Sunday 23rd February 2020

Oshiomhole: Obaseki Masterminded Benin Airport Attack Says gov told CP he did not authorise my visit Gov distances self from attackers Tobi Soniyi The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday pointedly accused

the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki of sponsoring thugs to attack him at the Benin Airport yesterday. He made the accusation in a late night telephone call to him

to ascertain the veracity of reports making the rounds about his attack. A claim the governor had earlier denied in a press statement following the reported attack. "Yes, I was

attacked by thugs sponsored by the State Governor," he responded.

Oshiomhole then proceeded to narrate in graphic details his ordeal in the hands of thugs

whom he said were acting on the governor's directives. He also lamented the role played by the Edo State Commissioner of Police whom he accused of failing to arrest the thugs.

He said he flew into Benin to honour an invitation by a member of their party, Hon. Agbonanyinma for the burial Continued on page 5

ANED: FG Owed Discos N1.728trn in Tariff Shortfall as at December…Page 5 Sunday 23 February, 2020 Vol 25. No 9085

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You Can’t Reclaim Bayelsa Through Unorthodox Means, PDP Warns APC Decries declaration of Diri, Ewhrudjakpo's seats vacant in Senate Says Senate President ought to have waited for S'Court's decision Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of trying to reclaim Bayelsa

State through unconventional means, saying such actions are capable of inciting violence.

PDP said the ruling party ought to have, instead, interrogated its deputy

governorship candidate in the last governorship poll in Bayelsa State, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, on why he had different names on his credentials.

The Supreme Court had recently voided APC’s overwhelming victory in the state awarded the governorship to PDP, citing technicalities associated with

Degi-Eremienyo’s name differentials.

PDP also rejected the declaration of the senatorial seats of its recently swornin Governor Diri Douye

and his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, vacant by the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan. It said the senate Continued on page 5

FG: No Deal to Pay Bagudu $100m from Abacha Loot

No third-party interest was captured in the memo approved by council Says court’ll decide Kebbi governor's claim PDP, Southern, Middle Belt leaders kick, demand investigation Tobi Soniyi in Lagos, Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Alex Enumah and Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The federal government has denied entering into any agreement to pay the Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Bagudu, or any other third party $100 million from funds recovered from the family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), stated this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

Malami said agreements for the recoveries and the procedure for recoveries were always presented to the Federal Executive Council for approval and duly made public once the processes had been concluded.

He, however, noted that the claims by Bagudu would be decided soon in court, even as he insisted that the federal

government did not strike any deal with him or anyone.

In a related development, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMLF) has told President Muhammadu Buhari to stop insulting Nigerians with a false anticorruption war. SMLF called for a thorough investigation of the allegation that the federal government planned to pay Bagudu $100million from the Abacha loot.

Similarly, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called on the National Assembly to undertake a forensic probe of all funds repatriated by the Buhari administration in view of the latest developments regarding the Abacha loot.

But Malami maintained that the claim by Bagudu was not true.

In the statement issued by the minister’s Special Continued on page 8

MIMIKO BIDS MOTHER GOODBYE...

L-R: Wife of former Ondo State Governor, Mrs. Kemi Mimiko; former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, during the funeral service for Mimiko’s mother, the late Mrs. Muinat Debora Mimiko, in Ondo... Friday

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ANED: FG Owed Discos N1.728trn in Tariff Shortfall as at December MDAs’ debts to power distribution companies Hit N116b Minister denies plan to handover power distribution to Siemens

Obinna Chima and Peter Uzoho The federal government’s indebtedness to the power distribution companies (Discos) in terms of tariff shortfall was a total of N1.728 trillion as at December 31, 2019, the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) has revealed in its presentation to the National Economic Council, NEC, subcommittee earlier this February.

This is just as the association put the total amount of debts Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were owing the Discos as at December 31, 2019, at N116.487 billion.

Members of ANED, disclosed this in a presentation they made to the National Economic Council (NEC) Sub-committee at a recent meeting, a copy of which was obtained by THISDAY last night.

A breakdown of the debts the MDAs owe the Discos showed that while the Abuja Distribution Company, which covers Niger, FCT, Nassarawa, and Kogi was owed a total of N16.132 billion as of last December; Benin Distribution Company, which covers Delta, Edo, Ondo and Ekiti States was being owed a total of N6.168 billion; Eko Distribution Company, which covers Lagos, Ogun, and Agbara, was indebted to the tune of N20.874 billion, and the Enugu Distribution Company, that covers Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu,

Anambra and Imo States was also being owed a total N7.034 billion as of December last year.

In the same vein, while the MDAs were owing the Ibadan Distribution Company, that covers Kwara, Oyo, Osun, and Ogun, a total of N8.795 billion; Ikeja Disco – N7.965 billion; Jos Disco – N10.924 billion; Kaduna Disco – N21.849 billion; Kano Disco – N5.645 billion, and Port Harcourt Disco, a total of N11.101 billion.

Relatedly, the Minister of Power Mr. Saleh Mamman has denied alleged plan by the ministry to terminate the licences of the present electricity distribution companies (Discos) and hand them over to Siemens, a German power company.

Mamman made the disclaimer in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr. Aaron Artimas.

The ANED presentation, however, did not disclose the identities of the MDAs. Also reacting to the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s (TCN) push for the recapitalisation of the Discos, ANED in the report, pointed out that the TCN had put the indebtedness of the Discos to the transmission company and by extension to the federal government at N443 billion ($1.452 billion).

They, however, explained: “A recapitalisation of the DisCos has been proposed in a relative value by adding the purported

debt to federal government’s equity, with a deduction of a similar amount from the core investors’ equity, thus assuming the debts belong to the core investors.

“This treatment does not follow any known accounting or financial principal. If it is a loan by the government to the company, then it should be treated as an investor loan, for which there is an established methodology under the tariff “The truth of the matter is that the federal government is owing the Discos N1.728 trillion in tariff shortfall as at December 31, 2019. So what is he saying?”

According to ANED, conversely, when all liabilities and offsets are considered, the Discos would be owing the market N81 billion.

The group argued that the current market design is not ideal based on the fact that there is insufficient operational data, that is, no load flow analysis, No SCADA, no ancillary services and no demand forecast They stated that the, “TCN has assumed the role of operator, regulator and market participant,” and so, “accountability, transparency does not exist.”

Owing to this, ANED stressed the need for, “bifurcation toIndependent System Operation (ISO) and Transmission Service Provider (TSP).”

“The grid is too big or expansive for one operator.

The concept of TSO may be considered later. Metering (MAP) needs to be holistically relooked at,” they added.

They stated that the capital expenditure for the DisCos was not adequate, adding that inability to equate the retail tariff with the energy wholesale tariff, was also a challenge.

ANED stressed the need to revisit the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) methodology, as well revisit the regulatory framework for the sector, so as to ensure consistency, transparency and participatory.

Commenting on their observation from the Bureau of Public Enterprises’ performance monitoring, ANED noted that, “in as much as the average expense ratio of the companies has been reducing over the years, the 2018 ratio of 45.5 per cent being the lowest, is still considered too high; this is indicative of either gross inefficiency in operations or an outright gaming of the system.

“A comparative analysis shows Tata power Delhi (from where Nigeria adapted its distribution companies’ privatisation model), had a four-year expense ratio average of 12.3 per cent, with some years as low as 10 per cent and the highest 15 per cent; like wise the United Energy Distribution Pty Limited in Georgia, had a two year (2015 & 2016) average expense ratio of 23 per cent.

“There were also a questionable amount of related

party loans and related party transactions involving companies owned by directors.”

Furthermore, ANED, in the presentation, pointed out that one of the challenges in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) was lack of proper coordination of the public sector agencies involved in the power sector This, according to them, clearly played out in the submission by TCN which they argued was at variance with the positions presented by the Ministry of Power, BPE and NERC, to the NEC committee.

“NERC, BPE and MoP seemed to align on the shortfalls in NESI, but TCN is in a different world of its own and clearly detached from the happenings and realities of NESI “We view TCN’s submission as mere propaganda and diversionary tactics and the aim is to either mislead the committee or a ploy to cover up the major challenges posed

by TCN to the NESI “It is therefore important to take a critical look at the structure and operations of TCN and how it has imparted on the NESI through rogue eligible customers, unreplaced failed equipment and interface issues.

“To foster accountability, transparency and data integrity, it is imperative to separate the wire business from administrative/mini-regulatory aspect of TCN operation. The creation of ISO is long overdue,”

they added.

Power Minister: No Plan to Terminate Licences of DISCOs The Minister of Power, Mr. Saleh Mamman, has said there was no plan by the ministry to terminate the licences of the present electricity distribution companies (Discos) and hand them over to Siemens, a German power company.

Mamman made the disclaimer in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr. Aaron Artimas.

The statement reads: "It has become necessary to put the records straight on the minister’s briefing after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.

“Contrary to what is being reported, the minister did not say the Federal Government has submitted a proposal to the council seeking to handover electricity distribution to Siemens as this is not part of the agreement signed between the German company and the Federal Government of Nigeria."

The minister had been quoted as telling state house correspondents at the end of the last Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja that a proposal had been submitted to the government on “the problem of distribution and it was left to them to decide what to do.”

YOU CAN’T RECLAIM BAYELSA THROUGH UNORTHODOX MEANS, PDP WARNS APC president should have awaited the Supreme Court’s verdict on the matter since the ruling party approached the apex court for a review of its judgement on the governorship contest in the National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus, in a statement at the weekend, said the ruling APC had left the substance of the matter and was chasing non-issues.

Secondus stated, “The APC is employing many tactics to get what they have lost back.

They are busy addressing press conferences. They have

refused to ask questions from their candidate on why he is bearing many names in his certificates.

“How does a person bear three different names at three different occasions? You answer a name in primary school, dropped it while writing WAEC exams and took up another name in the university?

“In a sane clime, the party would, first of all, invite the aspirant, question him, scold him for bringing the name of the party into disrepute and condemn him. What else do

you do? You then invite the security agencies to probe him or even take him to court to show to the world that you are not fighting corruption by the words of mouth or persecution of the opposition members alone, but by using the big stick against the offending members of your party.

“We want to warn the APC not to set the Niger Delta region on fire with its actions and clandestine moves on Bayelsa.

The state has always been a PDP state, including the entire region of South-south.”

Some PDP chieftains have also condemned the declaration of the seats of Diri and his deputy vacant in the senate as hasty.

They say the APC-controlled senate should have waited for the Supreme Court to determine the party’s appeal for a review of the decision to sack David Lyon and Degi-Eremienyo on February 13 as governor-elect and deputy governor-elect, respectively.

Lawan had declared the seats of Bayelsa Central and West vacant following the Supreme Court decision sacking

the then would-be occupants.

The incumbent Bayelsa governor, Diri, represented Bayelsa Central while his deputy, Ewhrudjakpo, represented Bayelsa West.

At a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) last Friday in Abuja, National Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, said the electoral umpire would soon pick dates for the conduct of a by-election to fill the two seats.

Yakubu said, “In compliance with the orders of the Supreme

Court, the commission has presented Certificates of Return in respect of the governorship elections in Imo and Bayelsa States.

"In the case of Bayelsa State, both the governor and deputy governor were serving senators.

Consequently, the commission yesterday, Thursday, 20 February 2020, received two communications from the senate president declaring the seats for Bayelsa Central and Bayelsa West Senatorial Districts vacant.

THISDAY checks reveal the APC national chairman was in the Edo State capital for the burial of the mother of his political associate and former member of the House of Representatives, Ehiozuwa Agbonanyinma.

Oshiomhole has been having a running battle with the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, whom he helped to succeed him as governor.

A small hostile crowd, as if aware of his impending arrival, had taken positions around the airport environment. The thugs were matched by a strong detachment of security personnel drawn from the police, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The thugs attempted to gain entry into the VIP section of the airport from the exit gate, but they were repelled by the security men who shot into the air to disperse them.

Oshiomhole was unhurt, even though one of his vehicles, a

sport utility vehicle, was damaged.

Despite the hostile reception at the airport, he was received by some of his associates, led by his former deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, amid heckles by the thugs.

Oshiomhole’s associates were also quick to blame the attack on the state government, an accusation denied by the governor. The state government denied involvement in the action of the youths, saying it had no role in the incident at the Benin Airport or any of the series of anti-Oshiomhole protests in Abuja.

In a statement, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said the Edo State Government had no connection with the crowd that was reported to have booed Oshiomhole.

The statement read, “It has come to our notice that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole arrived Benin today and was booed by

a crowd of people. We are not directly or remotely involved in the act. We condemn insinuations that the Edo State Government is in any way involved in such an act.

“The series of anti-Oshiomhole protests across the country in the last couple of days, including those who jeered and booed Comrade Oshiomhole in Benin City on Saturday, have nothing to do with the government in Edo State. Oshiomhole, just like any other law-abiding person, is welcome into the state as long as he does not engage in any activity capable of disrupting peace and safety.

“We categorically state that we are not in whatever guise involved with those who engaged in the act against the former governor.”

The statement said the state government would continue to maintain law and order, adding that the government is committed to protecting the rights of all law-abiding citizens in the state.

Continued on page 10

OSHIOMHOLE: OBASEKI MASTERMINDED BENIN AIRPORT ATTACK of his mother. "I actually got information that the governor was trying to prevent me from coming to Benin and that thugs were being mobilized to stop me. I called the Commissioner of Police about it and asked him to do something." He said he was however surprised when on his way to the airport the Commissioner of Police called him to say "he doesn’t want me to come because the governor doesn’t want me to come. I asked him why? And he said because of the situation at the airport and the number of thugs that had converged there. I said but you know the thugs, he said 'yes'. I said; you know that they were sent by the governor, he said 'yes'. He even said the governor’s CSO is there and one retired DSP. I said you know the thugs and the man who sent them, you also know their leaders if you cannot do anything to stop the governor because he has immunity fine, but the thugs don't have immunity. Why don't

you arrest them? Why will you ask me instead, not to come to attend a private function because the governor does not want me to come to Benin. I told him I'm coming and that it is for him to provide necessary security.

"So, I landed in Benin. With the aid of the security personnel at the airport, I was able to get out of the plane to the lounge and proceeded to the car and the thugs were stoning my convoy. Well, I got home safe.

You have seen the photographs of the vehicles.

They even had to move armoured tanks to the airport.

I went to the function I came for and came back home. By the time I got home, the governor had ordered his people to use two trucks to block the road to my house. You can't access my house from either side. My house is on a T- Junction. They blocked both roads."

Oshiomhole accused his traducers of planning to bomb his residence at night, "I have

information that they would send boys to throw bombs into the house and that no one would be able to come to my aid. With that information, I called the CP, he said yes, the governor ordered the blockade of my house because he did not authorise my visit. I told him I came on a private visit and I don't need the Governor's authorisation. I came to attend a burial ceremony of the mother of one of our members.

Why do I need approval of the governor to attend the function?

They said the governor also said that he didn't want anybody to come and visit me in my house in the evening. But then why should people not be able to come to my house? Am in a solitary confinement? I called the Inspector General of Police who then called the CP to provide additional security for my house.

It was only after the IG called the CP that he sent additional security to my house. Right now I think they are trying to tow the trucks away."

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NEWS FG: NO DEAL TO PAY BAGUDU $100M FROM ABACHA LOOT Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Malami said Nigeria remained committed to working with the United States and other countries to recover the country’s assets stashed abroad.

The statement said, "It is pertinent to recall at this juncture that prior to the 2020 agreement with the United States and Island of Jersey, the federal government has signed an agreement for the return of over $300 million in 2017, which was effectively deployed for the purpose for which it was agreed to be applied without any issue of reputation "The FGN is also negotiating the recovery of assets from several countries and the agreements for the recoveries and the procedure for recoveries are always presented to Federal Executive Council for approval and duly made public once the processes have been concluded. No third-party interest was captured in the Council memo that was approved by the Council.”

The minister said Nigeria was cooperating with the United States in the recovery of several other assets, including corruption proceeds linked to a former petroleum minister, Deziani Alison-Madueke, and her associates, as well as a former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, and several others.

Malami reiterated the determination of the Buhari administration to recover all funds owed the country. He said it was for this reason that the government went to court in different countries to assert its rights as victim of corruption in order to secure the return of the assets to Nigeria.

“In the same manner that Nigeria is asserting its rights to the assets, there are others, including individuals, entities and countries, who have rights and who have gone to court to contest the legality or otherwise of Nigeria’s claims against their assets," Malami stated.

He added, "It is well known that the USA and the Bagudu family have been in court since 2014 over assets already rescinded under the 2003 Agreement. The matters are to be determined in the United Kingdom and the United States Courts.

“The Bagudu family assets in contention, which constitute a distinct and separate cause of action, does not have anything to do with the assets already recovered and being recovered under the Abacha 2014 nonprosecution agreement.

"It is, therefore, mischievous and pedestrian for anyone to seek to turn the law and the facts on its head on the matter of repatriation, whose terms are clearly spelt out and agreed among the parties."

The minister also noted that the federal government was strongly committed to fighting corruption.

He said a core component of Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts included the transparent management and utilisation of returned assets as well as independent asset recovery efforts in a manner consistent with its domestic law, national interest and its obligations under international law. He claimed Buhari was the first president of Nigeria to make this commitment and had never and did not plan to deviate from the commitments, contrary to statements in the

media.

He stated, "To achieve the president’s objectives, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has engaged and continues to engage with international partners, including the United States of America, in the recovery and return to Nigeria of stolen assets. Nigeria and the United States of America are continually cooperating in the recovery and return of those assets.

"This long-standing cooperation recently culminated in the successful signing of memorandum of understanding for the repatriation of over $300 million looted assets associated with General Sani Abacha.”

Malami said the funds repatriated in 2017 were deployed to the implementation of the Social Investment Programme and were being monitored by civil society organisations across the country.

He said the 2020 agreement would be managed by Nigeria’s Sovereign Investment Authority and would also be monitored by civil society organisations.

The 2020 funds, he added, would be used to support the completion of critical road infrastructure, namely Abuja-Kano Road, Second Niger Bridge, and the LagosIbadan expressway.

According to him, "These projects will support socioeconomic development across the country. The government of Nigeria remains fully committed to continued cooperation with the United States of America and other countries in a reciprocal manner. We urge the media and the general public to wait for the outcome of the court decisions and on-going settlement efforts in this matter."

Presidency Source Also yesterday a top presidency source who didn't want to be named told THISDAY the allegation by the United States that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari wants to cede $100 million of the recently repatriated $308m loot from the US to Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Bagudu was not true. .

Bagudu was said to have helped the former despotic Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, to launder billions of dollars to the US. The US said whereas it expected Bagudu to be tried for money laundering offences in Nigeria, it surprisingly got to know that he first contested and won election into the Senate for two terms before becoming a governor in 2015 and subsequently re-elected in 2019.

According to the US, the embattled governor was laying claim to $100 million of the Abacha loot and the federal government had opted to accede to the request.

But a top presidential source who did not want to be named, described the US allegation last night as untrue.

The source said the $308 million loot, whose repatriation to the country was signed by both the officials of the US and Nigeria recently, would be domiciled with the National Sovereign Authority (NSA) and channelled to some ongoing construction projects including the Lagos-Ibadan express way.

"Claims that the Buhari

RETREAT FOR HOUSING DELIVERY...

L-R: Minister of States Ministry of Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu and Minister of Works & Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Day One of the 7th Edition of the Retreat for Heads of Departments and Chief Executive Officers of agencies of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing with the theme," Service Delivery for National Prosperity” at the Gombe International Hotel, Gombe State... Friday administration is planning to pay $100 million to Bagudu from the $308m on the home stretch are absolutely untrue.

"That money, being paid to the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority is going into the funding of ongoing work on Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the Second Niger Bridge and the Abuja-Kano expressway," he said.

The source added that the clarification had become necessary to clear the air on insinuations of any planned diversion of the money.

He explained that Nigeria's negotiations with the US on the looted funds by Abacha stashed in US banks are in three phases.

He said: "It is important that the fog of misinformation and disinformation on the position of the Buhari administration on the ongoing recovery from the United States of the Abacha loot be cleared.

"The administration is currently talking to the the US government on the return of three tranches of Abacha loot.

"First is the USD 308 million which has already been agreed to.

"Yes, there is a USD 100 million yet to be resolved which the Obasanjo administration ceded to Senator Abubakar Bagudu, an agreement that is being litigated because the US government itself does not recognize that ObasanjoBagudu settlement.

"Hence there is a third tranche of $60 million which is also a subject of private litigation by the Abacha family."

Citing court filings, the United States-based media company, Bloomberg, had reported that the Buhari government reached an agreement with Bagudu in October 2018 for transfer of ownership of investment portfolios worth 141 million Euros ($155 million) to the Nigerian state, which would then pay 98.5 million Euros to Bagudu and his affiliates. The funds are currently restrained by the United Kingdom at the

request of the U.S. But the Nigerian government claimed the updated 2018 agreement with the Kebbi governor, which required court approval in the UK, would “curtail and mitigate its looming exposure” from the judgement in Bagudu’s favour, Bloomberg reported.

The federal government’s alleged decision to allow Bagudu benefit from his crimes was said to have irked the United States and might force it to stop cooperating with Nigeria in its effort to recover stolen funds kept abroad.

Meanwhile, SMBLF, in a statement issued on Saturday, signed by Yinka Odumakin (South-west), Gen. C.R.U Ihekire, rtd, (South-east), Senator Bassay (South) and Dr Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt), described the alleged financial deals as scandalous, saying, however, they are not surprised by the revelation.

They said, "The forum is scandalised but not in the least surprised by the allegations made by the United States of America that the Buhari regime is planning to re-loot Abacha loot by giving $100m to Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, who was/is Abacha's alleged chief financial crimes agent."

SMBLF called for a judicial inquiry into the U.S. allegations and asked the government "to shut its mouth and stop insulting us that it is fighting corruption until it clears itself".

The forum described the Presidency’s denial of the alleged deal as feeble and dismissed the government’s claims that the allegation amounted to "corruption fighting back", saying,“this now integrity-challenged regime is wont to slander all those who call it to account locally".

According to the statement, "Only 48 hours back, we learnt that the Excess Crude Account (ECA), which used to be in billions of dollars, is now down to $70m".

SMBLF criticised the federal government for its rising external debt profile,

saying, "The administration has plunged Nigeria into un-payable debt borrowing in three years, more than what we previously borrowed in 30 years, with no deliveries in town.

"We recall how the former finance minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, queried the Acting Chairman of EFCC of having no record of what EFCC recovered from corrupt politicians."

The forum stressed, "The US Department also stated that the Nigerian government was frustrating attempts to recover part of the looted funds allegedly traced to Bagudu, who is the chairman of the All Progressives Congress governor’s forum.

"The governor was said to have spent six moths in Texas Prison on allegations of laundering billions of dollars for Abacha and was to be extradited to Island of Jersey for criminal trial before he cut a deal to refund $163m and return to Nigeria for prosecution. He, however, returned to Nigeria, joining and rising in politics, which has become a criminal project in the country and currently and shamefully the chairman of governors elected under the anti-corruption propaganda promoting APC.” The forum also noted that the US government, in a more damning allegation, accused the Buhari government of frustrating efforts to recover more loot traceable to Bagudu.

“The Department of Justice also contends that the Nigerian government is hindering US efforts to recover allegedly laundered money it says it has traced to Bagudu. Buhari’s administration says a 17-yearold agreement entitles Bagudu to the funds and prevents Nigeria from assisting the US, according to recent filings from the District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington,” SMBLF alleged.

PDP also lashed out at the Buhari government and called on the National Assembly to probe the presidency.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary,

Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP said the recent revelation of huge corruption in the Buhari administration had further exposed the fact that the administration had been living a lie and parading as saints fighting an anti-corruption war, while swimming in a huge ocean of corruption and massive treasury looting.

The opposition party noted that the report accusing the administration of blocking attempts to recover looted funds traced to Bagudu spoke volumes about the corruption and concealments going on in the Buhari Presidency.

PDP said the revelations in the report stated that instead of recovering the stolen money, the federal government was in the process of funnelling $100 million (N36.3 billion) out of the looted funds to Bagudu, saying such highlights the humongous sleaze, duplicity and treachery in the Buhari administration.

The party stated, "From the report, it is clear that the Buhari Presidency has further smeared itself, and no longer commands the trust and confidence of stakeholders within and outside the country in its fight against corruption.

"There are already apprehension in the public space of huge complicity and patronising of corruption under President Buhari’s watch, which is directly responsible for our worsening corruption rating, a comatose economy, hardship and untold suffering which have turned our nation into world’s poverty capital."

PDP pointed out that the failure of the Buhari presidency to give a direct response to the issues raised by the US Department of State only validated the widely held position within and outside the country that the administration was not only irredeemably corrupt but also served as a haven for corrupt individuals.

The party called on the National Assembly to redeem the image of the country by invoking its statutory instruments to order a forensic investigation into the handling of repatriated funds.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 23, 2020

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SUNDAY COMMENT

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

THE ABSENTEE GOVERNORS Frequent absence of governors from states depicts low moments in the path towards a mature democracy

G

overnor Darius Ishaku’s decision to relocate from Taraba State to Abuja has raised pertinent questions about governance and the rule of law in our country.

The people of Taraba just know that their governor is outside the state without any explanations about his whereabouts and why. Apparently under pressure, his spokesman, Bala Dan Abu, said on Thursday that the governor is in Abuja for medical reason after suffering from what he described as a ‘domestic accident’. Meanwhile, the governor reportedly signed the 2020 Budget of the state in Abuja where he has been holed up since last December.

As absurd as it may seem, there is nothing that Darius is doing that is unusual.

But we should be concerned about what governance has been reduced to in Nigeria. Since 1999, the trend has been that governors hardly stay in their states. If they are not in Abuja, they are outside the country.

In April 2004, the then Minister of State for Finance, Mrs. Esther Usman, publicly decried this situation: "Four days to seven days after the FAAC (Federation Account Allocation Committee) meeting, the exchange rate goes up; that means that they (governors) are using the money to buy up dollars. Make telephone calls to any of the states, ask after the governor and you would be told he has gone abroad."

Almost two decades later, the situation has not changed. In fact, the current trend is that majority of the governors, including those whose states are challenged by bandits and insurgency, have practically relocated to Abuja.

But there are critical issues that should not be glossed over in this madness. Number one is the responsibility of governance in a democracy which requires that an elected official identi-

fies physically with the people. The only way that can be done by a governor is to live in the state. Besides, a governor cannot absent himself from duty without credible reason established through due process. There is the moral imperative of the governor being minimally a role model of responsible citizenship. Even in a case of medically proven illness, the governor can only be absent for long if he informs the state assembly and transmits the instruments of power to his deputy accordingly.

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The prevalent absenteeism among state governors is a new low in our increasing culture of insensitive governance

Letters to the Editor

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

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

he explanation being offered for the absence of Governor Darius in Taraba State is rather lame. “No aspect of governmental activities has suffered a setback as a result.

All government projects are going on smoothly and government has continued to meet its obligations to contractors while progress is being monitored by appropriate government ministries and officials,” explained Abu who added: It is “wrong and misleading to suggest that the governor’s absence has affected morale of civil servants and governance in the state”. On why the governor did not transmit power to his deputy in line with Section 190 of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) Abu said “the Governor is not on vacation and he is not unable to discharge the duties of his office.

He has been conducting his official duties diligently,” from Abuja.

In this age of instant information, it is possible for corporate executives to run their organisations virtually from any location without much loss of effectiveness. But a state is not a business. It is governed by a social contract that binds a governor and the governed. That contract dictates that an elected governor is present and available to minister to the needs of the people. His presence at work is what inspires their confidence. The prevalent absenteeism among state governors is therefore a new low in our increasing culture of insensitive governance. It can only further erode our already weak democratic culture as lower level officials emulate the absentee governors.

If for whatever reasons Governor Darius is unable to live in Taraba, he should follow the law by transferring power to his deputy until he is able to discharge his responsibility to the people who elected him. Darius cannot continue to ‘govern’ his state from Abuja!

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.

Deregistration of Political Parties And Electoral Reform

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he deregistration of not less than 74 political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission may not have gone down well with some stakeholders, especially those political parties that fell by the side. But overall it seems to be an action in the right direction. After a comprehensive review of the 2019 general elections, the commission revealed it had no choice but to deregister those political parties because they breached the requirement for registration of political parties under section 225 of the Nigerian Constitution.

None of the 74 parties won at least 25% of the votes cast in one state of the federation during the 2019 presidential election neither did they win a single local government in a state during the governorship elections. This basically means the

Presidential candidates in all those 74 political parties (if indeed they all have presidential candidates) could not even secure a quarter of the votes in their own states.

Similarly, governorship candidates in those deregistered parties could not deliver at least a local government area during election, not even the local government area or the ward they came from. One can be bold enough to say that many of these candidates could not even deliver their own polling units for themselves during the 2019 elections. Thus, there is also no gainsaying that these parties could not secure either a state assembly seat, chairmanship or councillorship position in the course of their existence.

Although the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) asked the electoral umpire to rescind its deci-

sion to deregister the parties due to pending court action, but filing a matter in court alone without restraining order could not have restricted the commission's decision.

To be frank, these amongst many other reasons are indeed enough grounds to dispatch any associations that seem to be taking space in not just the ballot paper but time and logistics in the entire electoral process. Among those that lauded this decision include chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Kabiru Gaya (APC-Kano), who said the development would make life easier for Nigerians during elections. He said the target of his panel was to further trim the number of political parties in the country to a reasonable figure of either five or eight.

As a matter of fact, the majority of these political parties didn’t play

any major role in enhancing competitiveness of the electoral process. Instead most of them are mere platforms waiting to adopt grieving candidates or endorse a popular candidate.

Beyond deregistration of irrelevant political parties which is no doubt a huge step in sanitizing the ballot paper, electoral logistics and ultimately plans for elections, the call for electoral reform is particularly pleasing ahead of upcoming off-circle elections in the country. Thus, constituting of a 56-man steering and Constitution Review Committee may not have come at a better time.

Top among the list of issues calling for constitutional review is the electoral act begging for assent even before the 2019 general elections. The challenges of the just concluded Kogi and Bayelsa elections provided the committee an opportunity to revisit the electoral act to infuse critical issues like the legalization of the use of card reader as the only

means of accreditation and electronic transmission of results amongst other critical issues.

While the number of political parties may be considered sizeable, the lack of internal democracy within the major political parties remains a major conundrum to candidates’ nomination and selection process. Similarly, the fact that our elections have recently become a subject of litigation means electoral justice delivery should be central in electoral reform. Recent controversial supreme court judgements have raised more questions than answers with regard to electoral justice delivery and again reignited reasons why the judiciary should not be the ultimate electoral umpire.

––Moshood Isah, media Officer of Yiaga Africa.

(See concluding part on www. thisdaylive.com)

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ Ͱͱ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

NEWS

Acting News Editor ÌÙãÏÑË ÕÓØÝËØ×Ó E-mail: ÑÌÙãÏÑ˲ËÕÓØÝËØ×Ó̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙט͸΀͸΀͹΁΀;ͽ΁͸ ̙Ý×Ý ÙØÖã̚

Farmers-Herders Clash: Regulated Grazing Zones Still the Way Out, Says Malami Recommends constant engagement of stakeholders, revamping of nomadic education commission, others Tobi Soniyi in Lagos and Alex Enumah in Abuja The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), yesterday, insisted that

if the country truly desired an end to the protracted clashes between farmers and herders in some parts of the country, then, it must embrace a regulated grazing location system.

The minister, who listed a

number of practical measures that could be taken, said if those suggestions were implemented to the letters, they would help significantly in resolving the constant farmer/herder’s conflicts that are prevalent in many parts

the country.

Apart from regulating the grazing locations, some of the other measures he listed, included the need to always engage with critical stakeholders as well as revamp the Nomadic Education

AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR LAGOS...

Permanent secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Mr Adedamola Akewusola; Commissioner for Housing, Hon Moruf Akinderu-Fatai; Project Director, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Ms. Monica Ummuna and Head, Artic Infrastructure, Mr Lookman Oshodi at a meeting with development partners on Lagos State Affordable Housing Development Fund at Ikoyi... Friday

Commission, amongst others.

Malami, who spoke on Saturday at the AB Dikko memorial symposium in Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State, said farmer/herder’s crisis was real and therefore required real-time and practical solutions.

In a statement by his Media Aide, Dr. Umar Gwandu, the minister said, “The better approach towards resolving the crisis over the short, medium and long terms is to directly involve the stakeholders in coming up with solutions at the conception, implementation and monitoring phases.”

According to the Minister, community-oriented approach was likely to yield greater dividends “in defusing and eventually eliminating the menace that has retarded economic development and created wide-spread insecurity”.

He said addressing farmer/ herder’s crisis from purely theoretical perspectives, often devoid of reality and without synchronisation with the needs and aspirations of the involved stakeholders, was not only counterproductive, but also inimical to the emergence and sustenance of a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.

The Minister, therefore, advocated the setting-up of regulated grazing reserves to replace the “Burtali” or “Hurumi” pastoral system and intensive enlightenment to livestock breeders on the need for sedentary farming and transhumance agriculture as complementary economic process to nomadic farming.

He said such things as the provision of water holes in remote grazing locations, subsidised veterinary care and mobile ambulatory services for surgeries and other medical interventions for livestock would be of great help.

Emphasising the need for providing social amenities, educational facilities and cattle markets at central locations to accelerate nomadic settlements, Malami said educating communities on the need for peaceful co-existence and community engagement fora for bridge building in community relations were of utmost importance.

According to the Minister, revamping of the activities of the Nomadic Education Commission with a view to complementing the efforts of government was essential in resolving the farmer/ herder’s clashes.

Lagos Resolves 419 Criminal, Paternity Cases through Forensic Investigation Gboyega Akinsanmi No fewer than 419 criminal and paternity cases have been locally resolved in the last two and half years through forensic investigation and methods, the Lagos State DNA & Forensic Centre (LSD&FC) has disclosed.

LSD&FC, West Africa’s only accredited crime laboratory for forensic DNA analysis, serology and DNA indexing, said it had resolved complex 107 cases of sexual assault, homicide, suicide, burglary, defilement, unidentified remains and disaster victim identification apart from over 312 paternity and

relationship cases.

These figures were contained in the case statistics the forensic centre released to the media at the weekend, indicating that its operation had saved the country some millions of dollars since its inauguration on September 2017.

Before its inauguration, Nigeria had depended on South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States, among others, to carry out forensic investigation, to which the country had been losing several millions of dollars annually.

Specifically, with the crash of Dana Air Flight 992, a scheduled domestic commercial passenger

flight from Abuja to Lagos, on June 3, 2012, the country had to seek forensic investigation services to conduct DNA analysis and paternity test to identify 159 victims of the air crash.

More disturbingly, a sizable number of criminal cases, especially murder, suicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, sexual assault and domestic violence, among others, had suffered setback at different stages due to the deficit of scientific and forensic evidence to criminal prosecution.

Established during the administration of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, his successor,

Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been giving the centre necessary support to ensure effective governance, public safety and order as one of the six pillars for building greater Lagos.

With the advent of LSD&FC, the case statistics revealed that the forensic centre had already resolved three criminal cases in 2020; 34 in 2019; 66 in 2018 and four cases in 2017, the same year it started operations.

Besides the 107 criminal cases that were resolved September 2017 and January 2020, the statistics revealed that the forensic centre resolved 22 relationship cases in

Lagos Seeks Special Financing Model to Bridge 2.5m Housing Deficit Segun James The Lagos State Government yesterday disclosed that it would soon unveil domesticated housing financing products to bridge the state’s housing deficit of 2.5 million units, accounting for about 14.7 percent of the national housing deficit.

Specifically, the state government noted that a special housing financing model became imperative, lamenting that financing housing development and empowering people for accessibility “are the twin issues hampering the impact of its intervention in the housing sector.”

The Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Moruf Fatai-Akinderu disclosed the plan yesterday after a meeting with the representatives of various development partners in

Lagos, saying the state “is working hard to map out housing financing products that are domesticated to solve its peculiar housing challenges.”

At the meeting were the Project Director, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Monica Ummuna; an architect and urban planner, Department of Architecture, University of Denmark, Jurgen Anderson and representatives from the British High Commission, the Netherlands Consulate, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and NISA Housing, among others.

Of the national housing deficit of 17 million units according to the records of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), it is estimated that Lagos alone accounts for 2.5 million housing deficit, representing about 14.7 percent.

At the meeting with the development partners, the commissioner

noted that with the peculiarity of its housing challenges, the state required special financial models domesticated to address its housing challenges.

While global financing models are attractive, the commissioner observed that the models might not address the unusual housing challenges that the state had been battling with under different administrations.

He pointed out that provision of mass and social housing “is a key agenda of the state government, but the impact can only be felt when there is a structured financing mechanism that is based on predictable population growth.”

Apart from the rent to own scheme that gives opportunity of repayment over a period of 10 years, the commissioner said the state government “is looking at

more workable financing options that will help the informal sector.”

Akinderu-Fatai observed that the housing challenge in Lagos “is complex because of the continued and uncontrollable influx of people from all over the nation.

“Given the rate at which the population of the state is increasing, there must be proactive measures to ensure that governmental interventions result in substantial positive impacts in the lives of the people,” he said.

He said: “We have to formalize the informal sector so that majority of our people can take advantage of a financing product that supports instalmental payments. More vertical construction of homes will take place both by government and private investors to optimize the land space available in the state.”

2020; 139 in 2019; 128 in 2018 as well as 23 in 2017.

Since September 2017, also, the statistics revealed that the centre had come to the rescue at the period of major disasters, especially when the Otedola Bridge fire accident and the collapse of a six-storey building at Lekki, among others.

Explaining the significance of forensic investigation to justice dispensation, public safety and national security, the Director of LSD&FC, Dr. Richard Somiari noted that forensic evidence “is very important during the process of criminal prosecution to support other confessional statements.”

Somiari observed that one of the things that was missing before the inauguration of the forensic centre was set up was using scientific method “to support crime investigation and criminal prosecution. They are used to be confessional statements or eyewitness accounts.”

Continued from Page 5

Unlike the forensic evidence, the centre director noted that the confessional statements or eyewitness accounts “can be significantly forged. But the scientific method is unbiased and authentic. We have been helping. Since we started, we have handled over 419 cases. Of this figure, 42 cases are sexual assault.

“All we are doing to let people understand that this centre exists. It can help some of the questions that have not been answered previously.

We do not pray for mass disaster to happen anywhere. When the Otedola bridge disaster happened, we did the identification of all victims here.

“Previously, they used to send such cases abroad. But now, we can do it locally. Forensic labs all over the world help in many ways.

Part of the public safety initiative is to support crime investigation with forensic evidence. This has been the missing link in the fight against crime in the country.

YOU CAN’T RECLAIM BAYELSA

THROUGH UNORTHODOX MEANS, PDP WARNS APC “The commission will soon meet to determine the dates for by-elections in the two senatorial districts.”

But some members of the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) said the senate president ought to have waited till the Supreme Court exhausted the appeal by APC. They wondered, “What happens if anything to the contrary happens and the APC wins the review process at the Supreme Court.

“The outright implication is that the PDP has lost two senatorial seats in the Senate. I am not saying that the review will be in favour of APC, but it is better to err on the side

of caution.”

APC had on Thursday approached the Supreme Court with a fresh application asking it to reverse its judgement voiding the victory of Lyon in the last governorship election in Bayelsa State. In the application filed on its behalf by its team of lawyers led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), APC is praying the apex court to set aside the “wrong” interpretation given to its judgement of February 13, 2020 and the subsequent execution of the judgement by INEC, which led to the inauguration of Senator Douye Diri of PDP as governor.

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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 ˾ Ͱͱ˜˜ ͰͮͰͮ

NEWS Olabode George: Military Alone Can’t Defeat Boko Haram

Says carnage in the north a national malady Faults Buhari’s failing to probe Tinubu’s bullion-van saga Gboyega Akinsanmi A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George has faulted military approach to counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast, noting that only dialogue can end the insurgency by Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWA).

George, a former military governor of Ondo State, has also lamented the kind of carnage taking place in the north due to the activities of banditry, insurgency and kidnapping, describing it as a national malady that requires a result-oriented approach.

He has equally described the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari as the war against some perceived enemies, faulting the president for failing to investigating the case of two bullions vans driven in the Ikoyi residence of the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu on the day of elections.

George canvassed a rethink in the counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast at a session with THISDAY in his Ikoyi office recently, warning that the Boko Haram war “is no longer a conventional war, but a guerrilla war.”

Founded by Mohammed Yusuf in 2002, Boko Haram started its insurgency operation in the Northeast in 2009 under the leadership of Abubakar Shekau initially against soft targets, but progressed in 2011 to the bombings of the Force Headquarters and the United Nations Office in Abuja .

Since 2009, the campaign of violence by Boko Haram insurgents has cost at least 27,000 lives, displaced some two million people and spawned an affiliate of the Islamic State of West Africa Province, opposing the westernisation of Nigeria and seeking to establish an Islamic state.

In September 2019, Buhari claimed that his administration had substantially defeated and

degraded the Boko Haram insurgents to the extent that the insurgents were attacking only soft targets. He urged the armed forces to protect innocent Nigerians, whom he said, were ‘soft targets’.

With the renewed attacks in Borno State in the recent months, George provided strategic analysis about the character of the Boko Haram insurgency or any guerrilla warfare, which according to him, should not be addressed through orthodox approach as in the case of conventional warfare.

George, a strategist in the Nigerian Navy before his retirement, explained that Boko Haram “is no longer a conventional war. It is guerrilla warfare. Guerrilla war goes back into the history. It is not settled on the battlefield because the enemies you are fighting live among the people.”

In the military campaign against the Boko Haram or its sister organisation, ISWA, George observed that it was difficult “to define who are the real enemies.

They will come during the day, mingle with the people and study the entire environment. In the night, they will launch attacks.”

Given its unconventional operations, George observed that Boko Haram “has appeared unending.

It is not a normal warfare. The enemies are within, living among the people. In the day, they wear the same dress as we wear. They talk as normal human beings to gather intelligence “There must be a meeting point.

Check all the world where guerrilla war has been fought. The parties will have to come to the table and talk. The issue of religion they have brought into it makes it delicate.

No nation embarks on religious war and wins. It is a perpetual unsettled scenario.

“As a military man, I know it will not be over until you call for a dialogue. The federal government must engage the insurgents. It must find out what they really want.

These are the same people who live among the larger population.

They are not aliens that dropped

from the firmament.

“So, how do you identify them?

If the army goes all out, they will just kill so many innocent people because they do not write on their heads that they are Boko Haram.

That is the difference between the conventional war and guerrilla war. So, the earlier we sit down and negotiate the better.”

Besides considering dialogue, George equally canvassed the need to deploy military technology to combat the Boko Haram insurgency, warning that depending on the conventional warfare containment strategies would not guarantee public order in Borno State or any part of the Northeast.

He said technology “has gone ballistic. Why can we engage the developed countries to deploy their satellites to identify the location and

The Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi yesterday lamented that Nigeria had not been faithful to the youths, who constitute the largest chunk of the national population.

Obi, former governor of Anambra State, revealed that only in the last four years, the sum of N4.4 trillion had been spent in the education sector, saying with this fund, Nigeria still had the highest number in out of school children.

He made the remarks at the eighth convocation of Veritas University, Federal Capital Territory, lamenting that the current security situation nationwide “is completely unacceptable and should be addressed with proactive measures.”

He submitted that the current crop of politicians in Nigeria, including himself, had, through failure to provide good leadership made the country unbearable for everybody and not conducive for survival for the new graduands.

He said: “Though Nigeria

is tough, your education has equipped you for survival and competition with others. It is those that fail to explore their knowledge through creativity and innovation that would find things irredeemable and challenges unconquerable.”

He told the graduands to know that their education would not guarantee them inheritances from their parents.

He further told them that their education could guarantee them jobs, but the jobs were non-existent.

He added that their education would surely guarantee them one thing: the ability to think outside the box at all times by employing their knowledge to conquer themselves, their environment and the world.

On the task before them, Obi said: “the tasks before you are enormous. Nigeria has been bastardized by my generation, all of us, you owe it to yourselves to restore the glory of the country.

Today, our country is owing heavily, the states are owing, most of the debts are to be re-paid in

He, therefore, advised the president tobcall a one-day conference, which he said, should bring together all elders including former presidents, former presidents of the Senate, former Speakers of the House of Representatives, traditional rulers, former senior military officers and former governors, among others, for national discourse.

George justified his conference of national leaders, citing the unnecessary tribal suspicion and mistrust against tribes nationwide, which he argued, should be constructively addressed because the gulf between tribes across the federation “is getting wider and wider every day.

“If I dress like a northerner, for instance, who will know that I am not? Everybody, who is normal, has one head, two hearts, one

heart and his blood must be red.

We have divided ourselves and everybody is on the trenches. A divided house is a defeated house.

A divided country is a defeated country.”

George faulted Buhari’s approach to anti-corruption campaign, claiming that it had become a weapon against some perceived enemies, especially the opposition while the allies of the president and the ruling party had been shielded from criminal investigation and prosecution.

He cited Buhari’s failure to investigate the case of two bullion vans that driven into the Ikoyi residence of the APC national leader on the day of election, warning that no person, irrespective of his position and status in this country, was above the law, not even the president himself.

STANDING FOR CHILD EDUCATION. . .

L-R: Founder/CEO, Little Weavers, Iniobong Obinna-okonkwo; Group Head, Research and Strategy, C&I Leasing Plc, Maureen Ogbonna; Global Business Strategist and International Trade Advisor, Ademola Oduwole; Global Education Advocate and Filmmaker, Zuriel Oduwole; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and President, Frau Suss Children Empowerment Foundation, Mercy Suess, after discussions on strategies to improve child education in public schools across Lagos state in Alasua, Lagos recently

Nigeria Not Faithful to the Youth, Peter Obi Laments Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

movements of the Boko Haram insurgents? If we can do that, we will seek them, the location where they are gathering and the way they are moving.

“What are we doing? Are we networking with the international community enough? Where is that giant of Africa? We cannot resolve this issue. Today, this man is kidnapped. Tomorrow, another man is shot. We have lost the state of people. Everybody is on the precipice. We are practically living in fear.”

Specifically, the PDP chieftain lamented that failing to fight the Boko Haram insurgency with multi-pronged approach “has been responsible for the carnage going on in the north. If you know the kind of carnage going on in the north, it is really terrible. It is no doubt a national malady.”

10,20,30 and 40 years time.

“At that time, some of those that plunged the country into the mess would have died and the task of rebuilding will rest squarely on you. I am telling you this for you to realize that the task of re-directing the destiny of this country lies with you and must be pursued with all sense of responsibility.”

In the last four years, Obi disclosed that N4.4 trillion was spent in the education sector and yet, Nigeria had the highest number in the case of out of school children.

On the case of returning schools to their former managers in Anambra state during his governorship tenure, Obi said the schools were assets of other people and not of the government as they were wrongly taken and appropriately returned to the rightful owners He encouraged the graduands not to tow the line of their parents, but to build a new country while emphasising that the biggest money countries can boast of is in their population and the knowledge acquired.

After Four Years of Disruption, Water Flows Again in Abeokuta Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta Residents of parts of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, were jubilant at the weekend, as water suddenly started flowing from their taps four years after public water stopped flowing.

THISDAY investigations revealed that water supply in the city was obstructed about four years ago during which the former governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, embarked on road constructions.

To pave the way for the road construction exercises, most of the water pipes were relocated, thereby bringing about water scarcity in Abeokuta and adjourning communities.

A resident of Saje in the capital city, Alhaji Tajudeen Enilolobo, said his pregnant wife went into coma when she got to the backyards and suddenly sighted water flowing from the taps, but that she was

later revived.

“It’s not her fault that she fainted; I married her from the village two years ago and she had never seen anything like pipe-born water,” Enilolobo clarified, amid giggles from other residents.

It was observed that water supply was experienced principally by residents of areas like Saje, Elega, Iberekodo, Mokola, Iludun and Ibode, all of which are close to the state’s water corporation headquarters in Abeokuta.

However, other residents in Ake, Itoko, Ijemo, Lafemwa, Totoro, Imogbon, Sagbon, Ijemo, Adatan, Obantoko Ishabo, Isale Igbeyin, Onikolobo, Ago Oka and Car Wash, said they were yet to witness the return of pipe-born water.

But a senior official of the state’s water corporation, who spoke with THISDAY on condition of anonymity, said it was not true

that there had been seizure of water supply in the state for four years but that “the corporation only faced challenges in covering the state effectively in the last four ears.”

He also said, “Our transformer had also broken down since July last year but Governor Dapo Abiodun waded in recently by replacing the transformer, which is why you could see water flowing in some parts of Abeokuta and other communities.”

He added that the corporation hoped to cover other parts of the state capital and many other communities in the state, in due course.

Meanwhile, the World Bank has approved a $250 million fund for various developmental projects in Ogun State, as it is one of the locations for six projects approved by the world financial institution to support development priorities across the country.

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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 23, 2020

OPINION Of Technicality, Justice And The Supreme Court Justice is delivered when the interest of the society prevails, argues Rilwan Balogun

I

t was Walter Savage Landor, an English writer and poet who philosophized many years back that when law becomes a science and a system, it ceases to be justice. Like never before, the Supreme Court’s decisions, particularly on election matters, have left many political observers confounded and further strengthened the contagious doubt and aspersion cast in the name of the judiciary. The question that pervades my reasoning since the recent decisions of the apex court is that, are Nigerian laws basically meant to attain justice in all ramifications or laws are merely applied, rather sheepishly, for sake of strict adherence to the letters of law? Indeed, my preoccupation on these apex court decisions has been borne simply of the far greater complexity in the nexus between law and justice which philosophers had given persuasive thoughts on the inseparability of the duo concepts.

In SalawuAjide v Kadiri Kelani (1985) 1 NWLR 248AT 269, Oputa J.S.C, on the need for truth to prevail in order to ensure justice is done poignantly cautioned that “justice is much more than a game of hide and seek. It is an attempt to discover the truth, on human imperfections, notwithstanding. Justice will never decree anything in favour of so slippery a customer as the present defendant/appellant” on this note, our courts have admitted that justice and truth are on the same ticket and that in doing justice the courts and all ministers in her temple, that is lawyers and all other stakeholders, must strive at discovering the truth regardless of legal technicalities”.

No doubt, the recent verdicts by the apex court in Nigeria have thrown more confusion rather than douse the tension of many Nigerians. Perhaps, these judgments have exhumed more complex questions in lieu of solving the convoluted issues, as regard the rights and the propriety of an electoral process, the basis of which forms the reasons why aggrieved parties in the electioneering processes approach the courts. The reason why many have been so concerned about the Supreme Court’s judgments is that the court’s decision is seen as one subjugating their will to that of an umpire, which to the faintest, is never participant in the state’s election process, thus, making the whole exercise calling for the democratic principle of electing their leaders a mere formality or charade.

The prevalent legal ideology of judges in line withAustinian Positivist theory is undoubtedly what is observed, most often, by the Nigerian judges. One may ponder in dismay and trance, thus, ask the fundamental question of whether the judiciary is a dummy arbiter, meant merely to reel out what is written in the legislative codification? Or they are really saddled with the sacred responsibility of giving professional interpretations to the letters of laws, that is, by juxtaposing the facts in factual sense with the letters of laws, solely, for the attainment of justice?

ProfessorAkin Oyebode aptly described the attitude of the Nigerian judges when he asserted that “when judges are confronted with a choice between applying law delegelata and lawdelegeferenda, the majority of the judges would opt for the former in accordance with the strict constructionist legal ideology which they have imbibed. There are different sets of theories that medieval philosophers have used to explain what law is, though, the Nigerian courts cannot appear obsolete, without purposeful attempt to juxtapose and fine-tune a workable rapprochement between facts and laws, with a view to attaining justice.

Prior to the Thursday, 13th February’s supreme court’s decision on Bayelsa State’s gubernatorial tussle, the decisions of the Nigerian apex court on election matters have always been subject of torrent of criticisms leaving the populace in a state of utter quagmire. For example, in May 2019, the Supreme Court’s judgment on Zamfara’sAPC primaries tussle cannot be forgotten in a jiffy, where in its judgment, the apex court ruled that noncompliance with INEC guidelines and directives on the date for the submission of candidates, vitiated the eligibility of the political party,APC, to participate in the elections. Therefore, it would be deemed, legally, that the party did not field any candidate or partake in all the elections that took place in the state, hence, the mindboggling judgment which robbed the party and the people of the state the real franchise to exercise the key tenet of democracy, which calls for fair representation of all and by the respect for the majority’s will. Of course theAPC stalwarts perceived this as decision taken too far and a sheer over-flexing of muscle by the judiciary in order to suppress the will of the majority in Zamfara State.

What appears highly intriguing is the Supreme Court’s judgment on January 14, where in its revered wisdom saw the need to accept in evidence the votes from 388 polling units, which had earlier been wrongly rejected by INEC in the March 28 gubernatorial election in Imo State. In its judgment, the Supreme Court in its wisdom, consequently

Our courts have admitted that justice and truth are on the same ticket and that in doing justice the courts and all ministers in her temple, that is lawyers and all other stakeholders, must strive at discovering the truth regardless of legal technicalities

allotted almost all the rejected votes in the 388 polling units to the APC candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma. That decision, which many Nigerians are still tongue lashing and still trying to grapple with the ratio behind the “confusing” judicial activism, clearly truncated the dream of the PDP and its candidate, Hon Emeka Ihedioha’s reign in Imo State.

Just like a football match, where penalty shoots are awarded by a perceived skewed referee to the two sides of the game, the apex court, in another blockbuster, dealt a deadly blow to theAPC, where it ruled that the infraction by an “appendage” to its major candidate, which touches on qualification, clearly robbed the candidate of the APC, who had been declared governor-elect and indeed few hours to his inauguration, the bite of the hysteria of ruling the oil reach state, Bayelsa State.

Based on these three scenarios, the knotty question that has been racking the brains of Nigerians, is that, what is the stance of the Supreme Court when it comes to making a choice between the application of legal technicalities, which is a concept that overrides the literal interpretation of the letters of the law on one hand and the sheepish adherence to the letters of the law on the other hand?

The former demands a judicial exercise and what perhaps, may be technically called judicial activism. Of course, our courts have had the reasons to take to this in some cases years back. For example, during the screening process of Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko as the 14 substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria, his lordship admitted that there are indeed technicalities in law by virtue of its inheritance from English law. While the latter on the other hand does not admit the discretion of the interpreter, rather he is expected to comply strictly with the letters of the law without room for “special” cases or exigencies.

The honourable CJN further submitted that technicality in law is something that has to do with perception of the way you think you will be able to achieve the goals of what you want to achieve. On the other hand, where the judges follow, without any judicial activism by way of philosophizing that is doing what will best serve the interest of justice. Justice does not only apply to the parties involved in the case, but the society, whose interest, at large, is at stake. In the judgment given in Bayelsa case, what has been done is precariously hazardous, an interpretation of the law which definitely silhouetted the ultimate aim of law that is, the globally recognized, which is justice. The fact is, whether theAPC candidate in Bayelsa State, actually was voted for and wanted by the majority of the Bayelsans is a statement of both fact and law.

––Balogun, a legal practitioner, wrote in from Lagos via rilwanbalogun60@yahoo.com

Issues With Executive Order 009 Bob MajiriOghene EtemikuurgesgovernmenttomovebeyondrhetoricandworktowardsgivingNigeriansaccesstowater

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ong before President Muhammadu Buhari signed Executive Order 009 in November 2019, issues relating to open defecation, and inherent dangers that Nigerians face in defecating openly have been matters strong in public discourse. A report in the Vanguard newspaper of 20thFebruary 2020, with the title, 47.5million Nigerians engage in open defecation, says FG, indicates that from the time that Mr. President signed executive order 009 less than six months ago, most Nigerians still do not have access to water sanitation and hygiene.

The problem is two-fold at the moment and they are related. One is that even though governments in most states of the federation frequently ask Nigerians not to defecate in public, there are as yet no functional public toilets in public institutions like schools, markets, government institutions and hospitals. While there may be toilets in most of these public institutions, issues of access to these toilets is often a big issue – most of the toilets in public institutions are either reserved for the oga for issues of respect and decorum, but also for the fact that the toilets cannot run because all modern toilet systems run on water, and in our environment where even drinking water is hard to come by.

And at a time when there is an explosion of certain diseases like Ebola, Coronavirus and Lassa fever, issues of public toilets or toilets in public institutions come to the fore. With functional toilets in public institutions or at street intersections, most of these diseases will constitute little or no hazard to Nigeria’s teeming population.

Take the example of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. Even though most public institutions indeed have functional toilets, can the same be said for toilets on major and minor streets in Abuja?

Absolutely not. At many prominent street corners and intersections, (and you find this in all major capital cities in Nigeria) we find warning inscriptions such as Do Not Urinate Here – Fine N100 thousand’, without ever finding a toilet on any street corner or intersection to take care of our pressing urinary needs. While there may be indeed some toilets at motor parks and markets, the risks involved with using them often far outweigh the need to answer the call of nature in these public toilets. The problem is often that there is no water and therefore sanitary conditions are very poor. Those unable to hold their systems, and have taken the risks have often

contracted serious infections. Therefore, the opportunity cost of not using a dirty public toilet is the issue of open defecation.

On a certain day at the Central Hospital in Benin City, I felt the urge to empty my bladder. At every point where I made inquiries concerning the toilet, it was either that I was asked to ‘piss anywhere you want’, or that the people I was making the inquiries to would look at me with some curiosity. I was not to know about this dangerous toilet until I got there – and had to flee from there if I didn’t want to commit suicide. That is a public toilet, and within a public institution. But within that public institution, there were other toilets in the various departments and are under lock and key. Out there in the city centre, the Ring Road or King’s Square, there is only one public toilet we know of, in front of the Oredo Local government Council. We only just knew about it on 21st February 2020, after about five years of living here.

We have consistently advocated that during the just-concluded National Festival of Arts and Culture, and before the National Sports Festival to end in April 2020, it would be expedient for the Edo State government to construct toilets at the Akpakpava, Sakponba, New Lagos Road and Airport junctions, and not just because of these national events but for Edo to blaze the trail in providing access to clean public toilets for her people. Part of the tragedy of our collective existence in Benin City is that while there is no water to flush public toilets, an administration spent millions of naira to construct a massive water fountain on the museum premises. If these funds were properly channeled on resolving issues associated with the state water corporation, issues related to inability of residents to use public toilets would not arise.

But our condition must not necessarily be this foul. Life and the living thereof is so much difficult without including issues concerning conduct or misconduct of bodily functions in the absence of the systems. In stating this, we take cognizance of the state of toilets in other parts of the world, and of the economic significance of these toilets. Across board, and across all spectrums of existence in most cities in Europe, human and animal waste have been put to use to produce biogas and help to mitigate climate change. Let us cite one specific example in Germany. After animal waste is collected, the Germans channel them into very large

silos (and they look like our refineries) where the waste is mixed together with genetically modified grains like sorghum, maize and millet. Gas thus produced from this chemical combination of animal waste and genetically modified organisms is driven right through underground pipes to most homes to the extent that one, the government generates an income from this gas distribution. Two, the system works well as an aspect of renewable energy source which has no relationship whatsoever with the utilization of fossil fuels to generate energy needs. And three, even though there are individual issues with the use of human and animal waste for biofuel and other energy needs, it does not devalue the fact that there are people somewhere creatively turning human and animal wastes to productive use.

Therefore, prior to signing that Executive Order 009, these are the issues the government ought to have considered or is considering. Making a commitment to end open defecation in Nigeria before 2025, without ensuring that there is no access to water or that there is a water policy driving that commitment is like cutting our noses to spite our faces. The government knows it would not be there in 2025. It knows that if its party takes the elections in 2023, chances are that it would have bequeathed an unattainable quest to its successor, or to the opposition. Either way, we encourage the present administration to move beyond the rhetoric and the illocutionary and begin in earnest to work towards giving Nigerians access to water. Nigerians have become local government areas to themselves in this area in sinking boreholes at random to meet their water needs. Nothing would be gained in asserting that in the indiscriminate sinking of boreholes to meet our water needs, we continue to compound issues related to climate change, and work against its mitigation thereof.

We encourage the government to deepen discussions on these issues through engagement with stakeholders working in the areas of water sanitation and hygiene. That way, that Executive Order 009, signed in November 2019 by President Buhari would not become just one of those ineffectual monuments to be arrogated to his presidency.

––Etemiku is deputy executive director, Civil Empowerment & Rule of Law Support Initiative

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 23, 2020

15

LETTERS Ban on Okada and Security Implications

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eyond the pingpong blame game, traded over the recent ban placed on the use of both ‘okada’ motorcycles and Keke Napep tricycles, as means of transportation in some selected areas of Lagos State by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu are some pertinent questions begging for urgent answers.

For instance, was the decision taken in the best interest of the good people of Lagos State? Was there due consultation with the relevant stakeholders? Will it facilitate free flow of traffic in the fast exploding megalopolis? Is it in tandem with the master plan of a Greater Lagos that would conform to internationally accepted standards on transportation? And would it impact positively to reduce the increasing incubus of insecurity concerns in the state in particular and Nigeria in general?

As we seek credible answers to these burning questions, we recall that while launching eight locally manufactured speed boats of the state ferry services, Lagferry, in Badore Ferry Terminal, Ajah, Governor Sanwo-Olu recently declared

Sanwo-Olu that the ban on commercial motorcycle and tricycle popularly called Okada and Keke Napep in the state would not be reversed. A hard stance, some people would say, but let us take a cue from the reasons adduced.

“The security and safety of citizens are paramount to any government. As a responsible government, we

will not fold our arms and allow any security breach in the state. We will continue to ensure the safety of our people on all fronts. There have been reports of serious security breaches and safety concerns in areas where these operators ply. We had to respond to these concerns because of life and safety matters to this government,” Governor Sanwo-Olu

reiterated. Well said.

Let it be noted, that the primary purpose of government is to guarantee the security of lives and property as well as to provide for the welfare of the citizens. This is in tandem with Section 14, Sub-section 2(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Any government- at the federal, state or local government council level - that fails in this fundamental mandate has no moral ground to stay on in political power.

Lest we forget, that within a week of the governor’s order the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Turkur Buratai made a public statement to the effect that he was aware that there are terrorists all over the country, Lagos inclusive! What more does anyone need to give kudos to the governor for taking the decision that comes as an act of courage?

It would be recalled, that Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), the current Minister of Works and Housing and incidentally, the former governor of Lagos State, has advised Lagos residents to give the needed support to the state government. That is precisely so, to see the success of the recent restriction on motorcycles in some local

Boko Haram And Security Challenges

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riting on insecurity is one of the most difficult and heartbreaking issues because it is talking about humans being killed under the watch of our so-called leaders. Anytime I place my fingers on keyboard to analyze and put my opinion on the Nigerian state of insecurity I felt so frustrated because the country is in serious danger and our leaders seem ruling the country from another planet. But we will not keep quiet watching things go wrong.

Recently, there were calls from some security-minded people from all the corners of Nigeria on President Buhari to sack the security chiefs over the persistent increase of insecurity in the country.

It is in this situation that the House of Representatives issued a new warning asking the service chiefs to either resign or be sacked, but the president wouldn’t listen to the house, the security experts and the masses who voted him into office.

The concerned citizens have right for doing so because the security atmosphere in the country is alarming to the extent that many are questioning the sincerity of the service chiefs. Indeed, most security observers believe the service chiefs have conspired to perpetuate the Boko Haram insurgency for their unlawful financial gains. Despite massive expenditure by Nigerian government over the last one

decade, these security chiefs and their forces recorded limited success in the fight against terrorism and other security challenges such as general banditry, cattle rustling and kidnapping.

This kind of negligence and widespread corruption in the security sector are the reasons Boko Haram, ISWAP, Ansaru and other bandits are still operating in Nigeria. When the insurgency first emerged in 2009, Nigeria treated it with kid gloves. And Buhari has refused to investigate why the counter-terrorism in the country is failing despite the massive resources invested.

Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Pretoria reported that from 2010 to 2017, Nigeria spent over N6.7 trillion in the name of counterterrorism operations and other security challenges. This amount did not include the extra budgetary allocations such as the US$1 billion the government borrowed in 2013 to fund counter-terrorism operations and the US$21 million approved for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in June 2015. The report also did not capture security votes distributed across the country. Despite all these, the country is failing woefully.

Apart from corruption, the country`s security agencies are not cordial in discharging their duties. There is unnecessary rivalry and conflicts among the agencies involved in counter-terrorism operations especially between Nigerian military and police

force. They do have poor relationship that most a time affects the intelligence gathering, strategic and tactics of operation. What caused this problem is the corruption that affects the sector.

It’s not surprising that terror groups and other criminals found the country very conducive to perpetuate their deadly acts; they have large operational bases in different parts of the country especially in the remote areas of northern region.

Though, recently the police claimed that they killed over 250 Ansaru terrorist groups in Kaduna State, the report from the said communities said otherwise.

It’s in this context of increasing insecurity in the country that terrorists attacked Auno community, a town which is just 24 kilometers away from the Borno capital of Maiduguri.

The report said there was no any single security agent at that time because they ran away when they closed the entrance to Maiduguri city and left the people at the mercy of the terrorist group.

Another terrifying story is that the Boko Haram has good collaboration with some of the people from Auno who frequently provide them with information of motorists’ movements.

There is need to have good civil-military relationship framework to enable us bridge the gap between the local communities and the security agencies involved in the counter-terrorism operations.

For Nigerian government to win this war, the authorities must investigate the security agencies thoroughly, change the service chiefs and also bridge the existing gap among the security agencies involved in the operation.

Cooperating with border localities especially Lake Chad basin areas will help in curbing the terror groups’ activities. Finally government should address the issue of explosive population growth, unemployment and climate change. These issues are exacerbating economic anxiety and fomenting lawlessness especially in the communities in northern Nigeria that border Niger Republic, Cameroon, Chad and Togo.

There is also allegation against the perfection of operation safe corridor; it is an initiative for the deradicalization, rehabilitation and reintegration of all ex-Boko Haram combatants.

Communities and some top military officials are not happy with the initiative. To them, government is taking care of the ex-combatants more than the real victims of the insurgence. This generates a lot of grievances and potentially encourages new sources of violence in the affected areas. Nigeria can’t afford losing huge amount of money, resource, lives and property because of the attitude of some few unpatriotic security personnel.

––Idris Mohammed, Department of Mass Communication, Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto.

government areas in the state. Agreed, that some discomfort comes along with the enforcement but the security implications of not enforcing the law constitute serious threat to peace in the state. Fashola should know, given his wealth of experience. He was the governor of the state when the Lagos Road Traffic Law came into effect in 2012. In fact, he did make public the fact that at some point during his wave-making administration, there were attempts by some terrorists to cause havoc in the city. But thank God, that with effective information gathering mechanism such was quickly nipped in the bud. Without an iota of doubt therefore, any full blown devastation to Lagos State affects not only the security, economy and politics of the state but the country, the West African sub-region and Africa as a continent.

Speaking as the guest speaker at the fourth annual public lecture/symposium organised by the United Action for Change in Lagos recently, Fashola noted that motorcycles had been identified as the favourite means of escape by criminals. In his lecture titled, ‘Insecurity: Taking action against organised crime,’ Fashola said “insecurity is a global problem that requires the input of citizens to eradicate.”

As a way forward, he identified peaceful co-existence, intelligence gathering and curbing the menace of drug abuse as some of the solutions.

In retrospect, back in 2018 at a stakeholders’ meeting with some seasoned media practitioners and public affairs analysts, with yours truly in attendance, representatives of the then Governor Akinwunmi Ambode were told point blank that the influx of all manner of questionable characters, fleeing the insurgency from up north constituted serious security implications to the state. Proactive measures were therefore required to stem the tide. This hitherto uncontrolled situation has

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been worsened by the federal government’s controversial visa-on-arrival policy.

As recently revealed

by Dr. Femi Hamzat, the deputy governor, some of the okada riders, apart from constituting themselves into lords of the streets, and causing avoidable accidents have been found to carry knives! And you cannot but ask yourself, “what for?” The answer should be obvious to discerning minds.

On the surface of it, there might not have been extensive consultations with the stakeholders on the ban on okada and keke Napep but the needful action has been taken. And at the right time too. As Fashola rightly noted, motorcycles could not be the preferred choice of transportation in a centre of excellence like Lagos, angling to become a smart city within the next decade.

It is noteworthy that soon after the ban came into effect, the governor directed the Lagos Bus Services Limited(LBSL) to provide 65 buses for some selected routes. These may not be enough, considering the huge population of commuters but this is only a first step.

Similarly, it has launched 14 new ferry boats to strengthen its public transportation system. The state is targeting to lift at least 480,000 passengers daily on the waterways. What more, the new passenger boats are fitted with modern communication gadgets and Wi-Fi deployed in the first phase of the state commercial ferry service, which began on February 4, at Obadore, in Ajah area of the state. Also, new train services will come into serve as alternative to road transportation.

All said, the ban on okada and tricycles has caused hardship on many commuters. But this comes as the price to pay to ensure an enduring peaceful situation in the state. We have to be alive to carry out activities to give meaning to our dreams.

––Ayo Oyoze Baje, Lagos.

Look For The Best...

t seems sad that the Boy Scouts of America are filing for bankruptcy protection because of a number of lawsuits relating to child abuse. The reality however is that there is a need to protect children at all times and a number of organisations have failed to do so. It is logical that most of these cases have involved organisations where children are there is number with priests, teachers and sports coaches frequently involved.

Most of the people in these groups are fine, upstanding individuals who have devoted time and effort to help others and the offenders are in the minority, but they are still there. The failing with some organisation, especially the churches, in not monitoring

their members and taking immediate responsibility to remove such individuals is shameful.

The churches approach, in Australia and probably most places, of moving offenders from parish to parish is shameful and probably criminal. This is by no means a complete list of offenders as in my local community it was actually the police officer who was the offender and he was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

Like most decent citizens I cannot understand the offenders thinking but condemn it completely. We must call out all such cases and protect the children.

––Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia.

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FE ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

INTERNATIONAL Deepening Insecurity in Nigeria: The Pentagon on Which the Political Lull Rests and Foreign Policy

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overnance under President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) has been largely characterised by political lull, which can be likened to a carrefour of confusion and indecision. At the economic level, inflation is mounting. Institutional corruption is galloping, particularly in the service industries. Electricity supply companies make bills on the basis of estimates and are not sincerely interested in the provision of meters.

They make acquisition of meters difficult for their customers.

Why is it really difficult to provide meters when anti-corruption is a major agenda of Government?

DSTV is another major fraud. It tells its subscribers that whoever subscribes for one year should pay only for eleven months and that the twelfth month will be made free. I paid for one year, but at the end of the eleventh month, service to my line was cut off. I went to make enquiry as to why I was cut off, promise was made to redress the situation. Even though the redress is yet to be made, how many people have the time to check the correct dates of expiry of their subscription?

What about Smile? DSTV has agents marketing what is said to be a new Smile 4G LTE. I always subscribe for one year. At the point of my last renewal, a new Smile 4G LTE was introduced to me, with the explanation that it is an upgrade of the old and that my current Smile 4G LTE would soon be out of market and, therefore, that there was the need to quickly acquire the new one. In fact, I was told that the new Smile 4G LTE. has twice the capacity of the old one and contained a free data valid for ONE year. It was a case of the French magouille, which took place at the Ozone Cinema Outlet on Commercial Avenue, Sabo Yaba.

Throughout the first month of purchase of the new Smile 4G LTE, there was no network. Text messages of apology were sent to me. I reported the matter to the Sabo Police Station, in Yaba, but the promoters who operated under the umbrella of Smile could not be found even though the Smile office is still there.

This is institutional fraud, well known but generally acquiesced to.

My recidivist question is why is it that a whole Federal Government is unable to prevent ordinary acts of corruption? Why should the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) be under the DSTV? Why should the NTA not remain, if need be, analogue, to avoid subjecting the people of Nigeria to economic rape? If the NTA has to be part of the DSTV, by force of necessity, why should it not be made free for Nigerians, or why is there is no specially negotiated agreement that will enable poor Nigerians, who are entitled to Nigerian public information, to be allowed the opportunity to have access to its own NTA gratis?

Perhaps more disturbingly, inflation is not only increasing, the situation of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos has become so inclement to the extent that many flights have to be diverted to neighbouring countries, particularly to Benin and Togo, mainly because of lack of appropriate landing gear.

In the same vein, for instance, the National Bureau of Statistics noted in a report last week that ‘consumer price index, which measures inflation, increased by 12.13 per cent (year-on-year) in January 2020. This is 0.15 per cent points higher than the rate recorded in December 2019 (11.98 per cent).’ At the level of States, Sokoto State has the highest rate of inflation with 15.20% followed by Kebbi State with 14.37 per cent. Kwara State has the least rate with 9.49%. The questions here again are clear: are the economic policies of Government in order and in the national interest? Why is it difficult for Government to acquire the necessary landing equipment, especially the Category III type?

The Insecurity Saga

At the level of insecurity, armed banditry and kidnappings are unending. Gunmen attacks are frequent occurrences. There is no month, not to say week, without reports of killings and murder. Last week, the case of an Aso Rock Assistant Director, Laetitia Dagan, 47 years old, was reported. She was reportedly tied with her mattress in her apartment and set on fire. Two Sundays ago, six passengers were abducted along Lokoja-Kabba road. Last week, 12 travellers in a Toyota Hiace bus, belonging to Eleojo Transport Service (Plate Number KSF 19 XZ, were

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

ernment claims that it has nipped in the bud boko haramism but the boko haramists have always responded by launching heavier attacks on the people whenever the Government makes such claims. The situation of deepening insecurity has therefore become a political lull, the genesis and understanding of which has to be put in context. In this regard, we observe that Nigeria’s political lull rests on a pentagon of inseparable self-deceits.

It is important to first of all note here that any country or individual who is not sincere to or with itself or himself, should not be expected to be sincere with any other persons, individual or corporate. Living under whatever false pretences cannot enable anyone, any country to have peace and rest of mind. Insecurity in Nigeria is a resultant of false pretences. This explains in part why PMB is currently challenged by how to balance error and terror in the political governance of the country. It is the foundation of the pentagon of self-deceits guiding political governance in Nigeria. Let us espy the root cause of the initial error: colonial manipulation of census figures.

The Pentagon of Self-deceits

Buhari abducted between Itobe and Ajegu in the Ofu LGA, Kogi State.

Fulani herdsmen and farmers saga is another dimension of the insecurity and still remains front page reports in newspapers. The frightening report as at last week is that one million guns were shipped to the Fulani herdsmen, most of whom have reportedly surrendered Nigeria and only waiting for order to act. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was quoted as saying that Nigeria is on a time bomb.

If truth be told, insecurity in Nigeria is deepening at a fast rate, to the extent that many states and communities have now opted for self-help. Is this approach the ideal? Which way Nigeria?

Some notable Nigerians have suggested that PMB should sack all the Service Chiefs but PMB is not prepared to do so. As explained by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, ‘you don’t sack people like that. There are processes ... [A]t the right time, those processes will be followed.

You don’t just wake up and say sack people. It doesn’t happen like that.’

As logical as this argument may be, it raises very simple questions: when is the right time? Calls for replacement of the Service Chiefs dates back to more than one year now. How many years are required to determine which way forward? It is also argued that sacking the Service Chiefs would lead to national disaffection and disunity. This is a more absurd reasoning. If the Service Chiefs, in their five years of tenure, only succeed in making changes within continuity, that is, tactical changes but continuation of Boko Haram insurgency, then the extent of wellness of the Service Chiefs is, at best, not good enough for national security interest, meaning that new tactical ideas have become a desideratum. Most unfortunately, however, PMB cannot see any fault with the performance of the Service Chiefs.

Without jot of doubt, this is not to suggest that PMB has not attempted to take the bull by the horn, the point being made is that his efforts are good but not good enough to arrest the brouhaha of national insecurity. PMB’s efforts have been to no avail. Gov-

Put differently in sum,political governance in Nigeria has been largely predicated since the time of independence in 1960 on a pentagon of inseparable self-deceits: colonial manipulation of population results which wrongly, but consciously, gave the north a population it never had; Nigeria’s Constitution, which provides for secularity but only talked about Muslim, Sharia, etc, in several parts of the Constitution, without mentioning other religions in the same manner; the resultant ethnic struggle to redress the anomaly but to which the Government of the Federation has not always been favourably disposed; acquiescence and protection of foreign countries’ interests in the conduct and management of national affairs; and use of manu militari methods to impose selfish sectional interests.These are the banes of the Nigerian society that largely explain the unending insecurity and which foreign policy must seek to address, without which insecurity may not come to an end

Colonial manipulation of census figures is criminally in conception, design and outcome. We are therefore not surprised about the regrets of Harold Smith, the British-born, who took active part in the pre-independence census and with whom the Ben TV had an interview. Harold Smith admitted that Britain’s agenda ‘was to completely exploit Africa.’ What the British found in Southern region of Nigeria was ‘strength, intelligence, determination to succeed, well established history, complex but focused life style, great hopes and aspirations... The East is good in business and technology, the West is good in administration and commerce, law and medicine, but it was a pity we planned our agenda to give power “at all costs” to the northerner.’

Specifically on the issue of census, ‘Harold Smith confessed that the census results were announced before they were counted. Despite seeing vast land with no human being but cattle in the North, we still gave the North 55 million instead of 32 million... [T]he West, without Lagos, was the most populous in Nigeria at that time, but we ignored that. The North was seriously encouraged to go into the military... The Northerners were given accelerated promotions...’ This quotation is selfexplanatory. It is the original root of the problem, because the inflated population figures in favour of Northerners would be reckoned with in national planning and development calculations thereafter. The first and immediate implication is the giving of sponsored priority for Northerners, even though many of them were and still are very bright, very intelligent enough to be allowed to compete with their other Nigerian compatriots.

For instance, Otunba (Sir) Frederick Akinsanmi, a former Federal Ministry of Education staff, recalled of recent that, when he was posted to Sokoto in 1973-1975, he ‘experienced firsthand the issue of admission of S.75 holders to the School of Basic Studies, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, for a one session crash or preparatory program, only for the Northerners.

After the 9-month program, it was direct, automatic admission of all attendees to ABU first degrees courses.’

The case of Dr. Femi Badejo, a seasoned political scientist with the University of Lagos before he opted to become an international functionary with the United Nations, is worth mentioning. His daughter went to Queens College in Yaba, passed out very well, scored more than the required 200 points for university admission but was not admitted. Another classmate of hers did not even obtain the required 200 points but was given admission on the basis of factors of environmental conditionings. Dr. Badejo went to court on the matter.

The point being made here is that the system of political governance in Nigeria does not allow for unity of purpose and cooperation. On the contrary, it aids and abets animosity, which should not be. The existence of Northerners and Southerners, educated and uneducated, rich and poor, etc is what really makes Nigeria great and greater than any other country in Africa. Nigeria is greatly blessed for it, but Nigerian leaders always mismanaged the blessings by myopically promoting selfish, to the detriment of national, interests. This is self-deceit of a tall order.

Another question of self-deceit is the Constitution of Nigeria.

The Constitution provides for a secular state, that Nigeria is a multi-religious state, or that there will not be a state religion.

However, it is the belief of a good number of Nigerians that, in both theory and practice, Nigeria is a Muslim state. From the perspective of the Constitution of the country, the words Muslim and Sharia are mentioned several times, while the word Christian or Christianity is never mentioned for once.

As noted by Damilolly in his ‘the Islamisation of Nigeria: The Nigerian Constitution Recognises only Islam’ (vide https:// www.nairaland.com), in the 1999 Constitution, Sharia was mentioned 73 times, Grand Khadi 54 times, Islam 28 times, Muslims 10 times and there is no single mention of Christ, Christian, Christianity or church.’ In this regard, ‘some mischievous elements are taking these lapses in the Constitution to come to the ungodly decision that probably the state is an Islamic state,’ the Christians have further submitted.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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BUSINESS

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

Power distribution plant

Resolving Electricity Sector Logjam The inability of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the generation companies as well as the distribution companies to deliver stable power supply and provide satisfactory customer services to electricity consumers in the country is as a result of inappropriate pricing of electricity, writes Obinna Chima

S

Since November 2013, when the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) successor companies were handed over to their new owners,the perennial challenge of epileptic power supply, which over the years contributed to the frail economic growth recorded by the country has remained unabated.

In fact, the expectation of improved and stable supply of electricity, with the government then, setting a target of 10,000 megawatts after the exercise, has remained a mirage as owners of the privatised power companies have not been able to realise the objectives for which they acquired the assets.

However, rather than taking steps to improve the situation, the power sector investors have been enmeshed in more squabbles than envisaged.

The defunct PHCN was then broken into 11 distribution companies and nine generation companies as well as one transmission company.

Nigeria’s dilapidated power sector is often criticised by analysts for holding back the country’s economic potential.

Businesses and households are subject to frequent blackouts, and many depend on their own generators that are expensive to run.

Analysts have said the challenges in the sector are multi-faceted and require a holistic approach to address, so as to instill confidence among consumers as well as attract the desired investors.

Owing to these challenges in the sector, especially in the area of illiquidity, the federal government since the handover has been forced to intervene to keep the successor companies afloat and prevent a total collapse of the sector.

To address the situation, analysts have stressed the need for the introduction of a cost-reflective tariff regime.

Sector Review To the Minister of Power, Engr. Sale Mamman, the N1.684 trillion outstanding receivable owed the power generation companies (Gencos) is a key challenge in the sector.

According to him, this has been a major source of concern to the federal government.

Mamman also pointed out that the access of the distribution companies (Discos) to borrowing instruments had been limited by the fact that they were already over-leveraged.

However, as part of efforts to ensure market efficiency and transparency, the minister explained that the federal government had undertaken the improvement of commercial, technical and regulatory components of transaction agreements; promotion of fiscal discipline through the effective utilisation of all power sector loans; promotion of market disciple, and achievement of cost reflective tariff that would facilitate mutual benefits to both

investors and consumers.

Mamman disclosed these in a presentation to the National Economic Council (NEC) recently. The current rate of power electrification revealed by the minister in the report placed Lagos as the state with the highest level of electrification in the country, at 95 per cent, closely followed by Anambra (about 92 per cent), and Imo (90 per cent).

But states, such as Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Taraba,Yobe, and Zamfara, ranked low, with about 30 per cent electrification rate.

Mamman listed other challenges in the sector to include gas constraints for thermal generation, idle generation capacity, and the historically perennial under-investment in the development and expansion of the grid.

He observed the lack of adequate investment in the distribution network.

Pointing out that Nigeria remained among the lowest per capita electricity supply in Africa,with a high rate of rural to urban migration, he identified some present and emerging challenges in the sector to include misalignment between generation, transmission and distribution,as well as the rising cost of undelivered electricity capacity.

Others, he stated, included declining Discos’remittance, coordination and corporate governance challenge as well as challenges

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͻ˜ 2020

BUSINESS Resolving Electricity Sector Logjam faced by the Discos, the Gencos and the transmission company.

The report put the average tested capacity for hydro in the country at 1,225MW and thermal at 6,241.65MW. On the other hand,on-grid generation capacity for hydro was said to be 1, 936MW,Thermal – 11,154MW; Average ActualTransmission Wheeled – 4,117.5; Average Unutilised Transmission Capacity – 2,883; Average Total Operational Capacity for Hydro – 1258.18, and Thermal – 4,201.97.

The minister listed measures that were being adopted to address the challenges to include infrastructural alignment, market efficiency and transparency, corporate governance enhancement and sector policy coordination, increasing energy access, and the execution of legacy projects in the sector.

In the area of infrastructure alignment,he listed measures introduced by the federal government to involve the commencement of the implementation of phase one of the Nigerian Electricity Roadmap; continuous implementation of theTransmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme (TREP),supporting the full implementation of the Disco franchise, as well as the promotion of grid standardisation and synchronisation.

The minister stated that as part of efforts to ensure market efficiency and transparency, the federal government had undertaken the refinement of commercial, technical and regulatory components of transaction agreements. This, he added, included promotion of fiscal discipline through the effective utilisation of all power sector loans; promotion of market discipline, and ensuring the achievement of cost-reflective tariff that would facilitate mutual benefit to investors and consumers.

In terms of energy access, he said the government had taken steps to scale up its energy access models,develop additional energy access models as well as promotion of investment into off-grid projects.

Cost-reflective Tariff as Way Out In order to address the challenges in the sector, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of theTransmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr. Usman Mohammed, has called on Nigerians to be prepared for the payment of cost-reflective tariffs on electricity.

Mohammed identified the payment of cost-reflective electricity tariffs as the answer to the problem of power supply in Nigeria.

He said:“We will not move forward if we cannot pay the right tariffs for consumption of electricity. I want to assure Nigerians that there is no relationship between poverty and payment of electricity.

So, let us stop deceiving ourselves that we can refuse to pay for electricity and still enjoy constant power supply.

“That is why I said that Nigerians should prepare to pay costreflective tariffs so that these contracts can be effective.Also service will significantly improve once tariffs become effective.

“We have to be prepared to remove government from the middle.

This issue of government guarantees (subsidy) has not worked and will not work. Look at a place like Burkina Faso that is sitting on one of the poorest part of West Africa is having a collection efficiency of 98 per cent.

“If that country will get electricity from Ivory Coast and pay for it I cannot see any reason someone will say that Nigerians cannot pay.

I want to tell you that Nigeria has the cheapest tariff in West Africa.”

He added:“If we are not careful, we will continue to sink money in the power sector and still remain on 4000MW power generation in the next three years.”

He noted that Nigerians must be prepared to pay for electricity in order to improve power supply. Mohammed, said no private investor would invest in the power sector without the assurance of favourable returns.

“Nigeria has done the power sector reform and handed over the distribution sector to the private sector six years ago. Within these years, the federal government has sunk N1.5 trillion in the power sector because contracts were not effective and the revenue flow is not there. So the government was guaranteeing the generation companies to continue to do business.

“But do we want it to continue? No. So how do we stop it?

We can only stop it when contracts become effective by assuring cost-reflective tariffs. What the poor need is effective metering of electricity to enable them manage their consumption,”he said Also, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), recently reiterated that a cost-reflective tariff structure must be developed and implemented to change the narrative in the electricity sector and make the sector financially viable.

BPE said the electricity market had been haemorrhaging badly needed money due to lack of cost reflective tariff. It also said heavy debts by ministries,departments and agencies (MDAs) of government were also hampering the growth of the power sector.

Those assertions were contained in a recent report,titled,“Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) Reform: Processes, Challenges and the Way Forward,”which the BPE presented to the National Economic Council (NEC) Ad-hoc Committee on the Power Sector, a copy of which was obtained recently.

The BPE pointed out in the report that the federal government’s inability to follow through its commitments had affected the Performance Agreements (PAs), frowning on the refusal of parties to adhere to commitments made before the handover.

The bureau recommended the creation of a robust institutional framework that would be ad-hoc in nature, made up of critical actors, and chaired by the Vice President, as a first step towards resolution of the power crisis.

In the report, BPE said its analysis had revealed that the power sector would require funding to the tune of $7.6 billion over a five-year period, stressing that there is a correlation between energy consumption and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita.

It listed other major challenges facing the sector to include withdrawal of the transitional subsidy support and dumping of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-backed Nigeria Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility (NEMSF) on the balance sheet of the Discos.

BPE also cited the major shift in Nigeria’s macroeconomic indicators

Mamman

Oduntan

(exchange rate, inflation) and lack of stable regulatory environment as factors hurting the electricity sector. It expressed dismay at the grave shortfall in power generation in the country, which averaged about 3,500 MW in the past 10 years, and the liquidity crisis in the sector. The agency lamented that Discos collected only about 30 per cent of market requirements.

BPE said regulatory inconsistency over the years had weighed down the sector.

According to the agency, there is transmission system constraints, where the network can only wheel about 5,000 MW in reality. An independent analysis by Siemens indicated that the existing‘last mile’distribution capacity in the operation is about twice as high as the peak supply delivered byTCN to the respective distribution.

“There is also lack of proper coordination of the public sector agencies involved in the power sector and the refusal of parties to adhere strictly to commitments made before handover.”

The bureau said there was an urgent need for implementation of the power sector recovery plan.

It said,“The challenges to the power sector are as old as Nigeria.

To solve them, the political leadership must be committed, have sincerity of purpose and the will to take hard decisions.

“The Nigeria goal is to provide universal access to power for Nigerians by 2030.To achieve that, we must have a roadmap and a policy that will attract private sector investment, human capital and an institutional framework to reach set goals.

“The first step in resolving the power logjam is the need to create a robust institutional framework that is ad-hoc in nature and made up of critical actors. The committee is to be chaired by the vice president and made up of heads of relevant ministries and agencies.”

BPE explained that the role of the committee would be to monitor and coordinate the deliverables in the power sector, adding that it would also eliminate obstacles and bottlenecks in the attainment of agreed targets.

The first assignment of the committee, BPE said, would be to ensure the power sector recovery plan approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) was diligently and vigorously implemented.

“The power sector plan clearly defined policy actions, operational and financial interventions meant to restore the financial viability of the power sector bedevilled by liquidity crisis,”it stated, explaining, “The issues raised are germane to the socio-economic development of this country. Without resolving the power crisis, Nigeria will remain underdeveloped, with no major educational, industrial or agricultural development.”

The bureau said,“All hands must be on deck working in the same direction to implement the power sector recovery plan approved by the FEC. Nigeria can solve the power deficit challenges under the current leadership. For that to happen, political leadership at the highest level must make the required bold and ambitious moves.

“After all, New Delhi from where we adapted our distribution companies’privatisation model went through same pains we are going through today.”

To analysts at FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, adjusting the price of electricity is a key reform the federal government must undertake to engender growth in the country.

According to the firm, more investments would be required in the power sector than currently available.

But the sector may not attract investment in the absence of a cost-reflective tariff, they argued.

In the same vein, the Partner/West Africa Energy Leader, PwC, Mr. Pedro Omontuemhen, who stressed the need for a cost-reflective tariff in the sector,however,noted that it would not solve the problems of the sector given the many challenges facing it.

Omontuemhen had told THISDAY that:“The challenges of the power sector in Nigeria are many, but one of the challenges is financing.Technology is a challenge, recovery of debts is a challenge, infrastructure is a challenge, but sometimes you do need money

to solve some of these challenges that we have.

“If you don’t have enough money, you will not be able to invest in the required infrastructure. So the issue now is that, if you price this product appropriately and it is well managed, the management of the distribution companies will now have money to invest in the right infrastructure.

“So our view is that it is a step taken in the right direction. But the challenge now is for the distribution companies to ensure that power is now available”.

For the Director, Research and Advocacy,Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), Mr. Sunday Oduntan, appropriate pricing through cost-reflective tariff will go a long way in solving the sector’s problems.

He said: “When you are talking about efficiency, efficiency is also linked to pricing.You cannot be efficient in any business, even in bakery if there is no appropriate pricing.”

Oduntan said inappropriate pricing was responsible for the lack of efficiency of the operators.

He said:“I think we need to be more sensitive to the need of our customers. I think we are not there yet, but the Discos that I represent and everybody, all stakeholders in the value chain are not efficient enough.“Efficiency is very important as I have spoken about the link between efficiency and pricing.

“So, I agree 100 per cent that there is the need for more consumer confidence, consumer education; and like now, people have been talking about tariff increase on January 1. All those ones, we need to do more in terms of letting people be aware of what is going on.

The piecemeal or gradual increment makes people to think that they increase tariff all the time.”

He commended NERC for its efforts in making in the last six month to stabilise the power sector.

“The last time a review was done in this sector was in 2015 and it took effect on February 1, 2016.What the law said is that there should be minor review every six months, which is why I have commended NERC for coming out for the first time since 2016 to do what we should have done every six months from that first quarter of 2016.

“What they are proposing is slight increase that will occur in April 2020, and it is even planned to be a gradual thing. We will not have what should be the appropriate pricing of the product this year, what is planned is to see that by the end of 2021, there will be a way to ensure that appropriate things are done such that there will not be that huge shortfall,”he stated.

Oduntan,in a separate statement yesterday,also said the application of the new tariffs by the Discos would be gradual and less painful to electricity consumers.

He added that it would take until 2021 before the differences in the reviewed tariff could be fully passed to consumers.

Oduntan explained that they wanted to clarify to Nigerians how the new tariff framework would be implemented with the aim of clearing the misunderstanding that its announcement had created.

“We make this statement to inform all our esteemed customers that we are not unmindful of news making the rounds that electricity tariffs have been increased effective January 1, 2020 as reported in some print and electronic media.

“For clarity and improved understanding, we state…the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) is primarily regulated by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). NERC is empowered by the EPSR Act (Electric Power Sector Reform) to make orders and declarations in a manner promoting efficiency and sustainability within the NESI,”said the ANED. According to the association, the NERC has been empowered

by EPSRA to carry out minor reviews of power tariffs under the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2015 framework twice a year.

It explained that accurate electricity tariffs help in ensuring efficient power supply as well as assure market participants of their costs recovery and return on investment.

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BUSINESS/ENERGY

A vandalised pipeline

Nigeria’s Oil: A Theft without End Nigeria loses billions of dollars to oil theft every year. It is estimated that over $40 billion has been stolen from the country by oil thieves over the last 10 years. While most perceive oil thieves to be shadowy figures skiting across the snaking waters of the delta region, the reality is that the oil thieves can also be found in the hallowed bureaus of government and state institutions. To effectively tackle the clear and present danger of unending oil theft, the searchlight must be beamed on both sections of economic sabotage. Nosa James-Igbinadolor reports

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It can well be said, after all, that Nigeria’s oil industry is inevitably managed by two competing groups; the federal government that has inefficiently managed the industry for the Nigerian people, and thieves that continue to effectively shear billions of dollars’ worth of oil from pipelines across the delta. Indeed, Nigeria is the clearest evidence of the failure to establish accountable institutions, with its economy long being characterised by corruption and non-transparency, and its political economy offering a strong enabling environment for the large-scale theft of crude oil.

Criminal gangs dominate the official and non-official end of the oil and gas industry, making away with billions of dollars’ worth of unaccounted oil. Oil accounts for 90 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange and the bulk of government revenue. But the oil pipelines that snake through the swampy, oil-rich Niger Delta region are targets for theft and sabotage. Oil theft and pipeline vandalism is an old song in the Niger Delta, where there is usually political and social unrest.

Atypical large-scale theft network has facilitators, operations and security people, local and

foreign transport, buyers and sellers, and a range of opportunists. Top Nigerian officials cut their teeth in the oil theft business during military rule. Over time, evidence surfaced that corrupt members of the security forces were actively involved. The country’s return to democracy in 1999 then gave some civilian officials and political ‘godfathers’ more access to stolen oil.

In 2013, Chatham House released a report on Nigeria’s criminal crude. The report found that “Nigerian crude oil is being stolen on an industrial scale. Some of what is stolen is exported. Proceeds are laundered through world financial centres and used to buy assets in and outside Nigeria. In Nigeria, politicians, military officers, militants, oil industry personnel, oil traders and communities’ profit, as do organised criminal groups. The trade also supports other transnational organised crime in the Gulf of Guinea.”

It has been estimated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, that Nigeria lost as much as 22 million barrels of oil to theft in the first half of 2019. The stolen oil amounts to more than 120,000 barrels per day (bpd), or roughly 6 per cent of Nigeria’s nearly two million bpd output. Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo state and chairman of the ad-hoc Committee

of the National Economic Council on Crude Oil Theft, Prevention and Control, warned the 22-million-barrel figure could double by the end of 2019, if nothing was done to combat hydrocarbon theft.

In its September 2019 report, NNPC admitted “a total of 186 pipeline points were vandalised representing an increase of 18per cent from the 158 points vandalised in August 2019. Out of the vandalised points, 30 failed to be welded while none was ruptured. Aba-Enugu axis accounted for 77per cent of the breaks while PHC-Aba, ATC-Mosimi and other routes accounted for 8per cent each.”

Although crude oil theft has long been the subject of intense media attention in Nigeria, the downstream theft of hydrocarbons has remained under the radar. Despite this, downstream hydrocarbon theft is big business in Nigeria.

A recent oilprice.com report, noted that Nigeria’s hydrocarbon theft has traditionally fallen into five main categories: small-scale theft and illegal local refining; large-scale illegal bunkering in the field; theft at export terminals; theft from fuel trucks; and, piracy and oil tanker hijackings.

“Although the former category is pervasive, it almost exclusively involves low-level criminal elements and accounts for a minor percentage

of the overall problem. The latter categories, however, are significant issues and involve more technical sophistication and sophisticated networks comprised of facilitators, local elites, militant groups, oil company workers, as well as military and political officials,” the report noted The report goes on to critically analyse the methodologies used in oil theft. “The most frequently utilised method of hydrocarbon theft has been the tapping of oil pipelines or wellheads.

Referred to as ‘hot tapping’ or ‘pressure tapping’, this method of theft involves accessing a highpressure operational pipeline and diverting a percentage of the flow of oil. Accordingly, the flow is largely uninterrupted and the pipeline remains fully functional, meaning that the theft goes undetected.

“Oil infrastructure located onshore, or in the NigerDelta’sswampsandshallowwaters–where oil pipelines crisscross the region in a grid-like pattern linking the region’s 22 petroleum storage depots and 4 refineries – is most frequently targeted in these tapping operations. This type of activity was originally identified by academics in 2008, and discussed in an African Security Review article.As a percentage of this hot tapping takes place underwater, it is largely hidden from company inspectors.

“Cold tapping is also a frequently employed mechanism by illicit networks to pilfer crude oil.

In this instance, the illicit actors will blow up a section of pipeline, putting it out of commission for several weeks. During this time, an illegal underground tap will be installed, which will divert a continuous supply of oil to the criminals’ own storage facilities. As the supply is constant, when the pipeline is fixed the oil company will not detect any fluctuation in pressure in the main pipeline, and the flow will be able to continue unabated.”

It further noted that while the term ‘bunkering’ describes the process of loading oil onto a ship, it has become synonymous with oil theft, with most illegal bunkering occurring in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta States, where international oil companies operate and run onshore export terminals.

Aside from tapping, there have also been numerous allegations of oil and premium motor spirit (petrol) disappearing from the country’s onshore export terminals, tank farms, and refinery storage tanks – many of which are operated by IOCs. In this ‘white collar’ oil theft scenario, excess oil products are transferred into tankers beyond the licensed amount via the manipulation of meters and the forging of bills of lading and other corporate documents.

Piracy and oil tanker hijacking also constitute part of the challenge of oil theft in the country.

But it goes beyond all these. In discussing oil theft in Nigeria, analysts tend to overlook how government and its institutions engage in large scale heist of oil and gas. Christina Katsouris and Aaron Sayne in their Chatham House report, noted that the “lines between legal and illegal supplies of Nigerian oil can be blurry.

The government’s system for selling its own oil attracts many shadowy middlemen, creating a confusing, high-risk marketplace. Nigeria’s oil industry is also one of the world’s least transparent in terms of hydrocarbon flows, sales and associated revenues.

This is because NNPC’s approach to oil sales suffers from high corruption risks and fails to maximise returns for the nation.A2017 investigation by Abuja based Daily Trust media, found that some indigenous companies not registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) lifted Nigerian crude oil grades valued at $3.5 billion. The investigation further found that the deliberate failure by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to provide clear and accurate identity of some companies it awarded multi-million-dollar oil lifting contracts that year was helping those companies to escape public scrutiny.

Early in 2014, the then Nigeria’s CBN governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, raised an alarm that $20 billion in NNPC oil sale revenues had gone missing.

The management of NNPC’s oil sales has worsened particularly since 2010. A 2015 report by the National Resource Governance Institute, found that, “These shortcomings also characterise NNPC as a whole. Over 38 years, the corporation has neither developed its own commercial or operational capacities, nor facilitated the growth of the sector through external investment. Instead, it has spun a legacy of inefficiency and mismanagement. Its faults have been described by a number of scathing reports, many commissioned by government itself. Despite NNPC’s debilitating consumption of public revenues and performance failures, successive governments have done little to reform the company.

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BUSINESS/ECONOMY

+RZ (PHÀHOH·V $JULF ,QWHUYHQWLRQ LV 3D\LQJ 2; As Rice Boom Heralds a New Optimism His gentle mien gives no inkling of his sturdy determination to promote and project made-inNigeria products. His message is simple enough – No country has ever succeeded if it imports everything she needs from other countries, particularly so if that country has the capacity and natural endowment to produce most of what she consumes. A tireless advocate of Nigeria First policy. In this piece, James Emejo assesses the unflinching determination of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, against all odds in advancing the patronage of made-in-Nigeria goods particularly local rice which has become the toast of every household

I

n line with its developmental function, which is distinct from its primary mandate of price stability, the CBN had established the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) which was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

The programme aimed to create a linkage between anchor companies involved in the processing and smallholder farmers (SHFs) of the required key agricultural commodities.

The thrust of the ABP is the provision of farm inputs in kind and cash to smallholder farmers to boost production of farm commodities which states have comparative advantage to produce including cereals namely rice, maize, wheat, cotton, roots and tubers namely cassava, potatoes, yam, ginger, tomato, poultry, oil palm, fish, sugarcane among others.

The apex bank’s intervention was particularly strategic towards the resuscitation of moribund sectors of the economy in line with the present administration’s agenda to diversify the economy from oil as well as preserve foreign exchange.

With Nigeria’s annual rice importation at over $2 billion, this was particularly worrisome for the CBN as it constituted a major drain of the fragile reserves.

Andwhenitappearedthatmostgovernmenteconomicblueprint to revive the economy had been mere statements of intent rather than action, Emefiele took the bull by the horns to undertake a difficult mission to stop the importation of commodities which the country has a comparative advantage to produce.

The CBN governor’s efforts towards food sufficiency especially in rice production have now materialized and currently causing ripples effects in the economy.

Today, there has been a revolution in local rice production, as most of the inactive rice mills across the country have suddenly received life again while the staple has become the favorite in most Nigerian homes, partly because of its affordability and the fact that local rice had been properly cleaned up to eliminate stone particles which had been a turn off for most people. The staple can now compete with the imported counterpart.

However, Emefiele’s feats in revolutionizing agriculture especially in the areas of rice, tomato, milk, textile production had pitched him against powerful interests in the society, who hitherto benefitted from a largely dysfunctional system as they continued on huge food import, however, at the expense of the country’s hard-earned reserves.

These individuals have now embarked on a smear campaign and sponsored despicable campaigns against the efforts of the CBN to reset the economy.

Nevertheless, Emefiele’s passion and commitment to economic diversification had been strengthened as well as applauded from far and near, as those who never thought a revolution could ever happen in rice production have eaten back their words.

Today, local rice has practically replaced foreign rice as the preferred staple, thanks to efforts by the federal government and the CBN towards patronage of locally made products.

All markets and shops are now filled with locally manufactured rice, with the attendant economic implications on employment generation for the unemployed youths.

Emefiele had stressed that agriculture presented the major opportunity for long-term sustainable development in the country, noting that in spite of the current levels of unemployment, the sector remained vital to the efforts of the federal government in diversifying the country’s monolithic economy away from oil.

While recently acknowledging the twin-challenge of youth restiveness and unemployment, the CBN stressed the need for stakeholders to confront the challenge with innovative thinking using agriculture as a fulcrum of a long-term sustainable and profitable approach.

According to him, agriculture had the potential for huge revenue generation and remained pivotal in job creation, noting that the fact that the agricultural sector was the only sector that experienced growth during the recent recession in the country bore testimony to that.

Nevertheless, further in attesting to the effectiveness of the CBN ABP especially in rice production, the Minister ofAgriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono recently announced that the country will begin to export its brand of rice within the next two years.

He said: “With the improved production rate, Nigerian rice will soon be exported, before the closure of our land border, most

Buhari

of these rice milling plants were partially operating, but now, they not only operate in full capacities but are also expanding.

“If we maintain the momentum in the next two years, we may export rice to other countries. I was worried in terms of the production of rice, but what I have found out is that most rice producers have stocked rice for the next six months. This means that before the stock is finished, dry season rice will be harvested, and before that finishes, the rainy season will come back.”

The minister noted that the country cultivates rice in a ninemonth cycle adding that “probably as we move on, the cycle will widen, so we do not have a problem with rice processing.”

He also said that there had been an expansion of the local rice value chain as well as the creation of more jobs due to an increase in rice production.

As of today, we have 11 rice milling plants with the capacity to produce from 180 tonnes to 350 tonnes of rice per day. In a few months, another mill with a capacity to produce 400 tonnes of rice per day is going to be opened, with another upcoming 34 smaller mills; then, we have clusters in different areas.”

It is estimated that the country consumes about seven million tonnes of rice annually, a development that has become unsustainable given current fiscal challenges of the government as well as the fact that it is blessed with vast proportions of arable land and youthful population to benefit from agriculture.

Stakeholders have continued to back Buhari and Emefiele in their decision to restrict foreign exchange to food importation, rather encouraging them to support local producers.

The CBN currently categorized about 43 items that are not eligible for forex at the official windows.

However, key players in the agricultural sector told THISDAY that Buhari’s move was welcoming and long overdue towards the repositioning of agriculture and the economy in general.

The National President, Rice Farmers Association (RIFAN), Alhaji Aminu Goronyo said all farmers’ groups have lauded the pronouncement and committed to ensuring the country achieves food security.

He said: “It is not a new thing at all as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has in the last four years, has not been issuing forex to most of the essential commodities that were being imported into the country.

“For over four years, rice and other commodities including maize which had not enjoyed any support from the CBN to import them into the country. So, this is not a new thing, nevertheless, it is a welcome idea as Nigeria in no distant time will be self-sufficient

Emefiele

in all commodities going by this instruction from the president.

“It is a welcome idea and all the commodities associations in Nigeria welcome the idea and we have tightened our belts to make sure we do not fail the president in this laudable effort he has made to stop taking our money to foreign countries in the name of food items.”

Also, Vice President, NigeriaAgri-business Group/Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Ejewere, said the president took the bull by the horns by with his landmark restriction of forex for food import.

He said: “I think what the president was saying is that to ensure food security, we must take such actions as to be self-reliant. If we are self-reliant then we can achieve food security and what is happening here is that we have become a nation of importers and exporting jobs to people.

“The agricultural industry needs to grow a lot faster and the way to make it grow faster is to make sacrifices today for tomorrow’s happiness and security. So, I fully and totally support what the president has said, it makes a lot of sense and for a long time, this is one of the first times that the government of Nigeria has had the courage to bite the bullet and so what is right for Nigeria.

“There is no way we can go into the future in an economy that is agriculture driven if we do not take this decision that we have taken. So, the president made a wise decision and it is positively risky but I believe that it would work because the Nigerian agriculture community is just waiting for this kind of injection and it has come in and I support it absolutely and I commend the president for this courage.”

In the same vein, Chairperson of the Association for Small Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria (ASSAPIN), Hajiya Amina Bala Jubrin, lauded the move by Buhari, adding, however, that efforts should be geared towards creating a conducive environment for agricultural producers to thrive.

“For me as a farmer, it is the right step in the right direction. It is high time Nigerians started patronizing Nigerian products.

“My only take on this is that the federal government should take a giant stride in supporting or creating favourable conditions for producers such as bringing in machinery at a subsidized price for farmers to be able to afford.

“Like in the case of milk, our livestock products should be enhanced to have good breeds of cows: they can promote artificial insemination that would have our local breeds inseminated with the semen of the exotic breed so that if we don’t have at least 75 percent, at least we can have 50 percent, which is better than allowing our cows that can give 1 liter of 1.5 liters of milk. We

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͻ˜ 2020

BUSINESS/ECONOMY Turning Border Closure to Blessing for Farmers should start getting cows that can give us at least 10 liters per day.”

She said: “These are some of the things the federal government can do. It is not necessary that our people have to go out and start bringing in every Tom, dick and harry as cows into this country and feed us with them. It is high time we produced our own.

“The conditions should be improved for the producer; bring machinery subsidized, bring improved seeds so that production yields will be increased. These are the things I will want the federal government to do rather than give forex to import because even the common farmer does not benefit from that.”

Meanwhile, Emefiele’s drive towards food security and economic revolution had come at a price: if anything, he has made enemies for himself and he has admitted at different fora that corruption was fighting back against his lofty objectives.

A former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,ChiefAuduOgbehhadparticularly commended the CBN governor for refusing to bulge in the face of mounting opposition for him to abandon his commitment to diversifying the economy through laudable interventions in the agricultural sector.

He said: “The CBN has been pushing the agriculture programme with direct support by funding through programmes in the Ministry of Agriculture.

“People have called him (Emefiele) names and criticized him. But if he had not devised the means of bypassing the mountains of obstacles confronting production in this country, by today, the story of Nigeria would have been a horrible one.”

Yet, there were other economic saboteurs including smugglers who tried so hard to ensure they reversed the achievements of the CBN in resetting the economy.

Amid the success story in rice production, smugglers continued to breach regulations, bring in foreign rice in order to undermine the CBN and government’s efforts.

Last year, Chairman, Rice ProcessorsAssociation of Nigeria (RIPAN), Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Maifata threw its weight behind the recentdecisionbyPresidentMuhammaduBuhari to effect partial closure of the border between Nigeria and the Benin Republic to stem the activities of smugglers.

He argued that but for the prompt response by the government, the country would have lost about $400 million (about N150 billion) to smuggling as intelligence showed that from January to August 2019, over one million metric tons of rice was brought into Benin from mostly Thailand and India.

He said: “The implications are that everything that comes to Benin comes to Nigeria because no other country in the West Coast eats parboiled rice, it’s only Nigeria. Benin itself eat white rice and going by their population, they require not more than 300 metric tonnes per annum.

So, why do they bring in two million tonnes of parboiled rice in this case, not even the white rice that they eat.”

Highlighting the negative implications of smuggling on the economy, Maifata said: “This action cripples most of the local rice mills as we cannot operate because of the massive inflow of this rice into our economy.

“Most of the mills are working half capacity while others have even closed. Our farmers are nowstockinguppaddyricebecausemillerscannot buy and you know the massive campaign by the government for them to go back and produce this commodity.”

However, with the continued closure of the border,whichmaybeunconnectedwiththeCBN’s resolute stance to ensure that its intervention efforts in agriculture yield further fruits, rice farmers have started counting their gains again.

Emefiele had recently warned against the reopening of the borders anytime soon, citing possible reversal of current economic gains.

According to him, though the country could not afford to have its borders shut in perpetuity, reopening them at this time could roll back the economic gains so far achieved since the closure in August.

He said an attempt to reopen the borders could create room for a flooding of smuggled items into the country, a situation that could cripple the ability of rice millers to sell their stock, adding that smallholder farmers currently producing paddy will no longer be able to sell them while poultry farmers will equally be affected, a situation that could lead to massive job cuts in agriculture.

Listing the benefits of the closure on the rice

Rice Plantation

Tomatoes Plantation

industry, he said: “Before the border closure, two weeks before border closure, the president of the Rice ProcessorsAssociation called to say that our Nigerian rice producers have produced rice they cannot sell that each of them is carrying close to 20,000 metric tonnes of rice in their warehouses.

“The Rice Farmers Association led by Alhaji Goronyo came out and also said that farmers cannot sell the rice they produced, that’s the paddy rice. We also have people in the poultry industry that said they couldn’t sell their chicken and eggs- some were carrying up to 5,000 crates of eggs unsold and they said the government needs to do something about it.”

He said: “Luckily, as a result of us intervening and other people intervening- in fact, it might interest you to know that most of the arms that have been brought into this country are being smuggled through the borders.

“Even the armed forces themselves gave in and said listen, that we need to do something about the borders. So, the government went ahead and shut the borders.

“And I am speaking truthfully: one week after the borders were closed, the president, the president of the Rice Millers Association called to say that all their millers had called to say that

the rice they had in their warehouses had been sold. Paddy businesses are growing again.

“The poultry people also called to say they’ve sold all their eggs. All the chickens they have had been sold.”

Emefiele said: “So now when we say, those who say we should reopen our borders because they say it’s creating problems, what would happen is that when you reopen the borders again right, those smuggled items will come in our millers will no longer be able to sell their rice, our smallholder farmers that are producing paddy will no longer be able to sell their paddy and our poultry farmers can no longer sell their poultry.”

Virtually every state government has also commended the CBN governor’s bold and unprecedented intervention in agriculture in recent times.

The Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, recently applauded the CBN for the various efforts it has so far undertaken to resuscitate key sectors of the economy, stressing that without such a move, the ongoing revitalization of the manufacturing and agricultural sectors would not have been possible.

He said Emefiele’s management of the central bank was unprecedented, adding that steps were

taken towards economic rejuvenation further portrayed him as “more than a central bank governor” and commended his contributions in developing agriculture and other key sectors.

Moreover, Buhari had commended and described the CBN’s ABP as crucial to lifting millions of small farmers out of poverty as well as providing jobs for the youths.

Recently, Emefiele has tasked policymakers in all sectors of the economy, particularly political leaders who had witnessed “the good old days” in the country, to take up the responsibility of ensuring that the system works again adding that the failure of the country to implement its development plans alongside the Asians tigers, in the 1960s, was partly responsible for its current travails.

The CBN boss, also said he would like to be remembered as one who did his best to get the country working again by the time he retired from public office and challenged other public office holders to have a similar mindset- of putting the country above any selfish interest.

He said: “We owe it as a responsibility as policymakers whether in the educational sector, in the banking sector, in the political arena to see to it that you contribute your best, your quota towards changing the situation for the better in our country.”

“We need to beat our chest as policymakers whether in education, in politics, in banking and tellyourselfthatyouwanttoreversethesituation.”

He said: “It is unthinkable and I have been abused when we proposed exclusion of certain items, that I just went I to a room and found different things and I took toothpicks and I said we should not import toothpicks into Nigeria and that am I not ashamed that I am picking toothpick?

“And true, they may be correct. Because what does it take to produce toothpicks, ladies and gentlemen? Toothpicks machines can be imported for less than $50,000...and yet Nigeria was importing toothpicks.”

Continuing, he said: “Also, pencils used in writing, Nigeria imports pencil. What does it take to produce pencils, ladies, and gentlemen? Go to Ebonyi State, you have lead in large quantity and today, Lead is being exported out of Ebonyi State. That is what we did for our country.

“But what am I doing at this lecture? I am trying to say, in the midst of these adversity lies opportunities and all it takes is for us to stand and tell yourself that you want to do something for your country.

“You want to do something for yourself and for your country by extension. We express regret over what is happening today because we said things have gone bad but can you please stand and tell yourself in the next 15 to 20 years, we pray that we are able to turn things around- when people are beginning to talk about policymakers of today- that they will say positive things about what you have done for your country.

“And I tell myself that I will try as much as possible. By the next 20 years, perhaps I am in my garden or in my village resting and then people are expressing regrets over what policymakers didn’t do. I will beat myself and say I did my best.”

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍťËœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEY

:LWK 'HFOLQLQJ 3URÀWDELOLW\ 1LJHULDQ %UHZHULHV %DWWOHV IRU 6XUYLYDO Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc is arguably the country’s largest brewing company with a market capitalization approximating N472 billion about ($1.31 billion) as of December 31, 2019. The figure makes the company, which is listed on the floor of The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in 1973, one of the highly capitalized companies on the bourse by market capitalization. But the last time the multi-billion naira company recorded a growth in its business was in 2017. Bamidele Famoofo reports that the company has recorded a declining performance beginning from 2017, with key performance ratios suggesting that the management team must quickly go back to the drawing board to come up with strategies that will put a stop to its declining fortunes Executive Summary

N

igerian Breweries Plc was incorporated some 73 years ago in Nigeria. It recorded a landmark when the first bottle of Star lager beer, its leading brand, rolled out of its Lagos brewery bottling lines three years after its incorporation in 1946.

Over the years, the company whose head office is located in Lagos has expanded its operating base to about nine brewing locations across the country by means of inorganic growth.

In 1993, the company acquired its fifth brewery in Enugu and in 2003, a sixth brewery (Ama Brewery), sited at Amaeke Ngwo in Enugu State was commissioned. Operations in the old Enugu Brewery were discontinued in 2004 following the completion of Ama Brewery.

In 2008, an ultra-modern malting plant was acquired in Aba. In October 2011, the company acquired majority equity interests in two companies, Sona SystemsAssociates Business Management Limited (Sona Systems), with two breweries in Ota and Kudenda, Kaduna, and Life Breweries Company Limited (Life Breweries) with a brewery in Onitsha. Yet, another malting plant (located in the Kudenda, Kaduna Brewery) was acquired as part of the Sona Systems acquisition.

Sona Systems and Life Breweries were merged with the company in the middle of 2012.

So, at the end of 2014, an enlarged Nigerian Breweries Plc emerged from a merger with Consolidated Breweries Plc. Three breweries at Imagbon, near Ijebu Ode, Awo-Omamma, near Owerri and Makurdi were added to the existing eight breweries as a result of the merger. The Onitsha and Makurdi locations were subsequently developed into distribution centres.

Product Portfolio In the brand portfolio of NB Plc are Star lager beer was launched in 1949, followed by Gulder lager beer in 1970. Maltina was introduced in 1976, followed by Legend Extra Stout in 1992 and another malt drink, Amstel Malta in 1994. Heineken lager beer was re-launched into the Nigerian market in 1998. Fayrouz, the premium non-alcoholic soft drink, was launched in 2006 while Climax herbal energy drink was launched in 2010.

Following the acquisition of Sona Systems and Life Breweries in 2011, Goldberg lager, Malta Gold malt drink, and Life Continental lager, were added to the brand portfolio. The company increased its portfolio of brands in 2014 with the addition of two-line extensions of the Star brand - Star Lite and Star Radler.

Also in 2014, as a result of the merger with Consolidated Breweries Plc, “33� Export lager beer, Williams dark ale, Turbo King dark ale, More lager beer and a malt drink, Hi Malt, became part of the company’s product offering.

The Ace brand in the Ready-to-Drink (RtD) category was launched in 2015 while Tiger lager beer was added to the portfolio of brands in 2018.

The company has an export business, which dates back to 1986. The current export destinations are the United Kingdom, the Netherlands,

Production line of a brewery

the United States of America, Canada, some parts of Africa and parts of the Middle East and Asia.

Ancillary Businesses Over the years, NB Plc has establishment ancillary businesses in Nigeria. These include manufacturers of bottles, cans, crown corks, labels, cartons, and plastic crates as well as service providers including those in the hospitality sector, distribution, transport, event management, advertising, and marketing communication.

Financial Performance Revenue dropped by about 6 percent from N344.6 billion in 2017 financial year ended December 31, to N324.4 billion in 2018. The decline was minimized in 2019 at 0.43 percent from N324.4 billion in 2018 to N323 billion as of December 31, 2019. In a bid to reduce the impact of revenue loss on profit, management of the company trimmed down the cost of sales from about N201 billion in 2017 to about N198 billion in 2018, representing a drop of 1.8 percent. An improvement was further recorded in 2019, as the cost of sales declined to about N192billion, 2.9 percent, from N198billion in 2018. But notwithstanding the effort by management, gross profit dropped 11.6 percent from N143.6billion in 2017 to N126.9billion in 2018.

It, however, increased, howbeit, marginally by 3.4 percent, from N126.9 billion in 2018 to N131.3 billion in 2019.

But the impact of the increase in gross profit in 2019 was not felt on profit as profit before tax (PBT) dropped 21 percent from about

N29.4billion in 2018 to N23.4billion in 2019.

In the preceding financial year, PBT recorded a decline of 37 percent from N46.6billion in 2017 to about N29.4billion in 2018. A drop in profit after tax (PAT), moderated in 2019 at 17 percent compared to 41 percent recorded in 2018. In 2019, the company reported a PAT of N16.1 billion compared to N19.44 billion in 2018. But as at the end of the financial year 2017, PAT stood at about N33.1 billion.

Administrative expenses have consistently been reduced since 2017 to allow for a better dividend for shareholders. The company moved from a cut of 4.4 percent in admin expenses from N21.74 billion in 2017 to N20.8 billion in 2018, to a higher cut of about 7 percent to about N19.5billion in 2019. However, operating expenses have been on the rise in the review period from 4.7 percent between 2017 and 2018 to 11 percent at the end of 2019.

ProďŹ tability Ratio Analysis of the performance of the company’s absolute financial figures in the last years indicates that shareholders’ fortune is declining as revenue whittles down. For instance, analysis of return on equity (RoE), which tracks return on shareholders’ fund, suggests that shareholders’ fortune is at risk.

At the end of the 2017 financial year, about N19 of every N100 income of the company was set aside for shareholders. But the figure dropped to N12 per N100 in 2018 and it dropped to less than N10 per N100 in 2019.

Profit margin has witnessed a drop since 2017 like other ratios. (Profit margin is the percentage of profit that a company retains

after deducting costs from sales revenue.) NB’s profit margin has performed below par since 2017, as the figures year-on-year has been below 10 percent. Though a good margin will vary considerably by industry, as a general rule of thumb, a 10 percent net profit margin is considered average. The figures for NB plc in 2017 were 9.6 percent, and it has reduced to 5 percent in 2019.

Liquidity Ratio The current ratio is a liquidity ratio that measures a company’s ability to pay shortterm obligations or those due within one year. Though this ratio varies from industry to industry, between 1.5 and 3 percent are acceptable for healthy businesses. In the case of NB Plc, 0.58 percent is the best in the last four financial years. It means the company lacks the wherewithal to pay its creditors as and when due at the current rate.

The company is not also able to meet its short-term financial liabilities, going by the figures of its quick ratio in the last four years, as it falls far below the generally acceptable figure of 1, as the best it had recorded in the past four years was 0.36.

Conclusion The impact of the declining fortune in the company is directly felt by shareholders as earnings per share (EPS) has witnessed a drop in the last three years. EPS, which stood at 413 kobo in 2017, dropped to 243 kobo in 2018 and now 201 kobo in 2019. Shareholders have lost about 200 percent in share value in the last three years.

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BUSINESS/AVIATION

How FG Disgraced Nigeria over Landing Equipment In early February inclement weather occasioned by the harmattan haze exposed the poor navigational infrastructure at the nation’s busiest airport in Lagos and made Nigeria a laughing stock in the aviation world, writes Chinedu Eze

D

omestic airlines operators, aviation agency officials and others heaved a sigh of relief after mid-January, when the ferocity of the harmattan haze ebbed. It meant that there would not be flight disruptions any more by inclement weather. Many believed that the worst was over for this part of the year.

But by February 9, 2020 reports began to filter in that mega carriers like British Airways, Emirates, Air France and others destined to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos diverted flights to Accra, Ghana, Dakar in Senegal and US carrier, Delta Air Lines even took its passengers in one of its flights back to the airport of departure.

Lagos is one of the busiest airports in Africa.

In 2019 rating it was the 11th busiest airport in the continent and also in 2019 it recorded over 7 million passenger movement. So that such international carriers could not land in Lagos was a huge damage to the image of Nigeria.

What Happened THISDAY investigations revealed that when the weather suddenly changed, it reduced visibility to below the standard 800 meters minima to about 600 or less. In this case, airlines needed Instrument Landing System (ILS) to land at such low visibility. But the ILS was not functional. The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in November 2019 removed the existing Category 2 ILS and replaced it with Category 3, which is advancement on Cat 2. While Cat 2 can take the pilot to 400 meters to the runway, Cat 3 can take the pilot to the runway at zero visibility.

But the problem was that for the cat 3 ILS to work it has to be calibrated and certified. As at the time these incidents of flight diversion happened, NAMA had not finished the calibration and certification of the navigational instruments. In fact, it could be recalled that in mid-January, foreign airlines diverted flights to Accra and Togo due to the same poor weather condition. It was that January diversion that literally woke NAMA from its reverie and it made frantic effort to calibrate the landing aids. But the work was not completed before the harmattan haze suddenly appeared again.

Calibrating with the airplane acquired by the federal government for that purpose, the expatriate members of the flight crew had to return to their country and it was while the calibration exercise was being delayed that the angry harmattan haze appeared again.

But by February 16, the weather began to improve and by the next two days normalcy returned and flight operation started again at the Lagos airport, which before then became stripped of its crowded passengers, especially in the evenings.

The crew returned and resumed work on February 18 and by February 20, there were indications that both the runways 18L, known as the domestic runway and 18R, known as the international runway had been calibrated.

NAMA issued NOTAM (Notice to Air Men) to that effect. NOTAM was an indication to the aviation world that the Lagos airport has its ILS certified; therefore, flights can land, even at very low visibility.

Industry observers have excoriated NAMA for removing the Category 2 ILS when it was

Sirika

not ready with Cat 3 and described such action as lackadaisical and inefficient.

Losses It has been estimated that airlines lost about N5 billion to the bad weather that lasted for about six days. The aviation agencies like the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), which charges about $50 per passenger on international flight and also charges for landing and parking lost huge revenue. NAMA lost en-route charges paid by both local and international carriers.

Domestic airlines were not spared of the losses. THISDAY learnt that domestic airlines cancelled many flights. Dana Air, Arik Air, Azman Air and others issued statements, urging their passengers to understand that they could not be airlifted or the flights were to be delayed due to disruptions occasioned by the weather.

Part of Arik Air notice explained, “This is to inform all our esteemed customers who have had the difficulty in reaching their various destinations through our flights that the current challenge is due to inclement weather.

“This poor and persistent weather condition has mostly affected our Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Warri, Asaba, Yola and Sokoto routes.”

It has to be noted also that while the inclement weather affected all parts of the country, Lagos international runway was adversely affected because it did not have ILS. But flights to other airports were equally disrupted.

General Manager in charge of research and technical assistance to the Director General, NIMET, Dr. Mansur Bako-Matazu, explained

to THISDAY that why the harmattan haze seemed severe in lowering visibility in Lagos was because the dry dust coming from the north mixes with humidity and moisture and then spreading thick, brownish dust on the atmosphere, thus inhibiting visibility for a long distance. He noted that airlines shouldn’t have diverted flights outside the country, but should have flown their passengers to Abuja, which would have made it easier for the passengers to reach their final destinations without stress.

Passengers’ Experience The flight disruptions, cancellations and diversions left many of the passengers frustrated and disorganized. Many of them billed to travel out of the country had to stay back for days, while those whose flights were diverted to Accra had to spend some days there before making their way back to Nigeria.

There were reports that British Airways abandoned some of its passengers in Accra, as testified by some passengers who claimed that the airline asked them to fend for themselves and send their expenses bills to the airline, but in the apology to the passengers, signed by its General Manager, West Africa, Mr. Kola Olayinka, the UK mega carrier said, “We would like to use this opportunity to tender an unreserved apology to our esteemed customers for the inconveniences of varying degrees, experienced these past few days.

The situation has been a result of recent delays and diversions of flights occasioned by the inclement weather causing very poor visibility at the Lagos Airport, coupled with a number of factors outside of our immediate

control.

“In these unique cases, the decision to delay or divert flights were made carefully by our pilots who are well trained to handle situations like this, especially in consideration of the safety and security of our passengers and crew.”

BA said as a people-first airline, “we ensured that our customers were properly accommodated in hotels where adequate rooms were available, meals, refreshments, and transport to and from the airports were provided for their movement at the different airports in Accra, Abuja, and Lagos.”

“Regrettably, in this unique case, most hotels were taken up by passengers of airlines that were earlier diverted to Abuja. The direct result was the inadequacy of accommodation.

To resolve this, we booked all 157 available rooms and accommodated 157 Passengers; we also ensured the safety of the remaining passengers by accommodating them in a dedicated area provided by Sheraton where we provided meals and drinks.

“The Accra incident was markedly unpredictable as the delay lingered for two days due to the persisting weather condition. We chartered a Boeing 767 from Euro Atlantic to convey passengers from Accra to Lagos however a number of passengers had opted to make personal arrangements for their return,” the airline said.

BA said it regretted that the frustrations experienced and the disruptions it would have had on earlier-planned engagements of our esteemed customers.

“We would also like to use this opportunity to encourage passengers to send receipts of expenses incurred during this period to our customer relations team on standby to process the reimbursements and also attend to queries. We remain unwaveringly committed to the safety and comfort of every passenger and crewmember. That is, and will always be the priority for everyone at British Airways,” the airline added.

In making their own personal arrangement, THISDAY learnt that some of the passengers came back to Lagos from Accra by road because they could not stand the chaos and uncertainty that characterised the sudden upsurge of passengers at the Kotoka International Airport, Accra, which never envisaged that it would process that number of passengers.

International Implication The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, who had earlier apologised to the airlines and travellers, was miffed by the decision of the international airlines to divert their flights to Accra instead of Abuja. But the airlines had reacted and said that what was most important for the airlines was the safety of their passengers; and as noted by BA’s apology, the flight billed for Abuja in one of the days, made a detour to Accra and its passengers and others chocked the hotels in the Ghanaian capital city.

By not providing the needed airport infrastructure, Nigeria has unwittingly made Accra the airport of choice in the West Africa sub-region and therefore has helped the airport authority to actualise its ambition of being the operational hub in the West Coast.

Industry pundits have noted that it is this kind of hiccups that has kept Nigeria backwards from having one of its airports become the busiest airport in Africa.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͻ˜ 2020

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TRAVEL

Edited by: Demola Ojo email:Demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

African Hospitality Management Brands must Reposition for AfCFTA Adewale Okoya

T

wo recent landmark developments in Africa point to the need for hospitality management brands owned byAfricans to reposition their operations if they are to effectively take advantage of these developments and compete with their counterparts from the European and North American markets.

The first development was the coming into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement on 30 May 2019 to create the world’s largest single market since the creation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).This has turned Africa into a single market of 1.2 billion people with a combined consumer and an estimated business spending of $6.7 trillion, offering some of the world’s biggest opportunities for investors.

Although Nigeria prevaricated on the signing of the agreement, President Muhammadu Buhari eventually appended his signature to the AfCFTA agreement at the 12th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) in July 2019.

Surely, the rest of Africa and international observers must have heaved a sigh of relief on this momentous occasion.

But the president’s assurance to the audience at the summit that Nigeria fully understands the potential of the AfCFTA to transform trade in Africa and contribute towards solving some of the continent’s challenges was not a mere sound bite. Five months later, in December 2019, he announced a new visa regime for African visitors to Nigeria.

This second milestone, which sees Nigeria giving visas on arrival to all African travellers instead of the hitherto requirement that they apply in advance, demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to free movement of Africans within Africa more than anything else. It also signposts a radical change in the number of visitors that the country will receive from now on.

Happily too, the new visa policy has thrown the doors wide open to diaspora Nigerians by birth. Under the new policy, Nigerians with dual citizenship can now enter and exit the country freely without obtaining the Nigerian passport or applying for a visa. Their foreign passports will suffice for immigration purposes henceforth.

Bearing in mind the enthusiasm around the AfCFTA agreement among African leaders and its potential to boost intra-African trade,

Eko Hotels is a Nigerian brand that competes favourably with its international counterparts

there is no doubt that it will serve as a game changer for tourism and the hospitality management business in the years ahead.

This is especially so as “leisure remains an important component of Africa’s tourism industry, taking up a majority 71 percent of the tourist expenditure in 2018,” according to the Jumia Hospitality Report Africa 2019.

In the midst of these developments, it is imperative for African hospitality management brands to begin to project their indigenous credentials strongly in their home base so that they are not left behind in the race for market share. Given that much of the European and North American hotel markets are highly developed and have little room left for wide-scale expansion, Africa is the obvious next frontier.

Although the Jumia report indicated that Africa is the second-fastest growing tourism region in the world, with a growth of 5.6 percent in 2018 after Asia Pacific and against a 3.9 percent global average growth rate, it will be a disservice to Africans if established hotel operators from outside are left to continue to dominate the scene.

As the battle for global domination among hotel groups heats up in the African market, indigenous management hospital brands must not relent in their effort to grab a sizable chunk of the market for themselves with bespoke offerings specially suited for the African traveller in the light of the expected upsurge in interAfrican travels.

The industry needs a pioneer of true Africangrown hospitality management business

charting the path for others to follow, in the provision of end-to-end hospitality management solutions that push the boundaries with the required flexibility and dynamism to satisfy individual customers.

Such a brand’s affinity with the local customs and traditions of fellow Africans will enable it anticipate the needs of customers in ways that non-African brands can never imagine or hope to replicate.

Indeed, it is time for African hospitality management brands to brush up their acts and compete with international chains for an increasingly discerning clientele.

-Okoya, former Editorial Chairman of Financial Standard Newspaper writes from Lagos

Delta Unveils ‘Thank You’ Livery Green Africa Firms Up 2020 Launch with 90,000 Employee Names Plans, Secures Additional A220s Delta has unveiled a special livery on one of its A321 aircraft, depicting the names of all 90,000 employees. The livery features the words ‘Thank You’ in red letters, inside which are the 90,000 names, as well as the words “Dedicated to the world’s best employees and customers” depicted under

The names are written within the Thank You message

the cockpit windows.

The special livery coincides with Delta’s $1.6 billion profit sharing payout to employees, which it says is a record for a US-based company.

The livery took over a week to complete at the Delta Tech Ops print shop and hangar in Atlanta, and used over 48 custom decal panels. Commenting on the news Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian said: “Delta would be nothing without our 90,000 people worldwide. They deserve all the credit for our success, and we are proud to recognize their extraordinary work with a $1.6 billion payout – marking the sixth year in a row that Delta’s profit sharing has exceeded $1 billion.”

Last week Delta also announced a ten-year, $1 billion commitment to mitigate all emissions from its global business, starting in March.

Green Africa, a Lagos-based value airline, has added to the news that it has ordered fifty A220-300s from Airbus by also committing to lease an additional three of the aircraft from leasing company, GTLK Europe. The aircraft will allow Green Africa to set course for its planned launch of commercial operations in 2020.

Deliveries of the three aircraft – which are all brand new – will be completed

by August 2020. Green Africa has selected the A220 for its operational characteristics, financial performance and environmental benefits, with the added advantage of superior passenger satisfaction and wide body style cabin comfort.

Babawande Afolabi, Founder and CEO of Green Africa, said, “It has been an incredible journey thus far – a Series A round of funding backed by some of the best players in the industry; a strong management team on the ground with a nuanced understanding of the local

market; a marquee strategic partnership with Airbus for 50 firm A220-300s; and now a secured inaugural fleet with GTLK Europe that will help bridge the gap between now and when our Airbus order book starts delivering next year.

The gTeam is beyond excited about and laser focused on getting Green Africa into the sky in 2020.”

GTLK Europe Chief Executive Officer, Roman Lyadov, added, “On the back of the new Airbus order for 50 A220-300s, we are delighted to be able to provide Green Africa with its very first aircraft which will equip Green Africa with the capacity it needs for launch in 2020.

“Green Africa will be launching operations on a high with this aircraft – the A220-300 offers a state of the art platform for Green Africa to deliver on its mission to provide safe, reliable and affordable air travel to customers in Nigeria and across the broader African continent.”

28

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͻ˜ 2020

IMF͛s Ar cle IV Consulta on on Nigeria: Gro th Forecast Re ised Do nard to

Earlier this week, the nterna onal onetary Fund ;͞the F͟ or ͞the Fund͟Ϳ published its end of mission press release on the igerian economy following consulta ons with scal and monetary authori es and other relevant stakeholders. hile a comprehensive report is yet to be published, the summary of the Fund͛s ndings captured interes ng themes on the state and direc on of the economy. The key highlight of the summary is the downward revision of igeria͛s 2020 growth forecast to 2.0% from 2.5% in its anuary 2020 update due to low crude oil prices. owever, on a posi ve note, the Fund acknowledged recent scal policy reforms by the F , speci cally the Finance ct, the Deep O shore roduc on haring ontract ct and the return to the anuary December budget cycle. imilarly, the F applauded progress in ease of doing business, governance and power sector reforms. n other notable areas, such as scal and monetary policies, the Fund provides recommenda ons.

The Fund͛s sharp cut to growth forecast came as a surprise, even though we expect economic recovery to remain slug-

gish in 2020. e are a bit more op mis c on growth given our es mate of 2. % in 2020, which s ll represents declining per capita income in the near term. On the external sector, we both share a dim outlook as the Fund observed that sustained current account de cits and declining reserves, amid increased risk of capital ow reversals, have elevated external sector vulnerabili es.

The Fund noted the need for sustained reforms to boost non oil revenues to reduce scal de cit, which con nue to be funded by the beyond permissible limits (not more than 5.0% of previous year͛s actual revenue) stated in the Fiscal esponsibility ct (F 2007). n line with our recommenda on in the 2020 outlook report, the Fund encouraged the F to leverage the low yield environment to meet its nancing obliga ons. On monetary policy, the Fund proposed that further ghtening through conven onal means is required to rein in moun ng domes c and external pressures from large amounts of maturing O O bills. n this regard, an interes ng perspec ve that caught our eye is securi sing overdra s to provide more long term government debt instruments, which would be er help in managing system liquidity.

anuary CPI Re ort: In a on S ll Accelera ng

The onsumer rice ndex report released this week by the a onal ureau of ta s cs showed that headline in a on increased to a 21 month high of 12.1% o in anuary 2020, from 12.0% in the previous month. imilarly, core in a on rose to 9. % o from 9.3% and food in a on was higher at 1 .9% o from 1 .7%. The broad based rise in in a on re ects renewed price pressures as all indices rose faster on o basis, for the rst me since eptember 2019. o headline in a on rose slightly by 2ppts to 0. 7%, while core increased by 1ppt to 0. 2% and food in a on was up 2ppts to 1.0% o . mported food in aon, on the other hand, remained unchanged o but rose by 16.1% o .

The uptrend in price pressures in anuary is unlikely to be short lived. e believe the land border closure, insecurity in food plan ng regions and the upward review of T would drive in a on higher in the coming months. f these persist, combined with the proposed ad ustment to electricity tari in pril, we expect in a on to reach a monthly average of 13.7% in 2020 from 11. % in 2019.

Global E ui es Market: In estor Sen ment Dam ens Des ite Cooling Trade Tensions

hina announced a list of 696 imported items to be exempted from retaliatory tari s this week, represen ng steps taken to meet its part of the ͞phase one deal͟ reached earlier in the year. ith hina and the global economy reeling from the harsh impacts of ͞ oronavirus͕͟ de escala ng trade tensions would provide support to growth. imilarly, hina cut benchmark lending rates to support the economy, although investors remain concerned by the sustained incidence of the virus, which remains a drag on economic ac vi es.

n the developed markets, performance was in favor of the bears as all 7 indices under our coverage recorded losses. The ong ong ang eng and apan͛s ikkei 225 ndices slipped 1. % and 1.3% w w respec vely as investors reacted to the spread of ͞ oronavirus͘͟ imilarly, ermany s ET D , ͛ D and 500 dived 1.1% apiece. astly, losses were recorded in the France͛s 0 and ͛s FT E ll hare indices as both indicators depreciated 0.7% and 5bps w w respec vely.

cross the , performance was also bearish as only 1 of 5 indices that we cover recorded a gain. hina͛s hanghai omposite ndex was up .2%, following e orts by the

29

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍťËœ 2020

hinese government to curb the incidence of the virus. owever, ra il͛s bovespa and outh frica͛s FT E E ll hare indices shed the most gains a er declining 1.3% and 1.1% w w respec vely. n the same vein, ussia s T and ndia͛s E ens indices dipped 0.9% and 0.2% w w respec vely.

n frica, 5 of 6 indices that we cover went under water. enya͛s E 20 and igeria͛s ll hare ndices led decliners, down 2.3% and 1.3% w w respec vely. imilarly, Egypt͛s E 30 and auri us͛ E DE ndices treaded south, losing 1.0% and 0. % w w respec vely. n addi on, haE omposite index lost 1bp w w na͛s while orocco͛s assablanca index was the lone gainer, up 1. % w w as investors reacted posi vely to a poten al

orocco trade deal.

erformance in the sian and iddle East markets ended on the green side as 3 of 5 indices under our coverage recorded gains.

Turkey͛s T 100 index was the best performer, advancing 2. % w w following a 100.0bn bilateral trade agreement with the . imilarly, Thailand͛s ET and E͛s D eneral ndices trailed, up 2.1% and 0.1% w w respec vely. On the ipside, audi rabia͛s Tadawul and atar͛s D 20 indices lost 1.7% and 0.9% w w respecvely.

Domes c E ui es Market: Bears Tighten Hold on Domes c Bourse

The downtrend in the local bourse persisted this week, as sustained sell o s in LAWUNION ( 36.5%), MANSARD ( 10.0%) and FORTE ( 10.0%) weighed on overall performance. onsequently, the E ll hare ndex closed in the red on of the 5 trading sessions in the week, falling 1.3% w w to se le at 27,3 .62 points. imilarly, TD return moderated to 2.0% and market capitalisa on shed 1 7.7bn w w to close at 1 .3tn. c vity level strengthened as average volume and value rose 6 . % and 7.7% to 21.3m units and 5.6bn respecvely. The top traded stocks by volume were SOVRENINS (200.3m units), GUARANTY (165. m units) and ZENITH (1 .2m units) while GUARANTY ( .7bn), ZENITH ( 2.9bn) and NESTLE ( 07.6m) led by value.

erformance across sectors was bearish as of 6 indices under our coverage trended southward w w. The onsumer oods index led laggards, down 6. % on the back of sustained sell pressures in CHAMPION ( 9.3%), INTBREW ( 9.0%) and NESTLE ( 9.0%). Trailing, the anking index shed 2.6% on account of losses in ETI ( .6%) and GUARANTY ( 6.5%). imilarly, the nsurance and Oil as indices lost 2.1% and 1.3% respec vely as investors exited posions in LAWUNION ( 36.5%), MANSARD ( 10.0%), FORTE ( 10.0%) and OANDO ( .3%). onversely, the ndustrial oods index emerged the lone gainer, up 1.0% as CUTIX (+2.9%) and BUACEMENT (+1. %) buoyed performance. Finally, the F T closed at.

nvestor sen ment as measured by market breadth (advance decline ra o) strength-

ened to 0.9x from 0.6x as 23 stocks advanced against 25 that declined. The top performing stocks for the week were CILEASING (+26.9%), AIICO (+26.3%) and UCAP (+17.3%) while LAWUNION ( 36.5%), MANSARD ( 10.0%) and FORTE ( 10.0%) were the laggards. Following four weeks of consecuve losses, we expect to see some bargain hun ng in early trades next week. owever, we maintain a bearish outlook in the near term as overall investor sen ment remains weak.

Foreign Exchange Market: Naira Remains Stable Across Board

During the week, we saw a slight increase in oil prices a er the . . government reported a slower than an cipated rise in crude stocks. owever, at the close of the week, brent crude price declined 0.9% to 5 . 5 per barrel amid concerns over sluggish hina demand and decision of O E + not to deepen output cut before its next mee ng. n igeria, the foreign reserve balance sustained its downward trend, deprecia ng 1. % w w ( 523. m) to se le at 36.7bn (19 02 2020).

The naira traded within similar bands all week. The pot rate opened the week at 306.95 1.00 but closed at 307.00 1.00, deprecia ng 10 kobo w w. t the parallel market, the exchange rate traded at all week to close at 360.00 1.00. t the nvestors͛ Θ Exporters͛ ( E) F indow, the FE rate closed at 36 .26 1.00, deprecia ng 50 kobo w w. c vity level in the E indow declined as total turnover fell 35.1% w w to 1. bn from 2.1bn recorded in the previous week.

t the F D ecuri es Exchange ( E) F Futures ontract arket, the total value of

open contracts of the naira increased 6.2% ( 711.5m) w w to 11.6bn. The DE 2020 instrument (contract price: 365.10) saw the most buying interest with an addional subscrip on of 169.3m taking the total value to 1. bn. On the other hand, the 2021 instrument (contract price: 365. 0) was the least subscribed, with marginal subscrip on of 2.7m to gross . m.

n the coming week, we expect the to maintain its foreign exchange stability drive by sustaining interven ons.

Money Market: Yields Trend Higher in the Secondary Market due to OMO Auc on

The interbank rates, O and O opened the week at 2.9% and 3.6% respec vely, higher than the 2.6% and 3.3% at the close of the previous week as system liquidity ghtened to 2.2bn from 1.3tn. On Thursday, the O and O rates rose to 3.3% and .1% respec vely despite an increase in liquidity levels to 90.6bn due to the in ow of 627.2bn from O O maturies. Finally, on Friday, the O and O rate moderated to close at 3.0% and 3. % respec vely while system liquidity se led at 77 .5bn.

On Thursday, the apex maintained its liquidity management exercise through an O O auc on, o ering instruments worth 300.0bn across three maturi es. n contrast to the experience over the last few weeks, investors subscribed to the short term instrument (O er: 10.0bn ubscripon: 10.0bn ale: 10.0bn) and subscripon matched o er at 1.0x bid to cover ra o and marginal rate of 11. 5%. The 1 0 day (O er: 20.0bn ubscrip on: .7 bn ale: .7 bn) and 362 day (O er:

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270bn ubscrip on: 2 0.51bn ale: 2 5.21bn) instruments were oversubscribed at 2.2x and 1.0x respec vely at marginal rates of 11.59% and 13.02%.

n the treasury bills secondary market, the performance was bearish as average yield across benchmark tenors trended higher by 3 bps w w to close at 3. %. ell o s were highest at the long end of the curve with yields up 95bps to 5.1%. The short term instruments also recorded sell o s as yields rose 30bps to 2.9% while the medium term yields declined 12bps to close at 3.6%.

n the coming week, we expect in ows of 927. bn from O O maturi es and we believe the to conduct O O auc on. we believed increased liquidity resul ng from the huge in ows from O O maturi es will pressure yields in the secondary Treasury ills arket.

Bond Market: Bullish Momentum Sustained in the Bonds Market

The Debt anagement O ce (D O) o ered a total of 1 0.0bn (Total sales: 100.0bn) across 3 tenors in ednesday͛s bond auc on. The 2023 ( 5.0bn . %), 2029 ( 5.0bn 10.7%) and 20 9 ( 50.0bn 12.2%) instruments were reopened at lower rates compared to anuary͛s auc on (5 year: 9.9%, 10 year: 11.1% and 30 year: 12.6%). onsequent on elevated system liquidity, all instruments were oversubscribed as bid to cover ra o stood at 1.7x (5 year), 2.1x (10 year) and .5x (30 year).

n the secondary market, average yield declined 30bps w w to 9.9% as demand connued to soar. ence, the market returned bullish on all trading sessions save Tuesday (+7bps) following sell pressures ahead of the bond auc on. cross tenors, the medium dated bonds had the most buying interest following a 29bps drop in yield w w while yields on the short and long term bonds fell 19bps apiece due to high demand.

The bullish performance in the Eurobonds space was persistent as average yield plunged 16bps w w. The hana 2029 and 20 9 instruments en oyed most buying interest, shedding 0bps and 36bps w w respec vely. eanwhile, yields on abon 202 and enegalese 202 instruments rose 1bps apiece w w.

For frican orporate Eurobonds, the bullish run con nued as average yield dipped 30bps w w. The E O O D 2021 and 2025 instruments led the laggards with a 32bps and 7bps rise in yields respec vely as current opera onal crisis in the company remain unresolved. onversely, as investors sought to take advantage of a higher stock price (2.0x) rela ve to its equity conversion price, the E O D conver ble 2023 instrument saw strong demand as yields declined 0bps. Trailing, yields on EE E E 2022 instrument slipped 5 bps. n the coming week, we expect yields in both the domes c bond and Eurobond markets to decline on the back of sustained demand.

˜ ˞ FEBRUARY 23, 2020

30

MARKET NEWS

Seplat Restates Commitment to Managing Matured Assets Profitably Goddy Egene Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, leading Nigerian independent oil and gas company, has restated its commitment to managing old and matured assets profitably and growing returns.

The company disclosed this

to potential investors, industry professionals and other participants at the IADC Drilling Africa Conference & Exhibition 2020 held in Accra, Ghana recently.

Speaking during a panel session titled: ‘Established Producing African Countries’, the Operations Director at Seplat, Mr. Effiong Okon, said

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

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

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

companies needed the right strategy, administration and technology to optimise mature or old resource wells and make the right profits.

Okon said: “With a capable organisation, robust/wellimplemented strategy and deployment of latest technologies to optimise production capacity,

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 20Feb-2020, unless otherwise stated.

companies can cost-effectively access and produce the remaining oil and gas in smaller reservoirs. “In this light, Seplat employs a pro-active and innovative strategy towards optimising asset value and thereby extending economic life of small assets.�

According to Okon, wells, reservoirs and facilities management (WRFM) is key to sweating the assets and arresting production decline while developmental projects are aimed at filling usage of existing facilities. “Technologies deployed targets by-passed oil, attic oil, thin oil rims,

improvement in productivity, (4D seismic, horizontal wells, geosteering, well stimulation). Gas development of high and depleted pressure reservoirs (mechanical refrigerant vs Joule-Thompson), stripping out NGLs and LPG to maximize product yield and flares out,� he said.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 152.15 155.69 3.40% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 6.28% Nigeria International Debt Fund 322.36 322.36 3.04% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.90 0.91 6.96% ACAP Income Funds 0.76 0.76 34.00% 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 6.76% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.47 2.52 0.35% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 6.22% Anchoria Equity Fund 103.11 103.48 1.14% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.19 1.19 4.20% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 15.52 15.99 1.34% ARM Discovery Fund 350.63 361.20 1.50% ARM Ethical Fund 30.21 31.12 3.86% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.71% 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 100.69 101.39 4.79% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.98% 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 1.97 1.97 17.48% 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 0.08 0.06 7.86% Paramount Equity Fund 12.30 12.51 -1.78% Women's Investment Fund 111.61 112.44 1.01% 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 6.86% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 103.96 104.54 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 113.43 114.11 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.27% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.94 0.95 1.34% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.37 1.37 3.47% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,325.60 1,326.71 2.67% FBN Balanced Fund 148.72 149.87 1.29% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.64% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 120.46 120.84 1.02% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 121.13 121.50 1.08% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 127.01 128.63 -2.40% 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 8.82% Legacy Debt Fund 3.69 3.69 1.03% Legacy Equity Fund 1.14 1.16 0.34% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.09 1.09 0.59% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH Treasury Bills Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.23% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 118.67 119.22 10.23%

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 6.33% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.25 2.28 4.45% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 10.21% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 140.72 141.24 12.77% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ďŹ ncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.19 1.22 2.46% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,116.79 1,116.79 1.68% 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 9.67 9.77 -1.30% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 4.11% 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 1.64 30.63% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 13.68 13.78 20.23% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.06% PACAM Equity Fund 1.14 1.15 PACAM EuroBond Fund 103.64 105.51 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 135.07 137.87 8.26% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.02 1.02 1.52% 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 3.04% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.92% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 2.81% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 1.32% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 2.89% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.98% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 2.37% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 0.86% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.18 118.18 0.00% 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 1.20 1.22 -0.22% United Capital Bond Fund 1.76 1.76 1.54% United Capital Equity Fund 0.70 0.71 -1.34% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.56% United Capital Eurobond Fund 112.95 112.95 0.97% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.09 1.10 0.32% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 10.36 10.52 0.98% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.65 11.80 0.42% Zenith Income Fund 23.04 23.04 3.68% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.22%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

3.45 120.09 52.41

-64.35% 0.83% 0.69%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

9.24 95.33 74.13

9.34 97.37 75.53

6.14% 3.09% 0.56%

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

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.54 4.99 12.84 11.86 177.83

3.58 5.07 12.94 12.06 179.83

-0.16% -15.39% 5.69% 14.01% -5.27%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.69

17.60%

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.

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

23.2.2020

OLATUNJI AYOOLA THE CRAFT OF NIGERIA’S AVANT-GARDE TAILOR ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

58

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͱͱ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

GLITTER FOCUS

OLATUNJI AYOOLA

A Tailor with Exquisite Passion for Fashion A poster boy for ‘everything is possible’. A perfect testimony of ‘never say never’.

His face beams with a smile. His dexterous fingers caress the fabrics as they unfurl. He runs his fingers through their texture feeling the aesthetics. He slides his scissors through them, cut into bits and pieces. Creases form on his brow, rising and falling. His eyes light up as the clothes begin to take a life of their own. He is an IT guru. But here he sits atop a grand tailoring outfit. Olatunji Ayoola is Nigeria’s unsung avant-garde tailor. Funke Olaode explores his mastery of the craft

59

FEBRUARY 23, 2020˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

FOCUS

Nigeria’s Tailor with a Digital Sense

O

latunji Ayoola’s name resonates in the technology and banking sectors. He had been there, done that for almost three decades. As an IT expert, he traversed over 30 countries. Though born by an affluent father, he lived his childhood life in penury. In 2010, by accident of fate, he dabbled into tailoring and established Couture Simplymenz, a dedicated male apparel outfit in Lagos.

His clothing outfit located on the highbrow area of Surulere in the heart of Lagos is befitting of a visionary. Posh, neat and cozy with cream paints. Several multimillion-naira industrial machines litter his upscale office, reminding you of an avant-garde tailoring outfit in Italy or France. Welcome to Couture Simplymenz, a dedicated male apparel outfit owned by an economist and technology expert but who is now a tailor.

Olatunji Ayoola, an indigene of Oyo town is a self-made man. As a matter of fact, luxurious life was far from his early life in a remote village where he was raised by an aunt.

“Growing up wasn’t that fantastic in spite of the fact that I was born by a very rich father. It was very tough and challenging because of polygamy. It was as if the children from my mother’s side were hated by everybody in the family. We were made to work extraordinarily hard. For instance, they would wake us up by 3 am to prepare pap for our paternal grandmother. We would hawk the pap first thing in the morning. My half-siblings would be chauffeur-driven to school.

“After hawking the pap we would come back, take our bath and trek to a school that is about seven miles away. We would trek back home in the afternoon. After eating we would hawk again after which I would go to my father’s tailoring shop,” Ayoola narrates.

Despite what life threw at him, he realized that he had to be strong. “It was a phase which I didn’t know when it was going to end. I just summoned up the courage that I had to make it in life. It was a pushing force. It might interest you that in spite of what I went through I got to school and dozed off. My teachers knew and they would not wake me up,” he adds.

Nevertheless, Ayoola was intellectually endowed. “Well, I am a beneficiary of grace. In every step and every facet of my life, I could see the hands of divine grace everywhere. I wouldn’t say I was hardworking or perfect, or I was intelligent but I see the totality of my life as an expression of God’s grace,” Ayoola acknowledges.

Born May 1, 1960, Ayoola attended Atan Baptist Primary School, Oyo where he came out in flying colours. After his primary education, he was admitted to Federal Government College, Warri in 1971.

“I took the admission letter to my dad with excitement. He asked me to go and spend some time in the village and by the time the holiday was over, I would go for the admission. It was the beginning of the end because I spent several years in that village with the hope of furthering my education expressly defeated,” the avant-garde tailor recounts.

Having missed the Warri admission, he spent the next five years in the village assisting his paternal aunt and her husband on a farm. His day of liberation came when he fell sick. It was pneumonia.

He narrates further, “I was in that village praying for a miracle. One day, the couple went to another village and before they came back their neighbours picked me up and put me in a lorry which dropped me at my mother’s place in Oyo town. I spent some time in the hospital in Oyo. I was taken to Baptist Hospital in Ogbomoso where I got better. I came back in 1975 and started looking for a school. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get any secondary school admission that year.

Obviously, by then some of my mates were already in the first year at the university.

“That was the reason I was 21 years old when I finished secondary school. I enrolled at Awe Secondary School in 1976 and left in 1981. Incidentally, I had a very small stature wasn’t looking different from other students. Nothing differentiated me. Again, I had a focus, target, and goal and was more

bothered by the dream and what life has thrown me into.”

Though education eluded him for six years his spirit was not dampened.

“I didn’t give up and every opportunity I had in the village I was refreshing my brain, reading and collecting books from pupils in the village. In fact, by the time I came out of the remote setting I was much better because I could speak English flawlessly. I could do so many things. I went to secondary school as a mature student. I made seven credits in my O’ Levels before I got to Form Five. I did my ‘A’ Levels at Olivet Baptist School Oyo.” After his O’ level, Ayoola went to the University of Ibadan where he studied Economics. While at UI, most of his elective courses were from the computer science and statistics department. He ended up becoming an adept computer programmer before he finished his first degree in Economics.

Ayoola spent 22 years in the banking sector and retired in 2006.

“I graduated from the University of Ibadan in 1986 and had my youth service at the Federal Polytechnic, Ida in the then Benue State now in Kogi State where I taught Computer Science. I came back and got a teaching appointment at The Polytechnic, Ibadan. Later, I joined a computer engineering firm in Lagos as a trainee computer engineer. I went to the University of Ife for a postgraduate diploma in Computer Science. Then, did a master’s degree in Computer Science and MBA all between 1988 and 1992.

After his academic foray at Ife, he joined Nigeria Arab Bank and later moved to United Commercial Bank. From the banking sector, he joined ICLFUJITSU, a computer engineering firm in Nigeria and was later seconded to the United Kingdom office.

While in the ICT world, Ayoola traversed 35 countries deploying ICT knowledge.

He returned from the UK and moved to Union Bank as a senior manager. Ayoola left the bank as principal manager/head of system support. He is currently studying for a doctorate in Computer Science at a university in the United States.

Ayoola grew up learning the ropes of tailoring in his father’s shop. Although he didn’t show interest, he was compelled to embrace it. Fifty years after, the economist and computer guru is today doing what he didn’t dream of doing.

“There was an accidental event around 2010. I went to make a dress and the tailor damaged it. I got there and asked him to give me scissors, tape rule, ruler and I started cutting. By the time I finished cutting and wanted to sew it, I realized that he uses industrial machine and had to look for a tailor who had a manual machine to make that dress,” says Ayoola.

That singular episode marked a turning point in his life. The tailor eventually became one of his first set of staff: Couture SimplyMenz was birthed. Over the last 10 years, he has clothed governors, captains of industry, industrial giants and still counting. He has also become a source of encouragement to many younger people who want to pursue their dreams.

To further horn his skills, Ayoola shoved aside his various degrees and headed to France and Italy to acquire more knowledge in tailoring.

“I have had both formal and informal training. I spent about 25 days with a tailoring outfit in France. I spent another 11 days with a tailoring outfit in Italy in 2015. I have attended several courses.

Again, if I find a tailor whether popular or not and I know he has knowledge that can be beneficial to me I wouldn’t mind going to him to seek that knowledge. I wouldn’t mind paying for it. If you want to grow in life you must be ready to learn,” he explains.

But what makes Couture SimplyMenz tick? It makes only male apparels,” he explains. “Up till now I still don’t believe in having a brochure or catalogue because I don’t want to be repeating concepts. I want what I made for everybody to be unique to that person. It is natural. I do a lot of designs at any time I have up to 500 designs that I have not used.”

Couture SimplyMenz apparel prices don’t come cheap because it focuses more on

Ayoola

the upper echelon of society.

Ayoola says further, “I try to put a lot of detail into what I do and this takes a lot of time and resources. I believe in looking for customers who can afford what I do. I want them to put on my clothes and appear different wherever they go with the quality of my fabrics. I bring my fabrics from Europe which is expensive and unique. I have been to various fora where they discuss the health implication of sub-standard fabrics which our people rush to because it is cheap.

“If you are somebody who doesn’t want to get to an event and see two or three people wearing the same fabric. Those are the people we cater for both in concept and fabrics. For instance, you can get dressed up with N40,000 or even lower depending on the quality of fabrics. You can as well get a kaftan that would cost you N500, 000. I just got a delivery of fabric from the UK. It comes at £185 per meter that means 10 yards with full agbada will be close to N800,000 and by the time you add up the embroidery and detailing it is close to N1 million. As I said,

PHOTOS: Etup Ukutt

our clients trust and believe in us. So it has been good from Bode Thomas in Surulere and now to Falolu Road in the same neighbourhod. We are getting better and bigger.”

It takes a determined heart to go through difficult life journeys, but for Ayoola, he came, he saw and he conquered.

“It may sound like a cliché, the first lesson is that your background should not put your back on the ground. Against all odds, be focused, be determined and don’t allow anything to stop you from pursuing your goal. Again, discover your destiny early. I am an economist, an ICT expert and now a tailor. I didn’t do much of economics because as an undergraduate I was deep into software development and have been to every faculty of computer science as an engineer, computer analyst, and data-based operator. I have worked in several countries of the world deploying information technology solutions,” he reveals.

Ayoola is still waxing stronger: his passion is worth its weight in pure gold.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 23, 2020

60

INFOGRAPH

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FEBRUARY 23,, 2020˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

61

High Life Oshiomhole in the Eye of the Storm

with KAYODE ALFRED 08116759807, E-mail: kayflex2@yahoo.com

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

Sad Moments for Rotimi Amaechi

I

n Rudyard Kipling’s beloved book, the Jungle Book, much is fashioned in the form of counsel. There are such excellent admonitions as “the jackal may follow the tiger, but curb when the whiskers are grown”– something that speaks to the immense variety of jungle lore, and by extension, the complex mythos of politics.

Like any liquid substance, politics embodies a degree of volatility that is both maddening and exciting – little need to guess which sentiment is very familiar by those within and which is enjoyed by outsiders to the political game. Anyway, the new results of the Bayelsa gubernatorial elections have faulted many a liaison and rocked many a foundation. It just so happens that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is the epicentre of this rocking.

To summarize, the governorship election in Bayelsa underwent the usual sequence of declaration and counter-declaration, with APC’s David Lyon declared and PDP’s Douye Diri counter-declared, respectively. With the mystic bones cast, PDP now strides the governorship horse. Without the aid of a diagram, APC is not happy, and neither do folks of the party intending on leaving the party National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole any happier than them.

This deduction rests on the shoulders of the protest staged by some members of the APC who marched into the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja and asked that Oshiomhole take a bow and stay away from national chairmanship.

The protesters, with a Mr. Genesis Johnson reportedly the spokesperson, accused Oshiomhole of bringing back luck to the party, using the Bayelsa gubernatorial seat loss as the arrow’s edge of indictment. It was allegedly stated emphatically that Oshiomhole exhibited a disappointing and weak style of leadership, one that has cost the party of numerous occasions.

As if to emphasize their points, the protesters allegedly threatened to remain within the premises until Adams Oshiomhole retires from the post and leaves the APC leadership to more capable, productive hands.

As an aside, this protest is coming right behind a similar censure allegedly cast against Oshiomhole by the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation; here again, Oshiomhole is tasked with the responsibility of having drawn APC into unnecessary wahala, the kind that translates to lost elections and positions in government.

Defeat has never made a former winner look taller.

Oshiomhole

Amaechi

The life of a man is like the flame of a lone candle left to the tantrum of the elements; it little profits to have that life sheltered in artificial fashion. Better rather to let it light the dim alleys and pathways that have in times past and recent surrounded mortal existence. A few weeks into the year 2020, and a flame has been snuffed out.

For Tony Iwelu, the chiming bells of life tinkled out their last notes in a hotel room in Kaduna, on February the 17th, while Mr.

Iwelu was on an errand to congratulate Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai on the Governor’s 60th birthday celebration.

Mr. Tony Iwelu was known in many capacities, foremost of which was his being the Chief Security Officer to the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. More to the point, the late Iwelu had supposedly accompanied Rotimi Amaechi on the trip to felicitate with Governor El-Rufai.

Regarding the cause of death, there

is nothing substantial at this point but rumours. The most publicised of these circulations is that Tony Iwelu was electrocuted in the process of having a bath. Thus, most headlines bear the words “Iwelu”, “electrocuted”, and “shower” in multi-synonymous fashion.

The most recent of these has it that Iwelu was found in a bathtub in the hotel, already deceased and therefore suspected to have been electrocuted.

There’s much to infer from the working relationship between the late Iwelu and Transport Minister, Amaechi. For one, Iwelu Is reported as having been in the employ and service of Amaechi for over two decades, during which time Amaechi was Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker, Executive Governor of Rivers State, and then Minister of Transportation.

This implies an understanding, wellpreserved and managed liaison between the men.

A man beholden to a wife and three kids, Iwelu is reported as being a kind, charming and charismatic chap – the sort to get things done to the best of competence and capability. Doubtless, all that is left behind, kin or kith or legacy, shall not be soon forgotten by the Department of State Services (DSS), Rivers State, or Rotimi Amaechi.

Rotimi Amaechi, in few words, has suffered a tangible loss. The loss is moreover amplified by the recent rumour that the transport boss was attacked less than 48 hours ago on the Abuja-Kaduna road, while on a train.

This train attack has been firmly denied by the Transport Minister, who has labelled the whole debacle fake news. Alleged eyewitnesses maintain that it happened, but Rotimi Amaechi counter-maintains that it did not. So…

Aisha Buhari: The Fearless Woman at 49 Aisha Buhari, the wife of the current President of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, has done well as First Lady of Nigeria , even critics and opponents no longer have anything to say , they have accepted defeat .

Besides being an irrefutable avatar of ageless beauty, the Madam of Nigeria commands a multi-edged nous the likes of which are native to ancient Delphic oracles and Queen Mothers of old. In this time of celebrating her 49th year on the Earth, a few things are worth noting.

To begin with, the one known world over today as Dr. Aisha Buhari was born Aisha Halilu, a native of Adamawa State. As the sweetness of an apple derives from its mothertree, Aisha’s forebears were just as prominent: her grandfather, Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu was the first Nigerian Minister of Defence, and her mother is descended from the prestigious Ankali family, a family with a tough heritage of farming.

One needs only to hear her converse to know that Aisha Buhari is very literate; certifications are several and sundry, with art and international studies properly mixed together.

There are also, curiously, degrees and

Afolabi

certifications in cosmetology – beauty begetting beauty.

Dr. Aisha Buhari is also a business woman. She is reputed with founding and managing the renowned Hanzy

Spa and Hanzy Beauty Institute, the well-known beauty salon that operates principally in Kaduna and Abuja. Time would fail one to ply the depths of her enterprising endeavours.

As First Lady, Dr. Aisha Buhari has proved her mettle on many an engaging occasion. She is primarily an activist for women’s rights, and is known to be a strong advocate for child rights – especially since she spoke out against child marriage. Whether it is working with displaced persons or families with kidnapping hanging over their heads, Aisha Buhari has weathered the storm as a humble, calm and perceptive woman worthy of notice.

Thus, it was not much of a surprise that she refused the habitual pomp and ceremony of birthdays. While goodwill messages coursed in from different angles, Dr. Aisha Buhari preferred instead to hang out with those closest to her. Praying for her family and the country, she poured out her heart on matters great and small, as a First Lady should.

Courteous as always, she shared a cake with her staff at the Presidential Villa, an inspiring, fearless, tough nut of a woman.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͱͱ˜˜ ͰͮͰͮ

62

HIGHLIFE

Powerful Men, Politicians, Pillars of Society Honour Governor Udom Emmanuel

Pastor Tunde Bakare’s Wonders On Earth Mega Worship Centre

Bakare

T Say what you will about the twists and turns of the dungeons and dragons of politics, but humanity remains the heart of the whole saga – whether that heart beats to logic-racking ideologies is something else entirely. With the quality and capacity of attendance at the funeral service of Elder Gabriel Emmanuel Nkanang, father of Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State, humanity evidently beats political agenda.

The setting for the funeral service was the United Evangelical Church/ Qua Iboe Church, Awa-Iman, Onna Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State, where the late Elder Nkanang was dutifully laid to rest. A teacher and a pastor, the eminence of the dignitaries that graced Elder Nkanang’s funeral service indicated that the man sowed many an enduring seed, least of which is not his governor son, Emmanuel

Udom.

Especially noteworthy was the presence of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, alongside former Nigerian Presidents, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan – with his wife, Dame Patience. Several state governors were also present, including Delta State’s Ifeanyi Okowa, Cross River’s Ben Ayade, Edo’s Godwin Obaseki, Abia’s Okezie Ikpeazu, Enugu’s Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Ekiti’s Kayode Fayemi, Niger’s Abubakar Bello, Sokoto’s Aminu Tambuwal, Osun’s Adegboyega Oyetola, Oyo’s Seyi Makinde, and Rivers’ Nyesom Wike.

In addition, the President of the Nigerian Senate, Ahmed Lawan was also in attendance, alongside his predecessor, Bukola Saraki. Former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Minority Leader Enyinnaya Abaribe, and even the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi,

were all present. This is to mention a few of the power-bearers of the Nigerian society, powerbrokers of a variety of political, ethnic, religious and ideological qualities.

All differences were set aside in honour of Elder Nkanang and his family.

This blend was not unnoticed

by Governor Udom, who spent a significant amount of time appreciating the dignitaries and their recognition of his late father’s character, impacts and legacy.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo also had a bit to say about the late Elder Nkanang. In his speech, he distinguished papa Nkanang as more than a pastor, teacher or disciplinarian; but a mentor of many and a father to many more.

At age 90, Elder Gabriel Emmanuel Nkanang evidently touched more lives than he knew.

How Jennifer Obayuwana Transited from a Daddy’s Girl to a Business Woman...

Jennifer

“The young shall grow”, it is said, is the song of a generation unwilling to hand over the baton to its successor. The idea here is

that until the older circle gives way to the younger circle, the latter will remain a bunch of hopelessness, unproductivity and inaction.

Thankfully, there are folks such as Jennifer Obayuwana who are showing this old maxim to be old maxim.

Jennifer Obayuwana, for those who aren’t in the privileged know-it circle, is one of the most sought-after business ladies in this time and age. In fact, such words as “Classy”, “Intelligent”, “Amiable” and “Deliberate about purpose” have been applied in describing her. She is most notable for being the daughter of John Obayuwana, the unopposed boss of prominent and leading Nigerian luxury goods company, Polo Luxury Group, and being as business-wise as her father.

In many ways, Jennifer Obayuwana has demonstrated the fierce women-cantoo creed that has taken modern society by storm. In her case, as is often unanticipated of the womenfolk but ultimately inevitable, she raised it up a notch.

Since equipping herself with an arsenal of business education in Paris, Switzerland and several other notable training spots, Jennifer has grown vastly experienced in the family business of what was described as “high-end

Swiss watchmaking and jewellery brands including Rolex, Cartier, Breguet, Omega, Chopard, Roger Dubuis, Messika Longines, Montblanc, Piaget, Arnold and Son, Artya, Frederique Constant and so on”.

Having dutifully studied under her father, Jennifer has long since shown herself capable of handling ten talents and more. She has served in different capacities in the company, rising to the enviable position of Executive Director of Polo Avenue in a handful of years – a subsidiary of the mother company that is a testament to Jennifer’s endeavours.

A daddy’s girl through and through, Jennifer’s exploits have culminated in a growing group of upper-middle Nigerians who would deliberately exhaust between $1,000 to $2,000 on average on shoes and handbags, whenever they visit the Polo enterprise and other arms of the luxury goods industry.

The coming years might yet demonstrate how Jennifer Obayuwana grew out of her father’s shadow, exceeded him – as every parent prays that their children should – and brought even greater renown to her family and the business in general.

ime past is a different country, penned L. P.Hartley: they do things differently there. This statement is getting truer and truer with each passing day, policy or overall change. Time was when the world could be counted on to sit on its bottom and not jostle itself. No more! Things have changed.

Things have changed, and almost every institution bears the markings of these changes.

The religious institution has in recent time evolved from an amoeba of chanting followers to something of a Godzilla on a rampage, taking out the old ways with new high-rise buildings, massive service grounds and congregations that number into the thousands on average. Lagos, Abuja and other reputable cities of Nigeria bear witness to these establishments.

One of the most charming of these vast establishments is that of the Latter Rain Assembly, founded and headed by the very outspoken Pastor Tunde Bakare. The beauty of a worship centre, located along Kudirat Abiola Way in Oregun area of Lagos, was just still largely barren only a few years back.

And now…

The complex sits on a 3-level basement parking, underlying four suspended floors and galleries, with a helipad to top it all. The Citadel, it is called, is a riot of structures, including a 5000+ auditorium, classrooms, vestibules, bookshops and libraries, to name a few. How many worship centres can boast of a senate chamber with a spacious office for the church’s overseer?

This one does.

Most noticeably, the complex will also enclose counselling halls, driveways, transformers, a sewage treatment site, diesel tanks and dumps, restaurants, baptismal pools, beauty parlours and spa, and even a gym. A gym! Physical training, true to form, is of some value.

According to folks, the project is being overseen by the civil engineering group of Italian origin, Cappa & D’Alberto Plc, is expected to be completed before next year, and is about 70 percent in already. Nearly 13 billion has reportedly gone into this project and so much is to be expected of its enterprise.

To think that this church was founded about 30 years ago with a handful of congregants, but has grown to house thousands and thousands… that speaks to a victorious vision, and vast resources. Pastor Bakare himself is reputed with having deep pockets and deeper connections, with interests in business, law and automobile sales, and cargo logistics. (Recall that Pastor Bakare hosted a fundraising event sometime in 2016, where dignitaries such as Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufar, were very much on ground.)

The church is marching on…

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HIGHLIFE

Royal Fathers, Senate President, Others Storm Kaduna for El Rufai 60th and Book Launch

There is nothing like hearing the clock chime to a new age when there are pathways waiting for the striding of feet, or people waiting for the pleasure of company. When the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai celebrated his 60th birthday, there wasn’t a stone within the Kaduna environ that was left unturned, thanks to the gravity of dignitaries converging to felicitate with the governor.

At 60, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai still boasts a disposition that should only be referred to as sunny. The man was like a seneschal who had ascended the order of nobility to sit with kings and lords. Invariably, that was

his lot, with rulers and leaders – traditional and others – camped on his right and on his left.

The event was a time of exceptional merit as such notable and distinguished personalities as Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, President Muhammadu Buhari,(represented by the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Mahmoud), Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi, and many others.

Commenting on Governor El-Rufai, the Emir of Kano called attention to his devotion and commitment to Kaduna State and Nigeria in general. He gave credits to El-Rufai especially for his allocation of 40 percent of Kaduna State’s budget to education, an area the Emir advocated as being the wheel out of impoverishment and insecurity.

Of note also was the presentation of a talking drum to Governor ElRufai by Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, a symbolic gift to convey El-Rufai’s energetic approach to governance and his accomplishments so far, the most of which are obvious even to the blind.

Two volumes of books, titled These Times: Selected Speeches” and authored by Governor Nasir El-Rufai were also launched during the event, much to the pleasure and admiration of the distinguished guests.

Several other guests spoke during the event, with all of them lauding the efforts of Governor El-Rufai, and asking that he keep up the good work. Others in attendance include the Minister of Transportation and that of Finance, Rotimi Amaechi, and Zainab Ahmed, respectively, as well as the governors Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Godwin Obaseki of Edo, and several others.

Survival of the Fittest: Segun Abraham Battles Rotimi Akeredolu for APC Governorship Ticket

Akeredolu

Ondo state in Western Nigeria is home to folks who are distinguished on account of their warmth. Thinking about it, it is most curious that the State – which is referred to as the Sunshine State – is peopled by men and women of simple ambition, affable outlooks and cordial relations with folks home and abroad. Thanks to politics, this character of the people is being concealed

behind political debates and trailblazers grasping at power.

Governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, the sitting Governor of Ondo State perhaps knows the truth of this better than anyone else. His job is turning out to be the most sought-after within the State and it appears as if he can do absolutely nothing about it.

To start with, there are such prominent folks as Sola Ebiseni, Barrister Bode Ayorinde and Eyitayo Jegede coming in from the chambers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While all that is coming from the opposition, Akeredolu cannot be all that frightened – enemy fire is after all enemy fire. But what about the worms within the vegetable? What about friendly fire that is not at all friendly?

Olusegun Abraham is one of the strongest contestants for the All Progressives Congress (APC) party governorship ticket in Ondo State. This way, he acts in double capacity as Akeredolu’s opponent. A successful businessman and accomplished politician, Mr. Abraham is one of those who has been

evaluated as standing a chance to depose Akeredolu. But, there is a history between the two men.

In the primary APC elections for the gubernatorial candidate in 2016, Segun Abraham was the runner-up with a little over 50 votes behind Rotimi Akeredolu – who went on to win the general governorship seat. There was the usual petitioning to overrule Akeredolu’s victory at the primaries, naturally, but it didn’t take. So, having lost – not once, but twice – to Akeredolu, there is no way Segun Abraham is going to give in.

While political analysts are plotting graphs on whether Governor Rotimi Akeredolu would keep his seat, fine folks such as Segun Abraham are working towards ensuring he does not even get the party ticket.

In other news, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has been reported as plotting graphs of his own, covering all bases and keeping all the doors locked and the windows open, just in case…He that is wise is welcome to interpret as he sees fit.

Dino Melaye on Spending Spree...

Acquires More State-of-the-Art Cars Dino Melaye is a name known to most people. Since he rose to the ranks of high Nigerian society and polity, Melaye has claimed his spot on the playing field, sometimes running with the leonine grace of a footballer striker, other times standing with the stiff stamina of tempered elephant. And Melaye has been contrasted with the fierceness and cunning of wild animals than anyone else in the Nigerian scene.

Born in Kaduna in ’74, the 45-year old Dino Melaye is a native of Western Kogi.

Like several other aspects of his life, his formal education is a controversy that is not so easily unravelled. Be that as it may, the dude was sound enough to emerge as a Senator of Kogi West Senatorial district under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Although deposed from the Senate, Melaye has continued to leave trails of his presence in the social scene, either starring in a scandalous gossip where a popular authority

figure is undermined, or hosting a party from coffers that are supposed to be nearly empty with all his prodigal spending – but is nowhere close.

Perhaps his preferred mode of expressing his wealth and style are in the quality of cars he buys. Melaye is notable for owning the best cars available, expensive, sleek and fast autos the likes of which should not be driven in semi-tarred, bumpy roads. Among his well-known collections are a Bugatti Veyron, a Lamborghini Gallardo, a Polaris Slingshot, a classic Rolls Royce, and several more. It is not even certain the number of cars the dude owns, but it is certain that none of them are cheap stuff.

Very recently, Melaye was credited with purchasing 2 bulletproof cars (a MercedesBenz G-Wagon Limousine and a Toyota Land Cruiser) and a 1977 vintage corvette, all worth 726 million. Several people had a bit to say about this expenditure, and so did Melaye.

Never failing to return a poke with a

Aftermath of losing His Seat at the National Assembly to Senator Olujimi...Sacked Senator, Dayo Adeyeye Cut Ties with Governor Kayode Fayemi Does it still need reiterating that politics is not for the faint of heart, or that the game of ideologies run deeper than the single individual and therefore outclasses relationships, whether filial, platonic or otherwise.

This properly considered, it should not come as a surprise that the rumour that Senator Dayo Adeyeye has cut ties with Governor Kayode Fayemi is growing fatter and fatter on a daily basis.

Folks have had a lot to say on the matter of Politician Adedayo Clement Adeyeye’s loss of the Ekiti South senatorial district seat to Mrs. Biodun Olujimi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Most have pointed out that the man has had a most interesting run in the political arena, much of which revolved around compound losses and defeats. A bit too harsh, yes, but the man is credited with being the only one of his clique who has not been able to snag a senatorial seat for himself since 1999.

Other than Adeyeye’s loss to Olujimi – having only sat there for a few weeks, something else was apparently crushed as a result: Adeyeye’s relationship with the current Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi.

According to media bees who are close to the action, Adeyeye has severed all the ties that bound him to Fayemi, and this premeditated termination is coming on the heels of his loss. Alleged this titbit is, Fayemi in no small way made it even more robust when he congratulated Olujimi, rather than – as some others would probably have done – support his APC fellowman and flay Olujimi.

Fayemi, ever the liberal, allegedly reminded Olujimi of the point of the whole thing, which is the interest of the state and its people.

Fayemi, on his own, is reported as stating that the loss was both shocking and painful, especially after a vigorous campaign process. He further sympathised with Adeyeye and asked him to keep calm and not abandon the political profession or public service.

In any case, Adeyeye’s alleged response to this admonishment was to wave goodbye to Fayemi with one finger. Perhaps a change of colours is the next course of action.

But as that did not work the first time, perhaps no.

Maleye

stunning haymaker, Melaye is reported to have remarked that while others spend their money on cocaine and homosexuals, he spends his on cars. Well, how does one refute that logic? Fast money and fast cars.

Olujimi

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

Olakunle Churchill, Tonto Dikeh‘s War Gets Messier

Olakunle-Churchill

Olakunle Oladunni Churchill is the CEO, Big Churchill Haven Limited.

He came into the public consciousness after his romantic affairs with star actress, Tonto Dikeh, was reported in the media.

Without a care in the world, both took their love story to the next level; and their wedding gained media attention, particularly because he is a nephew to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Before our very eyes, cracks developed in their marriage and both went their separate ways.

It was so bad that his estranged wife accused him of infidelity, just as he also threw barbs at his wife.

But if you think the former sweethearts have moved on, you are wrong.

Instead, the ‘war’ is getting messier as the businessman has dragged his former sweetheart to court over an explosive interview she did some time in 2019.

Olakunle Churchill, who referenced the three-part YouTube series titled, ‘The Evidence’ which was shared in 2019, said his ex-wife accused him of cyber fraud, popularly known as Yahoo-Yahoo, and also alleged that she caught him clad in a red cloth, surrounded by red candles with a laptop placed on his lap.

He is also seeking legal redress against the mother of his only child over the claim of his father being a gardener and that he is not related to Obasanjo.

In the lawsuit notice, which has him as the first claimant and Big Church Foundation as the second claimant, Churchill stated that the allegations are baseless and sponsored to tarnish and damage his image and political ambition.

Buruji Kashamu’s Worries Compounded It is no exaggeration that burly politician and businessman, Senator Buruji Kashamu, literally eats and breathes controversies.

He has been enmeshed in so many controversies since he joined politics most times for the wrong reasons.

Many will recall how he fought and created a faction in the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Due to his extravagant lifestyle, the controversial socialite, who represented Ogun East Senatorial District at the National Assembly between 2015 and 2019, has been embroiled in various crises with the Federal Government and some of its agencies since 2014 in the bid to frustrate any efforts to extradite him to the United States over alleged drug offences.

He has challenged the extradition moves.

Kashamu had secured two orders from a Federal High Court between 2014 and 2017 restraining Federal Government, through its agencies, from carrying out the extradition of the socialite to the United States.

However, the Court of Appeal had on May 4, 2018, cleared the coast for the federal government to extradite Kashamu who had engaged the government in a long-drawn legal battle since 2014.

The appellate court in the two separate judgments voided and set aside all orders made by the Federal High Court restraining the government from proceeding with the extradition.

The appeal court said that an affidavit deposed to by Kashamu on the issue was worthless and not in compliance with Evidence Act because the former senator himself claimed that he was told by several

persons who were not called to testify in court.

Consequently, the order of injunction stopping the extradition process was voided and set aside.

Justice Joseph Ikyeghi had agreed with counsel to the Federal Government, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, that a statutory body like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) could not be prohibited from performing its statutory functions on hearsays and speculations as in the instant case.

But the Supreme Court is set to review the two judgments delivered in favour of the Federal Government by the Lagos division of

Osun Monarch, Adekunle Aromolaran Under Fire Owa Obokun Adimula Oba, Dr. Adekunle Aromolaran, is one of the few most respected monarchs in the Yoruba land.

He is well revered and accorded a high level of regards owing to his widely acknowledged native wisdom and intelligence.

However, if the information gathered

by Society Watch is anything to go by, the octogenarian monarch might be in trouble, as some of his subjects, led by Dr. Oyekanmi Ogedengbe, Obanla of Ijeshaland, are ready to have a showdown with him.

He is alleged to have betrayed the deities or refused to follow the protocols of appeasing the deities.

In his account, the Obanla of Ijeshaland, and the vice-chairman, Ijesha traditional council, described the Owa-obokun as

arrogant and proud, adding that he has also shown blatant disregard to a government institution.

It was also alleged that the Ijeshaland might not witness any meaningful progress if the Owa-obokun is not called to order.

According to the source, the monarch is allegedly chasing away development from the land based on his alleged demand from investors.

It was also gathered that when the former governor of Osun State Rauf Aregbesola instituted a panel of inquiry to touch on several issues pertaining to the complaints, traditional stool’s anomalies and various misdemeanors of Owa-obokun, he allegedly boasted and proclaimed that the report would never see the light of day.

Our source revealed that if the state

Aromolaran

government fails to wade in and nip the issues in the bud, it could escalate into a fullblown menace.

“Dr. Oyekanmi Ogedengbe alarmed that the Owa-obokun needs to play a responsible leadership role in uniting all Ijesha indigenes for progress rather than champion an antiprogress agenda,” the source added.

Untold Story of Communication Guru, Sir Lucky Omoluwa’s Last Moments

In the court summons, the actress was asked to appear for trial 14 days from December 10, 2019.

How the matter will be

Kashamu

the Court of Appeal on May 4, 2018.

Kashamu had in his notices of appeal to the Supreme Court complained that the Court of Appeal erred in law by voiding and setting aside the two judgments of the Federal High court which barred the Federal Government from extraditing him to America.

The ex-senator is praying the apex court to set aside the decisions of the Court of Appeal as they affected him. But the Federal Government through the Attorney General of the Federation has responded with a counter prayer that the Supreme Court should uphold the judgments of the Court of Appeal which cleared the coast for his extradition.

Society Watch gathered that if the Apex Court successfully vacates all legal encumbrances and Kashamu is sent to the United States and found guilty, it will be a spectacular fall for a man whose lifestyle brand has gained iniquitous recognition.

While still battling with the Federal Government alongside that of his political and business rivals, a Civil Society Organisation named ‘Centre Against Injustice And Domestic Violence’ is set to compound Kashamu’s woes.

The group has petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation, seeking prosecution of Kashamu over the various versions of the video in circulation on the social media where Kashamu was caught spraying bundles of naira notes on a popular musician at a public function.

The group led by Comrade Gbenga Soloki was riled by the alleged display of vulgar opulence by Kashamu and call on the security operatives to arrest him and prosecute the Ogun State-born politician.

Omoluwa

Last Tuesday, Sir Lucky Omoluwa, a communication guru, breathed his last, amidst tears by family, friends and business associates.

Until his death, Omoluwa, who sat atop Pinnacle Communications, was a star in the broadcast communication industry in the country.

Omoluwa, who is widely described as a mesmerizing maestro of the broadcast communications industry by industry watchers, navigated a personal cultural universe uneasy to deride as too pedestrian or elitist.

Sadly, his integrity was put to the test and he got his fingers burnt when he was allegedly involved in a N2.5 billion contract alongside the DirectorGeneral of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Modibbo Kawu.

They were indicted for allegedly misappropriating N2.5 billion, a scandal that could slow down the nationwide rollout of the digital transmission of

home television signals.

They were subsequently arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a 12-count charge.

Though they were granted bail, the Edo state-based businessman did not find this funny at all, as our source disclosed that he recoiled back into his cocoon and maintained a low profile until his death last Tuesday.

The communication expert was married to Orumenonsen, a cousin to the former Minister for Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga.

Her father the late Sir Julius IfidonOla, was a Permanent Secretary in various parastatals namely the Ministry of Home Affairs & Information, Trade & Industry, Establishments, Public Matters Department of the Governor’s Office and the Ministry of Works & Transport in the old Bendel State.

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SOCIETY WATCH

Real Reasons Olu Okeowo, Bolu Akin-Olugbade Parted Ways

Okeowo and Akin-Olugbade

They are billionaires. They have eyepopping mansions. Their garages are filled with some of the latest and world’s most expensive cars, including Limousine and Rolls Royce, among others.

Property Merchant, Olu Okeowo and billionaire businessman, Bolu Akinolugbade, both live what may be described as kingly lifestyles.

These high-flying and high net-worth businessmen share so many things in common like Siamese twins.

But that was until five years ago! Since then, they have stopped attending shindigs in the same attire. They no longer acquire the same choice of costly automobiles, fly on the same private jet and pay visits to each other at intervals as they did when the going was good.

Even now, many have yet to come to terms with the cause of the crack in their relationship previously described as a true definition of friendship.

In order words, no one could have imagined that the Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Iruwon Ijebu

Ode and Aare Ona- Kankanfo of Owu Kingdom could turn their backs on each other.

But the reality today is that these men of class and panache no longer see eye -to -eye.

Their rope of friendship has been broken, while it has been left untied.

However, tongues have not ceased to wag on the reason for the bad blood between the duo.

A source close to the duo attributed the disagreement to several issues that have piled up over the years.

One of the reasons, he said, borders on the huge difference in their age.

According to the source, it took Olugbade, who is in his 60s, a long while to know that he is older than Olu Okeowo, who is in his early 50’s.

When he found out about Okeowo’s real age, he felt Okeowo should accord him more respect.

For Okeowo, a free-spirited man, he felt age is just a number that must not define true friendship.

But the Aare Onakakanfo wouldn’t want to hear any of this.

Another close source disclosed that the crack in the wall was further fuelled by envy and quest to outshine each other.

“They were always on the verge to outshine each other at everything they do.

They acquire the same Rolls Royce automobile to outshine each other. They built the same houses at highbrow places with similar designs. When they attended public functions, there’s stiff competition on who would spend more for the artistes singing their praises. All these played a pivotal role in their split,” the source said.

It was also gathered that, despite several interventions by a number of well-meaning personalities, the billionaire businessmen have refused to sheathe their swords and embrace each other like the exemplary friends they used to be, before allowing the devil come between them.

Top Businessman Lekan Oyegbade Celebrates For Lekan Oyegbade, a successful businessman, Monday, February 17, didn’t come as an ordinary day in his life.

On that day, he had cause, once again, to engage in the celebration of life, as he added another year to the glory of God. Quite expectedly, he was joined in the celebration by family and friends whose paths have crossed his in life.

Born unto parents who make Godliness a priority in life, little Oyegbade never crossed the line as he grew under the tutelage of his father and mother who ensured his every footstep was in accordance with God’s rules.

Even in the face of adversities, unassuming and hard-working Oyegbade has not, at any point, shunned the divine

paths.

Seasons have passed, but Oyegbade remains grand, like the nurturing guardian whose tenderness and warmth blesses the land.

To his staff, friends, family and beneficiaries, his warm personality has been their anchor, and his shoulder their rampart of comfort.

The University of Jos graduate is overwhelmingly grateful to his Creator for the gift of life, flourishing endeavor, robust health and divine protection.

Oyegbade , who is happily married to beautiful Bukola, and blessed with children, tells anyone who cares to listen that he owes God a lot of gratitude for all that He has done for him in the past years.

Olopade

Kogi Deputy Governor Edward Onoja on Tenterhooks

Onoja

At the moment, Edward Onoja, currently the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, is gradually causing some ripples as one of the key players in the state politics for so many reasons.

As an undergraduate of Geology at the University of Jos, Plateau State, he had carved out a niche for himself as a potential activist and politician, who would someday make history in his state of origin.

The opportunity to be actively involved in politics in his home state came after he was appointed the chief of staff to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State in his first tenure.

In his capacity as CoS, his influence could not be ignored, particularly as he helped his principal run the state almost seamlessly.

For his loyalty to Bello in his first term, he was rewarded with the Deputy Governor slot after the former Kogi deputy governor, Simon Achuba, was impeached by the Kogi House of Assembly.

During that period, and owing to the confidence Bello had in him, he was allowed to handle all political matters in the state, while Bello focused more on the politics of Abuja.

In fact, he was said to have handpicked over 80% of Bello’s cabinet, while also discharging his duty diligently devoid of nepotism and favouritism.

But many of the governor’s kinsmen were said to have disliked him because he allegedly prevented them from having enough access to the governor.

This, it was gathered, has degenerated into a cold war between him and the governor, as a source said, “The governor has not given Onoja the freehand like he did when he was the chief of staff. “The kind of influence Onoja wielded as COS is whittled down as Deputy Governor. He brought about 80% of the last cabinet including the former Deputy. But this time around, the governor is more involved in the appointments.

“Unlike when he had unfettered access to the governor, he has to be scheduled now before he could see the governor.”

Interestingly, as the race for the 2023 election seems to have started gathering momentum, all fingers are pointing to Onoja as the perfect replacement and anointed candidate to run for Governor in 2023 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. But Society Watch gathered that the aggrieved kinsmen from Igala land, who felt Onoja blocked them from having access to the Governor when he was Cos, are currently at loggerheads with him.

The source further disclosed that his major battle is with his Igala people who feel he blocked them out from having access to the governor when he was COS.

Ajibola Ponnle, Husband in Bitter Divorce Saga, Web of Lies In the last few weeks, Lagos State Commissioner for Establishment, Training, and Pensions, Mrs. Ajibola Ponnle, has been in the news. She is currently enmeshed in a divorce saga before Lagos High Court, Igbosere. In the petition, Ajibola is seeking dissolution of her 22-year-old marriage to Abiodun Michael Ponnle, son of MicCom Cable founder. The marriage produced three children, all boys.

The proceedings are before Justice Lateefah Okunnu of Lagos High Court, Igbosere, Lagos. However, all hell broke loose last week with the social media awash with some salacious tales around the divorce proceedings which have been kept under close wraps for almost two years.

In the reports, the amiable Lagos commissioner was a subject of skewed gists. Sources close to the estranged couple said most of the stories flying around about the lady are full of lies as allegedly scripted by the hubby.

Society Watch gathered that Biodun and Jibola Ponnle have lived a blissful life until recent years. Unknowingly or carelessly, they allowed a wall to rise up in the matrimony leading to emotional problems that have torn them apart. It was learnt that Jibola had to leave her matrimonial home in Banana Island, Lagos on January 9, 2016, when she could no longer cope with her husband’s hassles.

Though she moved into another apartment the estate, it was alleged that Biodun, who used to run defunct Origin Oil & Gas, was already dating a popular Instagram fashion influencer, Juliet. According to the source, Juliet moved in with her daughter into the Ponnle’s Banana Island matrimonial home immediately Jibola was pushed out with her three kids and thus foreclosed any form of settlement.

As a thoroughbred professional and courteous woman, Jibola was said to have taken everything in her stride, focusing on her career and her kids.

“This is pure jealousy at its best.

Jibola’s estranged hubby and some of her friends are not really happy that rather than quake after her failed marriage, she was waxing stronger as she has moved on with her life and capped it becoming a commissioner,” a source explained.

It was also gathered that the Ponnle family was not happy with the happenings around their son and daughter-in-law. In a message by Kolawole, one of Biodun’s siblings, he expressed the disappointment of the family over the divorce saga. His message read, “Last week, we received a text message that broke our heart.

The text message contained weblinks to an article evidently sponsored by mischief makers simply set out to destroy the image of an innocent woman, Ajibola Yewande Ponnle. As such, we make clear to say the absurd narrative is a gross distortion of facts and demonstrated a lack of integrity and decency by the perpetrators.

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Major Mustapha – My Sincere Apologies Akwa Ibom Isongo! Ibibio Isongo! This is the chant we used to chant during our village meeting in Surulere. I have not been there since my papa died almost five years ago. But I will go today. Because the kind of wahala I think I have entered na to go meet my people to come out come help me beg o. Last Sunday, devil push me go yab oga and I hear that oga did not like it. Last Monday, I got a call in the midnight from one man wey call himself Shola and he say he come with peace. Who come in peace for midnight? He say him understand sarcasm but that my write-up was not wellreceived. I say sorry, please don’t vex. Me, I don’t have power for fight o. I say since you say you

come in peace, please help me tell oga not to vex. He say Ok. So in continuation of my begging, I am going to village meeting to seek support in joining me on this my begging and apologising mission. You know we in Akwa Ibom do not have Amotekun or IPOB, na afang we get. So my brother, please do not vex, the write-up was tongue-in-cheek look at the role of your former oga in the country especially as it concerns the ‘alerts’ we keep getting and your usual response each time that happens. Wasn’t meant to disparage or offend you in any way. In fact, na my friend Chief Opara your former running mate I really yab and he no call me for midnight. So if you feel in any way offended, I stand

stark naked in my bedroom with my hands in the sky to say a big sorry. Please quickly agree before my housemaid enter now come think say I want to do sacrifice.

Anyways, please next time you feel offended about anything my enemy write about you, kindly help me tell Shola not to dey call in the midnight again, he should be calling during the day because that night call, come and see the kinds of things I see for dream. The call even scatter my activities for the other room as I lost my libido and remember this was just days after Valentine’s Day. Please send address or something make I send you afang and ekpan nkukwo as further peace offering so you can calm down abeg. Life is not that serious. Calm down sir.

SEN. FLORENCE ITA-GIWA – HELLO, MUMMY It was Mudi that called me to ask if I had got an invite to your coming birthday bash. I say yes, because I did not want that one to be yabbing me. I had not received any invite and I was wondering if mummy will not invite me. Many things crossed my mind, is it because I ate like three bowls of Afang at the opening of that wonderful restaurant, Echoes of Calabar. Is mummy trying to be vindictive? What kind of wahala is this? Why will I not be invited and now miss an opportunity to dine on some of the most sumptuous afang soup out of Calabar? Kai, how will I react to this one now, should I take it to the Lord in prayer or should I just call Governor Sanwo-Olu to help me intervene? Shey you can see misplaced priority – you know who is vexing with me, I never go seven days’ fast for that one head na this one I want to come and disturb my MFM Pastor with? I should not have bothered o, that is how the invite hit my phone. I screamed, I have been invited. Eureka. This was mad.

Mummy throws some of the most audacious parties, you have to be there to understand what I am saying.

Mbok, the food, the food, the food.

Let me just mention a few – afia efere, edikaikong, atama, ekpan nkukwo

and afere ikon all spiced with some perfectly marinated fish and snail and swallowed with the smooth pounded yam and you say, I will not beg for the invite? I have even gone to the place few days before the event to show the security people my invite just in case, I cannot shout. Mbok, am I a serious person? See me talking about food in another person party when I have not even wished her a happy birthday and good wishes.

Mummy don’t mind me, it’s not my fault. Happy birthday, but meanwhile can they not mix garri in the pounded yam, I prefer mine smooth and clear.

God bless you, Ekanmi.

traditional institutions must be held with so much dignity as it is a strong bastion of our essence as a people. It is not an institution that should be rubbished by this kind of behaviour.

This is truly very sad and I do hope that you would show enough remorse by walking back and apologising to your victim and indeed the people of your domain that you have thoroughly disgraced with this kind of behaviour.

Kai.

Giwa

mustapha

at this point and we can only wait for history to pass its judgment. Till then, I think you are a very strong force that can be used for either positive or negative positions as we forge head as a nation in these trying times.

Happy birthday sir and may Allah keep and guide you.

OLUWO OF IWO – I AM ASHAMED! I will not mince words and will not apologise if this offends you. As a fellow stakeholder in our traditional sphere, I must say that the news of your recent misdemeanour as reported by different news outlets culminating in calls for your suspension has hit me with great sadness and shame. You have not only desecrated your stool but the whole traditional stools in the country. How can a traditional ruler of your standing or any standing for that matter allegedly stoop so low as to go physical on any matter? This is really strange and sad and I support whatever punitive measures including suspension is thrown at you. The

NASIR EL–RUFAI FOR PRESIDENT? Anytime I fly this kite at the Duke’s Summit they will just be yabbing me and calling me names. In fact I have decided to be using it to wake the group up anytime discussions go to a lowly ebb. I will just say, this my talk of El-Rufai’s candidacy…. Before I even talk finish, someone will just say shut up and then they will all pounce on me. Kai, my brother what you have done to these people, me I don’t understand o. Me I still like you even though that push for presidency is me looking for their trouble as I would not really want you to jump in just yet. Let things calm down first and then we will try you. Thank God age is on your side because I heard you just celebrated your 60th which is the main reason for this mention.

Happy birthday my brother, you are playing a defining role in our country

BURNA BOY – CALM DOWN So after losing at the Grammys, this fella came out in a Twitter rant that he is the best since Fela and that nobody paved the way for him.

You see this kind of talk is not only funny but idiotic. Please forgive my language. The best thing to have done was just to ignore him knowing exactly where and why that kind of statement is coming from him. When you eat too much vegetables and by vegetables I don’t mean afang or ugwu you will just be saying all sorts of things including making this kind of statement that does not make any logic. Trust Nigerians, they came at him on Twitter with the venom of an angered people and I am sure by now he himself would have been sober. Nigeria has a rich musical heritage and very early people like King Sunny Ade, Femi and Seun Kuti have been nominated for this same Grammys oooooo. Even those that have not been nominated have conquered the world with

Oluwo of Iwo

El–Rufai

Burna Boy

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LOUD WHISPERS

Wike

Ovia

their unique sounds. People like Sir Victor Uwaifo, Tuface, Edi Okonta to mention a few. Where did you come from sef? Is it not that your dance like ‘abutata’ that you will be jumping up and down the stage like you have a bad case of craw craw? Please don’t let me start with you o. So if you had won the Grammys nko, then we for don finish for this country? You would have proclaimed yourself Life President. The mark of a great artist is sustainable relevance. Let’s see where this our career would be in the next ten years, when we reach that mark then you can come and be shouting, till then let’s just say keep quiet.

Thank you.

State? I pretended not to see the comments until my man James who could not wait to hear my comments sent me the link from one of the prominent and influential news sites.

That is how they will be pushing me to yab people and when the call comes at midnight only me will be suffering loss of erection from fear. Well, all I will say

JIM OVIA – MIX-UP OVER CEO OF ZENITH BANK That was how I was watching CNN the other day and the very beautiful Nigerian-American TV host – I don forget her name abeg announced that after the break, they will be talking to Jim Ovia – CEO of Zenith. My morsel of fufu dropped from my hand. Have I missed something? Have there been some changes in Zenith that I have missed?

No wonder when I called Ebenezer the Managing Director the other day, he was one kind on the phone o. He just say, ‘oga I have not seen your proposal’ and dropped the phone. Was that the reason? But if it was, no be my fault na. Just as I took the phone to start calling my contacts at Zenith to find out what was happening, Richard Quest came on the screen to introduce Jim Ovia Chairman of Zenith. Phew, I could now go to the toilet to wee in peace. Mr. Ovia gave a good account of himself as he spoke very eloquently about the Nigerian economy, its prospects and challenges. He made me feel proud of the country wanting me to cancel my plans to immigrate to Canada. He also paid glowing tributes to the CBN governor He said, that one was one of the most brilliant people we can have at the CBN at this time. I enjoyed that discussion. It was so robust and profound. The man know book sha.

No mumbling and incoherent jargons, just a clear and precise outlook of the economy. Well done sir, keep it up. I owe you a drink, when you are less busy kindly reach out but before school fees period o otherwise you are on your own o.

Mbok, ayeneka, ku yard esit.

Please don’t vex that I could not make your lovely father’s funeral.

You know the weather at that period was tough and they were diverting flights. That was how I ended up in Accra, ask Dele Momodu he saw me entering the gents. How the remaining people got there in that confusion still confounds me.

Anyways, I hear it was a grand

WIKE’S WORDS ON MARBLE ‘Oshiomhole claimed he was a unionist. He said he worked in the textile industry…….he used to wear ordinary khaki today he wears safari with diamond buttons’. This Wike has wicked mouth o. Kai, how can you say this of a whole national chairman of the ruling party and the husband of the most beautiful woman in Edo

Yerima

for this one is that Wike with this one gave Oshiomhole what they used to call ‘Technical Knock Out’ and the best way to respond to this kind of yabis is not to answer. To come back from this kind of yabis he dey hard. Oshio baba just let this one go, he enter body well.

Kai. AMERICA’S BAN ON NIGERIANS - A

GOV. EMMANUEL UDOM – KINDLY ACCEPT MY CONDOLENCES occasion and you pulled in so many forces from across the divide.

Showing your pull and weight.

Welldone I saw the pictures, everybody was there o. From Chief Obasanjo to Saraki and star boy – the Vice President and so many dignitaries. Your dad lived well at least he born you and as such, you celebrated him the way you did.

Welldone sir.

Udom

RIGHT OF REPLY

LOUD WHISPERS AND JOSEPH’S TROUBLE FISHING So my bossom friend, Joseph edgar declined to support my vice presidential bid in a joint ticket with my election boss, hamza al-mustapha. he had committed to supporting me during my gubernatorial ambition. as i had complained to few of our mutual friends, Joseph literally roasted me the day i was a guest of his famous afang summit in lagos. during the summit, Joseph showed me pepper. Other guests followed up with the torrents of questions mainly centered on my state of sanity in my ill-advised decision to join forces with hamza al-mustapha. i defended hamza to the hilt as i did during the to the election albeit he did not raise a finger of support to the party or did he actively participate in the 2019 presidential elections. He never contacted

anyone in the party during the electoral season beyond regularisation of his documentation with the inec. To show face again for the 2023 presidential elections preamble under any guise will be an exercise in self deceit absolutely.

Talking about Edgar and his fearless motor mouth that holds our leaders accountable, he’s so Hilarious in his usual husky baritone voice.

He told me that al mustapha is at it again. “at it again i curiously asked”. He said some media consultant guy working for hamza had called him at unholy hours few days ago to complain about his piece on hamza. dead of the night kwa, i quipped. in an uncoordinated tone, he was requested to retract the story. what story anyway? i am the one that edgar attacked. Is hamza crying more than the bereaved under our democratic practice? mtchewww

MUTUAL DISADVANTAGE Was it in 1984 they showed us one TV promo where Andrew was checking out? Didn’t I say last year that the best thing for us to do is to check out so that we can go and earn strong forex and repatriate them? Shebi people were laughing and mocking me. Today na with this Trump ban, the stats have started coming in. Did you watch that American-Pakistani media guru Zakari Fareed reel out the stats? I was almost fainting with joy. Oya listen - 59% of Nigerians in America hold Bachelor’s degree, more than double the national average.

54% are in largely white collar business, Nigerians made more than 14billion dollars last year and paid $4b in taxes to the American government.

Make Trump dey fool himself there. Our people also threw back $24b in diaspora remittance. He further said that 10% of our GDP was technology driven. Let me just stop here, hungry is catching me.

Please if America say we should not come again, let us go to other places to earn this money and send back home. God bless Nigeria, we are a great people and I remain extremely proud of my heritage despite all the wahala, I will remain a great Nigerian. Thank you.

PROF AHMED YERIMA – A MAESTRO AT WORK By now, you all would have known that Prof Yerima is writing and directing my new play aremu. The play depicts one of the most influential Nigerians ever, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. I had heard and read so much about Prof Yerima and wanted him for this project.

I waited for his stamp of authority and ingenuity. That was how I now went for rehearsal recently. Me, I don’t go for rehearsal o. My job is to go and look for the money. This money tough o. Someone said, Edgar your plays have always been on historical figures who have died thousands of years ago, this one is not only alive but is causing trouble everywhere o.

Mbok, can someone ask baba to at least pretend until I finish raising the money o? We need to do this play. Anyways, that was how I went to watch Prof and his team including the massively talented William Benson on set. Prof was a delight to watch as he curated and blocked the scene. The one that got me was the oriki when the young man shouted – Aremuuuuuuuuu.

I had goose pimples on my skin.

Kai, even me I cannot wait to watch this massive production. 45-man set, the most powerful production suite including the very beautiful Bikiya Graham Douglas and enigmatic Yemi Shodimu with Olisa Adibua co-producing, Aremu will wow the world. Aremuuuuuuuu!

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NEWS OF THE

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ BRUARY 23, 2020

WEEK

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agreement and continue to enjoy US’ support to recover and repatriate more stolen funds to Nigeria.

If Nigeria ditches the agreement with Bagudu and his associates, there would be legal consequences, except the governor and his associates choose not to enforce the agreements.

On the other hand, if the federal government insisted on complying with the agreement, it might risk losing the support of the US in its efforts to recover the remaining looted funds starched overseas.

Controversial King, Oluwo Suspended!

Wike and Oshiomhole

Oshiomhole Replies Wike

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole last week replied the Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

Oshiomhole said Wike’s allegation that he was behind the protest at the residence of Justice Mary Odili in Abuja was reckless.

“This reckless defamation of the character of Oshiomhole is unbecoming of a state government that is supposed to operate under the rule of law including fairness and justice to all”, Oshiomhole said.

Wike had asked Oshiomhole to resign as APC National Chairman after he said that no one should be sworn in as Bayelsa State governor following Supreme Court judgment that set aside the election of David Lyon of APC as governor.

S’Court Under Pressure to Review Own Judgments

There are three applications pending before the Supreme Court to review its judgments but these have been considered evidence of the loss of confidence in the apex court.

The Peoples Democratic Party is seeking a review of the judgment on the Imo governorship election while the All Progressives Congress wants the apex court to revisit its judgments on Zamfara and Bayelsa States respectively.

Aside those three, a former of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso has also been reported as considering a push for a review of the Kano State governorship election.

The fact that protesters had to lay siege on Mrs. Mary Odili’s residence as a result of the judgment delivered in the Bayelsa State governorship election is further proof that trust in the justice system has ebbed.

CJN, Mohammad Many are, therefore, of the view that the judiciary should not be deciding winners and losers in elections, as that’s completely not within its purview.

It is the view of many that if an election was struck down, it’s only logical that the people be allowed to go back to the ballot and decide who governs or represents them at any level.

The Oluwo of Iwo, Abdulrosheed Akanbi is currently enjoying being in the news as hardly a week goes by without making the headlines.

Akanbi, who was suspended for six months last week by the Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers, because he reportedly attacked a fellow Oba during a meeting, had since dismissed the news as a joke.

The council said Akanbi was suspended for “indecent acts” to some monarchs, including the Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi; Alake of Egbaland and the Ooni of Ife. Oluwo’s assault on the Agboowu of Ogbaagba, Dhikrulahi Akinropo, allegedly followed a land dispute in Iwoland.

Kaduna Court Frees 91 Shiites Members

During the week, a Kaduna State High Court discharged and acquitted 91 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).

The freed members of the Shiites group were arrested during a clash with soldiers in Zaria in December 2015.

They were arraigned on five counts charges of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, culpable homicide, disturbance of public peace, and causing grievous hurt.

About a hundred members of IMN had earlier been released, because the Kaduna State government could not substantiate the charges filed against them.

Aso Rock Assistant Director Killed

An Assistant Director attached to the State House, Abuja, Laetitia Naankang Dagan, was killed in the week.

Dagan was allegedly killed at her apartment in Galadimawa, Abuja, Monday evening, shortly after she returned from work.

She was said to have left her office in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, about 8pm while the incident reportedly took place about 11 pm.

Although findings about her killers are still sketchy, preliminary findings claimed she might have been killed by a neighbour, who was into internet fraud, after the police allegedly revealed to the fellow she tipped them off.

Bagudu’s Deals Raise New Challenge for FG’s Anti-graft War

A story that is expected to continue to generate reactions is the decision by the federal government to allow the Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Bagudu to keep over $100 million from funds stolen by the late dictator, Sani Abacha.

The federal government was obviously in a dilemma as to deciding whether to abide by its agreement with the Kebbi State governor and his associates and jettison the help of the United States in recovering the stolen loot or ditch the

Bagudu

Oba Abdulrasheed-Akanbi

Laetitia Naankang Dagan

ARTS & REVIEW

VICTOR EHIKHAMENOR AT 50: TOAST TO AN ARTIST AND ACTIVIST – TONI KAN PAGE 71

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PUBLICATION

23.02.2020

A NEWVISION FOR ART COLLECTION Dr. Anueyiagu

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 23, 2020

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ARTS & REVIEW\\VISUAL ARTS

A NEW VISION FOR ART COLLECTION The recently-established Society for Art Collection hopes to serve as a platform for educating artists and art collectors on the intricacies of art collection. It also hopes to stimulate discourse on the provenance and rights of artists, collectors and art patrons. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke, who was at its colloquium in Lagos, reports

"I

’m glad that in all the madness and in all the confusion that visit us every day, quite a lot of us still have the presence of mind to appreciate the arts, to step back and commit some resources to supporting the arts,” Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki noted before a distinguished gathering at The Wheatbaker Hotel, Lagos’ upper-floor hall.

His audience – consisting mostly of collectors, critics and artists, among other stakeholders – had converged that Monday evening at the upscale venue at the instance of the Society for Art Collection, a non-profit organisation whose “vision is to provide the platform for an ‘educated collection’ of the arts.”

That the event chimes quite well with the society’s stated vision and mission could be deduced from the keynote lecture delivered by Professor Chike Aniakor and the subsequent panel discussions, which pivoted on the theme, “Exploring a New Informed Approach to Art Collection.”

As the governing council’s chairman of the society, which is also known by its acronym Sartcol, Dr Okey Anueyiagu hopes to steer the course of art collection away from its seeming elitist inclination. His predilection for the works of Picasso and Braque as well as his known sponsorships of art and culture across continents put him in good stead to impact on the visual arts scene. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka graduate, who also hold postgraduate degrees in political science and economics from the University of Rochester and Fordham University in New York, has also engraved himself in the industry’s consciousness as a not just a leading collector, but also as a business mogul, investor, teacher, author and philanthropist as well as the founder of Dr Okey Anueyiagu Foundation.

Also in the society’s governing council as members are such leading lights as Ms Frances Edozien (the founder, chief executive officer and managing director of Invivo Partners Limited), Adetotun Sulaiman (a known corporate titan, who now serves as the executive chairman of Arian Capital Limited), Ibrahim Dikko (a corporate and commercial lawyer, who among other things, is an independent director on the boards of Custodian Investments Plc, Baker Hughes Company Limited, Clane Company Nigeria Limited and Comercio Partners), Jess Castellote (a Spanish-born director of the Foundation for Contemporary and Modern Visual Arts), Professor Fabian Ajogwu (a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Lagos Business School Professor of Corporate Governance, who co-authored the book Collecting Art: A Handbook with Castellote), Mrs Ananya Kaul (a practice oversight consultant at KP Nominees, which is an affiliate of Professor Ajogwu’s Kenna Partners) and Nero Asibelua (the executive director and chairman of MSI Africa Development Limited, who is also the founder of Nero Asibelua Foundation).

Actually, last Monday evening’s colloquium only lifts the veil on the Society for Art Collection’s main activities. Besides holding seminars for art collectors to discuss matters of interest bordering on art- collection, the purchase of art and art-related materials, it also hopes to organise sessions for collectors not only to speak about their collections but also on how to collect art. There will also be fora for the development of art and artists as well as support for art programmes and exhibitions.

Expectedly, generating literature and database for artworks features prominently among its activities. Ditto plans to organise and support events centred on fostering an appreciation and understanding of art.

“We are using the society in a very subtle and very proactive way and means to educate people on the essence of collecting and preserving art,” Professor Ajogwu explained in a short explainer video screened during the event.

According to him, the society is also a means to inform the world on the creativity that exists in Nigeria. This was why last Monday evening’s colloquium turned out to be a heaven-sent platform for its special guest Governor Obaseki to share his thoughts on the call for the restitution of the looted Benin art pieces, which were lost during the well-known British invasion of the kingdom in 1897. Beyond the increasingly strident clamour for their return, the governor hopes to leverage on these works created by his Benin forebears. “Some of those works are amazing!” he said. “When I saw that ivory leopard in the British Museum, I couldn’t believe that my forebears created such excellent pieces hundreds of years ago.”

Nonetheless, the governor would rather the conversations around the looted objects revolved around issues bordering on their number, provenance, their locations and how they arrived where they are presently located. Besides, he saw nothing wrong in leaving some of the artworks abroad since they could be likened to “ambassadors”. “But we need to know them, we need to explain to our children and subsequent generations what they mean because they are a part of us.”

A major take-away of the governor’s short address is the state government's concerted effort at raising the much-needed resources while collaborating with European museums and galleries to build an iconic, world-class museum in the Edo State capital city as a future home for the looted art objects.

“First, we are working with the Berlin museum on documenting these pieces globally,” he explained. “The next step is to show them to our people. We know that not everybody can travel abroad to go view these works. We want to have something that can attract the world to come and see when they come to Nigeria. We are also working with the prolific architect David

Governor Obaseki

Prof. Aniakor

Members of the Governing Council Adjaye to think through the concept and to link the museum to our various ethnographic works around Benin City, including the moats.”

Back to the society, perhaps what distinguishes it from its precursor the Visual Arts Society of Nigeria (VASON) is its keenness to shed the toga of elitism. Central to its bid to reach out to a wider segment of the public to become its members is its plan to work with artists to make access easier to their works easier.

On the artists, Ms Edozien in the explainer video rues the fact they don’t have enough platforms internationally or even locally.

“We don’t have proper museums, we don’t have enough galleries…,” she says. “So, we can reshape the visibility, we can reshape value and understanding the value of art and we can reshape the accessibility...” Obviously, the broadening of the collector base will breathe new life into the already into the talent-glutted

Nigerian art scene. Hence, Castellote sees the society’s efforts as a contribution to the growth of this promising industry.

Dr Anueyiagu, who is also the Sartcol’s president, had in his welcoming notes at the last Monday’s event hinted at the society’s plans to deploy “tools that will assist artists and collectors to fully understand the dynamics and intricacies involved in art collection in order to foster the growth of art in our continent.”

This is anchored on the premise that Nigeria and Africa have, in recent times, been experiencing “new explosions”, which “have been the imperative that prompted the establishment of The Society for Art Collection.”

Besides Castellote and Dikko, the discussion panel also featured Tolu Alero Ladipo, a marketing and corporate communications expert and Ifeyinwa Momah, a legal consultant on general insurance.

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ARTS & REVIEW\\TRIBUTE

VICTOR EHIKHAMENOR AT 50: TOAST TO AN ARTISTAND ACTIVIST–TONI KAN Toni Kan

I

t is a warm Saturday afternoon and Victor Ehikhamenor, artist, writer and photographer is smiling.

His round face is cherubic as walks and works the room, meandering through the crowd of people who have turned up in large numbers on the opening day of his latest solo exhibition at Rele Gallery. The exhibition is proceeding under the theme – Day Dream Esoterica.

It is a curious crowd and not the usual you would have found at an art exhibition, say 10 years ago, when art patrons were mostly older men and women with money to spare. The crowd at Rele is made up of younger folk, millennials and not, young men and women on the up united by a growing appreciation of the arts.

The art ecosystem has changed and call me biased, but it has to do in large part with Victor Ehikhamenor as well as a few other factors that can be traced to him. But we will get to that in a moment.

Born at the tail end of the civil war on Thursday February 19, 1970 in Udomi-Uwessan in what was the old Mid-west region, Victor Ehikhamenor graduated with an MA from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. Like most young Nigerian men, he gravitated to Lagos where he worked briefly at a finance house before migrating across the seas to America where he would earn two more degrees; an MSc in Information System as well as an MFA, both from the University of Maryland.

Largely self-taught, Mr. Ehikhamenor caught the art bug while still a child in his Uwessan village where the mud walls of his large family and neighbours provided him his first canvas. He was impressed by the aesthetic designs women left on their mud walls and would many years later, as he gained knowledge of uli and nsibidi, evolve an aesthetic all his own.

His 2011 Entrances & Exits: In Search of Not Forgetting, solo exhibition at CCA, Lagos with the “Door” series was a fitting homage to those early beginnings.

Today, his works are set apart by his own signature iconology and icononography which I have tried to sum up thus in a previous essay – “Victor Ehikhamenor's works are usually hard to describe yet very easy to identify. They, most often, could be monochromatic red and yellow or black and grey, feature a burst of bright colours, be avant-gardist in his use of found objects or be beautifully minimalist as in his best-selling perforation pieces but no matter how the final work is realised what stands out are Victor Ehikhamenor's signature stylised lines, concentric circles, cryptic images and doodles which seem to have borrowed from uli and nsibidi without being fully any of those. They are patently his and have become defining symbols of a rapidly growing and expanding body of work.”

Victor Ehikhamenor lived in America for 15 long years during which he worked at the National Geographic, published a collection of poems, Sordid Rituals in 2002 and tried to carve a niche for himself as a photographer and artist. He was constantly seeking the new, eager to fashion out a fresh aesthetic, a brand new visual language.

There was some success in the DC area but it was a work in progress.

In 2008, Mr. Ehikhamenor made the reverse journey back home. There was a job waiting as Design Director at the defunct Next newspapers. Before Next, there had been two solo exhibitions - Labyrinth of Memories at Didi Museum, Lagos in 2007 and Rocks & Roses at Victoria Crown Plaza, Lagos in the same year.

Ehikhamenor But it was his 2009 exhibition Mirrors and Mirages at Terra Kulture Gallery that signaled his final return and signposted his emergence as a contemporary artist of note in Nigeria.

He was coming into a crowded space with already established artists like Rom Isichei, Peju Alatishe, Kainebi Osahenye, Duke Asidere, Olu Ajayi, Ndidi Dike and many more. But he quickly made his mark, his unique style connecting viscerally with his audience of the young and hip as well as the well-heeled.

Victor Ehikhamenor embraced social media long before his peers did and in so doing cultivated an audience made up of a younger demographic. He was also quick to take his art out of the gilded confines of galleries and museums into the pop culture space. His art works adorned tee shirts, made it to the runway in a bold collaboration with Ituen Basi, and were used on mugs.

But the biggest cross pollination happened, it might seem, inadvertently, with members of a different tribe – writers. Victor Ehikhamenor holds the record as the artist who has produced the most book covers in the world. His book covers are coveted and have helped to expand the universe of his influence. He has produced book covers for writers like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Chika Unigwe, Helon Habila, Ikeogu Oke, Dami Ajayi, Logan February and for institutions like Cassava Republic,

Rhodes University, New Internationalist Publishers, UK, Hodders Publishers, UK, and the Caine Prize for African Writing amongst others.

By marrying art with literature and pop culture and social media, Mr. Ehikhamenor extended his audience base and cultivated a fresh new following making him one of the most recognizable contemporary artists in Nigeria today.

But it is not all about making art and closing deals. As the years roll by, Victor Ehikhamenor has also begun to cast an eye on his legacy and this has manifested in two ways, giving back and speaking out.

In February 2018, Ehikhamenor opened Angels and Muse, described as "a multi-modal co-working space in Lagos” which also doubles as a discounted residential space for creatives.

Sitting pat in the heart of Ikoyi, Lagos, Angel and Muse contains a “multidisciplinary room available for workshops, trainings, book readings, experimental or conceptual art exhibitions, etc.”

His activism has manifested in an ongoing call for artistic repatriation of African works stolen by the colonialists. In May 2017 while participating at the Venice Biennale, Mr. Ehikhamenor called attention to what he describes as Damien Hirst’s “cultural appropriation of Nigerian Yoruba art” in Hirst’s exhibition called Treasures From the Wreck of the Unbelievable and which featured a variety of sculptures meant to be viewed as debris rescued from a shipwreck. But it turned out that one of the displayed artefacts was actually a copy of "Ori Olokun" a famous Ife bronze piece from the 14th century.

Since that public disclaimer, Victor Ehikhamenor has become increasingly vocal in demanding recompense. His most recent intervention was a January 2020 New York Times Op-ed with the caption – “Give Us Back What Our Ancestors Made.”

Back fully in Nigeria for over a decade, his works have over the past ten years, evinced a growth defined by a constant reinvention of his process and oeuvre, one that has seen oil on canvas give way to murals before morphing into large scale installations or becoming sculpture and then we have moved from the perforation series to the use of rosaries and a full scale return to oil on canvas in Day Dream Esoterica, his last solo exhibition.

Despite the transformations, one thing has remained constant; his distinct iconography, an easily recognisable visual language.

His works adorn walls in private and public collections from Lagos to London and from Cape Town to Casablanca. He has taken part in over 50 solo and group shows across the world from Venice to Indonesia, London to Dakar, and Berlin to The Hamptons.

Victor Ehikhamenor was featured artist at the Indonesian Biennale at the Jogja National Museum in 2016, the Dakart Biennale Curated by Simon Njami in 2016, the Venice Biennale in 2017 and most recently the Stellenbosch Triennale, 2020 He has attended art residencies at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center Africa in Residency in 2016, Art Dubai Residency in 2018, Civitella Ranieri in 2018 amongst others.

As Victor Ehikhamenor turns 50, his art will no doubt be defined by that abiding principle – “newness” as he continues to redefine his never-ending exploration of the binaries of the traditional and the modern in a tongue made eloquent by his unique style and talent.

Later that evening at Rele, as the crowd thinned he allowed himself indulge in a sober moment of self-reflection - "From the moment I started my practice here and in the US, I was looking for something distinct, something fresh and new.”

That search will definitely continue into his next half century.

BOOKS

At 16, Paula Omokhomion Launches Debut Novel, Aurora Yinka Olatunbosun

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urora, a debut 296-paged novel, was launched recently in Lagos by 16-year-old Paula Omokhomion at NECA building, Alausa, Lagos to an audience made up of friends and family members. The book, published by Toleve Communications, was completed during her final year at the Faith Academy shortly before her examinations. For her mother, it was a crucial time in her high school days which was why it was initially disturbing to her.

“When she was in Senior Secondary 2 at Faith Academy, a boarding school, I visited her,” her mother, Maureen Omokhomion recalled. “She handed over a manuscript to me. It was 80-leaves, four of these cellotaped into a piece. She asked me to help her publish it and that she would launch it when she is graduating from the school so that she could

give her friends some copies before they go their separate ways. I was very angry at first. I told her to face her studies.”

At the period, Paula was preparing for the UME and needed more time for studying than writing. But unknown to her mother, writing had become a pastime and a vent to cool off from the pressure of intense study hours. At the end of the day, she excelled at her exams.

“She was the best graduating students in her class, best in WAEC and UME. She got 11 out of 13 awards upon her graduation. She has written five books but has only been able to publish them,” the excited mother said to a cheering audience.

In writing this book, Paula defied conventional writing in style and structure. Set in 19th Century England, Paula relied on the power of her imagination to document a period that had only been captured in archival materials. In her speech, Paula expressed her gratitude for those, who were present for the launch of her debut literary work.

“Aurora is a story of three women and the chain reaction of their terrible ordea,” she

explained. “It’s a lens through which we can see similar situations in life that can either make or mar us. Aurora is a Latin word which means ‘a new dawn’ or hope. All the characters are relatable and completely human. My favourite part of writing is the part of the couples and the banters of the household staff.”

One of the reviewers and an avid reader, Martha Adejoh described the book as “a masterpiece for a first attempt” .

“Aurora is a story of a young girl who suffered abuse and hatred of her step-mother. She later found love in the arms of a young boy who was unjustly killed,” she revealed.

Another reviewer and journalist, Tony Okuyeme called Aurora a “riveting story", where in the author deploys narrative techniques that provide deeper meanings for the reader.

“The author builds this book from imagination fuelled by series of books she had read,” he said.

The young writer employed narrative techniques such as flashback, foreshadowing and multi-layered plot structure to tell a moving story.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͻ˜ 2020

GAVEL

Editor: Olawale Olaleye SMS:08116759819 email:wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com

In House of Reps, Minority Leadership Crisis Festers The crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party caucus over Minority Leadership in the House of Representatives appears not to be over yet, reports Adedayo Akinwale

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nd may not be in sight yet over Minority Leadership of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the House of Representatives. Right from the inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly on June 11, 2019, there had been two factions laying claim to the minority leadership of the green chamber.

The national leadership of the PDP in a formal letter dated June 21, 2019 and addressed to the Speaker, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, had endorsed Kingsley Chinda, Chukwuka Onyema, Yakubu Barde and Muriano Ajibola, as Caucus Leader, Deputy Caucus Leader, Caucus Whip, and Caucus Deputy Whip respectively.

In another letter dated July 2, 2019, over 100 out of the 147 opposition members in the House informed the House leadership that they had elected Ndudi Elumelu, Toby Okechukwu, Gideon Gwani and Adesegun Adekoya, also for the same positions, pursuant to Order 7 Rule 8 of the House Standing Rules.

Thus, the House leadership had since recognised the Ndudi Elumelu-led group as the authentic minority leadership caucus in the House while the PDP leadership continued to relate with Chinda and others in that regard.

At a point, last year, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP met and suspended Elumelu and five others for failing to appear before the NWC with Chinda and others parading themselves as PDP Caucus leaders The action of the Elumelu group earned them a probe by the House, when Hon. Ben Ibakpa, at plenary accused them of impersonating House Minority leadership by issuing statements, and “misleading the general public and causing confusion and disaffection in the House of Representatives”.

According to him, “This is a gross abuse of our collective and individual privileges. This violates Section 24, Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, Cap L.12, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004 as well extant provisions of the Standing Orders of this House.”

Reacting to the probe, PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbodiyan insisted that the suspension placed on Elumelu and some PDP members, who connived with others to supplant the party’s decision was subsisting and had not been lifted.

He stressed that the suspended members of the party could not, therefore, conduct any business of the party at whatever level until disciplinary measures had been concluded.

“The suspension placed on some PDP members, who connived with others to supplant the Party decision with regards to the party’s position in the House is subsisting and has not been lifted. The suspended members of the party cannot therefore conduct any business of the party at whatever level until disciplinary measures have been concluded.

“The National Working Committee (NWC) in its wisdom, and consistent with its position on the matter, which has not changed, directed that the affairs of the PDP Caucus of the House of Representatives be organised and managed

by Hon. Kingsley Chinda, Hon. Yakubu Barde, Hon. Chukwuka Onyema and Hon. Muraina Ajibola.

“The members mentioned in paragraph 3 above have the express mandate and authority of the PDP to lead its Caucus at the House of Representatives.

“The PDP under our leadership will not reward disloyalty and will not allow

Speaker Gbajabiamila at plenary anyone other than the party to impose their choices on us with the sole aim of annihilating or stifling the voice of the opposition,” Ologbodiyan said.

But in a swift reaction, Elumelu, through his Special Adviser (Legal), Oyorima Idahosa, described their continued suspension and alleged disloyalty as “completely against the principle of democracy, rule of law and fairness upon which the PDP is founded.

“Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution unambiguously provides that Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Senate or the House of Representatives shall have power to regulate its own procedure, including the procedure for summoning and recess of the House”.

“By parliamentary rules, persons so elected become the leaders of the party caucuses in the legislature. While the party can guide their elected Members through the zoning of various Minority leadership offices, it is not in the place of the party, by the provisions of the Constitution, House Standing Rule, and parliamentary traditions, to appoint or foist Minority or Majority Caucus leadership on its Members.”

The House minority leadership issue has, however, taken another dimension as Chinda has dragged the leadership of the House to a Federal High Court in Abuja over reported plan by the leadership of the Green Chamber to suspend him and three other members. They are Chukwuma Onyeama, Ajibola Muraino and Yakubu Barde.

The High Court has since issued an order of interim injunction restraining the House from further investigating or taking any disciplinary action including suspension against the leader of the PDP caucus leader in the House. Chinda had approached Federal High Court in Abuja, where he sought among others, an order restraining the House from taking any action against him and three others.

A copy of the court order obtained by

THISDAY showed that the plaintiffs in the case included Chinda, Chukwuma, Muraina and Barde, while the defendants were the Speaker Gbajabamila, Clerk of the National Assembly, Clerk of the House, Hon. Kolawole Lawal and Hon. Ibrahim Misau, among others.

The presiding judge, Justice I.E Ekwo granted leave to the Plaintiffs to serve the originating summons and all other accompanying processes in this suit on the 1st to 20th defendants by substituted means, through the Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly (2nd Defendant) or by leaving copies of the originating summons and other accompanying processes with any staff of the 2nd and defendant at his office at National Assembly Complex, P.M.B. 141, Garki, Three Arms Zone, Abuja.

The Court also granted accelerated hearing and abridgment of time to seven days within which the defendants were to enter appearance and file their respective responses in defence of this Suit.

“An order of interim injunction restraining the 4th to 20th Defendants, any other Committee of the House of Representatives or the House itself from investigating or further investigating the Plaintiffs and/or taking any disciplinary decision/action against them including suspension or interfering/ tampering with their legislative duties, responsibilities and entitlements as members of the House.

“Parties are hereby ordered to maintain the status quo existing before the proceedings of the House of Representatives of Wednesday, 6th November, 2019, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice filed before this Honourable Court.”

Contacted on the issue, Chinda confirmed that the matter was in court but declined to comment further on it.

THISDAY has, however, gathered that some members of House leadership were allegedly mounting pressures on the Committee Chairman to receive the

report and lay same, despite a court order preserving the status quo, which restrains the House from taking any further step.

A member of the Committee, who pleaded anonymity, alleged that the pressure from some members of House leadership was so strong that the Chairman had caved in.

According to him, “We don’t have to fight the cause of a group of members against another group. It will be a sad commentary in all spheres as the coffin of representative democracy and voice of opposition must have been sent to the morgue and this is not good for a vibrant House. If this pressure continues and the report is laid and the four lawmakers suspended, then it’s goodbye to democracy in Nigeria.”

Another member of the House, who also did not want his name in print said, since the Chairman and members of the Ethics and Privileges committee were personally sued as 4th to 20th defendants respectively in the suit and a court order was made, they should maintain the status quo as at 6th November 2019.

He also contended that, having been duly served with the order, attending meetings without reflecting same on the order paper, illegally signing the report or the chairman, using signatures for past attendances of meetings not meant for the report and eventually laying the purported report, would just expose them to contempt of court and possible future imprisonment.

Chinda may have outsmarted the leadership of the House by obtaining a court injunction.

Whether the House would obey the court order is another thing. What is, however, clear is that all is not well with the camp of the opposition. If the PDP did not tread with caution and the House leadership succumbs to pressure, the crisis may further tear the PDP apart.

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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 23, 2020

CICERO

Editor:Olawale Olaleye Email:wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com, SMS: 08116759819

IN THE ARENA

For How Long Shall These Killings Go On? As bandits and kidnappers hold the nation hostage, there is spat at seat of power, writes Samuel Ajayi

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he recent spat between the National Security Adviser, NSA, General Mohammed Babagana Monguno, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari, is an indication of what is wrong with the nation’s security architecture and why insecurity remains seemingly intractable.

In a leaked memo to the Chief of Staff to the President, the NSA had accused the former of usurping the powers of the Commander-in-Chief by giving orders to service chiefs. He also accused him of calling security meetings, which was clearly not under his purview.

In the leaked memo, the NSA stated thus: “(The) Chief of Staff to the President is not a presiding head of security, neither is he sworn to an oath of defending the country.

“As such, unprofessional practices such as presiding over meetings with service chiefs and heads of security organisations as well as ambassadors and high commissioners to the exclusion of the NSA and/ or supervising ministers are a violation of the constitution and directly undermine the authority of the President.”

He was not done.

“Such acts and continued meddlesomeness by chief of staff have not only ruptured our security and defence efforts, but have slowed down any meaningful gain that Mr. President has sought to achieve.”

The above is an indication that things are not well between those, who are A Church protest in Abuja over the unceasing killings in Borno and other parts of the country supposed to be in charge of the nation’s security management. For the NSA, one of capital, to sit for their promotion examinations. have been strident lately. Even top government the most powerful positions, even in advanced “Our fears are that these officers might be functionaries and heads of other arms have added democracies in the world, to write such a memo killed,” an official of the Corps with the Lagos their voices, albeit discreetly. to the Chief of Staff to the President says it all.

State Command, who did not want his name in Sources told THISDAY that even the Senate It is an indication that perhaps, citizens are on print told THISDAY on Friday.

President, Ahmad Lawan, even impressed it upon the own as far security of lives and property is “When they were being abducted, there was a the President recently on the need to review the concerned. gunshot injury sustained by some of the kidnapcontinued stay in office of the service chiefs. But During the last Federal Executive Council pers. Our fear is that the kidnappers might kill if there was anyone that was convinced about the meeting, held earlier in the week, the NSA was a the officers out of anger. We are really worried. need to remove them, it was the Senate President conspicuous absentee. Sources said he was out of We can only wait and see what our superiors come himself. the country but those who should know claimed “The President was not convinced at all,” the that his absence at the meeting, a rare occurrence, up with as per efforts to rescue these guys.”

Katsina, the home state of the President, has source, which knew about the details of the meetmight have something to do with his spat with the been in the news for all the bad reasons in the last ing, told THISDAY. Chief of Staff to the President. This could not be couple of weeks. Just a week ago, armed gangs And as if to tell those who were asking for verified though. the career heads of the service chiefs that their PREMIUM TIMES, an online news portal, had raided villages Tsauwa and Dankar, in the state and killed 30 people and also set houses ablaze. wishes would not come to pass, the Secretary to reported during the week also that the Chief of The attackers came on motorbikes and were the Government of the Federation, Boss MusArmy Staff, General Buratai, had withdrawn top armed with sophisticated weapons. tapha, recently said removing the service chiefs army officials attached to the office of the NSA. “The bandits killed 21 people in Tsauwa and might cause instability in the country.

This, according to the online newspaper, was done another nine in nearby Dankar. Most of those “We are in very difficult situation and when via a memo between February 4 and 11 this year. killed were old people and children, who could we begin to create cracks and divisions, who These officers included three majors-general, will be the beneficiaries? The adversaries are a brigadier general, five colonels and a lieutenant. not escape,” Gambo Isah, the spokesman of the Katsina Police Command, told newsmen. the ones that are going to exploit those deficienThe newspaper also reported that the NSA had The thinking by majority of Nigerians is that cies and further the cause of destabilising the overruled the withdrawal since, by virtue of his those who are in charge of the nation’s security nation,” Mustapha said. office. He was supposed to be in charge of all management have outlived their usefulness. This For now, the nation is stuck between the security matters in the country. was apart from the fact that the service chiefs devil and the deep blue sea. While insurgents And as the spat goes on, the nation continues especially, the Chief of Army Staff had been due and bandits and kidnappers are having a to be at the mercy of insurgents, kidnappers and for retirement for over three years now. And as a field day, the spat between the NSA and the bandits. During the week, four officials of the NiPresident’s Chief of Staff can only embolden the gerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, result, there are rumblings since those who were supposed to move the promotion ladder had failed criminals. The nation is evidently at crossroads. were kidnapped between Kogi and Benue. They to do so.

But, for how long will Nigerians continue to die were on their way to Makurdi, the Benue State Calls for the removal of the service chiefs needlessly?

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

Magu’s Curious Postulation on Covid 19

T Magu, EFFC Chairman

he acting National Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, last week, raised a ‘new level of awareness’ about the deadly virus, Coronavirus otherwise called Covid 19, when he pointedly said without circumspection that it was caused by corruption.

Speaking at the passing out parade of EFCC Detective Inspector Course Five, Magu dropped the bombshell: “Corruption is the biggest strategy to humankind. Your Excellencies, corruption is worse than all the diseases now running about.

And I strongly believe, Your Excellencies, that

even Coronavirus is caused by corruption.”

Although he was lucky to get some miserable applause, it doesn’t take much for the average mind to know that Magu had no idea what he was saying.

All an individual needs to do is ponder the sentence preceding the embarrassing statement and conclude if it makes any sense.

Well, if you do not reckon this is palpable incompetence typified by innate shallowness, nothing will. Magu has by himself, time and time again confirmed he is not fit for that office. But again, who are you to say that when the C-in-C says he fits the bill?

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 23, 2020

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BRIEFINGNOTES Situating Monguno’s Frustration A recent memo by the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno to President Muhammadu Buhari alleging that the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari is illegally meddling in issues of national security, is the simplest indication of a house against itself, writes Shola Oyeyipo

A

or so many reasons, the letter by the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd), dated December 9, 2019, where he openly alleged ‘Disruption of the National Security Framework by Unwarranted Meddlesomeness’ against the person of the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, called for serious concerns.

First, there have been concerns from various quarters that President Muhammadu Buhari might not be fully in charge of affairs in the country and that much, his wife, Mrs. Aisha, had also alluded to when she raised the alarm that the ‘cabal’ had hijacked the government from her husband. It is also important to state that it was the former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who first raised the alarm about a government within the government in 2016.

Thus, when Buhari told his ministers at inauguration in August 2019, that all requests for meetings with him should go through Kyari and that all Federal Executive Council (FEC) matters should be coordinated through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,” Mr. Boss Mustapha, a lot of Nigerians further suspected that something was amiss.

The president literally handed over government to these two, making them ‘Aso Rock power brokers.’ There are also those who are of the view that there is a crack within the presidency, which ripple effects might continue to encourage insecurity, because the issue between the NSA and Chief of Staff boils down to the management or mismanagement of the nation’s security architecture.

As a retired Army General, it is easy to understand where Monguno is coming from. He is adhering to known chain of command as stipulated in the military, so his leaked letter came as a direct reaction to directives contained in memos with references (A) SH/COS/46/2/1429 dated 13 September 2019 and (B) SH/ COS/26/5/A/2609 dated 26 November 2019.

According to him, coming as response to the request for presidential intervention to sustain internal security operations of the police within the shortest possible time, the contents of the two document were not in agreement with Mr. President’s verbal directives.

Hence, after scrutinising the document, Monguno said he sought clarification from President Buhari, whom he said “directed that reference B be disregarded by all parties as it was sent without his endorsement.”

Where this is true, it means presidency is being operated without the full knowledge of President Buhari, a dangerous dimension to leadership for that matter.

His argument was that going by the established standard of passing directives from the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, what happened was glaring breaches to that procedure.

He said apart from direct verbal directives from the president, written directives emanating from him would be conveyed with a copy of his manuscript directive or at minimum, bear his signature and that presidential directives to the heads of defence and security apparatus are usually conveyed through him as the NSA and chairman, Intelligence Community Committee, Joint Intelligence Board and General Security Appraisal Committee on behalf of the president and the supervising ministers of defence and security agencies.

Therefore he said: “It should be noted that the Chief of Staff to the President does not direct security apparatus of the Federal Republic of Nigeria — his job as it relates to security stops at conveying Mr. President’s written directives.

“Similarly, you are reminded that the Chief of Staff to the President is not a presiding head of security, neither is he sworn to an oath of defending the country.

“As such, unprofessional practices such as presiding over meetings with service chiefs and heads of security organisations as well as ambassadors and high commissioners to the exclusion of the NSA and/or supervising ministers are a violation of the Constitution and directly undermine the authority of Mr. President,” Monguno stated.

Perhaps, the strongest part of his reaction was where he alleged that such acts and continuous meddlesomeness by Kyari “have not only ruptured our security and defence efforts but have slowed

Buhari and Monguno down any meaningful gain that Mr. President has sought to achieve.”

In his word for the service chiefs, Monguno noted that, “As professionals, you are aware that the security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria requires concerted and centralised effort taking into account internal, external and diplomatic factors.

“It is therefore detrimental to our collective security that the Chief of Staff, who is a non-supervising minister holds meetings with diplomats, security chiefs and heads of agencies. “Pursuant to the foregoing, you are by this letter directed to desist from these illegal acts that serve nothing but the continuous undermining of our national security framework. Any breach of this directive will attract displeasure of Mr. President.”

Obviously, the letter was written with a clear and precise content to Kyari to “steer clear of issues of national security; they are beyond your jurisdiction and you perpetuate unconstitutionality doing so.” But the concern is that this letter is capable of having different meanings to different people.

First is President Buhari himself. Could it be that in ordering his ministers to go through Kyari to reach him, he had also subsumed the office of the NSA under the Chief of Staff? In such a case, Monguno’s letter will be considered an affront to the president himself, except otherwise stated by the Nigerian leader.

Such was the case of a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, who also in a leaked letter to the president, alleged insubordination and other misdemeanors against Maikanti Baru, who was the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at the time.

He too appealed to the president to instruct the GMD to leave the NNPC to run as a proper institution and follow due process.

President Buhari ended up returning Kachikwu as the group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation but instead, replaced him with Timipre Sylva, after the 2019 polls.

Another worry being expressed in some quarters especially, within the presidency, is that considering the sensitivity of the letter as it relates to national security issues, it shouldn’t have been leaked to the press, and that like other ministers, who want to get things

done, Monguno should have swallowed his pride and get the job done by working with Kyari, if that’s what is required to get results in securing lives and property.

The task of securing the lives of Nigerians, who are daily suffering series of attacks from various mindless killer groups, should not be a blame game amongst aides of the President. It should be some concerted effort that would yield purposeful results and bring about lasting peace.

There are as many opinions on this as there are many Nigerians but for some Twitter users it is still different strokes for different commentators.

Samuel Oladipo considered it a good omen – good confusion setting in among those in the corridor of power and who have not used the privilege to better the lives of the citizenry.

“Disunity, disaffection, quarrel, distrust, wrangling, fighting, misunderstanding and evil that has come in-between the camp of the enemies of our nation will be sustained by the power of the Most High such that they will never become one again. Disarray will continue to be their bane.”

For another user, who identified herself as Aisha, “Enough is enough. Abba Kyari is behaving as if he is the second president of Nigeria. In bygone years, we didn’t even know who our Chief of Staff were, because they were always in the background, but this one is power drunk and stinking rich. He is always in PMBs face.

Why?” Mazi Festus asked the same question as Aisha. He said: “Who is the real de facto president of the Federal Republic of NIGERIA, Is it the service chiefs, Chief of staff, Abba Kyari, National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno or President Muhammadu Buhari?

Who is the president of Nigeria?

Answering the question, Jegede John said, “Last year, I said the real president of the country is Abba Kyari, who also doubles as the chairman of the cabal within the presidency. That’s why they try to undermine the Vice President too when the VP fired former DSS boss, Daura and also manipulating the president.”

Surely, the last has not been heard of this matter and the questions will continue to be asked by Nigerians, who think there are more to this than meets the eyes.

NOTES FOR FILE

Stop The Intimidation of Justices!

Justice Odili

Some aggrieved members and supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), largely affiliated to the Bayelsa State wing of the party, last week, led a demonstration to the home of Justice Mary Odili, former Rivers State First Lady to protest against the judgment she delivered in the Bayelsa State governorship debacle.

Curiously, the duo of the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources had been fingered as instigating the protest, the takeaway from this however is the attempt to intimidate and harass justices from acting true to type.

This is why the demonstration to the home of Justice Odili is reprehensible and must be condemned by all and sundry, because it was taken personally. It was too

much an action that should be condoned because of the negative weights it carries.

Justices are the only people with commands second only to God’s. They have the power of life and death and could change people’s fate overnight. They change fortunes of people by merely handing down a verdict.

Yet, these powers are duly derived from the constitution and cannot be denied them.

But to start to condone a culture, where justices are harassed and intimidated with a view to stifling them from discharging their duties, just because a certain judgment did not go as expected, is a trend that must be halted forthwith. Importantly, nothing must happen to Justice Odili.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ EBRUARY 23, 2020

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CICERO/REPORT

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, President Muhammadu Buhari and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad

An Emerging Threat Confronts the Judiciary There is a new threat to judicial independence in Nigeria and it’s judges allowing their sense of judgment to be compromised by vested interests. Tobi Soniyi writes

L

et no one deceive you, among the three arms of government, some are more equal than the others. For everything it needs, the judiciary has to rely on the executive (for funding) and the National Assembly (to make law on courts’ jurisdiction).

As if the situation is not bad enough, some members of the bench gratuitously behold to the executives just to curry favour. In the process, they compromise and perverse the course of justice. Judges are now willingly surrendering their independence to the executive to curry favour.

No doubt, judges are human and have preference.

However, when a judge knows that his or her closeness to someone, who is a party in a case before him could compromise his judgment, the proper step for such a judge to take is to recuse self.

Recently, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole had to express similar concerns. Oshiomhole had accused Justice Augustina Kingsley-Chukwu, a high court judge in Rivers State, of being biased.

Oshiomhole said Kingsley-Chukwu, who is presiding over some cases involving the APC in the state, has poor knowledge of the law and should be made to go on compulsory retirement.

The Supreme Court had nullified APC’s congresses in Rivers and this denied the party the opportunity to participate in the 2019 general election.

The party, however, set up a caretaker committee, but court actions were instituted against it, and Justice Kingsley-Chukwu granted an injunction restraining the APC and the caretaker committee from taking any further step.

In a petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, Oshiomhole said KingsleyChukwu did not give the APC the required time to enter a defence.

“By the civil procedure rules of the Rivers State High Court, the APC was entitled to 21 days within which to enter an appearance and file their necessary processes in defence,” Oshiomhole wrote in the petition.

Continuing, he said, “Curiously, it was brought to our attention that Hon. Justice Augusta U. KingsleyChukwu had abridged that time to 48 hours.

“Our curiosity was further heightened when we discovered that the husband of Hon. Justice Augusta U. Kingsley-Chukwu is a top leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who had previously contested for the position of chairman of Obio/Akpor local government

area and currently serves as the legal adviser of the PDP in Rivers state.

“Expectedly, the APC had reasonable apprehension that Hon. Justice Augusta U. Kingsley-Chukwu may not be able to discharge her duties as a judicial officer objectively without interference.”

Oshiomhole said the party had also written to the Rivers chief judge to reassign the case to another judge, but Kingsley-Chukwu still proceeded to entertain the case.

He said he expected the judge to have followed the time-honoured tradition of judicial officers like Zainab Bulkachuwa, the retiring president of the court of appeal and Mary Odili, justice of the Supreme Court, who had recused themselves from adjudicating over cases that would likely impact on the political interest of their spouses.

“Disappointingly, Hon. Justice Augusta U. KingsleyChukwu proceeded to entertain the suit and granted an injunction restraining the APC. “By reason of the above facts, we believe that the Hon. Justice Augusta U. Kingsley-Chukwu has broken the letters and spirit of the code of conduct for judicial officers and has engaged in acts unbecoming of a judicial officer.

“Equally, we believe that the action of the Hon. Justice Augusta U. Kingsley-Chukwu in granting orders, which were not prayed by a party in such a contentious suit smacks of poor knowledge of the law, and such a judicial officer should be compulsorily retired and not allowed to continue to preside over the fate of members of the public without the requisite knowledge of the law.”

Around the same time, the same judge was the subject of another petition before the National Judicial Council. She is again accused of bias. That cannot be a coincidence!

The petition to the NJC was based on the conduct of Justice Kingsley-Chukwu in her handling of a libel suit filed by a former governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili against a former Chairman of the governing council of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr. Chdi Odinkalu and a co-author of the book, Too Good to Die, Ayisha Osori.

The petitioner told NJC that the judge openly displayed in court conduct that showed that he did not stand a chance in her court, because Odili was the plaintiff in the case.

The petitioner had alleged that, in the conduct of the proceedings in the above named case, Justice KingsleyChukwu had compromised every appearance of judicial propriety in violation of Rule 1:1 of the Judicial Code of Conduct.

The petitioner also alleged that the judge failed to conduct herself in a manner that promoted public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of her judicial office, contrary to Rule 1:3 of the Judicial Code of Conduct.

The petitioner further accused the judge of failing to accord the defendants a full right to be heard according to law, in violation of Rule 3:3 of the Judicial Code of Conduct.

The petition read: “Having created by these facts reasons for which her impartiality in the proceedings may genuinely and reasonably be questioned, has refused to disqualify herself from the proceedings and rather has proceeded to run the case with a sense of both arbitrariness and impunity, contrary to Rule 12:1 of the Judicial Code of Conduct.

“By reason of the above, Hon. Justice KingsleyChukwu has displayed a personal interest and bias in the proceedings entirely incompatible with the status of a disinterested umpire, making it impossible for the defendants in these proceedings to hope for a fair hearing.”

In the course of the trial, the Defendants’ lead Counsel, I.C Opi Esq. applied for an adjournment on health ground stating that he was under medication.

A dispassionate judge would not refuse an adjournment on health ground but Justice Chukwu would not countenance that. She practically forced the counsel to continue with the matter.

The petitioner also stated that in the course of the trial, the judge cut the defedants’ counsel and did not allow him ample time to make his submission in sheer disregard to court rules.

The petition stated, “Order 31 Rule 4 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2010, allows both counsel not more than 20 minutes each to further adumbrate on issues after adopting their written addresses, which the defence counsel was doing before he was shut out by the court.

“The defendants’ counsel while addressing the court was still within the stipulated time allowed by the Rules of Court before he was shut out.”

Yet, the survival of the nation democracy rests squarely on an independent, impartial and informed judiciary. Nigerian judges need to be reminded that the judiciary is a key pillar in the sustenance of the rule of law and democracy.

To sustain rule of law, judges must be impartial.

They must give parties fair hearing. It is not enough to do justice, but justice must be seen as having been done!

In the cases highlighted above, can Justice KingsleyChukwu be said to have done justice?

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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 23, 2020

CICERO/ONTHEWATCH

Governor zodinma during his inauguration weeks ago

Imo: Is Hope Uzodinma Jittery?

Recent reactions by the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to the ongoing hearing for a review of the Supreme Court judgment on the governorship debacle in the state, revealed a man not yet at ease with himself, writes Amby Uneze

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inally, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has accepted to review her controversial judgment of January 14, 2020 on the Imo State governorship election.

In the ruling, which took the nation by surprise, the apex court sacked Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and installed Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

But as Nigerians and the international community appealed to the respected jurists of the Supreme Court to take a second look on that judgment, many observers heaved a sigh of relief when the Apex court scheduled February 18, 2020 to commence hearing for the review.

This has afforded Nigerians the opportunity to note that the apex court has a listening ear. To the international community, it has also brought back the confidence they have for the Nigerian judiciary, and of course, to the legal profession, it was an opportunity to redeem her image.

The underlining fact remains that once there are mistakes or errors in the judgment of any level of court, such can be corrected to keep the records of justice straight and unblemished. This is done, because such records of judgment could be quoted or referred to at anytime. That is why enough caution is being taken especially at the apex court to ensure once judgment is given it could not be faulted, meaning it is completely error-free.

Ihedioha and his party, the PDP are seeking a review of the apex court ruling due to very obvious reasons. That the apex court did not consider decisions and judgments of the tribunal and Appeal Court that had dismissed the claim of Hope Uzodinma.

According to Ihedioha and PDP, the apex court did not take cognizance of the submission of Forms EC40G (Incident Form) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the tribunal.

This certified true copy (CTC) of Forms EC40G submitted to the tribunal by INEC indicated that the controversial 388 polling units were cancelled due to obvious irregularities as prescribed by the Electoral Act. Again, the apex court did not consider the arithmetical miscalculation of the controversial 388 polling units that gave Uzodinma the highest votes.

Going by the Supreme Court summation, the total votes cast at the governorship exceeded the total accredited votes, thereby nullifying the governorship election.

Adducing reasons why Uzodinma seems jittery over the Supreme Court review, many political analysts believe that the evidence canvassed by Ihedioha and PDP are germane and that could not be ignored in order to arrive at a sound judgment.

According to the pundits, the 60 days argument of Uzodinma that the election matter had lapsed were described as “layman argument”. They claimed what is currently before the Supreme Court has nothing to do with the timeframe allowed by the Constitution but on how the mistakes or errors done by the apex court could be corrected for a better Nigeria.

Another area that might be a source of worry to Uzodinma is the issue of alleged electoral fraud credited to him as he evidently presented before the apex court, which led to the ‘miscarriage of justice’.

A civil society organisation, Democracy Study Group (DSG) has therefore called for the prosecution of Uzodinma for forgery of election results and fraud.

“It is obvious that the narrative remains that the judgment in favour of the APC candidate, who actually came fourth in the election was obtained by deceit as new revelations have shown that the 388 results presented by Hope Uzodinma were fake, because INEC presented Form EC40G (incidence form to establish the fact that election did not take place at the 388 polling units for various reasons.

“The Appellants/Respondents fraudulently misled Supreme Court into holding that a total of

213,495 votes were unlawfully excluded from the votes scored by the 1st Appellant/Respondent in the gubernatorial election of 9th March 2019 in Imo State.

“The fraudulent nature of the additional votes was demonstrated by the fact that the total votes cast as shown in the 1st Appellant/Respondent’s computation was more than the total number of voters accredited for the election and in some polling units more than the total number of registered voters.

“The fraud was also demonstrated by the fact that the result computed by the 1st Appellant/Respondent showed only the votes of the 1st Applicant and the 1st Appellant/Respondent without specifying the votes scored by the other 68 candidates, who participated in the election.

“The fraud was further demonstrated by Exhibits 63RD1 to 63RD19 (INEC Forms EC40G) which show that there were no valid elections in the 388 polling units, where the additional 213,495 votes claimed by the 1st Appellant/Respondent were allegedly generated,” the statement alleged.

Back in Imo state, citizens are asking many questions as to why Governor Uzodinma had not settled down more than one month he took over the mantle of leadership. They are of the view that the governor had spent more time outside the state than settling down to work for the people of the state.

To them, this action of the governor amounts to being jittery and also, a function of lack of confidence to himself since he has not made any meaningful move to put governance in its stead.

However, reacting to the issue of being jittery, the Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to the governor, Oguwike Nwachuku responded to a text message sent to him thus: “Jittery over what? Who is peddling such useless rumour to you? Are you the only Nigerian, who does not know that those seeking a review are simply deceiving themselves and trying to distract the nation’s judicial system? Please, don’t discredit THISDAY with such beer parlour insinuations.”

FE ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

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CICERO/FOCUS

Governor Abdulrazaq and Transformation of Kwara’s Education, Health Sectors Boldly unfolding his vision-driven agenda to transform the crucial education and health sectors of Kwara State, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has served notice that the lukewarm narratives of past administrations associated with core human development drivers are gone for good. Hammed Shittu reports

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ince assuming office as the sixth executive governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has defined a novel governance template to transform the critical education and health sectors.

The reason is not far-fetched as any government that fails to provide qualitative, top-draw education for its people is bound to witness low growth in diverse development areas.

The immediate past administrations in the state had done their best to leverage the two priority human development sectors of the state. But since the government is a continuum, the current administration has left no one in doubt that it is birthing a new paradigm shift in the quest to transform both sectors. This is targeted at making the state a leading light for other states in the region and nation at large to copy.

In Kwara’s education sector under review, the governor quickly toured all the public schools across the 16 local government councils of the state for direct assessment and to know where the shoes pinch the rural areas as far as the education sector is concerned. This will enable his administration to design a new, viable strategy, to tackle the challenges so as to move education forward in the state.

On assumption office on May 29, 2019, the governor took a pragmatic approach to the non-fulfillment of the immediate past administration in the payment of counterpart funds to the National Universal Basic Education (NUBEC), in Abuja, and ordered the fulfillment by paying a sum of over N70 million to the agency so as to assist the state to access to funds that would help fast-track the growth of primary school education in the state.

This payment of the counterpart funding to NUBEC, Abuja, by the present administration changed the status quo of the educational management in primary schools education as new infrastructural development has come up while the needed instructional materials that can aid the teachings of the pupils have increased. This has improved the academic zeal of the pupils across all the public primary schools in the state.

The idea of teaching students under the trees or in dilapidated buildings has gone for good in public schools in the state and this has improved both the morale and academic excellence of the pupils. The pupils now have their teaching in a conducive environment in the state.

The prompt payment of counterpart funding has also assisted the administration to access more funds for the training of teachers which hitherto has long been ignored by the successive governments due to non-payment of counterpart funding.

This training of teachers has exposed them to modern teaching techniques, Information Technology output among others. This also has helped the pupils in their academic pursuits in the state.

Further, the governor set an agenda on the punctuality of teachers in both primary and secondary schools across the 16 local government councils of the state. This has changed the past narratives of the lateness of some teachers to schools and brought a new lease of life to the academic outings of both the primary and secondary school students in the state.

The governor also ensured that unpaid salaries of lecturers in the state tertiary education were paid and this has preempted any strike actions that may have greeted the administration on assumption of office. This singular support to the lecturers has stabilized the academic environment of the affected tertiary institutions in the state.

The administration also ensured the payment of bursary award to over 8,304 final-year students of Kwara State origin across the nation’s tertiary institutions, to boost their academic pursuits and assist their parents, while 89 law students currently at their various law schools in the country were given a bursary to help them pursue their programme with ease.

However, recently, in his passion for the educational growth of the state and to assist parents and guardians of pupils and students of both primary and secondary schools, Governor Abdulrazaq flagged off the distribution of free exercise books and construction of new classrooms in the public schools to boost the academic performances of the students. These efforts, according to him, are to bring education closer to the people and also ensure the students have access to quality education to prepare them as future leaders in the state.

Addressing the mammoth crowd at the venue of the distribution of the free exercise books located at the State Ministry of Education, Ilorin, Governor Abdulrazaq said, “We want to restore this state back to number one in Northern Nigeria. That is our aim.”

In view of this, out of over 100 schools identified for a total renovation, 31 of them have been approved for complete renovations while free exercise books, big notes, and higher education notes have also been printed at the cost of N75 million set to be given out to the students in public schools.

Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Education, Hajia Fatimah Ahmed, a trained teacher, commended Governor Abdulrazaq for the giant strides which include settlement of outstanding arrears of N55,077,00.00 feeding allowance of exchange students owed before the advent of his administration, sponsorship of 1,000 brilliant indigent students of the state for 2020 UTME/JAMB at a cost of N5 million, payment of N30.5 million imposed by WAEC as fine over examination in some schools among several others.

Governor Abdulrazaq Education Commissioner Fatimah Ahmed also commended the governor for his giant strides in the sector, including the establishment of an ICT Centre in the School for Special Needs.

Ahmed said the administration has also provided N5 million worth of teaching aids and other basic equipment at the special needs school, sponsored the 2019 common entrance, and the recent approval of routine training for teachers on the state. The commissioner, however, appealed to the governor for the approval of N15.5 million still owed various handlers and service providers for the 2018 state joint mock examination.

Governor Abdulrazaq in his address said he flagged-off the rehabilitation of 31 public schools across the state, a step he said signaled the beginning of a new era for the education sector in the state.

Abdulrazaq earlier flagged off the exercise in Baboko Community Secondary School, in the capital city Ilorin, where three blocks of six classrooms are to be fully rehabilitated and fixed with modern information communication facilities.

The rehabilitation of the Baboko School is to last six weeks. The governor explained that the 31 schools are the first phase of the rehabilitation he said is required to gradually guarantee a decent learning environment for the children.

The school rehabilitation flag-off occurred barely one hour after Abdulrazaq supervised the distribution of 932,572 free copies of customized 20, 40 and 80-leave exercise books for public school children in Kwara State.

“The lack of conducive learning environment and longstanding failure to properly fund education - we last accessed UBEC fund in 2013 - can explain rampant incidents of examination malpractices. We are working to end this menace and return Kwara to the top of the table in the North-Central and beyond,” he explained.

Governor Abdulrazaq also said the government will soon hold an education summit bringing together all the stakeholders and private sector players to discuss the challenges and evolve with workable solutions.

Speaking in an interview with journalists shortly after the ceremony, the governor commended the civil servants for their endurance saying, “I also want to thank the civil service for the jobs they have been doing. If you allow the civil service to do their jobs, you will get good service delivery. Keep up the good work and the government is set to work with you to deliver its agenda.”

Abdulrazaq stated, “As you can see in the education sector, not too much has been achieved since 2013. We are starting the reconstruction of our schools with 31 schools though over about 100 schools need immediate attention. It’s sad that all our major schools are in deplorable conditions and it’s a shame to talk about it.

“We have seen the conditions the teachers have been working in but we can’t fix the problems in one day. We thank you for staying on the job and doing your best for these students.”

To the students, Governor Abdulrazaq said, “We wish you had met a perfect system, something to build on. Today we could have been talking about free education but the money we are supposed to use for free education is what are now using in rebuilding our schools from scratch.”

Knowing fully well that the task is enormous, he, however, solicited assistance from other key players in the sector to assist the state government.

He said: “I implore parents’ associations, old boys and girls to also do their best for the schools and assist the government in doing what we want to do. We want to restore this state back to number

one in Northern Nigeria. That is our aim.”

Some stakeholders in the education sector in the state who were also in attendance made complimentary remarks about the activities of the current administration since its assumption of office.

State Chairman of Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Alhaji Toyin Soliu, in his goodwill message at the ceremony, said, “Sincerely speaking, we have never had it so good. We appreciate His Excellency because he has recognized our profession; education has been taken care of, from the rear to the top. The appointment of a practicing teacher as our commissioner is the icing on the cake for us. You have done well for us.”

Similarly, ANCOPPS state president, Alhaji Toyin Abdullahi said, “Today His Excellency has made history in the lives of our people because you have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that you are an epitome of decency and good governance; a silent achiever. You bailed us out of our several crises in our secondary schools. We are very grateful.”

Also, in the area of health development, the governor Abdulrazaq-led administration has taken a giant stride in bringing health care delivery to the doorsteps of the rural populace.

On assuming office on May 29, 2019, Governor Abdulrazaq took facility tours of all the existing health institutions across the three senatorial districts of the state, to assess the situation on the ground and know where the administration would be fair to all in the attainment of good health care delivery to the people of the state. Although, the immediate past administration had done their best to bring health care delivery to the people of the state the present administration believes that more needs to be done to complement these efforts so as to reduce infant mortality and also to improve primary health care.

It would be noted that the administration has recorded a huge success in the area of health development in the shortest time of its governance take-off in Kwara State.

Among the administration’s giant strides in the health sector include the convening of health summit in the state. This effort was borne out of the facility visit of the governor to some of the health care facilities in the state. The health summit which was in partnership with other health stakeholders in the health sector had allowed the administration to fundamentally improve the standard of health care delivery services in the state.

If the summit report is well implemented, it would assist the administration to adapt to the use of telemedicine, better funding, and autonomy for the state’s hospitals to serve as the launch-pad of the 21st-Century medical technology.

Also, the administration ensured that payment of counterpart health funding of N282 million which was allegedly abandoned by successive administrations was achieved in the year under review. The fulfillment of the payment of counterpart funds to related health and donor agencies would go a long way to complement the effort of the government in the health sector.

Among such health facilities that the payment of counterpart funding would be bringing to the state include access to primary healthcare delivery, health insurance and nutrition for under-three children in the state The payment of N282 million counterpart funding covered N100 million counterpart funds for Basic Healthcare Provision Funds (BHPV); N50 million for Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRIN); and another N82 million to access global grants for malaria. The payment of the grant would also allow the state to have access to the World Bank/Federal Government’s funds to cater for the health needs of pregnant and nursing women and children.

The government believes that such access to such funds will help combat maternal mortality rate and other basic health challenges related to women and children and will also help to fix facilities for primary health care and reduce the pressure on secondary and tertiary health institutions.

It would be noted further that experts have decried malnutrition rate among children in the North Central region, where Kwara State falls and because these children are so key to the bright future, the present government in the state urgently keyed into any initiative that would boost their nutrition and give them a brighter chance in life.

In this connection, the state government’s payment of this counterpart funds of N82 million for malaria programme had ensured the state benefits from Global Funds set aside by donor agencies to combat malaria. The development, however, prompted the state government to embark on statewide roll-back malaria partnership, a donor-funded programme where over 2,500 people benefited from the government’s medical outreach programme recently in the state.

The campaign, Malaria-Free-Kwara, qualifies Kwarans to access free malaria treatments in the health centres near them in the state. Apart from this, the present administration has embarked on free medical and surgical interventions to over 500 patients sufferings from various kinds of ailments in the state.

The surgical interventions were sponsored by the state government in partnership with the Kwara State Association of Nigeria, North America (KSANG) and Sakinah Medical Outreach.

It would be noted that the state has recorded a 35-percent increase in public hospitals’ patronage, courtesy of the indefatigable governor of the state since he assumed leadership of the state.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 23, 2020

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CICERO/ONTHEWATCH

Fayemi, sandwiched by his colleague governors on the occasion of his 55th birthday

For Gov. Fayemi, the Bigger the Setback, the Bigger the Comeback Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi isn’t just a man of the moment, the future also contemplates him.The fact of this assertion was however confirmed last week, when he marked his 55th birthday, writes Shola Oyeyipo

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irst is the air around him. It smells a curious yet unfathomable future. That much you could figure in his many quick gazes. From the conservative field of academic intellectuals to the attention-hugging political turf, Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has coursed through such incredible trajectory, that turning out to be the issue he is today, both at the regional and national politics, makes him a compelling study in the power game.

Endowed with the gift of the garb, yet, Fayemi is never quick to speak. His capacity to listen and give appropriate response is ever so fascinating. His ability to network amongst people of all classes without weighing too much on any side speaks to an uncommon leadership trait, which eases balancing without compromising principles and philosophy.

Currently boasting a delicate but enviable place in the body polity both as governor of Ekiti State and chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Fayemi is not oblivious of this rather powerful position and has continued to exercise such with utmost caution and discretion.

It is no wonder therefore that many reckon he commands some presidential demeanour. Although that’s one topic Fayemi detests to feature especially, given the timing, unfortunately, opinions about his capacity and ability have not waned in this respect, coming at a time a lot of the people are clamouring for a 21st century leader as successor to the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

His many interventions in issues both at the public and the private levels, had also confirmed his emotional intelligence as a leader, who could dispassionately analyse situations beyond the immediate.

From his intervention in the crisis between Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and his predecessor and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, to the one between Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje and the Emir of the state, Mohammed Sanusi II, Fayemi has displayed one thing: discretion and maturity, and in time, which is always of the essence.

What about the eventual success of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) codenamed ‘Operation Amotekun’?

But for determination and the ability to defend this initiative, Amotekun was conditioned to fail. But he, in cooperation with

his colleagues in the Southwest, pulled it off. Today, Amotekun is more or less a template that other parts of the country are itching to adopt.

Thus, when initiatives such as these are factored into sincere considerations, the tendency to want to forgive those pushing him forward as a presidential material is understandable. He is strategic, calculated, intentional, candid and unmistaken in all of his approaches.

In fact, it is the belief of many that the four years he was out of office as governor had been judiciously deployed to some critical reviews, which might be responsible for the new irrepressible Fayemi.

Whilst he was not in anyway in the lurch during those four years as he was then the Minister of Mines and Steel development, he came back stronger. Indeed, he typified the saying that “the bigger the setback, the bigger the comeback”.

However, if anyone had doubted Fayemi’s current and enviable place as the man of the moment, his 55th birthday celebration in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital last week put paid to any such contemplation.

The programme of activities, which commenced with a Jumat service on Friday, February 7, at the Central Mosque, Ado Ekiti, followed up with a Novelty Football match the next day, Saturday, February 8, at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, also in Ado-Ekiti and later in the evening of Saturday, it was rounded off with a command performance titled Ifajuyigbe held at Adetiloye hall in memory of the late Col. Adekunle Fajuyi.

Sunday, which was the D-Day started with a thanksgiving mass at the Government House Chapel, which was immediately taken over by a roundtable and book launch presentation before a modest reception ended the day.

But to appreciate the importance of the day, first, take a look at the roll call: Governors Okeize Ikpeazu (Abia), represented by his deputy; Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, Deputy Governor of Kaduna State.

Also in attendance were former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko; former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore; Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi; former Minister of State for Mines and Steel

Development, Alhaji Bawa Bwari and the Vice President, Kings College, London, Prof Funmi Olonisakin, who chaired the panel discussion.

There were also Yoruba leaders, amongst whom were include Banji Akintoye and Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Fasanmi as well as former deputy governors, Prof Modupe Adelabu and Abiodun Aluko.

Other prominent guests were the Archbishop of Ondo Anglican Diocese, Bishop Christopher Omotunde, Bishop of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, Bishop Felix Ajakaiye, as well as a horde of traditional leaders in the state led by their chairman, Oba Ajibade Alabi.

Thus, when speaking during the thanksgiving service and Fayemi described himself as a beneficiary of God’s generosity, not many could contest his submission particularly, when he promised to remain committed to God and continue to focus on improving the society.

“They had lost two children in quick succession and that was why they named me Folorunso. My parents thought they should just wait and see the outcome and today, I am celebrating 55, I give God all the glory.

“I have been a beneficiary of God’s generosity, because for me, challenges are opportunities to make a difference in the lives of human beings. So, if you allow me, let us just focus on the work of God to improve the conditions of our society and country. A life without service to God and humanity is not a life worth living.

“All of the challenges will not go away overnight but you should believe that God is the one that can always use those of us that have been given grace to lead, to be of service to all his children, we have no choice than to continue to commit ourselves to the Service of God,” Fayemi said.

It is therefore understandable why Fayemi appears to be an interesting puzzle that the political class might struggle to solve for a long time to come. You never see him coming and when he eventually arrives, you do not have the capacity to predict what he does or says next.

He is masterfully in charge of his moves and delivers them with logic and precision. He is not your typical politician. With tact, caution and critical thinking, he ponders all of his actions and leaves nothing to chances. And for a man, who has learnt to always build safety into many of his assumptions, he has continued to record minimal or zero mistakes.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ FEBRUARY 23, 2020

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CICERO/INTERVIEW

Amotekun Is a Child of Circumstance, Says APC Stalwart When the Southwestern states announced the formation of Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Operation Amotekun, the move created some furore across the country. But Oluseye Oladejo, Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State and former Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations in the state thinks otherwise. He spoke to Segun James. Excerpts:

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hen Amotekun was launched, there was this cry that APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was not in support but he later came out to express his view on the matter. Do you think his position was sufficient?

His position on the matter was very clear. I think some people misunderstood the situation, when some people wanted to leverage on the silence of the national leader on Amotekun. A worthwhile leader will not speak up on an issue when it is still germinating; a leader will need to wait until the fullness of time before coming and expressing an opinion.

And you will notice that when he (Tinubu) eventually spoke, it is more or less everything he said they are using as a template to drive through Amotekun; asking them to follow the rules of law, follow the procedure, asking the attorney-general not to heat up the polity, to meet the stakeholders, asking the stakeholders to be consistent about state security; that there is no template for regional policing.

Amotekun is a child of circumstance. For various reasons, there are lots of security challenges here and there and it has been identified that the more localised security system is better for us. Like people would want to say, criminals are not ghost; they live among the people.

So, if the security apparatus will survive, it will involve a lot of local intakes. I believe all the governors in Southwest are united on the issue of Amotekun, it will augur well for security in the region. Amotekun personnel are not going to compete with other security agencies. Their role is complementary.

But there is the fear that Amotekun could be abused to fester personal interest and an idea to fight the herdsmen. What do you think?

It is not true. We can all see the security challenges and as long as the security challenges are there, there is a need for it. The main business of governor is the security of lives and property of people, which he governs. Security is a pedestal on which there can be development; it is the pedestal we can talk about social infrastructure or any other things.

If there is upheaval out there, you won’t be here sitting down, you will rather stay in your house or your comfort zone. So, it is going to be very difficult and almost impossible for anybody to be able to use Amotekun to settle personal scores. It has nothing with targeting any tribe or anyone. The main thing is to secure lives and property and the people in the various states in Southwest.

How much hope do you have in Amotekun considering the security situation in Southwest and putting into consideration the inability of security agencies to solve the problem?

Security is everybody’s business. It is on the paper that the government should protect us but you need to be concerned about your security and that starts from paying attention to little things; some strange developments and strange faces in your neighbourhood. All these could avert a potential and imminent danger if we pay attention to them.

This is the first time government in this region is officially putting in place something that we can call local security. In the past, when we had OPC, OPC was not a government project. It is possible that in the past, there could be other pockets of vigilante groups in some places but this is the first time it is being formalised at the level of government providing the enablement for them to be able to get the job done.

It gives us cause for hope. It gives us cause to

on board the decision of the majority of the people, the leadership and followership in the party.

If you have benefitted from a particular system before and now it doesn’t favour you, it is morally unacceptable to become a critic of the same system at this point. They might call themselves faction, the question to ask is: who are the people in charge of the party machinery and through which organ of the party were those who were flag bearers at the last election emerged?

Where the party held the minicongress, which produced three of us who were new members of the Lagos APC executive? Were they participants in it? As far as I am concerned, they are just pretenders and they don’t need such distractions right now. As we continue to count down to the next election, it will augur well if they retrace themselves back to the party.

Oladejo be able to have intelligence and share information.

What is important really for me as far as security is concerned is being proactive and not reactive. It is always better to checkmate criminals before they strike.

I think it is cheaper and there will be no need to record unnecessary losses. There is everything for us to be hopeful and that will also be with the collaboration of the official security agencies across the board working with Amotekun and other local security operatives.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu government has been in place for over eight months, what is your assessment of the administration with respect to campaign promises?

Very much on course! There is no denial of the intellectual and institutional experience of those on board. A good number of people making up the Lagos State government now, have been around quite for some time and they are bound to shine.

It also speaks to passion and excellence to deliver various programmes of government. The Lagos State master plan, which is all-encompassing is taking on board all those issues that have been around since the inception of democracy. So, there is every reason to be hopeful.

For many years, the accusation against your party has been the lack of internal democracy.

What’s you take on this?

If people at one time or the other benefitted from a peculiar system and for some reasons they are not able to continue to lord themselves over others in the same party and within a twinkle of an eye, they started becoming critics of that same system that they benefitted from, what they called lack of internal democracy is what I have called consensus.

The tradition in our party has always been to agree to what to do, who to put up for certain positions after consensus agreement. Consensus is not total; it is not 100 per cent. Some people will disagree but it will only move forward by taking

Many people are of the view that the government has not taken Lagosians in mind with the recent ban on motorcycles and tricycles.

Do you agree?

The Lagos State Traffic Law that imposed this partial restriction was passed in 2012, so, it is not a new law.

The Sanwo-Olu government is only trying to implement the law passed by the previous administration. The main explanation given by the government for this partial ban is the issue of security of lives and properties.

Anytime a government gives a reason for taking certain action or passing certain law as it pertains to the issue of security of lives and properties, it’s weighty and loaded.

But some argued that government should have provided soft-landing or alternatives for the citizens before the ban?

I agree but we should also be mindful of what could have informed the decision of the government and the exigencies. Is it possible that the government is trying to manage some sensitive information available about apparent and imminent threats to lives and properties of Lagosians?

It is a painful decision, no doubt about that, but it is better one takes difficult and hard decisions, because if at the end of the day something terrible had happened, we will still blame the government for allowing things to happen.

Some people have described INEC as an extension of APC, and with recent happenings, do you agree any less?

I don’t know how they are going to reconcile that with the states APC lost and didn’t enjoy support from any quarters? There are states that we even won overwhelmingly like Zamfara and we ended up not forming a government at any level. These arguments are not consistent with what is on the ground.

I also have to put it on the record that anytime the opposition party wins at any level, especially, at the Supreme Court, it is a rule of law at play. They celebrate to high heavens. But anytime it is the other way round, then, democracy is under threat. We need to take ourselves seriously.

Do you share the argument that Nigerians in Diaspora should be allowed to vote?

I agree provided we can perfect the system and it will not be another opportunity for people to manipulate the process.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ FEBRUARY 23, 2020

with RenoOmokri THEALTERNATIVE Why Set Up Agency for Repentant Boko HaramTerrorists?

T

he money and love President Buhari is showering on Boko Haram is suspicious. First, they rehabilitate and release ‘repentant’ Boko Haram members, now an agency is planned for them.

It is almost as if he feels he owes them for something they did for him.

Did President Buhari have a hand in the creation, funding and protection of Boko Haram?

I ask because the political risk he is taking for them appears like payback for a job done. He is spending money on repentant Boko Haram, who live in fancy facilities, while their victims are in IDP camps. Let us face the truth; it is suspicious!

Buhari is behaving like a man who has a secret debt to pay.

That is the only logical explanation for his actions with regards to the so-called ‘repentant’ Boko Haramists. And when you look at his cabinet, he appears powerless in the face of Abba Kyari and NSA Monguno. Both of whom are from Borno, along with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Turkur Buratai, and the “corruption caused coronavirus” EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magi. Why is so much power concentrated in the hands of Borno people by this government? Something is fishy!

It is almost as if these repentant Boko Haramists have something on the President. This does not make sense at all.

Nineteen years after and three American Presidents later, the al-Qaeda suspects arrested in connection to 9/11 are still in jail in Guantanamo Bay. Meanwhile, the Boko Haram members arrested by former President Jonathan are being released by General Buhari. I smell a rat!

And on Thursday, February 20, 2020, news broke that the National Assembly was considering a Bill to create an agency to look after these repentant Boko Haram members. The Bill’s existence was proudly revealed by a loyalist of General Buhari, one Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, of the All Progressives Congress (they should remove progressive from their name), representing Yobe East.

Think about it. There is no agency for the widows and orphans of Nigerian soldiers killed by Boko Haram, so why create one for so-called ‘repentant’ Boko Haram. Other countries punish terrorism. Nigeria rewards it, and we are surprised President Trump placed Nigeria on a visa ban?

Put yourself in his shoes. When you release these people into society, you contaminate Nigeria. We have no criminal database. How do you expect the US to know who the repentant Boko Haramists that Buhari released are? Since they do not know, then we are all treated with suspicion!

If you put the treatment that General Buhari’s administration gives to Nigerian soldiers, Boko Haram’s victims and ‘repentant’ Boko Haram members side by side, it is undeniable that this government is treating repentant Boko Haramists the best

Buhari out of the three.

What does this do for the morale of our soldiers? What does this do for the patriotism of the victims? Why should government be treating enemies of the state with such tender loving care, while soldiers and civilians are barely noticed by the same government?

Buhari’s government does not have an agency for rehabilitating victims of killer herdsmen, yet they wanted to create cattle colonies for them. They do not have an agency caring for victims of Boko Haram, yet they want to create one for repentant Boko Haramists. Is this not madness?

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle said, “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.” With the Buhari administration’s plan to set up an agency for the rehabilitation of Boko Haram, are we finally unmasking those behind these terrorists?

Nigerians should not forget that when the government of former President Jonathan launched a military offensive against Boko Haram, Buhari said, and I quote the “Military Offensive Against Boko Haram, (is) Anti-North”. Now he is setting up an

agency to rehabilitate them. It is getting clearer!

Nigerians will further recall that when former President Jonathan banned Boko Haram, Lai Mohammed screamed blue murder. Today, Lai Mohammed is justifying Buhari’s policy of releasing repentant Boko Haram members. Obviously, these fellows know more than they are saying!

If we allow this proposed federal agency for the rehabilitation of repentant Boko Haram members to go through, what will stop Buhari from coming up with a ministry of repentant Boko Haram? How can we pay taxes only for our taxes to be used, not to build roads, but to rehabilitate those who killed our brothers and sisters?

And it is not as if the country is awash with cash. Here we have a government that has announced plans to take loans of $29.6 billion. Is that what the money they intend to borrow is for? Are we to go into debt because of repentant Boko Haram members? Oh, Nigeria! Who has bewitched you?

The profligacy and prodigality of this administration is so audacious and in-your-face that it is obvious to see that they have taken Nigeria for granted. That is why General Buhari had the guts to say ‘It’s wrong to think National Assembly members are overpaid’. He has influenced the election of a rubber-stamp National Assembly leadership and must now protect their jumbo salaries so they can rubber-stamp his unpatriotic requests.

Who will save Nigeria from this man and his hidden agenda?

The extent to which we cannot even now know. Journalists are afraid to talk. The judiciary has been cowed. We now have a military so timid that they kowtow to Abba Kyari. So, what do we do? Do we just continue down this slippery slope?

One thing I can say for sure is this: If Muhammadu Buhari keeps releasing ‘repentant’ Boko Haramists, more nations will place Nigeria on a visa ban. They will find an excuse, but the real reason will be this policy. We will suffer because Buhari cares more for Boko Haram than for law-abiding citizens.

Perhaps then, Nigerians will manage to get some sense.

Reno’s Nuggets

Never complain about your children to your friends and family, especially when those friends and family don’t complain about their kids to you. You are your child’s ambassador.

It is your job to promote their image publicly and discipline them privately. Their children are just as challenging as yours and maybe even worse, but they protect their children from you. Meanwhile, you are so foolish that you will broadcast everything your child does wrong. Even Christ praised and defended His disciples publicly, but rebuked them privately.

Learn from your Saviour! #FreeLeahSharibu #RenosNugget.

THE ENGAGEMENTS with ChidiAmuta

I nse c ur ity a n d th e R eig n o f E rro r Chidi Amuta

D

enise Uwimana may not be a very familiar name in these parts. She is a Rwandan woman who experienced the genocide in her country first hand and survived to tell the sordid tale. Her recent book, ‘From Red Earth’, is a gripping unforgettable tale of that most bloody episode in recent African history.

It is a graphic searing personal experience that drips with blood, death and bestiality.

The book is important not just as a wellwritten personal experience of an individual. It captures the damning role of divisive clannish leadership in destroying a nation. It is also a testimony to the redeeming quality of honest nationalistic leadership in rescuing and reuniting a nation so afflicted from the abyss of tragic self-destruction. Its ultimate message and indeed that of present day Rwanda is that national healing, reconciliation and progress are possible after a descent into the cauldron of self inflicted tragedy.

The story of Rwanda is now a household tale in the world. Deeply entrenched divisive ethnocentric leadership had split a nation down the line. In pre-Kagame Rwanda, you were either Hutu or Tutsi. The tragic assassination of the Hutu president immediately sparked off a gale of mayhem and reprisal killings of the Tutsi minority in a genocidal orgy that consumed an entire nation. Government media, the army and all key institutions of state, being de facto Hutu dominated, became shameless promoters of hate and genocide. The international commu-

nity was overwhelmed. Death and destruction swept through the entire country in dizzying rapidity, leaving over 800,000 dead. This is the effective backdrop to the emergence of Paul Kagame, a soldier for good, an exemplary statesman and nation builder of historic proportions.

I have entered this preface in the face of the present frightening gale of insecurity and virtual meltdown of the Nigerian state. The most elementary guarantee of the security of life and limbs is drifting away in most parts. An array of casual criminal gangs have virtually overrun the entire country thereby abridging the freedom of citizens to move freely in a nation they call home.

All over the country, it is an unbroken tale of kidnappings, assassinations, senseless killings, armed robbery and rape. On nearly every lip, insecurity has become a unifying idiom that cuts across our multiple divides, afflicting the lowly and the mighty.

As citizens scamper for whatever protection they can find, regional security formations have sprouted in rapid succession. From the primordial dark forests of ancestry, politicians are invoking mostly animals of prey for names of their regional security outfits. The choice of predators to convey the hunger to protect one’s region is also a metaphor of what Nigeria under Major General Buhari has become. This place is degenerating into a Hobbesian jungle in which life is short and brutish while clashing factions prime to consume each other in a frenzy of rapacious hate. The current national landscape is hardly recognizable as Nigeria.

What is amazing is the cynical groping for why and how we got to this sorry pass. In spite of the protestations of regime megaphones, re-

sponsibility for the current situation lies squarely at the doorstep of president Muhammadu Buhari. His leadership has carved up the nation into factions along religious, ethnic and geo political lines. His medieval economic perspective and sheer incompetence has deepened the economic desperation which breeds violence and desperate criminality.

At no other time in our history has the mainstream of national power been so totally commandeered by a geo political hegemony as under Buhari. The undisguised clannish and nepotic usurpation of the strategic heights of national power by a select sectional elite has alienated the rest of the country and increased divisive pressures. Simply put, other Nigerian groups are afraid and suspicious of Mr. Buhari and his sectional warlords.

Worse still, in body language and direct utterances, the president seems to have sealed a legacy of divisions, factions and mutual suspicion. Nigerians are now either Christians or Muslims, Northerners or Southerners. Others choose simply to be Yorubas, Igbos, Niger Deltans or Middle Beltans or whatever umbrella best reassures gives them.

Atacit state licensing of killer herdsmen and their authorized unionization as Miyetti Allah with hardly disguised federal government protection has inspired a sense of siege among the rest of the populace. Suddenly, banditry and hooliganism have emerged as sub sectors of an unacknowledged guerilla economy. Helpless state governors are patronizing the chieftains of banditry to buy respite for their people thereby funding the forces of insecurity from official sources.

Add to this the open acrimony and lack of symmetry among the leaders of the security forces. Nasty exchanges between the National Security Adviser and the President’s all powerful Chief of Staff have in recent days showcased a series of ugly palace rivalries that have raged uncontrolled for most of Mr. Buhari’s tenure.

While the embarrassing power squabbles have literally taken the president and his administration hostage, the Boko Haram insurgency has graduated from a sectarian uprising to a full-scale insurgency war that has lasted a whole decade. As it drags on and gets nastier, Boko Haram has aggravated the religious divide in the country. Its message of terror is clearly sectarian and anti-Nigerian.

The nationwide outrage at the spate of insecurity has yielded some positives. The National Assembly struck a much-desired bipartisan accord when it recently rose in unison to condemn the executive’s sloppy handling of national security. Even the northern political elite on whose behalf Mr. Buhari has been grandstanding has come out to thrash the president.

The traditional separation of church and state has flowed into open citizen protest against insecurity. Reverend Adeboye has led an open street protest march.

Bishop Kukah has upbraided the president for his epic misrule. Influential traditional rulers, among them the Sultan of Sokoto and Emir of Kano have added their voice to the national outrage.

––Dr. Chidi Amuta, a member of the THISDAY Editorial Board writes from Lagos.

Continued online www.thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Í°ÍąË›Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

with Î�×ÙÖ˲ÙÔÙ̜ÞÒÓ�ÎËãÖÓà �˛�Ù×

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L

ast week, details of a rift between the national security adviser, Babagana Monguno, and President Muhammadu Buhari’s chief of staff, Abba Kyari, emerged as the former accused the latter of interference in security matters.

Monguno warned in a letter dated December 9, 2019, that Kyari has been getting away with disregarding presidential orders to impose his own decisions.

It was later revealed that Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, “appears to have taken sides with Kyari� in the raging battle by “cutting the NSA to size� after he (Buratai) ordered the immediate withdrawal of top army officers attached to the Office of the NSA earlier this month.

Trust social media, someone let it be known that all three are from Borno State, the epicentre of Boko Haram’s terrorist activities.

If only these top shots could pull in the same

direction and help rid the country of this menace that has bedevilled their state of origin for the best part of the last decade.

Terrorism – or banditry as it’s referred to in some other parts of the country – was also in the news when transportation minister, Rotimi Amaechi, debunked rumours that his convoy was attacked by bandits at the Rigasa train station in Kaduna.

He noted that the false story has further lent credence for the need by the Federal Government to pass the social media law in order to checkmate fake news. “This so-called social media, the earlier they start regulating it, the better,� he said.

It was also in Kaduna the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, repeated calls for the extradition of former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani AlisonMadueke.

The anti-graft agency has filed charges

FEBRUARY 23, 2020˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

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SOCIALMEDIABITS of money laundering against the former minister who left the country for the UK shortly before the inception of President Buhari’s administration.

“This woman has stolen so much, not less than $2.5 billion, but unfortunately she has a generation of looters who are supporting her. This is not good,” Magu said.

Amounts like the one stated above makes $100 million look like an insignificant sum, which is what Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu was allegedly expecting from the Nigerian government, out of the proceeds of the repatriated Abacha loot until the United States put a spanner in the works.

“This case illustrates how complex and contentious repatriating stolen assets to Nigeria can be,” said Matthew Page, an associate fellow at London-based Chatham House and former Nigeria expert for US intelligence agencies.

“Instead of welcoming US efforts, Nigeria’s lawyers appear to be supporting the interests of one of the country’s most powerful families.”

Meanwhile the house of representatives is looking out for its own interests; it has ordered 400 Toyota Camry 2020 cars. A representative of Elizade Nigeria Limited, a foremost Toyota brand distributor, said the

2020 model had yet to arrive in the country.

He however said the 2019 model cost N26.75m and N35.75m (for V6 engine) respectively. The 2020 model is expected to be costlier so do the math. This expense is certainly unnecessary at this point.

With all the negative news swirling around, it is heart-warming that Nigeria still maintains its appeal. Many of its champions (especially in sports and entertainment) are celebrated globally.

Some of these champions are proud to be associated with the country against all odds.

Unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was in Nigeria again, from Sagamu to Makoko, and made sure to get his national identity number.

However, the publicity only put the National Identity Management Commission on the spot; the general consensus is that it has been incompetent. Years after enrolling, hundreds of thousands of Nigerians are yet to receive their identity cards.

Afrobeats is receiving accolades worldwide, with supermodel Naomi Campbell recently curating a playlist to commemorate Black History month.

Nigerian music; something to cheer about, and dance to.

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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 ˾ Ͱͱ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

NEWS XTRA Shinkafi Asks S’Court to Ignore APC’s Application to Review Zamfara Judgment Tobi Soniyi The governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Zamfara State, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi yesterday asked the Supreme Court to dismiss an application by a former governor of the state, Abdul-Aziz Yari challenging its decision against Muktar Idris of the All Progressives Congress as governor-elect of the state.

Shinkafi canvassed the position in a statement he issued, describing the application seeking review of the apex court judgment as a mockery of the judiciary and a national disgrace.

He noted that the Yari-led APC in Zamfara State had gone to the apex court on two occasions with the same result, asking the Supreme Court to hear the same application for a third time is ridiculous, vexatious and childish.

He said: “Yari faction of Zamfara APC expressed strong opposition to the May 24, 2019 judgment of the Supreme Court and desperately proceeded to file an application for judicial review marked SC/377/2019, insisting that it did nothing wrong to be barred for contesting in the elections.

“However, in a unanimous ruling by the Supreme Court on

July 22, 2019, a five-man panel led by Justice Bode Rhodes Vivour said the application lacked merit and should never have been filed.

“The Supreme Court held that it has no jurisdiction over the matter because anything that has to do with pre-election matter must be brought within 60 days after a decision had been delivered.”

Shinkafi said since the apex court could not sit on appeal against its own decisions, he wondered why the APC in Zamfara decided to file another application at the court for a judicial review in November 2019.

“This total disregard for the letters of 1999 constitution of the Federal of Nigeria has opened the doors for a plethora of cases to be brought back to apex court for judicial review.

“This action has encouraged Hon Emeka Ihedioha whose election was voided by the Supreme Court on January 14 to file an application for a review of the Supreme Court judgement, Chief David Lyon APC Bayelsa governorship candidate is also challenging the Supreme Court judgement of February 13 and Abba Kabiru Yusuf PDP Kano State Governorship candidate is planning to file a similar application to seek for a judicial review of the Supreme Court judgement of January 20.”

Lagos Assembly Holds Public Hearing on Amotekun Tomorrow Eddie Alegbe

The Lagos State House of Assembly at the weekend disclosed that it would hold public hearing on the South-West Security outfit, code-named Amotekun tomorrow.

The assembly added that the public hearing would deliberate on the bill for a law to amend the Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps Law 2019 to establish the Lagos Amotekun Corps.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, Hon. Tunde Braimoh disclosed the plan in a statement, noting that the Amotekun bill was important to the assembly.

The statement said Lagos Assembly would hold a public hearing on the bill for a law to amend the Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps Law 2019 to establish the Lagos Amotekun Corps on Monday.

It added that the important legislative procedure “will hold at the Assembly Pavilion on February 24 at12 noon prompt.

The event is put together by the House of Assembly in furtherance of it’s extant and traditional practice of involving the citizen’s especially critical stakeholders in its legislative activities for robust results.

“While personal invitations have been extended to some individuals and organizations considered directly relevant to the state security architecture, this notice also serves as invitation to any member of the

public or organizations who might have any contributions to make or memoranda to submit.

“Security is a common concern and it begins with each individual. Together we shall attain a greater Lagos.

We look forward to welcoming you,” the statement said.

The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa had said Lagos Assembly was committed the bill to the House Committee on Information, Publicity, Security and Strategy for a public hearing during plenary.

The Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni, had informed the House that he received a letter from the state’s Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo on February 19 on the amendment of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC).

Sanni was subsequently ordered to read the bill entitled “A House of Assembly Bill No. 5 Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) Amendment Bill 2020 And for Connected Purposes” for the first and second times.

The Majority Leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu 1), said that the bill was an executive one, but that it was predicated on the private member bill that established LNSC, which he said, had been working well.

Agunbiade added that the bill would incorporate the concept of a more dynamic and more strengthened security platform than what they had in Lagos State.

He said: “This is unconstitutional and will therefore create a situation where there is no end to litigation in courts in Nigeria.

This will make a mockery of our hard earned democracy and national disgrace.”

Shinkafi advised the APC to look inward and correct its mistakes instead of blaming the justices of the apex court for its woes According to him, it was not the Supreme Court that stopped

the APC from organising a valid primary in Zamfara.

He argued that APC would have had no need to ask the Supreme Court to review its judgment if only it had complied with its own constitution.

He admitted that even though the apex court could revisit its judgments in appropriate situations, the case of APC in Zamfara, he argued, did not fall within the category of judgments that should be reviewed.

PROMOTING AfCFTA. . .

Global chair, International Commercial and Trade, Baker McKenzie, Stockholm witj Senior Partner, Templars Olumide Akpata at the McKenzieTemplars roadshow in support of AfCFTA in Lagos ... recently

Experts: Nigeria Will Benefit from AfCFTA if Properly Harnessed Tobi Soniyi The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), the world’s largest free trade area with a combined GDP of $2.5 trillion, presents Nigeria with many opportunities if properly harnessed.

This was the verdict of experts who converged on Lagos last Tuesday to discuss how Nigeria could benefit from the agreement.

The session, an A-class Roadshow, was hosted by world leading law firm Baker McKenzie in collaboration with Templars, a Nigerian law firm.

The international law firm,

Baker McKenzie’s is reputed to operate from 73 offices in 53 countries around the world with over 13,000 staff.

The event, which was attended by lawyers, accountants, economists and telecoms operators focused on how Nigeria can maximize the benefits from ratifying and domesticating the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA).

Welcoming participants to the event, the Managing Partner of Templars law firm, Mr. Olumide Akpata said ‘International trade had caught the attention of Nigeria since AfCTA came in.

He said Templars decided to work with Mckenzie Baker to

engage the process.

According to him, there is so much more outside of AfCTA and professional service providers must pay attention to what is happening around the continent in terms of trade.

The lead speaker, Mr. Herman Warren of the Economist Magazine examined the global performance of African countries and what it portends for the rest of the world.

He noted that although the United States Dollar had global challenges, it is still strong to withstand the onslaught of other world currencies, concluding that the ongoing US-China trade war holds positive results for African

countries.

The economic overview was followed by a panel session moderated by Mattias Hedwall, Partner and Global Chair, International Commercial & Trade, Baker McKenzie.

Other panelists were Virusha Subban, Partner and Head of Indirect Tax, Baker McKenzie, Kerry Contini, Partner, International Trade Practice Group, Baker McKenzie, Ijeoma Uju, Partner, Corporate & Commercial Practice Group, Templars, Professor Jonathan Aremu, Professor of International Economic Relations, Covenant University, Nigeria and Jesuseun Fatoyinbo, Head of Trade, Stanbic IBTC Plc.

Okundaye, Enwonwu Lament Neglect of Creative Industry, Canvass Private Initiative

Ugo Aliogo

As part of measures to reposition the creative industry, experts have decried the neglect of creative industry in Nigeria The experts have also called on governments at all levels to adopt public private partnership initiative (PPP) to promote creative industry in the country.

The positions were canvassed by the Founder, Nik Art Centre, Mrs. Nike Okundaye and an artist and curator, Oliver Enwonwu at the maiden edition of Lilac’s Creatives Creating Summit with the theme: ‘Identifying the Creative Industries Value Chain.

At the summit, Okundaye, said there was need to establish a national Art Gallery in Lagos to promote creativity and works

of visual arts.

She lamented that the creative industry has been neglected, stating that the commitment and support from government and private sector in the space was very low.

She appealed for funding support from banks and financial institutions in order to support investments in the industry.

Also speaking at the summit, Enwonwu, said to jumpstart the repositioning of the creative industry, public and private partnership (PPP) is needed, adding that in most advanced societies, PPP collaborations are used in driving growth in sectoral development.

He urged governments at all levels to give tax rebates to visual artists as part of incentives, em-

bellish public buildings to serve as art gallery, drive advancement in technology, increase investment in education and strengthen policy implementation.

He maintained that education is very important in promoting the visual art space, noting that children have to be continually educated about the importance of art.

He said: “To jumpstart the repositioning of the creative industry, most public and private sector is needed. In most advanced countries, public and private sector collaborations are used in driving growth in sectorial development. But in Africa, the situation is different because the government is grappling with basic infrastructure problems such as power supply, good

roads, Hospitals and Schools.

So they have very little time for the creative industry. Luckily, we have a government that is diversifying away from oil sector. We also have to focus on policy implementation, because we have a lot of policies that have not been implemented.

“If government is working with the right people that will be a good start. Also, we need the right people to be at the helm of affairs to drive growth in the creative industry. Even the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervention policy doesn’t include the visual arts.

Government support is strategic in encouraging investors to invest in the sector because it will raise the level of trust and confidence.”

87

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍťËœ 2020

SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by: Demola Ojo email:Demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

Ighalo Set to Feature against Former Club as Man United Host Watford

O

dion Ighalo could make his full Manchester United debutagainsthisformerclub Watford today as Manchester United look to build on last Monday’s impressive 2-0 victory at Chelsea.

The Red Devils are currently just three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea in the table, while Watford occupy 19th position having failed to win in their last four league outings.

There is no getting away from the fact that it has been an inconsistent season for United, but the team have pulled off some very impressive results during the 2019-20 campaign, including a 2-0 success away to Chelsea,2 where Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire were on the scoresheet.

Adefeat at Stamford Bridge would have left Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s nine points off the top four, but the gap is just three heading into this weekend’s fixtures despite the fact that Untied are still seventh in the table.

Arecord of 10 wins, eight draws and eight defeats has brought them 38 points, two points behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

In all competitions, the Red Devils are unbeaten in their last five, including a 1-1 draw away to Club Brugge in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Indeed, Martial scored the second successive match to ensure that his team would pick up a positive result in the first leg of their last-32 tie.

FifthcouldyetbeenoughforaChampionsLeague spot next season depending on what happens with Manchester City’s two-year ban, while winning the Europa League would also be another route into Europe’s premier competition, which would surely open up more possibilities for United in this summer’s transfer market.

For all of the criticism aimed at Solskjaer, the Red Devils could yet enjoy a successful end to the season as they are also still in the FA Cup and will take on Wayne Rooney’s Derby County in the fifth round of that competition on March 5.

The second leg of their Europa League clash with Brugge is next Thursday, meanwhile, and

Ighalo (left) made his Man United debut against Chelsea last week

they will also travel to Everton in the league before the clash with Derby. Then comes the small matter of the Manchester derby at home to City on Match 8, showing the huge volume of matches on the horizon.

United will be the favourites heading into this weekend’s contest, but both Crystal Palace and Burn-

ley have beaten the 20-time English champions at Old Trafford in the league this season, whileArsenal, Liverpool,Aston Villa, Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers have all picked up draws.

Watford ran out 2-0 winners when they welcomed United to Vicarage Road in December, but the Hornets have incredibly never picked up a point

in a Premier League match at Old Trafford.

Indeed, the capital side’s only two Premier League wins over United have come at Vicarage Road, losing each of their six top-flight matches to the English giants in Manchester. That said, their two most recent games at Old Trafford have been close affairs, finishing 1-0 and 2-1 respectively.

Over 1000 Athletes Dare To Sponsor Two Air Warriors Chelsea Beat Spurs for NOGIG 2020 to Stat Fourth Players to 2020 Olympics

Chelsea struck a signiďŹ cant blow in the ďŹ ght for the top four places in the Premier League with a fully deserved victory over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge yesterday.

In a confrontation billed as a battle between Frank Lampard and his old mentor Jose Mourinho, Spurs could have leapfrogged Chelsea with victory but were outplayed and are now adrift by four points.

Lampard made four changes from the team that lost 2-0 at home to Manchester United on Monday and they paid rich dividends as they all made a contribution to only their second win in seven league games.

Olivier Giroud, in for Michy Batshuayi with Tammy Abraham on the bench after injury, ďŹ red low past Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris for Chelsea’s opener in the 15th minute after the recalled Ross Barkley hit the post.

And all four of those brought into the team linked up for Chelsea’s second three minutes after the break as Giroud’s ick found Mason Mount, who played in Barkley.

Femi Solaja

Over 1000 athletes will be participating in the 18th Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Games, NOGIG 2020 beginning tomorrow in Lagos. The opening ceremony has been planned for Chevron Recreation Centre, Gbagada.

Speaking at the pre-games media brieďŹ ng held at the EROTON secretariat,Victoria Island on Friday, the chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Aminu Zaria, said that the over 1000 athletes will be representing 12 companies in 13 sports disciplines which include golf, tennis, table tennis, squash and badminton.

Other sports to feature at the week-long ďŹ esta include football, athletics, volleyball, chess, scrabble, swimming, 8-ball pool and basketball.

Zaria, who is heading the organising committee for the second consecutive games explained that the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Games which began as a recreational pastime between two companies, NNPC and Mobil had grown in leaps and bounds considering the increase in the number of participating companies and the number of sports that feature at the games. “This year, we have 12 companies participating.

These include, NNPC, ExxonMobil, Total, Shell, Chevron, NAOC, DPR, SEPLAT and PTI. Others include NCDMB, NLNG and EROTON.�

The NOGIG boss explained that with a very strict regime of scrutinizing competing athletes, there was a zero chance of any company presenting non-staff as their representative. “We have a full-proof method that effectively checks and forestalls any use of mercenaries.Above all we are guided by the principle of integrity in the oil industry,�Zaria said.

Team Shell are the overall defending champions having emerged winners of the 2018 edition.They were followed by NNPC in the medal table.

Duro Ikhazugbe

In fulďŹ lment of his promise to host the Air Warriors of Lagos for emerging champions of the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League, youth and sports development minister, Sunday Dare, has promised to sponsor two players from the victorious team to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics .

The minister made this pledge while receiving the players in his ofďŹ ce at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, even as he expressed delight in their debut in the tournament. “It is very exciting to receive the Air Warriors Basketball Club. When I watched them in Lagos, I saw a team with talents and skills and predicted that they would go a long way. “Their story is very compelling as it was their ďŹ rst time competing in the basketball league and they came out unbeaten.

No team has ever set that record. That is hugely commendable.�

The minister said the decision to sponsor two members of the team to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is to ensure that they have ďŹ rst-hand experience while learning from D’Tigers and D’Tigress.

He assured that the Nigerian Basketball Federation would work closely with the team to make them stronger.

Dare, while attributing Air Warriors’ success to the role of private investors and individuals, urged others to come on board to make sports a viable business.

Dare

“If you look at their narrative, they are supported by a private individual not government, not the sports ministry but with a bit of logistics support by NBBF. This says a lot about the role private individuals can play in developing our sports, discovering talents and nurturing them.�

In his response, the Chairman/CEO of Air Warriors, Abduldumajeed Solademi thanked the Minister for honouring the team, describing him as a father.

Solademi said the reception will further motivate the players and himself to do more for sports generally.

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MISSILE

Bode George on the War against Boko Haram “What are we doing? Are we networking with the international community enough? Where is that giant of Africa? We cannot resolve this Boko Haram issue.

Today, this man is kidnapped. Tomorrow, another man is shot. We have lost the state of people. Everybody is on the precipice. We are practically living in fear.”

– A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George on how to end the Boko Haram war.

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

Magu and the Waiting Game

I

s it a sign of the times that Nigerians have, generally, appeared not bothered any longer by certain anomalies in the polity, such as President Muhammadu Buhari’s failure to fill vacancies in several agencies? As I write this, many agencies have been in the hands of acting chief executive for years without any sign that Buhari is interested in taking a definite action to put things right. Of all the grave problems facing Nigeria — namely insecurity, poverty, low revenue, smuggling, and unemployment, among the legion — making appointments should be one of the easiest boxes to tick. Or are we saying there are no Nigerians qualified or good enough to hold these positions?

Recently, Daily Trust reported that the Federal Character Commission (FCC) has been operating with only one commissioner out of the 37 stipulated by the constitution.

The other 36 commissioners have served out their tenures. Mysteriously, Buhari has not replaced them. Only one commissioner is left.

Ambassador Abdullahi Halidu Shinkafi, the commissioner from Zamfara who is the acting executive chairman of the commission, is due to retire in April 2020, after which the FCC would have no commissioners again. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) operated for years without a commissioner.

A general manager was running the affairs!

In the history of Nigeria (or, specifically, to the best of my knowledge), no head of a critical government agency has been left hanging like Mr Ibrahim Mustapha Magu. Since November 9, 2015, Magu has been acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In fairness, there were two attempts to get him confirmed in 2017 but the 8th senate rejected him, apparently because of the infighting in Buhari’s government — although many would argue that the senators themselves were not in a hurry to confirm a man who was giving a bloody nose to hitherto untouchable elements in the society. His rejection by the senate was a relief to many.

Surprisingly, support for Magu’s confirmation came from unusual quarters on Friday. In an interview, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke, former attorney-general of the federation, asked Buhari to send Magu’s name to the 9th senate for confirmation because chances are high now that he would not be turned down again.

This is interesting because Adoke has been at the receiving end of Magu’s fire power in the last four years. He was recently arrested and detained by the EFCC for 55 days and charged to court over the Malabu affair. Adoke openly alleged political persecution in court.

Even his bail application was opposed by EFCC. If anything, he should be asking for Magu’s removal!

Adoke said: “I am not saying this because I need any favour from Magu. Yes, I have been unfairly detained for 55 days and charged to court. The rest is now with the judiciary.

I stand to gain nothing from saying Magu should be confirmed. If anything, I should be campaigning against him given what I have seen in the hands of the agency in the last four years. God knows I am not bitter towards him.

However, President Muhammadu Buhari is highly celebrated for fighting corruption and the poster boy of this celebrated achievement is clearly Magu. It is, therefore, only fair for President Buhari to resend Magu’s name to the senate for confirmation.”

No doubt, many people have misgivings

Magu

about Magu. For a start, there are those who think he has been one-sided — in the sense that those thought not to be in Buhari’s camp are seen as the target of the anti-graft war.

Magu has argued that APC members, such as Rev Jolly Nyame (former governor of Taraba state), Chief Joshua Dariye (Plateau) and Chief Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), have been prosecuted to the point of conviction by the EFCC. Nevertheless, the impression out there is that those ones are expendable. It should be noted, though, that no EFCC chairman has escaped the accusation of being a tool in the hands of the ruling government, so Magu is not the first.

My own criticism of Magu centres on the things he says publicly which would be considered as media trial. I believe that when matters are under investigation, he should be circumspect in the things he says in the open. I understand that for a policeman — a commissioner of police for that matter — his job is to level accusations: the accused would have their day in court.

But the evidence against them must be solid.

Media statements and leaks cannot substitute for evidence before a court of law. If you ask me, I would say he should cut off a lot of those public engagements and avoid media interviews as much as possible. He cannot go wrong doing this.

Magu also has to clean up the EFCC itself.

There are many bad eggs in the institution turning the agency into a glorified police station where all sorts of unholy transactions take place.

With the premium Buhari has placed on the fight against corruption, EFCC has become an all-powerful institution through which people are intimidated and allegedly extorted, sometimes with the use of Magu’s name. Many EFCC officials have been sanctioned over this.

Magu’s impersonators have also been arrested and charged to court. When an organisation wields so much power as the EFCC, abuse and impunity are inevitable. Magu has to contain the excesses of EFCC. Despite all the criticisms of Magu, he possesses four qualities that those who are close to him will always highlight. One, he is good with forensics, and this must have been helped by the fact that he studied accounting (at the Ahmadu Bello University). Two, he is a damn good interrogator. When he was head of the economic governance section of the EFCC — dealing with general investigations, financial crimes and money laundering in public and private sectors — he was one police officer former governors would rather not sit with in

a room for interrogation. They used to plead that they should not be sent to Magu. He can interrogate a subject for one week non-stop!

Three, Magu is fearless. I understand very well that in an underdeveloped democracy such as ours, there is a limit to which any government appointee can claim independence.

We may choose to deceive ourselves but no anti-graft agency is going to arrest the wife or children of a sitting president over charges of corruption in the kind of system we run.

However, even within these limitations, Magu has touched certain elements that the system usually protects. Evidently, he has had to step back at times, but you cannot accuse him of not trying at all. I know many government officials he would have put on trial but for the political limitations.

Four, Magu has passion. Love him, hate him — but you cannot deny that he is someone who has a strong appetite for the fight against corruption. It is this passion, I believe, that has driven him into saying certain things that are off the mark — such as suggesting that corruption is the cause of cancer and coronavirus. That is why I have always advocated that he should tame his tongue. Passion works better when it is built on knowledge. For sure, you cannot be an anti-corruption crusader if you do not have the passion. You must be passionate about your country, passionate about the consequences of graft on the society and passionate about the future.

In the final analysis, it is the prerogative of the president to decide whether to re-present Magu, keep him hanging, or bring in a new person. Given the job Magu has done so far (let us remember there was a time the EFCC had lost its fear factor) and the need to sustain the momentum and ensure certainty, a good case can surely be made for the president to re-present him. He's been a pair of steady and sturdy hands in an area that is the most important thrust of the administration's promises and policies. Why would Buhari want to keep him hanging, sitting with half his bum on the chairman’s seat and thinking he may be asked to quit by the evening?

I do not think any EFCC chairman has recorded as much progress as Magu has done since the commission was established by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003. The number of convictions, particularly in high-profile cases, is unmatched. Even some cases that had been on for over 10 years have been brought to a logical conclusion. In the past, judges used to dismiss EFCC’s cases on the ground of “lack of diligent prosecution”. That has become history.

The agency is also daily securing convictions in cases of advance fee fraud, aka 419, and petty corruption both in public and private sectors.

All these things should count for something, as far as I’m concerned.

Definitely, the job of moving Nigeria to the “next level” is not a tea party because of the severe political, social and economic challenges, but some things are not that difficult. We do not need any revelations from heaven to fill vacancies in agencies. We do not need people holding acting positions forever and ever. It seems Buhari is comfortable with keeping things hanging for as long as possible, but there may be legal implications that will cost us dear in the future. Many agencies have been operating without substantive chief executives. I have a very long list in front of me. Buhari needs to end this waiting game. It is not as complicated as nuclear physics or neurological surgery.

And Four Other Things…

BLUE MURDER Ms Laetitia Dagan, an assistant director of administration at the State House, was gruesomely murdered a week ago. The assailants were not satisfied with just killing her but they set her on fire with her mattress. Initial reports suggested that she was living in the same compound with some yahoo boys whom she allegedly reported, in confidence, to the police. The confidence was said to have been broken and the boys turned on her. I am eager to see the end of this matter. It will indicate how far the force is determined to flush out the bad eggs in the system. Nigerians never feel comfortable tipping off the police and this is such a tragic consequence, if true. Devastating.

MONGUNO VS KYARI Nigerians have been treated to the salacious details of the memos written by Major Gen Babagana Monguno, the national security adviser, on the “meddlesomeness” of Mallam Abba Kyari, the chief of staff to the president, on “matters of national security”. At the heart of the matter is that after President Muhammadu Buhari had verbally approved certain transactions, Kyari overruled him, according to Monguno.

The core of those letters, in my view, is that Monguno is indirectly accusing the president of not having balls. Kyari is just a fodder. Monguno is experienced enough in the game of power to know that the chief of staff cannot overrule even the weakest president. Fact.

ACTIVIST EMIR Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, the emir of Kano, has embarked on a one-man campaign to change certain practices and customs in the north which have been perpetuated for ages under the misconception that they are Islamic. Why marry four wives and have a battalion of children and turn them to almajiri? Why deny your girls good education under the pretext of religion?

His opponents cannot understand the core message: that these beliefs and practices are the major reason the north is behind the south is many indices of human development. Changing the mindset is going to take ages. One emir cannot do it alone. More northern leaders must come on board. Imperative!

GENDER CHAMPION If, like me, you have a daughter, you would appreciate societies where women are not treated as part of the furniture. Mr Tony Elumelu, himself a father of five girls, last week made five major appointments at the Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp) — and four of them are women.

Ms Owen Omogiafo is now president of Transcorp, Ms Dupe Olusola the new MD/ CEO, Ms Helen Iwuchukwu company’s chief operating officer and Ms Okaima Ohizua the executive director/chief operating officer of Transcorp Power Ltd. Every credible study has established a positive link between gender and development. Those who have ears let them hear. Productive.

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