SUNDAY 8TH NOVEMBER 2020

IG Maintains Tough Stance, Orders Personnel to Resist Violent, Riotous Elements Directs lawful use of force in line with Constitution Withdraws police orderlies from Emeka Offor, others Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, yesterday, issued a stern warning that "henceforth, any form of attacks on police facilities and

public and private assets as well as any life threatening assault on police personnel and citizens in the guise of any form of violent protests must be firmly responded to within the dictates of this

constitutional provisions".

Coming on the heels of a potential resurgence of the #EndSARS protests, Adamu, for the umpteenth time, maintained that the Nigerian Police Force would

resist violent and riotous elements planning to launch attacks on innocent citizens, police personnel, other security agencies and public and private infrastructure.

The order, however,

included deployment of all legitimate forces to protect lives and property of citizens as well as police officers and personnel of other law enforcement agencies and their families in order to prevent

attacks on private and public assets from any violent persons or groups operating under any guise.

In addition, the IG has ordered Continued on page 9

Yakubu Steps Aside as INEC Chair Awaits Legislative Approval‌ Page 9 Sunday 8 November, 2020 Vol 25. No 9344

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Dear Mr. Trump, Who is Now in a Shithole?

Bayo Akinloye At the height of his power as US president, Donald Trump exhibited the worst form of

indiscipline the world had seen in an American president. He was embarrassing to watch on the world stage.

His lack of decorum

N E W S A N A LY S I S and poor behaviour was bewildering; his foul-mouthed

utterances and regular rants, even more perplexing. No tradition or institution was too sacred for him to disrespect.

Fellow world leaders were

regularly at the receiving end of Trump's bad uncouth and bad behaviour.

For four years, Trump lived in a bubble, an alternate

universe alienating everyone else. He was more interested in building walls rather than Continued on page 8

Biden is US 46th President, Says It’s Time for Healing Promises to have the back of African Americans who he says stood by him See stories on page 5

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

PAGE FIVE BIDEN IS US 46TH PRESIDENT, SAYS IT’S TIME FOR HEALING Tobi Soniyi in Lagos and Godwin Ifijeh in New Jersey In his first speech as president-elect on Saturday, Joe Biden said he hoped to unify the nation after an especially bitter campaign with President Trump, who has so far refused to concede defeat in the race. “Folks, the people of this nation have spoken,� said Biden on an outdoor stage at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del., as a crowd, with many people watching from inside their cars, honked and cheered approval. “They’ve delivered us a clear victory, a convincing victory, a victory for we the people.

We won with the most votes ever cast on a presidential ticket in the history of the nation, 74 million!�

The former vice president repeatedly sought to reinforce his message during the campaign that he would seek to be a president to all Americans, regardless of whether they had voted for him. “I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but unify. Who doesn’t see red states and blue states, only sees the United States,� Biden said. “All those of you who voted for President Trump, I understand the disappointment tonight. ... But now let’s give each other a chance. We need to stop treating our opponents as our enemies,� Biden told the crowd. “They’re not our enemies. They’re Americans.

This is the time to heal in America.�

Biden was declared the victor in the particularly caustic race against President Trump on a date that holds personal significance for the Democrat: It was 48 years to the day that he was first elected to the United States Senate in his home state of Delaware.

Biden ran two failed campaigns for president — one in 1988 and the other in 2008. He served eight years as vice president under President Barack Obama from 2009 to

2017, and then, on his third try, he crossed the finish line.

As several major news networks called the race in Biden’s favour late Saturday morning, Trump was playing golf at his club in Sterling, Va. The president vented his frustration on Twitter and still refused to concede.

After four days of anxious wait, in a bitterly contested election and a nail-biting finish, former United States Vice President, Senator Joe Biden, emerged the 46th President of the country, after a victory in the State of Pennsylvania, where he was born, put him over the 270 electoral votes needed to win.

On the popular votes, Biden netted 74,872,687 million votes which translates to 50.6 percent of the total votes cast, while President Trump scored 70,602,144 votes as at last night, which translates to 47.7 percent of the votes.

With Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes, Biden now has a total of 273 electoral college votes, even though votes count was still ongoing in many parts of the country, while the incumbent, Donald Trump still maintained 214 Electoral College votes.

Hours after was projectetd

by US networks to have won Pensylvania which clinched him the presidency.

World Leaders Salute Biden on‘historic’win From around the world, messages of congratulation and good will poured in for the US President-elect, former Vice President Joe Biden after US networks declared him the winner of the bitter nail biting race for White House over President Donald Trump.

Prominent political leaders, serving and former were quick to send congratulatory messages to Biden and Kamala Harris on their victory and expressed hope of a better working relationship with his administration when he takes office on January 20, 2021.

From Canada to Britain, to the European Union to

Nigeria. It was a celebration of the Biden’s historic win

Barrack and Michelle Obama Former US president Barack Obama hailed Biden’s win as “decisive� and “historic�.

While his wife, former US First Lady Michelle Obama, also tweeted, saying, “I’m beyond thrilled that my friend @JoeBiden and our first Black and Indian-American woman Vice President, @ KamalaHarris, are headed to restore some dignity, competence, and heart at the White House. Our country sorely needs it.�

Bill Clinton In a tweet, former US President, Bill Clinton, said, “America has spoken and democracy has won. Now, we have a president-elect, who will serve all of us and bring all together. Congratulations to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on your momentous victory�.

Hillary Clinton The voters have spoken, and they have chosen @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris to be our next president and vice president.

It's a history-making ticket, a repudiation of Trump, and a new page for America.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen.

Onward, together.

Ireland – Micheal Martin Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin was one of the first to take to Twitter and hail the Irish-America Democrat Joe Biden as “president-elect�. “I want to congratulate the new President-Elect of the USA @JoeBiden,� the Irish leader tweeted. “Joe Biden has been a true friend of this nation throughout his life and I look forward to working with Continued on page 8

US Vice President-elect, Kamala Harris last night

Ka m ala Harris: To day, Every Li ttl e G i rl Born i n Ame r i c a S e e s Po s s i b i l i ti e s

C

alifornian Senator, Kamala Harris, is the next vice president of the United States and the nation’s first female number two citizen.

Apart from being the first woman to hold the office, she will also be the nation’s first Black and South Asian vice president.

Harris, daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, who grew up attending a Black Baptist Church and a Hindu temple, has represented California in the Senate since 2017.

She was the first IndianAmerican and second Black woman to serve as a senator.

She competed for the Democratic Presidential ticket and lost, but was picked as running mate

by Joe Biden.

Here is a transcript of Ms. Harris’s remarks as they were prepared for delivery.

Good evening.

Congressman John Lewis, before his passing, wrote: “Democracy is not a state. It is an act.�

And what he meant was that America’s democracy is not guaranteed.

It is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it, to guard it and never take it for granted.

And protecting our democracy takes struggle.

It takes sacrifice. There is joy in it and there is progress.

Because “We The People� have the power to build a better future.

And when our very democracy was on the ballot in this election, with the very soul of America at stake, and the world watching, you ushered in a new day for America.

To our campaign staff and volunteers, this extraordinary team — thank you for bringing more people than ever before into the democratic process and for making this victory possible.

To the poll workers and election officials across our country who have worked tirelessly to make sure every vote is counted — our nation owes you a debt of gratitude as you have protected the integrity of our democracy.

And to the American people who make up our beautiful country — thank you for turning out in record numbers to make your voices heard.

I know times have been challenging, especially the last several months.

The grief, sorrow, and pain.

The worries and the struggles.

But we’ve also witnessed your courage, your resilience, and the generosity of your spirit.

For four years, you marched and organized for equality and justice, for our lives, and for our planet.

And then, you voted. You delivered a clear message.

You chose hope, unity, decency, science, and, yes, truth.

You chose Joe Biden as the next President of the United States of America.

Joe is a healer. A uniter. A tested and steady hand.

A person whose own experience of loss gives him a sense of purpose that will help us, as a nation, reclaim our own sense of purpose.

And a man with a big heart who loves with abandon.

It’s his love for Jill, who will be an incredible first lady.

It’s his love for Hunter, Ashley, his grandchildren, and the entire Biden family.

And while I first knew Joe as Vice President, I really got to know him as the father who loved Beau, my dear friend, who we remember here today.

To my husband Doug, our children Cole and Ella, my sister Maya, and our whole family — I love you all more than I can express.

We are so grateful to Joe and Jill for welcoming our family into theirs on this incredible journey.

And to the woman most responsible for my presence here today — my mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who is always in our hearts.

When she came here from India at the age of 19, maybe she didn’t quite imagine this moment.

But she believed so deeply in an America where a moment like this is possible.

So, I’m thinking about her and about the generations of women — Black Women.

Asian, White, Latina, and Native American women throughout our nation’s history who have paved the way for this moment tonight.

Women who fought and sacrificed so much for equality, liberty, and justice for all, including the Black women, who are too often overlooked, but so often prove that they are the backbone of our democracy.

All the women who

worked to secure and protect the right to vote for over a century: 100 years ago with the 19th Amendment, 55 years ago with the Voting Rights Act, and now, in 2020, with a new generation of women in our country who cast their ballots and continued the fight for their fundamental right to vote and be heard.

Tonight, I reflect on their struggle, their determination and the strength of their vision — to see what can be unburdened by what has been — I stand on their shoulders.

And what a testament it is to Joe’s character that he had the audacity to break one of the most substantial barriers that exists in our country and select a woman as his vice president.

But while I may be the first woman in this office, I won’t be the last.

Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.

And to the children of our country, regardless of your gender, our country has sent you a clear message:Dream with ambition, lead with

conviction, and see yourself in a way that others might not see you, simply because they’ve never seen it before.

And we will applaud you every step of the way.

To the American people: No matter who you voted for, I will strive to be the vice president that Joe was to President Obama — loyal, honest, and prepared, waking up every day thinking of you and your families. Because now is when the real work begins.

The hard work. The necessary work. The good work. The essential work to save lives and beat this pandemic. To rebuild our economy so it works for working people.

To root out systemic racism in our justice system and society.

To combat the climate crisis.

To unite our country and heal the soul of our nation.

The road ahead will not be easy.

But America is ready. And so are Joe and I.We have elected a president who represents the best in us.

A leader the world will respect and our children can look up to.

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NEWS

Sadly, Trump Presidency is Ending the Way it Started Chido Nwangwu The gradual but methodical counting and tabulation of the votes from the November 3 elections here in United States for the presidency, instantly offered three things.

The first as digital civic education.

The second came as another opportunity to millions of Americans and people of the world to take in the contrasting personalities of the Republican and the Democrat seeking the mantle of leadership. To be sure, the incumbent Donald J Trump is very popular among some conservatives and especially the Christian Republicans and the working class whites Caucasians. There is no minimizing 70 million votes won by Mr. Trump, an unusual man with an instinct for wasteful confrontation and reckless abandonment of the greatest opportunity offered to him by history for potential greatness. But Biden has won more than 74 million votes.

Biden also won 290 of the electoral votes to Mr. Trump’s 214. “If you count the legal votes, I easily win,� were the explosive words of the 45th president of the United States, Donald J

Trump, on Thursday evening November 5, 2020. Especially significant were two words he amplified for his efforts to discredit and delegitimize what was emerging as the inevitable success and victory for his opponent Joe Biden. He called an unproven allegation and partisan categorization “illegal votes.� To spice things up even for that he claimed that if those votes are counted, then “they can try to steal the election from us.�

On the other hand, former vice president Biden politely called for respect for the institution of democracy in America and commitment to the fact that all the lawfully cast votes must be counted.

It is important to note that Donald Trump's presidency is ending, sadly, how and where it started in January 2016. President Trump and his enablers decided from the beginning that they will force-feed Americans and the world a sweetened but toxic porridge of bold and bald lies as daily requirements and operational instruments for governance. It has been almost Orwellian — where bronze is gold, bad is good and lie is truth.

Particularly, the lies about

COVID-19 and the coronavirus!

Mr. Trump started his embattled presidency with harsh ideological bifurcation and overdose off racially polarizing vernacular, and is ending with the same as reflected in his dog whistle messages. Consequently, despite some of the important things he is doing, because of his weighty but corrosive words before and especially on September 29, 2020, history — as written by folks like me and others — will denote him as the only man who had the privilege, the rare privilege of serving as the president of the United States but chose, willfully and giddily, to impress, acknowledge, embrace and give validation to neo-Nazis, skinheads, and certified racists such as the so-called ‘Proud Boys.’ He began in 2016 with his daily tweets of mean-spirited nonsense, indecent chunk of time wasted on self-serving glorifications and stream of caustic xenophobia. He's ending his presidency in a cacophony of incendiary misuse of the power and privilege of the presidency of the United States.

Evidently, Mr. Trump exemplifies the wise saying that the leopard does not change its spot.

DEAR MR. TRUMP, WHO IS NOW IN A SHITHOLE? building bridges. He had a penchant for banning and separating parents, who wanted a taste of the American dream from their children.

In his arrogance and distasteful language, which became the hallmark of his presidency, Trump once described Nigeria as a shithole country and even went to the extent of issuing visa ban against Nigerians wishing to immigrate to the United States.

Of course, Nigeria was not the only country that suffered humiliating treatment in the

hands of his government.

Many others were not spared.

In his pompous, insufferable, self-enthralled and vein pursuit of America First, he pulled America, the leader of the free world and the moral force of democracy and civilisation out of international treaties and multilateral agreements that had guaranteed world peace in the last 70 years.

He had come to see himself as invincible. But yesterday, his presidency marked by chaos, indiscipline and arrogance suffered a

humiliating defeat by a former vice president, Joe Biden, in the US presidential election, which held on Tuesday. Trump has now joined the unenviable list of one-term presidents.

The question many Nigerians are asking Mr. Trump following the unceremonious end of his presidency is, who is now in a shithole?

Even as he continues to whine about voter fraud, and that he won 'the legal vote', he knows in his heart that the end of his presidency is near and struggling to live with the new reality.

Outgoing US President, Donald Trump

BIDEN IS US 46TH PRESIDENT, SAYS IT’S TIME FOR HEALING him in the years ahead. I also look forward to welcoming him back home when the circumstances allow!� Martin added.

Canada – Justin Trudeau Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was also quick off the mark.

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, in his tweet, wrote: “Congratulations @ JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris.

Our two countries are close friends, partners and allies.

We share a relationship that’s unique on the world stage.

I’m really looking forward to working together and building on that with you both.�–

Britain – Boris Johnson British Prime Minister Boris Johnson congratulated Biden “on his election as President of the United States and Kamala Harris on her historic achievement. “The US is our most important ally and I look forward to working closely together on our shared priorities, from climate change to trade and security.�

France – Emmanuel Macron French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted, “The

Americans have chosen their President. Congratulations @ JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris!

We have a lot to do to overcome today’s challenges.

Let’s work together!�

Germany –Angela Merkel German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulated Biden, saying Germany’s transatlantic ties with the US were “irreplaceable�.

European Union In a joint statement, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, president of the European Council, which represents the leaders of EU member states, said: “We take note of the latest development in the electoral process. “On this basis the EU congratulates Presidentelect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on reaching enough Electoral Votes.�

Greece – Kyriakos Mitsotakis Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted: “Congratulations to US President-Elect @JoeBiden. Joe Biden has been a true friend of Greece and I’m certain that under his presidency the relationship between our countries will grow even

stronger.�

Belgium – Alexander De Croo Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo tweeted: “Congratulations @JoeBiden with your election as 46th President of the United States. A record number of people have cast their vote in this election. This illustrates the vibrancy of the American political life and its democracy.�

Olusegun Obasanjo Joining other world leaders, former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, while congratulating Biden and Harris, tasked the newly elected President to restore confidence in the role of America as the largest

economy in the world, which has a very significant responsibility for the peace, security, stability and progress of the world."

Obasanjo, in a message of congratulations, copy, which was made available to newsmen on Saturday by his Special Assistant Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, however, described the election as "a victory of good over evil", which was for most people of the world.

The former President lamented that the majority of the people had watched helplessly as the world was being pulled down, adding, "Not that the world was perfect and equitable but it was reasonably predictable with some measure of rule of law and respect for international agreements and treatise."

Obasanjo, in the one page letter, said he was reasonably sure that the first Africa-America female Vice President-elect of the US, Harris, "will have some Nigerian DNA in her as most of those taken to the Carribean from Africa went from Nigeria of today".

Biden, who turns 78 at the end of this month, will become the oldest president, when he is inaugurated in January in the midst of the worst public health crisis in 100 years, the deepest economic slump since the 1930s and a national reckoning on racism and police brutality that is still unresolved. His election will end Trump's hold on Washington.

The election, far closer than many experts had predicted, was history making.

Biden’s triumph concluded

10 elected presidents who lost their reelection campaigns *John Adams (1797-1801; lost to Thomas Jefferson in 1800) *John Quincy Adams (1825-1829; lost to Andrew Jackson in 1828) *Martin Van Buren (1837-1841; lost to William Henry Harrison in 1840) *Grover Cleveland* (1885-1889; lost to Benjamin Harrison in 1888) *Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893; lost to Grover Cleveland in 1892) *William H. Taft (1909-1913; lost to Woodrow Wilson in 1912) *Herbert Hoover (1929-1933; lost to Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932) *Jimmy Carter (1977-1981; lost to Ronald Reagan in 1980) *George H.W. Bush (1989-1993; lost to Bill Clinton in 1992) *Donald Trump (2016-present; lost to Joe Biden in 2020) *Gerald R. Ford, a non-elected president, who was in office between 1974 and 1977, lost to Jimmy Carter in 1976. *Cleveland, also a non-elected president, won a second, albeit non-consecutive term. ButFord was not elected vice president or president.

an extraordinary election that was expected to set modern records for turnout, despite being held amid a pandemic that has upended life across the United States and brought a new level of complexity to the voting process.

Voters faced concerns about public health, long lines at the polls, and the vexing challenges of a transformed election system while rendering a verdict on Trump’s chaotic and normbreaking presidency.

In key battleground states, it took several days to process and count the flood of ballots sent through the mail.

In the end, the race was not the landslide many Democrats had hoped for. And the partisan wrangling is not over: the Trump campaign and Republican lawyers have already begun a wide-ranging legal assault to challenge Democratic votes and victories in swing states.

In a cinematic twist, it was Biden's boyhood state of Pennsylvania that put him over the 270 electoral vote threshold, and delivered the White House for him.

Trump had held a wide lead over Biden on the night of the election, but as election officials counted hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots, the race shifted dramatically in Biden's favour, infuriating Trump and his allies, who knew the President's path to Continued on page 9

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Yakubu Steps Aside as INEC Chair Awaits Legislative Approval Senate may hold emergency confirmation session Chuks Okocha in Abuja The National Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, on Friday, stepped aside from his substantive position pending when the upper chamber of the National Assembly considers his reappointment

by President Muhammadu Buhari.

To that extent, the Senate, THISDAY gathered, is already considering an emergency session to confirm Yakubu’s reappointment or at the very least, refer him to the Senate Committee on INEC as part of measures to quicken his confirmation.

But, from all indications, not all the pending by-elections in some parts of the country would hold this year since Yakubu could no longer act in substantive position, a situation compounded by his pending confirmation by the Senate.

With the situation, THISDAY sources hinted yesterday that the commission has already begun to mull new dates for the elections. While other elections might hold later this year, that of Lagos and Imo States might not hold till the

first quarter of next year as Yakubu intends to personally over see those two.

Another meeting where the decision on the by-elections would be taken has been slated for tomorrow, Monday, with the stakeholders and the acting chairman also appointed to oversee the other by-elections apart from Lagos and Imo, which the chairman intends to supervise by himself.

Sworn in on November 9 2015, Yakubu’s tenure officially ended November 9 2020 and has since been re-appointed for a second term. But he is unable to assume duties until his approval by the Senate.

President Buhari, had on October 27 2020, reappointed Yakubu as INEC chairman for another five-year term.

The disclosure was made public by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement titled: ‘President Buhari nominates Prof Yakubu as INEC chairman for a second term in office’.

According to the statement, “President Muhammadu Buhari has presented the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood

Commission mulls suitable dates for pending by-elections

Yakubu, for a second term in office.�

Yakubu’s reappointment by the president followed the expiration of his first term in November, a development, which necessitated his stepping down last Friday in fulfillment of relevant extant laws, after allegedly holding his last official meeting with some of his senior management staff the previous day, where pending critical issues were said to have been considered.

Top on the agenda at the meeting held on Thursday before stepping aside on Friday was the need to consider possible new dates for the pending by-elections, whose initial dates were unavoidably moved as a result of the #EndSARS protest, which held the country down towards the end of October.

However, pending the much-awaited Senate screening of Yakubu, the question of who takes over the affairs of the commission has arisen, even though the lot is expected to fall on next most senior person in line.

Curiously, INEC had lined up a number of activities to herald the National Assembly

and State Assembly byeelections in no fewer than 11 states, originally beginning from Tuesday before the #EndSARS protests that stalled its plans.

At his last official meeting on Thursday, the management under him had outlined a series of activities from Tuesday, but the implications here include the fact that whoever is acting in his capacity pending senate confirmation is the one to preside over activities of the electoral umpire.

Interestingly, since he was nominated alongside national commissioners like Dr. Antonia Taiye Okoosi-Simbine (Kogi), North-central; Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo (Borno), North East; Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Lecky (Edo), Southsouth and Adedeji Solomon Soyebi (Ogun), South-west, none of them is eligible to act as chairman, because they were expected to have also exited the stage with him on November 9 2020.

Thus, the choice of the acting chairman of INEC falls on the second group of INEC national commissioners nominated on December 5 2016.

These are Professor

Okechukwu Ifeanyi, who is the commissioner in charge of Electoral Operations, Mohammed Haruna, Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Muazu, who chairs INEC Tenders Board, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, the INEC chairman on Outreach, Partnership and Civil Society (OPC), Mrs. May Agbumuche Mbu, and Abubakar Nauhuche But Nauhuche is out of the race as he has resigned a few days ago on account of ill health.

On the other hand, Festus Okoye was appointed a national commissioner on July 21 2018 and is not in consideration apparently, because of the date of his nomination.

Given this scenario, THISDAY gathered that the choice of acts pending Yakubu’s confirmation should naturally fall on any of Ibeanu, Muazu, Ogunmola and Mbu. But, again, Ibeanu may not be around as he is said to be on leave. Unless he is called back to take up the task, the position then goes to the trio of Mauzu, Ogunmola and Mbu as a result of seniority.

From all indications, THISDAY sources hinted that in the final analysis, the position might fall on either

of Muazu or Ogunmola as the most suitable of those in line.

Meanwhile, THISDAY gathered that the Senate is already being seriously lobbied to reconvene and sort out Yakubu’s appointment once and for all especially that his leadership at a time the commission is believed to be doing well in the discharge of its duties given some of its recent outings.

Also, the Senate leadership, THISDAY further gleaned, is not averse to considering Yakubu’s matter but in a tight corner as a majority of its members are currently saddled with the 2021 budget, which they are determined to pass before the end of the year in fulfillment of the new January to December cycle.

Even at that, the Senate, insiders hinted has agreed to give priority to Yakubu’s confirmation so he could be effectively involved in planning for some of the pending by-elections in different parts of the country.

In view of this, the Senate, THISDAY learnt, is considering on or before November 24 to deal with Yakubu’s case in nation’s interest.

magnitude is unlikely to be reversed.

that Trump's rage-filled presidency — powered by his nationalism, toxic racial appeals, incessant lying and assault on democratic institutions — may come to be seen as a historical aberration rather than a new normal.

But Biden faces a huge task in uniting the country and addressing America's disillusionment with establishment figures like him, which led to the current President's political rise as an outsider, who was elected on a wave of populism in 2016.

Biden is pledging to restore America's "soul," which he claimed was compromised by Trump's divisive approach, and to purge the President's "America First" foreign policy and rebuild Washington's traditional position of global leadership.

But Democrats dreaming of a "New Deal" style era of reform on health care, the economy, climate change, race and possibly even expanding the Supreme Court will see their ambitions tempered by their lack of gains in the balance of power in Congress and the need for the Biden administration to halt a pandemic that is getting worse.

Health experts at the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation project said

the virus could claim nearly 400,000 Americans lives by the time Biden is sworn in, January.

BIDEN IS US 46TH PRESIDENT, SAYS IT’S TIME FOR HEALING the White House was over without the commonwealth.

That the Keystone State was the last hurdle in Biden's path to the White House was a fitting end to a hard-fought race given that the former vice president has long cultivated his image as "middle-class Joe" from Scranton.

In a visit that now seems almost prophetic, he had made a final trip to his childhood home in the city on election day after spending much of the campaign promising to prioritize the livelihoods of the many working-class voters whom Hillary Clinton lost to Trump in her 2016 bid.

On one of the living room walls in the house, where he grew up, he wrote: "From this House to the White House with the Grace of God," signing his name and the date,"11.3.2020."

In the final days of the race, Biden's team redoubled their efforts to rebuild the Democrats' "blue wall" – and that gambit paid off with Biden winning Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, according to CNN projections, while holding Minnesota, which the President made a priority in his reelection push.

As he watched his hopes of reelection being strangled with each tranche of votes in Pennsylvania, Trump lashed

out on Twitter during the tense vote count, attempting to ‘undermine’ democratic institutions with demands like "Stop the Count."

The President had also claimed that the election was being stolen from him as many mail-in ballots, which were often counted after Election Day votes, landed in the column of his opponent.

Facing a deeply polarised country, Biden had tried to project comity and patience, and his desire to reunite America.

"There will not be blue states and red states when we win. Just the United States of America," Biden said Wednesday afternoon, adding: "We are not enemies.

What brings us together as Americans is so much stronger than anything that can tear us apart."

Biden again asked for patience from his supporters on Thursday afternoon. "Stay calm. The process is working," he said in Wilmington, Delaware.

"Each ballot must be counted...

Democracy is sometimes messy. It sometimes requires a little patience, as well. But that patience has been rewarded now for more than 240 years with a system of governance that is the envy of the world."

Part of Trump's frustration stemmed from the fact that his campaign's finely tuned ground game did in fact succeed in turning out many more of the so-called "hidden Trump voters" than expected, making the race a much tighter contest than pre-election polls suggested.

Ultimately, Biden carved out his route to 270 Electoral College votes by holding most of the states that Clinton won and adding Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin to his column. Ballots are still being counted in the key states of Nevada and Arizona.

But Trump has continued to cast aspersions on the electoral process, wrongly suggesting that there was something nefarious about the fact that the vote count in key states continued well after Tuesday night, as is customary in US elections.

Meanwhile, his team has mounted a series of lawsuits in several states, including Pennsylvania, looking to stop vote counting in some areas while challenging how closely observers could monitor officials counting the votes in others.

The Trump campaign also said it would demand a recount in Wisconsin, where Biden led Trump by some 20,000 votes, even though historically a margin of that

A Career-long Quest Realised The victory of Biden, who forged a 50-year career as senator and vice president from his Delaware homestead, is a full circle moment that comes more than 30 years after his first presidential campaign.

His running mate, California Senator Kamala Harris, will make history as the first woman, the first Black person and the first person of Southeast Asian descent to become vice president.

Biden's life of tragedy – he buried his first wife and his first daughter, and his adult son Beau, who died in 2015, survived two brain aneurysms and stayed in politics after two failed White House campaigns — shaped his image as a man of resilience and decency.

Those qualities made him America's choice as a president, who could shoulder the grief of a nation traumatised by the loss of more than 234,000 citizens to Covid-19, with millions unemployed in an environment of intense economic uncertainty.

Biden's victory means

A Future DeďŹ ned

by Pandemic, Uncertainty A country weary of nearly a year of lockdowns, separation from family and friends, and economic deprivation will need to be mobilised to adopt aggressive new steps to conquer a pandemic that Biden argued the Trump administration essentially gave up fighting.

The much-anticipated arrival of a vaccine, which experts hoped would be widely available in 2021, is a potential ray of hope, though it will be many months before life is back to normal. That means Biden's first year — the time when a new President's power is maximized — will be dominated by the coronavirus.

It also remains uncertain whether Biden's pragmatic instincts, his lonely belief that a new era of cooperation is possible with Republicans, and his desire to preserve a winning coalition that included moderates and Never Trumpers could lead to early clashes with Democratic progressives.

IG MAINTAINS TOUGH STANCE, ORDERS PERSONNEL TO RESIST VIOLENT, RIOTOUS ELEMENTS the withdrawal of police orderlies attached to VIPs including a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode and a billionaire businessman, Chief Emeka Offor, among others.

The order directed Commissioners of Police in the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, their supervisory Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Police Mobile Force Commanders to "resist all riotous elements forthwith and checkmate any form of violent and riotous protests in line with Section 33 (1) & (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

1999 (as amended) as is reasonably necessary for the defence of any person from unlawful violence or for the defence of property; in order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained and for the purpose of suppressing a riot, insurrection or mutiny".

Consequently, the order stated further: “Henceforth, any form of attacks on police facilities and public and private assets as well as any life threatening assault on police personnel and citizens in the guise of any form of violent protests must be firmly responded to within the dictates of this constitutional

provisions".

A statement by Force PRO and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Frank Mba, recalled that in the wake of the #EndSARS protests and the violence that emanated therefrom, a total of 51 civilian fatalities and 37 civilian injuries were, recorded, while a total of 22 policemen were gruesomely murdered and 26 others injured by the protesters.

It said 205 police stations, corporate facilities and private property were attacked, burnt or vandalised.

The IG, in the statement, assured law abiding citizens across the country of the force’s renewed and unwavering

commitment to their safety and security especially, as the nation approaches the yuletide.

He, therefore, called for the collaboration and support of citizens in the ongoing reforms of the Force.

Similarly, Adamu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police personnel attached to some prominent pastors and citizens including Femi Fani-Kayode, Hon. Abiola Sidna Peller, Senator Magnus Abe and Emeka Offor among others.

Others are Senator Lado Yakubu, Amb Yuguda Bashir, Hon. Uche Chukwu, Senator Boroface Ajayi, Hon Mutiu Nicholas, Senator Tokumbo

Afikuyomi, Edozie Madu, David Adesanya, Hon. Chris Giwa, Chief Godwin Ekpo and Chief Pius Akinyelure.

The IG directive also affected corporate and religious bodies notably Christ Embassy, Think Nigeria First Initiative, Uche Sylva International, Stanel Groups, KYC Holding and some bishops and sheiks.

A police message signed by Principal Staff Officer to the IG, DCP Idowu Owohunwa, read: “The attention of the IGP has been drawn to the fact that the police personnel attached to the corporate bodies and personalities are yet to be withdrawn in spite of extant directives to

that effect.�

In the letter with reference number "CB: 4001/IGP. S E C / A B J / V O L . 11 6 / 3 2 " and made available to CPs PMF, CP SPU, CP CPU and all Commissioners of Police in the 36 states and the FCT, the IG directed commanders to “withdraw all the PMF, SPU, CTU, or conventional police operations attached to the affected companies or individuals in any of their locations across the country with immediate effect.�

The directive said the commanders were to submit a report confirming compliance to the directive to IG's office not later than November 10.

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NOVEMBER 8, 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

CLOSING IN ON THE MEDIA? Nigeria will be better served with a free press

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hile democracy entitles citizens to freedoms of expression and association, it is also true that the leadership of every country has an obligation to mediate and modulate these freedoms in order to ensure the survival of the nation itself. But from controversial penalties by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on selected broadcast media platforms to not-so-subtle threats by the government’s information managers and some elements in the national security establishment, there seems to be an orchestrated scheme to use the unfortunate outcome of the EndSARS protests to circumscribe the fundamental freedoms guaranteed all Nigerians in the 1999 Constitution. More particularly, the media seems to be the main target of these draconian measures being contemplated.

Despite being a beneficiary of social media campaigns, the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 was symbolically marked with an attempt to erect barriers on the path of the media. Six months into his tenure, the “frivolous petitions” bill, which prescribed jail terms and $10,000 fine for “offensive” social media posts, was only withdrawn after widespread public criticism.

Two other bills were to follow, both also targeted at the social media and online expression: “Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation Bill” and the “National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speech Bill”. They also failed, following public uproar.

However, in the wake of the EndSARS protest, there are obvious attempts to resurrect some of the previous failed bills against both the traditional and social media. Last week, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed implied that the biggest challenge facing the country is not insecurity or rising poverty, but the social media. “We must regulate social media in a

manner that it does not become a purveyor of fake news and hate speech,” he told a committee at the National Assembly. The warped thinking is hinged on the possibility that future protests or related events could be checked by strangulating social media which the EndSARS protesters put to adequate use.

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The Cyber Crime Act of 2015 provides jail terms, stiff fines or both, for purveyors of fake news and libellous information

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

o be sure, there are some obvious excesses in the use of the digital media not only in Nigeria but across the world. One fundamental principle of journalism is that information must be verified as true before being passed on to the public, a rule that many in the social media do not seem to care about. Just as many are attracted by its use for instantaneous dissemination of information, social media has been subjected to abuse, in some cases, through deliberate spreading of false information. But the good news is that, like the traditional media, there are surfeit of laws in the statute books to tackle the problem. The laws of libel, slander, and others are there for anybody injured to take advantage of. The Cyber Crime Act of 2015 also provides jail terms, stiff fines or both, for purveyors of fake news and libellous information.

Whatever may be the motivation for the current attempts, we must remind the federal government that the youth spring over EndSARS is likely to be reignited by any action of state that threatens the new media. Besides, some of the owners of the platforms like Twitter and Facebook are now censorious of the information that passes through their media. We saw that in the manner Twitter flagged ‘Lekki Massacre’ as false. But a government that glosses over its weaknesses will always attract the whirlwind as we have seen all over the world, including in advanced societies.

While we understand that building an inclusive and egalitarian society in a federal arrangement is always a work-in-progress, dealing with the current challenge in Nigeria would require a new conduct of leadership that is even handed and genuinely inclusive. That is the only way citizens can begin to hold government accountable for the things that unite us—education, health, employment, infrastructure, reasonable economic livelihood. It is the failure of governance and the irresponsibility of lazy politics that are at issue in the epidemic of hate and divisiveness currently on shameful display in Nigeria. That is what the authorities must begin to deal with rather than wasting its time in a futile attempt to gag the media.

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.

THE REAPPOINTMENT OF MAHMOOD YAKUBU

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he decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to reappoint Professor Mahmood Yakubu as the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission for another five years seems to have come with ease after slight anxiety.

Being the first Chairman of the (INEC) to be appointed for the second time not only comes with trust but with massive responsibility.

Professor Yakubu was first appointed in November 2015 with the first litmus test of conducting the Kogi and Bayelsa Governorship elections, fresh from the general elections in 2015 which was adjudged to be one of the best in recent history. No doubt Yakubu started on a shaky note with both elections declared as inconclusive. The commission went on to conduct another

nine off-circle elections within its five-year tenure. Political analysts and indeed Nigerians have their contrasting views about how Yakubu fared in the last five years.

Nigeria’s electoral management body is probably the only government agency that is probably the most maligned institution in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the commission always has its work cut out for it. However, accusing fingers of any electoral malfeasance always goes to the electoral management body. In fact, people even blame INEC for low voter turnout notwithstanding a lot of extraneous reasons behind the consistent decline in voter turnout.

Over time, Nigerians have continued to blame INEC for inconclusive elections especially as witnessed in Bayelsa in 2015, Osun in 2018, and Kano during the 2019 general elections. These are mainly

as a result of electoral violence or electoral malpractice perpetrated by political actors in violation of the electoral law. This usually leads to the cancellation of elections in certain polling units or local government especially when the process doesn’t satisfy the margin of lead principle.

While some of these challenges may not be directly in the purview of INEC, there is no doubt that Nigeria’s election has experienced other issues that the commission should have either prevented or managed better. The commission in the last five years has been faulted for declaring results despite electoral violence especially in Kogi, Bayelsa 2019 and the reruns in Kano 2019; and in Osun Governorship elections in 2018. While the commission may not be directly responsible for curbing electoral violence, it

has a responsibility to ensure elections are only conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.

Also, the current INEC administration has been found culpable for its deployment of logistics in most elections it has conducted. The infamous postponement of the 2019 Presidential election by the commission was down to logistics reasons despite the incessant assurance that the commission was ready.

No matter the direction of criticism against the Mahmood-led administration, one cannot fault his body language and effort to improve the quality of elections in Nigeria. This has been through innovations and determination for electoral reform. While the commission remains within the confines of the electoral law and constitution, there have been efforts to make the process more seamless and transparent. The creation of Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security by the Mahmood-

led INEC provided a platform for regular and periodic consultation and engagement with stakeholders, including political parties, CSOs, media, and security personnel.

One important innovation that seems to have made at least stable figures of accreditation and total votes cast is the introduction of simultaneous accreditation and voting process introduced after the 2015 election.

Initially, citizens undergo accreditation after which they queue up again for the voting process. This is indeed strenuous and discouraging that sometimes citizens get accredited and never return to vote.

Similarly, Nigerians have continued to push for electronic transmission of election results to curtail manipulation.

This can only happen through the amendment of the current electoral framework.

––Moshood Isah, media officer, Yiaga Africa.

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NEWS We’re Committed to One Nigeria, Say S’East Leaders

Acting News Editor ĂŒĂ™ĂŁĂ?Ă‘Ă‹ Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă—Ă“ E-mail: Ă‘ĂŒĂ™ĂŁĂ?Ă‘Ă‹Ë›Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă—Ă“ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ă™Ă—ËœÍ¸Î€ÍšÍ˝ÍşÍťÍ˝Î ÍşÍ˝Íť Ě™Ă?Ă—Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁĚš

‡ 6XJJHVW VWUDWHJ\ WR à XVK RXW NLOOHU KHUGVPHQ ‡$VN WKH SUHVLGHQW WR ORRN LQWR UHJLRQ¡V GHPDQGV Gboyega Akinsanmi The leaders of the Southeast geo-political zone yesterday pledged their commitment to an indivisible and united Nigeria built on love, fairness, equity and justice.

The leaders, also, proposed a

joint security operation, which according to them, would flush out criminals and killer herdsmen from the forests in the geo-political zone.

They expressed this resolve in a communique issued at the end of the meeting with a presidential delegation to

the region in Enugu yesterday.

The delegation, which was led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, comprises the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, all the ministers from the

region.

In the communique read

by Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. Dave Umahi after the meeting, the Southeast leaders requested President Muhammad Buhari “to please look into the demands of the various groups of our people, review same with

WE SHARE YOUR PAIN . .

All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Borno governor, Senator Kashim Shettima, and Boron State Governor, Alhaji Babagana Umara Zulum, during their courtesy visit to Asiwaju Tinubu in Ikoyi, Lagos to sympathise with him over the recent destructions in Lagos...

Saturday.

a view to solving them.

The communique said the Southeast people “believe in one Nigeria and this is the reason we are in every part of this country erecting infrastructures, living peacefully with our host communities and doing our businesses.�

The leaders suggested a joint security operation into the forests of the region “to flush out criminals and killer herdsmen with Ak47, while pledging our commitment to continuous coexistence with the herdsmen who have been living peacefully with us for years.�

They thanked the president for the “speed and the restraint with which he handled the demand of peaceful EndSars protesters, especially his commitment to drive police reform and mainstream youth empowerment.�

They also hailed the president for his courage to deal with hoodlums, criminals and those who hijacked the peaceful protest to kill and maim innocent citizens and security agents and to loot public and private property. “Southeast governors have set up panels of enquiry to deal with all infractions of human rights of our people and security

agencies, compensation funds for all civil servants and security men who lost their lives during the protests. “We pledge to continue to protect all the various groups living in the Southeast. We enjoin them to go about their businesses peacefully. “We thank Mr President, governors and traditional rulers in other parts of Nigeria for their commitment to protect our people, especially during and after the protests. We must continue to live in peace. “We appreciate Buhari’s delegation for carefully listening to, engaging with stakeholders and undertaking to report faithfully to Mr President for his consideration and necessary action.�

They commended Buhari for the “speed and the restraint with which he handled the demand of peaceful EndSARS protesters, especially his commitment to drive police reform and mainstream youth empowerment.

They, also, commended his courage to deal with hoodlums, criminals and those who hijacked the initial protests to hide under the peaceful protest and kill, maim innocent citizens, security agents and public and private properties.�

Security Agencies Consider New Strategies to Stop Crimes in Lagos Gboyega Akinsanmi Nearly all law enforcement agencies in Lagos State have lamented the rising cases of cult violence, land grabbing, political thuggery and unemployment rate, describing them as core threats to security of lives and property in the state.

However, the agencies have recommended pro-people measures, use of technology, deployment of drones for aerial surveillance and monitoring youth activities on different social media platforms as new strategies for containing the new waves of insecurity in the post-lockdown Lagos.

They made these recommendations at a one-day high level security workshop held

in Lagos on Thursday under a theme, “Securing Lagos State during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown: Preparing for the Unknown.�

The workshop was organised by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) in collaboration with LinkLegal Consulting (LLC), a general legal practice firm that provides investment support services to foreign and domestic investors in the country.

Representatives of the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Agency (Task Force), Nigerian Army (NA), Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Nigerian Navy (NN), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and

Lagos State Fire Service, among others, made brief presentations at the workshop.

Making its presentation at the workshop, the DSS identified cult violence, political thuggery, land grabbing and rising rate of unemployment, among others, as major triggers of insecurity in the metropolis.

It equally explained that cultism “is a major threat to public order and safety in Lagos State. Lagos is rated first after Rivers State. The cult activities have been rampant across the state. We must move fast to nip it in the bud.�

Citing the growing number of unemployed youths and political thugs, the service observed that it was difficult for the police to respond effectively

during the #EndSARS protest.

According to the service, while police were completely decimated during the #EndSARS protest, the armed forces were overwhelmed because they could not be everywhere.

The service urged all law enforcement agents at the workshop to always observe the rules of engagement in managing security issues, noting that the use of firearms should be the last resort in responding to security challenges in any part of the state.

Also, the presentation of the Nigerian Army (NA) shared DSS’ position on the increasing rates of poverty and unemployment, especially among the youths.

On this ground, the army

recommended pro-people measures, which it argued would increase more opportunities for a larger part of the population.

According to the army, any other approach would be counter-productive in the post-lockdown era, especially with thousands of youths that had been laid off.

In its own presentation, the taskforce acknowledged that managing the EndSARS protest was a real challenge for all law enforcement agents in the state.

The taskforce emphasised the need “to take advantage of social media to gather intelligences. The youths are so organised. They interact a lot on social media. As a matter of fact, they coordinate themselves

using social media tools. “We must put machinery in place to follow youths on different social media platforms.

The youths are very sophisticated and they are far ahead of us in terms of technology.

If we effectively follow them, we can gather a lot of useful information from the social media space,� the taskforce said.

The Nigerian Air Force, in its presentation, said there was no picnic yet because the #EndSARS had subsided or because there was relative order.

It pointed out the need for all security agents “to get to work and protect Lagos and its teeming population. To achieve this goal, we must deploy technology.

Two Dies, 29 Vehicles Burnt in Tanker Explosion

FG Demands $656m to Complete Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC) has said at least two persons died with 29 vehicles burnt following an early morning accident on Kara bridge on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

This was revealed in a statement the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO) and Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM), Bisi Kazeem issued in Abuja yesterday.

Quoted in the statement, FRSC’s Corps Marshal, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi described as unfortunate, but avoidable, the fatal crash that occurred at Kara Bridge on the outward Lagos lane of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The corps marshal noted that the crash involved a single tanker

fully laden with PMS. He stated that frantic efforts were being made to curtail tanker explosions.

He said the crash investigation

by FRSC personnel deployed for the rescue operation, revealed that the driver lost control of the vehicle as a result of a tyre pull-out which caused the tanker to skid on the expressway in a wild inferno. “From the crash investigation report submitted, a total of 2 male adults were killed and burnt beyond recognition. Destruction of properties caused by the fire also left 29 vehicles, parked by the road side, burnt down completely,� he said.

Oyeyemi lamented the actions of hoodlums who prevented the combined rescue teams of the

Fire Service and the FRSC from approaching the scene of the crash. “When our personnel got to the scene, they met teams of the Lagos State Fire Service who advised our men against approaching the scene of the crash. “The fire fighters said they were equally deployed to the scene for the same reason, but on arrival they were chased away by some hoodlums, carrying dangerous weapons. Both teams had to run to the Isheri Division of the Nigeria Police for cover,� he said.

The corps marshal said that the Corps was seriously engaging critical stakeholders to find a lasting solution to tanker explosions on the roads, including enforcing the use of safety valves to prevent spillage after falls by tankers.

The federal government has disclosed that a whopping sum of $656million is still required to complete work on the LagosIbadan railway project.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi gave this figure while defending the 2021 budget of the ministry before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Land and Marine Transport on Friday.

During the budget defence, the minister said the amount “is needed to put in place necessary infrastructures for the project to serve its intended purpose.�

He said the Ibadan-Kano railway project also required an injection of $645.3million as advance payment to enable the Federal Government

complete its loan-signing agreement with the China Exim Bank.

He said: “Under the railway modern programme, I am happy to report that the construction of Lagos – Ibadan standard gauge line has reached 92 per cent project completion.�

He, however, said some aspects of works involving construction of upgraded railway stations, signaling and telecommunication system, power supply scheme and construction of pedestrian and overpass bridges have to be completed.

He added that these aspects had to be completed for the project to achieve full loan drawdown from our cofinancier, China EXIM Bank, and attain practical completion

for it to be used for the intended purpose.

He said: “This additional and extra work amounting to $656million, which is to be financed 100 per cent by the Federal Government of Nigeria, has been approved by the Federal Executive Council for implementation. “Similarly, for the implementation of the Ibadan-Kano railway which is the outstanding segment of the Lagos-Kano railway project, one of the conditions precedent to signing of the loan agreement is the release of advance payment in the sum of US$864million. “Out of which the government has released the sum of $218.7million as part payment leaving a balance of $644.3million,� the minister 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 ˾ NOVEMBER 8,2020

OPINION

ONE MONTH, TWO PICTURES

Agbo Agbo urges the Nigerian youth to urgently explore avenues of engaging and educating the street kids

I

love documentaries. Whenever I’m not reading, writing or studying, I often indulge myself, especially with the ones that task the brain. I’ve been enriched watching barriers broken and the impossible made possible. It all starts from the mind. In essence, someone thought or dreamed about something and strive to make the thought or dream a reality. He sees a picture first in his mind before it materialises.

That is how powerful pictures are.

I’ve watched how the tallest bridge in the world was built; how engineers bore a tunnel through some of the hardest rocks in the world in the Swiss Alps using an incredible machine known as ‘Tunnel Boring Machine’ (TBS). This machine can ‘chew’ through rocks. I have watched how a four-lane underwater highway was built in South Korea and an airport on the sea in Japan. I’ve also watched how the English Channel was conceived and constructed; and how both the Suez and Panama canals were built. There are many more that pushed the boundaries of impossibility.

So, what’s the nexus here? Someone puts pen to paper or ruler/ pencil to paper to first design the concept and every other thing falls into place. The thought or dream leaves the metaphysical realm into physical reality we can see, use and touch. Today, people pass through tunnels in the Swiss Alps and English Channel. They drive through a four lane underwater highway in South Korea; they land on an airport built on water in Japan, they drive on the tallest bridge in France. The innovations go on and on to show the ingenuity of the human mind.

For 12 days in October 2020, those we often call ‘disconnected’ Nigerian youth, were shown a picture they’ve never seen before.

That picture birthed hope and a future that is not as bleak as they had previously thought. And what a picture it was! Like the COVID-19 pandemic, no one predicted the #EndSARS protests that rocked the nation to its foundation. The genie is out of the bottle never to be forced back again. Nigeria has changed forever and you’ll be naïve to think otherwise.

With this lovely picture the youth practically formed an “alternative government” using ideas and organizational skills.

So wonderful was it that most that attended were reluctant to go back to the “country” they came from until soldiers dispersed them with bullets. This was too good to be true for most of them.

They were well fed. They were motivated to shoot for the sky. They request for ambulances and it was provided! They request for legal assistance, and pronto, it was there! Mental health experts were on ground to guide against depression! They looked out for one another.

Most important of all, there was daily accountability! Ararity in the “country” they came from.

The “finance ministry” of the #EndSARS protests said it raised N147.85 million and spent just N60.4 million, a fraction of which was expended on consumables. Yet there was so much for some young people to eat and drink that they wished the protests would last forever.

On the flip side, the picture the youth have of their “country” is that in which billions of Naira was earmarked for COVID-19 palliatives, yet the palliatives were nowhere to be found until looters descended on some hitherto hidden warehouses to loot the palliatives. So, the picture in their minds now is what would have happened if the “finance minister” of #EndSARS was given the responsibility of managing the COVID-19 palliatives? With what they saw with their eyes - not what they were told by spokesperson - help would have reached the vulnerable of our society. The “minister” and his “staff”

October 2020 was a unique month. Two pictures were shown to Nigerians; one was beautiful, the other ugly. One was a picture of hope, motivation and limitless possibilities; it “can do” spirit propelled Nigerian youth to demand for a nation where they can explore and deploy their youthful energy for the betterment of society…

have proven their expertise in running efficient services in different areas of our national life in just 12 days. They are thus ready to dispense with the old and its corruptive tendencies and embrace the more efficient new.

The trigger for all this was the dreaded – now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police which was allowed to go rogue and became a law unto itself. Instructively, the increase in the price of fuel did not push the youth to the wall neither was the hike in electricity tariff. They stomached the excruciating poverty they swam in with grit. But, it was the blood of the many innocent souls murdered extra judicially by the dreaded SARS that became the tipping point.

But sometimes, the instruments of darkness tell us some good truths. SARS has yielded a beneficial dividend. The upheaval of spontaneous nationwide citizen protests revealed the power of contradiction as a force of history. Aconcerted series of protests against a rogue police formation has ended up as a great galvanizer of youth energy across the nation and beyond.

In all these, it is important to sieve the wheat from the chaff considering the mayhem that was unleased on our nation by sponsored thugs and hoodlums when the state wielded the big stick on the #EndSARS protesters. The rage of the streets that we witnessed in some areas is a totally different picture.

This second picture – a very ugly one - was shown to “the street” regarding their “country” and “leaders.” They hear and they know their leaders have and nurture corrupt tendencies. But suddenly “discovering” warehouses across the country where COVID-19 palliatives were stored while people were starving break their hearts. Unfortunately, “the street” can be blood thirsty and irrational, devoid of reasoning unlike the #EndSARS protesters. The street is driven by hunger and poverty. It is mainly concerned with filling its stomach first before any other thing.

––Agbo, a communications and public analyst, wrote from Lagos.

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

ASUU’s UTAS And FG’S Slippery Offer What the federal government is offering ought to have been done a year ago, contends Oludayo Tade

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he Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has been presenting the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) to the public as if it is the main reason the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on strike on March 23, 2020. That is not true. ASUU is on strike to make government become responsible and inject funds for the revitalisation of public varsities, constitute visitation panels to universities, pay of arrears of earned academic allowances from 2012 to 2020, and conclude renegotiation of the 2009 agreement which is to birth a new salary and welfare package for lecturers who are currently the least paid when compared with earnings of lecturers in Polytechnics and Colleges of Education! In this piece, I historicise IPPIS, and situate it within FGN latest offer to assist the public appreciate ASUU’s position and unveil FG’s slippery offer and insincerity. The public should understand that the latest slippery offers from President Muhammadu Buhari’s government are items which they ought to have implemented as at December 2019 but failed to do so. It is these unfulfilled promises that are now being brandished as fresh offer before the public by this “change begins with me” government that thrives on ‘hushpuppism’ ideology.

On March 19, 2014, the Office of Accountant-General of the Federation (IPPIS Division) wrote the President of ASUU referring to the decision of a meeting held with representatives of the Nigerian University System (NUS) concerning enrolment of federal university staff into IPPIS. The letter, written by Mrs Fatima Nana Mede (DFA/IPPIS) on behalf of the Accountant-General of the Federation reads: “one of the joint decisions reached is the need to set up tripartite committee of the Labour Unions in the Universities (ASUU, NASU, SSANU & NAAT), the representative of the Pro chancellors and Federal Government (OAGF, FMF/BOF, OHCSF, FCSC) to develop alternative solution that will achieve the noble objectives of the IPPIS and at the same time accommodate the peculiarities of the Nigerian Universities. Following from the above, you are kindly requested to nominate your representative for the committee to consider the development, implementation and workability of a solution in the university system. The committee inauguration would be communicated to you as soon as we receive nominations from all concerned”. ASUU thereafter nominated Prof Sulaiman D. Abdul, Dr A.B. Baffa and Prof D.T. Gungula to represent it but the federal government did not say anything about committee inauguration again until the issue appeared in 2019 to forcefully enrol academic staff into IPPIS despite agreeing that it fails to accommodate the peculiarities of University system.

As indicated in the letter, what government is interested in is the development of an alternative solution that will serve the purpose for which IPPIS was set-up — anti-corruption and accountability.

While IPPIS is a product of foreign agency with yearly charges of about $12 per enrolee and mindful of the risk of releasing Nigeria’s

data to foreign organisation, ASUU developed multi-million naira University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) using her members’ contributions without demanding repayment from government. Why should it then take eternity for FGN to direct National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to carry out integrity test and deploy UTAS after it has already been demonstrated to three FGN teams? Does it make economic sense for government to ask ASUU members to enrol on IPPIS in order to be paid their salaries and later migrate them to UTAS after full deployment and then be bamboozled?

In 2012, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration conducted NEEDS assessment on public universities and found that universities would need the sum of N1.3trillion spread over six years to revitalise it. Sadly, only the Jonathan administration released N200billion in 2013 towards revitalisation. Since that token, nothing substantial has come to public varsities. Nothing has changed even with this government of CHANGE. The current leadership prefers Nigerian children to learn in poorly equipped laboratories, overcrowded lecture halls, and live in dilapidated hostels and be taught by underpaid lecturers. It is indeed terrible to have people with no stake in education preside at our national and sub-national levels.

What the Mohammadu Buhari administration is now promising ASUU to suspend the ongoing strike was what his government ought to have done since 2019 that he did not do! In the Memorandum of Action (MoA) which contained timelines for implementation signed with ASUU on February 2019, FG promised to release N25billion by April/May 2019 “as a sign of good faith” but the government acted in bad faith by not resuming full implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on sustainable funding of education.

The government also promised to release N25billion earned academic allowances (EAA) as the first tranche before February 28, 2019. It failed to meet this timeline. FG then promised to pay the outstanding balance (N80billion) in four equal instalments for 36 months (November, 2019; August, 2020; May 2021 and February 2022). After failing to pay the N40billion owed lecturers which were due as at August 2020, ASUU team asked the FG to pay this debt to move forward. Instead, FG brought a ridiculous and shameful offer to release N30billion by November 6, 2020 while the balance of N10billion will be paid in two tranches (N5billion in May 2021 and N5billion in 2022). Note that in the MoA of 2019, FG ought to pay N20billion by May 2021 and another N20billion by February 2022. With this present offer, the PMB administration is tyrannically acting in bad faith and aims to run away implementing nothing knowing election campaigns would be in the air by 2022 and everyone would be begging ASUU to consider national interest!

Worse still, a government that failed to mainstream the payment of EAA into the 2019 budget as promised, is now promising again that it has secured the commitment of the National Assembly to include the amount in the 2021 budget provided it is sent “in quickly as possible by the Ministry of Education”. On setting up visitation panel to visit universities, it is sad that a government that mouths anti-corruption would wait to be forced to set up her panel to look into the books of universities. In 2019 MoA, government promised to commence visitation by March 11, 2019 but it is yet to do so till date! The same government is now promising to inaugurate the visitation panels by the end of November 2020 and shall have finished their work by December, 31, 2020. The “panels are expected to submit two reports per university covering five-year periods of 2011 – 2015 and 2016 – 2020”. ASUU deserves commendation for exposing government as not truly committed to transparency in university administration for failing to check their books for close to a decade as required!

On renegotiation of 2009 agreement, it was agreed in 2019 MoA that the renegotiation “shall commence not later than Monday, 18thFebruary, 2019 and be concluded by Friday 29th, March 2019”. Since then government has frustrated every move to renegotiate the agreement and conclude it. We are now in 2020 and FG is asking to “be given one week to reconstitute the renegotiating committee” and this committee “would be expected to conclude its work on or before December, 2020”.

PMB also offered to release N20billion by January 2021 for the revitalisation of over 70 public varsities! When shared, each university may not get up to what is budgeted for Aso rock feeding and cutleries! A sensible leadership will learn from the counsel of Yoruba proverb: Omo tí a bí tí a kò tó, ni yíò gbélé tí a kó tà (an untrained child will sell the built castle). The practical tragedy of having untrained children was unveiled through the manifest difference between the non-destructive approach of educated and highly coordinated #ENDSARS youth protesters and the ‘sponsored’ infiltrators of largely unschooled arsonists who razed assets within hours. There is no sense investing in physical structures mainly to extract kick-backs without investing in positively shaping people’s mind through consistent education funding. I have chronicled the evasive dealings of non-committed FG with ASUU to better appreciate the altruism underlying ASUU’s struggle.

The option you choose come with attendant consequences: support government to destroy Nigeria’s future by nurturing uneducated arsonists or support ASUU’s struggle to get quality education for our children and secure their future.

––Dr Tade, a sociologist sent this piece via dotad2003@yahoo.com.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 8,2020

15

LETTERS

POLICE BRUTALITY AND BRUTALITY AGAINST POLICE

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he #EndSARS protests against the now-dissolved police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS)),which began as a campaign aimed at ending the spate of police brutality against innocent citizens in the country, ironically, snowballed into, perhaps, the most bizarre show of brutality against the police.

While giving gory statistics of the losses suffered by the Nigeria Police Force through the protests, Inspector-General Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, disclosed that 22 police officers lost their lives while 205 police stations and formations were torched.

As if this was not enough, the IGP also disclosed that the unrivalled assault on the police, by the rampaging hoodlums and arsonists, led to the carting away of firearms, including AK 47 rifles, pistols, police uniforms, generating sets, case files and officers’ personal belongings among others.

Presenting the unpleasant data, during a virtual meeting with Commissioners of police in the 36 States and FCT, the IGP also revealed that in order to avert violent engagements between the police and the hoodlums who hijacked the #EndSARS protests, some policemen deserted their station as the mob attacked.

Now, what does the whole of this signify? First, it portends grave danger for public security in the country. Considering the level of physical, psychological and emotional strains that the police have had to grapple with as a result of the various losses it suffered in the aftermath of the EndSARS protest, men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force are understandably

IGP, Mohammed Adamu distressed.

In that state, it would be most demanding for them to give their very best in the performance of their statutory responsibilities, at least for now.

Thus, what we currently have is a police with bruised ego and waning morale. Sadly, with our mounting insecurity challenges, this isn’t by any means cheering.

Aside this, stolen police firearms in the hands of hoodlums or their sponsors also constitute serious threat to public security. Police weapons in the wrong hands will heighten the level of insecurity in the land. Similarly, the cost of rebuilding razed police facilities will surely put a strain on the lean resources of the government in the face of the financial crisis that has been occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges.

Second, the assault on the

police and its facilities readily confirms that the ‘protesters’, who carried out such dastardly acts, are not in any way different from the bad eggs in the police whom they were remonstrating against. Like the police, they are also in urgent need of psychological, ethical and emotional reforms.

Third, it proves that the need for reform in the police should, indeed, be a holistic one. In as much as the police have not lived up to expectations over the years, the truth, however, is that there is hardly any institution in the country that has truly lived up to expectations.

The academia, public and private institutions, religious and traditional institutions among others are all at one level of dissipation or the other.

Therefore, if the truth must be established, the police merely epitomize what is relatively available in the larger society.

Where do we, then, go from here? Every institution in the country, the police inclusive, need to embrace critical reforms. Also, the citizenry must reorder their priority.

Our efforts at nation building have been tortuous because we have imbibed the wrong attitude to leadership and followership. Whatever failure we have recorded as a nation is a collective one.

There is no need for buck passing. We all must change to experience the change we desire. Discipline, integrity, hard work, honesty and selflessness, among other hitherto revered virtues in our society, have taken the back seat.

The cheering thing, however, is that there is a glimpse of hope, if only we could consciously make up our mind to turn the corner.

For instance, as bad as the much-vilified police seems, we have witnessed unbelievable acts of patriotism among some of them. For instance, we have seen police officers on the Third Mainland Bridge as well as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, assisting stranded motorists either to change damaged tires or help in other ways.

Therefore, in the interest of the country and peaceful co-existence, we need to build trust among the various segments of the society. More importantly, the citizenry and the police must build new relationships that are anchored on trust and mutual respect.

The police must get rid of all anti-people tendencies. It is only in doing this that the cliché: “The Police is your friend” would not amount to mere rhetoric.

Similarly, the people must also learn to trust and respect

ANAMBRA AND ABAKALIKI’S SCAPEGOATING

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have continued to curate thoughts and speeches even as Anambra continues in its efforts to clear the debris and rebound from the destructive energies recently.

And I must say that I find a troubling thought pattern that needs to be addressed immediately.

Governor Obiano said last weekend that “over 85% of the invaders came from neighbouring states.” He has repeatedly and, even more recklessly, publicly claimed that the destructions that visited the state was caused by non-Anambra indigenes.

This is the same claim he made when "Python Dancers" shot and killed IPOB agitators not so long ago. He conveniently ignored that a lot of Anambra's young men are sworn IPOB loyalists and claimed the agitators that turned violent after the military gunned down some of them were “miscreants from neighboring states.”

This thinking resonates with a lot of people in Obiano's government. But they are hardly alone in this faulty, if not bigoted, thinking. A lot of Anambra people, including

the super educated and exposed bunch believe and openly say that what happened in Anambra recently was caused by “Abakiliki people.”

Let's look at the facts. In one of the social media videos I watched documenting the destruction of a police station in Ihiala, Anambra State, not only were the hoodlums speaking Anambra Igbo, they were speaking highly concentrated Ihiala dialect.

Another example, in one of the videos I saw documenting the destruction of Area Command, Nnewi, Anambra State there was a particular guy attempting to break down the gate of the facility with a pick axe. Those who grew up in Nnewi will recall that particular type of axe is seen in almost all low-income households as it is a popular tool for picking fire-woods.

That is not the type of axe cultists use because its length and weight makes it very difficult to conceal. So the referenced guy lives probably within five - 10 minutes walking distance from the police station. When police are ready to do their investigations they should study the self-made

videos the arsonists posted, then indentify and triangulate their locations.

We know the people who caused these destructions. We know our people have a hand in it. Some of us even cheered them on at the early stages.

Abakiliki people are now the fall guys.

I agree with Mcginger Ibeneme; after seeing our own brothers and sisters on video and some of us even joined the violence ourselves, but we are now claiming that Ebonyi people are the ones causing violence in our state.

I don't understand how we can in one breath claim Abakiliki people are responsible for the carnage in Anambra while at the same time calling Adeyinka Grandson and others blaming Igbos for what happened in Lagos bigots. It appears we now feel our own bigotry is justified but when it is done against us we shout the loudest If there are people who shouldn't throw stones, it is us who live in glass houses.

I understand some people making the unfounded claims about “invaders from Abakiliki” are shocked by the barbarism displayed last

week. They don't believe our people can behead a police officer, for instance, and then dance with his head. I say to those people “you know so little about contagion effect and what people can do in a turbo-charged atmosphere.”

Despite our relatively low unemployment rate, we still have a large swathe of unemployed and underemployed young people who are so angry and frustrated by the state of affairs. Until we routinely address those issues, they will not hesitate to seize available opportunities to exact what they understand to be vengeance on the state. What happened recently was terrible but it will be naive to assume that we've seen the full destructive capability of our misguided young people.

Please let's educate ourselves and stop the bigotry already.

The people who took Oba of Lagos' staff of office are not Igbos. We know this, just as we know that the people who almost burnt down Anambra State are not Abakiliki people.

The earlier we stop living in denial, the better.

––Christian Chima, Awka, Anambra State.

the police. Police officers are our brothers and sisters. They have chosen, at the risk of their lives, to protect us and our belongings. To do this, some of them are constantly under the sun, while others are awake all night. Policing is a particularly tough vocation in our country.

The operational environment isn’t friendly; facilities, tools and the expertise required to do a seamless job aren’t readily available. Certainly, undue hostility by the people against the police would complicate the situation, thereby spelling doom for public security. The delicate nature of the work of the police requires that we empathize with them. Going forward, communities, individuals and organisations must strengthen relationship with the police to enhance security.

Also, the appropriate authorities must urgently put up necessary machinery that will usher in the much-needed reforms in the Nigeria Police.

Funding must be provided for the police to be able to access necessary facilities, training as well as the equipment needed for effective policing. The work environment, including the

various police barracks, must be redeveloped to give the police the required mental and emotional aptitude needed to carry out their tough assignments.

On a final note, every section of the society must support the police to enhance public security. An effective public security cannot be obtained without the active involvement, participation and support of every section of the society because public security is the responsibility of all individuals, groups, communities, organisations and other units that constitute the state.

Criminals are not spirits, they dwell in our midst. We must, therefore, observe and report every strange movement and activities in our neighbourhood to the appropriate authorities. It is only when we develop a communal fortitude towards public security that the work of the police and other security agencies could be effectively harnessed.

––Tayo Ogunbiyi, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, Ikeja.

Looting COVID-19 Palliatives

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ccording to reports in the national dailies, the Lagos State Police Command said it arrested more than 200 suspects for looting COVID-19 palliatives. Across the country, there have been similar arrests of those who carted away these palliatives.

After the #EndSARS protests were hijacked, people took laws into their hands to destroy public and private properties and to loot. But there is now the argument that the mass arrest and detention of these people across the country "threatens the federal government’s plan to decongest correctional facilities’ detention centres." Some are also saying people who are "hungry" should help themselves to the palliatives, after all there are many of our politicians who are looting our collective patrimony and getting away with it. But, is that why people who have stolen should be freed? Is that justice? And if we allow that won't it set a bad precedent?

Stealing is stealing, whether it's by politicians or by ordinary people. Even the Good Book says in Proverbs 6: 30-31 "Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house."

It's true that the country has left many impoverished, but that is hardly a plausible reason to now become a thief overnight. We saw people who drove their cars to steal COVID-19 palliatives. Are these ones also poor? Some uniformed men encouraged them to go and loot. Even the uninformed men themselves

grabbed whatever they could lay their hands on.

A woman who had come with her son, after helping herself to the "loot", forgot her son! A man had hired a taxi to go to pack his own "loot", and after fully loading the taxi, the taxi man who had other ideas zoomed off with the booty, leaving the "thief" in shock.

There was also the okada man who parked his bike to go help himself with the palliatives. He came back carrying cartons of noodles, to discover to his shock that his okada had be stolen. In the confusion, he dropped what he was carrying on the road to go look for his okada. But after searching for a while he walked back with his hands on his head. But when he got to the spot where he packed his "loot" another "thief" had made away with them’; indeed, a "double wahala".

I know some people who will never steal, no matter the situation they find themselves.

As the past weeks have shown in this country, the line between a palliative "thief" and criminals who steal and destroy public and private properties is blurred.

Government should better the lot of the people, and Nigerians must remain responsible and law abiding.

Anything to the contrary will cause anarchy and put everyone in danger.

Stealing remains a crime, no matter where you go. Stealing cannot be decriminalized because of moral issues. It means our value of life is about what we can steal. It also means we value what we have stolen more than our character.

––Dr. Cosmas Odoemena, Lagos.

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2020 •T H I S D AY

17

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ΀˜ 2020

BUSINESS

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

Buhari’s Insatiable Appetite for External Loans Five years of unprecedented borrowing by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration does not have the commensurate effect on the economy. There appears to be no plan or strategy on paper by this administration to ensure the elephantine loans contracted from around the world don’t affect the future economic growth capabilities of the country. Nosa James-Igbinadolor reports

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ever in the economic history of Nigeria has the country been so intoxicated on debt accumulation. President Muhammadu Buhari hasconsistentlyjustified the build-up of loans as the only credible route his government has to fund infrastructure projects.

At a meeting with members of the Presidential EconomicAdvisory Council (PEAC) in September, Mr. Buhari posited, “we have so many challenges with infrastructure. We just have to take loans to do roads, rail and power, so that investors will find us attractive and come here to put their money.�

And that is where the problem is; investors do not find the Nigerian economy under Buhari attractive at all. The last five years has been characterised by gloomy rates of unemployment and inflation, falling GDPand its attendant dwindling per capita income, poor investment in infrastructure, poorer standard of living, financial uncertainties and a general state of economic hopelessness. Simply put, investors hate uncertainty and the Buhari administration’s economic policies have been poor at best, plain miserable at worst and wholesomely pigeon-holed by uncertainties.

WhileNigeria’soutstandingloansamounttoabout a quarter of its economic output, the country, which is Africa’s largest oil producer spends more than half of its revenue servicing debts. The International Monetary Fund has warned that without major revenue reforms, the debts could rise to almost 36 per cent of GDP by 2024, with interest payments takingasmuchas75percentofgovernmentrevenue.

Yet, the Nigerian government asserts that the country does not have a debt problem. Finance, Budget and National Planning Minister Zainab Ahmed said in 2019 “I hear people say Nigeria has a debt problem. We don’t have a debt problem.

What we have is a revenue challenge and the whole of this government is currently working on how to enhance our revenues, to ensure that we meet our obligation to service government as well as to service debt.�

In March, Nigeria’s Senate approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s plan to borrow $22.7 billion from external creditors to finance infrastructure projects. Lawmakers gave their endorsement to the government during Thursday’s proceedings in the capital, Abuja, to seek the funding expected from the Islamic Development Bank, the African Development Bank, the World Bank and creditors in China, Japan and Germany.

The President said he will use the money to expand the railways, build a new hydro power dam and fund special intervention projects across the West African nation, according to a letter sent to the parliament in November.

InAugust, the World Bank delayed the approval a $1.5 billion loan sought by Nigeria. The delay was duetoconcernsoverreforms,evenastheWorldBank believed that the country had not shown enough commitmenttowardsachievingthem.Thebankhad insisted on the unification of the naira and removal of fuel subsidy as key reform requirements listed as conditions precedent to obtaining its loan.

There is a deepened global consensus of opinion that the Federal Government and Central Bank of Nigeria are not serious about commitments to put in place credible processes and systems to enhance efficiency in the allocation and use of public finance in the country.

And to make up for private investment deficit, the Nigerian government has been more than keen to spend its way into some ray of sunshine in a sea of gloom that surrounds public perception about its ability to turn the incapacitated economy around.

With a very poor treasury base, the only option left to the government, it believes, is to borrow.

Buhari

Nigeria’s total debt stock (foreign & domestic), as released by the Debt Management Office (DMO) as at June 2020 stood at N31.01 trillion ($85.9 billion), an 8.31per cent increase when compared with N28.63 trillion ($79.3 billion) recorded in March 2020.

The breakdown shows that total external debt stood at N11.36 trillion ($31.47 billion), accounting for 36.65per cent of the total debt stock, while domestic debt represented 63.35per cent of the total debt. Domestic debts stood at N19.65 trillion ($54.42 billion) as at June 2020.

The report also reveals that N921.9 billion was used to service domestic debts between January and June 2020, while N288.6 billion ($759.6 million) was used on foreign debts, making a total of N1.21 trillion. Compared to N1.06 trillion spent in the same period of 2019, debt service increased by 14.6 per cent.

According the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, ZainabAhmed, the total public debts of Nigeria is projected to hit N38trillion by December2021.“Thetotalpublicdebtstockcomprising the External and Homes debts of the Federal and state governments and the Federal Capital Territory stood at N31.01trn (USD85.90 billion) as at June 30, 2020,� the minister said “It is projected, based on existing approval, to rise to N32.51 trillion by December 31, 2020, and N38.68 trillion by December 31, 2021,� she added.

With an eye on a very unpleasant past, Nigerians have consistently pushed back against record upsurges in government borrowing, a portentous sign for policy makers trying to revive economic growth with fiscal stimulus. While the government has deployed extraordinary amounts of stimulus, there is no assurance that all the spending will be enough to get the economy out of the woods.

As a matter of fact, five years of unprecedented borrowing by the Buhari administration has not grown the economy an inch, rather, the economy fell into recession in 2016 and continues to be utterly anaemic today.

What this has culminated in, is a lack of domestic appetite for any large expansion in government borrowing.

As noted by the Vice Chairman of the Senate

Committee on Foreign and Local Debts, Senator Muhammad Enagi in March, “The big question in the minds of average Nigerians aware of this fact is what did we do with the money? In other words, where did the money go? What do we have to show as a people for these huge debts?�

He explained that borrowing has always served as veritable financial platforms for many countries of the world in running their economies but judiciously utilisingsuchloansforintendedprojectsandservicing the debts appropriately have also been problems for developing countries like Nigeria.

According to him, realities on the ground in the country in terms of required infrastructures and debts accumulations between 2006 and now appear disjointed.

Theveryreason,heexplained,manyNigeriansare worried whenever they hear that their government is seeking one loan or the other.

In December 2019, the International Monetary FundwarnedthatfrontiereconomiessuchasNigeria had pushed global debt to $188 trillion.According to the IMF, the average debt ratio declined in advanced economies but with no significant reduction in debt. “In emerging market economies and low-income developing countries, the average debt ratios rose further. Notably, China’s total debt ratio reached 258 per cent of GDP at end-2018 the same as the United States and nearing the average for advanced economies, which was 265 per cent�.

The greedy hustling for loans from every part of the world has negatively impacted the Nigerian economy, including the country’s capacity to service these loans. The rising cost of Nigeria’s debt profile reached a new milestone with the country’s debt service as a percentage of revenue rising to 99per cent in the first quarter of 2020. Data from the MediumTerm Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy (MTEF/FSP) report released earlier in the year by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning shows that in Q1 2020, Nigeria incurred a total sum of N943.12 billion in debt service while the federal government retained revenue was put at N950.56 billion. This implies Nigeria’s debt service to revenue was estimated to be 99per cent during

the period.

This was the highest on record and it suggested almost all the revenue generated from both oil and non-oil sources was used to meet debt service obligations.

It was this worrying outlook that led the Nigerian EconomicSummitGroup(NESG)towarninAugust, that the federal government’s debt service to revenue ratio was unsustainably high and thus was affecting its ability to meet non-debt obligations.

In a statement released after a meeting of its board ofdirectors,AsueIghodalo,chairmanofNESGboard, warned of, “The importance of dealing with the challenge of inadequate revenue is highlighted by the very high debt service-to-revenue ratio.�

The NESG further alerted, “While this ratio has improved to 72per cent in May 2020 from 99per cent recorded at the end of March 2020, it remains unsustainably high and undermines the ability of government to meet non-debt obligations such as the provision of infrastructure, human capital development and protection for our nation’s large population of vulnerable people. “Limitedrevenuesalsoentrenchthegovernment’s dependence on borrowing from the Central Bank of Nigeria with adverse consequences for the economy. “Furthermore, attention must be paid to the efficiency and effectiveness of government spending,� the warning added.

The Buhari administration has shown itself to be unconcerned about the quality of loans it gets from abroad and even more blasÊ about the opinions of most Nigerians. The government has been more concerned with accessing large tranches of funds to spend on infrastructure projects in order to plant a legacy. Long consigned by Nigerians as underperforming and highly deficient in economic management, the current administration has thrown caution to the wind in hustling for more loans at a time when the nation’s capacity to meet its debt obligations is getting increasingly suspect.

This has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic that has further weakened the country’s treasury base.

Despite the federal government and its officials persistently stating that Nigeria does not have a debt problem and refusing to request a delay in debt-service payments this year from bilateral and commercial creditors, many observers warn that the near and long term future is full of risks, if not ominous.

Simisola Eyisanmi, a Lawyer and Head of the Financial Markets Group of Chris Ogunbanjo LP, warned recently that, “notwithstanding the assurances of the federal government, there is the looming apprehension that the economic fallout of the pandemic may very well trigger Subnational and Sovereign Bond defaults in the very near future‌ Given the uncertainties around revenue generation, a pending fiscal deficit, and the country’s inability to fund its FAAC monthly allocations to State Governments, the likelihood of a default in State and Federal Government bonds, is imminent.

The Irrevocable Standing Payment Order issued by the Accountant General of the state/the federal government is therefore, of no consequence where the revenue generation is insufficient to meet the debt obligations.�

What is very obvious is that Buhari and his administration will continue to beg for and grab every loan that comes its way. It is unconcerned about how the debts will be paid back. As a matter of fact, the current administration has absolutely no idea, short or long term plan or strategy that will support the payment of these loans in a way that does not impair future economic growth and development post-Buhari.

It is this understanding of nonchalance that has got many Nigerians agitated and wondering if another ‘Olusegun Obasanjo’ will ever come again to undo the folly of the Buhari administration

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ΀˜ 2020

BUSINESS/ENERGY

Sahara Group: Spearheading Power Sector’s Environmental Sustainability

Adesina

Eromosele Abiodun

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he cool morning breeze swept across the jetty as some Sahara Group employees, media practitioners and special guests disembarked from the boat. It had been a smooth 25-minute boat ride from the Lekki Jetty to Egbin Power Plc, the largest privately run thermal power plant in Sub Saharan Africa. It was going to be a rendezvous with history as Egbin Power, a member of energy conglomerate, Sahara Group looked to make a bold move towards reducing carbon emission at the facility, by introducing electric buggies and bicycles.

Joel Obuge, a Saharian - a term that refers to each of Sahara Group’s over 4,000 employees across Africa, Asia, Europe and

the Middle East - couldn’t wait to jump on one of the bicycles. It had been ages since he last rode one. He cycled up the path to the office area vehemently, hoping to shed some pounds he had gained following months of working remotely.

Egbin Power plant, which sits on 600 hectares of land is one of the most iconic national assets in Nigeria. Established in 1985, the plant would receive a breath of fresh air following privatisation that made Sahara Group the new core investor.

Continuing investment and overhauls of ageing units at the plant have since paved the way for Egbin Power to rebound after decades of operational hiccups.

Post privatisation, Egbin in 2015 hit the 1,000MW power generation mark, for the first time in 8 years prior. “Egbin has its sights on further investment of about $40 million to overhaul its two units,� said Chairman

said pursuing zero carbon emission, creating and promoting a paradigm shift for environmental sustainability remain at the heart of Sahara Group’s Quality, Health Safety and Environmental policy.

Consequently, Sahara, through Egbin is taking a big leap into the future through its sustainability progammes. “For us at the Sahara Group, we realise that while we live in the present, we must prepare for the future, with the capacity to face unfolding challenges and opportunities. We want to begin to plan for the future. We will ultimately have 20 electric buggies and 500 bicycles to promote going electric and clean energy in Egbin,�

Shonubi, who is also Executive Director at Sahara Group, stated.

A typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide per year and this is equivalent to an average of 0.0126 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide per day. Every walk-towork and bike-to-work activity as well as riding on the electric buggies within the facility prevents emission of 3.78 metric tonnes per day of carbon dioxide from about 150 cars within Egbin and 1379.7 metric tons every year.

Students of Powerfields School which operates within the confines of the power facility were also part of the event. This was to demonstrate the fact that the “going electric� and “clean energy� campaign involved all constituents of the Egbin Ecosystem and generational in its outlook. “The project also reinforces Sahara Power and Egbin’s commitment as global SDG promoters, with impressive Environment Employee Social and Governance (EESG) records,� added Kola Adesina, Group Managing Director, Sahara Power Group.

Adesina said Sahara Group hoped the project would inspire a paradigm shift in Africa as the world conitinues its quest for zero carbon emission. “It is beyond the environment, it is about the people and birthing a substainable future. The environment to us is not just about the physical environment, the people make up the environment.

Egbin Power, Temitope Shonubi, In today’s world, it is all about while reiterating the firm’s comsustainability and to ensure we mitment to “powering prosperprepare for the future from the ity� through top quality power present. As always, Sahara Group generation. Egbin has six units is delighted to promote conversaof 220mw turbines that give the tions and support initiatives plant its installed capacity of that will give our world the best 1320mw. There are ongoing plans shot at a achieving a sustainable aimed at increasing this capacfuture,� he stated. ity through a mix of strategies The themes driving the project that include alternative energy include: Power to Protect; Power sources. to Serve; Power to Live; and Back to the special event of the Power to Innovate. day. The evergreen refrain, “It’s The SDGs covered by the projelectric, boogie, woogie woogie� ect include: SDG 3: Good health, from the timeless hit “Eletric SDG 7: Renewable energy, SDG Boogie� by Marcia Griffiths, set 9: Innovation and Infrastructure, the tone for the launch of the new SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and electric transport system at the Communities, SDG 13: Climate facility. This new mobility plan is Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water, one of the steps taken by Sahara SDG 15: Life on Land and SDG 17: Group to ensure employees live Partnerships for the Goals. healthy, while the envronment As Joel pedaled back to the remains sustainable to drive busi- jetty, he had only one thing on ness continuity, productivity and his mind. “The world should do overall well-being of employees this often, nurturing a sustainable and the host community. environment is how we deliver Speaking at the event, Shonubi the future untainted,� he said.

19

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ΀˜ 2020

BUSINESS/TELECOMS

Of National Roaming and Telecoms Resources The three-month trial on national roaming service by MTN and 9mobile as approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is expected to enhance efficient management of the country’s limited telecoms infrastructure and resources, writes Emma Okonji national roaming service, the Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity of NCC, Bako Wakil, said although there would be a thorough evaluation and assessment of how the trial between the two operators has run and the necessary regulatory measures put in place to ensure a full-blown rollout of national roaming among telecoms operator in the country, he however said t6e benefits of national roaming service are numerous both for the telecoms operators and their subscribers.

He listed some of the benefits to include: Extra source of revenue for mobile network operators; Less investment costs since infrastructure sharing divides the investment burden among the operators rather than being shouldered by a single operator; Promote efficient use of resources; Easy market entry; Better choice of service; Less negative environmental impact; and Promote universal service provision.

Commenting on industry statistics that will support easy rollout of national roaming service, Wakil said over the years, the telecoms industry grew in leaps and bounds in such a way that would support seamless deployment of national roaming service across the country.

According to him, the telecoms sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at 14.30 per cent as of the second quarter of 2020. In financial value, the 14.30 per cent translates to N2.272 trillion in Q2.

Telecoms investment now stands at over $70 billion currently. Broadband penetration stands at 45.43 per cent as at September, 2020; Basic active internet subscription has reached 43.7 million; Active voice subscription has increased to 205.25 million; Teledensity stands at 107.53 per cent. With these development, Wakil gave the assurances of the Commission that the telecoms sector is ripe and ready to support national roaming service delivery across the country.

I

n order to promote efficient use of telecoms resources through national roaming, the Nigerian Communications Commission, the telecoms industry regulator, came up with innovative idea to give approval to MTN and 9mobile, to carry out three months trial on national roaming service. Although the three months trial ended penultimate week, stakeholders in the telecoms industry are of the view that NCC should go ahead and license the two Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to begin national roaming service in the country.

According to them, the licensing of the two telecoms operators and others who may be interested and ready for national roaming service offering, would go a long way in addressing telecoms’ infrastructure deficit across the country, since national roaming will enable operators share existing infrastructure, which will eventually give room for effective management of telecoms resources across the country.

Infrastructure deďŹ cit The need for more infrastructure build to ensure universal/seamless telecoms services across the country, has become a subject of discussion across the length and breadth of the Nigerian telecoms sector.

Although NCC has worked tirelessly to reduce access gaps from 217 to 114 currently, there still exist, noticeable infrastructure deficit in the industry especially in the rural and semi-urban areas of the country. This deficit is due to a lot of industry challenges, which has been slowing down accelerated infrastructure deployment by the operators. These include poor power situation in the country that compel operators deploy their own generators to power their base stations, Right of Way (RoW) issue, vandalism, theft of telecoms equipment at sites, multiple taxation and regulation, among others.

According to industry statistics, the telecoms industry only has around 50,000 Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) to support the entire population of over 200 million Nigerians. Only 37,000 of the BTS are 4G-enabled. Whereas, industry experts have said 80,000 BTS would be needed for effective and seamless telecommunications services in the country. Also, with respect to fibre connectivity, while the federal government is current targeting 120,000km of fibre optics across the country, slightly over 50,000 have been laid by various operators an institutions to bridge access gaps and support service delivery.

The deployment of innovative ways like the national roaming for seamless communication, will therefore help operators to share existing telecoms infrastructure that will enhance hitchfree telecoms service delivery across the country, among other benefits.

NCC’s Approval NCC, this year, granted approval for two mobile network operators to carry out trial on national roaming service for a period of three months, which commenced from August 1, 2020 and ended on October 31, 2020. The two telecoms companies are Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) Nigeria and the Emerging Markets Telecommunication Service Limited (EMTS), trading as 9Mobile in Nigeria.

With the approval EMTS and MTN are expected to configure their networks to begin test and simulation for customer experience. The trial approval covers a few local governments, designated as the national roaming geographic area, in Ondo State.

Roaming Service enables a mobile subscriber to automatically make and receive voice calls, send and receive data, or access other services

Danbatta

when travelling outside a particular network geographical area by utilising the network coverage of other networks with roaming arrangements to access service.

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said: “The primary objective of the national roaming service trial is to encourage network resource sharing among operators. This will lead to operational expenditure (OPEX) optimisation and capital expenditure (CAPEX) efficiencies, leading to freeing up of resources to expand mobile network coverage to unserved and underserved communities across the country, which will lead to improved Quality of Service (QoS) delivery to subscribers.�

The successful implementation of the trial will enable EMTS subscribers to access MTN network service within the national roaming trial geographical area without the need for an MTN Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card,� Danbatta further said.

About National Roaming National roaming offers completely neutral access, allowing different models to be adopted, depending on national regulators and other stakeholders. It is cost effective, accelerating return on investment (ROI) and reducing barriers to entry.

Supporting Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology and General System Mobile Communication (GSM) spectrum, voice and data services can be offered, as well as Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity. Self-contained and with solar power options, flexible backhaul via fibre or satellite means it can be delivered anywhere.

National roaming has become a key tool to lower the cost of deploying mobile coverage to eliminate the digital divide. To succeed, flexible,

equitable access to infrastructure is key.

National roaming can also help in closing the digital divide, profitably enabling competition and new stakeholders, as well as providing shared infrastructure. Infrastructure can be deployed when and where needed, with accelerated ROI, enabling every operator to reach new customers.

National roaming is already operational in most advanced countries of the world.

Stakeholders’ Position While commending the NCC for trying out innovative idea about national roaming and considering the positive impact in will have on telecoms operations in the country, the President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Olusola Teniola, advised NCC to license MTN and 9mobile for national roaming service offering and should automatically allow all other operators to enter national roaming agreements where they feel it is viable. This also presents a case for the introduction of Mobile Virtual Network Operators ( MVNO), Teniola said, adding that the consumers may see an improvement in quality of service rendered by their mobile service provider in areas where the operator lacks coverage. He said call drops would be minimised as well.

Addressing the issue of regulation, Teniola said: “No regulation is required for national roaming, as it is a technical solution that has been deployed to solve active infrastructure sharing on the Radio Access Network for more than 20 years. The pricing of voice, SMS and data services should not change based on this arrangement.�

BeneďŹ ts Speaking about the benefits of deploying

Innovation Over the years, the Commission has been in the forefront of encouraging innovations that have contributed to the growth and overall development of the telecommunications industry.

From the development of regulatory frameworks for collocation/passive infrastructure sharing, mobile number portability, leveraging television white spaces (TVWS) for ensuring affordable broadband services to rural, underserved and unserved areas of the country, to its most recent move to allow for spectrum trading and most recently, the idea of national roaming service under the leadership of Danbatta, the Commission has ensured that Nigeria remains relevant among the comity of nations adopting international best practices in the telecommunications sphere.

In 2016, the Commission came up with a consultation paper on national mobile roaming, where it explained its plans to implement a national mobile roaming strategy that will help operators in the country strengthen their operations.

According to Danbatta, national mobile roaming is a feature in several communication licences but it has not yet been utilized in the country.

Danbatta said even though it was technically possible to provide facility for domestic roaming, appropriate legal and regulatory framework have to be in place in order to encourage as well as assist the operators in realising roaming arrangement between them without any uncertainty.

In furtherance of its commitment towards ensuring the continued growth and development of the telecoms industry and ensuring implementation of national roaming, the Commission in 2017 inaugurated an Industry Working Committee (IWC) to work out the procedure and modalities for implementing National Roaming and Active Infrastructure Sharing.

20

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ΀˜ 2020

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Buhari

Ahmed

Why Remittances to Nigeria’s Economy Slumped Monies sent from Nigerians living abroad is beginning to dry up.

Remittance inflows that for long have been a significant source of external financing for Nigeria and shown a resistance to recession, have significantly dropped this year. Nosa James-Igbinadolor looks at the reasons behind the drop and the likely effects on an already drained economy

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emittances represent one of the major international financial resources, which sometimes exceed the flows of foreign direct investment (FDI). For many countries, remittances are the largest source of foreign exchange earnings and represent more than 10 per cent of GDP. Remittances are defined in the International Monetary Fund’s sixth edition of the balance of payments and International Investment Position manual as “all current transfers in cash or in kind made or received by resident households to or from non-resident households‌or current transfers made by employees to residents of another economy.â€?

The World Bank estimates that remittances now make up about a third of total financial inflows in developing countries. Like other regions, Africa saw large increase in the last decade. According to World Bank Migration and Remittances database, remittances currently represent for some African countries a significant share, up to 22 per cent, of their 2017 Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Several studies have found that there is a positive relationship between remittances and economic growth. They help poorer recipients meet basic needs, fund cash and non-cash investments, finance education, foster new businesses, service debt and essentially, drive economic growth. Empirical studies show that the primary benefits of remittances to recipient households is the improvement in their general welfare. According to analysts, 70per cent of remittances are used for consumption purposes, while 30per cent of remittance funds go to investment-related uses. Remittances can also increase investments by alleviating credit constraints in developing countries, and thereby

positively affect economic growth. It has been argued that the effect of remittances through this channel would be greater for countries with a relatively underdeveloped financial system.

A report in March by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) noted, “The level of development of the financial system in Nigeria still remains low, despite government efforts. The low values reported for the various financial development indices in Nigeria confirm that its financial sector is underdeveloped or developing. For instance, credit to the private sector as a percentage of GDP which reflects financial depth averaged 15.4per cent between 1981 and 2016.�

Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) show that Nigeria received $17.57 billion in direct diaspora remittances in 2019, representing a 56.4per cent increase from $11.23 billion in 2018.

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD 2020 World Investment Report, FDI flows into Nigeria totalled $3.3 billion in 2019, showing a 48.5per cent decrease compared to the previous year $ 6.4 billion in 2018). What this means is, remittance transfers from Nigerians abroad have, consistently in the last couple of years, surpassed FDI inflows into the country.

Nigeria accounts for over a third of migrant remittance flows to sub-Saharan Africa, and according to PwC, “These flows amounted to $23.63 billion in 2017, $22 billion in 2018, and represented 6.1per cent of Nigeria’s GDP. The 2018 migrant remittances translate to 83per cent of the federal government budget in 2018 and 11 times the FDI flows in the same period. Nigeria’s remittance inflows were also 7.4 times larger than the net official development assistance (foreign aid) received in 2017 of US$3.4 billion.�

But the inflow is drying up. InApril, the World Bank warned in its projection that global remittances would decline sharply by about 20 percent

in 2020 due to the economic crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown. The projected fall, “which would be the sharpest decline in recent history, is largely due to a fall in the wages and employment of migrant workers, who tend to be more vulnerable to loss of employment and wages during an economic crisis in a host country.�

The bank further alerted that, “Remittances to low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are projected to fall by 19.7 per cent to $445 billion, representing a loss of a crucial financing lifeline for many vulnerable households.�

Because they alleviate poverty in lower- and middle-income countries, improve nutritional outcomes, commit higher spending on education, and reduce child labour in disadvantaged households, a fall in remittances affect families’ ability to spend on these areas as more of their finances will be directed to solve food shortages and immediate livelihoods needs.

According to the CBN’s latest Quarterly Statistical Bulletin, net current transfers in the balance of payments (BoP) slumped by 32.1per cent y/y to $3.9bn in Q2 2020, and by 36.4per cent q/q. The comparable figures for net workers’ remittances, which comprise about 85per cent of net transfers, were 42.2per cent and 40.1per cent.

Net current transfers in Nigeria in Q2 2020 were the lowest for at least 12 years. In the last domestic recession that spanned for five quarters from Q1 2016, the decline was modest because the remitting countries were still growing.

As noted by World Bank President, David Malpass, “Remittances are a vital source of income for developing countries. The ongoing economic recession caused by COVID-19 is taking a severe toll on the ability to send money home and makes it all the more vital that we shorten the time to recovery for advanced economies.�

Loss of jobs as a result of the COVID-19

pandemic which itself has led to contraction in the economies of advanced countries is the major driver of the fall in remittance inflows from abroad. The US economy contracted at a 32.9 per cent annual rate from April through June, its worst drop on record. Business ground to a halt during the pandemic lockdown in the spring of this year, and the U.S plunged into its first recession in 11 years, putting an end to the longest economic expansion in US history and wiping out five years of economic gains in just a few months.

The European Commission Summer 2020 Economic Forecast projects that the euro area economy will contract by 8.7 per cent in 2020 and grow by 6.1 per cent in 2021. The EU economy is forecast to contract by 8.3per cent in 2020 and grow by 5.8per cent in 2021. The contraction in 2020 is, therefore, projected to be significantly greater than the 7.7per cent projected for the euro area and 7.4per cent for the EU as a whole in the Spring Forecast.

Several Nigerians in the United States, United Kingdom and Germany told THISDAY that they have been forced to reduce the amounts of monies they send home to their dependents as a result of fear of job loss, job insecurity and depreciated income.

According to one of them, who lives in Manchester, England and who desired to remain anonymous, “many of us are being forced to work fewer hours and many others have been laid off as a result of the pandemic. Even those who have secure jobs, like those in the healthcare sector have been forced to cut down on the amount of monies they send home because nobody knows tomorrow.�

Another Nigerian, a resident of Houston, Texas noted that many Nigerians who work abroad are being forced to save up for their personal healthcare, thus reducing the volume of monies they remit back home. “The major issue here in America is healthcare. If you do not have health insurance, you are in trouble. Because nobody is sure of what tomorrow will bring, we have to put more monies aside for health insurance.

What this means is that sending more money home will have to suffer.�

Governments across the world have a crucial role to play in ameliorating the toll created by the fall in remittance flows. “Effective social protection systems are crucial to safeguarding the poor and vulnerable during this crisis in both developing countries as well as advanced countries. In host countries, social protection interventions should also support migrant populations,� Michal Rutkowski, Global Director of the Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice at the World Bank urged.

The regulatory background to conducting remittance services in Nigeria has also negatively affected inflows. Over the last few months, the Central Bank of Nigeria has come out with contradictory pronouncements with respect to how domiciliary accounts held in Deposit Money Banks (DMB) can be operated. This has led to widespread worries among Nigerians about remitting and receiving monies through domiciliary accounts, thus exacerbating the already high anxiety and distrust of the formal banking system as a mediator of remittances.

There is a widespread perception in the country that the CBN is trying to ‘steal’ peoples’ FX in order to meet the FX needs of the government.

The Nigerian remittance sector is governed by the central bank and is bank-led. The banking sector is one of the most dominant and regulated industries in the country and the CBN regularly interferes, especially with regard to foreign exchange controls.

As noted by Cenfri, in a June 2019 report, “As Nigeria’s economy is heavily reliant on oil, representing over 90per cent of the country’s total export revenue or just under 9per cent of GDP, the recent collapse in world oil prices resulted in an abrupt decline in foreign currency revenues. This triggered an erosion in Nigeria’s foreign currency reserves. In April 2017, the CBN introduced the investors and exporters window to boost liquidity in the foreign exchange market, trading the Naira at 360 to the USD. The official exchange rate was fixed at 305/ USD1. The very prominent parallel market for foreign exchange, however, traded the USD at 362 - 364, making it more profitable to use this mechanism to exchange foreign currency. The weaker exchange, high inflation (over 15per cent at the end of 2017) and high interest rates negatively impacted consumer confidence in the formal sector in Nigeria.�

Since then, the Naira has been devalued to N360/$1, while the widely patronised parallel market rate is currently N463/$1.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ΀˜ 2020

21

BUSINESS INTERVIEW BABAGANA ADAM

At Abuja Outdoor Advert and Signage Agency, We’re Targeting N1bn by December Dr. Babagana Adam is the Director, Department of Outdoor Advertising and Signage, an agency of the Federal Capital Territory Authority. Appointed in 2019, Adam was able to raise the revenue profile of the agency from N160 million to N500 million and targeting N1billion by the year-end or early next year. The director speaks to Kingsley Nwezeh on his strategies to ensure orderliness and maintain the scenic beauty of the nation’s capital

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hat role does you agency play?

My name is Dr. Babagana Adam, the Director, Department of OutdoorAdvertising and Signage (DOAS). I was appointed to this office just about 17 to 18 months ago, I actually was appointed on the 20th of May 2019. We have made progress.

Unfortunately, along the line, early this year, we encountered this COVID-19 pandemic.

Since I took over the office, I have reviewed the existing situation. I found out that there are a lot of challenges. The office is a dynamic one and is part of the process to beautify the city and ensure orderliness and also curb proliferation of illegal and substandard structures on our highways, streets, roads, boulevards, etc.

How did DOAS come into being?

It’s a laudable objective. The history started a long time ago. It started as far back as 2003 when the regime of Malam Nasir el-Rufai made an attempt to improve on the signage and outdoor advertisement platforms in the FCT. It also yielded great results in 2007 when some consultants were identified and appointed, about 14 of them, but later on, around 2012, the then minister, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, set up a committee to look into the possibility of establishing an agency just like the Lagos State Signage Advertisement Agency.

Thecommitteesubmittedareportwheretherewasarepresentationof almost all the stakeholders.You know, constitutionally, the responsibility of outdoor advertisement and signage is the responsibility of the area councils in Abuja, which is maybe similar, not same, similar to local government areas in Nigeria and they endorsed it and they all endorsed a memorandum of understanding between the area councils, all the six area councils of Abaji, Bwari, AMAC, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali, endorsed it. Now, later the MOU signed by the six area councils and the honourable minister resulted into a bylaw. The legislative arms of each of the area councils enacted a by-law. And the by-law was gazetted in March 2013, which now empowered and delegated their responsibility to the Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage to carry out the activity of outdoor advertisement and signage systems, which has three components.

What are the components?

We have the first party, those signage and advertisement that are within the premises of business owners, five meters within the premises of business owners.

And then the second party, the charity organisations, government agencies, warning signs and other non-governmental organisations.

The third involves the big billboards that you see on the highways, streets and road corridors that carry large platforms, where different forms of platforms are used to attract the attention of the public and you know, the outdoor advertisement and signage plays a greater role in stimulating the economy and it gives the right of choice. You may have THISDAY, you may have other newspapers, on the platform so people can see and make their choice.

And it’s been established via research that 71 per cent of persons that make a decision on what to buy are influenced by what they see when the outdoor advertisement platforms are on display; I mean 71 per cent of persons that leave their homes.

You know and the outdoor advertisement is very important, because lives are mostly outdoor, you must drive from your home or working place and within that period of driving, knowingly or unknowingly, a lot of issues, play on your psyche, and you make some decisions knowingly or unknowingly on what you want to buy, where you want to go and what next, that you intend to do, whether immediately remotely or in future.

So, this is the role of the department and for us to ensure a regulated control and standardised form of our outdoor practice in FCT, you need a regulatory body, which is the Department of OutdoorAdvertisement and Signage so that you don’t display signage anyhow, anywhere in wherever you want it. And then at the end of the day, also to protect the environment.

Abuja has rocks with different visitation, beautiful scenery, buildings, and what have you. So if it is not regulated, and people are allowed to put their signage anyhow, anywhere, whenever wherever they wanted, it affects the city. So we have to put it at the right places, due to the standard regulation that says this is how it is done, how you set it out, and that so this is what we’ve been doing.

How have you improved the revenue proďŹ le of DOAS?

at 11am and they close by 2pm. Sometimes they don’t even come.

That changed.And then, I now initiated a strategy that every Monday, we carried out surveillance, we have a meeting, and carry out action on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, then we sit down on Friday and review what we’ve been able to achieve the four days passed.

And then if we needed to do any remediation, we also occasionally engage on Saturdays, to follow up on that thing that we could not finish on Friday. Then we now had sessions where we were mentoring, reviewing issues, looking at what was going on, how can we improve on what is being done? So I am sure some of these efforts that we made to look back and look at what we are doing when or what are we not doing?

Well, you know, we applied a three review process, knowing where you were, and knowing where you are.And then knowing where you want to be gives you the impetus because if I am going to drive travel to Onitsha this morning, my speed will be different from somebody who is going to Okene so the farther you go, the earlier you start, and the more dedicated and prepared you will be.

But if your journey is very short, you see sometimes, it even makes you lazy. So I know the task of running the outdoor advertisement and signage with all that it entails. So in a nutshell, I think these are some of the things and then that we did, and then the Almighty God bless our efforts with His blessings as usual.

Adam

After environment protection, we should have a form of constant stream of internally generated revenue. After standardising and regulating, the most important thing is revenue. Not for profit but at least to pay the bills, to make sure the citizens are protected from the harm of substandard bill boards.

To do that, you need to ensure that the bills are paid and that it is done.

Our core values are people, service and stewardship. When you look at it, we are value-driven and task-oriented people to guarantee a balanced work environment.

We also aim to consciously exceed service expectations and our stewardship is to optimise available space to increase stakeholder value Yousee,forwhateveryoudo,eveninyourprint,youwanttomaximise space, sort out any little space, you have to maximise the outcome as like information load, as well as the impact it will make on its readers.

So also the department is equal to that task. So this is the journey so far in brief, but the potentials we see in this department is great.

Before my appointment, the department in three years was making N167 million annually. In three years, it generated about N333 million.

But upon assumption of duty, within five to six months, I was able to realise about N500 million with a committed re-mentored dedicated staff that the team spirit was reignited. And if we could so within five and six months, we could realise N500 million and aiming at N1billion by year’s end or early next year as compared to what used to be, so you ask the question; in those three years what has been happening?

What did you do differently?

You see first and foremost for you to be at a location, you must be punctual. You must be disciplined. Yes, discipline. So first and foremost, I looked at the discipline aspect of the workforce.

When you talk about discipline, there are a lot of things like coming to work at the right time. It is a key thing. Closing when you are supposed to close is another and then seeing to it that the job that you have come to do whether it is well-done or it needs remediation for you to go on is another thing.

Then monitoring and evaluation, when you plan your roadmap, then it gives you that opening to always strategically plan what you intend to do so when I came on board, I looked at it from this perspective that I just told you.

But at the onset, people just do what they like. They come to work

Let’s look at the charges and the different parties‌ You see, the first party, you deal with us directly, you deal with us directly. Because when you come to the office, there are seven steps, when you come to DOAS, that is, the Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage, either you just visit the office, but now we are bringing it online. You visit the office if you have the time. But these days, you know the traffic congestion the distance, so we do all these are becoming digital. So then you fill FormAthat was the second step. When you fill it for me that you are looking for new billboard sites, you are looking for a location where you want to put up, let’s say you have a THISDAY office in Asokoro. And you want people to know that this is THISDAY signage. So you first come to the office.

Second, you pick Form A that’s the first party, because you can deal with us directly. That’s why it’s called the first party for new bill board sites. So we now look at it and you pay the sum of N2,500.

And then we register you, then in the form that you had to fill you tell us the kind of signage that you want. Then after filling the form, if somebody follows the administrative protocol to follow you, and see where you want to place it so that it conforms with the control standard and the relation we are talking about.

So after vetting, if it is approved, you are asked to pay certain stipends.

And then you set up but according to the specifications as requested, but if it is not approved, we’ll tell you why it is not approved. And if you improve on it, you come back and we now give you approval.

When we say it is not approved, we tell you why. Because we consider safety appropriate and other smaller details then when you pay your initial and annual bills to a bank account only because we don’t collect cash under any circumstances, you pay to the bank and that aspect also we have tried to get some POS and USSD code so that with your handset you can pay to us, because as much as possible what we try to do, what we also discourage that gave us that leapfrog within five months is the fact that we discourage cash payment you know when you collect cash, you have a lot of temptations. There are a lot of leakages that may happen.

And then then you collect your permit after you have paid that is step seven.

With permit, you can proceed. When you collect your permit and enjoy the public patronage and enjoy your business once you pay.

As you know, this advertisement gets you noticed. I am happy am talking to a media person. Advertisement gets you patronage and it gets you more money. If you are not known, you make little money so once you do advertisement, you make more money. And then at the end of the day, you look for a bigger sign board and then you will you pay big money if it conforms with our standards.

So at the end of the day, government makes more money and opens up business spaces. If you have a shop in Maitama now, provided maybe there is vacancy for a mall at a new place with more money, we can open up another location for another private sector or private public partnership.

We build another place, you set up there, you want to do more billboards, and you earn more money. And so the more we open up, the more money government makes and the more money the citizens or the private sector make. And that helps us.

22

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ΀˜ 2020

BUSINESS PEOPLE SIJIBOMI OGUNDELE Why Tanzanian Govt Wants Sujimoto to Bid for New Airport Project Avant-garde, debonair, futuristic, and innovative is among the traits that describe the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Sujimoto Construction Limited, Sijibomi Ogundele. In an interview with Arise TV, the young vibrant real estate magnate opens a window into his life, grit, greatness, vision, and hope for Nigerian youths in national development and transformation. He also talks about his ongoing projects and future investments. Bayo Akinloye presents the excerpts:

A

stone’s throw from the Giuliano, Sujimoto is building what’s been dubbed the tallest residential building in Banana Island: ‘The LeonardoBySujimoto.’When completed, the 13-story glass-reinforced concrete façade building will house a private IMAX cinema for its residents, a standard crèche, and indoor virtual golf, a swimming pool in the sky, full automation, a private interactive lobby, and other exciting features. As the Agege boy, who built a $400 million-dollar company, can we meet you, please?

Thanks for having me and let me use this opportunity to send my condolence to the over one million people who lost their loved ones and over 10,000 in Nigeria: may their gentle souls rest in peace. I grew up in the corners of Agege. I also spent some time in Kaduna. But when you look at my story, I think when I look at myself; I think I won an ovarian lottery. I was brought up by a very strong woman. She is a high school dropout but today she is also one of the top five distributors for Nestle. A woman, who I can describe as a ‘professor’ of entrepreneurship; because anytime I go to her she always has one or two advice to give to me. She always says: ‘Sijibomi, if you cannot hire 10 people, hire five.’ She will tell me not to struggle to build 10 houses for people if I can afford to build only five; that for me is corporate integrity.

So, when you have a strong woman like that it sets a precedent and a foundation for you. When people look at Sujimoto today, or when you mention our name Sujimoto, they will not know the kind of woman I feel so lucky to have, Adebukola, as a mother, because she has been the backbone of who we are at Sujimoto, and has been the backbone of who I am as a person.

Most important, she taught me two fundamental things that I have used to set the path for Sujimoto. The first is integrity.

The second is quality. Integrity in person, integrity in an association, integrity setting yourself and I believe that is what has set us very different from others. We also believe that the foundation of every success from the times of MKO, even way back to the times of King Solomon, the foundation of every success has remained integrity. The integrity of what you say: you say what you mean and mean what you say, especially when you promise to deliver. So, that is what has made us what we are today.

Integrity is considered very scarce in the world today. Is it with the beneďŹ t of hindsight that you can say to yourself that ‘I learned all of this integrity and keeping to my word from your mom’?

Tell us a little more about her. Who is she?

She’s this great woman from Ijebu-Igbo;

Ogundele

an astute businesswoman. The trajectory of her success is an interesting one. She grew from being a lady that was just selling from a tray to becoming a market woman that own warehouses. She’s someone that just has practical knowledge of doing what is right and when it is right and she’s also very particular about being ‘a woman of your word’ and she believes that if you can use the collateral of integrity to build anything, you are doing even the integrity of the relationship, the integrity of the people you associate yourself with. So integrity does not only go with the quality of what you are offering but also knowing that if you don’t want to go far in life then integrity is not essential. But if you want to build success, a name, a business that will stand the test of time and be remembered like the MKOs, the Warren Buffets, then you must work so fast and hard putting

forward your currency of integrity.

There’s no better time to hear this coming from a young man like you, who has achieved so much. A lot of young people out there believe that money just happens; most just want to make it very fast. Am sure a lot of young people look at you and think I want to be like Sujimoto: he has made so much money. I don’t know how he made it but I want to make it as quickly as he has done. What do you have to say to the Nigerian youth?

I have a philosophy that when you negotiate the cost of greatness, you will pay the full price from mediocrity. The foundation for the cost of greatness is in integrity, in quality; it’s in patience. When we started Sujimoto, people never believed in us. We never had any money; not a rich

uncle or powerful aunty. They said: ‘Who is Ogundele? Where did he come from? Who is your father? Who is bankrolling you?’ Our only bankroll was in perseverance and dedication and never giving up and an annoying sense of believing in what you want to become in life. So, it’s in those things. I think one of the biggest problems we have as a generation is that sense of entitlement as if somebody owes you something. Nobody owes you anything, not even the nation. Political policies are just aspirations to get politicians to where they want to be.

It is in the fear of God for a man to promise and deliver. As a citizen, you must not wait for the government to give you what you want or you desire: be your government.

MKO defeated the philosophy of death (kashimawo) and became an inspiration for so many generations after him and today

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˞ ΀˜ 2020

23

How I Run Sujimoto Construction he is Christ-like, an icon of our generation.

So, did MKO depend on the government then? He sold coal to educate himself. We must draw inspiration from those types of people and discover different opportunities around us. The Lebanese man, the Italian man, and the Indians in Nigeria today are billionaires. They didn’t come to watch the national theatre or the third mainland bridge. They came to identify specific opportunities lying around us. There are opportunities everywhere around us.

How will you describe the typical Nigerian youth? They have been described as lazy, coming from our president; that Nigerian youths are lazy. Do you believe that?

I sincerely believe what the president meant by that concept but I disagree with that. I think that one of the greatest assets we have as a nation is in our people. I have been to different universities, to different schools and spoken with these young guys: there’s a hunger for innovation. What we lack as a nation is not in creativity. What we lack as a nation is more in leadership, not only presidential but community and family leadership, or someone to push them and provide opportunities in different sectors.

Nations like America, China, and other places have identified that true asset is in their young people. They have created systems that will support people in education, health care, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure.

How have COVID-19 affected businesses, especially real estate?

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a lot of hardship and difficulties, especially to families and countries. Businesses are not left out. My deepest condolence goes to the families of the people who died in Nigeria and nearly two million who have died globally as a result of the pandemic.

I commend Mr. President for his response to the pandemic and also the governors of Ogun and Lagos states for their exemplary work and leadership. As a business, we will continue to strive and thrive through all times, good or bad. But I must tell you that this pandemic has allowed us to turn our calamities into opportunities. We have developed many projects and increased 10 times our client base than ever before.

Why did you choose real estate and how did it start?

Sujimoto started with two staff; now we have about 179 local and international staff.

We have over 1,000 artisans annually. You can’t desire success with the mindset of lack.

That is the word of MKO, Kashimawo. The journey into entrepreneurship is like that of Joseph in the Bible, filled with tempestuous moments but keeping in mind the great principles of Assets vs. liabilities (financial and human truths). I strongly believe that life gave me little chance for success, and I declared war against poverty because there is no nobility in poverty. Growing up in Agege, I always dreamed of living in Ikoyi. I left Nigeria at 16 and returned at 33. I contemplated different options. I had worked with the largest family office in Saudi and Paris as a venture capitalist and real estate financing had been the center of my portfolio. I have lived in the richest space in the world; triangle D’or Paris, Ginza Toyo Japan. So when I decided to move to Nigeria, moving to Ikoyi was logical for me. I had to understudy Caldwell to Cappa D’Alberto to Elalan and several others. When I started Sujimoto, we had no capital.

We had no name, and people wondered: ‘Who is this Ogundele?’ Even when we wanted to acquire our first land from –now mentor– Alhaji Saro, I didn’t have the full amount. I only had N100 million. But, I knew that when you put your leg and start, the finishing will be handled by the almighty. We worked hard, tried all sorts of things to raise money. We were close to bankruptcy. But an off-taker showed up and today its history. I will never forget that morning I had only N17,000 in my account. But I acted as if I had N170 million.

On the Lorenzo project, it was one of the best projects that are on hold for now. We invested all we had; invested off-takers’ money so when the economy went down

Ogundele

and the project had to be shut down, no investor lost a kobo of their money. We refunded almost N500 million to off-takers.

Some of them followed us back to the GuillianoBySujimoto Banana Island project.

That project today has doubled in value.

What’s been the biggest challenge doing business in real estate?

As you may well know, real estate is tightly linked to the state of the economy, as it has to do with raising funds, capital, and the attendant high-interest rates. However, we are relying on creativity in the absence of capital. Forex volatility — US dollar was at N160 in 2015 now N460 in 2020.

For me, that is an N300 million deficit on every $1 million. Nigerian banks had little appetite for real estate in the beginning.

We used to chase banks. But today, banks chase us so we are very optimistic about the future. I have hope for Nigeria. The Dangote and Adenugas got over 98 percent of their money and opportunities from this great nation Nigeria. Nigeria has something for me too.

With the growing rate at which the new generation is calling for new leaders to emerge to lead the country politically, do you have any political ambition?

The politics of business is bigger than the business of politics itself. No businessman can ignore the role of politics in the 21st-century business. Nigeria is often described as a nation of potentials since 1960. Indonesia, Singapore, and South Korea are all converted to great countries through quality leadership both in politics and in business. We must refuse to remain a nation of idealists and thinkers. Nigeria needs leaders who are realists and doers.

Visionary leaders put the state before self.

Great leaders look beyond the next four years but focus on the development of the next 40 years. I must not forget to commend the current administration for the positive moves they are making on policy and infrastructure. But I must also remind them that a lot remains to be done.

Can you tell us more about Sujimoto’s current projects?

One of our core philosophies is ‘To be second is to be last!’ ‘If people in their

30’s are building 5,000 units annually in Asia, 75 units shouldn’t scare you.’ During the lockdown as a result of COVID-19, the real estate sector was ranked second worst-hit industry in the world, after tourism and hospitality. But for us, the COVID-19 disaster was turned into an opportunity. Projects that can take five years to achieve funding, we did in five months. For instance, aside from the ongoing Lucrezia project on Banana Island, our Leonardo project raised over N2 billion.

The project coming up soon are Queen Amina in Abuja, the Sujimoto plazas in Ikoyi, and the hotel in Ikoyi, a total project portfolio of over N62 billion. Recently, the government of Tanzania asked us to bid for the construction project of a new airport.

Even if we did not win this project, it is a vote of confidence in the integrity of Sujimoto. But we intend to win!

How do you describe Sujimoto’s future?

We are focusing on ‘Thinking Big.’ We have five major projects going on right now.

These are Lucrezia, Leonardo, Adebukola, Ooni, Queen Amina in Abuja, and Sujimoto plazas in Lagos and Abuja. The ‘S’ Hotel is an African-cultured boutique hotel, with the character and services of a Four Seasons Facility. We are covering all six zones, Ghana, Ethiopia, and South Africa.

We are also focusing on the government’s partnership. For example, the Ogun State government’s offices, facilities, etc. We aim to remain the one and only; the new leaders in real estate. Don’t be surprised when you see Sujimoto luxury in Shanghai or the ‘S’ in downtown Dubai. We are confident in the collateral of integrity, as the down payment, we made over five years ago.

We’re local but our dreams are global.

In light of the ongoing conversation on the youth revolution, what word do you have for young people?

I want our young people to know that ‘Success is not served a la carte. It’s a buffet!

You have to go for it!’ Youths should bury any sense of entitlement. The likes of Linda Ikeji, Davido have worked hard and are ripping the reward for their dedication. Our youths must know that there is no nobility in poverty; to achieve success today in Nigeria, you must be ready to lose friends,

be misunderstood, and be unreasonable in your visions. Nigerians have stopped following leaders who are ‘complaining and murmuring’ leaders. Young people must learn to reject the ordinary and risk the unusual. We need to know that Nigeria is a land of opportunities; find these opportunities. The likes of MKO, Ojukwu, Mai Deribe, and others started from their youth days. So, as young people, we have to prepare a ‘don’t do list,’ as much as you prepare a to-do list.

What informed your decision to study Law? I didn’t want to be a victim of corporate negligence or pure ignorance, especially when doing business in Nigeria. Corporate blunders and legal exposures account for some of the most damaging events for most businesses, especially in real estate.

What do you have to say to people who look up to you, especially young people?

It is important to bear in mind that lack of vision is proof of mental bankruptcy.

The bar for integrity can’t be set low. We must all desire and intend to be judged by the quality of what we finish, not what we start. It is important to always note that to be second is to be last. Also, the collateral of integrity can never be exhausted. I don’t wait for opportunities to come to me. I visualize them and I go for them so should you, don’t wait. And for those who are looking to grow bigger, you must know that if you are in downtown Ikorodu today, you can own a house in Uptown Ikoyi tomorrow, if you work and dream hard enough. Also, readers are leaders; reading two hours a day is 730 hours a year; 1,460 hours in two years!

That’s almost equivalent to earning a PhD and there’s no billionaire by mistake in the world. If you see someone doing exceptionally well in any industry, invest your envy in studying him, not bringing him down. And don’t forget that the only person that can determine your tomorrow is the almighty God, so don’t give in. Do not underestimate or overestimate. In all that you do, know that if your neighbor is hungry, your chicken is not safe. Therefore, always stretch a helping hand to the needy.

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

24

MARKET NEWS

ABC Transport Plans N1.4bn Capital Injection Goddy Egene ABC

Transport

Plc

is

planning to inject additional capital of N1.4 billion into its operations. The capital

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

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

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

would be raised through right issue and bond from existing shareholders and

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 05Nov-2020, unless otherwise stated.

the open market.

The directors are seeking the approval

of shareholders to raise the capital at the annual general meeting (AGM)

of the company slated for November 27, 2020, in Owerri, Imo State.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.62% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.74 3.86 52.70% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 0.46% Anchoria Equity Fund 120.55 120.98 15.45% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.46 1.46 21.92% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 17.16 17.67 12.01% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 383.86 395.44 11.13% ARM Ethical Fund 32.70 33.68 12.43% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.17 1.17 17.17% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.11 1.12 11.68% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.36% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 116.05 116.86 20.78% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.06% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.31 2.31 23.57% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.19 2.23 44.82% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.81% Paramount Equity Fund 14.21 14.48 13.58% Women's Investment Fund 124.96 126.26 13.26% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.26% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 124.02 124.58 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 136.76 137.85 Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 103.59 103.59 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.02% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.10 1.11 18.39% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.75 1.75 31.67% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 2.21% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1.48% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,187.54 1,203.54 7.18% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Balanced Fund 171.84 173.27 17.04% FBN Halal Fund 109.78 109.79 9.78% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.09% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 117.70 118.13 4.41% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 117.70 118.14 3.90% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 140.39 142.59 7.88% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.42% Legacy Debt Fund 3.85 3.85 5.27% Legacy Equity Fund 1.36 1.39 20.20% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.13 1.13 4.26% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH Treasury Bills Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.70% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 125.25 125.80 16.39%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.50% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.63 2.69 20.48% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 7.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 154.09 154.95 7.53% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ďŹ ncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.31 1.33 16.43% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,130.33 1,130.33 8.77% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.48 1.50 20.36% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.77 11.86 4.74% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 2.44% PACAM Equity Fund 1.32 1.33 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.87 111.18 SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 131.08 133.81 3.73% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.01 1.01 8.13% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 20.70% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 5.92% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 18.33% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 6.99% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 22.59% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.88% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 14.67% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.22 1.22 4.73% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 110.32 110.32 5.86% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.31 1.33 9.75% United Capital Bond Fund 1.87 1.87 8.14% United Capital Equity Fund 0.77 0.79 9.11% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.12% United Capital Eurobond Fund 115.63 115.63 5.80% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.04 1.05 -0.71% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 11.64 11.78 13.28% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.91 13.03 11.10% Zenith Income Fund 24.61 24.61 8.31% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.41%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

126.41

12.27%

53.51

2.80%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.45 106.78 81.16

10.55 9.09 82.65

24.49% -39.32% 8.03%

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.80 5.42 14.49 1.00 13.55 234.18

3.84 5.50 14.59 1.00 13.75 236.18

10.98% -8.25% 18.94% 2.55% 30.16% 22.55%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.71

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

8.11.2020

AKIN OLATUNJIDANIELS ON HIS ARTISTRY, CRAFTSMANSHIP, AND SELFDISCOVERY

He is one of the few talented creative geniuses in Africa. His craft, creativity and ingenuity are exceptionally remarkable. Akin Olatunji-Daniels, co-founder of Eventecture, an interior décor, retail/marketing and TV productions company based in Lagos has lightened many worlds through his craftsmanship. The Lagos indigene has always been an adventurous soul who thrives on a constant rush of adrenaline. Over the years, together with his partner, Oluwatoyin Olatunji-Daniels, they have evolved and expanded to bring that extraordinary touch of their arts to their big clientele. Funke Olaode explores the world of Nigeria’s master of lightning and his wow effect that often leaves people gasping in awe.

ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

50

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

COVER

UNVEILING THE WORLD OF NIGERIA’S MASTER OF LIGHTNING coaster of sorts as I attended four different schools! Two private, high-end schools and two government schools. That’s a whole other story for another day, but in hind-sight, it turned out to be very beneficial in crafting my personality and my broad perception of life.

It shaped the way I see situations, problems and even engage with people. I went on to study architecture at the University of Lagos.

That decision seemed like a no-brainer to me as I had come to really love technical drawing as a subject in secondary school.�

Olatunji Daniels traced his love for the arts to self –discovery which manifested early as a child. “As children, we loved art and were always occupied with making collages, greeting cards, artsy jotters, drawings and paintings we would frame. At a point, we started to sell some of these stuff in church and to neighbors. I would also say the seeds of entrepreneurship were sown in me at a young age by observing my parents.

Even though my mom

Olatunji Daniels with Wife and Business Partner, Oluwatoyin

H

is life has always been on a roller coaster as he has what it takes to succeed as a young man.

With a father who is an accountant and business mogul and a mother who is a judge, his early life no doubt was set on accelerated journey. Comfortable beginning aside, self-discovery in the art has guided his path to success in his chosen career.

Today, he is one of the few talented creative geniuses in Africa. His craft, creativity and ingenuity are exceptionally remarkable.

Meet Akin Olatunji-Daniels, the co-founder of Eventecture. Eventecture is the meeting point between timeless architectural principles and creative craftsmanship. Recently going on to create Atlantis, a subsidiary dedicated to providing special lighting and effects to create the desired ambience in events, clientele include UBA, GTB, Oando, Star, Hennessy, Nestle, Google, Nescafe, Moet and Chandon, Access Bank, Guinness amongst a host of others.

Founded in 2010 with his partner, Oluwatoyin Olatunji-Daniels, Eventecture has redefined event management in Nigeria.

He hails from Irede, a little known island in the Amuwo Odofin local government area of Lagos, Nigeria. He attended Corona Primary School Ikoyi. “My secondary education was a roller

was a lawyer in the civil service, she spent her spare time baking and catering commercially.

I learnt how to bake and cook at a young age and had a stint baking and selling cakes in my teen years! “Of course, my dad was running several companies at any point I remember while growing up, but still had some side hustles like importing and selling cars. I guess these sort of laid some entrepreneurial foundation in my sub-conscious.�

Speaking further about his love for the art that later led him to his chosen career, he said, “In secondary school, I was inseparable from technical drawing and went to great lengths to ensure I got a complete tutelage in the subject even when inconvenient. This led to my eventual decision to study architecture. Imagine my shock on getting to architectural school to discover that the course leaned more towards art and design, rather than technical drawing. “It took a while to adjust but I guess my prior love for art came back to the fore.

However, I realized early enough that my flair for design transcended conventional architecture. Incidentally, at about the same time, through some fortuitous circumstances, I came across a senior colleague, whom I then spent my industrial training period with. That’s where I came across event, set and production design.�

Olatunji-Daniels though a trained architect, his name resonates in the event industry which he dabbled into 10 years ago?

Why the switch?

He explained, “The foundation of this transition happened while I was still in architectural school. I realized that while I enjoyed designing buildings and spaces, it bored me easily. I was drawn to designs that were regarded as “building castles in the sky�. When I eventually came across designing for the events and entertainment, the pieces of the puzzle fit together perfectly and the rest as they say, is history. “It was a natural fit for me and I fell immediately in love. Shortly after that, while still in school, in partnership with a couple of friends, we set up an events management company. We started totally from scratch and encountered a lot of resistance, especially because people didn’t initially believe we could deliver because of our relatively young ages. “We pulled through and had some good measure of success notwithstanding.

In that period, we learnt a lot of lessons in entrepreneurship. Fast forward a few years later, I met Toyin and we had started dating.

In about the same period, the desire to return to my design core was drowning out my satisfaction with my status quo at the time. “In 2010, we made the very difficult decision to quit the partnership in the events planning company and start again from scratch to set up Eventecture.

It was birthed out of the need to solve problems in the event space in Nigeria through design, thus we merged Event and Architecture to come up with Eventecture.

We started out as an event and set design company then because we understood that the event scene, though expanding, w a s absent of

innovation and that wow effect that would leave people gasping and in awe. “So we started to fill this gap one event at a time. Many years after, we’ve evolved and expanded to bring that extraordinary touch to other related sectors. As with most successful bootstrapping stories, the road has been fraught with many problems and pit falls but with grit, tenacity and the desire to make a difference, we have been able to build something we’re very proud of today.�

Olatunji-Daniels started out as a young man of vision who is on a mission. Getting people to believe in him was a herculean task.

But with dedication and commitment he surmounted the hurdle to become a darling of many organizations. “The company wasn’t always a large concern. Like most other startups, we started from ground zero. Zero financial capital, zero social capital. It was just a dream and the strong desire to add value and provide solutions. I would say the greatest challenge was getting someone to believe enough to give us that first brief. There were a lot of sleepless nights designing proposals for cold calls. Many of those cold calls fell to the floor but once we got that first project in, doors started to open.�

How would he rate his success over the last 10 years? With excitement, he said it is a lucrative field? “When professionally done, it’s the magic that brings the entire production together.

It’s what evokes the emotional, and dare I

say, spiritual senses of the audience. It can totally transform a bland experience to an immersive one, if done professionally. “Over the years, we have gradually evolved from importing production crews to grooming local talent, which is a very welcome development. We still have a long way to go, but there’s definitely progress.�

And his staying power? “Overall, I’ll say we have stayed true to our vision and to ourselves. At the heart of our business, we are not motivated by profit, but by the everpresent pang to provide solutions, innovate and produce world-class solutions. We focus on creation of value and continuous addition to value. We’re passionate about challenging the status quo and upping the ante. “The word ‘impossible’ is not in our lexicon. Our immediate enemy is always our last achievement, and everything we do is guided by imagination, precision and distinction. Integrity is very important to us, internally and externally. This is what guarantees our longevity. We ensure that every brief is a promise kept. We leave no stone unturned to ensure that we’re building the dreams of all our stakeholders, team members, and clients to perfection.�

Continuing, he acknowledged: � it’s amazing what creative in Nigeria churn out day after day. We are faced with some of the most challenging conditions possible, but still, people are thriving and creating magic. One just needs to look at the amount of innovation and creativity being rolled out in the music, movie, comedy and art sectors. Of course, there’s still some way to go but the industry as a collective is doing outstandingly well.�

How has it been working with his spouse, Oluwatoyin? “We both have a true passion for what we do so it’s hard work, but most enjoyable.

Being best friends really helps as well so it never gets tedious. It’s also easier to balance each other’s schedules because we both understand fully what our work entails. Our work compliments each other so everything works out amazing. Of course we still have our disagreements like every other couple, but our dynamic and understanding has improved greatly since we started working together. We always manage to come to a compromise by patiently examining each person’s position and then going with the superior argument or taking the best from both sides.�

The recent pandemic and subsequent lockdown affected his industry in no small measure, how is going to rebound and adjust? “It was a real baptism of fire. Totally unprecedented, everything came to a complete halt. Coming out of it standing is as a result of capacity, prudence and a fantastic team. In that period, we took the time out to re-strategize and re-align our goals. The team really dug in and as a result, we have come out rearing to go.�

Giving tips to youths on how to succeed, he said, “I would say, don’t be afraid to dream big.

In fact, if your dreams are not scary, you need to dream bigger and better. However, it’s not enough to dream. You must have a plan. Your dreams will not become real all by themselves.

You must have laser focus on your purpose.

You have to be very intentional about how you will achieve those dreams. De-focus on the negatives and the problems you foresee along the way and focus on your ‘why.’ “Finally, chase value and not money. Everybody wants to succeed, make bank and retire early. That’s not a bad thing in itself, but it cannot be your ‘why.’ You can’t chase money and catch it. What you can chase is value. People pay for value. People pay for solutions. Be a problem solver and a provider of value and see all your dreams come true.�

As Eventecture celebrated one decade of lightening people’s worlds, Olatunji-Daniels believe the best of the company is yet to come. “It’s quite surreal that 10 years have gone by that quickly. We look forward to the next decade in anticipation of many more exciting frontiers to conquer. We look forward to growth in geometric progression. We look forward to showcasing the best of Africa to the world. We look forward to many more decades of building dreams and creating happiness. “While grateful for the past 10 years we’re looking forward to the future in excitement and anticipation. We believe we’re just getting ready to go and through staying on course we will be a shining light from Africa to the world,� he stated.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 8, 2020

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FOCUS

Making Women Catalyst for Change Ambassadors Vanessa Obioha writes that the CocaCola Foundation continues to empower more women in local communities such as Sangotedo through the ‘Catalyst for Change’ training programme

T

he role of women in any society cannot be overemphasized. They play a pivotal role in the growth and development of any society. No one understands this better than the Coca-Cola Foundation. Understanding the impact the global pandemic caused by the mysterious coronavirus had on livelihoods, particularly women who are underserved in society, the foundation partnered Eleos Hand of Hope Foundation to offer free vocational skills acquisition training programme to women in local communities.

Titled, ‘Catalyst for Change,’ the aim of the one-month intensive training programme is to aid economic recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the period of their training, the selected women acquired skills in baking, sewing, wig making, tie and dye, shoe and bag making, soap and household items production.

Thus, it was a joyous atmosphere when the foundation visited the Sangotedo community in Lagos State, recently. Over 600 women gathered at the community’s primary school to witness the graduation ceremony of participants of the training.

Old and young, royalty and commons were in attendance to mark the milestone in the community. Some of the personalities in attendance included the Baale of Sangotedo, Chief Rafiu Lawal Ajakaiye, represented

by Raman Suleman; the NULGE Chairman and HOD Education, Eti Osa East, Comrade Omojole Olabode; the CCO to the Head Teacher at Sangotedo Primary School, Haruna Abulwakin, Public Affairs Communication and Sustainability Manager at Coca-Cola Nigeria, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe; Founder, Karis and Eleos Hand of Hope Foundation, Bukola Bamiduro;

L-R: Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability Coca-Cola Nigeria, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe; one of the ‘Catalyst for Change’ graduands, Benjamin Opeyemi Abosede; Founder, Karis and Eleos Foundation, Bukola Bamiduro at the program graduation ceremony in Sangotedo, Lagos recently.

ED, RecyclePoints, Taiwo Adewole and many others.

Out of the 612 graduates, 100 were presented with start-up kits for their different areas of interest.

The intervention of the beverage company’s Foundation is timely as the country is gradually inching towards recession. In recent times, prices of food have spiked, so also transportation fares and oil prices continue to dip in the global market.

By empowering the women and automatically making them ambassadors of the program, the women can successfully create their start-ups and support their family needs.

Valedictorian Ekhator Clara understood the importance of the training to her community. It has changed their mindsets. Unlike in the past where they are only limited to the skills acquired, the training equipped them with other marketing skills such as personal branding, use of social media for business, financial literacy and networking, to mention a few.

The additional information has boosted her confidence and that of her colleagues.

Such testimonials reiterate Coca-Cola’s commitment to economically empower women.

In the past decade, the company has empowered women to build sustainable communities.

“Women are not only essential to building thriving communities – we truly believe they represent one of the biggest accelerators to economic growth globally,” said the Public Affairs, Communication and

Sustainability Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe.

She urged the graduates to ensure that they remain good ambassadors of the Coca-Cola ‘Catalyst for Change’ initiative.

Interestingly, the Women Leader of Eti-Osa East LCDA, Folashade Olarotimi was among the trainees.

She expressed gratitude to the organisers for their commitment to building human capacity and empowering lives while advising the graduating students to make great use of all the skills learnt and ensure that they add value to the society.

For the Baale, the empowerment program will no doubt go a long way in alleviating the economic hardship caused by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in his community.

‘Catalyst for Change’ initiative was launched in August to equip 5000 women with relevant vocational and business skills for economic recovery from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The programme is to be undertaken across five communities in Lagos state, with 1000 of the targeted women receiving funding and support to set up their small-scale enterprises.

It is in line with its global campaign ‘5by20’ initiative which seeks to empower five million entrepreneurs globally by the year 2020. So far, the company has empowered over four million across the globe with over 400,000 Nigerian women directly impacted.

“Women

are not only essential to building thriving communities – we truly believe they represent one of the biggest accelerators to economic growth globally,”

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NOVEMBER Ͷ˜ ͰͮͰͮ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

High Life Breaking: Oil Man, Scott Tommey, Turns 50 Soon!

F

ifty is the golden age, a period reckoned to be the true divider of humanity.

Fortunate men and women reach and cross this age; the rest and the rest. As renowned oil merchant Scott Tommey reaches this divider in a few days, it is obvious that he is one of those with fortune on their side.

Folks are palpitating for what they have reported to be the boiling point of colourful celebrations, which is how they expect Scott Tommey to commemorate his 50th birthday.

Judging from the man’s convivial personality, this might just be what is awaiting those that will be invited—and the self-aware folks that have a different perspective on invitations.

When he clocked 40, Scott Tommey essentially commanded the front pages of newspapers all over the country. This is in spite of the fact that the party was not held in Nigeria, but in faraway Dubai. The novelty of that incident is based on the fact that Tommey was allegedly responsible for conveying his invited guests over there. But of course he can—he’s Scott Tommey.

Leaving aside his many connections, Scott Tommey is known for his flourishing business within the oil and gas sector.

He’s the chairman of Osmoserve Global, which is an indigenous company that provides marine and engineering services to the oil and gas industry, state, and federal governments. And then his contributions to society.

Tommey’s Osmoserve Global has greatly benefited the youth of the Niger Delta region. The company is reportedly responsible for the empowerment and employment of youths over there, not to mention infrastructural development.

All in all, there’s nothing to be ashamed of from wanting clink glasses with Scott Tommey on his 50th anniversary.

The man has done well—and continues to do well—for himself and for others. A fortunate man indeed is Scott Tommey.

Tommey

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

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

Arinola Adeniyi: A Trailblazer at 60 When Arinola Adeniyi retired from a flourishing banking career to chart a course on unfamiliar waters, she opened the eyes of her contemporaries to the fact that passion and ambition needn’t always follow behind wealth and prestige—it can be the other way around. And now, seeing the distance she has covered, it has been the other way around.

At 60, Arinola is accomplished in talent and trade, and celebrated accordingly.

A few days ago, Arinola Adeniyi wore the spotlight as she clocked 60. Being the founder and boss of Venivici Health Club and Urban Spa, it came as no surprise that the wellness coach does not at all look her age. Easily mistaken to be in her early forties, Adeniyi enjoyed quite a bit of acclaim, especially from her clientele. But as the days go on, the good lady is already back at her duty post— helping work bugs keep a healthier lifestyle.

The story of Arin—as she is called—is one that has inspired determination, grits and guts. In 2002, she left behind a successful 18-year-old banking career and focused entirely on being a corporate wellness coach, colon therapist, diet and nutrition specialist,

and mind coach trainer. Her enterprise, Venivici Health Club and Urban Spa, has outgrown even Arin.

Arin’s Venivici offers a variety of services that edge out traditional wellness and therapy.

These include weight and stress therapy, aromatherapy, facials, body polish, mud wrap, waxing, foot and hand treatments, colon hydrotherapy, and general corporate wellness coaching. All in all, Venivici works towards optimising the mental, physical, emotional wellbeing of its clients (male, female, young, old, yuppie, middle-aged, black, white, asian, caucasian).

To date, very few highbrow spas have reached the apex of prestige and recognition, as Arin’s Venivici has done. Her emphasis on a natural approach in a tranquil environment has brought the Spa much acclaim, not to mention her humble and charming personality.

As the good lady begins a new decade, her course remains the same, her steps undaunted, and her passion undimmed. For Arinola Adeniyi, there are 60 blazing stars in the sky—and counting.

Adeniyi

Desmond Elliot: Humbling of a Lawmaker

Elliot

Power, fame and association make a double-edged knife. This is the lesson folks have drawn from the series of events which ended Desmond Elliot’s debasement, as

well as the castigation of the Nigerian public. Since the Nollywood icon branched into politics and became a lawmaker representing the Surulere constituency at the Lagos House of Assembly, this might be his biggest swing yet from glory to gore.

Desmond Elliot’s troubles began when a viral video caught the attention of simmering folks—who had yet to get over the October 20 Lekki Toll Gate shooting. The video which which showed Elliot’s submission at the Lagos State House of Assembly (exactly six days after the alleged shooting) was received almost entirely in the same fashion.

Desmond Elliot lamented the gross misconduct of youths, especially those who have begun to make mockery of the government’s abilities to protect its citizens. He called attention to the snatching of the traditional symbol (staff) of the Oba of Lagos, as well as the barrage of insults generously loaded against high-ranking members of the government. He appealed to the most influential among the

protesters against police brutality to stop the wave of hatred and adopt constitutional measures to accomplish their goal.

Elliot concluded his presentation by asking that attention be paid to social media in Nigeria, youthful users—who he sweepingly referred to as children—and social media influencers, or the nation as we know it might implode in no time.

None of these was music to the ears of Nigerian youths. The most conservative response to Elliot’s passionate harangue was that he was as obtuse in real life as he is in most of his movies. One can imagine the other responses.

Noting the displeasure from various angles, from even fellow Nollywood-ers like him, Desmond Elliot later apologised for his impassioned descant, chalking it up to his unfiltered initial response to the nest of chaos.

That apology has not at all cooled the antagonism against him. Thus, little else has been heard of him ever since. After all, what sensible man fights against the slings and arrows of his own people?

Billionaire Businessman, Greg Uanseru’s Love for Humanity Very few figures of affluence and influence can exempt themselves from humanitarian projects, not when Stan Lee published the fact that great responsibility comes with great power.

However, many of these bulwarks of fortune bear the burdens of the underprivileged because they have little choice in the matter. This is not the case with Greg Uanseru.

When the wave of the COVID-19 pandemic began shaking Nigeria’s economy, every Nigerian was (and many are still) affected, but some more than others. It took people like Greg Uanseru to knock down this yoke, drawing from personal reserves to invigorate the affected low and middle class Nigerians.

Greg Uanseru was on the frontlines while the pandemic was wilting the hopes and pockets of Nigerians. He stocked and distributed palliatives. This timely assistance served to shake off the burdens of COVID-19, and also inspired others in similar positions to help to do exactly that.

It is interesting that one will be

Medayese

Uanseru

pressed to find newspaper clippings and blog pages which enumerated Greg Uanseru’s goodwill gestures. This is nothing new, if you know the man. In fact, even the most news-wise reader might only know that Greg Uanseru is a billionaire whose fortune evolved from his business operations in the oil sector.

This is really the case. Uanseru is the president and CEO of GCA Energy Limited and one of the most accomplished merchants of the oil and gas sector. The 62-year-old took root in the sector in the 1980s and has grown his company—formerly Greg Continental Agency Limited—into the behemoth that is GCA Energy Limited.

One might be surprised to find that Greg Uanseru started his journey working as a cabin crew staff of the Nigerian Airways. Such humble beginnings! This is the man who is now a pillar of society, rendering financial assistance to strangers and asking nothing in return. This is true love for humanity.

NOVEMBER Ͷ˜ ͰͮͰͮ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Boardroom Titan, Otunba Olasubomi Balogun: An Aristocrat with Power, Opulence, Style

Akeredolu

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu’s Winning Streaks Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, is at the moment in a joyous mood.

The reason for his palpable joy is not unconnected with the fact that the people of the state have again put their fate, politically, in his hands for the next four years.

It is obvious that the confidence reposed in him is an indication that the lawyer-turned-politician has been faithful to his electoral promises to his people.

But unlike many politicians, he does not like to trumpet his achievements. Little wonder, his achievements as a governor have been underreported.

But his supporters are always quick to say that his leadership and administrative acumen are steadily bringing the dividends of democracy to the people in ways that complement and even surpass the work of his predecessors.

Indeed, if his personal sacrifices to serve his people, in his first four years, are anything to go by, then, his is the kind of leadership that the broader spectrum of Nigerians should yearn for.

In a nation where many of his contemporaries seek public offices primarily for the perks and luxuries that come with it, Akeredolu, otherwise known as Aketi, is said to have done quite the opposite. He is said to have been managing the little resources of the state for the sole purpose of developing it.

According to his supporters, he lives a modest life, while using the state’s resources to focus on providing education, building roads, providing health care infrastructure, and improving rural and urban water supply.

Perhaps, this is one of the reasons the people of the state rewarded him with a second term in office.

Besides, political observers maintain that Akeredolu was able to defeat his closest rival, Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party, in the last concluded governorship election, because he has been a grassroots man, who is not aloof from his people’s yearnings.

Unlike Aketi, Jegede is alleged to be too elitist and also out of touch with the reality in the state.

It will be recalled that Jegede had previously contested against Akeredolu and lost in 2016, an indication that Akeredolu’s electoral victory was no fluke.

Today, it is a wonder that Otunba Olasubomi Balogun, almost two decades after retiring from active banking, still wields much influence in the nation’s banking sector.

At 86, the former chairman and CEO of the first wholly-owned Nigerian merchant bank, FCMB, is showing no signs of slowing down.

Just as he has been making fortunes from his banking days, this stylish billionaire is also on the verge of becoming the richest property owner in Lagos. Some time ago, he was said to have envisioned a ritzy precinct of Ikoyi, Lagos, and the Ijebu-Ode-born wealthy entrepreneur recently delivered a new hallmark for sophisticated urban living with a choice of spacious luxury apartments, lavish duplexes, and penthouses somewhere right off the famous Bourdillon Road in Ikoyi.

A certain multibillionaire who was awed with the man of class’ style of building disclosed to us that living in Otunba Subomi’s new luxury high-rise is as exclusive as it gets. He confessed to having been dazed by the sheer opulence of the luxury apartments and had to find his way into the magnificent property to have a peek of the property. Wowed over by what he saw, the billionaire reputed to own a rich portfolio of epic properties in Lagos and London had to purchase two of the apartments each going for about $1.5 million from Otunba Subomi.

It was learnt that the new multibillionnaira luxury residential building came after

Balogun

his recently-completed Heritage Place, another magnificent structure occupying a pride of place on the skyline of Lagos Island.

The 13-storey plaza situated on Lugard Road by Alfred Rewane Road, Ikoyi, is not your conventional rentable space either. It is a worldclass edifice with contemporary security and safety

fittings.

Despite a fee of about $1000 per square metre for interested tenants, the tastefully designed and well-proportioned high-rise has seen an appreciable proportion of occupancy.

Even now, many are still talking about how he had also turned his erstwhile Victoria Island mansion into another commercial abode.

It will be recalled that sometime in 2013, he moved out of that his popular Number 1, Sanusi Fafunwa Street’s white mansion into a more sedated Ikoyi home.

Otunba had demolished the old mansion to give way for another magnificent masterpiece handled by construction giant, G-Cappa.

He designed his new imposing, palatial mansion sitting strategically at the junction of Milverton Road, Ikoyi to resemble that of the American seat of power, the White House.

Aside from these eye-popping properties in Lagos, Otunba Subomi also holds major London and New York real estate parcels in his portfolio swelling his bank account.

But he is not all about making money. He is also a philanthropist of note as he recently donated some properties for a worthy cause: his Otunba Tunwase National Pediatrics Centre worth about N5 billion, located at Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State was donated to the University of Ibadan, its College of Medicine and the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State.

Celebrating Banking Wizard, Jim Ovia, at 69

Ovia

In the eyes of many, Jim Ovia, Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc, comes across as a phenomenon.

He also typifies a soul who enjoys abundant luck and grace of God, particularly when you consider his intimidating profile.

Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that his life epitomises tenacity of purpose.

He started out as a clerk with the defunct Barclays Bank (now Union Bank Plc). But he wanted so much more out of life. And he pursued that ambition with abiding trust in God. Those who think that all there is about the astute banker and boardroom guru is banking, investment, finance, and so on, must have been having a re-think now, as the man of high intellect and wisdom is beyond that.

The Delta State-born banking wizard is definitely a champion extraordinaire who singlehandedly redefined the banking sector in the country.

For years, he’s sailed untroubled in the entrepreneurial ocean, navigating numerous business boats with grace and nous of veteran captain. A man of no mean repute whose achievements can be composed into a platinum album, Ovia beams with the glow of perpetual investors’ confidence in a clime notorious for its unpredictable business climate.

What else could be responsible if not Ovia’s Midas touch? No wonder, when a man with such phenomenal achievements celebrates his birthday, not a few would want to share in his joy.

Though this business giant is not given to throwing elaborate parties to celebrate his birthday, his fans, friends, and associates could

not but celebrate him to high heavens last Wednesday when he turned 69.

Many would not forget in a hurry when this businessman, who is a glittering star in the business firmament, took a leap of faith as he teamed up with some of his friends to establish Zenith Bank as a small commercial bank in 1990. Though the bank then might be likened to a small mustard seed, the financial guru knew it would someday grow to be iroko.

He didn’t just mouth it, but he saw the dream becoming a reality in his lifetime.

It is on record that his knowledge of information technology came in handy when the bank became the first in Nigeria to introduce the online real-time system, which enabled the entire grid of branch offices to be networked through IT. Ovia, also an art aficionado and the founder of Jim Ovia Foundation, attended the Southern University Louisiana, where he obtained a B.Sc in Business Administration in 1977, and North East Louisiana University, where he obtained a master’s degree in Business Administration in 1979, both in the United States of America. He is also an alumnus of the Harvard Business School (Executive Management Programme).

Standing Ovation for Femi Otedola’s Daughter, Temi as ‘Citation’ Premiered Last Saturday, October 31, ‘Citation,’ the seventh movie of filmmaker par excellence, Kunle Afolayan, was premiered to a select audience at the Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event had in attendance the cast of Citation, including Dr. (Mrs) Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, First Bank Plc, Temi Otedola, Ini Edo, Gabriel Afolayan, Seun Kuti and Toyin Ogundeji.

It was also witnessed by partners behind the movie production: Ford Foundation, Access “W’ Initiative, Natnudos, Canon, Flyboku, GAC Motors, Arik Air, and Ajike Foundation.

Among the guests at the well-attended event were Sola Sobowale; Director General of Nigerian Films, and Videos Censor Board, NFVCB, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas; President and Executive Producer of All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), Mike Dada; filmmaker and cinematographer, Clarence Peters; actress Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha; former Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Lagos State, Steve Ayorinde; former DG of NFVCB; Emeka Mba; and Managing Director of Terra Kulture, Mrs. Bolanle Austen Peters.

The screening began with the opening speech by Afolayan who welcomed everyone and appreciated the efforts of the cast, crew, and partners.

While the screening lasted, many in the audience agreed that Afolayan was blessed with a rare gift for discovering hidden talents, as shown in the delivery of Temi, the winsome fashion and arts-loving daughter of Femi Otedola.

Temi, the last child of the billionaire businessman, is a fashion and travel blogger, owns JTO Fashion, a multimedia platform.

Like her two elder sisters, Tolani and DJ Cuppy, who have blooming careers in entertainment, Temi also has the backing of her dad.

She got a standing ovation for her compelling acting skill, just as Afolayan was also commended for a job well done.

According to him, ‘Citation,’ apart from its thematic premise, will attempt to market Cape Verde to Nigerians and the rest of the world while also establishing a film and cultural affinity between the two countries.

In a statement made available to the media months back, Cape Verde’s Culture and Creative Industries Minister, Abrãao Vicente, who led the government team that included the Director General of Arts and Creative Industries, Adilson Lima Gomes, and the Coordinator of Cultural Goods and Music, Luhena Correia, in negotiating the deal, said she believed that the collaboration would enhance a good relationship between Cape Verde and Nollywood.

Otedola

The movie was released last Friday on the video streaming platform, Netflix, to a global audience.

The coming of age movie, written by Tunde Babalola, is a university drama centred on a female postgraduate student who has to find a way of dealing with sexual harassment from a popular male lecturer.

It was shot in Nigeria, Senegal, and Cape Verde and features tested thespians like Haitian-born Hollywood actor, Jimmy Jean Louis, Sadiq Daba, and Gabriel Afolayan with a cameo by Awosika.

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NOVEMBER 8, 2020 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

#EndSARS – No Victor, No Vanquished I was born in 1969. I think the civil war finished in 1970 abi? I know really sure but I know my mother went to the war as a nurse that was drafted from the Lagos State ministry of Health into the army and as such I did not get the luxury of breast milk like the rest of you. For years, anytime I did anything wrong in school my mother would come there and remind them that I did not take breast milk and that I made the major sacrifice for Nigeria and as such I should be excused for my behaviour. Well, that is not the gist abeg. I just wanted to pull out the mantra that was said to have pushed the Gowon government’s policy of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and one other R wey I no remember now. That I think should be the guiding principle

of this government’s post-#EndSARS. The Lagos State government is already doing great on this count with the inauguration of one panel to rebuild Lagos and the media campaign asking us to rebuild our city. But feelers we are getting from the centre are not looking like those ones have the time for any reconciliation o. But then again, as I dey type, my finger is shaking because the prevalence of fake news makes the career and liberty of people like us shaky. Especially if you now go and yab government based on a report then later, the report come be fake. That one, Buhari wey nobody dey see, where you want start to beg when they descend on you. But let me just say it out here that I sincerely hope that the report that immigration is stopping some leaders

of the protests from travelling and that some bank accounts are being frozen is fake news o. Because if it is not fake, then it would really be what in Shomolu we call ‘agbaya’ things and that will really be sad. Let us reunite, rebuild and hold each other. The protest did not single out any group.

Everybody suffered. Everybody. We were all united in the suffering even some on the government side suffered.

So let’s all just unite in rebuilding and leave all these gra-gra that we are used to. Meanwhile, I know some people will be using that, ‘he did not drink breast milk part to yab me o,’ you people will not focus on the main thrust of this write-up. It is the Duke did not drink breast milk that will now be the focus. Na sacrifice. Thank you.

Adamu

Sanwo-Olu

Elliot

Adeola

Immanah

LET’S REGULATE SOCIAL MEDIA Me I know dey fear. What we have out there is a digital mob roaming the vast savannah that is social media and devouring every and anything that is on its path. Twitter is a cesspool of cyberbullying and home of fake news. The one that really got me was the image of the man carrying a supposedly dead baby wrapped with the Nigerian flag alleged to have been a victim of the Lekki shooting. Even me when I see the image, I curse Buhari, curse Sanwo-Olu and dey cry. I say what kind of irresponsible government be this. If I had seen Buhari that night, I would have pulled his long nose. Then days later, we were now told it was a clip from a movie. What kind dumb heads full this social media? It cannot continue to be like this. There must be some sort of regulation although my fear is that does the government have the sincerity to regulate it objectively?

They too are guilty of using social media for their own purposes. It is a mess and is a bomb that can destroy this country. If I talk now, they will do Desmond Elliot for me. But the truth is that when you take a highly semiliterate and opinionated population without the ability to engage with facts and logic and you give them access to a powerful medium like social media, you are holding a flame to petrol. Yes, it will explode and burn and it burnt down Lagos. Na social media burn Lagos. Simple! Deal with it. I support some form of regulation of social media but how they will do it and with what kind of sincerity is my issue right now. Please, as I am talking, I am not

saying anybody should go and regulate Xvideos o, na the one dem no send these people is the one they will go and be doing. What is Xvideos? Mbok, Google is your friend, leave me.

was left to the imagination. The one that got me was the image of the bridge they said he built, stating that the signboard looked more expensive than the bridge itself. You should have seen that bridge.

You will laugh and vomit. Well, bro apologized and calm returned. I say sorry my brother, like I said above, it’s a sacrifice. You will be OK. Pele.

DESMOND ELLIOT – MY SYMPATHIES Desmond is my friend o. When Erelu passed, he reached out. I have always liked him even though the man no dey take my calls. That is how I watched his video where he was talking about this wahala with the youth and their behaviour during the protest and the social media. I did not finish watching the video but felt very strongly that he made a lot of sense. What we have on social media is a pandemic of cyberbullying. No barriers, no boundary. Nothing is sacred and nobody is spared. Once you say something that runs contrary, you are finished o. Like I said, I did not finish watching the video but later found out that the man had called the youth ‘children’ amongst other ‘sins’. Come and see the attack. He was stripped naked o, tied to a truck and dragged on the cyber streets of Lagos. They finished my brother o. For those of you who did not grow up in Shomolu, let me explain something to you. When we used to yab ourselves, there is something they call – eebu ara- that is abusing someone’s personal physical features.

That was the only rule you dared not break. You can yab as much as you want but eebu ara, you don’t go there.

But this time, they finished Desmond o.

Nothing was spared - his big head, his afro, his tiny … I no go talk that one for national paper but take it that nothing

TUNDE ADEOLA – A GENTLEMAN BANKER Tunde is my friend and an executive director at Sterling Bank. We have a long history together but only physically met recently and since then, it has been like a house on fire. So when I needed to set up a committee to help with the Pastor SN Edgar Grant for aspiring young theatre producers, I fell on him to head the committee. The committee would choose who wins the N100,000 annual prize I would be giving out. Other members include veteran actor Yemi Shodimu and versatile theatre critic and journalist, Yinka Olatubuson. That is how Tunde now asked us to meet him at the Crossroads Restaurant located within the Eko Hotel for our inaugural meeting. You see how chairman dey perform. Come and see peppered snails all over the place with fine wine.

I chop o. But during the talks, he told us about his rich family pedigree. A family that has produced three bank managing directors, a progenitor who was a banker and who delivered over 17 children and his struggles to get all of them well-educated. The story is mad and I will like to put it on stage one of these days if they will agree. It is

a story of resilience, determination and immense pay off. Tunde please let me do this, Nigerians need these kinds of stories, I tell you.

USMAN IMMANAH HAS RUN ‘MAD’ Don’t get carried away with the title of this piece, that is why I put it in inverted commas. Na theatre trick. You know I am a great theatre producer and my upcoming play is titled, ‘Our Duke Has Gone Mad Again.’ It’s coming up this December. Anyway, the caption is reserved for all my sponsors. Once you agree to sponsor me, I will say you have run mad.

That is how this young former banker ran mad o. But this is not the import of this piece. He has gone ahead to build a very strong brand of healthy drinks that fight diabetes and blood pressure, the twin illnesses bedeviling my generation. You see why we could not join #EndSARS because if you go Lekki come forget your BP tablet for house, we no go need ghost soldiers for calamity to happen. Kai, I keep digressing. Usman has over the years toiled so hard and built a very powerful brand with his Friska Tea. The sweat and toil have started paying off that he has had to leave his bank job to face it squarely, creating jobs, building infrastructure and affecting society. This is the kind of youths that is all over the economy, building, reshaping and ensuring a wonderful future for this country. They have to be encouraged, not shot at. Usman makes me proud o, I swear. Really proud of what he has done. Watch out for this guy, he is surely going places.

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

08.11.2020

IN FOND MEMORY OF AN ART LUMINARY Cover continued on Page 56 Professor Oloidi at a LIMCAF event

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 ˾ NOVEMBER 8,2020

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ARTS & REVIEW\\TRIBUTE

IN FOND MEMORY OF AN ARTLUMINARY Shock and an outpouring of eulogies trail the news of the death of Nigeria’s leading art historian Professor Ola Oloidi in the late hours of Monday, November 2. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

N

ot even the fact that shockwaves seem to have been specially sequenced for these times makes a difference. Nor does it matter that the art scene – like the rest of the society – already labours under a siege mentality.

This is expected since the not-so-well-funded sub-sector recently traipsed from a lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic to the debilitating effects of nationwide protests against police brutality.

Besides, hardly had aficionados come to terms with the tragic demise of Sindika Dokolo – the Congolese art-collector husband of Africa's richest woman, Isabel dos Santos – than they were hit by the devastating news of another death: that of the art historian Ola Oloidi.

Oloidi, a professor emeritus of art history who recently retired from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was reported to have suddenly departed this earth-life in Nsukka on Monday, November 2 “after a brief illness” at 76 years. A brief statement, signed by the head of the university’s Fine and Applied Arts Department, Professor Ozioma Onuzulike, described the late Oloidi as an “authoritative voice in the history and criticism of modern Nigerian art”.

Indeed, the man who was described as “an encyclopedia of Nigerian art history” in a Facebook post the Araism Art Movement’s founder Mufu Onifade was until his demise one of the easily most recognisable art personalities in the country. And not even his retirement as a professor in 2012 made him less visible in the art scene. About four months before the COVID-19 lockdown, he had delivered the keynote address, titled “Phases and Faces of Aina Onabolu”, at an art conference organised by the Ogun State Chapter of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) and held in Abeokuta in honour of the father of the modern Nigerian art, Chief Aina Onabolu. The well-attended event, which was sponsored by its patron Omooba Yemisi Shyllon, was held from December 2 to 5 at the Abeokuta Cultural Centre and was graced by some members of Onabolu’s family, including his son and grand-daughter.

It was through his well-researched paper that even Omooba Yemisi Shyllon – who ordinarily is well-versed in art historical matters – confessed hearing for the first time that Onabolu was awarded an MBE (Member British Empire) “for his contribution to the development of African art education” and “that Ben Enwonwu benefitted from Onabolu's contribution in getting Kenneth Murray to work in Nigeria”. A report, which was put together by organisers, on the event further disclosed that both Oloidi and Shyllon agreed that Onabolu had not been accorded his due recognition and honour, with the latter advising that “all the conference articles should be reviewed and turned to book publication.”

Professor Oloidi had typically volunteered his services for the book’s publication process, offering his keynote address to the conference as one of the contributions. Apparently, he had continued to monitor the progress of this book project until his death, despite disclosing that he had been ill since June. Understandably, the news of his death came as a rude shock to the assemblage of art luminaries, who attended the conference.

About a month before the Abeokuta conference, Oloidi was also the guest speaker at the 13th edition of the Life in My City Art Festival (known as LIMCAF) grand finale and awards night held in November 2019 at the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu’s International Conference Centre. He had played the same role in a previous edition of this annual event, which held in 2013. A statement from the event’s organisers had since expressed “shock” at the news of his death, eulogising him for throwing “his weight behind every worthy art initiative in

Professor Oloidi at the 13th edition of LIMCAF in Enugu Nigeria”.

At the National Gallery of Art, where he was revered as “a mentor, friend and confidant”, he chaired its 12th Annual Distinguished Lecture Series held early this year in Abuja.

A statement, signed by the gallery’s director-general Ebeten Ivara, said it received the news of his death “with overarching sadness”.

Said Ivara: “For 44 years at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, this erudite scholar, extraordinary researcher and prodigious writer with over 100 publications to his credit, contributed glowingly to the advancement of scholarship and administration in the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, the Faculty of Arts and the university in general. Still, he did not confine himself to the serene university environment but chose to be part and parcel of those dispersing the knowledge of visual art at different levels through lectures, seminars, workshops, masterclasses among others.”

To Omooba Shyllon, he was an icon and a “detribalised Nigerian”, whose legacy in the local art scene remains indelible.

Meanwhile, several art associations – including the SNA and the Art Historical Association of Nigeria (AHAN), which he founded – have reacted to his passage, which they consider as a big loss to the visual arts sub-sector. “By virtue of his rich archives of research materials, Emeritus Professor Oloidi was a

‘go-to’ in the history of early Nigerian modern artists, especially Aina Onabolu,” Professor Onuzulike corroborates. “Scholars travelled from far and wide to consult him. His spoken and written language was unmistakably ‘Oloidi-esque’ as they did flow long but musical and entertaining. His boisterous life showed through in both his scholarly work and his daily interactions with everyone that came in contact with him.”

A 1969 graduate of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Oloidi would later obtain his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Arts degrees at Howard University, Washington, DC, the USA in 1973 and 1974, respectively. According to Onuzulike, it was under “the influence and leadership of Professor Uche Okeke, [that]Oloidi joined the Nsukka art department in 1976 as Lecturer II. He also enrolled for a PhD in modern Nigerian art history and turned in a distinguished thesis in 1984 as the first to undertake doctoral work in the field in any Nigerian university.”

Oloidi, who became a professor in 1996, represented a father-figure, mentor, teacher, friend and colleague to all who crossed his path, not only in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka campus but also virtually everywhere else he had been to. “The visual arts community will surely miss him, for he had a name for everyone and enlivened everywhere he went,” Professor Onuzulike adds about the man, who was said to have supervised and produced 30 PhD and 32 MA students in art history.

WORKSHOP

At NANTAP Leadership Workshop, Artists Urged to Get Management Skills Yinka Olatunbosun

A

two-day virtual training organised by the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) in collaboration with the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) with support from the Goethe-Institut Nigeria, British Council Nigeria and National Film and Video Censors Board hosted creatives to a capacity building workshop with the theme, “Artist to Administrators – Bridging the Transitional Gap.” In his welcome address, President of NANTAP, Mr. Israel Eboh said that the workshop was designed to improve the

business and management skills of practitioners, to enable them make optimal use of their skills and be able to compete favourably with their counterparts around the world.

“We want to further build the capacity of practitioners within the art and culture space, beyond the exhibition of talents, but have a better idea of how to successfully run their businesses, theatre companies and other art-related agencies whenever they are called upon,” he said.

The opening ceremony of the workshop was witnessed by the Director-General and CEO of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, OON; Country Director of Goethe Institut Nigeria, Ms. Friederike Moeschel; newly appointed General Manager of the National Theatre, Prof. Sunny Ododo; former President and Secretary of the NANTAP Board of Trustees, Mr. Mahmoud Balogun; and the Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation, Mallam Mohammed

Yahuza, who was represented by Mrs. Bridget Yerima as the chief host.

Mr. Bridget Yerima who represented the Executive Secretary of NICO reiterated the institute’s commitment to capacity building. Elvis Asia delivered a lecture on ‘Entertainment Law and Ethics’, where he explained the legality of contractual agreement as well as performance rights, image rights, copyrights, piracy and other justiciable rights within the creative industry.

Dr. Patrick Fohl, a German Cultural Diplomacy Specialist from Goethe Institute, Germany delivered his presentation on the theme, ‘Art as a tool for cultural diplomacy’. Dr. Fohl’s lecture revealed some aspects of Germany’s cultural policy and how these have shaped Germany’s diplomatic policy around the world.

Professor of Theatre and Communication, from the Nasarawa State University

and Nigerian President of the International Association of Theatre Critics, Professor Emma Dandaura, in his lecture titled ‘Overview of Cultural Administration in Nigeria’, highlighted administrative challenges as one of many adversaries of the cultural sector in Nigeria. While referencing the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the only one who came close to understanding the needs of the cultural sector in Nigeria in terms of funding, policy development and management, he drew attention to the funds allocated to the sector.

“I can tell you categorically that each time you see N10m being voted to a cultural agency, they hardly have access to N2m of such amount because of the interference of the members of the National Assembly in the name of constituency project.”

The workshop was anchored by Uju Ukwu of the NICO Training School and culture activist, Jahman Anikulapo.

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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 ˾ NOVEMBER 8,2020

CICERO

Editor:Olawale Olaleye Email:wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com, SMS: 08116759819

IN THE ARENA

Police: Returning to the Ungoverned Space While the reprehensible killings of policemen and destruction of related assets trailing the #EndSARS protests accentuate the absurdity of operating a centralised police force in a presumptive federation, it’s nevertheless time the force’s officers and men returned to their beats, writes Louis Achi

L

ooking at the big picture, much of the crises roiling the nation today have critical linkages to the state failure thesis of the ungoverned space.

According to the Rand Corporation, ungoverned territories can be failed or failing states, poorly controlled land or maritime borders or airspace, or areas within otherwise viable states, where the central or state government’s authority does not extend.

Political scientists tend to invariably equate ungoverned areas with security threat, given its other various implications.

A more inclusive definition of ungoverned territory by the US Department of Defense, albeit one still influenced strongly by the state failure thesis, holds it is a place where the state or central government is unable or unwilling to extend control, effectively govern, or influence the local population due to inadequate governance capacity, insufficient political will, gaps in legitimacy, the presence of conflict, or restrictive norms of behaviour.

Debatably, “inadequate governance capacity, insufficient political will, gaps in legitimacy and the presence of conflict” take the cake in succinctly capturing the Nigerian quandary.

The calamitous failure of the Special Armed Robbery Squad, SARS, which triggered the angry EndSARS protest, itself, has undeniable linkage to abdication of governance or collusion by top-echelon command of the Nigeria Police.

The consequence became the extremely bloody and extortionist reign of the squad with the inevitable backlash of the youth revolt and loss of lives, limbs and property – including those of the police.

Cut to the bone, beyond threats that emerge from the absence of governance, significant dangers can also be spawned from the way a place is governed. Much of what played out in the last one month fed fundamentally from the subsisting quirky governance templates.

Significantly, the directive by the National Economic Council (NEC), hugely influenced by the intensity of the EndSARS youth protests, that state governments set up judicial panels of inquiry to handle complaints against the disbanded SARS has been observed by many states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Since the panels set sail, numbing stories of defunct SARS-related infamy has been the order of the day.

But a very worrying and serious dimension to the recent events in the national space is dominating the news. In the face of the post-protests anti-police offensives by miscreants and hoodlums, which resulted in much loss of police lives and destruction of their assets, the police are unwilling to return to their beats. At press time, crime is spiraling in various states as the police have stayed away in self-preservation.

THISDAY recalls that many serving officers and men of the police have deserted their work in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests in many parts of Nigeria after hoodlums seized the vacuum and attacked critical police infrastructure and other public and private structures.

The absence of police personnel and other security operatives in crucial spaces including some highways in the country have made the citizens vulnerable to attacks.

In Nasarawa State, in North Central region, armed robbers now trail bank customers and snatch money from them as soon as they come out from banks, especially in Lafia, the state capital.

Sanwo-Olu with Adamu, when the Police IG visited Lagos Reports have it that the Benin-Auchi road is now a tough route as armed robbers constantly block the road, robbing passengers and drivers’ belongings. This scenario is being widely replicated.

Governor Ifeanyi Uguanyi of Enugu State and Governor Godwin Obaseki have respectively implored the police to return to their duty posts in the interest of the people, pledging to rebuild the burnt stations in the state. Many other stakeholders are following suit.

Ministers from the Southwest, last week, also urged the federal government to restore confidence in the police to boost their morale and improve their welfare and this is the way to go, from emerging consensus.

The wellbeing of the police is a very important dimension in the administration of the force personnel. Policing models in much of the developed jurisdictions attest to this.

In the aftermath of the #EndSARS nationwide demonstrations, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu, who revealed that 22 police personnel were killed across the country, penultimate Friday, directed men of the Nigeria Police Force, to, henceforth, protect themselves against any attack by hoodlums.

Speaking, while on an on-the-spot assessment of the security situation in Abuja, Adamu stated that, “If anybody touches or assaults you, you can also protect yourself.” But despite the IGP’s marching order, THISDAY gathered many of the Force’s personnel were still leery about returning to

their duty posts, especially in volatile areas in some states.

On its part, the Police Service Commission, PSC, has revealed it would not force the security personnel to return to work after the recent attack on them and their facilities.

While denying a report that the commission would dismiss any police officer, who failed to return to work, its spokesperson Ikechukwu Ani, said the agency had condemned the killing of security personnel on legitimate duties and had warned that any attempt to make the country lawless would be an ill-wind that would blow nobody any good.

“The commission will continue to do its best to ensure the police is motivated to do its job. The commission, being the employers of the Police, is pained that Policemen were killed and stations set ablaze throughout the country. It will be very insensitive at this point for anyone to say that the commission will dismiss any policeman, who didn’t return to work,” Ani stated in an official statement.

The police – and not soldiers – typically are responsible for maintaining public order and safety, enforcing the law, and preventing, detecting, and investigating criminal activities.

Given that states’ efforts to incept parallel policing are constitutionally hobbled, with the looming end of year activities, Christmas and beyond, further delays by the police in returning to their beats will spell genuine disaster.

Arguably, the police are now the beautiful bride – and with good reason.

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

A Curious Obsession with Fayemi

P

Fayemi

enultimate Saturday, the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, was the guest speaker at the golden jubilee celebration of the Arewa House, a northern research centre, where he dissected some of the current challenges of the country and with the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai in agreement with him, he reiterated that restructuring was the way to go if Nigeria must address her unfinished greatness.

What more, the duo of El-Rufai and the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar spoke of Fayemi in a manner that was suggestive and subject to various interpretations. While El-Rufai noted that his choice as guest speaker was deliberate, reasons not willing to let out

yet, Abubakar described him as an adopted son of the late Sultan, Ahmadu Bello.

Immediately these impressions were created, Fayemi’s Southern enemies deployed to work and began to interpret a mere lecture as a prelude to his much-touted presidential ambition in 2023. Not just that, they upped their thinking and linked it with their narrative of a traitor, since his soaring profile could jeopardise the chances of someone else from the Southwest.

Although their growing but sinful obsession with Fayemi is fast living out its relevance as it has become rather insipid and monotonous, however, unknown to these purveyors of hate politics, they have continue to do more damage than they could ever imagine to their own principal, whose presidential ambition they seek to project. Well, they can continue to bite their nose to spite their face. After all, all is fair…

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 8, 2020

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BRIEFINGNOTES

It’s Time to Rebuild Lagos Anger, destruction, deaths and pains typify the aftermath of the recent ENDSARS protest in Lagos and now is the time to bury the hatchets, give peace a chance and rebuild the state. Shola Oyeyipo writes

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emories of the #ENDSARS protests will remain sweet, sour, and bitter depending on which side of the divide you are. It’s sweet because the Nigerian youth woke from their slumbers to hold government accountable, for the protesting youth.

It is sour because due to the organic nature of the protest, they lacked leadership and exit strategies and so, it was hijacked. For the government and other businesses, it was bitter, because the destructions left on the trail of the protests are humongous.

Now that the protests are over, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is now saddled with the task of rebuilding the massive destruction, however, with the support of the entire state.Thus, last Wednesday, he signed an executive order to ensure that the project commences in earnest and also set up an eightman committee headed by the Chairman, Citibank of Nigeria,Yemi Cardoso to oversee the initiative.

Lagos is perhaps the worst hit by the protests that spread to other states of the country. An investigation

by THISDAY puts the number of lives lost at 62 and it estimated that over N1trn might be required to rebuild property destroyed by hoodlums, after hijacking the protests from the irate young Nigerians, who took to the streets demanding a better deal from the government.

Some of the public and private property torched in Lagos included but not limited to Ajeromi Ifelodun local government area secretariat; the palace of the Oba of Sanwo-Olu signing the Executive Order Lagos; Lagos High Court, Igbosere; Oyingbo BRT terminus; Ojodu Berger BRT terminus;Vehicle Inspection Office, assets comes a glimmer of hope,”Sanwo-Olu said.

Ojodu Berger; Lagos State Public Works Corporation, Ojodu The Lagos governor considered this as an opening for his Berger; Lagos City Hall and Circle Mall, Lekki; numerous government to set the pace for the transformation of Lagos luxury shops in Surulere,The Nation Newspaper,TVC, State, stressing that,“The Committee will have a profound Shoprite in Lekki and many other private businesses. effect on how quickly and efficiently we are able to rebuild Some hoodlums also headed for the administrative our state and restart our socio-economic growth.” building of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) during Another concern the governor subtly addressed was the the protest, vandalised and razed down no fewer than 60 need to sustain the harmonious relationship among the vehicles. various ethnic groups resident in Lagos, because at a point The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga during the violent protests, some elements introduced Omotosho, said 84 BRT buses were destroyed in all. 27 of ethnic and tribal sentiments. these buses cost $200, 000 each, and 57 of them cost $100, 000 To that extent, Sanwo-Olu enjoined every Lagos resident each, bringing the value to about N3.9bn. to join hands with him to rebuild the state, adding that the Police authority also noted that 25 of their stations were people should eschew any action capable of sparking ethnic razed in Orile, Amukoko, Layeni, Ilasamaja, Ikotun, Ajah, division among the people of the state.

Igando, Elemoro, Makinde, Onipanu, Ebute Ero, PenHe said:“At the center of this decisive action to rebuild Cinema, Isokoko, Alade, Cele, Igbo Elerin, Shibiri, Gbagada, our state is the need to closely work with the people and Onilekere, Makoko, Daleko, Asahun, Makinyo, Amuwoorganisations, who call Lagos home – those who believe in Odofin, Anti-Kidnapping, Surulere. the Lagos Dream, those who share our collective vision of a Though the Ojo, Ojodu, Mowo, PPL, and Morogbo police mega-city that thrives on peace and unity among all ethnic stations were not burnt, they were terribly vandalised. groups, those who know that the future of Lagos is tied to In his quest to embark on the huge money-gulping our ability to keep nurturing our state,”adding that,“Lagos reconstruction, Governor Sanwo-Olu made remarkable took pride in the ability of several ethnic nationalities to statements that were very important to underscore. He peacefully cohabit while resiliently pursuing their personal tactically pointed out that this period, when nations and goals and ambitions.” governments at all levels were wriggling out of the economic However, the good news from the governor was that since hardship that came with COVID 19, it was not the best time the incident, the state has received local and international to invest so much on wasteful destruction. offers of assistance to rebuild and recover what was lost to But like the proverbial king palace that must be given a arson and violence in October and that justifies his position better facelift after it was burnt, this serves as an opportunity that,“We can no longer wait to begin the onerous task of to rebuild some part of the old Lagos. reconstructing Lagos State.”

“In these challenging but interesting times, we realise So, when the government sends its bill to the Lagos State that we have the potent opportunity to reform our state and House of Assembly to establish the trust fund to rebuild upgrade our structures. Out of the despair and challenges of the ruins of Lagos and commences the project, it would be the Coronavirus Pandemic and the destruction of our public expected that the unity of purpose that has always been the

tradition in the state would be brought into it.

One important observation, however, is that while the governor has continued to find ways to pacify the obviously angry Lagos youths, who are asking to know who actually ordered the shooting at the Lekki Toll Gate, a good number of Lagos youths are still not pacified. But it is important to give peace a chance and allow the Lagos Judicial Panel on SARS to complete its assignment.

The governor recently hinted that,“The scope of the panel has been expanded to cover the Lekki toll incident”, and urged that memoranda could be submitted to the panel by aggrieved members of the public.

The good thing is that the duo of Rinu Oduala and Majekodunmi Temitope, has been selected as youth representatives on the panel and added to that is the fact that Sanwo-Olu recently listed 20 cases related to unlawful killing that are against police officers.

“We have expanded the terms of reference for the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution to include the incident at the Lekki toll gate. If you have any claims, do send them to the panel.The panel will begin to sit on Monday at the Lagos Court of Arbitration situated in Lekki.

“Going forward, we have to renew our commitment to peace, progress, social cohesion and make a promise to ourselves that never again shall we allow the forces of darkness take over our land”, Sanwo-Olu vowed, stressing, “Because this is our land!”

Since the governor has“apologised for every action and inaction”, and he is making efforts to rebuild the massive needless destruction in the aftermath of the protest, it will only be good if the people meet him in the middle, follow up on the legal procedures for seeking redress and allow the state to bounce back. Importantly, a case should and must be made for the police officers, extra-judicially killed during the protests by hoodlums.

NOTES FOR FILE

A Biden Presidency Cometh

Biden

The US presidential election peaked at the weekend with anxiety and genuine apprehension. That it would turn out a very close race between the incumbent and Republican candidate, Donald Trump and his Democratic Party rival, Senator Joe Biden, remains the highpoint of the historic election, because on either side, a landslide had been predicted in the days leading to the election.

However, at the weekend, some of the critical swing states like Georgia, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Arizona had been bagged by Biden, a former vice president,

indicating that except there’s a miracle, Biden would emerge the next president of the United States. Indeed, he won as predicted with reminiscences of how Senator Hilary Clinton lost to Trump four years ago.

It goes without saying that much of the world looks forward to a change in the US leadership and that wish came to pass, albeit not with ease. In spite of its good sides, a majority of the people held the view that President Trump’s excesses far outweighed his achievements and therefore, sought a change in the leadership of

the world’s most powerful nation, whose democracy had become a beacon to the world.

Unfortunately, while those who aimed for the Biden presidency may rejoice and celebrate his victory, they must understand that taking over the leadership of the US, at a time it is bitterly divided with increase in racism, violence and intolerance of the other, is not deserving of any celebration but prayers, commitment and hard work to get the country back to position. But until then, the anticipated Biden Presidency can be celebrated with measures.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 8,2020

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CICERO/REPORT

Trump and Biden at a debate ahead of the election

An Election So Un-American!

Beyond the fact that the United States President Donald Trump lost his re-election bid to Senator Joe Biden, there are strong undercurrents that cannot be ignored from the process that produced the 46th president of the United States. Bayo Akinloye reports

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he United States of America’s 2020 presidential election between incumbent President Donald Trump and former Vice-President Joe Biden is the 59th presidential contest in the country. Five days after the election, a winner was eventually announced. But there are more fireworks, analysts claimed, still in the making.

On November 3, 2020, when asked about an acceptance speech and a concession speech, President Trump replied: “Winning is easy. Losing is never easy. Not for me; it’s not.”

Not a few including his sworn enemies – the Democrats – agreed that the US president was not a conventional politician.

Against all seeming odds in 2016, he beat American former First Lady and Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, to the White House. It was unexpected. But he won.

In the run-up to the 2020 election, various polls projected a wide gulf between him and Biden (with claims that the former vice president was going to win the race with a wide margin).

Five days after the election, the projection came to pass as the US has declared Biden winner of the election, even though the race was too close to call.

But before a winner was declared, some analysts claimed Trump had won in defeating the general narrative by some media houses in the US that Biden was going to trump the incumbent.

President Trump is not giving up without a fight as he cast aspersion on the authenticity of votes in some states. On Wednesday, his campaign filed lawsuits in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Georgia, laying the groundwork for contesting battleground states in the hunt for the 270 Electoral College votes needed for reelection.

The new filings, joining existing Republican legal challenges in Pennsylvania and Nevada, demanded better access for campaign observers to locations where ballots were being processed and counted, and raised absentee ballot concerns.

Besides, the incumbent president sought to intervene in a Pennsylvania case at the Supreme Court that dealt with whether ballots received up to three days after the election could be counted.

Many critics thought Trump was deliberately attacking the integrity of the votes, where he thought he would likely lose.

America had been considered by the world in general as the bastion of democracy and tended to urge Trump not to ‘desecrate’ the age-old democratic traditions of the US. Except for his earlier claim that he had won the presidential race while counting was still ongoing, political observers believed that Trump actually has the right to raise objections where he deemed necessary regarding the voting and counting.

Expectedly, Biden said the count should continue in all states, adding, “No one’s going to take our democracy away from us — not now, not ever.”

In one appeal to a Pennsylvania appellate court, Trump claimed that one of his campaign representatives was prevented from seeing the writing on mail-in ballots being opened and processed in Philadelphia.

A judge in Philadelphia dismissed it, saying poll observers were directed to observe, not audit.

Trump, addressing supporters at the White House on Wednesday, talked about taking the undecided race to the Supreme Court. But there were important differences from 2000 and they already were on display.

In 2000, Republican-controlled Florida was the critical state and Bush clung to a small lead. Democrat Al Gore asked for a recount and the Supreme Court stopped it. To some election law experts, calling for the Supreme Court to intervene at the time he did seemed premature, if not rash.

Yet, the world watched on with bated breath.

According to Ibrahim Al-bakri Nyei, Liberian political analyst and researcher, it has been a long night of uncertainty and anxiety. “We are all following the results to know who’s going to be the next president of the United States, and based on their campaign pledges, we will have some indication about the direction of various aspects of US policy regarding multilateralism, environment, trade, and other high priority issues.

“Voters are torn mostly between the economy and coronavirus response. Some polls suggest that the majority of those, who voted for Trump did so because of his record on the economy, while those who voted for Biden did so in response to Trump’s terrible record in fighting the coronavirus epidemic,” Nyei.

Can anything be learnt from the American electoral debacle?

“Yes,” said Nyei.

“We can elevate policy debates to enable voters to make informed choices and reduce the risks associated with elections fought around tribal and factional divisions. Something is not lost on me. Trump is seeking to exploit the United States’ racial and immigration issues to shape the election in his favour or discredit it entirely.”

The US prides itself on its record of a stable and competitive democracy and the Trump presidency, many agreed, has given analysts a run for their money. Nonetheless the outcome, this election will be recorded as one the most controversial elections in US history, in part because of the constraints imposed by the coronavirus, and in part, because an incumbent tried to turn age-old American politics on its head.

Ousmane Aly Diallo, a researcher for Francophone West Africa, Amnesty International West and Central Africa Regional Office, explained: “Barack Obama famously said in 2009 before the Ghanaian parliament that ‘Africa [did] not need strongmen, it need[ed] strong institutions.’

SEleven years after this seminal speech, it seems that the strength of the American institutions that have been stressed during the last four years was put to a critical test as the electoral results have continued to trickle in [or not].”

President Trump’s speech and action, said Diallo, was not something strange to African politicians, pointing out, “This behavior is not unfamiliar to West Africans. Recently in Guinea, candidates claimed victory before the discredited Electoral Commission’s provisional results. In Côte d’Ivoire, they contested the boycotted polls and proclaimed transitional arrangements.”

Curiously, Trump did not commit to a peaceful transfer of power should he lose to Biden and some believed that even as it seemed like Biden would win, the US standing over the last four years has taken a battering.

According to Mwanahamisi Singano of African Women’s Development and Communication Network, after witness-

ing and participating in elections in Tanzania, where all state apparatus were deployed to secure a win for president seeking reelection, said, “It is refreshing to see the opposite in United States: the president seeking reelection constantly claiming rigging against him.

“What we are seeing and learning is how deep and engrained extreme right-wing beliefs are embedded in American society and a clear desire and commitment to make those beliefs part of public policies and public life. Americans are not only voting for presidents as individual candidates, they are voting for fundamental issues: human rights, climate change, equality, anti-racism, gender equality, and the list goes on.”

She admitted that the US election “reminds us, one more time, that strong man politics and populist leadership are happening in developed countries, not just the developing world.”

Millions of Africans watched the US elections with a mixture of amazement and apprehension, according to Mehari Taddele Maru of School of Transnational Governance and Migration Policy Centre, European University Institute.

One lesson to be drawn from widespread media speculation about potential degeneration into election dispute and violence in the US is that such outcomes were not confined to Africa, observed Maru.

“Ethiopia’s experiment with democratic constitutional federalism is now heading to a civil war; the governments of democratic countries in Africa, such as Tanzania, are experiencing election-related violence; and other regional powers, whose leaders have appeared to enjoy overwhelming popular support at the beginning of their term, like in Nigeria and Ethiopia, are facing widespread violence and serious challenges to their political legitimacy.

“A significant number of Africans view the possibility of President Trump’s reelection with trepidation, having observed his record of assaults on multilateralism and his attempts to use multilateral organisations such as the World Health Organisation as tools in US domestic power politics,” said Maru.

Many may hate President Trump. But the November 3 election and the results so far suggest that the maverick politician has gained more political fan base, “already getting 5 million more votes than he did in 2016 and scrambling calculations of conventional wisdom by making unexpected inroads with Black and Latino voters.”

Writing on Trump in an article for Politico, Michael Kruse, said: “The last few weeks heading into this election, I prereported a pair of stories — one to run if Trump was reelected, another to run if he wasn’t. I called Trump biographers and former staffers and political professionals from both parties.

“The conversations I had for a Trump win? It doesn’t actually matter that it looks like Trump’s going to lose. It’s all still true.

He makes it incredibly easy to be for or against him,” said Sam Solovey, a contestant on the first season of ‘The Apprentice.’ “He reduces us to these divisions.

“Lincoln was suited to his time, Washington was suited to his time, and Donald Trump, who doesn’t deserve to be in the same sentence with those two people, was suited to his time,” said Trump biographer, Tim O’Brien.

“And that’s what we have to understand. He is a reflection of us. We have grown so far apart from each other,” 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 Ëž VEMBER 8,2020

Dapo Abiodun: The Man Who Sees Tomorrow Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™Ăœ ËÚÙ ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă˜ ÞËÞĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă˜Ă™ Ă™Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ‹Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ë› Ă&#x;Ăž Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă’ Ă—ĂŁĂ?ÞÓĂ?Ëœ Ă’Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă‘Ă“Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂšĂœĂ‹Ă‘Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă—Ë› ĂŽĂŽ ÞÙ ÞÒËÞ Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă–Ă?Ě‹Ă—Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ù××ÓÞ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă Ă?Ăœ Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă˜Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ˜ Ă’Ă“Ă? ËŠ Ă&#x;Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă&#x;ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? ÙÑĂ?ÞÒĂ?ĂœËŞ Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹Ë› Ăž Ă“Ă? ĂĄĂ’ĂŁ Ă’Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă?ĂžĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? ÚËĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÞËÞĂ?Ë› Ăž ÞÒĂ? ĂžĂœĂ“ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ“ĂžĂ? Ă“ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă– Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă’Ă?Ă–ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ͺ͸ͺ͚̋ͺ͸ͺ͝ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ͺ͸ͺ͚ Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ‘Ă?Ăž Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ăž ĂĄĂ?Ă?Ă•Ëœ Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™Ăœ ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ ÞÙÖÎ Ă?ÞËÕĂ?ÒÙÖÎĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÞÒĂ? ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă– ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÞËÞĂ? ÞÒËÞ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă‹ĂŽĂ—Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂĄĂ™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă–ĂŁ Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÞËÞĂ?ËŞĂ? Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă? Ă‹Ă? Ă“ĂžĂ? ĂšĂœĂ“Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“ĂžĂ? ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ‘Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă?Ëž Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜ ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ“ĂœĂ? Ă?ÞËÞĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ù×ÚÖĂ?ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ă™Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă”Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ? ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ă–Ă“Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă‹ĂŽĂ—Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ËŞĂ? Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ?Ëœ ĂĄĂœĂ“ĂžĂ?Ă? Lanre Alfred

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he chrysalis doesn’t ooze out the adult butterfly in a day. It takes a specific time.

This is the same for several things in the world. That is why the avowed commitment made by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State that starting from next year, his administration would rely more on the state’s Internally Generated Revenue as its primary source of financing its budget before any other source, is a plan that those conversant with his modus operandi know that he will achieve. “Despite the steep declines in revenues from the Federation Account, we shall rely more on our internally generated revenue from Ogun State Internal Revenue Service, (OGIRS) and other revenue sources. In this regard, we have strengthened the OGIRS, including the recent appointment of a seasoned professional as the chairman. “Whilst being mindful of the need to avoid unnecessary tax burden on our citizens, we appeal to them to continue to support us by discharging their civic duties in our joint task of building the state of our future together, we shall continue to give utmost priority to capital project investments in education, health, and infrastructure sectors,� the governor said at the kick-off of the tripartite virtual consultative meeting with the representatives of the people of Ogun East Senatorial District in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on the 2021-2023 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and 2021 budget.

Governor Abiodun assured that his administration would be proactive in the coming year by latching on to this year’s experience to improve on service delivery, revenue drive and public-private partnership. He urged the people to continue to support his administration by discharging their civic duties while promising that they would continue to sustain the payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities within limited resources and also continue to effect the downward review of overhead expenses at reasonable percentage against the revenue generation prospects of Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state. The governor further noted that the recent payment of the new minimum wage was in line with the agreement reached with labour while urging the labour unions in the state to be considerate in their demands at a time the government was also struggling with finances.

Due to the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic to the economy of the state, Governor Abiodun announced that the current year’s budget was reviewed downward from N450bn to N280bn in consonance with prevailing economic realities. However, to ameliorate the impact on MSMEs, the governor revealed that various reliefs were given to business owners as part of palliative measures to assist them to cope with the economic slide and ensure business continuity. “These relief packages include a 6-month extension of the 2019 income tax returns deadline for self-employed residents from March 31, 2020, to September 30, 2020.

We also granted an 8-month extension of filing of 2019 annual PAYE returns by PAYE operators/tax agents from January 31, 2020, to September 30, as well as a complete waiver of interest and penalty for late filing for the extension period,� the governor explained.

He said that the meetings were auspicious because they underscored his administration’s commitment to the wholesome development of the entire state saying that this was evidenced by the completion or conversion of projects inherited uncompleted or socio-economically viable, regardless of location. One of such conversions, the governor highlighted, is the hitherto abandoned Model School at Kobape Road into the Ogun Tech Hub, which has been supporting young innovators.

He listed some of the roads constructed by his administration in Ogun East Senatorial District to include Awa-Iloaporu-Ibadan Express Road, Hospital Road, Sagamu, Bright Fashion Baruwa Street, Sagamu, Ijebu Ode-Epe, Sagamu-Ore Interchange Flyover in IjebuOde-Odogbolu LG, Molipa -Fusigboye -Ojofa Street, among others, adding that hospitals, especially primary healthcare centres, schools and other infrastructure projects were also given due attention.

During the meeting of the Ogun Central Senatorial District, the governor declared that as the seat of government, Ogun Central, and in particular Abeokuta, deserves due attention and had correspondingly witnessed numerous infrastructural development projects including Panseke-Adigbe Road; Obantoko Road Phase I, Phase II America Junction, Phase III; Lafenwa-Rounda Road; Abeokuta-Sagamu Interchange Expressway; OGTV-Ajebo-Kajola Road; and Kuto Bridge service lanes. “Affordable housing has also been provided for different levels of the state economy through the ongo-

Abiodun ing schemes in Ogun Central in particular: Prince Court, Kemta, Idi-Aba (130-Unit Phase I, 300-Unit Phase II); 51-Unit King’s Court Estate; 300-unit GRA Settlement; 23Unit Laderin Estate Civil Servant Scheme; among others. “Other vital development programmes domiciled in Ogun Central for the benefit of the people such as the rehabilitation of 37 schools and 12 primary health centres; Primary Health Centres (2 per LGA), location of many agriculture programmes in Odeda; and initiation of the PPP model to ensure uninterruptible power supply to Abeokuta and its environs, altogether show that the senatorial district remains significant in our development programme,� said the governor.

To the stakeholders that participated in the Ogun West meeting, Governor Abiodun assured them that the constituency remains key to the development of Ogun State as it hosts one of the busiest land borders into the international West African corridor and is an industrial hub. According to Governor Abiodun, “We understand that infrastructure is a key part of development, hence our sustained investment in the sector. Even as we have completed the joint 3.92km Raypower and Ikola/NavyOsi Ota roads in Ogun West, we are currently reconstructing and rehabilitating others including Owode-Ilaro, Ota-Owode Idiroko, Sango-Joju, Imeko Afon-Agbede Iwoye, Afa Bridge-Ipokia, Igbesa-Ejila roads. “We have also intensified efforts on having the AtanAgbara-Lusada and Lagos-Abeokuta roads, which are federal roads, ceded to us for full reconstruction. Not focusing on roads alone, we will be replicating our affordable housing scheme in Ota and Ilaro, with 500 and 250 housing units respectively, since the pilot phase in Kemta has been successful.�

The governor reiterated that the town hall meeting was a symbolic approach of inclusiveness, fairness, justice, equity and respect for the rule of law for which the government policies are known and that it would crossfertilize ideas for the preparation of a more viable Year 2021 Budget that would ensure individual prosperity and an improved economy of the state.

Governor Abiodun, therefore, called on the people to contribute and take maximum advantage of the platform to express their views, assuring that their comments, recommendations, proposals, feedback would be adequately and appropriately considered for the prepara-

tion of the Year 2021 budget.

The Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, described this year as the most challenging on the economy of the state, noting that government would look inward for quick recovery of all sectors. Likewise, the chairman, Governor’s Elders Advisory Council, Chief Oluneye Okuboyejo while calling on the state government to help farmers in the Ogun East Senatorial district on issues relating to land ownership and encroachment, said that the issues had made it difficult for farmers in the area to think of expanding their farms. “The government is doing well in the area of agriculture, the problem of land ownership for agriculture is a key issue, in Eriwe and all the farms we have around the local government, we have problems of land ownership because our farmers want to expand, even where we exist, encroachment is not helping the stakeholders at all, help us to solve them,� he said.

The elder statesman commended the state government on efforts to improve public infrastructure, education, particularly in the areas of ICT and Youth Empowerment and appealed for more emphasis on Government Reservation Areas (GRA). “I want to commend the government for touching not only the rural areas but the cities that have been neglected for over eight years.

In (the) year 2021, a little emphasis should continue to be placed on infrastructure. This time around, I want to plead that in looking at infrastructure, concentration should not just be given to city roads, rural roads, but the reservation areas, I mean the government reservation areas(GRA’s), the road networks in some of these places, particularly the ones that I know, are not too good,� he said.

The chairperson, Ogun State Chapter of the Association of Women Entrepreneurs, Mrs. Olude Oluwakemi and her counterpart in the Women Support and Care Initiative, Dr. (Mrs.) Omolara Quadri called on the state government to give more emphasis to women empowerment in the state by building their capacity.

Some of the participants including youth and women groups, religious leaders, elder statesmen and women and labour leaders, called for the creation of more jobs, execution of more capital projects and empowerment of the youth and women in the coming fiscal year.

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NO ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

PERSPECTIVE Understanding Imo

Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill Only men who do not care about protecting their wives and children will oppose the Imo Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill, Tobi Soniyi writes

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n 2015 the then president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan signed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) into law. The Act among others aims at eliminating gender-based violence and sundry discrimination and abuses.

The VAPP Act is the single law in place that transcends the criminal and penal code in guaranteeing justice and protecting the rights and properties of victims of sexual and gender-based violence by its expansion of the definition of rape, domestic offences, incest and several forms of violence.

Under the VAPP Act, a wide range of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) including; rape/defilement forced financial dependence or economic abuse, harmful widowhood practices, genital mutilation, abandonment of children, harmful substance attacks, and incest are all recognized as punishable offences.

However, because it is a federal law, it only applies to the Federal Capital Territory. It is incumbent on states to pass the law in their respective states.

However, out of the 36 states of the federation, only 15 have domesticated the VAPP and in South-East Nigeria, Imo is the only state yet to domesticate the VAPP. However, the attempt by Imo State to join the league of progressive states by passing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill currently before the Imo State House of Assembly into law has been characterised by misinformation and fake news. Some who have not read the bill has erroneously tagged ‘it the ‘abortion bill.’ Unfortunately the bill does not even make a mention of the issues it is accused of.

The bill is sponsored by Rt. Hon Uju Onwudiwe, the member representing Njaba State Constituency and is scheduled for public hearing when the state’s assembly reconvenes.

On its part, a Non Governmental Organization, Alliances for Africa (AFA) has brought together seasoned technocrats from diverse backgrounds to push for the passage of the VAPP bill under the aegis of the Imo State Committee on Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls (ISCEVAWG).

ISCEVAWG consists of committed men and women passionate about the safety of people in Imo State.

In the last one month, church WhatsApp platforms have been awash with messages calling for rejection of the bill as it is considered to be anti- Church values.

Specifically, the Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Revd. Moses Chikwe was quoted in a newspaper to have said the bill seeks to “turn society upside down because it will endanger cultural, traditional, and religious values�.

Further, he said the bill sought to spell out prosecution of clerics who refuse to join Homosexuals and Lesbians in Holy Matrimony in the State.

On his part, Revd. Ikenna Emmanuel of Faith House Transformation Assembly in Owerri sent out a message across the platform of the Imo Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) calling for a stoppage of the Imo VAPP bill.

The VAPP Act is the single law in place that transcends the criminal and penal code in guaranteeing justice and protecting the rights and properties of victims of sexual and gender-based violence by its expansion of the deďŹ nition of rape, domestic offences, incest and several forms of violence

Uzodinma According to him, the “VAPP Bill 2020 Mandates Jail Sentence for Parents Who Scold their Children; VAPP BILL 2020 does not recognise the unborn child in the vulnerable groups; will imprison priests for preaching moral order; and seeks to destroy the Igbo family and promise rise in poverty.�

Further, he alleged in the message he signed on behalf of PFN Legal Forum that the VAPP bill does not protect the sanctity of life; does not protect the unborn child as a person; legalises same sex marriage; bans use of teachings of the Holy Bible in public.

One lawyer claims that the VAPP Bill 2020 promotes deadly violence against women; and legalises abortion and contraception to kill the unborn child.

However, the truth is the VAPP Bill does not even make a mention of all the aforementioned issues, not even one!

Here are the provisions in the bill: Rape, inflicting physical injury on a person, coercion, willfully placing a person in fear of physical injury, offensive conduct, taking undue advantage of persons living with disability, prohibition of female circumcision or genital mutilation, and frustrating investigation.

Others are willfully making false statements, forceful ejection from home, depriving a person his or her liberty, damage to property with intent to cause distress, deprivation of right of inheritance.

It creates the following offences: forced financial dependence or economic abuse, forced isolation or separation from family and friends, emotional, verbal, and psychological abuse, harmful widowhood practices, abandonment of spouse, children and other dependents without sustenance, and stalking.

Others are sexual intimidation, intimidation of a person, spouse battery, harmful traditional practices, attack with harmful substance, incest, indecent exposure, posting pictures or videos of sexual violence on the internet, sexual blackmail, political violence, and violence by state actors.

Parts two and three propose protection order, while part four is about the regulatory body, and part five is about investigation and prosecution of offences.

Part six highlights jurisdiction of the court, part seven is miscellaneous, part eight is provided for consequential amendments, while nine deals with interpretation.

From the aforementioned, it is obvious that all the issues bandied about the bill were not conceived let alone mentioned.

There is nothing in the bill that seeks to install females as traditional rulers or priests.

The claims that the bill promotes abortion or tampers with anyone’s life is also not true.

Presently, Imo State following the lock down occasioned by the Covid 19 pandemic is bedeviled with rising

cases of violence especially sexual offences involving blood relations.

Incest regrettably holds sway and most times involving minors who are forced into such acts.

COVID-19 pandemic brought about a surge in the perpetration of these vicious acts as well as promotion of impunity for perpetrators due to the lack of legislative frameworks to adequately address the issues.

This has made difficult the work of front line women human rights defenders because they face intimidation by some police officers. Such intimidations are also faced by the survivors who oftentimes are even threatened to back out from seeking justice and encouraged to accept alternative dispute resolution by some corrupt officials.

Sadly, this doesn’t in any way address the damages caused especially where perpetrators violate under aged children or inflict brutality in the act. The violation of our minors has escalated within this period. This informs the need for systems, particularly legislations, to be put in place to put a check on these evil vices Many people do not understand that under the present laws, a person cannot be successfully tried for sexual offences because proving such is herculean!

For instance, 12 years old Grace (not real name) had her pelvic bones broken by a man while being raped in Imo state.

For people especially children caught in the web of sexual violation, there is no safe space for them to hide from their abuser. After they report the incidents, they still have to return to the same house where their abuser lives!

Thus, such persons suffer repeated sexual and psychological abuses without reprieve.

Already, states like Ekiti and Lagos have passed their VAPP bills and are protecting their people, whether male or female, young or old.

Further, they have provided safe spaces where people abused can hide, heal, and recover from the abuse while the abuser is kept behind bars, so that he can not harm other innocent people.

However, these are some of the concerns the bill seeks to address. It seeks to proffer stiff penalties for offenders who consciously cause others harm.

Another concern is the obnoxious widowhood practice that still takes place in some parts of the state like asking a widow to drink the water used to wash the body of her late husband. Acts such as this cause untold health concerns on the victims and that is what the bill seeks to address.

Only men who do not care about protecting their wives, daughters and others’ children will oppose this bill.

Women want to enjoy thriving careers and or businesses. They do not desire to be the husband’s, they prefer to allow the men to be the breadwinners and pay the bills, but they want to support their husbands.

However, it is obvious that many people have condemned the noble efforts of a committed lawmaker, who desires a safer space for all of us.

Many people have erroneously condemned a bill they have not seen nor read and are busy forwarding unconfirmed messages and inadvertently helping abusers to fight against a bill that protects everyone.

The Imo State VAPP Bill has been reviewed to integrate current trends of violence, roles and responsibilities of key institutions based on the needs of survivors and for the effective implementation of the provisions contained therein.

The bill does not in any way support same sex marriage or abortion as is currently propagated by Dr Philip Njemanze.

Call to Action:

The Imo people have a lot to gain by supporting the bill. It behoves on those who have the bill to educate the entire church and citizens on the need to support the bill.

An Imo State women activist, Blessing Duru said: “We must consciously disseminate only the right information via our different platforms and shun misinformation being propagated by those who are determined to frustrate the progress made by the ISCEVAWG committee. “Together, let us collaborate to support the Imo State Committee on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls and see that the VAPP bill is passed to protect all of us.�

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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 VEMBER 8,2020

TRIBUTE

Oritsejafor: A Burdened Chief Priest Michael West

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ike or hate him, he will speak out.

Regardless of whose ox is gored, he will say it as it is. Pastor Joseph Ayodele Oritsejafor is a man that commands two extreme loyalties: those who love and admire him passionately and those who are critical of his guts. He is well loved by his numerous “sons and daughters� in the faith, followers and admirers. He has had his own fair share of holding sway at the national space as Chief Priest of Nigeria by virtue of being the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, between 2010 and 2016.

Oritsejafor is a man of consummate passion who have, even in private capacity, still care about his primary constituency which is the Christian community. He is equally interested in the state of affairs in Nigeria as well as in the welfare of the people within his reach. Despite being one of the most criticised faith leaders in Nigeria for his guts and boldness, he holds nobody in contempt or in offence for doing so. “Tell me a successful leader that is not criticised rightly or wrongly for whatever reason? Even Jesus Christ was criticized for being compassionate by healing the sick. He was derided for identifying with the poor, care for the destitute and seeking to save sinners. And that’s what leadership entails. Sacrificing to protect and provide for the needs of the people. When people react or criticise you for almost everything you do or say, it shows that you are effective and impactful. I have never thought about it (criticisms) for a minute. It is part of the cross to carry in leadership at all levels,� he said.

In 2013, when he was vying for his second term in office as CAN president, a well-known politician in Abuja said he was miffed by Oritsejafor ’s gut in speech making. “The man does not know how to be diplomatic when it comes to the issues of alleged imbalance or injustice against his people (Christians). In the history of this country, no Christian leader or leader from the south has ever looked at us in the face and talk the way he does. I wish he does not return to office for the second term.

We we’re just tolerating him,� he told a couple of friends at a private dinner in a popular hotel at the federal capital territory, FCT. Oritsejafor eventually won and the silent rage against him continued.

He has been on ‘sabbatical’ since he served out his tenure of office as CAN president in 2016.

Asked why he has maintained a studied silence on the happenings in the country, Papa, as he’s fondly addressed in Christian circle, said “I have never been quiet about the situation in Nigeria. When I was in office as Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, and CAN president, the responsibility to speak for the Body of Christ squarely rested on me. Today, I speak as a Church leader and in my private capacity as a citizen of this country. I do this when I’m consulted and offer pieces of advice on the way forward. I’m still actively involved as a leader. Nobody is happy with the way things are going on in this country. Every leader I know, be it political or religious, is doing something to salvage the situation in this country. Don’t forget that we have the mandate of intercession as the Church of Christ to pray for Nigeria. This, I do more than talking to the press.�

Oritsejafor is a newsmaker. He is a journalists’ favorite because he’s sure to talk whenever the occasion demands. A newspaper editor once said “One thing you cannot take away from Pastor Ayo (Oritsejafor) is his voice. Even at gunpoint, he will tell you his mind. He’s not intimidated or afraid of being called names. I’m not a Christian but I think he has defended and represented his people well.�

Pastor Bosun Emmanuel, a notable Christian activist and Executive Secretary of Christian Social Movement of Nigeria, CSMN, in his tribute describes Oritsejafor as a rare gift in leadership to the Body of Christ. Emmanuel was privileged to be close to CAN leadership to know and evaluate the contributions of Oritsejafor while in the saddle. “In contemporary Christianity in Nigeria, only one Christian leader has distinguished himself as corporate leader willing to surrender the resources of his ministry for the common good of all, irrespective of Church group, denomination, ministry or tribe. Only His Eminence, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has accomplished this feat. “Christianity in Nigeria is yet to raise another corporate leader that would fearlessly confront the adversaries to defend the flock of Christ. He was bold, fearless, and inspired many Christian professionals to rise to support CAN. His tenure as President of CAN witnessed the introduction of some landmark policies that would not only have

Oritsejafor prevented the current persecution of Christians but would have enabled Christianity to transform Nigeria. Three of those legacies should be noted for historical purposes: r i5IF $"/ 4USBUFHZ %PDVNFOU 'PS UIF first time since its establishment in 1976, CAN developed a Strategy Document to defend and promote Christianity in Nigeria. This roadmap was approved by the National Executive Committee of CAN in July 2015 during the tenure of his Eminence. Had this Document been implemented, Christians and Nigerians would not experience the current distress plaguing Nigeria. r i5IF $"/ 5SVTU 'VOE 5P FOTVSF UIFSF JT

Let me confess that I have a burden in my heart concerning this country. I love Nigeria and God does, too. I can only continue to pray for God’s mercy and intervention in our national aairs to restore value for human life, enthrone justice and guide our political leaders in the right direction

funding to implement the Strategy Document as well as take care of Christians (both as corporate and individual entities), his Eminence introduced, during his tenure, the Trust Fund meant to provide N5 billion monthly for CAN. The project started running during his tenure but could not be sustained after he left office. r i5IF /BUJPOBM $ISJTUJBO &MEFST 'PSVN 0OMZ B committed and inspiring leader could have assembled the caliber of Christian Elders in the NCEF. Today, the NCEF is in the vanguard of resisting the excesses of Islamists and protecting Christianity in Nigeria.�

Oritsejafor was not ready to comment on the state of the nation because, according to him, “What are they saying now that we have not said earlier? Is it restructuring? There’s nothing new I should say now that I have not said before. Since 2009 till I left office as CAN president in 2016, I have been consistent in advocating restructuring as a feasible approach to achieving peaceful, equitable and balanced society. Let me confess that I have a burden in my heart concerning this country.

I love Nigeria and God does, too. I can only continue to pray for God’s mercy and intervention in our national affairs to restore value for human life, enthrone justice and guide our political leaders in the right direction.�

This week, the bell tolls for the enigmatic and charismatic leader as he marks his birthday every November 10. The day has always been a celebration for the less-privileged, needy and widowed members of his church as he distributes gifts, foods and several relief packages to them. Bosun Emmanuel concludes that “It is right for us to appreciate the Most High God for the gift of a purposeful leadership that He gave to the Church in Nigeria through his Eminence. I join other Christians of good conscience to wish his Eminence, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor a Happy Birthday,� ––West wrote via mikeawe@yahoo.co.uk 08059964446

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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NO ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

INTERNATIONAL ‘AmericaFirst’inDishonestyand‘MakingAmericaGreat Again’inUnilateralism’:US-NigeriaTiesunderJoeBiden

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he 2020 United States (US) presidential election is very important and quite critical to the understanding of the US foreign policy as a major dynamic of global governance. The most significant aspect of the election is the factor of President Donald Trump as a candidate. The election threw much light on his person, character and personality. The second point from the candidature of Donald Trump is his political supporters who believe in his character, personality and whatever he says and stands for.

As a result of the considerable support he has, it can be rightly posited that the people of the United States are sharply divided on whatever Donald Trump stands for. But what really does Donald Trump stand for as President of the United States in the period from 2017 to date to warrant the consideration of his re-election? How do we explain the admission by manyAmericans that the attitude of Donald Trump is not befitting of a President of the United States, that he lacks diplomatic finesse and always demonstrates a holierthan-thou disposition in such a way that he only finds faults with all others and he is never wrong. His way and viewpoint is not only right but must be accepted by everyone, etc, and yet, many people ignore these false pretences and stillaccept to vote for him?

If truth be told, his campaign themes and policy declarations following his election in 2016. He first talked aboutAmerica First, implying that, under no circumstance should the United States be in a second position, not to talk about being in the third position.

This policy also means non-readiness by the United states to accept the position of others, regardless of whether others have better arguments. This is quite patriotic, especially that this doctrine of ‘America First’ is meant to apply at the level of foreign trade. In other words, emphasis should always be put on what is of interest to the people ofAmerica. This cannot but attract some other patriots.

Donald Trump also added the need to ‘MakeAmerica Great’ and ‘MakingAmerica GreatAgain.’ ‘MakeAmerica Great’ can first be looked at as a call on the people of the United States to unite their energies and make the country great. This means that the United States had not been great already and there is the need for it to become great. But when he talks about makingAmerica great again, he is not only implying that the United States was once great, that the status of greatness had been lost, and that there is the new need to restore the lost status of greatness? But when was the status of greatness lost? Since the end of World War II when the United States acquired the status of a Superpower, along with the former Soviet Union, the status has remained as it is, meaning that we have to seek a new and better understanding of makingAmerica great again. Whatever is the case, and whatever meaning is given to it, it appears to have entered deeply into the psyche of Donald Trump’s supporters for his re-election bid and this cannot but be most unfortunate.

‘America First’ in Dishonesty

Donald Trump policies simply reflect the silent views of Americans who strongly believe in supremacist ideologies in which there are originalAmericans who are superior and all others who are inferior. SupremacistAmericans found in Donald Trump a spokesman. This is one major rationale underlying the racial struggle for equality and fairness inAmerican politics. His attitudinal disposition to the crisis of Black LivesMatteris acasein point. Besides, Donald Trump’s foreign policy is largely predicated on a tripod of national security, trade vibrancy as means of ensuring economic self-reliance, and laisser-faire diplomacy that does not condone compromise.

True enough, every country underscores national security but differently in approach.As for the United States, Donald Trump wants to ‘MakeAmerica GreatAgain.’ He wants to completely neutralise all terrorists by carrying the war to their door steps. In doing this, he wants a more enabledAmerican military that will be second to none. He increased the defence spending in 2017 by 10% to $639 billion. He tried to reinforce border defences and strengthen immigration controls.As good and patriotic as this may appear to be, there is no disputing the fact that the policies are largely driven by unrepentant dishonesty and rigid unilateralism all of which have brought much international hostility to the doorsteps of the Americans at home and abroad.

First, as regards unrepentant dishonesty, the personality of President Donald Trump appears to have a great dose of dishonesty, often manifested in his lies telling, saying one thing and denying the same, as if he had a loss of memory.At the level of his business

VIE INTERNATIONALE

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Biden life, the element of dishonesty can also be raised. When ordinary Americans paid thousands of dollars as federal income tax in 2016, he only paid $750 in 2016 and another $750 in 2017.According to the New York Times, Donald Trump did not even pay any income taxes at all in ten of the fifteen previous years. Yet, he was President of the United States in 2017 and still paid $750 as federal income tax compared to the $9,302 in federal income tax in 2018 on an average earnings of $78,635, to borrow the figures from the US Bureau On Labour Statistics.

When this information was made known to the general public, Donald Trump said it was fake news and that he was actually paying taxes.As he explained it, ‘actually, I paid tax.And you’ll see that as soon as my tax returns -it’s under audit, they’ve been under audit for a long time... The Internal Revenue Service does not treat me well... They treat me badly.’ If he was treated badly, why is he preventing the general public from knowing his tax status as a public figure?

Even though not making his tax returns known to the public is not a legal infraction, he is still on record to be the first and the only President that has not made his tax returns known to the public since 1970. Why? Donald Trump explained that he did not pay tax for ten years ‘largely because he reported losing much more money than he made.’ The clear message is clear here: if he could not manage well his business for ten years, and therefore could not earn enough personal income to be able to pay more tax, how does he explain the payment of only $750 in 2017? Has he not brought his insolvent business practice to the domain of political governance?

Already, he is currently facing legal challenges. Donald Trump’s attitude is a manifestation of dishonesty per excellence. It does not reflect public accountability and integrity of purpose.

Second, at the level of his political life, he is dishonestly selfprotective and vindictive. He has a larger self-perception than what he really is. He equates himself with the whole ofAmerica. He believes that, as US President, he has unlimited powers to govern as he wants. His understanding of the right to hire and fire is lato sensu.

This is why he freely talked about illegal votes, that he had won the election without illegal votes. He talked about polls suppression, red wave in the election process, etc. He also talked about election interferences and fake polls, but all to no avail. He annoyed virtually all decent and objectiveAmericans to the extent that owners of

If nine Nigerian-Americans presented themselves for election and three of them were elected, it is because their political environment was conducive and devoid of political chicanery. One of them contested as an independent candidate. In Nigeria, the environmental conditionings are inclement. Independent candidacy is not provided for. There is no nepotism in political governance in the United States. There is in Nigeria.

Contesting in the US does not require being a billionaire. In Nigeria, one must either have a godfather or be a millionaire if not a billionaire. Corruption is a way of life in Nigeria. It is not in the US. In essence, seeking to learn lessons that will be inapplicable in Nigeria serves no purpose. If any lesson is to be learnt in spite of Nigeria’s inclement environment, it cannot but be to take electronic voting more seriously to reduce organisational costs, prevent recurrent dissipation of energy and time. Lessons can be learnt from the management of crisis emergencies for electoral purposes. It was because of the fear of COVID-19 spread that greater emphasis was placed on mail-in voting. More important, there is also the lesson of votes that count, tolerance and patience. However, Nigeria is not likely to be able to learn and develop to the level of the US with her intolerance of free speech, gagging of the social media, and killing peaceful protesters.

Development is tolerance and sharing of ideas and not waging war against it or against patriotism

social media platforms have to decide to control Donald Trump’s postings in order to put an end to his misinformation.

His diplomacy of laisser faire is also a disaster. There is absolutely nothing to write home about. His unilateralist disposition, withdrawing from international organisations, dictating political directions, etc, have only created a vacuum for other competitors to occupy. The world is talking about globalism, but Donald Trump is preaching nationalism and self-protectionism. The world is much interested in sustaining multilateralism, but the United States of Donald Trump is engaging in bilateralism. There is no neighbour or partner he does not quarrel with. InApril 2017, he raised the longstanding Canada-United States softwood lumber dispute, accusing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of unfair lumber trade practices. In terms of US relations with Mexico, Donald Trump has it that ‘when Mexico sends its people, (to the United States) they’re not sending their best...They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime.

Their rapists...’ In fact, in the eyes of Donald Trump, the NATO is obsolete.Again, US Trade with the traditional partners in the European Union is another area of dispute since 2017.

Regarding his socio-cultural life and administrative skills, he is fantastically wicked and incompetent. His fantastic wickedness is best explained by the don’t-care attitude displayed and his mismanagement of the COVID-19 saga. Donald Trump recklessly politicised the issue of COVID-19. He first saw it as fake news for the Americans. The next step for him is to see it as anAsian virus and for which the Chinese should be held responsible. When notable and leading scientists were advising him on the need to begin to wear face masks in the public and to ensure the rule of social distancing, Donald Trump acted to the contrary. He refused to take any concrete step to mitigate the spread of the virus.

When he eventually was infected by COVID-19, he still tried to cover it up by not wanting to go out of the White House to seek cure.

His medical team, comprising ten people (eight male, one of whom is black, and two females) was very economic with information about his ill-health.All that was told was his hospitalisation at the Walter Reed Hospital and that he was responding to treatment.

The issues of when he actually tested positive or when was his last negative test in order to determine when the infection became contagious was made secret. The timeline for when he began to feel the symptoms was raised, but to no avail In fact, if he was improving, why was there the need for oxygen and supplemental oxygen?

To all these concerns, Dr. Sean Conley, Donald Trump’s physician, could not respond.

Even still on the eve of the 2020 presidential election, he was still making a mockery of it. This was in spite of the fact that he was hospitalised for the same COVID-19. The seriousness of the virus was explained by Dr. Jim Souza, the Chief Medical Officer of Saint Luke’s Hospital system in Idaho: ‘if you’ve never seen a patient incubated on mechanical ventilation, connected to a dialysis machine, in a prone position, sedated and paralysed - if you’ve never been part of that care - it’s heavy physical labour, it’s psychological heavy work.

It is just not OK to be calling into question the professional ethics of the very people who are on the frontlines fighting this fire.’ President Trump does not, on a serious note, believe in what the scientists are saying or in what the medical practitioners on the frontline are going through. It is therefore not surprising that Nancy Roberts, a respiratory therapist at the same Saint Luke’s hospital, said: ‘for somebody to not believe this is happening, it blows my mind. I cannot personally wrap my head around that... One death is one too many deaths from this virus.

In fact, Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center has it that more than 231,000 people have died from the virus in the United States, and yet, President Donald Trump is playing politics with it, tellingAmericans that there would be anAmerican-made vaccine before November 1, 2020. True, his attitude reflects selfishness and wickedness. His knowledge of how to contain the virus is, at best, very limited, and yet, he is not intelligent enough to accept to learn from those who know better than him. His myopia further ridicules him to the extent that he announced that he would fire Dr. Anthony Stephen Fauci, a seasoned and internationally-recognised expert on his own right, who has been serving as Director of the National Institute ofAllergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984.

It is not simply an act of incompetence for a non-initiated layman to be challenging a specialised expert, but most unfortunate to allow innocent people to die as a result of known ignorance of a leader. Which type ofAmericans are those saying ‘my child died of coronavirus but I will still vote for Donald Trump.Apparently, democracy in the United States does not appear to be based any longer on the logic of reasonableness and good value because of what can now be rightly described as the Trumpian virus not only in many otherAmericans but also in some Nigerians.

Nigerians who support Donald Trump probably do so for two main reasons. First is the factor of Christianity. Donald Trump gives the impression that he is very Christianly. Unlike the Barack Obamas of this world who support gay marriages which the Holy Bible considers as unholy, Donald Trump is staunchly against unholiness.

Besides, Nigerian Christians do believe that Jerusalem had been and should always be the seat of Government of Israel. Even though the 1917 William Balfour Declaration paved way for the creation of a Palestinian State and State of Israel out of Palestine, only the state of Israel is a fait accompli.

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NEWSXTRA N’Delta Youths Demand Review of Revenue Sharing Formula ‡ Ask FG to forestall future #ENDSARS protests ‡ FG seeks more time to address youth concerns

Gboyega Akinsanmi Youths in the Niger Delta yesterday asked the federal government to review the extant revenue sharing formula in line with the principles of true federalism and in the spirit of fairness.

The youths, also, challenged the federal government to address their concerns and grievances as a matter of urgency in order to forestall the resurgence of #EndSARS protests in the future.

These demands are contained in a statement issued after the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare held a town hall meeting with the youths in Asaba, the Delta State capital yesterday.

Under the current revenue sharing formula, the federal government takes 52.68%, the states 26.72% and the local governments, 20.60% with 13

percent derivation revenue going to the oil producing states.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary General, Ijaw Youth Council, Frank Pukon; Delta South Youth Leader, Otesiri Festus; Delta North Youth Leader, Donald Okonta; Delta Central Youth Leader, Kosoro Kelvin and representative of Female Advocacy Group, Benedicta Apnana, among others In the statement by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr. John Akanji yesterday, Okonta was quoted as saying almost all states “are not viable. The states in the South-south are producing oil.�

As indicated in the statement, Okonta noted that there “should be a review of the sharing formula of oil revenue. The people are living in abject poverty despite producing the wealth of the nation.

Food insecurity is alarming “We need to relocate the offices

of the oil producing companies to the South-south. The lawmakers should enact a law that would accommodate at least 40% youths in the Federal Executive Council.

We must create space for the Nigerian youth so that we can be part of the government. “The federal government must

address the problem of power.

Without power, the system cannot work. Imbalances should be addressed. The textiles mills must be revived instead of importing from China. “Nigeria must be restructured in line with the promise of President Mohammadu Buhari during his

campaigns. The president should review Nigeria Youth Investment Fund. N75 billion is too small for Nigeria Youths who constitute the larger percentage of our population,� he said.

He, also, urged the federal government to constitute budget implementation, which according to him, would ensure compliance

with budget implementation.

Pukon, who spoke on behalf of Ijaw Youth Ethnic Nationalities, commended the minister for engaging the youths in the region, though asked the federal government to do something urgently to forestall future #ENDSARS protests.

FG Reinstates 48,000 Cash Transfer BeneďŹ ciaries in Nasarawa Igbawase Ukumba in LaďŹ a The federal government has reinstated 48,000 beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme who were suspended in Nasarawa State, about two years ago.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Ms. Sadiya Umar Faruk disclosed this at a meeting with Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Sule in Lafia yesterday.

At the meeting, the minister explained the decision of the federal government to lift the suspension, promising that additional indigent citizens in the state would be registered.

President Muhammadu Buhari had initiated the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programs with a

view to reducing poverty by making welfare programs conditional upon the receivers’ actions.

Since the programme commenced, the federal government said an estimated 5,433,394 Nigerians are benefiting from the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme.

But at the meeting, the minister said the directive to lift the suspension “is a fall out of a meeting with the governor.�

She said Nasarawa State, with 48,000 beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme, was suspended along with the state Operations Coordinating Unit (SOCU) on August 5. This was due to fraudulent activities of officials of the program in some local government areas in 2018.

Obiano Endorses Group’s Campaign against Fake News David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano has commended a group, I-Witness Crew for its efforts in fighting fake news in the state.

Obiano said the group was fighting fake news through the dissemination of authentic information, through citizen journalism practice.

Obiano spoke at the weekend through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr Don Adinuba at an event organized at the Government House to celebrate the second anniversary of the group.

He said� “We are happy with what you are doing. You have always corrected very erroneous information by presenting authentic information in the internet space for all to see. “The administration of Governor Willie Obiano is doing a lot in the state, and it is only through people like you that such can be appreciated. “We are building a world-class airport, with the longest runway in the entire West Africa. We are

building stadiums and one of the biggest conference centres in the country, all these we are doing without borrowing a kobo from anywhere. “Your efforts in showcasing the projects of the governor have helped to fight fake news in the state. The governor told me to announce to you that he has donated a bus to your group, to enable you to do more,�

Adinuba said.

Earlier, the convener of the I-Witness Crew, Mr Chidiebele Obika said the organisation was established to fight fake news in Anambra State through citizen journalism, and ensuring that fake information is countered by providing evidence. “The idea behind the formation of the media group stemmed from the compelling urge to bridge the information gap between the functions of the Obiano administration and the people who eagerly yearned to be duly informed about their government’s efforts in fulfilling the social contract with them.

TOWARDS SECURING LAGOS . .

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, LinkLegal Consulting (LLC), Prof Ademola Abass; Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State, Mr. Tunji Disu; Executive Secretary, Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun and Executive Secretary Ekiti State Security Trust Fund, Chief Isola Fapounda at the high-level security workshop held at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos‌ Thursday

Court Determines Legal Status of Methodist Missionary Trust Nov. 30 Tobi Soniyi An Ogun State High Court sitting in Sagamu will on November 30, 2020 rule on an application filed by members of Efure community, Offin in Sagamu, to determine whether Methodist Missionary Trust Association Limited has a legal status as an incorporated limited company in Nigeria.

The trial judge, Justice Olatunde Oyajinmi fixed the date after hearing counsel’s arguments in support and against the application.

The Efure community, in Offin Sagamu has filed a suit against Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Association Limited seeking to set aside a ninety nine year lease of 54 acres of land on the ground that Methodist misled it into signing the lease agreement.

The community is locked in

a legal battle against Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Association Limited over a ninety nine year old lease of 54 acres of land.

It wanted the court to set aside the lease on the grounds that Methodist misled it into signing the lease agreement.

In the suit filed by Mr Babatunde Oshilaja on behalf Samuel Banjo, Emmanuel Oladunni Adelesi, Kolawole Odugbesi for themselves as members and representatives of Efure Community Offin, Sagamu, the plaintiffs asked the court to nullify the Deed of Lease dated March 15, 1931 on 53.94 acres of land kept at Ogun state land registry, Abeokuta alleging that Wesley Methodist Missionary Trust Association Limited was unknown to law.

Other defendants in the suit

are; the Registrar of Titles, Ogun State; the Incorporated Trustees of the Methodist Church; Nigeria Sagamu Local Government; Vigilante Security Organisation; Oladega Ajelana, Wasiu Asanko and Mrs. Abosede Dauda(members of Kajola Saw Millers); Wasiu Jebe, Alhaja Ganiyat Adebayo, Tunbosun Okubote, Yaya Okesola, Bolanle Adeboga and the Gospel Sabbatarian the True Church of God. The claimants asked the court to nullify the Deed of Lease dated March 15, 1931 on 53.94 acres of land kept at Ogun state land registry, Abeokuta alleging that Wesley Methodist Missionary Trust Association Limited was unknown to law.

The claimants in their 36-page Motion on Notice

stated that only legal persons are capable of possessing legal rights and duties and since Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Trust Association limited was not a legal person registered under the Nigerian law as at March 15, 1931 or thereafter it could not acquire an interest in the leasehold land.

The family added that Methodist Missionary Trust Association Limited has no legal status as it was not an incorporated limited company, hence there was no execution of the Deed of Lease on the disputed land.

The claimants stated that as at March 15, 1931 the Wesley Missionary Trust Association Limited was not known to law hence was not legally capable of exercising the powers and functions of an incorporated company including the power to hold the leasehold land.

Zulum Likens Destruction of Lagos Assets to Extremist Attack on N’East Segun James Borno State Governor, Prof.

Babagana Zulum yesterday likened the destruction of key assets of Lagos State during #EndSARS protest to organised attack the Boko Haram insurgents unleashed on public utilities in the Northeast.

He said this during a visit to the State House, Marina to commiserate with Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the people of the state over the attack.

Zulum was accompanied by his immediate past predecessor, Senator Kashim Shettima; Senator representing Borno North, Abubakar Kyari, Borno Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Adamu Lawan and Special Adviser on Intern-Governmental Affairs, Hon. Tukur Mohammed, Mr. Ahmed

Ali Ahmed.

After watching the ugly images of the destroyed assets, Zulum described the attack as “mindboggling�, saying violence was deliberately contrived to hurt Lagosians.

Zulum said the proportion of the destruction was too much for Lagos to bear, stressing that the cost of rebuilding the state would bring about discomfort to residents and citizens whose businesses are tied to the peace in Lagos.

He said: “We are here on behalf of governors from the entire Northeast region and its people to commiserate with the people of Lagos and their governor over the recent unfortunate incident of violence happened in Lagos, which left wanton destruction of both the public and private properties. “While we strongly condemn

any form of brutality by the police in any part of the country, we also condemn what has happened in Lagos. The destruction was engineered to hurt this blooming state and its economy. “We condemn the excesses of the youths who took to violence to express their grievances. There was no need for the violence when the authorities had already conceded to their demands,� Zulum explained.

Zulum likened the destruction of key assets of Lagos State to the manner with which Boko Haram carried out attacks on public utilities, noting that it could take years for Lagos to fully recover from the wreckage.

He urged young people across the country and in Lagos to always use non-violent means to express their grievances, pointing out that destroying

infrastructure meant to serve the public shouldn’t be an option in public protest.

He also advised those bent on staging another round of protest to allow the wound left by the destruction and looting of properties to heal.

He said governors had been working with the federal government to ensure victims of police brutality get justice and compensation.

Sanwo-Olu said the attacks had not weaned away Lagos’ ability to turn around its misfortune to opportunities, hinting that the state would come out stronger and better.

Sanwo-Olu particularly expressed appreciation to his Borno counterpart for identifying with Lagos, despite being faced by security challenges.

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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 ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

NEWSXTRA Judicial Panel Suspends Sitting as #EndSARS Representatives Withdraw ‡ Defers sitting till Nov. 14 over bank account row ‡ Aondoakaa says he was not briefed to freeze account Benneth Oghifo The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS-related Abuses and Lekki Toll Gate Incidents yesterday suspended sitting after the two youth representatives withdrew from the panel.

Shortly after they withdrew from the panel, a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) clarified that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) did not brief him to freeze accounts of EndSARS promoters.

The chairman of the panel, Justice Dorris Okuwobi alongside other members announced the suspension of the sitting before the proceeding started yesterday.

Saturday’s proceeding which was to feature testimony from the Nigerian Army was stalled after the panel could not form

a quorum.

Representatives of the Nigerian Army, the media, human rights groups and observers had gathered at the Lagos Court of Arbitration for the proceeding.

But at about 10:25 a.m. yesterday, Okuwobi entered the courtroom alongside other members and announced the adjournment of the sitting.

She explained that Bolatito Olorunrinu and Temitope Majekodunmi had withdrawn from the panel due to CBN’s decision to freeze Olorunrinu’s account and 19 others for their participation in the #EndSARS protest.

Okuwobi told the attendees of the panel sitting that Olorunrinu “was destabilised by the incident� and announced her withdrawal from the panel.

As a result of their withdrawal, the chairman said the panel could

not form a quorum that could validate their sitting or proceeding and the sitting was suspended till November 14.

In a statement the Head of his Chambers, Abdul Ter Kohol issued in Abuja yesterday, Aondoakaa said the CBN did not brief him to freeze accounts of EndSARS promoters.

There were reports that counsel representing the CBN, led by Aon-

doakaa, had allegedly obtained the order freezing the accounts of 20 #EndSARS promoters for 90 days.

The order was obtained pursuant to a motion ex parte filed by the CBN before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Denying the reports yesterday, the statement said the CBN did not brief Aondoakaa to freeze the accounts of EndSARS

members.

It added: “Aondoakaa is not in a position to know the membership of EndSARS because he never received any instructions from CBN relating to EndSARS members. “All the documents filed at federal High Court Abuja in respect of the case are public documents which can be verified or obtained. CBN cannot engage

Aondoakaa verbally.�

The statement challenged the media that accused Aondoakaa of being hired by the CBN to freeze the EndSARS supporters’ accounts to produce a copy of such instruction by the CBN. According to the statement, launching such an unfair attack on the person of Aondoakaa appears to be pursuing long perceived personal vendetta and blackmail.

Lagos Revokes Sheraton CertiďŹ cate of Occupancy SegĂşn James Authorities in Lagos have revoked the right of Ikeja Hotel to continue occupying the land on which Sheraton Hotel currently sits in Ikeja.

Ikeja Hotel said in an internal memo November 3 that it received a notice from Lagos authorities that the land has been revoked.

The company did not immediately explain the reason for the revocation but said it had challenged it in court. An email seeking clarification from Ikeja Hotels was not immediately returned Friday morning.

The management also warned that the seizure could deplete the company’s asset by N4.63 billion unless it is reversed.

The November 3 internal memo circulated on social media Friday morning. The company also said in the letter that it lost N1.4 billion L-R: Wife of Rivers state Governor, Justice Eberechi Nyesom-Wike; Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike; Minister of Works & Housing, Mr after tax in the third quarter of Babatunde Fashola; and Deputy Govovernor of Rivers State, Mrs. Ipalibo- Harry Banigo, during the inauguration of Rebisi Flyover-Bridge in Port Harcourt, Rivers State... yesterday 2020 due to the coronavirus.

It was unclear the nature of the dispute between the Nigerian hospitality giant and Lagos government. A Lagos government spokesman did not answer calls Gboyega Akinsanmi geopolitical zones and federal roads, He, however, pointed out that federal government “will focus on and text messages seeking comhad not been maintained for several there was need, in the course of the completion of ongoing road ments Monday morning.

The federal government yester- years before this administration. each year, to address washouts and bridge projects in the country Fashola added that some of the and erosion envisaged with the rather than beginning new ones, day disclosed that it earmarked N80.984 billion to rehabilitate about bridges required replacement of subsiding discharge of flood waters in the implementation of the 2021 budget.

50 bridges currently undergoing expansion joints and handrails while nationwide.

He said: “We are mindful of “The roads and bridges include rehabilitation across the federation. others required major underwater The apex government, also, repairs of exposed piles, pile caps the limitation of resources but the those leading to the ports and frequency of these natural disasters major agricultural hubs across The Central Bank of Nigeria disclosed that it would prioritise and piers.

He said: “Bridges like the Third caused by climate change and aging the six geopolitical zones of the (CBN) had already secured the completion of ongoing road obtained a court order to freeze the and bridge projects in the country Mainland Bridge, the Koton Karfe infrastructure must compel us to federation,� he said.

He added that the decision bank accounts of individuals and rather than beginning new ones Bridge and the Makurdi Bridge think of making provisions for are part of about 50 bridges being emergencies�, he said adding that to prioritise those projects was in a corporate organisation linked in the 2021 fiscal year.

The Minister of Works and Hous- rehabilitated simultaneously among the international best practice for line with the mandate of President to the #EndSARS protest. such emergencies was between Muhammadu Buhari, who had Reacting to the ban on protests ing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) others.�

He said the ministry also had 5 and 10 percent of the Capital repeatedly emphasized the necessity by the commissioner of police, gave this figure in a statement his to focus the budget on completion Okechukwu Nwanguma, the Special Adviser on Communication, its focus on the completion of Budget.�

Fashola said the ministry had of projects.

Executive Director of RULAAC Mr. Hakeem Bello issued yesterday. the construction of Chanchangi According to him, other categoThe minister was quoted in the Bridge along Takum-Wukari road selected two roads and a bridge in said the police chief is “exercising powers he does not have.� statement saying the ministry would in Taraba State and Ikom Bridge each of the six geopolitical zones ries of road and bridge projects on for enhanced funding during the which the ministry will focus for He said: “There is also also focus on the maintenance of along Calabar-Ikom road.

While expressing the need for the budget year, urging the National As- completion during the budget year no such thing as ‘EndSARS about 50 bridges nationwide as a violent protests’, as stated in measure to avoid further deteriora- support of the National Assembly sembly to make available adequate also include those that have attained the Press Release issued by the tion of the structures, which he in realising the stated objectives, funding for Nigeria’s counterpart 70 per cent completion adding that Fashola put the estimated cost fund for projects financed by the subject to the availability of funds, CP Lagos through the PPRO. described as critical. such projects would be completed He pointed out that some of rehabilitating all the bridges China Exim Bank.

The #EndSARS protests were The minister noted that the as early as possible. peaceful until the government bridges, which connect several at N80.984 billion. recruited thugs who attacked the peaceful protesters and subsequently deployed of the institute, Mr Daniel Onjeh, Dr. C.N Agulanna, director-general/ having established a strong case soldiers who attacked them Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja should step aside. and fired live ammunition on CEO of the Project Development against Agulanna, he should be In addition, he also ordered Institute (PRODA), Enugu, pending suspended for six months pending the protesters.

President Muhammadu Buhari “When CP Joseph Mbu has directed that the Director that the most senior director in the conclusion of investigation; the conclusion of the task before issued a similar illegal order General of Project Development agency should superintend over its “The immediate stepping a disciplinary panel set up on the in the FCT in 2014 banning Institute (PRODA), Enugu State, affairs until all investigations into aside of comrade Daniel Onjeh, matter. protests by the Bring Back Our Dr Charles Agulanna be suspended the allegations against Agulanna the chairman, governing board President Buhari had in a memo, are concluded by the Office of the of the Project Development dated October 9, 2020, ratified the Girls group, while he was CP for alleged corruption.

FCT, he was forced to withdraw The suspension was contained Secretary to the Government of Institute (PRODA), pending request by Mustapha to suspend the order following the public in an internal memo the Secretary to the Federation (OSGF). conclusion of investigations,� Agulanna, who had been in The memo, with reference the memo read in part. backlash. charge of the agency since the Government of the Federation “The Bring Back Our Girls (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha addressed number SGF.6/S.19/T/211, a copy The memo was issued by 2012, pending the conclusion of Group, through their lawyers, to the Minister of Science and of which was sighted by THISDAY Mustapha in response to investigations into the allegations yesterday is titled; Re: Suspension of the preliminary report by against him.

Femi Falana Chambers went Technology Ogbonnaya Onu. to court and got a court order The SGF, in the request to In the memo dated November the Director General and Stepping PRODA’s governing board on nullifying that illegal order and 5, the SGF urged the minister to Aside of the Chairman, Project the findings into the allegations the President titled; “Re: Recomreaffirming citizens’ constitutional ensure that the director-general Development Institute (PRODA). made against the DG and as a mendation for the Suspension of “I write to convey the approval follow up to another memo by the DG/CEO of PRODA.� sought rights to assemble peacefully and complied with the suspension. protest without requiring approval The SGF also directed that the of Mr. President as follows: the the board to Onu, dated June Buhari’s approval for the suspension from the Police.�

Chairman of the Governing Board immediate suspension of Engineer 25, where it recommended that in paragraph 12 of the memo.

BREAKING NEW GROUND...

FG Earmarks N80.9bn to Rehabilitate 50 Bridges Nationwide

RULAAC: Police Have No Powers to Ban Protests A civil society organisation, the Rule of Law Accountability and Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), has faulted the decision of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu to clampdown on peaceful protesters in the state.

The group in a statement, on Saturday, said the commissioner has no powers under any law to ban protests, as the laws of Nigeria allow for peaceful protests.

It said that the police commissioner acted beyond his powers. “The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, acted beyond his powers by announcing a ban on protests in Lagos State. He is exercising powers he does not have.�

The Lagos command had said it would resist any form of protest, whether peaceful or violent.

The spokesperson of the Lagos police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the “police and other security agencies will collectively and tactically resist any security threats or threats to public peace which might be triggered by protest or protesters.�

The threat by the police followed report that some youth groups plan to reassemble to continue the #EndSARS protest for police reform.

The threat by the police came on the heels of clampdown by the federal government on #ENDSARS protesters.

FG Suspends Director-General for Corruption Allegation

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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ENGAGEMENTS

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 8, 2020

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

Social Media and a Rattled State

T

he recent ENDSARS protests were bound to yield consequential outcomes. The more immediate ones are obvious. The general populace was ignited and emboldened in its consciousness of possibilities. The youth in particular may have discovered their latent power and united energy.

Our deepening inequality and the reality of our poverty republic of over 100 million people burst into open display. The constrained negativity of the nation’s rough and dangerous mob was unleashed in waves of angry looting, arson and vandalism. Most importantly, the potency of the social media as this moment’s most effective communication tool has dawned rudely on official Nigeria.

On its part, the Nigerian government heard an unfamiliar voice, one that is likely to return, again and again, in the future of our polity. The signals are clear enough. Easily the most conspicuous manifestation of the rattling of the state in the aftermath of the protests is a visible dread of the social media. You can hear the fear in the recent utterances of key officials of government.

The ubiquitous Lai Mohammed, Buhari’s information and propaganda Tsar has expressed a preference for a draconian regulation of the social media: “If you go to China, you cannot get Google, Facebook or Instagram but you can only use your email because they have made sure that it is regulated.” Mr. Mohammed was defending the 2021 budget proposals of his ministry at the National Assembly and seeking support for a law to muzzle the social media. In his anxiety to curtail the influence of the social media, Mr. Mohammed’s choice of China as reference model is instructive. The minister probably forgot that China is a communist autocracy, ruled by one party with systematic abuses of basic rights and freedoms as directive principles of state policy.

In similar vein, Buhari’s Chief of Defence Staff and National Security Adviser respectively have insisted that in the immediate aftermath of the ENDSARS protests, the social media is an enemy force to be targeted and subdued. In their conception, the Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information social media was used to disseminate the ideas that powered nations and multi lateral organisations. In the cloud memory bank the protests. For these security chieftains, the social media poses a of these companies, the emails of the most powerful individuals and national security challenge in the area of cyber-security. They were speaking recently at a workshop on the 2020 National Cyber security companies are stored and can be put to a variety of uses for good or for unimaginable ill.

Strategy in Abuja.

Such awesome power is the backbone of the retail level comQuite disturbingly, a geo -strategic misconception of the protests munication that we refer to as the social media. Regimes have come has occurred. Aconclave of governors of the 19 Northern states has to feed on or be threatened by the reach of the social media. In general, unanimously advocated a censorship of the social media. This is a suggestion that the protests were a southern conspiracy informed by liberal and enlightened democracies have little or no grouse with the social media. They only worry about its rough outer fringes, the zone nefarious political intent. of mischief and unbridled immorality. The freedom of individuals is Official hostility towards the media has not been restricted to central to the liberal essence of democratic society. Trouble comes in these timid reservations about the social media. In the immediate dispensations that thrive on the curtailment of individual freedom. aftermath of the ENDSARS protests, the National Broadcasting The social media is the currency of individual freedom and the Commission (NBC) imposed a fine of N3 million each on four vehicle of an open society. Sensible governments exploit its awesome leading independent television stations- AIT, TVC, Arise TV and powers for the good of their peoples. The governments that constrain Channels TV- ostensibly for using video clips from social media the social media happen to be either autocracies, illiberal democracies posts in their news coverage of the protests. The latent threats on or aspiring dictatorships. the media and the general freedom of expression and information There are concerns about the social media and its powers. in the country has raised eye brows internationally. The British Individual privacy occasionally gets invaded, unpalatable things get government has had cause to caution Nigerian authorities against posted about innocent people while the normal decorum of decent anti-media policies. speech and respect for decency often get thrown overboard. Moles, The Buhari government’s specific nervousness about the social leakers and unsolicited whistle blowers have a field day. Yes, the media is understandable but patently foolish and uninformed. The social media is subject to abuse. Pornography and improper content social media played a prominent role in marketing Mr. Buhari to Nigerians in 2015. But I suspect that a government led and populated finds latitude and wide circulation. Even terrorists and suicide bomb makers as well as determined mass murderers and racist bigots by persons steeped in conservative conceptions of information and all find a free field in the social media. Determined trouble makers the media is finding it difficult to grapple with a new world in which disamminate negative information that unsettles law and order in the power of media and information power has shifted into the good places. It is these extremes of dangerous free expression carried hands of every citizen who is wielding a smart phone. Youngsters in the social media that require the regulatory attention of responsible and plain ordinary men and women, artisans, fishmongers, farmers government and authorities around the world. and students have found a voice to contribute to the whirl of ideas The safeguards that society needs against the possible excesses and events flowing around us all. of the social media must be part of the general safeguards that The time has passed when authoritarian African governments undergird responsible freedom of expression in responsible society. used to close down media houses, confiscate whole editions of The laws of sedition, libel and infringements of official secrets remain newspapers and magazines and clamp their editors and publishers in detention. I am sure that Mr. Buahari recalls that time when he and valid. In a democratic society, there is no room for the curtailment of individual freedom of expression in the name of regulation of his colleagues closed our news papers, sealed warehouses full of expressions that may not make a specific regime happy. Efforts to newsprint, jailed innocent editors for publishing the truth because it regulate the social media in terms of the dissemination of politically hurt their tiny dictatorial egos. inconvenient truths belongs in the realm of censorship and the In the age of social media, there is hardly a newspaper house to shut down. The editors and practitioners are either itinerant bloggers abridgement of the fundamental freedom of expression.

Beyond the anxiety over the increasing powers of the social media, or just plain everyman. The news is being updated every moment the sudden collapse of law and order obviously rattled the Nigerian in public transit buses. Powerful opinions and editorials are being conceived and written from the toilet seat in private homes. There are state. Once the protests degenerated into lawlessness and hooliganism, concern for law and order united government and people. The no rules and hardly any codes of conduct. The concept of what is ‘fit people wanted the streets to resume their bustle and for businesses, to print’ has gone out through the window. Each practitioner has his or her slant of the truth. The dividing line between fact and fiction has schools and markets to reopen. For the government, the return of law and order meant the return of the business of state. But beneath become so blurred as to literally disappear. Fake news is also news! this urgent necessity, the political leadership and the deep state were This trend coincides with a democratization of information and deeply rattled. truth, a diffusion of the power of the media and information. The Recourse to conspiracy theories was one natural response. I saw it fourth estate of the realm is now “all of us’’. We, the people, have in a broad spectrum of fifth column postings in the social media. One become the arbiters of our fate and future. of them ostensibly by a certain Usman Yusuf was profusely bandied The real purveyors and backbones of the power of the social around social media platforms. It probably captures the essential drift media are the multinational giant tech companies. They happen to of what may be the typical security script that could be informing the be so powerful, so wealthy and so influential that they have become response of the Buhari administration to the ENDSARS event. untouchable. They are matrixed with nearly everything that drives This is a fictional narrative of a political conspiracy. It unequivocally today’s world economy and national and international security. alleges that the ENDSARS protests were carefully planned and meEach of Google, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram has more ready ticulously implemented by political interests whose interests range cash than most countries in the world. They are the custodians and from national disintegration to anarchy and regime change. “the carriers of not just private messages but also strategic information ENDSARS protests across the nation was nothing but an attempt by that determines the plight of mega multinationals, powerful

some selfish individuals to rattle the cage for the presidential ticket in 2023. Failing that, they planned to make the country ungovernable to make room for an undemocratic regime change or cause total anarchy in the land leading to the breakup of the country…”

Predictably, the fictional narrative would not be complete without weaving in the input of the banned IPOB group in the provision of foot soldiers for the protests in Lagos and all over the country. Even ASUU and the prolonged strike over remunerations is invoked as complicit by keeping university students at home and thus providing a ready pool of student foot soldiers for the protests.

According to the elastic creativity of this script, the utterances and activities of key prominent citizens like Vice President Osinbanjo, House Speaker Gbajabiamila, Pastor Adeboye, ex-President Obasanjo etc. who warned against the imminence of trouble in the land if the divisive trends in government policy and patronage were not reversed as pointers that some of these otherwise patriotic citizens knew about the protests. It implies that they may be among the powerful sponsors of these protesters. The coincidence of these individual private views with the warnings of ethno national and regional groups like Afenifere, Ohanaeze, PANDEF and the Middle Belt Forum about the tensions in the land was cited as evidence that the protests were orchestrated and pre-planned.

Atimeline of events leading on to the protests was then carefully built around this narrative to lend sequence and orchestration to the huge conspiracy. Moreover, the national unanimity of the youth was carefully broken down into a north-south divide to coincide with the usual format of Nigerian security fiction.

The script went on to insist that the celebrity community of popular musicians, comedians, influencers, bloggers and other facilitators now constitute an a virtual community which the organisers of the protests quickly assembled virtually to execute what was a political venture. For evidence to support the charge of organization, the voluntary support donations of food and other items by individuals and organisations was rendered as evident of organized support for the protests.

Ordinarily, conspiracy theories can be useful in security analyses of sudden eruptions of upheaval that unsettle the establishments of state. But a conspiracy theory needs to be rational and logical. How would a band of unpatriotic and politically ambitious sponsors of the ENDSARS protests who aim to rule in 2023, divide the same country they seek to rule? How would they scheme for an undemocratic regime change in 2020 when they want to rule Nigeria in 2023? Why make the same country ungovernable now when the 2023 election is a clear three years away? When did IPOB become the ruing mob in Lagos where the protests began? When did our disparate group of internet savvy celebrities and youthful social media influencers join forces with ASUU, IPOB, ambitious politicians and active members of the ruling government to forge this unholy coalition that could spring nationwide protests? Why select the excesses of SARS and the long standing culture of police brutality as a suitable theme to launch this chaotic uprising?

Somehow, the fictionalizers forgot that youth in different parts of the country quickly rose to own and domesticate the SENDARS protest to address the peculiar needs of their regions. Very clearly, youth in the northern precincts insisted that SARS was only useful in the region to the extent that it may have been helping to deal with peculiar security challenges like banditry, cattle rustling, random kidnappings, indiscriminate killings and Boko Haram which have since rendered most of the north unsafe and dangerous.

Unsurprisingly, therefore, a good part of the response of government to the protests has largely derived from the outlines of this script. Now, alleged leaders of the protests are reportedly under surveillance. The Central Bank has begun to block the acconts of alleged leaders of the protests.

In line with the sectional (North-South) drift of security thinking of this government on the protests, a closed doo meeting of mostly northern leaders has been hurriedly convened in Kaduna to deliberate on the geo-strategic political meaning of the protests.

Undoubtedly, the ENDSARS protests have a political meaning for the government. It may have been mostly a spontaneous outburst against the long standing abuses of the SARS unit and the general lawlessness of the police. But for a government in power, the protests are politically consequential. The youth have raised a voice whose political resonance in the near future can not be underestimated.

To that extent, the reflexes of the government are understandable.

First the youth spring indicated a political consciousness from an unexpected quarter. Our political elite had long come under the illusion that Nigerian youth could not possibly amass a common consciousness as to unite around common causes let alone becoming a political threat. The protests put a rude sudden lie to that assumption.

The protests were spontaneous. They were united. They were urban based and hence quite dangerous from a security and law and order perspective. But, the protests were NOT a southern plot to wrest power from a northern president!

The challenge of the ENDSARS protests rises above the usual hunt for scapegoats. Nor do the conspiracy theories serve any useful purpose. The spontaneous youth uprising was beneficial in bringing attention to police brutality and other forms of official lawlessness.

No one questioned the legitimacy of the government in power nor was there any pressure to change the democratic regime or the tenure of the president.

The government of Mr. Buhari should take the early precaution of desisting from any tampering with the social media space. The same youth who utilized the potency of the social media to discover their power on the SARS matter are likely to rise in defense of that platform if it is threatened.

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Sunday November 8, 2020

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Price: N400

MISSILE

RULAAC to Odumosu “The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, acted beyond his powers by announcing a ban on protests in Lagos State. He is exercising powers he does not have” – The Rule of Law Accountability and Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), reacting to the decision of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu to clampdown on peaceful protesters in the state.

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

God Save America!

M

y favourite comedians are Bovi and Okey Bakassi.

Governor Benedict Ayade of Cross River state and Hon Gudaji Kazaure are also gifted entertainers.

Their theatrics are primed to calm your nerves. But the real deal in politics has to be US President Donald Trump, by far the most entertaining president I have seen in my life. Trump makes us laugh and cry in equal measure. I know he could be very irritating with his tantrums — like your kid crying that the ice cream is not big enough — but no other president in modern world has defiled dignity and decorum so much that every time you see him, you are expecting some drama. He has the uncanny capacity to amuse and amaze at once.

Were it not that it would be tragic, Trump’s latest dramatics in his failed re-election bid would have been his ultimate contribution to political drama. Long before the election, he had been making statements that would ordinarily be regarded as unthinkable coming from an American president: alleging that the poll would be rigged. Americans pride themselves as the divine custodians of democracy, rule of law and freedom. For their president, supposedly the leader of the “free world”, to be consistently and persistently assailing American values, it would be considered a sacrilege, but Trump has normalised the absurd. He has embarrassingly turned the White House into a theatre.

With the 2020 presidential election obviously not going his way, Trump plunged into more theatrics — absolutely bizarre even by his own comic standards — by claiming victory when the count was more or less halfway through and, in the same paragraph, declaring that “this is a sad day for our democracy”. You said you won an election and then said it was a sad day?

That moment, I knew he knew he had lost it.

You cannot be claiming victory and defeat at the same time. If you actually won, or you believe you actually won, the line would be: “I have won the election… this is a great day for America… We will Make America Great Again — again!” Or so I should think.

Trump began to, systematically, savage the American electoral process, alleging fraud without evidence but with just anecdotes. His team did present an elderly woman who complained that someone appeared to have used her identity to vote but how much this impacts on the statistics is hardly anything to debate about.

He launched a series of legal battles across the states to stop the counting of votes. He began tweeting “Stop the Count” in areas he was losing (meaning Americans who had voted legally should be disenfranchised because the votes were going to his opponent) and “Count the Vote” in places he was having an advantage.

He amuses and amazes all the time.

During his campaign, Trump had unwittingly injured himself by discouraging postal vote — thereby handing an advantage to his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, who encouraged his supporters to cast their ballot by mail in this coronavirus season when reasonable people are doing everything to avoid crowded places.

Before election day, over 100 million Americans had cast their votes, mostly by mail. This is more than those who turned out on November 3. More so, mail-in was more likely to improve turnout among the Democratic support base: they are predominantly working class and would rather be at work earning their dollars than burning precious hours on voting queues.

The childish Trump had all along reduced

Trump the pandemic to a joke, asking his supporters to vote in person, perhaps as further proof of his defiance of Covid-curtailing measures, such as face masks and physical distancing. He insinuated that Covid was being exaggerated, despite about 10 million infections and over 200,000 deaths in the country he presides over. At one rally, he declared: “Covid Covid Covid Covid Covid… On November 4th (a day after the election), you won’t hear about Covid anymore.” He even said: “Look at me, I had Covid…” This would be viewed as a heartless and shocking comment by those who have lost loved ones to the disease — although Trump hardly shocks.

In the meantime, this election has exposed the underbelly of the American electoral system.

Their brand of federalism can impact negatively on their elections, as we have seen. Because of their unique history and how the American federation was founded, it is state electoral commissions that conduct the presidential election. But that is not the problem. Each state has its own laws, rules and regulations — and that is where the problem lies. So, an election whose winner is usually known within 24 hours stretched into days without anyone being able to call it until Saturday. This was as a result of the slow pace of vote count in a few states because of their local peculiarities.

Here is the stumbling block. Some states counted mail-in ballots before election day and were able to deliver the final results after in-person voting on November 3. However, in a handful of other states, their laws stipulate that in-person votes must be counted on election day before mail-in ballots are tallied. To make matters worse, some states allow mail-in ballots to arrive up to three days after election. A state like Georgia mandates a run-off if no candidate scores up to 50 percent. I should think a presidential election would have unified rules. The hidden danger is what we have seen in the last few days. It doesn’t look tidy but how is that my problem?

In the whole drama, my problem is that Nigeria and many developing democracies may pick negative lessons from Trump. Nigerians, in particularly, like to point to America as the example of everything good. Many arguments, meant to show how politically backward we are in Nigeria, are punctuated with “In America…”

Our presidential system is modelled largely after America’s and many are advocating that our federalism should also be a photocopy of

theirs. With the bad examples being pushed out by Trump, I won’t be surprised if Nigerian politicians begin to model their behaviours after his, especially as we are extremely good at copying bad things.

The way Trump has been rejecting election results and screaming “fraud” will give our fraudulent politicians the fillip to be saying “even in America, their elections are not perfect”.

They would not say Trump was making the allegations without any proof, and his claims of burnt ballots, fraudulent votes and inflated or suppressed figures were disproved. For instance, Trump’s supporters claimed his ballots were burnt in a video that went viral — although it turned out that what was burnt were sample, not actual, ballots and they were not marked in favour of Trump or any other candidate. Our politicians will soon start saying “even Trump’s votes were set on fire in the US!” I know them.

There is one positive lesson for our judiciary though: all the courts refused to play Trump’s game. His desperate attempt to stop counting in Pennsylvania only succeeded in delaying it by two hours; he eventually lost with the judge dismissing the case. He lost several other cases.

My feeling is that the judges wanted to respect the process and save the country from an avoidable crisis, no matter how strong Trump felt about his electoral misfortune. America is greater than any single individual. I hope Nigerian judges will learn from this. The way they grant ex-parte orders and turn the system upside down is one of the biggest problems with our democracy.

Nobody is bigger than Nigeria.

A lesson for Nigerian politicians: loyalty to Nigeria is more important than party affiliation.

Senior Republicans did not allow partisanship to blind them. They tried to put Trump in his place when he started throwing his tantrums.

Mitt Romney, his fellow Republican and former presidential nominee, said Trump has every right to “request recounts, to call for investigation of alleged voting irregularities where evidence exists, and to exhaust legal remedies. Doing these things is consistent with our election process.

He is wrong to say that the election was rigged, corrupt and stolen.”

Romney warned that doing so “damages the cause of freedom here and around the world, weakens the institutions that lie at the foundation of the Republic, and recklessly inflames destructive and dangerous passions”. I believe the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election would have been reversed if the losing National Republic Convention (NRC) had joined hands with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to protect our democracy. But they were petty.

They allowed the military to play up party lines and divide the political class. Nigerian politicians must know that despite our ethnic, religious and political differences, there are lines they must never cross. Nigeria first, always!

Nevertheless, something still worries me deeply: Trump has so divided America and activated the worst of them that we may have to be dealing with the toxins for ages. It is so disturbing that Trump could get over 70 million Americans to vote for him — despite being clearly a racist and a religious bigot, paying more for sex than he did in taxes in recent years, openly denigrating women, trivialising the COVID-19 pandemic, separating mothers from their children over irregular immigration, taking away food stamps from little children, and actively seeking to deny affordable healthcare to millions of poor Americans. It is really time to get worried about the American Dream. God save America.

And Four Other Things…

COVID FEE The Abia State University recently asked returning undergraduates to pay N15,000 as “pandemic prevention fee” ahead of the resumption, otherwise they would not be allowed to write their exams. You heard me right. Acho Elendu, the school registrar, actually sat down and composed the notice.

Although Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, the state governor, has overruled the school and even promised a palliative bursary of N30,000 to each student, it just shows you the height of wickedness in this country that a school will be imposing another tax on students at these times of economic hardship. I have not heard anything like “pandemic prevention fee” anywhere in the world. Shylocks!

STATE POLICE In the wake of the #EndSARS campaign, have you heard that state police is the solution to brutality in Nigeria? I have heard too. I live in Lagos and I can testify to the brutality of the special task force attached to the governor’s office and which is basically under the control of the state. I have also witnessed the highhandedness of the stateowned LASTMA, which manages traffic flow.

There was also one body called Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) which used to arrest pedestrians for crossing the road without using the foot bridge, after which KAI would make them do a frog-jump before loading them into their “Black Maria”. Nevertheless, state police is the solution to our problems.

Simple.

LEKKI WATCH On Friday, members of the Lagos judicial panel began to review the CCTV footage of the events surrounding the Lekki shootings of October 10, 2020. There were initial reports of “massacre” and “genocide” but it has been difficult establishing the identities of the people said to have been killed. Relatives are also not forthcoming. Some commenters on social media have alleged that relatives have been intimidated into silence. I don’t believe everybody can be cowed. That is why no stone should be left unturned in this investigation.

We need the identity of every single person that was allegedly killed in the shootings and those responsible must be brought to justice.

Waiting…

UNILAG AND NECO The University of Lagos has fixed its post-UMTE exam for November 25, 2020 at 8:40am. Meanwhile, secondary school students will also write a National Examination Council (NECO) paper same day at 10am. Many students will travel from far and wide (some may even come from Rivers and Kano states) to write the post-UMTE in Lagos, and they are expected to be at their exam centres to write the NECO paper almost simultaneously. Is there any other evidence we need to confirm the poor thinking that pervades leadership in this country? Sometimes you don’t know if to laugh or cry at the level of dissonance in the education system, where students are NEVER the priority. Disheartening.

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