SUNDAY 20TH JUNE 2021

Buhari Canvasses Stronger Pressure on Mali to Return to Civil Rule Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has called on West African leaders to exert more pressure on the military leadership in Mali to ensure that the transition process in the country is

not aborted. The president’s position was contained in his address yesterday at the 59th Ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in Accra, Ghana.

Mali was recently suspended from the regional bloc due to

a military coup in the country.

Buhari, who spoke extensively on the Malian situation, said, “At this Summit today, we are expected to review a number of important reports dealing with various issues of concerns to our organisation and people.

In doing so, we must take realistic and practical decisions, which will positively impact our citizens.

“Some of those decisions, necessarily, will have to do with evolving political and security situations in our sub-region as well as evaluate

the health of our organisation with the hope of repositioning to serve our people and subregion better.

“While democracy continues to develop in our sub-region, recent events in Mali are sad reminders that vigilance remains a crucial imperative

to protect people’s aspirations to freely choose the form of government they want.

Pressures are needed to ensure that the transition process in Mali, which is halfway to its conclusion, is not aborted.

Continued on page 12

Finally, Emirates Concedes, Nigerians Can Now Travel Directly to Dubai… Page 12 Sunday 20 June, 2021 Vol 26. No 9568

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Bawa: EFCC Won’t Hand over Cases of Interest to any State Says commission as a creation of N'Assembly supersedes states’ establishments

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

(EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, has declared that the commission, under his leadership, would not hand

over cases of interest to any state government. Bawa spoke against the backdrop of the setting up of anti-corruption

agencies by some states.

Lagos, Kano, and Bayelsa states have, recently, set up anti-graft agencies. Some of the

states envisage that the EFCC would hand over corruption cases concerning their states to the local anti-corruption

commissions.

The EFCC

chairman

Continued on page 15

Kebbi Students May Have Been Rescued as Scores of Bandits Killed

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

Three days after the violent kidnap of more than 80 students, a majority of them girls, and five teachers at the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State, federal troops late yesterday night were believed to have rescued the rest of the kidnapped victims.

The troops, THISDAY gathered, were able to rescue the students and their teachers after closing in on the bandits and killings scores of them, before the rest abandoned their hideouts, leaving the victims behind.

Speculations, however, became rife late yesterday over alleged rescue of the students and their teachers, even though details were still unclear as to how the troops ultimately pulled off the rescue operations.

Although a day after the raid by the bandits, the military too had moved swiftly, rescuing

five students and two teachers, while announcing that one of the students, a female, had died in the forest.

Nigerian army spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu confirmed that a female student was found dead in the forest by troops tracking the kidnappers, adding that those who were rescued were freed after an exchange of fire in the early hours of Friday.

With support from the Nigerian Air Force, the troops also reportedly recovered about 800 stolen cattlefrom the grip of the bandits during the operation, the statement

by Nwachukwu claimed.

So far, no official source could confirm the eventual rescue of the rest of the abducted students and their teachers at the time of filing this report, but a few other sources have confirmed the development, albeit without the requisite details.

One of the sources contacted Continued on page 16

Falana: APC Has Perfected Plans to Rule Nigeria Indefinitely...Page 16

BAWA DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH THISDAY...

See full inerview on pgs 18, 19, 20 & 21

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Finally, Emirates Concedes, Nigerians Can Now Travel Directly to Dubai Night landing returns in Lagos as FAAN fixes runway light Chinedu Eze and Michael Olugbode Emirates Airlines will resume flights to Nigeria from June 23, five months after it banned outbound flights from its Abuja and Lagos destinations. This followed the withdrawal of the Rapid Antigen Test the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had insisted passengers from Nigeria travelling to Dubai must take four hours before boarding their flights.

In another development, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed it had fixed the airfield light at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, Runway 18R, to enable flights land in the night.

Regional Terminal Manager in charge of MMIA, Mrs. Victoria Shin-Aba, stated this on Saturday in an interview with THISDAY. The UAE antigen test requirement was against Nigeria’s policy that passengers travelling out of the country should conduct Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test 72 hours before their flight.

But on Saturday, UAE issued a statement conceding that Nigerian passengers that wished to travel to Dubai “must have received a negative test result for PCR test taken within 48 hours before departure.”

The statement posted on Instagram by the Dubai media office also said passengers travelling from Nigeria should present a negative PCR test certificate with a QR Code from labs approved by the Nigerian government. It stated that all passengers must undergo a PCR test on arrival in Dubai, adding, “Transit passengers should comply with entry protocol of final destination.”

The media office said the new regulation was part of measures aimed at easing inbound travel restrictions by Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management. The committee introduced new entry protocols for passengers effective June 23.

Besides the new condition

for Nigerian travellers, UAE has new regulations for passengers travelling from South Africa and India to Dubai.

For South Africa, the new rules stipulate that passengers should have received two doses of a vaccine approved

by UAE authorities.

“Passengers must present a negative test result for a PCR test taken within 48 hours before departure; UAE citizens are exempted. All passengers

must undergo a PCR test on arrival at Dubai airport. Transit passengers should comply with entry protocols of final destination,” the statement said.

For travellers from India, UAE said passengers should have received two doses of a vaccine approved by UAE authorities and passengers must have received a negative test result for PCR test taken within 48 hours before departure, in addition

to the other conditions given to Nigeria and South Africa.

Confirming the withdrawal of the antigen test, Emirates Airlines issued a statement signed by its management, which said, “Emirates welcomes the latest protocols and measures announced by Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management to allow the safe resumption of passenger travel from South Africa, Nigeria and India to Dubai.

We look forward to facilitating travel from these countries and supporting various travellers’ categories.

“We will resume carrying passengers from South Africa, Nigeria and India in accordance with these protocols from 23rd June. We thank the Supreme Committee for their continuous efforts in monitoring the development of the situation and announcing the appropriate guidelines and protocols to protect the

community and safeguard travel sector.”

Reacting to the new development, President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, said UAE had done what the Nigerian government wanted. Akporiaye said the new development had shown that no country could rubbish Nigeria if it insisted on a position popular with its citizens.

HIGH-LEVEL MEETING...

L - R: Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo; President Muhammadu Buhari and President, Africa Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, at the 59th Ordinary Session of Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in Accra, Ghana...yesterday

BUHARI CANVASSES STRONGER PRESSURE ON MALI TO RETURN TO CIVIL RULE “A further slide in Mali could prove catastrophic to the Sub-region, considering that about half of that country is, unfortunately, under the grip of terrorists.”

The president appealed to the military leadership in Mali to understand the critical state of their country, which he described as “clearly under siege”.

Noting that the principal responsibility of the military must be to protect and guarantee the sovereignty of the West African country, Buhari cautioned them not to perpetrate acts that could destabilise and destroy their country.

“I urge our organisation to remain engaged with all

stakeholders in Mali through our astute mediator, former President Goodluck Jonathan, who, I congratulate warmly for his untiring efforts thus far. I encourage him to sustain these efforts to ensure that the transition is completed as scheduled,” the president added.

On Libya, Buhari faulted the recent United Nations resolution to expel all foreign fighters in Libya without first ensuring that they were disarmed.

He stated, “On the security situation in the region, our organisation must note with serious concern the recent decision by the United Nations and its Resolution to expel all foreign fighters in

Libya without, first, ensuring that they are disarmed and that neighbouring countries and the Sub-regions were engaged, to put in place modalities for containing or managing the movement of these fighters.

“While this action was aimed at bringing about sustenance of peace in Libya, non-collaboration with regional stakeholders on this critical decision has now created newer threats to peace, security and stability in the region, which could lead to lack of coordinated management of huge humanitarian crisis across the Sahel, North, Central and West Africa, including the Lake Chad region.”

The president said these regions faced a clear possibility of instability with the invasion of the fully armed foreign fighters.

“It is imperative that ECOWAS leaders, at this Summit, decide how the UNSub-regional organisations partnerships should be reviewed to address the dangers that this UN Resolution poses to the region,” he stated.

The speech by the Nigerian president at the Summit also addressed other issues of concern in the organisation, including the on-going institutional reforms in ECOWAS. He declared Nigeria’s unequivocal support to the reform

process, saying he looks forward to an ECOWAS that is “fit for purpose”, delivering services to the satisfaction of the community citizens.

Buhari commended the President of the Commission and his team, the Ad-hoc Ministerial Committee on Institutional Reforms, as well as the Council of Ministers for the excellent report presented to the Authority of Heads of State.

He said, “We have clearly realised that operating a bloated administration with the current global economic collapse occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic will be to the detriment of services to our people, which is not

sustainable. This positive action will certainly enable our organisation move on and deliver services to the satisfaction of our Community citizens.

“Let me remind us that this is only the beginning as the responsibility of streamlining operational costs as well as the modalities for the appointment of statutory positions of the incoming management are still outstanding. It is my view that paying attention to existing regulations that guide the appointment of statutory appointees will further guarantee the efficiency and sustainability of the organisation.”

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NEWS

IKOYI GETS SANWO-OLU’S ATTENTION...

Newly upgraded and rehabilitated network of roads: Mac Donald road/Lateef Jakande road, Milverton road and Thompson Avenue in Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government, inaugurated by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, last Friday. (INSET) L-R: Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu representing the Speaker of the State House of Assembly; Special Adviser to Governor on Works & Infrastructure, Mrs. Aramide Adeyoye; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; member, Governor’s Advisory Council, Mr. Wale Edun; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, during the inauguration.

2023: Political Parties Task INEC on Need for New Electoral Laws Want Anambra governorship election as a test case

Chuks Okocha in Abuja Eighteen political parties recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has mounted pressure on the commission to impress it on the National Assembly to pass the new electoral laws before the next general election in 2023.

The eighteen political parties also expressed concern over the delay, silence and lack of information on the status of the electoral bill currently before the National Assembly.

Their concern, they said, was based on the inability by the two chambers of the National Assembly to expedite action on the bill after the electoral reforms bill has passed second reading.

The political parties maintained that efforts of INEC would amount to a

nullity without a legal backing with the passage and assent of the new electoral act by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a motion moved by the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus,at the meeting with INEC and sponsored by the National Chairman of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Bishop Amakiri, the political parties told INEC that all their efforts at the expansion of polling centres and the continuous voters registration (CVR) would amount to nothing if there was no new electoral act that would guarantee a free and fair election as was the case in Edo State last year.

Secondus said, "We appreciate what you are doing, but we state here

unanimously that it will amount to nothing, if there is no new and efficient electoral law to give life to it.

"We, as leaders of political parties here gathered, are appealing to you to impress it on the National Assembly to ensure that a new electoral law is passed and signed into law by the President. It is only then that Nigerians will appreciate all efforts.

"We are unanimously asking for election results to be transmitted as was done in the Edo and Ondo governorship elections. This is our position.

Please help us to ensure that there is an efficient election law that would guarantee an efficient and transparent election," Secondus added.

However, speaking further after their meeting with INEC, Secondus said, "The seeming lack of progress in

the National Assembly on the Electoral Act Amendment bill is therefore worrisome.

Nigerians demand that their elected representatives respond to the urgent need for an electoral legal framework that genuinely strengthens the electoral processes and procedures, promotes inclusivity and addresses impunity.

"The continued delay in concluding the process is reminiscent of the failed process in 2018 and attendant impact on the 2019 General Election," he stated, noting that, elections remain the fulcrum and constant cardinal feature in a democracy, as such, "It is important to protect all conditions and instruments required to conduct free, fair and credible elections to ensure that the sovereign will of the people

prevail always.

"The urgent need for reforming the Electoral Legal Framework is founded on the broad-based consensus

by Nigerian citizens’ and electoral stakeholders on the need for a more credible and improved electoral process.

"A process that will encourage active citizens’ participation and guarantee their rights in electing leaders and representatives that will provide as the Senate President at the time promised Nigerians, a new Electoral Act

by March 2021. That timeline has come and gone."

Secobdus said the ninth National Assembly, under the leadership of the Senate President, Ahmed Lawal and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, promised Nigerians a people-responsive

Electoral Act by the first quarter of 2021.

"We are now in the second quarter of 2021 and the Electoral Act Amendment Bill is yet to be presented for third and final reading in both chambers of the National Assembly. This process is required before the Bill can be transmitted to the President for his assent," he said.

The PDP National Chairman, therefore, urged the National Assembly that in considering the Bill, they must undertake an in-depth consideration of the citizens’ priority issues to address identified gaps in the current electoral legal framework.

He reiterated the political parties’ belief in a new electoral law that would strengthen the financial and operational independence of INEC.

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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 ˾ JUNE 20,2021

OPINION

VACCINATIONS: SILVER LININGS, BUT SERIOUS CHALLENGES AHEAD Nobody is safe, till everybody is safe, writes Rajendra Aneja

I

n the midst of the enormous human suffering due to the pandemic, there are also instances of human initiatives and institutional cooperation, that need applause. They inspire faith.

Many private sector companies are forging with local municipalities to vaccinate their employees in the offices in India and the UAE. Some of them are also vaccinating the families of employees and associates like the suppliers, distributors, etc. This accelerates the vaccination process and also reduces the crowds at the hospitals. A multinational provided 4,000 oxygen concentrators to district administrations, when oxygen was in acute short supply. The company also gifted e-rickshaw vehicles to widows, to help them to make a living.

Private hospitals are allotting time slots to corporations, during which their employees and families take the jabs.

Citizen groups in apartment buildings in Mumbai city, are procuring doses to vaccinate all the residents, maids, drivers and even the slum dwellers in their vicinity. They visit homes to register the names and ages of potential recipients of the vaccines.

Health workers in the mountainous Jammu & Kashmir state, took the initiative to vaccinate villagers in remote areas in their homes. In Bandipora and Ramban districts, health workers visited inaccessible villages, scattered in hilly areas. These villages have no access to internet. Health workers crossed rivers on foot in the remote districts. They carried cold boxes with vaccines. Due to this dedication, a few districts have inoculated 100 percent of their adults.

The Sikh community in Delhi city rendered yeoman’s service, by opening oxygen clinics, when there was a frantic shortage of oxygen in the city. Any person could go to the oxygen clinic and receive oxygen free. This saved many lives. Another person in Mumbai city needed an oxygen concentrator urgently. After he appealed, a person in Delhi city couriered it to him. It arrived in just 24 hours.

Prestigious clubs in many cities are tying up with local hospitals, to vaccinate their members and families. Parents of children, who travelled by school buses, collected moneys to disburse to drivers, who were unemployed, due to the closure of schools.

Many voluntary organisations and NGOs have started free kitchens to feed the poor, who have lost jobs. Bengaluru city has even provided a budget to feed hungry stray dogs. The pandemic has pushed 230 million people into unemployment and poverty in India in 2020.

These laudable initiatives do get stifled at times, due to lack of adequate vaccines in India. About 240 million doses have been disbursed. Thus, 17.6 percent of the population has received a jab; however only 3.4 percent has received both the jabs. India is desperately short of vaccines. The Government has announced that all Indians will be vaccinated by end 2021. However, at best, India will be able to vaccinate 50-60 percent of its population by the end of 2021.

The challenges in the vaccination programme will multiply manifold, as the drive travels to the villages. There will be logistical challenges in reaching the 6,64,369 villages across the country. These problems are surmountable with vaccinating vans, motor-cycles and bicycle brigades. However, the real issue is that many villagers are sceptic about the vaccines. They believe that the vaccines can create serious side-effects, etc. Health officials visited Sisauda village in Barabanki district, UP state. The villagers did not want to get vaccinated, fearing that the vaccines were poisonous. They fled from the village and jumped into the nearby Saryu river. Of the 1,500 residents in the village, only 20 could be vaccinated. Managing prejudices about the vaccines, will require communicating in the local dialects.

A serious challenge in the vaccination drive will be to inoculate the tribal communities. About 8.2 percent of India’s population comprises of tribals, who live in the hinterland. They number about 111 million and are scattered in 212 tribes, according to theAnthropological Survey. Many of the tribals are nomadic, tending to herds

The G7 developed countries should donate their surplus vaccines to nations in Africa and Asia. President Biden’s announcement to buy 500 million doses for distribution to needy countries is welcome. Africa has inoculated only about two percent of the 1.3 billion people. Covid-19 is a miserable disease.

Nobody is safe, till everybody is safe

of goats, cows, etc. These tribal groups have to be identified and vaccinated. They will need persuasion and will have to be vaccinated in their camps.

The tribals often live below the poverty line of USD two per day, lack access to health, child and maternal care and even sanitation. Some of them are desperately poor. They do not own smart phones or tablets. So, one can forget internet, connectivity and registration on any apps. Many of them may not even have the Aadhar cards (National Identity Cards). India should start deploying the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires just one jab. This one-jab vaccine should be used to vaccinate nomadic groups, which may be difficult to track for the second jab. In village Lidderwat, 100 kilometres from Srinagar in J&K, medical team trekked for over six hours on foot and ponies, to vaccinate nomadic shepherd tribes. They also carried oxygen cylinders, through this mountainous region.

There are 400,000 beggars in India, according to the Social Justice Ministry. Most of the beggars sleep on the streets or in temporary shelters. Local governments will have to organise to vaccinate them also, with a single-jab vaccine.

There are various NGOs like the missionaries of Charity of Mother Theresa, in many towns like Kolkata, Chandigarh and Mumbai. These charities provide accommodation, food and medicines to the old, infirm, orphans and the abandoned. The inmates of these institutions should be vaccinated through government agencies undertaking the inoculation at their centres. These humanitarian institutions should not be required to pay for the jabs.

These instances of human beings helping each other in distress, are laudable. At a time, when governments and institutions are under severe pressure due to the pandemic, ordinary citizens are picking up the gauntlet to fight, each in his own way.

The G7 developed countries should donate their surplus vaccines to nations in Africa and Asia. President Biden’s announcement to buy 500 million doses for distribution to needy countries is welcome. Africa has inoculated only about two percent of the 1.3 billion people. Covid-19 is a miserable disease. Nobody is safe, till everybody is safe.

––Rajendra Aneja was the Managing Director of UnileverTanzania. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and the author of books entitled,“Rural Marketing across Countries and“Business Express”. He is a Management Consultant.

Let Us Separate Peacefully Tola Adeniyi argues that there is no more basis to preserve Nigeria as one country

A

t one point or the other every known political leader in this contraption created by British commercial interest and greed, has described Nigeria as a mistake, a mere geographical expression, a marriage of contradictions, a clog in the wheel of the nationalities forcibly yoked together, an unworkable entity, or an outright tragedy.

There is no negative word in the dictionary of every language spoken in the Nigeria space that has not been used to describe the country viewed as a giant zoo with tigers and sheep, hyenas and pigs, hawks and chickens locked up in one borderless and un-demarcated cage.

There is hardly any place in the vast expanse of land christened ‘Nigger-area’ by Lugard’s Ms Shaw that is not under siege imposed on the country by obvious failure of governance, crass mismanagement of pluralism and diversity as well as wrong-headed expansionist and colonization ambitions. And there is no ethnic nationality that is happy and fulfilled in this joke of a ‘union’ wobbling in the dark.

At this critical time we should examine and expose the fallacies that have kept all of us hoping against hope and living in denial.

We should identify the vocal and powerful few who are against the dissolution of the charade called Nigeria and why.

Those in that category of irritating slogan “Nigeria is indissoluble” are people who are romanticizing with the name Nigeria, a derogatory word for negroes, and wrongly believe that the size of a country confers magical prosperity; ignoring Israel, Singapore, United Kingdom, Japan, Norwegian and Scandinavian success stories, and several affluent countries that are not bigger than Lagos State either in landmass or population.

There are those in another category who vaingloriously beat their chests that they fought a war to keep Nigeria one. What a fallacy!

There was never a war to ‘keep-Nigeria-one’ and if any at all, it would not be from a section of the country that threatened secession twice or from their lackeys. In any case, the truth of the matter was that a section of the country, in pursuit of vengeance, deployed the federal forces [when there was one such] to pursue another section of the country already fleeing mass massacre to their homeland and engaged them in killing spree. That was not a Civil War but pure carnage.

There is yet another powerful group claiming they want to preserve the ‘territorial integrity’ of the country. The question to ask them is; ‘preserve territorial integrity for whom and to what end’? Are you preserving the integrity for people being slaughtered on daily basis across the country? Are you preserving territorial integrity for the dead, the maimed, the raped, the dispossessed and the oppressed and repressed?

There is the tiny group of timid and cowardly people who say they are very happy to donate their mothers, wives and daughters to beastly rapists and plunderers instead of lifting a finger to defend their birthright, their dignity and honour as well as their ancestral land. Such people also submit to the myth of the ‘superiority’ and ‘invincibility’ of some ‘untouchables’ who may overrun the entire 200 million people currently yoked together in Nigeria. It is in this category you find people who believe, due to their limited exposure, that all separations must entail bloodshed. The pathological cynics among them argue that after all it is the same politicians with their baggage that would run new sovereignties, forgetting [or ignorant of the fact] that African communities, nation states and empires were run perfectly well before the colonialists brought their extremely corrupt systems of government.

Yes. Some people worry about what might happen to their businesses and investments scattered all over the country as well as long term relationships including intra-ethnic marriages, forgetting that Igbo, Yoruba, Tiv, Kanuri, Hausa, Izon and other nationals in Nigeria own and operate businesses in Ghana, Dubai, England, the US and everywhere across the globe. If we separate peacefully those who own hotels and estates in Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Jalingo and Port Harcourt would continue to own and run their businesses just as non-indigenes/non-nationals/ non-residents run their businesses all over the world. Nothing would happen to marriages; there are inter-ethnic, inter-racial marriages the world over. It is left for the couple to decide where to call home.

Perhaps the stoutest in opposition to dissolution of the collapsed contraption are politicians, all of them, who believe, rightly so, that it is only in a country like Nigeria, as constituted and exploited by

them, can they continue with the reckless pillage they indulge in. The unearned wealth and unmerited false status they swim in will vanish if nations in the amalgam go their separate ways. For that group of mercenary and commercial politicians, Abuja, a no man’s land, provides the corrupt cover for iniquities, brigandage, lavish opulence and nauseating impunity and lawlessness. And they want the status quo to remain ad infinitum.

There is no unemployed, or wrongly- and under-employed youth anywhere in Nigeria, and they are more than 150 million, who still want to remain in ‘Nigeria’ as presently configured and in ruins.

Of course there is another category that believes Nigeria must remain ‘Nigeria’ so that they can continue the ‘master-servant governance model’ which has garnered for them and their collaborators feeding on remnants, irritating advantages over the rest of the country. It is those oligarchs and their cohorts already armed to the teeth that shout to high heavens their self-serving desire to keep Nigeria in its present decayed and vanishing form by hook or crook. And if that dream is not attainable, they are bent on setting the country ablaze and run away.

Has it ever occurred to anyone that the Igbo [for example] are not limited to the geographical confines of the so-called South East Nigeria? Do some people know that IPOB is just one of the many self-determination groups in the East? Do the few poisoned and poisonous minds nudging those with the levers of power to annihilate the Igbo with ‘the Military and the Police’ as ‘directed’ know that there are millions of Igbo nationals in Lagos, Ibadan and several other major towns and cities in Nigeria? Is anyone aware that there are millions of Igbo indigenes in countries in the South and East of Nigeria’s porous borders? Is it not obvious that there are millions of well-to-do Igbo in the Diaspora as opposed to the rag-tag impoverished bloodsucking militia men and women imported to Nigeria to carry out programmed pogrom?

––Otunba Adeniyi, Jagun Oodua Adimula.

(See concluding part of the article on www.thisdaylive.com)

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NEWS

South-east Governors, Leaders Set up Committees to Engage Agitating Youths Reaffirm commitment to one Nigeria Christopher Isiguzo and Gideon Arinze in Enugu Leaders from the South-east zone, yesterday, announced the setting up of different committees to engage agitating youths in the area as part of new initiatives for a lasting peace. This followed a meeting in Enugu State.

The leaders, who met for the second time in two weeks, reaffirmed their commitment to a united Nigeria, and rejected the agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for a Republic of Biafra.

According to a communiqué read by the chairman of Southeast Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, the South-east leaders said in order not to manage the situation in the zone, they “have set up a committee to

engage such youths to stop and allow elders speak to address such fears”.

Regarding the safety of the Igbo in other parts of the country, and the newly established regional security outfit, the communiqué said the “meeting directed our governors and Ohaneze Ndigbo to liaise with indigenes from the northern part of Nigeria and indigenes of other regions to assure the nation, Nigeria, and their people of their safety in South-east.”

The committees set up, according to the communiqué, were those on “agitation; engagement with other regions; those of our people in the North, South-east, South-south and South-west; IPOB, MASSOB, youths and market people, Okada and Keke; diaspora; advocacy;

and diplomatic engagement with foreign missions.”

The meeting was a follow-up to the one the leaders held with the presidential delegation, led by the Minister of Defence, Maj.Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd), on June 11, in the wake of the rising insecurity in the region.

Umahi, who read from the communiqué said, the leaders had reaffirmed their commitment to one nation built on fairness, love and respect for one another. He added that the committees were to help articulate the demands of the region, particularly as it relates to insecurity, and meet with the federal government.

The governor regretted that although leaders in the South-east had reassured people from other regions of their safety, Ndigbo were still being threatened, especially,

in the north.

“We call on leaders in other regions to take note of the threats and take proper action,” he said, adding that the leaders condemned the killing of security operatives and destruction of security facilities in the zone.

He maintained that the impression that leaders in the zone were silent over the rising wave of agitation was, wrong as they had come out publicly to speak against the agitations.

Umahi said, "We have again endorsed Ebubeagu and asked them to work with security agencies to ensure the protection of lives and property of the people in the South-east."

He called on security operatives working in the region to operate within the confines of the law.

Those present at the meeting included the host, Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu; Deputy Governors of Anambra and Imo states, Dr. Nkem Okeke and Prof.

Placid Njoku, respectively; Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige; and Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Uchechukwu Ogah.

Others were President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador George Obiozor; former President of the Senate, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; former Governor of old Enugu State, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; former Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Sam Egwu; former

Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim; and former Military Administrator of old Anambra State, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke.

In attendance also were Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi; Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu; Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu; Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga; Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Most. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel O. Chukwuma; Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers’ Council, HRH Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu; immediate past President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; and Professor Chinedu Nebo, among others.

IN QUEST OF LASTING PEACE...

Host/Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (3rd left), Ebonyi State Governor and Chairman, South East Governors Forum, Engr. David Umahi (2nd left), their Abia State counterpart, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (3rd right), Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke (left), his Imo State counterpart, Prof. Placid Njoku (2nd right) and the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Amb. Prof. George Obiozor, during the meeting of South East leaders and stakeholder, at the Government House, Enugu...yesterday

BAWA: EFCC WON’T HAND OVER CASES OF INTEREST TO ANY STATE also denied asking the management teams of banks to declare theirs assets to the commission. He insisted his pronouncement was merely for purposes of eliciting information, as the agency was not empowered to dish out such an order.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with THISDAY, the EFCC boss stated that as a creation of the National Assembly, the federal agency superseded any similar agency set up by the states.

He stated, “I am aware that Kano and Bayelsa have started their own anti-corruption agencies. But those laws do not contain anything that says that EFCC has nothing to do with investigating their states, they would rather be complementing what the EFCC is doing.

“There are a lot of Supreme Court decided cases on this particular issue. From the briefing that I have received, those things are already there.

The EFCC is a creation of the

National Assembly, which, of course, supersedes, when it comes to that. So, there's already a federal legislation.

“We are yet to see how the EFCC is going to hand over cases that they are interested in to any state government or see any correspondence to that effect. We are investigating our matters. In that regard, we are making progress.”

Bawa also expressed doubt over the capacity of states to handle certain investigations in view of the capital-intensive nature.

According to him, “What I can say is that law enforcement is a very, very expensive venture and requires a lot of training and retraining, with trends of crime developing everyday, every second, and you need to catch up with people doing that.

“Take, for instance, issues of money laundering, where, maybe, somebody somewhere has laundered the proceeds of crime, let's say somewhere in Sokoto and you are in Oyo

State or you have property, a lot of things will come up.

“Maybe he has property in America, you need to carry out request, involving mutual legal assistance treaty between, let's say, Nigeria and America, whether or not the American government will recognise that.

“So, a lot of things left, right and centre are at play regarding it. It is very, very expensive.

“Then, the issue of capacity.

Yes, anybody can develop a capacity to do that. But let's wait and see.”

Addressing the alleged demand for declaration of assets by bankers, Bawa said it was within the powers of the agency to make such demands.

However, he said, “I did not say banks will come and declare their assets to us. It is not within our powers to demand for that.

But it is within our powers to demand for information. You and associate (s) without any hindrance or failure must give us information on demand.

“If you are an individual or corporate entity or company, it

is an offence not to comply. That is why we write to individuals, politicians to submit to us so that we will compare, because if you are a suspect, before us, you are expected to even fill our own declaration of assets form here.”

He explained further, "We write to CCB, for instance, to furnish us what you declared.

Yes, we write them to give us information on what you declared so that we can make comparison.

“We have our reason for saying that come June 1st, we are going to demand for the declaration of assets.

That's what I said. So, it doesn't matter whether you have not declared, it doesn't matter whether you have done anything, but what we said is that we are going to demand for it.

“You understand this? This is in a 1986 law. It was passed when I was just six years old. Yes, it's an old law and they are expected to declare their assets annually. So, what

we said is that we just need copies of those things, we have already demanded. On June 1st, we wrote to all the banks, the MDS and DMDs should submit copies of their declaration of asset form.

On accusations that the agency had engaged in media trial of suspects, the EFCC chairman said the commission on his watch had not only conducted diligent investigations but had also contributed significantly to the development of law in Nigeria in the last 15 years.

Bawa stated, “Now, rightly or wrongly, the media, once matters are in court, you have the right to go and get the facts – reporters are always in court to report what has happened. So, you have been accusing us wrongly of this.

“You did mention something that we do media trial, and then we rush to court. There is no agency of government that has worked and contributed to the development of law in this country in the last 15 years

than the EFCC. Nobody has challenged me on that.

“We go to court. We love going to court. We have 90 per cent to 95 per cent success rate in court on the cases that we have charged. So, it is not about stating the facts and losing cases. Assuming we have 70 per cent success rate in court, is it not an A that you will give us, but as you know, we have over 90 per cent success rate in court.

“But, of course, we have changed our strategy in that regard as well. And that is why maybe you are not seeing people under investigation being mentioned in the media.

“But there was never a deliberate attempt, anyway, to do that (media trial). We are just trying to do things by the book but maybe that is the change of strategy that you people have observed.

We are working quietly and diligently on cases without necessarily drawing public attention.”

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

NEWS

Falana: APC Has Perfected Plans to Rule Nigeria Indefinitely Laments Buhari’s failure to amend 2010 Electoral Act Says demand for self-determination, a constitutional right Gboyega Akinsanmi Unlike the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that boasted to rule Nigeria for 60 years, Nigeria’s foremost human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) yesterday disclosed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had perfected plans to rule the country indefinitely.

Falana, a former President of the West African Bar Association (WABA), also said the Electoral Amendment Bill might not be signed into law citing the failure of the National Assembly to complete the process of its enactment and transmit it to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

He expressed these grave concerns during an exclusive interview with THISDAY yesterday, pointing out how the Buhari administration reneged on different promises made to Nigerians during presidential campaigns in 2014.

Falana, who spoke on diverse issues of national concerns during the interview, said: “Unlike the PDP, which boasted that it would rule Nigeria for 60 years, the APC has perfected plans to rule Nigeria indefinitely.

“Hence, the new Electoral Amendment Bill is not likely to be signed into law. Very soon, Nigerians will be told that the bill cannot be signed by the president since the 2023 elections are around the corner,” he observed.

Reflecting on Buhari’s breach of campaign promises, Falana explained how the APC had campaigned to reform the electoral process by implementing the recommendations of the Justice Muhammed Uwais Electoral Reform Panel before the 2015 elections Upon assumption of power, however, the human rights lawyer noted with grave

concern that the ruling party reneged on its pact with the people on electoral reform.

Before the Ekiti State governorship election in 2014, he explained how some APC leaders obtained court orders, which restrained the Jonathan administration from deploying the armed forces in the management of elections.

He, however, said: “The APC government deploys armed military and police personnel in the manipulations of elections including local government elections. As if that is not enough, voters are induced with money, rice, beans and salt in utter contravention to the Electoral Act.” On these grounds, the senior advocate claimed that the Buhari administration had failed to reform the country’s dysfunctional electoral system after six years in the saddle, hence contravening its campaign promise.

Before the 2015 elections, the APC entrenched restructuring in its manifesto and campaigned for power devolution from the centre to the other federating units, one of the reasons it garnered popular support nationwide.

Apart from its promise to devolve powers to the federating units, the APC also campaigned to reform the country’s electoral system in line with the recommendation of the Justice Muhammed Uwais Electoral Reform Panel.

On December 7, 2018, Buhari rejected the Electoral Amendment Bill that could have transformed the country’s electoral system positively on the ground that it could affect the 2019 elections contrary to these promises.

In the same way, the president had not taken any concrete step to implement the report of

the APC Committee on True Federalism; the outcome had fuelled agitations either for return to regional government or outright separation from Nigeria in different parts of the country.

Despite Buhari’s lukewarm approach to comprehensive electoral reforms, Falana challenged the National Assembly to fast-track the process of amending the Electoral Amendment Bill ahead of the 2023 general election.

He recommended the need to legalise the use of card readers and electronic voting and collation of results and direct transmission to INEC central server.

He urged the National Assembly to prioritise the review of the Electoral Amendment Bill since the president did not sign the bill into law in 2018 on the ground that it was too close to the last general election.

The human rights lawyers observed that the new bill “has not been passed and forwarded to the president for his assent for reasons best known to both chambers of the National Assembly.

“The delay is affecting the preparations of INEC for the 2023 general election. It is high time sufficient pressure was mounted on the federal legislators to pass the Electoral Amendment Bill as a further delay will adversely affect the conduct and management of future elections in the country.

“But it is doubtful if the country can hold a peaceful general election in 2023. In 2015, the Jonathan administration postponed the general election for six weeks because some local governments in Borno State were under the control of terrorists.

“Today, a number of state

governments and hundreds of local governments are under either total or partial control of insurgents, bandits and other gunmen. It is hoped that the federal government will not invoke and apply Section 135 of the 1999 Constitution,” he observed He noted that the section empowered the president “to postpone elections if he considers that it is not practicable to hold elections on the ground that the country is involved in a war in which its territory is physically involved.

“This is why all hands should be on deck to enact a new electoral law, which should provide for electronic voting. That is the only way to ensure that elections are conducted in many parts of the country at any given time.”

Falana, also, faulted the president’s threat to use brute force in response to the demand for self-determination by some separatist movements nationwide, especially, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

He explained that Nigeria had ratified and domesticated the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, which guaranteed rights to selfdetermination.

Under Article 20, Falana pointed out that the charter “guarantees the right of the Nigerian people to selfdetermination. On that basis, the demand for the breakup of Nigeria is not a criminal offence.”

If demand for selfdetermination was anchored on violence, the senior advocate said Nigeria would not hesitate to frame charges, which reinforced the position of the federal government to blame the killing of security personnel and destruction of government properties on the IPOB. “While I do not support

the serious breakdown of law and order in some states in the Southeast, I am interested in addressing the root cause of the crisis. That can only be achieved if the separatist groups are given the opportunity to dialogue and negotiate with the federal government and the state governments over their grievances,” Falana suggested.

He justified his position on the ground that the federal government had negotiated with terrorists and bandits and granted amnesty to many of them in spite of their involvement in crimes against humanity such as gang-raping of women, abduction and killing of innocent people, displacement of millions of others whose houses were set ablaze.

He emphasised the need for the federal government “to appreciate that the crisis of global capitalism has forced millions of young people to embrace supremacist ideology with emphasis on balkanisation of many countries.”

He, thus, said the demand for separation was not peculiar to Nigeria, citing how in the United States, a faction of the Republican Party led by former President Donald Trump has become popular among the white community, because of the campaign to chase away immigrants from the country.

He, also, pointed at how the United Kingdom “has pulled out of the European Union while the people of Scotland are fighting for independence. In Spain, the people of Catalonia are fighting for independence. In Canada, the people of Quebec are fighting for independence.

“The story is the same in other parts of the world. The campaign for the balkanisation of Nigeria has been influenced by developments in the West,”

he said.

He, therefore, noted that the campaign “is fully supported by diaspora Nigerians. Based on arrogance of power, the federal government has continued to play into the hands of the campaigners for the balkanisation of the country.”

Consequently, Falana observed that the agitation had been fuelled by nepotism, lopsided appointments, corruption, impunity, ethnic politics and the zealous implementation of neoliberal economic policies, which had been worsening unemployment, poverty and unemployment.

Out of sheer frustration, according to the human rights lawyer, the campaign for the breakup of the country is gaining momentum.

“I have continued to insist that it is no longer acceptable to say that the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable, because it is an indissoluble and indivisible entity.”

To respond to the agitations, Falana recommended that the federal government “has to jettison its arrogance of power and enter into meaningful dialogue with all separatist groups and other aggrieved citizens.

“The federal government may realise rather too late that no amount of brute force can silence the separatist groups.

If the government defeat them militarily, they may go underground and embark on guerilla warfare.

“The earlier the war mongering tactics of the government is reviewed the better for the corporate existence of Nigeria. I do not need to be a war expert to know that the armed forces cannot win the war on insurgents, bandits and separatists at the same time,” he said with concern for the future of Nigeria.

Angry Youths Block Kaduna-Abuja Highway as Bandits Kill Four, Abduct 49 John Shiklam in Kaduna and Laleye Dipo in Minna Angry youths, Saturday, blocked the Kaduna-Abuja following the killing of four people and the abduction of 49 others in a weeklong attack by rampaging bandits in Angwan Madaki, Kakau community, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

But in nearby Niger State, men of the local vigilante in collaboration with some youths, yesterday, repelled attacks by suspected bandits and in the process neutralised five of the robbers while many others allegedly escaped with gunshot and matchet cut

injuries, after the bandits had earlier raided some villages in Munya Local Government and killed two.

However, the Kakau community, which is located in the outskirts of the Kaduna metropolis, was said to have come under persistent attacks by bandits throughout the week.

The latest attack, according to sources in the community, occurred on Friday at about 10pm, when the bandits, in their large number, stormed the community, killed two people and abducted 20 others, including the chief, his wife and brother.

In a telephone interview

with THISDAY, one of the sources said, a total of four people were killed, while 49 others were abducted within three days.

According to the source, who pleaded anonymity, “On Tuesday, the bandits invaded the community,killed two people and abducted 15 others. On Thursday, they came back again and killed two people and kidnapped 14. Yesterday (Friday) at about 10pm they came and killed two people and kidnapped 20 others including the Chief, his brother and wife.

“Throughout this week, our community had been under constant attack by bandits.

This angered the youths and this morning (Saturday), they blocked the Kaduna-Abuja road by the overhead bridge, to expressed their frustration over the security situation.”

The source said, “What baffles us is that we have the female soldiers camp close to Kakau. There is also another soldiers camp close to the main road, yet, the attacks have persisted. Our people have been living in perpetual fear and this is a community that is close to Kaduna metropolis! Many people have relocated to Kaduna metropolis as a result of these frequent attacks”.

Spokesman of the Kaduna

State Police Command, Mohammad Jalige, could not be reached at the time of filing this report.

From Niger, some of the villages raided by the bandits, who came in large numbers and rode on motorcycles, while at the same time bearing Ak 47 rifles, included Kuchi, Kurubbako and Guni.

"They shot sporadically as they entered the villages to scare away the villagers after which they embarked on rustling of cattle and looting of the homes of the villagers.

The youths recovered from the initial shock and countered the bandits, resulting in the killing of 5 of the bandits,"

a source told THISDAY was told.

Although it was gathered that the bandits took away the corpses of their colleagues, THISDAY also learnt that the cattle earlier rustled were recovered and returned to the owner.

Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Inga, when contacted confirmed the story but said the agency was yet to get "full details of the incident".

But Police Public Relations Officer, Niger State Police Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, could also not be reached for confirmation.

A resident, Atiku Aboki, who went to the school shortly after the gunfire stopped, said he saw a scene of panic and confusion as people searched for their children.

"When we got there, we saw students crying, teachers crying, everyone is sympathising with people," he also said to Reuters.

Thursday’s kidnapping

at the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi, marked the third mass abduction from a school in Northwestern part of Nigeria in some weeks, with armed gangs carrying out the kidnappings for ransom.

More than 800 students were believed to have been taken from their schools in the region since December.

KEBBI STUDENTS MAY HAVE BEEN RESCUED AS SCORES OF BANDITS KILLED early this morning confirmed that the news of their alleged release had been swirling since late last night, but that there was no concrete confirmation from any of the official sources as everyone seemed to have shut down.

“We heard the news but no one has the details, much less seen any of the students. But the news has been circulating

amongst certain class of people, who were confident that the students had been released,” the source stated.

Bandits, on Thursday, kidnapped at least 80 students and five teachers from the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State, killing a police officer in the process.

A teacher from the school,

Usman Aliyu, said the gunmen took more than 80 students, most of them girls.

"They killed one of the (police officers), broke through the gate and went straight to the students' classes," the teacher reportedly told Reuters, a foreign news medium.

Kebbi State police spokesman Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed that the gunmen killed one

of their officersduring an exchange and also shot a student, who had since been receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

The Kebbi State Police Command further claimed that the vehicle used to convey the kidnapped students and teachers belonged to an unnamed High Court judge in the state.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JUNE 20,2021

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EDITORIAL

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

I NVOKING A NCIENT GRAZING ROUTES The President is ill-advised. The Land Use Act invests all land in state governors in trust for the people

D

uring his recent interview with ARISE Television, President Muhammadu Buhari spoke about reviving the contentious grazing routes throughout the country for cattle herders by dusting up a gazette of the First Republic.

While that position pits him against the southern governors who had banned open grazing because of the criminality and insecurity associated with it, legal practitioners now argue that the law being cited by the president was only applicable in Northern Nigeria. Even if there was such a gazette in the past, it is of grave concern that the president Those who handle should be drawing the president on policy inspiration from policy matters are such an ancient law in 2021. This is deeply better advised flawed. to update the It may be useful background to remind the information they president that the equip him with First Republic ended 55 years ago. In to prevent these the intervening period, all too frequent migrant cattle herding relapses into has ceased in almost embarrassing every other country. prehistoric Modern ranches have comfort zones replaced roving herds while beef production has become a modern mechanised industrial undertaking. Furthermore, wherever those grazing routes of the 1960s may have been, population growth and pressure of farming and land use would have brought them under new uses. In fact, under the Land Use law, there may be nothing in that ancient gazette that protects them from the authority of state governments.

Spokesman of the Senate and member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, says the gazette being referred to by the president was a decree promulgated in northern Nigeria in the 1960s, that had been rendered null and void by the Land Use Act recognised by the constitution. “Nigerians should be concerned over

Letters to the Editor

R

whether the president is actually getting the correct legal advice from his attorneygeneral and the legal team,” the senator said. “There is nothing like grazing routes or grazing reserve law, in the laws of the federation of Nigeria. There is no federal legislation that the president can implement over such matter.” Even if the grazing routes were still valid, they can only facilitate further clashes between settler farmers and migrant herders who have no legitimate claims to the lands on which they and their herds settle and devastate.

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

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

e find it difficult to understand who the president is speaking for. Following a meeting with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in January this year, the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) agreed to outlaw open grazing, underage grazing, and night herding in the South-west states, given the rate at which some undesirable elements who parade themselves as herders commit heinous crimes. So, at a time the conversation is about how to modernise the way we rear cattle, President Buhari is advocating that the primitive method be sustained.

As we keep reiterating, one of the curious tragedies of modern Nigeria is that we have come to accept the category 'nomadic' as a permanent description of a vital segment of our populace. We have gone ahead to create schools, map out grazing trails and sundry other things to enshrine this unfortunate doctrine. A consequence has been the ever frequent bloody clashes between nomads and settled landowners and farmers in nearly every part of the country. Besides, by allowing them to roam the length and breadth of the country, often herding evacuated cattle, we violate the rights of these animals and endanger the health of citizens through exposure to the elements and a cocktail of diseases.

In all, the president’s claim on grazing routes does not invalidate the sovereign control and powers which the constitution grants to state governors to make laws governing the conduct of humans and their animals in their jurisdiction. There is nothing in the presidential utterance on grazing routes that invalidates the Asaba resolution of the governors of the southern states on open grazing. On their part, those who handle the president on policy matters are better advised to update the background information they equip him with to prevent these all too frequent relapses into embarrassing prehistoric comfort zones.

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.

LAGOS AND THE ANTI-CULTISM LAW

ecent ly, t he Lagos St ate Police Comma nd issued a press st atement, where it disclosed t hat it had a r rested over 127 t raff ic robber s. According to t he Police Com ma nd, t he 'pet t y', yet da redev il cr iminals, were nabbed in t he last t h ree mont hs.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, in the statement, dated 17 June 2021, however, reassured residents of the ‘State of the Aquatic Splendour' that his team had "deployed its human and material resources to tackle the menace headlong".

Odumosu announced that they had commenced a combat training exercise, musketry, and range practice for police personnel in the state, even as training for police operatives attached to the newlyformed Anti-Traffic Robbery Squad (ATRS) had been kick-started.

Checks by this writer revealed that the ATRS personnel will be tasked with the exigent responsibility of ending the menace of robbery in the ever-chaotic Lagos traffics, by the time their training program is completed.

If the truth must be said without any prejudice, the ATRS security

initiative is commendable. The management of the Lagos Police Command deserves a pat in the back, if not resounding applause for conceptualizing the innovative idea.

But it must be said also, that long before Odumosu's disclosure about the ATRS, series of reports on traffic robberies, hooliganism, cultism and cult clashes, gangsterism, and even juvenile crimes, were not short in demand.

At a point in time, the wave of crimes in Lagos State was unstoppable.

In the first quarter of this year, the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, assented to

the Anti-Cultism Bill, with strict clauses contained in the act.

The notable one is the 21-year jail term for anyone found guilty of engaging in cultism. Six months after, cases of traffic robberies, hooliganism, cult clashes, street killings, among others, are staple items in media reports. Sadly, not even a single conviction had been recorded by the State Ministry of Justice.

Just recently, the All Progressives Congress (APC) local government primaries in the state, witnessed terrifying attacks on rival hooligans and even innocent party faithful, to the extent that two persons were said to have died in Surulere local government.

If the above ugly and disturbing trends must not continue, the state government, with the support and cooperation of the judiciary, must start making scapegoats of criminals who wittingly desecrate the provisions of the anticultism act. It will deter others.

The punishments outlined in the act must be put to the practical test on defaulters.

Our collective and darling 'Centre of Excellence' must not be allowed to degenerate into a haven for criminals. It is time the newly-promulgated bill bared its full and dangerous fangs.

– –Segun Michael Adeyemi, Lagos

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JUNE 20,2021

SUNDAYINTERVIEW

Bawa... We Won’t Hand Over Cases of Interest to Any State

Photos by Julius Atoi

Bawa:Youth Involvement in Cybercrime, My Greatest Worry Forty years old Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa is consumed with passion for his job and country. Young and bursting with energy and ideas, he charts a new path of credibility for the anti-graft agency. In this first major and exclusive interview with Shaka Momodu and Kingsley Nwezeh, Bawa addresses practically all the concerns swirling around his emergence and operations of the commission. Excerpts:

Y

ou have been on tour of EFCC offices since your assumption of duty as Chairman. What have you found or observed and how do you hope to improve what you met on ground?

Okay, thank you. Let me start by thanking you for finding time to come, finding it worthy to fly in from Lagos. Thank you very much. Well, the tour of duty is something that came naturally. I went out there to see things for myself, to have an interaction with

the staff, for them to see their new chairman, who has been one of them. And then, of course, I needed to also remind them of the fact that the task before us is enormous. We need to re-energise ourselves to do what is expected of us. You know, the expectations are very, very high.

We have the support of the government, I think the majority of Nigerians and to also remind them of the fact that anybody that is found wanting, sanctions would be applied to the point of getting out of the system. And then of course, to hear their own

If there’s one thing that I am worried about, it is the issue of cybercrime and it is with mixed feelings and reactions.

People have tagged me the hope of the youth and all of that, and here, we are – the people in my constituency are the ones involved in internet crime…It is something to be worried about. It’s something that we have observed, it’s something we are working on

complaints. You can’t run an office with disgruntled staff. Yes, we have been around for a very long time. But it is good that you have advice from them, because nobody has the monopoly of knowledge. That has been nice. And it’s been worth the while.

I’m still going round. I still have about three zones to go, I hope to achieve that before the end of the month.

It’s already 100 days since you assumed office, what have you achieved so far even though 100 days is pretty too soon for an appraisal?

So many things. The confidence is back. A lot of people and the staff are happy with the administration. We have come up with a lot of policy documents that we are working on, training policy, policy on sexual harassment, health policy, communication policy etc, because you can’t have an institution that does not have processes and procedures. We have also worked on Standard Operational Procedures, you know, back and forth with the printers, before the end of the month, we will have it in place. That is very key, if you want to have a strong institution we need to have these things in place.

We have also embarked on several renovation activities.

Contracts were awarded in order for us to have befitting offices in our zonal offices across the country.

We have worked on our new ranking structure. We have it in

19

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JUNE 20,2021

SUNDAY INTERVIEW t &'$$ )"4 $0/53*#65&% .03& 50 5)& %&7&-01.&/5 0' -"8 */ /*(&3*" t place now to be at par with other security agencies in the country.

We have been having problems in that regard. We are looking at the issue of promotion – it has brought a lot of problem. We hope to conclude on that aspect soon. We have engaged our strategic partners within and outside the country. We have renewed relationship with a lot of agencies trying to forge synergy. So, we have done quite a bit on that, and of course, you know, cases that we are working on. I don’t want to dwell much on that. We have done quite a lot. So, by and large, we are working quietly and the result and statistics are out there.

EFCC has been known for media trial of persons under investigation. Is there a deliberate strategy to move away from trial by media of suspects until you gather all your facts before you proceed to court for prosecution?

You see, we are in a democracy. People have the right to say whatever they want to say, trials happen only in court and there are three parties to it. We, the prosecution, we present our case, the defence would present its case to the court and the court decides.

Now, rightly or wrongly, you the media, once matters are in court, you have the right to go and get the facts – reporters, like you are always in court to report what has happened. So you have been accusing us wrongly of this. You did mention something that we do media trial, and then we rush to court. You see, there is no agency of government that has worked and contributed to the development of law in this country in the last 15 years than the EFCC. Nobody has challenged me on that.

We go to court. We love going to court. We have 90 to 95% success rate in court on the cases that we have charged. So, it is not about stating the facts and losing cases. Assuming we have 70% success rate in court, is it not an A that you will give us but as you know, we have over 90% success rate in court. But then, of course, as you know, we have changed our strategy in that regard as well. And that is why maybe you are not seeing people under investigation being mentioned in the media. But there was never a deliberate attempt anyway to do that. We are just trying to do things by the book but maybe that is the change of strategy that you people have observed. We are working quietly and diligently on cases without necessarily drawing public attention.

What is your decision on policemen assigned to EFCC, are you going to retain their services or you want to build your own team?

Wait, let me let me remind you, I know that you are aware of how the EFCC started operations. The National Assembly passed an Act and the EFCC was established. A young Nigerian policeman, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, was appointed the chairman. A paper was given to him: “you are the Chairman” and he started. So the EFCC from inception had no staff of its own.

Then, the Chairman and the Commission Secretary and the board, they had to come from somewhere – seconded officers that will come and do the job. Which better place than the Nigerian Police to start from, because we are more or less doing that kind of related thing? Some of the laws were being enforced by the police before the coming of the EFCC. That is how we started.

But from the very beginning, even the founding fathers knew that a time will come when the EFCC has to start training its staff and officials to do all the functions of the commission, and that is why by December 2004, they had recruited the first set of officers and trained them. As at today, we have the Superintendent cadre up to Course 8 and then we have the Inspector cadre and the Detective Assistant cadre, so it is something that will happen naturally. When the time comes, when we can take care of ourselves, all policemen and other seconded staff from other agencies will have to allow the Commission to be fully operational on its own and it’s going to happen sooner than later.

Let’s go back to the question that you make arrests before conducting watertight investigation. Sometime before you assumed office, Justice Auta hosted your predecessor and one of the complaints he made was that the Commission doesn’t, in some cases, investigate and have a watertight case, before rushing to court only to lose such cases. It’s important to get more clarity on this. This is something that a judge saw and complained about.

Let me start by saying that you are the one quoting Justice Auta, not me. Now let me answer that. There are different types of offences or crimes that we are investigating, hence different types of scenarios can unfold regarding how suspects are being brought in.

Some months back as a zonal head in Lagos, I received a letter from the Nigerian Customs Service that I should come and take over a suspect that they arrested at the airport with thousands of ATM cards. I went there and they handed over the suspect to me.

So, the first thing is that I have a complaint, I have an exhibit and I have a suspect. What do I do? I should now leave him and say, “Okay, go I will investigate this ATM card and later I will call you for interview”? No. At least, presumably, I have to go with him and take his statement. You understand? We receive intelligence also on a daily basis that we work on. We carry out surveillance, we carry out other intelligence processes before we go for arrest.

By the time we enter a building to effect an arrest, for instance, we are sure of our case. All these cybercrime suspects, sometimes, we arrest over 50. There was a time we arrested 70 at a time in one place. 70 young Nigerians and we brought them with us, with all their digital items etc. They were suspected to be involved in cybercrime and then you bring them in, you assess them and then those that you have identified that are into it, you continue investigations and you will see that they have obtained somebody’s money by false pretences. Clearly, we are seeing the documentary evidence and we then say, “We don’t want to talk to you, just go, let somebody take you on bail. Okay, you, the victim,

...We’re Not Talking About Tinubu’s Case to Avoid Media Trial Allegation come, did they actually take your money?” Then we now write to the bank to make inquiries. No, no, no.

We start with him and then continue our investigation. Then there are instances or cases, where you are investigating for example, an allegation that a commissioner for local government has diverted funds. You carry out a detailed investigation. You call the complainant, you write, you conduct surveillance, you do all of these. You must have some semblance that that activity has happened before moving to arrest.

Remember, even when we have charged somebody to court he is still presumed to be innocent, it’s just an allegation until the court says that you have committed that offence. But for us to be seen that we rush to arrest somebody, and then we take them to court, and then we lose a case? If it had happened, maybe it’s one out of a million and officers that have carried it out are supposed to be sanctioned.

Again, this is very important, we have a different department that investigates.

It’s good you are making this clarification, because intelligence shows that most cases are filed at the whims of the chairman. If the chairman wants a case to go to court and even if the lawyers recommend otherwise, that case will be rushed to court irrespective.

First and foremost, I doubt very much if that was the case before.

I was not Chairman then but I can tell you for certain, I did not have that experience. I doubt much if that was the case.

Secondly, coming down to me as a person with all sense of modesty. I’m a practitioner. I’m currently in the witness box in one matter that has been on for years. I have testified across the length and breadth of this country in many cases.

So, I know what it takes to be there, to give evidence based on the case that you are prosecuting. If you don’t have facts, you don’t have facts. If you have facts, you have facts, do you understand?

We have promised Nigerians that we are going to follow the provisions of the Constitution; the rule of law should be our guide.

We want to do this thing without fear or favour, without any ill will, then why should you try to say that there is no evidence to support a case and then you’re going to court, I doubt if it has happened. I doubt much if it has happened before.

I was coming to that …

It is after they have completed their investigation, or during the course of the investigation, as the case may be, they engage our You have said repeatedly that you will fight corruption and lawyers and the lawyers would be guiding them during the course of investigation through any issue that might arise. They will receive not fight corrupt people. What do you mean by that?

We will fight corrupt people and we will also fight corruption. that file, they will vet it to see whether or not there is a prima facie But within that, we have realised that there is difference between case against the person. fighting corrupt people and fighting corruption. It’s all part of our new effort towards preventive avenues, rather than laying more Was this the practice before or its a new way of doing emphasis on enforcement, because studies have shown time and things?

No. It has always been the practice and most often, three issues time again that it is far cheaper to prevent corruption or fraud than to fight it. normally come out of this. The lawyers will advise: Yes, there is a Here is what we’re saying: we are saying we want to be proaccase. We are going to court. No, there is no case; the matter is civil tive. It is about good governance, it is about looking at processes or there is a case but please, you need to do ABC&D. So, they and procedures, identifying the red flags, advising the government will return it for further investigation. And once those items, the on how they can tighten the loose ends, vulnerabilities to fraud, line items that they have identified have been dealt with, you will corruption, as it has happened and those are the issues that we are return it to them, then, they will draft their charges. We don’t go looking at in terms of trying to fight corruption. to magistrate court, we file proof of evidence, points to prove that Even recently, I was telling a media outlet that look, we are look, this offence of OBT that we are charging is there. So, that’s why I said the issue of investigation, and lawyers doing their bit are embarking on a series of corruption risk assessment on MDAs in this country, to look at their vulnerabilities to fraud and corruption thoroughly done. and that is the systemic way of fighting corruption.

We are also looking at avenues in which it will be very difficult for people that are corrupt to launder their proceeds of crime. We are working tirelessly on the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, how they can be on top of their game to deal with Designated Non-Financial Institutions (DNFIs), those are the things that we talked about in terms of fighting corruption itself.

When I came on board, we created a brand new Department of Intelligence to be able to sift through, gather information for us so that we would be intelligence-driven in our investigation.

Fighting corrupt people, who have already done it, it’s about investigating you and charging you to court and dealing with you.

Now, if we are concentrating on that alone, chances are that your successor in office will also have that opportunity of committing what you have committed. So, we have been dealing with these issues without necessarily going back.

Okay, why did you commit this? What happened? What were the opportunities that you had to commit this crime? Our aim is to deny your successor that opportunity to commit the same crime like the man who was there before. We are looking to block the vulnerabilities in that system. So, we are looking at all of that, then, we will advise you accordingly on that. And, that is what I meant

I did not say that banks will come and declare their assets to us. It is not within our powers to demand for that.

But it is within our powers to demand for information.

You and associate(s) without any hindrance or failure must give us information on demand

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SUNDAY INTERVIEW t 8& "3& %&5&3.*/&% 50 .",& /*(&3*" 1306% t

...It’s Impossible to Steal from Recovered Loot by that phrase fighting corruption, not corrupt people.

Lets talk more on internet fraud. It is alarming looking at the number of suspects arrested in the last one year, more than 1000, are you not worried? Second, how are you working to enhance your relationship with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)?

Let me start with your last point. FBI is perhaps one of the biggest international partners that we have had from the very beginning and they have always been helpful to us in terms of capacity development, sharing of information and intelligence, training and retraining of our staff here in Nigeria and in America, including sponsoring our officers to the FBI Academy in Qantico, Virginia and all that for several years. So, we have maintained that relationship and will sustain it. Even when I came on board, we have had a series of meetings with them in that regard. So, it’s going to continue. If there’s one thing that I am worried about, it is the issue of cybercrime and it is with mixed feelings and reactions.

People have tagged me the hope of the youth and all of that, and here, we are – the people in my constituency are the ones involved in internet crime.

It is something to be worried about. It’s something that we have observed, it’s something we are working on and let me give you the statistics. From January to the 11th of June 2021, we have arrested 1502 suspects across the length and breadth of this country.

It is something very huge and you know, we are dealing with very smart people here.

Honestly, I will not sit here to tell you the specifics of what we are doing but we’re doing a lot. As I said, we have created a department and are looking into the future and strategising. We are working with even the state governments, where some of these things evolve and all of that. And then, of course, you know, the media is working on very serious campaign strategy to contain the issues of cybercrime, corruption and fraud.

You mean the media department of EFCC? Yes. So, we are working. We are working in that regard.

You are the first core detective of the agency that has come on board as chairman, having been at the commission from the very beginning to get into this topmost position.

Does this place on you a unique advantage to appreciate the problems of the commission?

Certainly. One, I have four predecessors, that by the grace of God, are all still alive. I can easily go and say, “See what has happened, what is this”? We learn from what they have done.

There is an international study on the issue of institutional memory, anybody that is seeking any employment and then to higher position, those that are from inside can boast of institutional memory, that you cannot get from anywhere, you cannot go to the four walls of any university to get it. It’s an advantage to me and of course, to the system itself.

And nobody can come, for instance, to tell me something about the system. I am not saying I have the monopoly of knowledge of things here. But at least, I have a clear idea of some of these things and you know what? We were able to achieve all that we have been able to achieve within 100 days because we know what the problems are, we know what the challenges are.

In my interactions with colleagues over the years, we have been discussing some of these problems and issues and that is why we were able to set the ball rolling immediately. So, it is more of an advantage, and I think government realises that, and that is why my colleagues and I will not disappoint Nigerians and the government for the confidence that they have reposed in us to carry the mantle of leadership going forward.

Your predecessors have always battled image problems, reputation issues. Immediately after the announcement of your appointment, stories started to emerge in the media that you did this, you did that. Tell us how this reputational problem might have affected the credibility of the Agency.

A lot of people were truly worried, when they heard the allegation against you.

Yes. You see, the job is a very dangerous job. You are stepping on many toes, powerful toes. People that sit on resources, unimaginable resources, have the capacity to engage the media, going to even compromise some judges to come up with several issues. So, people are always out there to say things that they themselves know to be false, but they say these things anyway as attacks. What even baffles me more is the fact that even with all the allegations against my predecessors, nobody has come to say that this house belongs them, this property belongs to them or this investment belongs to them or that investment belongs to them.

Nobody has said that. The allegation has been that “oh, recovered funds are not seen, oh, this one, that one”, all just making false claims. Somebody will just come up with newspaper articles from left, right, center. How on earth is it possible steal from recovered funds? It is practically impossible for any staff of the commission or chairman to do that.

I have not touched a case file in the last one month. I only see reports. It is practically impossible for any staff of the commission to move a naira that is recovered. What for? How? Because it is on record the person that the money is recovered from knows before the recovery is made, statements are there clearly stating what was recovered not to talk of a building that has been recovered.

Tell me, how is it going to be done? Okay, it is in the file.

Property A has been recovered. Let’s say 23A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi has been recovered and then the file is here and the chairman will say, “Mr. X handover this property to Mr. Y because the owner is my friend”? How? This issue that you raised, I remember, even in the Senate, Senator Mohammed Adamu Aliero asked me the same question and I told them, I said, “Look, I never sold anything. The commission flew some officers from Abuja and they went, and they saw some of these products”. Okay, maybe this is an opportunity for me to tell you what really happened I resumed office in Port Harcourt in January 2019. Before I got there, from January to December 2018, that zonal office recorded 33 convictions. But from January to December 2019, that I was heading that zone, we recorded 216 convictions. What happened, there was a huge problem of arrests of people, allegedly illegally dealing with petroleum products and more than 500 trucks were parked at 6 Division of the Nigerian Army and cases were neither moving forward nor backwards and I will tell you why. So, we came and we saw the problem and we studied why the cases were not moving.

Okay, let me tell you what happened. Normally, in the case of illegal bunkering, we don’t arrest, you understand, the army, the navy arrest the offenders. So, an arrest is made of this truck suspected to be carrying illegally refined products. The army will now call the EFCC, come and take over this case. Normally, the drivers and the boys have run away. So, we have only two leads, the number plate and the product itself. So we take sample of the product and send it to the lab, the DPR, and NNPC, 99 percent of the time, it will come back as adulterated AGO. So, with that alone, you know, we can develop our case. The second phase is, we have established a case, who committed the crime? With that we can develop our case as per the provisions of the Miscellaneous Offences Act. But the second thing you have established is the crime, now

who committed the crime? You have only one lead, which is the number plate. So, you take it. It was then I observed something that well, let me put it this way, over 90 per cent of haulage businesses are conducted by the people from the northern part of the country. Going to the south to bring these products and then bring in other products from the north, back to the south.

So, what happens after? You write to the licencing authority in Bauchi State, may be the number plate, an Azare (a town in the State) number and that’s where the problem is. Three scenarios will emerge. One, they will write to us to say that the number is fake.

So, where are you going to go? You can neither go forward nor backwards, because you are looking for a criminal and unlike a vessel that is a juristic person, you can’t charge only a truck to court.

Then the second instance is that they will write us to say the vehicle belongs to Mr. X and that his address is, lets say, No 15 Awolowo Road, Azare, Bauchi. The telephone number is perfect.

So, I will now call or write a letter to Mr. X, who would call and say, yes, I am the owner of this truck, but actually I gave it to my driver. My driver is Mr. Y and I have been looking for him. What I know of him is that he also stays in Azare, Bauchi.

So, there is a provision in the EFCC Establishment Act, Section 25 Subsection 3 that says means of conveyance should be forfeited to the government. Sometimes the owner is not aware that his means of conveyance is being used to perpetrate any kind crime. So, Mr. X has come to say you know, yes, he gave the truck to the driver, but he as the owner of the truck was not privy to what use the truck was being put to. So, the onus is now on us to find that driver to come and answer for the offence, but we may not be able to find him.

So, going by the provisions of the law, we secure the forfeiture of the trucks and then the management of the Commission gave approval for the auctioning and officers flew in from Abuja to conduct that exercise. Where the court ordered that some of the trucks should be returned to the owners, they were returned.

When my appointment was announced, some people started screaming. There was even a publication that I made 20 billion naira, they said, “that boy sold everything”, that I was a billionaire you know, when I came on board! That is not the end of the matter, they will come up with other things. It’s part of the plan to distract and damage someone’s reputation.

You requested for the asset declaration form a former governor of Lagos and strong man of Lagos politics, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, when you were head of Lagos Zonal office.

What has become of that and what was the motivation?

You asked me a question earlier about arresting people before investigation and now you’re saying why didn’t we arrest Tinubu?

Why didn’t you just say, “arrest him”. Investigation is ongoing.

When you are investigating matters like this, they don’t end in a day. Thousands of investigations are going on, on a daily basis.

You understand? You know, you are from the media. After you will say we are doing media trial.

There is a petition against Tinubu by the former Managing Director of Alpha Beta. He wrote a petition to the EFCC. You were the head of Lagos zone.

He wrote to me?

No, he submitted it in Abuja. Your predecessor failed to investigate that petition. Instead, they turned the tables on the former MD of Alpha Beta, who alleged that over N100 billion money laundering, corruption, tax evasion by that company linked to Tinubu. Why is nothing being done about it? And are you going to take it on, now that you are the chairman of the EFCC? Well, petitions are normally investigated based on their own merit. Every petition that EFCC receives, we have what is called petition vetting committees in all zonal offices. So, of course, the zonal head and the chairman have the discretion, based on what is their assessment of the petition.

On these committees, we have lawyers, we have investigators that will sit down and review all petitions and advise. Some they reject, because they are civil in nature, you know, they communicate that to the petitioners or complainants and some they will advise

This was a career that I hoped will last for 35 years but here I am, after only 17 years, I happen to have reached the zenith of my career and I can leave the job at any time.You know, it’s something huge but we are not deterred about it, we are not complaining about it, we are being challenged about it, and God willing, we are going to make ourselves and the country proud

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SUNDAY INTERVIEW t 8*5) 5*.& &'$$ 8*-- '6/$5*0/ 8*5)065 10-*$&.&/ 4&$0/%&% 45"'' t for investigation and thorough look at the allegations contained and those will be assigned for the appropriate action.

Any petition that comes, based on his own merit, it would be treated.

The petition against Apha Beta is over two years, yet no action on it.

I will confirm from the records.

It has taken two years, tell us, are you going to open investigation into it?

Just the way that trial can take you 12 years, investigation, financial crime investigation, can take a bit of time, it can take you to the four corners of the world and back. We always set our target as the court. That is why we have to take our time to do investigation. So, it’s not an issue that you are feeling that an investigation has taken two years, has taken four years, five years… after all, the lawyers will say that time does not run out on criminal investigation. Somebody can be investigated on an action that he did 30 years ago, 40 years ago.

Why are you investigating the PDP finances? Is that within the mandate of the EFCC? One would have thought that it is INEC that should look into their finances or not EFCC. Look, we received a complaint and based on its own merit and according to the process, that I told you earlier, it was investigated and we saw that yes, there is an issue there. And it was assigned just like any other complaint. Is INEC investigating allegations of diversion? Does INEC have the power to investigate anything related to allegations of money laundering?

That is not what INEC was set up to do, that is what the EFCC and other related agencies are set up to do and that is what we are doing in that regard. So, it is nothing new to us, it is just like any other complaint and that is why we did not set out, for instance, to go and arrest people that are alleged to have committed the offence.

We wrote a letter to them, you know, come and explain to us and that was it. ....Institutional Knowledge Confers an Advantage on Me Lagos State Government recently signed a law that prevents the EFCC from investigating matters concerning officials of the state and mandates the EFCC to transfer cases it is currently handling to the state anti-corruption commission. What is your take on this and what becomes of EFCC’s role in investigating state officials if Lagos State or any other state has its own anti- corruption body. What’s your reaction to this development?

You asked four questions in one. I will start by telling you that I am aware that Kano and Bayelsa have started their own anticorruption agencies. But those laws do not contain anything that says that EFCC has nothing to do with investigating their states, they would rather be complementing what the EFCC is doing.

You see, there are a lot of Supreme Court decided cases on this particular issue. From the briefing that I have received, those things are already there.

The EFCC is a creation of the National Assembly, which of course, supersedes when it comes to that. So, there’s already a federal legislation. We are yet to see how the EFCC is going to hand over cases that they are interested in to any state government or see any correspondences to that effect. We are investigating our matters. In that regard, we are making progress. In that regard, let me ask you, what do you think that that law is for?

Well, a lot of people see it as an effort to protect certain officials of the state government So, let’s, let’s go to the next question.

But it is directly related. Do you think states have the capacity to investigate and prosecute the cases against state officials? I mean, tools, investigative skills?

What I can say is that law enforcement is a very, very expensive venture and requires a lot of training and retraining with trends of crime, you know, developing every day, every second, and you need to catch up with people doing that. Take, for instance, issues

Yes, it’s true that the Attorney General and myself are from the same state. No, it is not true that we are related. Look, there is no appointment that happens that somebody somewhere did not recommend. But I think what matters most is whether or not the person so appointed, has the capacity and the capability to do that job

of money laundering, where, maybe, somebody somewhere has laundered the proceeds of crime, let’s say somewhere in Sokoto and you are in Oyo State or you have properties, a lot of things will come up. Maybe he has properties in America, you need to carry out request, involving mutual legal assistance treaty between let’s say, Nigeria and America, whether or not the American government will recognise that. So, a lot of things left, right and center are at play regarding it. It is very, very expensive. Then the issue of capacity. Yes, anybody can develop a capacity to do that. But let’s wait and see.

Your predecessor once complained about terror sponsors using banks to launder money. He complained about one NGO in the North-east having 50 bank accounts. He met with bankers in Maiduguri and urged them to work with your commission in that regard. Are you continuing that effort and what is progress so far?

We are continuing on that. We are working on it. Issues of terrorism is not something that will come out in public. See, what he said is true. We are working on building on it and working with all the relevant law enforcement agencies.

Sometime ago, you called on bank officials to declare their assets. Many thought that was outside your purview. But, curiously, you are dealing with politicians already, and you have just 1,700 staff, do you think you have the capacity to deal with all that?

Let me start by answering the five questions, you asked in one, the five issues you raised. The first one is that we are well over 3000 staff and not 1700. The second issue which you raised, if you look at the provisions of Section 7 in addition to the EFCC Establishment Act itself, we are empowered to enforce certain provisions of the Money Laundering Provisions Act, Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, Failed Banks Recovery of Debt Act Miscellaneous Offences Act and Provisions of the penal code and criminal code as it relates to economic and financial crimes as well as advanced fraud and other related offences.

Subsequently, of course, you have the cybercrime Act, which we are empowered to enforce. You know, issues of advice that we are also assisting and FIRS and NCC and all of that now. That’s what we set out to do.

We have the capacity. We are embracing technology to deal with issues as they come up. So, that is on this side, on the other side, I did not say that banks will come and declare their assets to us. It is not within our powers to demand for that. But it is within our powers to demand for information. You and associate/s without any hindrance or failure must give us information on demand.

If you are an individual or corporate entity or companies, it is an offence not to comply. That is why we write to individuals, politicians to submit to us so that we will compare, because if you are a suspect, before us, you are expected to even fill our own declaration of assets form here. We write to CCB, for instance, to furnish us what you declared, yes, we write them to give us information on what you declared so that we can make comparison. We have our reason for saying that come June 1st, we are going to demand for the declaration of assets. That’s what I said. So, it doesn’t matter whether you have not declared, it doesn’t matter whether you have done anything, but what we said is that we are going to demand for it.

You understand this? This law is in a 1986 law. It was passed when I was just six years old. Yes, it’s an old law and they are expected to declare their assets annually. So, what we said is that we just need copies of those things, we have already demanded.

On June 1st, you know, we wrote to all the banks, the MDS and

DMDs should submit copies of their declaration of asset form.

Well, the bankers said they are not afraid to declare their assets Well, let’s see.

There’s a speculation that the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, was behind your appointment and that in fact, you are related to him. Is that true?

Yes, it’s true that the Attorney General and myself are from the same state. No, it is not true that we are related. Look, there is no appointment that happens that somebody somewhere did not recommend. But I think what matters most is whether or not the person so appointed, has the capacity and the capability to do that job. And the performance that comes out after that, that is what is more important.

Somebody, someone will do the job. As we have said, people always talk, people will always find something to say about somebody. What am I saying is, for instance, if you are a governor of a state, you are going to appoint some commissioners, you are going to appoint some people, that is, not even out of place, you know, if somebody has the powers and is appointing somebody that is even related to him, he may be his younger brother from that same state.

Are we saying that the President doesn’t have enough information to do the nomination? Even if somebody recommended someone, the President must approve, you understand? We have to learn to respect our leaders in this country, we have to learn to trust our leaders. Now the President has done that. And then I was before 109, distinguished senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not senators of Kebbi State, but the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

You saw what happened, you know, questions were asked, and in all modesty, we were able to answer them. You know, the followup comments that some of them have made, regarding that and that is why we are here, and its a sacrifice that I have made on a personal note. This was a career that I hoped will last for 35 years but here am I, after only 17 years, I happen to have reached the zenith of my career and I can leave the job at any time. You know, it’s something huge but we are not deterred about it, we are not complaining about it, we are being challenged about it, and God willing, we are going to make ourselves and the country proud.

In a nutshell, capture your vision of EFCC My vision of EFCC is to have an institution that can run on autopilot, curtailing the usage of discretion, and intelligence-driven investigation to be the bedrock of it, usage of technology, and an agency with very sound staff and procedures and one that is a respecter of the rule of law.

Remember, our vision is to rid this country of economic and financial crimes And as I said, I told senators that, “look, I envisage an EFCC where, as the chairman, I will say, ‘officer go and do this and he will look at me and say, sir, I understood what you said but I am not going to do it, because so and so Section of the Standard Operating Procedure says this and that’ and I will say, ‘thank you for reminding me, let’s go ahead and do it that way’”.

That is the EFCC that I am envisaging. Look, this is the only country that we have. We must work hard to ensure we have a better Nigeria going forward and God willing, we are on the right track to achieving that.

Let me use this opportunity to thank you and to call on the media to be on our side to always have an objective, balanced and fair reportage of issues as they unfold. Thank you very much.

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$midst FXrrent inIlationar\ SressXres oFFasioned E\ rising SriFes oI goods and serviFes in the FoXntr\ the government mXst intensiI\ eIIorts toZards arresting the drivers oI inIlation SartiFXlarl\ inseFXrit\ and Iine-tXne its SoliFies to Eoost the eFonomiF Zell-Eeing oI Nigerians Zrites -DPHV (PHMR

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he World Bank has stated that LnÁatLonar\ SressXre Ln 1LJerLa has SXshed aEoXt seven million Nigerians EeloZ the Sovert\ line in 2020 alone.

In its latest assessment oI the Nigerian eFonom\ SartiFXlarl\ the ZellEeing oI the Fommon man the World Bank ma\ have last Zeek stirred XS Fontrovers\ Zhen it Flaimed that rising SriFes or goods and Fommodities had SXshed seven million Nigerians EeloZ the Sovert\ line.

This Zas oEvioXsl\ at varianFe Zith 3resident 0XhammadX BXhari·s Flaim in his 'emoFraF\ 'a\ EroadFast that his administration had liIted 0. million Nigerians oXt oI Sovert\ in the Sast tZo \ears.

In its Nigeria 'eveloSment 8Sdate N'8

reSort the mXltilateral institXtion also reiterated the need Ior the Iederal government to set SoliF\ IoXndations Ior a strong reFover\ as Zell as to tame inÁation.

6eSaratel\ the World Bank·s &oXntr\ 'ireFtor Ior Nigeria 0r. 6hXEham &haXdhXri Zhile sSeaking on ¶The $rise ;Fhange · a Srogramme oI $5I6( N(W6 &hannel the EroadFast arm oI T+I6'$< NeZsSaSers added that laFk oI eFonomiF oSSortXnities Zas FontriEXting to the rising Frime Fases and inseFXrit\ in the FoXntr\. $mong other things the XSdate stressed the need Ior FritiFal reIorms E\ the government to redXFe inÁation and aFFelerate the reFover\. $FFording to the Bretton Woods institXtion µWhile the government took measXres to SroteFt the eFonom\ against a mXFh deeSer reFession it ZoXld Ee essential to set SoliF\ IoXndations Ior a strong reFover\.µ The N'8 titled ´5esilienFe throXgh 5eIormsµ Sointed oXt that in 2020 the Nigerian eFonom\ e[SerienFed a shalloZer FontraFtion oI - . Ser Fent than the - .2 Ser Fent ZhiFh had Eeen SroMeFted at the Eeginning oI the SandemiF. It oEserved that althoXgh the eFonom\ started to groZ again SriFes are inFreasing raSidl\ severel\ imSaFting Nigerian hoXseholds. ´$s oI $Sril 202 the inÁation rate Zas the highest in IoXr \ears. )ood SriFes aFFoXnted Ior over 0 Ser Fent oI the total inFrease in inÁation.

5ising SriFes have SXshed an estimated seven million Nigerians EeloZ the Sovert\ line in 2020 alone.µ The N'8 aFknoZledged notaEle government·s SoliF\ reIorms aimed at mitigating the imSaFt oI the Frisis and sXSSorting reFover\ SartiFXlarl\ steSs taken toZards redXFing Setrol sXEsidies and adMXsting eleFtriFit\ tariͿs toZards more Fost-reÁeFtive levels Eoth aimed at e[Sanding the ÀsFal sSaFe Ior Sro-Soor sSending.

It hoZever advised Eoth the Iederal and state governments to FXt non-essential sSending and re-direFted resoXrFes toZards the &29I'- resSonse. $lso the World Bank admitted that SXEliF-seFtor transSarenF\ had imSroved esSeFiall\ aroXnd the oSerations oI the oil and gas seFtor.

The reSort hoZever noted that desSite the more IavoraEle e[ternal environment Zith reFovering oil SriFes and groZth in advanFed eFonomies a IailXre to sXstain and deeSen reIorms ZoXld threaten Eoth maFroeFonomiF sXstainaEilit\ and SoliF\ FrediEilit\ thereE\limitingthegovernment·saEilit\ to address gaSs in hXman and Sh\siFal FaSital ZhiFh is needed to attraFt Srivate investment. &ommenting on the reSort &haXdhXri said ´Nigeria IaFes interlinked Fhallenges in relation to inÁation limited MoE oSSortXnities and inseFXrit\. µWhile the government has made eͿorts to redXFetheeͿeFtoItheseE\advanFinglong-dela\ed SoliF\ reIorms it is Flear that these reIorms Zill have to Ee sXstained and deeSened Ior Nigeria to reali]e its develoSment Sotential.µ TrXe to the oEservation oI the Eank Nigerians are Sresentl\ groaning Xnder the EXrden oI high

Ahmed

inÁation as market SriFes oI Iood and Fommodit\ SriFes have triSled in reFent times aͿeFting their SXrFhasing SoZer as the real valXe oI the naira is also eroded. $nd this is SartiFXlarl\ distXrEing EeFaXse Zhenever SriFes go XS in the FoXntr\ the\ hardl\ Fome doZn. InÁation rate is one oI the FritiFal maFroeFonomiF indiFes Xsed to asFertain the health and Zell-Eeing oI an eFonom\ and is Fonsidered to Ee harmIXl to an eFonom\ Zhen the rates are deemed to Ee signiÀFantl\ high. $mong other things the &entral Bank oI Nigeria &BN has the mandate to ensXre monetar\ and SriFe staEilit\ and also Sromote a soXnd ÀnanFial s\stem among other IXnFtions E\ emSlo\ing the 0onetar\ 3oliF\ 5ate 035 to anFhor short-term interest rates and to rein-in inÁation e[SeFtations. $lthoXgh the &BN had set an inÁation target oI EetZeen si[ to nine Ser Fent in its Àve-\ear SoliF\ thrXst 20 -202 the eFonom\ remained Xnder signiÀFant inÁationar\ SressXres Ior oEvioXs reasons.

BXt the aSe[ Eank had Eeen aEsolved E\ e[Serts Zho Eelieved that the Eank had done enoXgh to FXrtail the rise in the headline inde[ Sointing oXt that the IaFtors that FXrrentl\ IXel inÁation ZhiFh stood at . Ser Fent in 0a\ Zere Ee\ond the Fontrol oI the &BN. II an\thing inÁation ZhiFh had strengthened Ior FonseFXtive months EeIore sloZing in$Sril and 0a\ - had largel\ Eeen IXeled E\ rising Iood SriFes FaXsed E\ inseFXrit\ as Iarmers are XnaEle to engage in Iarming aFtivities dXe to the aFtivities oI armed Eandits and terrorists aFross the FoXntr\ as Zell as the FontinXing Iarmers-herders Flashes. +oZever in its reFommendations to the Iederal government the World Bank SroSosed near-term SoliF\ oStion organised aroXnd three Sriorit\ oEMeFtives.

These are to redXFe inÁation E\ imSlementing SoliFies that sXSSort maFroeFonomiF staEilit\ inFlXsive groZth and MoE Freation SroteFt Soor hoXseholds Irom the imSaFts oI inÁation IaFilitate aFFess to ÀnanFing Ior small and mediXm enterSrises in ke\ seFtors to mitigate the eͿeFts oI inÁation and aFFelerate the reFover\.

The World Bank /ead (Fonomist Ior Nigeria and Fo-aXthor oI the reSort 0arFo +ernande] noted that ´*iven the XrgenF\ to redXFe inÁation amidst the SandemiF a SoliF\ FonsensXs and e[Sedite reIorm imSlementation on e[Fhangerate management monetar\ SoliF\ trade SoliF\ ÀsFal SoliF\ and soFial SroteFtion ZoXld helS save lives SroteFt livelihoods and ensXre a Iaster and

Emefiele

sXstained reFover\.µ It hoZever Fame as a relieI to Nigerians Zhen the &onsXmer 3riFe Inde[ &3I ZhiFh measXres inÁation droSSed to . Ser Fent \ear-on\ear in 0a\ FomSared to . 2 Ser Fent in the SreFeding month. $FFording to the National BXreaX oI 6tatistiFs NB6 the 0. Ser Fent deFline in the headline inde[ makes it the seFond FonseFXtive month that the rate had sXstained its doZnZard traMeFtor\ aIter months oI inÁationar\ SressXres on the eFonom\. $FFording to the &3I ÀgXres Iood inÁation droSSed to 22.2 Ser Fent Irom 22. 2 Ser Fent in $Sril.

3riFe moderation Zas reForded in Eread Fereals milk Fheese eggs Àsh soIt drinks FoͿee tea and FoFoa IrXits meat oils and Iats and vegetaEles.

2n month-on-month Easis the Iood sXE-inde[ deFlined to .0 Ser Fent in 0a\ Irom 0. Ser Fent reForded in the SreFeding month.

2n the other hand Fore inÁation ZhiFh e[FlXdes the SriFes oI volatile agriFXltXral SrodXFe rose to . Ser Fent Irom 2. 2 Ser Fent in the revieZ Seriod.

2n month-on-month Easis the Fore sXE-inde[ inFreased E\ .2 Ser Fent the NB6 noted.

The highest inFreases Zere reForded in SriFes oI SharmaFeXtiFal SrodXFts garments shoes and other IootZear hairdressing salons and Sersonal grooming estaElishments.

2thers are IXrnitXre and IXrnishing FarSet and other Áoor Fovering motor Fars hosSital serviFes IXels and lXEriFants Ior Sersonal transSort eTXiSment Fleaning reSair and hire oI Flothing other serviFes in resSeFt oI Sersonal transSort eTXiSment gas hoXsehold te[tile and non-dXraEle hoXsehold goods. &ommenting on the develoSment anal\sts in seSarate intervieZs Zith T+I6'$< hoZever SroͿered the Za\ IorZard Ior the eFonom\. $n$ssoFiate 3roIessor oI$griFXltXral (FonomiFs at 8niversit\ oI 3ort +arFoXrt $nthon\ 2nega said the Za\ IorZard Zas to tighten monetar\ SoliFiesandgenXinel\sXSSortthe0iFro 6malland 0ediXm 6Fale (nterSrises 060(s E\ Sroviding them Zith an enaEling environment. +e said the IoFXs shoXld also Ee on advanFing Fredit Ior inIrastrXFtXre develoSment attraFtion oI )oreign 'ireFt Investment )'I restrXFtXring oI the health and edXFational seFtor as Zell as investment in &29I'- vaFFines and restriFtive monetar\ SoliFies.

2noMa also advised the Iederal government to

FonFentrate on national SroMeFts that are FaSaEle oI Freating MoE oSSortXnities and inFreasing aFFess to soFial SroteFtion sFhemes. +e said the World Bank reSort imSlied that the ´Nigerian (FonomiF 6XstainaEilit\ 3lan is not having the desired imSaFt Ior noZ. ´The reFent reFord high rise in Nigerian inÁation in 202 is a reÁeFtion oI the reFessive trend oI Nigerian eFonom\ sinFe 2020 Zhose reFover\ time aSSears indeterminate. ´The \ear 2020 Fame Zith XnXsXal develoSments sXFh as &29I'- SandemiF a reFord level rise in inseFXrit\ restriFted e[Sort and imSort market regimes as evidenFed Irom a Srolonged Eorder FlosXre. ´To Zorsen these Soor harvests Irom Iarms loZ SriFes oI oil erratiF maFroeFonomiF SoliFies and diminishing SrodXFtion FaSaFit\ Xtilisation in the varioXs eFonomiF seFtors FomSoXnded the rate oI inÁation in Nigeria in 2020 ZhiFh FoXld not aEate even E\ 0a\ 202 µ.

0anaging 'ireFtor &hieI ([eFXtive 'ignit\ )inanFe and Investmemt /imited 'r. &hiMioke (keFhXkZX oͿeredTXiFkÀ[esthatFoXldstimXlate the eFonom\ again. +e said the FoXntr\·s inadeTXate revenXe Ease FoXSled Zith hXge droS in Ioreign direFt investments )'I FonstitXte maMor setEaFks Ior the eFonom\ adding that inFreased revenXe Ease Zill Ering doZn the e[Fhange rate. +e said inFreased in )'I as Zell as the aEilit\ oI the government to taFkle inseFXrit\ Zill Ee a game Fhanger Ior the eFonom\. +e added that e[Fhange rate also FonstitXted a maMor FaXse oI the high inÁation rate e[SerienFed in the FoXntr\ as Zell as the hXge FXrrent trade deÀFit. (keFhXkZX said ´ InÁation Zill FontinXe to redXFe TXalit\ oI liIe and standard oI living as disSosaEleinFomeoINigeriansFontinXestodeSlete. ´9alXe oI loFal FXrrenF\ held in Eanks FontinXe to lose valXe.$ll these FontinXoXsl\ inFrease Sovert\ level of Nigerians. ´2ne maMor FaXse of inÁation is inseFXrit\ in the FoXntr\ XnfortXnatel\ it is onl\ Zithin the Fontrol the federal government and therefore neither the monetar\ nor ÀsFal SoliF\ Fan Fontrol inseFXrit\.µ 2n his Sart 0anaging 'ireFtor &hief ([eFXtive &redent Investment 0anagers /imited 0r.

IErahim 6helleng said the onl\ solXtion to FXrrent eFonomiF Fhallenges Zas for the FoXntr\ to resort to loFal SrodXFtion and e[Sort.

See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 20, 2021

24

ENERGY

Should Rising Oil Prices be a Problem for Nigeria?

Recently, the GMD, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mallam Mele Kyari, asked Nigeria not to rejoice at the rising prices of crude oil. As a person when the price of your product is rising and the buyers are present, willing and able, should you rejoice or cry? Among Kyari’s major worry is settling fuel subsidy receipts. IMF, in its characteristic manner has expressed its disdain for government’s continued fuel subsidy payment. Chris Paul reports

W

hen crude oil price rallied around $75 per barrel on Friday, Nigeria were about singing the alleluia chorus, when the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, warned that rather than being a positive development, the rising prices of crude oil in the international market could cause major challenges for resource-dependent nations like Nigeria.

Speaking at the virtual Citizens Energy Congress, tagged: “Securing a Sustainable Future Energy System through Strategy, Collaboration and Innovation,” on Thursday, 17, Kyari described the rising price of crude oil as a “chicken and egg” situation; adding that oil prices had started leaving the comfort zone set by the NNPC, and becoming a burden.

For Nigeria to have su΀cient comfort, Kyari puts the tolerable globally price at $58-$60, stressing that anything above $70-$80 will create major distortions in the projections of the corporation and add more problems for the NNPC. According to him Brent crude, Nigeria’s oil benchmark, is currently selling beyond $74 and may increase further in the coming days as the NNPC continues to battle the dilemma of shouldering the payment of petrol subsidy, which has drained its purse to the point it was unable to contribute to the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) on two occasions.

Expressing concern over price rise for the commodity, Kyari feared buyers of Nigeria’s crude may be compelled to accelerate their investment in renewable sources of energy, thereby leaving the industry in a quagmire.

“In a resource-dependent nation like Nigeria when it gets too high, it creates a big problem because your consumers shut down their demand.

Demand will go down and obviously even as the prices go up, you will have less volume to sell.

“So, it’s a chicken and egg story and that’s why in the industry when people make estimates for the future, they always make it about $50 to $60.

Nobody puts it beyond $60,” he said.

The burden, however, for Nigeria, according to the NNPC GMD, is that providing cheap fuel also increases; which Kyari a΀rmed, “Is a challenge for us but on a net basis, you know, the high prices, as long as it doesn’t exceed $70 to $80, it’s okay for us.”

But he assured that Nigeria will have no problems supporting the restoration of about 5.8 million barrels a day that the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) still has o΁ine since the pandemic, consequent upon curbs in production quota imposed by the oil cartel.

For him, adding that number to demand is the Àx that will stabilise and probably bring oil prices down to about $60 level or a little below $60; and that Kyari asserted is the comfort zone every producing company or country desires to be in.

The NNPC GMD does not envisage any difÀculty, with Nigeria, agreeing to add additional volume to cushion the eͿect of these high prices for this period.

Although, in early 2020, the country actually produced up to 2.4 million barrels of oil per day for both oil and condensates. Kyari revealed that Nigeria is already producing well below its capacity, today.

If the rising Oil price is not properly managed, the NNPC chief believes, the next Àve years, the world may experience an energy crisis; due to declining investments in the oil sector.

“But we know that a number of things are going on in the transition journey at renewables.

Slyva

Many oil companies are transiting to renewables in the future. And that means that emphasis will be on gas and I see a very turbulent next Àve years and potentially some stability in the next 10 years,” he said.

As the hitherto fossil fuels-driven world is transiting to renewables is an ongoing reality, Kyari’s concern is Àred by Nigeria’s infrastructure-deÀciency which requires resources from oil to exit poverty.

An eͿective transition for Nigeria entails going for a low-carbon option and moving towards more gas development than the liquids.

He added that in the long run, the country would need to wean herself oͿ oil dependence.

“Renewables are real and we are making eͿorts to go in that direction, but obviously, our Àrst step is to develop our gas resources.

“In this industry, you can’t do anything except you have the Ànancing and Ànancing is now clearly constrained both in terms of available resources and the decision of some of the shareholders of some of the lending institutions,” he said.

Kyari is disturbed by the disquieting silence on gas, as an alternative energy resource and the immense possibilities therein; saying, “Everybody is saying that in the next 10 years, we will get to peak oil. But nobody has said peak gas. And it’s very di΀cult to distinguish the two because as you get peak oil, in many cases, you know, oil is produced alongside gas.

“Yes, it’s possible, it can be in 10 years’ time but you also know that what we are doing today in the industry is also curtailing investment and meeting the transition target in 2050.

“What that means is that in Àve years’ time, you could be in a situation of shock and this shock will mean that people will have to put more money into producing the liquids and that means that it will defer the date for liquid

oil and potentially pushing it by 20 to 30 years.”

The NNPC GMD made these concerns about the same time the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was worrying over the re-emergence of fuel subsidy in Nigeria in the face of the country’s low revenue mobilisation.

Although, IMF said the views expressed in the statement were those of the IMF staͿ and did not represent those of the IMF’s Executive Board, the anti-fuel subsidy statement credited to its staͿ has been IMF’s sing-song since the subsidy situation became Nigeria’s portion.

Led by IMF’s Mission Chief for Nigeria, Ms. Jesmin Rahman, in the virtual meetings with the Nigerian authorities, held from June 1st to June 8th, 2021, the IMF team came to discuss recent economic, Ànancial developments and outlook.

At the end of the visit, Rahman, in the statement, said the Nigerian economy had started to gradually recover from the negative eͿects of the COVID-19 global pandemic; saying, “The mission expressed its concern with the resurgence of fuel subsidies. It reiterated the importance of introducing market-based fuel pricing mechanism and the need to deploy well-targeted social support to cushion any impact on the poor.

“The mission recommended stepping up efforts to strengthen tax administration to mobilise additional revenues and help address priority spending pressures.”

It stated that tax revenue collections in Nigeria were gradually recovering but with fuel subsidies resurfacing, additional spending for COVID-19 vaccines, added to address security challenges, the Àscal deÀcit of the consolidated government was expected to remain elevated at 5.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

It added that following sharp output contractions in the second and third quarters, GDP growth turned positive in the fourth quarter

(Q4 2020) and growth reached 0.5 per cent (yearon-year) in Q1 2021, supported by agriculture and services sectors.

Of great concern, however, to the Team, was the declining employment level in the country which continues to deepen dramatically together with other socio-economic indicators, remained below pre-pandemic levels.

“InÁation slightly decelerated in May but remained elevated at 17.93 per cent, owing to high food price inÁation. With the recovery in oil prices and remittance Áows, the strong pressures on the balance of payments have somewhat abated, although imports are rebounding faster than exports and foreign investor appetite remains subdued resulting in continued forex shortage.

“The incipient recovery in economic activity is projected to take root and broaden among sectors, with GDP growth expected to reach 2.5 per cent in 2021,” it added.

It anticipated that inÁation in Nigeria would remain elevated in 2021, but likely to decelerate in the second half of the year to reach about 15.5 per cent, following the removal of border controls and the elimination of base eͿects from elevated food price levels.

Downside risks to the near-term arise from further deterioration of security conditions, and the still uncertain course of the pandemic both globally and in Nigeria, it added.

In the face of Nigeria’s prevailing condition and the current contexts running the nation’s aͿairs today, Kyari’s rising Oil prices alarm and IMF’s fuel-subsidy fears may be misplaced.

Concerning the rising Oil prices and the fear of losing Nigeria’s customers, all the NNPC needs to do is to look inward.

Even if the world decides to move into renewables next month, for instance, the Nigerian and African market with over $1 trillion GDP, is still a substantially large Àeld for the nation’s Oil to play.

Besides, the growing renewable energy Community came into being, largely to escape rising Oil prices and of course exit the carbon pollutions that come with the usage of resource. So, at some point, Nigeria is bound to lose Buyers who will run to renewables to power their businesses etc.

The commonsensical thing for NNPC to do, therefore, is to use the proceeds to aggressively pursue and power the federal government non-Oil Export drive, while exerting an equally eͿective energy on the campaign for the development of renewables.

Meanwhile, the potentials for the domestic market of Crude Oil cannot be ignored.

For an economy that is literally driven by fossil fuel, the NNPC will not lose much, in a worst case scenario, should Buyers be scared away by rising Oil prices.

Rising number of domestic ReÀneries creates a ready in-country market for the nation’s Oil. Following on that the output of petrochemical products by the Local ReÀners will generate another ready revenue source for the economy.

The corporation’s recent purchase of 29% stake in Dangote ReÀnery, as a sign of its new strategy to ensure fuel availability and aͿordability in the country, demonstrated Kyari’s understanding of the nation’s downstream debacle.

With a Dangote, for example, the national oil company will be using one stone to kill the many birds of doom that have been eating the heart of Nigeria’s economy.

Once the Dangote and other private ReÀneries come on stream, fuel scarcity and importation will be a thing of the past.

Central Bank of Nigerian Governor, Godwin EmeÀele, will cease to sweat in his air-conditioned o΀ce with worry over the scarce forex fuel importation gulps almost on a daily basis.

See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com

25

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 20, 2021

DEVELOPMENT

BoI-Purple Partnership, Game-Changer in Hospitality, Entertainment Despite the gloom that seems to becloud the country, the hospitality and entertainment needs of Nigerians remain and cannot be ignored. As it is well known, this all-important desire by citizens is being driven to fruition by the private sector, and leading this charge is Purple Group, which is set to realise the vision of its world-class mixed-use integrated entertainment centre, through the strategic support of The Bank of Industry (BoI) and Keystone Bank collaboration. Chris Paul reports

I

n May 2021, an agreement was signed between the Purple Group and its new partners in the public and private sectors, Bank of Industry and Keystone Bank, for the completion of PurpleLekki in the upscale Lekki area of Lagos state.

Estimated to be delivered in the second quarter of 2022, Purple Lekki will be furnished with state of the art exterior & interior pieces driven by cutting-edge technology. This will provide an infrastructural platform for entertainment, hospitality and retail. For instance, the Cinema embedded in the project, will bring a refreshing Áavour to family and community entertainment patronage and management in Nigeria.

By the time the Purple Lekki goes up and becomes functional, it will quickly be the Mecca of Nollywood managers, producers, players and patrons as the site to shoot blockbuster movies and a place to watch them upon release to the cinemas.

Beyond the entertainment value is the socio economic impact the development brings to the table.

With over 2,500 estimated direct and indirect jobs on site, the massive construction is already creating a pseudo community economy for the part of Lekki hosting its presence. This fact must have jolted BOI/Keystone syndicated interest to bankroll the project.

Typifying the vision of a 21st century cuttingedge mixed-use property concept, PurpleLekki, an integrated entertainment, hospitality and retail hub, presents all the enchanting features of the current vogue in global high-end architectural masterpieces.

ReÁecting the growing trend for urbanists and developers to incorporate a range of uses on city center sites, the mixed-use medium makes for more e΀cient use of scarce land, providing a more varied and sustainable experience for occupiers and visitors.

Breathing new life into a previously underserved neighbourhood, the Purple vision creates a completely connected community of co-living and co-working professionals, leisure seekers and short, long-stay guests.

Envisioned as a vibrant live-work-play hub that fosters emotional connections with its users throughlivelysocialandculturalactivities,inviting public places and energetic community vibes, the Purple mixed-use development comprises a retail and department centre which serves as a platform to inspire retail innovation; other blocks that meet the needs of a variety of businesses and co-working spaces.

At the core of the Purple idea is community, connectivity, comfort and convenience.

Catering to the new breed of consumers whose desire for a collaborative environment and authentic experiences reÁect their passions and tastes, the Purple mixed-use concept provides exceptional visibility in the very heart of the part of urban Lagos it Ànds itself.

Resolutely contemporary and eco-friendly, this new, but evolving format forms an integral part of an institutional and cultural compound that will be home to the core of the Lagos metropolitan taste for lifestyle and entertainment; with a view to facilitating cultural synergies and business alliances.

By the time, the Purple mixed-use development completes its construction course, it will transform skylines and their striking silhouettes will stand as an emblem of Lagos city’s rising status as a global metropolis.

With a potential to invigorate its urban context, the ongoing PurpleLekki, for example, embodies a radical manifestation of the potential of the

Pitan

MD, Keystone-Bank, Olaniran Olayinka

Agboola

dignity of a space to be and feel free.

Revealing its inner life, Purple projects the image of human activity and inhabitation to the surrounding neighborhoods.

The PurpleLekki stands out as a project, combining class-A o΀ces with an industrial and modern design; retail and culture with an array of restaurants, and boutiques; a cinema; and family entertainment for all ages.

The adventurous synthesis of conventional and high-tech architecture creates a great space for business and art; while the modern and friendly spacesareperfectforworkandeverydayactivities.

Purple Lekki could be considered as a ‘city within a city. These qualities must have convinced the Bank of Industry (BOI) and Keystone bank to backthePurpleGroupwithsigniÀcantinvestment.

The BoI-Purple marriage is one that deÀnes the true colour of public private partnership (PPP) as a veritable means of achieving an inclusive and integrated development of a nation’s economy; in this case, entertainment and hospitality.

LedbyitsManagingDirector,OlukayodePitan, BoI has been collaborating with various Industry subsector groups such as the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) to improve structures in the nation’s creative and entertainment industries, with a view to increasing the economic beneÀts thatharnessingwhattheseindustrieswouldbring to Nigeria.

The bank believes this would aid both the industry and the country in general to take full advantage of the abundant talents resident in the country. The value the creative industry brings to the nation’s economy in terms of saving the nation’shugeforeignexchangespentonacquiring structures and facilities including studios, is one of the major attraction for the bank. Notwithstanding the little attention given to the entertainment sector, as it still contributed about 1.42 per cent to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).

In BoI’s paradigm shift, the bank has paid considerable attention to the creative industry becauseitisawareofitspotentialandcontributions to the Nigerian economy Regarding the structures needed to support the industry,thenation’spremierdevelopmentÀnance institution is also driving the process to bring in foreign and private investors to consider investing in the creative and entertainment industries, stating that it would help create job opportunities as well as support other value chains in the sector.

Although the bank acknowledges the abundance of talents in Nigeria, the managers of the bank recognize that structure is what is lacking.

AmongthemanyattractionsfortheBoI’sinterest in the Purple’s developments, the entertainment and hospitality components in the mixed-use medium makes the Purple idea a game-changer for the government funding institution.

As a major backer of the Purple concept, Keystone bank has established itself as a Ànancial institution with a keen eye for ideas and projects that push the envelope in advancing nation- building and community development, according to prevailing global trends.

The Purple concept had obviously captured Keystone’s imagination of a Disney-styled mixeduse development to earn the bank’s inspired passion to be a major partner in the business.

With a resolute service promise to support, guide and grow businesses, Keystone has been providing the necessary Ànancial solutions for growth, while keeping in focus the business’ need for proÀtability and e΀cient liquidity management.

Its sector focus includes: general commerce (trading), industrial and agro-allied chemicals, telecommunications,manufacturing,downstream oil and gas trading, hospitality and building and construction, among others.

Its support for the Purple development resonates with the bank’s service promise to support, guide and grow this new concept in mixed-use development in the country.

The entire concept of these space age mixeduse developments is deÀned in Purple Living, which was launched by the Group’s CEO, Laide Agboola, as part of its contribution to property development in Nigeria.

Also created to engender wealth creation, some of Purple Living concepts are designed to help address the estimated 18 million housing deÀcit in the country and create wealth. As part of the plans, Purple promises to provide Nigerians with an opportunity to own premium, gated, and aͿordable residences in the heart of Maryland and Lekki with Áexible payment plans.

Homes are an essential good and the ongoing COVID-19pandemichasfacilitatedarealitywhere more white-collar workers and entrepreneurs are spending more time at home.

This has brought about the need to invest in new homes or secure their savings in real estate investments over other Ànancial instruments.

Purple Living is working to create home ownership and facilitate real estate investment while preserving the ultra-modern standard of living.

With the rising cost of rents in a cosmopolitan city like Lagos, structured payments have also

beencreated,whichwilloͿermaximumcustomer satisfaction and an unbeatable long-term return on investment.

“Purple Living, investors have the opportunity to make fortunes from their property investment.

Essentially, discerning investors could generate huge returns from their investment in property as well as to create a portfolio of property investment with a view to building wealth,” Agboola stated.

“Our initiative will eradicate all the challenges of owning a house in diͿerent highbrow locations around Lagos and spread real estate opportunities to property lovers in a very subtle and convenient way,” he added.

Purple, he pointed out, was focused on providing top facility management and services while developing more properties that Àt into future smart cities.

According to him, developments are to follow an urban village model, mixed-use assets where residences are in close proximity to essential and entertainment facilities.

Agboola said Purple will help transform the landscapes of urban communities and place Nigeria at the forefront of development inAfrica.

Purple Living consists of three major projects.

Currently under development and set in Lekki Phase 1, PurpleLekki consist of the Nano hotel-apartments situated right in the heart of the current mixed-use “Urban Village.”

This is the Àrst of the three projects.

Attired in premium and modern-styled residences, the macro apartments are situated on the mainland and consist of one, two and three bedroom apartments.

Strictly residential and gated developments also within the Lagos metropolis, the urban residences will be a mix of fully detached duplexes, semidetached duplexes, pent apartments and 2, 3 and 4 bedroom apartments.

FormerlyknownasPurpleCapitalandfounded in 2010, Purple Group is an investment Àrm creating lifestyle experiences through investments in superior mixed-use facilities, real estate, Ànance and entertainment across Nigeria, with the vision to shape the future by redeÀning the real estate industry globally.

Without a doubt, the Purple housing idea may deÀne and transform the Nigerian housing landscape from its formlessness to a heavenly manifestation of the global best in mixed-use multi-purpose shelter.

Like a master artist, ensconced in the hue, the conceptisalreadypaintingLagosonthemixed-use canvas in colour Purple.

26

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 20, 2021

ENERGY

Timipre Sylva

Mele Kyari

Simi Wabote

Ernest Nwapa

Local Content Act, 11 Years After April 2021 marked the 11th year since the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, otherwise known as the local content law was enacted. Emmanuel Addeh looks at the journey so far, distilling reviews by industry players on how beneÀcial the implementation of the law has been, attempts to extend it to other sectors as well as ways to further strengthen in-country oil and gas activities

C

onsideringthecontentofthe correspondence that made the rounds across government agencies, last week, it was glaring that the nation was in trouble.

It was one of the most dreaded days in the o΀ces of the managers of the nation’s economy; the letter contained the information stating that the NNPC would not be contributing to the FAAC for the months of April and May. ThisisduetotheshortfallofN111,966,456,903.74, the national oil company recorded in February 2021.

Thispresentpredicamentarosefromthefactthat NNPC, the country’s apex fuel importer-supplier, was recording a shortage of N56 for every liter of PMS being imported into Nigeria currently.

According to the memo, as the federal government and labour were still negotiating the pump price of fuel, the shortfall came from the landing cost of fuel that skyrocketed by “ In the Beginning In 1990, the then Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Jibril Aminu, for the Àrst time in the country’s history, facilitated the award of oil blocks to 11 Nigerian entrepreneurs, although on a discretionary basis.

Convinced that Nigerians had garnered the requisite experience and skills, having worked for several decades under oil multinationals, Aminu thought it was time to give the Nigerian businessman the opportunity to try out what they had learnt over the years.

That decision of giving Nigerians the chance to participate in the discretionary bid round gave birth to some indigenous companies, including Queens Petroleum, which operated OPL 135, Cavendish Petroleum (OPL 453); Summit Oil International (OPLs 205 & 206); Atlas Petroleum (OPL 75), among others.

The relative success of the 1990 exercise prompted the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration to in 1999 award more marginal Àelds to industry players of Nigerian origin.

With Nigerians now eͿectively taking part in the oil and gas sector, it was only a matter of time before a deliberate policy to consolidate the little gains that had been achieved would be introduced, especially in the oil services sector which was largely dominated by the Schlumberg-

ers, Haliburtons and Baker Hughes of this world.

In 2003, the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act, was signed into law, which was essentially an Act to restrict the use of foreign vessels in domestic coastal trade to promote the development of indigenous tonnage and to establish a cabotage vessel Ànancing fund and other related matters.

But despite these eͿorts , the country was literally still bleeding as foreigners still remained in charge of critical segments of the oil and gas industry until the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD)Act, popularly called the local content law in 2010.

Passed inApril of that year, Part 1 of the law categorically states that: “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Petroleum Act or in any other enactment or law, the provisions of this Act shall apply to all matters pertaining to Nigerian content in respect of all operations or transactions carried out in or connected with the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

It adds that: “All regulatory authorities, operators, contractors, subcontractors, alliance partners and other entities involved in any project, operation, activity or transaction in the Nigerian oil and gas industry shall consider Nigerian content as an important element of their overall project development and management philosophy for project execution.

Furthermore, the NOGICD Act states that Nigerian independent operators shall be given Àrst consideration in the award of oil blocks, oil Àeld licences, oil-lifting licences and in all projects for which contract is to be awarded in the Nigerian oil and gas industry subject to the fulÀlment of such conditions as may be speciÀed.

“There shall be exclusive consideration to Nigerian indigenous service companies which demonstrate ownership of equipment, Nigerian personnel and capacity to execute such work...,” it states.

Implications In essence, it is estimated that before attention shifted to the need to encourage in-country participation, the glaring lack of technical know-how led to importation of expats who dominated the oil and gas landscape.

And as expected, these foreigners are usually remunerated in hard currency and it has been estimated that this could have led to the loss of

as much as $380 capital in Áight, with a paltry 5 per cent Nigerian participation and loss of at least 2 million jobs.

This manifestly led to less revenue accruing to the government; job losses; lack of skills/ technological know-how transfer; high cost of products; long project cycle and over-dependency on foreign countries, which also translated to national security challenges.

It is said that this conscious eͿort in the last 11 years has saved the country from unwarranted embarrassment on several occasions when there were emergencies.

For instance, there was no noticeable disruptions in the operations of the oil and gas industry during the coronavirus-induced lockdown last year, which could have raised national security issues, even with a large percentage of expatriates having left Nigeria for their home countries.

The Birth of NCDMB On April 22, 2010, then President Goodluck Jonathan signed the bill into law, giving birth to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board(NCDMB),withDr.ErnestNwapa,aformer employee of the Nigerian Content Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as its pioneer executive secretary.

The signing of the Nigerian content act by Jonathan eͿectively marked the beginning of the turnaround in the activities of indigenous contractors in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

Nwapa led the board from April 2010 to May l, 2015 and was succeeded by Denzel Kentebe, till September 2016, when the current Executive Secretary, Mr. Simbi Wabote, who’s now serving his second term, was appointed.

NCDMB was essentially created to map out a content plan, supervising, coordinating, monitoring, and generally implementing the local content act which applies to all regulatory authorities, operators, contractors and sub-contractors in the nation’s oil and gas industry.

In speciÀc terms, the NCDMB was set up to promote the development and utilisation of incountry capacities for the industrialisation of the country through the eͿective implementation of the Nigerian Content Act. It reviews, assesses and approves Nigerian content plans developed by operators; set guidelines and minimum content levels for project-related activities across the oil and gas value chain and engages in targeted capacity-building interven-

tions that would deepen indigenous capabilities in human capital development.

The board is further saddled with the responsibility of maintaining and operating the Joint QualiÀcation System (NOGICJQS) in conjunction with industry stakeholders to monitor Nigerian content compliance by operators and service providers as well as award certiÀcates of authorisation for projects that comply with Nigerian content provisions.

In addition, it has delved into conducting studies, researching, investigating industry-related matters as well as conducting workshops and training aimed at advancing local content in the country.

Eleven Years of Impact Although the NCDMB, which is the implementing body of the local content act, took oͿ on a slow note, with the usual teething issues in the early years, it appears to have since fully throttled, especially under the current management led by Wabote, described as very focused and a competent hand.

From 5 per cent when the implementation of the NOGICD Act commenced, in 2017, the number hit 28 per cent in 2017, and as at 2020 was put at 31 per cent.

Taking advantage of the local content act, in the upstream sub-sector, many Nigerian oil and gas players have now bought over stakes in multinational oil companies, further deepening the local content ecosystem.

For instance, a few years back, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) sold its interests in four oil blocks to indigenous companies including SEPLAT, Neconde Consortium led by Nestoil Plc, Shoreline Natural Resources, and 45 per cent interest in OML 40 to Eland Oil & Gas Ltd and Starcrest Nigeria Energy Ltd. Today, AITEO, Oando, Seplat, Eroton, First E&P and a host of other indigenous companies are major players in the oil and gas business in the country, with the full backing of the local content act implemented by the NCDMB. In January this year, Heirs Holding, owned by Tony Elumelu, bought 45 per cent of OML 17 from Shell, Eni and Total.

Similarly,indigenouscompaniesarenowtaking control of lucrative pipeline construction projects, stirring more competition in the industry.

Last year, the NCDMB commissioned a 17-storey building in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, arguably the

27

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 20, 2021

ENERGY Local Content Act, 11 Years After tallest building in that region and mostly executed by indigenous contractors and local skills.

In fabrication, the number of fabrication yards across the country, have increased, line pipes are now almost wholly produced in-country, pipe coating plants are springing up, which ultimately leads to capital retention, job creation and skill enhancement for Nigerians.

In all, before the NOGICDAct, there were only 44 registered indigenous service companies in the country, but has now risen to over 93, rigs and marine vessels owned by Nigerians were less than 5 per cent owned by Nigerians. This has risen to 40 per cent.

By 2027, the NCDMB intends to increase local content to 70 per cent, which will see the retention of as much as $14 billion within the country, annually.

In 2017, the NCDMB launched the $200 million NCI Fund, which is funded from the Nigerian Content Development Fund established by the local content act, helping to fund asset acquisition and assisting in loan re-Ànancing.

With NCDMB’s intervention, the Àrst onshore Floating Production Storage O΁oading vessel (“FPSO”) integration facility in Africa, SHI MCI yard, was completed in 2016 at the Lagos Deep OͿshore Logistics Base (LADOL), Lagos, Nigeria.

In 2018, a portion of the topside fabrication and integration of the largest FPSO in the world, producing two hundred thousand (200,000) barrels per day, the EGINAFPSO, was successfully completed in Nigeria at the facility.

There’s also the Nigeria LNG Train 7 Project where some of the local content opportunities available to the Nigerian shipping and oil services sectors include procurement, logistics, equipment leasing, catering, insurance, hotels, o΀ce supplies and haulage.

It has mediated in long-standing disputes between companies, launched an initiative tagged “Project100” which aims to provide institutional and Ànancial support to 100 indigenous oil and gas service companies oͿering seismic, marine, engineering and drilling services.

But despite the many achievements, the Wabote-led board vows not to rest on its oars.

“We have grown Nigerian content remarkably with many landmark achievements. As a board and, indeed, a country, we are not yet where we want to be.

“But we are clear where we want to be by 2027 based on our 10 year strategic road map.

Our target is to ramp up to 70 percent, from less than 5 percent Nigerian content level, back in 2010,” says Wabote.

To him, the target is not just to achieve quantum growth, but also to embed the practice in the Nigerian oil and gas industry and linkage sectors, which according to him, demands total shift in Nigeria’s hydrocarbon development and management strategy.

“It requires a high sense of urgency. The message is: produce, process, reÀne, manufacture, add value, retain value, pay taxes and create jobs in country.

“To depend on foreign inputs and supplies for our oil and gas operation leaves our economy vulnerable and subject to all kinds of global vicissitude, including tottering globalisation, coronavirus pandemic and the threat of energy transition hanging in the horizon.

“There’s no better time, therefore, to look more inwards than now, as many countries are already doing. These audacious economic programmes provide us fresh impetus to drive growth and embed Nigerian content in our energy landscape; not just to boost the capacity and e΀ciency of our local supply chain but also to ensure sustain ability,” he adds.

To achieve more domiciliation and domestication of oil and gas activities in Nigeria, in view of the importance of technology and innovation to sustainable local content practice, the NCDMB has identiÀed research and development as one of the four key enablers in its strategic road map.

For instance, it has developed centres of excellence in Àve universities across the country and launched two new platforms to promote digital tech solutions and innovation in Nigeria.

Similarly,theexpected amendmenttotheextant NOGICD Act 2010 as well as the bill seeking to extend local content to other key sectors of the economy, have scaled through public hearing and are part of the deliberate and intentional steps to embed local content in Nigeria’s economic landscape.

While not resting on its oars, the NCDMB is focused on achieving its 10-year-roadmap which has Àve pillars namely: technical capability development, compliance and enforcement, enabling

Leemon Ikpea

Tony Elumelu

Bank-Anthony Okoroafor

business environment, organisation capability and sectorial as well as regional market linkage.

It has four enablers, namely funding, regulatory environment, collaboration and stakeholders’ engagement and research and development.

The board has moved the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOGAPS) from mere plans on paper to actual construction in two pilot locations – Odukpani in Cross River and Emeyal 1 in Ogbia Local Government of Bayelsa State.

“Each of the parks will create employment for 2,000 persons when they are fully operational and will spur manufacturing of critical oil and gas equipment, tools and spare parts close to oil Àelds,” said the executive secretary.

The 5,000barrels per day modular reÀnery, a collaborative eͿort between the NCDMB and Waltersmith ReÀning & Petrochemical Company Limited in Ibigwe, Imo State is now up and running, while the 12,000barrels per day Hydroskimming Modular reÀnery by Azikel PetroleumLimitedatObunagha,Gbarain,Bayelsa State, is on course for completion this year.

About 300,000 litres of diesel daily in addition to various volumes of naphtha, kerosene, and fuel oil are expected from Waltersmith while Azikel will produce about 1.5million litres or 50 trucks of petrol daily, including 170,000 litres of diesel, and other products.

ity building. People will receive training at our plant if this factory is not there, all that will not happen. The local content body is real help from the federal government to Nigerians,” he noted.

With close to 45 years in the industry, Ikpea noted that giving the local content policy legal backing was perhaps the biggest development he had witnessed in the industry.

He stated that to strengthen the agency, it should be allowed to drive itself, without political interference and ensuring stability of leadership.

Ikpea noted that Nigerians are now becoming players in the marginal oil Àelds business, explaining that by the time production starts in some of the facilities being developed, locally made equipment will be used in the oilÀelds.

Immediate past Chairman of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) an association of Nigerian indigenous technical oilÀeld service companies in the upstream and downstream sectors, Mr. BankAnthony Okoroafor, speaking on the 10th anniversary of the NCDMB, said that today, there’s no segment of the value chain where Nigerians are not involved.

In the process, Okoroafor said, many Nigerians have been employed, while a lot of skills have been honed, not to mention the indirect beneÀciaries of the various projects throughout the country.

Managing Director of Shell, Nigeria, a major contributor to the local content fund, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, speaking on his assessment of the implementation of the local content law so far, described it as excellent.

“A lot of credit goes to the NCDMB and its leadership, the executive secretary, members of the board, the minister, who is the chair of the board and the players in the industry.

“I think all round, we have all embraced this act and for many of us, certainly for Shell, we did not see it as a compliance issue but as a way of doing business. So, to that extent, the collaboration has been good, such that we have recorded great strides since the act was enacted.

There‘s always room for improvement, and we are striving towards that.

“My strong feeling is that we are on the night path. Going forward, l am pretty sure we will do even better than where we are today and get the percentages to the right kind of levels” “You will recognise that in the last 10 years, we have seen a lot more assets leaving the hands of internationals into local players. In that sense, we are all growing capacity all round. On research and development, this is a strategic area of focus for NCDMB. “It is an area where we are fully aligned. You will see that we sponsored quite a few research programmes, including research by some Nigerian universities, it is an area we have discussed extensively with NCDMB and why we want to pay a lot of attention to it,” he said.

He stated that the company would like to see a lot more indigenous manufacturing that can support big projects in the oil and gas industry in the country.

Managing Director, MG Vowgas, an Engineering, Procurement, Construction (EPC) Àrm in Port Harcourt, Mr. Godwin Izomor, stated that without the local content act and the NCDMB, the company wouldn’t have made the strides it has made in the last few years.

“The act gave us the springboard to move up and this has aͿorded us various opportunities in the oil and gas and manufacturing industries.

“SpeciÀcally, if we consider the pressure vessel and process facilities market, all these were conspicuously done outside of Nigeria, but the advent of the local content act gave investors like us the impetus to commit funds for the growth of capacity and capability through value creation, because we are optimistic of opportunities for Nigerian companies.

“Just recently, MG Vowgas assembled the Àrst ballistic airboat in Nigeria. Without the local content act, stakeholders won’t have the conÀdence in what a local company can do,” he stated.

He commended the NCDMB for the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF), stressing that because most projects are high budget, for example, ship building yards, dry docking facilities, assembling plants, and industrial parks wouldn’t be possible.

“The volume of funds needed will limit investors from setting up the facilities to support the operations in the oil and gas industry,” he maintained.

Stakeholders Speak Stakeholders and beneÀciaries of the local content act have also continued to speak on the milestones the board has achieved and the ground-breaking impact the local content act has had in the country.

Describing it as a “ fantastic policy”, Chief Executive O΀cer of Lee Engineering and Construction Company Limited, Chief Leemon Ikpea, laudedthefederalgovernmentforconceptualising and actualising that policy.

He noted that even though in the early 1990s, Nigerians who were subcontractors to the multinationals were actually the ones getting the jobs, the foreigners got the fat pay cheques.

“With the establishment of the local content policy given teeth by law, operating as local companies in the oil and gas industry is now a diͿerent ball game. Local companies have been given a platform to excel. Our hands have been strengthened,” he says.

He stressed that the crop of Nigerians working at the agency have the core interest of Nigeria and Nigerians at heart, ensuring that local players in the industry receive adequate training.

With the support of the NCDMB, he added that the fabrication plant being built by the company had exceeded 85 per cent completion and set for inauguration this year.

“We are ready for the gas revolution. Gone will be those days when gas cylinders are imported; we will manufacture the cylinders here. It is part of our plans. The agency has helped Nigerian companies tremendously.

“TheNigeriangovernmentissavingbusinesses billions of naira. The business is done locally and by local contractors. What is more, the monies are domiciled in the country. Just imagine the multiplier eͿects.

“Once our factory in Warri, Delta state, is completed and declared open, it will positively impact the economy. Think of the many suppliers and vendors that will be involved. It will be a huge market that will attract diͿerent people from diͿerent parts of Africa to patronise us.

“That is not all; we are going to engage in capac-

Amending the Local Content Act Because of the success of the local content act, there’s already a bill before the national assembly seeking to amend it to incorporate other sectors of the economy.

Known as the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (Amendment) Bill 2020, it seeks to amend certain sections, while introducing six new sections.

In essence, the new bill when passed into law is expected to bring the provisions of the sections to be amended into congruence with industry best practices.

While the 2010 law sought to among others, address the then abysmally low level of Nigerian content in the oil and gas sector; create a regulatory mechanism to monitor and enforce compliance by industry players and to domesticate substantial part of oil and gas exploration and production activities within Nigeria, the new amendments is seeking to further boost local content in the country.

For instance section 11 captured in the new bill, will see the review of the minimum target level for Nigerian content set in the schedule where the level is considered beyond the capacity of Nigerian companies by the board.

Similarly, section 33 of the act would streamline andstrengthentheprocessforobtainingexpatriate quota to close the gap for current leakages and manipulation by foreign companies.

In the same vein, amendments to Sections 37, 38, and 39 in the bill are to improve the provisions relating to research and development and to ensure proper implementation, while section 76 is proposed to give the governing council of the board the role of superintending over the conditions of service of employees of the board.

Section 81 was also introduced to empower the senate to screen and approve the nomination of the executive secretary of the board before conÀrmation.

Other sectors the local content act amendment will now extend to include manufacturing, information and communications technology, construction among others, which would further enhance domestication and domiciliation.

Indeed, the local content act has been a gamechanger for the oil and gas industry and with the currentstableandfocusedleadership,Nigeriamay just hit the projected 70 per cent local participation in the sector in the next six years.

28

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

MARKET NEWS 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

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 17Jun-2021, unless otherwise stated.

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 154.28 155.81 -4.12% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 4.28% Nigeria International Debt Fund 306.53 306.53 -22.78% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 111.36 111.36 -0.66% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.62% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.21 3.37 -5.55% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 3.29% Anchoria Equity Fund 130.97 132.41 -1.53% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.07 1.07 -19.47% 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 19.06 19.63 5.09% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 416.93 429.50 4.14% ARM Ethical Fund 37.61 38.74 11.56% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.08 1.09 -1.48% ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.90% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 104.68 104.68 2.92% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.15% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 1.96 1.96 -20.07% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.03 2.07 -20.20% mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.03% Paramount Equity Fund 16.06 16.35 0.40% Women's Investment Fund 133.37 134.82 0.18% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.05% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 116.53 117.29 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 106.84 106.84 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 4.58% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.18 1.19 -1.71% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.36 1.36 -14.14% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 2.98% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 2.97% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,163.99 1,173.18 -2.74% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,377.48 1,377.48 10.14% FBN Balanced Fund 187.53 188.74 -0.08% FBN Halal Fund 109.99 109.99 7.49% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.56% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

125.54 154.46

125.54 3.48% 156.57 2.17% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price 1.00 3.95 1.56 1.17

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 3.68% 3.95 2.17% 1.60 2.71% 1.17 3.24% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price N/A N/A N/A

Offer Price N/A N/A N/A

Yield / T-Rtn 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 N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 6.61% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.84 2.90 23.63% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 149.88 150.33 -3.56% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.25 1.29 31.88% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.09 1.09 6.36% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.38 1.40 1.39% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,146.62 1,146.62 3.79% 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 10.92 10.95 4.20% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 6.66% 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 7.35% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.45 11.50 -5.61% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.94% PACAM Equity Fund 1.62 1.63 2.14% PACAM EuroBond Fund 110.99 112.66 0.97% 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 127.90 127.71 6.46% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.01 1.01 3.39% 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 3,167.81 3,193.31 -1.49% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 230.46 230.46 2.49% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.19 1.21 1.69% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 302.38 302.38 2.62% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 219.64 222.26 0.49% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.62% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,341.91 10,471.53 -1.53% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.26 1.26 2.55% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 114.09 114.09 2.71% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 101.57 101.57 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.36 1.38 -0.31% United Capital Bond Fund 1.95 1.95 3.03% United Capital Equity Fund 0.92 0.94 6.36% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.35% United Capital Eurobond Fund 121.10 121.10 3.43% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.11 1.13 2.35% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.05 1.05 5.36% 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 12.67 12.78 6.74% Zenith Ethical Fund 14.03 14.15 14.85% Zenith Income Fund 24.11 24.11 0.58% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.21%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

123.95 51.43

2.66% -1.85%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.91 125.15 98.32 17.18 17.59

13.01 125.15 100.09 17.28 17.69

-2.34% 2.80% -1.09%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.73 5.64 17.17 1.00 19.41 147.07

3.77 5.72 17.27 1.00 19.61 149.07

-1.29% -0.88% 4.96% 3.79% -5.36% -32.17%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.52

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

20.6.2021

To an extent, you raised the bar of filmmaking with ‘76 and showed that it is possible to collaborate with security agents in telling stories about them.

With the current political climate in Nigeria, do you think such collaboration is still possible?

E

ven though my team and I are proud of our work, we made that film in 2012, released it in 2016 and have only just recently signed a deal with Netflix to make it available to the world in August this year. So, if our 2012 wisdom got us compliments and interest till now, it means our 2021 wisdom has to take us even further.

At least, I hope so. Just like any marriage, where both parties have to respect each other’s boundaries, filmmaking involves collaboration.

This means that you have to be ready to subject yourself to limits.

As responsible filmmakers, we see that as fair. We have boundaries too. Modern Nigeria is even more suspicious than it was in 2012, but I’m also a politician beyond making movies. So I understand the new terrain now, and I am sure we can navigate it. The security agencies know the value of a good film.

TONYE PRINCEWILL I’LL BE A SMALL DANGOTE IF I FORGET POLITICS Though he is still well-known in the business field, Tonye Princewill is not a stranger to Nollywood. In 2016, Princewill made a historic production ‘76 about the botched 1976 coup, and for the first time, it involved the collaboration of the Nigerian army. The film, directed by Izu Ojukwu, took seven years to make. Five years later, he is working on another film that will challenge Nigerians and hopefully help them realise that home is the best. The Kalabari Prince from Rivers sits with Vanessa Obioha and voices his concerns on the film industry and its power to change political narratives, and to a large extent, the country’s image

What roles can Nollywood play in projecting the future Nigerians want politically?

A big role. But unfortunately, I don’t feel that we project it enough, and I’m not sure Nollywood can.

The politics is so toxic. However, the influence of Nollywood is not in doubt, even further than our shores.

It’s one of the reasons I went into it.

The image of Nigeria is important to me, and through films, you can say a lot for your country, for its politics.

Even though this administration has appeared to be willing to help the entertainment industry, it is behind when it comes to the optics. From the executive to the legislature to the judiciary, they are all guilty of not taking Nollywood seriously enough. If given a chance, the creative industry would be one of the largest, if not the largest, employers of labour in the country. Why it’s not is down to our politicians. While we have been failing in our politics, our entertainment, banking, and religious industries are doing their bit. All this, with very little government support.

At least nowhere near the levels required. Just as the core economy needs vital infrastructure to grow, the modern entertainment industry also needs its own infrastructure: cinemas, concert halls, theatres, copyright laws, leadership, structure and an industryfriendly regulation.

Entertainment is a business, and

ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

COVER

How I’m Using Films, Politics and Economy to Change Nigeria it needs to be treated as such.

Then and only then will we see a serious team of investors step in and take it to the next level where messaging will matter, and projection will take the form you ask. Now filmmakers barely break even because there are not enough cinemas to show their films, and so they drift to the comedy genre, which guarantees numbers in the short term but not mobility.

Nigerian humour is for us. And maybe Africans, but our spending power is limited if that is the scope of your audience.

There’s been a lot of talk about the creative economy. In your estimation, what needs to be done to achieve this?

(We need) sincere leaders who genuinely want to make a major difference and an organised industry ready to take advantage of the opportunity. Both ends are lacking, but a leader with conviction can fix it.

A handful of thespians in the creative industry went through the walls of the University of Port Harcourt. But the city does not shine as the entertainment hub in the country. So what is responsible for this, and how can it be in the limelight?

It’s many things. Not just one.

Some are obvious, like the point about the government I mentioned earlier. By not taking the industry seriously by actively supporting creatives, the people naturally drift to where they are taken even a bit more seriously or where their efforts can flourish. Another factor is that the creative ecosystem is absent. We produce very good talent, but we have no outlets to display the talent. That is passive support. The government needs to put things (like tax incentives, competitive grants, counterpart funding and investor incentives) in place and leave creative people to make things happen. If I were governor, the creative ecosystem would change. Overnight. A leader’s body language alone is a message.

Have you ever worked on something and then thinking the timing (either social, political or cultural) was wrong?

It happens to me all the time, especially when it comes to politics. Anytime an election is coming, it is bad for business for me because nothing is more important than politics, except for family. However, once politics calls, I’m there. Whether I am contesting or not. It affected business a lot in the early days, but now I’m more of a team player.

So if I’m not available, other partners are there. It’s allowed me to expand, but I would easily be a small Dangote if I forgot politics.

So my problem remains what I continue to repeat, ‘Politics is too important to be left to politicians.’

What ideas are you trying to project with your upcoming film on Boko Haram?

The resilience of Nigerians and the challenges that armchair critics do not see. People see what they

want to see. In this movie, we want to give them a reason to think again, just a little more. About Nigerians, about the victims, about the heroes, the villains and the system. We want to give people an insight into how we are seen from afar, by the East and the West and hope that by doing so, people will appreciate that despite the challenges, home is still best.

Can you walk us through the Princewill Trust Fund and why focus on photography?

It would be my pleasure.

Most Nigerians are faced with pleas from family, friends, strangers and even enemies to help in any way possible, and they get these requests on a daily basis. It doesn’t matter who you are. The more you have, the more problems you will solve. I’m naturally generous, so my instinct is to give.

Fortunately, I now have the Princewill’s Trust to structure my giving and stretch what I have to touch many more people. Because I am blessed with a world-class team, it is also a platform that encourages others to help. Otherwise, you can give away the clothes on your back, and it still won’t satisfy some. So we give cash grants, medical outreach, scholarships, mentorship programmes, training, educational trips, youth empowerment, talent shows and conflict resolution. And we focus on several areas of the arts, not just photography.

What do you find most interesting about Gen Z? Gen Z is the digital generation born into high-speed internet, and I have three children that qualify, so believe me when I say I understand them well. I feel them too. They are much more mature than their years, calmer and happy to work for their reward. They are the smaller versions of me. Take a look at ‘Nnenda’, ‘Kajola,’ ‘76. Our films are for young audiences as well as the old. I don’t want us to see the young, especially Gen Z, as shallow or immature. They are a lot more intelligent than we were at their age. Nobody rises to low expectations. So I expect a lot from them. Likewise, I won’t encourage that we dumb down our movies to appeal to airheads. That’s not our portion. When you leave our movie, you should leave it informed, as well as entertained. We are not here to just give you a warm feeling.

If that is what you want, go and have a hot bath.

World Earth Day was recently celebrated, and Rivers is among states affected by environmental hazards, mostly by activities of oil companies. So how does one start a conversation about climate change through films or other creative forms to address these hazards?

It’s possible. But you will need more than a series of films to make any

Princewill

difference. Rivers State is firmly at the front line of the environmental war with the triple impact of both oil pollution, black soot and gas flaring, putting its citizens in harm’s way on a daily basis.

Certainly, good quality movies that can travel far and wide will highlight the problem, but Nollywood is not an arm of government. So it can not replace what purposeful and focused leadership will do when it understands the importance of the environment. The environment is not a sexy topic either for film or politics, but it is vital to our livelihoods. All our hands must be on deck.

You are known as a filmmaker, a businessman and a politician. Is there any other aspiration that you are working on?

I’ll be playing whatever role that my people ask me to. In 2019, I refused to contest any election. But in 2023, I will be more than available if the support is there. Business and film have their limits. The same for politics, yes, but its impact is far greater. My sole purpose in life is to make a positive impact on others. So if they want me to contest, they shall have me. I am not desperate. But I’m determined if the support is there.

What lessons did you take away from the pandemic?

Several. The first is leadership matters.

The second is life is too short, and the third is that I really love my wife, even more than I’d thought. We were locked down together, but it was like a second honeymoon. As sad as I was for the magnitude of lives lost, those of us still here have to find and fulfil our purpos

SUNDAY JUNE 20, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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56

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 20, 2021

TRIBUTE

T.B. Joshua: There Was A Man I Knew Femi Fani-Kayode

T

here was a man I knew who helped a former Head of State’s wife gain access to her husband whilst the latter was in detention and when his life was in danger, even though he had never met him.

There was a man I knew who gave $100,000 USD to a leading traditional ruler who was in need and wanted to go on a trip to America with his delegation, even though he had never met him.

There was a man I knew who bought a beautiful jeep for a former Nigerian/British football star who spent much of the time in his Church.

There was a man I knew who stood by the family of a leading SAN when the latter was kidnapped even though they had never met.

There was a man I knew who stood by the family of a former Minister of Aviation when the latter was in detention even though they had never met.

There was a man I knew who fed more poor people and paid the school fees of more young people than all the other men of God in Nigeria put together.

There was a man I knew who read about how the entire family of a young boy from Delta state was wiped out by assasins whilst the boy himself was left for dead with a cut throat but who took the boy into his Church, treated him in hospital, counselled him, sent him to school, took care of all his needs and raised him as his own son.

There was a man I knew who gave shelter to the homeless, food to the hungry, clothes to the naked and spiritual and physical succour to the needy more than any other.

There was a man I knew who counselled and led millions of people all over the world to give their lives to Christ and become born again.

There was a man I knew who filled football stadiums in South America, the Far East, Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and indeed all over the world with his remarkable soul-winning and earth-shaking crusades.

There was a man I knew who gave scholarships to thousands of young people to study all over the world and who took care of thousands of widows and orphans.

There was a man I knew who footed the bills of many cancer patients and those that suffered from other terminal illnesses.

There was a man I knew who hated injustice and persecution with a passion and who helped and supported the vulnerable, the weak, the persecuted, the oppressed and the misrepresented and maligned more than any other.

There was a man I knew who set up the most popular and powerful satellite television station on the African continent to propagate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and to display His glorious and remarkable healing and loving power.

There was a man I knew who was a real patriot, who loved his country Nigeria, who loved his continent Africa and who loved the Church more than any other.

There was a man I knew who flew more refugees from foreign lands back home to Nigeria and fed and gave them jobs more than any other.

There was a man I kew who never responded to his detractors and critics and who preached nothing but love and forgiveness.

There was a man I knew who was gifted in the prophetic, who worked many miracles in the name the Lord and who always gave God the glory.

There was a man I knew whose Church attracted 6 out of every 10 foreigners that come to Nigeria.

There was a man I knew who was better known and more loved and respected than any other Nigerian living or dead in the nations of the world.

There was a man I knew who prayed into power and counselled many world leaders and Presidents than any other.

There was a man I knew who was more comfortable in the company of the poor than he was in the company of the rich.

There was a man I knew who suffered more persecution and tragedy than any other man of God in Nigeria without ever complaining.

There was a man I knew who derived more joy in giving than receiving and whose charitable works and humility was second to none.

There was a man I knew who preferred to build prayer retreats with beautiful trees, beautiful animals and beautiful flowers than private universities.

There was a man I knew who inspired more than any other, who always made time for those in despair, pain and anguish, who always allayed the fears of those he counselled and who offered the best advice that anyone could ever hope for.

There was a man I knew who believed that kindness to even the cruel and loving even the unlovable was the

Joshua duty of every follower of Christ.

There was a man I knew who never forgot his roots and who took pleasure in telling others about his humble beginnings.

There was a man I knew who never judged others, who prayed for his enemies, who loved those that hated him and who helped as many Muslims, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists as he did Christians.

There was a man I knew who was closer to being an angel than any other person that I have ever met before in my entire life.

That man’s name was Temitope Balogun Joshua the founder of The Synagogue Church of All Nations.

He was a great Prophet of the Living God whose remarkable ministry and extraordinary works shook the entire world and brought solace and hope to several generations.

He passed on a few days ago and we God glory for his life. Until the end of time he shall be remembered and celebrated for being the kind-hearted, loving, caring and generous soul that he was.

He was one of God’s ‘end-time’ Generals and his fruits and works speak for him.

Godspeed and fare thee well brother and please rest in peace. You ran your course, you fought a good fight, you did us proud and you earned your crown.

We will never forget you and the impact you made in

our respective lives.

We shall meet again at the marriage feast of the Lamb and until then we shall hold on to your words and remember your counsel.

We shall be strong and bold in all things and at all times and we shall keep our flag of compassion, courage, honor and faith flying.

This is not the end but only the beginning of our journey into eternity.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy power? For even in the grave, Jesus is Lord!

I close with David’s famous words when he learnt apart the passing of King Saul and his friend Jonathan.

He said, “Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph...

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!

O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen and the weapons of war perished!”- 2 Samuel 1: 20, 25-27.

I weep at your passing my brother TB. Adieu and shalom great Prophet of the Living God and great son of Nigeria.

SUNDAY JUNE 20, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

HighLife The Return of Kemi Adeosun

Adeosun

A

fter her early retirement from public life in September of 2018, former finance minister Kemi Adeosun kept a low profile and reportedly relocated overseas.

However, the brilliant chartered accountant made a spectacular return to the limelight with the launching of her foundation. The Nigerian social media space just woke up to the news of Kemi Adeosun’s return. Based on the responses so far, Adeosun has grown even more popular with the people since she turned in her resignation letter in 2018, all credits to the scandal of the alleged falsification of her NYSC exemption certificate.

For those who have forgotten, Kemi Adeosun was accused of having forged her NYSC exemption letter and dragged online for weeks as flouting the law. After many prods and kicks, the celebrated chartered accountant submitted her resignation letter.

(It was never confirmed whether or not the alleged forgery took place, only that Adeosun had legally applied for the exemption certificate back then.) And then Adeosun up and left, disappearing from the limelight.

But she is back now.

According to reports to this effect, Kemi Adeosun recently launched a foundation for helping orphans and other vulnerable children, disadvantaged youths, and victims of domestic violence.

Aptly named the DashMe Foundation, Adeosun reportedly intends to assist the less privileged by raising funds for their upkeep and education.

Although the unveiling of the DashMe Foundation came as a surprise to many, her eventual return was expected.

For one so talented, brilliant and accomplished, one setback or two changes nothing. After all, it is one record that Adeosun is so well trained for corporate and administration finance that it often appears that she was born for this. Consequently, folks are waiting to hear the good news that she has found a better platform upon which to serve the country, contributing to the growth and development of Nigeria and settling the misgivings about her qualifications to do these. The days to come are bound to be interesting, very interesting indeed.

with KAYODE ALFRED ͮͶͯ​ͯʹ͵ͳͷͶͮ͵˜ ̋×ËÓÖ: ÕËãʮÏâ̶͓ãËÒÙÙ˛ÍÙ×

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

Sweetheart for Life...Florence Ajimobi Plans High-octane Remembrance for Late Husband Death, like time and love, is inevitable.

After losing a loved one, the years at first drag on but later flash fleetingly by. It is already one year since the untimely death of former Oyo governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Isiaka Abiola Adeyemi Ajimobi.

Nevertheless, those that cherished him have not forgotten him.

After four decades together with Lady Florence Ajimobi as a happy man and happier wife, it cannot be said that the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi lost out in the aspects of love and marriage. So solid was their romance that public displays of affection were not uncommon. Thus, Lady Florence was naturally the most affected by Ajimobi’s passing, not to mention the one who celebrated him the most.

And so, Florence Ajimobi is also the one who has called for a proper remembrance ceremony for her late husband. According to reports, the guest list includes those who knew the late Oyo governor best. These also happen to be the elites of the Nigerian society, movers and shakers of the business and political scene. For those who remember last year well, Senator

Abiola Ajimobi was one of the casualties of the COVID-19 virus infection, breathing his last after many weeks of grappling with the contagion. Upon hearing about his death, the entire Nigerian political corridor grew deathly still. Every recollection of June 25, 2020, still unsettles many people. But life must go on, and it has. It was only recently that Ajimobi’s widow began to accept the reality of his passing.

Recall that she recently attended an event to celebrate the Supreme Court’s judgment in favour of the Oyo ALGON members that had been sacked. Certain mischievous people claimed that Mrs Florence’s attendance and consequent celebration at the event proved how quickly she got over her husband’s death. That was a false accusation. Now that she has called for a remembrance ceremony, one wonders how mischievous folks will interpret her decision. Regardless, her love for her late husband is deeper than the years can extinguish and vaster than Death can corrupt. This much, at least, is obvious to all and sundry.

Ajimobi

Sweet Mother...Mike Adenuga Remembers Late Mom

Adenuga

The child of a deer is a deer, and the child of a lion is a lion. This is one of the many principles of nature that we see around us. Animals bear animals, humans bear humans, and business people bear business people. Of course, Adenuga bears

Adenuga, and this has been the case for three generations, starting with Chief (Mrs) Oyindamola Juliana Adenuga.

To most people, the seemingly supernatural genius of Globacom boss, Dr Mike Adenuga Jnr, is something that comes once in every three generations. You don’t cultivate it, emulate it, or even expect it. But Chief (Mrs) Oyindamola Juliana Adenuga, the mother of the man known alternatively as the Bull, broke common sense and trained it into her child. This, among other reasons, is why no year goes by without the good mother getting an honourable mention from her son.

This year also, Adenuga commemorated the memory of his late mother, inadvertently challenging other mothers to be like his own (when she was alive). Although Madam Juliana passed away in 2005, her son’s yearly remembrance makes it seem as if she were still around, still pulling his strings,

guiding and correcting him. To anyone who knows the basics about Adenuga, it was his mother that shaped his business sense and style. The legends told to this effect are numerous: she forced him to hawk goat feed to get him accustomed to people; she harassed him to no end over what to study, what industry to work in, how to make the most impact and profit, what to wear to functions (and why he should attend them), what to eat, and many, many more.

But no one can say the same about his impactful corporate presence and profit-making.)

So this is how Adenuga always remembers his mother. It’s about celebrating her influence and endeavours in his life, including those of his siblings and children. The legacy of Chief (Mrs) Oyindamola Juliana Adenuga, accomplished mother, Iya Alaje of Ijebu-Igbo and Yeye Oba of Ijebuland, lives on in every one of them.

Governorship Ambition Tears Rotimi Akeredolu, Bunmi Ojo Apart Ancient sages recognise love, power, and money to make bedfellows of strangers and strangers of bedfellows.

After allegedly falling out with each other over who will be Ondo state number one citizen in the future, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo are still observing social and political distancing.

Politics is not for the faint of heart.

Curiously, this is a fact that resonates too well with Governor Akeredolu. There might be no other Governor at present who has buried many friendships as he continues to hold on to his gubernatorial seat. Thus, the rumours that he has added his close ally, Tunji-Ojo, the House of Reps member for Akoko North-East/Akoko North-West Federal Constituency, to the list is not altogether remarkable. If the stories are to be believed, Tunji-Ojo has his eyes on Akeredolu’s gubernatorial chair and will be vying for it come 2024/’25. But this is allegedly a possibility that Akeredolu is not interested in entertaining.

According to reports, Akeredolu has

his reservations regarding Tunji-Ojo’s alleged gubernatorial ambition. These are based on two thoughts: that succeeding him as governor is still far-flung into the future, Tunji-Ojo is not the one for the job.

Why Arakunrin Akeredolu finds TunjiOjo lacking concerning taking over Ondo State from him is still a thing of speculation. Not even the fact that they rode each other ’s coattails in the past can get them to settle their differences over dinner. Thus, as more and more reports are emerging regarding their collapsing friendship and political alliance, folks are waiting to see where this new Ondo narrative will end up.

The best outcome, as analysts have presented, is to have all misunderstandings resolved. But, on the other hand, the worst outcome is to see both parties going their separate ways—to thy tent, everybody. After all, Akeredolu has his governorship, whereas Tunji-Ojo has his House of Reps Chairmanship of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Ojo

Akeredolu

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

HIGHLIFE

Otunba Segun Runsewe: Man With Midas Touch

Runsewe

In recent years, Nigerians have become more aware and appreciative of the country’s arts and crafts. This is most likely the first time since the late ’90s that folks are turning to native artworks and seeing beauty and glory instead of second-rate imitation. This change in perspective is one of the many contributions of

Otunba Segun Runsewe.

Since becoming the Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), an agency under the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Otunba Runsewe has worked to put things in proper perspective for Nigerians. As he noted during those earlier meetings in 2017, his foremost objective is to wake Nigerians from all walks of life and at various socioeconomic levels to the wonders of local arts and culture. One might say that this dream is closer to completion now than when it was first imagined.

The fact that Otunba Runsewe was reappointed to the NCAC DG position in 2021 speaks volumes of his merits. Who else has managed to marry the Nigerian Culture and Tourism industries together, creating a spicy amalgamation that foreigners cannot refuse and natives cannot reduce? In the Real

Estate world, the guiding principle is location, location and location. In Arts and Culture, it is all about packaging. Well, that is the case with everybody else—just not Runsewe. He has opted for truth and facts over everything else, bringing Nigerian arts and crafts, cultures, and historical consciousness to the limelight. Talk about a pristine approach.

On this basis, such events as the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), International Arts and Crafts Expo (INAC), and many others are getting the accolades they deserve from Ghana around the corner and faraway Russia. It is on this basis youths are getting gainful employment, the culture and arts industry is getting recognised, and the entire economy of Nigeria is growing in leaps and bounds. But that is the work of a man with a Midas touch for you: impossible, impressive, and impactful.

What’s up with Senator Gbemi and Toyin Saraki?

Some things have been around since man first emerged on the earth and have flourished until now. Sibling rivalry is one of these things. In the Saraki family, this kind of feud is reportedly taken to the extreme and eventually includes other family members.

This is the gist in brief: Mrs Toyin OjoraSaraki, the wife of former Senate President Bukola Saraki, recently bagged the title of Erelu, one of the highest titles for women in Iruland. It was a stunning celebration backed by the vast funds and vaster influence of the Sarakis. The elites of the elites were all in attendance and heaped accolade upon accolade upon the new chief. Unfortunately, one of the best-known Sarakis was conspicuously absent from the ceremony.

Senator Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki, Minister of State for Transportation and younger sister Bukola Saraki allegedly chose

against attending the event for reasons best known to her. Well, folks who claim to know these reasons have declared that it is nothing new, only the simmering feud between herself (Gbemi) and her brother (Bukola). To those in the know, Bukola and Gbemi Saraki kept their distance from each other for years because they adhered to different political values. This was especially obvious when Gbemi wanted to be Kwara governor, but her brother had someone else in mind. That reportedly widened the gap between them and eventually turned into a full-fledged feud, with Bukola’s wife, Toyin, unavoidably dragged into it.

In recent times, the Saraki siblings allegedly buried the hatchet, opting to let bygones be bygones. However, Senator Gbemi’s absence at Erelu Toyin’s elevation to chiefdom spoke volumes about what she thought of her sister-in-law. Or so reports

Saraki

claim. Whatever the case, folks are beginning to suspect that the Sarakis are not as chummy as they would have others think. Meanwhile, Senator Gbemi and Erelu Toyin would be the best of friends in any other life. In this one, however, folks want to know: what is up with the two of them?

Who’s after Hakeem Muri-Okunola?

Governorship Ambition Rumour Gains Ground

Muri-Okunola

Public office is a graveyard of ambitions.

The rise of one signals, more or less, the decline of another. How else to describe the fact that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State is a celebrity today for doing an

awesome job, but folks are determined to sow discord into his cabinets. First, it was about Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives. The lenses have turned to Hakeem Muri-Okunola (HMO), Lagos head of service.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has spent half of his four-year term, and folks are divided on whether or not he should vie for a second one. The bone of the matter is not that SanwoOlu is inadequate and unworthy of a second term, but that some folks want someone else because of some vague agreements regarding the religion of the Lagos governor.

The gist, in brief, is as follows: Sanwo-Olu is a Christian. His predecessor, Akinwunmi Ambode, is also a Christian. Ambode was governor for one term. Therefore, based on their shared religion, Sanwo-Olu is expected to

serve for one term so that the Christians can have their two terms, and then the Muslims get their two terms, and so forth. Femi Gbajabiamila was the first candidate touted as nursing the ambition to ‘do the needful’ by replacing Sanwo-Olu. Gbajabiamila faced fire for that rumour. Now it is the turn of HMO, and he will certainly face fire even though he has nothing to do with the rumours.

HMO has been Lagos State Head of Service for two years and a half now.

Celebrated for his non-partisan status and consequent unbiasedness, this might be the first time HMO is being cast in a villainy role. Considering that he has a solid relationship with Sanwo-Olu, it is obvious that some mischief is at hand.

And that is what the rumours of HMO’s governorship ambition come to—mischief in high places.

Humble Pie: As Odunmbaku Teaches Faleke Political Lessons The fight for supremacy between two prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) members, Honourable James Abiodun Faleke and Cardinal Prophet James Omolaja Odunmbaku, has reached a spectacular crescendo. As followers of both chieftains return home to lick their wounds and prepare for the next chairmanship elections for Ojodu/ Ogba LCDA, it is evident that Odunmbaku has become James the Major and Faleke has become James the Less.

The contention for who will be the next Chairman of Ojodu/Ogba LCDA took Lagos by storm at the start. The battle line was drawn between politician and cleric James Odunmbaku and his erstwhile apostle James Faleke. Odunmbaku set forth his son, David Oluwasegun Odunmbaku, as the best option for the Chairmanship seat, while Faleke set forth his friend, Alhaja Funmi Layeni.

Most folks thought that Faleke’s side would take the trophy home at the just-concluded APC primary election. Nothing of the sort happened. David Odunmbaku won by a

landslide, leaving Faleke’s candidate in the dust.

Of course, the victory also left Faleke’s prestige in the dust, considering that Faleke supposedly held all the cards.

As a two-term former chairman of the same Ojodu/Ogba LCDA, foreman of the current chairman (who used to be his vice-chairman), representative of Ikeja Federal Constituency, and all-round influential figure, Faleke was expected to have won the ticket for his candidate without even trying. But Cardinal Odunmbaku has proved himself the superior statesman.

Folks have begun to praise Cardinal Odunmbaku as the irreplaceable party leader, giving Faleke the side-eye for evidently gulping more than he can bear. The gist on social media space now is that the former has taught the latter a good lesson, but that is to be expected: Odunmbaku used to be Faleke’s boss, so the latter is yet to catch up to the likes of Odunmbaku. In any case, both the Odunmbaku and Faleke camp might have to consolidate strength to win the Ojodu/Ogba Chairmanship seat for David Odunmbaku. But of course,

Odunmbaku

Faleke’s camp will be the one reaching above its station in this regard.

Odeleye

Bukola Odeleye: New Kid on the Block There is a hushed trend of competition among some of the most promising Nigerian youths.

The endgame is to see who contributes the most to Nigeria’s social and economic development without raking up accolades and credits while doing so. These are the people who are quietly taking over public industries and private sectors. Bukola Odeleye is one of these talents.

Bukola Odeleye (also known as Beedel) is a young man with a vision far beyond his years. He is the CEO of BeedelConstruction, a company gaining national and continental recognition barely a decade after its establishment.

The company profile is one thing; the personality of its CEO is another. But first, the company. Beedel Construction is not a standalone company but a subsidiary of Beedel Strategic Investment, a civil engineering construction company. Through the incredible work that Odeleye and his team are doing, their list of satisfied clientele only continues to increase in quantity and quality.

Their accomplishments in civil engineering and construction, engineering and auxiliary services, fabrication of all sorts, and supply and importation have endeared them to their many customers. This is how Odeleye is transforming Beedel Constructions from a homegrown company into one of the fastest-growing establishments in the Nigerian construction industry. The man behind it all, Bukola Odeleye, is himself as magical as any human could be.

Besides his intelligent and charming personality, Odeleye is known for how much of his time, efforts and funds go to his family and friends.

A few weeks ago, he got his wife, Tolani, a mint 2020 Toyota Highlander SUV as an anniversary gift. Around the same time, Odeleye got his friend, Ooreoluwa Balogun, master paparazzi and CEO of Image Plus, the exotic 2018 Honda Accord.

Those who know and work with him struggle to choose between his generous character and crazy work energy and focus. Given the opportunity, establishments like Beedel will revolutionise the entire African construction sector, bringing pride to Nigerians everywhere.

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

President Buhari – Please, Which Dot? You know me, I thought it was one of these jokes that people keep throwing up and down social media.

So, I ignored it and then saw a post from a lady calling her ethnic grouping a dot, claiming that the dot was the fourth well-travelled in the world and the third wealthiest in Africa. Some very preposterous claims, though the ‘dot’ caught my attention, and I started digging.

They say our president referred to a whole proud ethnic grouping as a dot during his interview. They even reported that in the alleged ‘talk’, he even claimed to have secured the support of South-South leaders not to give the ‘dot’ access to the sea.

Una see why I no watch that interview. The advertised interview was clashing with the time I watch XVideos, so I go the one wey give me better value. Dot? Dot? Did he actually say that? Did he actually use those words? If he did, then the whole Igbo

tribe includes us that are in-laws – yes, I have an Igbo wife and Igbo pikin.

I also have many Igbo girlfriends, past and present, so I am involved, as Ojukwu had said.

But seriously, we cannot struggle and fight to keep Nigeria one, and our oga will be carrying on like this na. I still do not believe that this statement was uttered by a man who fought in the civil war and a man who is our president. This is not fatherly, not accommodating and if true, sends a very wrong signal. Be like say, Baba don dey prepare for another push hence the need to preempt and secure alliances against the dot.

Daddy, please, if it is true that you said those words, kindly retract. It is condescending and feeds into the increasing feeling of neglect by these very proud and industrious people.

We love the Igbo people, forget that they cannot cook Afang to save their lives. Mbok if you eat Afang wey

Igbo person cook, you go run o. But it is this difference that makes us unique as Nigerians. They are not a dot. They are over 30 million. They are industrious, robust and very hospitable. They have contributed to this great country in so many powerful and measurable ways. They continue to be a powerful partner, even though not totally happy - but who happy? Mbok, they are not any dot o. My people no vex, rain no dey fall forever. He go soon stop, and the sun shall rise again. So to all of you – Ifesinachi, Ngozi, Amaka, Nkechi and all other light-skinned and voluptuous goddesses who come from the East, please remember that I have stood up to speak o, I am standing by you o and will continue to stand by you o. So when I come, please consider that as you look at my request. With the kind of beauties from the South East, how can they be a dot? God forbid!

LAI MOHAMMED – THINK LEGACY, THINK POSTERITY This is a very honest advice I can give someone I love. The way people yab this oga I come dey pity am.

So I decided to work with him by advising him on how to move in the last two years of this administration.

The regulation of social media provides an opportunity for him to be strategic, calm down and think legacy as he pushes for this regulation.

Granted, the social media space is filled with bile, seems to have been abused with thoughtless factual inaccuracies that have the potential, and in fact, has thrown the country into flames of ethnic distrust and avarice. This notwithstanding, in trying to curb these excesses, we must be very careful to think long term. Is it not because this administration is having a selfinduced hard time on social media that we now want to bring back decree 4 through the back door? That Decree 4 time, I was a young boy in secondary school, but I read and felt its impact on freedom of expression and its limiting effects on national cohesion and good governance. The fluidity and borderless exchanges on social media make content regulation tedious. Or are you going to send DSS to Alaska to arrest Jide, who has just talked about Uncle Lai’s dangling balls?

I think we should just slow down

first, pull back and engage all concerned in a bid to seeking a credible policy on this social media monster. Nothing worthwhile would be achieved in a hurry and with this Lai’s style. It will just be a shortterm patch-patch thing to settle this administration, but which would be inimical to the nation’s long-term interest.

So uncle Lai, calm down. Start a nationwide consultation of all stakeholders, let everybody put head together, even the social media miscreants, let all of us put head together and put Nigeria’s interest as the focal point as we slowly work towards a resolution. Look, this is not that military government. Where once you catch one editor or you carry battalion go lock up gate of newspaper house, or you hold the chairman of Guild of Editors (my Uncle Ray Ekpu suffer for them hand, kai). Or, you send your people to Maryland, go and catch all the vendors. Everything will be OK. This time na for breeze everything day o.

Can you catch breeze? Uncle Lai, can you catch breeze?

table’. How can someone who does not control even DPO in his state provide security and fight missilecarrying bandits?

I just tire. Even though I am a great Nigerian, things like this can weak person. I tell you. Governor Wike came out blistering and attacking that statement and reminding the president of the oath he took. These things used to make me cry, I swear.

What kind of country is this, what kind of leaders are these?

You see, the job of the president in my mind’s eye na PR. Your body language, positioning, and way you say some things throw confidence into the system and make the people proud and happy. But this one just tire me. Governor Wike’s style has been much more constructive than Fayose amala’s style, which distracted people from what he was saying.

All the ‘God punish your mama’ and Oshodi style greatly damaged critical opposition. But Wike seems to be garnering momentum with his logic, timing and true essence. Is he speaking for the rest of us? You can answer the question.

NYESOM WIKE – THE PEOPLE’S CRUSADER Me, I think say na only me hear that part—the part where our oga said state governors should go and handle the security of their states. I shock, my eba fall for my hand. Daddy has not heard of ‘the buck stops at my

FRANCIS ATUCHE – SUNSET AT DAWN The sun seems to have finally set here.

This was brilliance. This was strength, and this was a dream. But what went wrong? I don’t know o. As I read the judgment bringing the trial that has lasted for years to an end, I bow

Lai Mohammed

Melay

Wike

Buhari

my head with little tears streaming down my cheeks: N25 billion was involved, pensions of former Habib staff were involved, and an inspiration dragged.

As a former staff of Habib Bank, I have more than a passing interest in this. The Habib Group was solemn at this news, but one person was effusive in his joy especially seeing that his savings in what we used to call the NPF are involved. I have met Mr Atuche twice: once as MD of PHB Bank and the other after the music had died and he was trying to reestablish himself. I met two different men at those times. At PHB, he was on the throne. The confidence was unmistakable. The brash, devilmay-care attitude that comes with success was all over the room. I liked him, still do. The second time the confidence had gone, there was fear, and he tried to hide it, but I could smell. The words were gentler and less in your face.

As usual, the establishment was after him, he was Igbo, and you know what that means in Nigeria – well, I don’t know, and I told him – he will bounce back, he said. He will regain it all, he continued. I listened intently, believing him because I liked him and still do. Today, it is sunset, but it will rise again. I am sure lessons have been learnt, the punishment should be taken with a resolve to be better, and Nigeria should not be deprived of this

Okotie

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

LOUD WHISPERS brilliance. You have my prayers, my brother. You have my prayers. Awo said it’s not how many times you fall but how many times you stand. You will stand, but this time, you will stand differently.

PASTOR CHRIS OKOTIE – A DISAPPOINTING TURN Ex-pop star takes the fight to the grave. Sad, very sad. This baba will not forgive but rather still carry whatever was the wahala between him and his competitor to the grave.

This was just a fight for market share o. They all were fighting for a huge share of the mumu market. The mumu market is those of us who will be running up and down for miracles instead of working.

Those of us paying tithe to people to be flying private jet when we will be jumping bus to their churches? I cannot even remember what caused their wahala, but I know that that time it was tough. Chris Okotie will be pouring big English all over the place. Pastor TB, wey no fit speak too much English will just be ignoring, but then the other Chris that can speak will now counter. They were just embarrassing themselves all over the place, but that was a long time ago o. Me, I had thought that with over 200 million people, there was enough mumu to go around na.

So they all settled in their different multi-billion empires, and there was peace in the land.

But with the sad, unexpected passing of TB Joshua, jerry curl sha had to fire one last shot. I tried to read his statement - the mixture of English, Greek and Urhobo just confuse me, so I leave am. My brother FFK jump in and attack Okotie, and rightly so.

This was really disappointing, Pastor Chris, and if nobody tells you, I, the Duke of Shomolu, will tell you, come and beat me. Poor judgment. Very poor.

DINO MELAYE – IRRITATING THEM WITH SONGS Whenever I listen to this bald-headed egbon, two things come to mind – white garment church and palm wine drinkers’ club in universities. The songs are so melodic, the dancing engaging, making me very happy, and joining him in the song and dance routine.

You see, this is a form of civil resistance that works effectively. The South Africans, through the ANC, used it very effectively in turning the world against the evil apartheid regime. They sent Ipi tombi, Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba worldwide, using songs to sell their story. Me, it was the day I saw the big bums and breast of these South African dancers that I turn into an anti-apartheid crusader. I remember going into the dressing room at Unilag after watching these South African damsels to give a speech on how I was ready to join the struggle there and then.

The speech gave me a hug from about ten of the girls, and I was happy o. I put my head in soft places and thanked Botha for giving me the opportunity. I prayed in my mind that Apartheid should continue so that these girls would be coming back to Nigeria so I can be hugging and pressing them o.

This is what Dino is doing with his songs. He is taunting, laughing and irritating his oppressors. He is getting the needed attention as each release comes with millions of clicks and likes. He is cleaning up his image and better positioning himself. Forget the

croaky voice and the drunken dance steps. He is on to something. Can’t wait. I like him.

KOLA ADESHINA – WHERE ARE YOU? I hereby issue a fatwa or wetin dem dey call am on the head of this my brother Kola Adeshina wey dey for Sahara Group. Please anybody

wey sight am or see should please immediately inform me. He is tall, dark and good looking. He dresses well and is charming, and can easily disarm you with a smile.

Approach with caution and do not attempt to apprehend. Just place a call to me, and I will move in and catch

UDOM EMMANUEL – “AKPAN EKA TIE SUNG’ Please you will pardon me if I speak my language in this write-up. I am rarely effusive with praise but the milestone that is not only Ibom Air but other strategic positionings of this my governor in Akwa Ibom keep strengthening my position that the problem is leadership and not all the crap people have been bandying around.

Every time, they will be fighting me when I say ineptitude, nepotistic leadership and pure shallow outlook is the bane of our development as a nation-state. They will be shouting, restructuring, separation and all that crap. So, I ask them, if we separate, won’t we still carry with us these kinds of vampires who lead us now? They will just be abusing me. Akwa Ibom is not perfect.

In fact, very far from it, you will marvel and rekindle your hope in Nigeria via robust and vision-driven leadership when you see what is happening there.

Let me give you some stats on Ibom Air, what I want to call the flagship policy of the state government. According to the information I gleaned from my sister Aniekan Essienette’s write-up, with 708 scheduled flights, only two cancelled, giving it a 99.8 per cent schedule reliability.

According to her, of the 708 operated, 678 departed on time, thus delivering 96 per cent - these results are in line with the very best of airline performances globally. These are verifiable o. Ask Osa, who swears by Ibom Air. Now, do you know why this is working?

It’s simply because the governor understands the role of the government in creating an enabling environment for business, pushing noninterference and empowering resolute quality in manpower.

This is why Akwa Ibom today is a veritable destination for business, making me proud as a true born son.

Wait, while Hope Uzodima was busy running around, dodging bullets and crawling in craters trying to cover his head from unknown gunmen who seem to have sworn to make him miserable, Ibom Air was celebrating the arrival of two new planes- A220 -300 Airbus. The other day, on my way back from Abuja, I met my brother Abubakar Sheidu, a powerful lawyer

Emmanuel

and real estate guru. He is the company secretary of Brains and Hammer. He said, Edgar, what are you guys doing in Akwa Ibom? I say Abubakar wetin happen, leave our women o and he say no be woman matter. You know I no dey that matter, na the environment. We are working with the state government on a huge real estate project, and before we even finished the plans, the whole thing has been subscribed.

I hug the man, pull him beard-beard and say, well done. He never finish o. My other brother Garba -not real name doesn’t like publicity – has the biggest rice mill in the whole southern region in Akwa Ibom. He loves the place like mad.

You see, it is sweet for all of us to point to Buhari. Yes, Buhari is the reason we all cannot impregnate our wives and housemaids. In fact, it is Buhari that is making us lose our erections and become impotent. The fact is that what exactly are we doing for ourselves? Why are the other Governors not moving like Udom, Zulum, Makinde and my personal favourite Sanwo-Olu? It is very convenient to dodge and point to Abuja and be shouting marginalization, insecurity, restructuring and the rest gibberish but failing to even work with the little given.

Let’s keep shouting and crying and not redirect our focus on the childish and corrupt leadership at the state and local government levels. Childish. Very childish.

Chief Udom, mbok, I know I cannot take ice to the Eskimos, but there is this afang at the Monty Suite. When you are ready, just give me 24 hours. I fly in and fete you: you, your beautiful first lady, Deputy Governor Akan Udofia, Annie Essienette, Orman Esin and my brother, the information commissioner.

Sorry let me add, Uto my sister at MTN, Tony Ndah, who recently used afang to mock me and my senior brother Udeme Ufot, who will have to sign an undertaking not to go after my meat. Finally, Gabriel Ukpe, my invincible brother. At about N4,000 per plate, I can handle it with a soft loan from my brothers in Access Bank.

We will do it. Well done Akpaneka. God protects you.

him. This brilliant brother of mine has been unusually quiet. The last time I heard from him was when he was preparing to make a presentation on Power, his forte. I cannot be staying for months without hearing from people like this o, help me find him o.

CHARLES O’TUDOR – WHERE’S MY AFANG? This one will be vexing that I cannot spell his surname. When you now go and put apostrophe for the name nko. Anyway, it is his 50th o, and I have been calling him egbon, ashey I even senior am sef. No be tall, and dreadlock be elder. He say, Duke it is my birthday on Sunday. I say will there be afang and he say no, we dey go church. I say thank you; I dey play football that time. When you come back from church, let me know so that I buy Afang for you if you cannot do afang on your 50th. I just tire.

Happy birthday anyway, my brother, great guy.

JOSEPH EDGAR TAUNTS WITH ‘ANONYMOUS NIPPLES’ That is how out of boredom, I decided to write a book on nipples. It was during the lockdown o—nothing to do. So from watching film and talking and eating Afang, I say let me write a book on sex. So as I started writing, I started liking the idea more. It is a book that deals with sex, relationships and communications but in a practical, down-to-earth language that will make your reverend father cringe.

That is how I said I would not do this alone, so I got contributors, ten very strong women, to write on some very powerful topics. Regina Askia and the great Alibaba were contributors, and Ibi Sofekun and Femi Olude provided over 100 pictures of carefully depicted sexy women in various stages of undress. The book has been selling like wildfire as people have been dodging to come and buy.

Others would say, ‘Edgar pls use newspaper wrap and put for envelope, and address am ‘strictly confidential’ come my office, call me from downstairs, I go use remote control open my car booth, then lift the spare tyre and put am inside there and walk away. I go transfer your money. I will now ask how many copies. He would say send 10. I will shout. Mbok, be like say I go write part two o. Lovely and powerful book, if I may say so myself. Reach me for a copy. You will thank me, I swear.

ELVINA IBRU – A DELICATE FLOWER I think this is one of the most beautiful women in the land. If you have not seen her before, call me, and I will send you picture. She is so beautiful that I fear to look into her eyes before she go and capture my soul and make me her slave.

Well, that is how I went to see her new Play - Flower. It was inspiring and beautiful. She is a gazelle and a wonder to watch on stage. She took the role in anger and chewed it all up. I kept waiting for her to come on stage so I could google. The storyline of the play? I no fit remember, no vex.

I was busy staring, so I no remember the storyline. Elvina is one of the sweetest people you will meet. Kind and motherly, and I used to enjoy hugging her. I can hug her? Small thing I don hug. If she laughs, I hug.

If she shouts, I hug. I have a passion for hugging Elvina, and I can write a book on hugging her.

Well done, sister. Well done.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

Ibidunni Ighodalo’s Memory Lives On L-R: Demola Seriki, Razak, Sholape and Amani

Demola Seriki, Wife, Sholape Leap for Joy

In one of her enduring quotes, American poet, Maya Angelou, said: “A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies.

It brings us together again and again.”

These words come to the fore when you remember Ibidunni Ighodalo, the beautiful and high-flying event planner who died last year. For a good reason, Ibidun has continued to live in the hearts of many and her husband, Pastor Ituah, and other family members since she passed on. The ex-beauty queen died in the early hours of June 14, 2020, in Port Harcourt while on assignment to set up a COVID-19 isolation centre for the Rivers State government.

She died one month before her 40th birthday. Therefore, in celebration of her life and times, the family, at the instance of her husband, last Monday, organised a remembrance gathering in honour of the departed soul at the Holy Trinity Church, Ikoyi Lagos. Just like her burial last year, the

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hink of a lucky man, and Ambassador Demola Seriki’s name will come into the picture.

He has been flying higher on the wings of grace, having been a minister, chair of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Board and now Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain.

Recently, he and his beautiful wife, Princess Sholape, celebrated the 10th birthday of his look-alike son, Rasak Ademola-Seriki (Jr), amid pomp and circumstance. The 10-year-old is an avid fan of Arsenal Football Club.

Little wonder, his colourful birthday was themed to reflect the wonders of the English club. Close family members and friends attended the classy gig held in Lagos.

The occasion also spotlighted Sholape, either publicity-shy or merely prefers to live her life away from the Klieg lights. Unknown to many, the charming princess is a graduate of Business Law from the London Guildhall University and a Master’s degree in Information Technology from the Middlesex University.

A respected international programme and IT project management consultant, her mastery of the Nigerian government bureaucratic and political processes and understanding key stakeholders’ needs helped her facilitate major project approvals.

City Businessman Abisoye Fagade in Low Spirits For some days now, Abisoye Fagade, a prominent businessman, PR guru and politician, has been in low spirits, following the passing of his mother, Deaconess Comfort Omoladun Fagade, at 78 on Sunday, June 13, 2021.

Fagade, the CEO of Sodium Group and convener of Oyo Si Ma Dun, OSMD Network Summit, took to his social media handles to mourn his mother. In an emotion-laden message, Fagade wrote: “Goodnight, Mummy. You were a mother, indeed, an Abiyamo tooto. You were my teacher, my prayer champion and my intercessor. You were so beautiful in and out. Thank you for everything.

Adieu, Mummy mi.”

A devout Christian and doting mother, Deaconess Fagade trained as a teacher, distinguished herself as a professional with selfless focus and instinctive humanitarian mission.

Upon retirement from teaching as a headmistress, the deceased mother of six devoted the rest of her life to the service of God, the church, family and humanity. A native of Ibadan, she lost her husband, Pa David Oladokun Fagade, in August 2005. A family source said the burial ceremonies would hold on August 5 and 6, 2021, in Ibadan.

event witnessed an inflow of people who came once again to honour the beautiful woman who lived her life for humanity While alive, Ibidun, who ran Elizabeth R, an upscale event planning company, was strikingly beautiful and blessed with graceful steps. Her smile was also infectious. You would have thought she did not have any worries in life. But the former beauty queen and high-flying event planner chose to be happy despite what life had thrust at her. She lived her life for humanity.

Indeed, she never wished to part, forever, with her loved ones when she died on Sunday, June 14, at the young age of 39. The former beauty queen had wanted to live longer to see her dreams come true. And she had them aplenty, including marking her 40th birthday. In fact, but for fate, the late co-pastor of Trinity House Church in Lagos and founder of Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation would have, in her wonted style, used the occasion of her 40th birthday to touch lives in her humanly best possible way.

Ighodalo

Princess Toyin Kolade’s Date with History

Kolade

At the moment, one of the thoughts dominating the mind of a society lady, Princess Toyin Kolade, is her coming installation as the Iyalaje Oodua by His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba

Babatunde Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on July 17, 2021. The event is already generating some buzz among the Nigerian elite.

Society Watch gathered that the best party planners had been contracted, while beautiful Kolade has also engaged some fashion designers. It was also gathered that the high-flying businesswoman is not leaving any stone unturned to make the event the talk of the town for many years; she is sparing no costs to fete all invited guests that day. She is known as someone who does not do her things in half measure. The ancient town is expected to welcome top political officials, captains of industries and socialites, who will move in their large numbers to celebrate with the stylish philanthropist.

A source disclosed that the boss of Fisolak Global Resource is exhaling whoops of joy and has been on a spending spree, as she has taken

delivery of the 2021 model of Lexus LX 570 worth N45m in preparation for the day. She is recognised as one of the champions of the revitalization of Yoruba culture and tradition.

In particular, she has been enjoying the support of His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, as the sole promoter of the annual Aje Festival (Festival of Wealth) in Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba race.

Ever since the coronation of Oba Ogunwusi in 2015, the affable businesswoman has shown unflinching support and loyalty to him in all ramifications. ‘’She has written her name in history as one of the ‘warriors’ in Ile-Ife, for her commitment. The highly coveted Yoruba title of ‘Iyaalaje” is like icing on the cake,” a source said.

Senator Orji Uzoh Kalu Goes Homily Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzoh Kalu, is one of the few whose political trajectories have always enjoyed robust discussions among political observers in the country.

The senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, without a doubt, has a bagful of experiences, both bitter and sweet, since his active involvement in politics.

He has suffered humiliation. He has been betrayed, backstabbed and disappointed.

In fact, that was an understatement as he literally cried alone in the wilderness, and there was no one to comfort him. He has seen the other side of life.

It will be recalled that the upper chamber member had suffered humiliation when he was jailed for alleged corruption charges. Indeed, it was a long and lonely journey to freedom!

Typical of a fighter, he has taken all in his strides, a situation that reminds one of Lilly Singh’s saying that “There is no shame

Kalu

in falling down, but there is pride in getting back up.” Today, the former Abia governor

Polaris Bank MD Innocent Ike’s Innovation When it comes to the modern banking industry in Nigeria and, by extension Africa, Innocent C Ike is neither a greenhorn nor a pushover. He knows the banking business like the back of his hand. Fully armed with a wide range of experience as the executive director (Technology & Services) of the defunct SkyeBank Plc from July 2016 to the creation of Polaris Bank, he has been involved in developing and executing major corporate transformation and turnaround projects in the nation’s financial services industry. He has leveraged a combination of in-depth industry knowledge and the

application of relevant technologies and innovation.

When the immediate past MD, Tokunbo Abiru, resigned to join politics, it didn’t take so long for Innocent to be the top choice for the bank’s decision-making body, who was aware of his track record as a time-tested banking whizzkid.

With his rich resume garnered through sheer dint of hard work, he was able to land the acting MD and CEO of Polaris. Upon his appointment in September 2020, he didn’t waste much time in the heat of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. He immediately hit

and businessman, who the vicissitudes of life have floored, has picked up the pieces of his life and moved on.

Only a few days ago, he again tugged at the heartstrings of his fans when he ventilated his profound thoughts on his social media handles, saying, “Whenever the 1967 – 1970 civil war is mentioned, it’s an emotive experience for any peaceloving Nigerian not just an Igbo man.

“We should not either by words or actions pursue a repetition of that horrible genocide. We should come to understand that every war ends on a table. Instead of destruction before coming to the table, is it not wiser to come to the table and avoid destruction? We need infrastructure. We need investments. We don’t need hostilities. So we are pleading with you to stop and embrace peace” Orji, a philanthropist, sits atop the SLOK conglomerates with interest in the airline, shipping and oil and gas, amongst others.

the ground running with impeccable ideas to make Polaris Bank compete with other top banks with updated, innovative banking models to ease stress and cement a seamless bond between the bank and customers. At the point he took over, detractors sneered at him, patiently waiting for him to fail, but he proved them wrong with dedication, steadfastness, team spirit, prayers and will to succeed.

On May 18, he and his team launched VULTe (a quick service digital banking platform) to further shock naysayers to deliver greater value and benefits to existing and new customers of the Bank that has seen analysts and customers drooling on its seamless functionalities.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW

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PUBLICATION

20.06.2021

FLOODS OF TRIBUTES FOR BENSON IDONIJE AT 85 From being the first manager to the legendary Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti to being a music mentor to a Grammy-winning grandson, Burna Boy, the ace broadcaster and music critic, Benson Idonije, now 85, has become a music colossus on his own unobtrusive terms, writes Yinka Olatunbosun

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he gathering was intentionally small; but there was access to more on the virtual space to join as family and friends gathered to celebrate the birthday of one of the most unassuming men to have ever influenced broadcast and music in Nigeria, Benson Idonije. Terra Kulture, Lagos was the venue. The visuals for the virtual audience was quite poor. And there’s no guessing who might turn up the heat in the room: Burna Boy- the beloved grandson whose popularity has understandably eclipsed his grand-father’s. In retrospect, Idonije had made a good name for himself long before Damini Ogulu (Burna Boy) was born. But many would remember him as a young boy who used to visit his grandfather while the latter worked at Guardian Newspapers.

“I wouldn’t have changed that surname for the world but you know sometimes as women we have no choice,’’ Burna Boy’s mother and manager, Bose Ogulu gushed during her remarks at the 85th birthday celebration held at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos. “Thank you for honouring my father. Thank you for sharing that documentary. I hope we make something bigger of it.’’

The name Benson Idonije echoes through history as the select family members, friends and associates read from the memoir titled ‘Dis Fela Sef’ by Idonije, revealing the layers of music generations that influenced the genre known as Afrobeat. First published in 2014, the book is an insider’s perspective of the disruptive musician’s sojourn into music and his global acclaim that resonates long after his passing in 1997. As many readers of this book would later discover, the book is not just about Fela but about the music landscape at the period of his evolution in music.

Call it a music journalist’s bible, the 282-paged memoir in small print is just one in the series of books to be published by Idonije on Fela. Arguably one of the most comprehensive books ever written on Fela and African music, ‘Dis Fela Sef’ was at the centre of the birthday celebrations which was punctuated by performances from the theatre director and choreographer, Segun Adefila and the charming grandson to the celebrant.

Five years ago, when Idonije turned 80, Burna Boy defied the rain at Freedom Park, Lagos to perform at the Freedom Park stage. Last weekend, he re-evoked the spirit of Fela when he performed the classic, ‘Lady.’ It’s quite ironic because the song ‘Lady’ is regarded by some as an anti-feminist song and Burna Boy has been a very quiet feminist anyway- a large percentage of his team being women. In an interview with ArisePlay, Burna Boy once revealed that the strongest set of people he had ever encountered in his life are women. So, his performance of ‘Lady’ that evening was a tribute to his life-long relationship between his grandfather and Fela, not necessarily promoting that African view of women.

And that further thickens the story of many associates of Fela.

Like Idonije, many friends and associates of Fela respected his musicianship but went on to lead very different lives from Fela, not entirely sharing his ideologies. Before Idonije met Fela in person, he was first an Engineering Assistant at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation before he became an on-air personality with programmes like The Big Beat and Stereo Jazz Club.

He had also met Fela’s mother, Mrs Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti who had given him some samples of his music to play. Before

Burnaboy with his grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Benson-Idonije Fela left Nigeria for his study in the UK, he was playing highlife music, honing his skills with the likes of Victor Olaiya. But when Fela returned to Nigeria as a jazz musician.

Eventually, Idonije and Fela met at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation when Fela drove down to the station to meet the meet the presenter of NBC Jazz Club, Idonije in 1963. They had a long talk on air while Idonije interviewed him and played every song on his new album which would go down in history as the first ever jazz album to be recorded by a Nigerian artist. Their friendship extended beyond radio. When Fela formed his band, Fela Ransome-Kuti Quintet, Idonije was his manager, sourcing for performance venues and recruiting musicians for the band.

Through those years, Idonije was the bridge between Fela and disgruntled his band members; Fela and the executives of Recording companies and bar owners where he had performed his live music. Even when Fela was an impossible government worker as a Music Producer at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, Ikoyi, Idonije was his backbone. In ‘Dis Fela Sef,’ Idonije recalled how Fela received numerous queries for coming late to work which he never replied but his good friend, Idonije wrote the replies to those multiple queries. According to the broadcaster, Fela’s interest in music superseded his desire for civil service.

Since Jazz music was a hard sell at that time, Fela’s mother advised that he should return to highlife music. That move led to the formation of another band, Koola Lobitos.

Part of the readings of the book at the 85th birthday covered Chapter five of the book subtitled ‘The Musical Odyssey.’

There, Idonije revealed how Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti

wanted Fela to pursue highlife instead of the jazz music which was a hard sell. Koola Lobitos went on to perform at Surulere Night Club, Kakadu and Caban Bamboo, Gondola Night Club, and others. During the civil war, it was perhaps the only surviving civilian band as many musicians in the highlife had been conscripted into the army. Despite the odds of selling jazz and the modified highlife, Idonije insisted that those years were peaceful as Fela focused solely on his artistry and the quest to develop a unique sound.

Fela’s musical tour experience in the US would change his music trajectory for a lifetime. He met his collaborator, Sandra Izsadore who taught him about black identity, rights and political consciousness. That culminated into the development of Afrobeat and he released his first mainstream hit record, ‘Jeun Koku.’ EMI had Fela’s permission to promote and distribute the song but he didn’t sign a contract before the release of the song. It was a defining moment of Fela’s career and Idonije saw firsthand how Fela’s distrust of recording companies impacted on his reputation as an artist. By the time that his music became more politically-charged and was touring internationally, Idonije was no longer his manager. Still, they remained good friends.

Today, it is hard to tell the story of Idonije without Fela and now Burna Boy even after he had distinguished himself as a journalist. Idonije had been the director of music for his grandson, offering critical pointers that Burna Boy had the liberty to accept or otherwise. The bond that music had nurtured between Idonije and his grand-son over the years had been widely publicized, validated by those moments of hugs and holding hands-reflecting love and mutual respect.

BOOK

Ranti Akintobi Launches New Book, ‘The Royal Visit’ Yinka Olatunbosun

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&T Nubian Adventure recently launched the first book in its children adventure literature series titled "The Royal Visit”

by Ranti Akintobi. What is interesting about the book is its African comic characterisations using a plot with the themes of royalty and family love.

Targeted at children between the ages of 5 and 11 years, the T&T Nubian Adventure stories are centred on an African royal family living. Set in a fictitious African country called Lafiya, it is ruled

by an Obabirin, a female king - Queen Lara.

The Royal Visit tells the story about the royal visit of the sovereign Queen to Rugare Kingdom to see her brother and his family.

During her visit, she uses her magical powers to enable the princesses to communicate with animals when they embark on an adventure to the Royal zoo. The princesses are excited by the experience of listening to an African tale told by one of the animals.

This is the first book by the author Ranti Akintobi, a Finance Manager by based in the Netherlands. She was inspired to write this book as a prerequisite to animation series that can be watched mainstream; bringing the African culture and pride to children all over the world.

“I feel children of African descendants (all over the world) should have the option of seeing mainstream animated characters that look like them. It was also paramount to me that the story be told by an African that Africans can connect with. My main aim is to ignite the African culture in children all over the world and bring the culture to them through stories,” she revealed in an electronic chat. There are no fewer than four more books in the series to be produced. The author further explained that the human and animal communication represented in the book is born out of sheer fantasy and wild imagination just like any Disney or Hollywood animated series would do. When asked if her depiction of female characters in the book was a deliberate attempt at challenging the negative female stereotypes, she

revealed that that was not her intention at all.

“I just thought having a female king like Queen Elizabeth will make the series more interesting.

Especially with the fact that that was not the case in the history of Lafiya. I hope to publish a story about that someday. I also I wanted to show that all descendants of Lafiya royal family (whether male or female) are powerful and special.

You will see that I described Queen Lara’s brother as very handsome and strong like a tiger who is a great warrior known in other kingdoms across Africa,” she remarked, while refusing to be labelled as a feminist, given the wrong connotations around the concept.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@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 ˾ JUNE 20,2021

IMAGES

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mmediate former Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Omolori recently marked his 60th birthday at the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, his four wives on hand to brighten the occasion. Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello led friends and family members to celebrate with him

L-R: Hajiya Ayo Sani-Omolori; Hajiya Atika Sani-Omolori; Alh Sani-Omolori; Hajiya Altine SaniOmolori and Hajiya Hajara Sani-Omolori

L-R: Celebrant, Alh Sani-Omolori and Governor of Kogi State, H E Yahaya Bello

L-R: Ada al Sufuan Abdulmack and Hon Auwala Ohindase

L-R: Ado Shuaibu and Brg Gen A A Momoh (rtd)

L-R: Tijjani Abdulsalami and Abubakar Suleiman

Governor Yahaya Bello and mother of the celebrant Hajiya Safiya Sani-Omolori

L-R: Son of the Celebrant Farouq Sani-Omolorin and wife Meimuna

L-R: Son of the Celebrant AbdulkareemSani-Omolori and wife Fauziya

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JUNE 20,2021

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IMAGES

L-R: Dr. Nazie Ahmed and Ibrahim Abdulkaareem

L-R: Mohammed Budamasu and Yunusa Omade

L-R: Prince Sola Akanmode and Alh Mohammed Sani-Omolori

L-R: Tijani Ogueyi and Alh Hamza, Talba of Ebira Land

L-R: Yahaya Danzazia NASS and Alh Bukoye Lasisi

L-R: Abdullahi (Dollaers) Chairman, APC Kogi State and Muritala Sani-Omolori

L-R: Hon Mohammed Kumalia and wife Hajiya Kaa ka

L-R: Former Clerk, NASS, Alh Nasini Arab and Rtd Chief Judge of FCT , Justice Ishaq Bello

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JU ͺ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺͯ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

INTERNATIONAL Nigeria as a Problematic and PMB as Nigeria’s Problem: The Physiognomy of Possible Break-up

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igeria’s problem is largely a resultant from Nigeria as a problematic. Put differently, what makes Nigeria’s problem problematic?

Nigeria is a problem unto herself but why is Nigeria a problem unto herself? Even though, ordinarily speaking, a problem is considered a noun and problematic as an adjective, we consider here as problematic the ingredients of what constitute the problem of Nigeria. In this regard, President Muhammadu Buhari is Nigeria’s main problem as at today, and by so doing, necessarily makes Nigeria a problematic by mania of governance.

Nigeria as a problematic is largely predicated on a tripod of inordinate ambition of the Fulani, use of constitutionalism to achieve the inordinate ambition, and political chicanery by manu militari. As such, this is why the governance of Nigeria has been driven by dishonesty of purpose in design, conduct, management and orientation, and more significantly, why there is a wrong make-belief that there is a Nigerian nation State that is truly working towards becoming a true nation and that will be sovereign, strong, powerful, united, indissoluble and indivisible.

Without any jot of doubt, at the epicentre of Nigeria as a problematic is the question of whether Nigeria, as amalgamated in 1914 or as united with the independence Constitution or the 1999 Constitution is indissoluble and indivisible. And true enough, if a Constitution provides for indissolubility and indivisibility of the country and the people, as a required constituent of a modern nation-state, complains that the Constitution that provides for indissolubility or indivisibility is fraudulent, why should the Constitution not be set aside to pave way for a people-driven constitution? PMB says complainants should address their problems through the National Assembly (NASS), which is considered by the coplainantsas a resultant of a fraudulent military Constitution.

This is one reason why PMB is a problem and an obstacle to the making of a truly united and vibrant Nigeria, which is currently also a problem unto herself.

VIE INTERNATIONALE

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Nigeria as a Problematic The foundation of Nigeria as a problematic is not only the vision and wishes of Sir Ahmadu Bello, as published in The Parrot newspaper on 12 October, 1960, but also the misperception of Nigeria in his mind. In the words of Sir Bello, ‘the new nation, called Nigeria, should be an estate of our great grandfather, Uthman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power.

We use the minorities in the North as willing tools and the South as a conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us and never allow them to have control over their future.’

This statement is problematic because of its many operational words of concern: ruthlessness of action to be taken in preventing others from ruling the North; the whole of Nigeria as an estate or as a property; and southern Nigeria as a conquered territory or subservient people. The problematic questions are not far-fetched: why should the North be considered as willing tools and the South as a conquered territory? This question is necessary because Nigeria has already been partitioned into two in the statement.

The division is intrinsic in the statement by the mere fact that the North of willing minorities will be the tools, the South of conquered or enslaved people are to be political subjects.

More importantly, why the need to ensure the permanency of Fulani rule? Is it not because of the need to maintain the status quo or to prevent a change of power that electoral fraud has remained a desideratum or that Fulani power is also considered indefinite in terms of timing? Without gainsaying, this statement of Sir Bello has sent different signals to people in the southern part of Nigeria and the signals have also compelled the perception of Northerners, particularly the Fulani, of domineering slave masters who must now be resisted. The period from 1960 until now is seen as the period of tolerance, that has also reached its crescendo. In the words of Dr. Sina Okanlomo, the Secretary General of the Yoruba One Voice (YOV) in Johannesburg, South Africa, ‘the clamour for a Yoruba Nation became imperative amid various imbalances in the administrative structure and employment, the amalgamation treaty, continuous violation of human rights, nepotism, corrup-

Buhari tion, nepotism, corruption, injustice, insecurity and terrorism under President Buhari’s watch.’

And perhaps most notably, Dr. Okanlomo said ‘Yoruba independence is not negotiable. We cannot attain our full potential within a contraption called Nigeria. As long as we remain in the geographical boundary created by the British, we are not free people, but slaves. How can we accept Fulani domination as an alternative to British colonisation? This is shameful, it must be totally rejected by all and sundry at all cost’ (vide Daily Sun, Wednesday, June 16, 2021, p.28). This perspective is popular among Yoruba Diaspora and majority of Yoruba at home.

Second, probably on the basis of the belief that Nigeria is an estate of Uthman Dan Fodio, the Fulani wrongly believe that there is terra nullius in Nigeria. For instance, the National President of the Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore, Mr. Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, strongly believes that ‘any forest in Nigeria is for every Nigerian, that it does not belong to an individual or to a community.’ This is a dangerous problematic that directly challenges the Land Use Decree No. 6 of 29th March, 1978, which was not only re-enacted by the National Assembly of Nigeria into a subsisting Act under Section 315(5)(d) of the 1999 Constitution, but also still vested the right of land ownership and control on State Governors, who hold it in trust on behalf of their people. It is this wrong belief by some Northern leaders that land does not have any individual legal title, that largely explains the imbroglio between herdsmen and farmers. How do we explain PMB’s archaic suggestion of return to the old grazing routes of the First Republic? Where is PMB’s modernity in this case? Where is his wittiness?

Third, the structure, in various ramifications, built on Sir Ahmadu Bello’s foundational statement, makes the problematic more complex. For examples, the World Bank has listed in its report, entitled ‘Universal Access to Sustainable Energy will Remain Elusive Without Addressing Inequality,’ Nigeria as one of

What is crystal clear from Nigeria being a problematic and PMB being Nigeria’s problem is that, in the eyes of most Nigerians, especially Southerners, PMB might have done his best, but his best is not seen to be good. Political observers make a mockery of his administration in different ways.

Senator Shehu Sani says‘whenever the bandits kill, we see the evidence of their dastardly and cruel acts.Whenever you (PMB/Nigerian military) kill bandits, let’s see the evidence of your courageous and heroic acts (Daily Sun, 16 June, 2021, p.15). This observation simply doubts Government’s claims. Thus, the issues of alertness, being alive, well informed, confident, relaxed, and witty, as observed by Dr. Abati raise more questions than answers. PMB might have shown Dr. Abati’s observed values purposely for the Arise News Channel interview. However, such attributes have not been clearly shown in his political governance of Nigeria. PMB has been variously accused of nepotism, Fulanisation and Islamisation agenda, etc, but has not been able to respond to deny or confirm the allegations. In fact, national insecurity, nepotism, agitation for self-determination, and heightened terrorism have remained the hallmark of PMB’s administration.This is why Nigeria’s corporate unity is now under serious threats pointing to possible disintegration of Nigeria for which PMB must take responsibility

the three countries (Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ethiopia, which replaced India) with the largest electricity deficits in the world. The World Bank also listed Nigeria as one of the top twenty countries with the greatest number of people lacking access to clean fuel and technologies for cooking (The Punch, June 8, 2021, p. 19).

Fourth, Nigeria is a problematic from the perspective of her 1999 Constitution. The Constitution is believed to be skewed in favour of, and imposed by, the military and the Fulani. For instance, the 1999 Constitution provides for secularity but the same Constitution only recognises Islam contrary to Sections 10 and 38. Some observers have said that the words, ‘Muslim,’ ‘Sharia’, and ‘Sharia Courts’, etc, are mentioned several times while the words Christian, Churches, etc, or other religions are never mentioned in any part of the 1999 Constitution.

Additionally, in the eyes of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, ‘the framers of the 1999 Constitution created Sharia Courts for Muslims. This explains why a Christian cannot be appointed as Kadi under the laws of the States or Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal.’ In fact, the Catholic Bishops Conference has it that ‘while Muslims exclusively have a Court that regulates their affairs and to which they can exclusively be appointed as judges, the same cannot be said for the Christians, or other religions. This shows a constitutionally backed gap of inequality and under-representation in the Nigerian judiciary’ (The Punch, Friday, 11 June, 2021.p.7).

Fifth, Nigeria is currently playing host to the highest number of terrorist attacks. In between 2017 and 2019, according to the ACLED Media Reports, MDM Intelligence, Nigeria had 4,382 cases compared to Somalia’s 3,060 (2nd position), Libya’s 1,923 (3rd Position), and Sudan’s 821 (4th Position).

Sixth is the problematic of domineering of, or preferential treatment for, Nigerian politicians. Adetutu Balogun @Tutsky22 has compared the healthcare budget of N46bn for 200 million Nigerians and the education budget of N48bn to the budget of N125bn for only 465 legislators. Why is the political world given better treatment? The implications of this imbalance for national development cannot be far-fetched.

Seventh, there is the problematic of internally generated revenues. Let us, from the reports of NBS@statiSense, look at the year 2020 for an example: Northern Nigeria generated only N385.18bn (North Central region, N181.61bn; North west region, N146.73bn; and North East, N56.84bn) while Southern Nigeria generated N920.89bn (South West, N561.01bn; South South, N263.17bn; and South East, N96.71bn). In this regard, Southerners simply think that they are labouring unnecessarily for Northerners, hence the quiet animosity. In fact, it is also frequently submitted that alcoholic drinks are banned in the North, but those who ban the drinks are quick to take a share of the generated taxes on alcoholic drinks from the South. Nigeria, indeed, is a country of many self-imposed contradictions.

PMB as Nigeria’s Problem If you ask Dr. Reuben Abati, former media Presidential Adviser and Journalist about the personality of PMB, especially on the basis of the interview granted on 10 June, 2021 by PMB to Arise News Channel and anchored by Prince Nduka Obaigbena, in which Dr. Abati took an active part, he will say that PMB does not sound like a Jibrin from Sudan. As Dr. Abati further saw him during the interview, ‘he was alert, alive, informed, confident, relaxed, witty and capable of disarming humour. He was not the invalid or the senile old man that his critics say he is. He didn’t sound weak either.’

From the perspective of physiognomic analysis, Dr. Abati might be correct, but only to an extent limitata. The interpretative variants considered by Dr. Abati in concluding that PMB is alert, alive, informed, etc, are quite questionable, because PMB’s integrity is not supported by the same variants identified by Dr. Abati, especially when an empirical deductive methodology is applied. For reasons of psychology of human differences, I accept the tenability of Dr. Abati’s submission, but will, however, argue to the contrary on the basis of PMB’s mania of political governance, which does not allow one to agree in total with Dr. Abati’s evaluation of PMB’s integrity, not only in terms of his character but holistically in terms of what he stands for.

First, and most unfortunately, civil servants, public officials and those who are meant to secure Nigeria and defend national sovereignty cannot be said to be patriotic. Under the presidency of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the issue of lack of patriotism was raised when President Jonathan declared openly that there were Boko Haram agents in his government, hence the failure of his government’s anti-Boko Haram efforts. The problem of BokoHaramic informants is accentuated under the PMB administration and many Nigerian notables have variously accused the Government of PMB of aiding and abetting boko haramic insurgency.

More disturbingly, General Theophilus Y. Danjuma also openly accused the Nigerian military of also aiding and abetting the Boko Haram and, by so doing, the enslavement of the people of Nigeria, particularly the people of the Middle Belt. As he put it in a television programme, ‘the Armed Forces are not neutral, they collude with armed bandits that kill people, kill Nigerians. They facilitate their movement. They cover them. If you are depending on the Armed Forces to stop the killings, you will all die one by one.’

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CICERO

Editor:Olawale Olaleye mail:wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com, SMS: 08116759819

IN THE ARENA

The Rise of Ethnic Nationalism By continuing his peculiar symphony on the delicate keyboards of the Nigerian state, President Muhammadu Buhari is stoking disruptive ethnic nationalism, writes Louis Achi

T

he phenomenon of ethnic nationalism in Nigeria is certainly not new. But under the Muhammadu Buhari presidency, it has become significantly accentuated and widespread. Broadly, ethnicity becomes a form of nationalism, when it assumes a political (and often territorial) dimension that challenges the status quo, and in some cases, the legitimacy and stability of the state in question by becoming a catalyst for intra or inter-state conflict.

The central political tenet of ethnic nationalism is that ethnic groups are entitled to self-determination.

The outcome of this right to self-determination may vary, from calls for self-regulated administrative bodies within an already-established state or society, to an autonomous entity separate from that society, to a sovereign state removed from that society.

Today, President Buhari’s quaint insistence on externalising his seething inner vision of a new Nigerian state and seemingly acting as the arrowhead of ‘an ascendant’ ruling ethno-religious group are seeding new ethnic pushbacks and perhaps, incipient national breakup. Here’s why.

According to Alade Rotimi-John, lawyer and political analyst, “The failure or reluctance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to keep its promise of a restructured Nigeria on assumption of office and the arrogant self-deception of the presidency are hinged on the patently false premise that Nigeria may continue to operate a rogue constitution as her grundnorm and yet, remain as an indissoluble entity.”

More: “The internal contradictions of a promised policy position and the reality of a hegemonic disposition that is in oppositional relationship to vote-catching drivels on the campaign dais has landed the APC leadership in a quagmire regarding the requirement of a clear position on the issue of restructuring.

“The party’s leadership from the Southwest has been particularly compromised and cast in bad light as it had been the ardent promoters of that socio-political model. Today, it is awe-struck even as it has lost face among its embarrased constituents.”

Clearly, the linkages between the smug indifference of the ruling political leadership, a parochial governance template, uncontained bloody depredations without stern consequences, systematic, violent invasion of the Middle Belt and Southern forests and farmlands have birthed grassroots separatist or secessionist characters like Sunday Igboho and the Nnamdi Kanu.

Today, the Fulani, navigating with ethno-religious homogeneity and calling the shots in Nigeria, is seen as the number one and perhaps, most astute ethno-nationalist group staking their claim. The Hausa, socio-culturally subsumed by the Fulani, appear to be waking up and putatively reasserting its shredded identity.

On their part, the Middle Belt tribes, under the searing heat of suffocating domination by the core North are exhuming Joseph Tarka’s vision, which much earlier

Igboho

Kanu

had disowned Ahmadu Bello’s One North vision.

In the South, ethno-nationalistic impulses are scaling up with significant differences in the sophistication of their approaches. The Yoruba of Southwest and Igbo of Southeast are leading the charge. Although separatist proclamations are disowned by the governors and ageing elite of both regions, they clearly run deep in the populations’ psyche. Should the Yoruba and Igbo overcome their differences and close rank, many pundits believe rightly or wrongly, it will quickly end the historical core Northern domination game.

But the wily core North is certainly not sleeping on its oars. That many of these Southern folks quietly see the Sunday Igbohos and Nnamdi Kanus in clearly empathetic lights speak to what the future could hold for the troubled Nigerian state. Though leery of both the Yoruba and Igbo agenda, the many Southern minority tribes are weighing their options as they watch the unfolding events, even as Buhari seemingly opts for military force to stamp out separatist activism.

Worse, either stemming from incapability or unwillingness of the central government and national parliament to initiate fundamental, as opposed to cosmetic constitutional changes to renew the national journey, the much trumpeted restructuring remains mere rhetoric.

Commenting on the troubling incidence of ethnic nationalism in Nigeria, a former military president, retired General Ibrahim Babangida, told THISDAY in a previous interview with this reporter, that the existence of multiple ethnic nationalities does not by

itself necessarily constitute a problem or an issue with political consequences.

His words: “This situation alters in the process of social change or modernisation, when the interests of ethnic groups become elevated to the political realm.”

Restating the need to appreciate that Nigeria’s cultural and social diversity constitute an asset rather than a liability, Babangida held that purposeful leadership could tackle the challenges, which multi-ethnic nationalism poses for governance.

“The task before leadership at all levels of governance is the use to which government apparatus and public resources are ordered around public policy in order to reduce the destabilising dimensions of multiethnic nationalities, and the forging of a wholesome Nigerian state within the federation,” he held.

Noting further that one must expect that in a country like Nigeria with its diverse nature, there was bound to exist such tensions, he stated that, “Ethnicity, or ethnic nationalism has historically being part and parcel of the political process, economy and statecraft of Nigeria.

“I recall this gave rise to the colonial investigatory committee usually referred to as the Willink Commission, which became the precursor of the multiple creations of sub-system state in the country between 1963 and 1996.”

By holding that “purposeful leadership could tackle the challenges, which multi-ethnic nationalism poses for governance,” Babangida has essentially written off Buhari’s governance template and temperament.

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

T

Buhari

A Reawakening of Buhari

he man, perhaps, reawakened inside of President Muhammadu Buhari, soon after he granted an exclusive interview to the Arise News Television, penultimate week, raising different postulations about a man many had thought was unfit to put up such a good effort during any interview at all.

Immediately after the interview, which held in Abuja, the president was in Lagos to commission two major projects completed by the Transport Ministry: the Ebute Metta Train Station and the Deep Blue Project, a security initiative for the waterways. These, however, didn’t close the new engagements by the president.

Last week, the president visited the terrorism ravaged Borno State, an effort that attracted

commendation with a tumultuous reception extended to the president by the people of the state, who obviously hadn’t seen him in some years.

Many would have thought that with the current state of the nation, a Buhari wouldn’t get such a generous reception anywhere in the country. But to the shock of a lot of people, he did. And this is to the credit of the Arise News interview, which not only shed light on many of the issues that were hitherto shrouded in suspicion, but exposed a better interaction and communication of the president, as well as his body language and project delivery.

This is completely antithetical to the misinformation that had tarried in the public space. If only Buhari could sustain the tempo.

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BRIEFINGNOTES

Buhari Arise-Interview

Key Takeaways from Buhari’s Arise Interview On Thursday, June 11, President Muhammadu Buhari hosted and fielded questions from top officials of THISDAY/Arise Media Group, led by its chairman, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, Chairman, Editorial Board of THISDAY, and Arise Television news anchors, Dr. Reuben Abati and Miss Tundun Abiola. Louis Achi presents some of the key takeaways from the special ‘Democracy Day’ encounter

I

t was President Muhammadu Buhari’s first interview in two years since winning a second term. Despite a myriad of problems plaguing the nation, the conservative ex-military General seemingly carefully kept avenues for addressing national issues to the barest minimum. There was no form of extemporaneous conversation or engagements with the people.

This was left to presidential spokespersons, who often miscommunicated or jumbled key public messages or ‘presidential reactions.’ The President, at last, stepped out and put all that to rest, when he recently fielded questions from THISDAY/ Arise Media Group.

While the 45-minute encounter soon fired up national discourse, it also provided some insights into President Buhari’s perspectives on relevant issues and his plans for his administration’s remaining two years in office. Here are some key takeaways…

He Is Aware The cliché that perception is reality has been repeatedly used to almost convincingly sell the idea that President Buhari was not in full control of his administration. Perhaps, stemming from health issues that kept him in the United Kingdom for an extended period during his first term, there’s been strong public perception that the President’s constitutional duties have been seized by a “cabal.” This scenario was unwittingly reinforced by the First Lady on a few occasions.

Though his responses during the interview wouldn’t win Oscars, for clarity, they revealed he was attentive to what’s been said or written in the media and regularly received reports about events from sources that should regularly brief him. In effect, he is in-charge and fully aware, even if situations appear confusing at times.

Open Grazing When one of the most crisis-ridden and controversial national issues was raised with the President, his response left many scratching their head in sheer puzzlement. He said he had asked the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to begin the process of recovering land from persons,who have converted cattle grazing routes for their personal use.

The President’s words: “What I did was ask him (AGF) to go and dig the gazette of the 1st Republic when people were obeying laws. There were cattle routes and grazing areas. Cattle routes were for when they (herdsmen) are moving upcountry, North to South or East to West, they had to go through there.

“If you allow your cattle to stray into any farm, you are arrested. The farmer is invited to submit his claims. The khadi or the judge will say pay this amount and if you can’t the cattle are sold. And if there is any benefit you are given and people were behaving themselves in the grazing areas, they built dams and put windmills. In some places, there were even veterinary departments so that the herders are limited. Their route is known, their grazing area is known.

“But I am telling you, this rushing to the centre (sic) so I

asked for the gazette to make sure that those who encroached on these cattle routes and grazing areas will be dispossessed in law and try to bring some order back into the cattle grazing.”

On ‘Parochial’ Appointments When he was confronted with issue of lop-sided appointments, President Buhari defended his appointments, insisting they were strictly based on merit and in accordance with his administration’s zeal to serve Nigerians.

According to him, “Those who know the administration well know that we have appointed people from the Southeast into important position.” On the appointment of the new COAS, he said: “We considered all the factors as well as personal experience and commitment before we arrived at this choice. If you want the soldiers to be effectively led, you must bring someone, who has been in the system and went to the field.

“We are fighting on different fronts. We need someone with ample experience, who has been in the field. We reshuffled the country’s security apparatus to augment our performance with regards to security. When they came in, the first thing they did was to make a consultation. And they are now in charge.

We don’t want to publicise our gains, but we are recording success.”

On IPOB President Buhari described the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as “a dot in a circle,” saying the group is isolated in its call for secession – in response to a question on the separatist group. According to the President, he has been assured by the elderly people and the youths from the Southsouth part of the country that the region has no plan to secede.

His words: “I was encouraged by what I heard. Two statements from the South-South: one by the elderly people, they said this time around there would be no (secession). And again the youth made the same statement; such encouragement.

“So IPOB is just like a dot in a circle. Even if they want to exit, they’ll have no access to anywhere. And the way they are spread all over the country, having businesses and properties. I don’t think IPOB knows what they are talking about.

“In any case, we say we’ll talk to them in the language that they understand. We’ll organise the police and the military to pursue them,” Buhari said. This position has triggered a tsunami of reactions from different stakeholders.

Building Infrastructure to Niger Republic President Buhari justified the continued building of roads, railways and other infrastructure projects to connect the country to Niger Republic, insisting that Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries were crucial to the country’s fight against terrorism and insurgency.

He said there was the need for an access road between Nigeria and Niger, especially, now that country had discovered crude oil, stressing the move had also become necessary so that the country could serve as a transit route for the products rather than Niger using other neighbouring countries’ routes.

Youth Unemployment and FDI In response to what he was doing to bring direct investments into the country and engage the youths, President Buhari recalled what he told the National Executive Council after the #EndSARS protests, while noting how the protests made the country insecure for investors.

More, he held no investor would invest in an insecure environment, adding that those with good degrees would die of hunger if there were no jobs.

Making reference to the BRT buses that were razed by hoodlums during the #EndSARS protests in Lagos, Buhari said: “Look at the 200 buses bought by the former governor of Lagos, some of these boys went and burnt the vehicles. Who will go and invest their money in an unstable environment?

Nobody will.

“You may have a good degree but you may die without even a job. Why? Because no one is going to invest in an insecure environment. So, I told them to tell the youths that if they want jobs, they would behave themselves”.

APC and Zoning President Buhari said nobody has the power to decide his successor for the ruling APC, stressing that only members of the political party have the power to decide the party’s fate, while reacting to a question on zoning during the interview.

Clarifying that the acting leadership of the party was fast working to reposition the party and make every member feel at home, he held that, “The hope of this administration is to see APC last beyond it. Therefore, we should allow the party to decide. You cannot sit there in Lagos, for instance, and decide on the fate of APC on zoning.

“The restructuring of the party has begun from the bottom to the top with the membership card registration. Every member of the party must be involved.

“We will soon conduct our convention. No single member of the party will be allowed to go against the wish of the party.

The political party has to know how many members it has state by state. This is the right step to go about.”

The Anti-Corruption War President Buhari said it was difficult to fight corruption under a democratic setting as currently existing in the country. He noted it was easy for him to fight corruption, when he was a military Head of State in the early 80s “when a lot of people were sent to prison before I was also booted out.”

He held that despite the challenges, his administration has succeeded in easing out corrupt public officials without making noise about it.

On Boko Haram Maintaining that the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeastern part of the country was largely fuelled by youth unemployment and poverty, Buhari also stated that the majority of the Boko Haram members were Nigerians and that his government had done a lot to fight the terrorists but the problem in the “North East is very difficult.”

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CICERO/REPORT

Kaduna: Confronting Education Sector Challenges Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai’s effort in the education sector is a model for other states, writes Louis Achi

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he audacious Emirates Mars Mission is a UAE Space Agency un-crewed space exploration trip to Mars. It’s actually the Arab-Islamic world’s first interplanetary mission. The mission’s planet orbiter named Hope was launched on July 19, 2020 and reached Mars on February 9, 2021.

It has started its study of the Martian atmosphere and sending back images. The mission design, development, and operations were led by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. It may be legitimately asked: what’s the connection between Mars exploration, UAE and the subject matter of education, Kaduna State – and Nigeria for that matter?

The UAE has been ranked the highest in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and 45thworldwide in a global school rankings list compiled by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The list, which is based on test scores in math and the sciences among 15-year-olds in 76 countries, highlights the link between education and economic growth.

Andreas Schleicher, OECD’s education director said: “This is the first time we have a truly global scale of the quality of education. The idea is to give more countries – rich and poor – access to comparing themselves against the world’s education leaders, to discover their relative strengths and weaknesses, and to see what the long-term economic gains from improved quality in schooling could be for them.”

Globally, Singapore topped the rankings, followed by Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Western nations such as the UK and the US ranked 20 and 28 respectively. Ghana, South Africa, Honduras, Morocco and Oman rounded off the last five on the list. Nigeria was not even listed.

It could be clearly seen from the foregoing that reform is imperative in every sector of human life and society, especially, when considerable regression has set in. Currently, it is indisputable that critical systems have failed or become obsolete in Nigeria’s education sector.

Therefore, the issue of reform in Kaduna State or Nigeria’s education system is not unusual. More advanced nations like Finland, Singapore, and the United States continually reform their education systems. Developing countries like India, Qatar and several others similarly had times of reform in their educational systems.

Typically, a reform starts with the identification of a problem, which is further studied, analysed, and evaluated.

Thus, incepting any sustainable and worthwhile reform is long. In other to identify the problem, there may be the need for surveying and conducting series of tests: Aptitude, Achievement, and Competency test as the case may demand.

As it were, Governor El Rufai of Kaduna State has demonstrated within his six years on the saddle that a powerful vision pulls in ideas, people and other resources, despite the tough challenges. It creates the energy and will to make change happen. It inspires individuals, diverse stakeholders, partnering organisations and institutions to commit, to persist and to give their best.

Cut to the bone, this is the game-changing story of the focused, challenging reform of the Kaduna State education sector – a scenario that could hobble the vision that any unfocussed leader enunciates. It could be recalled that the dinosaurs died out, because they could not adapt quickly enough to environmental changes that swept their milieu.

According to El-Rufai, “Education is a lever for social mobility, enabling people to rise above the circumstances of their birth and providing a basis for building a meritocratic society. We have begun implementing ambitious education reforms in Kaduna State and, as you all know, these reforms have very often been met with resistance or in some cases, misrepresentation and mischief.”

He spoke as the 4th Distinguished Guest Lecturer of the University of Medical Science, Ondo State, on Monday, 30th April 2018. “We recognise education as a fundamental component of human development. Education is an aspirational asset, a tool that sparks the curiosity to seek solutions.

“This curiosity and its resultant solutions are integral to providing the kind of answers we need for modern development. Perhaps, the most important of its many benefits is the opportunity for social mobility; how quality education enables the poor to move out of poverty by the sheer force of determination, application of knowledge and hard work”.

Further, according to him, “The rest of Nigeria is watching closely how Kaduna State is pursuing the reforms in education, and how we are overcoming the resistance of those, who think that their privileges, perquisites and entitlements should come before the need to equip the next generation with the ability to compete in a world that is changing faster than we can comprehend.

“Our educational policies and programmes are aimed at eradicating illiteracy in Kaduna State, ensuring every child gets at least nine years of free basic education, improving

El-Rufai infrastructure and tools, while attracting the best people in character and learning to the teaching profession.”

The foregoing fundamentally captures the big picture game plan of Governor El-Rufai as he frontally confronted his state’s dilapidated education sector.

On assuming power in 2015, the problems El-Rufai was complaining about in opposition, became his responsibility to fix, especially, in the critical education sector. In 2015, he declared a State of Emergency in Education, enabling his administration to accelerate procurement and payment procedures for education projects, and began a programme of renovation and rehabilitation of primary schools.

This included providing roofs, doors, and windows, boreholes and toilets. Where urgently needed, he built new classrooms. In addition, his administration began placing orders for school furniture, because in some places up to 90% of pupils (not the 50% the former government claimed) had no desks or chairs.

After spending billions fixing about ten percent of the primary schools then, he did an evaluation that concluded that he needed to move towards rebuilding schools, not just renovating them. With a growing population, Kaduna State primary schools needed to have more classrooms and offices for teachers. He therefore opted to begin to build schools on two or three floors, depending on the projected demand and availability of land. The conclusion was that he would require faster, system building technologies and significant sources of funding to rebuild the schools in the needed timeline.

His administration had to open up to the federal government and their development partners about the scale of the challenges they faced on the education front. He compiled an album showing the sorry state of the state’s schools, with statistics on teacher quality and pupil-teacher ratios.

According to Governor El Rufai, “I shared the album with the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and then, our development partners, including the Abuja Office of the World Bank. This is what led to the discussions that culminated in the World Bank approving a concessionary “performance-for-results” facility of $350 million for Kaduna State on 20th June 2017.

“This facility would have enabled us to take care of the physical infrastructure component of the Primary Education challenge, in addition to other investments that will transform the economy of Kaduna State. Alas, the enemies of the talakawa of Kaduna State in the Nigerian Senate continue to be a stumbling block to accessing this facility.”

Beyond the physical infrastructure, he remained keen about addressing the personnel side too. Without competent teachers, even the most glittering school is lifeless.

On June 3, 2017, the Kaduna State Government conducted a competency test for primary school teachers. The test was organised and supervised by a committee, which included the state chairman and secretary of the Nigerian Union of

Teachers (NUT) and representatives of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) as members.

But the results were disappointing! Only 11,591 teachers (33.9%) scored at least 75% in the test. Others fell within the following categories: A. 70 and 74%: 5,766 (16.9%) B. 60-69%: 8,759 (26.1%) and C. 0-59%: 8,047 (23.58%) His administration then made a painful, but necessary, decision to disengage teachers that scored less than 75%. This was done in accordance with the terms of their employment.

Government records indicated that concerns about the problem of teacher quality led the government of late Sir Patrick Yakowa in 2012 to dismiss about 4000 teachers found to have fake qualifications.

That same year, the Yakowa government also gave a five-year window within which all unqualified teachers were to acquire the NCE, the minimum teaching qualification. This five-year window closed in 2017, and this was the reason for the timing of the Teacher Competency Test.

Despite the threats of organised labour, and the strike actions that followed, he launched a programme to recruit 25,000 new teachers. More than 43,000 applied for teaching positions. After examinations, SUBEB arrived at a shortlist of 15,897, which was subjected to further face-to-face scrutiny and screening. The first batch of 11,385 new teachers have completed their induction training and have now reported in the schools to which they were posted.

In his words: “We intend to continue to recruit teachers until we meet the target of 25,000 new teachers to replace the 21,780 unqualified teachers that were disengaged.”

But a key problem confronting Governor El-Rufai’s administration is still education sector funding and charging of appropriate tuition fees for its tertiary education institutions, especially, the Kaduna State University (KASU). KASU was established under the Kaduna State Law No 3, promulgated on May 21, 2004.

What really are the options for funding tertiary education in Nigeria? The issues are not limited to Kaduna State. Interestingly, Kaduna State is leading the charge on the crucial issue, not unlike as it did with the teachers’ competency test.

The federal government has the education tax fund; clearly with the dwindling resources available to state governments, can the Kaduna State University continue to charge N26,000 for medical science? Can it attract the best lecturers? Certainly not!

Inevitably, a review of fees which the state government had done can hardly be avoided though this will pressure parents more. The upwards review of fees for KASU from N26,000 to N150,000 is expectedly generating ripples.

A comparison of the Kaduna State University in tuition payment with 24 other state owned universities in Nigeria shows that the Kaduna State varsity is the cheapest at N26,000. This of course has implications for sustainable running of the varsity and retention of top class academic staff.

None can dispute that quality education comes at a cost.

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Kenneth Kaunda the former president of Zambia

Kaunda: Last of the Independence Fighters Kenneth Kaunda, founding president of Zambia would be remembered as the man, who fought for his country’s independence and also helped others break free from colonialists, writes Tobi Soniyi

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t the age of 97, Kenneth Kaunda, the founding president of Zambia, who died on June 17, 2021 was lucky enough to outlive many of his contemporaries and foes. He, along other independence partirachs, rose against white minority rule cycling from villages to villages preaching independence.

He came to prominence as a leader of the campaign to end colonial rule of his country, then known as Northern Rhodesia. He was imprisoned briefly in 1955 and again in 1959, and upon his release became president of the newly formed United National Independence Party.

Kenneth David Kaunda, born on April 28, 1924, was the youngest of eight children of a Church of Scotland minister at Lubwa mission in the remote north of the country.

Known also by his African name of “Buchizya” – the unexpected one – he did menial jobs to earn school fees after his father’s death. He also worked as a teacher and a mine welfare officer and joined politics in 1949 as a founder member of the Northern Rhodesian African National Congress.

He became president in 1964 and kept his grip on power for 27 years until he was defeated in 1991 by Frederick Chiluba, the trade unionist.

As leader of the first country in the southern region to break with its European colonisers, Kaunda worked hard to help other former colonies break with their white colonialists and achieve independence.

He would be remembered as an African nationalist, who spearheaded the fights to end white minority rule across southern Africa.

During his 27-year rule, he gave critical support to armed African nationalist groups that won independence for neighboring countries including Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

The New York Times described him as “an impassioned orator, who could bring an audience to its feet and to tears; a

former schoolteacher, who quoted Lincoln and Gandhi; and a physically striking man, who brushed his hair to stand at attention so that it added inches to his six-foot-tall stature.”

During his reign as president, Kaunda rapidly expanded Zambia’s education system, establishing primary schools in urban and rural areas and providing all students with books and meals. He also established a university and medical school. He expanded Zambia’s health systen to cater for the needs of his people.

However, like many of his colleagues, and those, who came after him, he refused to bow out, when the ovation was loudest. Clinging to power for 27 years, he had to endure an electoral defeat to let go.

He mposed a one-party state in 1973, gradually developed a personality cult and clamped down on opposition. He claimed that the one-party state was the only option for Zambia as it faced attacks and subterfuge from white-led South Africa and Rhodesia.

He ruled at the height of the Cold War, and like many of his colleagues on the continent, he was a leading member of the Non-Aligned Movement.

However, his popularity waned following the collapse of the once thriving Zambian economy as the price of copper, its main export, fell in the 1970s. Although he eventually became authoritarian, Kaunda conceded defeat and agreed to return Zambia to multi-party politics and peacefully stepped down from power, when he lost elections in 1991.

According to the Washington Post, “Corruption, mismanagement and the nationalisation of foreign-owned companies and mines also contributed to the economic decline. Unemployment soared and the standard of living sank during the 1980s, making Zambia one of the world’s poorest countries.”

Following the advice of the International Monetary Fund and Western creditors, Kaunda imposed austerity measures, which led to riots over price hikes and shortages in basic commodities such as maize meal. This led to his downfall. He eventually gave way to domestic protests and international

pressure in 1990 and agreed to multiparty elections, which he lost.

Kaunda would also be remembered for his role in the fight against HIV/AIDS. He shared a loss experienced by countless families in Africa, when his son Masuzyo died of AIDS in 1986, and he began a personal crusade against the disease.

“This is the biggest challenge for Africa. We must fight AIDS and we must do so now,” he told Reuters in 2002, adding: “We fought colonialism. We must now use the same zeal to fight AIDS, which threatens to wipe out Africa.”

In 1996, he tried to make a political comeback, but he was blocked, when Chiluba, his bitter enemy, forced through constitutional amendments, which declared the former “Father of the Nation” a foreigner, because his parents came from Malawi.

He was arrested in December 1997 and charged with treason following a coup attempt by junior army officers two months earlier. He was detained in a maximum security prison but later placed under house arrest until the state dropped the charges.

Kaunda was shot and wounded by government forces during a demonstration in 1997 and in 1999 escaped an assassination attempt. He blamed Chiluba’s allies for the November 1999 killing of his son and heir-apparent, Wezi. That same year, Kaunda announced his withdrawal from domestic politics to concentrate on halting the spread of AIDS through his Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundation.

Prior to his death, Kaunda had abstained from making public pronouncement. However, in a rare public appearance in September 2019, at the age of 95, he spoke out strongly against a wave of attacks in South Africa against foreigners from other African countries.

“Our brothers and sisters in South Africa should remember that these same people they are treating with cruelty are the same people, who were comrades in arms in fighting the brutal apartheid regime,” Kaunda said.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 20, 2021

TRIBUTE

AkinwunmiAmbode:TheTeacher’sSonTurns58

Louis Achi

O

n June 14, 1964, at the Epe General Hospital, Lagos, the cry of a new life pierced the anxious maternity ward.

It was that of a boy child. A deeply grateful and pious father, Pa Festus Akinwale Ambode and mother Christianah Oluleye Ambode, welcomed a new bawling clan member.

Today, at a vigorous 58 years of age, Chief Akinwunmi Ambode, former governor of Lagos State is no less a child of providence. He wielded power and is still deploying his influence with alluring humility and exemplary focus.

With his life’s trajectory, he has demonstrated that faith, public finance management, administration and politics fundamentally address transformation of the human condition for good.

He still unabashedly maintains this unique philosophy and footing. Little wonder, the famous American poet and essayist Maya Angelou observed that, “Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.” Angelou’s captivating insight into the existential challenges that confront great men in-the-making fundamentally captures the life story of Akinwunmi Ambode, who notched 58, on June 14.

The enthralling odyssey of ex-Governor Akinwunmi Ambode further goes to validate the enduring wisdom that difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. An unwavering sense of loyalty and duty, rigorous professionalism, stern discipline, demonstrable integrity and almost a child-like faith in his beloved God had activated and enlisted those mysterious principles that guide progress.

In the academia, professions, faith arena, politics and even romance, these deep traits have meshed to win over the needed fundamental forces, which interfaced to leverage Ambode’s life journey.

Ambode has demonstrated that he is a personality and leader not swayed by extraneous emotionalism and parochial cant. This footing may have put him on a collision course with the political godfather of his realm.

But he remains driven by principle.

It could be recalled that after dispatching the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s mettlesome Chief Jimi Agbaje in the keenly contested April 12, 2015 governorship election, Ambode hit the ground running. As governor of Nigeria’s commercial and industrial capital faced with the challenge of satisfying the yearnings of the over 15 million residents of Lagos, it couldn’t have been otherwise.

Drawing from his rich professional background as an accountant, administrator and public finance management expert and leaning on a vision to make Lagos a clean, secure, more prosperous state with a robust economy built on service, equity and justice, the Epe-born dynamite left few in doubt that he is indeed the man the city needed.

One of the major achievements of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was the massive inner roads (re)construction his government embarked upon at the outset. In his ‘114 Roads’ project, each of the 57 local councils in the state got two good roads completed. The accounting guru’s philosophy that a well-lit Lagos will reduce crime also saw him light up over 360 streets across the state.

Some key projects executed under the single term tenure of ex-Governor Ambode include the Ikeja Bus Terminal; Oshodi Transport Interchange; Oshodi-Airport Road Expansion; Ojodu Berger Bus Terminal; Institute of Maternal and Child Health (Ayinke House); Abule Egba Jubilee Flyover; Ajah Jubilee Flyover; Aba-Oru Flyover; Yaba Bus Terminal and Oyingbo Bus Terminal.

Others include - Freedom Road, Lekki; Bus Reform Initiatives (820 buses purchased out of 5,000 originally planned); Four Lagos Theatres – located in Alimosho, Badagry, Epe and Ikeja) and Construction of 21 roads in Alimosho amongst others.

On the security, artisanal and entrepreneurial empowerment, agricultural, tax generation fronts and more, Ambode indisputably made remarkable progress in Lagos State.

Not many would have forgotten that early in his tenure, Ambode launched the game-changing Lagos-Kebbi (LAKE Rice) project. Thousands of residents trooped out to various centres across the three senatorial districts in the state to buy the commodity which sold for N12,000 (50kg bag); N6,000 (25kg); and N2,500 (10kg). It was a much needed respite for a population that had been reeling under the impact of economic recession.

The recession then in 2016 notwithstanding, Lagos State under his watch generated a figure which ranked among its highest ever internal revenue. As at the preceding December, the state had raked in N287 billion in IGR, a whopping N19 billion more than was generated the year before. Except in 2013 when the state generated N384 billion, the year was the highest the state had made since its creation. A rejig of the state’s revenue generation agency played a major role in this feat. But Ambode also acknowledged faithful tax-paying citizens in the state for the revenue landmark.

His words: “The tax payers are the ones giving us the little energy that we have and even though when they say

Ambode

Nigeria is in recession, somehow Lagos has been able to do it and it is because people are paying their taxes.” The governor also dealt expeditiously with backlog payment of N11billion as arrears to retirees of Lagos State Government and much more.

Lagosians certainly will not forget in a hurry the transformative leadership he brought in his phenomenal four-year tenure. During this challenging period, he never borrowed money to fund development. He rather worked hard to generate revenue.

Against unproven allegations of being impetuous and adversarial, the emergence of Chief Ambode as Lagos State chief executive evokes memories of other progressive eras of the state. Clearly, Ambode is not a saint and has never been heard to claim that arcane status. But the parameters for electing the governor of a Nigerian state do not specify sainthood as a key requirement.

His choice, simply acknowledged the capacity of focused individuals to change their society for the better. For decades, both as an accountant, administrator and public finance management expert, he has provided clear, pragmatic leadership.

Even after, the untidy truncation of his governorship trajectory, like the true gentleman he is, he unstintingly supported his party and political successor. He has since then remarkably carried himself with exemplary dignity, an unusual footing for contemporary politicians.

Perhaps these consistent qualities have kept him on the radar of the ruling party’s top hierarchs. Just three months ago, Ambode was appointed by APC into its Contact/Strategy Committee.

Chief Ambode attended St. Jude’s Primary School, Ebute Metta, Lagos State, from 1969-1974, where he sat for the National Common Entrance Examinations. From 1974-1981, he attended Federal Government College, Warri, Delta State and from 1981-1984, attended University of Lagos, where he studied Accounting, graduating at the age of 21. He also has a Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos and is also qualified as a chartered accountant.

Ambode was awarded the Fulbright Program scholarship for the Hubert Humphries Fellowship Programme in Boston, Massachusetts. He also attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania for Advanced Management Programme. Other institutions he attended for courses and programmes include - Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield, England, the Institute of Management Development, Lausanne, Switzerland,

INSEAD, Singapore. He also, he attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Cambridge, USA. His civil service career was remarkable. From 1988-91, he was the Assistant Treasurer, Badagry local government, Lagos State, Nigeria. In 1991, he was posted to Somolu Local Government, Lagos State, as an auditor.

He has also held the position of Council Treasurer in Shomolu Local Government in later years.

He also previously served as Council Treasurer at Alimosho Local Government, Lagos State. In 2001, he became acting Auditor General for Local Government, Lagos State, Nigeria. This position was confirmed by the State House of Assembly. In January 2005, Ambode was appointed the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Finance.

From 2006-2012, he was the Accountant General for Lagos State, in charge of all the financial activities of the state and directly responsible for over 1400 accountants in the state service. Under his watch, the State Treasury Office (STO) revolutionized the way Lagos State finances were raised, budgeted, managed and planned. In his six years as the Lagos State accountant general, the state’s financial performance improved visibly with the budget performing at an average of 85% annually.

After 27 years in the civil service, he voluntarily retired in August 2012. He subsequently founded Brandsmiths Consulting Limited to provide Public Finance and Management Consulting services to government at all levels, its parastatals and agencies. In 2013, he founded the non-profit La Roche Leadership Foundation. Its recent goal is to install Nigerian and Lagos State flags in all government owned schools in Lagos State.

He is an active member of the Federal Government College Lagos, Warri Old Students Association (FEGOCOWOSA) and is credited with revitalizing the Lagos branch of the Association. He was a two-time Chairman of the Lagos State Branch, and, until recently, was the National President of the Association, a position he held for three years.

In 1991, Ambode married the love of his life - Bolanle Patience Odukomaiya. They are blessed with lovely twin children.

In all his life’s challenges, a calm philosophical Ambode has taken things in his stride as he focuses on the next phase of his life. Such is the measure of the teacher’s son as he notched 58. Happy birthday Chief.

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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 ˾ JUNE 20,2021

CICERO/INTERVIEW

Abdulahi Ganduje

Ganduje speaking green

Judiciary Is Already Independent, Else We Won’t Agree When They Cancel Elections In an interactive session with journalists, commemorating the second anniversary of June 12 as Democracy Day, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, spoke on sundry local and national issues.

Ibrahim Shuaibu presents the excepts:

W

hat is the state of infrastructure development at the Yusuf Maitama University?

The Yusuf Maitama Sule University issue, we inherited a number of mega capital projects. In fact, just last week, I was able to complete the latest, that is, Yahaya Gusau work. Yes, we completed it. Others were completed a long time ago. The ones initiated and executed

by Malam Shekarau, abandoned for over ten years.

When the previous administration came, it did not even look at it for four years. So, only lizards and rats were there. That one too, I am the person that put it to use in the last two years. Hydro electricity,which we inherited, work is still going on at Tiga and Chalawa dams. The Tiga dam is about 95% completed while Challawa is just 20% due to some technical issues here and there.

Meanwhile, as I lay this foundation, it is to show you that we inherited many capital projects; some have been completed, some are ongoing, some are still on going at a slow rate due to financial problems. But I assure you we will complete them during this tenure.

Those two faculties of the university at the permanent site that are still lagging behind are not due to lack of interest. We introduced free and compulsory education, which is heavily loaded including financial commitment, because of increase in enrolment and other infrastructure improvement. So, that has affected tertiary education. In fact, lower education has affected higher education as a result of financial commitment. I think that is the reason What is your stance on the current discussion on the

issues of judicial and local government autonomy?

The independence of judiciary and the independence of local governments, you even forgot one, the independence of the legislature, if I can add it for you. Let’s start with the judiciary. We have no problem with the independence of the Judiciary, in fact, the Judiciary is independent. You can even win an election and they will cancel it. If they are not independent, how can we agree if they cancel our election?

As a governor, you are serving, you don’t know what will happen tomorrow. You sleep well and wake up in the morning and you find out that you are no longer a governor. Is there any independence that supersedes that one? Their only issue is that of financial independence.

Here in Kano State, we have no problem with that. We have been paying the judiciary what they are supposed to be paid.

They have also acknowledged that we have been paying what we are expected to pay. So, we have no problem with that.

The local governments too are independent. We conducted free and fair elections at local governments. We always give them what is due to them at the local governments but sometimes we have joint projects. So, they too are independent. We believe in the independence of these bodies.

A lot has been said about the Almajiri integration in the state, yet, the first set of pupils is yet to graduate. What is happening?

Almajiri issue is a real problem. It’s a big problem. What we anticipated was a decision by the northern states government to have the same legislation preventing the movement of school age children from one state to another. But we have not succeeded in

that. Kano State, being a commercial nerve centre of the northern part of this country and commercial nerve centre of some West African countries, we have children from all over the northern part of this country and from Niger and from Tchad.

We established three mega schools for the Almajiris. We have completed the admission, but the children that we decide to take back to their respective states, sometimes they come back even before our officials come back, because the corresponding states have not taken the issue as seriously as we have done.

So, it is an issue that we have to go back to the drawing board.

To be frank with you, with the amount of insecurity all over, we are handling the issue with care but our enrollment is on and it will be open.

We have over three thousand Almajiris. Some, we have taken back to their neighbourhood schools, the indigines of Kano. So, the only problem we have is the Almajiris coming from other states, whom we embarked on returning back to their states but it’s an issue we cannot say we have succeeded. But since we have the political will, we’ll match on.

Your government recently announced converting 5000 civil servants in the state with education qualification, what is so far the outcome?

We have appointed an Implementation Committee and it is working on that. I think your answer is short, because you are on it asking about the genesis.

Recently, the issue of secession has become a national issue, what do you advise to keep Nigeria as one indivisible entity?

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JUNE 20,2021

73

CICERO/INTERVIEW t +6%*$*"3: *4 "-3&"%: */%&1&/%&/5 &-4& 8& 80/ 5 "(3&& 8)&/ 5)&: $"/$&- &-&$5*0/4 t People, who are urging for splitting the country, calling for secession, of course it’s a democracy, but I’m confident that Nigeria will continue to be one indivisible country. I don’t want to comment on those, who are calling for the split, because they are young people, who did not experience the civil war and I am happy their elders are also making the same comments.

So, Nigeria will continue to be one and there is confidence, because just last week, Ohanaeza Indigbo revealed a resolution that they are not behind the Biafra project, they are behind the unity of Nigeria. That is very encouraging and we are hearing it from an important regional association.

Also, the Arewa Consultative Forum, of course is behind one Nigeria and has not been advocating for the fragmentation of Nigeria. Afenifere also made a resolution that they are behind one Nigeria, they are not behind those who are calling for the split of the country. The same thing with the National Coalition of the Middle Belt People, they too say they believe in one Nigeria. So, who else will succeed in splitting the country?

In fact, I made a call to these regional associations, since they all believe in one Nigeria, let them come together and fashion out our diversity, identify our differences, identify our similarities and ensure that our diversity, which is our source of problem and a challenge; they should convert the challenge into an opportunity. It is possible.

So, these regional bodies should meet and find out how they can convert our differences into opportunities for the unity of this country. Some of us believe our diversity is a blessing. Individual ethnic nationalities have some inherent trends that if properly harnessed will take Nigeria forward. All that we require is that we should respect our differences and convert our challenges into opportunities.

Your administration has initiated some projects in the state like Daula Hotel, Cancer Treatment Center and the Economic City. How can these projects be completed during your tenure judging by the crisis of continuity?

You said we started mega projects. I think maybe you don’t seem to understand the history of some of the projects. Some of them that you have mentioned are under PPP. So, it is not solely a state government project. But when you are talking of the Cancer Treatment Centre, 95% of the equipment is on the ground, multi billion naira equipment.

But some of the work only stopped for two weeks during the Covid-19. If you care to go and check,there is always work going on there. We believe by December or the first quarter of 2022, the Centre will be commissioned, because 95% of the equipment is on ground and the construction work is on.

Daula is under PPP, the contractors are also going at high speed.

You know at the foundation level, that is where you spend a lot of time, because of the nature of soil and so on. But if you go there, I think you will see how work is going on.

We have a five star hotel there replacing the Daula Hotel. We have a shopping mall there and other sites and services, which are all handled by private individuals and the Kano State government has its own share of the hotel. Then if you go to the Triumph, the site for Triumph, the building has been demolished.

The structures that are coming up are for a modern bureau de change market.

If you go there, you will see some work going on. Also at the Shahuji, where we demolished one building, which was about to collapse and we were advised by engineers. It was built by the previous administration but it was poorly constructed, so we had to demolish it.

With the PPP project, if you go there you will see a number of projects, a complex, commercial market is already there and we started to do a flyover and even a tunnel. So, that one too will be completed by the Private Sector. That one is not a project that is purely a government project. So, we assure you, those which are purely government projects we will be able to complete them. In fact, we have not even started a mega project, the Muhammadu Buhari Rotary Interchange, which our engineers went round to find out how they manage traffic and how they will come up with modern designs to manage traffic jams. They came up with a beautiful design. We have already awarded the contract. The vice-president is coming and we will lay the foundation. We are finishing that project within fifteen months once it is started.

We are seriously calculating and it will be finished in this tenure.

So, we assure you that we will finish most of our projects. For the ones that will not be completed, governance is continuous, we inherited some, some people will also inherit from us. But I believe it will be few but it is not our fault anyway to leave an uncompleted project, because governance is continuous.

What is your take on rotational presidency?

You mentioned presidential candidates and zoning, the candidates will be determined by the delegates when the time comes.

With the complexity of Kano’s politics, how do you intend to resolve the succession battle?

On the issue of politics in Kano, there are so many governorship aspirants in the state and for the House of Representatives and also Senators. So, complex in Kano, how do I tackle the problem?

Well, looking at the antecedents of the governor, his political dexterity, he too is complicated, complex in politics, so time will tell and the issue will be solved democratically.

Recently, your counterpart from Katsina, Governor Aminu Masari said, he would retire from active politics in 2023, are you going along the same path?

You said the governor of Katsina Aminu Masari said he will retire from active politics in 2023, but I don’t know whether he

is tired or not tired. But you want me to tell you whether I will retire as well. Well, I’m not tired anyway. But whether I will resign or not, time will tell. But I can tell you that I have been in politics since 1978. So, even if I retire, I think my ears are on what is happening.

What qualities are you expecting from the person that is going to succeed you?

You asked which type of quality I will look for in my successor.

When you finished your question I said in Hausa “No za ka yiwa wayo?” (You think you can deceive me?). After praising me for not showing priority, you are coming from the backdoor so that if I mention the qualities you will compute the qualities with the individuals, so, it will be the delegates that will do that.

On the issue of pensioners in the state, the situation in the pension house is pathetic. Former governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau said he left N9 billion, when he was leaving office. But today pensioners don’t have the confidence that they will get their gratuities in the next three years after retiring. What plans do you have for pensioners in the state before the expiration of your tenure?

The N9 billion left by the Malam Shekarau administration, the Ganduje administration did not meet that. The Ganduje administration met some N4 billion of pension but as loan with the housing scheme. They were given the houses. The pensioners were given the houses, and the houses are costly. Up till now, they have not been sold. Before he left, he even gave out some of the houses to some institutions, some to individuals. So we didn’t meet any money for the pensioners. So, that is one issue you should understand.

The second issue is that we don’t have enough income like Malam Ibrahim Shekarau had or Kwankwaso had. Some states are even finding it difficult to pay salaries. Some are owing the government’s salaries. So, it’s due to financial problems that we are having. But I am assuring you that it is due to financial problems.

Sometimes we had to revert to the former salary scale used before the improvement of the salary scale. You can see the problem that we are facing. But you know we cannot borrow money from banks and pay pensioners or pay salaries. We borrow money from banks for capital projects, because some will be revenue generating while some will be of benefit to everybody.

So, that is the situation. We are praying and we are committed to improving our revenue generation. But even this is very difficult, because of the general economy of the nation. So, we will try and see how we can assist. Those who can sell their houses, the pension is an agency, they have enough houses, which they can sell but I assure you, even if they sell the houses, the houses will be consumed by the liabilities.

What plans do you have for female inclusion in politics come 2023?

Gender in politics. We will introduce some measures. First of all, we will make sure that the application forms will be free for women. Also, we will have dialogue with some stakeholders to allow women to participate actively and be allowed to win elections. We tried during the local government elections, but you know local government elections are local. We tried but chairman; I don’t know whether we even have a councillor.

So, we decided to appoint women in our councils since they couldn’t break through the elections. And even during the 2019 election, there were some young women, who contested for the

House of Representatives. We tried by trying to convince the men to allow them to contest. They were not able to get the tickets.

So, I decided to engage them actively and they are working very hard and probably will go back to the ring. But we appreciated their efforts and that was why we rewarded them with good appointments.

What measures will you put in place to give access to journalist, when they seek data or information from the state?

On the issue of data sourcing from the commissioners, I think this is for the Information, when you are looking for information and data from the commissioners and the advisers, I think this should not be a problem. If you are looking for information, contact your colleague the commissioner for information. Any information you need, any data you need, any commissioner you want to access, I think there will be a way for you to do that. If there is any difficulty about that, the commissioner should bring it to the Executive Council.

What is the current stage on the issue of Light Rail introduced by your administration?

We have signed an agreement contract with EEC for the construction of light rail in Kano State. We have applied to the federal government. The Chinese Bank has approved the loan for the project. The federal government is working with Chinese government on an agreement that will be signed between the federal government and the Chinese government. The issue will soon be tabled to the Federal Executive Council after which it will go to the Senate. I believe by the end of this year, everything will be on the ground for the start of the light rail project in Kano.

Kano is a mega city. We are trying to introduce a mass transit system in cooperation with the light rail. Just at the last executive council meeting, we approved N2.5 billion for the purchase of buses through PPP. Then we identified some routs, which will be designated for the mass transit. So, the light rail is on course and it’s one of our big dreams that we want to actualise. But you know it cannot be completed within one tenure. It’s a long process. All what we require is to lay the foundation, start the project and coming government will complete it.

On sports, how do you plan to enhance and strengthen the Kano Pillars and second, is it true that you are a fan of Manchester United?

Kano Pillars have ten marches. We have been on top and we are going to maintain our position. There are certain things that I cannot tell you and there are certain things that I can tell you. That is the secret of, even in elections, if you asked how you win the elections not everyone can tell you.

First of all, we have been donating buses. The Kano Pillars have three luxurious buses. Two were by individuals and one was by the state government. That is a kind of encouragement and also, all other logistics. We want to double our efforts with our logistics so that they can maintain the lead.

Yesterday, as we were handing over one bus to the Kano Pillars, they scored one goal in Kaduna but it was cancelled. Then finally it was a draw 0-0. But we maintained that position, which allows us to be on top. So, I assure you that we are conscious of the progress of the Kano Pillars. We will do all that it takes to ensure that they succeed. We will come on top.

You asked me about my team, whether I belong to Manchester United or Kano Pillars. Mind you,Ganduje Babes are also on line.

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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 ˾ NE 20,2021

LosingWeight, Reaching Fitness Goals EasierThan YouThink

Second-left Anire Kanyi, Chairman TMCL and friends during the Lagos Tennis Cup final

TMCL Plans Abuja Tennis Cup after maiden Lagos Tennis Cup Success

T

ennis players and fans in Nigeria can expect more good times as Lekki-based Tennis Management Company Limited plans to build on the recent success of its maiden Lagos Tennis Cup by hosting another major tournament in Abuja later in the year.

The Lagos Tennis Cup, which took place from June 09-13 at the preeminent tennis facility in Nigeria, the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club in Onikan, involved 16 of the best professional tennis players in the country. All participants qualified for the event after reaching the quarter-finals of the 2021 CBN Open tournament.

No.3 seeds Uche Oparaoji and Marylove Edward triumphed in the men and women’s categories respectively, carting home half a million naira each in prize money.

The tournament was the first installment of a brand new addition to the annual national tennis calendar by TMCL. To be known as the Nigerian Tennis Majors, the initiative will ensure top Nigerian players get four high stakes tournaments every year to serve both as inspiration for local talents to relentlessly develop their craft, and a measurement of their progress for everyone to see.

“Our vision is to create a platform that can assist in taking Nigerian tennis to the upper reaches of the global game over

the next 20 years,” TMCL chairman Anire Kanyi told This Day. “It has taken us years to get to this stage, but we are happy the show is finally on the road. We had the best players in Nigeria slog it out here for five days and you can expect even better when they clash again in the Abuja Tennis Cup at the end of the year.”

Although TMCL plans to have four major tournaments every year, the company says it will start with just the Lagos and Abuja tournaments in the first few years. The Abuja tournament billed for the impressive tennis arena at the National Stadium will feature the top ranked 8 players in both the men and women’s categories.

“Our goal is to have a miniature of the global tennis Grand Slams in Nigeria, so we’re looking at four major tournaments annually that we’ll call the Nigerian Tennis Majors. We want to build carefully. We will start with only the Lagos and Abuja tournaments this year and in 2022, and subsequently we’ll explore tournaments in other cities keen to invest in what we are doing.” Kanyi explained.

“In time we will open a couple of the tournaments to international players, but for the first five years at least our focus will be solely on developing Nigerian talents. Tennis cannot sustain a huge local following unless Nigerians see our boys playing regularly internationally” the TMCL boss added.

As Abu Inu-Umoru Validates his Self-effacing Persona Sufuyan Ojeifo

T

wo events in the month of May 2021, separated by about three weeks, significantly coalesced to validate the essential persona of Chief Abu Inu-Umoru, on which I adumbrated when I penned an opinion piece in 2019 entitled: “This is about Inu-Umorus, not Khalaf”. In that piece, I had attempted a deconstruction of the philosophy of life and the individuality of Chief Abu Inu-Umoru, fondly referred to in many circles of personal friends, business associates and social acquaintances as Chairman, in the context of what seemed the family’s battle with Khalaf, the Lebanese partner of his late father, whose precipitate scheme at that intersection was to supplant the Inu-Umorus in the ownership and control of the burgeoning indigenous Setraco Construction Company.

As an aside, because this is about Abu Inu-Umoru and not Setraco, I will sidestep issues that centre on Setraco, a company that had cut a niche for itself, and is consistently maintaining a firm hold on its share of the construction market as typified by Nigeria’s terrain of road infrastructure construction business. He is also the Chairman of Hartland Civil Construction Company, which had been very successful even while the father was alive, running sideby-side (competitively?) with Setraco, the family business. This piece is not also about Hartland. Abu Inu-Umoru is, by deliberate choice, the central thematic focus of this narrative.

The moniker of Chairman, by which he is widely addressed, fits perfectly, for all times and purposes, into who he is. It somewhat defines and thereafter expresses, as it were, the weight of his charisma, which is accentuated by the cadence of his speech.

Although, he is taciturn, yet when he speaks, he carefully chooses his words, perhaps not wanting to hurt anyone. In a much more profound way, which he is perhaps not even acquainted with, he gives expression and explication to the Yoruba proverb, which is transliterated: “Good words bring out kola nut from the pocket while bad words bring out sword from the sheath.” Indeed, on both scores of being taciturn and carefully choosing his words, his gravitas in a world in which his being has found vast expressions, despite his humble background and largely inexplicable humility, is made even more instructive by his diffident disposition. Unlike many wealthy people, who flaunt what they have in the faces of others by their signature and archetypical styles, Abu Inu-Umoru’s self-effacing, affable character is such that it is difficult to know him by his gait.

In fact, his self-restraint is unmistakable. Therefore, referring to him as Chairman in all situations and circumstances is in pari materia with the content of his character. No wrong characterization is contemplated here in this deliberate enterprise of penning a writ-large assessment of his individuality or alternatively in the task of constructing his portraiture, remarking the “warts and all”

Inu-Umoru to borrow the phrase of Oliver Cromwell to his portrait painter, Peter Lely.

To be sure, Cromwell’s “warts and all” means including features or qualities that are not appealing or attractive. That simply means that no man is perfect after all. Therefore, in painting Abu Inu-Umoru’s portrait, especially the components of his corporeal configuration that harbours his humanitarian essence, I am consensus ad idem with a friend who knows Chairman very well that he (Chairman) is a special handiwork of God’s creation.

His kinds are very few on this terra firma. Having done so much to positively affect humanity, he continues to remain humble about it. Whereas, he has all it takes to court the media, hug the limelight and etch his image in the consciousness of the people, he has chosen the ennobling path of quietude, almost verging on solitude. But, make no mistake about it, Abu Inu-Umoru is on top of his game in the intercourse between business exertions and social life. He knows how to conduct and strengthen his businesses through utilitarian networking without adverting to himself unnecessary attention and/or generating needless hoopla around himself or his business concerns. That explains his gentleman’s approach in responding to the shenanigans by his late father’s business partner, the grand old man, Said Khalaf when he (Khalaf) was up to his mischief. Again, this piece is not about Khalaf.

–––Mr Ojeifo contributed this piece via ojwonderngr@ yahoo.com

Read full article on www.thisdaylive.com

I

f part of your resolutions for 2021 was to lose some weight, this is about the time of the year when they start to fall apart and you start to give up.

You’ve probably jumped on one too many fad diets, lost some weight only to gain it all back (yes, this was me), or you’re new to this and it’s all a bit overwhelming.

These tips will help you get started and improve your chances of success: Set a Realistic Goal Setting goals that you can visualize yourself achieving will make you more committed but that doesn’t mean your goals shouldn’t challenge you. To set a goal that is tailored to your schedule, fitness level and lifestyle ask yourself: How many days in a week can I workout?

How long can each session last?

What time of the day works for me?

How much weight do I want to lose?

And start with that. A safe amount will be 0.5kg – 1kg per week. This number will be higher the farther away you are from a healthy BMI and it’ll reduce as you get closer to your goal weight. That means that the more weight you lose, the harder it’ll be to lose weight.

Start Small You don’t have to start by cutting whole food groups out of your diet or running 10 miles a day.

Introduce more vegetables into your diet, consciously reduce your portions, cut down on the snacking, start with forms of exercise that you’re comfortable with like walking, swimming or dancing (yes! there’s tons of dance workout videos on YouTube).

Understand that this is a long term commitment and pick a form of exercise that you can be consistent with.

Be Aware of How Much You’re Eating Food has units of energy called calories and when you eat more calories than your body needs, the excess is stored as fat. If you’re trying to lose weight, you should eat a little less calories than your body needs (an average of 1500 for women and 2000 for men) but most of us don’t even understand that it’s possible to be eating healthy food or smaller quantities and still consume more calories because some foods are more calorie dense than others.

Although tracking calories is not something I think you should do everyday, it’s important to educate yourself so you know what types of food to take in what quantities for your goals Give That Scale a Rest!

Most people think that when you start a new diet/ fitness routine, the numbers on the scale declines gradually in a linear manner. But it really just fluctuates and you end up at a lower number over time, so don’t discourage yourself by stepping on the scale everyday because sometimes the number on the scale isn’t reducing but you’re losing inches.

Try taking progress photos once every week and you’re going to see changes that you probably wouldn’t notice checking the scale or looking at the mirror everyday.

To track your progress accurately, use the scale once a week in the morning before you’ve had anything to eat or drink.

Be Prepared for Failure It’s okay to mess up once in a while, you’ll fall for temptations and overeat sometimes or miss workout sessions. But rather than feel guilty and give up all together, get back to your routine and keep showing up for yourself. There’s room for bad days as long as they’re few and far between.

Don’t Compare Your Results It’s great to have people as your body goals and be inspired but don’t let somebody’s success completely determine your expectations for yourself. Not everybody responds the same way because we have different body types.

Some people will lose weight faster than others because of factors we can’t control. Fitness is not a one size fits all. *Odunuga is a certified fitness trainer and is the founder of Easyfit, a brand that aims to simplify the obscurity that people have about fitness.You can follow @Easyfitng on instagram for fitness tips, motivation and healthy recipes.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 20, 2021

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

ENGAGEMENTS

Dividends of Buhari’s Summer Revelations

P

resident Buhari has just rendered invaluable service to an uneasy nation. He used this year’s political anniversary season to grant two revealing interviews and deliver a beneficial Democracy Day address. With these pronouncements, he has lifted the veil from his troubling trademark silence. The television interviews, one with Arise Television and the other with Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) followed closely by a national broadcast, contain far reaching revelations and disclosures about the mindset of Nigeria’s problematic helmsman.

The man broke from himself at a time of national distress.

Many had begun to doubt whether the affairs of state were in the hands of anyone in particular. Some well informed people had even asserted definitively that Buhari was no longer in charge of Nigeria. The mere fact of these pronouncements has therefore resolved many lingering misperceptions about the real present circumstances of the president. His prolonged habitual silence on nearly every occasion and subject had led to an array of speculations and conspiracy theories about his mental and physical shape and material presence in Aso Villa. The contents of the interviews apart, they provide live evidence in a public square ruled by wild hearsay and enlightened gossip. In this summer of troubles, Buhari has said so many things that mean so many different things to a divided Nigeria.

Asignificant majority of Nigerians see enough toxin in aspects of these pronouncements. Naturally, some sections of the nation see nothing wrong with even the most contentious issues. The immediate troubling indicator of Buhari’s emerging political legacy is the north-south divide in responses to the interviews and broadcast. While the governors and publics of the Southern states may be angry with the president’s stance on open grazing, Miyetti Allah, most of the governors and general public in the northern states are hailing the president. Yet, on the matter of open cattle grazing, it ought to concern us all that we have in 2021 a Nigerian president who is drawing policy inspiration from a regional gazette from the first republic. It turns out that the said gazette applies only to the northern states. It also ought to worry us that our president is comfortable with a culture of wandering pastoral cattle herding in this age of mechanical production of nearly every good. It is of course fair and laudable that the president should be proud of his chosen herdsman occupation, a choice to which he is perfectly entitled as a free citizen.

It is gladdening however that the President fully understands the extent and seriousness of the insecurity in the nation. Interestingly, he seems to have come to accept threats like Boko Haram and widespread banditry as ‘normal’ features of the national architecture of ruin over which he presides. He is more troubled by the pressures of separatism, political dissent and popular protest.

For him, the ENDSARS protests had only one aim: to remove him from office, and that, for him, means everything. People may now understand why he was so angry with the youth drivers of the ENDSARS protest that he was most reluctant to address the nation while the mayhem raged. He sees the separatists and dissenters more as direct political opponents mostly intent on discrediting his administration. He ca hardly see the credible threats to national coherence and unity beyond the specific regime survival of his presidency.

Even then, he carefully distinguishes among the separatists. For some reason, Mr. Buhari did not in his interviews for once mention the well orchestrated and highly organized popular Yoruba Nation movement with its overwhelming popular support and very coherent and unmistakable message. But, the president was all bile and open animosity when it came to the pro Biafra IPOB movement. Instructively, he makes no distinction whatsoever between Nnamdi Kanu’s secessionist IPOB club and the Igbos as a strategic Nigerian nationality. For him, the IPOB secessionist bid is an all Igbo movement to move out of Nigeria. He then threatens the Igbos in general with fire and brimstone by openly ordering the police and the army to hound them all over the country. He of course reminds his audience that a nationality who has committed the crime of embracing Nigeria’s diversity and having investments and property all over the federation are not more than ‘a dot in a circle’.

The carefully chosen metaphor of vicious encirclement has resonated across the entire globe as a sigal of genocidal intent. In an outdated British ‘divide and rule’ idiom, Buhari cites fictitious South South sources to boast that an Igbo repeat secessionist movement would be futile without access to the sea. Pitifully however, the president does not even know that even if these was a Biafra repeat, lack of access to the sea has ceased to be an impediment to national greatness. To insist otherwise is almost illiterate in today’s world. We only need to scan the list of some land locked countries to decide how they have fared: Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Jordan, Uganda, Botswana and Rwanda. There are more.

There remains a worrisome intellectual laziness and sickening bigotry in a presidential mindset that equates a whole nationality with IPOB. Most sensible Nigerians see IPOB for what it is, a minority separatist association of misguided but frustrated youth led by an unelected demagogue of doubtful intent. Seeing all Igbos as synonymous with IPOB would be equivalent to insisting that every citizen from the northern states is either a Boko Haram terrorist or a fanatical jihadist zealot. Worse still, it may be equivalent to assuming that every Nigerian from the north is necessarily in support of Mr. Buhari’s divisive and clannish notion of Nigeria. The truth of course is that the vast majority of decent northerners are

Buhari today thoroughly embarrassed by Buhari’s lopsided appointments and undisguised nepotism. Worse still, all the highly accomplished and decent northerners that I know are even more scandalized by the fact that Mr. Buhari has carefully chosen to foist a hegemony of mostly incompetent northerners on the nation. The northern elite understand the current virtual collapse of the Nigerian state is the result of the epic incompetence of Mr. Buhari’s peculiar personnel choices .

Similarly, the president has failed to understand that the IPOB support base consists mostly of a negligible minority of young Igbos and people of the South South region who are dissatisfied with what Nigeria under Mr. Buhari has degenerated into. The majority of Igbos who experienced the civil war and all others who have voted for a united Nigeria through their pan Nigerian habitation, investments, business operations, marriages and fellowships have no business with the IPOB rascality.

This does not of course mean that the memory of Biafra does not resonate with all Igbos across generations. Biafra is a deep wound in the collective psyche of the Igbo nation. And they are not the only people in history who habour a collective injury inflicted by a nasty national history. Armenians, the Tutsis, the Hereros, the Jews, the native Americans, the Aborigines have all been there.

But there seems to be a troubling subliminal impulse in this president that is allergic to the identity of sections of the Nigerian diversity. Yet the president’s job description requires that he should live with and manage our national diversity without the slightest suggestion of discrimination against any segment of the national family. This is a minimum democratic prescription and requirement. But the burden of such divisive hegemony is usually not that of those discriminated against. It is rather squarely that of a leader who chooses to brand himself so poorly in the world and for all time.

On the vexed issue of his copiously lopsided high profile federal appointments, Mr. Buhari was literally off the hook. He indicated that those he has kept appointing or promoting over and above their other Nigerian compatriots were people who have been in the services for 10-18 years as the case maybe. In his view, you do not expect him to bypass those with long service records to appoint more junior people just to fulfill a constitutional requirement! The explanation was not only devoid of logic but also stood merit on its head with neither a redeeming logic nor statistics. Asked about the absence of people of the South East at the apex of the federal establishment, Mr. Buhari casually admitted that he sees some Igbo names in the federal service list!

Blatant lopsidedness in key appointments is not nearly as atrocious as using Nigerian tax payers’ money and extortionist foreign loans to build a railroad to Niger Republic simply because some of the President’s blood line belong there. But Mr. Buhari defends this outrageous project with the casualness of donating a few bags of maize to a hungry neighbor at the expense of one’s starving family.

There are other atrocities in the interviews and the broadcast. In the Democracy Day broadcast, Mr. Buhari claims that his administration migrated a whopping 10.5 million Nigerians out of poverty in the last two years. This wild claim, which was backed by neither statistics nor scientific evidence, has since come under diverse disputation. The feat was achieved at a time when the world is reeling under the devastation of the covid emergency and in spite of abysmal oil prices. But barely four days after the chest thumping broadcast, the World Bank has come out to say that a combination of higher prices and desperate economic conditions has led to a descent of 7 million more Nigerians into the abyss of abject poverty in the last two years. Other sensible economists have sent out similar negative indications and warnings. This claim would seem to be an offshoot of the president’s earlier sweeping promise to migrate 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over a ten year period! Of all the subjects for political football, poverty is the most risky because it is hard to conceal and has a way of fighting back.

In spite of their heavy negatives, Buhari’s latest avalanche of tes-

timonial disclosures and confessions all add up to a huge dividend.

First, it is pleasing to know that Mr. Buhari is real. He is himself and not some Sudanese double or look alike clone conjured to rule over us. His health does not appear compromised in any substantial way. He is reasonably sane, alert and aware of his political environment. He is neither demented nor mentally challenged as many street side chroniclers had stubbornly insisted. He is informed of current developments around the nation. The derelictions appear willful while the tardiness in the management of the affairs of state may just be Buhari at his best.

The incoherence and incompetence are not quite accidental. The limitation in knowledge and exposure are real and not inflicted by his enemies. Agood deal of the wrong headed communications that issue from Aso Rock are not being mechanically ascribed to an ‘absent’ president. It is not quite his spokesmen who sit in the shadows of power to concoct that avalanche of bewildering releases and outrageous pronouncements. The words may be theirs but the spirit in the words is their master’s voice. These court messengers can now sleep better, finally spared the barbs and bullets of public anger. Buhari, it turns out, is actually the man behind the mask, the author of his serial infamy and the architect of his own misjudgments and reflexive presidential blunders. Yet, for the courage to break through the mask and remind the public of who they really voted for, the president deserves more medals than he already has dangling from his tattered military uniform.

Easily the most consequential dividend of these pronouncements has to do with the insight they provide on how to navigate the country out of the present dangerous pass. The current widespread insecurity and political discord have put a question mark of uncertainty on the future of the nation. In response to questions about restructuring and amendments to the1999 constitution, Buhari offered the ultimate conundrum. He insists that he is running a constitutional democracy. Therefore, only the National Assembly can effect either an amendment of the 1999 constitution or the restructuring and reform of the country.

Clearly, Buhari has drawn the red line on the possible outcome and limits of the spate of separatist agitations and other reform movements currently plaguing the country. They can only go as far as the constitution and institutions of the existing constitutional order allow. On the surface, the president is right. You cannot use disorder to unseat order no matter how imperfect that order may seem. But the lingering questions are still nagging and many: can an existing constitutional order rule itself out of existence? Can those sustained by the existing regime of benefits and group interest compromise the system to allow for an overturn of the system?

But the forces at work in the present uncertainty derive from outside the existing system of order. The ethnic agitators, secessionist activists, and restructuring pundits and supporting sundry gunmen are operating outside the parameters of the existing constitutional state. They are not even necessarily supportive of the existing partisan architecture. The agents of widespread insecurity which are poised to unsettle and unravel the nation are operating outside the parameters of the state. From Boko Haram to armed bandits, IPOB and other sectional militants are all non state actors.

The mob leaders and their supporting cast of thugs are emissaries of a clear and present anarchy. Therefore any calls for national resolution predicated on the existing state institutions like the National Assembly will not wash with these forces.

Yet, the political agitators and non- state militant actors are all Nigeerians. They are all powered by a hunger for a better Nigeria and, failing which, places of their own to call home. We cannot expect to achieve an amicable resolution of the current crises if we do not include them all in any dispute resolution mechanism we may choose. Therefore, effective statesmanship now demands that the president looks beyond the confines of the institutions of the democratic state. Buhari can only resolve the present crisis unless he assumes leadership of the nation as an inclusive totality. The hard work is in walking the tightrope between democratic institutions and the other forces at play in the context of national unity.

The value of the president’s recent utterances is in their subversive contributions to our democracy. We now have an idea of the type of president that we must never again allow to assume the mantle of national leadership. The dividends of the Buhari exposes do not belong now. They ought to accrue to the future of Nigeria. Buhari has demonstrated to the full the worst aspects of his character and the 1999 constitution in the hands of a fake democrat.

In a sense then, Mr. Buhari has laid the groundwork for the qualifications of the next president, having clearly exposed his personal inadequacies for the exalted position. And that make the job of the next president much easier. The recipe for success is simple: Nigerisa’s next president has to be the opposite of everything that Buhari is. Joe Biden will end up one of the best modern presidents of the United States simply by being the opposite of Donald Trump with a little topping!

At the general level of political theory, Buhari nonetheless raises important questions for democracy: Can a democracy punish a bad leader in office or on his way out when its very institutions are compromised? Ordinarily under the presidential system, the tool of impeachment ought to enable the system to subtract a bad leader.

But Buhari’s party controls the majority in parliament? Buhari’s impeachment would be pointless and unnecessarily disruptive.

Let the lame duck sit out his tenure to deliver his fullest subversive benefits to the nation either for good or for ill.

In sum, then, the Buhari summer disclosures have an abiding dividend. If indeed the electorate has a collective mind and rationality, Buhari has outlined the type of president that Nigeria now needs to heal its wounds after the years of the Buhari locust.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

76

NEWS

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

Experts Recommend How Nigeria Can Attract $80bn G-7 Investment Funds

Teriba urges FG to approach global equity markets Yusuf, Oyedele canvass extensive policy reforms

Gboyega Akinsanmi

Experts have emphasised the need to improve Nigeria’s regulatory environment and end security challenges as strategies to attract part of $80 billion investment funds proposed by the G-7 governments and partners to boost economic growth in Africa in the next five years.

While the Chief Executive Officer, Economic Associates (EA), Dr. Ayo Teriba said Nigeria should not queue for $80 billion G-7 funds; the Director-General, Lagos Chambers of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), Dr. Muda Yusuf and Fiscal Policy Partner, PwC Nigeria, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele emphasized the quality of the investment climate.

The experts made divergent recommendations during separate interviews with THISDAY at the weekend, expressing grave concern about the country’s worsening security conditions.

G-7 countries, along with multilateral partners, had announced an $80 billion commitment to invest in the private sector across Africa.

The group had claimed that the investments would support the long-term development objectives of African economies, including those, which had been negatively hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the G-7, this investment, set to roll out over the next 5 years, will see the G7 Development Finance

Institutions (DFIs), including the UK’s CDC Group, support sustainable economic recovery and growth in Africa.

Responding to the G-7 investment plan, Teriba said Nigeria had no chance of benefiting from the fund, saying the funds would be released to the countries where the G-7 governments and partners already had their footprints.

He listed the countries and regional economic blocs to include East Africa, Kenya, Cairo to Cape Town are some of the places where the bulk of their previous funding have been sunk.

“When they say Africa, they do not necessarily have Nigeria in mind. Nigeria should not expect much from donor assistance,” Teriba observed.

Rather than waiting for the G-7 funds, EA’s chief executive urged the federal government or corporate interest to approach global equity markets to use our wealth of assets to raise ‘our own money’.

Teriba, therefore, observed that Nigeria should not be queuing up for a share of US$80 billion spread over 64 African countries in five years, and an average of US$16 billion to be spread across 54 countries per year.

He noted that there was no reason “to wait for G-7’s $80 billion investment funds when Brazil gets US$70 billion a year from FDI. India gets nearly as much, and China gets twice as much in annual FDI inflows.”

Teriba noted that Nigeria had more idle local assets spread across thousands of cities that could be funded with global equity than any of them.

Unlike Teriba, LCCI’s directorgeneral, described the decision by the G7 countries to invest over $80 billion in Africa’s private sector over the next five years as a welcome development.

He said if finally deployed, the funds would surely boost economic growth and accelerate the pace of investment for countries that are able to access this facility.

Since the focus is on the private sector, LCCI’s directorgeneral pointed out that project bankability and sustainability “are critical to accessing the funds.

“This underscores the imperative of the creation of an enabling environment for African countries to attract G7 investment funding offers,” he observed.

He explained that coming at the inception of the ACFTA “makes the development very timely. But it is the economies that offer the best investment

opportunities and investment climate that would benefit the most.

He, thus, said the ability of Nigeria “to access this funding window will depend on how well we position ourselves.

The critical question will be around expected returns on investment.

“Over all, it is the quality of the investment climate that will make the difference. We need to accelerate necessary reforms to make Nigeria a much better investment destination. We need policy reforms, regulatory

reforms and institutional reforms, among others,” Yusuf suggested.

The director-general, similarly, emphasised the need “to accelerate the ongoing foreign exchange reforms; we need to undertake trade policy reforms to liberalise trade in sectors of weak comparative advantage.

“We need regulatory reforms to make regulations more investment friendly. We need to create new opportunities in the public private partnership space, mainly in infrastructure. We need to see more privatisation of public enterprises.”

WHATWENTWRONG . . . ?

L-R: Director General, Lagos State Emergency Agency, Dr. Femi Osanyintolu; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and Managing Director, Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation, Arc.Abiodun Fari-Arole during an on the spot assessment of the OPIC Plaza gas explosion at Ikeja, Lagos... Friday

LASEMA Releases Preliminary Report on Ikeja Gas Explosion Tobi Soniyi

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has warned all tankers conveying volatile gases to ensure their tricks are road worthy before embarking on a journey.

In a preliminary report on the

gas explosion that took place along Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja that happened on June 17 released yesterday, the agency gave a graphic detail of what actually led to the explosion which left five people dead and a dozen others with varying degrees of burns.

LASEMA said: “On arrival

at the scene of the incident, it was discovered that a gas tanker 13.4 tons LPG truck in motion was leaking its content and as a result of wind action, the whole area of OPIC structure was engulfed with fire.

“Close investigation further revealedthattheLPGgaswasignited by the exposed fire from the kitchen

oftheNewChineserestaurantwhich followed the trail of the LPG gas resulting in combustion of the gas tanker outside the compound. The inferno of explosion resulted in several damages to the OPIC Plaza building structure.”

The agency said 13 casualties with various degrees of burns were recorded at the scene. The

casualties, it said were attended to by the Pre-hospital care unit and were later taken to the Lagos State University and Teaching Hospital and Gbagada Teaching Hospital for further treatment.

LASEMA said the remains of three adult males found dead at the incident the next days were taken to the morgue.

It said that two other victims died later while under medical treatment bringing the number of fatalities to five as at the time of writing the report.

The agency recommended that all commercial buildings must develop an emergency response plan and fire preventive plan in case of an emergency.

Coalition Petitions Senate, Says Onochie’s Nomination Unconstitutional Chuks Okocha in Abuja

A coalition of civil society groups has petitioned the Senate opposing the appointment of a Special Assistant to the President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie as a National Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In the petition dated June 16 and addressed to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Kabiru Gaya, the coalition listed several grounds against Onochie’s nomination.

Among others, the petition was signed by Yiaga Africa,

Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), International Press Centre (IPC), Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ,), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), CLEEN Foundation and Centre for Citizens with Disability (CCD). it noted that the nomination of a Nigerian as a National Commissioner to the Independent National Electoral Commission “is governed by Section 154(3), 156(1a), Third Schedule, Item F Paragraph 14(2a) and 14(3b) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended).

“A combined reading of the stated constitutional provisions demands that, first, the President

before appointing an individual as INEC national commissioner must consult the Council of State before forwarding the nomination to the Senate for confirmation.

“The fundamental question is whether the President consulted with the Council of State before submitting to the Senate a letter nominating Onochie as INEC’s National Commissioner? A confirmation by the Senate without the input of the State Council is unconstitutional.”

The coalition, also, said constitution mandated that a person nominated “as an INEC National Commissioner should be non-partisan. Section 156(1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution of

the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly prohibits the appointment of any person, who is a member of a political party as a member of INEC.” According to the coalition, to further ensure the neutrality of the members of INEC, “the Constitution clearly mandates in the Third Schedule, Part 1, Item F, paragraph 14 (1) that a National Commissioner shall be non-partisan and a person of unquestionable integrity.

“Onochie is not only a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), and a Special Assistant to President Buhari on social media, she is

also notorious for her partisan, biased and in some instances inflammatory comments on national issues targeted at perceived or imagined enemies of the Buhari government.”

Given her antecedents, however, the coalition noted that it was highly unlikely that she would remain neutral and objective if successfully screened as one of INEC’s National Commissioners.

It said: “We contend that her appointment will greatly undermine the neutrality and impartiality of the Independent National Electoral Commission and it will increase mistrust in the INEC and Nigeria’s electoral

process.

“By the combined effect of Section 156 (1)(a) and Third Schedule, Part 1, Item F, paragraph 14 (1), Onochie is constitutionally prohibited from any appointment as a member of the electoral umpire.

It is against the sacred spirit of our Constitution to accept her nomination.”

The coalition said requirement was that a person nominated as INEC’s National Commissioner should be “a person of unquestionable integrity.

Unfortunately, Onochie lacks the integrity to serve as INEC’s National Commissioner due to her previous antics on social media.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺ͸˜ ͰͮͰͯ

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NEWSXTRA El-Rufai to Set up Committee to Investigate NLC Strike Promises to charge those found guilty Says FG failed to prosecute law-breakers John Shiklam in Kaduna Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El- Rufai has said that he will set up a commission of inquiry to investigate the recent warning strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the state.

He has also vowed to discipline all those found guilty by the commission and insisting that the strike was illegal and it subjected the people to hardship and losses.

He disclosed this plan while fielding questions simultaneously on nine Hausa radio stations on Thursday, accusing the police of providing cover for the NLC to break the law.

The NLC and its affiliate unions in Kaduna State had embarked on a five-day warning strike over the recent disengagement of civil servants by the state government.

But the congress suspended the warning strike on May 19, following the intervention of the federal government, which summoned the NLC, and the Kaduna State Government to Abuja for dialogue.

Speaking during the radio programme, el-Rufai lamented that the federal government also failed to prosecute who broke the law.

The governor said all the

reasons given by the NLC for the strike were false, insisting that his administration did not sack workers.

“The NLC said the workers were protesting against the sacking of workers, but we didn’t sack them. All the reasons they gave for their strike were false.

“Some of them said we sacked 4000 workers, some even said we sacked 70,000. Our total workforce is 32,000. There are 38,000 schoolteachers and they are not our staff, they are local government staff.

“The NLC came with lies.

The NLC came to Kaduna for politics. They paid them. They collected the money and spent it. They broke our laws, they broke the laws guiding protest.

“If there is a problem between employees and employers, there are procedures prescribed by law to be followed before embarking on strike. Strike is the last resort after following laid down rules.”

He said there was a law in Nigeria, which prohibited switching off electricity or water, which would cause hardship to people.

According to him, some people who switched off electricity supply during the military administration of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), were jailed for about 20 years.

Since that time, the governor claimed that nobody had

switched off electricity in Nigeria until they came and did it in Kaduna.

He said: “This is a violation of the law. Those who did it were supposed to be arrested and prosecuted, but the federal government kept silent.

“After the NLC and federal government realised that Kaduna people will deal with the NLC, they now said we should come to Abuja for dialogue,” the governor claimed.

He explained the federal government allowed some ir-

responsible people “to cause hardship to our people. I swear we will pursue them because they violated the laws of the land, if Abuja will not prosecute them, Kaduna State will prosecute them.

“We have traders who suffered losses. We have asked them to enumerate their loss and bring them, we will go to court and ensure justice to all of them.

“Very soon, the Kaduna State Government will set up a commission of inquiry to investigate the role played by everybody during the protest. There is no

law that says you should stop somebody who wants to go to work.

“I swear, let them come back!

Let them come back and see. Since it is the police that is providing cover for them to go and lock people’s places of work and break the law.

“We will not allow the people of Kaduna to be subjected to that again, we can protect ourselves.

If people that are being paid to protect the people of Kaduna failed, I swear the Kaduna state government will protect its

citizens.

“Let them come back. We are prepared for them. We will investigate, those who helped them in carrying out the protest and subjected our people to hardship, they will be prosecuted.

“Whether they are Kaduna State civil servants or federal civil servants, they will face wrath of Kaduna state laws. We will prosecute them. When the commission of inquiry finishes its assignment and we get the names of all those involved and their roles, we will prosecute them.

IN THE SPIRIT OF JUNE 12. . .

NEDC Adopts Measures to Avert Food Crisis, Malnutrition Fayemi: Ethnic Bigotry Fueling Insecurity, Secessionist Agitation

L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Chairman, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Hon Olawale Osun; Special Adviser on Political Matters, Mr. David Olusoga; during a colloquium commemorating the June 12, 1993 election in Ado Ekiti… Friday.

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has moved to avert food insecurity and malnutrition in the troubled North East, a geo-political zone that has been at the centre of Boko Haram insurgency.

The Managing Director of the commission, Senator Mohammed Alkali revealed this plan at a stakeholders meeting in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital yesterday.

At the meeting, Alkali said measures had been put in place to avert food insecurity and malnutrition in the Northeast, disclosing that the measures were adopted at a stakeholders’ roundtable meeting with

humanitarian partners in the region.

Alkali said: “Over 2.6 million people risk facing food crises in Borno state alone. The commission has already taken action to respond to threats of food insecurity and malnutrition.”

The managing director revealed that the commission is mobilizing resources to stockpile food items and avert looming famine and malnutrition among children in the region.

He said: “With the Cadre Harmonize report and what is being discussed with stakeholders, we’ll identify where the gaps are.

What kind of food to stockpile?

We can do so, so that when the incident happens, we pray that it shouldn’t occur.”

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has blamed security challenges nationwide on the growing embers of ethnic and religious bigotry that has become prevalent in the country.

He made these remarks during a colloquium commemorating the June 12 1993 election in Ado Ekiti on Friday, blaming insecurity and separatist agitation on ethno-religious bigotry.

Among others, National Chairman, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Hon Olawale Osun; Coordinator, Ekiti ARG, Elder Bunmi Awotiku, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, Gaskia Media Limited, Mr. Dare Babarinsa and

Chairperson, Ado Local Government, Mrs. Motunde Fajuyi.

Speaking at the colloquium, Fayemi said one of the beautiful precedents and truths that June 12 established about Nigeria “is that diversity does not mean irreconcilable differences.”

He explained that the way ethno-religious differences did not dictate the voting pattern and electoral outcome of the June 12 election revealed that if the elites united on the way forward, the whole country would follow.

He said: “Together, we can achieve the country of our dreams.

On the contrary, if the focus is to keep digging out and amplifying what offends one segment against the other, we would continue

to compound the current crises.

“We celebrate June 12 because it represents the possibility of a new Nigeria where, our fault lines will become our best lines, and our diversity becomes our strength.

“As we observe the 2021 Democracy Day, we all start a new conversation around a democracy that instils confidence in the citizenry and holds a promise of a better life for all,” Fayemi said with assurance for a national rebirth.

He said that even as the country fought to end criminality, Nigerians must unite to end all forms of bigotry, which inspires violent reactions.

Fayemi said that posterity would be kind to President

Muhammadu Buhari for instituting and recognising June 12 as Democracy Day. He said: today’s event “offers a unique opportunity to reminisce on the milestone that the June 12 election represents and reconfigures our national psyche to embrace the possibility of a nation where primordial sentiments and divisive tendencies no longer dominate national discourse.

“It is another opportunity to review the chain of events around the epoch and take a few lessons therefrom. This day should always remind us about the collective sacrifices made to elect a democratic government – it should remind us that Nigerians

Glo Marks International Fathers’ Day Sterling Bank Seeks Monetisation Nollywood Producer, Four Others Nigeria’s leading telecom- They work tirelessly to forge munications multinational, Globacom has felicitated fathers in Nigeria and the world at large as they mark the 2021 International Fathers’ Day. In a statement by its Corporate Communications Office yesterday, Globacom said fathers “are super heroes of the family, which is the bedrock of society and the basic building block of any nation.”

The statement said since fathers “are joint custodians of the family whose strength helps fuse the home together, they deserve to be acknowledged, celebrated and honoured for their phenomenal roles in their families and in society.”

It added that fathers’ roles in the homes and larger society “cannot be over-emphasised.

a solid future for their families through education, discipline and provision of basic needs.

“The children grow up to become leaders who will in turn carry that culture of care, concern and sacrifice on to future generations,” the statement said.

For these and other acts of selflessness that keep the society going, according to the telecom giant, fathers deserve to be celebrated every day of the year”.

It said further that the International Fathers’ Day should not be a day to be marked with mere rhetoric but a day of appreciation of invaluable contributions of fathers to the growth, development and peace of the society.

of Intellectual Property

in Police Net over Arms Deal

Sterling Bank Plc is dimensioning the creative sector of the Nigerian economy in a bid to upscale and monetise the intellectual property of creators in the industry.

The bank’s Head of Creative & Entertainment Business Financing, Mr Lanre Olalusi, disclosed this while addressing participants at the 2021 edition of Legends of Nollywood Awards held in Lagos recently.

Olalusi said: “We have realised that this sector is crucial to the Nigerian economy because of its significant contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provision of employment for many Nigerians.

“So, we are looking into

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

the sector to see how we can upscale it and to see how we can monetise intellectual property by partnering with artists to create long-term value through their works,” he said.

Olalusi affirmed the need to put together the existing catalogues created by industry legends and assign value to them such that royalties received from these works can become revenue for the creators in the later parts of their careers.

He remarked that instead of artists seeking grants to finance their operations, they should seek valuation of their current bodies of work and use them as collateral to get financing for their current projects.

The Delta State Police Command yesterday disclosed that its Special Response Squad had arrested a Nollywood producer, Mike Omoruyi and four other persons for illegal possession of firearms.

This was revealed in a statement by the spokesman of the command, Mr. Bright Edafe, saying investigation showed that the suspects hired the gun for film-making.

Edafe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the special response squad intercepted Omoruyi, 38 and a resident of Obiaruku, while on patrol along Obiaruku-Umuebu Road on

Tuesday.

He added that the offensive weapons were found in the suspect’s vehicle though the suspect claimed to have taken the arms and two toy guns on hire from another man with the aim of using the same for film production.

He said: “When search was carried out, the operatives recovered one LAR rifle without magazine, one fabricated AK 47 rifle, one Air rifle, one pump action, one English double barrel gun and two toy guns from him.

“Investigation later revealed that the suspect happens to be a Nollywood producer who hired the above-mentioned guns for film production.

78

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

NEWSXTRA Dongban-Mensem: I’ll Continue to Dispense Justice with Fear of God Buhari, Fayemi, Lalong, Makinde, Wike honour her Huge turnout shows we can live together, says bishop Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica DongbanMensem yesterday declared that she would continue to dispense justice in fear of God and according to the laws of the federation.

She made these remarks at a thanksgiving mass held to commemorate her first anniversary in office at St. Monica’s Catholic Church, Jos, Plateau State yesterday.

At the church programme, Dongban-Mensem said she was overwhelmed by the show of love from the Church, people and government of Plateau State, the executive, legislature and judiciary, and Nigerians from all walks of life that have come out to celebrate her.

She, therefore, said she would remain firm in her resolve to do justice to all people according to the laws of the land and the oath of office she took.

She added that she would discharge her responsibilities, recognising that God is the judge of all where she would also give account of her stewardship.

President Muhammadu Buhari, Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Chairman of Northern State Governors Forum, Senator Simon Lalong described her as a justice of good character and dexterity.

In his goodwill message, Secretary to the Government of

the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, who was a classmate of Dongban-Mensem at the Nigerian Law School, urged her to serve Nigeria in fear of God. Among others, Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyelson Wike; his Oyo State counterpart, Mr. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe were present at the thanksgiving mass.

Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Women Affairs,

Mrs. Pauline Tallen, described her as a justice of good character and dexterity who emerged as the head of the second highest court in Nigeria by merit.

He added that DongbanMensem had demonstrated diligence in handling the affairs of the appellate court and strengthening reforms towards the speedy and honest delivery of justice to Nigerians of all backgrounds.

Buhari charged her to put in her best and raise the bar in the dispensation of justice by assisting the government in fighting corruption, crime and acts inimical to national development.

Also at the thanksgiving, Fayemi said Dongban-Mensem “is a woman of substance who has a rich pedigree in the Bench and is known to be fearless, uncompromising and intolerant of inducement in the course of discharging her duties.”

He added that the success of women like her creates more room for Nigerian women to occupy other sensitive offices and perform creditably.

Also speaking yesterday, Lalong said the thanksgiving mass and grand reception was organised to honour her and give glory to

God for lifting her from humble beginning to the peak of her career.

He said the state was very proud of her achievements and has decided to celebrate her and showcase her as an example to the world because of her diligence, hard work and the grace of God. In his sermon, Catholic Bishop of Bauchi Diocese, Dr. Hillary Dachelem said the turnout of people from all walks of life and various backgrounds to celebrate Justice Monica was an indication that Nigerians could live in peace and collaborate to build a greater Nigeria.

Dachelem called for constructive and sincere criticism of Nigerians leaders to enable them to discharge their duties diligently.

He said peaceful coexistence was critical to the progress of the country adding that everyone “is supposed to be in the vanguard for peace, dialogue and good governance.’’

He congratulated DongbanMensem for her successful one year in office, saying it was important to appreciate God for His faithfulness, urging government officials to be truthful, faithful and fair in all they did.

Third Force Emerges in Kwara APC Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

NEW HEIGHT . . .

L-R: Director, Agency for Mass Education, Oluwakemi Kalesanwo; the best graduating trainee in fashion design, Eno Umana; Permanent Secretary, Office of the Special Adviser on Education, Adeniran Kasali; another best graudusting trainee in fashion design, Quadri Ashabi and Coordinator, Sabo Vocational Training Centre, Gbemisola Babatunde, during graduation of trainees in Surulere, Lagos recently ETOP UKUTT

Ekiti Police Arrest 16-Year-Old Girl for Staging Fake Abduction Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Ekiti State Police Command yesterday said it had arrested a 16-year old girl, Suluka Abimbola, her boyfriend, Oluwaseun Olajide and two others for alleged fake abduction and conspiracy to obtain money under false pretence.

The spokesman of the command, Mr. Sunday Abutu disclosed this in a statement disclosing that the suspects were arrested on June 17 in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

Abutu identified the suspects as Suluka Abimbola (16), her boyfriend, Oluwaseun Olajide (25), Adefolaju

Caleb (23) and Adisa Damilola.

He said at about 11:40 a.m. on Thursday, one Bolaji Femi came to New Iyin Divisional Police Station and reported that her sister, Abimbola left home for School in Christ School, Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday and didn’t return home.

Abutu said the complainant further narrated that when Abimbola’s phone number was called, an unknown person picked and confirmed that her sister was in their custody.

The complainant, according to Abutu, added that the fake abductor threatened that the ‘abductee’ won’t

FUOYE Students Absolve VC of Fraud Allegations Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Students Union Government of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), yesterday absolved the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Abayomi Fashina of fraud allegations levelled against him by a students’ group.

The students, also, described reforms undertaken by the VC as a pragmatic approach to reposition the university, saying the recent allegations coming from critics were meant to distract the management and derail its focus.

The Senate President of the National Association of University Students (NAUS), Muhammad Lawal had asked for Fashina’s sack on account of alleged financial fraud and abuse of office.

But in a statement in Ado Ekiti

yesterday by FUOYE SUG President, Johnson Alabi, the students said: “We want to say that our VC has been prudent, painstaking and followed due diligence and procedures in financial administration of our institution.

“The students’ welfare has been the number one priority since Fasina assumed office and FUOYE students have been able to enjoy a lot of benefits due to prudent management of our little resources, so the public should discountenance these baseless allegations.”

Besides, the institution’s Senate passed a vote of confidence in Fasina’s leadership, describing him as a thoroughbred academic and proven administrator, who was resolute to make FUOYE a highly competitive institution nationally and globally.

be released until a ransom of N500, 000 was paid to a particular Union Bank Account belonging to one Adisa Damilola.

Abutu said: “The case was immediately transferred to the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department, where the owner of the account, one Adisa Damilola, who is also a friend to Oluwaseun Olajide, was tracked and arrested.

“Damilola led the Operatives of the Anti-kidnapping Unit to Alex Grace Hotel, along Housing, AdoEkiti, where Suluka Abimbola and her boyfriend, Oluwaseun Olajide,

alongside one other accomplice, Adefolaju Caleb, 23, were lodging and were arrested,” the spokesman said in a statement.

During interrogation, the spokesman revealed that the suspects confessed to the commission of the crime.

He added: “Abimbola confessed that she decided to conspire with the other suspects to do that in order for her to raise money from her family members to enable her to relocate from Ekiti State since her mother insisted that she goes through the medical field as against her dream of becoming an actress”.

FEC Decision on Land Swap, a Revolutionary Step, Says Investor Michael Olugbode in Abuja Chief Executive Officer, Hongye International Limited, Chief Moses Ayom has described the decision of the Federal Executive Council to lift the FCT Land Swap Programme as a revolutionary step towards bridging the infrastructure deficit in the nation’s capital.

Ayom, a promoter of Ketti District under the FCDA land swap programme, has noted that the decision attested to President Muhammadu Buhari’s endless commitment to fasttrack Nigeria’s quest to overcome her infrastructure, housing and employment challenges.

In a statement at the weekend, the investor said this “is a new dawn for Nigeria. A major stumbling block for investor confidence has been lifted. I

congratulate all Nigerians for this”.

Explaining the benefits of the decision, Ayom said he was on the first Presidential trade mission to China in 2016 alongside Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

He said: “With the opening of new districts, cases of traffic congestion, housing deficits, infrastructural decay and environmental hazards will become things of the past. Alhaji Aliko Dangote is also a beneficiary of the Land swap project (Sheretti district).

“With this decision, his dream of establishing Africa’s largest Green Smart City in Ketti will now be a reality, while further revealing that Nigerians will soon begin to witness urbanization programmes similar to cities like Dubai, Qatar, Schenzen and Milton Keynes.”

A new political group, which many have described as a third force in the political equation of Kwara State, Saturday, emerged from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state due to the unresolved crisis rocking the party.

The development has, however, led hundreds of members and supporters of APC in the 16 local government areas of the state to leave the ruling party, even when the new party is yet to be unveiled.

Among members of the aggrieved APC members that formed the third force are senatorial chairman, ward chairmen, local government chairmen, women leaders, youth leaders as well as APC party stalwarts across all the 16 local government areas.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors at the Arca Center Event Hall, Ilorin, spokesman of the group,who is also a former APC senatorial chairman for Kwara central, Mallam Abdulfatai Abdul-

rahman, said, “It is impossible to achieve the developmental goals we are aiming for Kwarans in the midst of chaotic situation we found ourselves in Kwara APC”.

Abdulrahman, who accused the current leadership of APC of disenfranchising many of them, added that their new party would be unveiled in due course.

The defectors, who tore their APC membership cards and burnt the party symbol of brooms, said the plot to allegedly marginalise them was all about 2023 political permutations.

“As you are all aware, Kwara APC has been enmeshed in one crisis or the other almost immediately after the party’s primary, stretching into the campaign period and lingering up to date.

“The crisis has gotten to its peak with the recently concluded APC membership revalidation and registration exercise in the state that was flawed with deliberate policies and grand orchestration to deregister and disenfranchise selected members of the party.

CODA Urges Nigeria, Others Not to Depend on Europe for Healthcare Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CODA) has asked African governments to seek ways of improving their health care systems rather than relying on Europe, America and other continents as witnessed during the period of COVID-19.

CODA’s Executive Secretary, Souad Aden-Osman gave this charge during a news conference she addressed in Benin City, the Edo State capital yesterday Aden-Osman said an independent task team on the development of vaccines and equitable universal access to vaccines and vaccination in Africa would be unveiled at a workshop slated for the Igbinedion University, Okada tomorrow.

She said the unveiling was to ensure that measures were designed to prepare Africa to face any global health challenge that might break out in the future instead of relying on foreign medical solutions just like it is experiencing in the distribution of vaccines for the COVID-19.

She explained that the development of vaccines and the improvement of the healthcare system would be private sector-driven with the governments inAfrican states coming togethertocreateanenablingenvironment.

“We must make sure the private sector comes in forcefully. We need to believe in ourselves. The same energy used to chase out colonial masters should be used to battle the pandemic and any future health challenge.

79

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 20, 2021

SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Euro 2020: Germany Win Six-goal Thriller with Portugal Germany got off the mark in style at Euro 2020 as they tore Portugal apart with an impressive attacking 4-2 performance in Munich to throw Group F wide open Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report

G

ermany’s win means both these sides now sit on three points, one behind group leaders France on four points, heading into a pivotal Ànal round of Àxtures on Wednesday.

Atalanta wing-back Robin Gosens was the architect with a goal and an assist, earning an ovation from theAllianzArena crowd as he was replaced just after the hour mark.

Cristiano Ronaldo had put the visitors ahead, continuing his recordbreaking campaign with his third goal of the tournament and 12th European Championship strike of all time.

But two own goals in the space of Àve Àrst-half minutes Áipped an entertaining encounter in Germany’s favour, as Àrst Ruben Dias and then Raphael Guerreiro turned into their own net.

The inÁuential Gosens laid on a third immediately after the break with an inviting ball that allowed Kai Havertz to tap in from close range, before heading in Germany’s fourth himself.

Diogo Jota poked in from Ronaldo’s cutback but the defending champions were unable to mount a comeback.

Germany host Hungary, who earlier on Saturday held France to a draw, while Portugal face the world champions in the Ànal game with all four nations still able to progress.

Germany boss Joachim Low told his side to be “more vigorous” in attack after their opening 1-0 defeat by France and saw that call answered as his side clicked into gear on home soil.

Gosens had already seen an eͿort

Germany players celebrating their 4-2 defeat of Portugal in one of the Group matches of Euro 2020

disallowed for oͿside as Low’s outÀt took control before they were stunned by a ruthless Portugal counter attack from their own corner.

Die Mannschaft have not lost successive games in the group stage of a major tournament since defeats

by England and Portugal at Euro 2000, when they Ànished bottom

of the group, and two goals before half-time made sure that would not happen 21 years on.

First Portugal centre-back Dias turned Gosens’ Àzzed cross into his own net and moments later Guerreiro did the same as opposite wing-back Joshua Kimmich cut the ball back into a dangerous area.

There have been question marks over the deployment of Kimmich in that role, rather than in central midÀeld, but Low stuck with the team beaten by France and it was from wide that the Bayern Munich man and Gosens on the opposite Áank caused problems.

Gosens set up Havertz for the third

Bendel Insurance FC Reject Ruling on Remo Stars The management of Bendel Insurance FC have rejected the judgement of the Nigeria National Football League (NNL) Disciplinary Committee on the case of assault, security breaches and Àeld encroachment established against Remo Stars with dismay, disbelief and total loss of conÀdence in the country’s football regulatory body.

“We see the judgement as biased and nothing but an instrument for encouraging further violence in Nigerian football, a call to anarchy, and

is therefore unacceptable,” observed the statement released by the club yesterday.

According to the the Media O΀cer of Bendel Insurance FC, Kehinde Osagiede, the only substance derivable from the judgment is the untouchable status vested on Remo Stars by NNL. “ Directing Remo Stars to pay N400,000 to Bendel Insurance FC as damages is a big insult to us and the people of Edo State.

“Banishment of Remo Stars with no option from their stadium over the

encroachment and assault on our players and o΀cials would have been the Àrst action taken against Remo Stars. “ The failure of the disciplinary committee to mention that in their list of sanctions amounts to suͿocation of justice. This is so because no other oͿender(s) in similar cases were warned or asked to sign any undertaking in the recent past. “ Without any apology, the judgment is unbelievably irresponsible and capable of promoting violence among football lovers and killing the

enthusiasm of football supporters in the country.”

The Bendel Insurance spokesman stressed that “considering similar cases ( though with lesser oͿences and injuries) involving Holly Arrows in which the judgment banished Holly Arrows to Enugu; and that of Kano Pillars in which the NPFL team was Àned N8. 5million, it is easy to arrive at the conclusion that the judgement by the NNL disciplinary committee on Remo Stars v Bendel Insurance FC is bought by Remo Stars.

Curtain Falls on Tokyo Olympics Trials in Lagos Thefour-dayTokyoOlympicGames track and Àeld trials taking place atYaba College of Technology Sports complex in Lagos is scheduled to end today.

The highlight of today’s grand Ànale is the invitational relay events involving Àve other countries.

Nigeria’s 4x400m men and women’s team are looking for war to consolidation on their qualiÀcations for the Tokyo Games.

Blessing Okagbare who ran a blistering wind added 10.63secs to win the women’s 100m on Thursday told THISDAY she is looking forward to lowering the 4x100m national relay record. Day two of the competition was fantastic as crowd took over all

the stands having watched Okagbare almost smashing the African record with her wind aided 10:63secs on Thursday evening.

The new board members of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria were really not sure what the spectators were watching until the jumps started yesterday.

The way the crowd roared after each successful jump by jumpers.at Yaba College of technology was a delight.

“For some time now we have not had such an appreciative crowd. It’s good for athletics and would enhance athletes conÀdence,” said a board member, Victor Okorie.

He attributed the presence of the

crowd to the appearance of athletes like Blessing Okagbare, TobiAmusan, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Grace Nkwocha etc.

Meanwhile,asexpected,thethirdday of the championships was dominated by the throwers with two National Record Holders, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and Annette Echikunwoke entertaining the crowd in men’s Shot Putandwomen’sHammerrespectively.

Enekwechi, already through to the Olympics, won the shot put with athrowof21.47mwithDotunOgundeji taking the silver with a throw of 19.68m.

The third position went to Eke Kalu of the Nigeria Custom, throwing the distance of 17.16m.

It was a wide gap between the two US-based hammer thrower and the other athletes competing in the event as they came up with the gold and silver medal.

Echikunwoke, the current World No.6 in the event, emerged winner after throwing a distance of 72.07m as Oyesade Olatoye Ànished second with a distance of 67.42m.

Third position went to Eucharia Ogbukwu in a distance of 37.80m The Ànal day of the trials will see athletes competing in the Masters Relay, Long Jump (women), 4x400m (women and men), 4x100m (women and men), 4x400m mixed relay and the men’s javelin Ànal.

in another swift attack and then got on the end of a Kimmich cross to cap a superb performance.

This tournament will be the last of Low’s 15-year reign in charge, with Germany keeping faith in the 61-year-old after his side failed to reach the knockout stage at the World Cup in 2018.

Nesiama Returns to AFN Board as Coaches’ Rep Retired Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama has been voted as the representative of the technical body on the board of the new executive board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria,AFN. At the election held at the sidelines of the AFN Olympic trials at the Yaba College of Technology in Lagos and organisedby the coaches and technical o΀cials, Nesiama polled a total of 40 votes to beat his only Challenger, Policeman and coach, Solomon Aliyu who polled 33 votes. Meanwhile, the technical arm of the AFN has congratulated chief Tonobok Okowa on his election as the federation’s president.

In a message jointly signed by the o΀ciating o΀cials and coaches, the two bodies that make up the technical arm of the AFN and signed by Godwin Ogogo (for coaches) and Professor Lucas Ogunjimi ( for o΀ciating o΀cials), the body says the transparent manner in which the election that brought in Okowa as the new AFN president was organised shows it is a new dawn for athletics .

‘The coaches and o΀ciating o΀cials rejoice with you on your election as the president of Athletics Federation of Nigeria.

TR

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The Many Complications of Biafra

I

would say the campaign for Biafra has never been this intense since the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970. Although the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), founded in 1999 by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, gave President Olusegun Obasanjo quite some headache ahead of the 2003 elections, the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) appears to be more formidable financially and militarily. What IPOB started as a series of street protests in Port Harcourt in 2015 has grown into what may now be classified by crisis experts as a full-blown insurgency. IPOB wants to force the exit of Nd’Igbo from the Nigerian federation.

Did I just say “exit of Nd’Igbo”? That is one complication with the separatist campaign. Not all Igbo are pro-Biafra, even if they are not bold enough to say so openly possibly because they could be attacked on the streets. The anti-Biafra Igbo would rather be part of Nigeria despite their misgivings and reservations. Some want a restructured, not a balkanised, country. I admit that there has been a growing pro-Biafra sentiment since President Muhammadu Buhari came to power, unlike under President Goodluck Jonathan who gave key positions to Igbo appointees. But despite the disenchantment with Buhari, there is yet no clear-cut consensus among Igbo on the way forward.

There is also no consensus on what constitutes Biafra, which is a complication as well. The Biafra declared by Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu in 1967 was the Eastern region, made of today’s Igbo states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, plus what we now have as Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers states in the south-south. The original Biafra, therefore, was not just for Igbo, even if it didn’t catch on. Biafra, by the way, was the name of the bight (bend) off the coast of Calabar, Cross River, in the Gulf of Guinea. (Fun fact: Biafra, also called Mafra, and Lagos are names of Portuguese towns. Portugal had a great influence on West African coastlines in slave trade days.)

The Bight of Biafra is now called the Bight of Bonny, but the political Biafra has survived the name change. The map of Biafra drawn by IPOB encompasses all the south-east and south-south states. I see this as a complication because I do not get the sense that there is unanimity among the south-south to be part of Biafra. This was also a thorny issue when Biafra was declared in 1967: the eastern minorities were not fully on board.

The south-south minorities in today’s Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers states had always politically aligned with the core north since 1960.

They only broke ranks in 2015 apparently because President Goodluck Jonathan, from Bayelsa, was on the ballot.

As far as I know, the common campaign in the south-south, specifically since 1998, has been for resource control, not Biafra or another break-away country. The region is rich in oil, the oxygen that has kept Nigeria breathing for decades. Everybody knows how strategic the region is to the survival of Nigeria — in the absence of any bigger source of public revenue and forex. Biafra needs the southsouth not just for the oil but also to avoid being landlocked: not having direct access to the sea is a massive disadvantage for any economy. It will be complicated for IPOB to draw a Biafra map without the south-south, yet there is no strong indication that the minorities want to be on the Biafra train.

Another complication is what I would call the “burden of relocation”. Igbo people are spread over the country. It is estimated that there are over 11 million Igbo in northern Nigeria alone.

Add that to the figures in the south-west and south-south. Would they remain in Nigeria if Biafra is actualised? From the experience of the Civil War, the answer would be negative. There was

Kanu a forced exodus to the east when war was about to break out in 1967. If over 20 million Igbo (my estimate) would stay back in the “new” Nigeria after the actualisation of Biafra, would that not defeat the purpose? Would Igbo feel “at home” in the “new” Nigeria? Or would they be better off going to live in Biafra?

It gets more complicated considering the investments Igbo people have made all over Nigeria.

Is it in Lagos, where they co-dominate commerce and are founders or MDs of big companies, or in Abuja, where they have the largest footprints on real estate? One of the sad highlights of the Civil War was the issue of abandoned property.

Igbo people returned to their former abodes to discover that their assets had been expropriated.

Although their savings in Nigerian banks were intact, they were unhappy that the government only offered them a flat twenty Nigerian pounds as compensation for the bundles of the Biafran pounds they returned with. It is a major topic of discussion till this day.

If Biafra eventually succeeds, it will, at best, be a novel political experiment. This is yet another complication, a big one at that. Nd’Igbo were never under one political system or central authority before colonial rule. National integration, which Nigeria has been struggling with since 1914, may turn out to be one of the biggest challenges for Biafra as well. As with other ethnic groups in Nigeria, there are internal divisions among Nd’Igbo that require deft political management. Otherwise, they would become a distraction to the building of Biafra. In almost all Igbo states, one zone or the other is complaining of marginalisation in the sharing of political offices and projects. It is human nature.

For instance, Enugu North wants to keep the governorship in 2023 after Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi must have done eight straight years. Some insist it is the turn of Enugu East. The Igbo Nsukka United Forum (INUF) recently issued a statement saying Nsukka has 60 per cent of the state population (this population factor again!) but that its part of Enugu North has been marginalised by successive governors.

So, Enugu North should keep the governorship, but this time it will be for the Nsukka part. In Imo state, Owerri zone says it is marginalised

by Okigwe and Orlu zones. In the end, Biafra may have to adopt a form of “federal character” in order to address glaring internal inequalities.

Nevertheless, the pro-Biafra Igbo feel they would be better off leaving Nigeria. They say Nd’Igbo have been systematically marginalised since the war ended in 1970. Ironically, Nigeria used to be a shining example of accelerated reintegration after a civil war. By 1979, Ebitu Ukiwe and Ndubuisi

Kanu — two Igbo military officers who fought for Biafra — had been appointed governors of Lagos state, then the capital of Nigeria; Dr Alex Ekwueme had become the vice-president (No 2); and Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke had become the speaker (No 4). Igbo aligned with the north in the first and second republics. In fact, Alhaji Bashir Tofa’s VP pick in 1993 was Dr Sylvester Ugoh, an Igbo.

Actually, Yoruba used to tease Igbo as playing “second fiddle” to Hausa/Fulani. Dr Chuba Okadigbo once replied: “Second fiddle is better than no fiddle.”

So, what went wrong between Nd’Igbo and the north? My theory, among others, is that the emergence of the Niger Delta as a frontline political force significantly disadvantaged the south-east in the power equilibrium. By the “tripod” convention, an Igbo would naturally have been VP to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, a Fulani, in 2007 after Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a Yoruba, had been president for eight years. And that means an Igbo, not an Ijaw, would have automatically become president upon Yar’Adua’s death in 2010.

As things stand today, I have a feeling that if the Nigerian government is sure only Nd’Igbo will secede, there would be no serious attempt to hold them back. But if the federal government shows any sign of allowing Nd’Igbo to exit, there is every likelihood that other regions will see that as an opportunity to go. That would be the end of Nigeria as we know it. This, to me, is the biggest complication for Biafra. It is not only Nd’Igbo that will leave; Yoruba, led by Sunday Igboho, as well as the south-south may seize the opportunity to secede.

No president would watch Nigeria disintegrate without putting up a fight. For this reason alone, Buhari would do anything to stop Biafra.

Personally, I do not want Nd’Igbo to leave the union. I believe in one Nigeria. I love diversity. It can be a source of strength and a stepping stone to greatness. But my opinion is of no relevance in the scheme of things. My Igbo friends have consistently argued that they feel unwanted in Nigeria; that federal character and quota system were designed to cheat them; that because they do not have the same number of states and LGAs as other ethnic groups, they are systematically marginalised by the configuration; and that they have been schemed out of presidency. In sum, Nd’Igbo are unhappy. Whether or not they are pro- or anti-Biafra, these are perennial issues that cannot be wished away.

I have always secretly desired a political solution: a power rotation arrangement in which the rest of Nigeria will freely work together to deliver a president of Igbo blood. I was dreaming that the PDP and APC would, by consensus, zone presidency to the south-east. That means head or tail, Nd’Igbo would win. This, in my thinking, would at least address a long-standing emotive issue. As I often argue privately, an Igbo would do no worse than a Yoruba or Fulani as president. The world will not end because an Igbo is president of Nigeria.

But I must admit that the activities and rhetoric of IPOB and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) have made things very, very complicated politically.

Clearly, we are in an awkward situation. On the one hand, there may be no Biafra without another civil war, and I think we have seen enough bloodshed in Nigeria to last us a lifetime. We don’t need another war. African wars are bestial.

If you doubt me, read about the wars in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Somalia. On the other hand, how long can we continue to keep an ethnic group in a union against their will? We cannot dismiss or downplay the misgivings of Nd’Igbo.

That would be most unhelpful. While actualising Biafra may have its complications, keeping an unhappy people in the union is also going to be challenging. Is there no middle-road solution somewhere? Crossroads.

And Four Other Things…

PRESS CENSORSHIP The attempt to bring online media, including virtual and digital newspapers, under the purview of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is going to be problematic. All newspapers have online arms and the Nigerian government is now trying to subject them to NBC control. NBC is for broadcasting, no matter how we try to twist its functions. More so, broadcast frequencies belong to the government and are auctioned directly to stations by the government. Newspapers have never been regulated by the broadcasting commission, not even under the military. It won’t work.

This spineless parliament may pass the bill but another parliament will repeal it. Quote me. Waste.

SCHOOL SECURITY Another week, another school abductions. On Thursday, gunmen kidnapped students at the Federal Government College, Birnin-Yauri, Kebbi state. One of the students was killed as the military tried to rescue them. The bandits know what they are doing: by targeting the young people in schools, they surely hope to get maximum publicity and extract maximum ransom. They have raised the stakes by targeting higher institutions of learning. I will keep appreciating the effort of the security agencies in this overwhelming situation, but we need to double our efforts and speed up whatever we are doing to secure schools (and the country at large). Nigerians just have to stop living in fear. Paralysing.

COVID WARNING Anybody playing close attention to the COVID-19 pandemic will agree that we are not yet out of the woods, even though Nigerians appear to think otherwise. Not only have we largely ignored the vaccine (no thanks to the fake news-peddling pastors and conspiracy theorists), we are not even so keen on observing the basic safety measures such as using face mask and physical distancing. It’s either we think COVID is not an African problem or we have become fatalistic. But let it be known to all that there is no natural immunity for Africans. Congo is now overwhelmed. You don’t have to take the jab, but you need to think about the vulnerable people. Keep safe to keep others safe. Please.

VP ON THE SPOT Have you seen the memes making the round, seeking to portray Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo as “speechless” amidst all the drama going on in government? I guess some people are trying to push him into confrontation with President Buhari and I hope he is wise enough not to take the bait. Those who encouraged Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to take on President Olusegun Obasanjo ahead of the 2003 election have not been able to help him salvage his political fortune till today. If Osinbajo disagrees with Buhari’s actions, he will be wise enough to whisper his opinion into his ears rather than go and shout on the mountain as some people want him to do.

Discretion.

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