SUNDAY 11TH OCTOBER 2020

Arise Fashion Week 2020 to Showcase 30 Under 30 Designers in December New stars to compete for $500,000 in prize money Registration begins now Tobi Soniyi Africa's leading fashion platform, the ARISE FASHION WEEK is unveiling the next generation of designers.

Described as the world's best

kept secret, the show will bring Africa on the world’s fashion map as it showcases the young , the talented and the daring in a move designed to reinvent global fashion during these challenging times.

A statement from the organizers of the event said the event which is scheduled for 5-12th December, 2020 in Lagos Nigeria will be streamed globally.

The statement read: “The

New Stars - will showcase the best and brightest of fashion and style as they compete for $500,000 USD in prize money - $300,000 as the first prize, $150,000 for the runner up and $50,000 for the 3rd Prize.

“If you are a self-confident designer, 30 years old, (or under the age of 30), and with a great look book, here is your chance to conquer the world of fashion, and displace established brands.”

Qualified designers are advised to immediately register at www.arisefashionweek. world. Applications and registrations will close at Continued on page 5

#EndSARS: Protest against Police Brutality Continues Nationwide… Page 10 Sunday 11 October, 2020 Vol 25. No 9316

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2023: Amaechi, Wike Preparing to Run for President Supporters say South-south yet to complete its eight years Tobi Soniyi As the countdown to 2023 continues, alliances are shifting and permutations

are shaping up. THISDAY can authoritatively report that Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, is preparing to throw his hat into the ring

as a candidate for the 2023 presidential race, just as arch-rival and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, is also putting machinery in

motion to bid for the top post.

While THISDAY reported last week that a section of the North and loyalists of President Muhammadu

Buhari favoured former President Goodluck Jonathan, there are strong indications that Amaechi and Wike are equally eyeing the country's

top job.

The North’s embrace of Jonathan is predicated on his Continued on page 8

With Nearly 70% of Results in, Akeredolu on the Cusp of Victory Wins nine LGAs of 12 declared Vote buying, pockets of violence mark process Nseobong Okon-Ekeng, Chuks Okocha and James Sowole in Akure With his comfortable and unassailable lead from

yesterday’s governorship election, Ondo State Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Continued on page 5

INEC: ONDO ELECTION RESULTS LGAs Akoko North-East Akoko North-West Akoko South-East Akoko South-West Akure North Akure South Ese Odo Idanre Ifedore Ilaje Ile Oluji/Okeigbo Irele Odigbo Okitipupa Ondo East Ondo West Ose Owo TOTAL

APC PDP 16,572 8,380 15,809 10,320 9,419 4,003 21,232 15,055 9,546 12,263 17,277 47,627 NOT YET DECLARED 11,286 7,499 9,350 11,852 NOT YET DECLARED 13,278 9,231 12,643 5,493 NOT YET DECLARED NOT YET DECLARED 6,485 4,049 NOT YET DECLARED NOT YET DECLARED 35,957 5,311 178,854 141,083

ZLP 3,532 3,447 2,004 2,775 1,046 2,236 3,623 1,863 1,971 5,904

3,221

408 32,030

CADETS 67 REGULAR COURSE...

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan (middle), and President Muhammadu Buhari at the Combined Passing Out Parade and Commission of Cadets of the 67 Regular Course and Short Service Course 46 (Army) of the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna...yesterday

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Gbajabiamila: COVID-19 Impact on African Economies Demands Debt Cancellation I share this concern, find in me an ally, President of IPU, Gabriela Barron

Udora Orizu in Abuja Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said the devastating effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on African economies calls for debt cancellation. Gbajabiamila stated this at the weekend in Abuja during a zoom meeting with President of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Gabriela Cuevas Barron. The speaker sought the support of the union for the Conference of Speakers and Heads of African Parliaments’ quest for debt cancellation for African countries.

Gbajabiamila, who was at the forefront of the formation of CoSAP, told the IPU president that the conference was formed to enhance parliamentary collaboration for growth advancement, stability, and development of the continent.

He lamented that the debt burden would not allow many African countries to thrive in the post-pandemic era.

The speaker stated, “It is inhumane to be forced to pick between servicing foreign debt and saving lives locally. Our main focus in the meantime is calling for debt cancellation. We

decided to introduce this group to you so that you would join forces with us for the call for debt cancellation for African countries. We cannot do this alone. We need your voice, we need your experience, we need your advice.”

In her response, Barron assured Gbajabiamila of the union’s support in the drive for debt cancellation for African countries, saying it is a welcome development.

“I love this idea for many reasons,” the IPU president said. “Believe me, I share this concern. Please, count on me, find in me an ally, a friend, and someone who truly understands this important challenge for developing countries,” she added.

Barron promised to get in touch with relevant experts to get their advice on the issue, noting that a similar initiative is being pursued in Latin America. She called for the strengthening of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), saying it would go a long way in creating a conducive environment for African countries.

Barron said the idea of regional workshops on issues

like climate change and gender should be given priority.

Speaking further, Gbajabiamila expressed his appreciation to IPU and said

the issues of AfCFTA and regional training had been on the front burner in many African countries, including Nigeria, and they would

continue to push for both.

The first CoSAP forum will hold in Abuja next year, in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The conference will bring together all Speakers and Heads of Parliaments in Africa as well as strategic partners, including IPU.

HOSTING THE PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER...

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, flanked by his deputy, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo (left), and President Muhammadu Buhari's first daughter and FGN/International Fund For Agricultural Development (IFAD)/Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) Advisor on Marketing, Enterprise and Development, Fatima M. Buhari, when the governor played host to the latter (Fatima), who was on a technical support mission to Enugu State VCDP...yesterday

WITH NEARLY 70% OF RESULTS IN, AKEREDOLU ON THE CUSP OF VICTORY Oluwarotimi Akeredolu is on the cusp of victory to a second term in office.

Out of the 18 local governments in the state, results from 12 of the council areas have already been announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with him clinching nine of the local governments, representing about 67 per cent of the total net results, Akeredolu is leading with a comfortable margin.

And with results from 2895 polling units of the 3009 total polling units in the state uploaded on INEC result website, representing 96.2 percent of the total result as at 3.30am Sunday morning, the governor looks increasingly out of reach of his opponents.

However, in a show of strength in their respective strongholds, all the three leading candidates in the election – Rotimi Akeredolu of APC, Eyitayo Jegede of PDP and Agboola Ajayi of ZLP – won their various polling units for their political parties.

Akeredolu, who voted together with his wife at Ijebu 2 Ward 5, Unit 6, won with a landslide victory. He polled a total of 413 votes while PDP’s Jegede scored 12 and the African Democratic Party had nine.

Jegede, on his part, won in Igbogin/Isikan Ward 2, unit 9, where he voted, polling 220 votes against the 60 votes recorded by Akeredolu, while Ajayi got only seven votes.

At his unit too, Ajayi won with 395 votes to defeat Jegede, who polled 5. Akeredolu scored 13 as AAC and LP polled one each.

Although the election started on a promising note, it initially put Jegede and supporters into a panic mode, when the card reader at his poling unit could not read his details, a development, which allegedly kept him waiting for about three hours before it was eventually rectified for him and wife to vote.

Curiously, allegations of vote buying, pockets of violence and other electoral malpractices also marked the election process in some parts of the state, a situation that forced Yiaga Africa, a civil society group to list the affected polling units, where incidences of vote buying and other electoral malpractices allegedly took place.

Meanwhile, a major tragedy was averted early yesterday in Ilaje part of the state, when a boat conveying some officials of INEC and election materials capsized. But there were no

casualties.

So far, results coming in from the various polling units put the governor in a sure-footed lead above Jegede and Ajayi, even though the governorship contest had begun to look more like a straight contest between Akeredolu and Jegede, with Ajayi coming a distant third.

According to the local governments by local governments results released, the APC candidate has since maintained a comfortable lead such that suggested that his re-election might have been sealed.

For instance, in Ifedore Local Government Area, the APC scored 9350, while the PDP had 11,852 and the ZLP, 1863. In Ile Oluji/Oke Igbo Local Government Area, APC polled 13278, PDP, 9231 and ZLP 1971.

Results from Irele Local Government Area saw the APC with 12643, the PDP with 5493 and ZLP with 5904. The Akoko North East Local Government Area gave the APC 16572 votes, PDP, 8380 and ZLP, 3532.

In Akoko South West Local Government Area, APC had 21,232, while PDP scored 15,055 and ZLP, 2775. In Akoko North West, APC polled 15,809, PDP, 10,320 and ZLP, 3,447, while

result from Ondo East Local Government Area gave the APC 6485, PDP, 4049 and ZLP, 3221.

From Owo Local Government Area, the APC had 35,957, PDP polled 5311 and ZLP scored 408.

Akure North Local Government Area voted for the APC with 9546, while the PDP had 12263 and the ZLP, 1046.

The Idanre Local Government Area result scored APC with 11 286, the PDP, 7499 and the ZLP, 3623. Also, in Akoko South East Local Government Area, the APC led with 9419, while the PDP scored 4003 and the ZLP, 2004.

However, in Akure South Local Government Area, APC scored 17277, the PDP polled 47627, while the ZLP came third with 2236.

But, generally, there was low turnout of voters for a period of time even though a majority of voters wore facemasks without observing strict physical distancing.

INEC’s members of staff and their ad-hoc counterparts were on ground as early as possible, while voters also arrived in time to confirm their eligibility to participate in the process from the names pasted on the wall at the various polling units.

Observers from the European center for electoral support

monitoring the governorship election in Ondo State were equally on ground to observe the process.

Complying with Covid-19 protocols, INEC officials checked temperatures of voters using the infrared thermometers as well as ensuring that voters sanitised their hands before proceeding with the election processes.

Allegations of Vote Buying Swirl Amid Tight Security Voting in yesterday’s gubernatorial election in Ondo State was generally peaceful in many parts of the state but also characterised by vote buying.

In some of the polling units monitored by THISDAY, representatives of political parties were seen giving out money to people after voting for their candidates.

In other places visited, voters were also seen openly asking for their money after voting.

Curiously, the presence of security personnel at the polling units did not deter both the electorate and the representatives of political parties from selling and buying votes.

However, in some of the places visited in Akoko area of the state, Ondo North senatorial district, voters defied the early morning rain, trooped out in their thousands to cast their votes.

The situation was the same in Owo Local Government, where the incumbent governor, Akeredolu, voted.

But for the two isolated incidences of violence in Akure, the state capital, the exercise, was equally peaceful in Ondo Central senatorial district.

One of the incidents occurred at Unit 4, Ward 4, Ijomu/ Obanla, in Akure South Local Government, at about 8.40 am.

During the incident, a young man, who was identified as Gboyega, was shot and was rushed to the hospital on a motorcycle.

Prospective voters, media men, election observers and INEC officials had scampered to safety, as hoodlums continued to shoot for several minutes.

Operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), who were nearby Ijomu Junction, also ran for cover, but men of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense CORPS (NSCDC) later brought the situation under Continued on page 10

ARISE FASHION WEEK 2020 TO SHOWCASE 30 UNDER 30 DESIGNERS IN DECEMBER Midnight on Saturday 31st October, 2020.

A Selection Committee made up of global fashion icons and writers will shortlist the 30 who will compete for a chance to become the breakout stars of the new age.

For press enquiries, the following should be contacted: Konye Nwagbogor / Editor, thisdaystyle.ng; konye. nwabogor@thisdaylive.com; Bolaji Animashuan / Line

Producer, ARISE Fashion Week bolaji@arisefashionweek. world; Sakina Renneye / Line Producer, ARISE PLAY sakina@ arisefashionweek.world; For general requests and enquiries, please email press@ arisefashionweek.world

About Arise Fashion Week Every year, it promotes and celebrates young and

established designers from Africa, the diaspora and the world. Since its first edition in 2009, it has featured over 500 noted designers including Tifany Amber, Oswald Boateng, Lanre da Silva, Deola Sagoe, Lisa Folawiyo, Ituen Basi, Odion Mimonet, Keneth Ize, Tokyo Jones, Laqman Smith, Thebe Magugu, Bethany Williams, Esteban Cortazar, Robert Cavalli, Mowalola, Maison ARTC, etc... and hosted icons

like Naomi Campbell, Alec Wek, Grace Jones , Bethann Hardison, Tyson Beckford, Oluchi Olandi, Agbani Darego, Alton Mason, Imaan Hamamm, Shanelle Nyasiase, etc; Fashion Editors like Edward Enninful, and Andre Leon Tally, amongst other celebrities have found the showcase compelling.

Every edition of ARISE Fashion Week is a splash of style and colours, promoting the rich diversity of the cultures

of the African people, and exhibiting an intellectual fest on fashion, culture and the creative arts.

It is the most prominent fashion show in Africa, known for handpicked curation of exclusive style. The continent’s fashion industry became truly global with the birth of ARISE, short for "Africa Rising".

To keep abreast of unfolding events; follow Arise Fashion Week on the following social

media: Facebook @arisefashionweek, @ ariseplay, @arisetvnews, @ thisdaystyle, @thisdaylive Instagram @arisefashionweek, @ ariseplay, @thisdaystyle, @arisenewsofficial @ thisdayliveofficial Twitter @arisefashionwk, @ariseplay, @arisetv, @thisdaystyleON ; @ thisdaylive

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IPPIS: FG Finally Stops Salaries of University Staff James Emejo in Abuja The federal government has finally resolved to remove from its payroll, all university staff, who are yet to be on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) with effect from November 2020.

A letter from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), dated October 8, and signed by the Director of IPPIS, Dr. Nsikak Ben, and addressed to all vice chancellors, a copy which was made available to THISDAY yesterday stated that such staff will cease to receive salaries until they are properly enrolled on the platform.

The correspondence titled, "Stoppage of Salaries of University Staff that are yet to be Enrolled on IPPIS Platform", read: "I am directed to inform you that any Staff of your Institution who has not enrolled on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), either as a result of Study Leave (with pay), maternity leave or on medical ground, will no longer appear on the IPPIS payroll with effect from November, 2020 payroll except such Staff presents himself/ herself for the biometric data capture at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), Abuja with an introduction letter/ IPPIS Enrollment forms duly endorsed by the principal authorities of the institution."

It added: "In addition, all

supporting documents should include evidence of six months salary bank statement. In view of the above, kindly inform your staff in this category to urgently avail themselves for the biometric data capture at the OAGF. "However, exemption may only be given where institutions provide evidence of study leave, stating the duration to justify such persons being retained on the payroll.

"Please accept the assurances of the warm regards of the Accountant-General of the Federation."

Relations between the federal government and the university staff under the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had deteriorated recently over the objection of the latter to be enrolled on the IPPIS payment platform, which the government said will help cut waste and corruption in public service by eliminating ghost workers as well as helping to have an accurate number of its actual workforce.

ASUU had maintained that the IPPIS will retard progress in the educational system because of the peculiar nature of its operations and asked for an exemption.

But strong indications emerged in February that the OAGF had sought the approval of the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, to finally suspend the release of the funds for the payment of salaries of workers of tertiary

institutions, who have not enrolled on IPPIS. While still awaiting the minister's approval, the federal government in May accused universities of deliberately accommodating dead members of ASUU on the payroll forwarded to the OAGF. The OAGF said the inclusion of ghost workers on the list forwarded to it for the

implementation of the IPPIS might have been orchestrated to get more personnel funds from the federal government.

The allegation came amidst claims by tertiary institutions unions, led by ASUU, that IPPIS was deducting their salaries and allowances resulting in their take-home being reduced to about 50 per cent.

Also, in October 2019, the rift between the federal government and ASUU deepened yesterday as the former dismissed the union’s concern about putting lecturers on the centralised salary payment platform.

Reacting to the union’s objection to President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that federal government

workers not on the IPPIS would not be paid salaries, the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris, fired back, saying the union is not in a position to dictate to the federal government on how its members should be paid their salaries, and insisted there was no going back on the decision.

ONDO DECIDES...

Incumbent governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and his wife, Chief Betty Akeredolu, arriving Owo during Ondo 2020 Governorship Election...yesterday

Uzodimma: Nigeria Undergoing Worst State of Insecurity Says gully erosion threatening Imo's existence Deji Elumoye in Abuja Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has described the current wave of insecurity in Nigeria as the worst in the country's history. Uzodimma said this at the weekend in Abuja while presenting a paper, titled, “National Security and Sustainable Development," at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS).

The governor bemoaned the effect of gully erosion in his state, saying erosion

is threatening to swallow up Imo State.

Uzodimma said, “It may not be an exaggeration to say that the current wave of insecurity in the land is one of the worst in recent history. Truth to tell, in the last 10 years, the country has never had it this bad in terms of security challenges or insecurity “The direct consequence is that Nigeria that was once perceived as a peaceful place for residence and business by foreigners is now listed

among the dangerous places to visit in the travel advisories of many countries.”

The governor identified factors, including ethnicity, religious diversity, illiteracy, unemployment, poverty, and the perennial problem of porous borders as causes of insecurity in Nigeria. But he said poverty was the strongest of all the factors, stressing that available statistics show that 51.4 per cent or 98 million Nigerians are living in penury with attendant penchant for crime

and criminality.

Uzodimma, however, emphasised that the leadership and patriotism being exhibited by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration were the way out of the mounting security problems facing Nigeria.

According to him, while peace and security are the sine qua non for development, real development driven by good leadership with governance are the precursor of peace and security.

He announced that with the establishment of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition Ministry in Imo State, about 10, 000 youths had been trained, while 200,000 youths in all are being targeted for wealth generation through self-employment.

Uzodimma, however, lamented that the poverty eradication programme in the state was threatened by gully erosion.

According to him, “The state is at the risk of being swallowed by gully erosion.

As at the last count, Imo has 300 active erosion sites, which cuts across 27 local government areas of the state. About 100 of them, mainly in Ideato North, Ideato South, Njaba, Orlu, and Owerri West local government areas are deadly, by putting many homes and lives in danger of being washed away.”

The governor sought the urgent intervention of the federal government “to tackle the life-threatening gully erosion.”

presidential election? While Amaechi as Minister can claim some national presence by virtue of his position, he lacks the critical base to lean on. His party could not field candidates in any elective position in the 2019 election owing largely to his leadership style.

Wike can also claim some national influence having served as Minister of Education under Jonathan's presidency. As Governor of Rivers State he has maintained a firm grip on Rivers politics controlling and highly influential member of the PDP. He has hardly expanded his base beyond Rivers State.

It is to his credit that PDP survived the first few years after it lost power. But is that enough to make him a viable candidate for the highest office in the land?

Supporters of Wike are of

the view that the governor would not sit idly by and watch Amaechi launch a bid that might propel him to a higher calling. Besides, Amaechi is also subtly standing astride between the South-east and South-south, as he is often quick to say that his part of Rivers State is Igbo-speaking and, as such, leans on both sides of the divide.

On his part, Wike, who is believed to have a firm grip on Rivers and PDP politics, and warded off many attempts by Amaechi to seize control of the state, is already positioning and revving up preparation to launch his bid for the highest office in the land. The fear in his camp is that should Amaechi launch a presidential bid and, for some reasons, succeed, he might use the full might of the federal government to

move against Wike and his supporters.

Wike’s ambition is contrary to beliefs in some quarters that he would once again root for a northerner, like he did in the 2018 Peoples Democratic Party primaries, when he backed Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal for the ticket, and then position to be running mate.

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, however, defeated Tambuwal and former Senate President Bukola Saraki for the ticket and went on to challenge Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.

Several high profile sources within the PDP have confirmed the speculation that Wike is preparing to run for president in 2023, even though he has repeatedly said his focus is being governor of Rivers State.

2023: AMAECHI, WIKE PREPARING TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT track record. He held sway from 2010 to 2015, when he lost a re-election bid. The former president accepted defeat, when he could have used the machinery of government to rig the election and remain in power.

Jonathan is generally seen as a gentleman, who has conducted himself in an admirable way. In the run up to the 2015 election, which he eventually lost, he had declared that his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian. That became the defining character of a man who resisted all pressure not accept the results of that election and called his opponent, the candidate Muhammadu Buhari to congratulate him for his victory. That singular act elevated Jonathan to the stratosphere of democrats and statesmen and endeared

him to the international community.

The North is also said to see Jonathan as a unifier, who worked with people of diverse backgrounds.

"Even his principal secretary was of the northern Fulani extraction," a source said.

The North believes strongly that a Jonathan presidency would satisfy and quell the clamour of South-east or the entire South.

The source familiar with the thinking in the North declared regarding Jonathan, “He straddles between Southsouth and South-east. He bears Azikiwe as middle name, he is a good man, and gentleman without complications."

Meanwhile, advocates of South-south presidency argue that the zone still has four more years to complete its second term, adding that former President Olusegun

Obasanjo, who is from the South-west, did eight years as president. They note that Buhari, the incumbent president, would also complete his eight years, whereas Jonathan, who is from the South-south, did not do a second term in office. To that extent, they believe the South-south must complete its two terms before power could shift to the South-east.

The ambitions of Amaechi and Wike are predicated on the South-south being allowed to serve out its remaining four years. Thus, between both men is a continuation of a war of attrition that has lasted many rounds, with Wike besting Amaechi on each occasion.

The question is what both bring to the table? Do they have enough national appeal to make them viable candidates that win a

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#EndSARS: Protest against Police Brutality Continues Nationwide Demonstration rocks Lagos, goes global, as one killed in Oyo Chiemelie Ezeobi and Segun James Anti-police brutality protesters using the hashtag #EndSARS continued to march through major cities in the country at the weekend, with the demonstrations in some areas resulting in clashes with riot police called in by government to end the protests. The protesters have refused to back down until the presidency and the police hierarchy give in to their demand to proscribe the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police nationwide.

One person was killed in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, as campaigners marched on the town to rally against worsening extrajudicial acts by the Nigeria Police. THISDAY gathered that the protest began peacefully, but later snowballed into violence after a police officer, reportedly, shot dead an unidentified protester. Eyewitnesses said the protesters had met stiff opposition from the police, who shot at them in a bid to disperse the crowds. Bullets hit two protesters. One of them, a student, died on the spot, while the other was said to be on danger list in the hospital.

In Lagos State, the protests took place in several parts of the state, including Ikoyi, Amuwo-Odofin, Ikorodu, Unilag, Ajegunle, Egbeda, Agege, Gbagada, Bariga, Ikotun, Idimu, Lekki, and Yaba.

In Agege, women numbering over 100 marched on the streets, chanting songs in Yoruba language. The women pleaded for an end to the killing of their children. They asked the government to ensure the scrapping of SARS. Their protest came on the heels of a 72-hour protest staged by youths in Lagos. The youths, who began their protest on Wednesday, stayed up late into the early hours of yesterday, demanding the scrapping of the special police unit.

The marchers carried placards bearing inscriptions like “Am

I the next to die”, “Stop Police Brutality”, “Why shoot bullets at us”, “I am not a criminal #EndSARS”, “Our lives matter”, “Stop criminalising innocent citizens”, and “Stop extorting and killing us”.

The protest has also gone global, with calls for protests in the US, UK, Canada, Switzerland, and Germany. Well-known global entertainment figures, like Diddy, Treyz Song, Chance the Rapper, Lil Baby, Damson Idris, City Girls, and Nigeria’s John Boyega, have thrown their weight behind the cause, with many of them using the #EndSARS hashtag.

Giving voice to the clamour, Amnesty International lamented that police torture was a stain on the Nigerian society that must be addressed with clear orders to law enforcement officers not to inflict torture or other ill treatment on detainees under any circumstance.

In series of tweets, Amnesty International said, “There is much compelling public evidence of human rights violations committed by SARS, some of it directly documented

by Amnesty International, and this should be used to aid an effective investigation into the unit’s crimes.

“All the Nigerian authorities’ promises of ‘reforming’ SARS have, so far, proven to be empty and ineffective. Restructuring SARS is not enough unless the government takes concrete steps to protect Nigerians.

“Because of the corruption in Nigerian police @PoliceNG all Nigerian government’s previous attempts at stamping out torture have proven completely ineffective and clearly impossible.”

In recent times, the activities of the police unit have come under scrutiny and several members of the squad have been accused of using their position of authority to trample on the rights of citizens, especially the youth.

The #EndSARS protest got support from entertainers and

other celebrities, as a group of young people, including Mr. Debo Adebayo, a comedian popularly known as Mr. Macaroni, stormed the premises of the Lagos State House of Assembly, asking that the lawmakers pass a legislation disbanding the SARS unit of the Nigeria Police.

Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who addressed the protesters on Friday, advised the youth to be civil in the expression of their grievances. Hamzat urged the protesters not to block the roads, saying the state government would not condone brutality and violation of citizens’ rights by security operatives. He said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had already communicated the position of the state on the matter to the appropriate quarters.

The deputy governor stated, “The tenet of the police operation is to protect the citizens. Security operatives don’t have the right to trample on the rights of law-abiding citizens, because of their

unfamiliar looks, or because they are carrying laptops or iPhones. It is wrong for any police officer to expressly accuse or pronounce someone, irrespective of age, guilty because they have dreads or ride luxury vehicles.

“As a government, we support evidence-based investigations and actions driven by intelligence. The procedure of arrest and prosecution must be followed through. We are equally aggrieved like every other law-abiding Nigerian. If a young man or woman, who is legitimately doing his or her job, is attacked or maimed by police officers for no reason, we will never support that.

We condemn police brutality in whatever guise and we will continue to engage their leadership for change.”

Hamzat also told the protesters, “We fully understand the reasons for your anger but this demonstration must also carried out in line with the law. If we employ violence or destruction to drive home our grievances, we will also be

hurting ourselves. The protest must be orderly, so that those concerned will get the salient point of the message.

“You can’t block the road, disrupt free flow of traffic and prevent other people from embarking on their lawful duties, especially the emergency responders. As citizens, it is within your rights to express your grievances but let us exercise caution and eschew violence. The authorities have heard your voice and I hope we all leave the roads with the understanding that drastic changes will be effected.”

As the deputy governor left the scene about 1:15pm, the protesters continued to chant anti-police songs, calling for the disbanding of SARS. But, Hamzat instructed security operatives at the scene not to harass or exchange words with anyone.

Meanwhile, as the protests spread to Ogun State, the governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, weekend, warned the anti-SARS demonstrators to desist from acts capable of breaching public peace and

security.

Abiodun said, “It is gratifying that President Buhari, as the Commanderin-Chief, has given appropriate directives to the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP) on this issue and the IGP has taken some immediate steps in this direction.”

In a statement issued in Abeokuta on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, the governor expressed displeasure at the vandalisiation of police formations and public property, and molestation of innocent citizens, as witnessed in the last few days of the protest.

The statement said, “Whilst we respect the rights of citizens to ventilate their views on any matter of concern and not condoning the excesses of SARS, such views should be expressed in manners that do not undermine law and order or security and safety of lives and property. We cannot condone illegalities and lawlessness in an attempt to call attention to another issue.”

#ENDSARS PROTEST... #EndSARS protesters on the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge...yesterday

WITH NEARLY 70% OF RESULTS IN, AKEREDOLU ON THE CUSP OF VICTORY control.

An eyewitness, who gave his name as Tope, claimed that the thugs were members of one of the two main political parties.

In the second incidents, police arrested two persons following the stabbing of an unidentified man.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Investigation, Ondo State, Lanre Bankole, confirmed the incident, which was said to have happened at Ward 004 Unit 002.

But security was generally tight in all parts of the state, as men of the Nigerian Police, NSCDC and Department of State Security (DSS) were seen in practically all the polling units.

In the places visited, there were at least four security men in each of the polling units.

Equally, men of the Nigerian Army, mounted check points at strategic places at the entrances

of major towns and even in towns.

Also, in compliance with the directive on restriction of movement of vehicles, security men, mainly soldiers, prevented vehicles from entering into the states. All vehicles including newspaper distribution vehicles were stopped at Ajebandele, a border town.

Meanwhile, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Donald Ojogo has commended the relative peace, which pervaded the riverine region of Ese Odo and Ilaje local government areas of the state during the governorship election.

An indigene of Arogbo community, he acknowledged the area used to be volatile, but explained why the people were combative.

"It is a carryover of the years of militancy in the Niger Delta. This area used

to be very volatile. We have tried to contain it by talking to the youths. We engage them constantly. I do not draw the line between supporters of Party A or B. After casting my vote. I decided to remain here and you can see I do not need armed escorts.

“My presence allows for peace, because they respect me.

I add some humour if I noticed any tension. I must commend INEC and the security agencies.

Materials arrived on time and the security agents are well behaved throughout the 16 polling units in Arogbo.

However, I was told that there is serious vote buying in some areas.”

Summarising reports from his colleagues across the state, Ojogo said the resolve of the people of Ondo to sustain good governance has encouraged them to make sacrifices.

“People will struggle to

win their polling units. That is normal. All the tension and heating up of the polity that you hear before the election is reduced or non-existent on Election Day, because those who are talking tough have all gone to their various wards. And when they get there they also meet others, who match their tough stance. So, where there is balance of terror, there is peace.

THISDAY observed that in Gbamila Open Space in Arogbo Ward 1 Unit 6, the youths created a restive situation, when they rejected pleas from INEC officials and security agents to allow the elderly, pregnant women and nursing mothers to cast their ballots first.

Mr. Ola Rotimi, Assistant Presiding Officer and Police Inspector Amen Geregha said they had tried all they could to bring the situation under control, but failed.

One of the elders of the community, Mr. Agabra Ikoto Atili, Ondo State Deputy Chairman of the APC blamed the rowdy behaviour of the youths on the aftermath of the crises in the Niger Delta and loss of family values.

Yiaga Outlines Incidences of Vote Buying, Violence A civil society group, Yiaga Africa, has listed polling units, where incidence of vote buying and other electoral malpractices including violence, took place during yesterday’s governorship election in Ondo State.

Addressing a pressing conference immediately after casting of votes ended, Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, Co-chair, Yiaga Africa 2020 Ondo Election Observation Mission and Ezenwa Nwagwu Co-chair,

said, "As of 3:00 pm, Yiaga Africa has received a total of 13 verified incident reports.

They include the following: "Vote buying and interference by party agents: In St. Paul’s Primary School, Oluwu, Arewa III, Code 015, of Lodasa Iparuku/Likoja Ward in Ondo West, votes were traded for money as voters showed how they voted to party agents before casting their ballots.

"In St. Paul’s Anglican Primary School, 001 of Ifon 1 ward in Ose LGA, party agents accompanied voters to the voting cubicle to see how they marked their ballots. In Ajegunle Erumana LA School 012 of Aheri Ward, Ilaje, voters showed how they marked their ballots to polling agents that were stationed at the polling unit. Vote buying was also reported in Polling Unit 007, Ward 9 in Oba-Ile, Akure North LGA."

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸

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Ambassador Leonard presenting her credentials to President Muhammadu Buhari on December 24, 2019

Reflections on 60 years of U.S. – Nigerian Engagement Mary Beth Leonard

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ixty years ago, this week, Ambassador Joseph Palmer II presented his credentials as the first United States Ambassador to the Government of Nigeria.

The occasion presents the opportunity to reflect on the breadth and depth of the partnership between our two great nations, each evolving democratically, over the intervening decades. In his welcome address to the people of Nigeria, President Dwight D. Eisenhower embraced the wishes of a people who cherished individual liberty and independence as we recognized the assumption of Nigeria to its sovereign place in the world community.

Considering these remarks, I have delighted in spending some time taking stock of just how far our relationship has come. Reflecting on President Eisenhower ’s recognition of our mutual priorities in global health, economic prosperity and above all else a democratic way of life, I am struck by the continuity of interests in our bilateral relationship.

Still, Eisenhower could have never imagined the challenges a pandemic like COVID-19 would pose.

We laud and respect the vigilance adopted by the government and people of Nigeria to close borders, restrict public gatherings and to adopt public health recommendations.

Over the past twenty years the United States has invested $8.1 billion in foreign assistance in Nigeria, including more than $5.3 billion in health assistance.

In 2020, we provided more than $57 million in assistance for the COVID-19 response, including U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention epidemiological COVID detection surveys and technical assistance and service plans. Following a conversation between Presidents Trump and Buhari, reflect-

ing the bond of this U.S. president’s first-ever conversation with an African president during his tenure in office, we delivered 200 ventilators to Nigeria through the efforts of USAID. Similarly, we celebrated with all Nigerians as the country attained the wild polio virus-free status, through an effort in which we were proud to invest approximately $200 million since 2012.

Perhaps our greatest gains have come through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, through which we have invested more than $5.3 billion to support Nigeria’s HIV response and provided lifesaving HIV treatment for nearly one million Nigerians.

Our bilateral work has also expanded in the world of trade. The United States is the largest foreign investor in Nigeria, and two-way trade has expanded to a value of over $9 billion. The mission has welcomed the U.S. Commercial Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, and most recently an office from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to render assistance in expanding the economies of our two great nations while reducing the number of those impoverished.

As we continue to develop and expand our partnership with training and equipment between our militaries, we do so with the singular focus of increasing security while reinforcing democratic institutions with a keen eye on fundamental human rights. Through USAID’s democracy, human rights and governance investments we support responsive governance at state and local levels, enhanced credibility for elections, and increased capacity for civic engagement. We witnessed progress as recently as the Edo elections last month and look forward to peaceful and transparent elections in Ondo state. Recognizing the

fervent sixtieth anniversary sentiments of both President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo, we look forward to advancing our partnership in shaping fruitful conversations on resolving conflicts which too often take on unfortunate religious and ethnic dimensions.

Sixty years ago, President Eisenhower recognized the many Nigerians who studied in the United States. In a new century, I meet graduates from American universities in virtually every sector here in Nigeria and know how much they contribute to Nigeria’s development while bringing our great nations closer together. In the last twenty years we have welcomed over 150,000 Nigerian students to the U.S. and supported thousands of others on professional development-oriented exchange programs. These extraordinarily beneficial exchanges are among the strongest pillars in reinforcing mutual understanding between our great nations.

We have benefited from the positive role Nigerians in America have played, just as we look back with pride on how our sixty years of diplomatic relations have blossomed to support a broad array of mutual priorities ranging from agricultural productivity and entrepreneurial knowledge, to strengthening the rule of law across the 36 states of Nigeria. Three American presidents from both major political parties have officially visited Nigeria, while five Nigerian presidents from different parties have officially visited the United States. We look forward with hope, optimism, and anticipation to ensuing decades of growth in our partnership, and to the leadership that Nigeria will continue to play in advancing a more secure and prosperous Sub-Saharan Africa.

––Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard, is U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria

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OCTOBER 11, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

EDITORIAL

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

THE PUBLIC PROTESTS AGAINST SARS As the police special unit gets more horrific, there is need to challenge the spectre of never-ending impunity

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he public outrage against the excesses of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) personnel has gone globally viral. It is the tipping point in a tradition of police abuse and brutality that has been with us for years. Now that Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora have taken the campaign to the streets, something thorough and urgent needs to be done before the situation gets out of hand. Already, there have been reports of violence and fatalities, not only of protesters but also of police personnel.

When the campaign started on social media, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, announced a ban on SARS operatives from further carrying out ‘stop and search’ duties and setting up roadblocks. He also announced other measures aimed at curbing the activities of police personnel who “insists on being incorrigible by engaging in abuse of powers in a manner that degrades, endangers or threatens the life and other fundamental rights of the citizens.” But that decision appeared too little, too late. Having been at the receiving end of brutalisation for a long time, Nigerians do not seem to trust the police to effect a meaningful change. Now the clarion call is that SARS be disbanded.

The opportunity for reforms was lost in 2018 when there were similar protests, mostly online, against SARS. When the then Inspector -General of Police, Ibrahim Idris renamed SARS as FSARS, we warned that such change in nomenclature would not change the mentality of the men renowned for all manner of misconducts ranging from harassment to extortion, sexual assault and extra-judicial killings. We were therefore not surprised that the reign of impunity

continued in the squad. Which is why what is required at this moment is not some cosmetic pronouncements but a holistic reform of the entire structure of the police.

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The only culture permissible in a democracy is one that respects the freedoms and rights of the citizenry

Letters to the Editor

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

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

e cannot assume that the federal government knows or appreciates the extent of the abuses by this errant police unit that has provoked the current national outrage. In this regard, it might be expedient for President Muhammadu Buhari to institute an urgent ‘Truth and Facts’ judicial commission to unearth the extent of abuses

by SARS operatives. This should offer members of the public an opportunity to testify and give evidence of their experiences. The time frame should be short and the recommendations quickly implemented. One possible outcome should be that police personnel found culpable of abusing their power be brought to justice.

Meanwhile, we must warn against any pushback by those who fail to understand that the right to peaceful protest in open expression of their grievances remains a fundamental right of citizens. A cynical approach to a fundamental problem, taken essentially to buy time, like the Inspector-General has done, will not do in an environment where impunity has for long been the order of the day. And saying those who are protesting the crime and criminality of SARS are chasing clouts is, to put it mildly, very irresponsible.

It is important for the president to recognise that at a time like this, silence is not golden.

Indeed, with many foreigners joining in the campaign against SARS and with the world watching what could be our George Floyd’s moment, President Buhari may need to address the nation on this matter of urgent national interest.

Ultimately, what we are dealing with is a tradition of citizen’s abuse and brutality that has become part of our police culture. That culture owes its origins to a colonial mindset of an occupation force which is alienated from the public it is meant to protect. Yet, the only culture permissible in a democracy is one that respects the freedoms and rights of the citizenry. Over and above the immediate SARS upheaval therefore, the protests should awaken the government, at all levels, to the increased sensitivity of the public to issues that border on their rights.

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.

#ENDSARS: FROM ANTI-ROBBERY SQUAD TO ANTI-PEOPLE’S SQUAD

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igeria is not left out of the benefits of social media in influencing government policies.

This is evident in the ongoing protests against a unit of the Nigerian police force with the various hashtags such as #EndSars, #EndSarsNow, #EndPoliceBrutality that have taken over the social media space.

SARS, an acronym for Special Anti-Robbery Squad is a department in the Nigerian police force created some years back by former commissioner of Police, Simeon Danladi Midenda, to tackle the incessant armed robbery and other forms of crime.

However, SARS as they fondly called, has lost its mandate and has evolved from the Special Anti-Robbery Squadto Special Anti-People’s Squad.

In 2016, Segun Awosanya, a

human rights activist popularly known as “Segalink” on twitter, started the #EndSARS campaign on social media in protest against police brutality in the country. The #EndSARS movement garnered momentum online and led to the President Buhari-led administration ordering an overhaul of SARS in 2018.

Also, the Nigerian VicePresident ordered an immediate reform of SARS, citing the widespread public outcry against their conduct, as the basis for the order. He also directed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to set up a judicial panel to investigate SARS alleged unlawful activities. Hours after the directive, the police authority announced a list of reform measures aimed at increasing SARS’ public accountability for its actions.

The measures include the

change of name from Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), the appointment of high-ranking police officers to supervise the operation of FSARS and the restriction of FSARS operations to the prevention of armed robbery and kidnapping.

Despite the promises of reform and accountability for violations, the F-SARS officers continue to subject detainees in their custody to torture and other forms of ill-treatment with impunity.

According to a report by the human rights group Amnesty International, there have been at least 82 cases of torture, ill-treatment and extrajudicial execution by the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad within the Nigerian police force between January 2017 and May 2020. Also, a report by SBM Intelligence,

Nigeria's leading geopolitical intelligence firm, shows major incidents, harassment and extortion that had been carried out by men of the SARS in the last 18 months. They also expressed their doubt on the possibility of reforming SARS without reforming the Nigerian police force.

Just like SBM Intelligence, Amnesty International believes that the ongoing impunity by F-SARS officers violating human rights only points to the decadent in policing practices and the absence of an effective police accountability system.

On 4th October 2020, the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mohammed Adamu in his usual manner, banned the personnel of the F-SARS and other ‘Tactical Squads’ of the Force from operating on Nigerian roads. The ban came on the heels of cries by Nigerians online who were calling for the abolishment of the police unit. The statement was not enough to calm frail

nerves because Nigerian recall such statements had been issued in the past and the problem still persists.

The hashtag #LagosProtests is being used by Nigerians to share videos and photos of different gatherings across the country calling on the government to #EndSARSNOW. There are more than 2.4 million tweets with the hashtag #EndSARS as at the time of writing this article and the unrest is gradually building up because citizens and non-citizens alike in the diaspora are now joining the train to demand for an end of the “terrorist” police unit.

Just like the Occupy Nigeria protest that took place in 2012, Nigerians are united to fight a common enemy in SARS. This shows strongly the power of unity and what we can achieve when we come together to fight for a common course.

––Victor Ejechi is the Media and Communications Lead at StatiSense Consult Limited.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 11, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 11, 2020

OPINION

HEEDING ATTAHIRU JEGA’S CONSTITUTIONAL COUNSEL

Ejeviome Eloho Otobo and Oseloka H. Obaze canvass amendments to Jega’s proposals on constitutional reform

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he mixed reactions with which Nigeria’s 60th anniversary was celebrated by Nigerians, revealed the depth of resignation and cynicism pervading the nation at a time, when debate on restructuring has taken the political centre stage. The debate which persists against the backdrop of rising ethnic agitations, will either serve as a trigger for restructuring or a tripwire for an uncharted change.

Political leaders and pundits divide between supporters and sceptics of restructuring. Into this breach steps Professor Attahiru M. Jega, a professor of Political Science and former Chairman of INEC, who in the past three years, alone or in collaboration with other like-minded persons, made contributions to the debate on three important public policy issues. These are reflected in the titles of: "Pastoralist-Farmers Conflicts and the Search for Peaceful Resolution"(2018); and “Time for Dialogue is Now” (2020) published under the auspices on Nigerian Working Group on Peacebuilding and Governance. “On Constitutionalism: Towards Restructuring Nigeria” (2020), his third piece, was solely authored by him.

The tone, style and substance of all the three papers elicit admiration. They are devoid of threats and diktat–and carry over attribute from the military era that many highly-placed Nigerians seem unable to transcend.

More importantly, they outlined common sense proposals for dealing with some contentious national issues. For instance, on the pastoralists-farmers conflict, Jega and his group observed that “Pastoralism is not sustainable in Nigeria over the long term due to high population growth rate, expansion of farming and loss of pasture and cattle routes... but the traditional form of pastoralism should continue for a period to be agreed upon.” More crucially, they argued that a “programme for the country’s transition to modern forms of animal husbandry must be accelerated” and advocated the “need for permanent settlement of the pastoralists...with commercial ranches established in the sparsely populated zones in the North East (Sambisa Game Reserve in Borno State) and North West (Gidan Jaja Grazing Reserve in Zamfara State).”

Had these sensible proposals been embraced and enacted as the centerpiece of public policy on addressing the herders’ challenges, the ensuing tensions and controversies would have been avoided. It’s noteworthy that even the FGN’s policy choice, the National Livestock Transformation

Plan has not doused lingering suspicions and pushback on the matter. Jega’s contribution on the urgent need for dialogue on national issues is both important and germane to any serious efforts at nation-building. But it is Jega’s most recent contribution on ‘constitutional reforms’ that deserves much appreciation. In seeking to provide a solution to some constitutional issues bedeviling Nigeria, especially modalities for restructuring, Jega asked what “restructuring” of the Nigerian federation should entail.

In laying out his proposals for constitutional reforms, Jega asserts that “statements like ‘Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable’ or ‘Nigeria’s continued stay as one country is not negotiable’ are factually incorrect, wishful thinking and politically abhorrent to those making the demand”. He helpfully suggests that the unity of every nation is subject to negotiations and “continuous improvement”. Indeed, that is why constitutional democracies periodically enact and embrace amendments to their constitutions. He, then, offers wide-ranging proposals, covering the [federal] structure, power sharing, resources and revenue allocation-–all predicated on his observation that “the 1999 Constitution has concentrated too much power and resources in the hands of the federal government, [requiring] a dispassionate review of the 1999 Constitution.” Herein, we will focus on only five of the myriad proposals by Jega.

He proposes that Nigeria should: one, revert to the two-tier system: Federal and States, with Local Government Areas subsumed under the states; two, abjure the merger of existing states, except by referendum in which two-thirds majority

As a practical matter, the federal government has been a poor steward of the oil and other mineral resources creating many tensions.

In principle, the current bill further deepens the centralisation of powers on water issues

have voted yes, adding that under no circumstances should the merger or reconfiguration of existing states into regions as federating units, analogous to what obtained in the past, be contemplated; three, have a short federal exclusive list, consisting of foreign affairs, national defense and security, monetary policies and commerce with a short concurrent list, consisting of policing, taxation and tertiary education/ health and whatever is not listed belongs to the residual powers of the states; four, retain the federal character principle with identified challenges in its implementation must be redressed; and five, review upwards the derivation formula to 18 percent and adjust the revenue allocation formula so that the federal government would be entitled to a maximum of 40 percent and the states 60 percent. Jega’s proposals represent an opening bid for negotiations on constitutional reforms. Still, his proposals, like those under consideration by the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution, falls short of a major overhaul of the constitution by convening of a Constituent Assembly.

Since the path of constitutional incrementalism is what is currently on offer, we propose some amendments to Jega’s proposals. To enhance the fiscal viability of the states, the derivation formula should be increased to 25 percent. The exclusive of legislative items should not include water resources and the federal government should abandon the water bill now under consideration. The objection is based on both practice and principle.

As a practical matter, the federal government has been a poor steward of the oil and other mineral resources creating many tensions. In principle, the current bill further deepens the centralisation of powers on water issues beyond the spirit in Schedule II (64) of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended), which itself requires to be reviewed in favour of the states. While the federal character principle can be retained, precisely because its implementation has gone terribly awry, more sustained efforts would be required to retain public confidence in it. National cohesion and solidarity cannot endure infinitely, when federal principle has witnessed deeply troubling distortions. Rather than promote equity and inclusivity, federal character principle has deepened fault lines.

––Otobo is a Non-Resident Senior Expert at the Global Governance Institute, Brussels and Obaze is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Selonnes Consult in Awka.

Gbajabiamila And The Water Bill The Ninth House has been prioritising interests of the greatest number above the few minority, writes Yakubu Sule

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ater, nature's gift that enables life and sustains the universe, was the subject of interest. The Nigerian Government or better put, powerful interests from certain quarters were alleged to have wanted to harness and control God’s gift for ulterior motives.

Ethnic and rights groups screamed and described the suspended Nigeria’s Water Resources Bill as obnoxious, vexatious.

The controversial bill which was first introduced in 2018 was rejected by the then Eighth National Assembly over clauses that could endanger national unity and cohesion. The bill among other provisions vested the powers to control the bodies of water both surface and underground in the federal government.

The bill proposed that water usage be subjected to licensing provisions and that the licence may be cancelled if the licensee “fails to make beneficial use of the water.” According to the bill, all landlords must obtain a driller permit before sinking a borehole in their homes. It directs persons who have excess supply of water to cater for their domestic needs to reduce the quantity to what they can consume.

Only authorised personnel may carry out routine checks to inspect water usage or water disposal on properties with the production of their identity card or other instrument or certificate of designation if so required. Only those permitted under the Act are permitted to consume water.

The above and other contentious provisions in the act further worsened the nation’s fault lines as southern leaders accuse the Fulani elites of plans to take over their lands through subterfuge. The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) and the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) have condemned plans by some members of the House of Representatives to reintroduce the National Water Resources Bill, which was withdrawn on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 after a debate in the House.

Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila acted in the nation’s interest by stopping the passage of the law which was smuggled in by some elements. According to the Speaker, the bill didn’t pass

through the established due process. Despite pressure and intimidation, Gbajabiamila stood his ground on the controversial bill. Groups and eminent Nigerians commended the speaker for standing firm in face of pressure.

Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, its counterpart in the South-East, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Middle Belt Forum hailed the speaker for withdrawing the bill. These regional groups have been at the forefront of criticisms against contentious portions of the bill which seek to transfer control of lands from states to the federal government.

Again, Gbajabiamila has demonstrated a strong leadership commitment to the large preponderance of Nigerians who are not satisfied with the certain provisions of the bill. This has been a pattern in the Gbajabiamila-led House of Representatives. The Ninth House has been prioritizing interests of the greatest number above the few minority. After all, democracy is all about popular will. When the people say no, the no should stand.

No a few observers of political events have taken more than passing interest in the leadership style of Gbajabiamila since he assumed saddle as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He has been a strong stabilizing force for the current government. He wades in on national issues and most often on industrial disharmony and diplomatic rows. He was in Ghana in September to foster brotherly love between estranged brothers (Nigerians and Ghanaians).

Nigerian traders in Ghana were subjected to inhuman treatment. Gbajabiamila urged Ghanaian authorities to revisit the component of the law that requires a capital base of $1m for businesses to start. The speaker made far-reaching conclusions with the Ghanaian authorities on behalf of Nigeria. He said, “First, amicable settlement of trade disputes through arbitration and fair judicial processes. In this context, we do believe that while it is the sovereign right of the government of Ghana to pass and implement the GIPC Act, we would implore you to explore alternative and less aggressive options of engaging, sanctioning and relating with our traders and business people who operate in your country, pay taxes and

contribute to the development of both our nations.

“Secondly, we would encourage you to revisit the component of the law that requires a capital base of $1,000,000.

We are all Africans, we all have towns and villages, and we know only too well that majority of our traders across the continent are petty traders. The prospect of them being able to raise a capital base of $1,000,000 before they can trade in goods that may be worth less than $1,000, clearly is a major challenge.

“Thirdly, one of the things we are all proud about and the common surname that we all bear is ‘ECOWAS’ and as you know, by virtue of being ECOWAS countries, our nations and our citizens should be able to live, work and thrive in any of our nations without any form of hindrance or discrimination.

“It is in this light we would encourage that we explore how the principles and the application of ECOWAS protocols – which we are both signatories to – may perhaps conflict with the application of the GIPC Act, especially visà-vis the recent adoption of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement by African nations; and the movement towards a single currency in the West African sub-region.

“Fourth, is the importance of strengthening legislative diplomacy and collaboration. Legislative diplomacy is a tool that has been used across the world – both in developing and developed nations – to negotiate, to arbitrate and to find peaceful resolution to disputes between nations.

Legislative diplomacy is akin to back-channel diplomacy, which in many cases, makes it more possible for countries to debate and find solutions to problems, without any country losing face publicly.”

In the history of the legislature in Nigeria, no one has matched Gbajabiamila in performance and innovation.

He introduced a digital parliamentary chamber to ease the legislative business on the floor. He was not just comfortable with his legislative role. He is concerned about nation-building and sustaining the modest gains of this current government.

––Sule wrote from Kaduna.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 11, 2020

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LETTERS WHY NIGERIA’S AGENDA 2050 MAY FAIL

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resident Muhammadu Buhari recently inaugurated a National Steering Committee to oversee and achieve the Nigeria Agenda 2050and MediumTerm National Development Plan (MTNDP), upon sensing his government's inability to position Nigeria among the top 20 economies as outlined in Vision 2020 goals. The Vision 2020 goals was conceived in the administration of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

It's 2020; but none of them is yet to be achieved.

One of the goals is that, by this year, Nigeria would be generating35,000MW of electricity. Not only has this target failed — the electricity capacity in the country has not exceeded 5000MW — but there is also no definite implementation and tracking strategy to achieving it. This is evident in the rising poverty rate, with over 89 million citizens living in extreme poverty and huge infrastructural deficits worsened by ballooning unemployment rate which stands at27.1%.

More so, the Senior Director of AfDB Nigeria recently revealed that infrastructural deficit financing would cost Nigeria about $100 billion

Buhari annually, reaching $3 trillion by 2044. Interestingly, in the 2020 budget, only $6.8 billion is allocated for infrastructure.

Going by Nigeria's current financial policies, suffice to say that the Agenda 2050, like Vision 2020, may also coast home to failure. Catastrophe beckons if the country keeps relying dominantly on oil revenue as it is unsustainable to keep financing Nigeria's budget deficits annually with

loans. There is therefore an urgent need to diversify and expand Nigeria's sources of revenue for any meaningful development to take place.

We should take a cue from the rapid transformation of Dubai, a hitherto desert which relied on fishing and pearls as its major sources of earnings between the 18th and early 20th century. The unprecedented low revenue due to artificial invention of

Re: Rail Line to Maradi

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ay I take the liberty to point out to you a slight error in your editorial of Wednesday, 7th October 2020 featured on page 15 of the publication with the title "The Rail Line to Maradi".

In the said editorial, which was about the Nigerian government's proposed

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rail line from Kano to Maradi, you implied that the contractor for the project was“the Chinese Construction behemoth, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation." I want to point out that CCECC is not the company handling the referenced project. Rather, as declared by the Minister of Transportation last week,

the contractor for the project is Portguese company, Mota-Engli.

THISDAY is known to be thorough in its editorial process and has an international image of fact-based reporting.

––Vincent Liu, Managing Director, Corporate Culture Department CCECC Nigeria Limited.

pearls by Japan in the 1950s put Dubai's revenue under threat and this necessitated urgency of revenue diversification in Dubai.

Luckily, when Dubai discovered crude oil in 1966, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum embarked on a massive and aggressive infrastructural development with the intention of making the city a globally renowned tourist destination. The excellent fundamental infrastructure now attracts investors from all over the world. Interestingly, as of today, crude oil accounts for a paltry 8% of Dubai's revenue. A large chunk of Dubai's earnings come from tourism, real estate, finance and information technology.

Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum was a selfless and a visionary leader with a commendable political will. Together with his team, he diversified the economy, conceived and championed social projects and landmark edifices in Dubai. There is tranquility and political stability.

The vision is alive and being sustained by his successor.

Unlike in Nigeria where such beautifully-crafted vision

these trucks have continued to grow in number and in bizarre account.

When you look into the driver’s compartment and see the jerks on its wheel, you’d agree that even more culpable are those that hand them the keys. On the head and tail boards of these lorries are usual inscriptions of various kinds, such as ‘Beware Many Have Gone’ ‘No King As God,’ etc., purporting moral or spiritual virtue but so much at variance with their conduct and behavior. Some prominent people in society use these trucks to launder money, others as index of opulence just as the cattle of old. But whether of pride or envy they appear coveted, such that they’re gradually out-numbering saloon cars on the road. The drivers are usually prepared to die or kill for right of way.

When you slow down ahead, they speed up from behind tooting madly, whatever made you slow down notwithstanding. Should you happen to be by their side, they keep revving and spewing you with fumes, enough to choke an air-conditioned car.

If you are about to over-take,

they wheel to the right and left to block you, until you dare.

You give up, they slow down to keep you trailing behind, they get to a narrow ramp and feign break-down, causing traffic grid-lock. They leer out of their windows at you in the comfort of your car as if to purvey the saying by John F. Kennedy, that a society that cannot help the many who are poor cannot save the few who are rich. While approaching a crowded area, they throttle down honking crazily. They represent a travesty of aerodynamic law, taking sharp bends like grand prix vehicles, doing stunts that would make James Bond green with envy, yet the last thing they’re built for is abrupt manouvres.

They’re so lacking in understanding to anticipate danger or appreciate safety pre-cautions that need not be taught except to morons. They litter broken-down vehicles in the middle of no-where without caution, yet when accident occurs they’re reported as sane happenstance. They’re all the same, whether the refuse disposal truck, containerized trailers or oil tankers.

They use their size advantage

on critical infrastructural development as a state.

Nigeria's political and economic configurations further stifle rapid and competitive development – a stumbling block to Agenda 2050 attainment. This is the right time to restructure Nigeria by embracing true federalism. It is high time states were empowered to fully harness the resources within their domains and grant local government absolute autonomy – which is free of undue interference.

Development, political instability and insecurity can never coexist. Stakeholders need to take insecurity in certain parts of the nation seriously.

Also, to achieve this goal, it is paramount to cut frivolous and bogus expenses in financing the government. This drains the country's meagre revenue because it should be invested in infrastructure and human capacity development.

Achieving an agenda goes beyond fancifully crafted plans, animated branding and jamboree committees.

Odewale Abayomi, writing fellow at African Liberty

Musings on Sharia Law in Northern Nigeria

I

slamic jurisprudence also known as sharia law guides all aspects of Muslim life.

It was originated from the Holy Quran (the literal words of God) and the hadith (the recorded practices, sayings and approval of Prophet Muhammad). Subsequently, two other sources of sharia law emerged due to the rising new religious obstacles and paradigm shift in socio-political activities after Prophet Muhammad’s demise.

The consensus of Islamic

TRUCKS,TRAILERS,TANKERS…EVERYWHERE

t was one morning in 2012, at what is known as Mile Two Oke, in my vehicle, conveniently hedged in a hold-up between traffic on my right and on my left the usual embarkment demarcating the expressway, such that I cannot open the door. Just as I began to have a sense of foreboding, there comes what might have befallen me as a tragic fate: a rickety truck, looming out of the opposite direction and just as I pictured it, my mind appeared to drag it allure until apparently out of control, the articulated truck rammed into the concrete wall, directly by my side.

The rest was a surreal experience, transfixed trepidation. I watched the truck lush forward, staggering ominously, it reeled before what appeared to be an invisible mighty arm quacked it away, it then ricocheted, landing on the middle of the road on the other side, its wheels spinning.

A lady was missed on that side by a hairs’ breadth.

I began to develop a pathological hatred for articulated vans, such that I would not like to see them no matter the service or good they render.

Reported fatalities accruing to

would have been dumped or a jamboree launch of a replica vision upon the emergence of a successor from another political party. At the Agenda 2050 inauguration, President Buhari promised to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within the next 10 years. Well, how? On the goal of achieving sustainable cities, it seems elusive because apart from Abuja, the nation's capital which seems to have a city layout and planning from inception, I doubt there is any state in Nigeria with a lucid infrastructure and city layout inclusive of mid and long-term development plans.

The pertinent questions begging for answers are: How does the government intend to achieve the targets? What actions would be taken to actualise those plans? Who are the financiers? Will the plans be executed when a new government comes on board?

Prior to 1966, decentralisation spurred rapid and competitive growth in all parts of Nigeria.

The legislature needs to amend the exclusive legislative list which arrogates enormous power to the federal government. The system hinders state governments from embarking

as legitimate weapon of mass destruction and prowl as death on the highway. You then begin to wonder, whether it is only in our country that the oil industry and international trade obtains. Trucks pile up on over-head bridges sagging under their weight to snapping point, stretching into Central Business Districts.

Some dump and bruise the tarmac with their fortuitous and selfish wares, having a no-holds-barred access to collector streets. The truck owners are not made to pay tax, neither would their merchandise improve our terms of trade. Thorough-fares get locked-down for repairs leaving commuters in agony, wasting man-hours. Sadly, if only rail and pipelines were working this grotesque phenomenon would have been curtailed. I’ m now writing this because the media is awash with opinion that keep missing the point or leaves the issue requiring fuller consideration.

––Eleje Willy, Lagos Read the full article online www.thisdaylive.com

scholars on any Islamic viewpoints (Ijma) and the deductive reasoning from the Quran and Hadith (Qiyas) further complements the fundamental two sources of sharia law. Both Ijma and Qiyas are instrumental at illuminating the novel challenges unaddressed directly by the Quran and Hadith.

Nigeria is a secular sovereign state by virtue of the 1999 constitution, as amended.

But the constitution as well partially recognizes the Islamic jurisprudence and expressly stipulates its modus operandi in Sec 275 - 279. Each state of the federation is guaranteed with the right to apply and establish sharia law court in Sec 275 (1). However, the sharia legal system is actively operational in Northern states of the country.

The provisions under Sec 277 stipulate the jurisdictional scope which the sharia law court could operate. The jurisdiction revolves around civil proceedings in determination of the validity of Islamic marriage, its dissolution, the issues related to such family, guardianship and succession.

The Sec 277 also confers the powers to legislate within the scope of the above personal law on the state House of Assembly which has adopted the sharia court.

Many states' Houses of Assembly in Northern Nigeria have been acting ultra vires in

codifying sharia law. The likes of Kano, Kaduna and others have continued to enact the states' penal code. The code doesn't fall within the Islamic jurisprudence as enshrined in the 1999 constitution, as amended. The provisions in Sec 4 (7) (c) only empower each state House of Assembly of the federation to enact laws in accordance with the Nigeria's constitution.

Both Islamic jurisprudence and democracy or secularism can only coexist under a legal framework with the adherence to constitutionality. Sooner than later, a continuous disregard to the constitutional framework would precipitate anarchy. The Northern Nigeria should either extend the scope of sharia law through a clarion call for the amendment of the Nigerian constitution, or demand for a sovereign state to achieve the total implementation of Islamic jurisprudence.

Equity and welfarist ideas are fabrics of Islamic jurisprudence. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the state of Qatar amongst other Islamic states toil in this direction. The advocates of sharia law in Northern Nigeria must be committed to good governance and human development at all time.

––Binzak Azeez, Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife

Vice President Or President?

T

here has been much discussion about the US election in the media concerning what happens if the next, elderly, President does not complete their term. From having watched both the disgrace-

ful Presidential debate and the better Vice-Presidential debate it would seem obvious that both of the VP candidates could easily fill the role and perhaps better than the main candidates.

––Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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OCTOBER 11, 2ͮͰͮ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

RIGHT OF REPLY

Shaka Momodu Takes a Bizarre View on Trade Garba Shehu

T

he hard hitting journalist and editor, Shaka Momodu is no fan of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, so it didn’t surprise anyone that his latest column followed the norm. The difference is that, this time, his commentary was mostly a spewing of invectives, jam-packed with quotes from as many famous people as he could think of, rather than a reasoned argument. But, I’ll ignore his insults and name-calling, and simply rebut his nonsensical arguments on infrastructure and trade.

Momodu’s major grief is with the forthcoming rail line from Nigeria to Niger Republic, a project that would facilitate trade between the two West African neighbours. The crux of his dissension seems to be that there is nothing to gain from new infrastructure projects - even though there is a lot of gain from those that already exist. This is not only bizarre, but it is completely contradictory to the thinking of economists all over the world.

Nigeria received global praise last year after President Buhari signed the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, AfCFTA. This agreement, which was hailed in many international news headlines, is intended to boost intra-Africa trade as a route out of poverty for millions across the continent. Critics have over the years questioned why African countries appear more keen to develop economic and trade ties with Western countries, while ignoring the opportunities that abound right here on the continent.

International travellers often complain that it is often easier to journey from an African country to a European or American one, than it is to journey from one African country to the other, even when they are neighbours. Intra-African travel is notoriously convoluted and tortuous. Would Momodu have felt pressed to unleash his bile if the new rail line had been between Nigeria and somewhere in Europe? I doubt it. But, he made it clear that he sees no benefit for Nigeria to invest in new infrastructure projects between fellow African countries – even one of Nigeria’s neighbours – unless they are repairs to crossborder infrastructure that already exists. How unfortunate that an African can be so contemptuous of his fellow Africans.

President Buhari obviously understands the huge possibilities that can open up to Nigeria through smoother connections

Buhari with her neighbours, and The Brookings Institute captures this perspective clearly: “AfCFTA will be a game changer for stimulating intra-African trade. It is projected, through the sole removal of tariffs on goods, to increase the value of intra-African trade by between 15 percent (or $50 billion) and 25 percent (or $70 billion), depending on liberalization efforts, in 2040, compared to a situation with no AfCFTA in place. Alternatively, the share of intra-African trade would increase by nearly 40 percent to over 50 percent, depending on the ambition of the liberalization, between the start of the implementation of the reform (2020) and 2040”. In the case of Niger Republic, what President Buhari’s initiative will achieve is to bind our two countries closer together in trade, thereby taking greater advantage of the opportunities that AfCFTA is bringing.

Momodu himself did acknowledge the importance of the

Lagos-Badagry Expressway that crosses the border with Benin Republic. “In terms of revenue,” he said, “more than 55 per cent of Nigeria’s intra West African trade passes through that border, compared to less than 5 per cent through the border with Niger Republic”. One can then imagine how much more revenue would accrue to Nigeria via the Niger Republic route once transportation becomes easier. There is major trade between Nigeria and Benin (population 12 million), but barely any trade between Nigeria and Niger (population 23 million), precisely because with the former there is large-scale infrastructure in place to facilitate it, and with the latter there is not.

In addition, I would have expected that Momodu’s senior position in the media would have afforded him knowledge of the West African Railways Master Plan, approved as far back as 2002 by the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. This document envisages a region-wide freight and passenger movement, a plan designed to assist members states in their short-, medium- and long-term investment decisions on railway development. According to that masterplan, it aims to “contribute not only to support investment decisions in railway infrastructure aimed among other objectives, at opening up the landlocked countries namely Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, but will also play a catalytic role in attracting investments in areas such as mining and industries which have a multiplier effect in employment generation.”

Constructing a rail line from Nigeria to Niger Republic is simply President Buhari complying with the terms and expectations of an agreement that Nigeria and other ECOWAS countries signed over two decades ago, long before he became Head of State.

What commentators like Momodu fail to realise is that their preconceptions often affect their ability to rationally assess any steps taken by the administration of President Buhari. They are determined to see everything the President does through the lens of ethnicity and bias, when they themselves are the ones biased by ethnicity. Just a little bit of rational thinking, sound economic analyses, and historical context, would have saved Momodu the energy of that poorly thought out rant. President Buhari has excellent reasons for the new railway line from our country to Niger Republic, and he has the long term interests of the entire Nigeria at heart.

–––Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity), Abuja.

POLITY

A Conversation on the Kwara Minimum Wage Salihu Ajibola Ajia

T

his is the moment for hard truth and sober reflection.

On Tuesday morning, October 6, 2020, a local blog published a screenshot of a story it had published on May 20, 2019, accompanied with a video footage of protesting pensioners and players at the Kwara United FC. In that footage, the protesters said their backlogs of salaries had not been paid since 2013. The same blog then captured how the new administration has commenced the payment of these salary arrears and sign-on fees of the players and officials of the club.

These backlogs of salary, pensions and gratuities are not limited to the football club. It is a rule, not an exception, across several MDAs in the state. In the local government system alone, no less than N21bn is owed to pensioners. The arrears in the LG system for active workers is in excess of N6bn. Across the state MDAs, thousands of workers are owed outstanding of promotion arrears. Thousands got promoted and are on grade levels without commensurate pay.

It is a debt on the state. Some have been on the same grade level for years without promotion, partly because promotion normally comes with the burden of backing it with pay rise. Promotion is a legitimate aspiration for workers.

At the level of the local government, the wage bill and other statutory payments, which stands at N2.5bn as at September ending, is 91% percentage of their total receipts from the Federal Government. This does not include other expenses. When added, those expenses bring the wage bill to between 100% or 108% of their federal allocation. This (N2.5bn) wage bill, to be sure, is pegged to the N18,000 minimum wage. It will rise to roughly N2.9bn when the new minimum wage is implemented (depending on what the labour and the government eventually agree to). The question has always been where to get the difference between what is earned as allocation (an average of N2.6bn, including their 10% share of the IGR) and the balance with which to pay the minimum wage. If we assume that allocation may indeed rise to N2.9bn to allow for payment of the minimum wage, does it mean that all that is done at the LGAs is payment of salary? What happens to infrastructural development?

You may ask, what about their IGR? Between 2019 and date, the total IGR collected by KWIRS (Citizenships, Radio license, tenement rate and signage) on behalf of all the 16 local governments stands at N78.9m as of June 2020.

Reality check: this calculation does not provide for promotion.

What that means is that no worker can substantially move up the ladder as they ought to. Every worker dreams to rise through the ladder to the highest echelon of their profession. But the Kwara workforce is too bloated to allow for free, legitimate movement. It is a double tragedy for the state and the workforce, really. But it is the reality.

Bloated civil service is a lose-lose for all: the employees and the employers. The employers would have to spend almost everything on the workforce while the employees would often time not get what is due to them. Often, three employees may earn what one employee ought to earn because the employers simply cannot afford more, except they want to borrow for consumption. No serious government does that. Ultimately, the employees are the greater losers because they are unable to meet up with basic challenges of life. For no fault of theirs, the hard working type may forever have unfulfilled working life.

This takes us to the next phase of the conversation: how did we get here? What were the yardsticks for recruiting people into the public sector? Were there any needs assessment that warranted the numbers we have now? There are very brilliant and hard working civil servants across the MDAs in Kwara. But are these eggheads in the majority today? How did we employ senior civil servants who cannot write good memos or design proposals? What yardsticks did we employ to recruit a teacher who cannot write a simple sentence or communicate in the language of instruction? The truth, as any sincere mind could tell, is that the Kwara civil service was designed in the recent years as a reward system for loyalists of the ousted dynasty. People got appointment often without writing any examination or attending any interview that tested their suitability for the job. The education sector was not spared. Some chaps once told me in Twitter DM how they got employed as sunset workers (teachers). Their parents got the slots from their friends in government. While headhunting may not always be a crime, it is not a licence to load the workforce with persons that cannot do the job. It is not a licence to give free meal ticket to friends and cronies without commensurate benefits to the system that pays the bill.

Now the situation is dire. Labour wants the minimum wage implemented. It is their right. Workers need decent wage. But can the system afford it as it is? If it does, what suffers for it? Most likely infrastructural development that serve 99 percent of the public. If that happens, what is the future of the state including the civil servants who have children who would call Kwara their state? For Kwara to pay minimum wage at the local government level, especially the consequential increment, they would spend 107 percent of their total monthly receipts from the federal government for just workers’ salary .

As noted above, this does not include other expenses.

The situation is not so better at the state level. Currently, 71 percent of the entire FAAC receipts goes into paying salaries of workers. This does not include the cost of running government and allocations to the MDAs. In September, Kwara got N4bn as allocation. But that is half the story. The allocation went up because the federal government has suspended full payment of loans until April next year. This means allocation would dip when full repayment resumes. Also, deductions for foreign loans, which the government inherited, have now risen by almost 61.9% (from N39.6m to N64.1m monthly) because of the recent devaluation of the naira.

The minimum wage table being debated between the labour and government will add N263m to the current wage bill of the state

government. If this sails through, it means Kwara will now spend 79% of its total FAAC receipts on average to pay workers alone. What about the IGR? The spendable part of the state IGR is around N600m.

What is left of the IGR are akin to revolving funds, such as receipts from hospitals or tertiary schools (school fee) and so on which go back to them to keep them afloat. But, again, how much should a state like Kwara spend on wage bill? For those who want government to run like business so that public can get value for their money, which business spends 79% of its earnings to pay wages alone?

This is the Kwara story. As things stand, both the government and the labour have tough decisions to make for the future of the state. No side holds the ace. If the Governor inks the minimum wage agreement today, it is clear that the local government cannot afford it. The way out is to borrow to pay. Or the state piles up arrears of unpaid salary in the coming months. Should we do that? If the state inks any agreement that adds N263m to the wage bill, the consequence is glaring for infrastructural development.

The government, for its part, appears to be trying to rev up its revenue without imposing more burdens on the stressed populace. But the facts are clear: businesses in post-COVID-19 are struggling to survive and must be so treated. Similarly, the government is carrying out reforms in the civil service without sacking workers. Investments would come with steady allocation of resources to infrastructural development to open up the state while reforms designed to ease the business climate are ongoing.

North, South, and Central parts of the state are recording undeniable infrastructural developments worth billions of naira without borrowings so far. Salaries are paid 100 percent latest by 25th of every month, while arrears are being sorted gradually.

The labour movement comprises very responsible citizens and leaders in their own right. Everyone is stressed. The waste and indiscretions of the past are gone with the past, even though they haunt us all. The government, to be fair, has been prudent.

No official vehicle has been purchased for the Governor, his deputy, cabinet members or other aides. Those with official vehicles inherited them. Even so, operational vehicles worth millions of naira have been purchased for smooth running of the civil service.

There is no easy answer to the minimum wage riddles at hand. Rigidity pays no side. And no side can afford the luxury of partisan sentiments. All that matters now, and would be in the overall interest of the state, is a huge dose of patriotism, forbearance, and good faith on all sides.

As somebody who was once in government before and was indeed a part of the Kwara struggle over the years with appreciable knowledge of the state and sincere love for workers, I appeal to the labour unions to kindly take a hard look at the issues and put the interest of the state above every other consideration.

That is the sacrifice we all have to make at this point.

––Dr Ajia, a former University teacher and publishing executive, is a public policy analyst based in Ilorin.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹͹ 2020

BUSINESS The Quintessential Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala WTO Needs Editor: Kunle Aderinokun

08033204315, 08111813084 Email:kunle.aderinoku@thisdaylive.com

Later this month, the WTO would begin the final process of selecting its Director-General.

Nigeria’s Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is widely expected to be at the top of the ‘leaderboard’ and become the first African to lead the global trade body. Nosa James-Igbinadolor looks at her chances and why she is the best fit for the leadership of the tottering body

O

n October 7, 2020, the World Trade OrganizationannouncedNigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee had advanced to the final round in the race to be its director-general, setting the stage for the first woman to lead the 25-year-old organisation.

“Our aim continues to be to encourage and facilitate the building of consensus among members, and to assist in moving from this final slate of two candidates to a decision on appointment,” WTO General Council Chairman, David Walker, said during a meeting Thursday in Geneva.

Walker said the last phase of the selection process will begin on October 19 and run until October 27, after which the WTO will seek to name a consensus winner.

The WTO was established in 1995 and serves two principal functions. First, it provides a set of multilaterally agreed rules governing policies affecting both trade in goods and services, and the protection of intellectual property. Second, the WTO provides a forum for administering the rules, settling trade disputes, and pursuing negotiations to reduce trade barriers, and to strengthen and extend the multilateral rules.

Earlier in the year, the WTO said hopes for a V-shaped recovery in 2020 may be overly optimistic as the group’s key trade barometer hit an all-time low even as global trade fell to an unprecedented low in the second quarter of the year.

The organisation has seen its influence wane in recent years as the two largest economies in the world, the U.S and China, have adopted more protectionist policies.

There is a broad consensus that the WTO needs reform, but no consensus on what reform should look like. The director-general can attempt to advance this debate, demanding leaders’ attention, brokering deals, galvanising efforts towards finding potential ways forward and offering a positive narrative for the organisation’s future role. However, progress may be hard to come by.

Whichever of the two candidates wins the selection process, they have their work cut out for them, especially at a time when the organisation is under intense pressure to reform from the United States, which asserts the WTO has failed to restrain Chinese state capitalism and has unfairly declared parts of U.S trade law against WTO rules.

The United States will be critical in determining who becomes the next head of the organisation.

U.S. Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, in June, told a House Committee panel that he will press for fundamental change at the World Trade Organisation, which he said “has failed America.”

Lighthizer said the WTO was in need of “fundamental reform” after having failed the U.S. and the world, taking specific note of how it has dealt with China, a country that has frequently drawn the ire of the Trump administration.

He told the House Ways and Means Committee on June 17, that the new director-general needs to understand the “fundamental problem that an extremely large state-run economy cannot be disciplined into the current WTO rules.”

He vowed to veto any candidate if he detects “any whiff of anti-Americanism.”

It is unlikely both candidates would be unacceptable to Washington. William Reinsch, a trade official in the Clinton administration and senior adviser at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies told Bloomberg “I don’t see how you could conclude that either candidate would be unaccept-

Okonjo-Iweala

able, from a U.S. point of view.”

On how the WTO should address Washington’s complaint about China’s state capitalism and developing country designation, the Nigerian born economist posited “those are some critical issues that members will need to discuss and debate on.

But let’s put it this way, we must make sure that all members of the WTO feel that the balance of rights and obligations for all members of the WTO is about a fair system. So, that’s why it’s important to listen to who feels it’s not fair and then restore that balance of rights and obligations that members need to undertake.”

Most observers believe that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, a former finance minister, is the strong favourite to win the leadership race. If elected, she would be the first African to run the WTO. The Financial Timescalledher“awell-knownpolicymaker,having negotiated a large sovereign debt write-down and battled corruption as Nigeria’s finance minister, and served as a managing director at the World Bank”.

Much of her career, the British Broadcasting Corporation noted, “was spent as an economist at the World Bank. She eventually rose to the position of managing director, essentially second in command at the institution. She has been an unsuccessful candidate for the top job at the bank. She is currently chair of the board of the international vaccines’ alliance, Gavi. She has not spent her career immersed in the details of trade policy as some other candidates did. But her work as a development economist and finance minister means she has often had to deal with international trade.”

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s chance is likely to be further boosted by Japan and China’s reticence to back the candidate from South Korea. Tokyo and Beijing, according to FT, “are likely to exercise a de facto veto against Ms. Yoo because of political tensions with Korea.”

Okonjo-Iweala has emphasised her World

Bank experience managing a large multilateral organisation and her role as chair of the board of Gavi, a public-private alliance to develop vaccines for low-income countries. The drive to create a vaccine has sparked a debate about patents, which are protected by WTO agreements. But Dr. OkonjoIweala “has fought to overcome a perception that, with limited experience at the WTO and never having served as a trade minister, she has relatively little knowledge of the complexities of trade”. She toldtheFinancialTimesrecently,“They’venarrowed trade to become negotiations, but that is not what it’s all about. If the problem of the WTO was people with negotiating skills, why hasn’t the problem been solved?”

In her campaign manifesto, she had vowed to rally WTO members, make the organisation listen to them, seek common ground, hunt for solutions, rebuild trust and return to its founding mission.

“I want to bring a fresh pair of eyes and ears to the WTO and make it fit to thrive for the 21st century.”

She has persistently insisted that the multilateral trading system must be stable, predictable and fair and can govern trade for every member. She said she was putting herself forward to lead the WTO because, “the WTO needs a leader at this time, a fresh face, an outsider, someone with a capability to implement reforms, and can work with members to make sure that the WTO comes out of the partial paralysis that it is in, and move to serve the world better”.

She told Nikkei Asia, “I am a reformer. I have a reputation as a reformer. I have strong political and negotiation skills. I’m a good listener and you need listening skills to make this work. I’m pragmatic and I’m solutions oriented.”

On what the global south would benefit from her leadership of the WTO, she asserts that, “the expectation is that trade should benefit all members and where it does not, and where the south has been

left behind, we should deploy the instruments that are available to make sure we enable countries and members in the south to trade more and to derive more benefit from the multilateral trading system that they have. If am selected as DG, I would be very keen to make sure that instruments like aid for trade, which involves technical assistance, capacity building and working with other organisations such as the World Bank and the regional development banks, to be able to deliver to countries, what they need to improve investment within their borders, so that they can process their goods more, create more jobs and have more to trade. That is what I would be doing to make sure the south improves its position and benefit from the multilateral trading system.”

For Nigerians, she would be remembered as the cerebralandhighlyperformingfinanceministerwho successfully managed the country’s unpredictable finances and unstable economy; helped persuade creditor nations that a petrol-rich part of Africa infamous for its inefficient ways was satisfactorily on the mend to merit a write-off worth about 60 per cent ($18billion) of the country’s external debt and developed reform programmes that helped improve governmental transparency and stabilising the economy.

Her resume is intimidating and her capacity for the job is in no doubt. Apart from chairing the Board of Gavi, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, she is also Senior Adviser at Lazard, one the world’s premier financial advisory and asset management firms.

Previously, Dr Okonjo-Iweala served twice as Nigeria’s finance minister, from 2003-2006, 20112015, and briefly as foreign minister in 2006, the first woman to hold both positions. She spent a 25-year career at the World Bank as a development economist, rising to the number two position of managing director, responsible for an $81 billion operational portfolio including Europe and Central Asia, South Asia, and Africa (2007-2011).

She is currently also Chair of the Board of the African Union’s African Risk Capacity (ARC), an innovative weather-based insurance mechanism for African countries; and co-Chair of the Commission on the New Climate Economy with Lord Nicolas Stern and Paul Polman. In addition, she is a member of numerous boards and advisory groups, including the Rockefeller Foundation, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Harvard University, the Oxford University Martin School Advisory Council, Mercy Corps, Women’s World Banking, the World Economic ForumYoung Global Leaders Foundation, the International Commission on Financing Global Education (Chaired

by Gordon Brown), among others.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala is a recipient of Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award (2011), the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award (2014), the Devex Power with Purpose Award (2016), the Global Fairness Award (2016), and the Columbia University Global Leadership Award (2011), to name a few.

She has received over 10 honorary degrees, including from Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, and Trinity College, Dublin.

She holds an A.B. in Economics from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in Regional Economics and Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She is the author of numerous articles and several books, including Reforming the Unreformable: Lessons from Nigeria (MIT Press, 2012), and The Debt Trap in Nigeria: Towards a Sustainable Debt Strategy (Africa World Press, 2003).

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹͹˜ 2020

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

2021 Appropriation and the Road to Economic Recovery In this piece, James Emejo writes that beyond the timely submission of the proposed 2021 Budget to the National Assembly, resource mobilisation, discipline, transparency as well as implementation remain crucial towards achieving the much desired recovery and growth of the economy

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resident Muhammadu Buhari last week presented a N13.08 trillion budget proposal for the 2021 fiscal year to the joint session of the National Assembly.

Dubbed, “Budget of Economic Recovery and Resilience”, the proposal was obviously drafted to among other things prepare the country for a second recession as clearly predicted by the president.

He said: “GDP growth is projected to be negative in the third quarter of this year. As such, our economy may lapse into the second recession in four years, with significant adverse consequences. However, we are working assiduously to ensure a rapid recovery in 2021. We remain committed to implementing programmes to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over the next 10 years.”

This is not surprising given that there had been similar predictions recently by domestic and external commentators, who continued to highlight the deteriorating economic prospects caused by the falling crude oil price amidst the socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country as well as the reality of an economy which is largely undiversified.

The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, had severally raised concerns that the economy could be headed for another recession unless the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP) was urgently implemented to boost spending and stimulate the economy.

The possibility of yet another recession had also been amplified by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who had been reeling out a litany of monetary interventions to stimulate growth and possibly help the country escape a dire economic turbulence.

But going by the performance of key macroeconomic indicators including inflation, GDP, unemployment, poverty among others, it would require patriotism and strong faith to believe that the Nigerian economy will survive a second recession by December.

Nevertheless, in presenting the 2021 appropriation, Buhari said in view of the many challenges confronting the country, the government must accelerate its economic recovery process, promote social inclusion and strengthen the resilience of the economy.

Going by the fiscal assumption and parameters which the budget was based on including benchmark oil price of $40 per barrel, daily oil production estimate of 1.86 million barrels (inclusive of Condensates of 300,000 to 400,000 barrels per day), exchange rate of N379 per $1 and GDP growth projected at 3.0 per cent and inflation closing at 11.95 per cent, the president is hopeful that the budget would “accelerate the pace of our economic recovery, promote economic diversification, enhance competitiveness and ensure social inclusion.”

Buhari had proposed an aggregate expenditure of N13.08 trillion, including N1.35 trillion spending by Government-Owned Enterprises and Grants and Aid funded expenditures of N354.85 billion.

He said the 2021 budget deficit (inclusive of Government-Owned Enterprises and project-tied loans), is projected at N5.20 trillion, representing 3.64 per cent of the estimated GDP, slightly above the three per cent threshold set by the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.

He said: “It is, however, to be noted that we still face the existential challenge of coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath. I believe that this provides a justification to exceed the threshold as provided for by this law. The deficit will be financed.”

Buhari said based on the foregoing fiscal assumptions and parameters, total federally

Buhari

distributable revenue is estimated at N8.433 trillion in 2021; while total revenue available to fund the 2021 Federal Budget is estimated at N7.886 trillion, adding that this includes grants and aid of N354.85 billion as well as the revenues of 60 Government-Owned Enterprises.

He noted that oil revenue is projected at N2.01 trillion, while non-oil revenue is estimated at N1.49 trillion.

According to him, “As you will observe, the format of the 2021 Appropriation Bill has been modified to include budgeted revenues, no matter how small, for each MDA, to focus on internal revenue generation.

“Accordingly, I implore you to pay as much attention to the revenue side as you do to the expenditure side in the Planned 2021 Expenditure.”

The President explained that the budget deficit would be financed mainly by new borrowings totalling N4.28 trillion, N205.15 billion from privatisation proceeds and N709.69 billion in drawdowns on multilateral and bilateral loans secured for specific projects and programmes.

He stressed further that the sum of N484.49 billion provided for Statutory Transfers in the proposal represent an increase of N56.46 billion (or 13 per cent) over the revised 2020 provision.

The president said statutory transfer provisions are Niger Delta Development Commission – N63.51 billion; North East Development Commission – N29.70 billion; National Judicial Council -N110.00 billion; Universal Basic Education Commission -N70.05 billion; Independent National Electoral Commission -N40 billion; National Assembly -N128.00 billion; Public Complaints Commission -N5.20 billion; Human Rights Commission – N3 billion; and Basic Health Care Provision Fund – N35.03 billion.

He said in order to enhance national security

and human capital development, a major part of the 2021 recurrent cost estimate is allocated to paying salaries and overheads in MDAs providing critical public services.

To this end, the sum of N227.02 billion was budgeted for the Ministry of Interior; N441.39 billion for the Ministry of Police Affairs; N545.10 billion for Ministry of Education; N840.56 billion for Ministry of Defence; and N380.21 billion for Ministry of Health.

The president revealed that the budget of the Ministry of Education had been increased by 65 per cent to develop the education sector.

The key capital spending allocations include Power – N198 billion (inclusive of N150 billion for the Power Sector Recovery Plan); Ministry of Works and Housing N404 billion; Ministry of Transportation -N256 billion; Defence – N121 billion; Agriculture and Rural Development -N110 billion.

Others are: “Ministry of Water Resources: N153 billion; Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment -N51 billion; Ministry of Education – N127 billion; Universal Basic Education Commission -N70 billion; Ministry of HealthN132 billion; Zonal Intervention Projects: N100 billion; and Niger Delta Development Commission – N64 billion.”

The president stated further that personnel cost remains the largest single item of expenditure, saying the seven months to July 31, 2020, it accounted for 34 per cent of total federal government spending and is projected at 33 per cent of 2021 expenditure.

He assured that his government remained committed to meeting its debt service obligations.

“A total of N2.183 trillion has been set aside to service domestic debts while N940.89 billion has been provided for foreign debt service.

N220 billion is provided for transfers to the Sinking Fund to pay off maturing bonds issued

to local contractors and creditors,” he said.

However, while commending the president for the timely manner of submission of the proposed 2021 budget to the NationalAssembly, analysts have expressed mixed opinion over the some of the parameters adopted.

They particularly praised the executive for among other things factoring the present economic reality occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic into the drafting of the budget.

Specifically, the analysts in separate interviews with THISDAY hailed some of the fiscal parameters by which the budget was predicated.

They however, voiced their concerns over the country’s rising public debt profile and the attendant huge debt service obligations as well as an over-ambitious growth and inflation targets.

Commenting on the proposal in a chat with THISDAY, Professor of Finance and Capital Markets at Nasarawa State University, Prof.

Uche Uwaleke, commended the executive for transmitting the budget proposal in good time adding that it would allow the National Assembly sufficient period to consider and pass the appropriation bill.

He said: “I think the assumptions and budget parameters are realistic except for the Exchange rate of N379 to the dollar that may not hold due to the on-going process of unifying Exchange rates across all forex windows by the CBN consistent with the IMF prescription.

Uwaleke however, expressed reservations on the growth projection for next year.

“I also think the real GDP growth rate projected at 3 per cent is a little ambitious in view of the impact of COVID-19 on the economy expected to linger till next year. This is why the recent Fitch report on Nigeria projects a GDP growth rate of 1.3 per cent for the country in 2021,” he added.

The former Imo State commissioner for finance, however, observed that the budget proposal seemed to have set the right priorities with the bulk of capital spending going to works and housing, power and transport, pointing out that for the first time in many years, the capital allocation to education and health are above that of defense.

“I must add however, that new borrowings of over N4 trillion to part finance a deficit of over N5 trillion is worrisome given the already huge amount of over N3 trillion allocated to debt servicing alone.

“COVID-19 notwithstanding, the deficit to GDP should have been kept within the 3 per cent threshold stipulated in the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

“I hope the National Assembly will consider any amendment within the budget envelope of N13.08 trillion and not end up jerking up the figure.”

Also speaking to THISDAY, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Credent Investment Managers Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Shelleng, commended both the oil production and benchmark parameters.

He however, raised objection to the exchange rate parameter, adding that it was not well considered.

He said: “With regards to production, it seems to be more realistic based on output figures for the last few years. We used to budget over 2mbpd in previous budgets but never realised more than 1.7-1.8mbpd.

“I think the benchmark oil price is fair. The global economy will surely pick up after the pandemic and as such we would expect to see an increased demand for oil and subsequent increase in prices “The exchange rate for me is not well budgeted. One year non-deliverable forward contracts for the Naira are around N500 to the dollar, whilst futures contract for the same tenor are quoted at N385.

“This is a decent indication that the N379 per

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹͹˜ 2020

19

BUSINESS /ADVERTISING/ECONOMY

Glo’s New Campaign as Metaphor for Women Empowerment A recently launched Globacom’s campaign, titled; Biker, appears to be advancing the larger than life status of the brand with a deep reflection of go-getting and self-reliance personality as demonstrated by the female leading character in the television commercial. Raheem Akingbolu writes

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n all its campaigns and product activations, Globacom has always appeared a brave brand personality. Since the first day in the market, the story is about not giving up despite all odds.

Part of what has made Glo a respected brand is its engaging larger-than-life imagery. Today, it has successfully established itself as ambitious, bold, daring and endearing.

In its new Television commercial, the promoters also take the unusual part as they send strong a message about women empowerment and boldness. For instance, in a super patriarchal society like Africa, where women are usually treated as appendages and the ‘weaker vessels,’ this commercial turns that stereotype on its head. The mechanic like most men tried to take advantage of what he thought was a vulnerable woman, by raising the prices of motorcycle parts and mentioning radiator and other things outside motorcycle parts.

Of course, the lady swiftly gives him back by demonstrating practically to what he described on his phone contact as ‘thief-thief mechanic’ that she’s not a novice after all. However, the mechanic realised a little too late that this is a special kind of woman. She appears strong, assertive, creative and very independent.

Through the creative ingenuity of the creative agency that conceptualised the campaign, the lady quickly resorted to Glo to easily outwit the crooked mechanic. Two things are clear through the TVC; Glo has been able to make case for the girl child and the entire womenfolk that they can also be empowered. Beyond using them as mare sex appeal to woo consumers, the TVC also represents a new way of showcasing women in TV commercials. Putting the young biker side by side with the Glo brand, one can easily compares her didactic and adventurous disposition with Glo’s boldness and commitment to empowering its patrons.

As the lady hands over to the mechanic money for the tools used for fixing her bike and fled with her colleagues with fulfillment, the promoters of the brand drives home another message of the 60 seconds TVC, which is hinged on data as a problem solver.

Conceptualised by X3M Ideas, a leading advertising firm, Biker was recently produced to deepen the company’s positioning drive for its data. In the last, two years, top players in the industry have consistently used advertisement to engage their patrons as well as pointing out the unique selling points of their data plans.

Brand Promise Starting with the pay-off line, ‘Glo with

and multimedia technologies. Besides, the introduction of the 3G Plus technology marked the second time that Globacom has been in the forefront of pioneering the latest transmission network in Nigeria, having introduced the 2.5G technology at launch in 2003 when other operators were running on the 2G platform.

The 3G Plus technology enables a much faster transmission of data, voice, broadband internet and multimedia services over a range of frequencies. It allows customers to do video call, video streaming and high-speed mobile internet access, amongst others, from their 3G mobile handset.

Also, the Glo brand was the first network to launch a nationwide coverage of the 4G-LTE network in Nigeria, thus availing its subscribers enhanced data transfer rates, unmatched mobile broadband experience and high data speeds and reliability.

It also has the most extensive fibre optic backbone across Nigeria. The facility was built to further enhance voice and data transmission for mobile and fixed telephone operations in the country.

The brand has also contributed to boosting international connectivity in Nigeria by building and launching an international submarine cable, Glo 1.

It was the first time a single company would implement such a massive undersea project in Africa. In addition to boosting the provision of services to telecoms end-users, the facility is currently providing the muchneeded connectivity to critical sectors of the economy such as oil and gas, manufacturing, banking, commerce, education and health, among others.

Mike Adenuga

Pride’ at launch in 2003, Glo promoted and built a sense of pride in every Nigerian by providing a world class indigenous telecommunications network, which offered Nigerians the enablement platform to succeed in different fields of human endeavor.

The company later followed up with Rule your World, a message of empowerment that helped build confidence in Nigerians that they can achieve their dreams, rule their world and be the best that they want to be.

To mark its 10th anniversary few years ago, Glo unveiled a new strap line, “Unlimited” which was meant to reaffirm the Glo brand promise to its various stakeholders as Glo journeys into its next 10 years of operation.

The new strap line heralded a brave new

world, a world in which subscribers and other stakeholder could achieve anything at all if they believe in themselves.

These slogans have helped in endearing the Glo brand to its subscribers and the general public as they inspire to dream, work hard, achieve their life objectives and rule their world.

Technological Revolution Beyond advertising and brand promise, if there is any other thing that has worked for the brand, it’s in products offering. For instance, Glo was the only operator in Africa to launch its operations on the superior 2.5G network which enabled the convergence of voice, data

2021 Appropriation and the Road to Economic Recovery USD budgeted is not realistic. Moreover given the backlog of demand for foreign investors to exit and low oil prices, the pressure on the Naira is expected to persist.”

On his part, former Director General of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, however argued that the N10.13 trillion budget proposal was an invitation to “more deficit financing and more borrowing”.

He expressed concern that in spite of the country’s dwindling economy, the government’s expenditure continued to rise with an increased budget stressing that “Our debt burden is becoming unmanageable.”

Ekechukwu said: “A N13.08 trillion budget for 2021 is only invite to more deficit financing and more borrowing. So the effect is that our debt burden will increase more and more by 2021.

“This is because the effect of COVID-19 will persist till the third quarter of 2021 and institutions are not likely to recover very quickly to turnaround their growth trajectory.

“The benchmarks of $40/barrel oil price, oil output of 1.86milion barrels daily and exchange rate of N379 per Dollar are feasible but in my opinion, GDP growth of 3.0 per cent and inflation rate of 11.95 per cent are not likely to be feasible.”

On his part, an Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics at University of Port Harcourt, Anthony Onoja, believed the budget estimates were not realistic.

According to him, “The budget is over ambitious. It is not realistic that Nigeria will experience a GDP growth of 3.0 percent. I also do not see how possible it will be to attain a unified or real exchange rate of N379 per US dollar.

“With the looming recession, the high cost of electricity, poor allocation of the budget to agriculture and high cost of petroleum products Nigeria should expect a very high rate of inflation by 2021.”

Nonetheless, Buhari appealed to both chambers of the National Assembly to hasten the legislative process of budget consideration “to ensure its prompt passage to sustain the restoration of a predictable January – December fiscal year” adding, “In this regard, I have directed all Ministers and Heads of Agencies to be personally available for budget defence.”

He said: “Nigerians expect that the 2021 Budget will contain only implementable and critical projects, which when completed, will significantly address current structural challenges of the economy, improve the business environment and accelerate economic recovery.”

Improving Lives Beyond other things, Glo commitment to improving the lives of Nigeria is one of the attributes that have continued to grow the brand’s equity. Since it rolled out services, the telco brand has consistently brought innovation, quality service delivery and unequalled benefits to its subscribers. It has over the years offered subscribers best value for money by introducing innovative products and services aimed at improving the lives of its customers and empowering them. They cut across different initiatives including entertainment, sports and promotions, festivals and others.

The company has made huge investments in the sponsorship of these initiatives across in and around African continent.

Above all, the promoters of the brand are also conscious enough to see the need for well-established corporate social responsibility early enough. Through this, it has invested in education, corporate support, sports sponsorship and community development.

Cont’d from Pg. 18 But except there is marked departure from the “business as usual” syndrome, and existing mechanisms strengthened to boost transparency and monitoring, double efforts on resource mobilisation and apply sanctions where there are breaches in the implementation process, the proposed 2021 appropriation when passed into law may fail to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

The history of past budgets was riddled with diversion of budgeted interventions into private pockets, a major limitation to performance and delivery.

In the time being, all eyes is on the legislature to scrutinise the estimates and pass the piece of legislation into law albeit in record timean assurance already given to Nigerians by President of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹͹˜ 2020

BUSINESS/LABOUR

N-Power: How Far, So Far? The N-Power is a scheme set up by President Muhammadu Buhari since 2016 to address the issues of youth unemployment and help increase social development. The scheme was created as a component of the National Social Investment Programme to provide a structure for large-scale and relevant work skills acquisition and development as well as to ensure that each participant will learn and practice most of what is necessary to find or create work.

Kunle Aderinokun reviews the performance of the scheme in the last four years to determine whether or not the purpose of its creation is being achieved

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he reason the government of President Muhammadu Buhari created the N-Power scheme some four years ago was to tackle the growing rate of unemployment and increase social development among the youth in the country. So, the programme of twoyear duration was targeted at beneficiaries (graduates or non-graduates) within the ages of 18 and 35.

As of July 13, 2019, the federal government disclosed it had spent a total of N279 billion to pay beneficiaries of the scheme since it was launched in 2016.

The scheme currently has six categories namely N-Teach, N-Health, N-Agro, NBuild, N-Creative and N-Tech. N-Teach and N-Health are available to only graduates who must have completed the mandatory one-year NYSC programme, while N-Agro, N-Build, N-Creative and N-Tech is available to graduates and nongraduates alike.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, disclosed that since inception, N-Power had trained over 500,000 beneficiaries in various vocational areas which include farming, agro-processing, financial literacy, communication, digital skills amongst a host of others.

“About 109,823 beneficiaries have gone on to set up businesses within their communities as a result of their training and time in the N-Power Programme. We are proud of the results so far and look forward to impacting even more Nigerians as we commence efforts to register a new batch of beneficiaries,” she said.

Farouq pledged allegiance to the scheme, adding, “My team and I at the ministry are committed to this programme and all efforts geared towards supporting the vulnerable. We are stronger together and we will make it through these trying times.”

The minister noted that decades of neglect on the right drivers of job creation had left a huge number of youths in the country without the skill, job, or economic means to survive.

“President Muhammadu Buhari’s led government is making deliberate efforts to address this vacuum through various social intervention programmes. The COVID-19 pandemic has unravelled a number of challenges, but it’s our duty as government to intervene and support young people, who are unable to find jobs and accelerate efforts to provide an enabling environment for businesses to create sustainable jobs,” she added.

Still on Course Farouq claimed that the N-Power programme was still on course pointing out that, it is one of the ways the present administration plans to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.

Stating that a total of 5,042,001 Nigerians applied for the Batch C of N-Power in August, she assured Nigerians in a statement that transparency and due diligence would be applied during the selection process to ensure that the qualified applicants are selected.

She added that the N-Power programme was aimed at providing the Nigerian

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq

youths with opportunities to gain skills for employability and entrepreneurship, which will also go a long way in assisting the country towards the post-COVID-19 economic recovery.”

Unemployment Unabated Contrary to plan to curb rising unemployment in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in August, showed that unemployment is on the increase.

The statistics on unemployment for the second quarter of 2020 revealed that the percentage of unemployed people stands at 27.1 per cent. The last report which was released in 2018 showed the rate at 23 per cent. Apparently, within two years, the unemployment rate in Nigeria rose by four per cent. According to NBS, the unemployment rate rose steadily from 16.20 per cent in the second quarter of 2017 to 23.13 per cent in the third quarter of 2018.

A Lagos-based commentator on Economic Freedom and Human Rights, Odewale Abayomi, said it was safe to admit, going by the key indicators of the rapid increase in the unemployment rate, that the social programmes initiated by President Buhari, as plausible as they seem, have failed to reduce the unemployment rate.

He sai: “In the long run, the statistics clearly show that populist handouts and welfare programmes can’t bail the nation out of its unemployment trouble. Now,

what is the way forward? Luckily, about 53.57 per cent of Nigerians are between the ages of 15 and 64 years. This is a huge pool of luck if optimally harnessed. The large population of ‘active youths’ would yield optimal productivity through robust investments in education; at least 15 to 20 per cent budgetary allocation, exchange programmes, broadband and ICT expansion, investment in agriculture, technical and vocational training (informal education).”

Abayomi is proposing that government should consider an exchange programme for skills acquisition in lieu of the N-Power programme, reiterating that the exchange programmes would equip technologically inclined Nigerian undergraduates and graduates with the foundational transferable skills, which can be replicated back in Nigeria in bridging the deficient skills gap.

“Back home, the transferable skills garnered through the exchange programmes would empower Nigerian graduates to manufacture sophisticated and researchdriven products. Human capacity doesn’t have an immediate impact on the economy.

But, in the long run, the beneficial and exponential impact on the economy is worth the investment. Human capacity development, enabling environment, and business-friendly policies are what the country needs to leave behind the poverty capital of the world tag,” he said.

He wants the federal government to empower small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), which are key drivers of

the economy to absorb Nigeria’s teeming unemployed population.

“Entrepreneurs spend hugely in generating electricity and face hurdles in transporting goods and services on vast deplorable roads. It is counter-productive when the government formulates unfriendly business policies and requests huge licensing fees coupled with excessive taxes,” he explained.

Abayomi argued that when SMEs were choked with taxes and unfavourable policies, they were forced to abruptly close operations – culminating in a surge in unemployment.

“The government should further address excessive taxes and abolish unfriendly business policies, grant tax relief programmes for start-ups, ease bureaucratic bottle-necks and provide grants/loans for SMEs’ expansion,” he advised.

He believes that if his proposal is adopted and implemented diligently and consistently within a period of 10 years, all the suggested measures will ultimately increase the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and undoubtedly greatly reduce the unemployment rate. There is a limit to jobs that the government can create.

“Social and welfare programmes only provide cosmetic, temporary and makebelieve relief while in reality, unemployment festers. The government’s job is to build enabling infrastructure, and create a friendly environment for business, innovation and creativity to thrive,” he argued.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹͹˜ 2020

21

BUSINESS INTERVIEW JOE ONYIUKE

Nigeria Can Regain Lost Glory in Oil Palm Exports The newly-elected President of the Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (OPGAN), Joe Onyiuke, in this interview, says if well harnessed, the oil palm industry can again become a major foreign exchange earner for Nigeria. James Emejo presents the excerpts:

C

ongratulations on your election as president of OPGAN. What will be the priority of the new leadership?

We are pledging that first andforemost,weneedtobring oil palm back to the original status as it used to be a major foreign exchange earner for this country.

Other countries that came here to take our seeds today are doing much better than us and are even earning much more than we earn on crude oil.

The secret is research, continuous farmers’ education, improved seedlings, best agronomic practice in the management of oil palm Plantations, serious and continuous investment in the sector.

We need to better organize and train our members especially the small holders in order to achieve the above.

We must work hard to reverse the estimated N190 billion annual oil palm import bill. With proper planning and well-articulated engagement with our critical stakeholders, Nigeria has the capacity to be self-sufficient and take back our positions as the leading exporter of oil palm.

What do you intend to go about this vision with your association?

It is my desire to organise every smallholder farmer in Nigeria together and begin to do proper training and education. Because we have been picking palm produce that our fathers and forefathers planted but palm oil is a very serious investment. It’s unlike rice, maize and other commodities that you harvest within a year. It’s like when you invest in property or in the capital market – you invest for the future. You invest in oil palm not only for your immediate benefit but for that of the generations yet unborn. The palm oil that we are enjoying today are the ones that our fathers/forefathers planted for us. If you travel around this country, you will discover that we are not even taking very good care of the plantations because it is capital and labour intensive to run and maintain. There is no better time than now for our younger generation to take over, improve and move oil palm ecosystem to the next level.

I want to encourage all the Nigerian youths to see agriculture as the only way out of the woods for this great nation.

Given the present level of competition in the sector, how much can Nigeria realise from the commodity?

The oil palm value chain is endless and we need to bring Nigeria back to where it should be in the world palm oil market. The world will know and hear about Nigeria again and we have to first bring ourselves together as one team, just like the soldier-ants. Little ants working together move big logs. Today in Nigeria, some of the world big players are already here. They have structures and are better organised, so the banks go to them and they go to the banks and get all they want.

Butwhataboutthesmallholder/mediumholder farmers, if we don’t take time in this country, a time will come when people from other countries like Indonesia and Malaysia will take over all our plantations both private and government owned, because of our cheer apathy towards agriculture. We must start to re-orientate our people to return to agriculture because that is the basis of industrialization. We cannot continue as a country to outsource everything to other people including our lives and resort only to consumption. We need to go back to the era of investment attitude and not quick returns.

The Eastern and Western Governments of late,

structures, the government/any lender cannot put anything on nothing.

How does your association position itself to access the funding opportunities provided by the government to grow the sector?

The major work we have to do is to first as an Association lay a very solid structure before any lender can take us serious. In the past, there were so much noise without traction and direction.

We will address all the issues of our members under my leadership. Oil palm is a very viable business that can pay back whatever investment that you put into it completely without any problem.

Onyiuke

Michael Okpara and Obafemi Awolowo laid the solid oil palm, Cocoa and Rubber plantations that we are still enjoying today. Those were the days when our people were ready to work and wait patiently for the fruits of their labour.

With well-organized aggregation of all harvest from every smallholder in Nigeria, we can fill the import gap and even begin to look for international market. Extension Services and farmers’ education are at the very foundation of our new vision/ focus, our farmers will ensure that whatever we produce will meet international standard/quality.

How much are the farmers losing to foreign competition in the oil palm sector?

Well, we just came in, we don’t know the exact figures but it is humongous. We never gained nothing. If you go all over the place you will see oil palm trees that are unattended to...nobody is putting fertiliser, they don’t even know what fertiliser to put and even when we harvest, we don’t know how to process. For instance, if you harvest fresh fruit bunches (FFB) and you fail to process immediately, because of local production style, you leave it for two to three days to soften a bit before you boil it and begin the process of oil extraction, the fatty acid content is already too high. The Crude Palm Oil (CPO) cannot be accepted because of high fatty acid content above 5 per cent which has limited the use of that CPO for other industrial uses. However, the high fatty content can be utilized in the production of mayonnaise, margarine and cheese etc. But we lack the technology and the knowledge to harness the multiple value chains in the oil palm sector.

In what areas can the federal government

support the transformation of the oil palm industry?

First, it is about education, provision of improved/high yielding sprout nuts, creation of world class nurseries that will produce the seedlings that can be used to repopulate our ageing stock, expand and create new plantations, access to funding to enable our members manage their existing plantations as well as replace our existing old/wasteful processing mills. We need to improve our local capacities tremendously.

The multiplier effects are enormous- job creation, industries are created and government revenues are increased.

We ask the federal government to increase funding for the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) as it’s the bedrock of the sector’s development: without properly cloned seedlings that are well nurtured, we cannot get better/optimum yields. We have the wild groves that fall from the mother trees and are scattered everywhere without proper spacing and care.

Just like new born babies that have to be inoculated or given vaccines as they grow, the first one to two years of an oil sprouted nut is the most important period in the life of that oil palm. The oil palm may grow and look healthy in the farm, but that tree can never produce its full potential because of those necessary nutrients and care that it failed to get within that critical nursery period. Our farmers have no access to improved seedlings, funding for plantation/farm maintenance and as well-improved processing capacity.

We must also help the government to help us by getting organised with solid structures because without the necessary organizational

What is the role of government and the central bank in liberating the oil palm sector?

The CBN is there and has helped this country tremendously, especially in agriculture and we know the problems we had as an association.

The central bank has been there, but the central bank cannot come and spoon feed us. The government has given the support: I have to thank the government of President Muhammadu Buhari for empowering the CBN through the Anchor Borrower Programme and all the other interventions. The Central bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefile has brought the private sector expertise/drive into the Public Sector space and the country is feeling the tremendous impact.

One cannot leave out the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for all their direct support to farmers in Nigeria. The federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is also doing a lot by providing markets for our agricultural produce.

This government has shown that it’s very serious about agriculture. So that’s already given. Then, we cannot say because the money is there, the bank must assist us. Therefore, as an umbrella association with membership across 26 States of the federation including the FCT, we have reengineered and repositioned ourselves to become eligible for all government interventions with a very strong capacity to liquidate/ repay the loans. Other associations with shorter gestation periods have been accessing these CBN interventions and they’re doing very well. We just have to be more creative and understand Oil Palm transaction dynamics. If you look at cotton, cotton has transformed this country again: our uniform men are using uniforms made from cotton grown in this country. The ginneries and textile mills are gradually coming to back to life.

We need to replicate that in Oil Palm and ensure that we stop further importation of palm oil and begin to export.

Now we will work hard and ensure that we are able to access the single-digit interest rate interventions for both developing/maintaining our plantations and processing mills.

With the present crop of young people in our new EXCO, we will take off from where our fathers stopped and we will take this single commodity to enviable heights.

How do you ensure harmony in your hitherto divided association?

I want to commend our Board of Trustees, who conducted a successful election and took it upon themselves to reposition our association. I also want to thank our members for the trust reposed in the new leadership and I assured that we would not fail in anyway. We will unite our members and run an all-inclusive administration. We will do everything possible to run a very transparent administration. We will do our accounting system the way it is done all over the world. All of us are united by one religion here- oil palm

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹͹ 2020

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SPECIAL REPORT

Akinbolagbe junction (near chicken republic)

Access Bank’s Quest for Serenity, Leads it to Regenerate Oniru Good roads, adequate tree cover and organised traffic flow transform an environment, and introduce much-desired serenity in a neighbourhood. This tranquil ambiance is palpable in some parts of Ikoyi, Lagos and now the Oniru axis of Victoria Island and some stretches of Lekki are set to wear that upscale toga, courtesy of Access Bank Plc., which has rehabilitated the roads, introducing fit-topurpose trees to refresh the air and cushion traffic noise. Bennett Oghifo writes

T

he project, which has the backing of the Lagos State government, is known as Victoria Island-Lekki Traffic Circulation ProjectOniru Axis. Its uniqueness is in the landscaping, and road paving, as well as improved traffic flow.

Access Bank has introduced this gamechanging project to eliminate motor vehicle traffic that backup for kilometres, generating uncontrollable noise from hooting by drivers with frayed nerves.

This chaotic situation is seen as unbefitting of a first-rate financial institution like Access Bank that has its headquarters in that axis.

So, its Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Herbert Wigwe set about impacting their host community, positively. He spared no expense to reshape the narrative and the Lekki-Oniru axis is now wearing a new look.

First, they specifically identified the challenges and proffered solution to each of them, with gains evolving in the form of reduced traffic congestion; improved accessibility options for ingress and egress between Victoria Island and Lekki; improved traffic flow between both places; improved environment and living standard; and enhanced security and safety.

The bank’s management decided on its corporate social responsibility mindful of the fact that Lagos State continues to experience exponential growth in different areas, most notably its population. “The population of Lagos offers the state a competitive advantage economically, however, on the down side it creates challenges in terms of traffic congestions.

Traffic congestion in cities typically occurs as more and more people travel to reach their desired destinations.

“Hence, there is a lot of people moving in and out of these areas in the mornings and

evenings respectively. This generates a lot of traffic especially going across the critical zone that straddles these two areas, and thus leads to a lot of traffic congestion.

“The congestion is so severe, that vehicles sometimes spend close to one hour to navigate through this axis that is just about 2 km. This is mainly caused by the current travel pattern around this axis.”

The Victoria Island and Lekki axis are two of the most commercial areas in Lagos State with huge exchange of economic activities daily, according to the bank. These areas easily provide employment opportunities for a large number of the people, explaining that this axis has close to 40% of total employment opportunities within the formal sector.09 The Victoria Island - Lekki Circulation Solution was conceptualised by Planet Projects Limited (PPL) at the instance ofAccess Bank Plc. This project improved the traffic linkage and travel time between this highly economic and

commercial axis of Lagos by reducing traffic congestion, experienced around this axis with huge productive man-hour loss.

Giving specific accounts of the challenges and solutions, the bank officials said at the areas identified as J1 – Sandfill Junction and J2 – Abila Abiodun, Oniru Junction, the existing issues were “traffic congestion at Sandfill and Abila Abiodun Oniru junctions caused by disruption in flow of traffic due to left turn into Lekki– Epe Expressway and Abila Abiodun Oniru Street; poor pavement conditions and silted drains leading to flooded roads.

Solutions proffered were junction improvement works; restricting of left turns into Lekki – Epe Expressway and Abila Abiodun Oniru; roads and drain rehabilitation. They also turned Abila Abiodun Oniru into a one-way street and Yesufu Abiodun Oniru (up to Four Points by Sheraton Hotel). There is an option of U-turn before the Toll Gate on Lekki – Epe Expressway.

At J3 – Four Point Sheraton Junction,

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹͹ 2020

23

SPECIAL REPORT Access Bank’s Quest for Serenity, Leads it to Regenerate Oniru the existing issues were traffic congestion at Four Point Sheraton junction, caused by six conflict movements at the junction; poor pavement conditions and silted drains leading to flooded roads.

To solve this problem, they did junction improvement works, and implemented one-way street along Chief Yesufu Abiodun Way and Prince Alaba Oniru Road to nullify conflict movement at this junction. There is also restriction of left turns into Lekki – Epe Expressway and Abila Abiodun Oniru.14 The existing issues at J4 – Akinbolagbe Junction (Chicken Republic), were traffic Congestion at Four Point Sheraton junctions caused by faulty traffic signal, and poor pavement conditions and silted drains leading to flooded roads.

They performed junction improvement works to resolve this, in addition to installation of new traffic signals, adding that the expansion of Akinbolagbe Street will improve the efficiency of this junction.

The J5 – Muri Okunola Roundabout has existing issues such as traffic congestion and delay at the roundabout due to reduced road width, which is worsened by commercial activities and on-street parking. Road capacity is also constrained as there is only one-lane in both directions from the roundabout to Aboyade Cole Street. To resolve this, they removed roundabout and replaced with signalised junction; improved turning radius of the junction.

The J6 – Ligali Ayorinde/Akinbolagbe/ Okene Road Junction has existing issues at the junction due to proximity of Akinbolagbe, Ajose Adeogun and Abdulrahman Okene junctions. There is also traffic congestion from Muri Okunola Roundabout, and the capacity of the junction is constrained due to 90 degrees corners, pavement failure and flooding.

They proffered solutions which included improvement of the Ligali Ayorinde /Akinbolagbe Junction to increase capacity. They made effort to prevent left turns from Abdulrahman Okene Close; installed traffic signals at the junction; dualized Ligali Ayorinde Street from Ajose Adeogun to Muri Okunola junctions.

Existing issues at J7 -Ajose Adeogun Junction include traffic congestion and delay at this junction, caused by dysfunctional traffic signals. There is also traffic congestion from Ligali/Akinbolagbe junction. They resolved this through installation of new traffic signal; and right turn flare lane to improve turning radius.

Another crucial area attended to was R2 – New Road Extension (Maroko), where the issues were the existing path is used for various activities ranging from market to mechanic workshop To resolve this, they constructed a new road from Muri Okunola Roundabout to Yesufu Abiodun Oniru Road, to increase capacity and provide another alternative.

At R3 – Akinbolagbe Street, the existing issues were major bottleneck between Oniru and Victoria Island due to insufficient road width (less than two lanes per direction) and high vehicular volumes – over 1,500 vehicles/ hour) and 1,200 vehicles/hour, in the morning and afternoon peak periods. Also, pavement failure is widespread with silted drains all along the length of the road.

They solved this challenge by expanded Akinbolagbe Street to ensure there are two lanes per direction. They constructed drains along Akinbolagbe Street; installed traffic signals at both ends of the road.

To help traffic circulation, there proposed one-way streets such as Chief Yesufu Abiodun Way and other roads; Abila Abiodun Oniru Road; Yesufu Abiodun Oniru (up to Four Points); Elegba Festival Road and implementation of a one-way system on Prince Alaba Oniru Road.

A resident of the area, Tayo Tajudeen, hailed the transformation works carried out by the Access Bank, commending the bank for taking on such a task to create a serene environment.

“I didn’t know it was Access Bank doing it.

This is really a good thing. I wish others can replicate this in other areas. I thought it was the government carrying out the construction.

I am so happy by what they have done. It has reduced all the noise and chaos around here and brought some sense of order. It’s unbelievable.”

Another resident who gave her name as

Oniru axis after Access Bank’s intervention

Managing Director, Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwu-Olu; Oba Abdul-Wasiu Omogbolahan Lawal; Special Adviser, Works and Infrastructure to Lagos State Governor; Engr. Aramide Adeyoye; CEO Planet Project Ltd, Mr. Biodun Otunola, during the inauguration of the Victoria-Island, Lekki Circulation Project... recently

Bukola, also commended the transformation of the area. “Victoria Island-Oniru- Lekki axis is looking more beautiful than ever. The roads are wider and smoother with proper directions.

It’s just cool and quiet unlike before. it’s like magic. I hope it stays this way.”

During the ribbon-cutting event to inaugurate the project recently, the Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc., Mr. Wigwe said the bank’s desire is to offer more to its customers and host communities.

“Our track record speaks for itself,” he said, referring to past projects like that in Oyin Jolayemi and Danmole Streets in Victoria Island.

“Indeed, community and social impact have become enshrined parts of our DNAas a Bank.”

Wigwe specifically lauded the Lagos State Governor Sanwo-Olu “for the incredible support received during the execution of this project. Our commitment to facilitating a greater Lagos will not end here and I am truly

excited about the infrastructural, technological and social advancements that our partnership will foster.”

The governor, who cut the ribbon, said the roads network and improvement works provided by Access Bank would impact the lives of workers and commuters in the area, positively, stating “We achieved more than just creating a world-class road network. We have improved the drainage system of the community, reduced traffic and this has shown our drive to make the life of Lagosians easier.

“I am absolutely delighted with Access Bank as they have continued to support Lagos State Government and working with us on numerous projects across the State.

“Herbert Wigwe and his team have worked really hard to bring this project to life and have supported us on other projects like this.

We appreciate the Bank for its contribution to public infrastructure improvement.”

No doubt the Lekki Circulation project is impacting various communities around that axis in a very positive way. From the palpable excitement the residents now feel about their environment to the positive image of Access Bank, the financial powerhouse which undertook the transformation of the axis it is clear that things are changing for the better for residents of the area which ofcourse houses the headquarters of the bank. Of course, kudos must go to the management of the bank for undertaking such huge corporate social responsibility project that is not only beneficial to the communities and the environment, but also for residents, motorists and visitors who commute the various roads on a daily basis.

And with the chaotic traffic and the attendant environmental pollution reduced to the barest, the new look Victoria-Island Lekki axis now gives its resident a new sense of pride and ennoblement.

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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 ˾ OCTOBER 11, 2020

BUSINESS/INTERVIEW

Kolade Alabi LGs Can’t Survive Without Devolution of Power The National President of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Hon. Kolade David Alabi, has aid only true federalism and devolution of powers would guarantee the survival of the local government administration as a third tier of government in the country. Onyebuchi Ezigbo presents the excerpts:

W

hat was the cause of the recent rancor in ALGON that led to an unsuccessful move to oust you from office?

Perhaps, your question is in reference to the mischiefmakers, who paraded themselves in the name of ALGON and who indeed were not members of our National Executive Council. It therefore becomes expedient for the body of ALGON to reaffirm the confidence vote on my leadership of the association.

There is an established procedure in our constitution that enables one to become a N.E.C member. I truly pity those uninformed, who are desperate non-members of NEC. States Representatives and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) thought it wise and expedient to reaffirm my leadership with total loyalty.

Do you think the objective of establishing the association for local government councils is being realised yet?

Yes, it is the springboard for propelling development at the grassroots. Second, the objective of the association is being pragmatically pursued with the best practices, mindful of the fact that our democracy is still passing through “the mill” and with time rest assured that we shall get there.

Considering the declining fortunes of local government administration in the country, what do you recommend as the best way to reform local government in Nigeria to ensure their survival?

On the average, the local government councils in Nigeria today are advancing towards higher grounds especially, since my assumption of duty as the National President ALGON. My leadership came in few months before the Executive Order that brought about the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU)’s intervention on direct disbursement of local government funds and for states, where democratically elected local government system is in operation like Lagos State.

We have enjoyed a very cordial fiscal relationship, which has now become a model to copy. I make bold to say that frantic efforts are being geared towards repositioning the local government council in our renewed advocacy appealing to the states to kindly save the local government councils through elections and I must say the state governors are trying. If not the pandemic, many elections would have been in place.

Indeed, efforts aimed at advancing grassroots development in the last one year of my administration has been a continuum, notwithstanding other noticeable economic setbacks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

For ALGON as a body, devolution of power is the panacea to our survival. Local government administration is fully entrenched in the 1999 constitution (as amended) and there is every sense in embracing it holistically.

What would you want to be remembered for when leave office as ALGON president?

My tenure as the National President of ALGON is still on course. My passion and courage to change the narratives from the earlier unpleasant experience is by raising the bar for effective rural governance as a breeding ground and model for appreciating “Democracy in Action”.

I have strong optimism that moving forward, with

For ALGON as a body, devolution of power is the panacea to our survival. Local government administration is fully entrenched in the 1999 constitution (as amended) and there is every sense in embracing it holistically

Alabi time and programmes, which we have lined up, it will be tenure wrapped with numerous benefits. You will also agree with me that governance at the grassroots is pivotal to development as seen in some of my giant strides and accomplishment as the National President of ALGON for which posterity may be kind to my person.

Under my watch, we have advanced and maintained our follow-up on collaboration and synergy with the United Cities and Local Governments - Africa (UCLG - AFRICA) and that of the European Union. ALGON leadership has placed in the front burner of the central government for Local Councils to be treated as a worthy ally to the states and for the Federal Government to consider an upward review of our monthly revenue allocation.

We now have the unique opportunity to participate in the dialogue with the European Union Development (EUD) representatives in the formulation and execution of agreed programmes (2021 – 2027).

The recovery of our ALGON HOUSE in Maitama is an incredible and symbolic masterpiece of the association in Abuja and we have championed under my watch the refund of the $2.6 Billion unremitted Paris Club.

A trip to Morocco was embarked on with my Executive to learn how best the local authorities can work perfectly with the central government in Nigeria. We are presently harvesting its gains despite the ravaging pandemic across the rural areas. Presently, decorum has been restored. The staff of ALGON is now given a sense of belonging and much more.

Can you say the purpose of ALGON been achieved?

The objective includes but not limited to coordination, collaboration, alignment and development of synergy amongst the three tiers of governments viz the federal, state and local governments.

I haste to say that we are already moving in the trajectory of the anticipated goal of the Association and do not forget that the lack of consistency and short duration of service as National President were part of the policy shift/variation.

By and large, we should appreciate the journey so far!

Some of the impending bottlenecks are being looked into with all intent and purposes to surmounting them both constitutionally and with applied wisdom where necessary.

Can you assess the security situation in Nigeria under the present administration?

Quite challenging but surmountable. It requires the absolute cooperation of the citizens to provide adequate information that will facilitate the nailing of dissidents and agents of destruction and instability. Permit to use the herdsmen/cattle rustling conflicts with their host communities.

We all know that the climatic/seasonal change is a major mitigating factor for animal breeding thereby forcing the herdsmen to migrate from the Northern parts of Nigeria Southwards with wholesome damages to farmlands. The consequence of such inordinate action is low yield of farm produce!

The panacea for this particular conflict is to create sectorial and dedicated ranches, thereby relieving the host communities of anger and hatred for unlawful takeover and wanton destruction of farmlands. In as much as we need food crops, we need dairy and meat but we advocate better understanding and that is why the recent approval and takeoff sum of the N13.6 Billion for community policing is a welcome development aimed at mitigating the skirmishes.

What have been the effects of Covid-19 on lives of rural communities and most especially, the ability of local government councils to perform their roles?

The Covid-19 pandemic has clearly exposed our inadequacies in the health care sector. In containing the Primary Health Issues, it has therefore become necessary and urgent, if you ask me, for us to quickly rise to the challenge and the need to fund the health needs! Apparently, the cardinal responsibility of governments is to save lives and property.

In this regard, ALGON is assiduously pursuing the bottom-top approach from local authorities apparatus through the states and to the central government rather than the top-down approach as presently practiced.

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

11.10.2020

ADEYOYIN ADESINA Inside The Life Of Corona School Administrator Her infectious smiles, jovial nature, calm mien and a charming disposition best define the Chief Executive Officer of Corona Schools’ Trust Council, Mrs. Adeyoyin Adesina. As an administrator par excellence, Adesina is the perfect fit to control the reins of the institution that has existed for six and a half decades. Selfless and resilient, the University of Ife-trained administrator possesses the panache, passion, professionalism and pragmatism which have propelled her through the ranks, from being a school teacher to becoming a CEO. Funke Olaode unveils what makes Adesina tick.

ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

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OCTOBER 11, 2020 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

COVER

ADEYOYIN ADESINA

The Nigerian Woman Who Sits atop World-class School

I

t is expansive. It is serene. It is sprawling.

Everything sparkles in quality and uniqueness. The ambience of the school’s environment is soothing just as the courteous academic and non-academic staff are professionally convivial. Passing by are well-mannered, neatly-dressed students, who genuflect as they greet with genuine warmth on their faces.

Welcome to Corona Schools Lekki, Lagos.

With a clear vision to be Nigeria’s leading educational institution which is focused on and dedicated to producing well-rounded and proudly Nigerian young men and women equipped for continuous learning, personal mastery, and leadership, the Corona schools brand has strategically continued to innovate and evolve with the times to suit its students and publics. The school which has been in existence for 65 years has continued to pride itself in outstanding excellence and stayed true to its

mission of providing world class education to children, with its latest being a day secondary school.

Looking regal in a floral gown with matching accessories, the Chief Executive Officer of the institution, Mrs. Adeyoyin Adesina, was a cynosure of all eyes as something new is about to happen. Having been in existence for 65 years with arrays of schools in Lagos high brow areas and an outstanding boarding secondary school founded 25 years ago, the schools” trust council finally yielded to the yearning of parents for a non-boarding secondary school which became a reality on Monday September 28 when it was officially inaugurated at Lekki, Lagos.

For Adesina, who has spent 18 years at Corona, it was a moment of exquisite delight.

But before becoming a teacher and later, a school administrator, Adesina had worked in a

When I speak about the alumni, I will be talking about those who are successful and making waves in their various fields today and this has always been a thing of pride for us. From the number two citizen in Nigeria, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and his wife, Dolapo. We also have former past governors, captains of industry like Tonye Cole. These are people who are successful in their right. In entertainment, we have the likes of Dakore Egbuson, Teju Baby Face, Banky W, Adesuwa Etomi, etc. They all attended one Corona school or the other

financial institution.

She says about herself: “I am an educator.

I was born in Ibadan but grew up and schooled in Lagos. Like every other person, I had a normal childhood. I hold a degree in English Studies from the University of Ife, a postgraduate diploma in Education from the University of Lagos, and a postgraduate Certificate in Education (International) from the University of Nottingham.”

Married to an Anglican priest (who’s also a management consultant), she has three grownup children. But at what stage did she go into teaching? “Ironically,” she admits, “I veered from banking to teaching. I studied English but was invited by my brother-in-law who was working in a bank. I worked in various departments and some financial institutions that sprang up in the early 1990s. From there, I made my way into teaching.”

She acknowledges further, “It actually started in the church as a counsellor. There, I found out that teaching was my calling.

I embraced teaching 18 years ago. In 2002, I joined the CSTC as a teacher of English Language and later a class teacher at Corona School Victoria Island. I moved through various ranks and became the principal of Corona Secondary School, Agbara in 2014. I was appointed the chief executive officer of Corona Schools Trust Council on April 1, 2017.”

For Adesina, going into banking and teaching were accidental as her childhood aspiration was to be a lawyer.

“Before my foray into banking and later teaching, I had always wanted to be a lawyer.

But when I got into the university of Ife I was offered English with the hope of crossing over to the law department. That never happened though. Here I am today.”

Adesina as a committed teacher is also an administrator par excellence and with her board of trustees have seen to the growth of the group of Corona schools over the last two decades.

“I joined Corona at a time when Corona was embarking on expansion. I started working in Corona School, Victoria Island in 2002. The concept of expansion started about 15 years ago. I was the head of School, Corona School Victoria Island when the then-executive director approached me and told me about the decision of the board to open a school in the Lekki axis and I was asked to pioneer it. That took me out of Victoria Island as a pioneer head of the new Corona School Lekki,” she recounts.

“We started Corona School Lekki and in the year that Corona School Lekki moved to its permanent site, I was moved to Corona Secondary School, Agbara as the principal. The school is 25 years plus now. But that was a time when the school was going through a kind of transition.

“It was a privilege for me to have been asked to be the principal of the school after Mrs. Adefisayo, who’s now the Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, left. After working in Agbara for three years, I was promoted to the office of the CEO. And of course, that responsibility to continue with the vision of Corona Schools rests on me, and one of it is the realisation of the Corona Day Secondary School, which we are happy that we are formally opening today.”

According to her, there are other projects in the kitty.

“For example,” she reveals, “we’re planning to relocate our Apapa school to FESTAC Town. This is already in the works.

Our plan was to open the school officially in 2021. But due to the pandemic, there has been some setback.”

Yet, there’s nothing stopping Adesina and her team.

“We’re still moving forward with our plans.

If we’re still able to open in 2021, that would be great. As you may know, we also have the Corona College of Education situated in Ilupeju, and our vision is to see this eventually transit into Corona University of Education.”

With 65 years of existence, you may wonder how the school has been able to derive its high level of commitment and dedication from staff. The reason isn’t far-fetched.

“Corona is like a legacy that has been handed over to us. You know, when someone hands over a legacy to you, it’s like asking you to take ownership. Working with that understanding, the first orientation we give members of staff is that they should take the organization as if it is theirs. If it were yours, how would you do it? What could you do to ensure continuity? How would you nurture it to see that it grows? And that’s the feeling we engender in members of staff. Therefore, Corona is like a communal family. This, coupled with the fact that we have people who are working here, who, incidentally, had attended Corona school, we also have people who are working here with their children in

Corona school.”

Harping on some of the school’s alumni who have achieved feats, elated Adesina says the list is overwhelming.

“When I speak about the alumni, I will be talking about those who are successful and making waves in their various fields today and this has always been a thing of pride for us. From the number two citizen in Nigeria, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and his wife, Dolapo.

We also have former past governors, captains of industry like Tonye Cole. These are people who are successful in their right. In entertainment, we have the likes of Dakore Egbuson, Teju Baby Face, Banky W, Adesuwa Etomi, etc. They all attended one Corona school or the other,” she enthuses.

“We’ve officially registered our alumni body, and we hope that we’ll have a body of people who went through Corona and are ready to come back and identify with the school and give back.

Not just in financing the endowment fund, but in raising other world-class citizens so that when our current students see those who have gone before them, it serves as a motivation and we hope we’ll be able to set up a kind of mentorship programme where the alumni can mentor younger ones.”

Adesina is also proud to showcase her student’s achievements beyond academics.

She notes, “On the academic ground, they have excelled. In the past few years, some of our students had passed the foundational level of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), a global professional accounting body offering the chartered certified accountant qualification. At the recently held graduation for the class of 2020 at Corona Secondary School, Agbara, 11 of our outgoing students passed the ACCA foundation level exam yet again.

With the establishment of Corona Day Secondary School, Adesina discloses that the next line of action is to keep the flag flying.

“Now that the Corona Day Secondary School, Lekki is open, albeit, in its temporary site, we will be moving on to our next phase of construction of the main campus as the chairman said during her opening remarks at the launch. We will invite you to break soil soon when we start the building.

While we keep working simultaneously on the Corona School FESTAC project. The idea behind Corona School FESTAC is to transit the Corona School Apapa over there due to the issues we have experienced access and the declining demographics of Apapa over the years. It is clear now that Apapa is a port area and there are certain businesses that do not thrive so well in such areas.

Here is why we thought that instead of depleting our schools by one, we just move where we have identified a target market”.

As an educator and administrator, Adesina believes all hope is not lost on Nigeria’s educational system, giving some tips.

“As we all know, the skills now required for the workplace is not about what school you went to, but about the skills you have, and your capabilities. Also, a lot of organisations are not static. They are also growing. They are also benchmarking international market standards. Hence, that growth mindset must be there. It is not just about running a British, or American or an International school. It is about the quality of your deliverables. And you must match your deliverables with the needs in your environment.

“We are moving into the fourth industrial revolution. We are talking about robotics and animations from a very early age, how does this compare with somebody who is still using only hoes and local farming implements. It has its place, but it is also highly limiting. So that is why we need to up our game. That is why we need to rewrite the story of our educational system. Even at the national level, looking at our national policies, looking at our curriculum, and everything, we need to take a critical look at these. We should be educating children for the future not just for now.

And the future is here upon us already.”

Adesina as a helmswoman of Corona has a quiet disposition about her. Is this a reflection of her personality?

“I am very passionate about my ideals and beliefs, but by nature, yes, I am quiet. However, I equally have a very strong personality. If you ask anybody that knows me, they will tell you that if I want something done, I don’t need to shout to get it done and If I want it now, I really mean now, unequivocally. I think it comes from also having very firm principles I believe in. I have this same expectation from people working with me.

Although I am not a perfectionist, I think I am on the fringe of it.”

Adesina is a committed woman, wife and mother. Happily married to an Anglican priest, a management consultant with three grown-up children. How did her path cross with an Anglican priest?

“He wasn’t an Anglican priest when we got married but then we have been married for 31 years and precisely after eight years my husband went into priesthood. He still does his regular job.

So I have been an ‘Iya Yard’ in the last 23 years.”

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯ​ͯ˜ 2020

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GLITZ FEATURE

Lupede with some guests on board Eugene 1

HI-Impact Makes a Splash with Independence Day Cruise For the country’s Independence Day celebration, HIImpact Cruise took selected guests on a cruise in its new sail, Eugene 1, reports Vanessa Obioha

A

fter months of the COVID-19 lockdown that restricted the day-to-day operations of businesses across many industries, HI-Impact Cruise, a subsidiary of Solutions Media and InfoTech Limited (SMIL), hits Lagos coastline with its maiden sail on Thursday, October 1.

The sail was earlier planned for the Easter festivity but the lockdown measures mitigated the plan.

With the easing of lockdown measures in several sectors of the economy last month by the federal and state governments, Chairman of SMIL Adeyanju Lupede, earmarked Nigeria’s Independence Day to mark the momentous occasion.

No doubt, the set date for the launch of the Eugene 1 was glorious. A beast for a ship, the cruise liner lay on turquoise waters, offering a picturesque view of where the blue sky meets with the shimmering sea.

However, this serenity that defined the ship was quite a

contrast to what was happening on the docks. Anticipations grew with each arrival of invited guests at the cruise terminal.

The ambience on that bright sunny afternoon was filled with uber-energy and high expectations that come with boarding a cruise liner – in this case, a first for most.

With loud music blasting through the atmosphere, each guest had their watches countdown to the moment for boarding.

Impressive at a height of 12 meters with a length spanning 39.15 meters, the interior of the cruise liner is estimated to accommodate about 500 to 700 guests.

But for the purpose of its grand launch and observance of the COVID-19 health guideline, only about one-fourth of its standard capacity were admitted.

As guests waited to embark, a brief introduction of Eugene 1 was made.

The ship was originally brought in from Turkey after a 45-day voyage to the banks of the Lagos lagoon. Safety lessons on donning the life jacket were also projected on a large LED screen. Two lifeboats were placed on standby for emergencies.

Prerequisite for admission, all COVID-19 health guidelines were observed: strict measures were

employed to ensure that each guest was thoroughly sanitized and temperature checked.

Also, face masks were handed out to avoid any excuses that may lead to turning guests back. All air-conditioning units were turned off with windows ajar to ensure proper ventilation.

Marked with a convivial ambience, Lupede and a handful of staff and guests gathered around a miniature cake of the Eugene 1. They all stood in awe of the piece of the edible masterpiece that mirrored the ship they have been primed to set sail on.

In an orderly manner, guests made it onto the ship using tags that matched sitting arrangements. They were greeted to a banquet-style hall that readily accommodates about 220 guests in one take at the ground level.

The capacious area also boasts a stage, a bar, and restrooms. The second deck is a mezzanine balcony that does not seclude guests from activities happening below. Both levels are linked internally by a

straight stair.

The topmost deck on the other hand is a stark contrast from the first two decks. Its alfresco nature is home for the wild and free who seek to explore the outdoors and view the beautiful structures and landmarks that dot the Lagos shorelines.

A three-hour packed experience, it was a first for most guests who openly inquired what feelings might overwhelm them as the engines kept revving at full throttle. But only a few noticed when the ship finally set sail.

They were enthralled by the performance of the live band whose soloists performed popular tunes of international music stars like Alicia Keys and the late Whitney Houston.

Not a few chorused alongside the female vocalist.

It was not an entire sing-along affair. The party kicked off just right after the main course with more music and games.

Of course, it was a dream come through for most persons who have always fantasized about leading a chic lifestyle on the backdrop of a cruise liner. Thus, their gleeful expressions affirmed Lupede’s vision of positioning HI-Impact Cruise as an affordable and accessible experience.

“The HI-Impact Cruise is brought in to encourage Nigerians to stay at home, and not go to Dubai or Paris, or anywhere in Europe to cruise for a day. We ensured that all the facilities to make guests comfortable are available. In terms of entertainment, there will be good food and a conducive, well air-conditioned environment.”

But like every good thing, the three-hour adventure came to an end, and as expected, the disposition of most guests hints unwillingness to disembark. Nevertheless, they have mementos to relish their time spent on board Eugene 1.

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OCTOBER 11, 2020 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

High Life Olajide Adeniran: The Amazing Story of a Tenacious Risk-taker

A

bdul-Azeez Olajide Adeniran is not the first individual in recent times to captain his destiny with his own hands, or steer the rudders towards deeper waters. What stands him out—among the thronging crowd of achievers and overachievers—is the resolve and steadiness with which he carries on, as well as his uncharacteristic disposition to be dutiful.

CoreTV News is one of the most patronised channels for 24/7 news in the Nigerian news space. It has come to light that this station is an offshoot of Core Media Services, a media firm that specialises in advertising, marketing, public relations, and several other media-related activities. Among other things, the welcome evolution of both of these—CoreTV News and Core Media Services—over the years has called attention to their founder and chief brainbox, Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adeniran. Jide Adeniran, as he is called, is the very same journalist who took matters into his own hands, and has built a respectable communications brand— CORE MEDIA. Born into and brought up in humble settings, Jide Adeniran had dreams like any other child. Unlike many children and like many more, Adeniran had to hawk wares around his native Ilasamaja neighbourhood in Mushin, Lagos, to support his family. However, even this precarious lifestyle could not douse his fires, as can be seen from the fact that he endured enough to study Mass Communication at Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa (formerly Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa).

The fact that Adeniran excelled at academics, as well as leadership, ensured that he wasn’t stranded after graduation, but was employed as a reporter at Lagos State Television (LTV). Having studied the various ins and outs of the profession and still at the top of his game, Jide Adeniran did the anticipated: he established Core Media Services, his own media firm, without an office, a team of smattering—but like-minded— employees, and a confident expectation of success. And succeed he has.

Today, Core Media is one of the most sought-after firms for its many services. The awards accompanying this reputation are enough to lay a new foundation. Today, situated at a multimillion-naira office at Discovery Gardens Estate, Isheri, Lagos, both Core Media Services and its boss, Jide Adeniran, have run further and farther than expected.

With his happy family and thriving business, Jide Adeniran is also a philanthropist and benefactor. His endeavours in this light are another reason he is the toast of government and community, family and friends, associates and strangers. What a man!

Adeniran

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

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

Kunle Soname’s Multimillion-naira Sports Stadium Great and remarkable things are in the offing for the town of Ikenne, Ogun State. Judging from the intentions and investments of renowned businessman and sports enthusiast, Kunle Soname, Ikenne will in no time accommodate a multimillion-naira stadium, the likes of which are notably scarce in the Gateway state.

Very seldom is a successful businessman overly taken with the ideals of sports and community building, unless they are of some benefit to him.

On this wise, Kunle Soname is not only an orthodox businessman and a die-hard proponent of sports, but also a man who pursues the growth and development of his roots, and the welfare of the common man.

The latest testaments of Soname’s three-way regard—for business, sports and community—are the preparations underway for marking the completion of the multimillion-naira sports stadium in Ikenne. According to the buzz on the airwaves, it is only a matter of time before the last block is laid on the magnificent edifice and the Stadium stands as one of the hallmarks of excellence and good taste for the residents of Ikenne—and the natives of Ogun State.

To those reasonably familiar with Kunle Soname and his pursuits, this multimillion-naira stadium at Ikenne is only the most recent of his many endeavours in the promotion of sports and the grassroots development. Not to mention his founding of Bet9ja (which Soname has explained as a strategic move to stave off youth crime and violence), even his 2003-2011 foray into local politics proved to be well-intentioned. Currently, his Bet9ja company hasn’t only availed a source of employment for Nigeria youths, but Soname has provided avenues for such welcome developments as amputee football, female marathon, open marathon, and indoor sports.

The underlying morale of Kunle Soname’s endeavours is obviously ’live and help live, grow and help grow.’ Even now, Soname is renowned for being Africa’s most successful sports business entrepreneur, the only one to own both an indigenous football league club (Remo Stars FC) and a 70% stake of a European football club (Clube Desportivo Feirense, a Portuguese football club).

Considering the number of strong rooms that he has reportedly emptied in the construction of the soon-to-becompleted Ikenne stadium, Kunle Soname

Michael Afolaranmi: The Basket of Grace

Afolaranmi

The fathers claim that marriage is a blessing on all fronts, that the union of two is more than just the combination of one man and one man—it is a new foundation, a new life and a new power. The truth of this was recently demonstrated by prominent Binani MD, Aminatu Dahiru Chiroma (now Aminatu Goje), a few days before her espousal to former Gombe State Governor, Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje. This the Binani MD did by getting herself a luxurious and well-regarded automobile.

The wedding of Aminatu Dahiru Chiroma to Senator Muhammad Goje is still a buzz on the Nigerian airwaves.

Contrary to expectations, the new bride is not only jaw-droppingly gorgeous, but also spectacularly well-to-do. This latter fact has been unwittingly expressed in her purchase and acquisition of a pristine 2020 MercedesMaybach S 650 Sedan, the cost of which is alleged to be between 140 million and 180 million.

A video of the delivery of her new ride was posted on social media, wherein the new bride was seen taking stock of the various silken features of the automobile. This was a few days before the wedding ceremony proper, and evidenced the welcome notion that Aminatu Chiroma bought her wheels with her wallet.

As the Group Managing Director of

As far as eating goes, what goes down the gullet has much to do with what tickles the heart. This is one area where Michael Afolaranmi has excelled in recent years, so much so that he has placed both himself and his enterprise on the corporate and gastric map. With Afolaranmi’s 12 Baskets, there’s style and grace and—wave after wave of—expansion.

The small chops industry is the businessman’s favourite pastime, and Michael Afolaranmi is gradually setting himself up as the national minister of this growing industry.

With 12 Baskets popping up in every hot and happening place, Afolaranmi is evidently intent on ridding streets and offices of hunger and stress, in his very unique way.

The latest knot of expansion of 12 Baskets is Lekki. Located on Chief Collins Street, off Fola Osibo Street, Lekki phase 1, Lekki, Lagosians around and close to that angle have been afforded the opportunity to partake of Afolaranmi’s

Soname

is going to be more of a household name than he already is. At completion, Soname stands the chance of adding a new description to his person: community-builder. sumptuous meals, and a delivery process that is both quick and cordial. How Fast Afolaranmi’s 12 Baskets has risen!

It is said that behind Michael Afolaranmi’s enterprise is a man who is deliberate about excellence and taste.

Far different from his contemporaries, Afolaranmi’s unique approach entails packaging preferred finger foods and having them delivered pronto. Combine these with his amiable personality and family-man vibes, and Michael Afolaranmi is ‘The Best Man in the Kitchen.’

Doubtless, Michael Afolaranmi is changing the face of the finger foods sector, and only a small fraction of the competition is saying anything about it. With Afolaranmi’s innovative momentum, it won’t be long before his dream of having 12 Baskets in every state capital of the federation is realised.

Considering the quality of service and customer satisfaction so far, the honour is Nigeria’s.

What is to be said of the event management aspects of Afolaranmi’s enterprise? These too are gradually coming into light. With Michael Afolaranmi’s habit of renovation, rebranding and reinnovation, there may not be 12 baskets remaining when he’s done with serving his latest direct consumers—the residents of Lekki.

Danjuma Goje’s New Wife Gets Herself ₦180m Mercedes Benz Maybach

Medayese

Goje

Binani Group of Companies, Aminatu Goje’s multimillion-naira accession shouldn’t be shock-worthy, but it is! It is undoubtedly a measure of the weight of her addition to the Goje household, as the groom essentially acknowledged by way of the grand wedding ceremony.

Bride and groom were married at Asokoro, Abuja, in the presence of family, friends and associates, some of whom are the crème de la crème of Nigerian society: President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami; several Senators of the Federation, and a host of others.

On a side note, Aminatu Goje isn’t the first wife of Senator Goje, but the second. His first wife reportedly passed away a few years ago. So, Aminatu Goje is a blessing in more ways than one—including the addition of the 180-million-plus car.

OCTOBER 11, 2020 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Billionaire Businesswoman, Elizabeth Jack Rich’s Joyous Moment

Akintayo

Honours for Property Top Shot, Stephen Akintayo If Stephen Akintayo, Chairman, Gtex Properties Limited, were to write about his sojourn as a successful life coach, entrepreneur, digital marketer, real estate mogul and author, he may not be able to document it totally in black and white. The reason is not far-fetched.

He is one of the very few who have enjoyed special divine favours.

Success, however, was not thrust on his laps; rather, he has attained his current status through dedication, selflessness, prayers, consistency, self-belief, doggedness and unflinching support.

In particular, with the help of his lovely wife, he was able to navigate through the murky waters to register his presence as a successful entrepreneur in the country. With a growing business conglomerate worth several millions of Naira and a workforce of over 100, Stephen is still working assiduously to make sure he creates job opportunities for thousands of youths.

All his life, he has lived it for the downtrodden, using his Infinity Foundation and Stephen Akintayo Foundation to touch the lives of the needy. For his massive contributions to raising giants in youths by creating employment and his philanthropic gestures, the head honcho of Gtex Properties Limited, one of the leading property and real estate firms in Nigeria, added several feathers in his cap, on Monday, September 28, at his Omole Phase 1 office complex in Lagos.

The father of three was awarded the Thomas Sankara Leadership Award as ‘ICON OF HUMANITY’ by the National Association of Nigerian Students and ‘Icon of Excellence Leadership’ by the Congress of Nigeria Youths.

It is also to his credit that the European American University also conferred him with an honorary Doctor of Science honoris causa (D.sc) in Real Estate Development and Corporate Leadership.

In 2017, Dr. Elizabeth Jack Rich, wife of the founder of BELEMA Oil Producing Limited, Tein T.S. Jack-Rich, had set up the now popular ELIN Group. Her husband, Rivers State-born, billionaire oil baron is so rich that he has no problem lavishing money and taking good care of her needs. But the stunningly beautiful lady refused to be a trophy wife.

Luckily, the business has now grown into a conglomerate, with interests in real estate, power generation, agriculture, gas utilization, mining operations, maritime and aviation.

Today, her group’s investment portfolio spreads across West Africa and the United States has continued to draw on its core operating values of integrity, mutual respect, customer service, innovation and safety.

Unlike some others, the fortunes of her organisation have not diminished in any way, even in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As a result, many now appreciate the reason she was featured in the international financial journal, World Finance, as the first African woman to grace its cover.

This is on account of the fact that, at the age of 27, Elizabeth has become the embodiment of Nigeria’s next generation of leadership.

As proof of her rising profile, last week, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority issued Operational Specifications and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to ELIN Group

Jack

Limited, after the company had met all the requirements to commence charter operations.

Speaking on her recent feat, she said: “I am grateful to God for this great privilege and honour to become the first female AOC holder and youngest CEO in the Nigerian

civil aviation industry.

“It has not been an easy journey, but only God made it possible. Despite all the hindrances, sleepless nights, crying, fasting, ELIN AIR finally made it as one of the operating airlines in Nigeria.”

The ELIN Air, with a young fleet of Challenger 604 and AW109E aircraft, in a monumental leap, recently signed a firm purchase agreement with the Canadian aircraft manufacturer, De Havilland Canada, for three new Dash 8-400 aircraft - each costing $8 million in additional value per aircraft - to further expand its operations and support Nigeria’s resource sector, particularly oil and gas operations.

As the founder and CEO of Elin Group, Elizabeth, a graduate of the University of Applied Science and Management, Porto-Novo, Benin Republic, has invigorated Nigeria’s economy and helped its most vulnerable citizens.

Today, the entrepreneur and philanthropist is driving inclusive capitalism through multiple acts of charity and mentorship.

In August, at the 2020 International Youth Day, she was appointed the ‘Matron of Nigerian Youths’ by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development for her commitment to youth development in Nigeria.

Ladi Adebutu Keeping His Eye on The Ball If you ask Ladi Adebutu, a former member of the House of Representatives, to spell out his most cherished ambition, he will most probably tell you that he wants to be the governor of his state, Ogun.

This is one dream the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2019 governorship election has pursued with great determination. But either by design or accident, the position eluded him.

At the last governorship election in the state, he took his campaign to the nooks and crannies of the state, expending so much money on it. In fact, if money was the yardstick, he would have got unhindered access to the Ogun State Government House.

It will be recalled that, though he got the PDP ticket, the power play between him and the late Senator Buruji Kashamu was one of the major factors

that cost him the victory.

The disagreement later metamorphosed into a full-scale bitter political war, while the party structure was greatly upset.

Many in the state claimed that though the Adebutu faction was recognised by the national body of the party and also more popular with larger members, there was bitter acrimony over who controlled the structure of the party in the state.

But if you think that the son of the billionaire businessman, Kessighton Adebutu, has entombed his dream of ruling the state, you are wrong. A source disclosed that he is set to give his governorship ambition another shot come 2023.

He is said to be working underground already to realize his ambition, as he has won to his side one of the former governors in the state who has pledged his unflinching support for him.

Adebutu

Maryam Onikijipa Belgore’s Worthy Deeds

Onikijipa

Even a chance encounter with Maryam Onikijipa Belgore will reveal a lot about her persona and idiosyncrasies. Beautiful Maryam, daughter of a popular Islamic cleric, Sheik Sulaiman Farooq Onikijipa, and wife of Abdulsalam Belgore, son of a former Chief

Justice of Nigeria, Justice Salhiu Modibbo Alfa Belgore, is known to literally run away from the klieg lights.

But her worthy deeds, through her NonGovernmental Organization, NGO, Maryam Onikijipa Belgore Foundation, has always brought her out of her cherished cocoon.

In setting up the foundation, her sole objective, it was gathered, was to keep touching the lives of every girl-child around her - this is a resolve spurred by the abiding philosophy of her father that “in all we do, humanity comes first.” three has remained faithful to her vow, as she has been donating a huge bulk of her income towards their welfare by creating an avenue, where they can all access quality education through sponsorship, and frequent supply of sanitary pads for their menstrual cycle.

Besides, she has also demonstrated unflinching commitment to the advocacy against rape, child labour, child molestation and female genital mutilation.

In particular, during the COVID-19

pandemic lockdown, she provided succour to the needy by donating edible items worth millions of naira in Lagos, Kwara and Abuja.

For a woman who has shown so much love to her fellow human beings, it was not surprising, therefore, that she was celebrated by all and sundry on her birthday on October 3.

In the build-up to the celebrations, the Crescent University Graduate, on October 1, 2020, had visited the Durumi IDP Camp in Abuja, where she donated edible raw food, cash and other household materials to displaced persons, among other items.

Society Watch gathered that on the evening of October 3, her husband hosted a few of her friends and close relatives to a private dinner at a highbrow joint in the heart of Abuja.

Maryam, who was fitted in a wellknitted black and gold gown, cut her gigantic black and gold birthday cake with her immediate family.

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OCTOBER 11, 2020 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

The Nigerian SARS Virus

Adamu

ODUDUWA REPUBLIC JOINS THE FRAY Some weird kind of agitation has been going on for some time now. I cannot really laugh. This our country is just a big joke. So the minorities are complaining and seeking to run away and now those who seem to be enjoying the ‘State of the Union’ want to run away too? The Yoruba of the SouthWest have now keyed into the agitation movement. You know in Nigeria there must be balance. Federal Character must show in everything. Since the Igbo through their IPOB are doing their own and the North through whatever are doing their own, the Yoruba must complete their own.

You see the joke in the whole thing? The people who are not having it very badly in the union are now beginning to agitate.

The richest region even without oil wealth and the major beneficiary of the union are now even saying they are tired. What do you now want we tiny minorities to do?

Please these Oduduwa people should go and sit down. For them particularly, how can Nigeria be their problem, when they have willingly subjected themselves to a certain type of ‘monarchy’ where one man has become the all and all? Since you now cannot extricate yourself from that rule, you will now be shouting Oduduwa all over the place? Have you gone to take permission from the Lion? Please go and sit down and let us face our troubles in this country. This is but a mild distraction and an itch on our collective bum. Come on, geraway as Chief Zebrudaya would say.

DELE FAROTOMI – DON’T DIE IN THEIR WAR That is the title of his book. The erudite lawyer and activist is beginning to gain some ground. His positions and lucid way he expresses himself are beginning to make him cover the grounds left wide open by our former brother, Festus Keyamo (SAN).

His positions on national issues are clear,

Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi

Now, all types of viruses are plaguing us. The Covid one has just hit landfall and is gradually losing steam.

But the one I am talking about is not the type that will give you fever and be making you cough up and down.

This one will not isolate you o but by the time it finishes with you, you will need urgent medical attention at the Igbobi Orthopedic Hospital for bone and brain restructuring. For me, the thing I used to have against this band of miscreants called SPECIAL ANTIROBBERY SQUAD – na them looks o. They used to be looking dirty and scruffy. If you see them and see the real armed robbers, you will definitely not know the difference. The only difference is the red thing they used to use to tie their guns. One of the worst things that can ever happen to any Nigerian is to fall into their net.

Their kind of wickedness can only be compared to that of the Gestapo.

Daily we are assailed by all sorts of stories about the way they dehumanize and mete out Boka Haram grade level of terror to vulnerable Nigerians with impunity.

Me personally, I have never had any encounter with them. It’s just God. There was one time like that, when they saw me at Sabo bus stop. I was driving in my BMW towards Iwaya – please don’t ask me what I was going to do there - you know, I don’t comb my hair and I have like six tattoos on my sexy body - I kid you not. I look like them, the famous Yahoo boys, although a finer version. That is how the people start to drive behind me.

They followed me through Herbert Macaulay, down the road. Driving side by side and looking intently at me with blood-shot eyes. They were profiling me – this one na real Yahoo, but him skin smooth and he fine- they must have been telling themselves. But he

get tattoo and he get ‘dada’, they must have told themselves as they decided what to do with me.

Me that is not today, I started in this Lagos, I just drove straight into the army barracks in Yaba where I started my primary school education. Got to the gate, parked and introduced myself to the soldiers and told them that my mother fought civil war and demanded protection. When the ‘sons of diseased mangy dogs’ saw this one, they reversed and went away.

Let the vice president be saying he is angry there, that one is in his pocket and the Inspector General of Police be taking over three years to proscribe the band, it is when they have maimed all of us finish that we will all come to our senses? Please, I don’t support the ban on SARS. What we should be doing is a total overhaul of the system that produced this ‘evil virus’. Thank you.

albeit confrontational. It is almost like he is asking for it. He looks straight into the eyes of the raging bull and dares it to charge. His style is bold and at best taunting. This will lead to one or two things - the people he is daring will either charge or ignore him, letting him shout himself into irrelevance.

For me, I think his message is bland and too verbal. It is very easy to jump on TV with uncombed hair and scraggy beards and be saying all that is gone wrong in the nation with a mix of Wole Soyinka English and Sowore gait and then go and eat fufu and gbegiri in the next buka without really doing something about it. Everybody can be a critic o, na him easy pass. Stand up and do your own. Create jobs, come out for elections, get a position, show a difference. Me I don dey tire with all these armchair critics and all these media houses looking for content giving them platform to spew hollow criticisms on a system that needs very badly ‘doers’. Talk is cheap my brother. As they say in Shomolu, every man can impregnate a woman but it takes a real man to bring up a child. Please stop ‘impregnating women if you know what I mean, I just tire. Talk, talk, talk, talk. Kai.

some seismic shift in the system. If you see this man, he is so slim and quiet you will not believe he can hurt a fly o. But if he open his mouth, it is fire o. His strength according to him is in policy formulation and execution, having worked as an external consultant with the Lagos State government on various strategic projects.

He believes the Senate should be a melting pot of policy formulation instead of the retirement home it is today. Sense. But what is selling him to his constituency who don’t understand that kind of English is his ability to mobilize grassroots support. This is looking like the David that just might defeat this goliath from the way things are going on the ground. We are watching, we can only watch. By the way he is contesting on the platform of Action Democratic Party after he saw the CV he submitted to the other people being used to wrap boli at Onipanu bus stop. Na me just add that one o. Lol.

pricing was discussed. Mbok as I enter the office be like say I dey enter one heavenly resort in South Africa and the womanbeautiful like rose petals. Kai, she spoke very eloquently and was very warm. All that I thought she would be. The meeting was magic and she gave us almost all that we wanted hence all this my praise. My only regret was my inability to hug her as a result of covid. I would have loved to hug her o. Where are these people looking for vaccine na? Thank you so much madam and keep staying safe.

ADEBOWALE JEFF JOHNSON – THE DAVID VS TINUBU’S GOLIATH This young man just wake up one morning say he want to be senator for Lagos East.

Just like that o. The same Lagos East that our brother, the anointed Aburi is gunning for. This ‘boy’ get mind sha and na him wife be him editor-in-chief as he says. But wait o, it looks like he is making some mileage as the youth of the constituency have begun to flock towards him. That is how he came into my consciousness. His message is simple – enough. Inspired by the Edo system, Johnson has been rallying the forces, leveraging the growing discontent within the ruling party to begin to cause

UDO OKONJO – A SWEET DAMSEL I have been following this lady for eons.

Eons to you is forever. You know we have to be speaking big English on this column once in a while before some people start to look down on us. She is the head honcho at upscale Fine and Country and has really been at the forefront of many social issues in a bid to create a better country. So you can imagine my joy when my other sister, Dr. Ibiene Ogolo asked me to come meet her. Ibiene and I are promoting my new play – Our Duke Has Gone Mad Again this December. The play is based on most of my writings on this page and some of my other writings on social media which bother on lunacy and we were looking for a lush, sweet heavenly garden type as location.

Udo’s property nestled in Ikoyi became our perfect site and the need to meet her to ‘beg’ for structural support in bringing down the

GLORIA EDGAR – PERFECT NUPTIALS This is the only sister I have. So you will all crave me the indulgence including you, Editor, for me to serenade her small today.

She is light-skinned, curvy and exactly my spec. But she is getting married to the wonderful Ibibio man, Etim- I no know him surname. My only sister has been my rock. When EFCC arrest me, she come siddon outside the cell, very careful not to enter the cell with me to cry. She cry o, even me forget my wahala cry with am. When Erelu died, she stood by me o. Followed me everywhere, hugged me when she needed to and gave me a constant supply of afang throughout my mourning period.

Now she is getting married this month end in our village in Anyiam Nsit in Akwa Ibom and the Duke being the head of the family will be there in his full glory. I have sent them my list as customary and they have bought almost everything on the list including seven boxer shorts, 12 singlets, 42 cow horns and pledge to buy 100 copies of my upcoming book, Anonymous Nipples. If them no buy, I won’t show abi is it easy to be the Duke of Shomolu and the Head of the Edgar Clan Nigeria and Overseas? By the way, our family name is Nyong Udo Akanma. So APC, SARS and the rest take note. Congrats adiagha.

Farotimi

Johnson

Edgar

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

11.10.2020

RELIVING ABAYOMI BARBER'S PRICELESS MEMORIES IN BRONZE

Cover continued on Page 56

Dr. Sugomu

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 11, 2020

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ARTS & REVIEW\\LEGENDS

RELIVING ABAYOMI BARBER'S PRICELESS MEMORIES IN BRONZE Sculptures, which were found decaying in Abayomi Barber’s storage room, have eventually been converted to bronze works for the delectation of aficionados, Okechukwu Uwaezuoke writes

Y

ears of being abandoned for so long in a store, along with many other items, had taken a toll on the sculptures. These sculptures, which were produced over decades in different parts of the world, had gathered dust and were already in different stages of deterioration. One of them, a plaster work titled “Dr Sugomo”, was gradually chipping away. Another work, done in cement and titled “Pam Bo To Ribito”, was beginning to show signs of cracking, even when the cement remained intact. The artist, Abayomi Barber, had intended to convert them to bronze, but, for one reason or the other, was not yet able to do so.

They were found somewhere in the Ogun State-based satellite community Ijoko, where the artist Abayomi Barber had moved to after his retirement from the University of Lagos. Dozie Igweze, a Lagos-based art dealer who owns and runs the Hourglass Gallery, first noticed them during one of his frequent visits to the nonagenarian artist’s residence. To him, these were priceless works which needed to be shown to the world. Hence, he was concerned about their further deterioration should they remain longer in storage.

Eventually, after several conversations with Barber, he succeeded in convincing the elderly artist to let him have the sculptures recast in bronze as was originally planned.

If Igweze now likens these sculptures to a diary, it is because he discerns records of the artist’s early experiences, influences and friendships through them. Through them also, he could glean details of the life of many independence-era Nigerians. Take the 10” x 6.5” portrait titled “B’anu”, for instance. It not only sums up the artist’s predilection for beauty, his celebration of friendship and tribute to Ife women, it is also a nod to the British sculptor, Oscar Nemon, in whose studio Barber had produced the work in 1967 and whose semi-cubist style he mimicked. He had known B’anu since the late ’50s in the southwestern Nigerian town Ife before they met again in England as friends. Back then in Ife, he used to be fascinated not only by her beauty but also that of her mother’s. Yet, his fascination never materialised in an artwork of the latter, whom he thought was one of the most beautiful women he had ever met, even though he made several of the daughter's.

Then, there is the 1965 clay work “Pam Bo To Riboto”, which depicts a mother’s affection for her child. Its angular, linear and simple style is not often associated with the artist. As for its onomatopoeic title, it is derived from a lullaby, which also became a popular highlife song of that time. Apparently, Barber’s years as a tenor saxophonist with a band owned by one Dele Bamgbose influenced both the choice of the title and the eventual production of the sculpture.

As for the iconic 5.5” x 4” bust of a wizened gap-toothed northern Nigerian man titled “Ali Maigoro”, it evoked nostalgic memories of the simple life and warmth he left behind in Nigeria before he arrived in London. Indeed, something about grinning rustic old man exudes so much joy and bonhomie, which somewhat reenacts the easy charm of his fatherland. Despite producing several versions of the sculpture over the years, he would later complete the smallest version in 1972 after his return to Nigeria.

The 10” x 7” work, “Jesus and the Children” (1995), was one of the fallouts of his association with Obafemi Awolowo. This

Pam Bo To Ribito sculpture, originally intended as a model for a larger artwork for the late the nationalist’s home chapel, which was never realised, localises a biblical story with the depiction African children around the Saviour, Who was conventionally depicted as a Caucasian. It would help to recall that the artist owed his travel to the UK on a Western Nigerian scholarship to Awolowo, who had previously got him employed with the Yoruba Historical Research Society to nurture his artistic talent.

“Seated Girl”, a 7.5” x 5.5” sculpture produced in 1972, evokes both the artist’s years as the main art teacher at the University of Lagos when he had to produce several studies of seated models while teaching his students and his exploration of African womanhood. The latter, he had explored the latter with such mythical figures as Yemoja as well as from such everyday women like dancers, traders and mothers, among others.

Similarly, the sculpture, “The Lady and Her Dreams”, which was done in cement in 1975 while he was teaching at the University of Lagos, depicts a young African woman sporting a hairstyle trending at that period. The young woman, who seems lost in a reverie, is resting her chin on her hands. The work evokes hope, beauty and youth.

Then, a seated figure – done in plaster cast and produced in 1971 – looks sideways to his right and with arms wrapped around his folded legs. The work, titled “Dr Sugomu”, seems to extend the artist’s depiction of subjects in daydreaming mood and attests to his penchant for details.

Finally, in 2012, efforts at reproducing these sculptures in bronze began in earnest. Some of the sculptures were technically not quite completed even when they were almost fully realised.

“They had been envisioned as proper bronze sculptures, but somehow Barber kept hold of them through the years never quite taking them to the final stage,” Igweze explains. “In 2012, we decided to work with him to change this. Our job was to find the right foundry to convert these sculptures from cast to bronze in a way that would keep his original idea intact, create pieces that were of very high quality and recreate these sculptures in the most interesting way.”

Not unexpectedly, there were a few false starts before they settled for the renowned Castle Fine Arts Foundry in Llanrhaeadrym-Mochnant, Wales, UK, which had over the years produced a wide variety of both large and small bronze works of many British artists. “Most of it was easy,” Igweze continues. “We just let Castle Fine Arts bring their expertise to bear. Choosing the right patina was a bit more complicated though. We didn’t want the traditional bronze-brown patina. Barber was never really a traditional artist.

We wanted something that reflected this non-traditional bias of the artist. We also wanted a patina that would be unusual, interesting and would complement the forms. In one case, for the sculpture ‘The Lady and Her Dreams’ we had to change patinas midway, as the original choice didn’t quite work. We went from an orange-brown to a more subtle white-grey tone that resembled the original cement hue. We also decided to use a slate base instead of the traditional wood base. The idea was to create a base that would be solid, yet elegant. We wanted the base to be neutral enough to not influence the artwork, yet strong enough to create the right framework.” Finally, sets of limited edition bronze sculptures, which could be tagged Abayomi Barber’s Diary in Bronze, are now available for public viewing.

FESTIVAL

LABAF 2020 Honours Odia Ofeimun at 70 Yinka Olatunbosun

W Ofeimun

ith this year's theme, “A State of Flux: Literacy in a Period of Languor", the Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF) is set to honour the renowned poet, Odia Ofeimun who clocked 70 earlier this year. The festival fondly referred to as the city’s largest cultural picnic runs from November 10 to 15. This edition will be a combination of virtual and physical venue namely the Freedom Park, Lagos Island.

Divided into three segments: youths, students and adults, the festival will feature exhibitions, workshops, drama, poetry, dance, films and interesting conversations.

In a statement signed by the Programme Co-ordinator and Convener, LABAF, Jahman Anikulapo, this year’s theme has been inspired “by the deep anxieties in the global political

economy.’’ Despite the intrusion of the Covid-19 pandemic in the global cultural space, the organisers of LABAF have carefully selected some literary works that are relevant to the current political temperament in Nigeria and the theme as the ‘books of the festival.’ The books constitute the core of programming for the festival with the animated panel conversations around the books.

“To make sense of all this haze, we invite Femi Osofisan’s Kolera Kolej, the classic satirical novel set in a university campus, a hilarious observation of a society set on snuffing out its best institutions; Andre Brink’s ‘A Wall of Plagues,’ influenced by Camus, published in 1984 at the time of apartheid’s state of emergency, imagines a devastating descent of plagues imperiling society; Elechi Amadi’s ‘The Great Ponds’ which is a fictional take on the 1918 Pandemic and Wolé Soyínká’s ‘Opera Wonyosi,’ described, some place, as an eloquent play about human decadence and profound stupidity,’’ Anikulapo stated.

Other books for discussion include Nancy Fraser’s ‘The Old Is Dying and the New Cannot Be Born,’ Aramide Segun’s ‘Eniitàn: Daughter of Destiny,’ Wendy Brown’s ‘In the Ruins of Neoliberalism,’ and Joy-Ann Reid’s ‘The Man Who Sold America.’

There are panels, of course, to engage these texts and 12 others over the weeklong fiesta of the written word, but we invite anyone who has read any of these books to raise her hand for engagement.

The Lagos Book and Art Festival, (LABAF) was created in 1999 to rekindle the enthusiasm and support for the book as a cultural item. Today, it has become a carnivalesque feast of ideas, visual and performed arts, which attract thousands of people across generational divides.

Another intriguing session at the festival is one of the ‘meet-the-author’ events titled, ‘Why-I-Read-What-I-Read’ featuring top corporate leaders and a seminal conversation focused on that one recent work of nonfiction that most appraises the directions of the global knowledge economy.

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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 ˾ OCTOBER 11, 2020

CICERO

Editor:Olawale Olaleye Email:wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com, SMS: 08116759819

IN THE ARENA

Jonathan 2023: Poisoned Chalice or Astute Politics?

Is the compelling political logic of a power shift to the South forcing dodgy, new calculations by the Northern oligarchy ahead of the 2023 post-Buhari era? Louis Achi looks at the salient issues

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he United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Nigeria’s ruling Northern oligarchy have two important dates on their minds – 2021 and 2023, respectively. For the former, in February 2021, she expects Hope, the Arab world first historic space probe to Mars to touch down on the red planet – set to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the UAE’s formation.

Launched on July 19, 2020, the audacious 500-million km trip attempts something only the US, Russia, Europe and India, have succeeded in doing and speaks to the Emiratis’ bold vision and developmental ambition.

Meanwhile, in a flip vision back home, the ruling Northern oligarchy is plotting what could pass for its own ‘Hope’ project – the installation of a ‘safe bet’ to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, who concludes his second term in 2023.

Towards this end, its shadowy political engineers are doing pre-flight testing of former President Goodluck Jonathan before the mission launch in 2023.

Five fundamental considerations are speculated to qualify the soft-spoken former president as the North’s beautiful bride: he will do only a constitutionspecified single term and then the region can reclaim power.

According to a source privy to the incubating plot, “Yes we are looking at the Jonathan option. He is a safe bet and of course a very amiable gentleman, who is not likely to rock the boat.” The third is that he is from the South and should satisfy the region’s shrill clamour for power shift.

The fourth dimension is that a Jonathan ticket paired with a Northern running Jonathan...still pondering the idea mate will neutralise Southeast’s strident plot is that the extant political calculations accomclamour for a president of the region’s extraction as modate the possibility of Jonathan running on the the Bayelsa-born politician has morphed into a widely platform of the main opposition PDP. More, the strong and nationally acceptable force. The North curiously perception that for Northern Nigeria, lack of political remains cagey about an Igbo president. power represents a potent existential threat, sits pretty Looking at the post-war big picture, the Igbo of the nicely within the unswerving logic of the unfolding Southeast zone have been left holding the short end calculations. of the nation’s political stick – walled off from the To be fair to the Machiavellian ruling Northern office of the president. Under the Buhari presidency, the region’s sense of marginalisation has immeasurably oligarchy, political gaming is a legitimate preoccupation that preserves its perceived advantages. They also scaled-up. believe that the extant North/South power rotation The fifth consideration is the reality that the North arrangement is not a constitutionalised template. Since does not want or trust Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. the country returned to civil rule in 1999, political Many in the Southern zones also believe he is a hard power had been rotating between the Northern and sell. This gaming is tied to the political logic that Southern regions of the country. power will definitely shift to the South in 2023, given But the current speculated Northern plot is rousing the unwritten North/South power rotation agreement. interest in the South, which feels that power rotation And what’s more – Buhari apparently wants to decide must be maintained for the purpose of political who will succeed him. stability.

A speculated, interesting dimension to the unfolding

However, many believe the South-south but was cheated in 2015 with gang up of other zones against Jonathan who hails from Southsouth which subsequently led to his defeat in 2015 election.

Some intimation that the North may be weighing its options for the post-Buhari era came in early August, when Mallam Mamman Daura, the influential nephew of President Buhari said there was no need for zoning the presidential ticket to any part of the country.

He further held that Nigeria’s political space should be left open for the best candidate to emerge as president.

He told the Hausa Service of the BBC that the most qualified person from any part of the country should succeed his uncle. Further according to Daura, since Nigerians had tried the rotational presidency about three times already, it would be better to go for the most qualified candidate in 2023, irrespective of whether he comes from the North or South.

His position, which basically skewered the informal North-South rotational presidency template shored up suspicions that some elements from the North were perfecting plans to retain the presidency after Buhari’s second tenure lapses in 2003.

Not surprisingly, Daura’s position spawned a storm, not just because of the message but the sheer clout of the messenger. Mamman Daura is an alumnus of the Trinity College, Dublin. Comparable to Oxford and Cambridge, the Trinity College is a foremost nursery for grooming top-notch world leaders. In the face of extreme reactions from a broad swathe of important stakeholders, it would appear the region has tweaked its calculations.

Significantly, as the political drama unfolds, former President Jonathan has not expressed a clear position on the Northern plot. He has been more recently busy with statesmanlike assignments to Mali, which experienced a military coup recently. He was also at Buhari’s side at the Eagle Square, Abuja, during the recent 60th independence anniversary of the country.

THISDAY could not elicit a specific response from Jonathan’s minders on the trending matter, when it reached out to them, but a close source claimed the former president was too busy with his new role as peacemaker to worry about political permutations of 2023.

But will the humble biologist from Otuoke take up the building consensus around him to wade into the presidential fray, come 2023? That’s the big question!

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

Ending SARS Is Without Logic

T IGP, Mohammed Adamu

he citizens’ movement to call in time on the brutal reign of federal Special Anti-robbery Squad otherwise called SARS by asking for a ban of the initiative enjoyed a rebound last week following a new set of atrocities recorded against some SARS officials in the

country.

But in a swift response to the development, the police leadership immediately adjusted the functions and operations of SARS and promised a reform that would put an end to the often-reported brutality of the policemen.

But those moves didn’t quite stifle some citizens, some of whom still went ahead to protest, while others carried out reprisal attacks on police officers, killing a few of them.

The truth, however, is that regardless of the obvious and mindless brutality of some of these officers, outright ban is not the solution. Lest many forget, the initiative was a response to the spate of robbery and other criminal activities in the society. What a ban means is a return to the ugly days of robbers’ reign. But supporting a sincere reform of the police as a whole is the way to go, starting from their recruitment stages. That way, the dream police force can begin to spring up.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ OCTOBER 11, 2020

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BRIEFINGNOTES Fear of Goodluck Jonathan and the 2023 Debate The fact that former President Goodluck Jonathan is definitely going to be an issue in the 2023 election is fast changing the tenor of the debate, writes Bayo Akinloye

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hen THISDAY published an exclusive story last Sunday headlined: “Buhari’s Supporters Considering Jonathan for 2023 Presidential Run”, it must have been considered an innocuous news story.

But any time somebody ‘sneezes’ regarding the 2023 presidential election, it is not only the All Progressives Congress that catches the coldest cold; the camp of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his so-called apologists, also do that.

Tinubu has never denied having an intention to run for the 2023 presidency.

What he has always denied is declaring the intention to contest this early.

But the thought of a formidable force as Jonathan though scorned on many occasions by the APC, might have put the Tinubu camp in a panic mode, resulting in what’s now regarded as a knee-jerk article published in a national daily (not THISDAY) – an article riddled with desperation, disillusionment, and lacklustre logic.

That piece has since been considered the hand of its writer but the voice of Tinubu.

Unlike many political leaders, Jonathan has remained a unifying figure in Nigeria. Even the APC, including President Muhammadu Buhari, attests to that. It, therefore, follows logic for any political camp or group to fly a kite with his name.

Chief Bisi Akande, Bola Tinubu, George Akume and Goodluck Jonathan in a tete-a-tete However, beyond the demonisation of Jonathan, there are unassailable truths about It will appear that Jonathan is contented with his attractive to the so-called hegemons. Bola Tinubu’s him. He represents a united Nigeria, a peace-loving post-presidential mission of promoting peace, prog- shrinking empire has exposed him as a once-uponleader, who puts the interest of Nigerians above his ress, and prosperity in Nigeria and on the African a-time asset that has now become a liability, with personal ambition, and definitely not a dictatorcontinent, according to those close to him. diminishing returns,” the commentator added. democrat.

A close source to the former president, even According to him, the once-revered colossus has Jonathan, no doubt, has his flaws, but it cannot pointed out that it is for that reason that Jonathan been exposed as having feet of clay: he lost Oyo, be denied that as President of the Federal Republic has not for some time been actively involved in and Edo, won Osun only by ‘remote control’ and is of Nigeria, he made significant contributions to partisan engagements, not even in the affairs of the irrelevant in Ondo. the political, economic and social development of Peoples Democratic Party.

Arguing further, he said, “Bola Tinubu has often Nigeria.

Rather than the Tinubu camp trying to caution dismissed Jonathan as being naive, but in the end, He promoted the democratisation of the body pol- Jonathan against some hegemons ahead of the 2023 it is he who has shown his naivety by expecting ity through the observance of the rule of law, enactelection, political observers reminded Tinubu and the Buhari camp to be grateful to him, rather than ment of the Freedom of Information Act, electoral his apologists to remember that the same hegemons appealing to their self-interest.” reforms and non-interference in electoral outcomes. rose to power based “solely on the hubris of Bola While Jonathan used his absence from the politiNortherners, according to political watchers, have Tinubu, who thought there would be honour cal centre stage to cultivate his image as Nigeria enough reasons to be grateful to Jonathan, because amongst political power grabbers. and Africa’s face of democracy, it is the consensus when nobody, not even the northern elite, believed “Faced with public embarrassment and the prefer- of many political observers that Tinubu used “his in the hapless almajirai that litter the region, it ence for Jonathan, by those for whom he sold his 15 minutes of fame” on the centre stage to solidify was Jonathan, who committed billions of naira to people’s birthright, Bola Tinubu is now behaving his image as Nigeria’s face of political godfatherism redeem their unsavoury situation. like a woman scorned. He broke laws one and two with his “ill-advised” video to the Edo State electorTo that extent, any attempt to haul the former of the 48 Law of Power – ‘Never put too much trust ate, believed to have cost Osagie Ize-Iyamu the president, who has now taken up the role of a peace in friends’ and learn to ‘conceal your intentions’,” a governorship election. ambassador across Africa, into the politics of 2023 public commentator, who spoke on the condition of The analyst further argued that by sitting on the might appear to be punching shadows, as suggested anonymity stated. fence, when his “client-governors” were launching

by Jonathan’s media aide, Ikechukwu Eze. There are also suggestions that Tinubu placed Amotekun, Tinubu proved to the hegemons that he “Those postulations are the opinions of individutoo much trust in the hegemons that he now insults could not be trusted with ensuring the continued als and I don’t want to comment on them,” said Eze by proxy through the said article and that the APC existence of Nigeria as a single corporate entity. in a terse reply to questions regarding his principal national leader’s presidential ambition is Nigeria’s “Finally, by unleashing foot soldiers on the being propped up by Buhari’s camp and the northworst kept secret. hegemons, Tinubu has offended the wrong people,” erners for the 2023 presidential election.

“It is not only Jonathan’s humility that makes him the analyst explained.

NOTES FOR FILE

Congratulations, Nigerian Teachers!

President Buhari

Perhaps, in the spirit of the nation’s 60th independence anniversary, coinciding with the World Teachers’ Day on October 5, President Muhammadu Buhari, magnanimously approved a special salary scale for teachers in the country. Not only that, the president also increased the number of years of service from 35 to 40.

To be honest, this is very late in coming, although better late than never. There’s no debating the fact that the bedrock of any society is education and those in the forefront of educating society’s populations are not only poorly remunerated, but are badly treated.

This is why the move to improve their lot by the Buhari administration is worth commending. The

teachers too must also reciprocate this gesture by improving their service delivery and embracing personal development from time to time. They should be eager to move with time and be in tune with global trending in terms of advancement in the education sector.

However, while celebrating the teachers and thanking the president for seizing the initiative, which others had ignored over the years, the Buhari administration must also look into the plight of the Nigerian soldiers, who are daily decreasing in numbers, because they are defending their fatherland against the vicious takeover by insurgents. The Nigerian soldiers deserve better, President Buhari.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 11, 2020

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CICERO/REPORT

Salute to Nigeria’s Chief Law Officer The roles being played by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, in the fight against corruption in the country, have shot up his clout, profile and powers, writes Adedayo Akinwale

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pon his ascendance into office in 2015, key and most urgent job that needed to be delivered to Nigerians by President Mohammadu Buhari was the war against graft and insecurity.

The seeming Siamese twins, which have bedeviled the nation and hampered development, apart from forming part of Buhari’s election promises to the people, appear to be the yardstick for measuring the success or otherwise of his administration.

Buhari had to search thoroughly for an unbiased and fearless erudite chief law officer that can help in his Justice reform drives, aimed at ridding Nigeria of corruption and insecurity. “…At home, we face enormous challenges: insecurity, pervasive corruption. We are going to tackle them head o”, the president said in 2015, during his inaugural speech.

To help the president tackle these “insecurity and pervasive corruption” according to the demands of Nigeria’s constitution, was a legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Abubakar Malami, (SAN).

Appointed the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Nigeria in 2015, Malami, having obliged his boss, President Buhari, has placed his footprints in the sands of time following his laudable justice reforms initiatives in Nigeria.

From the humongous recoveries of looted funds to speedy trial in rape cases as well as a laudable initiative on decongestion of the nation’s Correctional Centres, which include monitoring the compliance of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, Malami has really personified the aesthetics of legal dexterity.

Like a colossus, he has risen to bestride the nation among his contemporaries, using his office to make a difference. With the aid of the constitution, he’s been dispensing hope for the ill treated; Justice for both the rich and the poor as well as ensuring character sanity in the nation’s Judiciary.

With guidance from Section 174 and 211 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which among many other provisions, empower the AGF “to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law in Nigeria other than a court-martial in respect of any offence created by or under any law of the House of Assembly,” Malami has continued to uphold due regard for public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal and due process.

On asset recovery, Malami’s role in the repatriation of $311 million looted by a former Head of State, the late General Sani Abacha from the United States cannot be overemphasised.

The money, which has added value to national treasury, lends credence to President Buhari’s economic drive vis-à-vis the anticorruption war.

Malami...a rising profile To meet up with his mandate of Justice Reforms, Malami decided to collaborate with the legislaAppeal, to the state governments. tive arm of government to enact laws that would aid the On speedy dispensation of Justice, having received from effective administration of Justice. the Inspector General of Police, a brief, which suggested Among the laws are the Money Laundering Prevention that about Seven Hundred and Seventeen (717) rape cases and Prohibition Bill 2017; Anti-Terrorism Prevention and were recorded within seven months, the AGF rose to the Prohibition Bill 2017; Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit occasion by revealing plans to establish special courts for (NFIU) Bill 2017; Proceeds of Crime Bill 2017; Public Interthe speedy trial of rape cases. This move by Malami has also est Disclosure and Witness Protection Bill, 2017; and the complemented the advocacies by the civil society organisaMutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill, 2017. tions on gender-based violence especially, rape.

The NFIU Bill has since been passed by the National Also, very conspicuous among Malami’s giant strides Assembly and assented to by President Buhari in July 2018. is his initiative that led to the decongestion of Nigeria’s Malami’s contributions to facilitating prompt passage of correctional centres. On assumption of office, the AGF the NFIU Agency Act prevented the expulsion of Nigeria visited congested correctional centres nationwide, where from the EGMONT Group. The Egmont Group is a global out of the Seventy-four thousand, one hundred and twentybody of 155 financial intelligence units across the world, seven (74,127) inmates in the correctional centres, fifty-two which facilitates the exchange of financial intelligence, Thousand, Two Hundred and twenty six (52,226) inmates expertise and capability. are awaiting trial persons (ATPs), which implies that over The intelligence units combat money laundering, ter70% of the inmates are ATPs. rorism financing and serious financial crime. A total of 24 But with the inauguration of the Presidential Committee cases involving fraud, forgery and breach of trust were sucon Correctional Service Reform and Decongestion, chaired cessfully prosecuted under Malami’s watch and suspects by the Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital sentenced to various terms of custodian sentencing.

Territory, Justice Ishaq Bello, no fewer than 7,813 inmates Malami was also active in the Presidential Executive had benefitted from the decongestion programme.

Order No. 00-10 of 2020 signed in May 2020, which allows A total of 3,789 inmates have been released from the for financial autonomy for the state judiciary. Although Nigerian Correctional Service Centre since the outbreak the governors have challenged the Order at the Supreme of COVID-19 pandemic in the country to curb its spread Court, only a few days ago, Malami vowed to ensure that among inmates. justice was delivered in the matter.

Since the inauguration of the committee on October 31, The state governors averred that the executive order 2017, it has so far visited 32 correctional centres in 14 states. president Muhammadu Buhari signed had pushed the Malami was credited for the success of the initiative, which Federal Government’s responsibility of funding both was a federal government’s approach under his watch. The the capital and recurrent expenditures of the state high dreaded novel Coronavirus was also a motivation for the courts, Sharia Court of Appeal and the Customary Court of decongestion exercise.

His role in taming the menace of drug abuse and drug related crimes, also remains conspicuous. He instituted a crackdown on warehouses and joints for the thriving illicit Tramadol, Cough Syrup and Codeine Market particularly in Kano and other states of the federation. This was achieved through the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), an agency under his Supervision.

The Agency also apprehended twenty-one (21) suspected suppliers of illicit drugs to terrorist strongholds.

It Confiscated 316 tons drugs and arrested 9,831 suspected drug offenders; prosecuted 1,244 suspects and secured 1,236 Convictions, while 7 cases were struck out and acquitted.

NDLEA under AGF Malami discovered another clandestine laboratory that was producing Methamphetamine, bringing the total number of such laboratories so discovered in Nigeria to eighteen (18) between 2011 and 2019. Now, Strategies have been put in place to incapacitate drug merchants through the seizure of their assets including money and ensuring that such assets are forfeited to the federal government.

Other laudable feats of the AGF include the ongoing prosecution of the three charges involving 14 defendants allegedly involved in the importation of Pump Action Riffles from Turkey, ongoing six cases on pipeline vandalism, prosecution of 1,359 cases from which 125 cases have been prosecuted within 100 days due to the innovation of the administration of criminal Justice act, 2015 that allows day to day trials.

Others include the prosecution of illegal miners of mineral resources ongoing at the federal high court, Jos; ongoing trial of suspects for Kidnapping and hostage taking; vandalism of electrical facilities.

Deservingly, Malami won President Buhari’s trust with all these strides and was returned to office in 2019. The President’s Next Level Agenda, which revolves around consolidating on his achievements, is expected to help the likes of Malami to finish what they started.

Moving forward, the AGF fearlessly with much tenacity beamed his searchlight on the nation’s number one antigraft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Even though the EFCC is an independent body free from the AGF’s Control, he was able to spot traces of corruption in the EFCC based on the demands of his office as the number one Law officer of Nigeria.

On July 15, 2020, the Acting EFCC Boss, Ibrahim Magu was suspended. The Presidency agreed with the AGF Malami that Magu needed to be investigated on allegations of diverting recovered loot.

The most recent is Malami’s role in the refund of the $200 million Process & Industrial Development (P&ID) case by a London court.

The British court ordered the release of the $200m, which according to the AGF, was a guarantee put in place as security for the stay of execution granted to Nigeria for the appeal filed against the judgment of Justice Christopher Butcher for the execution of the arbitral award of $10bn in favour of P&ID, a firm based in the British Virgin Islands.

Malami is expected to do more as the “Next Level Regime” of President Buhari progresses for two reasons.

One is to maintain his already built reputation for Justice delivery for Nigerians and two, good representation of his people from Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi Staste, where he was nominated from.

In 2014, Malami, it would be recalled, contested the governorship ticket of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in his state but lost to Mr. Atiku Bagudu, who is now the incumbent governor of the state. The people of Kebbi might wish to have a second thought for Malami, considering his strides in his current office, if he decides to seek their mandate again as governor.

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Delegates at the 2014 national conference

Restructuring: A Recurring Elephant in the Room It was once seen as a political bargaining tool of the Southwest political leaders, but from indications, the issue of restructuring might have assumed a life of its own despite the fact that it irritates Also Rock. Shola Oyeyipo writes

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powerful message was sent recently, when the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), lent its voice to the growing call for restructuring of the polity.

What had started as the political swansong of the southern part of the country and which was seen as a cry by those, who had lost out in the power game has assumed a life of its own.

Also recently, respected cleric and General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, sounded a warning that Nigeria might break up if she didn’t revisit the structure of the federation.

The former university lecturer said the nation has to look at how things are presently or “why can’t we have a system of government that will create what I will call the United States of Nigeria? Let me explain. We all know that we must restructure. It’s either we restructure or we break, you don’t have to be a prophet to know that one. That is certain – restructure or we break up.

“Now, we don’t want to break up, God forbid.

In the restructuring, why don’t we have a Nigerian kind of democracy? At the federal level, why don’t we have a President and a Prime Minister?”

While it did not directly say it fully supported the call for restructuring, the ACF stated that it was not afraid of the call for the nation to revisit the terms of its union. The northern body had this to say: “The North is not afraid of restructuring. What we want is to define what is it that we want. If we want to be in Nigeria and if we don’t want to be in Nigeria, let’s sit down and agree. We can restructure. We can become a confederation.

“We can devolve powers. We can have state police and all that we want. But I can tell you that the thinking of the North now is that we should have a referendum if we want Nigeria or not. If we want Nigeria, then, we must sit down and see how

Nigeria will work.

“If we need the country, let’s sit down and decide that we need the country first. Then, we can now sit down and decide on how our country can work for all of us. If we decide that we don’t want the country as it is, then, I mean, countries have gone apart. Czechoslovakia and quite several other countries, including Sudan, had gone apart. We don’t want to go to war.”

As for the Igbos, young people, especially those born after the civil war of between 1967 and 1970 have been calling for the return to Biafra, the stillborn nation that led to the civil war in the first place.

To many Nigerians, the call for restructuring has assumed a life of its own but for Aso Rock, it has become like a recurring elephant in the room that must be handled carefully.

Despite the arrogant grandstanding on the part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s handlers, who always see anyone that expresses contrary opinion as enemy of the government, it is obvious that these are worrying times for the Presidency.

If the call for restructuring has assumed a life of its own, perhaps, the Presidency invited it over itself. Since Buhari assumed office in 2015, he and his henchmen have been disappointingly insensitive to the nation’s diversity.

It has mismanaged the nation’s fault lines to the extent that some ethnic jingoists and tribal hegemonists have found veritable latitudes to call for restructuring and even constitutional review.

And some have openly called for a dismemberment of the country.

In terms of appointments, especially key ones that require careful consideration of the nation’s diversity, Buhari has displayed the kind of insensitivity that makes many wonder if he still remembers that the country does not end in Kaduna or Kogi State.

Just last week, the Department of State Security

(DSS) was accused of carrying out clandestine recruitment that was filled up mainly by northerners. This and other issues like this have led to many asking if truly the nation was one.

Last month, the fear of Oduduwa Republic, despite initial grandstanding on the part of the authorities, reached a point whereby security operatives were deployed in virtually all the state capitals in the Southwest. This was a sign that the government was really worried.

Rhetoric from some northern elements too does not help matters. For instance, Dr. Juniad Mohammed claimed recently that the north would revolt against any government that implements the report of the 2014 confab. This was despite that fact that he participated in the conference.

But Yinka Odumakin, a prominent Afenifere described his statement as unfortunate. Odumakin condemned the statement credited to Mohammed on the North revolting against any government that implements the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference, describing it as irresponsible.

“He was part of the conference and the decisions reached. I challenge him to swear that he did not participate in the conference,” Odumakin said.

From all indications, the component parts of the nation are still not on same page as far as the issue of restructuring is concerned. But the gladdening part of it is that it has become an issue everyone has come to accept as one that cannot be wished away.

The now defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of the legacy parties that formed the ruling APC once had restructuring as its campaign mantra and negotiating tool. Unfortunately, since most of its then leaders are now in government, mum has been the word.

Yet, no matter the position of the ACF, restructuring has become a bull in China shop. You thread with caution handling it.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 11, 2020

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CICERO/ONTHEWATCH

Tambuwal: Giving Leadership a New Meaning With accountability and fiscal discipline as the strengths of his administration, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, is giving leadership an entirely different meaning, writes Onuminya Innocent

S

okoto State under the leadership of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has witnessed remarkable level of financial discipline, probity, transparency and accountability lately, borne out of the governor ’s burning desire to keep the state within the range of steady progress for socio-economic and political advancements.

As a former speaker, House of representative, who supervised ministries, departments and agencies, Tambuwal through his vision, steadfast and innovation, has made steady progress and engineered far-reaching reforms geared towards restructuring, re-engineering and reinvigoration of the state’s economy. This is in keeping faith with his campaign promise to pilot the affairs of his the state to the satisfaction of the masses that voted him into office.

Today, the effects of the dwindling federal allocation to states and local governments due to the downturn in the oil sector has made it imperative for governments at all levels to review several issues hindering development and proffer solutions on how best to service the people.

This, perhaps, has informed the new thinking in Sokoto State in line with the Governor ’s desire to give the state quality leadership and render selfless service in an atmosphere of peace, accountability and fiscal discipline.

Tambuwal, in tandem with the state’s economic team headed by the Commissioner of Finance, Abdusamad Dasuki has been working tirelessly for the implementation of the 2020 budget despite Covid-19’s devastating effect.

To make the budget a reality, the state government in its wisdom, downsized the budget by 21 per cent.

Currently, the state’s monthly federal allocation stands at N3 to 4billion, out of which N2.5billion goes to workers’ salaries, N288million for the monthly settlement of pensions, 129million for allowance of political office holders, N80 to 100million for treatments of water by the state water board, and N600million for the service of the loan taken by the previous administration.

With this financial engineering, the state is able to meet up with its monthly financial obligations due to transparency and probity imbibed by the governor.

Recently, in acknowledging the state’s financial prudence, the office of Accountant General of Federation (AGF), rated Sokoto 8th best state in fiscal sustainability and prudence in public fund management. It also rated the state best in meeting monthly recurrent, expenditure and loan Tambuwal repayment in 2019.

The independently verified and quality assurance agency of World Bank rated the state 93 per cent in financial discipline and due process.

The state recently secured an approval for N6billion grant from the World Bank due to its commitments to financial stability, tax reduction and due process during Covid-19 challenges.

Before Tambuwal’s assumption of office, the

state internally generated revenue (IGR) stood at N200million monthly, but with the reforms brought into the system, the IGR has increased to N600million monthly.

Despite the financial crunch in the country, especially with a second recession in view, Sokoto is one of the states that had approved the

implementation of N30,000 minimum wage to its workers, while workers’ salaries and pensions are paid 23rd to 25th of every month.

The state had invested N1.5billion in the Bank of Agriculture and industry, while injecting N500million in the state’s micro finance bank, Taj Bank.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ OCTOBER 11, 2020

CICERO/REPORT

Governor Uzodinnma and Okorocha at an event

Imo’s Judicial Commission of Enquiry on Contracts Reactions trailing the outcome of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry on Contracts Awards from 2011 to 2019 in Imo State send curious signals, writes Amby Uneze

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n August 2019, then Imo State governor, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha instituted a Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the awards of contracts in the state from May 29, 2011 to May 28, 2019.

The chairman of the Commission was Justice Benjamin Iheka, with other members like Chris Ibeh, Ifeyinwa Maureen Okafor, Dr. Samuel Ifeanyi Onwuasoanya, Stanley Imo, Mr. Paschal Uzokwu and Aloy Ejimako, while Dame Comfort Obi was to serve as the Secretary.

However, when the Supreme Court sacked the Ihedioha administration and Senator Hope Uzodimma was sworn in as governor on January 15, 2020, he did not hesitate to extend the tenure of the investigative panels and Judicial Commissions of Inquiry, set up by the Ihedioha administration. Justice Iheka also confirmed this during an interview with newsmen in Owerri.

Uzodimma, who announced the renewal of the mandate of all the investigative panels and judicial commissions of inquiry set up by his predecessor after meeting with the panelists, explained that the decision was in keeping faith with his Three Rs mantra of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Recovery.

Justice Iheka affirmed that, “By the law, under which the Commissions and Panels were established, only a renewed mandate, which the governor has now done, after our first three months, validates the lives of the Panels and Commissions.”

By then, Justice Iheka, who confirmed that his commission had finished taking evidence from all petitioners/claimants stated: “We have started inviting all government functionaries that played any part in the contracts awarded within the period under review.

They are expected to start appearing before the Commission from Tuesday, February 11, 2020.”

Recall that in renewing the mandates of the Panels and Commissions, Uzodinma had said: “I acknowledge that government is a continuum. This administration will not go into witch-hunting, rather, will continue from where the previous administration stopped particularly in areas that will impact positively on the living standards of Imo people.”

Notable among the Committees, whose mandates were renewed were the Judicial Panel on Lands and Related Matters headed by Justice Ijeoma Ogugua; the Visitation Panels for Imo State University, Teaching Hospital Orlu, Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo, and the Committee for the Investigation of Local Government Administration from 2011-2019, headed by Chief Eze Duruiheoma, SAN, among others.

Governor Uzodinma charged the Committees to “continue with the good job you are doing for Imo State”, stressing that, “In our little way, we shall encourage you to turn in an objective report that will meet the yearnings of the good people of Imo State.”

While the Judicial Commission on Contracts awards sat and invited many people to testify, several invitations were sent to former governor Rochas Okorocha to defend numerous petitions against him and his eight-year administration but he did not bother to answer the commission’s invitation for once.

The generality of Imo people believed that Okorocha’s administration was careless with frivolous awards of contracts.

Even while he was governor, there were many petitions against his government and those of his cronies in government. Maybe, they did not realise that a day of reckoning would come and he would cry wolf. That period is, perhaps, now and he might not have any hiding place except court to seek for redress, at least, to clear his name.

However, the outcome of the commission’s report was not surprising, considering the lackadaisical manner Okorocha’s administration awarded contracts in the state during his tenure.

The report was submitted to Governor Hope Uzodimma with such recommendation, which exposed those, who played key roles in contract awards that turned out to be a scam to the tune of N106 billion.

Submitting the report during the week at the Executive Chambers, Government House, Owerri, Justice Iheaka explained that, “There were monumental fraud that were orchestrated by the contractors in the period under review with strong collusion with some civil servants, who helped in the fraud, which was evidenced in over-pricing of the value of the contracts executed in the state.” The report claimed that there were flagrant disregard for due process and the rules of Bureau for Public Procurement Act, which was exhibited in the “outrageous contract pricing and shady contract executions as well as payment for non performing contracts.”

Justice Iheaka also said there were evidence of non-existing and phony companies that were used to siphon government’s funds to the tone of N106 billion.

A clear example of such phony companies was one Messrs Zigreat of Ugbelle Street, Ideato South. This particular company with no fixed address and without proven directors handled several contracts for the state government to the tune of several billions of Naira. Up till, now no one has been identified with that company, yet, it handled contracts running into billions.

He therefore appealed to the governor not to sweep their report and recommendations under the carpet, but to do whatever possible in his power to ensure that those indicted were made to return the monies.

The Commission has therefore identified some civil servants, who were honest, dedicated and resisted every pressure by the contract scammers to use their offices to defraud the state in the period under review.

Receiving the report, Uzodimma too has assured the people that all those indicted and identified in the report as having played a role in frittering away public funds through criminal ways will be made to return them. He said the opportunity would be given to them to return the monies as the state is in dire need of funds to deal with pressing developmental issues in the face of dwindling resources.

The governor however hinted that in a few days, government would set-up a Review Committee to look into the documents submitted by the Commission and produce a Whitepaper

that would give Government the actual direction to follow in implementing the report in full.

Noting that the mood in the state indicated that the people wanted to know what government would do with the report and others before it, he reassured the Chairman of the panel and others that much as government would not witch-hunt anyone unnecessarily, it would definitely not shy away from implementing to the letter, the recommendations on those that willfully fleeced the state of her scarce resources to serve as a deterrent to future criminals.

He commended the members for taking time to do a thorough job considering the intricacies in their assignment, which warranted their visiting project sites and asking difficult questions, saying, “Government will surely show appreciation for their sacrifices.”

But, while responding to the commission’s report, Okorocha challenged the government, to publish the Iheaka report verbatim, so that Imo people in particular and Nigerians in general, could read the report and see how the Panel arrived at N106 billion, which they said he should refund.

Okorocha, whose reaction was made possible through his Media Aide, Sam Onwuemeodo noted that no serious panel would have made such recommendations.

“It could only take a “Ben Johnson” Panel to do that. And let the government publish the list of Contractors, who handled contracts under Okorocha, State the Contracts they did, how much they were paid respectively, how they were paid and what they should have been paid, in the estimation of the Panel members”.

He challenged Uzodinma “to explain what he has done with the N119 billion he has collected from the federation account and N6.4 billion ISOPADEC fund, vis-a-viz the IGR. The former governor insisted he came through the “Ben Johnson” way and that since January 14, 2020 when he came on board, all his actions and utterances have been “Ben Johnson” way” Picking up the argument for the government, Media Assistant on Prints to the Governor, Modestus Nwankpa noted that instead of Okorocha apologising to Imo people for allegedly fleecing the treasury, he presented a mockery of defence.

According to him, the Justice Benjamin Iheka Judicial Panel, was not instituted by Uzodimma, but by Ihedioha and that the Panel was made up of highly reputable personalities, reason their actions, inactions and report were devoid of political colouring.

“The Panel extended invitations to Governor Okorocha for more than five times in the spirit of fair hearing but the former governor refused to attend. He rather ran to Court to stop the panel, which did not materialise, noting that the panel did a thorough and commendable job and their report have been described as among the best and well investigated report in Nigeria. “Governor Uzodinma did not have any hand nor did he influence the outcome of the report of the panel, at least, everybody knows the strong characters or personalities in the Committee. We know that Justice Iheka, Comfort Obi etc are not people one can bribe or influence.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹͹˜ 2020

GAVEL

Editor: Olawale Olaleye SMS:08116759819 email:wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com

Now That 2021 Budget Is Before N’Assembly...

With a timely presentation of the 2021 appropriation bill by President Muhammadu Buhari to a joint session of the National Assembly last week, the rescheduled January to December budget cycle might have come to stay, write Adedayo Akinwale and Udora Orizu

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etermined to maintain the January-December budget cycle, President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, October 8, presented N13.8 trillion 2021 Appropriation Bill to the joint session of the NationalAssemblyforconsiderationandapproval.

The 2021 budget estimate is N211 billion higher than the N10.594 trillion 2020 budget passed by the legislature in December 2019, before it was revised to N10.509 trillion against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The President, in the budget presentation, predicted that the country’s economy might lapse into a second recession in four years, with the projected negative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the third quarter of this year, but assured Nigerians that his government would do everything possible to get the country out of recession by 2021.

Without mincing words, the President stated categorically that the economy was facing serious challenges, with the macroeconomic environment being significantly disrupted by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Buhari explained that the GDP growth declined by 6.1 per cent in the second quarter of 2020, adding that this ended the three-year trend of positive, but modest GDP growth recorded since the second quarter of 2017.

He said: “I am glad to note that, through our collective efforts, our economy performed relatively better than that of many other developed and emerging economies.”

With the theme, “Budget of Economic Recovery and Resilience”, the 2021 appropriation is designed to further deliver on the goals of Economic Sustainability Plan.

According to the President, “GDP growth is projected to be negative in the third quarter of this year. As such, our economy may lapse into the second recession in four years, with significant adverse consequences.

“However,weareworkingassiduouslytoensure rapid recovery in 2021. We remain committed to implementing programmes to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over the next 10 years.”

He explained that the exchange rate has been fixed at N379 per US dollar while the GDP growth is projected at three per cent and inflation closing at 11.95 per cent. He proposed an aggregate expenditure of N13.08 trillion, including N1.35 trillion spending by Government-Owned Enterprises and Grants and Aid funded expenditures of N354.85 billion.

The President noted that the 2021 budget deficit (inclusive of Government-Owned Enterprises and project-tied loans), is projected at N5.20 trillion, representing 3.64 per cent of the estimated GDP, slightly above the three per cent threshold set by the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.

“It is, however, to be noted that we still face the existential challenge of Coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath,” he said, adding: “I believe that this provides a justification to exceed the threshold as provided for by this law. The deficit will be financed.”

Buharisaidbasedontheforegoingfiscalassumptions and parameters, total federally distributable revenue is estimated at N8.433 trillion in 2021; while total revenue available to fund the 2021 Federal Budget is estimated at N7.886 trillion, adding that this includes grants and aid of N354.85 billion as well as the revenues of 60 Government-Owned Enterprises. He also noted that oil revenue is projected at N2.01 trillion, while non-oil revenue is estimated at N1.49 trillion.

The president explained that the budget deficit wouldbefinancedmainlybynewborrowingstotaling N4.28 trillion, N205.15 billion from privatisation proceeds and N709.69 billion in drawdowns on multilateral and bilateral loans secured for specific projects and programmes.

HestressedfurtherthatthesumofN484.49billion provided for Statutory Transfers in the proposal represent an increase of N56.46 billion (or 13 per cent) over the revised 2020 provision.

The President said statutory transfer provisions areNigerDeltaDevelopmentCommission–N63.51 billion; North East Development Commission –

President Buhari laying the 2012 budget session of the National Assembly N29.70 billion; National Judicial Council -N110.00 billion; Universal Basic Education Commission -N70.05 billion; Independent National Electoral Commission -N40 billion; National Assembly -N128.00 billion; Public Complaints Commission -N5.20 billion; Human Rights Commission – N3 billion; and Basic Health Care Provision Fund – N35.03 billion.

In order to enhance national security and human capital development, he said a major part of the 2021 recurrent cost estimate is allocated to paying salaries and overheads in MDAs providing critical public services.

Assuch,thesumofN227.02billionwasbudgeted for the Ministry of Interior; N441.39 billion for the Ministry of PoliceAffairs; N545.10 billion for Ministry of Education; N840.56 billion for Ministry of Defence; and N380.21 billion for Ministry of Health.

The President revealed that the budget of the Ministry of Education has been increased by 65 per cent to develop the education sector.

The key capital spending allocations include Power – N198 billion (inclusive of N150 billion for the Power Sector Recovery Plan); Ministry of Works and Housing N404 billion; Ministry of Transportation-N256billion;Defence–N121billion; Agriculture and Rural Development -N110 billion.

Others are “Ministry of Water Resources: N153 billion; Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment -N51 billion; Ministry of Education – N127 billion; Universal Basic Education Commission -N70 billion,; Ministry of Health- N132 billion; Zonal Intervention Projects: N100 billion; and Niger Delta Development Commission – N64 billion.”

The President stated further that personnel cost remainsthelargestsingleitemofexpenditure,saying the seven months to July 31, 2020, it accounted for 34 per cent of total federal government spending and is projected at 33 per cent of 2021 expenditure.

He assured that his government remains committed to meeting its debt service obligations.

“A total of N2.183 trillion has been set aside to service domestic debts while N940.89 billion has been provided for foreign debt service. N220 billion is provided for transfers to the Sinking Fund to pay off maturing bonds issued to local contractors and creditors,” he said.

The 2021 budget also saw a 157 per cent increase in the capital allocation to the health sector, Which is toenhancethecapacitytodeliverhealthcareservices through the procurement of equipment, vaccines and other facilities. Two centres of excellence, as well as one Accident and Emergency Centre, will be equipped in Federal Teaching Hospitals in each geopolitical zone.

“In addition, numerous Primary Health Care Centres will be equipped and upgraded across the six geopolitical zones. Furthermore, funds have been allocated for the expansion of the Midwives Service Scheme in the six geo-political zones. To

enhance occupational safety, funds have been provided for the provision of Personal Protective Equipment for health workers.”

The President, however, urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the budget.

Responding, President of the Senate, Dr.Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, assured the president and the people that the budget would be passed

by December.

Lawan, in his remarks, said the fiscal plan would be influenced by the desire to consolidate on the gains, coming from the hard lessons of the pandemic, and on the urgency of sustaining our diversificationprogrammes,notonlybecauseofthe unpredictable nature of oil revenue but because of recent uncertainties arising from the coronavirus. ‘’The National Assembly is again ready to pass the 2021 Budget before the end of the year. This will continue to enable planning and enhance productivity and efficiency in the management and application of our resources. We can all bear witness to the salubrious effects of the early passage of the Budget on our economy,” he said.

Gbajabiamila, on his part, gave an assurance that the lawmakers will collaborate with the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Executive to deliver a budget that meets the needs and matches the ambitions of the Nigerian people.”

Opposition Lawmakers Kick At the end of the budget presentation, which lasted for less than two hours, some members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the House kicked against the provisions of the Appropriation Bill.

A lawmaker representing Ihiala Federal Constituency in the green chamber, Hon. Chudy Momah, (APGA, Anambra) said he has a very terrible view of it.

The reason, according to him, was because if there’s a colossal non-performance, or non-release of the funds for capital projects, the people that suffer it the most is the grassroots.

He said, ‘’The 2020 budget, the project for capital expenditure was about 2.4 trillion and what was released was not up to 380 billion that is less than 40 per cent of it. And the capital project is actually the statistics, the ratio that measures National Development. So, if we have less than 40 percent budget performance in 2020, which is 2.4 trillion, 2021 what are we supposed to expect? Yes it’s easy to say it’s because of Covid-19, coronavirus is a global phenomenon every economy around the globe experienced Covid-19.

“Even in Nigeria, it was during this Covid-19 we spent billions of Naira in the guise of N-power and so on. For me, I just want reality, because when

there’s a colossal non-performance, or non-release of these funds for capital projects, the people that suffer it the most is the grassroots and when they suffer it, the nearest people they complain to and putpressureonistheNationalAssemblymembers, because of the proximity they have with them.’’

He, however, added that the best way the President and executive could help to make life better is to ensure adequate and timely capital release so that the National Assembly could now exercise its powers of oversight function to ensure compliance to see that it’s used for the projections it was made for.

The lawmaker representing Mbaitolu/ikeduru FederalConstituency,Hon.HenryNwawuba(PDP Imo), said it was not surprising that the budget has huge deficit.

He stated, “We need to do a thorough job on it; we need to make sure that it will indeed deliver on its promises. It has a very huge deficit component.

It’s not surprising, because in the entire world, the global system has crashed after the Covid-19 pandemic. We will do this work and try to connect this budget with the realities on ground in Nigeria.

“For example, Nigeria still has one of the highest out of school children in the world. We need to see this budget to ensure that we start to reduce this numbers. So, the budget will be committed to the various committees. I know that my committee which is the committee on Niger Delta, there’s a proposal of about 23 billion for capital and 65 billion for presidential amnesty program. We will commence oversight to see what happened in the 2020, ask the right question; supervise. We will do what we need to do as a parliament to bring this budget home and it resonates positively with Nigerians.’’

Hon. Bamidele Salam (PDP/Osun), said his first impression was the size of the budget, which he said was the highest in the nation’s history, adding that there was need to assess this size of the budget in comparison to the international benchmark of global currencies.

Salam stated: “As of this time last year, it was about N360 to a dollar, today it is about N500. So, even though the size appears big, comparatively, it is not. Again, like I always say, it is not the size of a budget that actually matters; it is not also the beautiful plans and projections we have that matter; it is the discipline that matters. This is October, for example.

“Yes, we all agree that coronavirus (pandemic) affected the implementation of the 2020 budget.

But I want to tell you that even as of now – in October – there are so many of the capital components of the 2020 budget that have not taken off, because most MDAs have not adhered properly to the procurement law. They have not exercised adequate discipline in the implementation of the budget.”

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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 Ëž ͚͚˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸

PERSPECTIVE How Buhari, Gambari Signpost New Direction The heat and tensions of the past few years seem slowly to be giving way to tentative cohesion and Ă‹ĂŽĂ—Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă Ă? Ă?ĘĽĂ?Ă?ÞÓà Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;Ă’Ă‹Ă—Ă—Ă‹ĂŽĂ&#x; ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ ĂĄĂœĂ“ĂžĂ?Ă? Adewale Adeeyo

A

s Nigeria marks her 60th IndependenceAnniversary, a significant part of the discourse will centre on national development, President Muhammadu Buhari himself, and to some extent, his team. It has been some five tumultuous years since the President assumed office at a time of huge but unmet expectations. For those five years, there has been no consensus on how steadily and progressively the government has steered the ship of state. There have been controversies about the representativeness and effectiveness of the cabinet, and there have been animated discussions about the patriotism of the President’s kitchen cabinet.

Also, there has been a greater and even more intense controversy about the direction of the Buhari Presidency itself, with the late Mr. Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, a central focus.

It was in the midst of the search for regime clarity and unresolved questions about who or what constitutes the fulcrum of the administration that the then serving CoS passed away.

As CoS,Abba Kyari assumed a central role in the administration and indeed became its lightning rod. The President was thought to be very distant from the hurting populace, even somewhat ineffective, aloof and uninformed, and had in the general supposition of the public abdicated his responsibilities to the late Mr. Kyari.

Soon after the administration assumed office in 2015, the economy stirred, and never was fully grounded or stable, in the first place. But it had hastily hurtled itself into the depths of a harsh recession. President Buhari, naturally, was blamed.

While the cabinet was not promptly constituted in the first instance, and never quite met the radical expectations of the public, a much larger problem of laxity and confusion enveloped the nation and cast doubt about the cohesion and readiness of the administration to govern about 200 million very energetic and boisterous peoples.

In short, it took a few years before the ship of state steadied, and even then, it always seemed poised to keel over due to widespread animosities and internal struggles for influence within the administration and among appointees. Whatever progress was made, it arrived against the backdrop of these fierce and weird struggles, most of the time, and all motions always seemed worrisomely tentative.

After a while, the economy began to grow again, but it never seemed too far away from slipping back into recession. Railway lines were being constructed, but there was no consensus whether this was not at a dispiriting cost in external loans. Roads and bridges, long neglected by previous administrations, were also being built.

But there were misgivings about their costs and geopolitical representativeness. The administration functioned as a modern government, but the internecine battles between functionaries gave it away as less cohesive and effective than it seemed or was desired.

While these demons and many other militating factors that plagued the administration have not been fully propitiated, new appointments in the past few months have appeared to mollify the centrifugal forces neutralising growth, stability and progress.

Improvements have been slow and sometimes desultory, but at least, there is evident and positive change of direction.

The heat and tensions of the past few years seem slowly to be giving way to tentative cohesion and administrative effectiveness.

There was, of course, nothing inevitable about this change of direction. Indeed, everything seemed to be entirely fortuitous, particularly, with the choice of, and appointment of a new Chief of Staff, whose training and temperament are markedly different from his predecessor’s. Our President chose well.

Alittle less than a month after the passing of Mr. Kyari inApril, the President appointed, as CoS, Ibrahim Gambari, a Professor of International Relations, outstanding scholar and long-standing diplomat with grit and gravitas plus global reputation.

Like his predecessor, the new presidential gatekeeper had announced to a nation wary of the unaccustomed powers now inherent in that important office that he would be proudly loyal to the President and would work from the background, probably often seen but seldom heard. He would be the engine room, as well as the brain box, of the Presidency like his predecessor, he clearly and matter-of-factly, stated.

But earlier inApril, close aides and friends of the President, who were mortified by the passing of Mr. Kyari had indeed publicly wondered whether the late CoS had not left behind large shoes no one could step into. They tremulously suggested that the late CoS had redefined that office, made it idiosyncratic to himself, and set the bar inordinately high, all but suggesting that he had set a benchmark which no one, let alone a mortal, could aspire to, ever.

Though it is too early to conclude, so far, all that puffing and grandstanding, translated to nothing, and Prof Gambari has hit the ground running in probably the most unobtrusive and confident manner imaginable. He gives the wholesome impression that he understands the pitfalls of the office, the snares that had made many Nigerians, including supporters of the President, fearful of the superfluous aggregation of power into that office to the point of seeming to be subversive of the constitution.

Consequently, Gambari has worked very smartly to reassure both the Presidency and the public that as a systems man, he

Buhari with his Chief of Sta, Professor Gambari understands the role of the CoS, and will do his best to play the power game very effectively, and without causing offence; except for d ruination of any cluster of rude malcontents. Not being a politician, nor at the advanced age of 75, would the latest CoS, be eyeing or aiming for a higher office.

He thus preferred working behind the scene to streamline the operations of the Presidency, reconcile warring and sometimes egotistic appointees, as he now stringently control the tightened access to the President on a need-to basis. There is still much work to be done, but at least a fair and profitable beginning has been achieved.

Without any doubt, the new CoS is a stern and consummate diplomat, as well as a sharp and severe academic. He recognises that in the past five years of the Buhari administration, many power centres had become inextricably interwoven with the highest office in the land, some of those power centres so implacable that it is pointless attempting to disentangle them from the seat of power.

He has left these competing power centres alone, so that they may sleep into comatose mode or gestate into meaningless nothing, with him knowing for sure that any threat to their existence could be met with such fierce, fratricidal response that would ensnare, stultify and slow down the Presidency.

He recognises that if the President, whom he swore to serve loyally and with utmost vigour, were to be left alone, and fortified with freedom, to fulfill his electoral promises, internal conflicts and competitions for influence must be considerably minimised, and indeed rigorously subdued. To a large extent, this arduous goal has been achieved in a matter of months.

In his second term, quite fortuitously, President Buhari is, therefore, moving more steadily and more rapidly to fulfill his objectives.

To be sure, and in a more nuanced way, the President has now appeared to have a better grip on his Presidency, and may now indulge in the thrills of the expert choreography that the the preppy diplomacy of his CoS had used to adorn, and also further enhance the already enormous powers of the Presidency.

There are no accusations, any more, that Mr. President is abdicating his Presidency or outsourcing his powers to any appointee.

Gambari has, as it were, restored the composed powers of the Presidency, shifting censorious gaze away from any other power centre, real or hypothetic, and refocusing and redirecting the whole country to see the President as the Commander-in-Chief and Chief Administrator, who has absolute control and authority over all the levers of power, attached to his fancy job and commanding office.

It takes a superlative diplomat and suave strategist to recognise the need and value of making the President to be, and be seen, in control even if others are doing the yeoman job.

The President conducts virtual conferences with his cabinet, gives orders for amelioration of public discord, and has a far more publicised grip on his cabinet and developmental issues, including infrastructural renewal matters. The National SecurityAgency (NSA) and the Ministry of Defence are gradually restoring control, including synergetic coordination, over military and other security establishments and issues. The national organogram of the security services makes more sense today than obtained in the past, thus helping the President to worry less about issues of synergy between his security and law enforcement agencies. The ultimate goal of flawless coordination is still a long way off. But a helpful and synchronised start has at last begun. It won’t take too long for the President to

wonder why he never had this kind of grip in his Presidency in his previous term, and until now.

There are of course still many problems relating to coordination, whether in politics or administration. It is unlikely these logjams will ever be completely resolved. But unlike in the early years of the Buhari administration, these problems are now being deliberately ameliorated, with Nigeria increasingly enjoying some form of real coordination.

There will continue to be problems relating to the acrimony in the rulingAll Progressives Congress party (APC), as the President himself has admitted, and there is nothing to suggest that he will in the immediate future get a better hang of the disarticulation, tearing members of the party apart.

But with the enthronement of transparency, order and rule of law in the administration, especially with respect to rules imposed to regulate the running of government, there is likely to be a positive spillover to the party as the months roll by.

Afew powerful individuals will still bend or take advantage of established rules, if not the law itself, as indeed is still happening, but overall, the electoral promises of the Buhari administration now stand a higher chance of being truly fulfilled.

While no single individual can take credit for the order and absence of contentiousness now pervading the Buhari administration, it is noticeable that in the economy, as troubled and slippery as it is, or in the national response to the COVID-19 crisis, and in the reinvigoration of the counterinsurgency operations, or the upgrading of national infrastructure on a holistic level, deliberate speed has become noticeable and relative order has expanded the President’s vista, and energised his vision despite its controversiality, and freed him from the needless bickering that once assailed his Presidency.

In the coming months, if nothing is allowed to overwhelm or undermine the process, the Presidency may yet function with the untrammelled idealism envisaged by the constitution. It has helped that a diplomat of the highest global distinction and a largely apolitical functionary unencumbered by primordial restraints now occupies the vital office of the Chief of Staff which enables the President to be in charge, and act in charge.

That fulcrum upon which the Presidency must anchor its activities and ambitions has been captured and secured by Gambari, and blended into the art of governance and quietly meshed into the indispensable soul of government itself.

In the coming weeks and months, the Presidency will face its severest tests yet. The increase in petroleum products prices, upward review of electricity tariffs, looming strikes, and inflationary pressures are certain to put a huge strain on the Presidency. The economy as a whole will also be stressed to nervy limits.

Good thing is Nigerians do not have the impression that the President has an economic team that is top notch. Nor do they think that by the nation’s habitual non-rigorous antecedent may swiftly harvest reward that would stir the economy to a vigorously robust model. But they now have assurance that the president’s latest attentiveness, nurtured by Gambari, would never permit it that none, again, would ever be left behind. ––Adeeyo, OON, is the Chairman, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and member, Governing Council, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ C ͹͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸

INTERNATIONAL ARCAN’s Webinars and Nigeria’s Foreign Policy in the Next 60 Years: The Challenge of the Past

A

RCAN meansAssociation of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria. It was first established and registered asAssociation of RetiredAmbassadors of Nigeria (ARAN) with the Corporate Affairs Commission onAugust 7, 2003. In response to international diplomatic challenges in an increasing world of globalisation and in light of the need to underscore professionalism, the two branches of the association in Lagos andAbuja were merged and re-registered asARCAN in October 2017, but the objectives remain the same: welfare of all its members, nation-building and sustaining national peace and security. It is within this cardinal objective that the webinar meetings organised so far by theARCAN should be understood.

TheARCAN held its first annual lecture on Thursday, 13th September, 2018. The lecture, entitled ‘Democratic Control of Foreign Policy, was delivered by Professor Nuhu Yaqub at the Nigerian Institute of InternationalAffairs (vide Vie Internationale of September 16, 2018 for the report of the lecture).

ARCAN’s first Webinar, entitled ‘’the Global Struggle for Racial Equality -Any Lessons for Nigeria’s Domestic and Foreign Policies: An Introductive Overview,’’ was held on June 22nd, 2020 at 12 noon, Nigerian time. There were six speakers: OdeinAjumogobia, SAN and former ForeignAffairs Minister of Nigeria; Professor George Obiozor, former NIIADirector-General and Former Ambassador of Nigeria to Israel and the United States; Professor Akin Oyebode, former Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University; Cheikh Gadio, former Foreign Minister of Senegal;Associate Professor BukolaAdesina of the University of Ibadan; and Owei Lakemfa, a seasoned journalist and columnist with the Vanguard news papers.

One major rationale for the seminar was to contribute to the global effort at eradication of racism through public enlightenment.

As explicated by theARCAN, ‘the subjugation of fellow humans and the suppression of their rights to life and freedom, on account of race and skin colour, is considered a huge burden on the global moral conscience and its resuscitation in any form should be abhorred at all costs. Racism should be rejected in all its forms and ramifications, and condemned.’ More important, theARCAN has it that ‘in spite of the concerted efforts to forge a common global humanity, based on equality of all regardless of race, colour, the ideal has remained elusive. Racism, very sadly, continues to raise its ugly head in various disconcerting forms, with serious consequences for peace and security.’ If racism continues to raise its ugly head, what is responsible for the recidivist character of the saga? Additionally, the ARCAN played host to Professor BolajiAkinyemi’s virtual lecture on ‘Post-COVID-19 Pandemic: New World Order Speculations,’ on Wednesday, 29th July, 2020 at 11.am.

ARCAN’s Mother of All Webinars

In celebration of Nigeria’s 60th IndependenceAnniversary, the ARCAN organised five Special Webinars, which all put together, can be described as the mother of all Webinars on Nigeria at 60 celebrations nation-wide. The Webinars addressed critical issues in nation-building, in the past and next sixty years. The five intellectual engagements, with the theme, ‘Nigeria at 60, the Journey So Far: Nigeria, Democracy and Development,’ have been quite thoughtprovoking.

The first of the five anniversary webinars was held on September 22, 2020. Dr. Kingsley Muoghalu, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, gave a lecture on ‘Nationhood, Development and Democracy in Nigeria.’ The second lecture on ‘60 Years of Nigeria’s Journey to Democracy: Hopes and Impediments’ was given on 24th September 2020 by Dr. Mathew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Sokoto. Dr. Vanessa Iwowo, Visiting Fellow at The Firox Lalji Centre forAfrica (FLCA), London School of Economics and Political Science and Lecturer at the University of London, spoke on Nigeria at 60: Leadership, Democracy and the Politics of Identity’ on September 28th, 2020. On September 29, 2020, it was the turn of Dr. Usman Bugaje, a political activist, civil society leader, and thinker to reflect on Democracy and Development: the Journey So Far.’ While the foregoing four speakers addressed the journey so far from various methodological perspectives, the last lecture by Professor WilliamAlade Fawole of the Department of International

VIE INTERNATIONALE

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Onyeama, Minister for Foreign Affairs Relations of the ObafemiAwolowo University, Ile-Ife, and a Member of the Nigerian Society of InternationalAffairs, reflected on the future. This is the first main challenge of the Webinar. But what future?

Professor Fawole spoke on ‘Nigeria in InternationalAffairs: Prognosis for the Next Sixty Years,’ on 6th October, 2020. This meant that theARCAN made efforts to understand, not only what has transpired from 1960 to date, but also the determination to seek an understanding of the likely place of Nigeria from 2020 until 2080. It also meant that theARCAN is not only seeking self-protection and protection of the national interest, but also building a knowledgedriven association.

In this regard, Professor Fawole raised many issues that generated much interest: feasibility of Nigeria’s permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC); non-appreciation of Nigeria’s altruistic roles in the defence ofAfrica’s interests and black dignity; post-American World Order or the inevitability of a New World Order; how to rejig the Ministry of ForeignAffairs as a foreign policy instrument; relevance or irrelevance ofAfrica as centrepiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy; and the triangular axis of relationship between France and Francophone WestAfrica, relationship between Nigeria and Francophone WestAfrica and the place of France in the relationship between the Francophone and Anglophone States within the framework of the ECOWAS. First, on Nigeria’s permanent membership of the UNSC, Professor Fawole submitted that ‘Nigeria’s aspiration for a permanent seat at the Security Council is unrealizable ... because the self-appointed guardians of international order, that is, the Five Permanent Members, are united in their unwillingness to share the power and privileges they have monopolised since the foundation of the United Nations..., and have therefore deliberately stalled the reform agenda recommended by the High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change (2005).’

Furthermore, in the eyes of Professor Fawole, the non-feasibility of Nigeria’s aspiration is also explained by ‘the competition that Nigeria is likely to face from fellowAfrican States who might either be interested in the seat or willing to play spoiler at the behest of

foreign interests.’ He argued that the Ezulwini Consensus, in addition toAfrica’s insistence on veto power for the would-beAfrican permanent members, cannot be helpful to Nigeria’s aspiration.

Without any scintilla of doubt, the argument of non-feasibility of Nigeria’s aspiration is intellectually tenable in light ofArticles 108 and 109 of the United Nations Charter, both of which require the consensus of the Five Permanent Members of the UNSC before the Charter can be amended. This is quite different from the geopolitical rationales already rightly given by Professor Fawole.

As provided inArticle 108 of the Charter, ‘amendments to the present Charter shall come into force for all Members of the United Nations when they have been adopted by a vote of two-thirds of the members of the GeneralAssembly and ratified in accordance with their respective constitutional processes by two-thirds of the Members of the United Nations, including all the Permanent Members of the Security Council.’

There are three critical points to be noted in this provision: the words ‘adoption’, ‘ratified’ and ‘including all the permanent members of the Security Council.’ In the same vein, as we shall see hereunder underArticle 109 (1),Article 108 talks about ‘amendment,’ while the Charter talks about ‘reviewing’ inArticle 109. In law, reviewing, amending, adopting, modifying, etc, do not have the same implications in terms of their meanings. Even the word ‘adopt’ is very ambiguous and of various types in family law: direct adoption, open adoption, equitable adoption, cooperative adoption, adoption by will, adoption by estoppel, black market adoption, closed adoption, international adoption, etc.

The notion of adoption in parliamentary law, which is closed to the intended meaning of the UN Charter, is that of acceptance and consent. BryanA. Garner, the Editor-in-Chief of the Black’s Law Dictionary, has it that ‘as applied to an assembly’s action with respect to board or committee reports or any of their contents, the expressions ‘adopt’, ‘accept,’ and ‘agree to’ are all equivalent - that is, the text adopted becomes in effect the act or statement of the assembly.

It is the least likely to be misunderstood.’ The implication of the use of ‘adopt’ is to underscore the point that whatever is to be adopted must be agreed to by the Permanent- 5 of the UNSC. This is the meaning of ‘including all the permanent members...’

In international law, ‘ratification,’ is also an approval and consent of a signatory to a treaty to be obligated by the treaty.As a process, it is the final stage of expression of consent to abide with the obligations created by a treaty in the spirit of the principle of sanctity of agreements. While ratification process may be the last stage for Monist countries, it is not so for the Dualist countries like Nigeria, which still require domestication for a ratified agreement to become enforceable.

InArticle 109 (1), ‘a General Conference of the Members of the United Nations for the purpose of reviewing the present Charter may be held at a date and place to be fixed by a two-thirds vote of the members of the GeneralAssembly and by vote of any seven members of the Security Council. Each Member of the United Nations shall have one vote in the conference. In paragraph 2 of the sameArticle, ‘any alteration of the present Charter recommended by a two-thirds vote of the conference shall take effect when ratified in accordance with their respective constitutional processes by two-thirds of the Members of the United Nations, including all the Permanent Members of the Security Council.’

Even inArticle 109 (3), ‘if such a conference has not been held before the tenth annual session of the GeneralAssembly following the coming into force of the present Charter, the proposal to call such a conference shall be placed on the agenda of that session of the GeneralAssembly, and the conference shall be held if so decided by a majority vote of any seven members of the Security Council.’

The relevance of the following explication is that adoption is often the first leg of consent giving in the continuum of treaty obligation, coming before ratification. The problem withArticles 108 and 109 is that the provisions empower the P-5 to be or not to be obligated to accept any attempt to review, amend, alter, modify, etc, the UN Charter.Again, while an amendment or alteration can apply to a part of an agreement, to modify necessarily involves a substantial part of the agreement. Consequently, the problem for the P-5 in accepting democratic reform of the United Nations begins with the uncertainty over whether a review or amendment will be little or substantial. The P-5 are not interested in any substantial amendment to the UN Charter. If we consider Professor Fawole’s reasons for the non-feasibility of Nigeria’s aspiration along with the statutory requirements for amendment of the Charter, Professor Fawole cannot but be correct.

However, we believe that the ratio decidendi for what is considered for failure ofAfrica to make progress is not, stricto sensu, the Ezulwini Consensus. While there can be no disputing the fact that theAfrican Union was divided against itself at home, the big powers have a completely different agenda. This point will now be discussed within the context of other issues raised and in the context of the next sixty years.

One specific question on whether it would be possible to detach the Francophone States from towing the French line, opinion was sharply divided. My view, contrarily to the popular view that there is no permanent friend or enemy but permanent interests, is that the idea of detachment should be ruled out simply because there can be permanent friends and permanent enemies on the basis of permanent interest. For instance, France’s policy in Francophone Africa, particularly in West and Central Africa is to prevent Nigeria from influencing them against French interest in Africa and Nigeria’s policy on France is the same. As all the neighbours of Nigeria are Francophone and having solid ties with Nigeria in the Next Sixty Years France, whose presence is very strong in the sub-region, Nigeria and France cannot There is no reason why Nigeria should not be a Permanent but for now and in the foreseeable future relate on the basis of mutual suspicions. The Member of the UNSC in the next sixty years. In other words, Nigepermanency of the interest of both countries is mutual suspicion, and therefore, their ria’s aspiration is quite feasible now and in the foreseeable future permanent interest. Consequently, for as long as France continues to considerably sustain contrary to many scholarly predictions, including the viewpoint Professor Fawole and Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the veteran the public service and the economy of many countries, consideration of any detachment of diplomatist and international functionary. will, at best, remain a dream. Nigeria therefore needs a re-strategy (See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ OCTOBER 11, 2020

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FEATURE

Nigeria at 60: We Won’t Renege on Our Promises, says Abiodun As Nigeria marks her 60th anniversary, Governor Dapo Abiodun, has rededicated himself to the task of bringing Ogun State through its current challenges into its most rewarding and progressive epoch, writes Lanre Alfred

T

oo often it seems we have a surplus of bluster in our national politics and a deficit of action. But then there’s Ogun governor, Dapo Abiodun. By many quantitative metrics, Governor Abiodun may pass as the most unconventional Nigerian politician who vied for a state gubernatorial office.

He ran the most unconventional of campaigns, a whirlwind of rallies, speeches, energy, all captured live in the moment on the mainstream and social media, with grit, determination, and a message: No longer would mediocrity pervade Ogun State’s government house.

Other messages were resonant through his campaign: no longer would covetous characters dictate the Gateway State’s sovereignty; no longer would decadent elites mortgage the interests of Ogun’s citizenry. Dapo Abiodun resurrected Ogun State’s ancestral/historical pride. The real vision was to form an all inclusive government marking the first time an Ogun State governor would unite seemingly irreconcilable factions in the state on the strength of his charisma, maturity and political sagacity.

In his address to the citizenry on Thursday, October 1, 2020, Nigeria’s independence day, Governor Abiodun assured the people of better days ahead while lamenting his inability to lead the state on a grand celebration due to the sad reality of the COVID-19 pandemic which has forced nations in the world to think and act differently, and which has imposed on Ogun State, the imperative of a low-key celebration.

He said, “Again, today we stand on the thresholds of history as we celebrate Nigeria’s Diamond Anniversary. Indeed, it is an occasion that will afford us the opportunity of a comprehensive appraisal of how well we have fared; review our achievements and re-examine the challenges facing us as a people. This will enable us to come up with improved and more practical approaches towards attaining and nurturing our great Nation’s potentials for sustainable development.”

According to him, while it is being argued in some quarters that Nigeria’s achievements have not matched-up with her potentials, “this cannot be a reason to dismiss or diminish the worth of our freedom.”

He assured that his administration has made it a matter of policy to continue to improve all sectors of Ogun State’s economy.

He said, “We have continued to enact bold reforms in the process and system of governance to boost economic activities.

This has helped us to accelerate development in our economic Pillars. This has in turn provided strong foundation for the optimum contribution for our economic Enablers to the continued development of our dear State.

“Our ISEYA acronym has helped us to map out a strategy that ensures a successful implementation of our ‘Building our Future Together’ agenda and continued development of our dear state. Our ISEYA acronym, meaning: I – Infrastructure, S – Social Welfare and Wellbeing, E – Education, Y – Youth Development, and A – Agriculture and Food Security.

On infrastructure, he said that his administration’s approach has been to develop the infrastructure that meets the immediate needs of the citizenry and provide a solid foundation for continued and sustainable development.

“To that extent, we started with our inclusive approach, by asking our community leaders, interest groups and other stakeholders across our 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) to submit a coordinated list of infrastructural needs, in order of preference, in their areas that are key to the successful implementation of the ‘Building our Future Together’ agenda. The list include roads, schools as well as Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs).This exercise has been very rewarding, allowing us to strategically allocate resources,” he said.

Commenting on his administration’s plan to improve the social wellbeing of the state, he said, “We are quite aware that there is a need to provide avenues to ease access to healthcare; empower our people economically; provide affordable shelter in a well-planned environment; and, protect the vulnerable groups, especially the aged, women and the girl-child.”

And to combat educational challenges, he said his administration has evolved a multi-dimensional approach for further development of our educational industry. This, he said, includes the development of infrastructure, capacity building for our teaching and non-teaching corps, resolution of industrial crises, appointment of digitally compliant teachers, motivation of existing corps of teachers with timely promotions and introduction of ICT into the teaching-learning process.

To empower the state’s teeming youth, his administration has

Abiodun leveraged on ICT by launching the Ogun Job Portal in August, 2019, which has been instrumental in allocating the youth to the appropriate sectors where they will be most productive for themselves and the state. Through this database, potential employers are able to post their vacancies on the portal and it acts as a first point of call for employers looking for qualified people to hire.

Governor Abiodun noted that his administration had deliberately chosen agriculture as its major pillar. He said, “The unique position of agriculture in the economy of Ogun State and indeed the glory of the old Western Region cannot be overemphasized as it has always been the mainstay of our economy. We should be able to take advantage of our God-given landmass spanning 16,000 square kilometres that is very fertile for food and cash crop production as well as for new crops with high-value opportunities that can raise farm incomes. And, indeed it has proven to be a wise decision.

“We shall continue to invest in Agriculture so as to tap into its enormous potentials: raw materials for our industry, employment generation, food security, poverty alleviation and wealth creation, among others. The target of our Administration is to produce enough food to attain nutritional self-sufficiency in the short term, and over long term produce enough food for other States in the country and for export.”

Governor Abiodun assured that all of his government’s programmes are inter-related to ensure more prosperity for the people of Ogun State.

Ogun State, like Nigeria, he said, has a lot to be proud and thankful for. He said, “Beneath the history and success of our National Day celebration is the strength and struggle of our forebears and founding fathers. And, in fact, for us in Ogun State, we have every reason to celebrate the independence of our great Nation. The fact remains irrefutable that at every crossroads in the annals of our Nation’s socio-political development, proud ambassadors of Ogun State have been the compasses leading us

the right way.”

“It is on record that the first ever military to civilian political transition in Nigeria was mid-wifed by General Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR in 1979; the same Olusegun Obasanjo came to Nigeria’s rescue in 1999 to usher in our present democracy.

History will also not forget him as he mid-wifed the first ever successful civilian-to-civilian transition in 2007. We should also not forget the roles of Chief Ernest Shonekan, GCFR as the leader of the Interim National Government after the impasse of the June 12, 1993 General Elections.

That the election on its own stands as a watershed in Nigeria’s electoral history as a signpost of free and fair elections in Nigeria, and that the winner of the election is another son and icon of Ogun State, the Late Chief MKO Abiola, GCFR, is worth acknowledgement as yet another indicator of Ogun State’s significance as Nigeria’s bedrock of titans, first-class citizens and patriots.

According to Abiodun, the independence anniversary offers yet another opportunity for his administration to reiterate its promise not to renege on its promises, stressing that his government will continue to deploy resources towards ensuring conducive environment Ogun citizenry to discover and nurture their potentials irrespective of their age, gender, status and location.

“Indeed, we are determined to unleash the creative energies of our vibrant, tireless and motivated people: innovators, academics, researchers, people in the public service and the private sector, whether formal or non-formal sector like, artisans, the professional class, captains of industry, politicians, farmers, graduates, parents, students and all Nigerians at home and wherever they may be in the world for continued development of our dear State in particular and the country in general. For us, all our hope lies in the bristling and bewildering diversities which if properly harnessed should provide us with the impetus to excel,” he said.

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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 ˾ ͯ​ͯ˜ 2020

NEWS

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

Amid Fraud Allegations, Lagos Speaker Faces Impeachment 26 signatures already collected against Obasa Lawmakers say he has lost moral right to lead Tobi Soniyi Amid sundry allegations of financial misappropriation, impeachment proceedings may be initiated against the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa any

moment from now, THISDAY has learnt.

Findings also reveal that 26 members of the assembly have consented to the plot to impeach Obasa following allegations of wrongdoing levelled against him by civil society organisations (CSOs)

in different petitions.

Different sources confirmed the plot to impeach the speaker to THISDAY last night, noting that Obasa no longer has the moral right to provide leadership for the assembly with corruption allegations hanging on him.

One of the sources, who spoke privately with THISDAY yesterday, disclosed that antiObasa lawmakers had already collected 26 signatures ahead of the impeachment proceedings, which according to him, might be initiated.

UNTO GOD WE SURRENDER R-L: The candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for senatorial bye-election in Lagos East, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru; Chairman of Ijede Local Council Development Area, Mr. Salisu Jimoh and wife of the APC candidate, Mrs. Feyisola worship at a meeting with Christian leaders ahead of the bye-election in his country home, Ikorodu … Saturday

The source disclosed that nearly all lawmakers “want Obasa to step aside and clear his name.

We all agree that Obasa has not been convicted. But with diverse allegations brought against him, Obasa can no longer lead the assembly.”

Another source confirmed that the speaker no longer “has the moral right to lead the assembly because of corruption allegations against him. The coming days will witness a change in the leadership of the state assembly.”

Obasa had been battling a series of corruption allegations recently with anti-graft advocacy groups calling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to charge the speaker with financial misappropriation.

On Thursday, the EFCC interrogated the speaker over allegations of fraud and financial misappropriation. The spokesperson to EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed Obasa’s interrogation and investigation.

Consequently, a federal high court in Lagos had granted the EFCC temporary forfeiture of funds linked to the speaker. The EFCC, in a motion dated August 12 and marked FHC/L/CS/1069/2020, had asked the court to issue an order for the funds in three bank accounts to be forfeited in the interim.

According to the anti-graft commission, the three bank accounts are “being investigated for the

offences of conspiracy, diversion of funds, abuse of office and money laundering”.

All three accounts which carried the name of the defendant are domiciled in Standard Chartered Bank. While one of the accounts (001852963) is a domiciliary account, the other two (001852956 and 5002349821) are naira current and savings accounts respectively.

Media reports had months ago alleged that Obasa owned more than 60 bank accounts, through which he misused public funds.

He was also accused of awarding contracts to himself using different companies as fronts.

The speaker, however, denied any wrongdoing.

In June, the assembly set up a nine-member panel to look into allegations brought against him.

In its report, the panel exonerated the speaker, claiming that Obasa did no wrong and cleared him.

The committee was headed by Victor Akande, the representative of Ojo Constituency.

Speaking before the panel, Obasa described the allegations against him as “unfounded.”

Obasa said his approval limit as the speaker of the House was N100 million.

The speaker has not been. charged with any offence. Under the law, Obasa is presumed innocent until his guilt is proved beyond reasonable doubt in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Rising Cases of Sexual Violence Unacceptable, Says Abiru

Pledges legislation to tackle menace Allays fear of religious leaders on CAMA Gboyega Akinsanmi The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for senatorial bye-election in Lagos East, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru yesterday expressed concern at the rising cases of domestic and sexual violence in the federation.

Abiru, a former Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State, said cases of domestic and sexual violence in the country were objectionable and unacceptable, thus pledging legislation to tackle the challenge if elected.

He gave this assurance at separate meetings with Christian and Muslim leaders in Ikorodu yesterday, promising that he would promote legislations

that would address cases of domestic and sexual violence in the country.

He addressed the religious leaders alongside the Chairman of APC Senatorial Campaign Council, Chief Kaoli Olusanya; husband of Ogun State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Bode Oyedele and a former Commissioner for Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Muslim Folami, among others.

At the meeting yesterday, the APC candidate acknowledged that domestic and sexual violence “is another issue of concern, particularly for religious leaders. Cases of defilement, incest and sexual harassment are regularly reported in the social and traditional media.

“Sadly enough, we even have cases of fathers now abusing their own daughters. Similarly, we often read about husbands abusing their wives; guardians maltreating their maids and even wives ill-treating their husbands.”

With these issues rising astronomically, the APC candidate said domestic and sexual violence had become a burden for religious bodies and leaders altogether, noting that the issues “are not just a challenge for religious organisations, but also for the entire society.”

Abiru explained that the dynamics of these challenges called for synergy between the religious bodies, civil society organisations

APC Group: Retaining Service Chiefs Weakens Officers’ Morale Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) Consolidation Forum, a support group within the ruling party, has called for the appointment of new service chiefs to rev up the fight against the multi-pronged security issues currently bedevilling the country.

A statement signed by the organisation’s National Coordinator, Dr Usman Muhammad and the National Youth Leader, Hajiya Hauwa Malakachaa, advised the president not to be swayed by those insisting that the status quo must be retained.

The group stated that the continuous retention of the security chiefs in spite of the expiration of their tenures and years of service

in the nation’s armed forces had weakened morale among officers and men of the service.

However, the group hailed President Muhammadu Buhari, for what it said were assurances it received through some respected Nigerians that he would soon rejig the security apparatuses to reverse the worsening security system in the country.

While regretting that for long, the country’s growth and development had been hindered principally by insecurity, the APC forum asked the president to take the first step in the restructuring by relieving the service chiefs of their positions.

It added that the development had contributed in no small measure to the country’s lingering security

problems.

“Mr President should wield the big stick by sacking the service chiefs and replacing them with younger officers who will bring new ideas to the table. Enough is enough!

“We make this suggestion because of what we are seeing on the ground. The morale of fighting officers and soldiers is very low because of career stagnation and lack of motivation and no armed forces in the world can effectively win a war with this condition.

“While we must admit that sacking the service chiefs may not be the only solution to resolving the current insecurity quagmire, it is the first step to go, considering what we have on ground in the north east.

(CSOs) and lawmakers “to develop a legal regime that will reduce or at best prevent the perpetration of such heinous crime in the country.”

If eventually elected on October 31, the APC candidate assured the religious leaders that he would join forces with other stakeholders “to end the vicious culture of inhumanity and bestial behaviour in our society through the instruments of lawmaking and legislation.”

He allayed the fear of the religious leaders on section 839 (1) of CAMA, which empowered the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) “to suspend trustees of an association (church, mosques, NGO or CSO) and appoint interim

managers on such associations.

He, however, said CAMA “has its own good sides. The Act has the capacity to improve ease of doing business and attract more foreign direct investments (FDIs).”

Abiru, however, promised “to promote legislation that will address the concerns of the religious bodies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society organisations (CSOs).

“In entirety, we also share this concern and promise, if elected, to seek amendment to this Act such that fear of stakeholders will be allayed,” he said.

On the brutality of SARS, Abiru again condemned the Special Anti-

Robbery Squad (SARS), an arm of the Nigeria Police that had been attacking, brutalizing, maiming and even killing youths across the federation.

He said: “We are in an age of innovation. The use of information and communication technology (ICT) is pivotal to this era. As a result, the youths of this generation cannot do without laptops or holding their smartphones.”

The APC candidate condemned arbitrary arrest of the youths by the SARS, thereby rejecting the extra-judicial practices of SARS, which he said, should never again be mentioned in any part of the country.

Welbeck CEO: Nigerians to Enjoy Improved Power Supply from 2021 The Chief Executive Officer, Welbeck Electricity Distribution Limited, Mr. Afolabi Aiyela has said power supply will be stable from 2021, citing the federal government’s new cost reflective tariff for electricity.

Aiyela added that the new tariff regime would attract massive domestic and foreign investments into the country, noting that electricity consumers should expect improved power supply by next year.

He gave this assurance when officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources visited the Ojota Power Plant, one of the power plants operated by Welbeck Electricity Distribution Limited.

At the visit were Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources, Mr. Mustapha Olorunfemi; the ministry’s Head of Energy Department, Mr. Hafeez Momoh and General Manager, Welbeck Electricity Distribution Limited, Mr. Michael Onojafe.

During the visit, Aiyela noted that the sector had become extremely attractive to foreign investors whom he said had become confident of making a return on any investment they made in the biggest power market in sub-Saharan Africa, in terms of demand.

He explained that the expert consensus worldwide “is that fossil fuel subsidies have a net negative

effect, both in individual countries and on a global scale. Electricity subsidies artificially lower prices, leading to market distortions and consumer wastage.

“Such consequences include environmental, economic and social impacts. In Nigeria, subsidies have led to the increase in energy consumption, strain on government budgets and diversion of funds that could otherwise be spent on social priorities (such as healthcare or education) and reduce the profitability of alternative energy sources.”

He commended the state government for the support and enabling environment they have created that had helped Welbeck Electricity to thrive.

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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 ˾ ͯ​ͯ˜ 2020

NEWSXTRA Nigeria Records 122 Extra-Judicial Killings in Nine Months Amnesty asks FG to implement report on SARS &DQYDVVHV WUDLQLQJ WR FKDQJH RIÀFHUV· PLQGVHW Gboyega Akinsanmi Global Rights, an international human rights non-governmental organization, has disclosed that no fewer than 122 cases of extrajudicial killings were recorded in Nigeria between January and October 4, 2020 alone.

The organisation claimed that the extra-judicial killings resulted from the extortion and harassment by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), trigger-happy police officers, clashes with the locals and dispersal of protest and agitation.

The Country Director of Global Rights, Mrs. Abiodun Baiyewu released the new report to THISDAY at the weekend, detailing the occurrences of extra-judicial killings across the federation in each month.

Major cities had witnessed widespread protests across the federation, calling for the outright scrapping of SARS, an arm of the Nigeria Police that had been accused of killing and maiming the youths extra-judicially.

The most recent incident involved a young Nigerian in Ughelli, Delta State on October 3.

This incident reportedly typifies the extra-judicial activities of some SARS operatives across the federation.

With the public disapproval that

followed it, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu suspended all tactical squads of the Nigeria Police – SARS, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Special Tactical Squad (STS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and Anti-Cultism Squad.

Despite the decision of the inspector-general, thousands of Nigerians, especially youths and women groups, had been protesting the extra-judicial activities of all the tactical squads of the police.

But in its update, Global Right put the total number of extra-judicial killings recorded in the country between January and October 4 at 122, which its country director described as unfortunate and unacceptable.

In January, according to the organisation, five persons were killed extra-judicially; 20 in February; seven in March; 24 in April; eight in May; 16 in June; six in July; 30 in August; four in September and two in October so far.

It claimed that SARS was not the only unit of the police that committed the crime as it added that operatives of the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Custom Service (NCS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Nigerian Army were also culpable.

With this record of extra-judi-

cial killing nationwide, Baiyewu observed that Nigeria’s threshold for violence “is inordinately high especially considering that the country is not at war “Citizens are contending not just with the insecurity meted on them by organized criminal

groups, but also by official security forces, in particular focus currently – SARS,” the country director explained.

He said SARS’ power to terrorise “is enabled by impunity.

President Muhammadu Buhari owes Nigerians a duty to probe

the operations of this unit, audit the entire police force, and make concerted efforts to ensure their reform.”

Citing the widespread anti-SARS protest nationwide, the Chairman of Amnesty International in Nigeria, Mr.

Auwal Rafsanjani condemned the extra-judicial activities of SARS and Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS).

Consequently, Rafsanjani challenged the inspector-general of police to implement the report of the Presidential Panel on

GOOD NIGHT, GRANDPA L-R: Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Revd, Felix Ajakaiye; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; late Prof. Afolabi Ojo’s sons, Mr. Olagoke Ojo and Mr. Olakunle Ojo; during the funeral service, in honour of Prof Ojo at St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Ado -Ekiti... Friday

OsinbajoAsks State to Accelerate Processing of Land Documents

Pensioners Protest Ekiti’s 25% Deduction from N16bn Gratuity

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has asked state governments to cut down the bottlenecks in processing of land documents and collection of certificate of occupancy to further enhance ease of doing business in Nigeria.

He gave the advice at the 2020 National House Fair held in Abuja, saying since the custody of land “is technically within the purview of the states, it behoves them to make sure the impediments are removed.”

Osinbajo, who was represented at the house fair by Mr. Abubakar Aliyu, Minister of State for Works and Housing, stated that housing would play a major role in the government’s effort to reduce poverty in the country.

He said: “As we are all aware, the Land Use Act has technically vested the housing responsibility on states and local governments, the custodians of land in the country.

“This presupposes that these two tiers of government must be at the forefront in housing development.

“As a government, we have identified land titling as a rapid tool for economic development as it creates the basis for land taxation, access to credit, increased market value and investment stimulation, amongst others.

“I wish to appeal to state governments to ease-up and quicken the process of issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) and other titles.”

Acknowledging the aptness of this year’s theme, “Gateway to Better Life: Affordable Housing Solutions”, to the country’s housing journey, the vice president

disclosed that the federal government was determined to lift 100 million Nigerians from poverty in the next 10 years.

In line with the Economic Sustainability Plan, he explained that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had approved the sum of N200 billion for 300,000 households to enable Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) finance the construction of social housing units for low-income earners.

According to him, the programme was designed for the purpose of reducing the housing deficit through collaboration with public and private entities by creating a robust housing management of public buildings, hostel accommodation, among others.

He said the pilot project of the Affordable Housing Development and Management Initiative (AHDMI) would commence in October 2020 in Gwagwalada with the construction of 2,500 mixed housing units under a Public- Private Partnership (PPP).

In his remarks, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi called on the federal government to make policies that would enhance the provision of affordable housing for Nigerians, noting that national development could only be possible when basic needs are met.

The traditional ruler enjoined his colleagues to work very closely with the government and the private sector in the development and provision of affordable housing for the citizenry.

He added that by their status, traditional rulers are natural custodians of land and therefore relevant in the development of their communities through the provision of affordable housing

The Ekiti State Government and its pensioners under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners are currently at loggerheads over an arrangement to deduct 25% from the pensioners’ gratuities to defray N16 billion arrears.

The pensioners rejected the proposal of Governor Kayode Fayemi to bring in a financial institution to pay gratuity arrears with a condition that 25 percent will be deducted from the entitlement of every pensioner.

In a statement circulated during a protest Friday, the pensioners contended that the attempt to deduct 25% from their gratuities was a violation of their fundamental rights, which they said, would be rejected.

The statement by the prisoners

said: “This is a gross violation and the government must reverse the arrangement. It is our right to take full gratuities after working for 35 years. We consider this a scam and we reject it.”

However, the state government debunked the claims of the pensioners that it planned to impose such an arrangement on them, noting that the arrangement was optional and never compulsory for the pensioners.

At a news conference he addressed alongside Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji yesterday, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Akin Omole said the state government established the Ekiti Discount Gratuity Settlement Scheme after consulting with NUP’s leadership.

Omole explained the essence of the scheme, which according to him, was designed to fast track payment of gratuity areas via a negotiated discount process.

He said the state government “negotiated and obtained approval of NUP’s leadership to commence the scheme whereby a financial institution (United Capital) would pay the retirees under agreed terms and collect the funds from the government between now and 2022 when the programme would end.

“Interested pensioners are to choose which period they prefer from March 2021; June 2021; October 2021 and February 2022 with discounts of 15%, 10%, 5% and 0% respectively.

“Concerned pensioners would be guaranteed payment

of their individual gratuities with promissory note that would be issued to them.

“Other pensioners, who are not interested in participating in the scheme, may wait patiently for the date on their promissory notes which would be issued for February 2022. They would get their money in full without discount or deductions.

“The scheme is completely optional. No retiree is forced or mandated to accept any discount if they choose to wait until February 2022,” Omole said.

Also at the conference, Oyebanji pointed out that the four model schools established by the Fayemi administration in Ado Ekiti to decongest the existing ones would be commissioned and students would resume next month.

Businessman Writes NJC, Accuses Judge of Bias Tobi Soniyi A Lagos based businessman, Chima Nsudum, has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) urging it to investigate Justice, D. E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, for alleged bias in a case before him.

In a petition available to THISDAY, Nsudum asked the NJC “to probe the judge’s handling of a winding up proceeding of a private limited liability company, Davebenlin Nigeria Limited.”

However, the judge has not responded to the petition. He also remains innocent until the council finds otherwise.

The petitioner claimed that on December 4, 2019, the judge received a notice of appeal, and an

application for stay of proceedings pending appeal, forcing him to adjourn the main suit indefinitely.

“However in spite of the order for adjournment granted by the judge, in the suit number: FHC/UM /PET/02 2018 between Chima Nsudum and Davebenlin Nigeria Limited, he later fixed a new date for hearing of the matter without the conclusion of the appeal.”

“The judge listed the case for hearing on July 23 in the said suit, a motion by Davebenlin Nigeria Limited on July 20 seeking to confiscate the brand name ‘KMCA’ of a Sandpaper owned by his company, Panadave Investments Limited anywhere it was found in Nigeria on the allegation that they were newly

imported in contravention of the judge’s injunctive order.”

The petitioner claimed that Panadeve Investments Limited, was not a party in the suit.

Nsudum also alleged that during the proceeding on July 23 in the face of a motion on notice by the petitioner’s counsel, seeking an adjournment of the motion for stay of proceedings, in deference firstly, to the court’s own ruling, secondly, to the motion for stay of proceedings pending at the Court of Appeal and thirdly, to the record which had been entered, Justice Osiagor still insisted on hearing Davebenlin’s application.

“The judge was, however, forced to adjourn the matter to October 13, 2020, because the time had not run out for the petitioner

to file a counter-affidavit to the motion. Nevertheless, he still went ahead to make an order for maintenance of status-quo by the parties.

“In the meantime, a Form 48 (Notice of disobedience to an order of court) was served on the petitioner’s office, with a copy of the order of July 23 as an attachment.

“The Form 48 was dated July 24, meaning that the order attached was obtained most probably on July 23 by Davebenlin’s counsel, while the petitioner’s counsel has been denied access to the proceedings/order to date.”

The petitioner alleged that the judge has consistently refused to record his lawyers and their submission.

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

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NEWSXTRA Buhari Asks Nigerians to Promote National Unity Above Sectional Interests Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has called on all Nigerians and sectional leaders to subsume their personal and sectional interests into the overall national aspirations of unity, economic prosperity and good governance.

Despite obvious differences, Buhari observed that there was need “to ensure that everyone’s actions and utterances are aimed at strengthening the country’s democratic framework.”

He made these remarks at the passing out parade of the Cadets of 67 Regular Course and Short Service Course 46 (Army) at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna.

In a statement the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu issued after the parade, Buhari said the loyalty and patriotism of service personnel should be sustained and strengthened.

He appealed to all Nigerians to uphold and project the unity of the country.

The president said: “Despite

our obvious differences, we must strive to ensure that our actions, and utterances are aimed towards strengthening our democratic framework.

“We must subsume our personal and sectional interests into the overall national aspirations of unity, economic prosperity and good governance.”

The president also reiterated his full confidence in the ability of the Nigerian Army to protect the territorial integrity of the nation, particularly in the ongoing war against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

He gave an assurance that the federal government would increase manpower and improve training to meet the changing dynamics of security in the country.

Buhari said the nation was passing through “a time of great need for cohesion, peace and unity.

The resilience and steadfastness of our personnel in the Armed Forces for their professionalism and bravery in tackling the menace of terrorism, insurgency and armed banditry in the Northeast and Northwest as well as herders/

farmers conflict, kidnapping, piracy and communal clashes in other parts of our country.

“Let me at this juncture, restate our administration’s will to support the operations of the armed forces in the defence of the nation. Just recently, I approved the increment of manpower intake into the three services in order to cater for the deficit of personnel being experienced.

“Additionally, the federal government will sustain the provision of adequate modern equipment, logistics and infrastructure needed to support the operations of the armed forces.

“These, no doubt, will enhance the preparedness of the Armed Forces to meet contemporary security challenges

especially with innovations in the field of warfare, information and communication technology,” he said.

The president said the government remained focused in the fight against insurgency, armed banditry and other forms of criminality across the nation.

He said: “We remain committed to ending the security challenges bedeviling the country.

I am confident that the training received by the passing out cadets has adequately equipped them to face any challenges in their line of duty.

“The broad contexts to which these prospective officers will be deployed is complex, fluid and dynamic. Thus, you will have to keep pace with these ever

changing challenges.”

He told the cadets officers that a successful completion of a rigorous and demanding task of this nature undoubtedly infuses in them a sense of self-esteem, efficacy and accomplishment.

The president said: “It lifts your spirit and leaves you with conviction that with commitment and dedication you would successfully accomplish future tasks that will come your way as officers of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Let me now remind the passing out cadets of the need to be committed to the nation by taking your rightful place among your peers in the Armed Forces of our country.”

He said all the accomplishments

in national security were made possible by the untiring efforts of the military and other security agencies, urging the graduates to join their senior colleagues in the field and contribute to the defence of the country.

“With the quality of training you have received, I am convinced that you will discharge your duties professionally and responsibly. I can say without ambiguity that the future holds promise for our national defence and security”, the president added.

He commended the commandant, officers, men and academic staff of NDA for their dedication to duty and determination to run the course despite the peculiarities of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Obasanjo: Seeking Refuge in God Will Save Nigeria Ugo Aliogo Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised Nigeria’s leaders to seek refuge in God if they are determined to see the country’s progress and take its place in the comity of nations.

Obasanjo said this in Lagos at a thanksgiving service of Apostle Olufunso Salako, at the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church, saying retracing “our footsteps back to God would heal the country of its many challenges.”

Represented by his son, Dr. Seun Obasanjo, the former president extolled the sterling qualities of the late Salako, adding that she lived an eventful, even as he enjoined the family too to seek refuge in Christ and comfort each other that Mama was with God in heaven.

“The Bible encourages us to comfort one another, When a Christian passes away. Mama’s family should rejoice, because according to the Bible, she is asleep with Christ and we will all meet on resurrection morning. Christ died and rose on the third day, we therefore know that resurrection is assured for all Christians.”

In his remarks, the Supreme Head, Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church, Most Apostle Dr. Solomon Alao, admonished the congregation not to throw caution to the wind, because COVID-19 was real and should endeavour

to protect themselves.

He reminded the congregation to observe safety measures in the bid to contain the spread of COVID-19, noting that presently, the ailment has no cure.

Alao, however, lauded the virtues of Salako, whom he described as a worthy Christian example and called on the church to emulate her lifestyle.

He added: “COVID-19 is real.

Ensure that you use your nose mask, stay safe and observe all the necessary COVID-19 safety measures.”

The service had in attendance, eminent personalities from all walks of life, including the Chairman National Executive Council of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church, Snr Superintendent, Apostle, Omoniyi Owomoyela (JP); Chairman Sacred C&S Church Agege District Church Council, Elder, Apostle Bola Odubela, (JP); Canon, Yinka Ogunmekan; General Mother Folasade Alao (JP) and Snr Rev Mother Enitan Allen.

Also in attendance was His Royal Majesty, Alaperu of Iperu, Adeleke Idowu Basipo; His Royal Majesty, Onirolu of irolu, Sk Adeyiga; His Royal Majesty Oba Segun Ogunye; His Royal Majesty, the Elefire of Efire, Adeniyi; His Royal Majesty, the Ojotumore of Abiji, Segun Ogunye and Chief Executive Officer, Biscon TV, Bisi Olatilo.

Akinwalere Mourns NULGE President A former National President, Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Dr. Deji Akinwalere has expressed shock at the sudden death of NULGE’s immediate past president, Alhaji Ibrahim Khaleel who died at the National Hospital, Abuja on Wednesday.

Akinwalere, a retired permanent secretary, described Khaleel “as one of his ardent admirers, who played significant role in my emergence as the president and a staunch supporters whose support was noticeable towards the success and achievements of my administration.”

He extolled the quality of the late unionist, saying as his political son, Khaleel distinguished himself

as a fast learner who within the shortest time of tutelage was able to climb to the peak as the national president of the union and capped it as the national Treasurer of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Akinwalere said the deceased would be remembered as a man of peace, recalling that the last official function he performed few hours before his death, was the meeting he held with the union’s national Care-taker Committee Chairman, Comrade Nankpak Njomiri and representatives of the Inspector General of Police in Abuja last Wednesday, the day he died on ways to peacefully resolve the crisis that engulfed the union since two years.

ANOTHER STRIDE. . .

L-R: Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Ibrahim Bomai; Postmaster General of the Federation, Adebayo Adewusi; Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Oluremi Tinubu; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Ali Pantami; member of the House of Representatives, Hon Akeem Adeyemi; NIPOST Chairman, Yaya-Abubakar and Chairman, National Communications Commission (NCC), Prof.

Adeola Akande, at the unveiling of the stamps compendium at the NAF Centre, Abuja ... Friday.

Bamidele, Yahaya Recommend Antidotes to Achieve Food Sufficiency

After Backlash, FG Explains N654m

Laleye Dipo in Minna and Victor Ogunje in Ekiti

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

For Nigeria to be self-sufficient in food production the federal and state governments must strengthen the agricultural value chain, the Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Opeyemi Bamidele and a university, don Prof. Kuta Yahaya have said.

Even though they spoke at different fora, they both argued that to make agriculture a profitable venture especially for the youth, government at all levels must provide necessary incentives that would make farming attractive to more Nigerians.

Bamidele spoke at the conclusion of a training for 250 people in rice, fish farming and animal feed production sponsored by him to boost their capacity in food production and reduce unemployment in Ekiti.

Represented by his Senior Legislative Assistant, Mr. Bunmi Oguntuase, the senator said his vision was to encourage youths to engage in farming.

He stated that the level of

unemployment had reached a petrified point and leaders must think outside the box to find solutions.

According to him, agriculture is the available option as the country strives to reduce her dependency on oil, which he said has been the greatest impediment to the development of the nation.

He said: “Nigerians must look back and read their history very well. During the time of the regional system, Chief Obafemi Awolowo relied on agriculture to fund free education and other laudable projects at that time.

“Available statistics showed that over 85 percent of the Nigerian graduates are either unemployed or underemployed. This is killing and not too good for our future as a nation.

“Many Nigerians are still having the nostalgic feelings of the old cocoa period of the south west and the groundnut pyramid of the north. Those were the good old days when the country’s development indices was high and favourable unlike what we are getting now.”

Approval for Spectrum Monitoring

The federal government has clarified that the N654 million the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved to procure and deploy hybrid spectrum monitoring system was not intended to monitor the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The Minister of Mines & Steel, Dr. Uche Ogah made the clarification in a telephone interview with THISDAY Friday, noting that the spectrum monitoring system was for the entire country, adding that other zones were approved last year.

The FEC had during the 18th virtual meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari last week approved the sum of N653, 886, 584 to procure and deploy a hybrid spectrum monitoring system that would cover the South-east.

The decision of the FEC was sequel to the discovery of 106 illegal spectrum frequencies in the Southeast, which allegedly compromised the security and

safety of the country.

Ogah stated that there was “a report that the federal government approved N654 million for spectrum monitoring in the South-east. The way the message was captured, we are having a backlash.

“People are now thinking it is only for the purposes of IPOB, it is only South-east. The other zones were approved last year, it was only Southeast that was left.

“It should really be of encouragement that the federal government has remembered Southeast in line with what it has done for other zones than putting it in a way that the spectrum was approved for South-east and people are putting it in a way of monitoring Southeast telephone and all the rest of them.

“It is a thing that should be a joy that in fact, the issue of fake spectrum that they use in kidnapping and the rest of them will be a thing of the past, with the approval of this spectrum monitoring system to checkmate the wrong network within the region.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž OCTOBER 11, 2020

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

ENGAGEMENTS

Sixty Years in the Rain

T

he image of King Nero fiddling away while Rome is aflame has become the classic metaphor for every disconnect between a decaying state and a concerted nation. Very few places dramatize this metaphor than today’s Nigeria. We are now in that place where the anxiety of an eager citizenry to live in a good nation contrasts sharply with the relentless bungling of an errant state.

Therefore, beyond the October 1st fanfare at Eagle Square and the cascade of rituals about Nigeria at 60, the frightening paradox of today’s Nigeria is that a deteriorating state has become a mortal danger to the survival of the nation itself. On this proposition, there is a raging contention between the incumbent government and the significant centres of opinion in the nation.

Two dominant and opposing sets of forces and positions are on display.

There is the predictable self adulation of the government captured in the defensive reassurances of the Buhari presidency that Nigeria has never had it so good. In his Independence day broadcast, president Buhari dwelt extensively on the state of the nation from the vantage pedestal of power incumbency. He spoke of fallen oil prices, dwindling revenues and of the imperative for government to quit the gas station and allow impoverished Nigerians to pay the commercial prices of gasoline as they do in Saudi Arabia and other carefully selected African countries.

It did not matter to our president that the citizens of Saudi Arabia do not ply broken roads or perennially dodge the bullets of bandits in an atmosphere of perennial insecurity. Mr. President, Saudis do not send their children to dilapidated schools, die of the most preventable diseases or perish from avoidable poverty and compulsive misery. In any event, the essence of Nigeria was never the computation of oil prices or the tallying of tax and tariff returns. This place was meant to be the home of diverse peoples living together in peace under leadership that is visionary and purposeful.

The president lamented the difficulties of the times while renewing his resolve to fix the damages of a bad past which he largely blamed on his predecessors. A broad spectrum of Nigerians have since opined the lack of inspiration in the badly written and atrociously delivered anniversary speech. The most conspicuous absence in the president’s speech was of course a disturbing failure to acknowledge the increasing tension, escalating violence and raging rhetoric of hate in the nation. Most importantly, president Buhari failed to address the urgent need for unity and healing of a nation that many agree his administration has badly divided. No one expected the president to acknowledge his own personal responsibility for the sorry state of the Nigerian state but a tacit admission that all is not well would have sufficed. Consequently, a certain wall of indifference and hopeless apathy has greeted both the presidential broadcast and the entire 60th independence celebrations. Our sense of emptiness and hopelessness persists even as Nigerians lament that we have been in the rain for sixty years.

From the opposite side of a divided nation space has come an unbroken torrent of apocalyptic warnings. Voices have risen from across the land cutting across the various divides of our diversity. The Northern Elders Forum has acknowledged that there is in fact merit in the argument for some restructuring of our creaky federation. The Arewa Consultative Forum has added its voice by proposing a referendum on the future of the nation. The major regional cultural and political groupings have pressed on with their relentless clamour for restructuring or even outright balkanization of Nigeria into fully independent or semi independent units.

The fear has been variously expressed by these privileged voices that the current signs of state failure could lead to national collapse. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo used the inter denominational church service to mark Nigeria at 60 to express the fear that the now visible cracks in the fabric of the nation could lead to a tragic break up if not quickly fixed. But Mr. Osinbajo was merely echoing the most dominant temper in the public space.

Other voices have joined in the cautionary warnings. A select roll call of who else has added their voices to this patriotic concern is quite revealing: Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Bishop Mathew Kukah, former president Olusegun Obasanjo, former president Ibrahim Babangida, Abubakar Atiku, sundry clergymen and traditional rulers ranging from the Sultan of Sokoto to Guru Maharaji!

The increasingly strident separatist groups have not only joined in the note of caution. Some of them have actually undertaken symbolic actions to point in the direction of what could follow the possible demise of Nigeria. An Oduduwa Republic movement has assumed an international complexion with protest marches, flags, emblems etc. and incensed rhetoric.

They were out at major centres of the world on October 1st.

Predictably, IPOB and other pro-Biafra movements ordered a stay at home for October 1. The police countered by asking people to go about their business. Most sensible people obeyed the IPOB order and ignored the police.

The social media is ablaze with incendiary rhetoric and divisive narratives from individual Nigerians and groups on the plight and future of Nigeria. Suddenly, the hurling of abuse across all conceivable divides has replaced mutual respect and tolerance. What is disturbing about the emerging separatist pictures is the erection of alternative post- Nigeria worlds that seem happier and more peaceful than life in the Federal Republic

Buhari of Nigeria.

It may be convenient for Abuja to ignore the deafening clamour of separation. What cannot be argued away is the general atmosphere of increasing discontent among the general populace. Our people are troubled by a life of extreme deprivation and unending struggle for basic existence. People set out on honest journeys but are no longer quite sure that they will get to their destinations or return home with life or limbs. Men and women who have spent an honest life working in the service of the state hardly get paid their pensions or gratuities. Those who are lucky to be in any form of employment can hardly pay for the basic things of life.

Millions of youth are spewing out of a dysfunctional educational system into dangerous streets and unsafe neighborhoods. The prospect of employment is a forlon hope.

A new world of social media and globalized euphoria has created for our youth an alternative world of fantasy and make belief. They have become stateless exiles and iconoclastic rebels living in a virtual never land with allegiance to neither country nor nation. They are citizens of a globalized world in which the priority is to ‘blow’ (become instantly very wealthy) and strike a splashy ‘arrival’ in an outlandish automobile. The possibility of instant wealth through unclear undertakings has emerged as a theology against honest aspiration, hard work and deferred gratification. Their career preferences now include entertainment, gambling, music, wanton display of genitalia, glorified prostitution and cybercrimes. A mismanaged state is mass producing a whole generation of outcasts and rebels with no clear cause.

The pervasive pessimism about the future of the nation and the diverse visions of apocalypse is a recent development. It is directly traceable to the conduct of state affairs under the Buhari administration. It is not just the economic challenges of the moment that have created doubts about the future. It is first the lack of direction and the serial tacit subversion of the constitution. It is the diversion of the majority of privileged state positions to only one section of the country. Bishop Mathew Kukah’s 60th Independence message estimates that a majority of strategic national positions have gone to Northern Muslims: “It is estimated that the president has handed over 85% of the key positions to Northern Muslims and has ensured that men of his faith hold tight to the reins of power in the most critical areas of our national life�.

This strange new normal and the anger it has bred is behind the recent separatist pressures in the country. What has intensified these pressures is of course the denial with which the government has greeted the dissenting voices. The new well orchestrated programme of hegemony has activated the forces of fierce self determination among the other major constituencies in our federation.

At the root of the imminent crisis is a certain failure or willful refusal by this government to understand the basis for order in a diverse nation. The first requirement in the effective management of diversity is transparent inclusiveness. Once a government misses this ingredient, the consequence is distrust, alienation and feelings of marginalization and exclusion. In a multi ethnic society, a sectional hegemonic usurpation of vantage power positions translates into ethnic and regional alienation. Divisive thought and hateful rhetoric result and soon, calls and mobilization for restructuring, secession, separation dominate public discourse.

This train of events is given quantum traction in an age of social media, and instantaneous communication and mobilization of opinion. The algorithm of hate is self -propelling as we have seen with the viral spread of fundamentalist creeds around the world

in recent times.

Let us not underestimate the gravity of our situation. The mismanagement of diversity and inclusiveness has led many a nation into bloody conflict and nasty unraveling. Yugoslavia, Sudan, Rwanda, Yemen and Myanmar have all been sad stories at some point on this account.

When a government is at once divisive and also grossly incompetent, its destructive threat to the survival of the nation increases. Under Mr. Buhari, divisiveness and epic incompetence have joined forces to threaten the political survival of the nation.

In turn, the strategic components of the federation have begun to define their survival in separatist terms. In the process, attention has also shifted to a certain historical apprehension as more people now ask how we got to this sorry pass.

Unfortunately, the history of our nationhood is still very fresh.

Sixty years is too short in the history of a country to begin digging for stories of origins. Current fears about injustice and inequity in Nigeria have led the elite to question major historical milestones such as the 1914 Amalgamation, the 1960 Independence Constitution and the 1970 national order.

It is too late in the day to blame the British for the Amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914. The colonial venture was primarily an economic enterprise. It adopted whatever administrative structures that would enhance and facilitate the evacuation of produce and expropriation of resources from the colonized space. But in the run up to independence, we encounter the real face of the Nigeria’s founding which shaped this present. The series of talks that led to independence were dialogues and negotiations among the leaders of diverse nationalities. They negotiated before agreeing on the formation of the Nigerian federation which was granted independence on October 1st, 1960. It is from this point that we need to depart in order to rescue today’s Nigeria.

For Independence and the birth of Nigeria, it was the component parts, the federating units that agreed to form a union called Nigeria under definite terms and conditions. After 1966, the military shredded the Independence constitution and imposed a unitary arrangement that culminated in the creation of states.

This is the birthplace of our present problems and it is rooted in a major problem of political theory. Most durable federations are unions of consenting federating units in voluntary legally binding associations. An overbearing national authority cannot create federating units. The reverse is the norm.

In the United States, for instance, it was the states that joined the union at different times and created the federal government.

But in the Nigerian instance, it was a bunch of politically illiterate soldiers that sat together to create the states and imposed on them a constitution of terms and conditions. This unitarist federalism was rammed down the throat of all Nigerians under a new national order instituted in 1970 after the Civil War and guaranteed by force of arms. The allocation of powers and privileges was a top to bottom affair. Thereafter, the survival of states has remained a function of their dependence on the federal government.

The prevalence and survival of the national order of 1970 was a function of the durability of the federal government’s coercive pre-eminence. Most national or international orders guaranteed by force last for an average of 40-50 years. So, we are at the tail end of the 1970 national order (“To keep Nigeria One‌â€?) that guaranteed the survival of the current unitary federal state.

As is obvious, in the last decade or more, the prevalence of the federal might has been constantly challenged by diverse non -state actors. Rival militias, militant political groups, weaponized separatist movements, bandit squads and sundry other competitors for power have come into play. The forces of micro nationalism and sectarian fundamentalism have joined the fray.

These pressures are coming at a moment in an international environment that now recognizes minority rights as an aspect of human and peoples rights. For Nigeria, this moment is made more dangerous. A general atmosphere of insecurity has shaken the trust and confidence of the populace in the protective umbrella of the federal state.

In our present circumstances, there are three urgent fraught options: r 'JSTU XF DBO SFUBJO UIF QSFTFOU GFEFSBM TUBUF BOE TUSFOHUIFO the coercive control of the centre to contain opposing violent forces to reassure the populace of their security. The result will be a fascist state possibly ruled by a populist illiberal president. r 5IF TFDPOE PQUJPO JT B ESBTUJD BNFOENFOU PG UIF DPOTUJtution in a manner that substantially devolves power to the states, leaving residual powers over national defence, foreign relations, customs and air space to the federal authority. Accordingly, the states are to generate their own revenue while those that have minerals keep their revenue and only pay 30% tax on royalties to the federal government. r 5IF UIJSE PQUJPO JT UIF DPOWFOJOH PG B OBUJPOBM BMM /JHFSJB conference of nationalities to renegotiate a future constitutional arrangement for Nigeria. This conference should lead to a new constitution in which it is the representatives of Nigerian peoples that negotiate and agree on the type and scope of federal government they consider appropriate. Such a government must not wield power in excess of what the federating units accord it.

In each option, the current state of Nigeria makes a single demand on us. We now need a knowledgeable, visionary and transparently patriotic leader to escort our people out of the acid rain of the last sixty years.

71

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

B A C K PAG E C O N T I N UAT I O N DISBAND SARS AND REFORM THE POLICE to enforce traffic rules and environmental laws are notorious for human rights abuses. Police officers will first slap a bus driver before arresting him for stopping at an illegal bus stop. Police officers rent guns to armed robbers or even partake in robbery operations themselves. SARS is just a tip of the iceberg.

Why are police officers generally so brutal? Why are they so arbitrary? Why do they drive against traffic? Why do they drink and gamble? Why do they rape? Why do they make themselves available to be hired to settle personal scores in purely civil matters? Why do they openly extort money from motorists?

Why do they steal exhibits? Why do they lack respect for human dignity? These questions go beyond SARS. They hit at the heart of everything that is wrong with our police force. Disbanding SARS can only be a starting point. But if the factory that produces these cold-blooded police officers remains open and is not overhauled, we would only be scratching the surface.

Meanwhile, the truth is that police officers are also not completely useless.

They are out there risking their lives to protect us. They are awake while we are sleeping and snoring. They are standing by the roadside while we are in our air-conditioned offices. They are always the first target when armed robbers want to strike. They are human beings like us.

They are fathers and mothers. They are uncles and aunties. Ironically, these same police officers win medals when they are on duty outside the country, especially on UN and AU missions. How do we explain that? Is there something about the Nigerian water that destroys their

humanity? Is it our culture of impunity?

In 2004, I did a mini-study on the police, with great help from my friend and foot soldier, Ibrahim Sule (who sadly passed away last year). I wanted to understand the problems and challenges. I focused the research on the recruitment process and the conditions of service. I then wrote a series of articles based on my findings. Here is a quick summary. The recruitment was terribly flawed. Because of our poor record keeping, ex-convicts, including armed robbers, and unfit persons were being recruited into the force. The conditions of training could only produce beasts.

The hostels were inhabitable, the food was appalling and even their allowances were not being paid.

Firearms training was grossly inadequate.

Many recruits finished training without being properly taught arms handling.

Recruits had to bribe to get official uniforms. What’s more, at every level and stage in the recruitment process, there was fraud. Police belts and shoes were being hawked openly. For those already inside the force, the tales were sadder.

They saw their colleagues die on duty and their widows battle and struggle for years to collect the entitlements. One senior officer once lamented to me: “Is this what will happen to my family if I die serving this country?� Police officers were being given patrol vans without fuel. They had to fuel the vehicles from their own pockets. “You think we don’t know they extort motorists?� a very, very senior police officer told me. “We just look the other way because we don’t give them money for fuel.� Guess what happened to the fuel budget. Officers were being transferred

without plans for accommodation and without getting their allowances. I was at the Pen Cinema police station, Agege, Lagos, one morning and saw policemen sleeping inside a van. One officer told me: “They were transferred from Enugu last month. There was no plan for accommodation, so they sleep inside patrol van, wake up very early in the morning to have their bath, and they have to go on patrol without funds being provided for fuel.�

I can’t remember what officers were being paid as hazard allowance then but it was a pitiable pittance, while politicians were feasting on billions of naira. Have you ever gone to report a case at a police station and you are asked to “mobilise� officers to for investigation? This is the back story: there are hardly any funds made available for investigation. An officer told me some years ago that he had to be transporting suspects to court from his own pocket.

Many suspects rot in police cells for this reason. A police officer confided in me that he resorted to drinking dry gin and smoking marijuana anytime he was on night duty to gain “Dutch courage�. He often felt vulnerable.

Fellow Nigerians, you can now imagine what would happen when you unleash these bitter, desperate, frustrated, illtrained, cheated, demoralised, disoriented and dehumanised human beings on the society — and then give them guns, to boot. You ask them to police people who look successful, respected and well-nourished, people who treat them with disdain and suspicion. For clarity, I am not making any excuses for their impunity. Poor training and

operational conditions do not excuse the insanity. But my point is: in the end, we are getting the kind of police that we breed. The foundation is faulty.

A police officer will always be a police officer, no matter the unit or station.

That is why the problem is deeper and wider than SARS: the mould that produces police officers needs to be reshaped.

Since we cannot do away with them, we have to make them more effective and recondition them to see their job as that of protecting the people, not extorting, oppressing or killing them. There is no proper consequence management and accountability process in place. When you give people power over others, give them guns, and empower them to literally make the difference between life and death, you should realise that there will be abuse and impunity and make an arrangement to address it. It is clear that no such strong mechanism currently exists.

If I were to advise President Buhari, though, the first thing is for him to seize the moment by disbanding SARS immediately. That would be the starting up. That would send a strong signal that this is not the usual presidential lip service. Also, he should order a thorough investigation of their atrocities, perhaps a truth commission that will lead to the prosecution of erring officers and commanders. Above all, he has to overhaul the police force. We need to look intensely into the recruitment process, the orientation, the welfare, the budgeting, the accountability and the entire operations. There is something that makes them behave the way they do. Let’s get to the root!

THE SOUTHWEST SHOULD NOT CONFUSE TINUBU’S INTEREST WITH THEIRS Progressive Congress will trust its fate to in 2023? Someone that is so vulnerable to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission? I think not. I think not!

A good tactician is never desperate for power until he is in power. Especially when you are not fighting from a higher ground. By speaking through writers like Sam Omatseye, Bola Tinubu ends up saying more than is necessary. I would have thought that Tinubu would be savvy enough to know that nobody that matters in Nigeria is duped to think that the writings of Omatseye are nothing more than Bola Tinubu’s echo.

Tinubu is too predictable. If an event occurs that he obviously does not like, you can almost count on The Nation and Sam Omatseye to address it the next day. When you are that predictable, it is almost impossible to respect you.

And in Edo, we have seen how much the electorate respect Bola Tinubu. Tinubu more or less won the election for Obaseki by releasing his poorly scripted and even more poorly delivered message to the people of Edo. The less that is seen and heard of Bola Tinubu, the better for the APC and the Southwest. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is a better talker and a better sight to behold, as are Kayode Fayemi, and Raji Fashola.

Another thing Imelda Marcos said in the documentary, The Kingmaker is “the gun can kill you only up to the grave.

Media can kill you beyond the grave.�

Tinubu has used the media as a gun to kill many people. However, he must understand that he is not the only one who has a gun. And in this social media age, his guns are no longer the biggest guns in town.

And the people of the Southwest must display the political sophistication they are known for and begin to know and demonstrate that their own group interests are not the same as Bola Tinubu’s personal interests.

The group interests of the Yoruba is best served by a restructured Nigeria, and the fastest route to achieving that is the implementation of the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference, chief of which are devolution of powers and reliance of merit over primordial factors.

Bola Tinubu’s interest is singular, to capture power. Pure and simple. And

Tinubu

his utterances after the daughter of the leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, (Funke Olakunrin), was killed are proof of that.

When the incident occurred, Tinubu was more concerned about choosing his words to placate the hegemons that his mouthpiece, Omatseye, now attacks, than in assuaging the grief of Pa Fasoranti and the Yoruba people.

It will be recalled that during a highly staged condolence visit, Bola Tinubu had questioned the testimony of several eye witnesses, including occupants of the car in which Mrs Olakunrin was killed, who said she was killed by herdsmen.

Speaking at the residence of Pa Fasoranti on July 15, 2019, Tinubu said: “I am extremely concerned about security, I don’t want a stigma, I can go through (the) history of kidnapping in

Nigeria and we know how and where it all started, there are a lot of copycats.�

Continuing, he said “how many years ago have we faced the insecurity in the country? There are cases of kidnapping, is Evans too, who was arrested and made disclosures, also a herdsman? I don’t want to be political, but I will ask, where are the cows?�

Then Tinubu plunged the dagger deeper into the heart of Pa Fasoranti by saying: “It has been destined that that is the way she would go. You can’t change what is ordained by God. One way or the other, it could be death by road accident, or any other way.�

Lo and behold, when the Nigerian Police announced the arrest of the killers of Mrs Olakunrin, on April 16, 2020, they were identified as Lawal Mazaje,

40; Adamu Adamu, 50, Mohammed Usman, 26, and Auwal Abubakar, 25.

The police announced that their leader was still at large, and identified him as one Tambaya, who they described as “communicating in Hausa, Fulfude and Pidgin English; fair in complexion and suspected to be between 27 and 30. He was last known to be in Isanlu, Kogi State and has a visible scar from stitches on his forehead down to his nose and mouth.�

Contrary to what Tinubu said, none of them was named Evans. r3FOP 0NPLSJ (PTQFMMFS %FFQ 5IJOLFS #FTUTFMMJOH BVUIPS PG 'BDUT 7FSTVT 'JDUJPO 5IF 5SVF 4UPSZ PG UIF +POBUIBO :FBST "WJE USBWFMMFS )PMMZXPPE .BHB[JOF 'JMN 'FTUJWBM )VNBOJUBSJBO PG UIF :FBS

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Sunday October 11, 2020

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Price: N400

MISSILE

Makinde on #ENDSARS “The #EndSARS protests are a strong indicator of a systemic failure. It is a failure on the part of those who have been constitutionally empowered to protect the citizens.”

– Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde reacting to the killing of one Jimoh Isiaka, who was shot during #EndSARS protest in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

Disband SARS and Reform the Police

I

f you don’t know Ndubuisi (“Dele”) Udo, it is not your fault. The Nigerian police did not allow him to be great. As a teenage athlete in the 1970s, Udo was a collegiate champion at the University of Missouri in the United States. He was a three-time member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) All-American team. He was a holder of numerous Missouri, Big Eight and NCAA records.

Then he came to Nigeria in July 1981 in preparation for the 3rd IAAF World Cup scheduled for September 1981 in Rome, Italy. The quarter-miler would never return to the US again, neither would he fulfil his dreams and aspirations of conquering the world in athletics.

One evening, he left camp with some of his colleagues to buy suya at Ojuelegba, Lagos state. They were stopped at a police checkpoint. You know how it goes with the Nigerian police. One thing or the other, they got into an argument. Then a policeman pulled out his gun and shot Udo. He was dead in nanoseconds. As young as I was then, I could not resist the tears when I watched his funeral on TV. He was just 24. He had been part of the Nigerian team to the 1980

Buhari Olympics in Moscow. Although he did not win any medals (Nigeria came back empty-handed), his future looked bright.

He was just warming up. He made it to the semi-finals of 400 meters and was part of the 4x400m team.

The prodigious product of National High School, Aba, had been married to an American lady for just three weeks

when the Nigerian police murdered him. Udo’s wife was pregnant with their daughter, who would never see her father. They killed him. Police killed him. They murdered his hopes and dreams with a solitary, sickening bullet — over nothing. What happened next? You know the drill: the killer policeman was detained; the inspector-general of police, Mr Sunday Adewusi, who was new on the job then, promised a thorough investigation; President Shehu Shagari vowed that justice would be done; and a street was named after Udo in Ikenegbu Layout, Owerri, Imo state. The end.

Adewusi, now late, would go on to unleash the mobile police unit (MOPOL) on Nigerians in the 1983 general election.

The notoriety of the anti-riot unit earned them the nickname: “Kill and Go.” And here, 39 years after the gruesome murder of Dele Udo, we are still reeling under police brutality. Innocent souls are still being battered, this time by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) which has displaced MOPOL on the cruelty league table. Murderous police officers are still being arrested and detained. The inspector-general is still promising to investigate the “remote and immediate” causes. The president is still promising

justice and action. Does anything really change in Nigeria?

The latest public outrage over the impunity of SARS — triggered by the reported shooting of a young Nigerian in Ughelli, Delta state — offers President Muhammadu Buhari an opportunity of a lifetime to write his name in gold by carrying out a comprehensive reform of the police. It is in our best interest. This is not the time to be taking photographs with the IGP and issuing press statements to the effect that he has been directed to do this and that. The police hierarchy are part and parcel of the problem. They have always resisted attempts to make a fundamental change. They mouth one thing and do another. You and I know the reason. Why change a system that feathers your nest?

Before SARS, police had always engaged in vicious extrajudicial killings. There is nothing we are saying about SARS today that we have not said about other police units in the past, except that today we are in the internet age and officers have seized the opportunity to open new shops dedicated to yahoo boys and girls. Task forces set up by various state governments Continued on page 71

RENOOMOKRI GUEST COLUMNIST

The Southwest Should Not Confuse Tinubu’s Interest With Theirs

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n my Sunday January 19, 2020 piece for my ThisDay column, #TheAlternative, I wrote that by not using his influence to delay the start off of Amotekun until after 2023, Bola Tinubu may have kissed his Presidential ambition good bye.

In that piece, titled ‘Amotekun As a Game Changer For 2023’, I wrote that: ‘The elite of the North, who at this time are mostly the Fulani and Kanuri intelligentsia, are aware that Amotekun is a spontaneous reaction by the Southwest to the existential threat herdsmen and other latter day insecurity issues pose to them. They know it is not a secessionist agenda. Not so their people. The average literate, semiliterate or absolutely illiterate Northerner sees Amotekun as the Yariba (read Yoruba) version of IPOB. Even if the Southwest scraps Amotekun today and never speaks about it, that impression has been indelibly fixed in the consciousness of the average Northerner, and even Buhari and his Buharism, can’t undo that impression.

To the average Northerner, the Yariba have shown their hands and proved their suspicions right, that their commitment

to Nigeria is not total. That they only remain in Nigeria because they are afraid of the strong arm of the North. It does not matter that that is absolute bunkum.

It is what they now believe and you ignore that at your own peril.’

Events since that time, which have since climaxed in a ThisDay exclusive which seriously unsettled Bola Tinubu and rattled his camp into a media frenzy, have since proved me right.

It is not that Amotekun is wrong. It is not. It is very right. But this is Nigeria, where perception is reality. I believe it was my fellow author, Joshua Harris, who said “The right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing”.

Scripture says “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”-Ecclesiastes 3:1.

I recommend the 2019 documentary, The KingMaker, to Bola Tinubu. In it, the central character, Imelda Marcos, says “Perception is real, and the truth is not.” I hope Tinubu can grasp this concept.

Only three years lie 2020 and 2023. It was a strategic mistake for the Southwest to show its hand too soon. And really, this was unlike them. They are usually more

sophisticated. What happened? Could it be because they stopped listening to sagacious voices like Obasanjo’s and instead hearkened to desperadoes like Tinubu, who is obviously too blinded by sheer ambition to think straight?

Barely concealed intentions become hardly realised plans. They lead to frustration, and I hope there are still enough strategic thinkers in the Southwest willing and able to wrest the ship of their fiefdom from Bola Tinubu, before he crashes it almost irrevocably.

The current Northern power bloc (and by this I refer to the Fulani elite and intelligentsia around General Buhari) are much better at brinksmanship than the Southwest, not the least reason being that their major religion, Islam, is conducive to fatalism.

Only by employing the strong determinism and putting into practice the Second Law of Thermodynamics (that entropy increases with time), can the Southwest limit the damage that Bola Tinubu has done to the region on its march to 2023.

I mean from the get go, it should have been clear to the region that it should not have tied its politics of 2023 to an

individual. Politics is about interests, not about individuals. And if the Southwest has to sacrifice a shady character like Bola Tinubu, then so be it.

And to be honest, how much influence does Tinubu still command outside Lagos? None in Oyo. Less than none in Edo. Barely tolerable in Ogun. His influence in Ondo ranges between slim and none, and slim looks like it is about to abandon him.

Let us face it, Bola Tinubu is an overrated hack! I get amused when his paid praise singers trumpet his fabled but non existent political genius. Which political genius allows bullion vans to be filmed and photographed entering his residence on election eve? Talk about a smoking gun!

Does it mean he does not have trusted subordinates to whose house the bullion vans could have been diverted? Can you imagine that fate befalling someone like Nyesom Wike or Sule Lamido?

It shows shoddiness, lack of methodical planning, and above all hubris, that you are above the law and can act with impunity. Is that the person the All Continued on page 71

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