SUNDAY 1ST JANUARY 2023

Regulator Vows to Sanction Petrol Marketers Breaching Official Prices Insists sector not yet deregulated Shuts down seven defaulting depots

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) yesterday vowed to revoke the licences of petrol marketers selling above

the controlled prices as well as those hoarding the product in their depots.

Speaking in Abuja, the Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, explained that in the last few

days several depots had been shut down for selling above the regulated prices.

He reiterated that as of yesterday, the nation still had at least 30-day sufficiency, explaining however that the global crisis

caused by the Russian and Ukrainian war in addition to the fluctuation in the value of the naira had affected the even distribution of petroleum products, particularly from the waterways to the depots through

truck-ins to the retail stations.

Ahmed noted that several meetings had been held with petrol marketing companies, independent marketers, transporters, the suppliers-the Nigerian National Petroleum

Company Limited (NNPC) as well as other interested parties to see how the distribution bottlenecks could be addressed.

“Now, the market is not Continued on page 5

Buhari, Other World Leaders Mourn as Pope Benedict Dies at 95… Page 72 Sunday 1 January, 2023 Vol 27. No 10127

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PDP Reveals When It will Take Action against G-5 Govs Tinubu denies meeting Wike’s camp in London Emmanuel holds talks with Rivers gov, Ortom

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Following the reports that the

presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, met with the five aggrieved governors of the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), better known as G-5 governors, in London, the main opposition party has revealed that it will wait for

the five governors to choose their preferred presidential candidate before it takes action against them.

Governors Nyesom Wike of

Rivers State, Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State), and Samuel Ortom (Benue State)

withdrew their support for the presidential candidate of the PDP, Continued on page 5

Resist Attempt by Politicians to Disrupt 2023 Elections, Buhari Tells Nigerians in New Year Message Jonathan, Atiku, Tinubu, Obi urge voters to exercise their franchise Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians to resist every attempt to be used by politicians to create unrest in any form to disrupt the elections, promising that his government would also ensure such activities were met with the full force of the law.

This is coming as former President Goodluck Jonathan; presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his counterparts in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP), Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi, respectively called on Nigerians to take advantage of the upcoming elections, describing 2023 as a defining moment in the nation’s history.

Buhari, who gave his administration a pass mark, added that he has given his best to the nation since May 2015.

He also prayed that his successor would continue in the drive to make Nigeria one Continued on page 5

A WORTHY HONOUR… Award-winning writer, Ms. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (left), and Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, during the conferment of a chieftaincy title on Chimamanda in her hometown, Abba, Anambra State….weekend

2023: The Road to Aso Rock… Pages 19–26

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JANUARY 1, 2023 • T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

PAGE FIVE RESIST ATTEMPT BY POLITICIANS TO DISRUPT 2023 ELECTIONS, BUHARI TELLS NIGERIANS IN NEW YEAR MESSAGE of the best countries in the world by the turn of the 21st century.

In his valedictory 2023 New Year message to Nigerians personally signed by him yesterday, the President said the buck stops on his desk, pointing out that he accepts all the blames and accolades in the course of his service to the country.

He said: "I welcome and accept both the accolades and criticisms in equal measure in the conviction that I did my best to serve our dear country Nigeria and I pray that the next President will also pick up the baton and continue the race to make Nigeria one of the leading countries of the world by the end of this century."

President Buhari promised that in the New Year his government would intensify efforts aimed at turning round the economy, fighting insecurity and stepping up the war against anti-corruption in the country.

According to him: "The year 2023 would, indeed, be a time when we would work to solidify on delivering key strategic priorities under our “SEA” – (Security, Economy and Anti-corruption) Agenda.

Some of the key priority areas we would direct our attention and strengths to include: "Focus on security; we will continue to engage, push back and dismantle the operations of both internal and external extremist and criminal groups waging war against our communities across the nation. We will also focus on ensuring that free and fair elections would be held come February 2023. Our security forces are working in partnership to ensure the wins we have got in the war against insurgency, banditry, secession and other crimes are sustained and more wins acquired; "For the economy; our focus would be on maintaining and building economic growth through the national economic diversification agenda that supports the goal of national food self-sufficiency and growth in non-oil sources. The ongoing infrastructure revolution by our administration will see us deliver key projects across the nation in power, rail, roads, ports and technology; "Anti-corruption: On the anti-corruption drive of our administration, we have created new records in this fight, growing from 117 convictions in 2017 to 3,615 convictions as of December 2022. We as a government are committed to ridding our nation of all forms of corruption, through the collaboration with all the arms of government to effectively prosecute this fight."

On the upcoming elections, the President also stated: “In addition is my personal commitment and executive promise to see to the letter that the 2023 elections being diligently conducted by INEC will be free and fair. The collective electoral will and votes of Nigerians will be fulfilled, even in the twilight moments of my watch,” he added.

President Buhari called on Nigerians to ensure another smooth transition of government, to whoever the people have decided upon.

He pointed out that his administration’s landmark Amended Electoral Act would ensure free and fair elections across the nation.

"We as Nigerians must also take responsibility to ensure we participate in ensuring that the 2023 elections are free and fair by not engaging in anti-state activities and other nefarious acts that may affect the run of the polls. We must also resist every attempt to be used by politicians to create unrest in any form to disrupt the elections. We, as a government will ensure such activities are met with the full force of the law,” Buhari explained.

He also called on Nigerians to

continue to assist the country’s patriotic forces by providing much-needed community intelligence.

The president pointed out that it is the collective responsibility of the people to ensure that Nigeria remains safe and peaceful for all.

On the fight against insurgency in the North-east, he said the war has continually recorded very clear wins in the past year.

"The federal government and the Borno State government have started the journey of returning internally displaced persons to their ancestral homes earlier taken by the insurgents. Also, over 82,000 insurgents with their families have surrendered to the Nigerian military,” Buhari said.

He said in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests, his administration took heed and instituted the ongoing Police Reform programme based on a new presidential vision for policing in Nigeria.

This new vision, he said, is framed in a clear road map that transcends the tenure of his administration, adding that it is predicated on six principles - building trust and legitimacy; leadership, accountability and oversight; technology and digital media; community policing and crime reduction; officers training and education; and funding, officers’ welfare, wellness and safety.

"This reform programme is very much in its foundational phase but has recorded noteworthy successes in improving police welfare and their emoluments,” he added.

On youth welfare, Buhari stressed the need to secure the future of the youth, recognising that young people are the country’s most valuable natural resource, at home and abroad.

“In this regard, we worked with the legislature to develop an enabling law to turn their passions into ideas that can be supported, groomed and scaled across regions. 2023 will see the implementation of the Nigerian Start-Up Act nationwide,” Buhari added.

Jonathan, Atiku, Tinubu, Obi Urge Voters to Exercise their Franchise

In his New Year message, former President Jonathan urged Nigerians to put the nation first as they explore opportunities that lie before them in the new year, including voting for candidates of their choice in this year’s elections.

He noted that the new year holds great possibilities despite the challenges faced by the nation in previous years.

“This year (2023) holds great possibilities for us all. We must harness the opportunities that lie within the length and breadth of our nation. This year is very significant for the survival of our nation. It is an election year, and citizens will go to the polls to elect leaders for different offices.

“We must see the election as an opportunity to birth a new country and overcome the challenges of the past years.

Let us put the nation’s interest first in all our conduct this year,” Jonathan explained.

On his part, Atiku urged Nigerians to keep their faith alive as the year 2023 would be a defining moment for the country and Nigerians.

"I am inspired by the compelling need to provide leadership that will propel Nigeria to greater heights, to overcome our challenges and together as one recover and rebuild a united, strong and prosperous Nigeria."

He called on Nigerians not to despair, as hope is on the horizon and that the PDP will make things right again.

Tinubu has also charged Nigerians not to exchange their right to vote with money, stressing

that it is a duty that every citizen qualified to vote cannot transfer to another person.

According to a statement issued by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Presidential Campaign Council of the APC, Bayo Onanuga, the APC presidential candidate and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima had clearly laid out a grand vision for a better Nigeria in their action plan.

Tinubu said 2023 provides another opportunity for the people to delegate to elected representatives in the legislative and executive arms their inalienable rights to participate in making decisions.

"This is a duty that every

citizen qualified to vote cannot transfer to another person. It is a responsibility that should not be exchanged for money. It is a sacrifice for the consolidation of democracy and federalism, the sacred values of our Constitution.

"Every vote is a testament of renewed hope, the certainty of victory over poverty and the conviction that our country carries within its bosom the potentials of the world's next superpower, indeed, the first black superpower.

Tinubu promised that his administration if elected, by the goodwill of Nigerians, would put an aeroplane on the tarmac already built by President Buhari that would take the country at a supersonic speed to her

destination.

In his message, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Obi called on all Nigerians to unite their efforts in the journey of taking back the nation from the cold hands of corruption, insecurity and unproductivity.

He also reminded the people that 2023 is a very critical year that would determine the next direction of the nation.

He explained that the nation cannot continue in its all-around retrogressive movement in the coming years, as that would result in the total collapse of the nation.

"2023 is an existential year in the history of our nation. It is a year we all must unite against the continued abuse of our nation's

democracy and economy. The power is in our hands to take back our nation, in the coming year, and make it work", Obi, who also called on Nigerians to support him in saving the nation, restated his commitment to securing the country, unifying the nation and moving it from consumption to production.

He called on Nigerians to hold him accountable for his promises of a better nation when given access to power.

"I have made a pact with Nigerians and I will not leave any of my promises unfulfilled. Nigerians can hold me accountable by my words of promise," Obi added.

PDP REVEALS WHEN IT WILL TAKE ACTION AGAINST G-5 GOVS Atiku Abubakar, over the refusal of the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to resign.

THISDAY gathered authoritatively that the five governors met with Tinubu and four of them struck a deal to back the former Lagos State governor in the February 25, 2023, presidential election.

Under the deal, Wike and Makinde were said to have agreed to openly declare support for Tinubu, while Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu agreed to secretly work for the APC candidate’s victory for fear of backlash from the South-east.

Ortom, however, was said to have opted to work for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi. But despite the strong indications that the meeting actually took place, Tinubu yesterday denied that he met with the five governors as reported.

Tinubu’s position was said to have followed protests by the APC candidates in Rivers and Oyo states, who expressed shock that such a deal was struck to sacrifice their positions without their involvement.

However, the Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, yesterday met with Wike and Ortom.

PDP’s position was revealed

by Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.

Tambuwal who also doubles as the Director General of the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation said the PDP is a law-abiding party, hence it won’t take any position on mere speculations.

Reacting to the reports on the secret meeting between Tinubu and the five governors, the Sokoto State governor noted that PDP is

a law-abiding party that would explore lawful avenues to bring any of its erring members to book.

He said the party would wait till the G-5 governors make an official pronouncement.

This was contained in a statement issued by Tambuwal’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Muhammad Bello, on Friday.

“The PDP will respond to the antics of five of its governors currently being speculated to be in political alliance with the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“It is not a war of attrition. I always submit that in this business, whatever it is that you are doing, even if you try to hide it, it will come out. You cannot plan and execute a political project in your bedroom. You must come out with it.

“So, when my colleagues resolve on what to do, I think it is then that the party will now respond on whatever position they have taken,” the statement added.

Tinubu, has, however, denied that he met with the five governors.

In a statement issued by his Media Office and signed by Mr. Tunde Rahman, the former Lagos State governor described the purported meeting with the rebel governors as false.

Rahman said: "As usual with him (Tinubu) when the year is coming to an end to take time off his busy schedule, take a little rest and proceed to Saudi Arabia to observe Umrah (Lesser Hajj), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in London during the week en route Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

"While in the United Kingdom, Asiwaju Tinubu noted some articles in some national newspapers in Nigeria, alleging a secret meeting was held in London between him and the G-5 governors who are

members of PDP. "These reports, to say the least, are not only in bad faith but also evil-intentioned. They were published to advance the political interests of the writers and their sponsors."

According to him, Tinubu has stated categorically that he was neither bothered by these articles nor by their sponsors who are well known.

Rahman added: "But we must point out that the APC candidate is entitled to meeting any political actor or stakeholder that is important to his campaign and plans for the country and that desires to engage with him."

“Tinubu said the truth with respect to his present itinerary was that he came to London on Boxing Day, Monday, December 26, 2022, to spend a few days in preparation for his trip to Saudi Arabia.

“He (Tinubu) explained that after spending some time in London, he has now proceeded to Mecca where he is at present observing Umrah,” Rahman explained.

The former Lagos State governor said he was scheduled to return to the country within the next two days to continue with the campaign.

Emmanuel Holds Talks with Wike, Ortom

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel yesterday met with Wike and Ortom.

Emmanuel met Wike and Ortom at the Rumueprikon country home of Wike in Obio-Akpor.

Though details of the meeting were not disclosed, the three governors were seen posing for a photograph after the parley.

Emmanuel was said to have

rushed down to see the leaders of the G-5 as part of last-minute efforts to pacify them to drop their grievances and work for Atiku.

The three governors, who spoke after yesterday’s meeting, said their discussions were convivial and devoid of politics.

Wike disclosed that his relationship with Emmanuel had not diminished irrespective of their political differences.

He said: “Politics is not what will divide brothers and divide friends. Everybody knows my relationship with Udom, and we will continue to maintain that relationship.

“We may have different political affiliations or thinking that should not divide the brotherly love or create a gap among us.”

On his part, Emmanuel explained that his visit was not political, but a demonstration of brotherly love in the spirit of the yuletide season.

He said: “Actually, this is the season of love. Within this period if we don’t demonstrate that love, love not shown is love wasted.

“I think that is what we are trying to demonstrate, brotherly love, friendship. And then in the spirit of the season, we must visit one another.”

Ortom said part of their discussion also centred on how they could best add value to governance in Nigeria.

He said: “We are going into 2023 and we shared among ourselves how we can best add value to our government, how we can best add value to our people, how we can do things that will help add value to our country Nigeria.

“And that if there are any issues in the past which we have done wrong, we look at it and say, look, let's forgive one another and move forward. They are private issues.”

REGULATOR VOWS TO SANCTION PETROL MARKETERS BREACHING OFFICIAL PRICES deregulated. So, we are still in a regulated environment as far as petrol is concerned,” Ahmed added.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari had approved an additional N10 for transporters to cover the transportation costs as a result of the high costs of diesel which he said is the main source of transporting other products within the country.

He pointed out that one of the constraints within the distribution system had been the increase in the bunkers' freight rate from between $16,000 to $19,000 per day to about $35,000 to $40,000 per day within Lagos and even more to Calabar.

“We sat down with the marketing companies and agreed to give them some palliatives through the NNPC, as well as through our regulatory control areas. But the market has continued to increase the cost of ex-depot prices.

“It has gone beyond expectation and reason. And Nigerians have been suffering due to that because when you

talk to a retail outlet owner, he will say this is how much he bought it from the depot owner. But NNPC Limited is the sole importer. And they sell these products to the marketing companies within acceptable import parity pricing benchmarks.

“So, even with the additional cost of transportation, by trucking or by sea, the acceleration or the increase in the ex-depot price was completely outrageous,” Ahmed explained.

The NMDPRA’s CEO noted that as a responsible regulator, the organisation was concerned about the yearnings and sufferings of innocent Nigerians who have no voices and had therefore decided to take action, not necessarily to destabilise the market but to strengthen it.

“We had intelligence from other relevant law enforcement agents, in addition to the intelligence information we had within our own system, so we corroborated all the information that we gathered. We had to take action, and the first action we took a couple of days ago was to shut

down some of the depots where they have products.

“A lot of them have breached that trust or regulatory requirement, but we'll have to start from somewhere. So we shut down about seven depots in Lagos and other parts. We have shut down Aldova.

“Aldova is under maintenance; so, we shut down where they had their products and they were selling beyond the controlled price and Aldova is a major marketing company. You know, they are getting their products directly from NNPC. “And they're also getting it with some level of comfort because it's not like cash and carry, so they had no reason to increase their price beyond reason. Then, of course, Rainoil in Lagos and all their facilities,” he stated.

In Warri, Oghara, Port Harcourt and Calabar, Ahmed added that some depots had also been closed for breaching the rules.

“The next level is the continuation of what we are doing. We have got to a level where marketers understand their

responsibility to the consumers.

What do you do next? We can revoke any licence.

“We don't need to shut their depots. We don't need to shut down their facility or retail outlet.

We just have the mandate as a regulator to withdraw or revoke their licence. And once we revoke your licence, we notify all the relevant stakeholders that deal with you in the business to also know that if you do not have a licence, if they deal with you, they're also breaching the regulation and they're breaching the process and that's exactly what we are going to do because we cannot continue like this.

Nigerians have suffered,” he added.

According to him, the board of directors of NMDPRA had met and agreed and had given the go-ahead to shut down any defaulting facilities.

“We have enough products in the country. As of last night, we had about 30 days sufficiency and I will tell you that about 10 days of that sufficiency is on land and there has been even distribution by trucking,” he added.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANAURY 1 , 2023

BUSINESS

Editor: Festus Akanbi 08038588469 Email:festus.akanbi@thisdaylive.com

Dangote refiner refinery

2023: Resetting the Economy for Optimum Performance As the economy wobbled into the new year amid myriads of unresolved economic challenges DQG WKH VHHPLQJ ODFN RI FDSDFLW\ RI WKH RXWJRLQJ DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ WR KDOW WKH VOLGH RͿHUV D ray of hope to Nigerians who will in March have the opportunity to go to the poll to change their destiny by electing an administration competent enough to reset the economy, write Festus Akanbi, Chinedu Eze, Emma Okonji, James Emejo and Kayode Tokede

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othing explains the current level of pain, frustration, hopelessness and delusion in the land better than the current dispensation of prolonged fuel scarcity which forced many people to spend their yuletide holiday at fuel stations and not at worship centres, which is supposed to be the norm.

Observers said the failure of the government to do better than issuing impotent statements on plans to end the crisis is a vindication of the fear in certain quarters that with barely two months to the general election, the current administration may have technically shut down as Nigerians are left at the mercy of fuel marketers who sell a litre of petrol according to their whims and caprices.

These days, the narrative centres on the need to pick the economy from the abyss it has descended, especially in the twilight

of this administration, and fashion out some quick wins capable of redeeming the population from the current state of paranoia.

Debt Burden With borrowing piling up at a frightening dimension at a period when the nation experiences acute revenue shortage, and with the lack of balls needed to remove the controversial fuel subsidy by the incumbent administration, Nigeria’s revenue crisis is exacerbated by the fact that the little revenue generated is deployed to service the nation’s debts which have taken an embarrassing proportion.

Brushing aside all calls for caution, President Buhari is seeking the approval of the National Assembly for yet another N819.54 billion domestic loan. country.

The new borrowing will increase the Federal Government’s domestic borrowing in 2022 to N3.33 trillion. Addicted to debt, the size and frequency of Buhari’s borrowing are unprecedented in the

country’s history. On his watch, total external debt rose from $10.32 billion in June 2015 to $40.06 billion

by June 2022, an increase of $29.74 billion or 288.17 per cent.

Data from the Debt Management 2΀FH VKRZHG WKDW WKH JRYHUQment’s domestic debt stock was N19.24 trillion by December 2021.

By September 2022, it had risen to N21.55 trillion, an increase of 2.31 trillion in just nine months.

This is why an economist and a non-resident fellow at the Center for Global Development, Washington DC, US, Olumuyiwa Adedeji believed that there’s a paradox in an oil-producing country struggling with a macroeconomic performance at a time when oil prices are generally high. In Nigeria, this SDUDGR[ ODUJHO\ UHÁHFWV ORZHU RLO production, higher fuel subsidies, and underlying macro-structural challenges.

Real GDP growth fell to 2 per cent during the third quarter of 2022, and yearRQ \HDU LQÁDWLRQ UHDFKHG SHU FHQW LQ 2FWREHU ZLWK IRRG LQÁDWLRQ DW QHDUO\ per cent. About 63 per cent of Nigeria’s population is multidimensionally poor, and Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio at the federal government level UHDFKHG SHU FHQW GXULQJ WKH ÀUVW HLJKW months of 2022. In short, the country is IDFLQJ VLJQLÀFDQW ÀVFDO PDFURHFRQRPLF challenges, with implications for both current and future administrations.

A Fresh Beginning…

So while 2022 ended on a disappointLQJ QRWH DQDO\VWV EHOLHYH RͿHUV D profound opportunity, especially by the incoming administration, to redirect the Nigerian economy from the labyrinth of hopelessness by enunciating policies that will meet the current challenges facing the nation’s economy.

In the estimation of analysts, the Nigerian economy at its present state is

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANAURY 1 , 2023

SPECIAL REPORT

2023: Resetting the Economy for Optimum Performance like a dilapidated house which needs to be completely broken down for a new IRUPLGDEOH HGLÀFH WKDW ZLOO FRQWLQXH WR stand the test of time.

So as President Muhammadu Buhari and his cabinet bow out in April, there are expectations that a new Nigerian economy will be unveiled when all the contending issues will be treated. These include the need to urgently ensure the total deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector; consolidation of the power sector reform; prioritisation RI LQIUDVWUXFWXUH ÀQDQFLQJ UHVHWWLQJ RI the monetary policy, resolution of the IRUHLJQ H[FKDQJH PDUNHW FULVLV DQG ÀJKW against corruption and policies that will aid employment generation.

The legacy issues to be tackled include the twin challenges of low crude oil production and oil theft. Others are the failure to achieve total deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector, and the pending reforms in sectors like telecoms, aviation, capital market, insurance and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. $OO (\HV RQ 'DQJRWH 5HÀQHU\ Amid the confusion in the petroleum industry and the perennial fuel scarcity, expectations are rife that with the comLQJ RQVWUHDP RI WKH 'DQJRWH 5HÀQHU\ President Buhari presenting the 2023 Budget HVSHFLDOO\ LQ WKH ÀUVW TXDUWHU RI WKH \HDU Nigeria will heave a sigh of relief given WKH UHDOLW\ WKDW D SULYDWH UHÀQHU\ ZLOO EH UXQ SURÀWDEO\ DQG H΀FLHQWO\ 5HSRUWV VDLG WKDW WKH 'DQJRWH 5HÀQHU\ LV nearing completion as pre-commissioning tests reach concluding stages making a ODXQFK GDWH LQ WKH ÀUVW TXDUWHU RI feasible.

Sources close to the company’s plans VDLG WKH UHÀQHU\ ELOOHG DV WKH ODUJHVW VLQJOH WUDLQ UHÀQHU\ LQ WKH ZRUOG ZLWK D FDSDFLW\ WR SURFHVV EDUUHOV SHU GD\ FRXOG VHH WKH ÀUVW UHÀQLQJ UXQV EHJLQ as early as March.

7KH LQWHJUDWHG UHÀQHU\ DQG SHWURFKHPLcal complex in the Lekki Free Zone near Lagos, Nigeria, will produce Euro-V TXDOLW\ JDVROLQH DQG GLHVHO DV ZHOO DV jet fuel and polypropylene and will OLNHO\ JHQHUDWH GLUHFW DQG indirect jobs.

It is expected to double Nigeria’s reÀQLQJ FDSDFLW\ DQG KHOS LQ PHHWLQJ WKH LQFUHDVLQJ GHPDQG IRU UHÀQHG SHWUROHXP products while providing cost and foreign exchange savings. It is estimated to have DQ DQQXDO UHÀQLQJ FDSDFLW\ RI PLOOLRQ tonnes of petrol.

However, observers said Nigeria’s oil production has fallen by half in a decade Redesigned naira note while petrol subsidies erode earnings and disrupt the fuels market in Africa, PLQLVWUDWLRQ 7KH SURSRVHG IHGHUDO developments that could test the world’s government budget implies a general ODUJHVW VLQJOH WUDLQ UHÀQHU\ UHDG\ WR WKH JRYHUQPHQW ÀVFDO GHÀFLW RI DERXW SHU commissioned.

FHQW LQ FRPSDUHG WR DQ HVWLPDWHG The Nigerian National Petroleum Com- SHU FHQW LQ pany Limited, on behalf of the federal However, Adedeji explained that a JRYHUQPHQW FRQWUROV IRXU UHÀQHULHV JHQHUDO JRYHUQPHQW GHÀFLW RI WKLV PDJZKLFK LQFOXGH WKH .DGXQD 5HÀQLQJ DQG nitude would entail additional central 3HWURFKHPLFDO &RPSDQ\ :DUUL 5HÀQLQJ EDQN ÀQDQFLQJ JLYHQ WKH GL΀FXOW H[WHUQDO and Petrochemical Company, and Port environment and the need to limit crowd+DUFRXUW 5HÀQLQJ &RPSDQ\ ing out of the private sector. According to In the face of poor performance and KLP ´0DFURHFRQRPLF WUDGH RͿV LPSO\ KXJH RYHUKHDGV H[SHUWV VD\ À[LQJ 1LJH- WKDW ZKHQ LQÁDWLRQDU\ SUHVVXUHV DUH KLJK ULD·V XQSURÀWDEOH UHÀQHULHV WR IXQFWLRQDO DV LV WKH FDVH LQ 1LJHULD ÀVFDO SROLF\ capacity has remained the promise of should protect the most vulnerable while HYHU\ DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ VLQFH pursuing a tightening stance to avoid The federal government has however overburdening monetary policy in the piled up debt rather than embrace global ÀJKW DJDLQVW LQÁDWLRQ examples of how to run a successful ´7LJKWHQLQJ ÀVFDO SROLF\ UHTXLUHV UHÀQHU\ IDLOLQJ WR FXUE DQ DSSHWLWH IRU prioritising spending among competwaste that has eaten the country’s national ing needs and mobilising revenues in budget for decades. a growth-friendly way. A more ambiWLRXV ÀVFDO FRQVROLGDWLRQ FRXOG VHQG D Rejigging Fiscal, Monetary Policies powerful signal that policymakers are It is a fact that the link between the DOLJQHG LQ WKHLU ÀJKW DJDLQVW LQÁDWLRQ current and incoming administration which, in turn, could reduce the size of LV WKH IHGHUDO EXGJHW $JDLQVW WKLV UHTXLUHG SROLF\ UDWH LQFUHDVHV WR NHHS background, the budget focuses on LQÁDWLRQ H[SHFWDWLRQV DQFKRUHG DQG PDLQWDLQLQJ ÀVFDO YLDELOLW\ DQG HQVXULQJ keep debt-servicing costs lower than a smooth transition to the incoming ad-

streamlining existing VAT exemptions, and increasing existing excise rates on alcoholic and tobacco products.

As the two major monetary policies inWURGXFHG ODVW \HDU WDNH HͿHFW WKLV -DQXDU\ analysts believe the current administration has begun to position the economy for the needed reforms. These are the Naira redesign and the withdrawal limit, which seek to checkmate the activities of currency dealers, criminally minded individuals who indulge in kidnapping and robberies as well as politicians who engage in vote buying.

Much is also expected in the foreign exchange sector as more dollars are expected to be generated by enhanced non-oil sector activities and the anticipated commencement of the Dangote 5HÀQHU\ 2QH KRSHV WKDW WKH DSH[ EDQN ZRXOG \LHOG WR WKH FDOO IRU WKH XQLÀFDWLRQ of the two existing foreign exchange rates.

otherwise,” he suggested.

Therefore, the current government needs to take additional ÀVFDO PHDVXUHV WR VHW WKH VWDJH for the new administration. The current administration should OHDG WKH UHTXLUHG ÀVFDO DGMXVWment process by transparently DQG VLJQLÀFDQWO\ UHGXFLQJ WKH cost of governance and administrative capital expenditures.

For the incoming administration, there is a need for political commitment at the highest level and broad buy-in from stakeholders is crucial to improving revenue collection.

Next is the need to redesign the existing tax policy to favour growth-enhancing activities.

The government also need to DVVHVV WKH HͿHFWLYHQHVV RI H[LVWLQJ ÀVFDO LQFHQWLYHV (ͿRUWV WR design more progressive tax systems and boost tax collection — particularly, property and/or land taxes — will surely help.

This will have to be combined with increasing the VAT rate,

Drivers of Telecom Sector in 2023 Counting on the gains of the telecom sector and how it positively impacted the 1LJHULDQ HFRQRP\ LQ LQ WKH DUHDV of GDP growth, broadband penetration, and Fintech growth, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, has said Fintech and Data Application will be the major drivers RI WKH HFRQRP\ LQ According to him, there will be increased data analytics that will inform PDMRU GHFLVLRQ PDNLQJ LQ GULYHQ by increased data application. He said Fintech would get more support from WHOHFRP RSHUDWRUV LQ ZKLFK ZRXOG enable them to develop more solutions WKDW ZRXOG IXUWKHU VXSSRUW ÀQDQFLDO transactions across the board.

He added that Fintech would ride on 5G technology, when it is fully rolled RXW LQ E\ OLFHQVHG * RSHUDWRUV WR provide bespoke solutions that would drive smart cities and the digital transformation agenda.

He further said all these would be driven by 5G technology deployment by the operators that have been licensed to provide 5G services in Nigeria.

Nigeria recorded broadband subVFULSWLRQ JURZWK RI PLOOLRQ ZLWK D SHQHWUDWLRQ UDWH RI SHU FHQW LQ -XO\ ,W LQFUHDVHG WR PLOOLRQ DQG PLOOLRQ LQ $XJXVW DQG 6HSWHPEHU UHVSHFWLYHO\ 7KH ÀJXUH URVH WR million in October.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANAURY 1 , 2023

17

SPECIAL REPORT

2023: Resetting the Economy for Optimum Performance

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,QGHSHQGHQW 1DWLRQDO (OHFWRUDO &RPPLVVLRQ ,1(& ZLOO FRQGXFW WKH JHQHUDO HOHFWLRQV 7KH &KLHI 0DQDJLQJ 'LUHFWRU RI +LJKFDS 6HFXULWLHV /LPLWHG 0U 'DYLG $GQRUL VDLG ´:LWK WKH H[SHFWDWLRQ RI UHODWLYHO\ KLJK \LHOGV LQ WKH À[HG LQFRPH PDUNHW HVSHFLDOO\ LQ WKH ÀUVW KDOI RI PRVW LQYHVWRUV DUH H[SHFWHG WR SDWURQLVH WKH ERQGV PDUNHW PRUH ´&RQVHTXHQWO\ ZH PD\ VHH OHVV SDUWLFLSDWLRQ RI LQYHVWRUV LQ WKH VWRFN PDUNHW LQ WKH ÀUVW KDOI RI 2023 due to the upcoming election, ZHDN ORFDO FXUUHQF\ WKH H[SHFWDWLRQ RI UHODWLYHO\ KLJK \LHOGV LQ WKH ERQGV PDUNHW DQG LQVHFXULW\ LQ WKH FRXQWU\ ´$OWKRXJK ZH PD\ VHH D EXOOLVK UXQ LQ WKH ÀUVW PRQWK RI DV ZH H[SHFW LQYHVWRUV WR SRVLWLRQ IRU GLYLGHQG SD\PHQW µ +H DGGHG WKDW WKH DELOLW\ RI WKH QH[W SUHVLGHQW WR WDFNOH WKH LQVHFXULW\ LQ WKH FRXQWU\ DQG ERRVW IRUHLJQ H[FKDQJH HDUQLQJV ZRXOG GHWHUPLQH WKH GLUHFWLRQ RI WKH VWRFN PDUNHW LQ WKH VHFRQG KDOI RI 2Q KLV SDUW WKH &KLHI RSHUDWLQJ R΀FHU RI ,QYHVW'DWD &RQVXOWLQJ /LPLWHG 0U $PEURVH 2PRUGLRQ SURMHFWHG ÀQDQFLDO PDUNHW DQG HFRQRPLF UHVHW KLJKHU LQÁDWLRQ UHIRUPV VORZ HFRQRPLF JURZWK SRVW HOHFWLRQ UDOO\ IRU ZHHNV LI the election is successful, and LPSURYHG H[WHUQDO UHVHUYH LI FUXGH RLO SURGXFWLRQ RXWSXW LV VXVWDLQHG LQ WKH QHZ \HDU $QDO\VWV DW &RUGURV VHFXULWLHV IRUHFDVWHG LQWHUHVW UDWHV GRPHVWLFDOO\ WR UHPDLQ KLJK RYHU $FFRUGLQJ WR WKHP ´$W WKH VDPH WLPH ZH H[SHFW FXUUHQF\ SUHVVXUHV WR SHUVLVW LQ WKH DEVHQFH RI any positive signal that denotes an LPSURYHPHQW LQ ); VXSSO\ UHODWLYH WR WKH SUH SDQGHPLF OHYHOV µ Operators Await Implementation of Aviation Act ,Q WKH DYLDWLRQ LQGXVWU\ ZKLOH 1LJHULD ZDV RͿ WKH &29,' UDGDU LQ ZKHQ WKHUH ZDV WKH UHVXPSWLRQ RI ÁLJKWV DIWHU WKH ORFNGRZQ DQG D VLJQLÀFDQW UHGXFWLRQ RI IDWDOLWLHV EXW $OWKRXJK 1LJHULD ZDV RͿ WKH

KRRN RI WKH &29,' ORFNGRZQ VLQFH LW VWLOO PDLQWDLQHG WKH SURWRFRO WLOO 'HFHPEHU ZKHQ WKH 1LJHULDQ Civil Aviation (NCAA) announced the UHOD[DWLRQ RI &29,' SURWRFROV DW WKH DLUSRUW One of the highlights of the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· 7UDQVSRUW )DUH :DWFK UHSRUW IRU 1RYHPEHU 7KH UHSRUW DOVR VKRZHG WKDW WKH DYHUDJH SULFH RI D VLQJOH ÁLJKW WLFNHW LQFUHDVHG E\ SHU FHQW IURP 1 LQ 2FWREHU WR 1 LQ 1RYHPEHU 1%6 H[SODLQHG WKDW LQ DLU WUDYHOV IDUH WKH DYHUDJH IDUH SDLG E\ DLU SDVVHQJHUV IRU VSHFLÀ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·V UHYLHZ RI WKH 1LJHULDQ &LYLO $YLDWLRQ $FW WR HQVXUH WKDW LW PHHWV ZLWK WKH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO &LYLO $YLDWLRQ 2UJDQLVDWLRQ ,&$2 UHJXODWLRQ 1&$$ VDLG WKH QHZ &LYLO $YLDWLRQ $FW ZRXOG HQVXUH WKH HIILFLHQF\ RI WKH DYLDWLRQ VHFWRU DV LW KDV LQFXOFDWHG DOO QHZ VWDQGDUGV DQQH[HV DQG LQWHUQDWLRQDO EHVW SUDFWLFHV ODLG GRZQ E\ ,&$2 Making the Right Choice ,W LV LQVWUXFWLYH WKDW WKH TXDOLW\ RI WKH WUDQVLWLRQ SURJUDPPH ZLOO GHWHUPLQH WKH TXDOLW\ RI WKH OHDGHUV WR EH HOHFWHG 7KLV DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH 'LUHFWRU RI WKH &HQWUH IRU WKH 3URPRWLRQ RI 3ULYDWH (QWHUSULVH 'U 0XGD <XVXI LV ZK\ WKH FXUUHQW DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ PXVW HQVXUH WKDW SHRSOH·V YRWHV FRXQW RQ HOHFWLRQ GD\ +H PDLQWDLQHG WKDW ´WKH SROLWLFDO HQYLURQPHQW KDV D PDMRU LPSDFW RQ HFRQRPLF DQG EXVLQHVV SHUIRUPDQFH 7KHUHIRUH WKH TXDOLW\ RI WKH SROLWLFDO WUDQVLWLRQ SURFHVV HVSHFLDOO\ WKH FUHGLELOLW\ RI WKH HOHFWLRQV ZRXOG EH RI FRQWH[WXDO VLJQLÀFDQFH IRU WKH HFRQRP\ LQ 7KH HOHFWLRQV PXVW EH IUHH IDLU WUDQVSDUHQW DQG FUHGLEOH ´$QG LW PXVW EH VHHQ WR EH VR 7KLV XQGHUOLQHV WKH QHHG IRU WKH LQGHSHQGHQFH QHXWUDOLW\ DQG FUHGLELOLW\ RI WKH NH\ LQVWLWXWLRQV LQYROYHG LQ WKH HOHFWLRQ PDQDJHPHQW SURFHVV ² ,1(& WKH -XGLFLDU\ DQG WKH VHFXULW\ DJHQFLHV 7KH TXDOLW\ RI WKH GHPRFUDWLF WUDQVLWLRQ DQG FKRLFHV ZRXOG VLJQLÀFDQWO\ LPSDFW HFRQRPLF RXWFRPHV LQ µ ,W LV WKH FURS RI JR JHWWHUV WKDW 1LJHULD QHHGV QRZ 7KH URW LQ WKH HFRQRP\ LV JHWWLQJ PHVVLHU 2QO\ D VHW RI SXEOLF R΀FHUV OHJLWLPDWHO\ HOHFWHG ZLOO KDYH WKH ZKHUHZLWKDO DQG PRUDO FRXUDJH WR RUJDQLVH WKH FOHDQ XS LQ D ZD\ WKDW ZLOO IUHH WKH SRSXODWLRQ IURP WKH SDLQ KRSHOHVVQHVV DQG DQJHU VWDQGLQJ EHWZHHQ WKHP DQG D VHDVRQ RI D IUHVK EHJLQQLQJ

18

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • JANUARY 1, 2023

SOFT FINANCE with AYO AROWOLO The only column you may need to read on everything personal finance, money, investing -and other life matters

EMAIL: AYO.AROWOLO@THISDAYLIVE.COM PHONE: 08086447494( SMS ONLY)

Personal Finance Tips to Consider in 2023 Questions have come from readers of this column in different formats, but they have all revolved around the issue of basic and useful personal finance tips that interested individuals can work into their money metrics, especially as the new year ticks off. In today’s edition, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, a knowledge-driven investor and Mrs Modupe Vincent, a personal finance coach, share some tips for application. Please enjoy…

MODUPE VINCENT

YEMISI SHYLLON 1. SAVE FROM ACTIVE INCOMES INTO PASSIVE INVESTMENTS While journeying through life and climbing corporate ladders, one can begin to build wealth by deploying one’s active income into multiple passive investments and, in so doing, progressively build wealth by regularly focusing on using one’s savings from active incomes to build passive incomes.

Employees should adopt this habit to build wealth. They should commit to regular and consistent savings from their active incomes in their lifelong employment journeys. This calls for setting aside and regularly adhering to predetermined percentages of active employment incomes for regular savings into building wealth. I consistently decided to use 20 per cent of my active employment income to grow my wealth. This is different from the recommended percentage of 10 per cent of active incomes as contained in the “Richest Man in Babylon” by George Clarkson, who planted this habit in me from 19 years of age.

This might seem difficult at first, but what it takes is determination and frugal living as a habit towards building wealth. Rich people also employ this habit to sustain their wealth.

So, the technique is not necessarily for wealth builders only. Towards this end, wealth-builders must closely watch their spending habits regularly, and control and keep track of their daily/monthly expenditures. They must regularly adjust their budgets to eliminate wasteful and consumptive expenditures, monitor and pay attention to inflationary pressures and minimise ego-driven lifestyles.

Once such wealth builders notice that their expenditures are becoming unsustainable, vis-à-vis their incomes, they must promptly adjust their spending habits. In doing this, wealth-builders must continually look up and uncover bad spending habits. Again, they must choose their friends to ensure the elimination of negative peer group pressures whose lifestyles could hinder their wealth-building goal. Their spending, savings and investment behaviours must be carefully planned to ensure their goal. This is because nobody ever earns enough to satisfy his needs. Indeed, this is a basic maxim in economics, which states that man’s needs are unlimited, while means are limited.

Bearing this in mind, wealth-builders must ensure that their spending is kept at a minimal level and as practicable as possible by limiting their tastes, lifestyles and needs to necessary things only. This is a quite common habit among successful wealth builders and the wealthy. A living legend of this habit is Warren Buffet. This 90-year-old very wealthy man is still in the same house he built in 1967 and drives himself in his old but refurbished car while continuing to sustain his wealth, having committed 99 per cent of his wealth to charity.

2. ORGANISE YOUR FINANCES The process of building wealth requires proper financial budgeting, planning and organisation. Systematically creating wealth requires regular financial planning and monitoring of deviations from set personal budgets, placements and investment returns.

This is absolutely necessary. Hence, financial maps must regularly be drawn to ensure that

Yemisi Shyllon

expenditures and savings are kept in line with the goal of building wealth. Financial maps must be regularly drawn to guide spending habits from deviations away from set financial and budgetary plans for building wealth. As a habit, my set wealth-building goals are mapped, ahead of every year, towards guiding me and keeping my eyes on the ball during the year.

This is important for wealth builders to keep them in check from budgetary and financial deviations. It has worked well for me.

3. EVALUATE EVERY INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY THAT COMES YOUR WAY BEFORE PLUNGING IN It is necessary to always weigh the opportunity cost of every investment decision.

For wealth builders, this ensures that costs are properly weighed in terms of expected possible returns and their associated costs vis-à-vis other available investments.

Opportunity costs must be weighed with every wealth-building decision for minimising investment losses arising from poor investment decisions in the continuous utilisation of every savings made from active incomes into building wealth.

4. PLACE GREAT VALUE ON YOUR TIME A common saying is, “Time waits for no one,” which explains why time is of the essence in building wealth. After all, wealth builders are mere mortals who would eventually die, no matter how long it may take. Hence, wealth builders must optimise their time management to avoid unnecessary time-wasting activities.

Time-wasting activities should be curbed for the habit of gathering knowledge, reading, learning and relating with mentors to assist them in building wealth. Wealth builders need to form the habit of placing premium value on their time management because the same finite time is available to everybody but

Modupe Vincent

gives the best results to those who optimally utilise the value of time. As of habit, it is those who use their time wisely that benefit from its use.

5. WATCH YOUR EXPENDITURES We all fail many times with some of our decisions. No human is perfect. However, wealth builders must regularly augment their investment failures with sacrifices or cuts in their expenditures. Investment failures would occur, but wealth builders must adjust by discovering spending habits that would intensify such losses and use such discoveries to cover for investment losses by curbing the identified spending habits.

It is also important for wealth builders to always prepare against the worst with their investments. Wealth builders must identify potential problems/failures that may arise and plan against such failures.

In doing this, wealth builders must start insurance policies to cover losses/failures.

This is very vital. They must anticipate the worst when building wealth. Towards this end, wealth-builders must obtain insurance covers for their health, property accidents, fire, etc. Appropriate insurance covers must be taken regularly to protect wealth builders against the worst that could happen, which usually happens.

They must organise their finances regularly to provide insurance that will protect them against foreseeable failures. All mishaps must be identified and anticipated, with preparations made against them by taking up insurance policies, putting in place many required protections and making necessary decisions to protect their accumulations and build wealth. While in paid employment, I started with fire insurance cover over even the contents of my rented accommodation but have since graduated with my insurance cover over many necessary others.

PAY YOURSELF FIRST To “Pay yourself first” is one of the main principles in Personal Finance.

If you are like most people, you will probably pay everyone else first through payments for food, utilities and transportation, among others, before you keep whatever you have left and that is if you have anything remaining. This, in effect, is paying yourself last.

What does paying yourself first mean?

– It refers to how you save money.

– It means you should pay yourself from your salary or from your profit.

– It means you should set aside a portion of your income to save and thereafter invest in something or an asset that will yield you more money.

– It means that you pay yourself first before you pay other bills. You have to treat yourself like a bill, an expense to be paid for. Just like you allocate money for your everyday or every month’s expenses, you should first allocate money for your savings and or investment (which is your pay-yourself expense).

– Paying yourself first ensures you manage (plan) your money before spending it on bills.

You must prioritise your ‘pay myself’ account over and above all other bills you need to pay.

To pay yourself first means that the first bill you pay each month should be to yourself.

One major way to overcome the challenge of saving and a great method for you to get to your financial destination is to “pay yourself first.”

The major challenge for people who find it difficult to start or continue with savings and or investments is finding the money to save or invest. Also, some people believe that it is a challenging task and there are people who believe that it is impossible to save and or invest.

Remember that if you are going to have savings and start investing, then it is up to you to start with what you have and where you are.

It is not how much you earn that really matters – so no matter what your earning status is, you can afford to pay yourself first.

Financial experts will tell you to start with a minimum of 10 per cent of your income. For some, 10 per cent is convenient to start with and for others, 10 per cent is a “large” amount they cannot afford to start with, at least not for the very first time.

The truth is that rather than start with 10 per cent, which is the minimum recommended by most financial experts, everyone can start with a minimum of one per cent and gradually increase this amount over time. START SMALL WITH WHAT YOU HAVE WHERE YOU ARE. Your excuse should not be that you do not have 10 per cent to start with, at least you can start with one per cent.

Someone once defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” If you are not where you want to be financially, then it is time for you to start to change your financial habit – PAY YOURSELF FIRST.

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

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPECIAL EDITION * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

TR

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& RE A SO

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SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Editor

Davidson Iriekpen

Deputy Editors

Festus Akanbi, Ejiofor Alike

Managing Director Eniola Bello

Deputy Managing Director Israel Iwegbu

Chairman Editorial Board Olusegun Adeniyi

Editor Nation’s Capital Iyobosa Uwugiaren

Managing Editor Bolaji Adebiyi

The Ombudsman Kayode Komolafe

EDITORIAL BOARD Chairman Olusegun Adeniyi Members Kayode Komolafe Chidi Amuta Peter Ishaka Waziri Adio Gimba Kakanda Aisha Shuaibu Kashim Ibrahim-Imam Monday Ekpe Sonny Aragba-Akpore Yemi Adamolekun Bolaji Adebiyi Sanyade Okoli Okey Ikechukwu Paul Nwabuikwu Ndubuisi Francis Benneth Oghifo Mahmud Jega Johnson Olawumi THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LIMITED Editor-In-Chief/Chairman Nduka Obaigbena Group Executive Directors Eniola Bello, Kayode Komolafe, Israel Iwegbu, Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, Emmanuel Efeni Divisional Directors Shaka Momodu, Peter Iwegbu, Anthony Ogedengbe Deputy Divisional Director Ojogun Victor Danboyi Snr. Associate Director Eric Ojeh Associate Director Patrick Eimiuhi Controllers Abimbola Taiwo, Uchenna Dibiagwu, Nduka Moseri Director, Printing Production Chuks Onwudinjo To Send Email: First Name.surname@Thisdaylive.com Letters to the Editor 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.

2023: The Road to Aso Rock

BY OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

S

ince the inception of the current democratic dispensation 24 years ago, presidential, and gubernatorial FDQGLGDWHV KDYH PRVWO\ EHHQ HOHFWHG ZLWKRXW HVSRXVLQJ FOHDU LGHDV DERXW ZKDW WKH\ ZRXOG GR LQ R΀FH to advance public good. The situation is not helped by the fact that political parties in our country are, ZLWKRXW DQ\ H[FHSWLRQ MXVW SODWIRUPV IRU ZLQQLQJ SXEOLF R΀FHV %XW DW 7+,6'$< ZH EHOLHYH LQ UDLVLQJ WKH VWDQGDUG RI OHDGHUVKLS VHOHFWLRQ SURFHVV E\ HQJDJLQJ R΀FH VHHNHUV LQ PHDQLQJIXO FRQYHUVDWLRQV ,Q SDUWLFLSDWRU\ GHPRFUDF\ LW LV VXFK FRQVWDQW LQWHUDFWLRQV DQG GLDORJXHV WKDW PDNH XV D FRPPXQLW\

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democracy and the public good. That was the spirit of our sessions with the three presidential candidates. :KDW ZH VHUYH LQ WKLV HGLWLRQ LQ WKH RUGHU LQ ZKLFK WKH VHVVLRQV ZHUH KHOG LV WKH ÀUVW LQ D VHULHV RI LQWHUYHQWLRQV WKDW WKH 7+,6'$< HGLWRULDO ERDUG LQWHQGV RQ WKH JHQHUDO HOHFWLRQ

20

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

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPECIAL EDITION * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * OKEY IKECHUKWU: With three decades of

hands-on experience in the university system, the media and government at the highest levels, Ikechukwu, mni, is the Executive Director of Development Specs Academy, an internationally FHUWLÀHG PDQDJHPHQW FRQVXOWDQF\ DQG WUDLQLQJ partner of several institutions and organizations.

Ikechukwu was, at various times, Lecturer at the University of Lagos, Acting Editorial Page Editor, and acting chairman of the editorial board of The Guardian Newspapers. He holds a doctorate degree in philosophy from the University of Lagos.

GIMBA KAKANDA: Founder of DMC, an

Abuja-based communication and strategy consulting ÀUP *LPED .DNDQGD LV D QRWDEOH SXEOLF DͿDLUV analyst, media and foreign policy consultant and author. He is a regular contributor for Aljazeera and several Nigerian publications, including Daily Trust. .DNDQGD KROGV D PDVWHU·V GHJUHH LQ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO Relations from the London School of Economics /6( DQG LV DQ DOXPQXV RI WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI ,RZD·V International Writing Program.

WAZIRI ADIO: Until recently the Nigeria

Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Executive Secretary, Adio had stints as THISDAY editor-at-large, special adviser to the senate president, communication specialist at 81'3 HWF +H REWDLQHG KLV ÀUVW GHJUHH LQ 0DVV Communication from the University of Lagos, a master's in journalism from Columbia University and another master's in public administration from +DUYDUG 8QLYHUVLW\ ZKHUH KH ZDV DW GLͿHUHQW times, a Fellow of the Neiman Foundation for Journalism, and an Edward S. Mason Fellow in public policy and management.

Editorial board members after the presidential dialogue session with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

PAUL NWABUIKWU: A pioneer THISDAY

Editorial Board member, Paul Nwabuikwu, who KDV DOVR VHUYHG RQ 7KH *XDUGLDQ·V (GLWRULDO %RDUG is a respected public intellectual with decades of experience in journalism, advertising, and public communication. A winner of the DAME Awards for Informed Commentary, Nwabuikwu served twice as Special Adviser to former Finance Minister and current DG, World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Nwabuikwu holds a ÀUVW GHJUHH LQ 0DVV &RPPXQLFDWLRQ IURP WKH University of Nigeria, Nsukka and MBA from the University of Jos.

Editorial board members after the presidential dialogue session with former vice president Atiku Abubakar

‘YEMI ADAMOLEKUN: Executive Director,

Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE), a non-partisan network of individuals and organizations committed to building a culture of good governance & public accountability, Adamolekun has a 23-year diverse career spanning the public and private sectors. She KROGV D ÀUVW GHJUHH LQ 0DWKHPDWLFV (FRQRPLFV IURP the University of Virginia; an MSc in Development Studies from the London School of Economics /6( DQG DQ 0%$ IURP 2[IRUG 8QLYHUVLW\·V 6DLG Business School.

MAHMUD JEGA: Following his stint as a lecturer in Biological Sciences at his alma mater, the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, Jega has practiced journalism non-stop for more than three decades.

For a total 13 years, he was Managing Editor, Editor, Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board Chairman of Daily Trust Newspapers. Prior to that, Jega was Editor, New Nigerian Newspapers, Editor of The 6HQWLQHO PDJD]LQH .DGXQD DQG $VVLVWDQW (GLWRU Citizen magazine.

JOHNSON OLAWUMI: Retired Major General of the Nigerian Army and former Director General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Olawumi held several strategic appointments at the service, defence DQG SXEOLF OHYHOV 2ODZXPL REWDLQHG D ÀUVW GHJUHH in Mathematics from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) from the University of Ilorin and a Masters in Defence 6WXGLHV IURP WKH .LQJV &ROOHJH /RQGRQ +H LV DQ alumnus of the National Defence College, Abuja, and a proud winner of the presidential award for best graduating participant.

CHIDI AMUTA: With more than 30 years in

reportorial and management journalism, Amuta has held senior editorial positions as foundation Member, Editorial Board, The Guardian; Chairman, Editorial Board and Editorial Adviser, The Daily Times Group and, until 1999, Chief Executive, The Post Express.

Amuta holds a First Class Honours degree and a Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where he taught Literature and Communications Strategies for ten years before moving to the University of Port Harcourt.

BENNETT OGHIFO: Trained in news writing by

Reuters Foundation at Rhodes University, Grahams Town, South Africa, Bennett Eyituoyo Oghifo holds a bachelor's degree in English and master's in public administration from the University of Benin and a Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos. Oghifo is a fellow of Leadership for Environment and Development, (LEAD International), a global network supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, and a member of Africa Association of Science Journalists.

SANYADE OKOLI: The CEO of Alpha African

Advisory, Mrs Sanyade Okoli has over 27 years RI ÀQDQFLDO DGYLVRU\ SULYDWH HTXLW\ FRUSRUDWH

Editorial board members after the presidential dialogue session with Mr Peter Obi FRPPHUFLDO DQG PDQDJHPHQW ÀQDQFH DQG DXGLWLQJ experience. She holds an MA in Mechanical (QJLQHHULQJ IURP &DPEULGJH 8QLYHUVLW\ 8. DQG trained as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur $QGHUVHQ 8. 6DQ\DGH LV DOVR D WUDLQHG LQQHU healing minister and life coach. She is the founder of inspirational blog, www.justasiam.ng and creator of life-transforming e-course, Pursuing Wholeness.

attended University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) Ile-Ife, obtaining both bachelor and master's degrees in History. A British Chevening Scholar, Adebiyi also holds post-graduate and DGYDQFHG GLSORPD FHUWLÀFDWHV LQ -RXUQDOLVP IURP the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos and 7KH 7KRPSVRQ )RXQGDWLRQ &DUGLͿ :DOHV

Associate Editor (Business) in the Nation's Capital.

Winner of several awards in journalism, Ndubuisi holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Lagos, a Diploma in Journalism from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), and a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Abuja.

MONDAY EKPE: Currently an adjunct lecturer at

AISHA SHUAIBU: A business consultant with

KASHIM IBRAHIM-IMAM: Currently, the

the University of Abuja, Ekpe was at various times editorial page editor, features editor and general editor at THISDAY. A brilliant writer with special LQWHUHVW LQ KXPDQ VWRULHV (NSH REWDLQHG KLV ÀUVW degree in English and Literature from the University of Benin and a master's in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan where he completed his Ph. D in 2015.

KAYODE KOMOLAFE: A journalist with over

\HDUV· H[SHULHQFH .RPRODIH KDV SDUWLFLSDWHG LQ numerous international conferences in Journalism, labour, democracy and development including the Leadership and Simulation program at J.Mac Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. In 2013 he was inaugurated into the National Human Rights Commission Governing Council. Currently 7+,6'$< 'HSXW\ 0DQDJLQJ 'LUHFWRU .RPRODIH KROGV D ÀUVW GHJUHH IURP WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI &DODEDU &DODEDU DQG D SRVWJUDGXDWH FHUWLÀFDWH IURP WKH International Institute of Journalism Berlin, Germany.

BOLAJI ADEBIYI: A two-term presidential

aide and immediate past editor of THISDAY Newspapers, Bolaji Adebiyi is the managing editor of the newspaper. Elected the vice president (West) of the Nigerian Guild of Editors last year, he

a decade of experience in brand and strategic management, Ms Aisha Shuaibu is Managing 'LUHFWRU RI :D΁H :D\ LQ $EXMD DQG 3UHVLGHQW of SWA Sports, an initiative that is promoting local talents in kickboxing, wrestling, and Taekwondo. Ms Shuaibu obtained her B Sc in Business Studies from the University of Bedfordshire, Luton in the United .LQJGRP DQG KHU 0DVWHUV LQ (QWUHSUHQHXUVKLS DQG Innovation from Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey.

SONNY ARAGBA-AKPORE: With cognate

practice in the media spanning more than three decades, Aragba-Akpore was an Assistant General Manager/Head, Corporate Communications at the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Ltd. In November 2014, he became the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Assistant Director/Head, Media & Public Relations, a position he held until retirement in July 2020. He attended the University of Lagos and holds B.A and M.A. in English. He is also a member of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

NDUBUISI FRANCIS: From 1992 when he

started his journalism career, Francis has covered health, labour, capital market, energy, and aviation correspondent before becoming Deputy Group Business Editor, Group News Editor and currently,

SUHVLGHQW RI WKH .LQJ·V &ROOHJH /DJRV 2OG %R\V Association, Ibrahim-Imam has been active in politics in Nigeria for about 35 years. He holds a BSc in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria MSc in International Relations from the University of Maiduguri. At the business level, he is the Chairman of UniCapital PLC (an investment EDQNLQJ ÀUP DQG WKH &KDLUPDQ RI )LUVW *XDUDQWHH Pensions PLC, among others.

PETER ISHAKA: A 1983 graduate of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Peter Ishaka worked at NEWSWATCH and TELL magazines before joining THISDAY in 1997. He OHIW WKH QHZVSDSHU IRU D EULHI SHULRG WR HGLW :KR·V Who in Nigeria' before returning in 2011. Ishaka is currently THISDAY Editorial Page editor.

OLUSEGUN ADENIYI: Journalist, writer, and

former presidential spokesman, Adeniyi is a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (FNAL) and chairs THISDAY editorial board. Author of several ERRNV LQFOXGLQJ ¶7KH /DVW 'D\V RI $EDFKD· DQG ‘Power, Politics and Death: A front-row account of 1LJHULD XQGHU WKH ODWH 3UHVLGHQW <DU·$GXD· $GHQL\L KROGV D ÀUVW GHJUHH LQ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 5HODWLRQV IURP Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and a master's in international law and diplomacy (MILD) from the University of Lagos.

21

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

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPECIAL EDITION * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

RABIU KWANKWASO:

We Need a Hands-on President

Former Kano State Governor and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) says the story of Nigeria will change the moment we elect a capable president who is not afraid to take hard decisions Why do you want to become Nigeria’s president? o answer that question, I think one should even go back to why I joined politics. I joined politics because I realised that the way and manner people, especially the leaders at the time, were handling issues.

They were handling things the wrong way. And I decided voluntarily to leave the civil service in 1991. I believed that instead of criticising or questioning what other people were doing, I should join politics and add to the credibility of the process. Most people believe that politics is a dirty game. For me, politics has never been a dirty game. It’s a very clean game. You can play it for decades without denting your image.

And that's the reason we are in politics, to clean the system, do the right thing and give the right example to others.

T

The biggest challenge the nation faces today is general insecurity. How do you intend to deal with banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and other threats?

All these issues we are facing in this country are all intertwined. You cannot separate any from others. Right from the Goodluck Jonathan government, there were certain things that ought to have done but unfortunately not done; perhaps because of the lack capacity to understand them.

And those gaps really created what we are seeing today. Based on my little experience in politics, I personally believe that most Nigerians are good people and sometimes one may argue that this is probably the easiest country to govern because the elasticity limit of a Nigerian is not comparable to that of anyone else in this world. One of the problems I realised with some of the past leaders in this country is lack of capacity for the job. Many people found themselves in power either by luck or by destiny. We have seen many leaders coming into leadership at the highest level and they don't even understand the dynamics of the country. If you ask them what is happening in any state other than their own, they are not sure. If you don't get it right in terms of leadership, the implication is that all other things will fail, including the security issues you mentioned. So, the issue of capacity is key and how to keep people together, how to EULQJ DOO WKRVH FRQFHUQHG WRJHWKHU 1RZ WKH R΀FH of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces is critical. As Minister of Defence, I was in some African countries, especially Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sudan to meet our military, to see how they were operating. In those countries, the people had a ORW RI FRQÀGHQFH LQ RXU VROGLHUV WR WKH H[WHQW WKDW even some of the heads of those countries were begging us to allow our military not only to take care of the situation there, but even including protecting them and their families. So, these are military personnel who are well trained, who were committed and well cared for in terms of their welfare, and indeed the equipment, arms, and ammunition and so on. So, we never had problems at that time. But in recent years, we have all these issues cropping up and it's very, very unfortunate. We have seen many failures of our military and other security agencies. I see it as a ELJ VKDPH ,W LV XQIRUWXQDWH WKDW ZH ÀQG RXUVHOYHV in this mess, to the extent that we cannot protect our students. So, I believe what is key now is to have a president and commander-in-chief who is well respected by the military.

President Muhammadu Buhari is a former military leader, yet we have these security FKDOOHQJHV ,Q VSHFLÀF WHUPV FDQ \RX WHOO XV how you intend to address the problem?

You see, I mentioned the issue of capacity. It is a big issue for me. I believe that if there is no capacity to handle any job it becomes a big problem. The military, as I told you, are in a very good position to handle this issue. But the way and manner that things are happening, I think, makes it very GL΀FXOW IRU WKHP WR RSHUDWH 7KHUH PXVW EH DQ issue of reward and punishment. We had service chiefs some years ago that Nigerians clamoured for their removal when there was obvious failure, and nothing really happened. And now I think they are ambassadors or something. The same in RWKHU VHFXULW\ DJHQFLHV ,W V GL΀FXOW WR UHPHPEHU anybody who was punished for a certain failure.

And most of these failures that we're talking about, are about lives of innocent Nigerians. As I said, the military or security agencies require some attention on the one hand, and on the other hand, they require certain rules and regulations. My friends who are ministers now, it’s like everybody is on their own. Every ministry is like a country.

Nobody asks them ‘what are you doing?’ and ‘what have you not done?’

So, basically, you are saying that there’s no leadership in the country right now?

Kwankwaso

Kuje prison was attacked and many people, in fact all the bandits and terrorists were released. These things are happening, and they look like a joke or that they're happening outside this country, especially to those who are not directly affected. Recently, I'm sure you must have watched it in one of the video clips, they are threatening to abduct our commander-in-chief Well, there’s leadership, but I am not sure if they are doing the right thing.

With banditry and associated crimes making our country increasingly challenged security wise, we still want to know what a President Kwankwaso ZLOO GR GL;HUHQWO\ LI HOHFWHG QH[W \HDU We need more military men and there are better ways of doing this beyond the conventional. I'm not sure if there is anybody who is watching and keeping his eyes on almost anything, including the PLOLWDU\ 1RZ WKH FDVH ZKHUH ZH ÀQG RXUVHOYHV LV that in the villages and towns, even in the cities, everybody knows the location, even the names of the bandits and their details. You don't even need special intelligence to know that. It is common knowledge now that they're all there. So, you see, there were people who started this banditry because they were angry with the system. And they felt that they were not consulted. They were not talked to any time they wanted to sit with the authorities. Some of them were purely based on frustration. Many of these young men and women are there, that was how it started. But along the line, it became obvious that even people ZKR ZHUH QRW DͿHFWHG MRLQHG EHFDXVH LW ZDV D lucrative business. And every day it is becoming more lucrative. What we know now is that those people who were abducted in the train attack must pay at least N100 million for them to be released. And if they get N100 million per head, you can imagine how many billions of Naira they would have collected from one operation and that is not to say tomorrow they will not go and

pick other people. Kuje prison was attacked and many people, in fact all the bandits and terrorists were released. These things are happening, and they look like a joke or that they're happening outside this country, especially to those who are QRW GLUHFWO\ DͿHFWHG 5HFHQWO\ , P VXUH \RX PXVW have watched it in one of the video clips, they are threatening to abduct our commander-in-chief.

They didn’t say they would attack the train, but we were not surprised that they did, because there was just no protection. Nothing! We knew it was just a matter of time. Now even when the worst things happen, like the Kuje attack, like even the attack on the convoy of Mr. President, we cannot see any action being taken to ensure that it doesn't happen again. The president will only express shock and it's very unfortunate that we have found ourselves in this situation.

Let’s focus on public education. What's your vision for education at the primary, secondary levels? And right now, university lecturers have EHHQ RQ VWULNH IRU VL[ PRQWKV +RZ ZRXOG \RX tackle this problem?

I am sure all of you are aware that we have a group that we call Kwankwansiya which is basically formed on the foundation of education and that is our strength. So, I am personally very passionate about the issue of education. That explains why when I had the opportunity to be governor of Kano, we decided to come up with a very strong policy on education. And the policy covered the area of primary up to tertiary level. And that's why you often hear that my strength is in Kano

because they are the people who know me best.

So, in 1999, we introduced many things ranging from rehabilitation of all our classrooms, all our schools, built many houses for teachers and so on and so forth. We introduced what we call school feeding. Our schools for the eight years I was governor, were getting free books and all the primary schools, we were giving them two sets of uniforms to encourage children to go to school.

I'm sure you know that many of our teachers in primary schools were not having the minimum requirement of NCE. We sent over 20,000 teachers for NCE in our colleges of education and Bayero University in Kano state, and we built thousands RI FODVVURRPV ,Q P\ ODVW \HDUV LQ R΀FH WKHUH ZDV no child in Kano of school age that could not get a classroom. We provided more than enough textbooks, exercise books, registers, everything, computers in many of the schools. We did similar things in the secondary level. Before I left, we built 44 and they were of high standards in terms of quality, boarding facilities, workshops, and so on.

And I also built what we call school for Islamic Studies, because we realised many of our children were being sent outside the state for Almajiri and we had a law and it is still existing, banning Almajiri.

We made sure that we didn't have any political problem by stopping Almajiri and people gave us the maximum support. I built two universities, one in 2001, Kano University of Technology. And when I went back in 2011, we built Northwest University. In addition to that, we built 26 institutes handling various areas. And when I was going, I realised not everybody could maintain them independently, so we handed many of them over to our two universities. We also came up with a policy involving universities like Ahmadu Bello University, Usman Danfodio University, and others.

We built 300-bed hostels free of charge, just for them to give us maximum number of students to admit. In addition to that, we also selected private universities like one in Katsina, where we sent 412 students in four years. For Bell's University in Ota, we sent 300 students, Crescent University we sent 200, Igbinedion University, we sent 300 and many others like that. All of them have, of course, graduated. Besides, while we were using the local, private and government

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RABIU KWANKWASO: We Need a Hands-on President universities plus our own two universities, we also had a special foreign training sponsorship, where we sent just over 3000 Kano residents. I use the word residents because there were people from everywhere, including the Southeast and 6RXWKVRXWK ZKR EHQHÀWWHG EHFDXVH WKH\ ZHUH Kano residents.

This was Kano, just one of the 36 states in Nigeria. How do you tackle the challenge of education in the whole country?

It is the same. Sometimes I see some of my friends talking about what they will do when they become president. Don’t come and tell me what you will do. When you had an opportunity to serve before as governor, you didn't do anything?

Making mouth and shouting that you will do this and that makes no meaning. In 2023, we shouldn't start experimenting with people because they can talk. The question we should be asking is, ‘Okay, when you had opportunity to serve as governor or vice president, tell us what you did.

We want to know what you have done when you had an opportunity.’

Beyond the issue of education that you have referred to, what exactly is the Kwankwansiya movement about?

Kwankwaso is my village. I come from a village in Kano. And even though my father was the traditional ruler of the place, I lived with people around me who really needed attention and support.

And from that village level to where I found myself in the civil service, I realised that there were many things that the government could do to help those people. Take primary school for instance.

And then we have seen many women dying because of little things that a dispensary could have helped them with. In that my hometown in those days, during rainy season like this, there was no way we could visit the city of Kano. We are just about 25 kilometres away from the city but surrounded by rivers. Every year, every rainy season, many people die because canoes capsize.

The experience of those days triggered my mind that there is a lot that government could do to help the people. That was why I decided to be part of local community to participate in self-help groups in my areas. At the end of the day, I also woke up as a child and young man to realise that Aminu Kano was there with us, and we were lucky that my hometown had a radio station. And every day we had one of the papers of those days, and it had to come to my village before it went to Kano city, because it was coming from Zaria. I developed political interest right from childhood as a very keen supporter of Aminu Kano who was always talking about the needy, the poor or talakawas as we call them. Even though I'm not a member of what they now call Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), but in the Second Republic, I was a member of PRP, and that's where we got the red cap, white gown, and black shoe. Those were the colours of PRP. We still feel connected to what Aminu Kano stood for, even though he never had government that he could call his own, apart from being the commissioner or minister in those days. So, we felt that we should continue from where he stopped.

Aminu Kano was able to generate national interest and support. Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, were members of his party, but you are more, so to speak, a Kano politician, a local champion. So, we wonder whether your vision is pan-Nigerian enough.

That is what our opponents are saying. If you want to know somebody, don't see him in this room or in the airport and say, ‘I like him, he’s a good man or a bad man’. Go to his hometown, go WR KLV YLOODJH DQG ÀQG RXW &KDULW\ DV WKH\ VD\ begins from home. My politics and even support started from my ward. Then local government in a widely contested election, then constitutional conference, etc. The support is expanding like that. You see, I am one of the luckiest politicians because most people know that I have a strong base. For most politicians, they are not loved in WKHLU KRPHWRZQ 0\ FDVH LV FRPSOHWHO\ GLͿHUHQW and that is because people believe in us. If you ask supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari, ‘What has he done?’, ‘Why do they love him?’, their UHVSRQVH ZLOO EH GLͿHUHQW IURP ZKDW , DP WHOOLQJ you now. Ours is based on concrete achievements.

What is Buhari’s own based on?

I should ask you, but Buhari wouldn't come and tell you how many students he sponsored, how many universities he built, and so on. But I must concede, many people, especially in the north love him.

But they call him Mai Gaskiya They call him Mai Gaskiya (honest person), but I don’t go around telling anyone I am Mai Gaskiya. But if you think I am not Mai Gaskiya, bring one reason to dispute it. I have been in the ÀHOG IRU \HDUV QRZ DQG SHRSOH VWLOO EHOLHYH LQ me. But our own is visible Gaskiya. If you say I am not, then prove it.

Can you tell us more about your ideas on investment in human capital development, and why you believe Nigerians should trust you We have millions of Diasporan Nigerians, they are all over the world and many of them are in GLYHUVH ÀHOGV LQFOXGLQJ PHGLFLQH WHFKQRORJ\

L-R: Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and Olusegun Adeniyi teaching and so on and so forth. These are people that must be encouraged to come back home. I cannot stop talking about Kano because we did some of these things. Meanwhile, on infrastructure, there's no doubt about the fact that it is very critical.

You cannot expect quality education when you camp pupils under the tree or where you have 200 instead of 30 students per classroom and so on. We must address those issues. But education and job opportunities are a package and those are the things we plan for.

The Nigerian economy is in dire straits. Most LQGLFDWRUV DUH LQ WKH UHG 7KH PLQLVWHU RI ÀQDQFH said recently that our debt service was more than the revenue that came in. So, what is your plan to tackle all these challenges?

As I mentioned earlier on, all these issues are intertwined. If farmers cannot go to farm, if businessmen cannot go to the next village or city and buy things and sell, it becomes a huge SUREOHP ,W DͿHFWV WKH HFRQRP\ GLUHFWO\ DQG the issues that we see with the economy today are also part of the leadership capacity. If you have money or borrowed money, and you just throw it to human beings, whether Nigerians or Europeans or anybody, people will be very happy to help themselves. That's why the international community, especially advanced countries, use WHFKQRORJ\ $QG , FDQ WHOO \RX ZH ZHUH WKH ÀUVW government in this country, including the federal government, to start e-payments. We were the ÀUVW LQ WKLV FRXQWU\ WR HQVXUH WKDW DOO WKHVH ODSVHV losses, fraud, and so on, are minimised. So, what we see today in this country, in my opinion, is a situation where the government will borrow money, just send it out there and allow people to use their discretion on what to do with that money. And that is why most of the money is not going to where they should go and the leader of a state or the federal government must be up and doing.

Look at the stories we hear about oil being stolen in the sea, which is very unfortunate, percentages are mentioned. Some of them huge amounts of any percentage of the total amount of oil that we're pumping out just going into the drains. So, there are many wastages that the government must keep its eyes on. Meanwhile, the government must ensure that those who are supposed to pay taxes do so. And all these put together of course ZLOO DͿHFW RWKHU DUHDV OLNH WKH H[FKDQJH UDWH WKDW we see today. And that has to do with many other factors like manufacturing. Most of the things that we have today are being imported using foreign exchange to purchase even things that we can produce in the village.

fact, when I was leaving government, the only major work that was left was transmission and I left $43 million in an account to complete the transmission. Unfortunately, up till today, we have not seen electricity in Kano. I don't know what is happening. Meaning that state governments, individuals, companies and so on should be encouraged to produce electricity and make it ÁH[LEOH DOVR E\ ODZ WR SXW LW LQ WKH V\VWHP DV we have seen in many parts of the world, where even the universities and other institutions are producing electricity to use for themselves. And if there is an excess, they sell it to the national JULG *RYHUQPHQW PXVW PDNH LW ÁH[LEOH ,Q WHUPV of generation and distribution, we can also see areas where we have a competitive advantage.

In northern Nigeria, we have a lot of sunlight, so solar can be very useful. In other parts of the north, we have places like Mambilla that should be harnessed and be used for electricity, agriculture and so on. We have seen other parts of the country where they have gas, and even coal. And I remember in those days, we were using coal, but because of one reason or the other, that has been stopped and we all now rely on probably one source of electricity in this country.

6R , EHOLHYH WKDW WKHUH LV D QHHG IRU ÁH[LELOLW\ What is important is adequate and of course, DͿRUGDEOH HOHFWULFLW\ WKDW ZLOO ERRVW WKH HFRQRP\ .

There are issues surrounding the use of fossil fuels, carbon emissions and the rest. If by 2030 we no longer have the luxury of using fossils, how would you react?

I am aware of the issues around climate change but all these Western countries leading the campaign are producing all sorts of things that are not the best for the environment. These are the countries we buy our items from, but they are still using these fuels even though they say they are phasing them out. We are a developing country that contributes little or nothing to this problem even though I believe we must be part of the solution. But the situation where we have at hand now is that we PXVW XVH ZKDWHYHU ZH KDYH WR PDNH D GLͿHUHQFH in the lives of our people. And when we reach a certain level, then we start taking all these details about climate change into consideration.

The nation is facing a full-blown energy crisis.

The power sector is on life support, no fuel, no diesel, and there is fuel subsidy that comes at a huge cost to the nation. What do you intend to do about it?

First, there is a need to look at the issue of the ODZV LQ WKLV VHFWRU LW VKRXOG EH PDGH ÁH[LEOH Now, I want to at this point say that when I was governor, I selected two out of 23 dams that we have in Kano, and we installed turbines. In

How do you intend to ensure the inclusion of women and young people in government?

I am one of those who encourage education and particularly girl child education. In Kano, we had programmes directly targeted at women and girls. There was a particular programme of 300 medical doctors, and only 45 were men. And all the female students completed the programme. The long-term programme we had for those doctors was to mainly to make sure that it is only a woman

What's your position on the payment of fuel subsidy?

Everybody knows that there is no way we can comfortably continue with subsidy as it stands today. The only thing for us to do is to see what can EH GRQH WR FXVKLRQ WKH HͿHFWV RI WKH FRQVHTXHQFHV of removing the subsidy.

Sometimes I see some of my friends talking about what they will do when they become president. Don’t come and tell me what you will do.

When you had an opportunity to serve before as governor, you didn't do anything? Making mouth and shouting that you will do this and that makes no meaning. In 2023, we shouldn't start experimenting with people because they can talk

that would treat women in our hospitals in Kano state. Again, on gender, for the eight years I was governor, each local government was allocated N1 million to train women in various skills and we gave them N10,000 grant. Every month, we selected 100 women, trained them trades and gave them seed capital. So, we can go on and on about what we have done for women and children in Kano. In fact, women and youths coincidentally are our strength in Kano. But I also understand the challenge. May be due to culture or religion, many were not coming out for political positions. You hardly got people who could easily be appointed as commissioner of HGXFDWLRQ RU HYHQ FRPPLVVLRQHU RI ZRPHQ DͿDLUV in the system. So, I always encourage and tell women that ‘look, don't wait for any percentage’.

I didn't wait for percentage, otherwise I would have been in my village now. I'm not looking for percentage. I am working to ensure that I reach where I want to be. We need to encourage women to go to school and I am happy many of them are going to school because now when you go WR RXU XQLYHUVLWLHV \RX ÀQG WKDW WKH PDMRULW\ DUH women. So, we are getting there. The next thing is for them to be in various areas, including politics.

If elected, how do you intend to reform the health infrastructure in Nigeria?

There are many things that should be done right, from the primary health care or even dispensaries that we have in terms of training the personnel at all levels, in case of provision of all equipment, drugs, and so on and so forth. And I think you are talking of the tertiary level now, if you're talking about people going abroad. Now \RX VHH 1LJHULDQV LQ DOO ÀHOGV LQFOXGLQJ KHDOWK and it requires leadership by example, require support from the government at the centre. When I say leadership by example, if you're a president, for example, why do you always have to travel abroad for everything that you require? If a good SUHVLGHQW LV VXͿHULQJ IURP DQ\ GLVHDVH , EHOLHYH that you are in the position to import anybody, either Nigerian or non-Nigerian, to coincidentally have a hospital in the villa. Why do you have to go there? You bring them not only for yourself and your family, but you also open it to everybody who would go there, either as government R΀FLDOV RU SHRSOH ZKR FDQ SD\ GHSHQGLQJ RQ the circumstance. I had a friend who has a big hospital in India. He visited the North and said we didn't have good MRI at that time. Then he took me to the place, and showed me how much he bought one, and he said it cost $2 million.

Now at that time, I know many Nigerians to whom $2 million is not much. So, if for example, you organise your healthcare properly, there are many people who can invest. In fact, we have so many people who are outside this country in the diaspora, that we can invite with good incentives. I lived in the UK for about 10 years.

Now, I cannot remember the last time I travelled to Europe. Because, anytime I remember my own experience, the weather is just enough to say to myself, ‘stay at home’. So, all those who are in Europe, America in cold weather, or in Kuwait, Middle East, where the temperature is boiling, they need just small incentives for them to come back home. You don't even need other nationals.

I am talking about Nigerian professionals that are everywhere. All they need is a good environment for them to come back and improve the system in Nigeria.

I also know many people who can invest in the health sector because there is a lot of money in it. And all this medical tourism that we see is because they can also see our leader going to hospital in London. So, I believe that stopping all this mess that we see in the name of medical tourism is a very easy and simple thing to stop with the right leadership.

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ATIKU ABUBAKAR:

It’s My Time to Repay Nigeria Former vice president and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says his ambition for the number one job in Nigeria is being propelled by a desire to give back to the country that has offered him so much Why do you want to become the president of Nigeria? his is a question that is asked quite often by the media. Why do you want to be a governor or president or senator?

As you know, if you go through my political journey, it didn't start today.

Of course, it started with the struggle to return this country to democracy from the military.

And then subsequently during that struggle, the opportunities to serve one's country has arisen from one time or the other. But fundamentally, this country has been too good to me. I used to tell young people that if I were to be born today, I might not even be able to go to school.

I am from an extremely poor family and an only child, and my parents didn't want me to go to school. The government of the day made it possible for me to go to school, free. Not only free, but also paid to go to school. From primary up to university level, I was being paid to go to school. And today, I am one of the most successful Nigerians, both in the private sector as well as in the public sector. I thank God for that. At this point in my life, there is nothing I look forward to than to give back what this great country has done for me. Today, I have 28 children and I educated all of them abroad.

But I also compelled all of them to return to this country and they are here. What kind of country am I going to leave behind for them?

I was lucky I got all what I got. Out of my 28 children, I think only one is working for the government. They are either working for me, in various enterprises or working in some other private sector establishments. So, basically my own reason of wanting to run for president is to give back to the country that has done so much for me and my family.

T

<RX KDYH D ÀYH SRLQW DJHQGD RQH RI WKHP LV WR EXLOG DQ H;HFWLYH UHVLOLHQW VWURQJ DQG prosperous economy for Nigeria. There will be three major constraints to doing that. The ÀUVW RQH LV WKDW 1LJHULD KDV RQH RI WKH ORZHVW UHYHQXHV WR *'3 LQ $IULFD 7ZR ZH KDYH D debt problem. Then the other issue is subsidy. ,Q WKH FXUUHQW \HDU 1 WULOOLRQ ZLOO EH VSHQW RQ VXEVLG\ KRZ GR \RX SODQ WR QDYLJDWH WKHVH challenges?

In the past few days, my team and I have been on a retreat on what I consider a draft policy document. A retreat in the sense that we have LQYLWHG H[SHUWV IURP YDULRXV ÀHOGV LQFOXGLQJ RLO and gas, revenue drive, manufacturing, and all aspects of the economic sectors. Sometimes, we spend about four to six hours a day, and this gives us an opportunity to examine our draft policy document with a view to looking into areas where we can either modify or amend based on the submissions of the experts we invite. I remember a few months ago when I received a Republican party delegation from the United States, and I gave them insights into my economic policies. They said I was like Ronald Reagan of their own time. But fundamentally, because I was involved in running the economy between 1999 and 2007, my intention is to continue with some of the programmes that we started during that administration, which gave us the kind of remarkable economic growth between 1999 and 2015. I have a position as far as various subsidies are concerned whether fuel subsidy or power subsidy, or gas subsidy. These are subsidies that I believe we will have to review WR PDNH VXUH WKDW SXEOLF ÀQDQFLQJ RU SXEOLF funding is reduced to the barest minimum. If you even look at our neighbours who are much poorer than we are, they have done away with all those subsidies. These subsidies constitute a drain on our income in this country. So, these are areas that we can review to make sure that the money that is being spent is reinvested.

Now to the issue of revenue. Of course, by the time you look at the subsidies, inevitably, this ZLOO HQKDQFH \RXU UHYHQXH SURÀOH DQG WKHQ RI course, we also must review the tax net which is currently far below expectation. Many of the African countries, their tax net is much higher than that of our own as a country.

7KH UHPRYDO RI VXEVLG\ ORRNV VR HDV\ EXW it's not.

It’s not, I can tell you it is not. This DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ KDV GULYHQ RXU LQÁDWLRQ WR DQ unprecedented level because of the way they have managed our scarce foreign exchange, and non-investment in the oil and gas sector.

Atiku

Even within the West African sub-region, we have lost the leadership.

We have. So again, it requires the emergence of a capable and competent leadership to restore the position of Nigeria. First, we must restore the internal security of Nigeria before we can now begin to say, what role are we going to play in the West African sub-region?

What would be your major criteria for appointing those who will deliver the content of your vision for the country?

If you follow my performance as vice president between 1999 and 2007, virtually all the key actors in that administration were hired or recruited by me. I recall that towards the beginning of administration, I pointed out to the president (Olusegun Obasanjo) that, ‘Sir, we are politicians, and we need to bring in the best Nigerians we FDQ ÀQG DQG ZKR PD\ EH ZLOOLQJ WR UHWXUQ WR the country to help us implement our policies’.

Before then, I had brought in a few experts from across the country. Some of them include Prof.

Anya O. Anya, Fola Adeola, Bode Agusto, Charles Soludo, and others. And we were meeting for about nine months to develop an economic policy for our government and then after the meeting, I submitted the report to the president. But he said, ‘Mr. Vice President, how do we do this?’

I said, ‘Mr. President, we are politicians, they are technocrats. We will bring them in, and we will give them the political leadership and they will implement our programmes.’ That was how the whole thing started. I believe we have a reservoir of Nigerian experts across the globe, whom we can, even if we don't entice them with remuneration, bring onboard. By invoking

their sense of patriotism, many will gladly agree to serve in government. Some of those guys I mentioned agreed to serve on condition that they would not collect any salary. I remember when I recommended Bode Agusto to be hired as director of budget. He told me how much he was earning FRPSDUHG WR ZKDW WKH JRYHUQPHQW RͿHUHG DQG he said he did not want to be paid. So, I look forward to repeating the same experiment to hunt talented young Nigerians from across the globe so that together, we can work and make sure we reverse all the challenges we have been facing in the last seven years or so.

What do you think is wrong with the way our security is managed right now and what H[DFWO\ GR \RX SODQ WR GR GL;HUHQWO\" I think it requires political will and leadership.

We faced some security challenges during our time. And I think we showed political will and leadership to deal decisively with the security challenges that tried to confront us at that point in time. It is not that we do not have the means, or we don't have the manpower, or we don't have the resources, but I think it requires a very strong political will to deal decisively with it.

Nobody has been held accountable for security lapses in this country. Nobody! I have not heard

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Atiku Abubakar: It’s My Time to Repay Nigeria or seen anybody. I always give an example. When ZH ZHUH LQ R΀FH HYHU\ HYHQLQJ RU PRUQLQJ WKH\ ZLOO EULQJ WKH VHFXULW\ UHSRUW $QG WKDW VHFXULW\ UHSRUW LI \RX UHDG LW \RX ZLOO VHH DOO WKH FULPHV WKDW ZHUH FRPPLWWHG LQ WKLV FRXQWU\ $OO WKH FULPHV ,I , UHDG LW WKH ÀUVW WKLQJ , GR LQ WKH PRUQLQJ , FDOO RQ WKH ,QVSHFWRU *HQHUDO WR FRPH , DVN ¶ZK\ VKRXOG WKLV WKLQJ KDSSHQ KHUH"· 6R WKH SROLWLFDO ZLOO KDV WR EH WKHUH DQG WKDW UHTXLUHV OHDGHUVKLS

The challenges that we have in Nigeria today have gone beyond what happened during your era from 1999 to 2007. We now have sundry criminal cartels, from Boko Haram to banditry and kidnapping and all kinds.

Besides, an economy has developed around the national security crisis that is now tied to our neighbours in the border countries like Cameroon, Chad, Niger.

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Dr Chidi Amuta exchanging pleasantries with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar

We are more educated today than we were 50 years ago. Most of our leaders at the time I went to school were no more than grade two teachers, grade three teachers, and they managed our local governments much better and more honestly than the graduates we are having today. I just can't understand that. What is then the value of the education we have received?

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When you were vice president, you oversaw privatization. A probe by the senate between 1999 and 2010 found out that of the 122 privatised organisations, more than 80 per cent of them went moribund. Would you say that privatisation has been a successful policy in Nigeria? The second point is on human capacity development. :H DUH WDONLQJ DERXW SXEOLF HGXFDWLRQ $688 strike is a symptom of the problem. We have not resolved the issue of how to fund public education. What’s your plan? /HW PH À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that has not been privatised is the best way to GLVSRVH RI WKHVH SXEOLF HQWHUSULVHV WKDW KDYH QRW EHHQ GRLQJ YHU\ ZHOO RYHU WKH GHFDGHV /HW PH DOVR JR WR WKH LVVXH RI SXEOLF HGXFDWLRQ :KHQ ZH FDPH LQWR R΀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Talking about privatization, the power sector is not working, 10 years after the unbundling.

What do you consider the way forward? ,W LV RQO\ DQ DVSHFW RI WKH SRZHU VHFWRU WKDW ZDV SULYDWLVHG $QG WKDW ZDV , WKLQN WKH GLVWULEXWLRQ $QG WKDW LV ZK\ ZH LQWHQG ÀUVW WR PDNH VXUH WKDW WKH DOUHDG\ LQVWDOOHG FDSDFLW\ ZKLFK ZH ZHUH DEOH WR DFKLHYH LV WUDQVPLWWHG DQG GLVWULEXWHG 7KLV LV QXPEHU RQH $QG WKHQ DJDLQ RYHU WKH \HDUV ZH SODQ WR LQFUHDVH HYHQ WKH JHQHUDWLRQ E\ DWWUDFWLQJ WKH SULYDWH VHFWRU LQWR DOVR JHQHUDWLRQ DQG WUDQVPLVVLRQ DVSHFW 6R WKLV LV ZKDW ZH SURSRVH LQ RXU GRFXPHQW 6WLOO RQ IXQGLQJ RI HGXFDWLRQ RI SXEOLF institutions, we need to know how it will be done to bring back what many describe as the glory days. We now have graduates that can’t write a good sentence. , DP RQH RI WKRVH ZKR EHOLHYH WKDW RXU HGXFDWLRQDO V\VWHP PXVW EH GHFHQWUDOLVHG $ERXW WZR ZHHNV DJR , ZDV ZLWK D SURIHVVRU ZKR DVNHG ZK\ , WKRXJKW KDQGLQJ RYHU WKH XQLYHUVLWLHV ZRXOG PDNH WKHP EHWWHU , WROG KLP WKH ÀUVW JHQHUDWLRQ RI XQLYHUVLWLHV ZHUH HVWDEOLVKHG E\ WKH UHJLRQV +H VDLG \HV , DVNHG KLP ZKHWKHU KH NQRZV RI DQ\ %ULWLVK JRYHUQPHQW XQLYHUVLW\ , WROG KLP WKDW ZKDW ZH QHHGHG WR GR ZDV WR HQVXUH WKDW SRRU VWXGHQWV WKDW FDQ·W DͿRUG XQLYHUVLW\ HGXFDWLRQ DUH JLYHQ ORDQV DQG VFKRODUVKLSV +H DVNHG ZKDW KDSSHQV WR WKH XQLYHUVLWLHV , WROG KLP LW·V XS WR WKH VWDWHV 7KH\ FDQ PDNH LW FDPSXVHV RI WKH VWDWH XQLYHUVLWLHV RU WKH\ GR ZLWK LW ZKDW WKH\ ZDQW WR GR ZLWK WKHP %XW D VLWXDWLRQ ZKHUHE\ WKH IHGHUDO JRYHUQPHQW VKRXOG RZQ XQLYHUVLWLHV DV IDU DV , DP FRQFHUQHG , GRQ·W EHOLHYH LQ LW But this is a long-term approach, what would

be the immediate solutions?

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25

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

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPECIAL EDITION * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

PETER OBI: We Must End the Sharing Mentality Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) insists that the story of Nigeria will change the moment we begin to run the country based on the productive capacity of the people

Why do you want to be president? t's a very simple thing. If you look at Nigeria today, all of you, everybody here, I don't need to tell you how bad things are. It's well known to you and all of you are endangered. I was speaking to a group in Ikoyi, and I said people in Ikoyi think that everything's okay. I reminded them that when crisis starts, they are not immune.

‘Whether you're in government, or you're not or you are part of the problem or not, we will all become a victim of the situation,' I told them. In recent days, I have asked several people, 'where are you going to spend your Christmas?' and they respond that its Abuja or Lagos. Nobody is travelling to the village anymore. So, it has reached a stage where people get in from the United States or United Kingdom and stop at Abuja or Lagos.

That is an indication of the level of crisis we face in Nigeria today. So, for me the issue is how to turn around the situation, starting with the issue of security of life and property. We will stop the rascality of frittering public resources and with that you create the enabling environment that will bring foreign direct investment. We will start investing government resources in key development areas because the development of any nation is hinged on human development index. Healthcare will be taken seriously. In terms of life expectancy, you know, in our country today, while the global average is 72.8, we're at 55. Today, according to our own National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), we have 133 million people living in poverty. These are the reasons I feel we should come and change the situation and deal with these challenges.

I

You have highlighted the issue of human FDSLWDO VR LQ VSHFLÀF WHUPV KRZ ZLOO \RX UHYDPS education in Nigeria?

For me, education is everything. The number one thing is education, number two is education.

It has been clearly shown globally, that the more educated you are as a society, the better the development. So, when we talk about education, you are talking about the core of development.

I don't know anywhere in the world that you talk about infrastructure without talking about education. The greatest investment you need is not physical infrastructure but human infrastructure.

And once you can invest in that, you have solved mist of the problems. China, India, and others are doing well today because they invested in human infrastructure, which is education. I have always believed in education. I served as the governor of a state and all of you can do like I always say, ‘go and verify'. My commitment is to education.

I recall telling my team that it was unacceptable that Anambra should be at the number where they were in education when we took over. If you check Anambra State, in 2001 and part of 2002, all schools were shut, and nobody was going to school. At that time, we were 25 or 26 in WAEC and NECO. By 2011, 2012 and 2013, we were number one. So, if there's anything you need to do, it will be in education. First is that the level of investment in education today is unacceptable.

Our budget in education for the past six years is not up to our subsidy for this year. That means we are throwing money into the wrong direction.

We will invest in education. We will start with the issue of out-of-school children in the north. And as we invest in education, we will invest in youth development, skills acquisition, empowerment, and entrepreneurship. ,Q $QDPEUD ZKDW \RX GLG ZDV WR JLYH WKH schools back to the churches. And it worked.

Are you looking at granting autonomy to tertiary institutions?

When it comes to education, there are two ways.

There’s basic education which we will fund. We will do whatever we can to do that. Like I said, our budget today needs to increase. I can tell you we can fund that budget. We are looking at the budget of about at least N25 trillion and 10 per cent must go to education and 10 per cent must go to health. These are our critical areas. In terms of tertiary education, we can fund it by a combination of ways. The way we are funding it now is not sustainable. It will have to involve scholarships, grants, and loans. I have studied a few countries and what they are doing. Tertiary education is not done the way we are funding it today. We need to get to where universities would be independent. Now government must be involved in some way. There's the University

Obi

The cost of governance is unacceptable. It costs more to keep a Nigerian governor than to keep a governor of California, the biggest state in America. The governor of California today, if anybody sees him in five vehicles (convoy), he won’t be governor the next day. If he enters first class, paid for by the government of California to Washington, not to talk of chartering a plane, before he finishes paying for the plane he chartered, he’s gone. like Ibadan, Nsukka which can generate their own funding, but government will support, people will be given loans. I can tell you that under our watch, nobody will close the universities.

I am surprised that your manifesto is not clear about the issue of minimum wage. Then social SURWHFWLRQ SURJUDPPHV OLNH SHQVLRQ LQVXUDQFH HWF ZKLFK DOVR UHÁHFW LQ SK\VLFDO VHFXULW\ DUH also not well covered...

You said I didn't mention the issue of minimum wage, I did. I said we'll move it to an hourly rate payment, and I even went to say that it is low

where it is today. I have said we need to work it as we become more productive. In terms of inequality, Nigeria is one of the worst, but it is skewed because the system is not productive. I do not know how to measure or to show you how unproductive Nigeria is, but let’s use our exports because it’s linked to our exchange rate which again is a function of our reserves. As a country, we live on 923,000 square kilometres of land. Our total export for last year was N18.9 WULOOLRQ ZKLFK DW R΀FLDO UDWH LV ELOOLRQ EXW LQ P\ RZQ UDWH DW 1 LW LV XQGHU ELOOLRQ That is a crisis. That’s unacceptable. Don’t even

go to China, India etc, just use our size like Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and you will know how unproductive we are. Vietnam is 100 million, live on 331,000 square kilometres of land, which is a third of our land and our population.

7KHLU WRWDO H[SRUW ODVW \HDU ZDV RYHU ELOOLRQ None of this is natural resource. Because we're sharing proceeds of our natural resources, it is transactional. It’s like becoming president and giving someone an oil block, in a system where there is entrepreneurship, there’s no way that will happen. So, for me that is what you're talking about when you say social justice. When I say moving from consumption to production, consumption of course is critical, but we cannot continue to consume because even in the Bible, they said that if you don't work, you should not be given food.

Here, we have wealth without enterprise. I can go to the airport, and I see somebody who tells PH KH KDV D SULYDWH MHW 1R R΀FH QRWKLQJ <RX can’t do that anywhere in the world. I will give you two examples of states in Nigeria when I talk about from consumption to production. We can’t feed ourselves. Six to seven local governments in Niger state today are occupied by bandits and nobody is talking about it. Nobody can go there, not even the governor. Niger State has the most fertile land in this country and possibly Africa. It has 76,300 square kilometres of land. They have other minerals which is part of the reasons the

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MONDAY, ;˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

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Peter Obi: We Must End the Sharing Mentality bandits are there. They can’t feed themselves. Niger State depends on coming to Abuja to take N4 billion from its statutory allocation to function every month when Netherlands without water 33,000 square kilometres of land is. So, Niger State is almost two and a half the size of Netherlands.

The agricultural export last year was $120 billion, and I have kept repeating this, why can’t our country do that? If Niger state produced that they won’t need to come to Abuja. But they are here. And that’s what I mean by consumption to production. I was in Taraba and the whole of the state, you could see poverty. I went to see the governor and he kept complaining to me about statutory allocation. Do you know that Taraba is bigger than Belgium and Israel combined? We need to go into production. We can’t even feed ourselves. India is exporting agricultural products.

I was in the UK when they were still importing food, but at a point they said no, we need to start producing.

Tied to the issue of production, even in agriculture is insecurity. How are you going to handle that crisis?

First is that we need to review the entire security architecture and as the commander-in-chief, I am going to be in charge. It’s our number one priority.

We will look at increasing the manpower, from our police to the other security agencies because the manpower is low. I used to think we had 370,000 policemen. I went to see the Inspector General of Police and he told me we have 320,000 personnel. If you minus about 70,000 of them following people like me around, we are left with 250,000 for a country of 200 million plus. Egypt has 100 million people and one million policemen.

So, we need to increase the number. They need to be properly equipped. Many police stations do not have ammunition. So, we have a problem. On top of that, you can’t have a huge country like this without state and local government policing. How are local communities going to protect themselves?

But like I always say to people, I will be in charge.

We need to be able to do whatever is possible to secure life and property in this country. And again, there’s no way you can have this level of poverty and not have security problems. Everybody is a security problem because they don’t know where the next meal will come from. That was why I talked about the issue of production. We must feed ourselves. That’s why India, the biggest rice importer has become the biggest rice producer. So, we will aggressively address the issue of insecurity.

Let’s talk about the cost of governance and agencies that are duplicating responsibilities.

I am a champion of reduction of cost of governance in Nigeria. It is unacceptable having duplicated agencies. We just have people running around and not being productive. There was something I said to them when I became governor.

I told them I wasn’t going to sack anybody, we won’t downsize, but everybody must be productive.

If you think your agency needs to stay, tell us how you can generate revenue to keep yourself going. There are countries of the world today that don’t send money to their embassies. They live from their activities, including issuing visas, passport renewals and others and there are Nigerians crying that they can’t get their passports renewed. The cost of governance is unacceptable.

It costs more to keep a Nigerian governor than to keep a governor of California, the biggest state in America. When I started as a governor, 30 to 40 per cent of our state budget was used IRU JRYHUQRU·V R΀FH EHFDXVH KH KDV DOO VRUWV RI WKLQJV LQFOXGLQJ EXW QRW OLPLWHG WR WKH R΀FH RI WKH ÀUVW ODG\ ZKLFK ZDV FRVWLQJ DERXW 1 ELOOLRQ annually because she had advisers. And that’s somebody who was not elected, has no position, nothing. They even have advisers. My predecessor bought our lodge in Abuja and was costing us N36 PLOOLRQ PRQWKO\ SD\LQJ VWDͿ UXQQLQJ JHQHUDWRUV etc. But the governor of Anambra does not live in Abuja. He has no reason to own a house in Abuja. That’s the reason I gave it away. We had in Lagos and Abuja. We had a guest house in Enugu. I gave it to Court of Appeal judges just like the United Nations moved to our lodge in Abuja after the bombing. We had a fuel dump that cost us thirty something million. Once you put the fuel there it will disappear whether you use it or not. There were so many things we needed to shut down. That was what brought about my ÀUVW LPSHDFKPHQW $OO WKHVH WKLQJV WKDW \RX KHDU budget padding, its simply the cost of governance.

There’s no way an American president takes a budget to the national assembly and then when it is returned, there is additional 30 per cent. The governor of California today, if anybody sees him LQ ÀYH YHKLFOHV FRQYR\ KH ZRQ·W EH JRYHUQRU WKH QH[W GD\ ,I KH HQWHUV ÀUVW FODVV SDLG IRU E\ the government of California to Washington, not WR WDON RI FKDUWHULQJ D SODQH EHIRUH KH ÀQLVKHV paying for the plane he chartered, he’s gone. In Nigeria, a plane from Owerri airport to Abuja is $10,000, now $12,500. If you keep it for every hour, it attracts $6,000 surcharge. Yet, some governors can keep such plane for a full day when they are having meetings.

You cannot do it anywhere on the surface RI WKH HDUWK DQG UHPDLQ LQ R΀FH 6R WKH FRVW of governance is criminal here. I don’t want to talk about the national level because I have not reached there. But I believe it’s the same thing.

So, we must reduce our cost of governance and

Mr Peter Obi being escorted to his vehicle by Waziri Adio and Olusegun Adeniyi after the session

One of the ambassadors I met told me that he was going to invite us as one of the observers in the G20. I told him I won’t go. There’s nothing in G7, G20 and others. All we need to do is to fix our economy. What qualifies one country more than the other? It’s just because we are poor, so we are not in any ‘G'. If elected next year, I will ensure that before I leave office, Nigeria must belong to one ‘G’. we will deal with it decisively.

Let’s look at a cardinal part of your manifesto.

The one you call Afrocentric diplomacy. Nigeria is QRW QHZ WR WKLV :KDW GR \RX SODQ WR GR GL;HUHQWO\ so that Nigeria will gain from this policy.

Like you said, I am not going to do anything GLͿHUHQWO\ EHFDXVH ZH DOUHDG\ NQRZ ZKDW LW is. But for me, before we look at foreign policy, we need to have domestic stability. We need to address the domestic situation. We have issues of all sorts of agreements within Africa. If we organise ourselves more, we will take advantage of that. A manifesto is a working document. This is something we are going to be working towards.

One of the ambassadors I met told me that he was going to invite us as one of the observers in the G20. I told him I won’t go. There’s nothing in * * DQG RWKHUV $OO ZH QHHG WR GR LV WR À[ RXU HFRQRP\ :KDW TXDOLÀHV RQH FRXQWU\ PRUH than the other? It’s just because we are poor, so we are not in any ‘G'. If elected next year, I will HQVXUH WKDW EHIRUH , OHDYH R΀FH 1LJHULD PXVW belong to one ‘G’.

Debt servicing and subsidies are strangling the economy. The country will need to ensure VXVWDLQDEOH UHYHQXHV ÁRZ :KDW DUH \RXU VWUDWHJLHV in this respect?

You mentioned the debts. Every country in the world borrows. It is what you do with your GHEWV WKDW PDNHV WKH GLͿHUHQFH 7KH UHDVRQ ZK\ we are complaining now is because the money we borrowed was consumed. If it was invested into production, all the complaints won’t be there.

America owes about almost 90 per cent of GDP LQ GHEW WRGD\ 7KH VHFRQG ELJJHVW HFRQRP\ China, owes about 50 per cent of their GDP in debt today. Japan, the third biggest economy is owing 230 per cent of their GDP. Even Singapore, Norway with all the sovereign wealth is still owing about 40 per cent of its GDP. So, everybody is owing. It’s what you do with it that makes the GLͿHUHQFH ,I ZH KDG LQYHVWHG ZKDW ZH ERUURZHG

we would have been okay today. Other smaller countries borrow. Let me give you an example of two countries that borrowed over the same period. Nigeria and Bangladesh. If you look at Bangladesh in 2010, go and read the World Bank report. In 2010 Bangladesh’s debt was about $45 billion with a GDP of $115 billion, their per capita was $781. Nigeria was owing about the same amount, even below that amount and our per capita was about $2,280. By 2015, Nigeria’s per capita moved to $2,600 plus and theirs moved from $781 to $1, 245. Today, their debt is about $100 billion plus, ours is $100 billion plus, so we have moved from a debt of about $40 billion to $100 billion and our per capita is $2,058, theirs is now $2,508. So they have more than tripled their own, our own is less now. So, imagine our per capita today is $4,000, we won't be talking here about a problem. On the issue of revenue, it is a function of productivity, because when you produce, you tax people. Are you going to tax the 133 million people they said are living in poverty? Where will WKH\ ÀQG WKH WD[ WR SD\ \RX" 7D[DWLRQ LV OLNH D EDQN DFFRXQW <RX ÀUVW PXVW SD\ VRPHWKLQJ LQ before you withdraw. That's what government does all over the world. You borrow this money and invest it in human beings. The Minister of Humanitarian ministry said they spent $7 billion in the past seven years. That is about N4.5 trillion.

If you had invested 100 billion in each state, it ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ D GLͿHUHQW WKLQJ %HFDXVH WKDW money borrowed was stolen, they threw more people into poverty. Your working population is 122 million, so 122 million is supposed to be productive. If your unemployment today is 10 per cent, that means only about 12 million isn't working. But if you have unemployment of 40 per cent, by just pulling people into productivity, you FDQ WULSOH \RXU UHYHQXH DQG DJDLQ \RX QHHG WR À[ the revenue gaps. As for subsidy, it is organised crime, and it should go from day one.

The tax to GDP ratio of Benin and Niger Republic are better than our own which is about WKH ORZHVW LQ WKH ZRUOG 6R LQ VSHFLÀF GHWDLOV what exactly are you going to do to raise tax to GDP. In 2023, budget for debt servicing and subsidies is N9.8 trillion. So, debt and subsidies in six months will wipe out our revenues for the year. So, we have a major revenue problem.

You have also said 50 per cent of subsidy is corruption. We want to be educated about the 50 per cent that is corruption.

Revenue is a function of production. Those countries you said they are poor, and are paying more tax to their GDP, they are not collecting more than we are collecting, in quote. So, we are talking about percentage wise. But I am saying that even in that clime, it’s still low and it’s a function of production and economic activities. There are so many loopholes that we need to tackle here in terms of revenue collection. We still have porous revenue collection; oil is still being stolen etc. If I say 50 per cent subsidy is crime, I am only comparing what we are consuming to countries that are our size like Pakistan. If they have about the same population and they have more roads, IURP ZKDW , KDYH VWXGLHG , PLJKW EH ZURQJ and they consume less than 50 per cent of what we consume, then there’s a problem somewhere.

Two, there are so many components of it and people think, okay, is subsidy more important than education? No. People have questions about our loans. If I'm president today, I assure you, subsidy ZLOO JR :H FDQQRW DͿRUG WR NHHS SD\LQJ VXEVLG\ For me, I will subsidise health and education not fuel. The money I'm paying in subsidy, I will use to support insurance in health. We will support the UHÀQHULHV FRPLQJ XS RQ VWUHDP LQFOXGLQJ 'DQJRWH DQG WKH PRGXODU UHÀQHULHV 7KH\ VD\ WKHUH DUH VR

PDQ\ LOOHJDO UHÀQHULHV ZH ZLOO PHHW ZLWK WKRVH EHKLQG LW DQG OHJDOLVH LW :H ZLOO ÀQG D ZD\ WR VHOO RLO WR HQFRXUDJH ORFDO UHÀQLQJ EHFDXVH ZH produce it here. The fuel may be more expensive, but we will not pay subsidy. If people in Kenya can pay for fuel, people in Nigeria can pay for fuel. And we will put the money where they are putting theirs. Kenya has less than 10 per cent unemployment. And that’s the way to go. After all, subsidy is for big men who drive a long line of vehicles.

What’s your idea of restructuring and what items do you think should be removed from the exclusive list.

We say Nigeria is lopsided because it’s a sharing mentality. Once you are sharing, they start talking about numbers. When you talk about production, it won’t be the same thing. It is the sharing mentality.

Once people are sharing, you will start hearing, ‘remember my father did this, my father did that’.

When it is about producing, whatever his father SXW LQ LV GLͿHUHQW EHFDXVH KH QHHGV WR EXLOG KLV RZQ :KHQ ZH WDON DERXW ÀVFDO IHGHUDOLVP WKH ELJJHVW EHQHÀFLDU\ RI LW VKRXOG EH WKH QRUWK WKH\ have the vast uncultivated land. This oil we are sharing now is a diminishing asset that is already gone. The future of Nigeria is in cultivating the vast land in the north, processing what we cultivate and exporting it. Not from oil. What did we get from oil last year? I want to assume that our total export was N18.9 trillion, which is about $30 billion, including the almighty oil. Bangladesh did $36 billion from clothing. Vietnam did more from footwear than we did from oil. They don’t talk about oil; they don’t talk about sharing in their place. Everybody is producing something.

It’s this sharing mentality that’s making us behave like this. In fact, what we should be doing now is using the resources of oil to clean up and develop the Niger Delta for all the pain they have been through. Look, the Bank of Industry is dead in a developing country. India has more than, in fact the area called Punjab alone has about 700,000 tractors. Nigeria, in total has below 50,000. We must move along the right path. First, it won’t be easy. You need to begin to understand that there’s no more public money to steal because LW·V ÀQLVKHG How are you going to deal with the crisis of ‘indigeneship’ in Nigeria?

I will tell you how I want to deal with it, but again, it’s a function of sharing. The reason why in America, nobody is asking you where you come from is that there’s nothing to share. That’s why Elon Musk can come from South Africa and become the richest person in America. If it were here in Nigeria, they will be asking where’s he from. Is he from north or south? When it’s productivity, there will be nothing to share so you can go to the north and cultivate all the land and become the richest man. You must remove sharing from the equation. If you want this country to work, remove sharing. Let’s bring in competition, that’s what obtains in America. A truck driver came into America and founded what we are calling WhatsApp today, which is ‘what’s up’. He didn’t need to start explaining where his mother or father LV IURP 7KDW·V D OHYHO SOD\LQJ ÀHOG /HW SHRSOH·V hard work and talent match with the opportunities and you will see the society change. In India today, nobody cares where you come from. It’s leading in Information Technology. That’s why a schoolteacher like Alibaba became what he is. +H ZHQW WR MRLQ WKH SROLFH WKH\ GLVTXDOLÀHG KLP based on height. Today, look at companies he has created. That’s what we need in Nigeria and in ÀYH \HDUV WKLV FRXQWU\ ZLOO VWDUW FKDQJLQJ :H want to create that kind of Nigeria.

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY JANUARY 1, 2023

EDITORIAL

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

WELCOME TO 2023!

Nigerians should embrace a new spirit that places emphasis on unity of purpose

D

espite the best efforts of the outgoing administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians are being ushered into 2023 with some diffidence. The prevalent public disillusionment occasioned by severe economic hardship is being capped by the loss of dominance of the machinery of violence to non-state actors in several theatres across the country. With humongous illegal funds from oil theft, sundry criminal cartels have contributed significantly to our national security challenge. But the situation could be worsened if politicians and other stakeholders abandon governance and related duties to the people in the campaigns for the 2023 general election that is less than two months away.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has since released the timetable, beginning with the presidential election in February. Even if we admit that the elections are important, abandoning governance as many have done, especially at the subnational level, is unconscionable.

We urge a rethink. Besides, it is also important that the electioneering be done with discipline DQG GHFRUXP ,QÁDPPDWRU\ UKHWRULF LV XQKHOSIXO given the rising tension and violence occasioned by divisive comments and a polity obsessed with ethnicity and religion.

0HDQZKLOH SROLWLFDO RIÀFH VHHNHUV PXVW SXW RQ their thinking caps on how to address the challenges that plague the nation. Today, many basic services such as education, health and infrastructure are decrepit, while a demographic crisis is looming large on the horizon. With a large segment of the population roaming the streets without any means of livelihood and hope for the next meal, it is little wonder why social tension in the country has reached a boiling point, taking several forms, including violent agitations.

On the economic front, nothing perhaps poisons

the public mood better than the present hardship that many Nigerians experience at filling stations due to petrol shortages across the nation. We cannot emphasise enough the fact that an oil producing country should have no business with scarcity of refined petroleum products. To have this consistently go on is to conclude that we have poorly equipped managers running our national life and their decisions are hurting all of us.

Sadly, this crisis will persist because petrol is still being subsidised - at huge cost for that matter, a luxury that the government could ill-afford.

However, the biggest task at hand is the 2023 general election that is almost upon us. We urge all politicians and their associates to steer the country from religious and sectional conflicts in their campaigns. The onus of course is also on the authorities to map out workable strategies that would guarantee safety of those who will engage the electoral process as voters or polling officials. All this, in addition to the deployment of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) will, to an extent, restore confidence and trust in the Nigerian electoral system. It is also our hope that both the bar and the bench in Nigeria will, by their conduct before, during and after the elections help to strengthen rather than weaken our democracy.

Against the background that all manner of frivolous suits that could affect the elections are being filed by politicians and their agents, it is important for the judiciary to insulate itself from partisan politics and guard its independence and impartiality jealously. And the only way to do that is if our judges imbibe the virtue of living above board. As we have repeatedly said here, the function of law as instrument of social engineering should never be compromised on the altar of expediency and corruption.

Above all, we hope Nigerians will embrace a new spirit that places emphasis on unity of purpose as we seek to advance our country for peace and prosperity.

We wish all our readers happy new year!

The biggest task at hand is the 2023 general election that is almost upon us. We urge all politicians and their associates to steer the country from religious and sectional conflicts in their campaigns

Letters to the Editor

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

LETTERS

ALMAJIRI CHILDREN: NIGERIA’S TICKING BOMB Bedevilled, unkempt, and hunger-stricken: so dispiriting it is to see innocent children unleased on the streets of Northern Nigeria to beg around for food, when they should be in school learning towards securing a better future.

Coined from “Al Muhajirun” which translates “an emigrant”, Almajiri simply denotes a seeker of knowledge who migrates from his home to an Arabic school or to a teacher “Mallam”. The archaic Al Majiri practice, without doubt, has birthed more bad than good, especially in the 21st century, where seeking knowledge has advanced with the aid of reforms and technology.

The Almajiri system could have yielded good results in the past, but today, it’s only a system responsible for 14 million out-ofschool children, according to a report by the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Beyond the statistics and outpours, the Almajiri children pose great threats to the security architecture of Nigeria, as bandits,

kidnappers, and Boko Haram exploit them ZLWK WULÁLQJ OXFUH DQG JHW UHFUXLWV IURP WKHP no thanks to poverty and their illiteracy.

While many concerned Nigerians have raised a dissenting voice against the perilous web over the years, it has rather become worrisome that the practice has only continued to cast an ominous pall on the development of Nigeria.

Sanusi Lamido’s condemnations and those of many Northern elders are commendable, but have had little impact on combating the menace.

More laudable is the action of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, who in 2020, facilitated a meeting with 19 Northern governors towards combating the Almajiri system and avoiding inter-state movements of the Almajiri children.

Dr Abdullahi Ganduje’s implementation of free and compulsory primary and secondary school education in Kano, to curtail the Almajirai is also deserving of applause. But beyond these words and actions, more needs to be done.

There is no denying that the (Almajiri)

SDUHQWV ZKR DUH WKH ÀUVW DJHQWV RI VRFLDOL]DWLRQ have failed these kids; thus, the real sensitization needs to start with them. There is a need for timely sensitization for these parents on the dangers of kids who are left uncatered for, as well as the need for them to stop seeing childbirth as competition or something just to brag about; while serious sanctions should be meted out to parents whose kids roam about the streets.

7KURXJK RIÀFLDO DQG XQRIÀFLDO PHDQV Mallams who are the teachers of the Almajiri kids, have been reported to EHQHÀW IURP WKH SURFHHGV RI EHJJLQJ from these children. The Mallams need to be sensitized on the need for the Almajiri kids to go for, not only Islamic education, but Western education as well. Through that, these children will have a balanced view of life and won’t see things from just one direction. The Mallams need to know that illiteracy is not a practice of Islam,

as Muslim countries around the world have high literacy rates. An instance is Saudi Arabia, which had an illiteracy rate of 60% in 1972, and in 2018 already had an illiteracy rate of 5.6%.

Likewise, Qatar, in 2016, had a literacy rate of 97.26% among citizens between age 15 and 25 years.

The society has a lion’s share of the responsibilities towards tackling the menace of the Almajirai, as well. There’s a need for more voluntary organizations like Act 4 Almajiri Child, PeaceWay Youth Initiative (where this writer had volunteered) and many others, to be at the forefront of struggles against the Almajiri system. As well, there is a need for full implementation of the Child Rights Act 2003 which states in Section 15(1) that “Every child has the right to free, compulsory, and universal basic education, and it shall be the duty of the government in Nigeria to provide such education.”

Hashim Yussuf Amao, Ibadan

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WEEKLY PULL-OUT

01.1.23

Artistes to Watch out for in 2023

Burna Boy

Temi

Tems

Davido

The 2023 general elections will indubitably steal the spotlight given the pedigree of the political gladiators that will be on stage. Notwithstanding, the music and movies industries have a lot to offer. Deals, wedding bells, new shows, new accolades and of course, new dramas. 2022 gave us these and more but we hope that 2023 will deliver an unbeatable scorecard. Vanessa Obioha looks at some of the individuals who will be in the spotlight in 2023. Happy New Year!

ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/victoria.olaode@thisdaylive.com.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 1, 2023

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COVER

Artistes to Watch out for in 2023 Funke Akindele

Of course, he is not the first Nigerian to take home the gramophone statuette, but in mainstream music, it was a welcoming first.

His win opened doors for other Afrobeats superstars to appear prominently on the coveted Grammys nomination list. It also drew many international eyes to the bubbly Afrobeats scene.

With his recent nomination in the 2023 Grammy Awards for his album ‘Love Damini’, and his song ‘Last Last’ all eyes are on Burna Boy. Will he bring home another Grammy? Or has he been bitten by the perennial Grammy nomination bug? Can he be to Nigeria what Angelique Kidjo has been to Benin Republic with her multiple Grammy wins?

A

t the exotic cultural premiere of her film ‘Battle on Buka Street’, Funke Akindele disclosed that she was retreating from the Nollywood spotlight to focus on her new calling: politics. The actress and filmmaker has had a good run in Nollywood, creating unforgettable characters such as Jenifa in her awardwinning TV series ‘Jenifa’s Diary’. The name has since stuck to her skin like glue.

In the New Year, Akindele is looking forward to becoming the next Deputy Governor of Lagos State. Standing alongside Olajide Adediran (Jandor), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate who is hell bent on upending the APC structure in the state, Akindele is optimistic that her name will soon be written in golden letters, that is, if they beat the odds stacked high against them. It may perhaps be a fulfilling year for the actress.

John Ugbe

The visionary leader of MultiChoice Nigeria is dedicated to ensuring Nigerians are entertained despite the political tension of the upcoming general elections. Starting this month, Nigerians will be gripped by the special Big Brother edition tagged ‘Big Brother Titans’. For the first time, housemates from Nigeria and South Africa will be living in Big Brother House to play the game and take home the grand prize of $100,000. With two hosts Ebuka ObiUchendu and Lawrence Maleka, the show will likely display the best of both cultures and underscore the bond shared despite the conspicuous battle of superiority.

In February, MultiChoice Nigeria will be having the first WWE tryout in Lagos.

Through its partnership with the wrestling company, a talent search for Africa’s Next WWE Superstar was announced late last year that will see a lucky individual tryout for a chance to attend WWE’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania in Los Angeles, California, next year, in April, and eventually kickstart a WWE career.

These and more are some of the lineups that Ugbe and his team are working on to make 2023 a memorable year in entertainment for Nigerians.

Akindele

Linus Idahosa

The founder of Del-York International Linus Idahosa is a bit reticent about his achievements. He is not given to loquacity and prefers to let his works speak for him. His contribution to the creative industry is lauded in close quarters. It was in 2010 that Idahosa invited about 40 international film and creative lecturers to Del-York Creative Academy to train young creatives in the art and business of creativity.

The Academy today has churned out successful individuals in different areas of filmmaking. Given its lofty reputation, when Lagos State kicked off its Lagos State Creative Industry Initiative (LACI), Del-York Creative Academy was found a worthy partner.

Under that partnership, Del-York trained over 1,000 creatives online in the area of scriptwriting, directing, cinematography and filmmaking.

But the icing on the cake which will begin to take shape this year was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the company and Lagos State Government to build a film city in the Epe area of the state.

Christened ‘Kebulania’, the project which will occupy 100 hectares of land and house a studio city with residential and commercial real estate; a film and media academy, a theme park, a Nollywood Walk of Fame, and front and backlot infrastructure for different film projects, multiple sound stages, dining and entertainment hubs, is set to begin in the first quarter of 2023.

The project will not only generate revenue for the Lagos economy and spike its tourism receipts, but it will also cement Lagos as the entertainment hub of Africa for creatives within and outside the continent.

Pretty Okafor Ugbe

Salami

DJ Cuppy/Temi Otedola

Tems

2022 saw the rise of Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems on the international scene. Her songwriting talents earned her a mention in the works of some of the biggest music superstars in the world.

Think of Beyoncé, Rihanna and Future.

These collaborations are likely to fetch her more international laurels in the new year.

Tems bagged three nominations at the 65th Grammy Awards scheduled for February 6. She was nominated in the Album of the Year (AOTY) category for Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance’; Best Melodic Rap Performance and Best Rap Song categories for Future’s ‘Wait for U.’ The 27-year-old singer also earned a Golden Globe nomination for ‘Best Original Song’ for her collaborative effort on Marvel’s ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ soundtrack.

Perhaps, 2023 may turn out to be the most decorative year for the singer.

Tonye Princewill

In 2016, renowned businessman and politician, Tonye Princewill made a bold statement with his historic production ‘76, based on the botched military coup that saw the assassination of the

The President of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Pretty Okafor ended 2022 with the acquisition of a corporate office for Nigerian music. That’s just one side of the puzzle solved. The main task ahead of Okafor is to get Nigerian musicians to believe in the body and associate itself with its vision. It is no news that a huge percentage of budding Nigerian musicians regard the body as a place for veterans and are oblivious to the various ways the association is fighting for their rights.

Changing this mindset requires strategic moves. But Okafor is known for his doggedness and given the partnerships he has with Zenith Bank, he seems poised to tackle the task. He has already begun by hosting some of the younger generations of music stars like Skales in the new music house. Maybe, he will break another jinx this year.

Princewill

Head of State Murtala Muhammed.

The film witnessed for the first time the collaboration of the Nigerian army in telling the story. Princewill has embarked on other ambitious endeavours since then but in the new year, the film producer alongside his partner Adonijah Owiriwa and film director Izu Ojukwu will bring to the screen another imagination based on the popular cultural festival FESTAC 77. The trailer suggests a continuation of the ‘76 story as it has the lead characters Ramsey Nouah and Rita Dominic at the centre. Given his quest for excellence, the project simply called ‘77 may be one of the talking points of the new year.

DJ Cuppy

Davido:

In 2021, Davido made headlines with his birthday fundraising event that scooped millions of Naira from celebrities and friends. In 2022, his son’s death, his marriage to Chef Chioma Rowland and his performance at the World Cup were in the news spotlight. One can only imagine what news the singer will be making in 2023. One thing is for sure though, his fans can expect a new album in March and his PUMA collection which was postponed last year.

Burna Boy

In 2021, Burna Boy gave Nigerians a long-awaiting gift, winning a Grammy.

The Otedolas had a series of engagements last year. From Mr Eazi, the musician and technology entrepreneur proposing to Temi Otedola last April to DJ Cuppy getting engaged to her beau, the boxer Ryan Taylor last December, one can only wonder if wedding bells will ring at the Otedola’s household this year. And if they do, how will the billionaire Femi Otedola mark these special days of his daughters? Simple or extravagant?

Given his luxury lifestyle, one can only expect a jaw-dropping ceremony.

Akin Salami

The famed producer of The Voice Nigeria last year was tapped to produce The Voice Africa. The singing competition will feature about 14 countries on the continent and will retain its format that has made the franchise a fan’s favourite: blind auditions, knockouts, battles and live shows.

At the unveiling last year, it was revealed that 100 contestants will be drawn from the virtual auditions which began on Wednesday, October 19, 2022. The singing reality TV show is expected to premiere in March 2023.

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HighLife Tony Elumelu’s High Octane Event

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

Can Someone Remind Wike How Transient Power is?

Power is one of the most difficult concepts to grasp. Lord Acton is remembered for saying that absolute power corrupts absolutely. But no man in the present day has absolute power.

Yet, individuals like Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike are proving Acton right even though they only hold a meager fraction of true power.

Since he lost the presidential and vice presidential tickets of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wike has continued to rally the different dimensions of gubernatorial power to suppress those he considers contemptible and underneath him. Knowing that he is not the kind of person to prostrate to his adversaries, suppression is Wike’s go-to strategy for defending what he considers to be his territory to the point of toppling law and order and common sense.

It has been a difficult time for those in the PDP since Wike decided to go Rambo on those he considered to have betrayed him.

As a refresher, Wike came second behind Atiku Abubakar during the PDP presidential

primaries. Because he had determined that Atiku would not have won if the South-south had been on his side, Wike has taken it upon himself to right the wrongs of perceived marginalisation, hoping to get every nonNorthern area a chance to stand out during the next presidential era.

Considering all that Wike is willing to do to achieve his goals, including seducing other influential governors to his side. One is reminded of when he revoked the C of O (Certificate of Occupancy) of Novotel Hotel in Port Harcourt, a hotel that was the known lodging place of Wike’s biggest political adversary, Rotimi Amaechi.

Of course, quite many people would love Wike to know that power is transient and not a permanent thing to have and to hold. Even Amaechi whom Wike is so adamant to rid of all authority in Rivers was once the most powerful individual in the state. Look how humble the former Transport Minister has become. Wike would do well to learn from this and simmer down.

Wike

Buhari, Okowa, Olu of Warri, Others Mourn as Julius Rone Loses Father

Elumelu

It is that time of the year when the wealthy among us exhaust a considerable fraction of their resources celebrating Christmas.

For the genuinely moneyed ones like Tony Elumelu, Christmas just happens to come at the end of the year and every year is almost certainly a successful year for the Heirs Holdings man. 2022 was no different and the event that Elumelu used to celebrate the birth of Christ was one that will be written about for months to come.

This year’s Elumelu Christmas party had a special theme and that was Havana Night. Because Elumelu is who he is, the party was not the run-of-the-mill Christmas party that is celebrated with solemn gazes and hearts engaged in calculations of what the coming year would bring. Instead, Elumelu’s Havana Night was an event of true celebration with many big acts around to share the limelight with the man making young African entrepreneurs into superheroes and giants.

Based on the reports that eventually leaked out, Elumelu had decided that Havana Night would be held at Ikoyi, Lagos, and open to only a particular group of individuals. This lucky group included bigwigs like BUA Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, and sensational celebrities like Tiwa Savage and many others. Only these individuals were privileged to listen to the performances of equally spectacular music acts like Wizkid, Asake, and Kizz Daniel.

Of course, this is not the first time that Elumelu is closing the year with a Christmas party. The very first one was in 2017 and was packed with dignitaries from all over.

Nevertheless, being the progressive man he is, 2022’s edition beats all the others. Thus, as the rest of us prepare for 2023 having almost certainly given up on 2022, Elumelu is still celebrating his wins.

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

Rone

It is that time of the year for the most powerful of Nigerians to throw parties to commemorate their achievements for the year. For households like that of Bimbo Ashiru and his wife, Kemi, who do this every year, this year’s Christmas party was particularly spectacular. More so and in keeping with their tradition, the party doubled as a celebration of Ashiru’s new age. Thus, it was a blast, true and long-lasting.

When you are someone as powerful and influential as the Chairman of the prestigious Oodua Group, there is a way you carry yourself that demonstrates your power and glory.

For Ashiru, the ascension to Oodua Group Chairman status has done little to douse his sanguine spirit. During this year’s edition of his Christmas party slash December 26 birthday, Ashiru was as bubbly as he has always been, bringing his wife and friends along for the party ride.

For the Ashirus, December 26 is always a

To the insensitive individual, death can rush in and out like a fierce wind blowing away all hopes and aspirations for the future.

But to the individual who is prepared, death only serves as a summons for rest. For Chief Sunday Rone, the father of Gas King Julius Rone, it is a time of rest. However, knowing this fact is not enough reason not to mourn the Obazuaye of Warri’s passing, as President Muhammadu Buhari and other prestigious political leaders have demonstrated.

The entire Warri Kingdom is currently experiencing a time of mourning owing to the passing of Chief Rone. Chief Rone who was also known as the Ogienoyibo crossed from this side of eternity on Monday, December 26, 2022, at the age of 86. However, despite the gloom brought about by Ogienoyibo’s demise, the impact of the life that he led is inspirational enough

to walk the path of greatness and selflessness irrespective of the challenges.

Multiple individuals have pointed out the outstanding life that Chief Rone lived, culminating in him being hailed all around as the longestserving Chief in the Warri Kingdom before his death. President Buhari celebrated the fact that the Ogienoyibo lived a full life and one that inspired peace, goodwill, and sustainable development in Warri and around it. He also intimated that Julius’ father influenced the youths around him to such a degree that he produced a son as genuinely impactful as the Gas King.

Many others had good things to say about Julius’ late father, including Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III. According to Okowa and the Olu of Warri, the Ogienoyibo’s impact will continue to be felt in Warri Kingdom, the Niger Delta, and Nigeria in general especially taking into account the many conquests of Chief Rone’s son, Julius.

Lagos Standstill as the Ashirus Celebrate Wedding Anniversary and Bimbo’s Birthday

Bimbo Ashiru and wife, Kemi

Timehin Adelegbe Ticks All the Boxes in Ondo Politics As 2023 begins, it is important that names be mentioned of individuals whose lives are inspiring in the breadth of dedication and influence. Being the Sunshine State, Ondo has quite a few of these individuals. Nevertheless, Timehin Adelegbe, the lawmaker representing Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, stands in a class of his own.

The tabloids are full of stories of Adelegbe, the man that has managed and continues to brighten the prospects of the people of Owo/ Ose Federal Constituency. The reason for this is not that Adelegbe is thick-skinned as to pay off journalists to say good things about him.

Instead, it is that too many of his achievements

are on the lips of the common people, causing others to help announce his honourable intentions so that his peers can emulate him.

Adelegbe stands at the head of the line when considering people whose lives have been submitted to the welfare of the common people. In all of Ondo and especially in political circles, one would have more luck finding a needle in a haystack than someone more committed to ensuring that the people have their dreams actualized and their demands met compared to Adelegbe. This is his greatest charm and why the common people love him.

Usually, individuals like Adelegbe with

day of celebration. One, they use the date to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Secondly, it is the birthday of the man of the household, Ashiru. So, Kemi always makes sure to host their closest pals and associates in their Ikoyi home, enjoining them to close the year together.

For the 2022 edition, the Ashiru couple hosted individuals like Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Olusegun Osoba and his wife, Tayo Ayeni, Taiwo Afolabi, and several other popularly acknowledged bigwigs in the political and corporate worlds.

This year was especially special because it is the first since Ashiru was appointed the Chairman of the Oodua Group. Nevertheless, it is awesome to see that his new status does not influence him to change what is considered one of the most invigorating things about himself—his loyalty to family values, friends, and household traditions.

their zeal for the common people are hated by their peers. Not Adelegbe. The man has managed to consolidate his sanguine personality to the point that only the cruelest individuals would consider him an enemy.

Indeed, among the high and mighty of Ondo, Adelegbe is a darling. No wonder even Governor Rotimi Akeredolu does not hesitate to praise him.

So, in terms of achievements, Adelegbe is up there with other people doing great things in Nigeria. He is riding the political space in Ondo, but converting all the hype and prestige accorded to him for the betterment of his people.

How Unique Auto Boss, Adesina, Became One of the Biggest Auto Dealers in Lagos

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HIGHLIFE

Mike Adenuga’s Globacom Bringing Joy to Nigerians Christmas is always a good time for many people. For corporations like Dr. Mike Adenuga’s Globacom, Christmas is another period and opportunity to change the lives of people and erect a time monument of this impact so that it is remembered for years to come. In keeping with this tradition, the 2022 edition of Globacom’s Festival of Joy has helped to impact the lives of many Glo customers, delivering gifts that can only be described as true goodies in the face of Adenuga’s generosity.

Another Glo customer has been presented with the keys to a renewed and successful life, thanks to the Festival of Joy promotion that Globacom started in November. The latest beneficiary of this promotion is Lawal Olayinka Abiodun, a 38-yearold man who works with Pacific Coast Trading company. Abiodun was presented with the keys to a threebedroom apartment in Lekki, Lagos. To say that his life has not changed would

be to stir Abiodun’s wrath, taking into account his wild excitement at the sheer possibility of the whole event.

Abiodun’s words are enough to show how much Adenuga’s gesture meant to him: “Is this how people become landlords? It is like a fairy tale encounter that one gets to read in books.” The gift for his loyalty to Glo is even more spectacular considering that he only got married in June and is expecting a baby with his wife. All of this because he dared to participate in the promo.

Although Abiodun did not expect to win anything, despite available prizes such as brand new cars, power generators, sewing machines, and rechargeable fans, providence shined on him. This is the kind of impact that Adenuga’s Globacom is having on Nigerians presently.

In truth, Adenuga continues to shine the light of impact for his peers to follow.

This is the benefit of having one of your own at the apex of telecommunications.

Adenuga

Astounding Womanhood of Ibukun Awosika at 60

Awosika

At the end of the day, one must admit that there are special people among us. These

individuals blaze with a light that reaches far into the night, clearing out clouds of mediocrity, and renewing our faith in human greatness and glory. At 60, Madam Ibukun Awosika is one such person and her light is particularly bright even among those that appear to be destined to walk on the clouds.

December 24 was the day that Madam Awosika clocked 60. She celebrated the day with her family, friends, and associates.

However, because she is so popular, she got more salutations and accolades from all over Nigeria, bringing much delight to her happy heart. But this is to be expected considering that the kind of life she has chosen to live empowers people, motivates them, and urges them onto the best versions of themselves.

There is no question that Madam Awosika is a true Amazon to Nigerians and

other Africans. The simplest introduction to her would have her presented as a motivational speaker, an author, and a businesswoman, with all three vocations bearing witness to her resounding prestige.

Unlike many motivational speakers, Awosika does not only talk and talk.

Instead, she puts her philosophies to practice which is why she has been able to make her mark even in Nollywood.

Until an unfortunate event that saw her uprooted from the position, Awosika served First Bank of Nigeria as its Chairman. However, even though her exit from the bank was somewhat unceremonious, she soon got a new appointment, one that allows her to sit on the Binance Global Advisory Board. Thus, her story has been one of grace to grace and glory to glory.

Ace Banker, Tolu Adeniran, Emerges Winner of Nigeria’s Next Generation Banker’s Award Tolu Adeniran never hid her passion to make a name for herself in the financial sector, as she has displayed uncommon diligence since she took up an appointment with the reputable Standard Chartered Bank (SCBN) Nigeria, over a decade ago. Her footprints in the bank, and even beyond have been so indelible that she has now gotten industry-wide and national recognition when she emerged a winner of the Next Generation award, Class of 2022 at the just concluded Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) 57th Annual Dinner event which held on November 25, 2022, in Lagos, Nigeria. The turn of this millennium witnessed a surge in the number of Nigerian women making waves in Corporate Nigeria.

From the top echelon of public service to the topmost executive cadre in the private sector, these women have gone ahead to record feats and attained enviable heights that many of

their male counterparts would spare nothing to have in their résumé. Much more prominent than any other sector, Nigeria’s financial sector has seen women make indelible marks with accompanying recognitions and awards.

The CIBN’s Next Generation award recognises young bankers who have distinguished themselves as professionals that are pivotal to successes recorded by their respective institutions. Adeniran was honoured with the award in recognition of her immense contributions to the Financial Industry. Elated at the award, she expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Institute for the recognition as she pledged to commit to excellence in practice and ideals.

Adeniran, a young and vibrant mind, is currently Relationship Manager, Priority Banking- CPBB at Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), Nigeria, with key responsibility in wealth management for high-net-worth individuals.

Shina Peller’s Many Battles as He Sets Eyes on His Senatorial Seat or Battle to Keep His Club Business Things are going on in the corners of the majority of Nigerian politicians, especially those that are young and on the cusp of attaining nationwide fame. Shina Peller, a member of the House of Representatives who is representing the Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency in Oyo State is one such person and one must admit that the man has many battles ahead of him. On the one hand, is his chosen battle for a senatorial status and seat, but on the other hand, is his club business.

Peller is not a new figure in the controversy lane. Because of his young age and somewhat sanguine personality, he has always managed to straddle the line between radical and rebellious, often calling for a reconfiguration of political frameworks so that younger and more educated people can take the lead. Believing that age and education are strong determinants of efficient administration, Peller has had to deal with many issues that have cropped up over the years regarding his lifestyle, business, and other matters.

Peller

Adeniran

The most recent issue and the one Peller is currently battling with is that of his nightclub, Quilox. According to recent reports, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, (LASEPA) only just shut down the club because the management of the club had allegedly failed to get a sound permit and thereby constituting a nuisance to the residents of the area and other businesses. Many individuals saw the move by LASEPA as fueled by politics and are expecting Peller to say something to the same effect.

Never one to disappoint, Peller shared the following message via a Facebook post: “A man who is intimate with God is not intimidated by man. Eye on the ball.” In other words, the LASEPA move was intended as an intimidation tactic, but he has greater things on his mind.

To those aware of Peller’s intentions, his political ambition at the moment is to represent Oyo North Senatorial district in the Senate.

For this, he abandoned the All Progressives Congress (APC) and took up the uniform of the Accord Party (AP). So, taking into consideration the shutting down of his very profitable nightclub, Peller’s battles are only increasing in intensity as time goes by.

Lagosians Laud Sanwo-Olu on Isimi Lagos Tech Valley Comparison has always been and will always be the thief of joy. Whenever one attempts to set Nigerian governors side by side, one is astounded at the stark contrast in terms of vision and performance.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stands in a corner all by himself, easily taking the lead with regards to innovation and the march of state-wide progress. Very recently, Sanwo-Olu won himself nationwide applause when he launched the product of a new partnership, one that is destined to strengthen the use of science and technology in Lagos and Nigeria.

Lagosians are all up in their sweaters with joy because of SanwoOlu’s latest project, the launching of the Senseable Lagos Lab, the first Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Senseable City research facility in Africa at Isimi Lagos, Epe. The event which took place on Thursday, December 15, 2022, saw Lagos rise to a new status among Nigerian states due to its radically progressive strides in innovation.

Based on the reports on the project, the Senseable Lagos Lab is a research facility that emerged from SanwoOlu’s partnership with the leading residential real estate company, LandWey Investment Ltd together with MIT Senseable City Lab. launched at LandWey’s event themed Lagos Future City Week, the project will see new figures (people and funds) arise from Lagos with respect to resolutions to existing problems, letting Lagos state resolve pending issues with data-driven solutions.

To say that Lagosians are not proud of Sanwo-Olu’s work so far is to draw legs on a centipede. The governor is going all out to fulfill his promises to the people. So far, he has managed to earn their approval and praise with his work in transportation and education, breaking barriers that past governments could do very little about.

With this new project, SanwoOlu has climbed a new level of appreciation in the eyes of Lagosians, but this is not altogether surprising.

Good work deserves praise and great praise is what Sanwo-Olu is getting.

Sanwo-Olu

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Before Our Very Eyes,Yaba is Dead

Sanwo-Olu

Ladipo

‘SHEX’ LADIPO – THE YABA OF HIS TIME You see how God works. During my last play, ‘Ogiame Erejuwa II’, the crowd was massive. It appeared like the whole of Lagos had come out and the hall could not take everybody. Confusion reigned and I thought about just running away.

You see, me, I don’t like trouble. As I wondered, confused and helpless, I spotted a fine gentleman with his wife.

He looked distinguished and handsome.

He was not a young man, probably in his 70s but was aging well. I went to him and said, “Lord, come let me find a seat for you.”

Took him into the hall. It was bedlam.

It was crazy, the whole of Lagos had squeezed in. It was mad. I begged a young man and young girl and said, “if you want to grow old, you will stand up for this fine gentleman and his wife.” That gesture opened a wonderful Godlike experience for both of us.

After the show, he came to me and said thank you. Pastor Ituah Ighodalo had sent the VIP tickets to him and he enjoyed the show massively. He asked

I used to love Yaba. I used to walk around the place admiring the very old structures. The buildings that reminded us of our historical and colonial past. Buildings that shouted with Portuguese and Brazilian influence.

Borno Way, Queens Drive and Old Yaba Road used to host very beautiful houses with nice architecture.

When you enter the houses, you will see the damp wooden floors, the well-constructed but very old windows and the stone balcony.

The high roofs which held secrets of the past and the beauty of the ‘out houses’ which usually housed toilets and baths.

When the colonials drove the owners of Ikoyi to Obalende, they established Yaba as a base for civil servants and other types of workers.

They named the streets after themselves and that’s why you get to hear names like McNeal, Hughes Avenue, Queens Drive and the rest.

Today those historical monuments have been destroyed. Replaced by very ugly modern apparitions. Storey buildings that look like ghoulish apparitions. The land sold by families who have fallen by the wayside and have carried the blood money earned by selling our heritage to Ikorodu to hibernate.

The stretch, Herbert Macaulay Street no longer houses the home of the famous nationalist. His family now lives in far away Iyana Ipaja having sold the land to modern

Dantata

to be informed about other shows and I said no problem, sir. I liked him. He had a gentle mien around him and he looked really distinguished.

The next day, I wrote the article on Yaba dying. Someone sent it to him and he reached out. “Duke, someone sent this to me. Imagine that I had just met you yesterday and you mentioned my family house in your article.”

I screamed. I know the house. Many times, I had gone to the house to look for his daughter some five years ago. I said, “please sir, do you have a daughter that used to work in Skye Bank?” And he said yes. Oh my God. The house was historically elegant. I once entered and fell in love with its exterior. The magnificent colonial influence and the wide grounds.

Please I beg you people, let me drop his rejoinder and you will cry for this country.

“My late father, Mr. Josephus Kayode Ladipo (JK), was the founder of Lisabi Mills (Nigeria) Limited, Nigeria’s pioneer indigenous food processing company

day pharaohs. The only thing reminding you of his legacy is an old ugly weather beaten Statue which stands at the Sabo roundabout.

Old Borno Way is being raped daily… the beautiful Colonial mansion that stood in its majesty has been put to sleep. As you drive around Yaba, you feel like crying. The old building that housed the West African Pilot that was the first Newspaper in Africa has been taken over by ‘mallams’ who sell dollars.

But opposite it still stands a very beautiful ancient building still owned by the family and passed on to generations. I fear they may no longer withstand the wave. They may sell eventually.

The old Post Office is begging to be left alone, but I give it two years, it too will soon go down. The old Brazilian Embassy who has the envious reputation of housing the Queen of England on a visit still stands.

It is by the corner of Queens Street and Alagomeji. Covered by very beautiful shrubs, if you don’t look carefully, you may miss it.

I love it and go stare at it regularly. I wish I had money to buy it and preserve it.

My brother Segun McMedals, whose in-laws still live in a prototype Brazilian villa, retains my respect.

The Bruce family still retains their old

Colonial mansion complete with a Grove of bushes which protects it from the stare of marauders.

That’s the only thing remaining on that side of Yaba showcasing our history.

Even they, the family, have led an invasion destroying our collective heritage in that part of town.

The old Niger Palace Hotel has been ‘renovated’ severally, losing its ancient ambience and left standing in an ugly state like a bride after being exposed to an amateur make-up artist. The Nigerian Army in its own savagery has brought down buildings to replace them with brothels and drinking bars.

Murtala Muhammed Way is gone. The huge railway complex turned its vintage persona to a concrete jungle. You will not see the famous Arts Place whose promoter the legendary Art Alade whose son Dare Art Alade carries his legacy on that road anymore.

The beautiful Post Office near Denton is gone. Replaced with a modern structure that looks like an Egyptian mummy.

If we take a census, I don’t think we will get up to 50 of those beautiful relics left.

Yaba has been destroyed and with it our history as told by the buildings and structures that reminded us of our heritage.

Ambode

established in 1939. His first factory was located on Lagos Island before moving to Sabo,Yaba. The building “Lisabi House”, opposite the old West African Pilot building, referenced in your recent article “Yaba is Dead”, was his house.

He lived in the building in front and operated his food processing factory at the rear of the premises. He moved the factory in the late 50s to its present site in Maryland but he continued to reside in that house at Sabo until his death in 1961. Though he was an industrialist, JK Ladipo was a nationalist and played an important role in securing Nigeria’s independence through his contact and influence with British parliamentarians.

At that time, Lisabi Mills was already exporting Nigerian foodstuffs to the UK for the benefit of Nigerians resident in the UK, including diplomats and students, so JK had developed good rapport with the British establishment.

JK was also very friendly with Zik who owned the property across the street from him, in situ as proprietor of both the West African Pilot and Lagos City College. Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu

(the Ikemba’s father) was just a few premises down the road on the same Commercial Avenue. Sir Ojukwu, like JK, was an industrialist and neither one of them ever ventured into partisan politics. As a toddler, I knew these men and many others who were my father’s contemporaries.

Some of them usually visited our house and would have refreshments on the balcony overlooking Commercial Avenue. It was a sane environment then.

I served as the CEO of Lisabi Mills, after some of my older siblings, until my retirement in 2019. It would have been nice to preserve the old building but I fear that you are quite right that it would soon give way to redevelopment, largely because of the environmental degradation aided by the corrupt governments of the day. You can see that the frontage of our property is literarily a jungle, due to the uncontrolled activities of street traders. We have been fighting a battle to dislodge them for over 30 years, without any success because

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LOUD WHISPERS they are protected by state and local government agencies that profit from their illegal street trading activities.

My dear Duke, I thought I should share this with you because of your obvious interest and passion for history, culture, the arts and the environment. Also because I recognise that you are highly gifted and perceptive. For how could you have seen, recognised and picked me out of that crowd at MUSON, that our paths may cross?

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”.

“Yaba is Dead”, which prompted the above submission, was just forwarded to me out of the blue on social media by someone who could never have imagined that I have just met the Duke of Shomolu!

Permit me to use this opportunity to congratulate you once again on the successful presentation of the stage play “Ogiamen”. It was a very captivating drama, rooted in history, and rich in cultural manifestations.

I salute you for the quality of production.

“To God be the glory.”

No need to say more. Governor Sanwo-Olu over to you.

DANTATA’S LIFE AND OTHER THINGS The headlines made it look like it was a life of regret. The comments that followed were vile and disrespectful.

You know how poor people used to be using Heaven to justify their poverty. I saw things like, “what does it profit a man who has all the material things…” that kind of jargon.

But when I took the time to read the interview and comments from the great man, I saw wisdom. He was quoted as to say that he had built relationships all over the country, made friends and touched lives and at 91 he could only count about 10 people he knew. Mbok, this was a true testament to a life well lived. He concluded by saying he was tired and was waiting for his time. Please, is this not the kind of life I want? Is this not the kind of life we should all pray for?

A man who had accomplished so much in good health and with a long life. A man who had built a wealth of respect, touched lives with no scandal, nothing negative but had achieved legendary status through his activities, now peacefully awaiting the call of the Almighty Allah. This is what I want, this is what we should all strive for.

Last October, I had an indirectencounter.

His grandson had come to see my play, ‘Sardauna’ and was quite impressed. He called me and said, “Edgar, I will tell my grandfather. I have taken pictures.”

I said thank you so much. Greet him for me and please what is the relationship between him and Aliko?

He laughed and walked away. Two days later, he called, “my grandfather said he wants to give you N2million for your efforts, please send your account number.” I said “ahhhh no oooo, please tell him, I don’t do this for money, it’s for Nigeria and humanity…”

Don’t tell me you believed that one ooo.

Kai. Mumu. Humanity ko, Nigeria ni.

With school fees, house rent and side chicks? I say mbok, where is he now, let me come and meet you and collect cash o.

He laughed and said, “we are in Kano.”

I asked “please, can I enter motor and come before they go and do me Nasir El Rufai.”

That one promised sponsorship for Emir Sanusi since August till today, I no see Nasir talk less of Rufai.

But I should not have worried. They were good and for the first time in my life I was touched by Dantata. I took 10 per cent of the money and sent it to some widows.

This man is a national treasure and while he is still with us, we should try

K.C. KENNEDY: A WONDERLAND OF BLUES

Kennedy

My sister, Chioma called and said, “Edgar, I have a friend that wants to meet you. He has an issue.” I asked, “Abeg what is the issue?”

They said someone was electrocuted in his Wonderland Park and it’s not true. Yes, I saw that write up and wondered how that could have happened. Before I could say Jack, my brother Ezekiel Adamu called.

“Edgar, how you dey? We have a situation.”

I said: “Ezekiel, you call me? You no dey take call o.”

We laughed and I said no problem, let’s talk.

K.C called and we agreed to meet.

My people, my mouth is still open o. Let me put this out first.

There is no electrocution. The post appeared sponsored and fingers are pointing. My personal investigation is pointing somewhere, but I no go talk. The lady who posted that thing, the next minute was dancing all over the same park even with an ‘electrocuted’ child. Only in Nigeria.

Anyways the wonderful Lagos Safety Commission who if you ask me are one of the most efficient government parastatals had shut the place down for some hours, did their checks and gave them a clean bill of health and they were back in business.

But please, this is not the focus of this write up. Just look at these stats and you too also open mouth like me – 1 million square meters of land, one million visitors, 3,000 workers, N1billion in capital injection, projected revenues of N1billion per day and the biggest concert ever in Africa featuring Burna boy and expected to accommodate 35,000 attendees each paying N30,000 to attend.

Do the mathematics.

Wait o, more is coming. A sponsorship

matrix that has thrown in another N5billion in sponsorship funds.

MTN installing a huge something at N40million per day and a beer village that has attracted thousands. A 5,000-seater ground for the World Cup and you begin to look at this K.C man like, say, na Terminator.

As we walked around the huge expansive grounds, alert was hitting his phone. People are buying tickets and in that one hour I spent with him, he had sold N78m in tickets for the Burna Boy show.

I said, “Wait, who are you?”

He says he is a ‘tech entertainer’. Using technology to aggregate entertainment, fashion and the rest. He is building a huge tent in the premises for a tech fair on the grounds. That one will happen in March, 2023.

The whole project is cashless. All you do is register online and a wallet is opened for you and you get a code and that’s it. His gold mine is not even in all of this money, but the data all of these is generating that he can now use for retail capture of any market he intends to enter.

By this time, I am asking him for the live wire, let me electrocute myself. See what a man is doing with brains, me I am all over Lagos eating Afang and shouting.

This man is leading a renaissance.

This is what we are talking about.

Aggregating technology to massively explore the gains of the new economy, fashion, entertainment and technology.

See the figures, see the massive wealth creation possibilities and see the huge infrastructural development he is unleashing on Lagos.

This is vision. Mad vision and all we can repay him with is stories of a fake electrocution. Only in Nigeria. As I walked towards my car, I looked back at the giant park and at the three massive skyscrapers on the grounds and at Nigerians as they scampered towards the park and said to myself, ‘that is a man’.

Kai!

and document his life for posterity.

Almighty Allah is with you, Sir. Do not worry, you will be ok.

MARIE ABI BASSEY: AN ANGEL IN DISGUISE Marie is the super-hot brand manager of Amstel Malt and she is an angel in disguise. You see in this my matter; I use to wonder what I will do to crack the breweries giant – NB Plc. Everything I have done has fallen by the way. I even try juju but rain fall and scatter the thing.

Then someone said, “you need Elohor.” I called Elohor and Elohor put Marie on my matter. We worked diligently for months without physically meeting and then I finally met her during ‘Emir Sanusi’.

She is young o. Almost too young for the job of managing such a huge brand in such a huge market with so much fierce competition. Ohhh my God, I was wrong.

Her passion, her drive and her creativity took me aback. So, from being a bit player on ‘Emir Sanusi’, Amstel Malt moved to the lead beverage on ‘Encore’ – my huge theatre festival.

Marie was everywhere, very professional and engaging. I am hailing her because of the way she handled herself during the bedlam that was the hosting of the ever popular and influential Olu of Warri during the command performance of my play ‘Ogiame Erejuwa II’.

The crowd was huge. The kind you see at football matches and Davido concerts, certainly not in theatre. They pushed, they moved and they heaved. They overwhelmed security, Ogiame’s team had a herculean time protecting their King. Everybody wanted to take pictures and touch him. It was mad.

I sha noticed Marie was calm. She did not panic. She worked with me without missing a beat. “Edgar, I need Ogiame to take a pic with Dakore – their Brand Ambassador, Edgar, I need seats for my guests. Edgar, let me send in some more Malt and popcorn to the crowd outside.

Edgar, move security to this side, Edgar run away, Edgar come back here.

I started taking instruction from a lady young enough to be my child.

The famous Heineken training shining through. She was calm, confident and not afraid. As the crowd surged, I wanted to run o. She will hold my hand and say, stand firm. Be bold and don’t show fear.

Thank you so much adiagha Akwa Ibom and well-done.

AKINWUNMI AMBODE, NICE SEEING YOU AGAIN My brother, Yemi Odusanya, an Executive Director at Keystone Bank Plc was celebrating his wife’s 50th at the regal Oriental Hotel. I walked in, in slippers and a very expensive white linen shirt o. As I waltzed around the room greeting people and looking for food, I saw the head.

I screamed o. This head can only be that of my egbon and extremely popular exGovernor of Lagos State - the venerable Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. Kai! I moved in o. Security were looking at me with one eye. All they were seeing was one man wey no comb hair, wear earring and wear slippers. Just as they were about to electric-shock me, Baba turned and screamed, “Dukeeeeee.”

He continued, “You guys don’t let this bobo go and yab me again in his column oo.” We laughed and I hugged him. I said, “ohhhh long time, I see your belle has come out and you look good.” He laughed and said, “don’t go and be yabbing me o.

Don’t write anything o.”

I said “Baba, God forbid that I write anything about you. How are you sir?”

We exchanged pleasantries and took pictures and left.

Such a wonderful being. A man’s man, I simply just love him to pieces for very obvious reasons. But as I reached the door, I suddenly remembered that I had wanted to ask him if he was voting Asiwaju Bulla Ballu but by the time I ran back, he had left the hall.

Nice meeting you again sir. Kai!

64

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 1, 2023

Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Has Uche Ogah’s Governorship Ambition Gone to the Wind Again?

Ogundokun

Abiola Ogundokun’s Generosity In one of his oft-quoted sayings, the legendary Mahatma Gandhi once said: “A man’s true wealth hereafter is the good he has done to his fellowmen.”

Indeed, politician and businessman, Chief Abiola Ogundokun, is one of the few who have imbibed the message in Gandhi’s words.

No wonder, he is ever ready to contribute generously to humanity. His charitable footprint can be seen in many landmarks.

No doubt, apart from politics and business, the other thing Chief Ogundokun is good at is the act of giving. Last week, as gathered by Society Watch, the Osun Stateborn politician in his usual generosity and spirit of the season distributed foodstuffs and financial support to the less-privileged in his hometown, Iwo, Osun State.

As disclosed, several millions of naira were earmarked for this purpose while thousands of people that attended the event went back home with smiles on their faces.

During the event, the man who is also a veteran publisher assured the needy and masses present that the food and financial support programme that he has been running every quarter since 1976 will continue as long as he lives and therefore told them that they can count on him not to leave them forsaken.

Present at the programme includes the APC senatorial candidate for Osun West; Dr. Hamidu Tadese, Omobola Yusuff, and Fatai Abubakr among others.

Top Fashionista, Tola Adegbite, Keeps the Flag Flying What can be more fulfilling and exciting than seeing one’s dream come true? While growing up, Tola Adegbite dreamed of owning a fashion brand. In realisation of that beautiful dream, she prayed, fasted and strategized.

Luckily, her prayers were answered in 2017, when she launched her fashion brand, Turfah, Tola’s second name meaning ‘Blessing’ or ‘Rare Gem’ in Arabic. The brand was launched with much aplomb at the Alara Concept Store in Victoria Island, Lagos.

To say that she has kept with the dream is an understatement as the fashionista of note in six years has kept showcasing her creativity and ingenuity making her a brand to reckon with among top personalities while her clientele base keeps growing every day.

Adegbite, just like her sister, Reni, is a fashionista of note, whose mission is to rule the fashion world.

Adegbite

As a top player in the oil and gas business, Uche Ogah’s paths have been laced with more roses than thorns. The CEO of Masters Energy plies his trade to the envy of many of his competitors.

However, the man whose business interests include banking, insurance, aviation, shipping, dredging, logistics, construction and hospitality, had taken a wrong step when he dabbled into the murky water of Nigeria’s politics.

His foray into politics can only be described as a misadventure rather than an adventure, as his ambition of becoming the number one citizen of his state has so far amounted to a wild goose chase.

His political trajectory started in 2015 when he lost the Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket to the incumbent Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

He had felt like someone whose birthright had been denied him; so, he reportedly spent millions of Naira to reclaim the ticket.

There was palpable joy in his household when Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cede the certificate of return to Ikpeazu, maintaining that he was never qualified to run for the party primaries in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the grounds of fake tax returns during the primaries. Justice Abang further ordered the Chief Judge of the state to swear in Ogah as the substantive governor of the state.

Following the controversial ruling, his supporters went out in wild jubilation, while the whole state went into a frenzy. But his balloon of hope was punctured, even though he was presented with a certificate of return by INEC. This was so because the Appeal Court in Abuja nullified the certificate issued to him, a development that finally put paid to his dream.

Surprisingly, despite this doleful experience, he never gave up, as he fought and got the

Ogah

ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to challenge his old rival, the incumbent governor, Okezie Ikpeazu at the last governorship poll. Like a serial loser, he was again defeated by Ikpeazu.

To make up for his loss and compensation for his loyalty to APC, he was appointed Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development. This was just a stop-gap, as his eyes are set on the number one seat in the state.

Power Couple, Wale, Bola Tinubu Renews Marriage Vows

Tinubu and wife, Bola

In their rights, successful oil tycoon, Adewale Tinubu, and his lovely wife, Bola, can correctly be described as the authentic power couple. Though, not always in your face, the couple is famous, accomplished and obviously happy and productive every day. Despite being a darling wife to a super-rich dude, Bola has proven to all that money doesn’t always change you. She lives a fairly quiet life and is rarely seen at most high society parties. Her philanthropic interest has impacted several lives.

On Christmas Day, the adorable couple marked their wedding anniversary amidst torrents of messages from friends and family members. Although the couple hardly publicise their private affairs, Society Watch gathered that the Tinubus spent the day to themselves, promising not to renege on their marriage vows.

A successful corporate lawyer with a

tight schedule, Bola is reputed to juggle between running her home, attending to her businessman’s hubby’s needs and still overseeing the needs and welfare of her five lovely children.

Indeed, the Oando boss’ large-heartedness and acts of fellow feeling have rubbed off on his wife. While the oil and gas top player continues to offer scholarships to students in tertiary institutions across the country, his wife also finds joy in defending sexually-abused children in Nigeria.

In her quest to realise her dream, Tinubu, who also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economic and Social Studies from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom in the past years, has undertaken training in the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and the Counselling of victims, as well as Child Protection.

Billionaire Businesswoman, Bola Shagaya Becomes Sarauniya of Ilorin Emirate Bola Shagaya! That name means so many things to many people. But what no one can deny is the fact that the name is essentially synonymous with success. The Kwara State-born mogul has successfully engraved her name in the hearts of the generality of her compatriots. Even across the globe, she is not a colourless personality!

Like every creature, this beautiful billionaire too has her own humble beginning. But hers will inspire any ambitious soul any day and any time. As a young woman, she had a clear vision of what she wanted to do later in life and she pursued it with unwavering doggedness. While growing up, the only thing that caught her fancy was business and she refused to be swayed by any other interest. Shagaya never allowed her pristine dream to be entombed; she pursued it with infectious gusto.

She has also contributed immensely to the growth of her immediate environment while many cannot deny the fact that they have

benefited exceedingly from her generosity.

The billionaire businesswoman has single-handedly sponsored many across her hometown, Ilorin and the entire state.

Like the saying of the popular Bishop of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil the Great, said: “A good deed is never lost. He who sows courtesy reaps friendship; he who plants kindness gathers love; pleasure bestowed on a grateful mind was never sterile, but generally, gratitude begets reward.”

Last week the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Mai-Martaba Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, announced the appointment of Shagaya as the Sarauniya of Ilorin Emirate.

The announcement was made at the 57th Annual National Conference of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) held on Sunday.

Shagaya

It was also disclosed that the appointment was greeted by deafening and thunderous claps from her admirers and many others that recognised and appreciated her exceptional benefaction.

Leo Stan Ekeh is Colonising Another Sector The serial digital entrepreneur and Chairman of Konga Group, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, has earned a name for himself through his visionary contributions to Africa’s ICT space.

To the players in the tech and business space in general, cutting deals comes easy to the genial billionaire businessman. In January 2018, the Digital Icon and 21st Century Tech King, outbid some international brands in the e-commerce market to acquire the then ailing but leading Nigeria composite e-Commerce giant, Konga.

Since then, Ekeh and his team have worked and are still working organically, on their vision to make Konga, a top-of-the-mind brand.

They have altered the equation in Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy through innovation, experience and quality corporate culture.

Of course, doing business in Nigeria is not for cowards and the lily-livered as investors must be well-prepared. To succeed, entrepreneurs must imbibe the will and capacity to always be aware and take measures to protect their business from corporate

Ekeh

blackmail by some competitors who wish to see rivals go down or rubbish their credit rating or public image.

In 2022, Ekeh battled this, triumphed and led his new baby, KongaPay into becoming

a premium payment platform for businesses and individuals in Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem.

In July 2022, the billionaire businessman led his KongaPay team to the House of Lords, London where they signed a partnership deal with Bibimoney, a leading UK-based firm, to expand access to financial inclusion in Nigeria.

It was learnt that a lot of companies had approached Bibimoney for partnership, but the history and profile of Ekeh distinguished him from the rest and that is why KongaPay got the exclusive partnership.

A few months into the deal with the new implementation of tech backbone, KongaPay is fast becoming a very exemplary company out of Africa in the Fintech world with growing subscribers above five million within a short space.

Society Watch gathered that the Imo State-born billionaire is also offering a free Knowledge Weekend programme for 12 lucky winners who will dine with him and tap from his wealth of experience as a successful businessman.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

1. 1.2023

by Willi Williams Ch Chechet A painting i ti b h t

The Lagos Fringe Crew

2023: A Return of Cultural Staples Having glimpsed the post-pandemic recovery for the arts in the previous year, it is logical to expect a return of arts festivals, a burgeoning scene for new visual artists and remarkable growth in digital arts and culture journalism in Nigeria, says Yinka Olatunbosun

A

n undulating calendar that peaks towards the end of the year has been the trend in the arts and cultural scene in Nigeria. There is a gradual shift in the normal-a growing population of young visual artists are taking over the exhibition scene. More solo shows are being recorded.

In 2023, we expect the pace to pick up and new galleries will emerge. But not so fast.

7KH ÀUVW IHZ PRQWKV RI WKH \HDU ZLOO likely record low activities as the attention shifts to politics. The general elections will inevitably stall many art-related events but there will be a handful of artists who will use the election theme to prepare their body of works. Artists will be active on the social media making commentaries on the political climate through their creative expressions.

Later, the cultural staples will return. The Lagos Theatre Festival, Lagos Book and Arts Festival, Ake Arts and Book Festival, Lagos Fringe, SNA Lagos’s October Rain, MUSON Festival, Felabration, Art X Lagos, National Festival of Arts and Culture, Quramo Festival of Words, LagosPhoto Festival, Lagos Jazz Festival, Livespot Music Festival and more. The much-anticipated mega-festival of Afrobeats will be held this year. The signals from the organisers indicate that the festival will be the biggest for Afrobeats in Africa.

With the ace broadcaster and music critic, Benson Idonije on the chair for the planning committee, this festival will revive leading acts of the decades while giving a platform for new artists to thrive.

In January, Abuja will host the International Conference on Ancient History and Art organised by World Academics. The primary goal of the conference is to promote research and developmental activities in Ancient History and Art. Another goal is to

Afrofusion legend, Burna Boy

SURPRWH VFLHQWLÀF LQIRUPDWLRQ LQWHUFKDQJH between researchers, developers, engineers, students, and practitioners working in Nigeria.

A decline in arts and cultural reportage in Nigerian traditional print media will propel more digital platforms to emerge this year. The cultural scene has become fast-paced and there is a need to have a FRUUHVSRQGLQJ UHSRUWDJH WKDW UHÁHFWV WKH speed and development in arts. More digital platforms for the arts will emerge WR UHÁHFW WKH GLYHUVLW\ RI WKH DUWV VFHQH while democratising the publication of arts and cultural news.

The existing cultural venues would

get some facelift. For instance, the Freedom Park, Lagos Island, while retaining some elements of its colonial history, will be remodeled to accommodate more activities. For sustainability, the park now wears a QHZ JUHHQ ORRN WKH DUWLÀFLDO FDUSHW grass which is easier to manage than the real grass. Also, the cells are being remodeled- with each able to accommodate two persons. The cells have become workstations to many who desire to work in an eco-friendly environment.

Art Auctions will return as the purchasing power becomes stronger

after the general elections and more art residency programmes will evolve in Lagos and other states. With the establishment of Tiwani Contemporary in Lagos as well as Yinka Shonibare’s Guest Artists Space (G.A.S) in Lekki, more art residencies will be recorded.

It is also expected that the Lagos Blue Rail Project will help to increase the foot WUD΀F DW WKH FXOWXUDO HYHQWV LQ /DJRV ,QIUDVWUXFWXUDO GHÀFLW KDG DOZD\V EHHQ a challenge to holding cultural events in /DJRV 7KH SURORQJHG YHKLFXODU WUD΀F FDQ discourage fun seekers from participating in cultural events but with an alternative transportation system, Lagos commuters can enjoy the festivals on the island even if they reside on the mainland.

Abuja’s cultural scene is growing. There are more theatre performances, art festivals and exhibitions than ever before. A numEHU RI WKHDWUH SURGXFHUV DQG ÀOPPDNHUV have relocated to Abuja where the land is green. Though Lagos is still the urban culture capital, Abuja will reposition itself DV D FXOWXUDO GHVWLQDWLRQ ZLWK ÁHGJLQJ DUW programmes this year.

Goethe at 60 celebrations continue in 2023 with audio documentaries that feature the catalysts in the cultural sector. From cultural entrepreneurs to artists, Goethe Nigeria has been a centrifuge of cultural vibrations in the past six decades with workshops, FROODERUDWLYH SURMHFWV H[KLELWLRQV ÀOP screenings, book projects, music concerts, German language hub and others. ,Q DOO LV D \HDU ÀOOHG ZLWK DSSUHKHQsion owing largely to the current political climate. Many investors in cultural events are anticipating a non-violent election period.

6WLOO WKH FHOHEULWLHV LQ ÀOP DQG PXVLF ZLOO be split along political lines and ideologies while others would prefer to show their patriotism while watching from outside the Nigerian shores.

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

66

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANAURY 1, 2023

ARTS & REVIEW

An Abuja Poolside Sit-out With Niyi Osundare Tunde Olusunle

T

ypical of the extremely organised personality that he is, the multiple award-winning poet, Niyi Osundare, had already "served notice" of his imminent visit to Nigeria, weeks before he came. He had been invited by the organisers of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM), to deliver a lecture at the 2022 edition of the "Annual Forum of NNOM Laureates," in Abuja. His presentation was titled Poetry and the Human Voice. The event was scheduled for Wednesday, December 7, 2022, and the New Orleans, US-based Osundare needed to "forewarn" those of us who are his younger kith, that he was coming to our city. He does have a good number of we his mentees, inspired by his craft, in the federal capital territory and it was going to be our pleasure to have him around.

For those who may not know or be familiar with 2VXQGDUH KH LV RQH RI $IULFD V PRVW SUROLÀF SRHWV who at the last count, had at least 18 published volumes of poetry to his name. He has equally published four plays; books on African literature and culture and assemblages of his writings as SXEOLF DͿDLUV LQWHUURJDWRU )RU KLV FRQVFLHQWLRXV academic and creative assiduity, he has received every notable global award, except the Nobel Prize. He was joint overall winner, Commonwealth Poetry Prize (1986), and sole winner of the Noma Award for Publishing in Africa (1991), becomLQJ WKH ÀUVW $QJORSKRQH $IULFDQ SRHW WR UHFHLYH the award. In 1998, he also earned the Fonlons/ Nichols Prize for "Excellence in Literary CreativLW\ &RPELQHG ZLWK 6LJQLÀFDQW &RQWULEXWLRQV WR Human Rights in Africa," the African Literature Association (ALA)'s most distinguished award.

In 2008, Osundare also earned the "Tchicaya U Tam'si Prize for Poetry, (regarded as Africa's highest poetry prize). He was in 2014, invested with the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM), Nigeria's highest award for academic excellence.

These medals preclude others Osundare has received on the local literary scene, including those awarded by the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). He equally has the distinction RI EHLQJ WKH ÀUVW $IULFDQ SRHW WR EH IHDWXUHG RQ the cover of World Poetry magazine. It has been suggested that if the Nobel Prize for Literature is coming the way of West Africa, and indeed 1LJHULD DQ\WLPH VRRQ KH ZLOO PRVW ÀWWLQJO\ EH a top contender.

Hakeem Bello, media adviser to the works minister; Rasheed Na'Allah, vice chancellor of the University of Abuja, and Denja Abdullahi, a director with the ministry of information and culture, are some of Osundare's younger friends in Abuja. In the email he sent to me, he said he would be glad to have me attend the lecture either physically or virtually. There are select literary giants one is always glad to have around and share moments and drinks with, ever drawing IURP WKH LQÀQLWH SRRO RI WKHLU PXOWLGLPHQVLRQDO ZLVGRPV )HPL 2VRÀVDQ DQG 2OX 2EDIHPL ERWK Emeritus Professors and recipients of the NNOM, belong to this category. Our contemporaries like Sunnie Ododo, chief executive of the National Theatre, Lagos, and the Canada-based Nduka Otiono, are ever always welcome. We typically banter and reminisce on our younger days and our subsisting endeavours.

I knew Osundare before I met him. Back in the days, in one of our "literary criticism" classes DV ÀQDO \HDU VWXGHQWV DW WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI ,ORULQ Russell Chambers, one of our American lecturers came to class one of those days. He was clutching D ÀOH RI F\FORVW\OHG GRFXPHQWV ZKLFK KH KDQGHG it over to one of us to distribute to the class. It was that era when Nigeria's educational system was supported at virtually all levels by quality expatriate scholars and instructors, which provided requisite breadth, cosmopolitanism, even globality, to education and learning. Obafemi refers to that HUD DV WKDW GXULQJ ZKLFK XQLYHUVLWLHV H[HPSOLÀHG the concept of *universitas,* a global citadel in the truest sense of the word.

Chambers had stumbled on a review of Osundare's poetry in the now extinct London-based West Africa magazine. We were taught stylistics as a course for instance, with examples from the essays and columns of the Olatunji Dares, Dan Agbeses, Dele Giwas, Ray Ekpus and so on, in

Professor Osundare (centre) flanked by the author Tunde Olusunle (left) and Tivlumun Nyitse our time. Chambers' discovery was an essay on Osundare's second volume of poetry, *Village Voices,* which was published in 1984. The review presented to Chambers a refreshing newness in the substance and style ofAfrican literature.Away from the molar-cracking, jaw-distending aesthetics of older poets like Wole Soyinka, Christopher Okigbo, Michael Joseph Chukwudalu Echeruo, among similar icons in their generation, here was poetry at its accessible best.

The language was simple without being simplistic, the themes understandable without being underwhelming. The dramatic ZRUNV RI 2VRÀVDQ 2EDIHPL %RGH 6RZDQGH Tunde Fatunde which regularly featured in our theoretical and practical classes, had helped to demystify the verbal esoterism of Soyinka and Company. Here was Osundare bringing poetry to "the marketplace," to adopt the title of his premiere volume of poetry, published in 1983.

Our universities were much better those days, so I simply walked to the university bookshop DQG ERXJKW FRSLHV RI WKRVH ÀUVW WZR 2VXQGDUH volumes of poetry. I read and reread that cyclostyled copy of the Osundare book availed to us

by Chambers, virtually plastering the document in my consciousness.

I returned to the University of Ilorin for my masters degree shortly after undergoing the compulsory one-year post graduation National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). By this time, my mind was made up to forensically interrogate the poetic oeuvre of Osundare, for my dissertation.

Two new volumes of poetry, namely A Nib in the Pond, (1986) and *The Eye of the Earth,* published the same year, had been released. His ÀIWK 0RRQVRQJV ZDV UHOHDVHG ZKLOH I was in the middle of my research work. My supervisorwasPrayagTripathi,amostcommitted Indian professor with whom I chewed at my topic and set the scope of work to be done and developed my project proposal.

I should add that it is a measure of Tripathi's uncommon disposition to scholarship that he would himself go to the university library, loan books on my behalf and bring them to my room in the "postgraduate hostel!" My inquisitions took me to the University of Ibadan, where Osundare was head of the department of English. I had an elaborate interview with him on June 17, 1988, during which I took very copious notes in the absence of a recorder. Osundare also ran the immensely popular and regular poetry column Songs of the Season' in the Sunday Tribune at a time. He availed younger writers a platform for the public aeration of their works by featuring their works as "Guest Poet."

Osundare subsequently became my "customer," to borrow that reference from the streets. I attended readings from his seventh

book, Waiting Laughters (1990) in Lagos, by ZKLFK WLPH DQ HGLWRULDO VWDͿ RI WKH 'DLO\ 7LPHV The organisation was being revolutionised and rehabilitated by the charismatic literary scholar and administrator, Yemi Ogunbiyi. This availed me regular information about happenings in the literature, arts and culture sector. Osundare was physically present when my lovely wife Funmi, and I got wedded in Ibadan in 1994. He still has photographic memories of the way I astounded the congregation with my dance and movements that day, celebrating the consummation of our union.

Osundare announced his arrival in Nigeria from his Ibadan home on Friday, November 18, 2022. He was chatty and excited when we spoke. Nigeria continues to hold its appeal for him, with its unique imprimatur, except for the leadership question which we still, very disturbingly haven't gotten right. He would be in Abuja Saturday, December 3, and take his engagements from that date until his return to Ibadan, Thursday, December 8. His various hosts were eager to receive him, including the University of Abuja which scheduled a reception for him for Tuesday, December 6, and the Abuja chapter of the Association of ANA. Then of course the NNOM lecture which he was to give on Wednesday, December 7. He had a potentially full plate on his hands.

2VXQGDUH DQG , À[HG D PHHWLQJ IRU SP 6XQGD\ December 4. Tivlumun Nyitse, my eternal friend, classmate, brother and fellow poet, was in Abuja for a few days. I had told him that Osundare was in Abuja and that Hakeem Bello and I had À[HG D YLVLW WR KLP , DOVR QRWLÀHG 2VXQGDUH WKDW Nyitse will be on the "entourage." Nyitse and I agreed to maximise the opportunity of the visit to engage Osundare in an interview on a broad range of issues. I'm told there is a proverb which admonishes us to maximise any opportunity we get to climb the iroko tree. I hadn't interviewed him since 2013 when he turned in his response to my doctoral research questionnaire.

Osundare received Nyitse and I with tremendous joy as he opened the door of his hotel room.

He wore a face mask most probably as a safe guard, while he transited through cities and countries.

His generation of intellectuals are not getting any younger, even as he strides towards 76 next March.

2VRÀVDQ 2JXQEL\L DQG 2EDIHPL ZLOO EH and 73 respectively in the new year. Other notable writers of that generation, notably Tanure Ojaide and Odia Ofeimun will be 75 and 73 in the coming year. We shook hands and embraced ourselves, as I introduced my friend. We all agreed to savour the evening sky, sitting out by the poolside of his hotel, while expecting Bello to join the party.

Our orders were taken as we settled ourselves into a relaxed L shaped sitting position which enabled us proximity to our guest. We threw

banters and enjoyed rich laughters. Osundare clutched his signature bottle of water. You rarely ÀQG KLP ZLWK DQ\WKLQJ GLͿHUHQW DQG VR LW KDV EHHQ for the three and half decades I have known him.

Hakeem Bello who missed that poolside hangout had lunch with him the next day. He also shared photographs of himself and Osundare, with the latter typically clutching a bottle of aqua! I need to commission a study on what he savours in private.

People in the business of creativity are known to have their "poisons." Osundare congratulated me once again on the eventual completion of my doctorate, a few years back. He said it was due 30 years ago!

Osundare, by the way, was external examiner invited by the university authorities to assess my work when I completed my masters degree in 1989. He had therefore, previously engaged with my work. He had equally graciously, donated his regular poetry column published for several years

by Sunday Tribune to me, to accord provenance for my budding career as a creative writer. His comment reminded me of similar comments by Femi Adesina, spokesman to President Muhammadu Buhari, who was president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), when I was inducted D GHFDGH DJR <RX ZHUH DOUHDG\ TXDOLÀHG IRU induction 20 years ago," Adesina told me. "You should be a Fellow now."

I presented an autographed copy of my newest volume of poetry, my third, AMedley Of Echoes, which Foreword was graciously penned by OsoÀVDQ +H ZDV JODG WKDW LQ VSLWH RI GLVWUDFWLRQV occasioned by forays into politics, I had continued to write and mature as a poet and journalist. He ÁDWWHUHG PH JHQHURXVO\ DV RQH RI WKH EHDFRQV RI creative promise in my generation," an ascription which greatly humbled me. He "queried" Nyitse, who has a doctorate in mass communications and lectures at Bingham University, Karu, nearAbuja, for abandoning the literary arts. Nyitse and I by the way, are products of the same grooming mill in University of Ilorin, where we cut our teeth in creative writing.

Other products of that "forge" include: Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju, Mopah Aileku, Sunnie Ododo, Wumi Raji, Na'Allah, among others. Nyitse explained to Osundare that he still desired to study for a masters in literature to help him rediscover his creative inclination. He reassured Osundare that he has continued to fraternise with the writers' commune, alluding to his participation in the two most recent editions of the annual convention of ANA, hosted in the brand new Mamman Vatsa Writers Village in Abuja. Nyitse and I ran our recorder and had him respond to our inquiries for over 90 minutes!

2OXVXQOH 3K' SRHW MRXUQDOLVW VFKRODU DQG author is a Member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANAURY 1, 2023

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INTERNATIONAL Great Power Rivalry in 2022 and Global Insecurity: Foreign Policy Implications for Nigeria in 2023

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lobal security was threatened seriously in an unprecedented manner by the great powers in 2022. Particularly noteworthy was Russia’s Special Military Intervention in Ukraine on 24 February 2022.TheWestern world, led by the United States, complicated the special military intervention with coordinated sanctions against Russia and active military support for Ukraine.The United States and allies did not see the intervention simply as a special military intervention, but as an invasion of Ukraine. Similarly, many scholars described Russia’s intervention as an aggression. Be it an intervention, invasion, or aggression, all of them are internationally illegal and therefore prohibited.

For example, Article 2(7) of the United Nations Charter prohibits any intervention,asdistinctfrominterferencewhichisgenerallycondoned, in the domestic affairs that fall under the jurisdictional competence of other sovereign States. An Act of aggression was listed in 1998 in the Rome Statute as a crime and defined in 2017 as ‘the planning, preparation, initiation or execution, by a person in a position effectively to exercise control over or to direct the political or military action which, in its character, gravity and scale, constitutes a manifest violation of the Charter…’ Put grosso modo, in international law, aggression is considered as‘the use, intentionally and knowingly, of armed force or any other hostile act by a State, a group of States, an organisation of States or non-state actor(s) or by any foreign or external entity, against the sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity and human security of the population.’Again, invasion is essentially about breaking into another person’s residence or about a state doing same in another country in order to commit a crime there especially in cases of legitimate invasion in self-defence.

In essence, the implication of any invasion of, aggression against, or any special intervention in, another sovereign State is that international peace and security is unnecessarily threatened to the extent that a possible World War III is no longer ruled out. Although there has not been any global war since 1945, in spite of the inter-state wars and intra-State conflicts that have not been a rarity, the possible use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine is a major threat.

Apart from the Russia-Ukraine war, there was also the collapse in March 2022 of the 450-square mile stretch of Conger ice shelf in the eastern part of Antarctica. Satellites started to record activity there in 1979. The concern is that the collapse of the ice shelf occurred sooner than expected in a part of the continent that is considered less vulnerable to the effects of climate change (Tricia Tisak, Dec 6, 2022Turning Points: Guest Essay,The NewYorkTimes nytimes.com).

Thus, global security is under threat in a multidimensional fashion. It is against this background that great power rivalry took place in 2022.

Great Power Rivalry: The Issues Russia, China, France, United Kingdom and the United States are acknowledged great powers in international relations. United States was specifically identified as a superpower before the demise of the Soviet Union, thus remaining the only superpower thereafter.

Great power rivalry raises different issues that threaten regional and international peace and security. For analytical purposes, it is useful to note that the current great power rivalry is not bipolar in character.

It is not simply about East-West divide as there are other centres of power also taking active interest in the redefinition of the current World Order. China, as a new critical centre, is noteworthy. Thus, our emphasis is on Sino-American and Russo-American rivalry, as the Euro-Russian rivalry is a subset of the rivalry between the United States and Russia. It merits special expatiation because the European Union countries carry heavier burden than the United States because of their nearness to the Russo-Ukrainian theatre of war and because of the severe impact of the war on them. Thus, what are the issues in the rivalries that have the potential to destabilise global peace and security?

At the level of China-United States, the rivalry is largely driven by conflicting politico-economic interests.Three cases are noteworthy here: South China Sea, Trade War, and Taiwanese autonomy. As regards South China Sea, the People’s Republic of China is claiming sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, but which the United States is contesting. The United States argues that the same South China Sea falls under international waters, that is, under the High

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

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Onyeama Seas and therefore no country can appropriate it.The United States also says that its warships and military aircraft have the legitimate right to operate in the area.

Without jot of doubt, the South China Sea is of special geopolitical and strategic importance not only to the United States and China, but particularly to humanity. It covers 3,500,000 sq. miles and has over 250 small islands. Its proven oil reserves is about 1.2 km3, that is, about 7.7 billion barrels. It has a total estimate of 4.5 km3 (28 barrels). More importantly. One-third of the world’s maritime shipping not only passes through the South China Sea, trade worth over 3 trillion US dollars is also carried through the route. And perhaps most interestingly, the South China Sea has a natural gas reserves of about 7,500 km3 (266 trillion cubic feet) and remains the second most used sea lane in the world, coming after the Dover Strait through which more than 500 vessels pass on daily basis.

It is therefore not surprising that many countries are much interested in the South China Sea for the foregoing considerations and for other reasons. Indonesia, Vietnam, People’s Republic of China (Beijing), Republic of China (Taiwan) are all claiming sovereignty over the waters.The Beijing authorities are claiming almost the entire area within the‘nine-dash line,’ In fact, the United States and the Chinese are particularly more interested geo-politically in the South China Sea. In 1899 and 1900, the United States adopted the‘Open Door Policy’which ‘called for the protection of equal privileges for all countries trading with China and for the support of Chinese territorial

“

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Thirdly, there are basically three layers of great power politics and rivalry in contemporary times: Russia-US, China-US, and EU-Russia. As noted above, the EU case is a subset of the US-Russian rivalry. The notable point within the EU is just that some Member States of the EU do not necessarily agree with the United States and France is a case in point. Besides, to what extent can Nigeria be very critical of China or support the United States against the Chinese in light of the deepening of development ties between China and Nigeria, particularly at the level of infrastructural development? If following the second US-Africa summit held in Washington, the United States now offers increased support for Nigeria, which country should take priority: China or the US? Nigeria should begin to evolve a policy of not being a friend of one country and the enemy of another. In the same vein, the EU-Nigeria ties are warm and has its own problems. Economic Partnership Agreements is one of them. What is the choice between Russia and the EU? Should Nigeria join the BRICS in checkmating great power politics or renew the idea of Concert of Medium Powers? Without any whiff of doubt, great power rivalry has the potential to deepen and rise in medium power politics is expected. The Russo-Ukrainian war will continue to compel the making of a New World Order. Nigeria’s foreign policy must therefore anticipate the challenges and shift from the current reactive, to a more programmatic, approach. Happy New Year 2023

and administrative integrity.’With this policy, the United States has always been opposed to spheres of influence by outside powers.

Second is the trade dispute, which is another important element in theglobalpowerstrugglebetweentheChineseandtheAmericans.The United States has always accused the Chinese of technology theft and unfairness in their policy attitude.The United States has also realised that the Chinese had outsmarted them and therefore now want to reverse the situation. In the spirit of SunTsu, who noted in his‘The Art of War,’that when one shapes the battle, the enemy will have to play along, the United States similarly wants to define the framework for international trade.This is one rationale for the adoption ofThe Chips Act, The Chips 4 Alliance, and the patent infringement accusations.

In this regard, for instance, several US technology companies were denied in China strategic advantages and even a level playing field.

China is believed in the US to have taken away strategic technologies, a development that had prompted Google, Meta and Amazon to leave the Chinese market.This is what has been referred to as the‘data war.’This is also one rationale for President Joe Biden’s consideration that the United States must regain control of the supply chain with the Chips Act and promoting the Chip 4 Alliance.

It is important to note here that there is nothing wrong in competing, the only issue of concern is how to ensure that the competition is healthy.The immediate predecessor of Joe Biden, President Donald Trump came up with a new foreign policy attitude:‘America First,’and ‘Make America Great Again.’These policies have policy consequences at both the domestic and external levels. At the domestic level, the obligation is to ensure that American companies are able to produce more, export more and compete well internationally. At the external level, the policies of making the‘United States Great Again’and‘America First’, necessarily imply the recognition that the United States had been overtaken by other countries, hence the need to make the United States great again. In other words, the position of the United States as primus inter pares has been lost and should be restored. And perhaps most disturbingly, an‘American First’policy simply means that, under no circumstance would the US foreign policy attitudinal disposition be allowed to succumb to any whims and caprices of other countries.

This also means no compromise.

One good illustration of this point is the caution given by President Joe Biden to African leaders following the United Nations vote on the Russian-Ukrainian war. Most African countries attempted to vote sovereignly by refusing to vote against the UN resolution seeking to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine either by abstaining from voting or voting against the resolution to condemn Russia. In reaction to the African position, President Biden made it clear that any country that votes henceforth against any US interest would be punished. The modality for the punishment has not been publicly specified.

RegardingTaiwan, China’s policy attitude is‘One China,Two Systems’ meaning that China does not recognise the political sovereignty of Taiwan, in which the United States strongly believes. Taiwan operates aWestern capitalist system, while the People’s Republic of China operates a socialo-communist system. In this regard, China accepts that the two systems can co-exist, but under one Chinese or Beijing authority, which the United States does not subscribe to.The reasons for Sino-American positions are not far-fetched.

Indeed,Taiwan is a terra cognita for the ICT industry which supports thewholesemiconductorindustry.Thesemiconductorindustrylargely depends on theTaiwanese ecosystem: more than 80% of the world’s notebooks are made in Taiwan and 92% servers are also from the Taiwanese manufacturers. As noted by Colley Hwang,‘without chips and servers fromTaiwan, data centres will not be able to operate’(vide his “Leaders in Semiconductors in 2030 (3): Who Makes the Rules?”

Thus, China and the US have conflicting interests on South China Sea, their bilateral trade, and on Taiwanese sovereignty. These are the elements of Sino-US rivalry in a world of deepening insecurity and changing environmental conditionings.

Foreign Policy Implications for Nigeria The foreign policy implications of the great power rivalry must be understood within the context of global environmental conditionings and rivalries at other levels. For instance, In 2022, the world played host to the first men’s World Cup to have an all-woman referee team: Ms. Frappart’s assistants were Neuza Back of Brazil and Karen Diaz Medina of Mexico. More precisely, Stéphanie of France became the first woman lead referee at a men’s World Cup matchwhensheofficiatedagamebetweenCostaRicaandGermanyin Qatar.’Intermsofforeignpolicyfocus,whenwilltherebeNigerianfemale referees to serve at the World Cup level? Sports Ambassador Segun Odegbami is collaborating with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs to make Nigeria play host to the World Cup 2034. What will Nigeria’s foreign policy agenda in the period from now until 2034 look like? Many scholars have argued that in the absence of anti-Apartheid struggle, Nigeria does not have any foreign policy again. Hosting the World Cup 2034 can be a good foreign policy objective to which efforts can be diverted. The Qatari World Cup provides this lesson.

AnotherimportantdevelopmentistheRussian-Ukrainianwarwhich raises some critical questions to which Nigeria must also respond.

First is the extent of sovereignty that any nation-state can enjoy when the national security of a neighbouring country is threatened. Russia and Ukraine are neighbours by territorial contiguity and propinquity.

However, Ukraine is hob-knobbing with the NATO countries within the limits of its statehood and sovereignty.

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IN THE ARENA

Who’ll Rein in Killer-policemen Last week’s mindless killing of a Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs. Bolanle Raheem by a policeman, Drambi Vandi, was a sad reminder of the scourge of police brutality in Africa’s largest democracy.

Louis Achi writes that President Muhammadu Buhari’s strict directives to the Police High Command to ensure justice may not make any difference

A

ssistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Drambi Vandi was last week named by the Lagos State Police Command as the killer cop who fatally shot Mrs. Bolanle Raheem, a Lagos-based lawyer, who was returning from church service with her husband on Christmas day.

Vandi was attached to the Ajiwe Police Division in the Ajah Area of Lagos State. The killing took place at Ajah Under-Bridge Area of the state. The killing of Mrs. Raheem, who was pregnant with twins as confirmed by her mother, has added to the increasing gory of killings by policemen of citizens they are supposed to protect.

Her killing was not the first by the police in that particular jurisdiction. Earlier in the month, one Gafaru Buraimoh was also shot dead by a yet-to-be-identified officer from the same division.

In a related statement signed by the Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, insisted the action of the police officer did not represent the core values of the Nigerian Police Force.

The police boss, according to the statement, had ordered a “speedy investigation and prosecution of the officers responsible for the ugly and unprofessional act, which doesn’t portray the Nigeria Police Standard Operating Procedure and core values.”

Prominent Nigerians who have sent their condolences to the bereaved family include Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, amongst others.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Baba last week ordered the immediate suspension of Vandi to allow for an enabling environment for necessary legal procedures to uphold justice in the case without interference.

A statement by Adejobi read: “The Inspector-General of Police, (IG) Usman Alkali Baba, has recommended the immediate suspension of Assistant Superintendent of Police Drambi Vandi, the officer attached to the Ajah Divisional Headquarters of the Lagos State Police Command, responsible for the shooting and killing of Omobolanle Raheem while waiting for the detailed report on the incident.

“The IG noted that the recommendation for the suspension of the officer is in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the Force. The IG further noted that the suspension is also expected to create an enabling environment for necessary legal procedures to uphold justice in the case without interference. The suspension is without prejudice to the constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the officer.

“The IG has reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to the Rule of Law and assured the public of his administration’s commitment to ensuring that justice is not just done but seen to have been manifestly done in the matter. He, therefore, appeals to the public to be calm as all hands are on deck to ensure justice prevails.”

Not unexpectedly, the latest killing of an innocent civilian provoked widespread anger and criticism across the country. Many

Baba Nigerians have also taken to social media to express outrage over the killing and call for justice for the deceased.

Perhaps, a most significant dimension to the thoughtless killing was President Muhammadu Buhari’s reaction to the incident by ordering the Nigeria Police Force to take “the strongest possible action” against the suspect. Buhari, in a statement signed by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, also assured the deceased’s family and members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) of justice.

According to the president, the incident was “a stark reminder of the recurring menace of the mishandling of weapons” and a wakeup call to law enforcement agencies, including the police, to ensure full implementation of reforms instituted by the regime.

But many are asking – given presidential precedents on this score – would this make any difference?

The House of Representatives, which also condemned the killing, called for a ban on police officers from con-

suming alcohol and other hard substances capable of inhibiting their sense of reasoning while on duty.This resolution was a sequel to the adoption of a motion of Urgent Public Importance raised by Babajide Obanikoro (APC-Lagos) at plenary last Wednesday.

Mrs. Raheem’s violent death has apparently exhumed old wounds, as Nigerians are already contemplating another EndSARS-like protest with the NBA strongly demanding justice. With the 2023 general election approaching, Nigeria certainly cannot afford to slip into another nationwide demonstration.

However, the embittered citizens cannot again afford to fold their arms as killer policemen go on the rampage.

Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also strongly condemned the killing of the lawyer and counselled the police authorities to ensure that arm-bearing officers are mentally balanced. More importantly, the commission pledged to monitor the process of investigation and prosecution of the errant officer by the police authorities to ensure that justice is adequately served.

A statement by the commission’s Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Fatimah Mohammed, noted that the officer’s action falls short of standard operating procedure and professional ethics of the Nigerian Police Force.

The NHRC statement conveyed the commission Executive Secretary, Mr. Tony Ojukwu’s disappointment in the action of the officers despite efforts by the commission to train officers of the Nigerian police on human rights best practices and mainstreaming of human rights in law enforcement operations.

“There must be a permanent solution to check this form of avoidable killings by the police,” he added.

On her part, the Country Director of Amnesty International in Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, said: “The danger of continued police brutality in Nigeria is an erosion of public confidence in the force responsible for keeping them safe. The police are the most distrusted security agency in Nigeria.”

A senior analyst at Horizon West Africa, an Abuja-based security consultancy firm, Kikelomo Shodeko, observed recently that, “what we have are officers that are mostly uneducated and are given guns. They should attend training in crisis, risk and emergency management. That training in itself is critical to how the police handle situations and understand their roles.”

A Lagos-based activist who was vocal during the EndSARS protests, Arinu Oduala said the Nigerian government is yet to actualise real police reforms, pointing out that this development has made young people “afraid to step out of their homes, in a bid to not become victims of torture, extortion, harassment and extrajudicial killings”.

The emerging consensus is that unchecked police brutality is an existential danger to citizens and specific actions needed to be urgently initiated to counter the policing aberrations in a modern society. This consensus also insists that the government must be ready to acknowledge the problem, enforce punishments, educate officers and tackle corruption within the police.

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

The Udom Emmanuel’s Example

Emmanuel

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, last week broke his silence on the lingering crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when he revealed that he feels “empty” each time he sees that the five governors of the party who are members of the G-5 have not been part of the presidential campaign.

Emmanuel who is also the chairperson of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, told reporters in Uyo, AkwaIbomState capital,afterameetingwithGovernor Samuel Ortom of Benue State who visited him that he was seriously missing them.

Ortom is a member of the G-5, which is led by Governor NyesomWike of Rivers State. Other governors who are members of the group are Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu),OkezieIkpeazu(Abia),andSeyiMakinde(Oyo).

Thegroup,formedshortlyafterthePDPpresidential primaryinMay,hassofarrefusedtosupporttheparty’s

presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

It has been demanding the resignation of thePDPNationalChairperson,IyorchiaAyu,to pavethewayforasouthernertoleadtheparty for the sake of achieving a “regional balance”.

They repeatedly said they would support a southernpresidentialcandidateforthe2023 election, a decision they said is in line with the agreement reached by the Southern Governors’ Forum that Nigeria’s presidency should come to the south in 2023.

But Akwa Ibom governor who contested the party’s presidential primary and lost like Wike, said the PDP leadership was open for peace with the G-5.

“You turn around on a campaign platform, youdon’tseethem,(and)suddenlyyouwillfeel you need them.These are people you started

together; I think I still feel empty that we are all not together on a campaign platform.”

Governor Emmanuel’s comments typified him as a man who genuinely wants peace in the PDP. While, responding, Ortom, who said the governors were still with the PDP, however, expressed displeasure with the leadership of the party over its management of the crisis.

Many believe that if the G-5 governors truly have conscience, the comments by Governor Emmanuel should melt their hardened hearts.

They faulted Ortom’s response for speaking tongue-in-cheek especially when he knows that the G-5 governors have remained rigid and refused to shift ground. Even their utterances sometimes have made reconciliation impossible. Frequently, they have lampooned Atiku for no fault of his, and threatening to vote for the opposition parties.

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BRIEFINGNOTES

Ado Doguwa’s Threat to Democracy A threat by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, to deal with those opposed to the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2023 general election has demonstrated the extent politicians who live on elective offices can go to retain their hold on power at the detriment of the people. Ejiofor Alike writes that security agents should move against Doguwa and his likes who are allegedly involved in acts of violence ahead of the polls

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any Nigerians were shocked recently when a member representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State at the House of Representatives, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, issued a threat to members of his constituency to either vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in elections or be dealt with.

Ado-Doguwa is not just an ordinary member but the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives.

In a video that went viral, Doguwa, who spoke mainly in Hausa, used abusive language to threaten prospective voters at a political rally in Kano.

“To God who made me, on election day, you must vote for APC or we will deal with you.

“I’m saying it again: On election day you either vote for APC, or we deal with you.

“Repeat after me, in Doguwa you either vote for APC or we deal with you,” he said.

Doguwa was first elected into the House of Representatives in 1992 on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

He returned to the Green Chamber in 2007 and has not only remained there since then but is seeking to return in 2023.

The lawmaker may have regarded himself as a life member of the House of Representatives for him to make such inflammatory comments against his people, who may have become tired of his representation.

His desperation to retain his seat is not surprising following a revelation that he is being positioned as the next Speaker of the House of Representatives in the event that his party wins the 2023 presidential election.

An amalgamation of dozens of groups under the platform of Groups for Democracy had already written Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to kick against the plan to make him the next speaker due to his alleged ignoble public conduct.

The federal lawmaker’s utterances were a clear demonstration of the extent those who have lived all their adult lives on elective political offices can go to retain their hold on power, without regard to how such ‘do-or-die’ politics had truncated Nigeria’s democracy in the past.

In a post via his verified Twitter handle, a former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, had described his comments as a threat to peaceful elections.

Sani wrote: “The threat to deal with anyone who refuses to vote for the ruling APC in Kano is unfortunate and a serious threat to peaceful elections. I advise the ranking Honorable member involved, who is still a lawmaker for over two decades to withdraw this statement.”

Doguwa has also been dragged to court over the threats he issued.

The plaintiff, Oseyili Anenih, who filed the suit at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on December 20, said Doguwa’s ominous

Ado Doguwa statement, which contravened Section 93 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022, was “capable of causing threat, fear of use of force or threat in the minds of ordinary Nigerian electorate.”

Following the outrage that greeted his comments, Doguwa had attempted to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians, claiming that his statement was not a threat but campaign rhetoric peculiar to Kano politics.

“Asking people to vote for APC or we deal with them simply means – like what you can call shenanigans, political brouhaha, which we make simply to ginger our supporters, to let them feel that we are on the ground and we will get it right,” Doguwa reportedly explained on a national TV. For Doguwa to claim that threat has different meaning in Kano politics shows how Nigeria’s

political leaders think that the rest of the people are illiterates.

Hiding under any deceptive rhetoric of Kano politics to threaten democracy is unacceptable.

The federal lawmaker is not new to the allegation of inciting or perpetrating violence.

Doguwa made the latest threat barely one month after he allegedly attacked the deputy governorship candidate of the APC in Kano State, Murtala Garo, with a teacup during a meeting.

However, the lawmaker denied that he attacked the deputy governorship candidate.

But Garo had told BBC Hausa that the majority leader violently invaded a meeting at the deputy governor’s residence and made several “baseless accusations” against the gathering, including the deputy governor, Nasiru Gawuna, who is also the

party’s governorship candidate.

Garo alleged that the majority leader became violent and injured him with a teacup while he was trying to defend himself against some of the accusations.

He explained that Doguwa accused them of not inviting him because they were sharing money.

“But the deputy governor replied that they are not sharing money because nobody gives them money to share; he then asked why he was not invited despite his position as the majority leader, and that is how the argument turned into a quarrel.

“Doguwa accused me of destroying his banners which I denied; he grabbed a teacup in front of the deputy governor and threw it at me,” Garo said.

But in his defence, Doguwa explained that he was in the meeting to ask why federal lawmakers from the state were not invited but their colleagues at the state level and commissioners and others were in attendance.

Doguwa said while he was asking the deputy governor, but “this boy (Garo) responded by saying ‘so what if we did not invite you;’ he started abusing me in the process; he broke a teacup and slipped into it injuring himself.”

“Contrary to what people are saying, I did not throw a teacup at him,” Doguwa reportedly told BBC Hausa.

Meanwhile, Governor Ganduje’s spokesperson, Abba Anwar said his principal was asked to intervene and call Doguwa to order.

According to Anwar, “an amalgamation of dozens of groups under the platform of Groups for Democracy, wrote a letter to the governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje urging him to call Alhassan Ado Doguwa, member representing Tudunwada/Doguwa federal constituency, to order, as his (Doguwa) political behaviours are allegedly becoming something else.

“They jointly argued that His Excellency should kindly call this man to order, else he will ditch the honourable position attached to his representation.

And that could not be good for the party in his constituency, Tudunwada and Doguwa.”

The letter reportedly read: “Your Excellency, Sir this is not the type of person we need as a Speaker of the House of Representatives, in the next coming Assembly.

“What transpired at the deputy governor’s residence, started by Hon. Doguwa is nothing but disrespectful to our governor’s choice of gubernatorial candidate and his running mate.”

They accused Doguwa of engaging in other acts that are unbecoming of a political leader.

Desperate politicians had truncated Nigeria’s democracy in the past.

With the ongoing killing of opposition candidates, destruction of campaign posters and attacks on campaign rallies ahead of the 2023 general election, security agents should move against the likes of Doguwa who allegedly make inflammatory comments.

NOTES FOR FILE

Oyo Police and Unnamed Killers of US-based Hotelier

Williams

The Oyo State Police Command recently introduced a curious dimension to the parade of suspected criminals when it paraded three suspects accused of killing of a United Statesbased hotelier, Gbenga Owolabi, and a final-year student of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Rachael Opadele, without naming the suspects or disclosing their states of origin.

Before the Oyo State police indulged in this strange act, the police’s tradition had always been to disclose the names and states of origin of the paraded criminals and in some cases have them interviewed by journalists.

But in what many described as an attempt to politicise insecurity and hide the ethnic group

of the suspects, the Oyo State Police Command paraded the three suspects without disclosing their names.

Observers of the new development alleged that the police deliberately concealed the names of the suspects so that the public would not identify their ethnic origin.

Many believe that the suspects are from a privileged part of the country that is largely responsible for the insecurity across several states in the country.

“The police are afraid to name the suspects so that their powerful kinsmen heading the security agencies will not feel embarrassed.

They are playing politics with insecurity. They know the people causing insecurity but they

are afraid of being accused of profiling a tribe. How can the police parade suspects before journalists without disclosing their names?” a resident of Ibadan, Oyo State capital, queried.

The Commissioner of Police, AdebowaleWilliams, who paraded them at the command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, said the suspects also included killers of a police inspector and kidnappers of a former Deputy Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Professor Adigun Agbaje, on the LagosIbadan Expressway.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, said nemesis caught up with the suspected killers of the late hotelier while trying to collect a ransom of N10.7million from the family of another victim, Waheed Hammed.

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Those Who Will Shape Nigerian Politics in 2023 As Nigeria enters another election year, all eyes are on President Muhammadu Buhari, the heads of the security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission, major contestants and other dramatis personae to ensure free, fair and transparent elections that will be acceptable to all the contestants, observers and the international community, Ejiofor Alike reports President Muhammadu Buhari

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ne of the factors that will shape Nigerian politics in 2023 is President Muhammadu Buhari’s avowed commitment to ensure free, fair and credible general election that would be acceptable to all the contestants.

The president’s directives to the security agencies on the conduct of the elections and his support for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will have far-reaching implications on this year’s elections.

Buhari has consistently reiterated his administration’s resolve never to interfere with elections conducted by INEC. Speaking in Lisbon, Portugal, at a meeting with representatives of Nigerians living in that country in July last year, Buhari cited the 2022 governorship elections in Anambra and Ekiti states, insisting his government had proven consistently its zero tolerance for interference with elections. Since then, he has been maintaining the promise any time he has the opportunity to speak on the forthcoming elections.

Buhari, whose party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will participate in 2023 elections, has insisted that Nigerians should be allowed to vote for the parties and candidates of their choice come 2023.

His position on the 2023 elections is a sharp contrast to the position of former President Olusegun Obasanjo who had described the 2007 elections as a “do-or-die affair” and ensured that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged victorious.

The 2007 presidential election was so fraudulent that even the greatest beneficiary, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, acknowledged that the election that brought him to power was not free and fair.

Buhari, who was a presidential candidate in the 2007 election, had noted that he had been a “victim of unfair electoral processes” in the past, saying as a result he would bequeath a robust electoral institution that would ensure the emergence of credible leaders.

If President Buhari matches his words and body language with actions, and order the security agencies to ensure a level-playing field for all the contestants and their political parties in the 2023 general election, the elections will beat the 2015 elections in terms of fairness and transparency.

President Buhari’s actions or inactions will no doubt be a major factor that will shape Nigerian politics this year.

Buhari

Atiku

Atiku Abubakar The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar is a strong political force that will help to shape the Nigerian politics in 2023. As a former vice president who had contested the presidential elections several times, Atiku has built alliances and bridges across all the states in the country. His wide contacts and connections will provide a formidable structure that will influence the outcome of the 2023 general election. As the candidate of the PDP, which is one of the three frontline political parties, Atiku is a major factor to watch in 2023. His political base, the North, with her intimidating voting population, will be a major determinant of the outcome of the elections.

Bola Tinubu The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu became a formidable national political force after he dismantled all the plots against him and emerged as the presidential candidate of the ruling party.

With his deep pocket, Tinubu, a political strategist, has built strong contacts and alliances in all the states across the country.

His support groups have penetrated every nook and cranny of the country, promoting his presidential ambition. The former Lagos State governor had played a key role in the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election.

Tinubu is no doubt a strong factor in the 2023 politics.

Peter Obi Many political analysts did not take the former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi serious when emerged as the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).

Before he joined the LP, Obi was a presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP where he also contested the 2019 elections as the vice presidential candidate of the party.

Tinubu

Obi

Shortly before the presidential primary of the PDP, Obi resigned from the party and joined the LP, which many had described as a party without a structure that could win a presidential election.

However, no sooner than he joined the LP than the Nigerian youths who are his support base, elevated a political party without a formidable structure to a mass movement.

The youths organised massive pre-campaign rallies across the major cities in the country, which unlike other political rallies, were not influenced by monetary inducements.

Obi has consistently told his critics who claimed that he had no formidable structure to clinch power next year that those making such assertion were referring to political structures of corruption and criminality which he doesn’t have and strongly abhors.

Obi has also argued that the type of structures that his critics were talking about involves bribery and corruption; and also sharing money to acclaimed political stakeholders to enlist their support and help in rigging elections.

LP was said to lack structures but Obi’s supporters, mainly the youths, have formed formidable structures to promote his presidential aspiration.

Various states in the country stood still when these youths marched through their state capitals and these sent shock waves across the PDP and the APC. The former Anambra State governor is a major factor that will shape the 2023 politics.

Nyesom Wike As the governor of the oil-rich Rivers State, Nyesom Wike used the unlimited resources at his disposal to make remarkable impact in the presidential primary of the PDP. But despite the huge resources he deployed to pursue his ambition, he lost the presidential ticket to the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

He also lost the party’s vice presidential ticket to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State. Since he lost both tickets, he has aligned with four other governors – Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), to work against Atiku. Wike and his allies, who are referred to as G-5, are insisting that the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, should relinquish his position to the southerner as a condition to support Atiku.

The five governors led by Wike have not made known their preferred presidential candidate between Bola Tinubu of APC and Peter Obi of the LP but it is expected that they will reveal their choice in the coming days.

Wike had last week vowed to unveil his preferred presidential candidate for the 2023 election this month.

“So, all of you who have been in suspense, who have been saying all kinds of things, abusing me; wait, January is here,” Wike stated, while commissioning a flyover in Port Harcourt.

Wike said he would not only tell his people who to vote for but would campaign for his choice of presidential candidate throughout the country. “Nothing will happen,” he added.

With the large voting population in Rivers State, Wike’s choice of presidential election, which may potentially be the choice of the G-5, will be a game changer in the 2023 politics.

Mahmood Yakubu The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has demonstrated a determination to conduct credible elections in 2023 by coming up with technological innovations that would make rigging impossible for politicians.

INEC had sensitised Nigerians to put pressure on the National Assembly and the Executive arm of the government to ensure the signing of the amended Electoral Act 2022. This electoral law helped to define off-season elections conducted in 2022 by curbing malpractices.

INEC’s technological innovations have compelled politicians to sit up ahead of the 2023 general election since it won’t be business as usual.

Three out-of-season elections in the FCT, Ekiti, Anambra and Osun states held in 2022 benefited from this improved electoral law.

With INEC’s technology, alteration of votes at polling units, distortion of number of accredited voters, collation of false results, mutilation of results and computational errors, swapping of results sheets, forging of results sheets, snatching and destruction of results sheets, obtaining declaration and return involuntarily, making declaration and return while result collation is still in progress and poor record-keeping, will no longer be prevalent in future elections.

The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is one of the

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Wike

Yakubu

Irabor

Baba

Ayu

Kwankwaso

Those Who Will Shape Nigerian Politics in 2023 technological innovations devised to identify and accredit voters’ fingerprints and facial recognition before voting. It is also used for capturing images of the polling unit result sheet (Form EC8A) and uploading the image of the result sheet online.

The commission’s Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV) is another technology in the form of online portal where polling unit-level results are uploaded directly from the polling unit, transmitted, and published for the public.

Yakubu’s determination to use these technologies in 2023 elections has unruffled some feathers but the electoral umpire has demonstrated a strong determination to put the election riggers out of business in next year’s polls.

However, a worrisome development that may affect the commission’s capacity to conduct credible polls in 2023 is the incessant attacks on its critical assets by gunmen and arsonists across several states since two years ago.

General Lucky Irabor The role of the security agencies is critical in the conduct of fair, free and transparent elections. Many political analysts believe that only the security agencies and INEC hold the key to credible polls. With the general election commencing next month, all eyes are on the armed forces, the police, Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to ensure adequate security and also provide level-playing field for all the political actors by remaining neutral in the course of carrying out their assignment.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor and other security chiefs had assured of adequate security before, during and after the elections.

Irabor, who had earlier last month disclosed that security agencies were under intense pressure from all corners to compromise the elections, however, allayed fears of a truncated process.

He called on Nigerians to put their trust in the security forces as they remained wholly committed to remaining neutral before, during and after the 2023 general election.

Irabor, who appeared on the Ministerial Media Briefing anchored by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, revealed that security personnel came under pressure through sundry inducements.

He, however, promised that measures were being put in place to ensure that the officers and men obey the directive to remain neutral.

Answering a question on how prepared the military is to ward off pressure to compromise elections given the President’s directive for neutrality, he said: “I’m glad that you reiterated the Commander-in-Chief’s directive to the armed forces.

“I’m afraid you say you have a worry. Rather than worry, I would rather think that trust should be the anchor. Why? “Of course, there will always be pressure from all quarters, wanting to induce security forces, not just the military. And that’s what criminal enterprise is all about.

“But what makes the difference is the professional approach to dealing with those issues. And that’s what as the military, we are committed to doing.

“So, please cease from worrying. Rather, trust and also engage others to trust that we will keep faith to these desires,” Irabor explained.

Indeed, the neutrality of the armed forces is critical to ensure credible elections given what happened in the previous elections,

particularly in 2019 elections where it took the doggedness of women to resist soldiers that perpetrated electoral fraud in Rivers State.

Irabor’s statements were quite reassuring but whether or not the officers and men of the armed forces who will be in the field during the elections will have the capacity to resist inducements from politicians is a different ball game.

Usman Baba Experience has shown that the most easily compromised security agents during elections are policemen as they are the lead security agents that provide security for election officers, materials and voters right inside the polling booths and collation centres. While the other security agents are stationed several metres away from the polling stations and collation centres, the police keep an eagle eye on those centres to monitor accreditation, voting and counting of votes as the lead security agency.

There were instances in the past where police officers on election duty were compromised to do the bidding of politicians.

Even the police hierarchy involved in posting commissioners to the states was known to have posted compromised police commissioners to some states at the requests of politicians.

So, the neutrality of the police is critical in 2023 elections.

The Inspector General of Police (IG), Usman Baba, had already declared that the Nigeria Police, the military and other security forces were fully prepared to ensure free, fair, credible and acceptable polls in 2023.

He stated that contrary to speculations in some quarters that the forthcoming polls may not hold in some parts of the country due to security concerns, the elections would hold nationwide as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The IG had also warned political actors to play by the rules of the game and to stop overheating the system, saying the era of ballot box snatching was gone for good in the country based on the various innovations introduced into the system by INEC. Baba declared that the security forces were fully prepared to ensure “free, fair, credible and acceptable polls come 2023.”

“We are assuring Nigerians and the international community that the 2023 general elections will hold as planned by the Independent National Electoral Commission in all the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The country is enjoying relative peace now and we are going to sustain this, the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari has promised times without numbers to give the nation peaceful, free and fair elections, come 2023.

“The president has been keeping to his words by encouraging us and the security forces towards achieving this, we will have no excuse to fail the nation. Nigerians too have been helping the police and other security agencies with credible information in their localities,” he reportedly said.

With the critical role played by the police during elections,

Baba’s role will shape Nigerian politics in 2023.

Iyorchia Ayu How the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) manages the agitation for the resignation of its national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu is critical in the 2023 elections Ayu will be a strong factor in Nigerian politics in 2023 due to the crisis rocking his party following the calls for his resignation.

Ayu emerged at a time the main opposition party was enmeshed in crisis over the zoning of 2023 presidency and the tenure of Prince Uche Secondus-led National Working Committee (NWC).

Many had thought that the former university lecturer would concentrate efforts to navigate the party through the raging storms.

Little did analysts know that his emergence would inflict more wounds on the party.

The emergence of Ayu as the National Chairman of the party in its October 30, 2021 National Convention had given the initial impression that the main opposition party was going to zone the presidency to the South. But the party threw the position open to all the six geopolitical zones. This led to the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the party to the dissatisfaction of many southern leaders of the party, including Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, among other party leaders from South.

Even Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State also voiced his preference for a southern presidential candidate.

When the former vice president won the primary, Wike and four other governors insisted that Ayu should resign but his supporters insisted that he would only resign if Atiku wins the 2023 presidency.

With the refusal of Ayu to resign, Wike and the four other governors have been working against Atiku. The Rivers State governor and his allies are set to unveil their preferred choice of presidential candidate. Many believe that no matter how the pendulum swings, the Ayu factor will shape the politics of 2023.

Rabiu Kwankwaso The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Mr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, will also be a force to reckon with in the politics of 2023. Though none of the various local and international polls has favoured him, his popularity in Kano State in particular can erode the votes of any of the three major candidates and change the political permutations that could lead to a runoff.

The efforts made for Kwankwaso and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) to form a joint ticket failed as the former Kano State governor insisted that he would be the presidential candidate in the joint ticket. Interestingly, the various polls conducted at different times predicted victory for the presidential candidates of the three major political parties – Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Obi of the LP. None of the various polls favoured Kwankwaso as he was said to be popular only in his home state, which however, has the second-largest voting population, after Lagos State. Many political analysts have predicted that his alliance with any of the three major candidates can be a game changer. However, such an alliance is still unlikely, in view of his body language and comments.

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NEWS

60TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY… L-R: Retired Foundation Director of Finco Engineering Company, Mr. Olusegun Adeyinka; his wife and retired executive of Nigeria Industrial Development Bank, Mrs. Mercy Adeyinka; and former ABIODUN AJALA Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, during the 60th wedding anniversary of the Adeyinkas in Lagos...weekend

Buhari, Other World Leaders Mourn as Pope Benedict XVI Dies at 95 Deji Elumoye and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari and other world leaders yesterday eulogised the 95-year-old Catholic Pontiff, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who died in his residence at the Vatican’s Mater Ecclesiae Monastery.

Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni said in a statement that he died at 9:34 am in his residence, which he had chosen after resigning in 2013.

“With sorrow, I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 am in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican. Further information will be provided as soon as possible.

As of Monday morning, 2 January

2023, the body of Pope Emeritus will be in Saint Peter’s Basilica so the faithful can bid farewell,” said the statement announcing his death.

Reacting to the news of his demise, President Buhari commiserated with Pope Francis, the Catholic Church in Nigeria and around the world, as well as all Christian faithful who mourn the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. The president in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, paid tribute to Benedict XVI who was greatly admired globally for his selfless leadership, renowned learning as a theologian, and dedication to advancing inter-faith dialogue and peace.

Stolen Crude Oil: NNPC, Security Agencies Destroy Barge, Filling Station in N'Delta Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) yesterday again announced that it had destroyed a barge carrying illegal crude oil as well as a filling station which has been receiving stolen products.

In a note last night, the national oil company stated that the raid was carried out in collaboration with security agencies as well as local firms recently contracted by the federal government for pipeline surveillance jobs.

The NNPC had in August 2022, signed an agreement with Tantita Security Services and two other companies in its efforts to stop the theft of the country’s crude oil.

Both the Minister of State Petroleum, Timipre Sylva and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC, Mele Kyari, had put the volume of stolen crude and production foregone as a result of shutdowns at over 700,000 barrels per day.

The collaboration has led to the discovery of over 58 illegal connections to the trans-Escravos, trans-Forcados, and other major trunk lines by oil thieves in Delta and Bayelsa states.

“In ongoing efforts to stem oil theft and restore Nigeria's production to optimum levels, private security contractor, in collaboration with government security agencies and NNPC Limited , today (yesterday) 31/12/22 destroyed a barge loaded with stolen crude. The barge was arrested on 22/12/22.

Suspects were also arrested.

“The barge, named MT Brighton 1, which was loaded with stolen crude, was apprehended in one of the creeks running into the Ramos River in Agge Community, a border village between Delta and Bayelsa states.

“Also, the security intervention team today 31/12/22 demolished a filling station, named Blessed Corporate Oil & Gas Services Limited in Opete, Warri, Delta State, for being in custody of a truck laden with stolen crude and discharging the illegal contents into its underground storage tanks,” the brief message stated.

The NNPC as well as the security agencies have variously been criticised for destroying evidence which would have been deployed in prosecuting suspects in courts.

According to the statement, “President Buhari believes that the late Pontiff will be remembered as a true servant of God who used the benevolent gifts of the Almighty upon his life to serve the Church and humanity in humility, reverence and piety, living in word and deed the virtues of a true Christian disciple.”

Also reacting, German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, paid tribute to the former pope, referring to him as a “special church leader” who helped shape the Catholic church.

“As a ‘German’ pope, Benedict XVI was a special church leader for many, not only this country,” Scholz wrote on Twitter.

“The world has lost a formative figure of the Catholic Church, an argumentative personality and a clever theologian.”

On his part, France’s President Emmanuel Macron praised him for his work towards a “more brotherly world”.

“My thoughts are with the Catholics of France and the world, bereaved by the departure of his holiness Benedict XVI, who strove with soul and intelligence for a more brotherly world,” he wrote on Twitter.

Also reacting, UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said that he was “saddened” by the death of the former pope, calling him a “great theologian”.

“I am saddened to learn of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI,” Sunak tweeted. “He was a great theologian whose UK visit in 2010 was a historic moment for both Catholics and non-Catholics throughout our country.”

Similarly, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hailed the former pope as a ‘giant of faith and reason’.

She said she had told current Pope Francis that she and her government shared his pain at the passing of “a Christian, a pastor, a theologian, a great figure in

history - that history will never forget”.

Before his death, his health conditions had worsened due to his advancing age.

Benedict had almost entirely withdrawn from public view and the few photographs that emerged of him exposed his frailty.

Back in 2013, he had cited his declining physical and mental health in his decision to become the first pope since 1415 to give up the job as head of the worldwide Catholic Church.

Despite saying he would live “hidden from the world” after his resignation, he repeatedly intervened on key issues facing the Church through books, interviews and articles.

In January 2020, he expressed his opposition to allowing priests to marry. A year earlier, he blamed clerical abuse scandals on the 1960s sexual revolution and a collapse in faith in the West.

In an interview in March 2021, he said “there is only one pope”, but acknowledged “fanatical” supporters who refused to accept his resignation.

His death brings to an end an unprecedented situation in which two “men in white” — Benedict and Francis — had co-existed within the walls of the tiny city-state.

While there is no rulebook for former popes, Benedict’s funeral is expected to be at the Vatican, presided over by Francis.

In 2005 the body of John Paul II, the last pope to die, lay in state before a funeral mass in St Peter’s Square attended by one million people, including heads of state Benedict was a brilliant theologian.

Born on April 16, 1927, in Marktl am Inn, in Bavaria, Benedict was 78 when he succeeded the longreigning and popular John Paul II in April 2005, the first German pope of the modern era.

Ganduje: Why North Has No Excuse But to Support Tinubu Sacks commissioner over unguarded utterances Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said the North has no excuse not to support and vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to him, Tinubu has made enough sacrifices for democracy and the development of Nigeria, especially his efforts towards supporting the course of northerners, hence, it is time to pay back.

Ganduje made the remark at an event hosted by a support group, Volunteers For Democracy under the leadership of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Alhaji Usman Alhaji held at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

According to him, Tinubu had emphatically supported Muhammadu Buhari to become

president after he failed three times prior to the 2015 election.

The governor noted that even after the 2015 election, Tinubu still continued to support Buhari's government until this time that he is vying for the apex seat, adding that "this is the time when the north should pay back."

"It is a payback time for Tinubu by northerners. Tinubu is the best candidate for the forthcoming presidential election. Northerners have no excuse not to vote for Tinubu because of his love and support to northerners.

"Before 2015, Buhari contested three times but failed. In 2015, Tinubu offered to support Buhari.

He supported him until he won the election. He continued to support Buhari's government and did not ask for appointment.

"Among these presidential candidates, no one loves

northerners like Tinubu. He is a unifier and has the capacity better than his contenders," Ganduje said.

Ganduje added that "Nigeria is the most diverse country with a complicated democracy. Ganduje is contesting not for Yoruba or Muslims. We are also voting for Tinubu not because of his tribe or religion.

"We are voting for him because of his capacity, his firmness, his vision, his political pedigree. He is tested and trusted. He did it in Lagos when the state was not attractive. I am sure he will do the same or even better if he becomes Nigerian president," said Ganduje.

The Kano State governor also said in Kano, he had done a right choice by selecting his deputy, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna and former Commissioner, Murtala Sule Garo to contest for governorship election.

According to him, the team of

Gawuna and Garo is the best in Kano because of their experiences as public office holders.

In his remarks earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, who is the National President of the Volunteers for Democracy, promised to deliver 600,000 votes to Gawuna/Garo in the 2023 election.

Alhaji said the association has networks in all the 44 local government areas in the state.

He also disclosed that plans had been concluded by the association to launch a door-to-door campaign for APC across all the local government areas.

Meanwhile, Ganduje has sacked the state Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Dr. Muhammad Tahar Adam popularly known as Baba Impossible.

Continued on page 73

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MEET-THE-PEOPLE FORUM… L-R: Member representing Nkanu East/West federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Nnoli Nnaji; Deputy governorship candidate of the PDP in Enugu State, Mr. Ifeanyi Ossai; the governorship candidate, Mr. Peter Mbah; and the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Edward Ubosi; at the stakeholders’ dinner and interactive forum organised in honour of Mbah by the Oganiru Enugu East Senatorial District in Enugu…weekend

NBA Constitutes Panel to Handle Raheem, Buraimo’s Murder Cases Mobilise Nigerians against police brutality, Falana tells association

Alex Enumah in Abuja The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has constituted a nine-member ad hoc committee to handle the cases of the slain Lagos-based lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem and Gafaru Buraimoh who were allegedly killed by police officers in Lagos.

This as human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, has stated that the best tribute lawyers can pay to Mrs. Raheem is to mobilise Nigerians against police brutality.

NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), who announced this yesterday through the National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Habeeb Lawal, said the panel will handle the murder and civil cases involving the two victims.

The committee is comprised of Mrs. Titilola Akinlawon (SAN) as chairperson and Mrs. Abiye TamGeorge, who is the vice chairman of the Lagos Branch, as the secretary.

Members are Charles Ajiboye (National Assistant Publicity Secretary); Ikechukwu Uwanna (chairman, Lagos Branch); Seyi Olawunmi (chairman, Ikeja Branch); Olalekan Thanni (chairman, Ikorodu Branch); M.A. Sodipo (chairman, Badagry Branch); Omotayo Omosehin (chairman, Epe Branch); and Oladotun Hassan (secretary, Epe Branch).

The NBA president said the terms of reference of the committee are

to continue to interface with the families of the two victims until the conclusion of the prosecution in the respective cases; to hold a watching brief in the course of the prosecutions of ASP Drambi Vandhi and the perpetrator(s) of the death of Gafaru Buraimoh and render periodic reports.

Others are to file civil suits on behalf of the families of the two victims and to obtain reasonable compensation for the respective families; to collaborate with the NBA-Human Rights Institute to develop a capacity training program for the police on respect for human rights to be implemented jointly by the NBA, the Nigerian Police Force, and the Police Service Commission; and to handle other issues incidental to ensuring justice in the cases.

“We start by acknowledging that nothing we do will ever be enough to bring back our late member, Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem. We however believe that our strong and unwavering pursuit of justice, in this case, may mean that another Nigerian will not have to lose his or her life in the illegal, unlawful and unjust manner that Omobolanle’s life was taken,” Maikyau said.

Meanwhile, Falana has said the best tribute lawyers can pay to the slain Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs. Bolanle Raheem is to mobilise Nigerians against police brutality.

Falana said the NBA must ensure that Raheem did not die in vain

GANDUJE: WHY NORTH HAS NO EXCUSE BUT TO SUPPORT TINUBU The state Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, said the removal was with immediate effect.

He said the sacking of the commissioner and member of the state executive council followed his unbecoming attitude as a public servant holding sensitive office, as well as unguarded utterances.

Malam Garba pointed out that he was also found to be running the affairs of his office as personal business and even unilaterally reducing working days for the

staff of the ministry, exempting Wednesdays and Fridays.

The commissioner added that apart from operating without due consultation, Baba Impossible has not been loyal to the government.

He announced further that Governor Ganduje has sent to the state House of Assembly the name of a nominee in person of Dr. Nazifi Ishaq Bichi of Bayero University, Kano as replacement for screening and appointment as new commissioner.

The governor, the statement added, wished the sacked commissioner the best of luck in his future endeavours.

like other victims of police brutality.

Raheem was recently shot dead by an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi.

The deceased was returning home from a Christmas outing with her family when the shooting incident occurred at the Ajah axis of Lagos.

The incident has sparked widespread criticism, and Vandi has been charged to court and remanded in Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending legal advice.

Falana, in a legal opinion, asked the NBA to compel the federal and state governments to implement the recommendations of the #EndSARS panels to address issues of police brutality.

The human rights lawyer suggested that the use of arms by police officers in the country should be “strictly regulated.

“Nigerian lawyers must ensure that Mrs. Bolanle Raheem does not die in vain like others who were dispatched to their untimely grave before her,” Falana wrote.

“Indeed, the best tribute that the NBA can pay to the deceased is to use her cold-blooded murder to mobilise the Nigerian people to end police brutality in Nigeria.

“To start with, police checkpoints must be removed from Nigerian roads. The roads should be patrolled by combined teams of officers from the police and road safety commission.

“The use of arms by policemen on duty should be strictly regulated according to the service rules. Nonlethal options such as batons, tear gas, and water should be employed in dispersing crowds.

“The Anti-Torture Act of 2017 prescribes that any police officer or law enforcement officer who subjects a citizen to torture is liable to be tried and if convicted to imprisonment for 25 years.

“If any person dies as a result of torture the police officer indicted is liable to be tried for murder. The NBA should direct its human rights committees to take up all cases of torture meted out to citizens

by public and private individuals in society.

“The NBA should prevail on the federal government and state governments to publish the reports and implement the recommendations of the judicial panels, otherwise, the NBA should adopt legal measures to compel the governments to implement the recommendations.

“Furthermore, the NBA should mount pressure on state governments to enact laws for the establishment of human rights bodies to protect the human rights of citizens.

“This was the principal resolution adopted by the National Economic Council (NEC) after the #EndSARS protests.

“As a matter of urgency, the NBA should ensure that a legal practitioner is assigned to every police station to monitor human rights compliance following section 66 (3) of the Police Establishment Act 2020.

“The human rights committees

of the 128 branches of the NBA should liaise with the National Human Rights Commission and the Legal Aid Council to ensure the observance of human rights in the country.

“The NBA should collaborate with state attorneys-general towards the successful prosecution of police and military personnel who engage in the extrajudicial killing of criminal suspects and other citizens.

“At the same time, the unlawful killing of police officers by military officers and criminal gangs should always be challenged by Nigerian lawyers.

“The NBA should liaise with the police and military authorities to ensure that the human rights course is made a compulsory subject in all police colleges and military academic institutions.

“This is the best way to ensure that members of the police and armed forces recognise their constitutional responsibilities to protect the life and property of every citizen,” Falana explained.

Obi: I’m Contesting as Nigerian, Not South-east Candidate Arinze Gideon in Enugu The presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has said though he is Igbo, he was contesting as a Nigerian, not a South-east candidate.

He said South-east politicians were behind him, adding that some only had different political viewpoints.

According to him, there would be danger if everybody in the region supported his presidential ambition.

The LP presidential candidate spoke in Enugu shortly after signing condolence register for late President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor, at the National Secretariat of Ohanaeze.

He noted that those whom brought Nigerian to the current economic and socio-political problems were the ones that were not supporting him.

“What is happening is that some people have different opinion. Everybody should not

support me and everybody will not support me.

“In fact, if everybody supports me there is danger. Some will disagree.

“Don’t forget that I am trying to change a system where people who brought us here are living off.

“You think those who left us in this confusion will support me?

No. Some people are living off Nigeria as it is today.

“Some people have a structure that have brought us to this juncture where we produce 133 million people that are poor, where our primary health care have collapsed, where we have 20 million out of school children, where we have almost 40 per cent unemployment, with 60 per cent youth unemployment, where we have highest youth job prevent in the world.

“So they will not support me but I urge all of us to remember that we need to build a new Nigeria.

“Nobody is against me what

people have is different opinion which is allowed in a democratic dispensation,” he said.

Paying a glowing tributes, the former Anambra State governor who was the first to sign Obiozor’s condolence register at the Secretariat, said his demise had created a sense of loss to every Igbo man owing to his contributions to the progress of the Igbo nation.

He said: “I feel very sad that he died this very trying time for our nation.

“If you know Prof Obiozor and his contributions over the years to our country Nigeria and to the Southeast, you will know that every Igbo person feel a sense of loss but we cannot question God. “So, that is why this morning I decided to personally come to this Secretariat which is a Secretariat of what holds Igbos together, to sign this condolence.

“For me I feel sad but we cannot question God. “All I can say is may God

Almighty that called him, grant his soul eternal rest in his kingdom, and continue to grant all of us especially his family the fortitude to bear his irreplaceable loss, continue to bless Igboland and continue to bless Nigeria.”

On whether his demise will in anyway jeopardise his chances of becoming the Nigerian president of Igbo extraction, Obi said no, adding: “As far as I am concerned not at all.”

He maintained that though he is an Igbo man by tribe, he does not want to be an Igbo president.

“I have said it, I am proud of my Nigerianess as I am proud of my Igboness.

“It’s true I hold both of them but I am contesting as a Nigerian and I believe that in this exercise as it is today I am committed that a new Nigeria is possible.

“I have all it takes in terms of character, competence and everything to start building that new Nigeria.”

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • JANUARY 1, 2023

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NEWS

NEWEST LANDLORD IN TOWN… L-R: Globacom’s Regional Manager, Port Harcourt 2, Mr. Okechukwu Nwaeze; Nollywood Star and brand influencer, Ebube Nwagbo; House winner; Miriam Okeanya; Executive Chairman, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, Mr. George Ariolu; Head of Licencing and Operations, Port Harcourt, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr. Walson Dambo; and Nollywood Star and brand influencer, Mofe Duncan, at the presentation of house keys to Okeanya who won it in the Glo Festival of Joy promo in Port Harcourt…weekend

Lawan, Gbajabiamila Senators Express Confidence in 2023 Electoral Process Urge politicians to embrace issue-based campaigns

Sunday Aborisade, Udora Orizu in Abuja and Sylvester Idowu in Warri The President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan; his deputy, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Conference of Southern Senators and Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, have expressed the hope and great confidence that the 2023 general election would end successfully.

They have therefore urged politicians to engage in issue-based campaigns ahead of the polls.

The federal lawmakers stated these in their separate New Year messages.

They appreciated and commended Nigerians for having faith in their country and for always supporting efforts at building a virile nation.

On his part, Lawan expressed

happiness that the Ninth National Assembly has remained unwavering in the implementation of its legislative agenda and kept faith with Nigerians.

He urged Nigerians to seize the opportunities provided to take active part in the ongoing electoral process.

Lawan said the Electoral Act 2022 had ignited hope in the system and heightened expectations about the forthcoming general elections.

"It is less than six months to the end of this Assembly. I am proud to say that all of us have kept faith with the Nigerian people as their representatives,” Lawan explained.

In his New Year message to the people of Delta State, Senator OmoAgege noted that the 2023 general election is another opportunity to redress the wrongs of governance by electing the right and qualified

Over 2.1m PVCs Uncollected in Lagos, Abuja, Says INEC Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that a total of 1,693,963 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) are yet to be collected in Lagos State as at December 29, 2022.

A document by the commission categorised the uncollected PVCs into 916,961 old cards and 777,002 new cards.

According to the document, Lagos had received 7,510,491 PVCs from INEC headquarters, comprised of 6,570,291 old cards and 940,200 new cards.

It added that out of cards received by the state, 5,816,528 PVCs (5,653,330 old and 163,198 new cards) had so far be collected as at 29 December 2022.

Meanwhile, 460,643 PVCs were uncollected in 11 years in the Federal Capital Territory.

This is contained in a one-page report on ‘total PVC received and collected as at December 24, 2022’ from the electoral operations department, FCT INEC office yesterday in Abuja.

The commission had fixed

22 January 2023 as the deadline for collection of the PVCs by registrants ahead of the 2023 general election.

The document showed that uncollected old PVCs from 20112019 stood at 230,007 while that of 2021-2022 was 230,636.

According to the document, a total 305,960 PVCs were received from the commission’s Headquarters in 2021-2022 out of which 75,324 were collected and 230,636 were uncollected.

The breakdown of PVCs collected in 2021-2022 in the six area councils includes Abaji 3,964; Bwari 15,554; Gwagwalada 12,367; Kuje 10,124; Kwali 5,623; and Abuja Municipal (AMAC) 27,692.

The document also showed that AMAC recorded the highest number of uncollected PVCs in 2021-2022 at 143,832, followed by Bwari at 50,935; Gwagwalada at 20,002; Kuje at 8,305; Abaji at 3,849; and Kwali 3,713 respectively.

Also, a total of 1,229,894 PVCs were received from the Headquarters from 2011-2019 with 999,887 PVCs were collected while 230,007 were uncollected.

persons into positions of authority to govern the state.

Gbajabiamila has also congratulated Nigerians for witnessing the New Year 2023.

The Speaker said the year 2023 would be significant for Nigerians, being the year that citizens will elect new leaders to pilot the affairs of the country.

He said he is optimistic about the opportunities and possibilities that lie ahead and urged Nigerians to remain resolute and determined as a people.

Gbajabiamila noted that 2023 is a defining year for Nigeria, which is why the citizens should be united and speak with one voice.

The Conference of Southern Senators, in a statement signed by their Chairman, Opeyemi Bamidele, insisted that Nigeria

can only witness progress and prosperity if all citizens value unity and patriotism.

They harped on the need to forge a united nation to fortify the country's bonds and make it strong to overcome the cankerworms of corruption, insecurity and economic deprivation.

The lawmakers appealed to religious and political leaders, not to make incendiary and inflammatory comments that could further widen the existing cleavages and stoke the fire of disunity, that has been the main challenge ripping the country apart.

"We want to use this opportunity to appeal to our community and religious leaders to continue to preach the message of peace among all Nigerians, because a

nation can't progress or prosper unless there is unity among tribes and religious organisations," the statement added.

Nnamani, a former governor of Enugu State who is representing Enugu East in the Senate, urged political gladiators contesting for various public offices to refrain from mudslinging and character assassination.

Rather, he said their campaign should be on issues that would have direct bearing on the wellbeing of Nigerians.

Nnamani said: ”Those who engage in a campaign of calumny are obviously bereft of ideas.

Any one vying for public office must have his or her manifesto or programme of action”.

He also noted that the electorate should "be wise enough to vote

for candidates with proven track record of performance and not those who exploits our fault lines of ethnicity or religion to gain advantage”.

Nnamani bemoaned the deteriorating security situation in parts of the country especially in the South-east region and called for collaborative efforts between the security operatives and communities to halt the menace .

He was of the view that security should not be left for the government alone and urged communities to participate in order to fish out “ these criminals who live amongst the people in the communities “.

He prayed for a peaceful atmosphere that would guarantee free, fair and credible elections in 2023.

ARISE TV, Five Others to Air Documentary on Buhari’s Life, Philosophy The ARISE NEWS Channel has been listed among the six television stations and YouTube channels to air a documentary titled, “Essential Muhammadu Buhari,” a one-hour documentary about Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, his mind, life and philosophy, from

Sunday, January 1, 2023.

According to a statement signed

by Senior Special Assistant to the President Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, yesterday, the documentary was a filmic portrait of the President told in his own words, and by some family members, friends

and associates.

The statement added that the documentary will be aired for two days on six local television stations.

“It will be showing on the following TV networks at these times: Channels TV 6-7:00 pm, Sunday, January 1, 2023; Nigerian

Television Authority, NTA 8-9:00 pm, Sunday, January 1; TVC 4:30-5:30 pm, Sunday, January 1; ARISE NEWS Channel 5-6 pm, Monday, January 2; Trust TV 6-7 pm, January 2, and African International Television (AIT) 8-9:00pm, Sunday, January 1 and 8-9:00 pm January 2.”

We Must Do Everything to Create, Sustain Employment, Obasanjo Tells Nigerians James Sowole in Abeokuta Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday said that Nigerians should do everything possible to tackle the problem of lack of jobs for the teeming populace, particularly the youths.

The former president spoke in Abeokuta at the inauguration of a water supply scheme deal between the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) and Conference Hotel, owned by a former Governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel.

Obasanjo said water and electricity supplies are two major

challenges confronting investors in Nigeria, particularly, the hospitality industry in which he and Daniel were involved.

He said the two organisations, OOPL and Conference Hotel, had earlier struck a deal on power supply through Solar Power facilities at the OOPL. Obasanjo said the 1.2 million litre-water plant in the OOPL can supply the Conference Hotel, adding that it is already supplying the OPIC Estate, Laderin owned by the Ogun State Government.

Obasanjo said the decision to partner with Daniel's company was to ensure that more employment

is provided by both companies.

The former president said he was forced to resort to solar power and create a dam within the complex of the OOPL to provide clean water to the facilities and extend it to others.

Speaking with journalists after the inauguration of the project, Daniel said what Obasanjo had done showed the depth of his heart.

He said with the deal, one of the major challenges confronting his hotel had been solved.

The former governor said Nigeria can solve the twin problems of power and water supply by embarking on modular

projects.

He said: "What China did was build modular plants instead of struggling to build plants. We can do the same thing here in Nigeria. What Baba had done is an example of what we need.

"We are lucky; God has given us what we need for this. Look at Abeokuta for example, Ogun River is there. We can build mini dams to supply some communities.

What we have here at OOPL, is supplying OPIC Estate Laderin and also supplying the Conference Hotel. We should embrace things like this not only in the water supply but also in other areas."

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ENGAGEMENTS

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

2023: Of Polls, Projections and Partisanship

N

igeriansareaveryimpatientpeople.

Ourhungerforinstantoutcomes should have made us the nation thatinventedthemicrowaveoven.

Butourimpatienceisdirectedat otherends.Wecanatleastcontent ourselveswiththemanyunusual things that we have reinvented and perfected our instincts in, namely, politics and religion.

Politics is the immediate one on the table. Campaignsforthe2023electionsareraging.Threeand halfmajorcontestantshaveacquiredpreeminence inanunconsciousreincarnationofNigeria’soriginal ethnic tripod. Each one of the hopefuls is suffering from the principal disease of politicians, incurable optimism. The elections are still two months away but the presidential contenders and the public are eager for the results to be announced even before the first ballots are cast. To fill the gap of anxiety, somethinginterimanddeceptivehascreptintofillthe voidofanxiety.ItistherashofMickeyMouseopinion pollsandsometimeswildpartisanprojectionsonthe outcome of the presidential elections.

Threeandhalfmajorcontestantshaveemerged, eachoneofthemsufferingfromtheprincipaldisease ofpoliticians,incurableoptimism.Sincetheelections are still two months away while the contestants, especially at the presidential level, are eager for the results to be announced even before the first ballotsarecast.Whileweallwait,somethinginterim has crept in to fill the void. It is the rash of Mickey Mouse opinion polls and sometimes thinly veiled partisanprojectionsontheoutcomeoftheelections.

Opinion polls and informed speculations on the possible outcomes of an imminent election have becomeanintegralpartofelectionseasonsinmost democracies.Asanintellectualundertaking,anopinion pollisanenlightenedguessastothepossibleoutcome ofanelection.Ittakesintoconsiderationknownfactorsandvariablesintheelectoralenvironment.Poll results,ifbasedonaccuratescientificvariables,can help politicians and the electorate prepare for the inevitable and the imminent.

Inthebestoftraditions,pollsarefirstandforemost scientifictoolsandoughttobefreefromintellectual shortcutsandpartisanmischief.Oneapollisexposed asdefectiveinmethodandintent,itlosesitsvalidity asatoolforforecastingthefuture.Apollsterwitha reputationfordodgypartisanpollresultslosetheir affiliation with the realm of science and head in the direction of superstition or partisan jingoism.

The credibility of a polling company or agency is a function of the tested predictive validity of their polls in repeated instances or repeated occasions on a wide variety of events or subjects. Even then, inordertoberespectableandreputable,anopinion poll must of necessity contain certain indices that wouldreassurethepublicoftheirobjectivity,fairness and thus credibility.

The public needs to know the size of the polling sample;thebasisforthedeterminationofthesample size,therepresentativeness,geographicalspread, agedistributionandoccupationaldispositionofthe polledsample.Weneedtoknowthemethodofpolling (questionnaire,phonecalls,onlinequestionaires)as wellasthemarginoferrorallowedinthefinalcomputations. In the absence of these standard verifiable parametersandindices,apublishedopinionpollopens itselftoquestionsthatcanbetrickytoanswer.The credibility of a poll is independent of how lofty and fanciful its promoter’s or author’s name or status may sound.

Nigeria’s2023presidentialelectioninparticularhas beenawashwithallmannerofpollsandspeculations.

It started much earlier but from more respectable quarters.Theearliestpollsonwhoislikelytowinthe forthcoming presidential polls came earlier in the yearmostlyfromforeignmediaoutlets.Poweredby globalinterestinNigeriaanditsprecariousplight,a numberofinternationalmediaoutletshavepublished sometimesveryimpressionisticprojectionsonthe outcome of our next presidential election.

IbelieveitwasBloombergthatpoppedthefirstcork withapollprojectionthatindicatedthatthenewest entrantinNigeria’spresidentialcontest,Mr.PeterObi, waslikelytomoveintoAsoRockcomenextMay.Obi wasbythenthenewestkidonthepoliticalblockwith a novel message and method. The Nigerian media wasliterallyablazewithasupermarketofopinions onthatpoll.BoththosewhoagreedwithBloomberg andthosewhodidnottookpositionsbasedmostlyon rawunvarnishedemotionsandpartisanshipaswell asthemanyfamiliarmurkycomputations(ethnicity, religion, economic interest etc) that condition the political reflexes of most Nigerians.

Other polls and media based projections have

Yakubu

since followed in quick succession. In October, a Fitch Solutions and Country Risk Research Report poll indicated that Mr. Bola Tinubu, flagbearer of the AllProgressiveCongress(APC)wouldwintheNigerian presidencyiftheelectionsweretoholdthen.Similarly, theinfluentialEconomistIntelligenceUnitinits2022 AnnualCountryReportonNigeriapredictedaTinubu victory. This particular prediction indicated that Mr. Tinubu’s controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket would be inconsequential in determining his victory in the election.

Insimilarvein,lastSeptember,ahithertounknown group We2Geda Foundation reportedly conducted a poll among registered voters and predicted that Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party would score a 51% lead over his fellow contestants. In this rash of polls and projections, Mr. Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples DemocraticParty(PDP)hasnotbeenquiteasluckyas hisfellowcontestantsinspiteofhissolidleadershipand experienceprofile.Theleastfortunateplayerhasbeen Mr. Kwankwaso of the NNPP. Some say it is because hisnameisabithardtopronouncewhiletheacronym ofhispartyhasonelettertoomanycomparedtothe three leading contenders!

Pollshavecometoberecognizedforwhattheyare: highly educated guesses about projected electoral outcomes.Thevalidityofpollsindemocraciesisafunctionofthelevelofeducationandenlightenmentinthe society.Themoregenerallydevelopedthesociety,the morereliablethepollstendtobebecausetheyderive fromthegeneralspiritofenlightenmentandscientific consciousnessofthesociety.Inlessenlightenedenvironments,theelectorateismostlyilliterateorpolitically unenlightened.Insuchplaces,peopleneitherbelieve innorparticipateinpollingexercises.Thepercentage of undecided voters is very high because people just wait and cast their votes and await the results.

Butevenintheenlightenedwesterndemocracies, polls are never accurate or foolproof but mostly indicative.Professionalpollingcompaniesandagencies haveoccasionallyfoundthemselvesembarrassedby their own projections in specific electoral instances.

For instance, nearly every US opinion poll including the famous Gallup was worsted by their miscalculations during the Donald Trump versus Hillary Clinton presidential contest in 2016. The pollsters became a

littlemorecautiousbythe2020/1BidenversusTrump race. Accuracy improved even though the margins of error narrowed significantly.

On the Nigerian presidential election, by far the most contentious recent polls and projections on the 2023 presidential election are those that have come from Mr. Atedo Peterside’s ANAP Polls and of course the speculative projection by THISDAY Newspapers last weekend. The NOI/ANAP poll on the 2023 presidential contest in Nigeria gives Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party a solid lead over his twootherfrontlinecontestants.TheNOI/ANAPpoll couldhavebeenlefttodefenditselfwithitslessthan transparentparameters.Buttypically,theorganizing and overriding intelligence in this enterprise would seem to be the political slant and interests of Mr. Atedo Peterside, banking and finance oligarch. He has been most reluctant to distance his personal partisanship perspectives from ANAP polls and their findings. Following the release of the latest of hiscontentiouspolls,hewasonChannelsTelevisionto rationalizetheveracityofthepollsanditsconclusions.

Quiteworrisomely,thecredibilityoftheANAPpoll is not helped by its previous doubtful outings. In the run up to the 2015 elections, ANAP predicted a slim victoryforMr.GoodluckJonathanagainstMr.Buhari which ended up being the reverse. Similarly, ANAP predictedanarrowmarginofvictoryforBuhariagainst Atiku which was wide off the mark.

Ordinarily,thechancesofcredibilityforANAP’spoll predictionscouldprobablyhaveimprovedbutforMr. Peterside’sfrequentpersonaleditorialinterventions either as a defender or explainer of the rationale for thesedodgypolls.Nothingiswrongwithanoligarch owningapollingoutfit.Itmayevenservethepartisan endsoftheoligarchinquestionifhispollingcompany oroutfitweretobecomereputableandreliable.That way,thepollscouldbecomeaninstrumentofpower mongering and influence peddling. But to engineer an apriori skewed opinion poll and still proceed to editorializeindefenseofitspartisandriftisenlightened self interest driven to the brinks.

Onitspart,theTHISDAY’sspeculativeprojection predictsthattheelectionsmaybedecided inarunoff sinceeitherofthecontestantsislikelytoscore25% ofvotersintwothirdsofthestatesofthefederation.

BytheTHISDAYprojection,Mr.Atikuwillleadthepack in 23 states followed by Mr. Tinubu in 22 states. Mr. ObiandhisLabourPartyareprojectedtocomethird with barely 25% score in16 states. The newspaper predictsapossiblerunoffbetweenthetwofrontliners ,namely,betweenMr.TinubuandMr.AtikuwithMr.Obi clingingprecariouslytoathirdposition.Thefactthat theTHISDAYprojectionhasgratedratheradversely onthepoliticalperceptionsofeventhenewspaper’s most ardent readers must concern the authors of that troubling projection.

Thankfully, the THISDAY projection makes no pretensions to being an opinion poll by any stretch of the imagination. It lays no claims to the familiar knownpollingparametersasguideposts.Asanational newspaper, THISDAY can justifiably lay claims to a certain familiarity with the national political terrain to be able to project on possible outcomes in the forthcoming presidential elections. But to proceed fromafreerangingspeculativeprojectiontoallocate percentagesofvotestodifferentgeopoliticalzones is a bit worrisome and presumptuous.

A projection like THISDAY’s seems rooted in a certainfixationwithNigeria’sknownpoliticalindices: religion, region, ethnicity etc. However, a projection like this also fails to capture the national landscape initsdynamicandvastlyalteredstate.Nigeriansnow liveandvoteeverywhereinthenationirrespectiveof their ethnicity. There are hardly any pure ethnicities in the country. We are all mixed up and interspersed now.Religionhasbecomeapoliticaldeterminantonly insofarasaprevailingpoliticalorderhasweaponised ittomakeitafactorinthechoicesthatvotershaveto makein2023.Othercriticalindicesofpoliticalchoice have emerged.

A critical mass of citizens have since attained voting age. The demographic profile of the country hassincealteredinfavourofayouthbulgeofpersons aged between 18 and 38, making persons aged 38 andunderthemajorityofthepopulation.Theissues that will determine where and how people are likely to vote in 2023 have vastly been changed by the actionsorinactionsoftheincumbentorder.Suddenly, insecurity,unemployment,failingeducation,costof living, quantum poverty have popped to dominate public discourse and election campaign rhetoric. A moreperceptivenewspaper-basedelectionprojection ought to reflect these new variables in the Nigerian environment in a more methodical and systematic manner.

In a politically charged atmosphere such as the current situation in Nigeria, every poll is subject to suspicion except where its scientific veracity is impeccable.Moreso,inapoliticalatmosphere,apoll canbecomevictimoftheuseofanintellectualtoolto influencetheoutcomeofademocraticprocess.There have been far too many instances where polls have beenusedtodeceivethepublicormarketanoutright falsehood. On the eve of the last APC presidential primaries,onesuchpollwasadvertisedonthefront pageofliterallyallnationaldailiesindicatingthatthe Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was the clear choice of his party. The survey was complete with graphs, holographs,statisticalcomputations,demographic and geo political distribution etc.

On the contrary, the disguise of a politically motivated partisan speculation as an opinion poll or valid electoral projection is basically fraudulent and mischievous. This is made more dangerous by the fact of our illiterate and gullible populace and an electoratethatiseasilyswayedbyelitepredispositions.

Aseliteoftenatthehelmoffancymediaoncorporate outfits, the ordinary people look up to us to proffer enlightenedandreasonablyhonestleadstothedirection of political developments. To deliberately feed thepublicwithindividualorcollectivepartisanbiases anddressitupasrespectableopinionpollsorcredible projections is elite mischief carried to the extreme.

Asaninstrumentforthepredictionofwhobecomes Nigeria’s next president, the various elite polls and projectionshavelimitedvalue.Themajorityofthose whosevoteswilldeterminetheoutcomeoftheelections do to care about fancy intellectual polls.

Even up to this moment, no one can determine precisely where the pendulum of outcome is tilting in terms of the outcome of the 2023 presidential elections.Thereasonisthatmostoftheparameters forpastpredictionshavelargelybeenovertakenby recentdevelopmentsbothinthedemographicsofthe Nigerianelectorateandtheissuesthatwilldetermine how and why people will vote.

Inaworldruledbyafluxoffactors,thesafestplace to anchor our expectations is to seek refuge in the bestavailabletechnologiestodeliveroutcomesthat wecanatleastbelievein.That,perhaps,iswherewe areinNigeriaontheeveofthecrucial2023elections.

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B AC K PAG E C O N T I N UAT I O N KING PELÉ AND THE BEAUTIFUL GAME Pelé’s first international match for Brazil was in July 1957. Brazil lost 2-1 but the 16-year-old got the first of his 77 goals in 92 matches for his country, the highest average of any regular international. By comparison, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 118 goals in 196 matches. Pelé promptly congratulated the Portuguese when he broke the record in March 2021. “Life is a solo flight. Each makes his own journey. And what a beautiful journey you are having! I admire you a lot, I love watching you play and this is no secret to anyone. Congratulations on breaking my record of goals in official matches. My only regret is not being able to give you a hug today,” Pelé said. It is a rare spirit. Pelé was rare.

The 1958 World Cup announced Pelé to the world. Having set a record of being the youngest goal scorer for Brazil the previous year, he became the youngest player to play at the World Cup. He was on fire, scoring a hattrick against France in the semi-final (the youngest player to achieve the feat) and netting a brace in the final against Sweden — the youngest player, at 17 years and 246 days old, to score in a World Cup final. Pelé was a one-club man, netting 618 goals in 636 official games for Santos, a club he joined when he was only 15. At 34 in 1975, he came out of retirement to help the US launch its professional “soccer” league, scoring 37 goals in 64 matches for New York Cosmos.

Pelé, 82, drew his last breath on December 29, 2022. He had been fouled in life’s penalty box by kidney failure and colon cancer. He scored the first penalty by overcoming the kidney

disease, but he could not do a “panenka” with the cancer, much as he tried. Far and away, the former Brazilian sports minister has now gone to a land where he would never grow old. When Diego Maradona, the Argentine magician of similar repute, died in 2020, Pelé wrote: “One day, in heaven, we will play together on the same team. And it will be the first time that I raise my fist in the air in triumph on the pitch without celebrating a goal. It will be because I can finally embrace you again.” It is time.

Pelé, who popularised the phrase “The Beautiful Game” with his 1977 autobiography, ‘My Life and the Beautiful Game’, was very confident in his skin. He passionately celebrated goals scored by his teammates and comforted wounded opponents. Fans were engaged in fierce arguments over who was the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) between him and Maradona, but he never got involved. After Qatar 2022 World Cup where Lionel Messi (named after Lionel Richie, the American R&B legend) finally won the most coveted trophy in the world of football, his fans went to town declaring him as the GOAT, even rating him above Maradona, whose left foot made mediocre teams win trophies.

I do not participate in debates over who is the greatest when we are discussing cross-generational footballers. Maradona and Pelé did not play in the same era, unlike Messi and Ronaldo. I would not even compare Maradona and Pelé because circumstances and rules evolved over time. When Pelé was hitting the height of his

power in the 1950s, substitutions were not yet allowed. The same Starting XI must finish the match, except in cases of serious injuries. It was only from 1958 that substitutes became a thing.

Today, five changes are allowed during a match.

Imagine the difference fresh legs can make to team output, compared to when everyone had to play for 90 minutes.

In the days of Pelé, crunchy tackles were very commonplace and there was little protection from the referees. It was called a “man’s game” — meaning it was not for boys with weak bones.

Football prided itself as separating the men from the boys. It was not until 1970 that yellow and red cards were introduced. Pelé would probably have won four World Cups — he and his teammates were practically butchered by Bulgaria and Portugal in the 1966 tournament and were bundled out at the group stage. Pelé was particularly clobbered by the Bulgarians.

Protection got much better for forwards as time went by. The introduction of cards made the creative players more adventurous.

Medical science is now a full-blown industry in football. Players are able to receive dietary support and health management that help prevent or minimise injuries — or ensure quicker recovery. This was not so in Pelé’s days when football was played with raw energy and only the fittest of the fittest could survive. It can be argued that things became easier for offensive players as football evolved. Shirt-pulling used to be normal, unlike now that it can lead to a penalty award. Tackles from behind were seen

as part of football, but the rule today is that it is punishable with a red card. That is why I do not compare players who played in different eras under different rules and environments.

Brian Glanville, the famous British journalist, refused to acknowledge Pelé as the greatest footballer ever, saying he did not play in Europe.

The European arrogance is, however, not shared by many European footballers, administrators, commentators and journalists. Pelé did not play in Europe not because he was not good enough.

After all, Santos twice won the Intercontinental Cup in the 1960s by defeating the European champions. As Pelé said, he got many offers from Europe but he was very comfortable playing for Santos. In fact, Brazil’s military government declared him a national treasure for over a decade and that meant he could not be transferred to a club outside the country.

Pelé. Muhammad Ali. Bob Marley. These were the pioneer global black super stars. But while Ali and Marley vocally presented themselves as icons of the struggle for racial justice, all Pelé did was play football. His artistry and wizardry passed the message of black power to the whole world. Some felt he should have done more for racial struggles, but that did not stop them from loving him. We grew up adoring him, wanting to be like him, even though Pelé himself said, cheekily: “People always ask me: ‘When is the new Pelé going to be born?’

Never. My father and mother have closed the factory.” He was funny and had fun. He made the world a better place with his wit and feet.

And Four Other Things…

GUNNED DOWN The fatal shooting of Mrs Bolanle Kareem, reportedly pregnant with twins after eight years of marriage, has brought the issue of police brutality back to the front burner. Pray, when will this murderous menace be tamed?

Meanwhile, why do hospitals still hesitate to treat bullet-wound victims? The normal, basic medical intervention would be to put the lawyer on oxygen support and stop the bleeding before referring her elsewhere. It is so important to address this lingering issue in order to save more lives. I have always argued that the efficiency of emergency services is a measurement of the quality of governance a society enjoys. The lady could still be alive. Sad.

BRIDGE NOT TOO FAR The Fourth Mainland Bridge (4MB), which has been on the drawing board for decades but has been stalled partly by politics, is now looking like something that will become a reality someday. Lagos state government has announced CCECC-CRCCIG Consortium as the preferred bidder for the construction of the 37-kilometer road which is going to be tolled. It will start from Abraham Adesanya Estate in Ajah and traverse the north-west towards the lagoon shoreline of the LagosIbadan expressway via Owutu/Isawo, Ikorodu.

Except there are economic and political obstacles which often slow things down, I am quietly praying that 4MB will be delivered on time. Progress.

CHINA COVID CAUTION At a time the country’s COVID cases are rising, China has decided to liberalise international travel. But the Nigerian authorities say they are not considering any restrictions on travellers from China. I find it very worrisome.

Italy on Wednesday made COVID tests mandatory for travellers from China after half of passengers on two flights from the country tested positive. Although the COVID wave has gone down considerably globally, the fact that China, where the virus originated from, is recording increasing cases should raise our eyebrows. I know that a few people benefit economically from the pandemic but the interest of the majority of Nigerians must come first. Caution.

KOGI BLAST On Thursday, there was a bomb explosion at the palace of HRM Ado Ibrahim, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, in Okene, Kogi state, while President Muhammadu Buhari was inaugurating a medical facility virtually next door. Although I am hearing different conspiracy theories, it is a known fact that Okene has been harbouring Boko Haram terror cells for decades. Those who attacked the Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state, were traced to Okene. While not seeking to take anything away from the efforts of the security agencies, I am still wondering how much intelligence work is being done in Okene — which is nowhere near having a difficult terrain like Sambisa in Borno state. Baffling.

pull out at the primaries, and action that Wike and company read as northern conspiracy.

There are still speculations on which of the two other leading candidates G5 will endorse.

If the group throws its lot with Mr. Obi of the Labour Party, this will further brighten his chances. The absence of a semblance of opposition from the governors of Abia and Enugu states should guarantee higher numbers and margins for him in the two South East states. Same as potentially having Benue and Rivers states comfortably in the bag. But Oyo state will always be a stretch for him to win though he could be more competitive there.

Even with all of these, the north (including all the six states of the North Central zone) remains a major hurdle to Obi’s ambition in this cycle.

Support of the G5 to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the APC does not automatically make him the winner of February’s presidential poll.

Abia and Enugu states will still be beyond his reach. But he may be able to muster 25%, which will feel like victory. Even with Wike’s support, Tinubu may still find Rivers difficult to cross. But anything more than the 23% polled by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 will be a major bump for him.

Since 2015, APC has been competitive in Benue, a state it lost narrowly to PDP with only 10, 149 votes in the 2019 presidential polls. APC’s Benue gubernatorial candidate, Fr. Hyacinth Alia, is well fancied and his popularity (though due more to his personality and local issues) may rub off on APC’s presidential candidate. If G5 supports Tinubu and Ortom doesn’t break ranks, APC may repeat the 2015 feat in the state despite that this is one of the northern states where the same-faith ticket is likely to be a baggage.

On the balance, Tinubu seems poised to benefit more from G5’s endorsement, as this

could put him in unassailable lead and stimulate further bandwagon effects. If he successfully holds down his party’s strongholds over the next eight weeks, February 25th may be mere coronation for him, especially with G5 in his corner. But the addition by G5 will just be marginal, as nPDP’s was for Buhari in 2015.

Without the nPDP, Buhari would still have won in the four of the five nPDP states that he snapped in 2015, most likely with reduced margins. The only state certain for Tinubu from the G5 is Oyo, but the potential higher margin from there and the other four will be a boon to him. Since electoral politics is a game of addition, even one extra vote is treasured.

But this rumoured dalliance also comes at costs to some of the G5 governors and to Tinubu himself. The governors of Oyo, Benue and Rivers are taking a gamble. Beyond the abuses they will suffer from those previously egging them on, they and their candidates may lose their gubernatorial elections. The governors of Abia and Enugu states may also be negatively impacted by local anger.

For Tinubu, will the northern stronghold of his party stay faithful to him if this degenerates into a regional duel? There is the added complication of the fate of APC’s candidates who stand a good chance in Oyo and Benue states. Is Tinubu willing to sacrifice them for his ambition? Will they just sheepishly play along or will they cut their own side deals?

Are voters always sophisticated enough to vote Party A in presidential election and Party B in gubernatorial election? And given that federal elections come before state elections, can the result in one create unintended bandwagon effect for the other?

With the complications on all sides, the affair may not be openly consummated. But don’t ever put anything beyond Nigerian politicians.

G5’S FLIRTATION AND 2023 ELECTORAL PERMUTATIONS the risk of irrelevance is morally hollow and is not particularly persuasive, as some former insurrectionists are still relevant today. It also looks too late to attempt to break the G5 ranks.

It appears the only option left for PDP is to take a hard-line. That comes with its constraints, as it will portray PDP as a house irredeemably divided against itself two months shy of general election and may not reverse the potential costs to the party.

The commonly canvassed hard-line option will be for PDP to expel members of the G5 from the party, declare their seats vacant, and sacrifice the positions they and their supporters are contesting for in the general election in February and March. A major constraint is that it is too late for PDP to substitute candidates and whatever decision the party takes on the G5 is likely to be contested in court. So, sanctions may not really hurt the G5 and their supporters. But at least, it has a symbolic and signalling value.

Does this mean that Atiku’s presidential run is over once the G5 swings to another side? Not necessarily. But it means that PDP has to do much more to give itself a fighting chance next month. One comforting way for PDP to look at it is that save for Rivers, the influence of G5 appears overrated. Even if the governors had been 100% loyal to Atiku, Abia and Enugu states might still vote for Labour Party and Oyo state might go for APC in the presidential elections. At the gubernatorial level, both Oyo and Benue states are open. APC is likely to flip the latter and may not regain the former if they strike a backroom bargain or the opposition stays disunited.

What having the governors on board would have done is to make PDP keenly competitive in those states. If the G5 governors are gone, PDP would need to create other power centres and go directly to the voters. The direct approach

Wike

costs more efforts and resources but it can work as not all voters wait on the governors to decide who to vote for and not everyone is plugged into the patronage system that produces bloc votes. Also, some will continue to vote along party lines, and these are still states with strong PDP presence. And a significant segment of voters in this election will vote their conscience.

PDP can also brighten its chances by finding ways to compensate for the potential cost of being less competitive in the G5 states. This it can do by locking down the other nine states it controls and making aggressive bids in the 22 others states out of its control, especially in the north where the G5 can be seen as largely a southern gang-up. Atiku can also push for his own Kwankwaso deal, same way he got some power centres to impress Tambuwal to

77

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R JANUARY 1, 2023

NEWS

News Editor: Gboyega Akinsanmi E-mail: gboyega.akinsanmi@thisdaylive.com,08152359253

We Aren’t Playing God to Determine Next President, Wike Replies Critics Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Catholic Bishops, Abeokuta and Ekiti Dioceses, Rev. Peter Odetoyinbo and Felix Ajakaye respectively yesterday challenged duly registered voters nationwide to reject vote trading and elect credible leaders at all levels in the 2023 elections Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike yesterday defended his G-5 governors, saying they were playing God to determine

who would become the next president of Nigeria.

Wike added that God would not give power to the “wicked” and those who will sell off Nigeria in a fraction in a second.

He made the clarification yesterday at the unveiling of Ogbo-Ihugbodo Road in Ahoada East Local Government Area.

Wike’s comment and veiled reference followed recent statements by Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal and his Delta State counterpart, Ifeanyi

Okowa.

Okowa, who is the running mate to the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, had a rally in Delta on Friday, said God would give power to the party at the poll next year and nobody including the G5 can change that.

The G-5 comprises five dissatisfied governors of the PDP led by Wike. Other members of the group are Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi

Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).

The G5 has been at loggerheads with Atiku after the party’s presidential primary in May and has asked for the resignation of PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu for a southern replacement as a precondition to support Atiku’s decade-long ambition.

After unveiling the OgboIhugbodo road yesterday, Wike said those behind the statement should have known that even if

God gives power, it should not be given to the wicked.

Specifically, Wike replied his critics: “We can never play God because we know the role that God has played in our lives. Don’t be treacherous because you want power…God will never give power to the wicked.”

He further clarified his position, saying: “Do not be treacherous in life because you want power.

Our hands are clean we have not done anything wrong. All we are

saying is, do things in a way all of us will have sense of belonging and that all of us will believe that we are together.

“That is all we are saying. If saying so is wrong, then let it be to God. But we know that it is good as right takes, let left take also.”

Wike explained that members of the G-5 believe in the omnipotence of God and always align their various affairs to such, which is why they keep getting stronger by the day.

Join Hands in Tackling Insecurity, IG Begs Nigerians Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Inspector General of Police (IG), MR. Usman Baba, has begged Nigerians to join hands in tackling insecurity across the nation.

He said the upsurge in crimes rate nationwide would come to an end with concerted efforts of police and residents of various communities.

He described community policing as panacea to the upsurge in crimes rate, soliciting the assistance of traditional rulers, youths and other stakeholders in providing necessary information that would aid the police in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities of ensuring a

crime free society.

Speaking at the inauguration of the ultra modern police station and barrack for ranks and files at Ado Awaye in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State, the IG, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, said combating crimes should be seen as the responsibility of all.

He said there was need for active participation of residents of various communities nationwide which community policing is all about.

Jonathan Urges Nigerians to Participate in Humanitarian Services Olusegun Osahon in Yenagoa Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on citizens to support and participate in humanitarian services to actualise developmental aspirations.

Jonathan, who spoke at the 10th anniversary of the Goldcoast Developmental Foundation (GDF) held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, said humanitarian services would make the people contribute meaningfully to the growth of the society.

The former President, who was represented by an ex-military governor of Rivers State and Amayanabo of Twon-Brass Kingdom, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, lauded the Goldcoast Developmental Foundation initiated by Moses

Oruaze Dickson, a younger brother to the immediate past Governor of Bayelsa State Sen. Henry Seriake Dickson.

Describing the foundation’s achievements in 10 years as remarkable, Jonathan commended the founders, partners and management of GDF for their selfless service to humanity.

He said the foundation’s intervention in health, education and strategic youth development were worthy of recommendations and emulation.

He said, “Your impact in your focus areas of health, education and strategic youth development are worthy of recommendation.

I encouraged you to continue in this worthy venture of service to humanity.

Akande Sets up N5m Soft Loan in Itesiwaju LG The Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Adeolu Akande, has established an interest-free N5million Soft Loan Scheme for constituents in his Itesiwaju Local Government, Oyo State.

Akande announced the scheme during the end of the year party for members of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He also gave N100,000 to chairmen of the party in each of the 10 wards of the local government area.

Also, the Secretary, Woman Leader, Youth Leader, and Secretary of Persons with Disability in each of the 10 wards were equally given cash gifts of N50,000 each.

At least 20 party activists in each of the 10 wards of the local government area totaling

200 were given cash gifts of N5,000 while 500 women with 50 drawn from each of the 10 wards were given domestic materials in appreciation of their work for the party during the year.

Akande, in his address, said the purpose of politics is to make life more meaningful for the people and that the party should demonstrate this by offering a better life to its members.

He called on members of the party to work harder as the nation moved towards the 2023 general election.

At another end of the year party that Akande hosted for 100 Online activists of the APC in Ibadan, he gave a cash appreciation of N100,000 to each of the activists whom he said had kept the flag off the party flying throughout the year.

GROUND BREAKING… L-R: Chairman, Brent Sugar Limited, Mr. Martins Akinola; Oyo State Deputy Governor, Chief Bayo Lawal; Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council, Mr. Zacch Adedeji; Managing Director, American West African Agro Limited, Mr. jerry Cunningham, and Brent Sugar board member, Mr. Tayo Koleoso, at the groundbreaking of the company’s N300bn sugar project in Iseyin, Oyo State... recently

NNPP: Killing of INEC Staff, Sad Commentary on 2023 Polls Juliet Akoje in Abuja The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) yesterday noted that the wanton killing and burning of the Independent National Electoral Commissions (INEC) offices nationwide was a sad commentary on the 2023 general election.

Consequently, NNPP challenged the INEC to provide a level-playing ground for all political parties and their candidates participating in the

2022 elections irrespective of influence and status.

The party gave the charge in a statement its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Agbo Major issued yesterday.

It also urged the commission to ensure that all electoral materials are ready and provided on time to ensure citizens discharge their civic duties that will chart the way forward for the country in the next four years.

In its statement, the party urged security agents to be alive to their

constitutional duties and ensure adequate protection of the people and electoral materials.

According to the statement, the wanton killings and burning of INEC offices are outrageous, barbaric and despicable, sad commentary in our political process. This madness must stop. Enough is enough.

The statement also urged political parties and their supporters to imbibe issue-based politics and eschew politics of bitterness

and brigandage that has impeded the nation’s democracy.

It further has urged eligible Nigerians “to collect their permanent voter cards, come out en masse and vote for its candidates in all elections, ensure their votes are counted and count in the overall result.

“The will and mandate of the people must be respected as power belongs to the people.

The party will resist any attempt to subvert the clear mandate of Nigerians”

Rescue Our Daughters from Captivity, Chibok Girls’ Parents Tell Buhari Fathers and mothers of the remaining abducted Chibok school girls have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to bring back their daughters before leaving office in May 2023.

In a letter to the president by Yana Galang and Zanna Lawan Friday, the parents lamented that many of the captured girls by Boko Haram have not still been released till now.

On April 14, 2014, the Boko Haram insurgents invaded the

Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, thereby kidnapping 276 female students aged from 16 to 18 .

At least scores of the girls are still in captivity and have not been found eight years after.

However, in their letter titled, “Bring back our daughters before you leave office,” the parents said Buhari had promised to rescue all the girls as he took over power in 2015.

While wishing the president

compliment of the season, and a more fulfilling New Year, the parents said as the New Year marked hope and redemption, it was their sincere hope and prayer that Nigeria be lifted out of its current challenges.

“Mr. President, we would like to remind you of the promises you made to us on the remaining rescue of our kidnapped daughters, as we acknowledge your efforts and express our sincere gratitude to your administration on your

past effort. However, we request that you fulfill your promise and return our daughters back to us, even if this is going to be the last act of your presidency.

“During your inaugural speech on May 29, 2015, you said and quote: “but we cannot claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by insurgents, this government will do all it can to rescue them alive.”

2023’ll Bring about National Rebirth, Saraki, Mbah Assure Nigerians Gideon Arinze in Enugu Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah yesterday congratulated all Nigerians at home and those in the diaspora at the beginning of year 2023.

While Saraki prayed that the new year would be a positive turning point for the country, Mbah said the new year would be a new beginning in Enugu

and Nigeria at large.

They made the remarks in separate statements by Media Adviser to Saraki, Yusuph Olaniyonu and Head of the Peter Mbah Media Office Hon. Dan Nwomeh yesterday.

In his own statement yesterday, Saraki observed that many events, both sad and good, happened in the year 2022 that just ended but that there were many reasons for both the entire country as a collective and individual citizens

to appreciate God for sustaining us all.

“Our country continues to confront security, economic, political, and social challenges.

More than ever witnessed in many homes, the present situation is bleak and many cannot celebrate.

“Yet, there are many reasons to thank God. There is hope for a brighter future and the promise that this new year will provide a good turning point for our country and its people.

“We should all look forward to the bright side of life and the promise that the country’s so much-talked about vast potentials will soon turn to reality. It will present genuine opportunities for citizens to realise their positive aspirations.”

The former senate president urged the people “not to relent in praying for God’s intervention in the national state of affairs in 2023. We should look forward to a good future for our country.”

78

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANAURY 1 , 2023

PERSPECTIVE

Role of Media in Deepening Democracy Eugenia Abu

candidate awareness, illuminating the electorate and educating citizens about election procedures.

New media has the added advantage of low cost of entry unlike traditional media that requires a large and expensive equipment architecture and high costs of entry.

The discussion on social media and its impact on deepening democracy or otherwise is relevant to today’s Nigerian society and has been largely extrapolated.Newmediacontinuestogrowinleaps and bounds, but as scholars of the history of media wouldalwaysaffirm,nomatterthestampedeofthe new media, traditional media would always remain.

Media history has shown that the advent of new medianeverledtotheobfuscationoftheold.Radio remainedlongaftertelevisionwasbornandtheprint survived the advent of the radio. In the same vein, traditional media continues to co-habit with new media adjusting its methods and relationships and creatingnewproductsasacopingmechanism.This lecturetakesitsthrustmostlyfromtraditionalmedia roles in democratic Nigeria.

Having established the functions of media for democratic sustenance, we now turn our gaze to Nigeria’s democratic journey and the role media played in getting us here.

A

topic such as this has many tributaries, many undercurrents, many interpretations and many sub-themes.Inexploringthecore themesofmedia,democracyand the2023electionsinNigeria,one must not lose sight of how complex the issues are. Indeed, the topic is relevant on many fronts and addresses many demographics from politicians to the academia, from students of politicalscienceandMasscommunicationtomedia practitioners and scholars. It is a topic worthy of exploration and I am thankful for the opportunity.

LetusjourneyintothisLlecturebydeployingAlbert Camusfarreachingcommenttocollectivelyholdour thoughts “Democracy is not the law of the majority, but the protection of the minority.”

I had many thoughts as I researched this topic especiallyconcerningthebestentrypointforit.But as I dug deeper, I found that the best premise would be to start from unravelling the term democracy which has over the years remained one of the most complex and intriguing subject matters among scholars, academics, politicians and students of political science. Emanating from Greece, the word democracy comes from two Greek words “demos” meaning people and “kratos” meaning power, so essentially democracy can be thought of as power of the people which largely depends onthewillofthepeople. ButsincetheGreeksbegan theconceptofdemocracyin507B.C,ithasevolved across the world to become different things to differentcountrieswithdifferentdemocraticcultures while still maintaining the underlying ethos of the people’s power as often expressed in Abraham Lincoln’sgovernment“ofthepeople,forthepeople, by the people”The UN resolution on promoting and consolidatingdemocracyweighinginondemocratic terms asserts that “While democracies share common features, there is no single mode of democracy.”

According to the council of Europe’s manual for human rights education with young people, it is better to understand democracy from the position of what it is not especially since there are so many models of democracy around the world.

The manual lists some of what democracy is not to include dictatorship or autocracy where it is one person’s rule or oligarchy where a select section of the society rules.The manual adds that democracy should not really be about the rule of the majority if theminorityisdisenfranchised.Thesethoughtsare critical for going forward in any lecture that dares to include democracy in its purview.

In the book Defining and Measuring Democracy editedbyDavidBeetham,healongwithothersocial scientists,Biryukov,N,Dunleavy,P,Elkit,JandSaward (1993) among others examine several interesting philosophicalandanalyticalquestions.Inhisintroduction,Beethamplacesdemocracywithinthescholarly spaceofaconceptthatisconstantlybeingexplored andalwaysbeingdiscussed.Someofthequestions addressed include whether the same criteria for exploringdemocracyshouldbeappliedtothedeveloping democracies as to established ones. He goes further to question whether the standards used by western scholars for the definition of democracy is ethnocentric or universal and by what criteria or benchmark the progress of a given country’s democracy is to be measured?

In addition to these questions, the book interrogatesissuesofcitizenparticipation,themeaningof democracy beyond electoral processes as well as government accountability and how far the level or durability of a country’s democracy is determined by key socio- economic variables.

Within these multi-layered conversations lies the vexed question of what democracy is, what it should be, what the media’s role should be and how Nigeria has fared.

Manyresearcherscontinuetoexplorethemeaning andassessmentof democracyandthisexploration would continue for as long as there are different cultures and nations pursuing different models of democracythatworkforthemandfortheircitizens.

Forpurposesofthislecturehowever,wewouldabduct the 1993 definition of Beetham “Thefirstprinciple(popularcontrol)isunderpinned by the value that we give people, a self-determined agentwhohaveasayonissuesthataffecttheirlives, the second [political equality] is underpinned by the assumption that everyone or at least “every adult” has an equal capacity for self-determination and therefore an equal right to influence collective decision and to have their interests considered

Abu

when they are made”.

Thisdefinitionwhilestillproblematicintheareas ofequality[whodeterminesthat],self-determination andinterests(howisthismeasuredandbywhom)still encapsulates the general ambience of this lecture whichisprimarilycitizenparticipation,politicalequality and popular candidature through the ballot box, i.e. a larger number of votes determines the winner in an election.

Media and Democratic Sustenance Beyond the 2023 general elections in Nigeria, beyond the election cycle, beyond the winners and losers, beyond the political pundits, how do we fare in the years before and after elections? Within the ambitoftheseposeriswherethislectureissituated.

The question that is hardly asked in the Nigerian polity is whether democracy is just the period of electioneeringcampaignsandslogansorwhetherin theinterregnum,thefour-yearperiodofgovernance is irrelevant to the entire democratic process.

Inseekinganswerstothisquestion,inthepursuitof goodgovernance,accountability,citizenparticipation, and other related democratic nuances especially beyondtheelectoralcycleiswherethemediamakes an entrance.

Themediaisapowerfulcompass.Aknowledgeand moralcompass,adirectionalandopinioncompass.All overtheworldthemediaisandwillremainaveritable mirror that “strives to show us the bare truth and harsh realities of life” Sarka (2021) AccordingtoKibore(2017)“mediaplaysacrucial roleinshapinghealthydemocracy.Itisthebackbone of democracy.” Evolving from this quotation let us look closely at the function of the media in any democratic setting.

Over the years, researchers and scholars in the disciplines of mass communication and the social sciences have come to some level of agreement that the media is a critical arm in any democratic setting.Thisishowthemediawasconferredwiththe all-encompassingtitleofthe4thestateoftherealm.

Academicandgreyliteratureagreeinthemainthat the role of the media is critical to the sustenance of democracyformanyreasonstoinclude,information dissemination citizen education both for electoral purposes and human rights information, as a link between governors and the governed and as a link betweenpoliticalpartiesandthecitizensamongother things.Theyalsoserveasawatchdogtoholdelected persons accountable. Media helps to disseminate education for citizens, to educate them on various issues including national, legislative, constitutional and political rights, economic and cultural issues as well as policy issues.

Themediaremainsaplacewherecitizenslookupto forinformationregardingpoliticalprocesses.Intheir studyofthe2015and2019electionsusingAITand Channels television as case studies and anchoring their work on the agenda setting theory, Omoera and Ake (2021) averr that TV is a powerful media platform for voter education and information on candidates. Their research shows that over 75% of the sampled population agreed that TV was a veritable platform for how they decided on which candidates to vote for while over 61% said they received information on the election and electoral processes through the television.

Their five-point recommendations are germane to the role of the media in deepening democracy.

These include continuous partnership of the media withtheelectoralumpire,INEC,forcitizenenlightenment, fair publicity for all candidates, more agenda setting programmes by television stations and divesting “the media from ownership fetters.” We shall return to ownership issues as we progress in this lecture. The last recommendation they offer is empowering television media to have access to enough information in order “to improve quality of servicetothereceivingpublic,”Whiletheirresearch istargetsbroadcastmedia,theirrecommendations apply across board.

Mediainmoderntimesremainsadifficulttermto decipher.Thisisbecausetechnologyhastakenover our lives and the way in which media is discussed is no longer as we used to know it. Traditional media encapsulatesradio,printandtelevisionbutnewmedia is all pervasive and with the aid of technology can reachalargeraudienceandismoreinteractive.Social media is now a part of everyday lives of people all overtheworldandhasenjoyedrapidgrowth.(Wigan et al 2010, McAfee 2006).

Newmediadiffersfromtraditionalmediainthree differentwaysaccordingtoFrentasia(2012)citedin FadeyiandAdamu(2019)ininteractivity,lowentry costs and direct content deployment. All of these are positive developments for political activities in Nigeriaandallovertheworld.Somescholarsbelieve thisismakingpoliticalprocessesmoredemocratic, (Castells,2009)andhasthereforeledtoadeepening of democracy and a more interrogative citizenry (Huffington, 2011).

Ontheothersideoftheaisleareschoolsofthought concernedabout certainshortfallsofthenewmedia toincludenewmedia’sabilitytostrengthengovernment’ssurveillanceaptitude,([KellyandCook,2011), makingsenseoftoomanyvoices(Freedman,2014), lack of regulation (Omede and Albiosu 2015) and the propensity for new media to trigger electoral violence because of its mass appeal especially in elections in Nigeria due to “several unguarded utterances” attributed to politicians” (Fadeyi and Adamu, (2019).

ThesocialmedianetworkFacebookdeclaredthis yearthatthetotalnumberofitsmonthlyactiveusers are 2.9 billion. In 2011 those figures stood at over 800 million. The increase is staggering but points to how pervasive social media is in our lives and the new and incredible ways in which we are connected which has changed the way people communicate with each other.

In Nigeria, statistics show that there is over 50% internet penetration of the total population in 2022. According to DataReportal, an online data andstatisticssite,therewere109.32millioninternet usersbyJanuaryof2022.Thislargenumberofusers immediately confers authority on new media as an importantandnovelavenuefordeepeningdemocracy in spite of its other shortfalls.

Themanydividendsofsocialmediafordeepening democracyincludetheirparticipatoryandinteractive natureforpoliticalcampaigns,theirinclusivenature fordiversevoicesforparticipationinthedemocratic space,politicalengagementandmobilisationamong othersChinedu-Okekeetal,(2016).Otherdividends listed by Chinedu-Okeke et al include creating

Nigeria, the Media and the Future Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation with a population that is over 200 million projected to become more than 400 million in 2050 (World Bank). This population is at once a challenge and an opportunity. With a land mass of over 900,000 squarekmandoneofthemostdiversepopulationsin theworldbothinethnicity,cultureandgeographical spread, Nigeria presents a peculiar media spread and growth, reflecting its diversity and ethnicity through media ownership. Drawing a road map of Nigeria’smediatrajectoryrespectedmediascholar ProfessorLaiOsoinhis47thinaugurallecture(2013) at the Lagos State University (LASU) commended the media for the pressure put on colonial masters togiveNigeriaindependenceandsalutedtheircourage in engaging military dictatorships which led to the current democratic governance the nation has enjoyed since 1999. Mention is also made of the robust role the media played in quashing President Obasanjo;sthirdtermagendaandotherrelatedroles in protecting Nigeria’s democracy, Osohoweveraffirmsthatthemediaandpoliticians havehadasymbioticrelationshipsinceindependence where media owners from Zik to Awolowo also ended up as political party leaders and founders.

This parallelism according to Oso has remained a challenge even today in getting an objective media which can carry out its functions optimally for democratic sustenance. Today’s media he posits, have continued to follow the same post-colonial patternthroughNigeria’schequeredpoliticalhistory where political chieftains are also media owners.

He avers that this pattern has compromised the media in its major role as an important stakeholder in democratic Nigeria.

Professor of Media studies and renowned Mass Communication Scholar UmaruPattereiteratesthispositionwhenhesaid during a Lecture in Lagos in 2015, that although the media has been contributing to the process of keepingNigeriaunited,ithasbeenheavilyinfluenced negatively by internal and external forces and parochial interests which contravene the spirit of national integration.

“To be able to explain the role of the media in the Nigerianintegrationprocesswithinitsmulticultural setting, it is important to locate the position of the media in the whole political and economic milieu of the nation. Basically, the media have been part of theeconomysystemwithcloselinkstothepolitical establishment.” Patte (2015). He adds further that “One should not be over optimistic that the performanceoftheNigerianmediainhandlingissuesof national integration can be radically different from the deficiencies and failures of the Nigerian ruling elite,particularlyintheeffectivemanagementofthe diversities,tensionsandcontradictionsthatdefine the character of integration and unity in the nation”.

Patte in his submission further notes that “…the case of the Nigerian media is further compounded by the ownership pattern, commercialisation and competing interests in the media industryaddingthatthepersonalinterestandpolitical sympathy of the media owners are mainstreamed into professional content to demonise, advocate or manipulate public opinion.”

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANAURY 1 , 2023

PERSPECTIVE

A Paradise Lost

I

n the Niger Delta, there is a paradoxical interplayofdaylightandnightoccasioned by the activities of two types of oil producers with contrasting methodologies and agenda. In some oil-producing communities, daylight appears unusually long and extended.This is because of all round economy-boosting oil production, primarily by legitimate oil companies – both international and indigenous.

Then, there is the illicit production, by oil thieves, who steal crude oil directly from well heads as well as using hot tapping techniques to siphon crude oil from pipelines. Against the backdrop of legal, licensed oil production at night, is the effect of gas flaring, lighting up the skyline from dusk to dawn. For residents with oil-producing facilities in their vicinity, the distinction between day and night seems irrevocably lost – some of the times. In contrast to the brightness of the skyline through legitimate oil production is the contrived darkness emanating from the nocturnal activities of oil thieves, in cahoots with their nondescript customers, engaged in the primitive distillation of crude oil, through a process known in local parlance as “cooking.”

Operating at bases dubbed “illegal refineries” in the inner recesses of the mangrove forest, their activities cast a pall of smoke and soot which blacken the skyline, raining down ash-like debris on everything on the ground, including rooftops, humans and plants. Additionally, the physical environment of illegal refineries is slushy and soggy with residues, discharged with reckless abandon, into the environment, from their notorious crude oil “cooking”.

Oil thieves also constitute a major factor in the environmental challenges of the Niger Delta.

The daily pollution negatively impacts the fauna and flora, taking some toll on the air in the atmosphere and the environment.

Dr. Tolar sums up the situation: ‘’when you wake up in the morning, the whole sky is bleak; you are not likely to see far because the whole place is filled with heavy smoke, acid rain and soot just settling down because of the overnight illegal refining at the numerous creek points. If you come out in the morning wearing white or bright clothes, by 5 pm, they would have become completely black and woe betide you if it rains, and of course, rain is common through all the months of the year in the Niger Delta. Then, your clothes are not only changed to black, you also become pale and haggard.”

Oturubo corroborates Dr Tolar’s viewpoint. He says the illegal oil production points in the Niger Delta “are now very massive.” He alleges that the Nigerian security forces who are posted to the area to stop the illegal activities “have fully moved into the business. They now give cover to the illegal camps, which normally start production by 7pm until 5am every day. The security operatives escort the boats, each with some 200 barrels crude oil. And 40 to 50 of these boats may load from each illegal crude oil bunkering point every day. It is needless to give any information to the security forces as you then become a target of hired killers.”

Ms Briggs, the environmentalist, adds that because of the level of pollution and devastation of the environment in the Niger Delta, she signed up to a programme in the United Kingdom to test her lungs every three months.The first time she was tested, she recalls her doctor asked her where she had been in the previous six months.

She said that they asked her if she ate fish in the environment, and that when coming back, she should bring the vegetable and water and that she would be given a device, to capture the air in the place too, so that they could measure and see what the people were inhaling. She notes that her worried doctor insisted: “In future, if the people in the place continued to inhale what he was seeing, they would die early.”

She was advised to remove herself from the environment. For the activist, that is not a piece of advice she would embrace. She loves the Niger Delta, notwithstanding the dangers inherent in living in that environment.

She explains: “The truth is that people are dying of these things here, and they would say ‘Na im brother poison am, na im mama or uncle kill am.’ But it is the oil companies and the Federal Government of Nigeria that are poisoning us.This is the character of our environment.”

No one can continue to pretend about the

environmental calamity in the Niger Delta caused mainly by decades of oil exploration and production and made worse by oil spills and gas flaring, as well as the reckless activities of oil thieves and their allies who operate illegal refineries.

MOSOP’s Mitee would rather that the oil companies bear full responsibility for the environmental pollution. He says: “The oil companies say we have the technology, we can exploit oil. So, government say ‘Okay, I cut (allocate) this land, so go and operate on it. We give you a concession.’

They have been doing this, they did it in Holland, they did it in America…. So, the person who says he is doing it, now there is pollution, who will you blame? Is it not the person who says, ’I know how to do it’? It is like you say you are a driver, a professional driver, and we say go and run a taxi, then you hit somebody, who should you blame? Will you go and call the owner?

“In any case, the technical thing is that you are in a joint venture partnership, one is operating, the other one is the dominant partner, and so it is the person I see on my land that I will hold responsible for what is happening. So, that is why people who say ‘Oh, why are you holding the oil company?’ missed the point. Why wouldn’t I hold them? They are the people who say they have the technology to take oil. And they have been doing it in their own countries. Why are you using a substandard means to do it here? Because you feel that our own mechanisms to check you are weak.”

“Spilled oil poses serious threats to fresh water and marine environments,” posits the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States of America. It adds: “It affects surface resources and a wide range of subsurface organisms that are linked in a complex food chain that includes human food resources. Spilled oil can harm the environment in several ways, including the physical damages that directly impact wildlife and their habitats (such as coating birds or mammals with a layer of oil), and the toxicity of the oil itself, which can poison exposed organisms.”[84] Of course, the advent of oil production in the Niger Delta may have resulted in more sorrow going by the unprecedented oil spill in the region, which made the place one of the most polluted in the world. If there were to be an oil spill capital of the world, it would “inevitably be the Niger Delta. Scarcely would any day pass without an oil spill incident from one or more of the producing and non-producing oil facilities in the region.”[85] Whereas European nations experienced only 10 spills in 40 years,[86] Nigeria’s National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA),

reports that between 2006 and 2015, “there were over 5,000 spillage sites from the over 9,000 spills.”[87] The spills were specifically put at 9,343.

A more expansive study by Nwagbo (2017) covering a 50- year period (1965-2015), shows that 31% of oil spills in the Niger Delta was from unknown causes, 20.74% from third party activities and 17.04% from mechanical failure.

The remaining 30.42% was grouped as “minor” requiring no rigorous root cause analysis. [88] Nwagbo’s study shows that the largest single spill recorded in the Niger Delta occurred in 1979 when 570,000 barrels of crude were spilled out of a storage tank located in a Shell facility in Forcados, a small town in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. The following year, a blow-out of Texaco offshore facility resulted in the dumping of 400,000 barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Guinea.

These two single largest recorded oil spills in the Niger Delta are worse than the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 – 257,000 barrels of crude oil – and for which Exxon was slammed $5 billion in damages, which was later reduced to about $507.5 million, following appeals by the company in the United States of American and The Netherlands, and consideration by the court that Exxon had spent an estimated $2 billion in the clean-up of the spill.

Contrasted with the cases in the Niger Delta, the causes of these global oil spills were known, their impacts and consequences – regarding culpability and penalties were duly investigated and properly documented. Judicial awards and paymentsforenvironmentalandhumandamages were also appropriately applied.

ComradeSheriffMulade,President-Generalof all youth organisations in Gbaramatu Kingdom, comprising 22 oil communities and a major hub of oil activities in the Niger Delta, and National Coordinator,CentreforPeaceandEnvironmental Justice, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), explains why the problem of the Niger Delta is beyond pollution. He says that the oil communities sometimes wished that the oil could dry up in the region “so that we can be free; so that our ecosystem can be restored; at least in the next 20 to 30 years, we can again be doing our peasant farming and fishing and have our lives back.”

Mulade, whose NGO is one of the most active in the Niger Delta, has been seizing every opportunity at conferences abroad to speak up, knowledgeably, about the environmental

degradation and squalor in the Niger Delta. He is viewed with suspicion by both the government, which makes huge revenue from legitimate oil production, and the militants, who are siphoning illegal crude.

The environmentalist says he has never supported militancy as a solution to perceived marginalisation of the Niger Delta region, because he believes that the militants would not be able to withstand any military onslaught not even with any kind of supernatural power at their disposal.

He is referring to the militants’ reliance on the Ijaw god of war, Egbesu. So, at the height of militancy, the militants had ample reason to have him as their captive for weeks when they were faced with a massive attack by the Nigerian military from the sky, on the ground and in the waters.

They believed erroneously that he was an agent of either the government or the oil companies, or both. But when in 2009, late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua granted unconditional amnesty to NigerDeltamilitants,hefeltsomewhatvindicated.

The Niger Delta situation, he insists, is pitiable. He says: “We cannot do anything. We cannot fish, we cannot farm. We –Ilaje, Ijaw and Itsekiri people – now import iced fish from the cities to our communities; whereas we were the ones supplying fresh fish to the cities. This is a bigger challenge than pollution, although it is linked with it.”

Hebelievesthatifoneevermanagestogetfresh fish from the river today, it is contaminated by lead from spilled oil. Mulade says “the immediate result of the environmental and health challenges is lowered life expectancy in the Niger Delta. This is a reason many people in the oil communities are drifting upland and to the cities.”

According to him, the environmental problems of the Niger Delta are not only numerous, but hydra headed. He says, for example, that in his area at the Chaninomi Creek, “the major trunk line from Escravos to Warri Refinery to Kaduna Refinery runs through this place. And there is hardly any day this trunk line is not tampered with by vandals and illegal activists siphoning oil. Of course, when one tampers with the trunk line, the tide is moving, so it would carry the burst products to everywhere in the Niger Delta.The oil keeps moving even when the affected company eventually discovers the burst pipes and shuts them down.”

Many communities are also facing the problem of ocean surge, which results in the ebbing of the available land area. Most places which were previously land or small creeks have turned into big ocean today. In consequence, most of the communities are, in a literary sense, shifting with the tide.

He adds that one place where this “is worse is Ilaje in Ondo State; from the Benin River, running down. And also at Ugborodo in Delta State, the ocean is encroaching fast and menacingly. In fact, in some of these oil communities, they hardly exist anymore; most parts of the communities are less than half of the land they occupied in the 1960s. They have been cut off by ocean surge which is believed to be compounded by drilling and exploration activities of the oil companies.”

Amid this precarious situation, the stakeholders, including international oil companies, militants, activists, pirates, government and their agencies and the security operatives have continuedtooperateunfettered,whetherforgood or for bad, most times oblivious and unmindful of the future of the Niger Delta and its desecrated and deprived communities. Even community and opinion leaders as well as politicians from the Niger Delta are sometimes accused of acting in ways that compound and compromise the overall developmental interest of the region.

While in some respects, it is argued that the oil economy may have had some beneficial effects in the oil-bearing region, including creating job opportunities and educational and infrastructural development in some places, the overall effects of oil remain ambivalent in the Niger Delta. These are considerably negative for the inhabitants of the oil communities. This is especially because of the damage and loss of the ecosystem. Indeed, the future of the communities are compromised, as land remains an enduring asset handed down from generation to generation. ˾ ÏÓØÑ ÏâÍÏÜÚÞÝ ÐÜÙ× ÒÏ ÙØÞÏØÞÓÙßÝ ÏËÜÍÒ ÐÙÜ ÏËÍÏ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ÓÑÏÜ ÏÖÞ˘ ËßÞÒÙÜÏÎ Ìã ÓÎÏ ÔÓÎϘ ÙÒØ ÝÒÓ×Ë ËØÎ ÖßáÙÖÏ ÑßØÌÓËÎÏ˛

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King Pelé and the Beautiful Game

Y

ou might never have heard of Pelé if his great-grandparents had been taken as slaves to Argentina instead of Brazil. At the end of slave trade in the 19th century, Argentina was systematically “whitened”. Blacks were reportedly sent to the hottest battlefields in the War of Independence from Spain. Mass migration of whites from Europe was encouraged.

Discriminated against on the social ladder, AfroArgentines resorted to marrying Caucasians to whiten the skin colour of their offspring. Many migrated to nearby countries where blacks were better accommodated. Today, Afro-Argentines are practically invisible. None is excelling in sport, politics, journalism or the arts.

You might never have heard of Pelé if his father, João Ramos do Nascimento (“Dondinho”), had not been forced to quit professional football following a serious injury. Dondinho redirected his energies to grooming his son in their povertystricken town in Minas Gerais. He didn’t have much money and could not afford Adidas kits for his little boy. He improvised with rags, old socks and grapefruit in the absence of a proper ball. It helped that Pelé saw Dondinho tearing up when Brazil lost the 1950 World Cup to Uruguay.

That day, Pelé, just 10, vowed to himself that he was going to win the World Cup. He did.

Indeed, thrice: 1958, 1962 and 1970. No other

Pelé

player has been able to do that.

You might never have known him as Pelé if he had had his way in secondary school.

As a young man in love with football, he was a free-scoring striker. Jorge, his uncle, said Pelé was forced to be a keeper to reduce the

advantage. He was good in goal, apparently, and his fantastic saves earned him the sobriquet “Bilé” — the name of his favourite player, the Vasco Da Gama goalkeeper. The prodigy was said to have mispronounced “Bilé” as “Pelé”.

It stuck, becoming his nickname against his wish. He had punched his naughty mate who gave him the moniker and was suspended for two days by the principal. If only he knew that the name was going to be a universal and eternal brand…

Still, he preferred to be called Edson. He was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on October 23, 1940. His father named him after Thomas Edison (without the “i”). You don’t know Edison? That was the American inventor whose imaginations led to the discovery of the light bulbs which contributed to the development of the television. His devices included the phonograph and the motion picture camera. He was a major factor in the industrialisation of the world and brought joy to millions of homes. The black Edson was an inventor in his own right as he turned football from a mere sport to an art and entertainment — in the words of Neymar, one of many football geniuses inspired by Pelé.

“Over the years I have learned to live with two people in my heart. One is Edson, who has fun with his friends and family; the other is the football player Pelé,” he once said in an

interview. The Edson was not all fun though — he had plenty troubles. Married thrice, Pelé allegedly also had a daughter from an affair. He blatantly refused to accept her. He recognised seven children. Edinho, his goalkeeping son, was jailed for money laundering and drug trafficking in 2014. Pelé defended him stoutly, saying justice would be done. Edinho was sentenced to 33 years in jail, later reduced to 12 years and 10 months, and finally allowed some freedom in 2019 under the liberal “open jail” system.

Standing at just 5’8 (and to think his father was a six-footer), Pelé did not have a centre of gravity as low as Maradona’s (5’5) or Messi’s (5’7), yet his ground control was phenomenal. He could dribble through a maze. He could make defenders look grossly incompetent. He could outjump six-footers and nod the ball into the net with his accuracy, timing and altitude. He could shoot with either foot with equal power. He did score plenty goals. Although the records are disputed because some matches were classified as “unofficial”, he is credited with scoring 1,279 goals in 1,363 matches. No footballer is anywhere near the total or the average. There is no stat on his assists — which must have been plenty given that he played as a No 10. I would guess he assisted more than he scored.

Continued on page 76

WAZIRIADIO POSTSCRIPT

G5’s Flirtation and 2023 Electoral Permutations

F

rom all indications, the two warring camps within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are not about to kiss and make up. All the overtures designed to reconcile the Governor Nyesom Wike-led Group—or Gang—of Five (G5) with PDP’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, seem to have failed. If the political mill is to be believed, the unabashed willingness of the G5 to openly flirt with all interested political suitors while still in a serious relationship may soon give way to something more astounding: open commitment to a presidential candidate in another party.

Of late, Nigerian politicians are not the most faithful. Most of them don’t have scruples waking up in one political bed and ending the day in another. Most of the leading politicians today have made the rounds of the major parties.

Before this criss-crossing became the vogue, there was another brand of political infidelity called anti-party. This is where politicians stay within their parties but undermine the same parties by secretly working for their opponents during elections. We saw this as recently as July 2022 in the Osun State gubernatorial election where The Osun Progressives (TOP), an arm of the All Progressives Party (APC), was secretly

in bed with PDP. But even in a place where political infidelity has seemingly become the norm, the rumoured move by the G5 will be a new depth in the annals of political dalliances. It is said that G5 will stay in PDP and will openly commit to and publicly campaign for the candidate of another party. If this happens, it will indeed be politic-amorously historic. It will be the political equivalence of an open relationship.

How will PDP respond to this unusual situation? How will G5’s open relationship impact PDP’s chances in the elections nationally and in the G5 states? Will this make material difference to the beneficiary of G5’s endorsement?

Upfront, I will say: it is a bit complicated for all sides. At the end of the day, it may be nothing more than engrossing political drama, maybe an anti-climax even.

Before examining the implications and hazarding the next moves by the affected political actors, it is important to dispense with two things. The first is that before G5-PDP, there were G7-PDP and nPDP. In 2013, the PDP governors of Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano, Kwara, Niger, Rivers and Sokoto were up in arms against their party’s leadership and a sitting president produced by the party, Dr.

Goodluck Jonathan. They were called the seven aggrieved governors or the G7. They joined forces with others to create a new faction of PDP, and framed it as the new PDP (nPDP).

Alongside Atiku, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal (who was then the Speaker of the House of Representatives), Senator Bukola Saraki and others, five of the governors eventually moved into APC after the merger of nPDP with APC. It is now stale that PDP lost to APC in the 2015 presidential election. Atiku, Saraki and other nPDP members would go ahead to appropriate much credit for the downfall of PDP in that election, a claim that I think is a bit exaggerated. Atiku, Saraki and Tambuwal have since returned to PDP, and now the shoe is on the other leg.

This reminder is just to show that PDP is not new to internecine strife, and that some of those at the receiving end today were the protagonists of earlier feuds. The only difference now is that while nPDP embraced the slightly morally upright position of moving out of PDP, the G5 seems intent on staying put and wreaking havoc from within.

The second issue is that, given the oversized influence of state governors in our politics, the G5 controls states that are strategically important

to an increasingly weakened PDP. Apart from being the then ruling party, PDP approached the 2015 general election with 19 states under its control (after losing five states to nPDP’s merger with APC). At the moment, PDP is in power in 14 states—nine in the south and five in the north. The G5 states represent 35% of the states presently controlled by PDP. An interesting wrinkle is that in terms of the number of registered voters, Rivers and Oyo states are 4th and 7th states in the country. The strategic significance of these states to PDP is further enhanced by the conclusion that Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) is expected to win comfortably in all the five South East states which used to vote predominantly for PDP and that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso who was in PDP in 2019 is expected to win in Kano, a place where PDP is expected to be competitive this time around.

PDP has a tough decision to make should the G5 go ahead with its rumoured plan. Being indifferent could inspire others within the party to also embrace open rebellion. It also seems that seeking reconciliation is no longer useful. Threatening the G5 governors with Continued on page 76

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