding people of multinationals are poised to reap hundreds of millions of dollars from our collective national foolishness.

It was a relief, albeit an undesirable one, to read the advert for Toyota’s Nigerian-

centric medium-sized bus transport that is a veritable “armoured tank.”

Yes, that is the state we have got ourselves in. Imagine what should pass for a comfy coach on our highways now fitted with gun ports, assault-resistant body-plating, glass, and wheels plus a whole lot of offerings that will have our infantry corps green with envy. But that is how it should be now otherwise the vital Abuja-Kaduna road artery will be left to ruins.

True, the Abuja-Kaduna highway is necessary

as a “de-congest route” to help ease the hectic stress of week-day lives at the Federal Capital Territory because, if that road were safe to traverse at all times, Northern Nigerians of all shades will repair to Kaduna for weekends and holidays, Kaduna still being some sort of de-facto capital of Northern Nigeria.

What the Toyota automobile company has done is to create a niche business that will define safe road transport in Nigeria; that “gun port” feature excites me greatly because the

deterrence for road marauders who chose to rob, kidnap, rape, and decimate is sustained bursts of suppression fire from Gatling-like gun platforms mounted at spread-out locations within the bowel of the bus transport.

The time has come to begin exterminating criminal elements from Nigerian roads and it does not matter if they are Fulani kinsfolk of our sitting president.

––Sunday Adole Jonah, Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State.

pusher and shoe cobbler had misunderstanding and in a twinkle of an eye, the situation degenerated to the extent that houses were raised, with several lives lost, as the area was completely turned to war zone.

As we speak, the Inspector General of Police has deployed high powered security team to restore normalcy and orderliness, as well as taking complete charge in the area. Meanwhile, seven northern governors, sensing danger have visited purposely to preach message of peace and unity. We however pray that Shasha spectacle would be the end of the human carnage and property destruction in the state. It’s important to note that since the governor assumed office, there have been pockets of violence across the state; the government only deploys the tool of information management each time to subdue and manage the situations in order not to situate the state continually in the eye of storm.

It’s also instructive to note that, besides the political upheaval that the state often experiences during the elections, Oyo State is particularly not noted for this type of continual and endless violence. The insecurity challenge pervading the state is therefore mainly traceable to failure in governance and dereliction of duty on the part of the governor.

No iota of doubt, the governor appears to have lost control of governance in the state.

Curiously, this is the same Makinde who has developed penchant for criss-crossing Niger Delta Region-Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Cross River States, on regular basis attending needless and unproductive political meetings essentially aimed at conferring leadership of PDP in South west on him, thus constantly abandoning his primary responsibility of effective, responsible and responsive governance of the state.

This writer had previously submitted couple of times in Newspapers and social media that Governor Makinde administers Oyo State with levity and so much contempt, a development not unconnected with the ways and manner the governorship mandate was placed on his laps.

This is a man who ordinarily would labor to win a House of Reps slot and now suddenly found himself as the leader of the entire state.

The whole APC must therefore stop crying over spilt milk, as they

all collaborated to deliver the mandate to him on the platter of gold. This is the reason why he continually treats the affairs of the state with utter disdain and impunity. He wouldn’t listen to the words of wisdom from traditional rulers and elders of the state.

He would discard wise counsels and advice from his predecessors.

Recently, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala implored him on the need to consider constituting elders committee that would comprise past governors and other eminent personalities in the state to always support, advise and provide guidance for him on the affairs of the state, especially in the areas of security and economy, but, it’s clear the governor has made up his mind to run a one-man show.

There is no better time than now for the APC family to admit their past mistakes, take the bull by the horns and work assiduously to put Makinde and PDP where they rightly belong in the state. It’s most assured that there is no way the governor would come back if we regroup and put our house in order.

Regrouping would demand total commitments, sincerity and sacrifice of all stakeholders.

Historically, Oyo State is a political fortress of the progressives and so would it be for a very long time. It should therefore be in our consciousness that PDP government in the state is an aberration that all stakeholders must play their respective parts to dislodge come 2023.

Finally, I need to passionately appeal to the party leaders in the state - Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Otunba Alao-Akala, Senators Teslim Folarin, Soji Akanbi and Joseph Tegbe, etc., on the need to sheath their swords and sincerely collaborate to usher in a new era for the state come 2023.

––Kola Amzat, FCA, Lagos

Job Wanted

A

young man, with a growing family, has recently become unemployed.

He is a prince of a man and willing to travel, first class.

Good luck in the real-world Harry if you ever encounter it.

––Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia.

16 ADVERTORIAL

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2021 • T H I S D AY

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 21, 2021

BUSINESS

17

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

A view of Central Business District, Lagos

As Nigeria Creeps out of Recession… 'iG (meÀeOe peep into the cr\staO baOO"

Obinna Chima writes on the cheery news that the economy has limped out of recession, highlighting the need for sustained intervention by policymakers in the country

N

igeria’s economy unexpectedly came out of recession in the fourth quarter of 2020, lifted by growth in the non-oil sector.

The development, which further proved the resilience of the Nigerian economy is expected to positively inÁuence investor conÀdence.

However, the development didn’t come as a surprise to some policymakers, including the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), 0r. Godwin (meÀele, who had estimated that the economy would limp out of recession in the fourth quarter, due to the apex bank’s aggressive development Ànance activities as well as eͿorts to stimulate household spending.

“Based on data available to the CBN, we are somewhat cautiously optimistic that indeed, if we continue doing what we are doing and do more, there is a likelihood that we would see some little positive output numbers during the fourth quarter of 2020. Why? This is as a result of all the actions taken by the monetary and Àscal authorities,µ (meÀele had said while brieÀng journalists at the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, last November.

Indeed, with the rising crude oil price, increasing activities in the non-oil sector as well as the expected vaccination of the citizens following the approval ofAstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, are all expected to support GDP growth going

forward.

The Nigerian economy had slumped into recession last year, the second in Àve years, after two consecutive quarters of contraction.

6peciÀcally, the economy entered into a recession last year when growth contracted by 3.62 per cent in Q3 2020 and grew by -6.10 per cent in Q2.

But the latest Àgures for the fourth quarter and full year 2020 released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), had shown that Nigeria’s GDP grew by 0.11 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2020 (Q4 2020), representing the Àrst positive quarterly growth in the last three quarters.

However, the full year 2020 GDPreport showed that the economy contracted by 1.92 per cent compared to positive growth of 2.27 per cent in 2019.

The positive growth recorded in Q4 was a reÁection of the gradual return of economic activities following the easing of restriction of movements and limited local and international commercial activities in the preceding quarters, the NBS stated.

Accordingtotheagency,onaquarter-on-quarter basis, real GDP growth is 9.68 per cent, indicating a second positive consecutive quarter-on-quarter realgrowthratein2020aftertwonegativequarters.

In Q4, however, aggregate GDPstood at N43.56 trillion in nominal terms, compared to N39.09 trillion in the preceding quarter.

Real GDP stood at N19.55 trillion compared to N17.82 trillion in the preceding quarter.

The performance was also higher when compared to the N39.57 trillion recorded in Q4 2019, representing a year-on-year nominal growth rate of 10.07 per cent.

The NBS added that the current growth rate was lower relative to the growth recorded in Q4 2019 by –2.26 percentage points but higher than the preceding quarter by 6.68 percentage points with growth rates recorded at 12.34 per cent and 3.39 per cent respectively.

In the quarter under review, average daily oil production dropped to 1.56 million barrels per day (mbpd) from 1.67mbpd in Q3.

This was also lower than the daily average production of 2.00mbpd recorded in Q4, 2019 by -0.44mbpd and Q3 2020 by –0.11mbpd.

Growth was largely aided by the non-oil sector that accounted for 94.13 per cent of GDP while the oil sector contributed 5.87 per cent to growth in Q4.

Also, at the full year, the non-oil sector recorded 91.84 per cent contribution to GDP while the oil sector accounted for 8.16 per cent.

The agricultural sector grew by 3.42 per cent in Q4 compared to 1.39 per cent in Q3.

But the sector’s contribution to growth in real terms dropped to 26.95 per cent in Q4 from 30.77 per cent in the preceding quarter. Its contribution in 2020 stood at 26.21 per cent.

Manufacturing, which grew by –2.75 per cent in the period under review contributed 8.60 per cent to GDP compared to 8.93 per cent in Q3 and

8.74 per cent in Q4 2019.

CBN’s Interventions In March last year, when the pandemic broke out, the CBN came out quickly and put on the table a couple of initiatives to support the economy as well as alleviate the pain of COVID-19 on households and Àrms.

For instance, the commercial banks were directed to restructure their loan, reduction of interest rate on CBN’s intervention fund as well as an extended repayment period. On the other hand, the CBN had introduced targeted credit facilities for households and MSMEs that were adversely aͿected by the COVID-19. The facility, which was initially N50 billion, was increased to N300 billion in November last year.

Furthermore, the CBN made available N100 billion for the healthcare sector – for pharmaceuticals and hospitals – for their upgrade and the building of new facilities. The CBN also made available a facility of N1 trillion for companies who are willing to expand, either in the agriculture or manufacturing sectors.

Owing to the aforementioned interventions, EmeÀele explained that the banking sector regulator had seen tremendous response on the initiatives.

“And I must also say that these initiatives, together with those that have come from the Àscal authorities have been responsible for the somewhat moderated impact of the COVID-19

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 21, 2021

18

BUSINESS/ECONOMY As Nigeria Creeps out of Recession… on the lives of our people.

“Wehaveseenthatthesehavebeenveryimpactful, particularly the targeted credit facility, which is meant for households and Àrms, because it has helped to boost consumption spending for SMEs. This is because consumption constitutes almost 70 per cent of output and you will see that the interventions have been very impactful in moderating the impact of COVID-19 on productivity, growth and GDP. “The most important thing is that we want to use these interventions to boost consumption spending in the economy,” he explained.

The CBN Governor pointed out that due to the pandemic, recession has also been seen throughout the entire world, not only due to the drop in commodity prices, but because of the adverse consequences of the health crisis created by virus.

Some developed countries even recorded double-digit contraction in growth, which was not the case of Nigeria.

The NBS GDP numbers showed that the agriculture sector came out strong. This was largely attributed to the increased Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), since the economy slipped into a recession.

According to the CBN, the programme has revolutionised agricultural credit Ànancing and remained the fulcrum of transformation initiatives in the sector.

EmeÀele had pointed out that beyond being a tool for economic empowerment, job creation, and wealthredistribution,theABPhadalsogalvanised Ànancial inclusion in rural communities.

TheCBNDeputyGovernor,CorporateServices, Mr. EdwardAdamu, stressed that since the launch of the ABP by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, rice has remained the focal crop under the programme given its crucial role in the diet of average Nigerians.

Hesaidwiththecurrentpopulationofabout200 million, importation of any major food item will continually drain the country’s external reserves, export jobs to countries where these food items are produced and distort the commodity value chains as Nigeria will not be able to guarantee the supply of raw materials for its agro-allied companies.

He described loan recovery as the hallmark of any credit process adding that the combination of input distribution and loan recovery drive further demonstrated that the ABP remained a sustainable credit programme towards repositioning the sector.

According to him, the CBN has continued to enhance its risk mitigation strategies to guarantee the intended outcomes of the ABP. Also, as part of its development Ànance activities, the central bank recently disclosed plan to release about 300,000 metric tonnes of maize into the Nigerian market from its strategic anchors under its Anchor Borrowers’ Programme this month. Owing to this, the current price of maize N155,000 per metric tonne was expected to reduce signiÀcantly.

According to the central bank, the planned release followed moves made by the critical stakeholders, working with relevant government and security agencies, to put a halt to reprehensible and speculative activities of middlemen and bandits respectively.

With the release of 300,000 metric tonnes in February2021,itisexpectedthatthepricesofmaize in the Nigerian market will drop signiÀcantly, thereby increasing demand for the crop, raising output and ultimately enhancing the gains of maize farmers.

Beyond the GDP Numbers But despite the positive performance, analysts warned that the economy is not completely out of the woods, urging the federal government to further stimulate output growth, among others.

To CowryAssets Limited, a Lagos-based investment and Ànancial advisory company, the federal government must take necessary measures to strengthen the fragile economic recovery.

On their part, analysts at Cordros Capital Limited, expect the growth momentum in the non-oil sector of the economy to be maintained.

The Àrm predicted that growth will be partly driven by the relatively low base from Q1-20.

“Althoughinsecurityinfood-producingregions has continued unabated since the start of the year, we think the sustained interventions to small farm holders will continue to support the resiliency in the agricultural sector,” the Àrm added.

Also, United Capital stated that it remained optimistic about the sustained pace of recovery in the aggregate level of economic activities.

Zainab Ahmed

“While growth in Q1-2021 may be muted due to a high base eͿect of Q1-2020, our optimism feeds largely on potential stronger recovery in Q2 and Q3-2021 relative to the negative growth observed in the corresponding quarters of 2020.

“SpeciÀc to the non-oil sector, we expect the improved performance in Services to be sustained as people become more conÀdent to go about their daily activities. Also, we think the agricultural sector would build on the gains of 2020 as demand remains strong, security challenges abate, and weather conditions improve,” it added.

In the oil sector, it anticipated improved performance in FY-2021 considering the low base for oil production in 2020.

It noted that while the country’s production continues to be capped under the OPEC+ quota, it expects a recovery in production as OPEC+ gradually returns production level back to prepandemic levels following recent price gains and positive sentiments from increased rate of vaccinations which could spur demand for travel and consequently oil.

According to CSL Stockbrokers, a subsidiary of FCMB Holdings, having exited recession in Q4 2020, it expects a gradual build up in momentum in 2021, supported by the gradual normalisation of economic activities, as the impact of the lockdown in 2020 continues to fade.

It also expects growth to be driven by the non-oil sector, supported by gains from agriculture and the telecommunication sectors, the combination of which it stated accounts for about 38 per cent of the GDP basket.

“On the oil sector, we see limited upside, as the output will remain undermined by OPEC cuts.

Downside risks to our forecast is the inability to curb the pandemic as fast as anticipated due to the delayed distribution of eͿective vaccines,” CSL Stockbrokers added.

In his comment on the GDP numbers, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) commended the eͿective mobilisation of Àscal and monetary policies tools that enabled the economy to exit recession.

The LCCI noted that going by the performance noticed in the Q4, the current economic downturn in the country was expected to be short-lived going forward.

It said there were indications that recovery from the current recession might be faster than expected even though its pace would be expected to be subdued within the region of one and two per cent that had been projected by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which had put Nigeria’s annual average growth for the year 2021 at 1.1 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively.

The chamber hinged the prospects of the country’s recovery in the year 2021 on Àve key

Emefiele

factors including eͿective management of the pandemiclocallyandglobally,widespreadvaccine rollout, the direction of the global oil market, Àscal and monetary policy direction and ease of doing business reforms.

It said: “Accelerating the pace of economic recovery requires Àscal and monetary authorities to be well coordinated to promote growthenhancing and conÀdence-building policies that would encourage more private capital inÁows into the economy. Investment-led growth strategy is critical for inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Strong commitment to key reforms will not only boost output recovery but will also put the nation on a path of macroeconomic stability.”

The LCCI, in its “Comment on the 2020 GDP Report,”whichwasissuedbytheDirectorGeneral of the LCCI, Dr. Muda Yusuf, said: “The quarterly performance was a pleasant surprise even though the economy ended the year 2020 in a negative growthregion,withannualGDPgrowthdeclining by 1.92 percent, its lowest level since 1994.

“We note the Central Bank of Nigeria’s accommodative policy disposition in the year 2020, evidenced by its sustained developmental Ànance eͿorts and deliberate interest rate reduction. On the other hand, we also acknowledge the eͿorts by Àscal authorities in quickening recovery via the Economic Sustainability Plan.”

He, however, added that the stimulus provided by Àscal and monetary authorities (about 3 per cent of GDP) was largely insu΀cient to achieve desired outcomes even as policy responses failed to address the structural challenges stiÁing productivity across sectors.

Senior Economist/Head, Investment Research &Strategy,GreenwichMerchantBank,Mr.Ayodeji Ebo, welcomed the development, saying exiting recession will boost investor’s conÀdence.

He said: “The next step is for the government to see how they can achieve a growth rate that is above population growth rate so that it can be an inclusive growth and more people in terms of welfare are positively impacted.”

On his part, Managing Director, Kairos Capital, Mr. Sam Chidoka, said key sectors responsible for the exit from recession should be supported to achieve a higher growth rate.

“If you look at the numbers published by NBS, two sectors helped pull us out of recession. One would be agriculture with about 3.4 per cent growth and the second would be ICT with about 14 per cent growth.

“So, it is clear and we can see what contributed to our GDP growth and it is for us to pay more attention to this sector of the economy if we want to see growth continue.

“In the last quarter, ICT actually grew by 16 per cent and this quarter grew by 14 per cent, meaning

that there is a capacity for the ICT sector to grow maybe by 20 per cent. So, we need to try and do all we can to make that sector grow,” he added.

He,however,notedthatinsecuritywasaͿecting the agricultural sector.

He said: “Now that NAFDAC has approved one of the vaccines for Nigeria, we need to do our best and try to begin to vaccinate people so that we can open the economy fully.

“We also need policy consistency that makes it possible for people to look at sectors of the economy and seek to make long term investments and not just portfolio investments.

“So, if we are able to deal with the COVID-19 issuesbetter,securityandreducepolicysomersault in certain sectors, we would begin to see the kind of growth we should have as a country.”

In his contribution, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Credent Investment Managers Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Shelleng, said with food prices soaring, there was a need for the government to boost the increase in local supply.

But he added that this cannot be achieved until insecurity issues are adequately addressed.

He said: “With positive GDP Àgures it could be said that the economy is technically climbing out of recession but in reality, we would need to see Àgures for Q1, 2021 to determine if truly we are on the growth path.

“The slight uptick in GDP Àgures in Q4, 2020 could be largely attributed to the ending of lockdown and increased growth in sectors that have beneÀted due to lockdown such as information technology and communications.”

Also,speakingwithTHISDAY,ManagingDirector/Chief Executive, SD&D Capital Management Limited, Mr. Idakolo Gbolade, warned that policy misstepssuchaswronghandlingoftheimpending petrol price increase, unrest in various states and wrong information management could erode the gains already recorded.

He stated: “What this growth implies is that we are gradually coming out of recession and we are witnessing increased activity in the economy, majorly from increased importation activities, increasedinÁowthroughtheI&EF;windowand activities have started picking up after lockdown necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

He said the Nigerian economy had demonstrated its ruggedness by the positive outcome in Q4, coming out stronger, particularly against economic predictions.

Gbolade attributed the performance to consistency in policy implementation to drive growth.

Therefore, the development calls for increased interaction between the Àscal and monetary policy authorities, especially with focus on growth-enhancing sectors of the economy so as to enhance the recovery.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 21, 2021

19

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Abdulrasheed Bawa: What Future for EFCC? Kingsley Nwezeh looks at the nomination of Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa as the Chairmandesignate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the controversies that led to the exit of his predecessors, the emerging, valid arguments about the lopsided appointments and violation of the federal character principle among others

T

he nomination of the Chairman-designate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC), Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, was applauded in many quarters as it presented an opportunity for a fresh start for an agency whose past leadership usually ended in controversial circumstances.

There is also the issue that the chairmanship of the commission now looks like a position reserved permanently for Northern Nigeria. Nobody from Southern Nigeria has occupied the seat since the establishment of the agency in 2004.

The other raging argument is the matter that concerns the EFCC Act which stipulates that the occupier of the o΀ce must be a serving member of a security agency in the rank of Assistant Commisioner of Police (ACP) or its equivalent.

The rank of the nominee, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, is said to be below the rank of ACP. From the Àrst chairman of the agency, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu to Mrs Farida Waziri, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, Ibrahim Magu, and the present Acting Chairman, Mr. Mohammed Umar, all, except Waziri, a retired assistant inspector-general of police, are senior police o΀cers.

tion of Nigerians concerning his section of origin and religion. Most Nigerians are already fed up and quite angry with President Buhari for thinking that the only people who are competent and qualiÀed to head all the sensitive positions in the security and para-security architecture in Nigeria, and most commanding heights of the Nigerian polity are simply Northerners and Moslems only. So, no Southerners or Christians can be found who are equally qualiÀed and competent for these positions ?

“Is the president really telling Nigerians that no Christian from the South is fully qualiÀed to head the Army, Navy, DSS, EFCC, Security and Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration, Correctional Services (Prisons service), Customs, NIA, DIA, IGP, NEMA, NYSC, NSA, SGF, NNPC, CoS, Senate,CJN, President (Court of Appeal), CJ (FHC), CJ (FCT High Court), BOA, SEC, PTF, NIMASA, NPA, FIRS, AMCON, PenCOM, NCC, NDIC, NHIS, AGF, Accountant General (Federation), DPR, etc. Haba, Mr President !!!”

The erudite lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) further said “We call this naked nepotism, cronyism, sectionalism, prebendalism, favouritism and abuse of o΀ce. Aside the Judiciary where it can be said the order of succession is fairly known, the rest appointments are whimsical, capricious and arbitrary”.

The Controversies Nuhu Ribadu After prosecuting some powerful governors, Ribadu left in controversial circumstances and at a point raised the alarm that his life was threatened.

He was Àred by the Yar’adua administration and later went into exile. Before then he was demoted from the rank of AIG to deputy commissioner of police.

He returned from self-exile in 2011 under President Jonathan.

Did His Nomination Breach the EFCC Act? In spite of the excitement that greeted Bawa’s nomination issues are being raised concerning whether his present rank is the equivalent of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) as stipulated by the EFCC Act. Section 2(1) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, provides for a “Chairman who shall be “(i) the Chief Executive and Accounting O΀cer of the Commission; (ii) be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or its equivalent ”.

It has also emerged that the nominee’s rank is said to be below the ACP rank in an organisation where there are many senior directors.

Mrs Farida Waziri Another former Chairman, Mrs Farida Waziri, was Àred by President Jonathan.

The former president said he sacked Waziri in the interest of the nation and that he reserved the right to keep it a state secret.

But in her yet to be launched book “Farida Waziri:One Step Ahead”, said she was Àred because she was probing some oil racketeers.

She also held that she was victimised because she refused to contribute to the re-election of the President Jonathan.

Ibrahim Larmorde Ibrahim Larmorde was accused of diverting N1.3trillion recovered loot among other allegations which became a subject of Senate investigation. He was later replaced by the then ACP Ibrahim Magu.

He was also accused of refusing to investigate former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Allison Madueke, before a UK agency intiated the move.

Ibrahim Magu Magu was last year arrested, detained and later suspended and faced the Justice Ayo Salami-led presidential committee that probed allegations of financial malfeasance against his leadership of the commission. Magu severally accused the panel of refusal to give him a fair hearing following a 22-point allegations of insurbodination and diversion of recovered loot and property levelled against him by his supervising Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN).

Except for Nuhu Ribadu, all the former heads of the anti-graft agency, either retired or serving senior police o΀cers, faced allegations of corruption.

Bawa

Is EFCC Exclusive Preserve of the North?

It is looking increasingly like the chairmanship of the commission is reserved for the North. Till date, nobody from Southern Nigeria has occupied the position.

There are valid arguments that the appointments regarding the headship of the agency contravened the federal character principle.

Eminent lawyer, Mike Ozhekhome, has weighed in on the violation of the federal character principle as it relates to the EFCC chair.

“The Federal Character principle exists.

It was enshrined in sections 14(3) and 153(1) of the 1999 Constitution in our multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, to ensure equal participation of the various ethnic extractions and tendencies in the governance of the country.

“This was to prevent the domination by one or few ethnic groups over others. This was to enhance and promote national unity, national loyalty and a sense of belonging amongst all Nigerians. It was to ensure the equitable sharing of

all bureaucratic, economic, media and political posts at all levels of government.

But,this is not the case”, he said.

The legal luminary posits that “The EFCC now appears permanently reserved for the North. Let us see the scary list: Nuhu Ribadu (2003-2007); Ibrahim Lamorde (Acting Chairman, 2008); Farida Waziri (2008-2011); Ibrahim Lamorde (2011-2015); Ibrahim Magu (Acting Chairman, 2015-2020, suspended]); Mohammed Umar (2020-2021); Abdulrasheed Bawa (Acting Chairman, 2021; just appointed).

The Kebbi-State born nominee has a lot going for him.

As a 40-year old, he’s expected to bring his youthful energy to bear on his o΀ce in recalibrating the anti-graft war by giving it a new impetus.

By his rich background in terms of local and specialist foreign training, Abdulrasheed Bawa has an opportunity to refocus the Áedgling war against economic and Ànancial crimes.

In spite of that as Ozhekhome further posits, “the greatest hurdle Bawa may have to cross has to do with the percep-

Other Issues Aside reports that the nominee is allegedly a cousin of the Justice Minister, there are other allegations against the nominee bordering on illegal sale of 244 forfeited trucks to proxies in Port Harcourt.

A statement by the EFCC, however, denied the allegation.

It said the disposal of Ànally forfeited trucks in the Port Harcourt Zonal O΀ce through public auction, was conducted after the exit of Bawa as zonal head”, it said.

The EFCC maintained that it was illogical for him to have been indicted over an auction that was not superintended by him.

“The auction of trucks at the Port Harcourt o΀ce was among the issues examined by the Justice Ayo Salami Panel, leading to the suspension of some o΀cers of the commission”, it said.

Conclusion As the nation awaits his conÀrmation by the senate, it is also important to review and redesign a governance template that seeks to entrench violation of the federal character principles.

This template should also envisage a situation where the next government from a diͿerent part of the country should adopt the template in its entirety without complaints from the beneÀciaries of today.

The Bible in Proverbs 29:4 says “By justice a king builds up the land, but he who exacts gifts tears it down”.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 21, 2021

20

BUSINESS/ENERGY

A fuel dispenser

The Looming Fuel Price Increase Recently, Nigerians, who were already agonising in the atmosphere of unabating insecurity, were greeted with yet another bad news; an imminent fuel price increase. What is more disturbing is the call for them to bear the pains of the increase, as if they ever had any respite from all the years of persistent price rise in petroleum products. Fortunately, towards the end of last week, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), through its spokesperson, Kennie Obateru, said there would be no fuel price increase.

As good as the news may be, it tells about some lack of coordination between the NNPC and the Ministry; and an embarrassing lack of communication between the GMD and the Minister. Chris Paul reports

O

bviously, from the body of the press statement issued

by NNPC last week, there will be an eventual hike in the price of fuel.At over $65 per barrel, crude oil price is riding on a three-month high. So, naturally, one should expect the price of fuel to be in the range of N200 to N250 per litre.

But government, ‘somehow’, still regulates the price of the product, which would have been a good development if the process was transparent.

Whatever they choose to do and however they elect to do it, NNPC has only succeeded in making Nigerians understand that the days of buying fuel at unregulated price like kerosene or diesel are now here to stay. That reality was underscored in Minister of Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva’s statement. The only problem here is that Nigerians may not be as quiet as they have been; buying kerosene and diesel.

As it stands now, NNPC is giving Nigerians respite for the month of February, while they dialogue with other stakeholders to convince them on why Nigerians must swallow the pain of another fuel price increase.

Unfortunately, that dialogue may not be yielding any positive result. The Public Relations Manager of the Independent Petroleum Marketers, Chinedu Ukadike, seems to disagree

with his NNPC counterpart. If the marketers are getting the product at between N160 and N165 at private depots, surely, NNPC would not expect the marketers to sell at N162 per litre.

Already, fuel queues are surfacing in diͿerent parts of the country. In other words, Nigerians are about to begin the reggae and the blues dance all over again.

So, Sylva is correct. There will be a petrol price hike and it may have actually begun.

Taking a break from the usual cumbersome technical argument, perhaps the social pressure this increase will cause the country and its citizens should be strong enough, an argument, to get the government to ensure in-country reÀning of the nation’s crude, is accomplished, once and for all; at any cost; just to save Nigerians more avoidable hardship.

Looking at the recent announcement by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, of another price hike on fuel, Nigerians who thought the era of fuel price increases is over, now know as hinted in Sylva’s statement that when it comes to paying for your fuel, there is no silver lining anywhere.

In a remark, he made on February 9, 2021, Sylva asked Nigerians to prepare for a higher regime of the pump price of petrol, given the new fortune of crude oil in the international market.

As global crude oil price hovered around $60

per barrel, last week, Sylva said an increase in the cost of petrol has become inevitable. He, however, pleaded with Nigerians to be ready to bear the pains of the new price regime.

The question is what more pains is it that the Nigerian must have to bear under the weight of this imminent fuel price increase?

It is public knowledge and not rocket science, that for every time, government increases the price of fuel, the price of everything else increases disproportionate to the percentage increase of the fuel price.

So, Sylva is telling Nigerians to bear the pains of higher cost of transportation. For those who have children in private schools, the Minister is asking them to bear the pain of paying more for the school fees of their children; and where the cost becomes unaͿordable, those Nigerians have to bear the pains of having their children drop out of school.

For Nigerians struggling to manage the N30,000 minimum wage salary, they will have to bear the pains of paying higher rent, they have to Ànd a way to feed their families under the norming sting of increased cost of foodstuͿs in the market.

For the many jobless youths, the Minister is pleading with them of enduring the added pains- of the fuel price increase- to their already miserable existence.

Coming in February or any other month, for now, at a period in the year, when money is hard to come by and life is so hard; this proposed fuel price hike will cause untold hardship to over 90per cent of Nigerians.

The consequences of this will include a rise in suicide rate. Some companies may have to close shop and lay oͿ staͿ, thereby leading to more alarming increase in the already massive Àeld of the unemployed.

The desperate ones among the jobless will have more reasons to join bad gangs to fend for themselves.

That means kidnapping, killing, and general violence, advance fee and internet fraud will be on rise again.

Consequently, the country, at large, will have to bear the pains of worse state of insecurity, sadness and sorrow all over the land.

With the o΀cial inauguration of the Nigerian Upstream Cost Optimisation Programme (NUCOP), last week and its eͿorts to optimize production bottom-line, the federal government also ramped up its plan to achieve the $10 per barrel crude oil production target.

At the NUCOP inauguration in Abuja, Sylva saidtheNigerian NationalPetroleumCorporation (NNPC) can no longer continue to bear the cost of under-recovery or subsidy, adding that while government revenue has improved following the rise in crude oil price, the gains cannot be squandered on subsidy payment.

By his latest claim to subsidy, the Sylva has contradicted the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, who exclaimed that the era of subsidy payment for imported fuel was gone forever.

In his interview on an AIT program in April, 2020, Kyari stated, categorically, that there is no fuel subsidy anymore in Nigeria; emphasising that “it is zero subsidy forever.”

Elaborating more on his pronouncement, he said henceforth, there will be no resort to either fuel subsidy or under-recovery of any nature; adding that “NNPC will play in the petroleum marketplace, just like another marketer in the space.

But we will be there for the country to sustain the security of supply at market price.”

He also hinted that though the government was not deregulating the petrol sub-sector, but it would still get involved in Àxing prices.

On the face value, what this means is that the NNPC will be there to Àx fuel price so Nigerians are left to the vagaries of price volatility.

The landing cost of petrol, according to the pricing template of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), is over N179 per litre, while the expected Open Market Price (OMP) is about N202 per litre.

However, the Àlling stations are yet to reÁect the price, as the product is still being sold for between the N162 and N165 per litre price range.

“Since we are optimising everything, NNPC needs to also think about the optimisation of product cost because as we all know, oil prices are where they are today, $60.

As desirable as this is, this has serious consequences as well on product prices. So, we want to take the pleasure and we should as a country be ready to take the pain. Today the NNPC is taking a big hit from this. We all know that there is no provision in the budget for subsidy,” he said.

Stressing the level of toll, the subsidy has taken on the bottom line of the national oil company, Sylva said “Somewhere down the line, I believe that the NNPC cannot continue to take this blow.

There is no way because there is no provision for it. As a country, let us take the beneÀts of the higher crude oil prices and I hope we will also be ready to take a little pain on the side of higher product prices.”

Of the nine priority areas given to the ministry as its operational mandate, the minister said reduction of crude oil extraction cost remains critical.

Compared to Iran and Saudi Arabia, among other oil-producing nation, Sylva stated that the cost of oil production in Nigeria is exceptionally high; adding that the development is depriving the country of the prospect of attracting investments and the need to remain globally competitive.

“Average total cost is now below $30/barrel for JV contract and less than $20 for Production Sharing Contracts (PSC).

We need to do more. Engagement should reach a consensus on cost reduction,” he a΀rmed.

Like Nigerians, who will be reeling under worse pains and misery, oil services companies would have to bear the pain of laying oͿ staͿ, reducing administrative cost which may involve doing away with other cost, such as communitydevelopment friendly funding.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 21, 2021

21

BUSINESS/TRADE

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s Priorities as WTO DG Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the new Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.

Yes, the Àrst woman and Àrst African to lead the global trade body. While the celebration over her appointment is ongoing, the reality is that the task ahead of her is challenging.

Nosa James-Igbinadolor looks at the priorities of the new WTO chief

W

ith the apex leadership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) now empanelled with the selection of Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala as the new director-general of the organisation, there are growing expectations from across the world as to the capacity of the WTO under Okonjo-Iweala’s leadership to change the political economy and trans-national dynamics of global trade.

It will be arduous, though. The WTO is a member-driven organisation, which means all its major decisions are made by a consensus of 164 governments, not the director general.

The former World Bank Managing Director, who was conÀrmed as WTO director-general last Monday, becoming the Àrst woman and the Àrst African to lead the global trade body, has acknowledged the need for reforms. “It feels exciting and it feels daunting at the same time. I look forward to the challenge ... deep reforms are needed to rebrand and reposition the organisation,” she said during an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.

Larry Elliot, writing in the U.K Guardian, agrees that Okonjo-Iweala is going to have her work cut out. “She has no real background in trade, although that may prove to be less of a handicap than some of her critics imagine. The last two WTO directors-general – Roberto Azevrdo and Pascal Lamy – struggled to make much progress with trade liberalisation despite knowing the subject inside out. Okonjo-Iweala believes a politician rather than another technocrat has a better chance of sorting out the WTO’s problems – and she is right because each of the three big challenges she faces has a political dimension.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has delivered possibly the biggest shocks to international trade since the Great Depression. Global trade in 2020 was projected to decline by 20 . As noted in a recent Economic Times commentary, only the most optimistic economic scenarios see trade returning to its previous level in 2021. Regardless of when the top-line numbers fully recover, however, the global trade landscape will still look dramatically diͿerent as companies shift their focus from Àghting the pandemic to winning the post-COVID-19 future.

The commentary further posited rightly that as the pandemic “destabilises economies, intensiÀes geopolitical frictions and exposes the risks of current global manufacturing and supply networks, the pandemic is also likely to redraw the map of world trade. Companies will be compelled to revise their mix of products and the design of their supply chains, and governments their trade and economic policies to adapt to these and other shifts.”

Thus, ramping up global eͿorts to combat COVID-19 is one of Okonjo-Iweala’s priorities.

She has already signalled that high on her agenda at the WTO will be to promote and facilitate the enhanced distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and protective equipment.

“One of ... top priorities that I have, that I’m passionate about, is how can trade and the WTO play a stronger role in bringing solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic, both on the health side but also on the economic side,” she said recently.

She added that while economic recovery was reliant on trade, solving public health challenges also required “good trade.”

Yet she faces dauting challenges in reforming the WTO to become the organisation become a driver of global trade and competitiveness.

The WTO was established in 1995 and has two key functions. One is legislative — drawing up new rules on trade in response to economic changes over time through negotiations among

Okonjo-Iweala

the member countries. The other is a judicial — dispute settlement procedures to judge whether member states are following its rules when a trade dispute crops up and to call on violators to correct their behaviour.

The organisation has struggled to prevent trade spats among member states, most notably the United States and China.

One of her Àrst priorities, no doubt, will be the re-organisation of the WTO’s dysfunctional appeals body. The 164-member WTO has been operating without its Appellate Body, which arbitrates global trade disputes, since December 2019 after the Trump administration as well as the preceding Obama administration blocked the appointment of new judges, essentially freezing its ability to resolve extended and complex trade disputes.

TheAppellate Body is an important element of the Dispute Settlement System of WTO, hearing appeals against the Àndings of the panel established by the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB). The Appellate Body (AB) ideally consists of seven members including the chairman. But on 10th December 2019, this body went into crisis as two out of its three remaining members’ four-year terms came to an end.

One of the United States’ main accusations against the Appellate Body is that it has overstepped its jurisdiction time and again, creating laws and indulging in “Judicial Activism”. It has argued that the trade organisation is lethargic and bureaucratic, and not Àt for purpose to handle the problems posed by China’s state-dominated economy and unduly restrictive on US attempts

to impose sanctions on countries that unfairly subsidise their companies or export at unusually low prices.

Many agree that judges on the appeals body are there to interpret trade law, not make it. It is generally agreed that the US will not fully engage with WTO – under any president – until that happens.

At a virtual press conference after her conÀrmationearlylastweek,Okonjo-Iwealasaidreforming the dysfunctional appeals system was a priority.

“There’s no point agreeing on more rules where the only place in the world, where countries can bring trade disputes is paralysed,” she said, adding that her priority will be to overhaul the system so that it works for all WTO members, with the aim of bringing a proposed set of reforms to the 12th Ministerial Conference, which will likely be held in June this year.

Tackling trade distortions from subsidies which is prevalent in China and which has often riled the United States is another key priority for the new WTO chief. China’s industrial subsidies are high on the agenda for the US, European Union (EU) and Japan, while Europe’s agricultural subsidies anger many developing countries.

Much more than that, the political contest for global dominance between China and the U.S will continue to play out in the WTO; a war by other means. Okonjo-Iweala will have to address U.S concerns around the many trade tensions that stem from China’s incomplete transition to a free market economy. While China has signiÀcantly liberalised its economic and trade regimes over the past three decades, it continues to maintain

a number of state-directed policies that appear to distort trade and investment Áows.

According to a recent Congressional Research Service report, “major areas of concern expressed

by U.S. policymakers and stakeholders include China’s alleged widespread cyber economic espionage against U.S. Àrms; relatively ineͿective record of enforcing intellectual property rights (IPR); discriminatory innovation policies; mixed record on implementing its WTO obligations; extensive use of industrial policies (such as subsidies and trade and investment barriers) to promote and protect industries favoured by the government; and interventionist policies to inÁuence the value of its currency. Many U.S. policymakers argue that such policies adversely impact U.S. economic interests and have contributed to U.S. job losses in some sectors”.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post last year, Okonjo-Iweala admitted the issue of subsidies was “fraught” and one of the “most challenging” and “divisive” items of work.

In addition, she will have the unenviable task of bringing the WTO’s rules into the contemporary epoch. She agrees that “the WTO rules are behind those of several regional and bilateral trade agreements which are incorporating a lot of innovations such as e-commerce and the digital economy,” adding that the pandemic has increased the importance and accelerated the role of e-commerce, which is expected to grow signiÀcantly in the coming years.

“E-commerce oͿers important opportunities for inclusivity of MSMEs and women in international trade, especially in developing countries,” she said. “To make it possible for some developing and least developed countries to participate in the e-commerce negotiations, we must partner with governments and other organisations to bridge the digital divide.”

Furthermore, the reactivation of the Doha Round of trade talks is primal to the success of Okonjo-Iweala. A test of Okonjo-Iweala’s leadership will be whether she can deliver on this unÀnished business. The Doha Round was launched in Doha, Qatar in November 2001 and has remained moribund since then. The needs of developing countries were supposed to be at the core of the trade talks as a properly functioning global trading system would make the most vulnerable nations more resilient and reduce the gap between rich and poor countries.

International and domestic factors have been responsible for the long coma of the Doha Round.

The international challenge is that the American and Chinese views on what the WTO should be and on how its large members should behave are irreconcilable. For the US, WTO rules should be made stricter and emerging economies should not receive any special treatment. China feels that a huge share of its population has not yet beneÀted from its open economy policy, hence that it still deserves some special treatment under current WTO rules.

The second reason which is often neglected but equally crucial is the domestic audience and electorate in the U.S and the E.U which tend to show intense antagonism to multilateral trade negotiations that they believe lead to job losses at home.

As noted by the Global Trade Review, the challenges facing the WTO are both numerous and complex, and “Okonjo-Iweala has a tough job ahead of her. Carrying out the wide-ranging reforms the organisation needs if it is to remain relevant will be particularly tricky, since the WTO agreement means that consensus from all members is required before any actions are carried out.”

Okonjo-Iweala understands this dilemma. She has posited that she intends to “ensure consensus does not stand in the way.”

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 21, 2021

BUSINESS/ ENERGY

8ntangling Aiteo 6PDC Oil Theft 6aga For a while, insinuations that certain oil companies operating in Nigeria engage in underhand activities in the process of carrying out their businesses had been rife. Emmanuel Addeh writes that the latest dust raised by Aiteo E&P’s accusation that Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) wilfully carried out unfair dealings against it, has again brought the matter to the fore, highlighting that the indigenous oil concern appears to have a strong case against the international oil giant

I

t started like the usual rumours, mostly unsubstantiated, of how the oil sector is exceptionally dirty, but since documents surfaced about how SPDC allegedly short-changed some local oil Àrms, it has almost taken the form of a scandal.The bone of contention is that between 2016 and 2018, SPDC putting to use a metering device not approved by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) short-changed local operators, Aiteo, being the hardest hit, to the tune of millions of barrels of crude oil.

While there’s a discrepancy between the quantity the DPR has asked SPDC to return to Aiteo and other local oil Àrms, what is clear is that, some barrels of crude oil were indeed missing during the period under review and the Nigerian unit of the Royal Dutch Shell has indeed agreed to return the missing commodity.

Failed E;orts at Resolution The eͿorts to resolve the matter involving Aiteo and SPDC by the DPR has been encumbered with many back and forth movements, stretching into a couple of years.

In one of the letters written to SPDC by DPR, the regulatory agency, over the issue, titled “Re: Crude Theft/Loss Allocation Methodology”, signed by U.K Ndanusa

on behalf of the DPR Director, Mr. Sarki Auwalu, the agency while recalling all previous correspondences and minutes of meetings on the subject, noted that after a thorough review, it was time to situate the controversy in proper context.

It stated that in an eͿort to regularise as well as determine the suitability or otherwise of the 2 ; 12” Coriolis Áow meter (the controversial device) installed

by SPDC at the inlet of the NCTL line into the Bonny Terminal for Custody Transfer Measurement and Allocation Purposes, decided to check all the available records within its disposal alongside the additional submission by SPDC representatives. On its Àndings, it concluded that the NCTL facility was installed by SPDC as a temporary arrangement pending the completion of the permanent Lease Automatic Custody Transfer (LACT) unit.

The DPR insisted that the meter was calibrated and successfully proved in the presence of DPR representatives, but that no approval was granted by the department for its application.

“SPDC was made to understand that the existing regulations in DPR approved guidelines do not have provision for temporary metering arrangement for custody transfer measurement “Gross volumes obtained from the meter

were used by SPDC for gross crude oil production allocation to NCTL injectors from June 2016 to June 2017 while the density measured by the meter were used to arrive at the produced water/net production that were allocated to the NCTL injectors between the June 2016 to May 2017.

“In view of the above and the need to ensure that no party among the Bonny producers is short-changed, you are required to note the following: Our participation in the calibration and/or testing of the meter was not an approval to use and apply the equipment for intended purpose. The approved method of determination for dynamic measurement as prescribed in the DPR guideline is the auto sampling system with mixer device installed upstream,” the regulator stressed.

It added that the water allocation to NCTL injectors, which was based on the density measurements of the meter was not acceptable to DPR, demanding that SPDC adjusts its water allocations to the twin injectors in line with the DPR approved methodologies.

“Consequently, and in addition to the above, a sanction is hereby imposed against your company with penalty of N250,000 for violation of Section 2(d) of the Mineral Oil Safety Regulation and the provisions of Section 51 of the Petroleum Act; 1969.

“Also, you are kindly advised to ensure

timely completion and commissioning of the LACT unit being installed at the inlet manifold of the NCTL line to enable us conclude action on the Coriolis meter,” the DPR said in the memo.

In another o΀cial communication, signed

by M. Alaku, titled, “Allocation of Bonny Terminal Gross Volume From June 2016 to July 2018 Based on Comparison of Metered Gross Volume Between the Coriolis Meter and LACT Unit Installed on the NCTL,” the DPR demanded that SPDC should return the missing crude amounting to over 2 million barrels to the aͿected local oil companies including Aiteo, Eroton, Newcross and Belema Oil. Accordingly, the department resolves as follows: “Our earlier rejection of water allocation with the Coriolis Meter as communicated in the referenced letter stands.

Therefore, SPDC shall implement the refund of the understated 2,081,678 barrels of oil, from the SPDC JV: 1,317,829 barrels; TEPNG JV: 571,438 barrels; NDPR: 107,744 barrels and WSPOL: 84,668 barrels.

“This shall be in in favour of Aiteo JV: 1,022,029 barrels; Belemaoil JV: 39,374 barrels; Eroton N: 643,245 barrels and Newcross JV: 377,030 barrels. The refund shall be conducted within 10 months eͿective from September 2020.

“DPR is unable to accept SPDC’s proposal

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 21, 2021

23

BUSINESS/ ENERGY Untangling Aiteo, SPDC Oil Theft Saga described in (ii) above due to the following: The suspended Coriolis meter was not approved for custody transfer allocation purposes as DPR procedure guidelines do not have provision for temporary metering or use of non LACT systems for custody transfer measurements,” it stated The DPR insisted that the allocations that SPDC sought to amend were conducted in line with its approved methodologies which use terminal Àscalised volumes as the basis for allocating crude oil losses.

It maintained that accepting SPDC’s request will provide grounds for other companies that recently installed LACT units, to request for a review of their earlier allocations which were equally penalised for noncompliant measurements, failure of which will mean that only SPDC and/or TNP injectors are singled out by the department “Kindly note that, in the spirit of reconciliation, the department has recognised the gross allocation to NCTL injectors between June 2016 and June 2017. This is to avoid maximum penalty for allocating crude Oil to NCTL injectors with an unapproved Coriolis meter,” the letter stated.

SPDC Agrees to Refund Understated Crude In its response dated February 8, signed by SPDC’s Business Relations and JV Excellence Manager, Steve Okwuosah, and addressed to the DPR, the oil giant agreed to return the missing barrels to the four local companies within the scheduled time.

While thanking the DPR, which had earlier stated that it wasn’t ready to embark on further engagement on the matter if SPDC did not reimburse the indigenous oil Àrms, the oil giant acknowledged the patience of the regulator during the period the matter lasted.

“We refer to your letter ref; OMR/CTO/ COA/COM/V.5/04S dated 28 January, 2021 in respect of the above subject.

“We note your directives as contained in the above-referenced letter and wish to conÀrm that The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) will implement the refund of the 2,061,678 barrels of crude oil from the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) injectors. “(Through) SPDC, TEPNG, NDPR and WSPOL to the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) injectors (to) Aiteo, Belemaoil, Eroton and Newcross over the period from end of January 2021 and November 2021 in accordance with schedule as contained in the DPR letter Ref: DMR/CTO/COA/ COM/V.5/230 dated 14th December, 2020.

“We thank the DPR for its patience in mediating on this matter. Please accept assurances of our highest regards,” the company said.

Aiteo Goes to Court Perhaps, dissatisÀed with the settlement terms, Aiteo Eastern E&P Company Limited has dragged SPDC and four of its sister companies before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, over the alleged theft of what Aiteo said are over 16 million barrels of crude oil.

In its statement of claim, Aiteo stated that the defendants, that is, SPDC and its sister companies had a deliberate corporate policy to unjustly enrich themselves at the expense of the plaintiͿ and other local oil companies. It a΀rmed that with the use of a wrong metering system, SPDC and the four other associated companies understated and retained crude oil volumes due to the company to the detriment of Aiteo .

Aiteo averred that the o΀cials and agents of the defendants were aware of the wrongful appropriation of the plaintiͿ’s crude oil but did nothing to prevent or stop it until directives were issued by DPR. The local oil company argued that the only means by which the defendants could conveniently appropriate the plaintiͿ’s crude oil illegally was to understate the crude oil volume belonging to it.

“The monetary beneÀt obtained by the defendants were also retained by the said defendants. The defendants continued to use the understated oil volumes and proceeds for their personal use. The defendants were unjustly enriched by the use of the unapproved meter and continue to unjustly enrich themselves.

SPDC and other defendants, including Royal Dutch Shell, Shell Western and Trading Company Limited, Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited as well as Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited from withdrawing funds standing to their credit without Àrst “ringfencing” them to the value of the 16,050,000 barrels of crude oil.

According to the court, on no account must any transaction be carried out in the listed accounts without Àrst “ring-fencing any cash, bonds, deposits, all forms of negotiable instruments to the value of $2.7 billion and paying all standing credits to the Shell companies up to the value into an interest yielding account in the name of the chief registrar of the court, who is to hold the funds in trust” pending the hearing of the motion.

The court further noted that pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction, the named banks were restrained in the interim from accepting, honouring or giving eͿect to any mandate , cheque or instructions presented by the defendants.

The certiÀed true copy was signed by the Registrar of the Court, Mrs. Oluwakemi Obalaja.

The court noted that the breakdown of the total sum comprises $799 million being the amount claimed to have been paid by the plaintiͿ to the Àve defendants for the acquisition of the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) pipelines and the assets, and $389,631,877.76 allegedly lost by the plaintiͿ arising from the leakages in the NCTL and the degraded conditions of the NCTL. Furthermore, it listed $578,951,901.99 a as having been lost by the plaintiͿ arising from the crude theft/larceny in the NCTL, and $933,000,000 claimed as having been expended for the repairs of the pipelines and acquisition of the equipment including well-heads, generators and pumps as well as replacing the Áow lines within the NCTL. Before adjourning the case to February 24, Justice Oguntoyibo stated that, “Pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction, the respondent banks are directed to sequestrate and/or ring-fence any cash, bonds, deposits, all forms of negotiable instruments or chose(s) in the action due to or standing to the credit sum/value of the amounts stated in prayer 1,2,2 and/ or 4 above.”

Auwalu

Their actions were without any concern, consideration, and or regard for the detrimental eͿect same had and would have had on the plaintiͿ,” Aiteo said.

According to the indigenous oil company, SPDC and its co-travellers made use of the Coriolis meter in bad faith and was meant to deceive Aiteo regarding the amount of crude oil volumes due to it.

The company maintained that the Coriolis meter has poor zero stability which aͿects Áow meter accuracy, cannot be used for Áuids with lower density and sensitive to external vibration interference, among others, adding that it was also a matter of national security.

It claimed that the action by SPDC deprived Aiteo of refundable crude and has aͿected its business negatively, insisting that contrary to the Àgures by DPR, Aiteo experts have concluded that 16,050,000 barrels were stolen.

According to the company, it is entitled to the sum of $1,275,975,000, being the amount it would have sold the over 16 million barrels of crude oil at the rate of $79.50 per barrel being the prevailing price in July 2018.

Alternatively, it added that if DPR Àgures are used, then the 1,022,029 barrels would yield about $81.2 million, saying that because of the “fraudulent” action of the defendants, it became practically impossibile to meet its repayment obligations to its Ànanciers, who provided it with the sum of $1,488,000,000 to acquire assets.

“The plaintiͿ further states that the fraudulent and or wrongful act by the defendants impacted negatively on both the production level and the revenue available to it for debt servicing and operation.

“Furthermore, the constant theft and larceny of the plaintiͿ’s crude by the 1st defendant and the intentional act to under-

state and deprive the plaintiͿ of its crude as observed by DPR negatively impacted on the plaintiͿ’s ability to properly service the loans and interests thereon,” Aiteo averred.

Some of the lawyers to Aiteo include: Kemi Pinheiro, Mike Ozekhome, Yakubu Maikyau, Muiz Banire, Oladapo Olanipekun, Emeka Ozoani, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).

Before Aiteo approached the court, DPR had ordered SPDC, a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, to refund 2,081,678 barrels of crude oil understated between 2016 and 2018.

The DPR, in several o΀cial communications on the matter, obtained by THISDAY, also sanctioned the International Oil Company (IOC) for the infraction, to which SPDC has already admitted to in another o΀cial letter to the DPR. As part of the punishment for Áouting the rules between June and July of the years under review, Shell was directed to pay a sum of N250,000 while it also agreed to a 10-month compensation plan to reimburse its Joint Venture (JV) partners, who were short-changed in the course of the infractions.

The DPR accused the company of cheating some of its JV indigenous oil concerns, including Aiteo, Belemaoil, Eroton and Newcross, through an unapproved metering system, which it used to misappropriate crude oil.

Court Blocks 20 SPDC Bank Accounts The presiding judge, Justice Oluremi Oguntoyibo, while giving the order in suit no FHC/L/CS/52/2021, held that she was making the order pending the hearing of the motion and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction Àled before it by the indigenous company.

Justice Oguntoyibo further restrained

SPDC Responds In a formal response to the issues on Friday, SPDC noted that the crude re-allocation programme between injectors into its JV’s Trans Niger Pipeline and injectors into Aiteo’s NCTL, was a normal industry practice.

The company explained that while the disputes are subject of ongoing litigation, it was working to secure an expeditious discharge of the freezing injunction which it said it believed was obtained by Aiteo without any valid basis.

“The crude theft/diversion allegation is also factually incorrect. This is a distinct issue that relates to the directive by the DPR to SPDC as operator of the Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal, an asset belonging to the SPDC JV, to implement a crude re-allocation programme between injectors into the SPDC JV’s Trans Niger Pipeline and injectors into the NCTL. “Crude allocation review and re-allocation is a normal industry practice to re-allocate previous provisional allocated volumes under the directive and supervision of DPR, and this is not an exercise resulting from crude diversion, underreporting or theft at the terminal,” SPDC contended.

It argued that the industry practice was not peculiar to the SPDC-operated Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal alone and does not translate into any loss of volumes to the federal government.

SPDC maintained that crude oil production metering and allocation are subject to speciÀc guidelines issued by the industry regulator, stressing that SPDC strictly adheres to these guidelines and that the implementation is regularly veriÀed by the regulator.

Will the case be allowed to go the whole hog or will it be settled out of court like many others? Time will tell!

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 21, 2021

BUSINESS INTERVIEW APERA IORWA

NAPEP, SURE-P, Others Failed for Lack of Social Security Database Mr. Apera Iorwa is the National Coordinator, National Social Safetynets Coordinating O΀ce (NASSCO), an agency of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian AͿairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Coordinating the National Safetynets Programme. In this interview with Ndubuisi Francis, he provides perspectives on sundry nagging issues

W

hat in essence does your oͿce entail?

The federal government in 2016 (of course at the coming of the current administration in 2015) prioritised social protection as a strategy to poverty alleviation or an approach to dealing with the poverty question in Nigeria and so that then gave rise to them approaching the World Bank and in partnership with the World Bank, established the national safetynets programme.

This programme in itself, as the loan or the credit facility is known, created the National Social Safetynets Coordinating O΀ce (NASSCO) and the National Cash Transfer O΀ce (NCTO). NASSCO, being the umbrella body that oversees the activities of NCTO. NASSCO was therefore created primarily to build structures and systems for the implementation of social protection programmes in the country, including the development of the National Social Registrar.

The second part of NASSCO’s work is to co-ordinate the implementation of the social safety nets programme at the time that the federal government had three social safety nets programmes, all with the support of the World Bank.

One is the National Cash Transfer O΀ce.

This is the o΀ce responsible for paying out N5,000 cash transfer to poor and vulnerable Nigerians every month, but they pay in two month cycles of N10, 000.

The second social safety net programmes that is under the supervision of NASSCO is the Youth Employment and Social Support Operations. They are responsible for supporting state governments who have signed up to the agreement to do skills for jobs to provide business and employment opportunities for youths and to provide opportunities for others on the social register without jobs to also have daily jobs to support their families.

The third social safety nets programme that is under the purview of NASSCO is the Community and Social Development Programme (CSDP). Now, the CSDP is a community-based programme wherein the community will sit to decide among themselves what their needs are and what gaps are. Once they establish those, then the project comes in to help them provide their needs such as schools, hospitals, roads, electricity, clean water in terms of boreholes.

So, these three programmes are under the purview of NASSCO. The Youth Employment and Social Support Operations loan was tenored and so the loan came to an end in September 2020, but the CSDP and NCTO are still in existence. So, on the one hand we coordinate the national safety nets and on the other we develop social nets including the building of the social register.

I would presume that NASSCO is an equivalent of what we used to have under a previous administration, known as NAPEP. Is that correct?

Not nationally, in the sense that NAPEP

Apera Iorwa

was an implementing programme. They were implementing an intervention for government. NASSCO, on the other hand, does not do implementation; we coordinate implementation. But we do not do implementation ourselves. This time around, it is also diͿerent because the government is looking more to institutionalising in a very structured manner, our approaches to tackling poverty and this institutionalisation stems from establishing who are the poor, where do they reside, how do you bring them on a platform where we can target help to them easily? So, government started the building of the National Social Register.

The social register is an information gateway of potential beneÀciaries into any social intervention programme and these beneÀciaries must be poor, and once government identiÀes these poor people, it then registers them into the social register. This is where everybody that will enjoy social

support from government is taken from.

So, the National Cash Transfer programme mines from this social register to impact on people and give them cash. The Youth Employment and Social Support Operation programme that I mentioned earlier used to mine from the social register for youth from poor and vulnerable homes and place them in vocation, skills acquisition, train them and then give them starter packs to start up a business of their own. The CSDP uses the mapping for the social register to identify the poor and vulnerable communities. It is in these vulnerable communities that they will try to provide roads, schools, clinics etc.

So the social register then becomes a rallying point for social intervention wherein from the social register you then build up programmes that will aͿect and impact the poor and vulnerable which will lead them out of poverty.

The Community and Social Development

Programme uses the mapping for the social register to identify the poor and vulnerable communities. It is in these vulnerable communities that they will try to provide road, school, clinics etc.

So the social register then becomes a rallying point for social intervention wherein from the social register you then build up programmes that will aͿect and impact the poor and vulnerable which will lead them out of poverty.

At the launch of the Rapid Response Register for COVID-19 Cash Transfer recently, the Vice President said the federal government was targeting to lift 20 million out of poverty through the disbursement of N5,000 per month. People see this as laughable. How realistic is that?

Okay, here is what the vice president said at the launch of the Rapid Response Register for COVID-19 Cash Transfer. The

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 21, 2021

BUSINESSINTERVIEW

Estimated 60% Poor Nigerians in Rapid Response Register said for the Àrst time in our country, we have a digitalised system of identifying the poor or vulnerable and registering them in electronic end-to-end system. So, it is an electronic end-to-end system. We use satellite imagery and sensory technology to map the urban areas where the poor live. Now, when you take a satellite of say an environment here, you will see that the houses are well structured with good streets and when you then take a satellite of somewhere like Kugbo you will see more closely packed together structures with very narrow streets or no streets at all, with very tight buildings done out of wood or zinc or anything like that.

We identify the poor. So with that satellite imagery technology that is being used, we have identiÀed and isolated those communities, marking them clearly that this is where our urban poor live and so through that means, we would then reach out to them through electronic means probably SMS to register them into the platform. Now, this registration and this register has the capacity and the potential to register 20 million people, but what the federal government is doing is that in the Economic Sustainability Plan it approved a cash transfer for one million people. So, out of this huge data base of 20 million, the government is going to pay one million people N5000 for six months.

But the vice president was saying now we have a database, we can only increase. So, if the budget moves from the amount we are paying one million people they will not go and re-invent the wheel to look for the people; we already have a database.

So, the vice president was saying now we have a database we can do a social security system for the country. You know globally in other countries of the world like UK and US, there is a social security system where welfare is given to citizens. Here, one of the most challenging issues like you mentioned NAPEP, SURE-P and other programmes in the past is that we didn’t have that kind of database and so when government wants to do a programme like that, it will depend on people giving names of people. May be this person knows this person or persons, and vice versa. But in this system, it’s not like that. We already have a database that at any time government can rely on.

Sorry to interject....The social register is also subject to manipulation, because somebody has to recommend somebody even if you are doing it state by state. If he is the one, for instance, who is to recommend those who beneÀt is subjective....?

Nobody is recommending on this one.

I was explaining to you the system of the social register. System of the social register is diͿerent from the Rapid Response Register and I will diͿerentiate the two.

For the process of the rapid response register, government has used technology to identify the poor areas. Then, government will send SMS. The email I told you I was going to write here was to the Nigeria Communications Communication (NCC).

We have applied to NCC to give us access to the short code to use. Now, say you or me living in Kugbo, they will send a text message ton you. You know every locality has a telephone mast attached to it. The text message is going only to those telephone numbers that are around that telephone mast, not in the other community.

So, when the text message gets to them, it will tell them that the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Humanitarian AͿairs, Disaster Management and Social Development is doing the rapid response register for COVID-19 cash transfer.

‘If you are an artisan, an informal worker, somebody on daily income earning that has been aͿected by the pandemic, please follow this link ‘ and the link will only ask for your name, telephone number, area you reside, street number. And wherein you don’t have a street like mostly that place doesn’t have street name, then give us a landmark. Like when we did a pilot in Lagos and in the FCT, people were giving opposite ECWA Church Karshi or opposite emir’s palace in Karshi.

So, you give us where we can trace you. So, once we have this information, we clean the data up. Then, the enumerators will take this data. These enumerators are not here.

The data is coming to our o΀ce here. We are doing everything here and we will get the list then we will send the list to every state

Suddenly, there is demand for food and as they are buying the food, what will happen?

The suppliers will have to bring more food and as the suppliers want to bring more food, the manufacturers will have to manufacture, and as the manufacturer has huge demand now that every month now they are selling 1000 of bags of rice instead of 100 bags, they will want to go and manufacture more and as they want to manufacture more, they will need to open these companies and employ those same people they sacked because there was a closure and then the demand shrank and then they could produce only little. You see the logic in the economy!

Now these producers will then go back and employ the people they laid oͿ because they need to produce more rice into the market.

These people now get their jobs back and help to reduce unemployment. Meanwhile, the manufacturer that is producing more rice he will have to pay tax that the government will pick.

Government has invested in the lower pyramid of the poor, the poor has stimulated demand by buying in the market, the demand will stimulate supply and manufacturing and wheels of the economy starts turning back gradually.

Now to the extent of the capacity of the government at the moment and the funds that we have, we are doing one million but what the vice president was saying was that we now have a platform. You don’t have to be afraid of Mr. A going to recommend Mr. B or anything. This is a transferring process that government has put in place to the register. You can easily come and mine from this register and also give cash beneÀts to Nigerians. The funds we’re using are properly budgeted for. The fund we are using is approved by the Economic Sustainability Plan and the World Bank credit that the government partnered with the bank to receive the facility to Áoat my o΀ce (NASSCO).

So we are using the ESP budget funds and also the World Bank credit funds to drive this whole programme and process.

Apera Iorwa

of the federation which has a state operations and coordinating unit domiciled in the ministry of planning. These are the people responsible for validating the data. So, they will take this data we have given them, they will go back to Kugbo. ‘You said you are Mr. Friday staying in Kugbo opposite the Emir’s palace? In that same Kugbo, opposite the Emir’s palace in Kugbo. They will ask for Mr. Friday; they will call your number, you will answer them and direct them to where you are and then you will meet them.

They will take further information: your name, date of birth, your NIN or driver’s licence or any birth certiÀcate or any means of identiÀcation. Then, they will take the geo-coordinate of your house wherein you will see that everybody identiÀed by that process will have a geo-coordinate that we can use to identify such individual.

This information is not taken verbally.

There is an app on the tablet. As soon as they are clicking enter we are having the information here because it is electronic end-to-end. It’s digitalised. When we get that information, we then clean the data.

We have set up systems to validate. Like you said, it’s subject to manipulation. We have anticipated some of the issues and one major way to get that is through the civil society organisations, who will monitor this process plus we have an internal system we call the back-up check. So, the state teams are the ones that will go and validate this information right and bring them unto the register. Our team here will do what we call the back-up check electronically. There is also a form we will drop unannounced at Kugbo using the geo-coordinate. ‘I want to see Mr. Friday such that if Mr. Friday is a Àctitious person, they will identify. They will use the geo-coordinate you have taken so they will go back to validate the information as backup check. We also satisfy ourselves that this person is now in the rapid response register and they will be paid N5,000 cash transfer for six months.

Now the second part of your question that it is laughable that we are paying N5,000, I will give some simple examples to buttress the fact that N5,000 is a large sum of money.

Those whom we are targeting are those who have been aͿected--the daily income earners.

Let’s take, for example, the man that was a gardener or a man who was in a launderer in a hotel or a cleaner. Because the hotel locked down for three months, they were not having business you now laid them oͿ.

The man has been out of that job for eight months. Now that they have reopened, they don’t even have business yet. His salary even before now was N10,000 a month or N15,000 except you show me or see these menial jobs people that collect N20,000 or N30,000 a whole month. Now for eight months he has not collected any amount of money. Then government issues N5,000. It’s almost like manner from heaven. Now, this N5,000, what can it do for you? Let’s bring it closer home.

The akara sellers or suya sellers, I am very sure you have missed seeing them outside because they don’t have money to come out and sell. So he/she takes the N5,000 and go and buy beans with N2,000 and comes back and reopen her small business that will be giving her daily income like before.

You see now in every crisis, pandemic or the great recessions of this world, global best practices depict three stages of interventions.

The Àrst one is relief. Relief usually comes in cash and food stamps where you then queue up and collect goods for free and all of that.

The second one comes in small grants for small businesses which the government is doing thought CBN and giving grants, loans, survival funds, etc. And then the third one is recovery where you put them in livelihood programmes like skills for job that gives them good job.

So, we are in that Àrst stage of relief which is the cash. You did hear that the American president, as soon as he was sworn in announced a cash package that would be given to Americans. This cash comes into the economy, it also stimulates and boosts the economy.

Now government through this one million pays N5,000 to one million people; that is N5 billion into the economy at once. Now, everybody that collects this money is not going to put it in esusu. They are going to buy food. All of them are going to buy food.

How much is the World Bank trade credit?

The World Bank trade credit is $500 million over Àve and Àve the Àve years will end in year 2022 The outbreak of the pandemic and the closure have turned almost everything we are doing into an emergency and the government quickly discussed with the bank and said how do you then support us further to develop this database and the bank has been working with us closely to develop this database using high level technology.

Like the vice president said, Nigeria will be the very Àrst country to an end-to-end targeting system electronically.

From your explanation, the $500 million World Bank credit facility is ending next year, 2022. So far, you have run it for four years. What has been the impact?

Yes, the impact has been huge such that the social register which is the register of the poor and vulnerable identiÀed by their community that they are poor and brought into the register has now grown to six million households made up of 25 million individuals. We have the record of the 25 million individuals, we know their names, so it’s very easy for government to get any social intervention to them. This is the Àrst time we have a database as rich as that and we have a database at this moment of 25 million people. Total estimated poor people In Nigeria is 82 million so if you have 25 million that is about 30 per cent of total estimated people in Nigeria.

The Rapid Response Register targeted 20 million, we added into that number. So, we have a database of close to 60 per cent of the estimated poor people in Nigeria. EͿectively, government has the database of the people we targeted this cash transfer and eͿectively lead them out of poverty.

Now I give you the example of the N5,000 for the Rapid Reponse Register and the impact it will have on consumption which will reduce poverty. That’s a multiplying eͿect to every individual we would give the money to 2-3 or 5 people that are staying in his house. By him buying rice from this wholesaler, the wholesaler also has a family, right? His proÀt increased, he can train his children in federal schools and give them better living condition.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 21, 2021

26

dĞƉŝĚ 'ƌŽǁƚŚ͗ tŽƌƐĞŶŝŶŐ WƌŝĐĞƐ :ĂŶƵĂƌLJ ϮϬϮϭ W/ ZĞƉŽƌƚ͗ Dͬŵ /ŶŇĂƟŽŶ WƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ƐůŽǁƐ ĂŌĞƌ ϭϭ ^ƚƌĂŝŐŚƚ DŽŶƚŚƐ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͛Ɛ ĮƌƐƚ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ WƌŝĐĞ /ŶĚĞdž ; W/Ϳ ĚĂƚĂ ĨŽƌ ϮϬϮϭ ƌĞǀĞĂůĞĚ Ă ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ƵƉƚƌĞŶĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŚĞĂĚůŝŶĞ ŝŶŇĂƟŽŶ ƌĂƚĞ ƚŽ Ă ϭϳ ŵŽŶƚŚ ŚŝŐŚ ŽĨ ϭϲ͘ϱй LJͬLJ ŝŶ :ĂŶƵĂƌLJ ĨƌŽŵ ϭϱ͘ϴй ŝŶ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ ϮϬϮϬ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ŵͬŵ ƚƌĞŶĚ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚůLJ ďLJ ϭϬďƉƐ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϱй͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵͬŵ ŚĞĂĚͲ ůŝŶĞ ŝŶŇĂƟŽŶ ƐŝŶĐĞ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ ϮϬϮϬ ĂŶĚ ŵĂLJ ƚƌŝŐŐĞƌ Ă ƐůŽǁĚŽǁŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ LJͬLJ ƚƌĞŶĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ W/ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ ĨŽŽĚ ŝŶŇĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ ƐƟůů Ă ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ƉŽŝŶƚ͘

dŚĞ ĨŽŽĚ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϭϬϬďƉƐ LJͬLJ ƚŽ ϮϬ͘ϲй ǁŚŝůĞ ŝƚ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ Ă ϮϬďƉƐ ŵͬŵ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϴй͕ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƐůŽǁĚŽǁŶ ŝŶ ϭϬ ŵŽŶƚŚƐ͘ tĞ ĂƩƌŝďƵƚĞ ƚŚĞ ƐůŽǁĚŽǁŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵͬŵ ŝŶŇĂƟŽŶ ƚƌĞŶĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĚƌŽƉ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ŽĨ ďĂƐŝĐ ĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƉĞƌŝƐŚĂďůĞ ĨŽŽĚ ŝƚĞŵƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŚĂƌǀĞƐƚ ƐĞĂƐŽŶ͘ ŽƌĞ ŝŶŇĂƟŽŶ ŝŶĚĞdž ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ďLJ ϱďƉƐ LJͬLJ ƚŽ ϭϭ͘ϲй͕ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƐƚ ůĞǀĞů ƐŝŶĐĞ DĂƌĐŚ ϮϬϭϴ͘ tŚŝůƐƚ ǁĞ ŽďƐĞƌǀĞĚ Ă ƐůŽǁĚŽǁŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵͬŵ ƚƌĞŶĚ ŝŶ ĨŽŽĚ ŝŶŇĂƟŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƌĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ĐŽŶƟŶͲ ƵĞĚ ƚŽ ƌŝƐĞ͕ ƵƉ ϮďƉƐ ŵͬŵ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϯй͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĞĚ ĨŽŽĚ ŝŶŇĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂůůLJ ďLJ ϭďƉ ƚŽ ϭϲ͘ϳй LJͬLJ͕ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ŵͬŵ ŵŽǀĞͲ ŵĞŶƚ ǁĂƐ ŇĂƚ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϯй͘ &y ŝůůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ ƚŽ ĚƌŝǀĞ ƚŚĞ ŵƵƚĞĚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ŝŶ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĞĚ ĨŽŽĚ ŝŶŇĂƟŽŶ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ƐŶĂŝů ƉĂĐĞĚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƌĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞͲ ŇĞĐƚƐ ǁĞĂŬĞƌ ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ĨŽƌ ŶŽŶ ĨŽŽĚ ŝƚĞŵƐ ƉŽƐƚ ĨĞƐƟǀĞ ƐĞĂƐŽŶ͘

tŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ŵͬŵ ƐůŽǁĚŽǁŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ ƉƌŝĐĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ŵĂLJ ƐŝŐŶĂů Ă ŵŽĚĞƌĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƉƌĞƐͲ ƐƵƌĞ ŝŶŇĂƟŽŶ͕ ǁĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ƌŝƐŬƐ ĂŚĞĂĚ͘ ŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ǁĞĂŬŶĞƐƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ǁŝƚŚ ŝŶƐĞĐƵƌŝƚLJ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ ĂƌĞ ĚŽǁŶƐŝĚĞ ƌŝƐŬƐ͘ dŚĞ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ŝŶ ĞůĞĐƚƌŝĐŝƚLJ ƚĂƌŝī͕ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ &y ƐŚŽƌƚĂŐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ůŝŶŐĞƌŝŶŐ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϮϬ ĐƵƌƌĞŶĐLJ ĚĞǀĂůƵĂƟŽŶ ĂƌĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƉƵƐŚ ĐŽƌĞ ŝŶŇĂƟŽŶ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ͘ ZĞŐĂƌĚůĞƐƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ůĂŶĚ ďŽƌͲ ĚĞƌ ƌĞŽƉĞŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϮϬ ŚŝŐŚ ďĂƐĞ ĞīĞĐƚ ĂƌĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŽ ĐĂƉ ůĂƌŐĞƌ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞƐ ŝŶ ƉƌŝĐĞ ůĞǀĞů͘

&z͗ϮϬϮϬ ' W ZĞƉŽƌƚ͗ ĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ 'ƌŽǁƚŚ ŽŶͲ ƚƌĂĐƚƐ ϭ͘ϵй dŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĞĐŽŶŽŵLJ ŐƌĞǁ ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂůůLJ ďLJ Ϭ͘ϭй LJͬLJ ŝŶ Yϰ͗ϮϬϮϬ͕ ƐƵƌƉƌŝƐŝŶŐůLJ ƐŚƌƵŐŐŝŶŐ Žī Ă ƚĞĐŚŶŝĐĂů ƌĞĐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ďƌŽƵŐŚƚ ĂďŽƵƚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ƉĂŶĚĞŵŝĐ ĂĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŽ ' W ƌĞƉŽƌƚ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞĚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ͘ dŚĞ ĨƌĂŐŝůĞ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ ǁĂƐ ŵĂŝŶůLJ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ŶŽŶ Žŝů ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƌŽƐĞ ϭ͘ϳй LJͬ LJ ĨƌŽŵ Ϯ͘ϱй LJͬLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ƋƵĂƌƚĞƌ͕ ƐƵƉͲ ƉŽƌƚĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ Žŝů ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ǁŽƌƐͲ ĞŶĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƟŶŐ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ƚŽ ϭϵ͘ϴй LJͬLJ ;ĨƌŽŵ ϭϯ͘ϵй LJͬLJ ŝŶ YϯͿ ĂƐ Žŝů ƉƌŽͲ ĚƵĐƟŽŶ ĨĞůů ďLJ ϭϭ͕ϬϬϬďƉĚ ƚŽ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ϭ͘ϱϲŵďͬ Ě͘ Kŝů ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶ ƚŽ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ĨĞůů ƚŽ ŝƚƐ ǁĞĂŬĞƐƚ ŝŶ ϭϮ ƋƵĂƌƚĞƌƐ Ăƚ ϱ͘ϵй LJͬLJ ;Yϰ͗ϮϬϮϬͿ ĨƌŽŵ ĂŶ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ŽĨ ϴ͘ϲй͘

EŽƚǁŝƚŚƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŶĞŐůŝŐŝďůĞ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ ŝŶ Yϰ͕ &z͗ϮϬϮϬ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ĚŽǁŶ ϭ͘ϵй͕ ǁŽƌƐĞ ƚŚĂŶ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϭϲ ƌĞĐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ϭ͘ϲй ďƵƚ ƐƚƌŽŶŐĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ŽƵƌ ƌĞǀŝƐĞĚ ĨŽƌĞĐĂƐƚ ŽĨ Ϯ͘ϵй͘ tŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵďŝŶĞĚ ĞīĞĐƚ ŽĨ ĂŶ ĞĐŽŶŽŵͲ ŝĐ ůŽĐŬĚŽǁŶ ĂŶĚ Žŝů ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ĐƵƚƐ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞ ǁĂƐ ŶŽ ĞƐĐĂƉŝŶŐ Ă ĚĞĞƉ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƟŽŶ ŝŶ ŽƵƚƉƵƚ͘ dŚĞ

Žŝů ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶ ƚŽ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ƌĞĚƵĐĞĚ ŝŶ ϮϬϮϬ͕ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƟŶŐ ϴ͘ϵй ĨƌŽŵ ϰ͘ϲй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϵ͕ ĨŽůͲ ůŽǁŝŶŐ ƐƚƌŝĐƚ ĐŽŵƉůŝĂŶĐĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ KW н ƉƌŽĚƵĐͲ ƟŽŶ ĐƵƚƐ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚŝƐ ƌĞŐĂƌĚ͕ Žŝů ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ĨĞůů ϭϭ͘ϳй ƚŽ ĂŶ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ŽĨ ϭ͘ϴŵďͬĚ ŝŶ ϮϬϮϬ ĨƌŽŵ Ϯ͘ϬŵďͬĚ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϵ͘ &ŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĚŝƐƌƵƉƟŽŶƐ ƚŽ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŶŽŶ Žŝů ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚĞĚ ďLJ ϭ͘ϯй ŝŶ ϮϬϮϬ ǁŽƌƐĞ ƚŚĂŶ ƚŚĞ Ϯ͘ϭй ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞĚ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϵ͘

&Ğǁ ƌŝŐŚƚ ^ƉŽƚƐ ĂŵŝĚƐƚ ƌŽĂĚ ĂƐĞĚ ŽŶƚƌĂĐͲ ƟŽŶƐ dŚĞƌĞ ǁĂƐ Ă ďƌŽĂĚ ďĂƐĞĚ ƵŶĚĞƌƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĂũŽƌ ƐƵď ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞĐŽŶŽŵLJ͘ KĨ ƚŚĞ ϭϵ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ͕ ŽŶůLJ ϲ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƌĞƐŝůŝĞŶƚ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƐĞƌͲ ǀŝĐĞƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ͕ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌĞĚ ŝŶ Yϰ͗ϮϬϮϬ ƉƌŝŶƟŶŐ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϯй ĨƌŽŵ ϱ͘ϱй ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ƋƵĂƌͲ ƚĞƌ ǁŚŝůĞ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ĨĞůů ďLJ Ϯ͘Ϯй ŝŶ ϮϬϮϬ ĞƌĂƐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϵ͘ dŚĞ / d ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ĚŽƵďůĞ ĚŝŐŝƚ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ Ăƚ ϭϮ͘ϵй ĨƌŽŵ ϭϭ͘ϭй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϵ͕ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƐƐŝǀĞ ũƵŵƉ ŝŶ ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ĨŽƌ ĚĂƚĂ ĂŶĚ ǀŽŝĐĞ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ͘ DĞĂŶǁŚŝůĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂĚĞ ĂŶĚ ƌĞĂů ĞƐƚĂƚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌƐƚ Śŝƚ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐƵď ƐĞĐƚŽƌ͕ ďŽƚŚ ƌĞĚƵĐŝŶŐ ĐŽŶƚƌŝͲ ďƵƟŽŶ ƚŽ ϮϬ͘ϲй ŽĨ ' W ;ǀƐ͘ ϮϮ͘ϭй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϵͿ͕ ƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƌĞĂů ĞƐƚĂƚĞ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ŝŶ ƌĞĐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ƐŝŶĐĞ ϮϬϭϲ͘

dŚĞ ƚƌĂĚĞ ĂŶĚ ƌĞĂů ĞƐƚĂƚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚĞĚ ϴ͘ϰϵй LJͬLJ ĂŶĚ ϵ͘Ϯй LJͬLJ ŝŶ ϮϬϮϬ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϰй LJͬLJ ĂŶĚ Ϯ͘ϰй LJͬLJ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϵ͘ /Ŷ ŽƵƌ ǀŝĞǁ͕ ƵŶĨƌŝĞŶĚůLJ ƚƌĂĚĞ ƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ĐŽƵƉůĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƚƌŝĐƟŽŶƐ ƚŽ ƚƌĂĚĞ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ĚƌĂŐŐĞĚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂů ĞƐƚĂƚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ŚĞĂůƚŚ ĐƌŝƐŝƐ ŚĂƐ ǁŽƌƐĞŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĂŬ ŵĂĐƌŽĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ͕ ƉŽŽƌ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ŚŽƵƐŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ ůĂĐŬ ŽĨ ŇĞdžŝďůĞ ƌĞŐƵůĂƟŽŶƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ĞdžƉĞŶƐŝǀĞ ĂŶĚ ƐůŽǁ ĂƉƉƌŽǀĂůƐ ŽĨ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ

ƉĞƌŵŝƚƐ ĂƌĞ ĐƌŝƟĐĂů ĨĂĐƚŽƌƐ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŚĂŶĚ͕ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĂŶĐŝĂů ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ƐƵƌŐĞĚ ϭϯ͘ϯй LJͬLJ ŝŶ ϮϬϮϬ ĨĂƐƚĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ Ϯ͘ϰй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϵ͕ ĂůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ƋƵĂƌƚĞƌͲ ůLJ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ĚĞĐĞůĞƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ Ϯ͘ϱй LJͬLJ ŝŶ Yϰ͗ϮϬϮϬ ĨƌŽŵ Ϯϴ͘ϰй LJͬLJ ŝŶ YϮ ĂŶĚ ϮϮ͘ϯй LJͬLJ ŝŶ Yϰ͗ϮϬϭϵ͘ tĞ ƐƵƐƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ,ϭ͗ϮϬϮϬ ǁĂƐ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ůŽĂŶ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ϲϱй ŵŝŶŝŵƵŵ >ŽĂŶ ƚŽ ĚĞƉŽƐŝƚ ƌĂƟŽ ƉŽůŝĐLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐůŽǁĚŽǁŶ ŝŶ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ŝŶ YϮ ĂŶĚ Yϯ ĚĂŵƉĞŶĞĚ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƚ ŽĨ ϮϬϮϬ͘

'ŝǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞůĂdžĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐŬĚŽǁŶ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ŐƌĞǁ ĨĂƐƚĞƌ ďLJ ϯ͘ϰй LJͬLJ ŝŶ Yϰ͗ϮϬϮϬ ĐŽŵƉĂƌĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ϭ͘ϰй LJͬLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ƋƵĂƌƚĞƌ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ǁĂƐ ƐůŝŐŚƚůLJ ǁĞĂŬ Ăƚ Ϯ͘Ϯй LJͬLJ ŝŶ ϮϬϮϬ ĨƌŽŵ Ϯ͘ϰй LJͬLJ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϵ͘ dŚĞ ƉĂŶĚĞŵŝĐ ŚĂƐ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĚĞůĂLJĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĨƌŽŵ ƌĞĂĐŚŝŶŐ ŝƚƐ ůŽŶŐ ƚĞƌŵ ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂů ŽĨ ϯ ϰ͘Ϭй ŐƌŽǁƚŚ͘ ƌŽƉ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ĞdžƉĂŶĚĞĚ Ăƚ Ă ƐůŽǁĞƌ ƉĂĐĞ ŽĨ Ϯ͘Ϯй LJͬLJ ŝŶ ϮϬϮϬ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ Ϯ͘ϱй LJͬLJ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϵ ǁŚŝůĞ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĨŽƌ ůŝǀĞƐƚŽĐŬ ƉƌŽͲ ĚƵĐƟŽŶ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϵй LJͬLJ ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘Ϯй LJͬLJ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϵ͘ tŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƵŵƉƟŽŶ ŝŶ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ǁŽƵůĚ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ŝŶ ϮϬϮϭ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐůŽǁ ƉƌŽŐƌĞƐƐ ƚŽͲ ǁĂƌĚƐ ĐƵƌďŝŶŐ ŝŶƐĞĐƵƌŝƚLJ͕ ƐƟŶŐ ĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĞ LJŝĞůĚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚĞůƉŝŶŐ ĨĂƌŵĞƌƐ ĂĚĂƉƚ ƚŽ Ă ĐŚĂŶŐŝŶŐ ĐůŝŵĂƚĞ ǁŽƵůĚ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ŚƵƌƚ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ͘

/Ŷ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŶƵĨĂĐƚƵƌŝŶŐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ͕ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϯ͘ϴй LJͬLJ ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϴ LJͬLJ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϵ ĚƌĂŐŐĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĂŬŶĞƐƐ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ŝƚƐ ŵĂũŽƌ ƐƵď ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ͘ KĨ ƚŚĞ ϭϯ ƐƵď ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ͕ ĐĞŵĞŶƚ ;ϯ͘ϵй LJͬLJ ǀƐ͘ ϯ͘ϭй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϵͿ͕ ĨŽŽĚ͕ ďĞǀĞƌĂŐĞ Θ ƚŽďĂĐĐŽ ;ϭ͘ϱй LJͬLJ ǀƐ͘ Ϯ͘Ϯй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϵͿ͕ ŚĞŵŝĐĂů Θ ƉŚĂƌŵĂĐĞƵƟĐĂů ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ ;Ϯ͘ϱй LJͬLJ ǀƐ͘ Ϭ͘ϰй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϵͿ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƚŽƌ ǀĞŚŝĐůĞƐ Θ ĂƐƐĞŵďůLJ ;ϰ͘Ϭй LJͬLJ ǀƐ͘ Ϯ͘ϯй ŝŶ ϮϬϭϵͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 21, 2021

ŽŶůLJ ďƌŝŐŚƚ ƐƉŽƚƐ͘ dŚĞ ǁĞĂŬ ŵŽŵĞŶƚƵŵ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ŝƐ ŵĂŝŶůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ǁĞĂŬŶĞƐƐ ŝŶ ĐŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ ƐƉĞŶĚŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ ŽĨ ƉĂŶĚĞŵŝĐ ŽŶ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͘ /Ŷ ŽƵƌ ǀŝĞǁ͕ ƚŚĞ ďƌŽĂĚ ďĂƐĞĚ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƟŽŶ ƐƵŐŐĞƐƚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ ǁŽƵůĚ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ Ăƚ Ă ƐůƵŐŐŝƐŚ ƉĂĐĞ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƌĞĨŽƌŵƐ͕ ŵĂƌͲ ŬĞƚ ĨƌŝĞŶĚůLJ ƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ Ă ĨƵůů ƌĞŽƉĞŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞĐŽŶŽŵLJ͘

&z͗ϮϬϮϭ KƵƚůŽŽŬ͗ ZĞĂů ' W 'ƌŽǁƚŚ ƚŽ ZĞĐŽǀͲ Ğƌ ƚŽ Ϯ͘ϱй /Ŷ ϮϬϮϭ͕ ǁĞ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ Ă ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ ŽĨ Ϯ͘ϱй ŝŶ ƌĞĂů ' W ƚŽ ďĞ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĂĐƟǀͲ ŝƟĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶŽŶ Žŝů ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĂƐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ƉŝĐŬ ƵƉ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůĂŶĚ ďŽƌĚĞƌƐ ƌĞŽƉĞŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ ŝŶ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚƐ͘ &ƵƌƚŚĞƌ͕ ǁĞ ĂŶƟĐŝƉĂƚĞ Ă ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞ ĞdžƉĂŶƐŝŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ Žŝů ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĂƐ ŐůŽďĂů Žŝů ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ŝƐ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ǁĞĂŬ ǁŚŝůĞ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌ ĨĂƐƚĞƌ͘ dŚĞ ŵĂũŽƌ ĚŽǁŶƐŝĚĞ ƌŝƐŬƐ ƚŽ ŽƵƌ ĨŽƌĞĐĂƐƚ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ ǁĞĂŬĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ Žŝů ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽĚƵĐͲ ƟŽŶ͕ ǁŽƌƐĞŶŝŶŐ ŝŶƐĞĐƵƌŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ƵŶĨĂǀŽƵƌĂďůĞ ǁĞĂƚŚĞƌ ƉĂƩĞƌŶƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ͘ tĞ ŚĂǀĞ ƌƵůĞĚ ŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐƐŝďŝůŝƟĞƐ ŽĨ ůŽĐŬĚŽǁŶ ĚĞƐƉŝƚĞ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐŝŶŐ ĐĂƐĞ ĐŽƵŶƚ ĨƌŽŵ ϭϵ͘

'ůŽďĂů ƋƵŝƟĞƐ DĂƌŬĞƚ͗ DŝdžĞĚ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ DĂƌŬĞƚƐ 'ůŽďĂů ϭϵ ĐĂƐĞƐ ƌŽƐĞ Ϯ͘ϭй ƚŽ ϭϭϭ͘Ϭ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĂƚŚ ƚŽůů ƌŽƐĞ Ϯ͘ϲй ƚŽ Ϯ͘ϱ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ͘ EŽƚĂďůLJ͕ ĚĂŝůLJ ĐĂƐĞƐ ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶĞĚ Ă ĚŽǁŶǁĂƌĚ ƚƌĞŶĚ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ǁŝĚĞƐƉƌĞĂĚ ĚŝƐƉĞŶƐĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ǀĂĐĐŝŶĞƐ͕ ŵĂũŽƌůLJ ŝŶ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ h^ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ŝŶĨĞĐƚĞĚ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ ǁŝƚŚ Ϯϴ͘ϱ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ ĐĂƐĞƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ ƚŽ ĨŽƌĞƐƚĂůů ĞŵƉůŽLJŵĞŶƚ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ ĂƐ ũŽďůĞƐƐ ĐůĂŝŵ ƚŽƚĂůĞĚ ϴϲϭ͕ϬϬϬ ĨƌŽŵ ϴϰϴ͕ϬϬϬ͘ dŚŝƐ ŚĂƐ ƉƌŽƉƉĞĚ͕ ƚŚĞ dƌĞĂƐƵƌLJ ^ĞĐƌĞƚĂƌLJ͕ :ĂŶĞƚ zĞůůĞŶ ƚŽ ƌĞĂĸƌŵ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĞĚ ĨŽƌ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽƉŽƐĞĚ Ψϭ͘ϵƚŶ Ks/ ϭϵ ƌĞůŝĞĨ ƉĂĐŬĂŐĞ ĨŽƌ Ă ƐŵŽŽƚŚ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ͘

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌͲ ŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ǁͬǁ͘ dŚĞ h^ ^ΘW ϱϬϬ ĂŶĚ E ^ Y ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů Ϭ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘ϭй ǁͬǁ ƌĞͲ ƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĂƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ĚĞͲ ůĂLJ ŝŶ ǀĂĐĐŝŶĞ ĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ 'ĞƌŵĂͲ ŶLJ͛Ɛ y dZ y ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϰй ǁͬǁ͘ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞͲ ůLJ͕ &ƌĂŶĐĞ͛Ɛ ϰϬ ĂŶĚ h<͛Ɛ &d^ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƚĞĚ ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϱй ǁͬǁ ƌĞͲ ƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ůƐŽ͕ ,ŽŶŐ <ŽŶŐ͛Ɛ ,ĂŶŐ ^ĞŶŐ ŝŶĚĞdž ĂŶĚ :ĂƉĂŶ͛Ɛ EŝŬŬĞŝ ϮϮϱ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ďLJ ϭ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘ϳй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘

/Ŷ ƚŚĞ Z/ ^ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ƉŽƐŝͲ ƟǀĞ ĂƐ ϯ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϱ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚŽƌƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁͬǁ͘ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂ͛Ɛ &d^ ͬ:^ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ ĂŶĚ ŚŝŶĂ͛Ɛ ^ŚĂŶŐͲ ŚĂŝ ŽŵƉŽƐŝƚĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƉĂĐŬ͕ ƵƉ Ϯ͘Ϭй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘ϭй ǁͬǁ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĂƐ ǀĂĐĐŝŶĞ ĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵͲ ƟŽŶ ďƵŽLJ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌŵĞƌ͘ >ŝŬĞǁŝƐĞ͕ ZƵƐƐŝĂ͛Ɛ Zd^ ƌŽƐĞ Ϭ͘ϱй ǁͬǁ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉ ƐŝĚĞ͕ /ŶĚŝĂ͛Ɛ ^ ^ĞŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĂnjŝů͛Ɛ /ďŽǀĞƐƉĂ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƉŽƐƚĞĚ ϭ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϳй ůŽƐƐ ǁͬǁ͘

ĐƌŽƐƐ ĮŶĂŶĐŝĂů ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ŝŶ ĨƌŝĐĂ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ƉŽŽƌ ĂƐ Ăůů ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ ƐĂǀĞ 'ŚĂŶĂ͛Ɛ '^ ŽŵƉŽƐŝƚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϱй ǁͬǁ͘ ŐLJƉƚ͛Ɛ 'y ϯϬ ĂŶĚ DĂƵƌŝͲ ƟƵƐΖ ^ D y ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ďŝŐŐĞƐƚ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϭ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘Ϭй ǁͬǁ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ůƐŽ͕ DŽƌŽĐĐŽ͛Ɛ ĂƐĂďůĂŶĐĂ D ^/ ĂŶĚ EŝŐĞƌŝĂΖƐ ^/ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ůŽǁĞƌ ďLJ Ϭ͘ϴй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϲй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ >ĂƐƚůLJ͕ <ĞŶLJĂ͛Ɛ E^ ϮϬ ĚĞͲ ĐůŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϭй ǁͬǁ͘

WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐŝĂŶ ĂŶĚ DŝĚĚůĞ ĂƐƚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ǁĂƐ ǁĞĂŬ ĂƐ ϯ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϱ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚŽƌƐ ĚŝƉƉĞĚ͘ YĂƚĂƌ͛Ɛ ^D ϮϮϬ ŝŶͲ ĚĞdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƐƚ ůŽƐƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ Ϯ͘ϰй ǁͬ ǁ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ dŚĂŝůĂŶĚ͛Ɛ ^ d ĂŶĚ h ͛Ɛ y 'ĞŶĞƌĂů ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ Ă ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ŽĨ Ϭ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϰй ǁͬǁ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ &ŝŶĂůůLJ͕ dƵƌŬĞLJ͛Ɛ /^d ϭϬϬ ĂŶĚ ^ĂƵĚŝ ƌĂďŝĂ͛Ɛ dĂĚĂǁƵů ^/ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŝŵďĞĚ ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϵй ǁͬǁ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘

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ŽŵĞƐƟĐ ƋƵŝƟĞƐ DĂƌŬĞƚ͗ >ŽĐĂů ŽƵƌƐĞ džͲ ƚĞŶĚƐ >ŽƐƐĞƐ͙ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ Ϭ͘ϲй ǁͬǁ ĞƐƉŝƚĞ ƚŚĞ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ƐƚĂƌƚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐͲ ƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ĞƋƵŝƟĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ŝƚƐ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨŽůůŽǁͲ ŝŶŐ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĚĂLJƐ ĂƐ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŽĨ ƐĞůů ŽīƐ ŝŶ ďĞůůͲ ǁĞƚŚĞƌ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ E^ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĚ͕ ƐŚĞĚĚŝŶŐ Ϭ͘ϲй ǁͬǁ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ ϰϭ͕ϭϴϲ͘ϳϬ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ ĨĞůů ƚŽ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ േϭϯϬ͘ϬďŶ ǁͬǁ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ േϮϭ͘ϬƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐͲ ƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂŶĞĚ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĨĞůů ďLJ ϰϮ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ ϮϮ͘ϵй ǁͬǁ ƚŽ ϯϬϴ͘Ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ േϯ͘ϲďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ dŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ & E, ;ϮϮϵ͘ϭŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ 'h Z EͲ dz ;ϭϭϬ͘ϲŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ E/d, ;ϵϵ͘Ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ 'h Z Edz ;േϯ͘ϰďŶͿ͕ E/d, ;േϮ͘ϱďŶͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, ;േϭ͘ϳďŶͿ ƚŽƉƉĞĚ ƚƌĂĚĞƐ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ĂƐ ϰ ŽĨ ϲ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĚ ǁͬ ǁ͘ dŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ůĞĚ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϭ͘ϳй ĚƌĂŐŐĞĚ ďLJ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ >/E< ^^hZ ; ϱ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ t W/ ; ϱ͘ϭйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ ĂŶĚ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ϭ͘Ϭй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϳй ƌĞͲ ƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞƐ ŝŶ s/d &K D ; ϭϲ͘ϭйͿ͕ E'^h' Z ; ϯ͘ϲйͿ͕ d '> ^ ; ϵ͘ϳйͿ ĂŶĚ hd/y ; ϱ͘ϳйͿ͘ WƌŝĐĞ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ DdEE ; ϭ͘ϭйͿ ǁĞŝŐŚĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ &Z / d ŝŶĚĞdž͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĚĞͲ ĐůŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϲй͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŚĂŶĚ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĞŶ͕ ƵƉ ϰ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϱй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ K E K ;нϳ͘ϳйͿ͕ ^ W> d ;нϳ͘ϭйͿ͕ d/ ;нϰ͘ϱйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ &/ >/dz ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ŝŶĚĞdž ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϯdž ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ůĂƐƚ &ƌŝĚĂLJ ĐŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ŽŶ ϯϳ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐŝŶŐ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ Ϯϵ ƚŚĂƚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ǁĞƌĞ WKZd ;нϭϰ͘ϰйͿ͕ : Z' Z ;нϭϮ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ h W ;нϭϮ͘ϰйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ZKz > y ; ϭϲ͘ϳйͿ͕ s/d &K D ; ϭϲ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ ^d E / ; ϭϰ͘ϬйͿ ůĞĚ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵͲ ŝŶŐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ǁĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ĂƉƉĞƟƚĞ ĨŽƌ ǀĂůƵĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ǁŽƵůĚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ ĂƐ ĚŝǀŝĚĞŶĚ ƐĞĂƐŽŶ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚĞƐ͘ EŽŶĞƚŚĞůĞƐƐ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ

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ĐŽŵŝŶŐ ǁĞĞŬ͘

&ŽƌĞŝŐŶ džĐŚĂŶŐĞ DĂƌŬĞƚ͗ EĂŝƌĂ ZĞŵĂŝŶƐ ^ƚĂͲ ďůĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ^ĞŐŵĞŶƚƐ dŚĞ E ŝŶƚĞƌǀĞŶĞĚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ŝƚƐ ƉĞƌŝŽĚŝĐ ƐƵƉƉůLJ ŽĨ h^ ŽůůĂƌƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ &y ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͕ ŽīĞƌŝŶŐ Ă ƚŽƚĂů ŽĨ ΨϭϬϬ͘ϬϬŵ ǀŝĂ ƚŚĞ ^ĞĐŽŶĚĂƌLJ DĂƌŬĞƚ /ŶƚĞƌͲ ǀĞŶƟŽŶ ^ĂůĞƐ ;^D/^Ϳ tŚŽůĞƐĂůĞ tŝŶĚŽǁ ŽŶ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ ϭϲ͕ ϮϬϮϭ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ Žŝů ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͕ ƌĞŶƚ ĐƌƵĚĞ Žŝů ƉƌŝĐĞ ƌŽƐĞ Ϯ͘Ϭй ǁͬǁ ƚŽ Ψϲϯ͘ϲϴďďů ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ĚĞƉůĞƚĞĚ Žŝů ƌĞƐĞƌǀĞƐ͘ DĞĂŶǁŚŝůĞ͕ ĞdžƚĞƌŶĂů ƌĞƐĞƌǀĞƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϵй ǁͬǁ ƚŽ Ψϯϱ͘ϱďŶ ;ϮͬϭϳͬϮϬϮϬͿ͘

dŚĞ E ƐƉŽƚ ƌĂƚĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ŇĂƚ Ăůů ǁĞĞŬ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ േϯϳϵ͘ϬϬͬΨϭ͘ϬϬ͕ ƵŶĐŚĂŶŐĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŽƌ ǁĞĞŬ͘ ƚ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƌĂůůĞů ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͕ ƌĂƚĞƐ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ Ăƚ േϰϳϯ͘ϬϬͬΨϭ͘ϬϬ ĂŶĚ ĐůŽƐĞĚ േϰϳϴ͘ϬϬͬΨϭ͘ϬϬ͕ ĚĞͲ ƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŶŐ േϱ͘ϬϬŬŽďŽ ǁͬǁ͘ ƚ ƚŚĞ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ͛ Θ džƉŽƌƚĞƌƐ͛ ;/Θ Ϳ tŝŶĚŽǁ͕ ƚŚĞ E & y ƌĂƚĞ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ Ăƚ േϰϬϱ͘ϭϯͬΨϭ͘ϬϬ ĂŶĚ ĐůŽƐĞĚ Ăƚ േϰϭϬ͘ϬϬͬΨϭ͘ϬϬ ŽŶ &ƌŝĚĂLJ͕ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŶŐ േϱ͘ϯϯŬŽďŽ ǁͬǁ ĨƌŽŵ േϰϬϰ͘ϲϳͬΨϭ͘ϬϬ͘ ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ŝŶ /Θ tŝŶĚŽǁ ĨĞůů ϮϮ͘ϰй ƚŽ ΨϮϱϴ͘ϲŵ ĨƌŽŵ Ψϯϯϯ͘ϱŵ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ǁĞĞŬ͘

ƚ ƚŚĞ &D Y ^ĞĐƵƌŝƟĞƐ džĐŚĂŶŐĞ ;^ Ϳ &y &ƵͲ ƚƵƌĞƐ ŽŶƚƌĂĐƚ DĂƌŬĞƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƚĂů ǀĂůƵĞ ŽĨ ŽƉĞŶ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EĂŝƌĂ ƐĞƩůĞĚ Ăƚ Ψϳ͘ϱďŶ͕ ƵƉ Ψϭϵϵ͘Ϯŵ ;нϮ͘ϳйͿ ĨƌŽŵ Ψϳ͘ϯďŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŽƌ ǁĞĞŬ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ŶĞǁ ƐƵďƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ^ W ϮϬϮϮ͕ ϮϬϮϮ ĂŶĚ : E ϮϬϮϲ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ͘ dŚĞ :hE ϮϬϮϮ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚ ;ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚ ƉƌŝĐĞ͗ േϰϰϵ͘ϵϱͿ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ǁŝƚŚ ĂĚĚŝͲ ƟŽŶĂů ƐƵďƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ ŽĨ ΨϮϮ͘ϳŵ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƚŽŽŬ ƚŽƚĂů ǀĂůƵĞ ƚŽ ΨϮϱ͘Ϯŵ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŚĂŶĚ͕ ƚŚĞ :h> ϮϬϮϭ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚ ;ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚ ƉƌŝĐĞ͗ േϰϮϲ͘ϱϴͿ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůĞĂƐƚ ƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞĚ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ĂŶ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂů ƐƵďͲ ƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ ŽĨ ΨϬ͘ϱŵ ĨŽƌ Ă ƚŽƚĂů ǀĂůƵĞ ŽĨ ΨϮϬϲ͘ϲŵ͘ EĞdžƚ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƌĂƚĞƐ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ƚƌĂĚĞ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ Ă ƟŐŚƚ ďĂŶĚ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƐĞŐŵĞŶƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͘

DŽŶĞLJ DĂƌŬĞƚ͗ ZĂƚĞƐ dƌĞŶĚ ,ŝŐŚĞƌ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ KDK ƵĐƟŽŶ dŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌďĂŶŬ ƌĂƚĞƐ K ĂŶĚ KsE ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ůŽǁĞƌ Ăƚ ϰ͘Ϭй ĂŶĚ ϰ͘Ϯϱй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĐůŽƐĞ ŽĨ ϰ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ ϰ͘ϳϱй ůĂƐƚ ǁĞĞŬ

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ĚĞƐƉŝƚĞ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ĨĂůůŝŶŐ ƚŽ േϯϳϳ͘ϰďŶ͘ LJ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌĂƚĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ Ăƚ ϮϬ͘Ϭй ĂŶĚ ϮϬ͘ϱй ĚĞƐƉŝƚĞ ĂŶ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ŝŶ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝͲ ƚLJ ƚŽ േϭ͘ϭƚŶ͘

KŶ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ͕ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŝŶŇŽǁ ĨƌŽŵ KDK ŵĂƚƵƌŝƟĞƐ ǁŽƌƚŚ േϮϲϬ͘ϮďŶ͕ ƚŚĞ E ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĞĚ ĂŶ KDK ĂƵĐƟŽŶ ǁŽƌƚŚ േϭϴϬ͘ϬďŶ ƚŽ ŵŽƉ ƵƉ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ͘ ĞŵĂŶĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĂƵĐƟŽŶ ǁĂƐ ƌŽďƵƐƚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ϭϭϬ ĚĂLJ ;KīĞƌ͗ േϮϬ͘ϬďŶ͖ ^ƵďƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ͗ േϱϮ͘ϲϴďŶ͖ ^ĂůĞ͗ േϮϬ͘ϬďŶͿ͕ ϭϴϬ ĚĂLJ ;KīĞƌ͗ േϮϬ͘ϬďŶ͖ ^ƵďƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ͗ േϱϰ͘ϰϬďŶ͖ ^ĂůĞ͗ േϮϬ͘ϬďŶͿ ĂŶĚ ϯϲϮ ĚĂLJ ;KīĞƌ͗ േϭϰϬ͘ϬďŶ͖ ^ƵďƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ͗ േϯϱϬ͘ϳϯďŶ͖ ^ĂůĞ͗ േϭϰϬ͘ϬďŶͿ ŝŶͲ ƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŽǀĞƌƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞĚ ďLJ Ϯ͘ϲdž͕ Ϯ͘ϳdž ĂŶĚ Ϯ͘ϱdž Ăƚ ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂů ƌĂƚĞƐ ŽĨ ϳ͘Ϭй͕ ϴ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ ϭϬ͘ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ƐŝŵŝůĂƌ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĂƵĐͲ ƟŽŶ͘

/Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐŽŶĚĂƌLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ŵƵƚĞĚ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚƐ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚĞŶŽƌƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϲй͘ dŚĞ ϵϭ ĚĂLJ͕ ϭϴϮ ĚĂLJ ĂŶĚ ϯϲϰ ĚĂLJ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ Ăƚ LJŝĞůĚƐ ŽĨ Ϭ͘ϳϲй͕ ϭ͘ϵϲй ĂŶĚ Ϯ͘Ϭϳй͕ ƐŝŵŝůĂƌ ƚŽ ůĂƐƚ ǁĞĞŬ ůĞǀĞůƐ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŝŶŐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ǁĞ ĂŶƟĐŝƉĂƚĞ ŝŶŇŽǁƐ ĨƌŽŵ ŵĂͲ ƚƵƌŝŶŐ KDK ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ǁŽƌƚŚ േϰϳϲ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ ƐŚĂƉĞ ƚŚĞ ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƌĂƚĞƐ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ E ƚŽ ŬĞĞƉ ƌĂƚĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ ŝŶ ĐŚĞĐŬ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƌĞŐƵůĂƌ ĂƵĐƟŽŶƐ͘

ŽŶĚ DĂƌŬĞƚ͗ ^ƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ĞĂƌŝƐŚ DŽŵĞŶƚƵŵ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŽŵĞƐƟĐ DĂƌŬĞƚ dŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ƚŚĞ DK ƌĞ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ D Z , ϮϬϮϳ͕ D Z , ϮϬϯϱ ĂŶĚ :h>z ϮϬϰϱ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ŽīĞƌŝŶŐ േϱϬ͘ϬďŶ ĂƉŝĞĐĞ͘ tŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ D Z , ϮϬϮϳ ĂŶĚ D Z , ϮϬϯϱ ǁĞƌĞ ŽǀĞƌƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞĚ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϱdž ĂŶĚ ϭ͘ϴdž ďŝĚ ƚŽ ĐŽǀĞƌ ƌĂƟŽƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ :h>z ϮϬϰϱ ǁĂƐ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞĚ ďLJ Ϭ͘ϴdž͘ tĞ ŶŽƚĞ ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂů ƌĂƚĞƐ ƚŽ ϭϬ͘Ϯϱй͕ ϭϭ͘Ϯϱй ĂŶĚ ϭϭ͘ϴϬй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞͲ ůLJ ;ǀƐ ϳ͘ϵϴй͕ ϴ͘ϳϰй ĂŶĚ ϴ͘ϵϱй Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ŵŽŶƚŚ͛Ɛ ĂƵĐƟŽŶͿ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ĂŐŐƌĞŐĂƚĞ͕ Ă ƚŽƚĂů ŽĨ േϭϱϬ͘ϬďŶ ǁĂƐ ŽīĞƌĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƐƵďƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĂůůŽƚŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ േϭϴϵ͘ϱďŶ ĂŶĚ േϴϬ͘ϲďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞͲ ůLJ͘

WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐŽŶĚĂƌLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ƌŽƐĞ ϭϲďƉƐ ǁͬǁ ƚŽ ϵ͘Ϯй ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ϰ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĚĂLJƐ͘ ĐƌŽƐƐ ƚĞŶŽƌƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŵŝĚ ĂŶĚ ůŽŶŐ ƚĞƌŵ ďŽŶĚƐ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƐĞůů ŽīƐ ǁŝƚŚ LJŝĞůĚƐ ƵƉ ďLJ ϯϴďƉƐ ĂŶĚ ϰďƉƐ ǁͬǁ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƌƚ ƚĞŶŽƌĞĚ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƐĂǁ ŐĂŝŶƐ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ϮďƉƐ ǁͬǁ͘

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ^^ ƵƌŽďŽŶĚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ͕ ǁĞ ƐĂǁ Ă ƐůŝŐŚƚůLJ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂƐ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ LJŝĞůĚ ƌŽƐĞ ϯďƉƐ ƚŽ ϳ͘ϱй dŚĞ 'ŚĂŶĂŝĂŶ ϮϬϮϮ ŝŶƐƚƌƵͲ ŵĞŶƚƐ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƐƚ ƐĞůů ŽīƐ ǁŝƚŚ LJŝĞůĚƐ ƵƉ Ϯ͘ϵй ǁͬǁ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŚĂŶĚ͕ ƚŚĞ D / E ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŐĂŝŶƐ ĂƐ LJŝĞůĚƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϮϮ ĂŶĚ ϮϬϮϰ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ Ϯ͘ϵй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘ϳй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 21, 2021

BUSINESS PERSONALITY LEO STAN EKEH

Foremost Digital Entrepreneur, Leo Stan Ekeh Turns 65 Clocking 65 may have added a few wrinkles to the visage of Africa’s foremost serial digital entrepreneur and chairman of Zinox Group, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, it has, however, not taken away his entrepreneurial excellence and cheerful outlook on life. The billionaire businessman turns 65 tomorrow, 22nd February.

While he is not known to be in the habit of throwing parties in the manner of a conventional socialite, the harsh reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed the lives of many prominent Nigerians since its outbreak, precludes such convergent merry-making, writes Lanre Alfred

T

hose close to him say he will spend the day quietly with family and few friends reÁecting and retrospecting on the years gone by and what lays ahead to strive for; a sort of personal ‘New Year’ where resolutions and promises can be made to the self and for the betterment of humanity. Of course, he has so much to thank God for. In fact, the story of the billionaire businessman’s life is nearly as smooth as a bowling ball gliding on a varnished lane.

Beyond his love for business and the good life, Leo is reputed as one of Africa’s biggest philanthropists. If Leo Stan Ekeh doesn’t strike you, at Àrst sight, it’s probably because he is a masterpiece of a man disguised as a blank canvas. Ekeh aͿects a Áurry of beings curled into one: he is science, an art, a foundation of genius with dashes of brilliance brightening the creativity of his mind and soul, thus illumining the world.

Aproduct of pure intellect, Ekeh can become any form he creates; he is a library of masterpieces, an intricate web of sensitivity and hope attuned in full measure to the world’s needs. This is a glimpse of who he truly is.

Despite his genius and acclaimed successes, Ekeh, a globally recognized tech guru, is Chairman of Zinox Group, Sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest integrated technology conglomerate which includes viable concerns such as Zinox Technologies Limited, Task Systems Ltd., Technology Distributions Limited (TDAfrica) and TD Mobile, among others, through which Mr. Ekeh has deployed some of the biggest ICT projects on the continent.

On the anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence on October 1st 2001, Ekeh enjoyed the rare privilege of being honoured as an Icon of Hope by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for his sustained pioneering eͿorts in the area of Information Technology and also as a pride to modern Nigeria.

He has also inspired several generations of budding entrepreneurs and startups, many of whom are currently disrupting the technology space in Nigeria and beyond.

Mr. Ekeh’s groundbreaking strides in the Nigerian technology ecosystem recorded another major achievement in 2018 when he made a bold return to e-commerce (a vertical he pioneered in Africa many years ago through BuyRight Africa Dotcom) with the addition of Konga after acquiring the company from previous majority investors, Naspers and AB Kinnevik. Barely two years after its acquisition, Mr. Ekeh, has since transformed the composite e-commerce giant into Nigeria’s leading player, with the brand on the cusp of dominatingAfrica’s biggest market and making inroads into other neighbouring African markets.

Indeed, the story of Mr. Ekeh’s legendary strides is one of many Àrsts amid a series of landmark achievements in his chosen Àeld of Information and Communications Technology.

He pioneered Desktop Publishing and Computer Graphics in Nigeriain1987withhisÀrstCompany–TaskSystemsLtd.Inaddition, Mr. Ekeh launched the Àrst ICT support Company in Nigeria – ITEC Solutions Ltd.Additionally, he pioneered the deployment of digital dispensing pumps for petrol and gas stations in Nigeria in partnership with Elf Oil (now Total Plc.) after he was cheated by an attendant at a fuel station. He also pioneered ICT Distribution in West Africa with the launch of Technology Distributions Ltd. (today known as TDAfrica) which has remained the biggest technology, lifestyle and cutting-edge solution distributors in the West African sub-region.

Furthermore, Mr. Ekeh holds the rare status of manufacturing the Àrst internationally certiÀed computer brand in Sub-Saharan Africa: Zinox Computers.

Equally important, the biometric digital revolution in Nigeria can be attributed to Mr. Ekeh after he singlehandedly delivered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voters’ registration in 2006 when foreign contractors could not deliver after months of promises. Four years later, he again supervised the biggest single ICT digital rollout in Africa with INEC in 2010 valued back then at over $170m, as well as the largest single e-Library and Wireless Cloud rollout project on the continent through one of his companies – Zinox Technologies Ltd. Today, Ekeh’s contributions and sterling work with INEC have gone a long way in giving Nigeria

Mustafa Chike-Obi

a credible database of voters and reduced post-election litigations by over 45 per cent.

Mr. Ekeh has also been involved with companies such as ICT Brokers, TD Plus, ICT Connect and, as earlier stated, the launch of Africa’s Àrst ever e- commerce outÀt, Buyright AFRICA Dotcom.

A major advocate of digital literacy for all, Ekeh holds the enviable record of donating cutting-edge and well-equipped digital centres to several secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

SigniÀcantly, Ekeh’s Zinox Group pioneered the unheralded but highly commendable practice of paternity leave in Nigeria to reduce stress on young male staͿ and enable them support their spouses when they welcome a new baby.

A Àrst rate Indian-trained Economist and Global Advisor to Microsoft, Mr. Ekeh holds a Post Graduate Degree in Risk Management from Nottingham University, England. Mr. Ekeh equally holds several honorary doctorate degrees from highly respected universities for his enviable record of incisive entrepreneurship and pioneering eͿorts in the Àeld of Information Technology.

Mr. Ekeh, a renowned digital democrat and philanthropist, has also quietly touched so many lives through the Leo Stan Foundation – his personal foundation. Among these are charitable works such as donation of N100million to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East, donation of N50million to victims of the demolished Eke-Ukwu market in Imo State, scholarships to hundreds of indigent students across Nigeria to study both at home and abroad, as well as the set-up of a N1.5bn revolving loan scheme for disadvantaged students and entrepreneurs of Imo origin, among several others.

Furthermore, Ekeh has silently invested in education, provided Medicare to the needy and supported churches and other religious organisations through the Foundation. During the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Leo Stan Foundation leveraged on staͿ of the various companies in the Zinox Group to feed over 7000 families across Nigeria for two weeks. He has also regularly supported state governments in Imo, Lagos and other parts of the country through the donations of patrol vehicles to improve security, among other donations.

The tech enthusiast is one of the foremost champions of gender equality in Nigeria. He has consistently advocated for and also empowered women and the girl child, whom he regularly addresses and challenges to aspire to greatness at various public events and

fora. His passion for gender equality can be seen at Àrst hand in the Zinox Group where women, led by his wife, Mrs. Chioma Ekeh, occupy the Àrst four executive management positions at TD Africa, the biggest company by revenue in the Group.Also, he had recently appointedanotherfemaleasManagingDirectorofZinox.TheGroup’s Human Resources Unit is also headed by a female.

Mr.Ekeh’sunerringzealforproductivityandexcellencewasrecently rewarded by the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari with the National Productivity Merit Award (NPOM) in November 2019. Adistinguished member of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group and Fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society, Ekeh is a recipient of one of the country’s highest National Honours – Order of The Federal Republic (OFR).

Applauded by professionals as a global digital giant and a man whose vision and performance shore up credibility for the indigenous capacities in the ICT sector, Leo Stan Ekeh’s unmatched interventions have seen him receive over 60 local and international awards. He has also served on a good number of Federal Government Committees, which includes the Presidential Committee for Job Creation, Nigeria Thinkers, ICT Roadmap, among many others.

This is simply a rare peep into his world; and tempting as it is to embark on a more extensive and revealing voyage into the fathomless folds of his private reality and unusual humanity, it is a discourse best saved till later. Perhaps this cursory sortie into his conÀdential space will enhance better understanding of the man whose sterling manhood and citizenship of humanity is widely acknowledged by family, friends and even mere acquaintances. From afar, Leo 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 Leo thus presents a tasking exercise. It’s an onerous task to unbolt the hub of who Leo Stan-Ekeh is and what he represents; notwithstanding, friends, family and business associates may seek contentment from the fact that a man like him symbolises the universe’s rarest gift to mankind. This galactic gesture is borne from the universe’s belief in man’s unusual capacity to rebel against the conventional and stun the odds while manifesting as something more than a curse or blight to humanity and the future.

Leo is no doubt a rare phenomenon and gift to this generation.

While most of his friends, family and business associates are already in the know and appreciate this fact, like the inÀnite crowd of folk that constitute mere acquaintances to him, they are continually stunned, captivated and humbled by the man, Leo’s infectious humility and generosity of spirit.

Those who are yet to encounter the benevolence of Ekeh or proÀt from it nonetheless share a bubbly enthusiasm for it. At the very least, everybody seems to love him. MagniÀcence, order, complexity, mystery and possibilities—the same things that draw folk to their most treasured daydreams lure them to Zinox head honcho. The primary diͿerence is that subtle and blatant idolatry takes a front seat in the Áurry of emotion and perpetual elocution of the rare civility and bounteousness of spirit accorded them by Leo. Yet he is forever quick to counsel folk about his ordinariness and thus prevent them from dressing him in what he considers spurious cloaks of a saviour, messiah, or deity; or tin god. Yeah, Leo, for his extraordinariness, tirelessly seeks to be viewed as ordinary - which makes unlocking his core both a boon and conundrum to anyone.

It is hard to be more speciÀc about the true worth of Leo’s humanity because unlike most of civilisation’s great, contemporary statesmen and philanthropists, he has something quite diͿerent to oͿer to his several dependants and beneÀciaries of his generosity. Leo is several things at the same time to everyone and anyone: he is a humanitarian who depicts raw compassion expressed with the greatest reÀnement and discipline; he is an aesthete with stormy sublimity, unimaginable genius and that famed vision of ingenuity that separates the practiced from the mediocre; Leo to most and all of his acquaintances radiates an entirely diͿerent reality amid the world’s brutal capacity for ill and insensitivity; his humility and graciousness in his dealing with friends and established foes alike manifests as a sharp, shrill yet pleasant contradiction to the ugly and vulgar reality that daily becomes the plague of the mortal world.

29

˜ ˾ FEBRUARY 21, 2021

MARKET NEWS

Chemical and Allied Products Appoints Aniagu as Finance Manager Goddy Egene

Portland Paints and Products as the Finance Controller of February 20, 2021.

In a Aniagu’s appointment followed Nigeria (PPPN) Plc, Mrs. Ada Chemical and Allied Products notification to the Nigerian Stock the resignation of Mr. Abiola The Chief Finance Officer of Aniagu, has been appointed (CAP) Plc with effect from Exchange (NSE), the company Odeyemi from the CAP Plc’ A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an ETF are bought by investors.

Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. investment vehicle that allows both small and Bid Price: The price at which Investors Investors with similar objectives buy units of the large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total that willl generate their desired return. investments. The assets are divided into shares that return an investor would have earned on An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. his investment. Money Market Funds report of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, Yield while others report Year- to-date Total bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, GUIDE TO DATA: Return. etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 18- NAV: Is value per share of the real estate shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the Feb-2021, unless otherwise stated. assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

employment as the finance manager with effect from February 19, 2021.

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 156.47 158.03 -3.28% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 3.06% Nigeria International Debt Fund 355.01 355.01 -11.01% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 114.36 114.36 0.22% 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 1.04 1.06 16.22% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 -13.37% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.29% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.41 3.57 -3.93% 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 N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 18.64 19.20 2.78% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 410.05 422.41 2.42% ARM Ethical Fund 35.31 36.38 4.75% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.20 1.20 -1.77% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.04 1.04 -7.05% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.14% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.04 2.04 -39.09% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.19 2.24 -19.04% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.89% Paramount Equity Fund 15.98 16.28 -0.06% Women's Investment Fund 132.66 134.16 -0.33% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.30% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 129.68 130.55 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 110.01 110.01 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 N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1.27% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1.54% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,155.39 1,157.69 -3.74% 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 1,344.52 1,344.52 5.73% FBN Balanced Fund 184.41 185.74 -1.74% FBN Halal Fund 109.92 109.92 4.23% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.61% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional N/A N/A N/A FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail N/A N/A N/A FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 150.64 152.46 -0.36% 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 1.00 1.00 1.12% Legacy Debt Fund 3.89 3.89 0.53% Legacy Equity Fund 1.59 1.63 4.50% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.14 1.14 0.65% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,840.49 3,891.41 2.26% Coral Income Fund 3,327.16 3,327.16 1.87% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 1.77% 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 127.48 128.01 19.17%

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 0.32% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.72 2.78 18.72% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 156.24 156.75 0.55% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.08 1.08 5.26% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.38 1.40 0.69% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,136.48 1,136.48 1.17% 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 7.34% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.20 12.32 -0.32% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 1.50% PACAM Equity Fund 1.60 1.62 1.55% PACAM EuroBond Fund 109.16 111.78 -0.25% 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 128.87 131.64 10.37% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.01 1.01 0.89% 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 -2.76% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.65% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -1.27% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 0.61% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 -1.56% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.48% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -5.18% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.24 1.24 0.82% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 111.62 111.62 0.49% 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 1.37 1.39 0.61% United Capital Bond Fund 1.91 1.91 0.80% United Capital Equity Fund 0.87 0.89 0.12% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.45% United Capital Eurobond Fund 117.99 117.99 0.77% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.07 1.09 -1.40% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.02 1.02 2.01% 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 12.20 12.33 2.89% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.48 13.60 10.36% Zenith Income Fund 24.16 24.16 0.77% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.41%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

121.42 52.63

0.56% 0.44%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.95 121.24 96.26

13.05 121.24 98.08

-2.04% -0.41% -3.12%

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

3.95 5.81 17.46 1.00 19.03 177.08

3.99 5.89 17.56 1.00 19.23 179.08

4.27% 2.06% 6.72% 0.91% -7.20% -19.81%

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.

30

FEBRUARY 21, 2021 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

Amnesty For Boko Haram Makes More Sense Than Amnesty for Herdsmen and Bandits

A

s long as there is impunity in Nigeria, abductions, kidnappings and pillaging by killer herdsmen and bandits (who also tend to be herdsmen, who find crime more profitable) will continue.

What I am about to say is going to be controversial, even though it is true. However, it makes more sense to grant amnesty to Boko Haram than to killer herdsmen and bandits.

Boko Haram did not start out as a radical Islamic terror group. No. They were seekers of knowledge. What is known as talib in Islam. They lived in communes and desired a return to a purist Islamic state, governed by undiluted Islam.

Their leader was a brilliant scholar named Mohammed Yusuf, who was self-taught and very intelligent. He was a polyglot. He was charismatic. He did not hate Christians. He wanted people to understand Islam.

The Boko Haram uprising of 2009 was actually not caused

by Boko Haram. It was ignited by the Nigerian Police Force, whose officers killed some Boko Haram members for refusing to comply with a new law requiring motorcyclists and their passengers to wear helmets.

Those killings outraged the previously peaceful group and they took revenge on the police and the resultant mayhem led to the deaths of hundreds of their members and innocent citizens.

In the end, Mohammed Yusuf was arrested by the Nigerian Army and handed over to the police (an unwise move, seeing as the police were one of the belligerents).

It was the cold-blooded murder of Yusuf by the Nigerian Police that led to the full blown radicalisation of the sect.

The Nigerian state did a historical wrong to Boko Haram, and until the policemen who killed Mohammed Yusuf are tried, convicted and punished, and his family compensated, it will be very hard to stop Boko Haram, because they feel they are fighting a holy war.

If Mohammed Yusuf can posthumously get justice, Shekau will lose his hold over the sect, and those who are tired of life in the bushes will be justified, under their brand of Islam, to accept the olive branch offered by the Nigerian state.

But what historical injustice has the Nigerian state done to killer herdsmen and bandits? None! Absolutely nothing. For Sheikh Gumi to call for amnesty for them is an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians.

Our government did not seize their cattle. We have not proscribed Miyetti Allah, their umbrella body, or killed its leaders. They have absolutely no religious, moral or historical right to bear a grudge against the Nigerian state.

In fact, the Nigerian state has bent over backwards to accommodate pastoralists. We have built schools for them. Government initiated the Great Green Wall to check desertification in order to protect their natural pasture lands. Social services are provided to them at cost to other tax payers. They have much to celebrate about Nigeria.

Their case is just one of sheer criminality. These are people who have discovered that in Buhari’s Nigeria, crime does pay.

It is more profitable to them to kidnap and abduct Nigerians for ransom, than to graze cattle for a mere pittance. And they

are not fools.

The question we should be asking in Nigeria is why are the herdsmen in Ghana and other West African nations not engaging in the types of actions they are engaging in Nigeria?

The answer is because there is zero tolerance for such behaviour in those countries. If they try it in Ghana, they will die.

It is not a case of maybe. It is a case of certainty. President Nana Akufo-Addo police boss once gave a shoot-at-sight order to the Ghanaian police against herdsmen who graze on peoples’ farms. Please Google it. Research it.

Ecclesiastes 8:11 says: “When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.”

What are we conveying to the world, where you have proven and admitted bandits having public meetings with Northern Governors and top Islamic clerics, where they are photographed like celebrities? We are showing tolerance for crime. We are showing that crime does pay and that it is okay to profit from your criminality.

If nobody pays ransom for abductions, and kidnappings, they will stop happening. Look at the breakdown of law and order in Northern Nigeria today, to the extent that soldiers and policemen are being abducted and kidnapped. And ransom is paid for their lives. Who is really in control of Nigeria?

Since May 29, 2015, how many killer herdsmen or bandits have been arrested, tried, and executed? The answer is none. But look at the effort President Buhari made to arrest Nnamdi Kanu.

As you read this, the Nigerian armed forces are raining down bullets in Orlu, Imo state. And this is the same government that wants to rain down amnesty on killer herdsmen and bandits.

All those bandits who attended the meeting with Sheikh Gumi should have been arrested by now, if we had a functional government. I have read and studied the Quran just as Sheikh Gumi has. I study the Quran in Arabic, and not just via an English translation. Sheikh Gumi does not have a monopoly on Islamic jurisprudence. I am a second generation scholar on Islamic jurisprudence. My late father, Justice Jean Omokri (JCA) was versed in Islamic jurisprudence.

What these bandits are doing is specifically going against Hudud of both God and man as outlined in Quran chapter 5.

There is no justification in Islam for them to be given an amnesty.

What the Quran prescribed is that they should be severely dealt with.

Their specific crime is known asHirabah under Islamic jurisprudence. Hirabah is any act of unjustly waging war against society, and includes kidnappings, assassinations, and abductions. It is even worse when it is Muslims who are doing Hirabah against other Muslims.

One of the most revered Islamic jurists that ever lived is Ibn Hazm. Hazm defined Hirabah as: “Putting people in fear on the road, whether or not with a weapon, at night or day, in urban areas or in open spaces.”

Their punishment, according to various verses in Quran chapter 5, is meant to be execution and not amnesty. Sheikh Gumi, am I lying? As difficult as it may be for me to accept, I would rather tolerate amnesty for Boko Haram, because of the historical injustice that gave rise to their war on society, than to

countenance it for herdsmen and bandits.

And it is even worse still that the man floating this idea is supposed to be an Islamic jurist, and one whose intellect I used to respect.

When I saw that now-famous photograph of Sheikh Gumi with a horde of gun-toting bandits, I was stunned. Not for the reasons most people were astounded. My own astonishment came from the fact that this same Sheikh Gumi has not been photographed visiting the victims of these herdsmen and bandits.

What does it say about us when our religious figures have now become advocates for those that perpetrate crime, even where their victims have no one to speak for them?

Is this not why Bishop Matthew Kukah raised the alarm?

Why are bandits and killer herdsmen more deserving of amnesty than say Evans the kidnapper? Is it because Evans is Igbo and they are Fulani, or because Evans is Christian and they are Muslims? I condemned Evans and his crime, and I do not believe why Christian cleric will be foolhardy enough to campaign for amnesty for Evans and his clique.

What we expect from Sheikh Gumi and other Islamic clerics is to be living representations of the jurisprudence espoused by the Quran and prophet Mohammed (SAW). If they do this, they will not only be enhancing peaceful religious coexistence, they will also be promoting the concept of Islam as a religion of peace.

When those in government, and clerics like Gumi, start talking about amnesty for herdsmen and bandits, one starts to reconsider the statement by a former All Progressives Congress chieftain, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, who said as follows: “The Fulani causing security problems in the country were brought in to help facilitate victory in the 2015 election.

After the election, the Fulani have refused to leave. I and other like minds wrote and warned those we started APC with that this was going to happen but nobody listened.”

Nigerians would recall that President Muhammadu Buhari, himself a Fulani and himself the Grand Patron of Miyetti Allah, once threatened on May 15, 2012 as follows: “If what happened in 2011 (alleged rigging) should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood.’’

The question Nigerians should be asking is this: Are these herdsmen and bandits, that they now want to give amnesty to, the instruments with which they planned to soak Nigeria in blood?

Reno’s Nuggets

Children cry when they lose their milk teeth, because they are unaware that God did not create milk teeth to last. They must go so your real teeth can come. Not every relationship you lose is a loss. Some are milk relationships. They must go for something better to come. But remember that a relationship is like a house. You build it one block at a time. Therefore, use better blocks to build your new relationship. Don’t use the same blocks you used to build your old relationships. Those relationships collapsed because those blocks were bad #RenosNuggets #FreeLeahSharibu

RIGHT OF REPLY

Lest We Miss The Point: Lagos Motor Boat Club Crisis Lateef Ibrahim

T

HISDAY as an influential newspaper that is concerned about standards must be commended for its sustained interest in the happenings at the Lagos Motor Boat Club.

Your three previous publications have tried to shed much needed light on a subject of news concern to you.

As a friend, who wants the issues resolved, I have reviewed all the various correspondences of the parties involved, and wish to observe as follows: The crux of the apparent crisis at the Boat club centres on the breach of laid down processes guiding the club. It is a well-established fact that once processes are compromised, the institution is bound to falter with unpalatable consequences for all.

The rules and bye-laws of the Boat club are unambiguous and do not need a legal luminary to help interpret same.

The overriding consideration for any member to seek election into an elected office is two years’ membership, provided he is not found wanting and there are no pending disciplinary measures against him. No other member—trustee or ordinary—has any right to prevent such a person from contesting.

In this particular case, the candidate was a serving

committee member who had served meritoriously and was desirous of holding office for another term. A group of people (ordinary members) for reasons best known to them accused the serving committee member of being transactional and with a fiat ordered him not to run with the support of one of the three trustees of the club. The trustee in fact defaced the nomination board of the club by striking out the candidate’s name together with his sponsor and seconder contrary to Section 42(b) of the rules and bye-laws of the club and the said candidate was subsequently expelled from the club for defying the instructions not to run.

Indeed it is this irregularity that has brought the club to disrepute. It appears that the crisis can only be resolved by adhering strictly to the constitution of the club.

Another issue, which has crept into the narrative though seemingly unconnected with the members’ eligibility to contest, is that of the trusteeship. The position of a trustee is one of honour, high standing, and responsibility; it involves selfless, evenhanded, and voluntary service.

A vacancy was created due to the demise of Chief Frank Akinrele (past trustee), the father of Demola Akinrele in 2019. The convention of the club is that such vacancy is generally filled by ex-commodores of the club (more often than not the most senior in the group). In this instance, both Mr. Ladi Ajose-Adeogun and Mr Demola

Akinrele showed interest in the vacancy. However the club committee decided to appoint Dr. Charles Hammond, a non ex-commodore in February 2020. His appointment was belatedly ratified at the club’s AGM in November 2020 due to the pandemic. Since then, there have been no issues regarding his appointment and Dr. Charles Hammond has been enjoying the support and cooperation of members of the club.

The recent mischievous narrative that the present crisis is fuelled by a trustee candidate that failed to get appointed is indeed an attempt to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it.

What has brought the club to its present crisis remains the fact that certain members of the club have chosen to arrogate illegal and authoritarian powers to themselves by deciding for reasons best known to them not to allow an eligible candidate contest an election. And not satisfied with that they proceeded to expel the candidate and suspend one of his sponsors.

The path to peace, justice, and reconciliation is to establish a reconciliation committee to help untangle all the knotty issues engulfing the club.

When this is done, THIDAY must derive some satisfaction that its editorial coverage of the Lagos Motor Boat Club controversy helped in shedding light on the need for due process in our communal and nation life.

Ibrahim wrotes from Lagos.

31

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 21, 2021

ENGAGEMENTS

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

For Bandits, An End to Red Carpets

P

resident Buhari’s National Security Adviser, Mr. Babagana Monguno, needs not bother with more seminars and town hall meetings on insecurity.

The seminars and meetings are holding themselves daily in the nightmare of our daily encounter with terror and armed lawlessness. The very conclusions he seeks have already been drawn.

They are etched in the new series of kidnappings, abductions, murders and hold ups all over the country. Just as he was kicking off a series of zonal town hall meetings to distil public perspectives on insecurity in the nation, criminal bandits made their own practical presentation. They abducted over 40 students and collateral others in Kagara, Niger State.

The Kagara incident is yet another in the growing industry of serial school abductions mostly in parts of Nigeria’s Islamic north.

State official figures indicate that some 27 school children and about 15 other collateral school officials and their family members are yet unaccounted for after an early morning raid by an armed gang. This is coming barely a few weeks after the massive abduction of over 300 boys of a government school in Kankara, Katsina state. There is currently a hot search for the abductees and their armed captors.

Hope remains alive as prayer candles burn all over the nation that the Kagara students, like their colleagues in Kankara, will come to no harm and will be released to their parents and loved ones.

What is uncertain is that their captors and their sponsors will ever be apprehended, prosecuted or in any way brought to book. After the children may have been rescued or freed, there will be the usual Mickey Mouse back and forth as to whether ransom was paid or the bandits had a sudden rush of good behavior and decided to release the children. There will be footage of the students on their return and the usual televised reception gathering of state officials and the students. There may be photo opportunities of benevolent bandits posing with federal and state officials. There will be claims and counter claims by the various arms of the security apparatus as to which of them actually performed the feat. There may even be a clash of good intent between the military and the police as to whose wondrous work it was. For us as a public, what is important now is the safety and freedom of the innocent children and the other collateral captives being held by these agents of the dark.

Yet, what will regrettably remain mysterious is why the bandits never get arrested, prosecuted or why they get stronger and more audacious after each release of hostages. In the growing culture of banditry and the ritual of abductions, negotiated releases and short respite, how come the bandits are being accorded a curious legitimacy and recognition as a new feature of our new normal in the northern states especially?

The war against terrorism and insurgency ought to be about holding people accountable for actions against fellow Nigerians and the state. It ought to be about using security forces to underline the fact that criminal and treasonous actions carry dire consequences. If the massive security dragnet ostensibly laid out all over the country cannot apprehend and bring criminals and insurgents to book, what are they about?

The rise of a new category of violent criminals aptly christened ‘bandits’ is yet another chapter in the curiosity of evolving terminologies in Nigeria’s language of insecurity. Terrorists, militants and now bandits have joined an elongating catalogue of infamy that started off with ordinary armed robbers and sundry common criminals. As it turns out, bandits are armed outlaws who battle the official security forces, rustle cattle, kidnap people, collect ransom from kidnap victims, collect illegal taxes from farmers to allow them plant or harvest their crops.

For disturbing the peace and challenging the Nigerian state and its presiding officialdom, bandits are treated to red carpet meetings and negotiation sessions with state officials including governors and military and police commanders in some northern states.

After these meetings, they pose for photo opportunities with state officials and security commanders with their unique battle gear and full arsenal of military grade weaponry. These negotiations are reportedly cemented with troves of cash payouts to the bandits with a tacit understanding that they can keep their weapons, maintain their distance from other citizens and allow the state governments and their official security details carry on with business as usual.

As it were, the shortest route to official recognition and unearned compensation by some states is to rent or buy some old AK 47s, use them to harass some farmers or abduct some travelers in order to earn an invitation to the state house. In these states, there are now two recognized realms of armed authority: government and bandits!

There would seem to have been some progress in the evolution of this dubious diarchy. Some traditional rulers and religious leaders have now joined the wagon of negotiating, meeting with and even pleading the cause of the bandits. Still trending is the recent meeting of Sheikh Gumi with bandit squads and their leaders in Zamfara state. The respected Sheikh came out of the meetings almost as a convert to the cause of banditry, pleading for the appeasement of the bandits for the sake of peace. Auseful aspect of the Gumi intervention was the recognition that banditry is indeed a consequence of socio economic alienation. No one knows what demographics the bandit leaders represent or the extent to which a random appeasement of these armed miscreants will address let alone end the scandalous inequality that may have driven many of our citizens into desperate criminality.

For those who awaited the action of the president on the Kagara abduction, President Buhari has done and said the obvious. He

Monguno, National Security Adviser to President Buhari should be getting bored ordering security forces to ensure the safe release of the abducted children and the others. Significantly, the emphasis in this and previous episodes has been on the safe release of the abductees. Apresidential order on a matter as grevious as this ought however to contain a stern and unambiguous directive to fish out the criminals and ensure that they are brought to book as a way of ending this scourge.

It is noteworthy that since the abduction of the Chibok girls, the Dapchi girls and up to the Kankara boys, there have been any number of abductions perhaps on smaller scales. I am not aware that any culprits have been arrested or arraigned in any court in Nigeria for responsibility for these abductions. There have not been any reported incidents of a breakthrough in smashing the cells of these abductors and industrial scale kidnappers. Instead, there is an abundance of claims and counter claims of ransom payments sometimes in millions of dollars to secure the release of those abducted. Sometimes, state officials or paid commission agents have served as conduits for ransom negotiations and actual payments.

Once some captives are released, the focus shifts from criminal liability to official triumphalism. We close our eyes to the necessity to hold people to account, to apprehend criminals and extract consequences for acts of terror against the Nigerian state and for crimes against our common national humanity. Soon enough, the empowered and emboldened criminal gangs reassemble and reorganize, plan future operations and apply the proceeds of their ransom to yet more operations with even better weapons and superior communications.

The unstated conclusion would seem to be that these ransoms and appeasements are being applied to capitalize further exploits and fund new groups in an increasingly lucrative business of human trafficking. I am not aware that our security forces have made any breakthroughs in cracking the cells of these bandit gangs let alone unearthing information that could lead to their liquidation and disbandment.

In the more recent iterations of the armed bandit squads, something interesting seems to have happened. We no longer know the difference between the random criminal bandit gangs and the fanatical zealot terrorists that began as Boko Haram and the other Al Queda affiliates. The franchise of terrorists seems to have expanded and the demarcation lines have become hazy. They all target schools, kidnap priests and clerics, kill many people in public places and ambush state and military officials. The targeting of schools is quite significant as it fits into the doctrinal plank of the original Boko Haram as haters of books and western education. But the original theocratic motivation may have been overwhelmed by the profit motive of ransom hauls and huge negotiated cash settlements.

The wider strategic impact of these school abductions should nonetheless trouble us all. As in the case of the earlier Kankara boys of Katsina state, governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State has ordered the closure of schools in vulnerable districts of the state.

Adjoining states may follow suit. In the process, a major strategic victory is being scored by the criminal gangs and their political supporters. Setting education back by even a few weeks means setting the development of northern Nigeria back by years if not decades.

And yet, we have major state officials and leaders of the region openly pleading the cause of bandits and armed criminals.

Admittedly, terror and banditry could strike even in the best of places. But what is worrisome about today’s Nigeria is a palpable collapse of leadership consensus across the spectrum of governance.

Nothing illustrates this than the cacophony of voices and stampede of perspectives among our leaders especially in the northern half of the country. The governor of Zamfara State, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, went to Aso Rock earlier this week to plead the case of the bandits. He reportedly told President Buhari that the bandits tormenting his state only took to armed criminality out of desperate deprivation. In other words, please give us some money for their welfare! Similarly, the Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed, recently justified herdsmen carrying AK-47 rifles, insisting they need the guns to protect their flock and themselves from rustlers

and fellow bandits. Governor, Ahmed Fintri of Adamawa state, has reportedly armed some 3000 local hunters to aid the anti insurgency fight in his state, a rather comic indictment of the official security forces. Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has advocated the right of every Nigerian to bear arms for self defense. Amore Nigerian governor in matters spiritual, Darius Ishaku of Taraba state, has asked Nigerians to pray for an end to the scourge of insecurity around the country.

On the other hand, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state, a more secular and constitution minded leader, has stoutly opposed meetings and dialogues with bandits. He has also disagreed with his colleague governors in the north on security strategies, insisting that governors should not dialogue with bandits as it emboldens and confers on them a legitimacy that is strange to law. On his part, the Minister of Defence, Mr. Bashir Magashi, has added a Hobbesian dimension to the national security headache. He admits that the matter of general insecurity has gotten so out of hand that ‘self help’ may now be an inevitable option for the general public. He has thrown open citizen security to a public free for all. The minister has asked every Nigerian to defend themselves from bandits and armed criminals the best way they deem fit! Everyman to himself; forget the state! At best, the official Nigerian position on the cascading insecurity in the country remains one of armed confrontation and neutralization. In extreme cases of insurgency, Nigeria’s approach remains one of counter terrorism and anti insurgency. In moderate criminal cases, the Nigerian state hopes that a combined force of the police and the military will outgun dangerous people and restore law, order and security.

At the international level, however, there is now a new thinking. It is now being realized that the insecurity in the Sahel region of Africa, which Nigeria shares, is not just about insurgency and fundamentalist terrorism. Rather, it is a product of increasing poverty affecting a population of over 12 million in countries as far afield as Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger. Chad and Cameroun. Similarly, climate change has driven millions in the region into hunger and poverty. All this has made the region a fertile ground for the ripple effects of the southward push of a dying Islamic fundamentalist terrorism now threatened in Europe and parts of the Middle East. In countries where governance failure has led to a weakened internal security situation, criminal elements have found a soft operating ground. Nigeria may have to look hard at the latter imperative and seek the necessary international cooperation and assistance.

The new US secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, has in tis new light found time to address instability and terrorism in the Sahel. US and European interest in the area is not new. Emmanuel Macron has promised not to withdraw French forces from the region. As a matter of fact, both the US and France in particular have expressed their security concerns about the area through active military presence. In addition to contingents of French forces stationed in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the US has a drone base in Niger. Both the United Kingdom and the United States have, to varying degrees, been collaborating with Nigeria in intelligence sharing , training and humanitarian efforts to engage the increasing instability and terrorism in the area.

The new thrust of the international concern on insecurity in the Sahel has been underlined by Mr. Blinken. It is the realization that military effort and counter terrorism operations alone cannot put an end to insecurity in the region. The area is home to worsening poverty, serious environmental and climate change threats and various forms of deprivation that have combined to drive millions of people into armed extremism and fanatical indulgences. Economic intervention and urgent massive humanitarian assistance must be thrown in in addition to insistence on accountable governance.

The United Nations Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Mark Lowcock, recently broke down the strategic threats in the Sahel to factors like: population pressures, conflicts, climate change, poverty and poor governance which pays scant attention to the real needs of people. These have been deepened by militarization of armed groups and the activities of criminal gangs mostly for financial gains. Sometimes the raids and abductions as we have seen in Nigeria are recruitment drives to expand the membership of the roving armies.

The optimism that the Kagara students will be released is our legitimate entitlement. But it should not blind us to the stark failure of strategy and doctrine in official Nigerian security thinking. The strategy of laying out red carpets for criminal bandits will worsen a bad situation. Hugging armed bandits with sacks of cash can only breed more abductions and a viral spread of the menace by making banditry attractive and rewarding. Similarly, the thinking that appeasement of armed criminals through amnesty programmes and selective re-habilitation can only make the cult of armed criminality more enticing. It is already sending out signals of double standards to the rest of the Nigerian society.

What the situation urgently calls for is a strategy that uses the security forces to smash the networks of terror and criminality in order to exact consequences through the force of law. Criminals should be discouraged through strict enforcement of existing laws and further stiff penalties. We probably need new laws. How about the death sentence for armed banditry as with kidnapping now in Lagos State?

In tandem, the federal and various state administrations in the most affected areas must quickly come up with a comprehensive and sustainable social investment scheme (not tokenism) to systematically reduce the inequality that has made parts of our country the festering hotbeds of armed criminality.

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SUNDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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WEEKLY PULL-OUT

21.02.2021

WESE OBIABAKA ON HER PASSION AND MISSION FOR HUMANITY She is a humanitarian par excellence whose milk of kindness flows ceaselessly. But before her new discovery for humanity, she had traversed the Nigerian banking sector for nearly two decades. Of course, she thinks that is where her passion lies.

Passionate, kind-hearted, humane, and generous, Wese Obiabaka, a native of Benue State and CEO of World Reliance Charity Foundation recently teamed up with people of like minds to give a new lease of life to children of Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State. Obiabaka believes that there is humanity in everyone, writes Funke Olaode ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

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COVER

Unveiling the World of a Humanitarian Representing the Face of Humanity

OBIABAKA

T

hey y all converged g in large g numbers under a tattered and roofless town hall as they y watched helplessly p y as World Reliance Charity y Foundation’s vehicles loaded with relief materials drove into Konshisha in Benue State. They y were children aged g one to 10. Malnourished and dejected, j poverty p y has become p part of their daily y life and until humanitarian g gesture comes their way, they have all resigned g to fate.

Worried by y the p plight g of the y young gp people in her community, y Wese Obiabaka, an exbanker-turned-humanitarian has developed p ap passion for the less p privileged. g Together g with people p p of like minds such as Kingsley g y Aigbokhaevbo, g Adekunle Arisilejoye, j y Bernard Adeomi, Benson Ogundeji, g j Nnamdi Ogwude, g Uloma Ajugwo-Uche, j g Tony y Ankeli, Alex Onyia, y Adewale Ajisafe, j Lillian Alet-Imhoede, Kayode y Agbalaja, g j Olanike Kolawole, and Ibijoke j Elesheku, she decided to give a new lease of life.

“It is disheartening g to observe that a sevenyear-old hasn’t seen a can of milk in his or her y life,” said Obiabaka in an emotional voice.

“This is not peculiar p to me. I think it’s human nature to come up p with various expressions p of yourself, y only y it takes time to take stock and to think deeply. p y Like I said, When I got g to the point p in my y life, it knocked

Reaching g out to the le less privilege ileged d in i Benue community...reccently i l

me almost upside p my y head, it was time to project p j myself y to move outside of my y comfort zone. And that doesn’t come without serious thinking g and contemplations. p In all these contemplations p I realized that my y skills are transferable from the commercial sector to humanitarian services.

“Poverty in Nigeria is not far from anyone.

You know once upon p a time they y say y if you y stretch your y hand you y will touch poverty. p y Right g now, it is shoulder to shoulder and where I am from, it is so p palpable p the p poverty y levels. I said it’s not rocket science really; y one just j needs to focus on something. g The way y to bridge g the gap g that is necessary y or build the bridges that are necessary y would occur to you.” y Having g conceived the idea and got g support pp from both corporate p organisations g and individuals, Obiabaka hit the g ground running.

“We have all been through g a tough g time, with the pandemic, p extend yourself y to people. p p I couldn’t do that all by y myself, y so I reached out to a couple p of friends and colleagues, g shared the idea with them. I urge g them to be generous g in their financial participation. p p A lot of them came through g with funds. We raised quite q considerable funds and a p particular company p gave us some g g give us some food items. For instance, TGI, a sales and distribution company p gave us 198 bags, g g 20 cartons of cooking oil, 20 cartons of seasoning g cubes.

“The entire project p j couldn’t have been successful without the p participation p or response p of certain people p p that I reached out to. Thirteen people p p mentioned earlier g gave the kind of responses p that were required, q by y making g donations. We were able to raise cheques. q We happen pp to raise over half a million naira. Which was 100 p percent used for purchasing p g shoes, backpacks, p books, p pencils, sharpeners, p erasers.

We g got donations from a clothing g company p y with over 1,000 pieces p of clothing, g brand new clothing g for children, and we were able to also source funds for logistics, g moving g all the things g from Lagos g to the Middle Belt, which was the place for the outreach or the place where we are p going g to see the p people. p “It just j occurred to me that when you y can’t do something g all by yy yourself, and you y have the desire and the will, y you can leverage g on y your social network and sell the idea to people p p and you’re not the only y yp person who’s got g a heart for p people. p There are so many yp people p with a heart for people p p but someone may y just j have to be to whisper p it and p people p responded. p I was surprised p that within 20 minutes, I got g the first N200,000 the next thing g I knew money y started coming g and it was fantastic. After the encounter, after the trip, I realized that there’s a lot more to be done.

“We bought g milk products p for children, mainly y because it’s such a luxury: y some of them had never tasted it. We ran into a child, an eightg year-old, who had never had a g y glass of milk. We poured milk into a g p glass, of course, she couldn’t speak p English, g someone was interpreting. p g She thought g it was a glass g of wine, because palm p wine is white, that’s what she knows. That day y she had her first g glass of milk. I was moved that a lot more can be done. There are people p p with hearts of gold g and pockets p full of money y that can share the little that they y have with people p p who are vulnerable. This is just j the beginning as I will pursue p this on a bigger gg scale.”

Last December, the children couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas and New Year.

Their expression p was overwhelming. g “It was so touching g because every y child will come with their mother. We reached out to 320 children from ages g one to 10. The mothers were overwhelmed with joy j y as their children were coming out to receive educational materials,

shoes, bags, g milk, and so on. You can imagine g what milk, dairy yp product, and y yoghurt g can do jjust for nutrition. But how much can a carton of milk last for a child, jjust a month, just j a month of life? And that is why we will keep this gesture going.” g g What factors are in place p to ensure the sustainability y of this p project? j “The dream has gone g beyond y a one-time visit. Currently, y it is now something g that I want to pursue. p I won’t say y full time because I’m still a career-minded p person. But I am willing g by y incorporating p g non-profit, p I am willing g to channel my y skills, especially p yp project j management g and fundraising g to this sector so that we have a system y where funds are available to g grease this will. I could take a backseat and a manager g handles it. What I am focused on is that there are skills that I have that it can be used to g generate funds, raise funds to finance projects p j like this to make sure that children can at least have a decent meal a day and g go to g good schools.

“Where we went to, the children walk four kilometres every y day y to school, four kilometres back. We went to the schools that they y attended, there are no tables and chairs. Some of the roofs are off. Why y can’t a bus bring g them closer home? These are things g that we can do. I mean, getting g g teachers is not farfetched. There is the NYSC p programme. g When y you p pay yy youth corps p members well, they y can be deployed p y to those schools and help p develop p these students because of their university y education.”

Continuing, g she stated, “What I have learned is that help p is not too far away. y Help p is really y close by y and I think it’s nature’s way y of solving gp problems and making g sure that the solution is not too far away. y What makes it look like it’s too far away y is because we’re not looking g in the right g direction for the requisite q help. p We can help p ourselves. We can all help p ourselves. I mean, we didn’t import p any y items to do what we did. Everything y g was sourced locally; y the funds were generated g locally. y We can help p ourselves really y if we just j focus and reallocate resources differently.” y For Wese Obiabaka being g passionate p about humanity y isn’t based on p personal experiences p or due to lack as a child. Her life has always y been on a roller coaster having g been raised by y comfortable p parents which p placed her feet on pedestal p of education early. y Hail from Konshisha Local Government of Benue State, Tiv speaking p g area, after her p primary y education, she p proceeded to Federal Government Girls; College g Owerri after which she studied agricultural g economics from Enugu g State University. y She did an MBA at University y of Calabar and currently y running g another Masters degree g (online) in International Business and Law at the University of Salford, United Kingdom. g She started out her career in Zenith Bank and after a few y years in Zenith, she moved over to Diamond Bank where she spent p five y years.

Moving g forward in her career, she moved to Eco Bank where she was exposed p to corporate p banking, gp power and energy. gy “I focused a lot on the specialized p sector in Eco Bank. And my y last place of work was UBA, where I worked for p commercial banking g where I was exposed p to embassies, multinationals and developmental p organisations. g So, we were offering g banking g services to these specialized p units. UBA is the first mover in that sector, having g a team across Africa focusing g on that p particular sector. So I opted p out to the financial industry, y for other concerns, to focus on other things. g One of the things g that I did was to re-engineering g g myself, y knowing g that there is a need to do more. There is a need to progress p g to other geography, g g p y other industries, jjust experience p different things, g expressing p g your y skill in other sectors of life.

One of such things g is applying pp y g the experience p and the skills that I gathered g in the financial sector in a different way. y So with my y work experience, p I majored j in business development, p financial p project j management, g and deposit p mobilization of fundraising g and in a very y competitive p environment, like the Nigerian g banking g sector. Over the y years, y you learn a few things, g one of which is learning g how to be instant in season, being g able to identify y opportunities, pp you y develop p the boldness to not only y come up p with business ideas, what’s the opportunity p pp and see it to from ideation to completion. p “So, I can say y that the exposure p has made me q quite a con nfident person. p And there are so many y gaps g p in the environment where is home for me, in this case, Nigeria, g so many yg gaps. p So much social and human development p gaps g p and there’s a niche for my y kind of skills, not for commercial purposes but for humanitarian purposes.™

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ENTERTAINMENT

Top 10 Live Bands to Watch Nigeria’s live band industry in 2020 looked good until March when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the country into a lockdown. With events and other recreational centres shut down for months, established and upcoming bands were hamstrung by cancelled gigs, low patronage, among other challenges. Adedayo Adejobi examines the top 10 live bands that have weathered the storm pandemic was timely because people needed small spaces to use as a base for virtual events and church services. The upscale, drop-down well-furnished studio came in the nick of time. He’s done well for himself in a short span.

He can do more, and hopefully, he’s primed to spring up more surprises this year.

Revenue source: Performance fees, equipment rentals, studio rental, and music productions.

The Shuga Band- Akinloye Tofowomo

H

e’s not just called Nigeria’s grandmaster of live band music for nothing. Akiin Shuga is one man who has built an enviable entertainment empire.

In spite of his physical disability, his life is indeed a testament to diligence, enterprise, commitment, humanity, hard work, and unwavering focus.

With 2020 seeing live bands and gigs shrink for over eight months, Akinloye Tofowomo thrived through alternative sources of income. Unlike some of his peers who downsized and are still struggling, Akiin Shuga has kept his 14-piece band members a notch tighter by ensuring they were well throughout 2020.

Although the pace of business has been slow in terms of volume having worked four months out of 12, with his huge investment in technology to bolster virtual performances and musical meet-ups, the industry will again, witness another first.

With foresight, renewed strength, and hope, the ‘General,’ as he’s called, last year ventured into audio technology, music promotion and licensing, content creation, and photography. Twenty-two years and counting, he’s made investments in Africa and Canada.

Revenue source: Performance fees; tours, music label; music management; consultancy, speaking engagements; ‘sprays,’ at occasions; equipment rental; farming; real estate; renewable energy and technology.

Faith Band - Ayo Ajekigbe

In 2020, Ayo Ajekigbe hit a milestone and celebrated his 50th birthday a month before the lockdown.

The unassuming musician and serial investor locked down Lagos, as elites, he often celebrates on the stage, took time to honour him. Seeing that the pandemic would keep his almost 30-piece band out of jobs, he revamped his existing studio, acquired new state-of-the-art equipment, and set up a mini live studio at home, whilst setting up another fullydigitalised recording and rehearsal studio in the heart of Ikoyi. What a three-pronged investment to cater to his band, recording musicians, and his fans who request digital live performances, he has since leveraged the power of the internet and social media by injecting freshness into his live digital performances, whilst instituting a monthly Sunday free gig to appreciate and serenade his clients and fans at no cost to them.

He’s known to have created uniqueness in the owambe style, but somewhere along the line, he created variables by cloning his band to be able to service his ever-increasing clientele. Considering his artistry and the experience he brings to bear, observers in the industry feel he might just be under-priced, especially in relation to the immense stage craftsmanship and value Ayo Ajekigbe brings to the table.

Revenue source: Performance fees, cash ‘spraying’ at gigs, live and digital studio session rentals, equipment importation, and rentals, and farming.

Alternate-Sound- Band

Veentage Band- Desmond Emokiniovo

Last year was a time Veentage Band boss, Desmond, wouldn’t forget in a hurry. Indeed, if money could buy death, the deceased female vocal powerhouse would be alive. Eleven months down the line, Desmond and the band nurse the pain of her demise.

His late wife, Ejiro, indeed, made such a huge impact on all facets of his life.

Desmond no doubt owes it to his late wife, a great deal of his success and achievements. She was indeed the livewire of the band. Although she’s left a huge vacuum no singer has filled to date, Desmond is trying in no small measure to close the gaps. But can he?

Only time would tell.

A major fruit of the alliance with his late wife and business partner is his latest studio launched last year. Although the idea to set up a world-class live and digital recording studio was inspired by the late wife, Desmond’s courage and ingenuity are worthy of commendation. Setting up a multimillion-naira studio during a

Seun Bankole- SB Live Band Akinloye Tofowomo-Shuga

Maryane Omolabake OGUNNAIKE- Zigma Band

The Zigma Band - Maryanne Omolabake Ogunnaike Called ‘M double O,’ she’s in a class of her own. The sheer intensity and insane passion her music brings are unique. While women in music have been outnumbered by men in the past, in recent decades, with her phenomenal presence on the scene, she makes it easy to look forward to the rise of women in the music industry.

With her theatrical performances, she has silenced critics with her fiery brand of music.

With footprints across oil and gas, real estate, and logistics, she left paid employment to follow her undying passion. She’s been able to

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ENTERTAINMENT

Top 10 Live Bands to Watch

Veentage Band-Babades Emokiniovo

Cool Ice Band- Odiakose Oluwaseun Elija

bring to bear her wealth of expertise and has since established a clear vision for the strategic planning and implementation of her disruptive innovation in the live music business.

Considering her rising prominence, she’s been aptly highlighted as the most notable famous female singer, whilst she’s also been described as the new disruptor in the live band space and the band to watch out for. The Zigma Band Maryanne Omolabake Ogunnaike’s strongest points are her brilliant vocal skills and musical competence. Lovers of good music attest to Ogunnaike’s passion, talent, and mastery. She faultlessly emphasises rhythms and dynamically highlights the pulse of the music.

With the addition of Maryanne to the live band music fold as a vocalist of rich and sensual tone, naturalness, and vibrancy on the stage, her disruptive tinge ably positions her as the band to watch out for this year.

Revenue source: Performance fees, cash ‘spraying’ at gigs, real estate.

Ayo Ajekigbe- Faith Band

Sharp-Band-Anesi

born humour and laughter merchant, Godbless Ubeibifayen, and leader of the Eboni Band, superintends over one of Nigeria’s hottest live bands. Having reached dizzying heights in the live music scene with a consistent style of play and song presentation over the years, Ubeibifayen has continued to stand out.

Revenue Source: Performance fees, cash ‘spraying’ at gigs, and equipment rentals.

Sharp Band - Anesi Ivharue

SB Live Band - Seun Bankole

Anesi is indeed an old hand, a frontline musician and master of his craft. He’s risen through the ranks and produced some of the best singers and musicians. He was indeed the toast of almost all events at some point until when life happened. But of late, he seemed to have slowed down. With a great team of musicians and singers, Anesi of the Sharp Band has to rise to the occasion and live up to the old glory.

Revenue Source: Performance fees and equipment rentals.

Eboni Band - Godbless Ubeibifayen Not many know that band’s name stems from the pigment of his black skin. Delta State-

Cool Ice Band - Elijah Oluwaseun Odiakose Elijah Oluwaseun Odiakose is driven by passion, entrepreneurial spirit, and courage. Little wonder, he and his friend, Pius, in 2015, relocated to Lagos from Benin City to set up his band, having played with several top bands in Nigeria and gained the needed experience.

Poised to reinvent the live band music space with fresh, original sound and identity, the musician’s idea and decision to pursue a new music format unheard of at the time still remains fresh five years down the line.

With its entry at a pivotal time, the 10- piece band pours all of its creative talents into every performance like a work of art. With the strong belief that music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything. The band has evolved from being a live band into an entertainment company for music and events.

Armed to the teeth with a robust lineup of co-singers and talented musicians, he is doing exploits in the music space.

Currently working on their debut album, set for release later this year, the band used the pandemic to its advantage to build online social media communities by live-streaming gigs and projects.

Revenue Source: Performance fees, equipment rentals, food distribution, and auto sales.

Following in the footsteps of his mentor, Akiin Shuga, the young, ebullient, and stylish Seun Bankole eight years ago toed the line of musical entrepreneurship. From the streets of Akowonjo to the stages of the United States of America, SB as he’s fondly called has done well for himself by pushing limits and breaking boundaries just to make a mark in a short span of time.

Last year was a year of introspection for the musician as he put to good use the time afforded him by the COVID-19 lockdown. He launched a state-of-the-art live and digital rehearsal and recording studio session in the heart of Lagos.

Touched by the public display of affection towards Ibidunni Ighodalo, deceased wife of Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Seun Bankole bankrolled a 12-track gospel album with interdenominational hymns in her honour. Although a secular musician, the gospel album bears no religious colouration, he picked hymns from all churches.

Hopeful this year would be the year of recovery, he is planning a sold-out gig and an award-winning sold-out concert where he would thrill his fans with good African music.

Revenue Source: Performance fees, cash ‘spraying’ at gigs, studio sessions, and equipment rentals.

Godbless Ubiebifayen- Eboni Band

Adebiyi Olanrewaju Coded Vibes

The Coded Vibes Band - Adebiyi Olanrewaju Another young and inspiring showcase to watch out for in the live band space this year is Adebiyi’ Olanrewaju and the Coded Vibes Band. After over a decade of experience as a music producer and performing as a bass guitarist to notable musicians like the delectable stallion, Onyeka Onwenu, Tosin Martins, Bouqui, Reekado Banks, Di’ja, and Dr. Sid, among others, he set up the Coded Vibes band in 2014 with the resolve to create a unique sound with the craftsmanship that comes with it. With its unique identity, visual stamp, and sound, the showstopping Coded Vibes Band blessed with amazing singers and experienced musicians, presently performs alongside Nigeria’s Afro-house queen, Niniola, for all live events. Being a youthful band, its energy is contagious.

Last year was a defining moment for the band.

Leveraging the power of the internet, social media, and the band’s unique strength of performing classics, Adebiyi Olanrewaju and the Coded Vibes Band began their virtual show tagged, ‘old Skool Affairs,’ which has gathered a huge following.

Revenue Source: Performance fees, cash ‘spraying’ at gigs, equipment rentals, modelling, and acting.

The Alternate Sound

Alternate Sound is a four-man band that uses advanced technology to enhance the quality of the live band experience. The band was formed by ace music producer, Gospel Obi, aka GospelOnDeBeatz, in 2015. It consists of Orowo Ubiene, aka DJ Roy (known for his skills on the piano and turntable), Kenneth Ugueji, aka Barr Ken (bass guitar), and Stanley Amanze, aka DrummerBoyStanley.

Unlike your regular live band, this unique ensemble also doubles as original recording artistes and performers as well as a live band DJ. The band’s panache has been paired with many of the best African talents some of which include Tiwa Savage, Patoranking, Banky W, Praiz, and Reekado Banks on the most prestigious stage across and beyond Africa.

Like every brand, the band’s visual aesthetics from its carefully theme curated sounds, to its fashion pieces, stage performance set-up, and performance are always composed to leave a long-lasting impression on its audience.

Revenue Source: Performance fees, cash ‘spraying’ at gigs.

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HighLife What’s Up with Senator Douye Diri?

Diri

S

enator Duoye Diri used to be the golden goose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a frontline State Governor with a colourful robe of support from his people. And like old wine, folks thought that Diri’s regime would get better and better until the goose began taking too long to hatch its eggs. And now, the man has all but vanished from sight and support.

The good people of Bayelsa, the glory of all lands, have continued to ask questions on social media on where they went wrong.

The governor is the target of much discontent and censure. Diri invited his people to a happy luncheon and skedaddled when things were getting hot, to put it figuratively.

To be sure, it isn’t a case of the golden goose dropping out of sight, but that the goose has seemingly stopped producing eggs, golden or otherwise. Folks say that there simply is nothing they can point to that Diri contributed to — except the utter befuddlement on Bayelsa shuffling to a slow stop in recent time.

February 14, 2021, completed Governor Diri’s first year in office, but things are bubbling in catacombs compared to Diri’s Bayelsa.

Folks have begun to speculate that Diri is hiding his achievements from the public eye or is not doing a thing.

Everybody remembers the furore that greeted Governor Diri’s first 100 days in office: he had demolished markets and roads, supplied face masks and a few other pandemic-relevant items. The narrative might have been different if Diri had not promised earth and sky during his election.

And the indignation over those first 100 days has now stretched across the remaining 265.

Folks are not happy except Governor Diri has something planned that would upend the entire year of what is now being approximated on social media to zero. The past year does not even qualify as a joyride — and Bayelsans are in poorly spiced soup.

with KAYODE ALFRED ͮͶͯ​ͯʹ͵ͳͷͶͮ͵˜ ̋×ËÓÖ: ÕËãʮÏâ̶͓ãËÒÙÙ˛ÍÙ×

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

Between Mariya Tambuwal and Maryam Mairo Tambuwal The mightiest men alive are not those with rippling biceps or those with physiques that inspire images of the 1984 film, Terminator. The mightiest men alive are those with multiple wives, with similar names, under the same political office roof.

In other words, the mightiest man alive is Mallam Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the executive Governor of Sokoto. He alone can resolve the queries being raised as to the wife who sits as the official First Lady of Sokoto State.

Tambuwal it appears is emulating a governor also from North-west part of Nigeria who made all his three wives First Ladies? Being a Muslim and being fully aware that his faith permits him to keep more than one wife, he decided to make all his three wives occupy the First Lady’s office.

Tambuwal is the proud husband of both Hajiya Mariya and Hajiya Maryam Mairo. However, the choice of making the two women occupy the office of the First Lady might not augur well for him.

Ordinarily, First Lady’s position goes to the first wife (the adjectives are similar after all). But nothing is ordinary about such coincidences.

Tambuwal loves both wives as equally

Mairo Tambuwal

Mariya Tambuwal.

as possible. Even though there is no official word on the issue, things appear to be going smoothly for now.

Hajiya Mariya came first, sometime in 1995, reportedly from the renowned Sanyinna Royal family of Sokoto. She met Aminu as — she remembers him— “a gentle young law graduate from the neighbouring town of Tambuwal.”

She liked him, married him, bore him four children, and accompanied him throughout, from his earliest political advances.

Maryam Mairo came 21 years later, a lovely woman of 36 years: as educated as can be and familiar with the inner workings of power and position, having accomplished much in telecommunications, oil and gas, IT, and energy sectors.

Between the two, who is the First Lady of Sokoto, and who is the Second?

In response to the queries on this note, mischievous bloggers have combined both wives’ names, identifying the First Lady of Sokoto as Hajiya Mariya Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. A conservative and pacifist solution, but inherently impractical.

Ultimately, the only real authority on the matter is the mightiest man himself, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. And he is yet to clarify this issue.

PR Job Gone Sour: Why Friends of Belema Oil Founder, Tein Jack-Rich, Aren’t Happy with AY the Comedian Since the duo of oil mogul Tein Jack-Rich, and Nollywood actress, Destiny Etiko, got in trouble with social media thumbers for being spectacularly affluent and charming (on the part of Jack-Rich) and progressively successful (on the part of Etiko), much has been said about everything.

Several folks have emerged to take sides and play devil’s advocates across camps of the accusers and accused. One of such people is a renowned comedian and filmmaker, Ayo Makun (AY).

It might have been because of their past dealings together, or that AY is better known and better regarded by the Nigerian public that Jack-Rich hired him to save his reputation, which some Instagram bloggers had blistered.

One imagines the script ought to progress accordingly: Jack-Rich did not buy Destiny Etiko the Prado SUV she recently acquired.

However, things didn’t work out as planned. According to insiders, the only reason the allegations went viral in the first place was that AY made a poor job of the brief he was

mandated to manage. Given that such a task is within the comedian’s capabilities and should have been treated with utmost dedication (since he is on very good terms with the Jack-Riches), close friends and associates of the Belema Oil boss and his wife are allegedly annoyed that AY seemingly didn’t do a good job.

Moreover, even in the aftermaths of the accusations, AY reportedly made no visible efforts to salvage Tein Jack-Rich’s reputation. AY might have considered the entire thing nothing more than a bad joke - being a professional funnyman himself.

In any case, the story eventually hit the fans, and even the masterly intervention of Elizabeth Jack-Rich has not been able to completely douse the fire of allegations. Still, since both Twin Jack-Rich and Destiny Etiko have denied the rumours, it won’t be long until the whole thing fades and is forgotten - no thanks to AY and the lackadaisical manner in which he handled the PR project.

AY

Aisha Buhari: The Fearless Woman at 50

Buhari

Every First Lady of Nigeria is unique, which means that every Nigerian president’s wife has had nothing but her idiomatic style, unlike in George Orwell’s Animal Farm.

Thus, per erudition, self-awareness, and the sheer command of genuine loyalty from all and sundry, one is tempted to acquiesce to the notion that every Nigerian First Lady is unique—and still maintain that Aisha Buhari is more unique. As she clocks the golden 50, the bards are busy with their songs, and people are busy raising their heads to the heavens for her sake.

For people like Dr. Aisha Buhari, the esteemed First Lady of the Republic of Nigeria, 50 years is more than a handful of decades.

The accomplishments that run behind these decades speak to the distinction of great men and women from everyday people. For those following her every move, the last few years have revealed Aisha Buhari as a golden goose in her husband’s administration and federallevel leadership.

Born February 17, 1971, Dr. Buhari has risen like a shoot out of cold grounds. With

her education, experience and network of associates, she has raised the bar of First Ladyship, representing her people as she should and fighting for them whenever and against whoever.

A woman in Maryam Babangida’s order, Aisha Buhari assumes the most professional identities compared to her seniors: she is a ‘practising’ cosmetologist, beauty therapist and author. Notwithstanding, with her upper-level intellect, Aisha Buhari has not been gobbled up by politics and politicking in Nigeria.

At 50, Aisha Buhari has touched many lives, even more notably as a women’s rights activist and child rights advocate, than as the First Lady. At 50, the Lady still turns up her near-aquiline against high-minded and inconsiderate members of the Nigerian society, reserving her warm presence for her family and relatives, as well as for those of humbler bearing.

Comparison does little — if any — good.

Thus, let the works of Dr. Aisha Buhari represent her.

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HIGHLIFE

Daniel

This year has begun on a fine note for Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD), former Governor of Ogun State. Considering the kind In Lagos and several other urban and semi-urban Nigerian areas, bus conductors are a source of respite or repugnance (most times, a cocktail of both). But the general — although unspoken — consensus is that such loudmouths might never amount to anything. But one from such humble beginnings has emerged, and his momentum has sparked off wave after wave of astonishment.

The toast of soirées and galas, billionaire businessman, and chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya (better known as MC Oluomo) is a study in happy contrasts: stylish but simple, renowned but reachable, at the peak of affluence and influence, and yet risen from the gutters.

There was a time when MC Oluomo was simply one of those conductors in Oshodi, the well-known hustlers’ suburb in Lagos. But ambition, given certain conditions, is its own pinion—and that is

of reception he received after signing on to the All Progressives Congress (APC), OGD is undoubtedly overjoyed and more than satisfied with his decision.

Amidst the many renowned political figures’ many defections to APC, that of former Governor Gbenga Daniel is likely the most eye-catching. To call his admission into the party a ‘warm welcome’ is to reduce it to its bony bottom somehow — it was a blast of a reception as five incumbent Governors rallied to his residence in Asoludero, Sagamu, Ogun State.

Naturally, all five Governors are stalwart members of the APC: Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu; Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu; Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje; and Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello. In addition to the visiting Governors, OGD got himself the official party token, a broom.

While it is true that every new addition to the APC is something to shout about, figures

From Yellow Bus Conductor to Conducting Millions: Life of MC Oluomo how a bus boy rode the storms of life to become a well-known member of Nigerian society and is almost as highly ranked as royalties, accomplished political figures, and other ups-and-ups.

Oluomo’s emergence as NURTW chairman is still thought of in many quarters as the icing on the cake. This is because although Oluomo rose to the position in 2020 (and will remain chairman until 2024), the man had already begun to get honourable mentions in newspaper headlines.

Moreover, the nickname ‘Oluomo’, which loosely translates to ‘son of the communities,’ was already conferred on him by several recognised monarchs — so the NURTW apex position only garnished his game.

Triumph and Grace of Helen Prest-Ajayi as Husband is Finally Buried To the delight and content of everyone involved in the case, bones of Dr. Tosin Ajayi of First Foundation Medical Engineering Company have finally been laid to rest.

After 10 months of throwing shots at his widow, former beauty queen Helen Prest-Ajayi, the deceased’s old wife and children have finally buried the hatchet.

Helen Prest-Ajayi penned a note of acknowledgement for her supporters and detractors alike, stating that these were her very last words in the matter: gratitude for those that prayed for her, more gratitude to those that cursed her in ignorance, and even deeper gratitude for rumour mongers that helped her to the headlines of blogs and newspapers.

According to her, the first day of Lent

like OGD are the true dragons party leaders are more than happy to cosy up to. Why else would OGD be promised an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari in the form of a formal introduction?

The former governor’s decision to join the APC is his first major political move since he removed himself from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) two years ago. At the time, OGD’s expressed his determination to keep politics at some distance. Thus, his recent defection to the APC speaks volumes—although the exact transmission is still up to debate.

Overall, the 2023 Presidential election is just around the corner, which means that folks are running helter-skelter to grab potent and potential people of influence from the benches or away from the opposition. OGD’s quick march to the leading political party is, therefore timely, and might explain why he has become a rockstar all of a sudden.

Prest-Ajayi

is a cleansing and healing day and a timely respite from all that had gone wrong since her

Obinwanne

T Oluomo

husband passed away in April 2020.

Helen Prest-Ajayi’s name was indeed catapulted to greater heights when her stepchildren accused her of being responsible for their father’s death. At that time, although an autopsy had proved otherwise, Prest-Ajayi was still invited by the police for questioning. Nothing foul was discovered, and the grieving widow was allowed her freedom.

And then the question of where to inter Dr. Ajayi’s remains became a new problem: the stepchildren wanted it to be their mother’s church, but Helen Prest-Ajayi wanted otherwise.

According to the latter, the deceased had made his intention known about such an eventuality and naturally preferred the church he attended with Helen Prest-Ajayi.

Such was the new quarrel that it threatened to undo the former resolution that Helen Prest-Ajayi had nothing to do with her husband’s death. But all things end: grievances, intentions, and lives. For Helen Prest-Ajayi, the former things have ended — it is time for a new thing.

Bukola Saraki the Peacemaker

Saraki

The Rise and Fall of Obinwanne

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki is drawing on the six-man Peoples Democratic Party’s Reconciliation and Strategy Committee’s full reach to repair the cracks in the political party.

Flashing from pillar to post, Saraki is bent on tying up loose ends, securing active and retired members’ loyalty, and figuratively arming the party to the teeth in preparation for the 2023 Presidential Election.

The efforts of Bukola Saraki in the name of reconciling the divisive factions within PDP are drawing attention to him. Now more than ever, the mantle of a peacemaker rests heavily on Saraki’s shoulders, even as agendas and loyalties have begun to dance to the tune of personal interests.

Saraki’s most recent advance resulted in the gathering of several governors and deputy governors at the PDP Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja. These upper-tier PDP members include former Governors of Kwara, Abdulfatah Ahmed; of Katsina, Ibrahim Shema; of Kaduna, Ahmed Makarfi and Ramalan Yero; of Adamawa, Boni Haruna; of

Delta, Emmanuel Uduaghan; of Ebonyi, Sam Egwu; of Cross River, Liyel Imoke; and of Kogi, Idris Wada and Ibrahim Idris.

Before this move to rearrest the former governors’ allegiance, Saraki’s team visited former President Goodluck Jonathan at the latter’s residence in Abuja. After one hour of deliberations, Saraki delivered the good news that the former president remains devoted to the PDP vision and will not be defecting anytime soon.

Perhaps, this is the best period since he was assigned the committee’s head. Saraki has to make the most of the experiences and influences of the other committee members (former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; former Governors Liyel Imoke, Ibrahim Dankwambo, and Ibrahim Shema; one-time House of Representatives Majority Leader, Mulikat Akande) and unite the party against the opposition in 2023.

Commendable efforts indeed on the part of the former Senate president and his team.

here is a place for charm, smarts, and boundless ambition. As in jungles’ laws and economics, cannibalism is taboo, often regardless of the threat to life and property.

Either be diligent, honest and smart about work, or become like of Obinwanne Okeke: get crafty, live lavishly, be featured on Forbes, and ultimately be imprisoned for 10 years or more for fraud.

A court in the US has finally placed a lid on Nigerian Okeke, the so-called entrepreneur.

After spending 18 months shuffling between courtrooms and questioning, Okeke has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The verdict was delivered on February 16, 2021, even as friends and relatives of the 33-year-old accused had their fingers crossed for a lighter sentence. Okeke was convicted for defrauding some Americans of $11 million (about 4 billion). According to the prosecutor, Okeke had used subterfuge and impersonation— and global business emails and hacking—to pinch his victims and make their wealth his own.

Obinwanne Okeke used to be a business success model to young Nigerians (especially fanatics of motivational speakers). Okeke’s fame almost rose into godly ranks when he was featured on Forbes as one of the youngest and boundlessly successful African businesspeople to watch out for.

With his conglomerate, the Invictus Group, seemingly churning out bundle after bundle of cash in Nigeria and other African countries, Okeke’s prestige and momentum could not have been stopped by anything else until he was arrested for computer and wire fraud in August 2019.

The arrest of Obinwanne Okeke took Africa by storm. How quickly can one fall from the peak—Okeke’s life after that day in August is a case in point. And that is how financial cannibalism helped the brilliant Obinwanne Okeke secure a ticket to prison, to rest and reason with his actions, for the next 10 years.

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Abubakar Bello – No Ransom Please The rash of kidnapping and banditry has thrown so much insecurity on the land. But what most worries me was what I read in one article Segun Adeniyi wrote, I think sometime last week. I was on a flight to Uyo, and those of you who know me very well, know how much I fear that thing. To be suspended in the air and the thing will be going and be making noise and be creaking, and you have nothing but the Perth bottoms of the hostesses to be looking at.

You know they say they do not take voluptuous women as hostesses - a clear discrimination against people like us. But what do we do but manage what we have?

So on the flight as the plane was shaking and I was feeling like dying and the hostess’ small bottom was

doing nothing to my self-confidence, I said let me read papers to hold my breath. Segun was brilliant as usual.

The bobo can write and this time it was something like the economics of banditry and kidnapping.

He painted a whole web and tied it through international monetary routes to its endgame of funding insurgency and terrorism.

From that write-up, one could see that this was a complex web that is getting more sophisticated than the checkpoints and semi-ready soldiers and policemen we throw at them. In this regard, we should be looking at cutting off the source of funding and the endgame, purchasing arms.

So paying ransom under any guise is fueling the situation. This is why the Niger State government’s

position, which mirrors that of the American and Israeli of not negotiating or paying a ransom, looks like the most practical approach.

If we add this with strengthening border controls and the CBN tightening money flows we just may dry this thing up. The kidnapping and banditry is beginning to look like the downstream retail structure of the whole enterprise.

We cannot always be doing gra gra in everything, let’s add some small sense in some of these things. All the soldiers and policemen and declaring of state of emergency on insecurity will not solve this thing.

Let’s add small common sense abeg.

Mr. Bello please let this your own be a starting point. No ransom, please.

THE FUTILITY OF #ENDSARS PROTESTS Let me be blunt. The #EndSARS protesters are nothing but a clump of infantile jokers. Abuse me all you want that is your business, me I kuku don’t do your Twitter and have not done Facebook in five years. I am only on Instagram and will not follow you, and if you follow me, I will block you.

You all think that national development or the Nigerian project is something you will be doing to impress your slay queens or is something that comedians masking under faux activism and be causing distractions when people are trying to build very serious bulwarks against the tyranny that we have been living with since 1960. Look, let me tell you that there is a natural sifting that comes with old age going on.

So, there is a natural succession planning that is going on. It is not time to be doing campus agitation and be jumping to toll gate and exposing yourself to illiterate policemen who cannot recognize human rights if she walked towards them a wellrounded naked damsel.

Join a political party now. This is the only way we can take over and install a meaningful, modern-day system. Join the political process, use your social media skills and drive your followers into the parties and take over. Imagine if you put three million people each in APC and PDP! What do you think will happen to Gbenga Daniel and FFK? Tell me if

Tinubu will not come and beg.

Please, my people, let’s get the sense. Let’s be strategic. We cannot get power running around toll gate and Twitter and shouting that they hate us, kill us, and fight us.

Learn from history; you think Tinubu became whatever he is today with all this crap that is going on? Please get the sense.

branded for all I care.

They should also be gazette-protected citizens so that KAI and all those kind people will not be disturbing them. If you see how KAI used to kick their things in the gutter and naked them and bundle them inside Black Maria, forgetting that some are widows with just this boli to feed their families. Now that His Excellency is a customer, can we better their lots? Well done, sir, and also congrats on this your Ehingbeti. I hear that successive governments have implemented over 100 resolutions from the various series and that Tinubu started the thing. This is the beauty of continuity in governance. I guess the master plan is working. Well done, boss.

Mr Macoroni

Sanwo-Olu

GOV SANWO-OLU – HOW MUCH FOR BOLI? My dear governor, I saw your picture buying boli from that very hard-working and industrious woman. That picture said so much to me. It dignified the labour of that woman who most likely will be everything to her family. It further threw her up as a role model giving a rewarding gesture to millions of women like her who will rather slave under the sun than prostitute themselves or do any of those stupid things to move ahead. It also threw you up as a down-to-earth leader, not that you needed that picture to send the signal, but still, it didn’t do your image any wrong.

Many leaders have done this thing before. OBJ is the king. Fayose na natural, and now you. It is good. But my main problem is how much did you pay for the boli? That na my own. The boli of that size is about N100, and with groundnut, it will come at N50. So, for N150 plus N5 pure water, you have a well-balanced Nigerian lunch. So how much did you pay o? I will be expecting a press release on this very soon. Furthermore, can the first lady or any other socially responsible institution or individual or His Excellency in his private capacity look at providing these women who are plenty with umbrellas to shade them from the sun? It could be

AISHA BUHARI – ‘AFANG’ FOR THE LADY I just heard that it was my sister Aisha Buhari’s 50th. If you know me very well, you will know that I have a major crush on mummy. Not that kind of crush o before the new Minister of Defence will now use me to score points o. Na harmless crush, the kind that you will just be looking and be looking and be looking.

Please make una no push me enter gutter o. But that said, if Buhari has achieved anything in this, his administration is giving us this First lady.

Forget that inflation is 16.47 percent, food inflation is 20 percent and unemployment is hitting the eight percent mark, and naira is trading very close to the Zimbabwean dollar. For Aisha, I will forgive and forget. I tell you. Have you seen mummy? I have never seen her before o, and that is my wish o. Her beauty, her candour, her fearlessness. Me,

Buhari

Bello

I am an unashamed fan o. The day I meet her, I will go on one knee and sing one Inyang Henshaw song.

Please, because of her, I will forgive my stupid afang seller. I had sworn never to buy afang from her again. She was very Nigerian to me, imagine. I had asked anybody who tested positive for COVID-19 to go and get free afang at my cost from the woman. Since I cannot be fighting with Dangote and Ahmad to buy vaccine na, my palliative was to give afang to any Lagosian tested positive.

People started going, and she was sending the bill to me.

The money come dey plenty, and I started running dry, and I started borrowing money to fund. The more I pay, the money dey plenty. Na my brother, brilliant Chike Iroegbunma wey come give me N20,000 to add. Igbo man o. So when one COVID-19 patient come go and because I like this particular person cos she is a pharmacist who would have contracted it in the forefront of the pandemic, I say take one week supply of afia efere. Afia efere is mad. So when the bill came, I saw N5,000 by this time my account na N12,000 and as my father-in-law used to say – agidi talika- I decide to investigate.

I call the woman, “Madam why N5,000?” She say na N1,000. She had increased the price by 40 percent.

Jakande

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LOUD WHISPERS Imagine for a humanitarian gesture that was helping her business o. I say, OK. I dropped and called my brother Ajanaku to call the woman and order for Afia Efere. He called me back and said it was N600. So the woman removed the subsidy for only me o. You see why we are in trouble in this country — Akwa Ibom to Akwa Ibom o. So if we restructure, I and her will still go to the new Akwa Ibom country and still cheat me even in the new nation. She removed subsidy from me cos she saw the traffic I was sending to her. Is that life?

Forgetting that I was trying to touch lives, even her life. She increase price for me oh. So I swore never to buy from her again despite the fact that all my covid friends will lose. Someone must stand for something. All of us cannot be Gbenga Daniel.

For the sake of Her Excellency Aisha Buhari, I will lift sanctions just this once and go and get afang and afia efere to be sent to Her Excellency. Mbok, who can assist with a delivery address cos last I heard, she was fighting over a room in Aso Rock. So, I am not sure where she dey now. Abi dem don give her back the room? I don run oh.

LATEEF JAKANDE – A HERO FOR ALL SEASONS You see people are hailing Jakande for different reasons. They have all eulogized him for the remarkable achievements while ruling Lagos. For me na to thank him for the Jakande Schools cos if not because of those schools, I for end up a mechanic or rewinder. Not that anything wrong with the two professions. They are sound professions but no be my natural inclination. So Jakande had a vision of opening schools on every street and went ahead and did that. Securing a prototype school structures that people derided but served its purposes. He democratized education, took over elitist sanctuaries and broke them into several schools.

So, for example, Igbobi College was balkanized into school 1 to school 6.

Na the school 2 me I come go after being kicked out of the Command Secondary school where they were giving me koboko for breakfast. I went to Jakande’s Angus Memorial High school and lost my half-caste girlfriend who could not imagine dating someone in Jakande school.

Anyway I passed my WAEC in the Jakande school with three As in English, Literature and History and P7 for Maths. How that one happen till today I cannot say because f9 was my bedmate in Maths. Well, my halfcaste girlfriend carry her wahala go. No problem. Some argued that the policy dropped the standard of education, I say bunkum at least we got some kind of education for free and today some of you critics are reading this column and saying this boy is brilliant. Yes, na, I be Jakande pikin, a Jakande school product and a great ambassador of the man’s legacy. Beat that. Sleep well lord, I was in Uyo during your burial so I could not make it but I was duly represented by Amosu the former governor who read my speech so It’s OK. Baba kekere, sleep well.

LET’S EXPLOIT THE SHEIK GUMI Opportunity Firstly, I am confused. There used to be one Gumi during the IBB years that was quite popular and influential. Is this the same one or the pikin because the resemblance is striking? From the scraggy grey beards to the turban wey I no sure whether na dirty or na the colour to the dentition. I just dey confused. But the matter now is that I am not sure of how we should

Buhari

handle the man. The man seems to have won the confidence of our lords in the jungle. I did not call anybody name o. Nobody should come and kidnap me o.

I don’t have power or patience for that kind of rough play. But just in case, you must give me notice to carry my afang, condoms, vitamin C and that COVID-19 drug before we move. Seriously, he has given us some very strong insights as to the causes and possible immediate solutions to this matter.

He has also said that the bandits were on a revenge mission and are about to buy surface-to-air missiles. Mbok my take is that we engage this man better, use him as an intermediary to negotiate our

Bawa

freedom. Some mumu people are saying we should not negotiate. Why won’t you negotiate with a force you cannot see, that hits soft targets? You cannot possibly build a security network that will cover 200 million people over Nigeria’s vast landmass. Let us engage strategically before this thing reach Shomolu o and Gumi is the man o. I am afraid o.

NIGERIANS – BUHARI IS NOTTHE PROBLEM Nigerians have made it a national pastime to blame Buhari for every and anything that is going wrong. Me sef I am even beginning to pity the skinny man sef.

Just how much can he take? So today person pikin fail DNA, na Buhari, person

NONNY UGBOMA – A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS That is how I threw her picture on my WhatsApp, and boys started asking for number. You know boys na; dem no dey see woman comot eye. But Nonny is phenomenal, and that is why I am celebrating her today. At the MTN foundation, she is the Executive Secretary, an NGO that its parent company has supported to spend about N22 billion in some very strategic sectors like education, health, and economic empowerment in 850 sites across 36 states.

It’s no wonder that she was named

by Businessday top 50 most

Ugboma

inspiring women in 2019. Na this one Olumide Ohunayo dey ask for number. Number ko, NIN ni - see she is member, Governing Council, Lagos State employability support project amongst other steller appointments. Na only a top-ranking member of either the British Royal family or a member of the Nsit ibom, Anyiam Nsit in Edebom 11 that ask for number that I can answer. However, this is just to celebrate this wonderfully gifted lady who has given so much to the vulnerable and is poised to do more. Well done, sister.

cannot give his wife at least 30minutes serious pounding, the minimum a Nigerian woman can handle, it is Buhari, everything is Buhari. I have concluded that Buhari is just a convenient justification for laziness. Not that Buhari sef no get him own o. He himself is not helping the matter with his leg on the stool, toothpick-chewing image and seeming arrogant silence when the house is on fire. But I have come into some data that shows that some Nigerians are doing extremely well despite all these problems. See, we bought 70 million condoms last year, spending over N582 million on condoms. We are still having sex o despite Buhari. In a country with only 40,000 doctors and less than 140,000 hospital beds, we are nacking. Wait, there is more.

We spent over N780 billion last year on betting, with 60 million Nigerians involved.

We have built an industry estimated at $1 billion, second only to South Africa. I have not got figures for alcohol consumption and cigarettes just yet, but you can be sure that they will be just about the same since they go hand in hand.

So despite Buhari, we are nacking, gambling and drinking and smoking. So in these areas, we are not hearing the cost of production, multiple taxations, inconsistent government policy, power, forex and all that crap that people used to talk to justify ineptitude in managing a business.

When we are serious, please wake me up; everything cannot just be Buhari.

ABDULRASHEED BAWA – MYMAN Have EFCC arrested you before? They have arrested me o. It is something I recommend to every man. It should be a rite of passage. It was Friday o.

They burst into my office in a multiethnic team. Federal character fully represented. “Are you Edgar,” they asked? I should have said, “No o.’” I stupidly said yes. They say, “You are under arrest. We are taking you to our office.” I die. I want to jump out of the window and run to Akwa Ibom. They arrested me in Shomolu. When we got to their office, they were very nice.

It was a transaction gone bad. As an investment banker, this dey always happen. It is a normal thing you always have near-misses, but this was my first time inside the matter.

By the time the interrogation was over, it was too late to go home, so I enter cell. I enjoyed my stay inside the place o. I read newspapers, and the people know me as a major writer and we discuss Nigeria. On Monday, them come carry me comot. Them treat me well o, and the matter was resolved, and we became friends.

To date, the agent wey arrest me na my friend. Sadly, that is not the case with most of the institution’s cases, and I see this appointment if it scales through as a breath of fresh breeze.

Mr. Bawa, I hear, is 40, a member of the academy’s first set and as such an integral part of the structure. He must learn from the mistakes of his predecessors who came in with all shades and character. He must learn how to allow the institution to be the overriding factor, allowing due process and rules of engagement take charge. But more important, he must win the confidence of the public.

A case where someone would rather jump to his grave instead of getting arrested by them is sad. I want to put my weight behind Mr. Bawa despite the noises I am hearing believing that he would rebuild the institution and refocus it. A virile and robust EFCC working with a strong and virile judiciary will put any government in a stronger position to deliver on its mandate. Well done, bro. I wish you well. Next time, the EFCC Alumni Detainee Forum should be consulted in choosing the chief executive. I am just saying, oh.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

Sen. Florence Ita Giwa’s Unusual Birthday Celebration

Marwa

Buba Marwa Hits Ground Running

E

verybody remembers Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd) as the handsome, eversmiling military administrator of Lagos State who was well-loved for his people-oriented policies.

After he left office as the Nigeria High Commissioner to South Africa - the last major position he was appointed to by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua - he seemed to have been left in the cold.

But for him, the New Year has begun on an exciting note, having been appointed as the boss of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. In the thinking of many, his appointment has further signified his relevance in the political clime.

Described as a close ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, Marwa had worked assiduously as Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse, PACEDA, between 2018 and December 2020, along with others to develop a blueprint on how to end drug abuse in Nigeria.

Sources maintained that after studying the national drug strategy reports, it was unanimously agreed that Marwa is the best man to be appointed as the nation’s drug czar.

As the NDLEA boss, Marwa has hit the ground running with characteristic decisiveness and seriousness of purpose, setting out his agenda and strategies to combat the genuinely terrifying menace of drug abuse and addiction in Nigeria.

With hindsight on what he did with ‘Operation Saki’ in Borno and ‘Operation Sweep’ in Lagos, he used intelligence and secretive force. Marwa’s method is not that different this time around.

Since he assumed office, Marwa has led the anti-drug agency to seize various types of illicit drugs worth scores of billions of Naira, with a strong determination to bring drug barons to their knees.

For good reasons, Senator Florence Ita Giwa has always been in the news Though she doesn’t go out of her way to seek cheap publicity, she is a delight to newshounds any day.

If she is not in the news for her service to humanity, her unique dress sense would be news for celebrity reporters who know their onions.

Famously called Mama Bakassi, the beautiful woman is known for engaging in a celebration of life. Indeed, she has organised several shindigs that turned out to be the talk of the town. Her 70th birthday party held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, five years ago remains a reference point in the social circle. Little wonder, expectations were high last week when the stylish woman of substance clocked 75.

Many had looked forward to seeing her throw another superlative party to celebrate this attainment because partying comes naturally to her. But this was not to be as the Cross River State-born politician decided to shun any form of celebration because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A source revealed that she intends to celebrate the birthday in a bigger form as soon the pandemic becomes a thing of the past.

“She intends to celebrate this on a later date with the launch of two books she is writing,” the source stated.

However, trust the ageless woman, the day didn’t go unnoticed as many of her loved ones, friends, business associates, admirers, and fans called and sent congratulatory messages to her.

Some, it was gathered, also lauded her for her good deeds and untiring love for humanity.

Blessed with an uncommon gene, beautiful soul, and legendary milk of kindness, this famed philanthropist has been doing everything humanly possible to maintain her beauty to the admiration of all.

Given her looks and carriage, coupled with the fact that she is genuinely royalty, she could not but cause a stir in social events. She was still the pretty, regal, and fashion connoisseur senator even at her age.

A philanthropist, she has contributed immensely to the development of her home state.

The woman of substance, who is endowed with grace and charm, is also said to have

Ita-Giwa

worked her way into her people’s hearts through her genuine humane gestures over the years.

Indeed, in the area of humanitarian services, she has received a lot of kudos.

For her, service to humanity seems to be a covenant she has entered into with her Creator.

Air Peace Boss Allen Onyema’s Masterstroke

Air Peace boss, Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, a lawyer, has also made a name for himself as an entrepreneur.

At a time when most of his mates did not know how to navigate the labyrinthine ways to reach their goals in life, Onyema had already planned his future in his head.

In the beginning, many ignorant of his ambition condemned him with their actions and inaction. But he was unperturbed because he had a clear vision of what he wanted to do in life.

With great zest and determination, he reached for the moon, knowing that if his grasp missed its cusp, his hands might land on the stars. And his hands did land on the stars.

Today, Onyema has shot himself beyond this country’s shores as one of the crème of Nigeria’s league of extraordinary entrepreneurs.

His success, despite all odds, is attributable to his unbinding belief that hard work pays. Indeed, his seeming fairy tale may not come as a surprise to those close to him because he has over the years shown evidence of a man who is well versed in the art of making money. Like a true cognoscente, he knows when to throw the dice and even reinvent in an unstable business environment.

Ask the average Nigerian businessman to share his or her experience in 2020. He or she will likely inundate you with some

bitter-sweet tales considering the inclement business climate under which many entrepreneurs around the world operated in 2020, owing largely to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Despite this bitter experience forced on many due to the pandemic, 2020 ended on a happy note for Onyema.

While others in the airline sector were gnashing their teeth, he reportedly recorded high turnover and spread his coast.

The airline that started a few years ago with domestic operations is now expanding its operations to international flights to Cape Town, Johannesburg in South Africa, and Dubai in UAE, covering more international cities before the end of the year.

No one else could have achieved this but the shrewd businessman who knows the industry like the back of his hands.

Unarguably, his success story is a lesson to many, especially youngsters whom he has mentored and those he is still mentoring.

Ex-Beauty Queen Bianca Ojukwu’s Joyous Moment In the past days, Bianca Ojukwu, wife of the late Biafra warlord, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, has been in a very joyous mood.

It is no exaggeration to say that she feels like climbing the mountaintop to shout hallelujah.

But what could be the reason for her outburst of joy? The former ambassador, it was gathered, is celebrating her son, Afamefuna Louis-Phillipe OdumegwuOjukwu, who recently graduated from an American university.

To further ventilate her joy, she wrote on

her Instagram page: “Dear Friends, please, thank God with me. By His grace, my son, Afamefuna Louis-Phillipe OdumegwuOjukwu, has just earned his Degree in Mechanical and Energy Engineering from the University Of North Texas.”

“As you can all imagine, I am over the moon! It seems not too long ago. I was dropping him off at UNT to embark on this degree course. Ironically, he had a penchant for smart black suits as a child; hence his friends nicknamed him ‘baby Barrister’.”

“Who would have guessed his academic interests

Elin Boss, Elizabeth Jack-Rich, Unperturbed Amid Unsavoury Rumours By all standards, Dr. Elizabeth JackRich, founder and CEO of Elin Group, a conglomerate with interests in real estate development, power generation, agricultural development, gas utilisation, mining operations, maritime, and aviation, is a successful businesswoman.

Her husband, Tein Jack-Rich, Rivers State-born oil baron and founder of BELEMA Oil Producing Limited, the first indigenous oil exploration and production company to emerge from the heart of Niger Delta, is an inspiration to many in the society.

Curiously, there have been unconfirmed reports involving her

Jack-Rich

hubby, herself, and a certain Nollywood actress in recent times. It was alleged that

lay elsewhere? Now it’sdoneanddusted!This wouldhavebeenaproudmoment for his father, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.”

“He always did say that Afam, named after the iconic Sir Louis Phillipe Ojukwu and fondly called ‘Papa’ was Born to Strive.

So, Here’s to you, Afamefuna Louis-Phillipe Odumegwu Ojukwu.... May your strivings ever be crowned with sterling success. A big Congratulations to you, Son. You were also born to win, and I am mighty proud of you.

To God be the glory.”

her husband was the mystery man behind the recent acquisition of an expensive SUV flaunted by the fastrising actress.

In another report making the rounds, it was alleged that the woman and her hubby are probably playing games by deliberately promoting the various news as a means of seeking cheap publicity because of their future political ambitions.

However, the elegant businesswoman seems to be unfazed in the face of the rumours. Instead, she has been sharing more intimate, lovedup photos of herself and her husband, including visuals of their recent White House tour as former American President Donald Trump’s guests.

By this, she restates her position as the sweetheart of the oil magnate, while also emphasising that she is cool with her husband.

ARTS & REVIEW

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KAVITA CHELLARAM AND HER VISION FOR NIGERIAN ART Kavita Chellaram

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 21, 2021

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ARTS & REVIEW\\ART-ICLES

KAVITA CHELLARAM AND HER VISION FOR NIGERIAN ART Kavita Chellaram has, over the years, transmuted her passion for collecting Nigerian art into projects that have significantly impacted the local art scene. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

S

outh South Veza looms. For this South South’s inaugural event, kó features a solo presentation

by Peju Alatise, one of Africa’s leading female contemporary artists. Through the event, South South (a gallery-led online community, anthology, live resource and aggregator dedicated to art from the so-called Global South and its diaspora) hosts over 50 other galleries “from more than 40 cities spread across 30 countries and five continents” from Tuesday, February 23 to Sunday, March 7.

At kó’s formal launch on Friday, September 25, its visionary founder Kavita Chellaram – hitherto renowned in the Lagos art circles for her trailblazing auction house Arthouse Contemporary and its satellite projects (Arthouse -The Space and Arthouse Foundation) – enthused about her creating “a separate and unique gallery entity”.

Hence, the conception of this art space, tucked away somewhere in the leafy upmarket Lagos neighbourhood of Ikoyi, offers her an opportunity to organise “focused exhibitions on a regular basis, delve more deeply into artists and art historical topics, generate research and publications, and continue to promote Nigerian art on the global stage.”

Hasn’t indeed the promotion of Nigerian art been the matriarch of the renowned Chellaram family business dynasty’s stock-in-trade?

From initially collecting bead paintings by the informally-trained Osogbo artist Twins Seven Seven in 1977 and 1978, she has since A recent exhibition at the art space added many more works by Nigerian artists to her collection.

Thus, the contemporary Nigerian art won a new devotee, who had munity’s A-list events, have regularly featured such acknowledged previously been a keen collector of Indian art. masters and industry leaders of the local art scene as Ben Enwonwu, Her experience at an art auction held back in India, Mrs ChelEl Anatsui, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Uche Okeke, Demas Nwoko, Ben laram inspired her resolve to replicate the idea in Lagos. This was Osawe, Kolade Oshinowo, Ablade Glover, Chuks Anyanwu, David how the Arthouse Contemporary was established in late 2007. The Dale, Ato Delaquis, Jimoh Buraimoh, Solomon Wangboje, Dele auction house engraved its name in the industry’s consciousness Jegede, Obiora Udechukwu, Ben Osaghae, Rom Isichei, Mavua after its first auction in April 2008, which turned out to be very Lessor, Uzo Egonu, Obi Enkwenchi, Okpu Eze, Lamidi Fakeye, Tayo successful. Thus, she managed to streamline an art market, which Adenaike, Amos Odion, Abiodun Olaku, Muraina Oyelami, Jacob though awash with talents, was reeling from by the arbitrary fixing Afolabi, Susanne Wenger, Sam Ovraiti, Nike Davies-Okundaye, Peju of prices by collectors.

Alatise, Ndidi Emefiele, Lemi Ghariokwu, Alimi Adewale, Duke True, Arthouse Contemporary may not have been the first to Asidere, Chike Obeagu, Uche Okpa-Iroha, Gerald Chukwuma, hold auctions in Nigeria. It, nonetheless, takes the first prize for its Lemi Ghariokwu, Reuben Ugbine, and Uchay Joel Chima among consistency, which has seen it add an “affordable” version to its others as well as such celebrated Nigerian artists in the diaspora as biannual auctions. Soon, two other reputable auction houses, which Sokari Douglas-Camp, Chidi Kwubiri, Victor Ekpuk and Emeka were inspired by its success, emerged.

Udemba.

Before that historic inaugural auction, Mrs Chellaram had taken From holding its earlier editions at the Civic Centre in Victoria a coterie of Nigerian artists to India for a charity auction. Could Island, Lagos, the auctions were later moved to The Wheatbaker that explain the recurring inclusion of charity segments in all the Hotel and subsequently, the Kia Showroom in Victoria Island, Arthouse Contemporary auctions?

Lagos. Consistently conducted by the English-born auctioneer, John Yet, if after over 13 years in existence, the auction house still defies Dabney, the three auctions have relied on the sponsorships of such the narrative arc that decrees a high mortality rate for such ambitious organisations as Access Bank, Kia Motors, Veuve Clicquot, 7UP, Le endeavours, it is because it must have properly done its homework. Connaisseur, and Shiro as well as the support of the media partners.

Its auctions, which have earned their slots among the art comBoth Arthouse -The Space and the Arthouse Foundation, the

Arthouse Contemporary complements, have also significantly impacted the Nigerian art scene with their programmes. While the former has, among other landmark activities, featured its artists at such international art fairs as Art 14 in London and Art X Lagos, the latter, which offers artist residencies in three-month sessions in Lagos, has in recent memory partnered with international art institutions to offer residency exchanges, including an exchange with the Matadero Museum in Madrid for Nigerian and Spanish artists and another with the GoetheInstitut in Berlin for Nigerian and German artists.

It was hardly surprising, therefore, that Arthouse Contemporary remarkably muddled through the doldrums caused by the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy last year.

Even more remarkable was the fact that its latest baby, kó, was inaugurated last year when the Lagos art scene was still reeling from the aftermath of the pandemic-induced lockdowns. “kó's focus is two-fold, in championing Nigeria’s leading artists from the modern period and celebrating emerging and established contemporary artists across Africa and the Diaspora,” Mrs Chellaram explained before its inauguration. “Throughout my career, I have had the honour of developing projects with numerous modern African masters, including Ben Enwonwu, Yusuf Grillo, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Demas Nwoko, Uche Okeke, Simon Okeke, Emmanuel Odita and Oseloka Osadebe, among many others.”

It was after hosting the retrospective exhibition, Zaria Art Society: Celebration of Legacies, in 2019 that she began to mull the idea of establishing a gallery to promote these titanic figures of the contemporary Nigerian art scene. Then, there was also the insight she gained working with wave-making contemporary Nigerian artists. “I have also been able to develop relationships with several emerging artists over the years through our artist residency programme, and I am eager to work alongside many of these artists as a gallerist,” she said.

BOOK REVIEW

A Life of Service with Integrity, Mbeyi & Associates (Nig) Limited Pages: 232

A NARRATIVE FULL OF WORTHY LESSONS

Bukar Usman

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Life of Service with Integrity is autobiography of Dr.AbrahamAderemiAlo, FCIB, a former student of King’s College, Lagos, our alma mater. DrAlo born in 1937 was at King’s College from 1953 to 1959 while I attended the same college from 1964 to 1965.

I could not, therefore, resist the temptation to read the product of the octogenarian. The foregoing is my brief account of my take away from the book which I wish to share for the valuable lessons contained therein.

It is remarked that DrAlo has an “inviting handwriting and good command of English” (p.146).As the script is not handwritten, I could not attest to the attractiveness of DrAlo’s handwriting. However, the book’s narrative as published bears sufficient testimony to DrAlo’s good command of English. In the 232-page book, he vividly narrated his parental background rooted in Ilesha, Osun State, his schooling, sporting careers and capped all with a detailed narrative of his challenging working life across the country and post-retirement social activities.

One learns that the book was written primarily as a legacy and also as a special present to his beloved wife a “priceless jewel” as he turned 80 in 2017 and to the present and coming generations (p.v). Lady Victoria

IdowuAlo whom he courted for nine years and who holds MSc (Banking and Finance) has had a 36-year distinguished banking career rising to managerial status before retirement in 2001(p.36) and has been a caring life partner to DrAlo. In addition to that, the couple is blessed with four healthy and talented children (p.92). Thus, assured of a comfortable home-front, DrAlo confidently and competently faced the challenges of his working place and social activities.

Although DrAlo’s parents had no formal Western education, they were deeply religious and hence imbibed in him sound Christian values (pp.10-11). The values which include simplicity, contentment, honesty, hard work, abiding trust in God and service with honour and integrity (p.viii) had guided him to excel and overcome the challenges he encountered and won laurels in academic and sporting activities at school and national levels.An avid reader, he never took second position in academic work (p.18).

One of his regrets in sports and in hockey in particular was his failure to attract synthetic turfs in vogue overseas to Nigeria to promote competitive hockey tournaments in and outside the country. He expressed grave disappointment at his inability to attract the necessary support from the stakeholders locally and overseas (p.85).

DrAlo acknowledges the valuable guidance he got from a “faithful friend” in the person of

Mr PH Davis, the erstwhile expatriate Principal of King’s College, Lagos and later Federal Government Colleges, Sokoto and Warri (pp.24 and 33).

Here, I hasten to corroborate the good naturedattribute of Mr Davis who when I lost my box on my road journey from Maiduguri to Lagos in 1964 and narrated to him my loss when I reached the college, he promptly and sympathetically gave me a strong leather box in replacement.And even after he was deployed to the Ministry as FederalAdviser on Secondary Education to make room for the Nigerian Dr R.E.OAkpofure who took over from him as Principal King’s College, he maintained a fatherly disposition towards me. He confided in me that he did not quite like the exalted position of Adviser. He preferred the Principal post. He got his wish when he was posted to Federal Government Colleges Sokoto and later Warri as the foundation Principal of both colleges.

DrAlo shunned partisan politics (p.26). He was devoted to working in the private sector in various capacities starting with John Holt, Lagos, to Northern Nigeria Textiles (Nortex), Kaduna and Gusau, JLMorison, Lagos and ending at T.A Braithwaite & Co Insurance Brokers, Lagos. He said that he rejected juicy offer of ministerial appointment in 1978 and also rejected mouth-watering bribes (p.ix).

––Bukar Usman former Permanent Secretary in the Presidency, Abuja 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 21, 2021

ARTS & REVIEW\\BOOK REVIEW

Kachikwu: From the Perspectives of an Expert On Thursday, February 4, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, publicly presentedfournewbooksataclassyvirtualglobalevent,whichattractedover2,300participantsfromnofewerthanfive continents. ParticipatingwerePresidentMuhammaduBuhari,VicePresidentYemiOsinbajo,formerMinisterofDefence, T.YDanjuma;thecurrentMinisterofStateforPetroleumResources,TimipreSylva,SecretaryGeneraloftheOrganisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Sanusi Barkindo and the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki. Others, who witnessed the event were the Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbon in Equatorial Guinea, Gabriel Obiang Lima; Secretary General of Africa Petroleum Producers’ Organisation, Omar Farouk; Mr. Abdulrasaq Isa, Mr. Austin Avuru as well as other global oil industry chiefs, the academia, lawyers and business titans. However, below are the respective reviews of each of the books, which many of the participants reckoned would continue to provide guidance to the industry operators in termsofexperience,knowledgeandpolicyformation. the historical development of the Nigerian economy and analysis of the market indicators or the ease of doing business in countries comparable to Nigeria such as Ghana and SouthAfrica, the procedure and requirements for obtaining permits especially, as regards to foreign investment and recommendations on reforming the Nigerian investment legal regime.

Nigerian Foreign Investment Law and Policy is an articulate and commendable effort that illustrates the role of foreign investment for the sustainable development of emerging economies such as Nigeria’s particularly, in this era of economic globalisation and transnational trade, all within a framework of sustainable development.

This book by Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu is unquestionably scholarly work, which not only fills a gap in existing literature on foreign investment in general, but also fills a gap in legal literature.

The book proffers useful pathways and provocative insights, which will be useful to investors both foreign and local, academics and researchers, legal practitioner, governments, international organizations, students and every other person that is interested in the laws and policies with respect to foreign investment in Nigeria.

I, therefore, humbly and respectfully, recommend this book to all.

––Dr Osho is a senior lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos

The Nigerian Petroleum Industry: 2015 to the Future Dayo Ayoade The book titled Nigerian Petroleum Industry: 2015 to the Future; Restructuring and Reforming for Growth, is an interesting book. The book deals with policies and looks to the future of our country. Since we discovered oil in 1956, Nigeria has struggled with its oil and we need policy books like this to strategise way forward for the nation.

There are several oil and gas books, of course, in the market but few of them actually look to the future – few of them provide this kind of strategic and analytical approach that consider where we are, and we need to get to.

I find that this book reflects Dr. Kachukwu’s private sector experience as well as his time in office as Minister of Petroleum Resources.

It also demonstrates a formidable team of technocrats that backed up the minister during his time in office.

The various chapters look at different things in the book. The first chapter looks at ‘Repositioning the Industry for Prosperity’. This looks at the policy thrust of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and deals with seven big wins and looks at key policy initiatives of the government.

The second chapter deals mostly with technical perspectives on petroleum resources management and under this heading; we see how the national petroleum policy and the national gas policy were put into effect and how it provides a strong foundation for growth.

The third chapter deals mostly with policy and regulations and other perspectives.And here, we look at key legislative, policy initiatives and interventions; we look at some of the investment framework, we look at some of the key natural gas infrastructure in the country.

More interestingly, if you look at chapter four that deals with transparency and efficiency, it deals with what has been killing the country, because there is need for transparency in how we operate our regulations and efficiency in how the system works; our long contracting circles, the problems in doing business with our government agencies are tackled robustly.

If we look at the seventh chapter on stakeholder management and international coordination that deals with something you might not find in many books, and of course, it is the minister’s personal experience especially, in relation with OPEC and bilateral relations – the way oil and gas policies activities are defended from the point of view of national interest.

Now, if you turn to the ninth chapter, where the minister looked at building the petroleum industry for the future, this is very interesting, because the whole welfare of the staff, the whole human resources and capacity of the staff are examined in details and a way forward is being found.

We look at the tenth chapter, which interestingly is called project 100 and here, the minister, looking at 100 SMEs – small and medium scale companies to encourage them to be the foundation of the future of Nigeria. This leads to the eleventh chapter, which deals with national content.

Local content is one of the biggest policies that have driven growth in Nigeria at the moment.And the twelfth one is the Buhari legacy and this is very interesting, because it has been able to sum up some of the achievements of President Muhammdu Buhari (GCFR) over the last 40 years and that is not a small achievement.

This is succeeded with the chapter on the future path, which is chapter thirteen and deals with diverse issues, transparency, gas infrastructure and so forth, while the final chapter is the conclusion that rounds off the book.

This book is very interesting, well presented, has very good illustrative charts and tables. The information in it will delight legal scholars, governments, private sector participants in the industry and it is very warmly recommended.

The vision unpinning this book shows how we can get to national prosperity and it is not a mean achievement to put all of these diverse issues into one book.

On this note, I would like to congratulate Dr. Kachikwu on this excellent book and wish him well for the future.

–––Associate professor, Dr Ayoade (mni), writes from the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, with specialties in Energy, Petroleum and Electricity sector Gas Development in Nigeria: Legal and Policy Framework Peter Oniemola The book, Gas Development in Nigeria: Legal and Policy Framework, written by Dr. Ibe Kachikwu is a masterpiece. It is a book that addresses the legal and policy issues in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria with a focus on gas.

The book is structured into six chapters and the striking point in the book is the examination of natural gas or gas development in Nigeria, looking at the overview of the industry, the challenges surrounding the development of gas in Nigeria.

Pa Kasumu Another striking chapter to be considered in the book is the examination of the legal regime for gas in Nigeria, which involves the examination of the provisions of the constitution, the Petroleum ProductionAct and the production drilling and production regulation among other legislations in the oil and gas industry.

The various policies relating to gas are also examined in another chapter – so compelling in demonstration of how policies affect the development of gas in Nigeria.

It is also striking to see that the matters bothering on climate change – sustainable development of gas – are also examined in the book.

With development of the Nigerian gas sector, which has been bedeviled by series of challenges such as pricing, cash call issues and the need for continuous funding and infrastructural development in the gas sector, the author was able to bring on board, his experience as a practitioner in the field as well as an administrator.

The book itself is rich in content and will be an important source for policy makers, legislators, academicians and persons, who are seeking to invest in the sector – all those who are seeking to develop their knowledge on the gas sector in Nigeria.

It is an excellent book the way it is written and the way the book is structured is futuristic in nature. Though I would have loved to see an expert in the area transactional practice. The transactional aspect of oil and gas law is an area we need to develop in the country.

And again, the author, bringing in his level of his experience, can also consider developing such area in the future for the purpose of making a contribution to the gas sector in Nigeria.

––– Dr Oniemola writes from the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan. He is also the energy law coordinator, Centre For Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law, University of Ibadan Nigeria Foreign Investment Law and Policy (Second Edition) Oluwatoyin Osho There is a strong relation between foreign investment and economic growth especially, for developing and emerging market countries like Nigeria, because it promotes socio-economic development. This book is a second edition of the one published in 1988.

The book seeks to assess the progress, if any, with regards to the legal and regulatory framework for foreign investment in Nigeria. It also seeks to provide a detailed and comprehensive overview of the current law and policy guiding foreign investment.

The rationale for the second book, that is the second edition, is emphasised by the author, who asserts on page two that and I quote: “The last few years has seen a substantial shift in the perception of foreign investment by Nigeria and Nigerians. The perception of foreign investment has shifted from abhorrent to accommodation of and encouragement of foreign investment.”

The author included several vital resources and statistics on the subject, and it would be of relevance to both local and foreign investors. The book is divided into eight detailed chapters and these chapters highlight the issues that are of interest for the sustainable development of Nigeria’s foreign investment landscape. The author highlights relevant legal, regulatory, tax and policy regimes of foreign investment in Nigeria.

There are several highpoints in the book such as the section on

The Nigerian Law of Contract: Study Companion Adekemi Omotubora I’m reviewing the book, Nigerian Law of Contract: Study Companion by Dr. Ibe Kachikwu. The book is published by, Law Publishing and Conference Services Limited in 2020.

The objective of this book as stated by the author, is two-fold: the first is that the book is written to capture and present to the reader, the over racking scope of the law of contract, the second is that it aims to address the evolution of and recent development in contract law.

So, in recognition of the fact that the law of contract is the foundation of all other commercial laws and that different professional – both lawyers and non-lawyers – are having to deal with this area of contract, the book was written to appeal to a larger audience of both lawyers and non-lawyers. So, the book delivered on this objective.

The first point that I would like to note is the excellent structure of the book in terms of the topics covered, discussions and analysis of the law.And in spite of the fact that it is legal text…and legal texts are known for their legalese, this book adopts a sophisticated narrative, which is easy to follow by both lawyers and non-lawyers.

So, non-professionals not initiated in the legal profession can also use this book. The book consists of 14 chapters, covering the broad scope of the contract law. In chapter one, the author introduces the Law of Contract and that chapter discusses the forms and classification of contract and the formalities for an enforceable contract.

In chapter 2, the book discusses the complex concept of offer and acceptance. This is an area that most people find difficult to actually grasp. Usually, people don’t know the differences between offer and acceptance.

As a teacher I can say this is also challenging for me to explain to students and for them to grab but this book has done excellently in tackling this area. Chapter 4 explains and analyses capacities of parties to contract.

In chapter 7, the book deals with exclusion clauses. In Chapter 8, it describes and analyses the desiccating element of contract and in chapter 9, it examines illegal and void contracts. Chapter 12 of the book is particularly captivating – it is particularly interesting; it is particularly significant and why do I say so?

Because it focuses on e-contracts and e-signature and this is a relatively new area of the law that many authors, even many new books have not covered recently. So, this is a significant addition to the body of knowledge in terms of the coverage of this area.

In chapter 13, the book examines the rules for drafting and executing contractual terms. It does merge the rules of interpretation, which is also a complex area of the law to grasp, so readers know the relationship between the rules of interpretation and the elements of contracts that lawyers often draft.

Overall, what is my impression of this book? I think it lives up to its title of being a study companion but that doesn’t mean that we are saying it is a study companion meant for just students; this is also a practitioners’ book; it can be used by students and it can be used by practitioners alike and it can be used especially, by non-lawyers, who want to understand this area of the law or who work in this area and deal with this area of the law.

So, my conclusion is that this is an excellent book. It is a great addition to the body of knowledge. I congratulate the author on this outstanding achievement. I would recommend this book to students, practitioners and all the people, who are interested in learning about the law of contract.

––Dr Omotubora is a lecturer at the Department of Commercial and Industrial Law, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

GLITZ FOCUS

Nigerian Influencer Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas Laundered Funds For North Korean Hackers, Says U.S. Department of Justice David Dawkins, Culled from Forbes

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ew details have emerged about the case against Instagram influencer Ramon Abbas, who wowed the internet with pictures of his clothes, cars, money and lifestyle between 2012 and 2020. In July, Abbas was charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles with conspiring to launder hundreds of millions of dollars from “business email compromise” (BEC) frauds and other scams. On Wednesday, the Department of Justice shed more light on one of those scams: working with North Korean hackers to launder funds stolen from a Maltese bank.

According to a statement released by the Justice Department, Abbas took part in a “North Korean-perpetrated cyberenabled heist from a Maltese bank in February 2019.” In a July statement, the Justice Department referred to the attack as “a $14.7 million cyber-heist from a foreign financial institution.” Both the date and amount match that of the attack on Malta’s Bank of Valletta in February 2019.

In July, Abbas’ then-lawyer Gal Pissetzky told Forbes that Abbas was not guilty of the charges and described Abbas as “an entrepreneur” who made his money legitimately through “real estate” and his work “promoting brands” as an “Instagram personality.”

Caught Up Abbas is a Nigerian influencer with more than 2.5 million followers on Instagram. He has built a global following from posting pictures of his lavish spending on cars, watches, designer clothes and private jets. However, in late June, the 38-year-old was arrested in Dubai and arrived in the U.S. on July 3 to face criminal charges over allegations that he made “hundreds of millions of dollars” from business email compromise frauds and other scams.

Abbas’ criminal trial was due to be heard in late 2020, before the pandemic forced a delay.

On Wednesday, Abbas’ name emerged among details of a larger international criminal conspiracy involving so-called North Korean military hackers involved in “a series of destructive cyberattacks, to steal and extort more than $1.3 billion of money and cryptocurrency from financial institutions and companies,”

Hushpuppi

according to the Justice Department statement on the new indictment.

FBI Deputy Director Paul

Abbate said in the statement that Wednesday’s unsealed indictment expands the FBI’s

2018 charges for the “unprecedented cyberattacks conducted by the North Korean regime.” Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers of the Justice Department’s National Security Division added, “As laid out in today’s indictment, North Korea’s operatives, using keyboards rather than guns, stealing digital wallets of cryptocurrency instead of sacks of cash, are the world’s leading bank robbers.”

The U.S. is specifically accusing North Koreans Jon Chang Hyok, 31, Kim Il, 27, and Park Jin Hyok, 36, of being members of the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), a military intelligence agency of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The three North Koreans are described in the statement as being connected to “North Korean military hacking units” known in the cybersecurity community as Lazarus Group and Advanced Persistent Threat 38 (APT38).

Abbas is linked to one specific part of the “broad array of criminal cyber activities undertaken by the conspiracy,” namely money laundering and the attack on a “foreign financial institution.

A spokesperson for the Bank of Valletta confirmed to Forbes that it was the target of a cyber incident in February 2019.

Abbas was linked to the North Korean conspiracy this week when federal prosecutors unsealed a charge against Ghaleb Alaumary, 37, of Ontario, Canada. Alaumary plead guilty to charges related to his role as a money launderer for the North Korean group filed in November 2020. The Justice Department connected Abbas to the North Korean hackers through Alaumary, who they allege “conspired” with “Ray Hushpuppi,” to “launder funds from a North Koreanperpetrated cyber-enabled heist from a Maltese bank in February 2019.”

The attack, although largely unsuccessful, was of such seriousness in Malta that the country’s prime minister, Joseph Muscat, was forced to address parliament in 2019 over what the Times of Malta described as the “creation of false international payments that saw €13 million transferred to banks in four countries.” The amounts were reportedly “traced” and “reversed” and none of the bank’s customers lost their money.

Although Abbas claims he has often used the name “Billionaire Gucci Master,” Forbes believes he is worth far less than $1 billion. r $VMMFE GSPN 'PSCFT

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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 21, 2021

CICERO

Editor:Olawale Olaleye mail:wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com, SMS: 08116759819

IN THE ARENA

Putting Separatism and Terrorism On Scale As a crucial sense of nationhood is being perilously depleted while key managers of that ideal dawdle, jumbled narratives around three recurring and disruptive ‘brands’ need rejigging, writes Louis Achi

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erhaps, aided by a contrived conceptual fog in the face of clear and present dangers, key national stakeholders are pushing muddled models of engagements with disruptive eruptions – ranging from unarmed separatist activism to clearly militarised, brazen and bloody criminality unfolding in the country.

From the presidency, national assembly, various governors, prominent clerics, various political parties, eminent stakeholders and statesmen like former Chief of army staff, retired Lt-General TY Danjuma, Minister of Defence, Maj-General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) and many more – it has been a discordant tune, drawing out the real internal contradictions in the skewed Nigerian state.

Significantly, there has been a sharp disagreement between notable Northern governors, when a renowned Islamic cleric, Sheik Gumi canvassed amnesty for bandits.

But when General Danjuma warned his Middle Belt folks to stoutly defend themselves against the bloody attacks from bandits and rogue herders whom he alleged enjoyed state protection, he was pilloried to no end.

Last week, his position, though in a different context, was re-echoed by no less a personality than the Minister of Defence, Maj-General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd).

On September 20, 2017, Justice Abdu Kafarati, Buhari...at a time like this then Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of offensive against elements of that group in the Orlu forests in Imo Nigeria, Abuja, made the order proscribing the State with reported considerable collateral damage, the same force Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and designating it a terrorist cannot be said to have been enlisted against other openly armed group upon an ex parte application by the Attorney General of the groups that have shed even more blood in the country.

Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN).

According to the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal But the group contended in a motion it filed before the same Hore, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo “All the lands in this country belong judge on September 22, 2017, that the proscription order was to the Fulani, but we don’t have any business to do with land if it unconstitutional.

In January 2018, Justice Kafarati, resolved all the three formulated doesn’t have areas for grazing.

“If the land doesn’t have cow food, we won’t have any business issues against the group and held that the September 20, 2017 proscription order of the court was validly issued, hence dismissing with it. If the place is good for grazing, we don’t need anybody’s permission to go there.” the contention of IPOB’s lawyer, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor.

He was reacting to Governor Akeredolu of Ondo State’s IPOB’s proscription arguably remains one of the most politione-week notice to herders to leave the state’s forest reserves. cally divisive actions taken by the administration of President However, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association Muhammadu Buhari and seems to have blurred the lines between (MACBAN), a much older sister cattle herders’ body disowned separatism and terrorism.

For many, to treat an unarmed IPOB as a terror group is to politi- Bodejo’s imperious proclamations and condemned the call credited to the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, which urged herders to defend cise terrorism and weaken the efficacy of Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011, as amended, send a wrong message that the government themselves against attacks by ethnic militia in the southern region.

Largely in the Middle Belt, South-south, Southeast and is intolerant of dissent and separatist agitations, including calls for South-western forests and contiguous territory, kidnap for ransom, restructuring the federation.

Clearly, in exercising such presidential powers, the chief executive banditry, brutal killings, rape, deliberate destruction of property and extensive population displacement have scaled up. must be seen to resist the temptation of using the instrument of the In all these, the security agencies are either incapable or unwillstatute for advancing ethnic, sectional, religious or political interest. ing to rein in the spreading terror with allegations of complicity Arguably, no multi-ethnic federation that is threatened by the daily mounting. divisive forces of ethnicity can survive for long if no genuine efforts Strangely, a key concern of the current administration, seemingly are made to engage the disparate ethnic groups in the gains of supported by a laid-back national parliament is how best to stop union to reaffirm their faith in the federal arrangement. progressive states and regions from birthing security structures that Little wonder, the outspoken Catholic cleric, Bishop Matthew will neutralise the current bloody terror and safeguard their people.

Hassan Kukah accused that, “It is in this country that the same A major enabler of the bloody impunity playing out is the standards are not held against all. Some can get away with apparent lack of stern consequences for criminals, who breach anything but others cannot get away with something. I shudder at Nigerian law. Many allege that because the president is Fulani, those who blame the agitators for agitating.” then the Fulani have licence to run riot.

While the federal government deployed the sledge hammer Though it must not be forgotten that there are many law against IPOB and is even currently, in a war-grade land/air

abiding Fulani, who have spent all their lives in the South, living and interacting peacefully with Southerners.

It cannot be denied that audacious, armed banditry has scaled up in the country Nigeria – adding to the nation’s many security challenges, besides the bloody Boko Haram insurgency in the North.

In the North-Central geo-political zone, herders’ impunity has become a key security concern. Brutal rural banditry in the North West zone has taken the centre stage. But what has been the state response?

According to Chukwuma Okoli, Lecturer/Resident Researcher Department of Political Science, Federal University Lafia, “Rural banditry refers to armed violence driven principally by the criminal intent to steal and plunder. It is motivated by the quest for economic accumulation.

“The victims are individuals and communities with material valuables. The most common examples of rural banditry in Nigeria are armed robbery, kidnapping, cattle rustling and village raids.”

Today, rural banditry in the North Western states of Zamfara, Kaduna and Katsina has reached alarming heights. Bandits terrorise villages with impunity. They have actually cozily settled in Zamfara State, setting up fortified enclaves in the hinterland and on the frontiers, from where they plot and carry out their operations.

Forty-eight hours ago, elites and leaders of the Southwest region asked President Buhari to absolve himself from herdsmen militia killings in their region. The demand was made at a meeting of Southwest security stakeholders, chaired by Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba Land, Iba Gani Adams. This captures the strong perception of lack of even handed justice delivery to lawbreakers.

Significantly, the meeting also aligned with the call of the governors of Southwest that President Buhari proves his innocence in the carnage being perpetrated by herders by not only unambiguously condemning the nefarious acts but also taking clear steps to exterminate it.

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

R

Gumi

Sheikh Gumi’s Peace Move

enowned Islamic cleric, SheikhAbubakar Mahmud Gumi, has consistently been in the news for some weeks now, first with his recent meeting with bandits and second, standing in as the mediator in the event of a recent kidnap of secondary school pupils in Niger State.

How Gumi easily locates hideouts of the criminals to hold court and encourage them to turn a n ew leaf while the military has been unable to find them will continue to beat the imaginations of many and confound many more.

Although debates on whether or not Gumi is a part of the racket is arguable, that the north is not speaking with one voice on the matter is the real cause for concern, because as it is, banditry is the

new industry – very lucrative – and not going away any time soon. …Mohammed’s Late and Bad PR After publicly rationalising the bearing of arms by herders, the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has spent the last few days interpreting his own conviction in a make-good move, none of which has yet made any sense.

Even in an advertorial by the state, where a futile effort was made, it was obvious they were conflicted and therefore struggled with a new narrative that refused to fly.

However, from Mohammed to his Niger State counterpart, Abubakar Sani Bello, it’s obvious banditry is the biggest racket in town now with a seemingly impenetrable ring of some untouchables, which makes it the more disturbing.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 21, 2021

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BRIEFINGNOTES Bawa: Between Merit and the Law The recent nomination of Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa as the Chairman-designate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has elicited a mixed debate between merit and the law.

Kingsley Nwezeh writes

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ne of the most dominant topics in the country today is the issue of adherence to the rule of law or lack of it in appointments into federal positions.

Thus, the nomination of Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa as the Chairman-designate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC) is already generating controversy over whether or not it met the conditions stipulated in the EFCC Act 2004 with regards to the leadership of the commission.

While the nominee is eminently qualified to occupy the position by virtue of his rich resume, his nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari, however, falls short of the expectations of the law.

Quite notably, the nomination of Bawa, a certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) brought to an end, the era of the headship of the commission by police officers.

Bawa, a product of the EFCC Academy has worked in the agency since his graduation from the academy in 2005.

In addition, Bawa was also trained by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Financial Crime Enforcement Network (FINCEN), The World Bank, The United Nations Office of Drug and Crimes (UNDOC), the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Security (DSS), the EFCC Academy and United Kingdom’s Global Training Consulting.

With such an enviable background and the likely synergy with western countries, it could be said that there is a bright future with regards to the anti-graft war in Nigeria.

It is also expected that the 40-year-old nominee would bring his youthful energy to bear on the leadership of the commission.

What’s more, Bawa’s academic qualifications include Bachelor of Laws (LLB), University of London-in view, Masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto in 2012 and Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics (Second Class Honours, Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto in 2000 In his curriculum vitae, Bawa stated that he “supervised the biggest operations zonal office of the EFCC in Lagos, having 604 officers and men and securing 227 convictions despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

“He also supervised the investigation of all cases in

Bawa Port Harcourt Zonal office in which an unprecedented 215 convictions were secured in eleven months and securing final forfeiture of hundreds of properties to the federal government”.

Yet, the Legal Snag

No doubt, the Bawa dilemma might turn out a good test of the strength of the laws of the land and the Act setting up the EFCC. Even more concerning is how a legal provision could rob the nation of an otherwise good hand in a crucial institution and at a critical time in nation’s history

His qualifications, training and evident capacity notwithstanding, the nomination appears not to have met the basic requirements of the law.

Section 2(1) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, provides for a “Chairman, who shall be “(i) the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the Commission; (ii) be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or its equivalent ”.

Unfortunately, Bawa’s present rank is below the ACP equivalent rank in spite of the fact that there are many senior directors in the commission, even though he was reported to have just been elevated ahead of his screening.

The matter is already a subject of litigation. A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja Friday gave the Senate and the EFCC Chairman-designate 30 days to show cause why the nomination should be sustained.

This followed a suit number ABJ/CS/196/2021, filed by an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Osuagwu Ugochukwu.

The reliefs sought by the legal practitioner include a true

interpretation and construction of Section 2(1)(a)(ii) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004, whether Bawa is qualified to be appointed chairman of the anti-graft agency and whether the Senate is competent in law to confirm the appointment of Bawa, who is deemed to fall short of the requirement of Section 2)(1)(a)(ii) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004.

Osuagwu is also seeking three declarations to determine the fate of the suit.

The declarations include that Bawa is a Grade Level 13 public officer and not an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) or its equivalent as stipulated in the EFCC Act and therefore not qualified to be chairman of the commission; an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Senate from confirming Bawa’s appointment as chairman of the EFCC and any other order(s) the court may deem fit in the circumstance.

Coming through originating summons, the suit has since been served on the office of the Senate President and the proof of service acknowledged on Thursday, February 18.

But the nominee was due for confirmation last Thursday.

No doubt, the Bawa dilemma might turn out a good test of the strength of the laws of the land and the Act setting up the EFCC. Even more concerning is how a legal provision could rob the nation of an otherwise good hand in a crucial institution and at a critical time in nation’s history.

NOTES FOR FILE

Where’s the CJN? Since he was reportedly flown out of the country last December after allegedly contracting Covid-19, not much has been heard of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad and no one seems to be concerned about him.

Although he was said to have been initially slated for a medical checkup abroad before the Covid-19 infection upset the plan, however, no updates have since been given on his health and whereabouts and everyone seems not to be bother? He heads a critical arm of government for crying out loud? Pray, he’s fine.

…Don’t Demonise Covid-19 Vaccines!

Attempts by some people to demonise the Covid-19 vaccines especially by introducing a religious slant to it, is cause for concern. All the attempts to de-market the vaccines are fraught with illogic but easily bought into by people with shallow thinking.

As it with every vaccination, there might be side effects, which is not a big deal, but the truth of the matter is that to combat the menace posed by the virus, vaccination is the way to go and the choice that embraces this is a choice to save humanity.

Tanko

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 21, 2021

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CICERO/ONTHEWATCH

Setting a New Agenda for PDP The Dr. Bukola Saraki-led reconciliation committee of the PDP is fast gaining momentum, writes Chuks Okocha

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fter spending the last one month to assess the situation in all the 36 state chapters of the party, the Dr.Abubakar Bukola Saraki-led National Reconciliation and Strategic Committee (NRSC) set up by the National Working Committee of the PDP on December 2, 2020 has now revved up its engine and in full swing to unite members, refocus the party, strategise on the best way to return it to power, rebrand the party and rebuild its various structures.

The committee, last Monday, had a meeting, which began about 8pm and ended about midnight in the Maitama home of its chairman and former Senate president, Saraki, to finalise its plans.

On Tuesday, it held a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at his Maitama office.At the meeting, the former President told the members of the committee that he had no intention to defect from the party that made him Deputy Governor, Governor, Vice President and President.

He said he pulled back since the party did not seem to need his assistance or involve him in their activities and did not want to impose himself on the party. He promised that now that the party had deemed it fit to approach him, he would make his resources, experience and contact available in rebuilding, repositioning and refocusing the party.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Saraki said the former president was ready to offer PDP his experience and resources whenever the party demands for it.

In a subtle swipe at the rulingAll Progressives Congress, (APC), Saraki said the former president was bent on seeing the PDP bounce back to national reckoning as he was not ready to go to another party. Saraki expressed happiness at the turn of events, following unconfirmed reports that the ruling party had been Saraki with Babangida in Minna making subtle moves to get the ex-President into its fold.

“We are members of the national reconciliation and strategy committee set up by the party and part of our task is to meet with Ramalan Yero (Kaduna) and Boni Haruna (Adamawa). Others are our former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

BabangidaAliyu (Niger), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Ibrahim “We are starting off with our former President and we are here Idris and Wada Idris (Kogi) and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi) andAchike to let him know what our plans are and also to hear his own views Udenwa of Imo State and advice on what we need to do and how to do it as well as how Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, Saraki said, “The we need to strengthen the party and reconcile aggrieved members party set up our committee, National Reconciliation Committee. in order to bring about unity and focus in our party,” he said.

Part of our terms of reference is to consult with key stakeholders.

Continuing, he stated: “It was a very useful meeting. He gave Yesterday, we met with our former President. Today, we are us his views and we are very happy. He reassured all of us of his consulting with our former governors, who are our key stakeholdcommitment to the PDP and he told us that he is still ready to offer ers. “Monday, we met with one of our former presidents. Today, we his time, experience and resources to strengthen the party and that are consulting with our former governors, who are key stakeholdis very strong and important for us. Of course, you know there are ers and leaders in their states. There is no way we can talk about funny issues going on but we are leaving this place very happy. consultations and unity of the party without consulting them. We “He is also ready to work with the reconciliation committee to have been here for two to three hours. We had a very useful and play his own. That is a great step for the party. We have put that productive meeting.” behind us – all those people of the other party that would like to Saraki contended that all former governors of the PDP had all come and disturb our leaders. Our leaders are here and they are renewed their commitment towards the party to go and strengthen ready to work for the party,” he added. the party in their states and the national level to ensure that the party Saraki, who was evasive on the 2023 presidency, however, said was well prepared ahead of the next elections in 2023 that the former president was ready to work in furtherance of the The former governors, he added, had all pledged to bring about cause of the PDP was commendable. the areas of grievances, which is normal in any party, as leaders to According to him, “We spoke about what role former Presidents help unify and bring people together, where there are problems and like him will play and he left us feeling very happy that yes, he will issues. like to play that role in the PDP and helping our committee to move Asked what his take-home was from the meeting, he said, “I’m forward.” very encouraged, because a lot of them have a lot of experiences He, however, added that those “disturbing” the former Presiand resources, but felt that they’re not as involved in some of the dent into quitting the major opposition party should perish the issues that are ready to now work actively. thought as he (Jonathan), remains a PDP man to the core.

“And we’ve promised as a committee to keep them busy and Present at the meeting were other members of the committee brief them on what is happening in the party, get them involved in including former Governors Ibrahim Dankwambo, Ibrahim some of the workings within and outside the party, that people look Shema and Liyel Imoke of Gombe, Katsina and Cross River states to with respect. respectively; ex- Secretary to the Government of the Federation, “We want to see them to be more active, because their silence SenatorAnyim PiusAnyim; and erstwhile House of Representasometimes might be misinterpreted. But they’ve promised me, tives leader, Hon. MulikatAdeola-Akande. and the committee that, there’ll be more active workers of the party.

Instructively, the meeting with Jonathan has put paid to the You’ll hear more of their voices that they are available for comments grandstanding byAPC governors that the former President on national issues. was being considered to come into their party to run for the 2023 “And so we can see at the caliber of some of them here. If they’re elections. working at full blast, I think it will help the fortunes of the party.”

That same Tuesday, the committee had another meeting with Saraki said the committee was reaching out first to them and make the PDP caucus in the Senate. The meeting held at the Maitama them very active and very involved, stating that efforts were on to home of the caucus leader, Senator EnyinnayaAbaribe and bring back those who had left the party. enabled the Senators to bare their minds on events within the party “Of course, there are some, who are in other parties. We don’t and what needs to be done to move forward. start telling you who is coming until we know when they are On Wednesday, the committee had a meeting with former arriving. Just be watching.” governors elected on the platform of the party, held at the Legacy He described the meeting as a huge turnout as about two-thirds House Office of the party in Maitama and was well attended. It of the former governors attended the meeting. had many of the ex-governors from the 1999 set to those who left in “It has never happened before. It is a good side and they’re have 2019. The ex-governors gave frank views and candid advice that committed to always be present. So, it’s a good sign and prospects could help the committee navigate the way forward. for the party.” On the response from the former governors, the The former governors in attendance included Liyel Imoke (Cross former senate president said, “That is why it is taking us longer.

River), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina),Abdul- They have opened their minds and telling us what the issues are fatahAhmed (Kwara), Peter Obi (Anambra),Ahmed Makarfi and but they are not issues that are insurmountable. That is why we

are encouraged that we need to play our own role in getting such people of experience involved.

“They still have their supporters. We must get them involved.

They are committed to the party. They are not going anywhere.

We have gotten their assurance that they are not going anywhere instead they are going to bring in more people.”

Former governor of Niger State,Aliyu Babangida, in his comments said theAPC was not a better option.

On Thursday, it was the turn of the PDP Board of Trustees members. The meeting also held at the Legacy House and all the members were in attendance. Here, Saraki met with the BoT members that eventually gave the committee a hundred per cent support On Friday, the group went to Minna to hold a meeting with former President Ibrahim Babangida. The effort was to explain the mission of the committee to the key stakeholders, solicit their support, seek their advice and get their buy-in into the strategy for moving forward.

The committee still intends to meet the PDP Governors Forum headed by GovernorAminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, the PDP House of Representatives Caucus, the Speaker of the States’ Houses ofAssembly Forum and a meeting with some selected elders. Recalled that on the eve of the committee’s inauguration on December 1, 2020, the members, after series of separate meetings inAbuja with the feuding groups in Plateau State, moved to Jos, where it had a joint meeting with the Jeremiah Useni and Jonah Jang’s groups.

The efforts were to unite them and make them work together on the senatorial bye-election in the state. Though the party eventually, albeit narrowly lost, the efforts of the committee became a move that thawed the ice of the cold relationship between the two groups.

Since then, the chairman of the committee and other members had made crucial interventions to douse tension in various circles in the party. For example, Saraki had hosted a reconciliation meeting between Governors Wike andAyade of Rivers and Cross River States respectively.

He had also intervened to appease Governor Bello Mutawalle of Zamfara State, who expressed frustration over the attack on him by fellow PDP governors in the oil producing states over the new mining rights granted his state on the solid minerals in its domain.

The committee, last Thursday, after the meeting with the BOT, received reports of a sub-committee set up on the crisis in the Imo State chapter and jointly headed by Rt. HonAustin Opara and Senator MAO Ohunabunwa.

The report, which the committee had deliberated upon showed that the lingering crisis in the state would soon be resolved.Aggrieved members that had cases in courts had agreed to withdraw them. Others chose to move forward and forget the past while working to reclaim a state, which is traditionally PDP’s.

In all, the PDP reconciliation committee is set to reposition the party and stop the current hemorrhaging caused by theAPC, which seeks to use the news of defection from PDP as a smokescreen for division in its own rank.

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CICERO/TRIBUTE

Murtala Muhammad, 45 Years After!

Forty-five years ago, a former Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammad, was assassinated in cold blood, writes Yinka Kolawole

“F

or too long we have paid lip service to issues of remoulding our society; for too often we have talked glibly of the birth of a new nation. Now is the time to rethink, to reflect and to act”, wrote the late Murtala Ramat Muhammad.

That was one of the numerous dreams, hopes and expectations he had for his beloved country Nigeria. However, the quest for power with cutthroat ambition, complex and ego-centrism by a few disgruntled dissident soldiers did not allow him realise his laudable objective of cleansing Nigeria.

It was exactly 45 years on February 13, 2021, when the nation lost this icon. He was Nigeria’s Head of State from 30th July 1975, until his assassination. He was killed in Lagos at the Age of 37 years, although born in Kano on November 8,1938.

He was gruesomely assassinated. But for student of politics, who went through the rudiments and teachings of prominent revolutionaries, it would practically impossible for anyone to deny the fact that Murtala was indeed a leader par excellence!

He was a detribalised Fulani and courageous soldier, with an impeccable character, who throughout his 38 years of existence in this world scorned injustice, indiscipline, indolence, dishonesty, economic aggrandizement, greediness and above all, corruption.

Coupled with his patriotic and nationalistic disposition, in his just 200 Days reign, General Murtala easily became one of the greatest men that ever ruled Nigeria.

No wonder that since his assassination, the 13th day of February every year had been set aside in his memory by Institutions of Government, International Bodies, Elder-statesmen, Student Unions and other Non-Governmental Organisations through lectures and seminars dwelling on some of his key unfinished policies and programmes with a view to highlighting areas of commonality and divergence in the overall interest of the country.

General Murtala indeed came, saw, conquered and laid a concrete foundation upon which the post Sardauna Political Institution that saw the emergence of Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari in 1979 was built.

It was during his era that the political awareness among the citizenry became solidified as provided for by the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).

He singularly set up the body that paved the way for the ‘Nigerianisation’ of the nation’s politics back in the days. Nigerians from all shades of leaning participated and contributed in no mean measure, culminating in the emergence of the 1979 Constitution rated as one of the best in Pre and Post Independence Nigeria.

No doubt that even after he was assassinated, his immediate successor, then General Olusegun Obasanjo, guardedly pursued the Late Murtala Muhammed’s programmes and policies to their logical conclusions.

Latest accounts from respected writer Nowa Omogui in his well researched account of how Murtala was eliminated remarked that ‘Obasanjo executed an escape maneuver, spent most of the day at the house of a civilian friend in Ikoyi (Chief S.B Bakare) monitoring the situation by telephone but later emerged to become the Head of State’.

General Obasanjo and his lieutenants in the then Supreme Military Council (Yar’adua, TY Danjuma, IBB and Domkat Bali) had to ensure that the late Murtala’s hopes were not shattered, but his dreams realised and expectations achieved.

Interestingly, as if a response to Nowa’s diatribe against him, sometime in 2006 at a State Banquet organised in his honour while on a 3-Day state visit to Ogun State, former President Obasanjo emphatically described his predecessor thus: “…General Murtala was a dynamic, committed, dedicated leader who believed strongly in what was best for Nigeria.

As Thomas Jefferson would also say, “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom....”, General Murtala while proffering panacea to the multifaceted political hiccups of that time had to clamp down on all the erring Civil Servants with the then Head of the Federal Civil Service Commission, who was seen as the most powerful, influential and

Muhammad untouchable Public Servant topping in the list.

Also, since, ‘charity begins at home’, the general immediately shifted his rationalisation drive to his Military Constituency, wherein he dismissed the then military governors that served under the Gowon Regime with their assets confiscated and transferred to the federal government and accounts frozen.

However, all these principles and ideals that General Murtala stood for have over the years been eroded, while corruption had become the bane of the nation, although institutions like WAI, EFCC, ICPC, NEITI, PTF and NASS have over the years shown some semblance of courage akin to the beliefs and dreams of General Murtala.

Of all his dreams, the one, which considered relocating the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory to Abuja, was courageously realised through General Babangida in 1991 and subsequent consolidation of the same by the late General Sani Abatcha. Both Generals contributed in making Abuja a reality.

Finally as Nigerians all over remembered the late Muhammad on his 45th anniversary with series of encomiums showered on him for his dynamic and selfless leadership provided within just six months of his rule, perhaps, the Nigerian political class would seize the reason of the remembrance to eschew all sorts of political brigandage and Socio-cultural bigotry by respecting the Constitution of the land they all swore to uphold.

With the plethora of problems pervading the country today especially, in the area of insurgency, kidnapping and banditry, which have forced leadership at the regional levels to establish alternative security outfits, the need to build a strong, united and virile country is not negotiable.

Like the late Claude Ake once enthused, ‘Democracy cannot solve all the problems but none of the major problems can be solved without it’, the need for a lasting peace in Nigeria cannot be over-emphasised.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 21, 2021

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CICERO/INTERVIEW

‘Only Court Can Determine Authentic Kaduna PDP Exco’ Major Yahaya Shinko (rtd) is the secretary of a faction of the PDP in Kaduna State, otherwise known as PDP Restoration Movement. In this interview with John Shiklam, he spoke about the grievances of his group and why the party might be heading towards disaster. Excepts:

A

s the secretary of a PDP faction in Kaduna state, what are the issues that led to the crack in the party?

There are several issues, but there are three most important ones. One is in respect of the list of ward executives of the party. After the ward congress in March 2020, a list was duly approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, which was released to all organs of the party in the state, through the National Working Committee (NWC) on April 24, 2020.

It was circulated as the authentic list (of those who emerged at the ward congresses) and the list to be used for the conduct of Local Government Congresses.

However, when it was time for the conduct of the Local Government Congresses, some people went round and changed that list.

In some of the wards, particularly in Kubau, Soba and Lere, Local governments, names on the authentic list were changed to favour certain class of members of the party.

Observations were raised and we had a meeting at the instance of the National Chairman of the party.

The meeting was presided by the National Vice Chairman, North, and all stakeholders in the state were in attendance. It was agreed, based on the report of former governor, Ramalan Yero committee, that all parties should revert to the authentic list, released on April 24, 2020.

However, when it was time to conduct local government congresses, an adulterated list was used. Those who were not supposed to have emerged as executive members of the party found their names on that list and were allowed to vote in their various local governments.

These people were also allowed at the state congresses. So, our grievances is that, the election of state executive members of the party was not in accordance with the list that was made available on April 24, 2020 by the National Secretariat of the party.

Equally, the emergency of those members of ward executive that also voted at the state congress was characterised with irregularities, because those, who elected them were not supposed to have voted at the local government congresses.

Our position now is that the state executive of the party will not have our recognition.

Furthermore, on the day the state congress was to take place, a court order was duly served on the chairman of the caretaker committee of the party with his members, restraining them from conducting the state congresses until the matter filed before the court is determined. That court order is still subsisting up till date!

Another reason for disputing the legality of state executive of the party is that the purported ward executive members, who participated in the state congress, were not properly nominated.

The guidelines issued by the National Working Committee (NEC) of the PDP provides that every person seeking elective position in the party at all levels, must obtain a form, fill it and be nominated by two persons in each ward of the Local Government Area.

Thereafter, he will go to the court and swear to an affidavit and attach it to the form and submit it, not later than seven days to the congress. But in this case, all those, who have emerged as the local government executives were nominated after the announcement of results.

Meaning that after results were announced and the person is declared winner, he goes to fill the form and submit it. This is a clear violation of the PDP constitution and the guidelines issued by the NEC. These same sets of people were those who converged and claimed to have elected the state executives.

But in spite the court injunction, your group was said to have participated in the congresses and presented a candidate for the chairmanship.

The issue is not about a group, but about the party. It is about complying with the constitution of the party, guidelines of the party, the Electoral Act and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. What we are

Shinko saying is that unless all those things are mended, there is no how anybody can address himself as an executive of the party in that state. That is our stand.

The state chairman of the party, Mr. Felix Hassan Hyat, has alleged that some people, who defected from the APC, are those causing confusion for the party. Is that true?

It is not true that those of us who decamped from APC are causing confusion in the party. When he talked about people who decamped from APC to PDP, he was talking about members of the reformed APC (r-APC), which I am also a member.

The Kaduna PDP Restoration Movement is founded by bonafide founding members of the PDP. Some of them include Hon. Imam Lawal, who has never decamped to any party and Dr. Dogara Mato, a member of the PDP who has never decamped to any party.

He was deputy speaker in the Kaduna State House of Assembly. There are several others, including the former deputy state chairman of the party, who had never gone to any party. I am the only one, with two others that had been in r-APC before we came to PDP. Let me tell you part of our story as r-APC. On July 13, 2018, there was an agreement signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the PDP on the one hand and the National Chairman of the r-APC, Engr.

Buba Galadima and the Secretary of the r-APC on the other hand.

Witnesses in that agreement were chief Leo Imokhe for the PDP and Barnabas Gemade for the r-APC. It was agreed that all those who decamped from r-APC to PDP would have certain percentage of executive positions, depending on the structure of the party nationwide.

For instance in Kano, Kwankwaso was given about 60 per cent, in Sokoto, Tambuwal got a certain percentage, in Kwara State, Bukola Saraki was given and in Kaduna, we were to be given 40 per cent.

The 40 per cent of the structure as agreed upon, is that at the ward level, r-APC in Kaduna State would have seven out of 17 positions in the PDP. At the Local Government level, r-APC will was to have 7 out of 17 positions in each local government.

At the state level, r-APC was supposed to have 11 positions out of 26 positions. But the Hassan Hyat committee refused to cede these positions to us. If these positions were ceded to us at the congresses that brought out the governorship candidate in the last elections, I can tell you, our candidate would have emerged

as winner.

But we didn’t say anything. We allowed them to do as they please. Our intention was to make sure that APC was defeated in the 2019 elections.

In March 2020, after the congresses were conducted, as they understood that our principal, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, who decamped from r-APC to PDP got upper hands in some of the places, they decided to suspend him with others from the party. The effort of the r-APC gave the PDP the leadership of the National Assembly. It is the same r-APC that gave Kaduna additional senator.

They refused to honour that agreement in Kaduna State after benefiting from our efforts. We didn’t say anything until 2020, when they realised that we still have upper hands over them at the ward congresses that is why they decided to change the authentic list of delegates.

We had overlooked all these things, only for them to start suspending Senator Hunkuyi. We went to court to challenge the suspension and whether they had right to conduct congresses and refused to give us our own slots.

When that matter was going on, some people also filed another case against the state exco. So if somebody says, it is people that decamped from APC that are causing problem, the person is telling lies. Those who have never left the PDP are in the forefront in the Kaduna PDP Restoration movement.

Hyat also insisted that the National Secretariat of the PDP conducted the congresses and that he had nothing to do with manipulating any list that your group is talking about?

I can tell you that the list in question is carrying the name of Hassan Hyat. He signed the letter and was the one that said he had inaugurated them. What about the court order, which restrained the party from conducting the state congresses? As a law abiding citizens, as far as I am concerned, a situation where we have two contenders for the office of the state chairman of the party, I cannot risk backing someone, claiming that he is the chairman, while the other one obeying the court order is hanging aside.

What we are saying is that the National Secretariat of the party should constitute a caretaker committee for the purpose of managing the activities of the party in Kaduna State until when the court determines the matter conclusively. As it is, there is no how we can identify with anyone as member of the state executive until the court order is vacated.

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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 21, 2021

600 Days: A Chronicle of Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Agenda Óâ ÒßØÎÜÏÎ ÎËãÝ ËʰÏÜ ËÌËÔÓÎÏ ËØáÙ̋ Öß áËÝ ÝáÙÜØ ÓØ ËÝ ÞÒÏ ÑÙàÏÜØÙÜ ÙÐ ËÑÙÝ ÞËÞϘ ÒÓÝ ËßÎËÍÓÙßÝ ËÑÏØÎË ÓÝ ßØÜËàÏÖÖÓØÑ ËØÎ ÓÝ àÓÝÓÌÖÏ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÜÏàÓàËÖ ËØÎ ÙØÑÙÓØÑ ÜÏÌßÓÖÎÓØÑ ÙÐ ÍÜÓÞÓÍËÖ ÝÙÍÓËÖ ÓØÐÜËÝÞÜßÍÞßÜÏ ËØÎ ÞÒÏ ÝÞËÞÏ ÏÍÙØÙ×㘠áÜÓÞÏÝ Lanre Alfred

T

his week, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu completes 600 days in office, crossing another milestone in his chequered governorship odyssey. Indeed, so much has happened in the last almost two years of his ascension into office, especially regarding the execution of his six pillars of development known as THEMES (Traffic Management and Transportation; Health and Environment; Education and Technology).

As the world battled the coronavirus pandemic with the concomitant shutdown of the economy, governance, understandably, slowed to a trot but the governor did not stop working. In celebration of his first anniversary last May, he commissioned some projects virtually, including a concrete jetty with shoreline protection at Ikorodu; rehabilitation, upgrading and construction of road projects at Alagbado, Somolu, Mushin and Badagry among others; over 500 houses and apartments in various parts of the state and construction of classroom blocks in both primary and secondary schools in different local government areas of the state.

Much more has been achieved between then and now in the governor’s race towards making Lagos a 21st Century Economic as espoused in the Project THEMES. It bears recalling that the cardinal part of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s ‘Greater Lagos’ vision was infrastructural development because according to him, “If Lagos is to sustain its Centre of Excellence status in the country, vital infrastructures must be carefully built across all sectors. Universally, infrastructure development is critical to achieving human capital development. The economic impact that infrastructure improvement has on nation-building cannot be over-emphasised.”

The governor added that it is because of infrastructure’s crucial role in achieving rapid economic growth that advanced nations of the world commit huge investment to it as their prosperity depends on it.

He said, “From the ancient Roman Empire to the super economic powers of the 21st Century, it has been clearly demonstrated that no nation can accomplish true greatness without evolving pragmatic strategies for long-term infrastructural development.”

Thus, before the first anniversary, the state had raised an N100 billion series III bond under its N500 billion Third Bond Programme to fund infrastructure and capital projects, which Governor Sanwo-Olu declared was the largest bond programme ever embarked on by any Nigerian state.

He believes that the bond would activate more prosperity for Lagos and give its people the hope for a better tomorrow.

“When we came into government, we made a commitment to all Lagosians that we are coming to pursue and implement an agenda that will build our capacity to achieve ‘Greater Lagos’, which we all will be proud of. With this N100 billion bond, we will ensure that all Lagosians feel the direct impact of this intervention in their homes and on the roads.

“We are bringing new infrastructure and repairing the existing ones including bridges and hospitals. We are going to renovate schools and build new ones for our children; slums will be regenerated, and pressing environmental issues will be solved. We are going to make people feel the essence of governance,” he stated.

As part of the state’s infrastructural renewal, the AgegePen Cinema Bridge in the boisterous Agege area of Lagos State has nearly been completed. The bridge, which is primed to boost economic activities in Agege and adjoining areas and ease the perennial traffic bottlenecks in the axis, ascends from Oba Ogunji Road and drops at Oke Koto axis of Agege; and opens to the old Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway through Abule-Egba. Many years after the project began, it is about to see the light of day.

“The level of completion of the project is around 90 per cent. All the major brickwork has been done, and we are left with two major deliverables, which include cleaning up the intersection and signalisation. There are four synchronised signalisations we are expecting to have, and each must work together with the other. This is in fulfilment of the promise we made that we will complete all abandoned projects,” the governor said while on an inspection visit in early December 2020.

Similarly, Sanwo-Olu has assured Lagosians that the state government would complete the ongoing construction of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, which delay was based on the government’s plan to build a first-class infrastructure that people would be proud of when completed.

There is also the ongoing Victoria Island-Lekki Traffic Circulation Project, which commenced in December 2019, under a Public Infrastructure Improvement Partnership

(PIIP) Programme in conjunction with Access Bank. The project involves the dualisation, expansion, construction and rehabilitation of some roads, junction and turning radius including the provision of a new drainage system and re-routing of some roads as one-way and signalisation.

The partnership has birthed a 1.8-kilometre road in the Oniru-Victoria Island axis, which was commissioned last September.

Commuting on the busy OshodiAbule-Egba section of the Lagos–Abeokuta expressway especially early in the morning and after office hours was usually a harrowing experience with commuters spending an average of two hours during peak traffic periods – 7 am to 10 am and 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm. That is no longer the case as the governor has erased that untoward narrative.

Last September, the 13.68 kilometrelong BRT corridor was reconstructed and commissioned, and this has consequently reduced commute time on the route by as much as 75 per cent. The governor announced at the commissioning that there already were 550 high and medium capacity buses that would be immediately deployed for public use.

Under ‘Pillar H’ of THEMES, which stands for health and environment, the Sanwo-Olu administration brings about a renaissance in the state’s public health sector. In January 2021, the governor commissioned the 110-bed Maternal and Child Centre (MCC), School of Sanwo-Olu Anaesthesiology in Badagry General Hospital, and 252 units of a two-bedroom housing project in Idale – all in Badagry. He also flagged off the construction of the 5.5 kilometre-long Hospital Road being rehabilitated to create easy access to the Badagry General Hospital and the new housing estate in the town.

The governor said the projects were part of his administration’s efforts to bring development in Badagry at par with other areas of the state. With the completion of the four-floor MCC, which is already being operated, SanwoOlu said the state government had expanded healthcare infrastructure and improved access to quality health services in the town.

Months before then, the governor had commissioned the 149-bed Maternal and Childcare Centre, MCC, in Alimosho General Hospital.

The specialist centre, which is equipped with ultramodern equipment that aids prompt delivery of maternal and child care services, was facilitated through the Senior Special Assistant’s Office on Sustainable Development Goals.

Also, to serve the health needs of residents and increase mothers and babies’ access, especially to quality health services, the governor, in 2019, unveiled a four-floor 110bed Maternal and Child Centre (MCC) in Eti-Osa LGA. Specially designed to provide integrated healthcare for mothers and children, the facility has four operational surgical theatres, defibrillators, ventilators, oxygen therapy, and a phototherapy unit. It is the eighth facility, according to the governor, to be completed by the government to offer specialised mother and childcare services.

On the third pillar, ‘E,’ an acronym for education and technology, the governor said that the rehabilitation of public schools has begun with the inauguration of a special committee; and no fewer than 5000 primary school teachers will be trained to complete the three-pronged education strategy of fixing the infrastructure, the curriculum, and the manpower through recruitment, training, and development of teachers.

Undoubtedly, confidence in the public educational system has declined significantly in Lagos and everywhere else across the country for the past few decades. Parents, understandably, prefer to enrol their wards in private schools because even the structures of some public schools are worse than an eyesore. Governor Sanwo-Olu did not think the status quo should remain.

To underscore his commitment to revamping the education sector, the state’s budget 2020 saw education getting a significantly increased capital budgetary allocation of N48 billion, an increase of 60 percent over the 2019 provision of N30 billion. It was a ringing indication that Governor Sanwo-Olu means business.

As part of the sector reforms, the Eko Excel, an acronym for ‘Excellence in Child Education and Learning,’ was launched on January 25, 2020. The launch was preceded by a two-week intensive training of over 4,000 teachers from various schools and education districts across the state who will be the main drivers of the new initiative to reposition service delivery in public primary schools with special focus on learning outcomes for pupils.

Giving credence to its policy to promote a smart city with technology, the Sanwo-Olu administration organised the Art of Technology Lagos where the governor announced N250 million grant for tech start-ups to encourage young people with fantastic ideas. The administration also gave N350 million bailout for personnel cost and increased Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education’s subvention from N200 million to N250 million.

In continuation of skill acquisition as a tool of empowerment, 4, 885 youths graduated from 17 skill acquisition centres located in the five divisions of the state. In line with the national campaign for a return to agriculture, the administration boosted farmers’ fortune through the Agricultural Value Chains Empowerment Programme.

Hundreds of farmers were empowered with inputs to kick start or improve their businesses.

The 32 metric tonnes per hour capacity Imota Rice Mill is also one of the many strategies for expanding the revenue accruable to the state and attaining sufficiency in rice production. The rice mill, situated on a landmass of 8.5 hectares of land, will produce 650 bags of 50kg rice per hour and has two lines to produce 16 metric tonnes each.

More than 250, 000 direct and indirect jobs are expected to be created from the mill when completed.

In Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, the administration witnessed a milestone in infrastructural development with the signing of the $629m funding of the Lekki Seaport project. Funded by the China Development Bank, the project will invigorate the Lagos economy and push it up in the world’s index of the largest economies.

When completed, the project will transform the Lekki corridor into a new economic hub and offer a new impetus for socio-economic growth in the state with the signing of the agreements.

Also, given his resolute commitment to a private sectordriven economy, securing the deal reflects the Sanwo-Olu administration’s plan to explore investments and partnerships that would accelerate growth and benefit residents of the state.

Upon completion, the deep seaport would have two container berths of 680-metre long and 16.5-metre water depth. It will also have the capacity to be berthed by fifthgeneration container ships, which has 18,000 TEU ships.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 21, 2021

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CICERO/ONTHEWATCH

Jonathan’s Gambit: A Myth or Reality?

Will former President Goodluck Jonathan succumb to pressure and take his chances in 2023?

Chuks Okocha asks

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hat started as a whispering campaign about the muted bid to push a former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, into the 2023 presidential race, is gradually becoming more and more deafening.

The two major political parties – the opposition PDP and the ruling APC – have both openly wooed the immediate past President under various guises. But political watchers understand the veiled and the unveiled meanings of these consultative shuttles.

The most recent of these curious visits took place days ago and it was by the APC governors. The PDP reaction showed the party was rattled, because though the reason for the meeting was not disclosed, everyone could see it wouldn’t be unconnected to the forthcoming 2023 presidential election.

The PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, recently told those who still doubt it that the former President was eminently qualified to run and that the PDP ticket was open to him and all Nigerians.

It was the second time the APC chieftains paid the former President a visit, with each one interpreted as a drafting move. The former President, during his ill-fated 2015 re-election campaign, predicted that Nigerians would wish for him if they allowed the APC propaganda to succeed.

Then, the man was believed to be the nation’s problem and that his main challenger, Muhammadu Buhari was capable of leading Nigeria to the Eldorado.

Radical reforms and changes promised by the APC were a whopping failure in total but standing out are the fight against corruption, insecurity and economy. Six years after taking over, things have grown from bad to worse in all those challenges that made Nigerians to look in the direction of the retired general and his APC. Jonathan didn’t perform badly after all and his administration is now being considered in the realm of a golden age following the underwhelming performance of the ruling party.

If indeed his whispering campaign to come back holds out, his campaign is already going on by the incumbent’s poor performance. It is already clear that Jonathan is basking in the euphoric atmosphere of his being courted as the beautiful bride by both the opposition and ruling party.

Who wouldn’t be? Nigerian politicians actually have no scruples and are not interested in adhering to noble principles and patriotic politics that can help national cohesion and consensus.

They are not statesmen otherwise they will be thinking of the next generation. Unfortunately, power merchants and influence peddlers are already thinking about the next election and how to either retain power or grab it.

However, Jonathan’s pathway to 2023 presidential election is dogged and shackled by many obstacles – some moral, and some legal. In terms of paper qualification, Jonathan holds a PhD of the Rivers State University in Zoology and therefore holds the ultimate degree, which no country in the world has demanded from its presidential aspirants.

Talk of experience – Jonathan has been Deputy Governor, Governor, Vice President, Acting President and ultimately President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So, in terms of experience, Jonathan could be the most experienced Nigerian where it comes to politics and governance.

There are however two factors besieging Jonathan and they are legal and moral issues.

According to Dr. Law Mefor, a Forensic/Social Psychologist and Journalist, there is a law debarring the former President from contesting in 2023. The law in question is: “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (4th Alteration No 16) Act, 2017)”.

“This new constitutional amendment may have been contemplated following the rancor occasioned by the same Jonathan contesting the 2015 Presidential Election. Recall that the Northern segment of the country believed Jonathan was not qualified based on rotation of presidential power between North and South Nigeria and power ought to have shifted to the North in that season.

“There was also a gentlemanly agreement, which was reached with him (Jonathan) to go for only one term before he contested the 2011 Presidential Election. He reneged on it,” he said.

He explained that, “In law, express mention of one thing is said to be an express exclusion of another. The constitutional amendment assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari on 4th June, 2018, does not permit former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to contest in 2023 unless repealed.

“The extant section barring Jonathan states in its explanatory note… “The act alters the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to disqualify a person who was sworn in as President or Governor to complete the term of an elected President or Governor from being elected to the same office for more than a single term.”

According to him, “To give effect to the disqualification of any person, who has been sworn-in to complete the term of a President or a governor from contesting more than one term, sections 137 and 182 of the 1999 Constitution were amended to ensure the same.

“Then the question: is Dr. Goodluck Jonathan qualified to contest the 2023 Presidential Election? Where does this leave off Jonathan in view of his speculated return in 2023? Going by the express provisions of the said amendment on tenure, Jonathan is disqualified unless this extant law, which is now deemed a constitutional provision, is not repealed and set aside”, he exposed He did not stop there, Mefor, further said, “Perhaps the real issue is the moral burden. Many would say that morality is inconsequential and a miniscule issue but it is the main plank where other ancillary issues can stand. One good turn they say

Jonathan...all eyes on him deserves another.

“The South East supported the Goodluck Presidency to the end and got dubbed 5% voters by President Muhammadu Buhari and have continued to suffer marginalisation and exclusion as a consequence since Buhari was sworn in on May 29, 2015. It is due the zone has paid and now is pay back time”, he explained Further, he said, “The most important support the South East zone needs now in their question to produce the nation’s President in 2023 is that of Goodluck Jonathan. That is why the simmering moves to draft the former President may spell doom for the push and the only one who can stop it is Goodluck Jonathan himself.

“As a Jonathanian myself, I once again call on the former President, a beneficiary of the presidential zoning arrangement of the PDP, to repudiate the moves to drag him into the ring. Even if he wins the race, it will still be a mortal blow to the zone that gave him their all and stood solidly with him even when most of the PDP chieftains deserted and betrayed him in 2015.

“The implication will be the South East waiting for 12 years since power will logically return to the North after his 4 years spell.

“As the patriot we know him to be, Dr. Jonathan has to openly denounce this unfortunate whispering campaign before it becomes a loud distracting noise. These dark political forces want to sever the fraternal bond between the South East and South-

south for their selfish purpose, as well as unnecessarily overheat an already chaotic polity.”

Unfortunately, Mefor did not address the fact that a law cannot be retroactive in enforcement. Jonathan left office in 2015 and the law was passed in 2018, even if he was had in mind when amending it, it could not have affected him.

Thus, if Mefor’s admonition was predicated only on morality and sentiments, perhaps, his argument would have been considered in some quarters, even though debatable. But from the point of view of the law, others, who are knowledgeable in law disagree with him.

Apart from above, how would he navigate his 2023 presidential ambitions, if it were to be true? Would he get the support of the Southwest? What of the South-south? There are hawks in the two zones waiting to devour Jonathan, should he venture.

For in the APC, it is a no go area. How would he manage the Tinubus and the Osinbajos as well the Kayode Fayemis? Then, what of the South-south? For both the APC and the PDP. It is a no go area. The body language of the Rivers State Governor, Nysom Wike is clear. Then, what of the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, how would Jonathan navigate these sharks infested political terrain? Again, everything is possible in politics and only time will tell.

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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 21, 2021

X-raying Douye’s 365 Days in Office One year since assuming office, Allison Abanum ÚËãÝ ÞÜÓÌßÞÏ ÞÙ ÙàÏÜØÙÜ ÓÜÓ ÙßãÏ ÙÐ ËãÏÖÝË ÞËÞϘ ÐÙÜ ÖËÝÝ ÏËÎÏÜÝÒÓÚ ÓØ ÝßÍÒ Ë ÝÒÙÜÞ ÞÓ×Ï

T

he incipient stages of any vision are often laced with all sorts of challenges. But the initial disposition and approach to executing the projects tend to give confidence to the eventual beneficiaries and much-needed encouragement to the protagonists of such vision.

Time goes by so swiftly; indeed, our activities are only variables acting in time and space. Hence, the impact we make with our time turns out to be its real value.

Success is viewed parallel to this impact and such can be said for all spheres of life, including leadership.

The earth has completed one full revolution around the sun since the inauguration of a new government in Bayelsa State. As the case has been for leaders around the globe, the challenges of leading in these times of crisis are quite peculiar, yet, like one of my mentors rightly says, “If it’s too easy, it doesn’t create much value.”

The Douye Diri-led Government in Bayelsa State knew first-hand the enormousness of the task it had undertaken, when it set out gallantly to steer the good people of Bayelsa on a voyage of abundance, peace and happiness.

A blueprint for pastures green and inclusive prosperity for the good people of the State was clear in the Governor’s heart and he often alludes to this in speeches. He has been unequivocal that he needs to set up a system that would stand the test of time – a government structured to bring about prosperity and sustainable growth.

This vision clearly gave Bayelsans hope of light in a seemingly abyss of darkness.

“Where there is darkness, let us bring light.” This is the last phrase of a famous prayer by St. Francis of Assisi, offered by Governor Diri during his inaugural speech – one he declared as, “our creed.”

The government through well-calculated actions and policies has so far shown a rich intent to carry out the mandate it has accepted. These actions include changes in modus operandi and enacting polices that are welfare-centric and growth stimulating.

A cut in cost of governance; with calculations indicating almost a 50% reduction in the cost of running the state, immediately freed up much-needed funds useful elsewhere.

A restructuring and re-energising of the State Civil Service immediately ensued. The steady and prompt payment of civil servants, with the 28th of every month set as benchmark.

There is also assurance of promotion for deserving individuals as and when due and immediate enjoyment of the entitlements that come with the new position.

Prompt payment of pensions and gratuities to pensioners was sweet music to the ears of people. These policies have proven to have a direct positive impact in the lives of individuals to a large extent.

It became speedily clear that the welfare and job creation were strong cogs in Senator Diri’s vision intended to propel the locomotive of success hence the creation of job opportunities for over 3000 graduates in various capacities in the state.

As if the dire challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic weren’t enough, this administration has had to deal with so much court case distraction from people seeking to undermine its progress. It was almost like it’s taking a new degree in law, due to how often Governor Diri had to frequent the Judiciary to clear every single doubt as regards his grace to office.

Upon careful analysis, it was established that the Governor had the unpleasant experience of dealing with 31 court cases filed against his election as Governor with a breakdown showing a total of three pre-election cases, five cases of review at the Supreme Court, ten at the Election Petition Tribunal, seven cases at the Court of Appeal and six at the Supreme Court.

Despite the unwanted court distractions from aggrieved parties, this Administration refused to be derailed in trying to carry out its given mandate and came through on the promises made during its campaign.

Upon inauguration, it was expedient to disperse the cloud of confusion and negativity the State was plunging into. One of the first tasks the acclaimed “Miracle Administration” set out to accomplish is to ensure an atmosphere of peace and security.

Senator Diri clearly recognised the importance of a strifefree environment and trod wisely setting the tone with a powerful inaugural speech of uncompromising reconciliation.

Leadership is not a position but an action therefore when a leader that is divinely enthroned pilots the affairs, a clear reversal of the negative norms is expected.

Uncertainty and insecurity are major trends bullish in the societal, economical and political structures that were in place in Bayelsa State prior to Governor Diri’s miraculous victory. Critical analysis of the situation presently shows a sharp improvement.

Within this time, the Administration has managed to return an atmosphere of stability to the State, fouling the

Douye

negative predictions of deterrents. This is credited to his “no enemy” mentality in leadership and the penchant to carry everyone along. There is evident improvement in the socio-economic status of the State owing to a greatly reduced crime rate, which is slowly but surely attracting investment of all sorts.

The Diri-led Administration has always reiterated its commitment to setting up a system of continuous productivity. This vision has been driving the Governor since he first trod the hallowed balcony of leadership.

The automatic employment policy proposed by Senator Diri for excellent sport persons in his capacity as a principal figure in the sports sector in the past, is still resonating well through the sector as most of the people drafted into gainful employment have gone ahead to continue to empower the youth starting from the grassroots to higher levels.

It doesn’t take rocket science to draw a parallel on how engaged youths affect the downward drive of crime rate or occurrence. Indeed such strategy has proven to be a masterstroke, one worthy of pages in the journals of governance.

Within this period under review, this Administration has made practical its strong belief in peaceful coexistence as a vital tool for growth and development.

It has managed to reconcile clans and communities at loggerheads over various issues with the peace brokerage between Agudama-Epie and Akenfa communities as a stand out example of numerous other disputes that have been settled.

Financial and logistical equipment of various security outfits has been given prominence atop the scale of preference, because Peace and stability are sugar crumbs laid out to attract the ants of investments and development.

“We will create a vibrant economy that would propel wealth creation, economic boom and industrial revolution that would make our people work for themselves instead of waiting for monthly allocations from Abuja, which is not helping our people and state for now.”

Thus far, I’d like to believe that they weren’t just mere words said at the time to stir up favourable emotions or to sway the bias of the people. The Governor made these declarations on firm trust on the plans and visions he has for the State. The task of the leader is to get the people from where they are to where they have not been. Infrastructural development is a must to achieve this task.

Clearly, it can be seen that this Administration has gone ahead to try and surmount the obstacles of the present times and initiated various infrastructural projects.

These include work on the Yenagoa ring-road project connecting Igbogene to Onopa with a proposal of the Tombia-Etegwe Flyover on the cards if traffic congestion persists in such areas.

Some of the other roads under construction include the failed portion of Opokuma Road, the Yenegua-Okubie Road (Bayelsa Central Senatorial Road), Igbogene-AIT road, Gloryland Drive and 50 internal roads in the state capital, Yenagoa.

Effective efforts to light up the streets of Yenagoa were scheduled and carried out to give more buoyancy to night

life and the associated economical and social benefits, curtailing drastically derailing factors with crime and public harassment being chief targets to dispel.

The diligence and commitment with which the global pandemic has been handled in Bayelsa State thus far is outstanding. The Covid-19 situation is being managed with transparency and humanity in the fore.

Effective regulations and policies as regards public health safety, sanitation and price of goods have greatly helped to soften the blows the pandemic has dealt the nation as a whole.

The degree of victory currently seen in the State in the war against the coronavirus is also not by chance. It is a product of prioritising the effectiveness of the health sector in the State.

The government was quick to respond to both infrastructural and personnel equipment, continuous training of health workers to measure up to best practices and standards and provision of welfare arrangements to ensure adequate service delivery in the health sector.

Business activities form the basics of human existence.

The need to improve and multiply possession is an alpha drive. One will agree that it is anchored upon a vibrant small and medium business quadrant. Empowering this level automatically empowers others atop the business chain. This administration has shown great support for SMEs through its welfare packages and policies directly affecting the people of Bayelsa State. This is all in a move to bring to reality its prosperity agenda for the state and its people.

The seemingly ever increasing pool of negative disposition of the masses towards governance in this part of the world is probably well deserved, but when you somehow have in place an administration that despite inheriting a dysfunctional system, strives to set up and implement one of sustainable growth and development and having not only the present in mind but the future as well.

Slowly but surely the air of negative feeling initially adopted by the people begins to disappear, as is the case of the good people of Bayelsa State.

As the Administration marks a relatively successful one year in office, so far Bayelsans can rest assured that a constructive review of this period will continue to propel this government to engage in carefully thought out plan and strategy to better the livelihoods of Bayelsans both now and for the future.

The hope of better things to come is most times hinged upon the glaring prepositions of the present, going by the positive antecedent of Governor Diri’s journey in public service thus far, it sure looks like this administration is on course to dazzle the good people of Bayelsa with seemingly miraculous feats from the waving wands of its principal.

The price for greatness is responsibility and the Diri-led Administration, one would agree, doesn’t seem to be shying away from the responsibility of an impactful leadership.

––Abanum is Senior Special Assistance on Strategic Communication and Documentation to the Bayelsa State Governor

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ BRUARY 21, 2021

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The Lion that Cannot Be Caged Femi Fani-Kayode

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ver the last one week millions of Nigerians have expressed concern about which direction I am going politically and much has been said.

Some have gone out of their way to reach out to me and offered their counsel out of genuine love and concern.

Others have not reached out to me and have written or spoken out of ignorance, hate and malice imputing the worst motivations for actions which they claim I have purportedly taken. This contribution is an attempt to provide answers to just a few of the oftentimes asinine and absurd assertions and observations that the latter group have made.

Some say they warned me and that I have fallen into a trap whilst others say my voice has been silenced, I am a spy and that this signals the end of my political career.

My response to them and others who have conjured up even stranger motivations and conspiracy theories when it comes to FFK is as follows. To whom it may concern: spare me your crocodile tears and be rest assured that I am too big, too intelligent, too experienced and too forthright to fall into any trap.

It is impossible to castrate a lion, render it impotent or silence its roar. I stand on all my beliefs, core values and principles. I am the voice of the voiceless, I am a warrior, I fear nothing, I fear no-one, I am as constant as the northern star and I will ALWAYS stand against evil.

Speaking to other leaders across party lines in order to build bridges, engender peace, foster stability and enhance national unity ought not to create such national and international rage, panic and pandemonium. Are we so divided that we can’t even talk to one another and take pictures together without causing a public stir and setting the Internet on fire? You insult me and say I am scared of prison because I had a meeting with two APC Governors?

Do you know how many PDP and APC Governors and leaders I interact with and meet regularly? Do you know how many I talk to on a daily basis?

Do you know that I was prosecuted for 7 years by PDP Governments who tried to jail me simply for speaking out against them yet it did not deter me? Ask those that were in the Yar’adua and Jonathan administration. After a while they got tired because the more they tried to intimidate me into silence or make me flee the country the more I stood my ground and fought my corner till they gave up.

Does that sound like a man that is scared of death or prison?

You insult me and say I am broke because I had talks with two APC Governors.

Do you know that I spend more on my monthly salary bill in one month than some of these people that are claiming I am broke earn in 5 or 10 years.

I have 55 domestic staff in my house alone. Not one of them gets below 70,000 naira per month which is higher than the national minimum wage.

I do not owe salaries and I feed each of them three square meals every day. I do all this just to help them and to ensure they can look after and feed their families. Does that sound like a broke man to you? That is my little contribution to the welfare of our people because I certainly do not need so many staff. I employ them just to keep them off the unemployment line.

Apart from that do you know how many people I give scholarships to and how many peoples children I feed and educate? Do you know how many other families I am responsible for in terms of day to day living?

The Bible says be your brothers keeper and I do these things unto the Lord. I do them and I will never stop even when my good is repaid with evil. The Lord has always provided for me and given me the fat of the land. He has always caused me to be a blessing to others though I do not make noise about it.

For the last 60 years of my life He has been good to me. He has caused me to excel, prosper and flourish and from beginning to end He has always been with me and mine.

You say I make money through politics meanwhile I left public office in 2007 which is 13 years ago! Does that make sense to you?

In any case is politics my only source of income in the world? Am I your conventional politician who craves for elective office? Do I even attend their meetings? I have been in this game since 1990!

Do you know that?

I have been making my contributions to current affairs, political discourse and politics for the last 31 years which is long before most of today’s Governors or Ministers even knew the meaning of the word. And it was always a struggle which involved sacrifice.

Where were my detractors when I was in NADECO and fought against military rule?

The records are there and so are the essays and some of the people I worked with.

Where were they when we set up September Club in 1989 and some of the nations greatest leaders and elder statesmen and top politicians over the last 30 years, including Presidents, Governors, Ministers and legislators across party lines, were members.

Where were they in the days of NRC, SDP and Choice ‘92 when politics was real, when the greats held sway and when men honored their word.

Where were they when we risked all for MKO Abiola’s stolen mandate and June 12th and even had to go into exile for years because of it?

Where were they when we stood against the annulment of June 12th and fought against the Government of General Sani Abacha?

Fani-Kayode Where were they when we formed the Progressive Action Movement in 1999 and some of the nations brightest and best young stars and minds made their contribution to national affairs?

Where were they when we fought against Senator Ali Modu Sheriff who was sent to high jack and destroy the PDP? Where were they when I led President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign in 2015 and took the battle to the gates of the enemy?

Where were they when I stood behind President Olusegun Obasanjo and faced down ALL his detractors?

Where were they when I was targetted and almost assassinated on two separate occassions during the Obasanjo Presidency simply because I was the President’s defender in chief and armour bearer and was totally committed to his cause? I did all this in the past and present and you say I am making money from it? Do you know the risks involved in these things? Do you know I could have been killed together with members of my family long ago and most certainly would have had it not been for God? Can my detractors give up so much and risk so much just for politics? Honestly it really is the deepest insult.

Some of us were born into wealth and have never lacked it.

We were born into politics too. We were born into the circles of power so nothing moves us.

For us politics is a noble calling and not a profession. It is about proferring solutions to complex national issues and not about the acquisition of primitive wealth.

We gave up all for the struggle for democracy and the opportunity to help to develop our country and move her forward and now we are insulted and mocked and told we did it for money? Which money?

How much can I be bought or bribed with? All the money in the world could not move me because I have never lacked it.

What have I not had or enjoyed in life from a very young age? Where have I not been?

I came to the conclusion long ago that all is vanity and that material wealth means nothing. I would never sacrifice my principles or integrity for it.

Mallam Abba Kyari, the President’s late and powerful Chief of Staff, was my brother for over 40 years and we interacted regularly whilst he was in power.

I never asked him for ANYTHING from his Government just as I never asked or got ANYTHING from any of the previous Federal Governments between 2007 and 2021.

If I had done so I would not have been able to criticise those Governments publicly and I would have been exposed. You cannot criticise where you eat from.

I did not join APC when Abba was in Government and I did not compromise my principles when I could have asked him for anything I chose in return since he had the ear of the President.

I respected and loved him for who he was and NOT for the position he held and the feeling was mutual.

I opposed his Government in spite of our friendship and did not share his views yet we remained friends because our friendship was well above politics.

That is what civilised people do. They agree to disagree and respect each others views. They never let it come between their friendship.

I opposed Abba’s Government and risked losing an old and loyal friend and brother because I believed passionately in all I said. I believed all that I said then and I still believe it today. All that and now you dare to question my resolve and consistency? It is laughable.

You say I am inconsitent. Meanwhile I have been more consistent in my views over the last 30 years than 95% of Nigerian leader and I have stuck to my guns despite all manner

of persecution and suffering!

You say I have no relevance meanwhile millions all over the world read my words avidly every day and follow my actions religiously because I inspire them due to the fact that I have always had the courage of my convictions and I have always spoken truth to power.

Unlike most politicians I actually inspire people and give them hope. And most important of all they trust me and trust my judgement. They have also acknowledged the fact thst more often than not my words are prophetic and I have displayed remarkable insight and foresight when it comes to national affairs.

How many of your so-called “relevant” leaders have done that? How many of them have displayed such courage under fire for years on end?

How many of them can have their newspaper columns in three national dailies closed over the years due to threats to the publishers from the Government and yet keep writing his essays on social media with millions of people all over the world still reading them and receiving the message?

How many of them can be blacklisted by the nations newspapers and television stations with threatenjng orders from above and still keep talking?

How many of them across party lines can mould the thoughts and guide millions in this way with their counsel, words, actions and thoughts?

First 7 years of persecution under PDP then 5 years of persecution under APC! HOW many of your leaders can stand such fire and pain and still fight on?

Almost all of them ever do is sell you down the river, tell you lies, ignore your pain, deceive you, mock you, use you and give you crumbs in return for your acclamation, support and loyalty but you love them for that.

You say I am scared of even more persecution. At the age of 60 you believe I am scared?

What more can they do to me that they have not done already? And what more am I looking for in life that I have not enjoyed over the years?

Yet you say I am scared! And those that say so can barely endure one tenth of what I have endured.

Some of them make noise from the safety of other countries and stay away from Nigeria out of fear of being locked up yet they mock those of us that live on the doorsteps of our oppressors in Nigeria and dare them to their faces.

Some of them have not been able to face hardship or deprivation and neither can they bear it when their rights are being violated. Yet to many of us this has become the norm ahd we are used to it yet we still continue to struggle and fight the system regardless. Let me give you just one example.

Do you know that I have not been able to travel out of Nigeria for the last 13 years because my passport was first seized by a PDP Government for 8 and then by an APC Government for 5?

Do you know that I could not even go for medical check ups outside the country because of that?

Did you ever hear me complain or did this ever stop me from speaking truth to power, standing firm against injustice or speaking up for the weak, the persecuted and the voiceless?

Do you know I was locked up by both PDP and APC Federal Governments for no just cause?

Do you know I was even locked up in Boko Haram detention centers with Boko Haram suspects and convicts?

Do you know that only terrorists were kept in the facility that they kept me? Do you know that that place is worst than Gauntanamo Bay and that it was built by the British Government?

Do you know how terrifying that was and that I could have been killed or maimed whilst there?

Yet did you ever hear me complain about it, submit, compromise, give up or back down from criticising the Government or previous Governments because of these trials and tribulations?

How many of your so-called “relevant” and “great” leaders can bear such torment and injustice without cracking? Did you ever see or hear me crack? Did I ever break?

Do you know what horrors my first wife Regina and my daughter Remi were subjected to by a PDP Government? Do you know why they had to go into exile and live abroad?

Do you know what hell my ex-wife Precious and first son Aragorn were subjected to by the APC Government?

Do you know the tears we shed secretly and the number of times we suffered and were forced to go underground for no just cause?

Do you know the kind of stress and torment this put us through? Do you know that all our bank accounts have been frozen for five years?

Did all that stop me or stop us from standing? Did we not endure and bear it all with dignity for years and still continue to make our contribution to national affairs with zeal and passion.

Yet leaders like me that make these sacrifices and speak truth you describe as having no relevance, no consistency and you hate.

You mock, ridicule, insult and believe the very worst about us at the drop of a hat. Some even have the nerve and effontry to say we are not politicians simply because we have not run for elective office.

–– Femi Fani-Kayode is a fomer Aviation Minister Read the full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 21, 2021

GAVEL

Editor: Olawale Olaleye SMS:08116759819 email:wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com

New service chiefs

A Strange Screening of the Service Chiefs A recent screening of the three Service Chiefs by the House of Representatives was against convention, writes Adedayo Akinwale

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onstitutionally, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is bound by law to seek the approval of the National Assembly and precisely, the Senate for the conÀrmation of whomever he nominates

for any position.

It is sequel to the conÀrmation by the Senate before any nomination made by the President can have a legal backing and be constitutionally binding.

Though since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed o΀ce since 2015, Áouting constitutional provisions is not strange to his administration, as it has been a normal occurrence.

For instance, the former acting Chairman of the EconomicandFinancialCrimesCommission(EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, was nominated by the President in 2015, but not conÀrmed by the Senate, yet, the President kept him in acting capacity for more than Àve years until his unceremonious exit from the anti-graft agency last June.

Ever since, violating the country’s constitution has been the hallmark of President Buhari’s administration and even violation of the Federal Character is not strange either.

The President’s Ga;e On January 27, 2021, the President sent a letter to the House of Representatives asking for the screening and conÀrmation of Service Chiefs.

Against this background, the House at its plenary on 10th February 2021, read a request from the President informing the House of the nomination of Major-General Lucky Irabor, Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu GamboandAirViceMarshalIshiakaOladayoAmao, for appointment as Chief of Defence StaͿ, Chief of Army StaͿ, Chief of Naval StaͿ and Chief of Air StaͿ respectively.

No doubt, the letter from the President informing the House and seeking the conÀrmation for the appointments of service chiefs was the latest blunder from the President.

While it was still being deliberated whether the anomaly would be corrected, the Green Chamber seized the window of opportunity to assert its unconstitutional rights in screening of the service chiefs.

To be clear, screening of any appointee of the

President is the exclusive right of the Senate in line with the provisions of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).

House’s Unusual Exercise Eventhoughstrange,theHouselastweekscreened the nominees for the positions of Service Chiefs as requested by the President.

Chairman of the House Committee on Defence and Chairman of the Screening Committee, Hon. Babajimi Benson, said the nominees were presented for conÀrmation in accordance with the provisions of Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

He said this was why the committee planned to engage robustly and constructively with the nominees and if conÀrmed, provides them with all the support they would need to succeed.

Benson said Nigeria as a country was blessed with brave and gallant soldiers, many of whom have paid the ultimate price in service to the country, adding alsothatitwastotheirmemoriesthatthegovernment must get it right with the national security and help secure the peace for which they gave their lives.

He pointed out that from the inception of the 9th House, national security has been discussed more at several times at plenary, yet, the nation is still grappling with diverse and increasing security challenges, despite some successes recorded by the gallant men and women of the Armed Forces.

“While I appreciate there is no single magic solution, I believe the kind of leadership provided to our Armed Forces is part of the solution mix,” Benson added.

He noted that the committee was aware of the many sensitivities around national security matters, saying, because of its desire to robustly engage the nominees to a good level of granularity across many subject areas, it decided to conduct these vigorous exchanges behind closed doors.

TheChairmansaidthiswouldnotonlyhelpprotect national security, but more importantly, give the nominee the freedom to respond more adequately, comprehensively and expansively without any fear of an unwitting exposure of sensitive information.

JustiÀcation in Context Spokesman of the House, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, whilespeakingwithTHISDAYjustiÀedthescreening

of the new Service Chiefs, saying the House just like the Senate has the constitutional power to carry out the exercise.

Kalu cited Section 18, subsection 1 of the Armed ForcesAct, CapA20 laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004, which he said revealed that Buhari was in order when he sent a letter to the House of Representatives on 27th January 2021 asking for the screening of Service Chiefs.

He also made reference to a 2013 court case Àled by the current Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo against the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in which the Supreme Court held that it is the duty of the National Assembly, not just the Senate, to the exclusion of the House.

Agenda of the Service Chiefs ThenewlyappointedServiceChiefs,attheirscreening, outlined their programmes for the Nigerian Armed forces.

First to speak was the Chief of Defence StaͿ nominee, Major General Lucky Irabor, who said if conÀrmed, his intention is to foster better Armed Forces capable of making eͿective the imperatives of the constitution.

“By so doing, I intend to have some pillars that are allied to this broad focus of leadership. This may not come out as a vision because I believe that visions are meant for institutions and not individuals.

“As a military commander, I intend to have leadership focus in outlining the broad areas. To this, I intend to build a very professional armed forces that is eͿective, agile, result-oriented and of course, one that is loyal to constituted authority.”

On his part, the Chief of Army StaͿ designate, Maj-Gen. Attahiru said he would be working towards a Nigerian Army that is re-positioned to professionally defeat adversaries, adding that his style would be an integrative approach that would involveeveryNigerianinprovidingadequatesecurity for the country.

While promising to provide the right leadership for the Army especially, in this trying times, he said emphasis would be on the role of government and the role of society, where each and every Nigerian would be part of the security architecture to bring an end to the current problems.

He contended that the vision is embedded in the command philosophy, built on speciÀc pillars such

as readiness, duty to country, dependability and continuous leadership development. For emphasis, he included mission readiness, training, functional manning and equipment, loyalty, sacriÀce to fatherland and continuous leadership development. We will build an Army that will be innovative in the 21st century.

The Chief of Naval StaͿ nominee, Rear Admiral Auwal Gambo, also called for loyalty, cooperation, commitment, knowledge and skills of all o΀cers, ratings and civilian staͿ of the Nigerian Navy, saying his goal was to optimally harness these for the beneÀt of the service and the nation.

“If conÀrmed as Chief of the Naval StaͿ, I intend to leverage on all factors of national location, technology, training, teamwork and synergy to re-energize the Nigerian Navy and enhance her as well-motivated and ready to discharge her constitutional mandate and other tasks in fulÀllment of the national security objectives,” he said.

Speaking too, the Chief of Air StaͿ nominee, Air Vice Marshall Isiaka Amao said his focus for the Air Force would be to enhance and sustain critical airpower capability required in pursuit of national security imperatives.

He promised to focus on doctrinal development and joint military operations, pursue purposeful trainingandhumancapacitydevelopment,aswellas ensurethatweaponsandequipmentserviceabilityare sustained through elevating maintenance methods and logistic support system.

Amao, however, assured Nigerians that he would foster a disciplined workforce essential for combat readiness.

Magashi’s Curious Verdict MinisterofDefence,Maj-GenBashirMagashi(rtd), who accompanied the service chiefs to the screening, said the new Service Chiefs were still wearing their old rank instead of the rank of their respective new o΀ces, because the government was waiting for their conÀrmation by the National Assembly as part of eͿorts to subject them to civil authority.

Magashi said they would only wear the rank of their new o΀ces after their conÀrmation by the National Assembly, stressing that the government was aware of the constitutional provision that such crucial appointments were subject to National Assembly’s conÀrmation.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ BRUARY 21, 2021

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Nigeria’s Famously One - Sided Peace Pacts with Criminal Gangs and Agitators Abdullahi Usman

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he Kaduna based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gummi, a trained medical doctor and retired military officer, has been in the news of late, on account of his ongoing efforts to reach out to the various armed bandit groups holed up in their numerous independent camps located in the deep recesses of some of the most dreaded forests of the North West, with a view to negotiating a possible truce that will hopefully bring a welcome end to the continuing carnage that is being visited on the society by these armed groups.

Sheikh Gummi’s independent and unilateral voluntary effort in this regard is commendable, no doubt, and any move by any individual or group of persons designed to contribute towards arresting the current imminent slide into anarchy should and must be welcome by everyone. But it is still early days, I must admit, and any meaningful definitive and concrete take on this laudable move on the part of the learned Sheikh would have to wait for now, until the full details and Gumi Pacts with Criminal Gangs specific terms of the proposed peace pact he is promoting are made public. allegedly gloating over the fact that they had just CNN’s Michael Smerconish was right, after all, abducted a group of 20 female victims whom they when he famously stated recently that, “only an had taken to their camps and forcefully made arsonist lets a fire burn”. But in trying the quench their wives, and also boasting that in the event the raging fire, utmost care must be exercised to that they happened to see any other woman or avoid a situation where we may consciously add group of women they liked again, they would still fuel to it. This, unfortunately, is what we often end go ahead to abduct them in similar fashion. By so up doing, albeit inadvertently, in the sense that doing, these people are gradually taking us right many of the peace pacts we have historically had in back to the medieval period where might was the country thus far, from the very first major one right! with the Niger Delta militants to that executed with I find it very hard to fathom why and how on some of the supposedly repentant armed bandit groups in Zamfara and other affected areas last time earth a state like Zamfara that has been at the forefront of promoting the dialogue option to out, and many others in between, all seem to be address the raging problem of armed banditry geared towards assuaging the feelings of the armed and kidnapping incidents in its area of jurisdicmilitants/bandits alone, with a view to having tion has not said a word about compensating the them drop their arms. victims of the protracted twin issues facing them These range from the sanctioned payment of huge just yet. We cannot continue to commit public sums by the federal or state government, as the case funds towards making huge payouts to a group may be, to entice them to surrender their arms in a of known and identifiable criminals, while saying form of buy-back arrangement aimed at mopping precious little or absolutely nothing at all about up the large cache of illegal and dangerous weaptheir innocent victims, much less attempting to ons in their possession, to the payment of monthly stipends to their gang members for a predetermined compensate them for their own sufferings as well.

If the armed bandits have a justification for mutually agreed period of time, amongst others. being angry enough to take up arms against the But in all those previous attempts at assuaging the feeling of anger and, possibly, even guilt on the part society for the series of injustices that might have done to them by others in the past, as the Zamfara the criminals, no one as yet appears to be even reState Governor was alluding to in a recent video motely concerned about the arguably even far more interview, their victims who often get kidnapped important need to assuage the resulting justifiable and made to walk barefoot for hours on end over feeling of grief and anger of their innocent victims, long stretches of the thorny forests, along with the as far as I know. families of those who often get fatally shot and Indeed, a significant quantum of public resources die of their wounds in a bid to kidnap them, and has been expended on the promotion and execution all those who fail to make it out of the terrible and of our preferred one-sided truce over the course of unforgiving conditions of the numerous scattered the last several years to date, with varying degrees forest detention camps alive are equally entitled of success, and several of these hardened criminals to be angry, and equity demands that they also have been smiling their way to the bank as millionget compensated in any truce arrangement that aires and multimillionaires, as a result. We, in fact, anyone may be contemplating or promoting, even have a few veritable examples of billionaires going forward. that have proudly emerged from such generous To ignore these sets of largely verifiable victims application of public resources by way of appeasein any conversation around the need to have ment in their favour in the past. dialogue with criminal elements with a view Meanwhile, many lives have needlessly been to achieving an enduring peace would be most lost to the raging militancy of the past, and are still unfair, to be honest, and a state that prides itself being lost to the ongoing armed banditry and to with the promotion of religious values should the numerous kidnapping franchises of today, with know that for a fact, perhaps more than anyone many bread winners of countless households sent else! to their early But it would appear that we are only interested graves unjustly, sometime with no bodies to be in appeasing the criminals alone, to the exclusion, buried by grieving family members. These are and at the expense of, their teeming innocent people struggling to make an honest living on a victims who have suffered and are still hurting daily basis in order to provide for their families, but from the fallouts of their terrible actions. Our past whose precious lives have needlessly been termiand current peace efforts are usually all centered nated by those bloodthirsty criminals for no fault around the need to forgive and reward the evil of theirs, leaving their hapless families in complete perpetrators without any form of accountability disarray following their murder. Just a couple of on their part, while the victims and their long sufdays ago, someone drew my attention to a chillfering family members are completely forgotten ing audio clip in which some armed bandits were

and left out of the equation in all cases.

And when one takes into account the aggregate amounts reportedly running into billions of Naira that has reportedly been paid to these criminal gangs by hapless family members over the course of the last several years as ransom to secure the freedom of their loved ones, a number of whom often get killed even after the ransom placed on their heads has been settled and juxtapose it with the large payouts they usually receive as part of any peace deal reached with the government, life couldn’t be better for the criminal minded amongst us, as they tend to benefit both ways, in the sense that heads they win, tails we lose. In other words, it has always been a win-win situation for them either way!

Again, we appear to have this weird tendency to erroneously believe that by simply appeasing, forgiving, and pretending to forget all the series of evil actions perpetrated by the criminals amongst us, the victims too, whom we always tend forget and ignore, will somehow find a way to equally forget and deal with the great injustice done to them by both the criminals in our midst and the larger society itself that fails to provide them some redress. But we often ignore the fact that, by so doing, we are inadvertently encouraging some of the victims and other criminally minded individuals in the mould of the criminal perpetrators to take up arms and repeat the process all over again at some point in time in the future.

That is precisely how other would-be criminals with a copycat mindset often become emboldened and sufficiently encouraged to take up arms and start their own set of troubles and agitations against the society, seeing how their predecessors have been generously rewarded and given a new slate to reintegrate into the society and resume their normal lives without being called to account for a single one of their numerous dastardly acts against their victims and the society at large, whose economic and social activities must have significantly suffered as a result.

Those who may have been killed or maimed, on the other hand, are completely forgotten, and we just move on from there without any sense of responsibility or feeling of guilt at all that we may have collectively failed them by consciously leaving them and their interests as innocent victims out in our decidedly deliberate and conscious one-sided effort to appease the perpetrators alone.

Where on earth is the equity there and where, in fact, is the justice even? Where and how on earth is that done if people are really interested in promoting and sustaining an enduring environment of lasting peace in the land?

- Abdullahi Usman (usmanabd@gmail.com)

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FE ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸Ͱͯ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

INTERNATIONAL Nigeria, a Country of Recidivist Armed Banditry and Insurgency: The Challenge of Self-deceit

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igeria became a terra cognita, not only for politics of self-deceit, but particularly for armed banditry and insurrection under President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB), an Army General.

More unfortunate too, the armed banditry has become recidivist in character while the insurrection by the Boko Haramists is increasingly being overshadowed by the Fulani herdsmen-farmers conflict. And perhaps most unfortunately, PMB has not been able to nip the problems of insecurity in the bud.

His inability to contain the brutality meted out by the bandits and insurgents to the good people of Nigeria has been traced to many suspicions: allegations of PMB not being in charge of the governance of Nigeria, his politics of nepotism, purported Islamic cum Fulanisation agenda, medical unfitness, and incompetence.

Like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, PMB was a one-time military Head of State and a one-time elected President of Nigeria. He is currently in his second presidential term.

Consequently, it cannot be rightly argued that he does not have relevant experience. If he is incompetent, he should not be blamed because it is believed that he won election to become the president.

He therefore has the mandate of the people. However, as a president with the people’s mandate, does he also have the mandate to engage in acts of nepotism, Fulanisation or Islamisation? Does he believe truly in stopping armed banditry and insurgency in Nigeria? Is he interested in a third term?

Many can argue that thinking of a third term is nothing more than a figment of imagination. And true, it may be. But imagine a scenario in which situations of insecurity are allowed to degenerate for a longer time to come and to the extent that PMB will be compelled to stay in power beyond his normal presidential tenure.

In this new case of force majeure, what PMB cannot do as an elected president will be made possible by military situations.

It is useful to recall here that, Lt-General Buratai, former Chief of Army Staff noted during his non-career ambassadorial confirmation process in the Senate that ‘in Northwest and North Central, there are so many ungovernable spaces, which the insurgents are penetrating. The places don’t have schools, hospital and soon and education is very fundamental. Unless these things are done, this insecurity will continue. The truth must be told, because this thing cannot end soon. It may take another 20 years and that is the truth.’ If insecurity will not end until 20 years time, why should it be difficult to nip it in the bud now? By providing infrastructure, will there be peace? How will insecurity be stopped in 20 years time?

Again, Nigeria is simply a country where the home truth is never told and everyone has to deal with his or her own version of deductive truth. The manifestations of the self-deceit and self-denial are multi-dimensional in character.

Manifestations of Self-deceit.

The kidnapping of pupils in four different secondary schools in the North has clearly shown that the Government of Nigeria does not learn lessons, does not even appear to want to learn from past experiences. In fact, government apparently thinks deeply after, and not before, actions. If Government ever learns any lesson, questions should be raised as to the nature of the lessons, especially in terms of taking precautionary measures to prevent future occurrences. Let us begin with the first Chibok experience.

Chibok is in Borno State, in the North-eastern part of Nigeria.

The kidnapping took place on April 14, 2014 at a Government Secondary, female boarding school. 276 girls were kidnapped from their dormitories and packed like sardines in motor vehicles and taken away. On the basis of Government’s negotiations and possible ransom paying, 21 of the victims were released in 2016. In 2017, 82 of them were released in a prisoner swap. Since then, there has been little information on the remaining girls.

The abductors came with many buses and did not spend less than an hour in the process of their abduction. In an hour operation, the security agencies could not be contacted. Asection of the dormitories was attacked. Why was it that other dormitories did not know what was happening? Was there no post-mortem of the abduction? What were the observations made and recommendations to government to prevent other occurrences? On the

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Buhari first abduction, the Government was cut unawares. Should the Government be again cut unawares the second time?

A second kidnapping took place in another female school, Government Girls’ Science and Technical College (GGSTC) in Dapchi. Dapchi is in the Bulabulin, Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe State, which is 275 km from Chibok, but still in the North-eastern part of Nigeria. 110 school girls were kidnapped on February 19, 2018. Five of the girls died during their transportation.

104 of the victims and two children (a boy and a girl) who were not pupils of the school) were told on Saturday, March 17, to get onto boats, which they did. For three days, they were on water before getting to the shore where they boarded vehicles that took them to the town where they were kidnapped.

According to the father of one of the released pupils, ‘some motors painted in military colour, came with our girls...’ They dropped the girls at the centre of town, near Ali’s teashop. I found my daughter and left.’ The militant abductors reportedly told their parents thus: ‘we have now returned your children to you but make sure you don’t enrol them in western education again, because if you do we will come back and take them away. And perhaps more shamefully, the insurgents ‘proceeded to shake hands and take pictures before leaving.’ The pupils were specifically warned by Boko Haram not to return to their school. One of them, Leah Shaibu, who refused to be converted to Islamic faith was left behind. It was reported on January 26, 2020 that she had become a mother, but no information as to whether she has become a Muslim in order to survive.

Again, the abductors spent about two hours in the school. No security intervention. The bandits brought their victims back to the town and also had the effrontery of not only taking photographs with the people, taking photographs, but also warning of coming back in the event the victims still decide to go back to their school for western education. At the time of abduction, there were no security agents. At the time of their return, they were not there to arrest. In fact, the abductors operated freely apparently with public and

Consequently, Government should address self-deceit and fear of Fulanisation and Islamisation, because the stated objectives of the Boko Haram are three-fold: establishment of an Islamic State in Nigeria, non-westernisation of Nigeria, and non-acceptance of the concentration of Nigeria’s wealth among a small political elite and mainly in the hands of Christians in the South. Consciously refusing to reckon with these declared objectives is self-deceit. Arguing that herdsmen are foreigners and, at the same time, pleading for amnesty for them is criminally a self-deceit. When people report the atrocities of herdsmen to the security agencies, they end up being turned into the accused. This is self-deceit. Keeping silent over public allegations that PMB has an Islamisation and Fulanisation agenda, is not only a self-deceit but a national calamity. Ignoring public calls for restructuring and other suggestions is self-deceit.The advice by the Defence Minister, Major General Bashir Magashi that security is not the responsibility of the military alone and that Nigerians should stand and face kidnappers and criminals and should not be cowardly, is self-deceit.Thus, when self-deceit is incrementally sustained by more expressions of self-deceit, and most people complain, but acquiesce to it, deceit seizes to be self.

It becomes collective and mutual-deceit. Nigeria cannot survive on this basis

government, support.

The third kidnapping is interesting because of its re-strategy: their victim is not a female school like in Chibok and Dapchi, but a boy’s secondary boarding school on the outskirts of Kankara. The Kankara abduction took place on the evening of December 11, 2020 and involved more than 300 pupils. The school has about 800-pupil population residing in the school.

What is noteworthy is that the abductors came in a convoy of motorcycles. They also launched their attack when President Muhammadu Buhari was also visiting his home state, Katsina, meaning that the attack was consciously organised to challenge Mr. President and to register their presence in Katsina State.

More important, even though the armed forces said on December 12, 2020 that they had identified the hideout of the kidnappers, and even though Governor Aminu Bello Masari said the kidnappers were in touch with him on December 14 and the Boko Haramists claimed on December 15 of having organised the kidnapping, government officials were quarrelling with who really the kidnappers were. Were they bandits or Boko Haramists?

Whatever was the case, Governor Masari announced on December 17 that 244 of the kidnapped victims had been freed from a wood in neighbouring Zamfara State.

The Kankara abduction in Katsina state clearly shows the hideout of the terrorists. Government knows who they are. The Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed rejected every insinuation that the Boko Haram was involved. He argued that the kidnappers were bandits. In this regard, in which way are Boko Haramists criminally and the bandits are not? They are both anti-Nigeria. If the kidnappers were bandits, why has Government not been able to deal decisively with them?

The fourth and newest manifestation of self-deceit in the governance of Nigeria is the Kagara abduction saga in Niger State.

On Wednesday, February 17, 2021, in the wee hours, 27 pupils and 15 members of staff of the Government Science College, Kagara, in the Rafi Local Government Council in Niger State were again abducted. One of the pupils was shot dead for refusing to be abducted and for raising alarm.

The school is very dilapidated as evidenced in a video coverage.

The abductors entered the school from the rear where the fence had fallen. More disturbingly, the abductors reportedly parked their motorcycles about a kilometre away, near the Attahiru Secondary School, which is near the Government Science College.

The abducted pupils were ‘tied in pairs and marched to where the motorcycles were parked from where they were taken into the bush.’ The abductees are still under bondage and Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello has said that he would not pay any ransom.

Government has always denied any payment of ransom but the general public does not believe in it. It is again a manifestation of self-deceit.

Miyetti Allah and Rotimi Akeredolu

Apart from the manifestations of politics of self-deceit shown in the kidnapping of secondary school pupils, there is the case of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a Fulani socio-cultural association, with well-respected members. Miyetti Allah reportedly accused Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State of creating the Àmòtékùn in order to kill the Fulani. More important, Miyetti Allah also reportedly supported Senator Bala Mohammed, the Governor of Bauchi State, on the possession of AK-47 rifles for self-defence.

In the mindset of Miyetti Allah, Governor Akeredolu, is ‘the brain behind the creation of Àmòtékùn allegedly unleashing terror on herders and Northerners in South-western states of Ondo and Oyo’ (videVanguardngr.com, February 18, 2021). It is important to note here that, if there is any good Governor in Nigeria, it is surely that of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu. He did not respond to the allegations by way of commentary, but by analytical explanation on the saga to enable observers to have an objective understanding of the issues involved.

First, it can be gleaned from the cases of kidnappings of school children that the Federal Government is not in any dependable position to prevent the re-occurrence of kidnapping. The PMB administration is very active in diplomacy of words but very remiss in action. Any reasonable governor should, in the spirit of the self-declared federal system of government, take the initiative to secure the people of his/her state. Governor Akeredolu did just that and should be commended, rather than being accused. It is only in Nigeria that doing good is always a problem. To be patriotic and refuse to steal in government is always sanctioned directly and indirectly. Dishonesty attracts national honours and strategic appointments. Atypical Ondo citizen is not cut for that.

Secondly, it cannot be true that Àmòtékùn or Akeredolu is un-leaching terror on Northerners. What research finding has shown is that there is a critical misunderstanding between pastoral herdsmen and farmers. The misunderstanding arises from the fact that the herdsmen always carry AK-47 rifles, their cattle eat agricultural crops and destroy investments in them, the herdsmen kill owners of the farmlands on their land. They rape girls, mothers and women that come their way. And in fact, they live in the bushes and refuse to come to town and live with people to be identified. From the bush where they live, they also come to major inter-city roads to hijack vehicles, kidnap people and extort monies from people.

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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 21, 2021

Celebrating an Iconic Humanitarian, Sir Emeka Offor, at 62 Valentine Ozigbo

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ednesday, February 10, 2021, is one that I will remember for a long time. First, it is the day I had the great honour and privilege of being one of a few persons present at the headquarters of Chrome Group to celebrate with its Chairman, Sir Emeka Offor as he marked his 62nd year on Earth. It is also the day that I heard one of the most remarkable stories of compassionate philanthropy.

I think the world will be a better place if more people listened to this story.

I arrived at the corporate office of one of Nigeria’s first indigenous oil and gas firms founded by one of the most generous and courageous people I know, Sir Emeka Offor. His birthday event, held under the climate of a raging pandemic, was scaled down to a socially distanced meeting at the lobby of Chrome Group’s impressive Abuja office. Tall banners were celebrating the company’s chairman, a man I have enormous respect for and whom I have come to regard as a mentor, friend, and brother.

It is remarkable enough that I was privileged to share in this exclusive and intimate event. But something very striking happened at that event, that has added fuel to the fire already burning in me. I am truly inspired. So inspired that I began writing this piece on my way to the Abuja airport to catch a flight to Asaba.

The Medical Miracle In A New Bussau Family When conjoined twins, Habbeebat and Habbeeb, were born joined at the chest and abdomen, the chances of a successful surgical separation were slim. The University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), where their parents took them hours after their delivery, had attempted to separate cojoined twins twice before.

In 2005 and the second in 2016, both times, the operation failed, and the twins died.

Their hairdresser mother, Tawakalitu Hassan (25) and aluminium fabricator father, Ahmed Hassan (35) certainly couldn’t afford to pay for the multidisciplinary 66-strong medical team required to conduct the high-risk surgery at the specialist hospital. The kindness and generosity of Sir Emeka Offor changed this family’s story and made what appeared to be impossible became a piece of headline news.

Sir Emeka unlocked the possibilities, long before the Hassans brought their babies to UITH, by equipping the hospital with medical supplies and equipment worth $560,000. Through his foundation, Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, this uncommon philanthropist had made various donations of medicines and medicaments worth $180,000; medical equipment and supplies worth $380,000; and hospital bed sets and medical accessories worth $100,000.

On January 14, 2021, the specialists separated Habbeebat and Habbeeb and presented them alive to the press. The two girls now can grow up as individuals, with a new promise of life. If the story ends here, it is already impressive enough, but it doesn’t.

Sir Emeka made a cash donation to the medical team, which handled the delicate and complicated surgery. He sent more good news to Tawakalitu and Ahmed by placing them on a monthly allowance of N100,000 for the next five years.

The story of the twins’ family, as told by Dr Matthew O. Bojuwoye, a consultant gastroenterologist and secretary of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, UITH Chapter who was present at the birthday event, shows us the transformational power of compassion at work. It demonstrates the positive impact that Sir E. is making on the people who encounter his generosity. It also shows that this philanthropist is a thoughtful giver who adopts a 360-degree approach to humanitarian interventions. He is an authentic treasure, a trailblazer and a great inspiration, and I have the unique honour of celebrating him today.

A Legacy of Social Investment in Health Sir Emeka Offor, is one of those personalities who needs no introduction. He is widely celebrated globally as one of Africa’s most iconic business titans who founded Chrome Group of Companies in 1993; a conglomerate with investments in oil and gas, insurance, finance, power, logistics, hospitality, telecommunication, and travels. Sir Offor’s exploits in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector inspired an entire generation of Nigerian entrepreneurs to invest in our economy’s important industry. By so doing, he changed the face of an industry and changed the world.

Whereas most billionaires in Nigeria are famous for being wealthy, Sir Emeka Offor is most known for his uncommon acts of philanthropy. This business magnate founded his non-profit charity organisation, Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) in 1993, the same year as his business conglomerate. Through his foundation, he has spread his unique message of compassion and hope to millions of people, not just in Nigeria or Africa, but also around the world. Sir Emeka Offor Foundation has made an enormous contribution to humanity’s advancement and upliftment in healthcare, economic empowerment, education,

Sir Emeka Offor (left) with Valentine Ozigbo at a function recently sports, and community building.

Indeed, it would take volumes to chronicle the good works of Sir Emeka Offor. His story has inspired me so much that I might author another book on his impact on humanity. I believe it would be a riveting read. From public records, it is safe to estimate that Sir Emeka has channelled hundreds of millions of dollars into the selfless act of uplifting humanity. I will tell part of this story by spotlighting his intervention in healthcare.

This respected business tycoon is one of the global leaders who worked tirelessly to eradicate river blindness globally. He has made several donations to causes committed to tackling this terrible disease. In 2015, Sir Emeka granted former US President Jimmy Carter’s Carter Center a $10 million gift, the largest from an individual African donor to the non-profit towards its efforts to end river blindness in Nigeria.

The Rotary Club’s PolioPlus ambassador in Nigeria, Sir Emeka Offor has played a critical role in eradicating polio in Nigeria. At the 2014 Rotary Convention in Sydney, his generosity was on display when he donated $1 million to The Rotary Foundation towards his dream of seeing a polio-free Nigeria. The foundation announced that this donation raised his contribution to the cause to $3.1 million. Since then, he has expanded his benefaction to more than $4 million, making him “the single largest donor in Africa”. According to this uncommon humanitarian, the cause was a commitment he made to his younger self to “do something significant to end polio” after seeing many of his friends suffer terribly from the dilapidating disease. There’s more.

Through his foundation, SEOF, Sir Emeka has also built and equipped several healthcare facilities across Nigeria; an example is the amenity ward valued at close to N50 million. He donated it to the National Orthopedic Hospital in Enugu. These facilities provide free medical treatment and drugs to underprivileged Nigerians. Through his foundation, Sir Emeka has funded many Nigerian universities’ pharmaceutical and medical faculties, including the University of Nigeria and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.

SEOF has partnered with several governments in Nigeria in the quest to provide quality healthcare to those who cannot afford it. In the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, Sir Emeka made history, again, when he announced a $30 million donation in medical equipment to Nigeria and 18 other African countries.

His contributions to the development of healthcare systems go beyond Africa. In 2015, Sir Emeka declared war against glaucoma, announcing a sponsorship agreement with the University of Mainz in Germany to fund research towards eliminating the disease. He pledged an annual grant of £250,000 to the school’s Department of Opthalmology and his foundation instituted a Nigerian Fellowship for Cataract Surgery and Glaucoma Management in the same university.

All these uncommon acts of generosity are as mind-blowing, as they were heartwarming.

Sir E: A Profound Inspirator Sir Emeka Offor is one of the people whose works inspired me to philanthropic action, leading to the establishment of my

foundation, Valentine Chineto Ozigbo (VCO) Foundation.

Through my foundation, I have purposefully given back to women and youth in my community for the past seven years.

While working to lift these local communities in my home state of Anambra, I realised the great need for social intervention in the lives of our people in a profound way.

During my interactions with the beneficiaries of my foundation’s charity endeavours, it impressed me that an individual’s compassion can touch many lives, but a systemic change will go so much farther. A fire was ignited in me and set me off on my current quest to govern my people, to make a more significant impact on society, to shape our state for good.

I am now on a relentless quest to intervene and fix what’s badly broken with our social safety system; to ensure that every single child in Anambra is given a quality education as a right, not as a privilege. To ensure that our women are taken care of and given a seat on the table of power. On Wednesday, Sir Emeka added more fuel to this fire. And I am grateful to him for his bold example.

Fixing Anambra’s broken healthcare system was a top priority for me when I decided to run for the governorship of our State. In this pursuit, I relocated from Lagos to my rural community in Anambra a year ago. Since then, I have visited hundreds of communities in our 21 local government areas meeting my people at the grassroots. Today, I can say for sure that our healthcare system is in dire need of a complete overhaul.

Our people, especially our women and children, don’t deserve this dysfunctional governance; and I am on this mission to govern because I believe that we can do better, and we will do better.

We intend to provide the strong, purposeful, and courageous leadership that will build the most efficient, affordable, and qualitative healthcare system Nigeria has ever seen. We have a blueprint for governance that will make this quality healthcare within the reach of our people. We know that with the right leadership, it can be done. With God on our side, and with the mandate people of Anambra, I am convinced that we will fix the system and will work for our people, again.

Thank you, Sir E for giving so much of yourself to the service of humanity. In so doing, you inspired this village boy from Amesi and set him on a path to bring the transformational change that our people desperately need. I salute you on your 62nd birthday. I will be forever grateful for your service and leadership.

God bless you.

––Valentine Ozigbo is an award-winning global CEO, a change-maker, and champion for continuous improvement. He is on a mission to change the world by raising the consciousness of humanity. He is the immediate past President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, a conglomerate with interests in hospitality, power and oil and gas. He is the Chairman of Feet ‘N’Tricks International, the largest promoter of freestyle football in Africa and the Founder of Valentine Chineto Ozigbo Foundation, a non-profit focused on youth empowerment and building future leaders`

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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 21, 2021

CICERO/TRIBUTE

LKJ: Exit of A Quintessential Politician, Statesman And Humanist Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

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ver since his passing on Friday, February 12, tributes have been pouring in torrents, and justifiably too, proclaiming Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande’s immense virtues and his indelible contributions to the social, political and economic development of Lagos State and Nigeria. The first civilian governor of Lagos State in the Second Republic was great in life. He is emerging surpassingly greater in death. For several years and down the ages, the life, times, leadership and politics of Alhaji Jakande will continue to be a reference point, a subject of unceasing study and the undying light of his life a guide for future generations. Truly, even in death, the man we fondly call LKJ lives! For those, whose good and positive deeds live in the memories of millions of lives that they touched, never die.

Armed with his secondary school certificate, LKJ immediately opted for his cherished profession, journalism.

This is not surprising. Inevitably woven into the very definition and notion of good and responsible journalism is the practitioner’s commitment to the public good.

Alhaji Jakande was reputed to be a courageous and fearless journalist who was uncompromisingly committed to the public good. His biting and incisive editorials always advocated good and accountable governance and were a thorn in the flesh of successive military dictatorships. As a journalist, the great man was as cerebral as they come having largely educated himself through his voracious reading.

All too often, however, critics of incumbent governments in power have been known to perform no better than those they mercilessly berated when given an opportunity to hold public office themselves. This was certainly not so with Alhaji Jakande. As governor of Lagos State between 1979 and 1983, his output was prodigious, his conduct exemplary and his impact in diverse sectors endure till today. In many areas, including education, health, housing, transportation and roads construction, among others, he laid the foundation, which I and my successors have been building on since 1999. His example demonstrated unequivocally that democracy, when it allows leaders of vision, competence and compassion for the common good to emerge, is the best vehicle for promoting rapid development.

It is amazing that over four decades ago, Jakande could have conceived of the revolutionary metro-line project, which would have transformed the transport landscape of Lagos forever. I am happy and I am sure that Papa himself would have been elated by the fact that work has steadily and systematically been going on since 1999 to give Lagos a befitting mass light rail transit system and the first phase of the project is approaching actualization. Deliberately adopting the utilitarian theory of pursuing ‘the greatest happiness of the greatest number of the people’ as his governing philosophy, Alhaji Jakande faithfully implemented the four cardinal programmes of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) – free education at all levels, free health services for all, full employment and rapid rural development.

His face often inscrutable, his poise always calm and unshaken; his emotions ever under control, Alhaji Jakande was supremely self-confident. Yet, he was the very embodiment of humility and simplicity. As one of his commissioners, the late Alhaji Olatunji Hamzat, writes of LKJ in his memoirs, “My first impression of him was that of an efficient and highly engaging administrator and public servant. He was virtually without the preening and presumptive importance that is the wont of such high public office holders. He was comradely, instinctively warm without the sometimes unctuous detachment of gubernatorial office”. Along with the likes of the first Military Administrator of Lagos State, Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson, Alhaji Jakande can be described

Jakande...Baba Kekere as the father and architect of modern Lagos. Indeed, the late statesman played a pivotal role in the advocacy for the creation of Lagos State.

It is on the shoulders of these titans that I and my successors as governors of Lagos State since 1999 have stood to take Lagos to today’s heights, although the emergence of the Lagos of our dreams remains a work in progress. Commenting on the exemplary leadership style of Alhaji Jakande, the renowned academic, Professor Akin Mabogunje, wrote, “When a governor chooses to spend nearly twelve hours every day at his desk planning for the people, officials are forced to take their cue from their leader and cultivate the habit of diligent, sustained and effective application”.

Alhaji Jakande was the quintessential politician and statesman. He embodied the great Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s definition of politics as ‘the art of selfless service to humanity’. His loyalty to the parties he belonged to in the first and second republics, namely the Action Group (AG) and Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), was unflinching and constant as the northern star. At a time of great political and moral crisis in the First Republic, when men of straw betrayed their consciences and principles for short term material considerations, Alhaji Jakande stood as solid as a rock behind the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Even those who disagreed with his politics and some of the decisions he took, never questioned the character and integrity of Papa Jakande. Always uppermost in the mind of the great man was the unity, peace, progress and

A politician knows that his friends are not always his allies, and that his adversaries are not his enemies. A politician knows how to make the process of democracy work, and loves the intricate workings of the democratic system. A politician knows not only how to count votes, but how to make votes count. A politician knows that only if he leaves room for discussion and room for concession can he gain room for maneuver. And a politician – in the Dirksen tradition – knows both the name of game and the rules of the game, and he seeks his ends through the time-honoured democratic means

development of Nigeria.

One of the finest definitions of the politician that I have come across is that of President Richard Nixon in his tribute at the funeral of Senator Everett Dirksen on September 9, 1969. His evocative description of the politician in my view vividly captures the political philosophy and practice of Alhaji Jakande. As Nixon powerfully put it: “A politician knows that his friends are not always his allies, and that his adversaries are not his enemies. A politician knows how to make the process of democracy work, and loves the intricate workings of the democratic system.

A politician knows not only how to count votes, but how to make votes count. A politician knows that only if he leaves room for discussion and room for concession can he gain room for maneuver.

And a politician – in the Dirksen tradition – knows both the name of game and the rules of the game, and he seeks his ends through the time-honoured democratic means”.

Alhaji Jakande loved politics. It was his passion. Not for him the mistaken perception of politics as a dirty game or a means of acquiring power for its own sake.

Politics was, for him, a means to an end that end is the pursuit of the welfare of the people and the enhancement of the common good. He made the votes of the people count by delivering democracy in fulfillment of his mandate. It is a testimony to his political skills that, despite the fierce rivalry between the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) at the centre and his own party, the UPN, Alhaji Jakande as governor of Lagos State sought and got the required Federal Government approval for the commencement of the metroline project.

He was cosmopolitan in his political outlook and always exhibited a generosity of spirit even to his political opponents.

As governor of Lagos State, I constantly sought Papa Jakande’s advice on matters of governance and politics in the state. He was always most generous with his time as well as in affording me the benefit of his profound wisdom. We will all surely miss Papa but continue to be grateful to God for the exemplary and enormously impactful life that he lived. May Papa Lateef Kayode Jakande’s soul rest in peace.

––Asiwaju Tinubu is a former governor of Lagos State.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 21, 2021

SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

PREMIER LEAGUE

Semi Ajayi Sees Red as Burnley Hold Troubled West Brom Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report

N

igerian international, Semi Ajayi added to the woes of West Bromwich Albion in the English Premier League yesterday after he was sent oͿ at Burnley for

a professional foul.

Although West Brom picked a point in the goalless draw with Burnley, they remained stuck to 19th spot on miserable 14 points from 25 matches in the English Premier League.

The Super Eagles defender received a straight red card for the foul after he handled the ball when he was the only player left between Burnley and goal. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) conÀrmed the foul half an hour into action.

Before his dismissal, Ajayi had played every minute of this league season and even scored twice.

Despite the red card and the draw result, West Brom boss Sam Allardyce insisted his side produced one of the best performances by 10 men he has seen in recent time.

And although the point did little to boost their hopes of avoiding relegation - they are 11 points adrift of safety - Allardyce was pleased with what he saw.

“We are showing how much we are improving,” he told reporters in his post match

West Brom’s Semi Ajayi (left) was sent off against Burnley yesterday

interview.

“That was one of the best 10-man performances I have ever seen in my time.

“I have actually won a lot of games with 10 men, and this one well deserved a win with

10 men, but unfortunately we have to kick ourselves for missing golden opportunities.”

Matheus Pereira was the chief culprit in that respect. The Brazilian somehow missed his kick in the middle of the six-yard line

with only Nick Pope to beat after being set up by Mbaye Diagne.

In the melee that followed, Pereira failed to turn home an Ainsley Maitland-Niles cross as James Tarkowski eventually cleared.

Pereira also went close in the opening period with a low Elsewhere in the Premiership yesterday, Ralph Hasenhuttl insisted that he hoped Southampton’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea was the start of his side returning to their normal selves after they ended a run of six successive Premier League defeats.

The hosts took the lead against the run of play in the Àrst half when Nathan Redmond played a brilliant ball to send Takumi Minamino clear and the on-loan Liverpool striker showed great composure to slot beyond Edouard Mendy.

But the Saints gifted Chelsea an equaliser eight minutes after the break when Danny Ings brought down Mason Mount inside the box and the Blues midÀelder stepped up to send Alex McCarthy the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Chelsea were unable to kick on after that and instead it was Southampton who went closest to grabbing a winner as Jannik Vestergaard hit the crossbar with a header before Ings put the loose ball into the side-netting.

However, Saints manager Hasenhuttl was satisÀed with a positive result in light of their recent torrid run.

CONFEDERATION CUP TURKISH WOMEN’S CUP Enyimba Petition CAF on Plans by Super Falcons Defeat Uzbekistan Rivers Utd to Use Thugs against Them Ladies to Record Second Win The second leg Àxture of the CAF Confederation Cup between Nigeria’s two clubs, Rivers United and Enyimba FC has taken a new dimension as the Aba team have petitioned the continental body of plans by the hosts to use thugs to intimidate them today in Port Harcourt.

Already, following the tension generated by the petition, CAF has already classiÀed the Match as a “high risk” one.

Enyimba won the Àrst leg in Aba 1-0 a week ago with the overall winners advancing to the money-spinning group stage of the Confederation Cup. Rivers State government promised United N20million to win that Àrst leg in Aba. But with the winners take all at stake this afternoon, both teams are throwing everything into the battle.

However, Chairman of the Rivers Football Association, Christopher Green described the allegations as “blackmail against Nigeria football”.

“To me, it’s uncalled for and it’s regrettable because I didn’t expect that Felix Ayansi Agwu, an executive member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will write against a fellow Nigerian team. It is sad commentary of our game and he has actually done a disservice to Nigerian football,” he said.

“As the Chairman of the Rivers State Football Association, it is my responsibility to ensure that the game goes hitch free. And that is what I am going to ensure. I represent the Nigeria Football Federation and I represent CAF in that match. And so it’s going to be a level playing ground for everybody to come and play.

“And at the same time, I am disappointed that a man in the in the status of Felix Ayansi Agwu and with his years of experience in football will cry wolf where there is none.

“He cannot make a veil statement without anything supporting his claim of that kind of thing and it’s so unfortunate and it’s also equally sad that he will reduce our football to this level.”

He continued: “We thought that we have risen to a point where we actually promote

our football, market our football than to demarket our football because what he is doing is de-marketing our football.

“He has also forgotten that he has now turned this match to a high risk match, for which we are not going to leave any stone unturned in making sure that the match is played under very congenital atmosphere.

Super Falcons recorded their second win at the Turkish Women’s Cup following a 1-0 win against Uzbekistan at the Emir Sports Complex on Saturday.

Halimatu Ayinde scored the winning goal for the African champions two minutes after the break.

Randy Waldrum’s side totally out-

played their opponents but wasted a number of chances in the game.

Asisat Oshoala, Uchenna Kanu and Francisca Ordega all came close to adding to the Super Falcons lead.

They will face Equatorial Guinea in their next game in the competition on Tuesday.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN Champion Osaka Cements Her Place in Women’s Tour with Fourth Grand Slam Japan’s Naomi Osaka cemented her place as the outstanding star of the women’s game by beatingAmerican Jennifer Brady in theAustralian Open Ànal yesterday to win her fourth Grand Slam title.

Osaka, 23, is unbeaten in major Ànals after a 6-4 6-3 win in Melbourne.

Osaka edged the Àrst set when Brady, in her Àrst Grand Slam Ànal, paid for some glaring errors in the Ànal game.

The third seed seized control from that point, racing 4-0 ahead in the second set before sealing a deserved victory.

Osaka has now won two Australian Open titles after also triumphing at Melbourne Park in 2019, with her other Grand Slam successes coming at the US Open in 2018 and 2020.

She has not suͿered a defeat since February 2020 after extending her winning run to 21 matches. Osaka’s face lit up with a wide grin, raising her racquet above her head, when she clinched the title on her Àrst match point after Brady looped a return long.

Around 7,500 fans were allowed to watch the Ànal on Rod Laver Arena and Osaka lapped up the acclaim after her US Open victory came behind closed doors.

“It feels incredible to have fans, I played the last Grand Slam without fans, to have this energy means a lot,” said Osaka as she clutched the

Naomi Osaka savouring the joy of a fourth Grand Slam title in Melbourne, Australia...yesterday

Daphne Akhurst Trophy.

Osaka is the Àrst women’s player to win her Àrst four Grand Slam Ànals since Monica Seles in 1991. And asked if she could reach double

Àgures in slam titles, Osaka replied: “I’m taking it in sections. Right now, I’m trying to go for Àve.

After Àve I would think about maybe dividing the 10, so maybe seven or eight.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

85

NEWSXTRA Okorocha’s In-Law Returns to S’Court, Seeks Uzodinma’s Removal $SH[ FRXUW \HW WR À[ FDVH IRU KHDULQJ Tobi Soniyi Rochas Okorocha’s son in law, Mr. Uche Nwosu has asked the Supreme Court to declare that Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma was not the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) based on the court’s judgment that Nwosu was nominated by both the APC and the Action Alliance.

Nwosu made this request in a fresh suit his counsel, Mr Philip Umeadi Jnr recently, asking the apex court to review its judgement in which he declared Uzodinma the APC candidate.

He, also, asked the court for an order enforcing or otherwise directing the enforcement and or giving effect to the judgement of the court in the case delivered on December 20, 2019 wherein the court held that he was nominated by both APC and AA and consequently

declared his nomination a nullity.

However, the same apex court reversed itself when it declared that Uzodinma won the Imo State governorship election under APC. In the judgment nullifying his candidacy which he attached to the suit, Justice Amina Augie JSC, made the following findings: “…

Apparently, in arguing as he did, the appellant does not seem to grasp or appreciate the intricacies of the case against him.

“The issue was not whether his name was on the ballot paper, or whether he was the APC’s candidate at the general election itself, the issue at stake is whether he knowingly allowed himself to be “nominated” as a candidate by both APC and Action Alliance... “...The confusing part especially for lNEC, is that within two days, 3/1A/$ and 2/1U18, it received two forms CF001 signed by the appellant, as Gubernatorial

candidate of two Parties - Action Alliance and APC...Form CF001 is an affidavit of personal particulars of persons seeking election, which is provided by INEC for candidates to submit their details to it, and it derives its powers from S. 31(2) of the Electoral Act... “...The compelling part of the story is that since nomination is complete when INEC receives the necessary documents from a Political party, its receipt of two Forms CF001, which were both sworn to by the appellant himself, leads to an irresistible conclusion that he knowingly

allowed himself to be nominated as the gubernatorial candidate of the two political parties, and by Section 37 of the Electorate Act 2010 as amended), his nomination is void.”

Based on the above findings of the Supreme Court, Nwosu is asking the court to hold that both the Action Alliance (AA) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) did not sponsor and/ or field any candidate for the governorship election held in lmo State on March 9, 2019 in view of the double nomination of the Appellant/Respondent by the

two political parties aforesaid, and his subsequent disqualification as their gubernatorial candidate, as found by this honourable court in the Judgment delivered on 20th December, 2019.

He asked the court for an order sequel to the above that Senator Hope Uzodinma was not a candidate by himself or of any party at the Imo State Governorship election held on March 9, 2019.

Nwosu also asked the court for an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw the certificate of return

issued to Senator Hope Uzodinma.

He asked the court “for an order further directing the 4th respondent to issue a certificate of return to the gubernatorial candidate of the 3rd Respondent/Applicant, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ehedioha in the lmo state Governorship election held on March 9. 20L9 as the duly elected governor of lmo state, having scored the second highest number of votes in the said election sequel to the judgment of this court in Appeal No SC/1462/2019 Hope Uzodinma & Anor vs Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha & Or delivered on 14th January, 2020.

Again, Adeboye Demands Release of Leah Sharibu, Others Oluchi Chibuzor The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye yesterday asked the federal government to ensure the immediate release of Leah Sharibu from the captivity of Boko Haram, an Islamic terrorist organisation based in northeastern Nigeria Adeboye, a former university teacher, has also issued a fresh directive to all pastors of the church across the world “not to stop, but to intensify their prayers” for Leah’s release.

He made these calls in a statement he issued on Friday as a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of #The FreeLeahSharibu campaign marked three years of Leah’s abduction.

Leah, a student of Girls Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, was kidnapped

alongside 111 girls by Boko Haram insurgents on February 19, 2018.

The girls were subsequently released, except five who reportedly died in captivity. However, Leah was kept in captivity for refusing to renounce her Christian faith.

In his Friday statement, Adeboye urged all pastors in the RCCG as well as all well-meaning people all over the world to intensify their prayers and efforts towards the release of Leah.

The cleric said: “I, hereby again, call and direct all pastors in the Redeemed Christian Church of God all over the world, not to stop but intensify their prayers for the release of Leah Sharibu.”

Adeboye charged every parent and people of goodwill all over the world to use whatever influence they have to ensure that Leah Sharibu as well as other children in captivity are released without any further delay.”

Onyeama Clarifies Benin’s Comment on 37th State of Nigeria Michael Olugbode in Abuja Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama yesterday clarified a statement credited to the President of Benin Republic, Mr. Patrice Talon said that he wanted Nigeria and the francophone state to be close as though the latter was the 37th state of the former.

Onyeama clarified that Benin Republic, one of Nigeria’s closest neighbours, was never interested in dissolving into the Federal Republic of Nigeria as suggested in some media reports.

He made this clarification in a statement the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ferdinand Nwonye issued yesterday.

A large population of the Republic of Benin have some cultural similarity with the Yoruba people in the Southwest geopolitical zone, Nigeria.

Rather than dissolving into the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the statement said what the francophone country wanted was “a very close relationship with Nigeria.”

It added that the intention of Republic of Benin was misconstrued in a recent media report, which claimed that the country was willing to become Nigeria’s 37th State.

The statement read in part: “The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to misleading reports in the media that the Republic of Benin is aspiring to be the 37 State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

It said: “The Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the presence of his counterpart from the Republic of Benin granted a press interview after a very fruitful meeting between ministerial delegations from both countries and stated therein.

“The President of Benin Republic said he would like the relations between the two countries to be so close as if Benin was the 37th State of Nigeria”.

The statement said the Federal Republic of Nigeria “has no territorial ambition and has never aspired to make Benin or any country as part of Nigeria.”

WE ARE PROUD OF YOU. . .

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (left) with Jude Ogene, one of the six indigenes of the state who were among the recipients of the President’s NYSC Honours Award, for the 2018/2019 service year, when the governor rewarded them for making Enugu State proud, at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday.

Ubah Laments High Cost of Shipping, Seeks Outrageous Fees Abolition Tobi Soniyi The Senator representing Anambra South and National Leader of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah has called on the federal government to urgently checkmate the exorbitant increase and unjustifiable shipping fees charged by shipping companies on Nigerian bound cargoes particularly containers.

The Senator made the call at the upper chamber last week through a motion on the urgent need to checkmate exorbitant increase and unjustifiable shipping fees charged by shipping companies on Nigerian bound cargoes.

According to him, a report on

overseas cargo and freight costs by Mover DB; an online resource for international shipping shows that the cost of shipping both 20-foot and 40-foot containers to Lagos is among the most expensive globally.

The Senator who also noted that Nigeria is an import driven economy with excessive dependence on imports for consumption and capital goods, highlighted the fact that the shipping sector is key in facilitating the continuity of economic activities, ensuring supply chains to industries, transportation of essential goods including energy and food supplies as well as transportation of vital medical and protective equipment in Nigeria.

He also raised concern over the fact that vessels coming to Nigerian ports queue longer before berthing at Nigerian ports when compared to those moving to other countries due to various charges.

The YPP national leader also lamented that the cost of shipping goods into Nigerian ports is amongst the highest in the world, with the figure for Apapa Port costing more than thrice of that to Tema, Ghana, and five times higher than that of Durban, South Africa.

Explaining further on how high shipping costs are in Nigeria, Ubah disclosed that a close look at charges in other countries shows that it costs

about $3,200 to ship from China to Ghana and about $3000 to ship from China to Cotonou while in Nigeria, importers now have to spend about $8,500 to ship from China, a cost he said was about $3,200 few months ago.

The Senator further lamented that these astronomic and unjustifiable charges were so high that importers in most cases abandon their cargoes in the port thereby making the NPA lose revenue, hence reducing the efficiency or turnaround of ships to Nigerian ports and that this has consequently, also caused unjust hardship for Nigerians as importers transfer the huge expenditure to both traders and consumers.

Police Arrest Octogenarian for Kidnapping Children for Rituals David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The Anambra State Police Command has arrested an 80-yearold woman and her accomplice for allegedly abducting children and pounding them in mortars to make charms for politicians and businessmen.

The spokesman of the command, Haruna Mohammed confirmed the arrest in a statement he issued yesterday, disclosing that the two suspects were arrested in Onitsha, the state’s commercial nerve-centre.

Mohammed, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), confirmed that Mrs. Chidi Felicia Nwafor, 80 years old and Rejoice Raymond, 39 years

old were arrested in connection with abduction of children and ritual killing.

The statement said: “February 19 at about 5:50pm, following an intelligence report, police operatives attached to 3-3 Police Station Nkwelle Ezunaka arrested two suspects who allegedly confined three children (two boys and a girl).

“The children were confined to different rooms at No.13 Akunwanta Mbamalu Street, Federal Housing Estate 3-3 Nkwelle Ezunaka and subjected them into physical and emotional torture without feeding and inflicted several wounds on their body leaving them unconscious.

“Scene was visited by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of 3-3 Police Division, CSP Abdu Bawa where a gory sight of badly battered victims, one with a broken arm were found in the pool of their blood and whose parents were neither seen nor known,” the statement said.

Mohammed said the children were rescued and rushed for medical attention in an undisclosed medical facility in the sprawling ancient commercial city.

He added that preliminary investigation revealed some fetish substances, blood stained canes, concoctions and other incriminating items inside the rooms.

He said the Commissioner of

Police, Mr. Monday Bala Kuryas, had ordered a discreet investigation into the circumstances surrounding the case after which suspects would be brought to justice.

A viral video circulating on the Internet showed a huge outcry by members of the public, when men of the police command raided the residence of the woman, rescuing three children who were locked up by the suspects.

According to sources, the culprits who were arrested along Awka road, Onitsha where they operate a church were taken to her apartment at 3-3 estate, Nkwelle Ezunaka where the children were discovered.

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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 ˾ ͺ͹˜ ͰͮͰͯ

NEWSXTRA Fulani Herdsmen Write Ogun Communities, Plot Fresh Attacks Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta Palpable fear now grips no fewer than eight communities in the Yewa axis of Ogun State, following the alleged threat of fresh attacks from the umbrella body of the Fulani herdsmen, the Miyetti Allah.

No fewer than 10 persons were reportedly killed with scores maimed and farmlands destroyed, in Yewaland, Ogun State, in the last two weeks.

Although the state governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun convened a peace parley comprising aggrieved farmers and the leadership of Miyetti Allah, THISDAY learnt that Fulani herders had issued a fresh threat letter to the locals on their imminent attacks on the Ogun communities.

The paramount ruler of Yewaland and the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, had expressed disappointment at “incitement from the Miyetti Allah.”

‘I have a letter from the Miyetti Allah threatening to deal with my people,” he told an audience comprising Abiodun, and other governors that included Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Sani Bello of Niger, Muhammed Matawalle of Zamfara, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State.

Meanwhile, in a separate interview, Olugbenle, the Yewa paramount monarch, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, his security chiefs, and Governor Dapo Abiodun, to deliver his people from imminent annihilation.

In a letter he signed, the monarch said the criminal and dangerous activities of these herdsmen “have so far happened in Egua, Oja-Odan, Igan Alade, Gbokoto and Ijoun, Owode-Ketu, Ebutu Igbooro, and Imeko Afon, with reports of plans to attack towns in (the entire) Yewaland.”

He lamented that the federal government and the Ogun State Government “are hereby implored, as a matter of urgency, to act fast to secure the lives and properties of our people before it spirals out of control.”

The royal father, however, warned that the natural rulers in the localities would not watch with folded arms for too long.

In this situation, it is not out of place that people may resort to

self-help to defend themselves if the government fails to guarantee their safety.”

At the Abeokuta parley, the Miyetti Allah leaders had denied being behind the wanton killings and attacks. The National President of Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Muhammed Kirowa, said the association had always been peaceful and that those infiltrating it were mere criminals.

Also at the meeting, Abiodun said: “We must use the opportunity of this parley to tell ourselves the truth, not necessarily by apportioning blame, but definitely we must come up with more practical and viable recommendations that will further cement the peaceful coexistence that we have always had in Ogun State.

“Those fomenting the crisis

are said to be non-residents in our state. Unfortunately, the crisis has been exacerbated by some undesirable elements within and outside the state that whipped up ethnic sentiments.

“They sneak in at night, wreak havoc and retreat after their evil acts. In whatever form, colour or ethnic group, a criminal is a criminal. We condemn all forms of crimes and criminality, regardless of the ethnicity of the perpetrators.”

Only yesterday, Abiodun inaugurated a 20-man Peace Keeping Committee on the farmers and herders clashes in the state.

Inaugurating the committee headed by a former House of Representatives member, Mr. Kayode Oladele, in Abeokuta, Abiodun mandated members of the panel to determine the cause of the ethnic clashes in Yewaland, the losses, and recommend how to forestall recurrence.

He gave the committee comprising state security chiefs, traditional

rulers, lawmakers, government officials, representatives of Fulani herdsmen and farmers, four weeks to submit its report.

The governor equally noted that while the committee’s assignment took immediate effect, his government would roll out palliatives to the victims of the clashes to cushion the effect of their losses.

He added that some victims displaced, owing to the crisis, would be provided with shelter.

“The first assignment will be to determine what really happened. What happened?

What happened that disrupted the peace we enjoyed in this state and in that particular area for so long?

Because it is in determining what happened that we will ensure such will not repeat itself again.

“After that, we now look at, what has it cost us? What have we lost?

So, this committee must determine what it has cost us.

Starvation Looms in Nigeria, Feedmills Chief Warns Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta

GOOD NIGHT, DR. AKPOCHA . . .

L-R; Daughter of the deceased, Princess Akpocha; her mother, Grace Akpocha; another daughter of the deceased, Clara Akpocha; Mrs. Carol Onumajaru; and son of the deceased, Samuel Akpocha at a wake-keep in honour of former Director General, Centre for Democratic Governance in Africa (CDGA), Dr. Dafe Akpocha in Lagos... recently ETOP UKUTT

Gunmen Attack Adamawa Football Team on Benin-Ore Road Daji Sani in Yola Players and officials of Adamawa United FC yesterday came under gruesome attack along Benin-Ore expressway, leading to abduction of the team’s driver.

Shortly after the team’s driver was abducted, his abductors demanded a ransom of N20 million as a condition to release the driver from their captivity.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths and Sports, Adamawa State, Alhaji Aliyu Jada confirmed the attack yesterday, acknowledging

that the driver of the team was abducted.

Like the case of the OkeneAbuja expressway, kidnapping for ransom has been frequent along the Benin-Ore expressway while security agencies have been accused of complicity.

Fulani herdsmen had also been accused of kidnapping for ransom in Edo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States, a trend that compelled Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu to direct all herdsmen in forests to quit immediately.

In Oyo State, a Yoruba freedom

fighter, Sunday Igboho (Adeyemo) had flushed criminal herdsmen from Igangan, Oke Ogun, Ibarapa, Igboho and other parts of the state for alleged killing, kidnapping for ransom, raping and illegal occupation of farmlands.

Confirming the incident on Saturday, the permanent secretary said the gunmen abducted the team driver, lamenting that the driver “is presently anguishing in the custody of his abductors.

Jada, also, revealed that his kidnappers had contacted the team manager and demanded

a ransom of N20 million within 24 hours as a condition to release the driver.

He explained how the attack happened on Saturday at about 6:30 a.m., saying the players and officials were on their way for their week 11 NPFL match against MFM FC in Lagos.

However, contrary to Jada’s reports, eyewitness accounts revealed that the gunmen attacked the team at about 11:30 p.m. on Friday, carting away phones, money and other valuable items belonging to the players and officials of the football team.

UN Centre Recommends Use of Floodwater to End Herders-Farmers Conflict Michael Olugbode in Abuja The African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education (ARCSSTE-E) has revealed how floodwater could be used to resolve festering crises between Fulani herdsmen and farmers nationwide.

ARCSSTE-E, an affiliate of the United Nations located in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), also explained that floodwater could be collected and reserved for the purpose of farming, fishing and ranching rather than open grazing that had been at the roots of herders-farmers crisis.

The Executive Director of the centre, Dr. Ganiyu Agbaje recommended this approach at the opening ceremony of the Online Regional Training on Flood Monitoring and Forecasting Modelling in Abuja recently.

Speaking at the workshop, Agbaje urged the federal government“totake advantage of flood water for improved farming and ranching of livestock.The useofnewtechnologywillmake it easier to predict floods and locate the people who are really affected.”

He said with satellite technology, floodwater “can be harnessed for farming, ranching and others. It can be used for farming and even fishing,

if you study the way the fish move, there is always migration.

“River Niger is coming from Fouta Djallon. It moves through many countries down to Nigeria.

When you know that the flood will take three months or five months for instance, you can use the water to plant rice, or you can gather it into a reservoir that can be used during the dry season.

“If you study the migration of fish, some fishes can be coming from Burkina Faso, maybe their fingerlings.

You can gather them, put them in a fish pond here.

“There are so many things that can be done with flood water. If you know

that certain places are lacking water, you can channel it to those farms that need those water.

“Like all these ranches that we have been talking about, that river is coming from the north, why do you need to move your animals. If you have a ranch there, when the water is coming, you will channel it and go and store it somewhere to be used.

“You can purify the water and it becomes drinking water, so why are we not using the flood water to make life easier? For Nigeria to reach her potential in agriculture and control destruction from flood, there is the need to accurately forecast and monitor floods. ”

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of F.A Feedmills and Farms, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Chief Fatai Adebayo Soewu, has warned of looming starvation, as he considers federal and state governments’ investment in the agricultural sector grossly inadequate.

Soewu, in a chat with THISDAY, particularly observed that the increasing cost of consumer goods “is a spill-over effect of inadequate concentration on agriculture, in the face of increasing population.”

“And once this happens, you don’t need any prophet to tell you that starvation looms, except proactive steps are taken,” he appraised.

He stressed that that it was imperative that this critical sector is properly funded, because of its capacity to help reduce the problem of unemployment and boost food production in the country.

Soewu also encouraged the youths to embrace agriculture, saying that it is one of the lucrative sectors of the economy that could be explored to reduce the problem

of unemployment bedeviling the country.

The renowned farmer who also sits aboard Aquabash Table Water Company, said the country could leverage on the abundant opportunities in the agriculture sector to boost food production and reduce unemployment.

Recalling his humble beginning as a farmer, Soewu said he had started as a supplier of raw materials such as maize, sorghum, groundnut cakes, soya beans meal, fish meal, bone meal, oyster shells, among others, for the production of poultry feeds to the farmers within Ijebuland and Ogun State at large.

He added that due to the growth of the business, he decided to set up a feed mill in 1998, and was buoyed further as he also set up a farm with particular interests in poultry, piggery and fishery.

Soewu said the farm which took off with 18 workers in 1998 now has nothing no fewer than 300 workers eking out a living from the farm, while also contributing their quota to the economic growth and the development of the country.

Evangelist Asks FG, States to Find Solution to Attacks by Herdsmen Tobi Soniyi An Anambra based Evangelist, Florence Amaka of the Apostolic Ministry Evangelical has called on the federal government to work with states to find a lasting solution to the criminal activities of herdsmen.

Narrating her ordeal after herdsmen came to her farm and destroyed all the crops there and later came to her church alleging that one of their cows was killed which she said was not true and consequently destroyed equipment in the church, she accused government of failing to protect the people.

She also said that even though some of the suspects were arrested by the police after the incident was reported, they were later released without charges.

She also called on state governors to work with traditional rulers and set up vigilante groups to protect the people.

She said the security situation had become very worrisome.

He expressed concerns that government and security agencies did not have an idea and clue to tackle the problem as they remained helpless watching as innocent people are killed even after their families had paid ransom.

In the past one month, numerous incidents of kidnapping for ransom had taken place.

Among them was Prince Denis Abuda, a US-based Nigerian, who was kidnapped in Edo state but was found found dead, five days after his abduction. He was killed even though ransom was paid Around the same period, the wife of the late Kogi State Peoples Democratic Party Deputy Chairman, Mrs Kola Ojo who was kidnapped along Lokoja- Okene highway but was released after her family paid N3m ransom. She spent one week in a kidnappers den.

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“Rather than protecting valuable public property, the federal government has continued to sell public assets to fund the 2021 budget, contrary to the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended). And the leadership of the National Assembly is letting the government of President Buhari get away with it” – Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) reacting to the decision of the federal government to sell national assets to fund budget.

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Ethnic Profiling as Nigeria’s Predicament

O

n January 9, 2021, operatives of Amotekun – the quasi-state police outfit of south-western Nigeria – went to Aiyete in Ibarapa LGA, Oyo state, on a mission to arrest suspected kidnappers based on “intelligence” from the local communities. At the end of the operation, Alhaji Usman Okebi and his two sons were killed and several houses burnt in Okebi settlement. There were reports of gunfire exchange. Now, I have tried to narrate this incident in the simplest form. However, what I have just written in one paragraph is very loaded. If I do not decode it, you may never understand the undercurrents and the implications. You would think it was a simple case of crime fighting.

Here we go. When the Aiyete incident was reported by the media, the pegs were noticeably different. A northern newspaper reported that “Amotekun has killed three Fulanis in Aiyete, Oyo state”. The Sarkin Fulani of Oyo state said: “Alhaji Usman has been living in that Fulani settlement for the past 45 years. He grew up there and I am surprised people said they were kidnappers.” But a southern newspaper reported that “Amotekun has combed the forests and killed three suspected kidnappers”. A local said: “The Amotekun corps burst the kidnappers’ cells today but the kidnappers resisted them.

The kidnappers are Fulani.” Whom should we believe? Can you see our predicament?

In conflict situations, we usually take default positions, mostly in favour of our ethnic identities – no matter the facts. It is an emotional thing.

Nothing is as simple as it appears. In the current Nigerian situation, if you are a typical northerner, you are likely to side with the Fulani herders.

While you may readily blame certain crimes, such as drug-pushing and internet scams, on “southerners”, you would want kidnapping and rape attributed to “criminals” rather than “Fulani herders”. And if you are a typical southerner, you would want internet scams attributed to “criminals” and not “southerners” but want all kidnappings blamed on “Fulani herders”.

Can you see our predicament?

Let me expand that. In the south, there is a deliberate narrative to pin all kidnappings and robberies on Fulani herders. In fact, it would appear no single southerner is involved in kidnapping. All kidnappers are Fulani herders.

Or, to put it another way, kidnapping is only bad if it is done by Fulani herders. If it is by southerners, it is no news. Playing up the role of Fulani herders also helps the narrative that there is a Fulanisation and Islamisation agenda.

In fact, there is a famous quote that Uthman Dan Fodio, the 19th century Islamic scholar and jihadi of the Fulani ethnic stock, said he would not rest until he had dipped the Quran in the Atlantic Ocean. Can you see our predicament?

Up north, of course, there is the tendency to be defensive over the activities of the herders.

They are not kidnappers, many would say, but innocent pastoralists looking for pasture.

They don’t carry guns. They don’t kidnap. They don’t rape. These are the regular defence lines.

Gradually, some northerners are shifting ground and saying some of the herders may actually be criminals, but there is a new twist that they are not even Nigerians. Why then are we fighting each other over “foreigners”? Basically, we are dealing with ethnic profiling (which can lead to ethnic cleansing) and ethnic defensiveness (which can obfuscate the security issues). Can you see our predicament?

One popular proposal to curb the herders’

Buhari menace is to stop open grazing. I support this position. But my support wanes when the proponents say “with immediate effect”. Some states made laws to that effect. Unfortunately, you cannot stop open grazing immediately. The livestock will die. Just like humans, they need to eat and drink daily. If you stop open grazing “with immediate effect”, you are making a law that cannot be obeyed. And if you try to enforce it, there will be crisis. There will be pushbacks.

The logical thing is to gradually transition to ranching. It will not happen overnight. Not even in one year. It will take time. It has to be planned.

That is the intelligent way of doing things.

But there are issues with ranching as well, and I am not talking about the economic costs.

The first is what I have already explained – the Fulanisation theory. While northerners predictably supported RUGA (the ranching initiative of the Buhari administration), southerners predictably said “God forbid”. Those are our default positions.

The bigger problem, though, is the assumption that ranching can, or will, end kidnapping (and banditry). I’m sorry – these are two different things. There is the nuisance caused by cows and there is the criminality of kidnapping/banditry/ rape. Ranching can tackle the cattle nuisance but only security can address the criminality.

Let’s be clear about this.

If you ask me, I would say insecurity is the major driver of the current ethnic tensions in the land – but, sadly, things have been framed along sectional lines such that it has become practically impossible for us to have a meaningful conversation. The ethnic profiling – which, by the way, is not limited to only one side of the divide – has overshadowed the fact that the Nigerian security architecture is largely corrupt, inept and ill-equipped to cope with modern crimes. If our security ecosystem were professional, modern, proactive and apolitical, we would not be here arguing over the ethnic identities of criminals. We are certainly paying the price of this perennial inefficiency.

To be sure, we have been battling various manifestations of insecurity for decades. In the 1960s, our biggest issue was political violence as politicians tried to establish a hold on their domains in the post-colonial state. In 1970s, after the Civil War, armed robbery became our biggest challenge because of the influx of small arms. In the 1980s and 1990s, ethnic and religious conflicts provided the biggest challenge to the security forces, with frequent clashes and killings all over the country. The 2000s and 2010s

witnessed the rise of violent religious extremism in the north and militancy in the south. That was the decade that birthed the devastating Boko Haram insurgency.

Today, we are dealing with our biggest security challenges ever. While political violence and armed robbery are still there, Boko Haram insurgency and terrorism as well as banditry and kidnapping have combined to expose the underbelly of the security architecture. The security agencies are overwhelmed – overwhelmed by chronic incompetence, overwhelmed by the fifth columnists in their ranks, overwhelmed by inadequate infrastructure, overwhelmed by the ethnic coloration of purely criminal activities.

Political demagogues and ideologues are doing their best to set Nigeria on fire by politicising the insecurity and promoting ethnic cleansing.

It gives them great joy.

Although, the current situation plays into the hands of ethnic champions who look for the slightest opportunity to milk our misfortunes and pursue their bitter balkanisation agenda, insecurity is not just in southern Nigeria. We are actually dealing with an aspect of state failure affecting hapless Nigerians – both north and south. I know for a fact that bandits, identified as Fulani, have been carrying out mass killing in Zamfara villages for years, dating back to not earlier than 2012. But it is Fulani killing Fulani, so it can’t be framed as Fulanisation, and it is, therefore, not sexy for the media. Yet, these are human beings like us being killed like rats.

Politics has numbed our common humanity.

What is the solution? Insecurity in Nigeria is a multi-dimensional problem that can only be tackled with a multi-dimensional approach.

The insecurity is the climax of many things that we have been discussing for years: poverty, unemployment and poor governance. We cannot address them “with immediate effect”.

However, we must urgently secure lives. That is the irreducible minimum. We must concentrate on containing insecurity first while pursuing long-term measures. Those proposing state police should also know that some things cannot be implemented immediately: the constitution needs to change and police need to be trained and equipped. They need to be realistic.

Nigeria is clearly in a precarious predicament.

We know insecurity affects everybody, but the only thing some people can see is “tribe and tongue”. We cannot solve our common problems by clinging to prejudices and biases – either through ethnic profiling or being defensive of our kith and kin. We need a middle road. We need solutions. Whether the kidnapping is in Sokoto or Saki, criminals are criminals and we need to drop our biases to confront the issues as dispassionately and as intelligently as possible. We need statesmen and women, problem solvers and peace builders, around the table. War mongers and ethnic champions should please give us a break.

Finally, while the Shasha killings – clearly a product of recent ethnic tensions in Oyo state – could have degenerated, we should be thankful that the real Nigerians still showed up. There were no reprisals in the north, which I can bet was the work of peace builders in the region.

Reprisals are the easiest thing! Also, Premium Times, the online newspaper, reported how Yoruba protected Hausa and how Hausa protected Yoruba in the aftermath of the Shasha killings. I heard similar stories about the Nigerian Civil War. This is, indeed, who we are as Nigerians. It is only a few merchants of malice that are spreading hate. And they are doing it very well. That is exactly our predicament.

And Four Other Things…

WELL DONE, WAZ On Thursday, Mr Waziri Adio concluded his five-year, non-renewable tenure as the executive secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). He helped re-position NEITI, adding policy work to its portfolio, producing analytical publications and organising dialogues. I particularly was educated by the regular analytical insights into extractive revenues. NEITI used to be known only for yearly audit reports – which we not even regular. Under his watch, backlogs were been cleared and reports are now faster at a reduced cost. Nigeria also got the highest ranking in validation by EITI, the global body.

Above all, he served his country very well and left with his integrity intact. We’ve been friends for over 30 years and I am ever so proud of him. Excellence.

CARELESS WHISPERS Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state first sought to justify the bearing of arms by herders and quickly retreated, saying it was “a figure of speech” – as if we were all born yesterday. Governor Bello Mutawalle of Zamfara state also ran his mouth, saying not all bandits are criminals. He later retreated, saying he didn’t mean it that way. Whatever.

The chief of them all should be Brig-Gen Bashir Magashi (rtd), the minister of defence, who asked defenceless people being attacked by bandits to stop “running from minor things like that”. He said: “Is it the responsibility of the military alone? We shouldn’t be cowards.”

Is this the quality of thinking among Nigerian leaders? Disastrous.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Apparently, the appointment of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the DG of the World Trade Organization (WTO) – the first woman and first African in that position – did not go down well with the Swiss media. A number of them introduced her as “66-year-old Nigerian grandmother”. Linda Klare-Repnik of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, summarised it well: “If it had been a white man, the title would have been along the lines of ‘Harvard Economist, ex-World Bank Managing Director and ex-Minister of Finance’…” Well, we are also like that in Nigeria. The first thing we check is the ethnic and religious identities of appointees before we consider the résumé. Jaundiced.

HUMAN RIGHTS The federal high court has scrapped all charges required to file cases on fundamental human rights. You are not likely to see that on the front page of newspapers, but it is a significant development. It is not enough for us to continue to demand a reform of the justice system. We must also seek to make things as simple as possible for the less privileged to engage with the system. Millions of people are shut out of getting justice because they do not have the means to seek redress in a court.

Imagine how wonderful it would be if lawyers and journalists will work hand in hand, pro bono, to expose and combat the human rights abuses by the police and other government agencies. Progress.

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