TUESDAY 2NDTH JANUARY 2024

Adelabu: FG Working Out Cost-reflective Electricity Tariff Implementation Programme Says ministry collaborating with NSA’s office on power assets’ vandalism Lokpobiri: Nigeria’s era of self-sufficiency in energy production is here

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, yesterday said that

to ramp up liquidity in the power sector, the government was working out a cost-reflective electricity tariff regime for the country.

In a statement in Abuja, the minister however said that the federal government will protect the poor and vulnerable electricity

consumers in Nigeria by ensuring the payment of subsidy to augment the expected shortfall.

Many operators in the power

sector have blamed their inability to set electricity tariffs in line with current economic realities as being responsible for the illiquidity in the

sector.

But Adelabu reassured Nigerians Continued on page 9

Alake: 163,878 Nigerians Enjoyed FG’s Transportation Rebate in 10 Days... Page 10

Tuesday 2 January, 2024 Vol 28. No 10492. Price: N400

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

PDP Knocks Budget, Says It's Harvest of Deceit, Empty Claims

Describes Tinubu’s New Year address as admission of failure Labour dismisses his speech as arrogant display of dishonesty Atiku: FG’s commitment to eliminate security threat will stem attacks in Nigeria –Page 9

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),

yesterday, criticised President Bola Tinubu’s 2024 budget as a harvest of deceit, false claims, and empty

promises.

PDP described Tinubu’s New Year address as unpresidential,

uninspiring, and a waste of valuable time. It said the president’s speech did not address any of the critical

issues plaguing the country.

In a similar vein, Labour Party (LP) said the president’s speech

lacked substance, stating that most Continued on page 9

Tinubu Signs N28.7tn Budget, Elated By N100bn Approved for School Feeding Nationwide Mandates MDAs to provide monthly performance reports Budget focused on growing nation's economy, says Edun Govt to rely less on borrowing, more on revenue to fund budget Bagudu: It's game changer that increased spending in priority areas N'Assembly will ensure proper implementation of 2024 appropriation act, Akpabio declares

Story on page 9

2024 BUDGET, SIGNED, SEALED...

L-R: Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau; Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Senate Committee Chairman on Appropriation, Senator Adeola Olamilekan Solomon; President Bola Tinubu; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; ADC to the President, Lt. Col Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass; Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abubakar Bichi; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu; and the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun after the president signed the N28.78trillion 2024 Appropriation Bill into Law in his office at the State House, Abuja...yesterday

2

TUESDAY JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

3

4

TUESDAY JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

5

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024

NEWS

Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322, 0807 401 0580

Lagos Welcomes first babies of the year 2024...

L-R: Mother of the twin babies, Mrs. Lateefat Durojaiye (lying); the father, Mr. Oluwagbenga Durojaiye; First Lady and Wife of Lagos Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Medical Director/CEO, Maternal and Child Center (MCC), Amuwo-Odofin, Dr. Adeniyi Taiwo; wife of Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye; and Director, Medical and Administration, MCC, Dr. Funmi PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT Sokunbi, during the visit by the first lady to public hospitals in the state to welcome first babies of the year 2024 by the First Lady held at the Maternal and Child Center Amuwo-Odofin in Lagos... yesterday

LCCI Tasks Tinubu on Strategies to Address Inflation, Under-employment, Social Inequality

Dike Onwuamaeze

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to provide more detailed plans and strategies to tackle inflation, underemployment, security, and social inequality in the country.

The LCCI made this call yesterday, in its statement issued by its Director General, Dr. Chinyere Almona, on the “President’s 2024 New Year Address to the Nation,” which stated clearly that investment in agriculture has a limited chance of success in Nigeria as long as the government failed to deal with the security issues.

“However, the chamber urges the administration to provide more detailed plans and strategies to tackle these challenges, such as inflation, under-employment, security, and social inequality. A transparent and inclusive approach to governance will contribute to building public confidence and achieving sustainable economic growth,” it said.

Almona, said the focus on cultivating farmlands to grow staple crops and boost food security aligned with the need to ensure constant food supply, security, and affordability for citizens.

“However, LCCI cautions that the productivity of the farmlands and the

effectiveness of investments in food production are subject to adequate security measures. Investment in agriculture has a limited chance of success as long as the government fails to deal with the security issues.

“LCCI recommends that the government consider fast-tracking the movement of the police from the exclusive list to the concurrent list to be legislated upon by the federal and state governments. This will guarantee effective policing of the nooks and crannies of the society, particularly the farmlands,” she said.

Almona pointed out that Tinubu mentioned efforts to address security challenges were mentioned but added that, “specific details on comprehensive security strategies were limited. The acknowledgment that security problems are not entirely solved raises questions about the effectiveness of current measures.”

The LCCI believed that inasmuch as removing the fuel subsidy was necessary, its discomforting impact on individuals, families, and businesses must be carefully managed.

It said: “The potential ripple effects on the cost of living and inflation must be closely monitored.

Acknowledging the challenges of high inflation (above 28 per cent) and an unacceptable under-employment rate is crucial. However, specific

strategies to address these issues were not mentioned, leaving room for concerns about the impact on citizens.

“The commitment to building a fair and equitable society and addressing inequality is commendable.

However, specific policy measures to close the widening wealth gap

are unclear. Despite the setting parameters for the evaluation of ministers and heads of agencies mentioned, there is a need for transparency in these evaluations to ensure accountability and performance improvement.”

The chamber said it has carefully reviewed the president's speech and

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has assured the people of Delta State, in his New Year message, that his administration will remain focused on sustainable development of the state through the instrumentality of his “M.O.R.E” governance blueprint.

He thanked the people for their support and encouragement since the inception of his administration, noting that such attitude would enable the government to do more.

The governor urged the people to continue to remain united, focused prayerful and peaceful as they step

into 2024.

In a statement in Asaba by his Chief Press Secretary, Festus Ahon, the governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to sustainable development through quality and enhanced service delivery, expressing confidence that God would intervene in the affairs of the state for good this year.

While admitting that 2023 was a challenging year, Oborevwori noted that the year was also "very eventful" as God enabled his administration to make significant achievements in the past seven months.

Oborevwori said: "I appreciate

the power sector. The government needs to consider bringing private sector investment into the transmission segment of the power sector. This would ensure adequate technical and financial capacity for a well-functioning sector to power economic growth,” the chamber said.

NOVA Merchant Bank Set to Begin Commercial Banking, Appoints Oyedeji CEO Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja NOVA Merchant Bank Limited, a leading bank in Nigeria, has announced that it is set to begin its conversion to full commercial banking business, following its recent requisition of the national commercial banking licence from the relevant authorities.

To this end, the bank has appointed Mr. Adebowale Oyedeji, as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer to effectively steer its operations and deliver on its new mandate. His appointment which takes effect from January 2, 2024, has been approved by the Central

Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Oyedeji, a statement from the bank said, is coming on board with several years of experience at the C-suite level from a major commercial bank in Nigeria, and will be succeeding the erstwhile MD, Mr. Nath Ude, whose tenure expired on November 6, 2023.

The board of NOVA has expressed its appreciation to Ude for his efforts and services to NOVA since his appointment in 2020.

“Wale’s wealth of hands-on experience combined with strong track record of delivering revenue objectives, business turnaround, improved productivity, people management, operational efficiency and risk control

Oborevwori: We Will Focus on Delta’s Development in 2024 Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

commended the president for his commitment to addressing critical issues that impact the economic landscape of Nigeria, including his commitment to power projects and efforts to enhance the reliability of transmission lines.

“However, there is an urgent need to address the structure of

immensely the unalloyed support and cooperation that our administration has enjoyed from Deltans; this has been a huge source of encouragement and strength to the government.

"I appreciate our collective resolve to continue to live together in peace in spite of the economic challenges our people are grappling with, especially with the removal of subsidy on petrol in the country.

"Given our modest strides in the past seven months, I have no doubt that, with the same level of cooperation from the good people of Delta State, we will achieve more in all facets of governance and

development in the coming year.”

To demonstrate his readiness to hit the ground running in 2024, he said Delta was one of the first states in the country to sign the 2024 budget into law, noting that he was prepared for the onerous task of providing the people with good governance.

"Furthermore, our administration recorded huge milestones in just six months in office with the award of N78 billion contracts for flyovers, cloverleaf, pedestrian bridges and road expansion projects in Warri and Effurun area of the state to world class construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.

Oyedeji makes him a perfect fit to captain the ship of NOVA Merchant Bank.

“He has held several executive positions in foreign and Nigerian environments giving him the global perspective to leading a financial institution to success,” the statement added.

He was previously the MD/ CEO Of Guaranty Trust Bank UK (a subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Bank Group) between 2008 and 2011 and was an Executive Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Group from 2011 to 2018 with supervision of various industry focused corporate and commercial banking teams that transformed the group.

According to the press release, Just before his appointment as the MD/CEO of NOVA, Wale was on the board of Stanbic-IBTC as an Independent Non-Executive Director (INED) from 2020 to 2023.

“Wale will lead the new execu-

tive team to implement the Bank’s Accelerated Growth Initiatives (AGI) for the next five-year plan of the bank commencing January 2024,” it explained.

Oyedeji who expressed his excitement at the opportunity to lead the team in transforming NOVA from a leading merchant bank to a major commercial bank, said: “I am honoured to be the pioneer chief executive officer of the proposed NOVA commercial bank which is set to positively change the entire banking landscape”.

The Chairman of the Board of NOVA Merchant Bank, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, who commented on Oyedeji’s appointment, said: “This appointment is a reinforcement of the bank’s belief that with the right people and leadership, using technology and innovation, the bank will compete favourably for market share in the commercial and retail banking space.

“The board believes that Wale’s hands-on experience and communication skills combined with his strong leadership capabilities will help NOVA deliver improved execution and financial performance,” Oduoza stated.

Oyedeji is an alumnus of the University of Ibadan where he bagged a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics.

He also obtained his M.Sc degree in Financial Economics from University of London and Advanced Management Program (AMP) from Harvard Business School (HBS).

6

TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Lagos Countdown to 2024...

Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Afro-pop singer, David Adeleke a.k.a Davido and Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka during the Lagos Countdown to 2024 at the SOL Beach, Oniru, .... yesterday

Lagos Countdown to 2024...

Innocent ‘2Baba’ Idibia (right) with Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the Lagos Countdown to 2024 at the SOL Beach, Oniru, .... yesterday

NSITF to Expand Coverage of Social Security Net in 2024 Targets informal sector, rural dwellers

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has revealed plan to further increase the population of Nigerians registered in the employee compensation scheme.

To this end, the agency said it would create new branches and service centres in 2024, to expand

social services to the doorstep of all Nigerians in line with the social inclusion standards of the ILO Convention 102.

In a New Year message signed by the Fund’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Nwachukwu Godson, the Managing Director of the NSITF, Maureen Allagoa, was quoted to have assured Nigerian

workers of better days ahead.

Allagoa, said the agency would consolidate its 2023 achievements while expanding the percentage of the population protected by social security scheme.

She stated, “We are expanding our operations into the informal sector and other unreached areas in dire need of our services so as to

save more people from lacerating social conditions.

“We will create new branches to this end as well as build service delivery centers to be activated in select regions as pilot, in the first quarter of 2024. The focus is to reach Nigerians in the remote hinterland while reducing commuting distance for our staff members.”

2024: We'll Strive for Better Business Environment, Sanwo-Olu Promises Investors

Segun James

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has promised the business community of greater support in 2024.

Speaking at the Sol Beach Oniru, one of the venues of the 72-hour “Greater Lagos Fiesta”

and countdown to the New Year, 2024, the governor said that it is the reason the non-stop entertainment that included the 2024 countdown was made possible.

The governor added that he was glad that the event was going on simultaneously in six locations across Lagos. He listed the six venues as:

the Sol Beach, Oniru, Agege, Epe, Ikorodu, Badagry and Ajegunle.

He further said that the event was an annual tradition to celebrate music, entertainment, and the vibrant spirit of Lagos, stressing that it was about supporting and appreciating the residents, culture, tourism and youth development.

Those Working with Tinubu No Longer Share His Vision, Says Cleric

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

A cleric with the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Adamimogo Grace of Mercy Prayer Mountain Worldwide, Sam Alo has argued that most of the people working with President Bola Tinubu no longer share his vision for Nigeria.

The clergyman also stated that Nigerian households and businesses will experience relief and will begin to witness comfort by June 2024.

Speaking while delivering his new year message at a service held at Jesus City, Lekki, Lagos, the cleric advised that Tinubu should be wary of those surrounding him.

"When I was praying about Nigeria yesterday, God told me that the president has good visions for Nigeria but the people assigned to work with him are no longer having the national interest at heart.

"Our president must thoroughly assess those working with him and ensure that they are operating according to the terms of reference of their respective offices "What the president can do is to let them give account of their stewardship periodically and call the masses when necessary and not governors because it is the people

that know the pains the generality of the citizens are experiencing.

"Governor may say he is doing something and it may not really get to the people. So the people can also talk because the situation is bad. I am not in the habit criticising the government but this is what God said .

"Our president should not just rely on how he knew the people as of the time they started that they are still the same," he stated.

On graduate unemployment in the country, he said that many Nigerians are now regretting that they went to school, describing it as very painful.

“Nigerians are destroying their certificates because of lack of jobs to do with it. And we say education is power, but it is not in Nigeria.

Vocation and trade is power. The certificates are not also valuable abroad, you will have to study in addition with what you have," he said.

He added that there are some people in this government that want the business as usual attitude because they have only come into the government just to enrich themselves.

He noted that seven months after the government came to power

people have kept asking when the total turnaround will happened.

He, however, prayed that God should thwart the plans of those with such evil plot and should unseat them from their position.

The governor, who was flanked by his Deputy, Dr Kadri Hamzat, and other state executive council members, observed that the countdown to a new year was not peculiar to Lagos as there was always a countdown in every city of the world.

"We are happy because there is peace in Lagos. I want to thank all of you, this is another freshness and we hope to make it bigger next year. 2024 will be a glorious, better year for me and all of us, reaching our set career growth among other positives," he added.

Before and after the governor's speech, comedians and music artistes entertained the residents who had come to participate in the non stop entertainment as well as joined in the countdown to the New Year.

The MD said with the delivery of social security benefits under different compensation packages to over 103,000 beneficiaries in the past years, the NSITF was poised to break new grounds in the new year.

"We are poised to cover more areas of succor and reliefs to the victims of workplace accidents or their dependents in line with our mandate. But it is important to point out that this number, 103,000 beneficiaries, does not include 11 injured workers, whose conditions were so severe they couldn’t be treated in Nigeria and had to be flown abroad and over one hundred workers who had to be provided with artificial limbs.

“It does not also include the 670 dependent beneficiaries and 852 disability beneficiaries currently on our monthly payroll, besides a number of deceased dependents under our care, pending the graduation of their last child from higher institution or attains 21 years of age.

“These are visible achievements which form the base of our plans for the New Year, of course, encouraged by the wider operation coverage as well as challenges occasioned by the directive of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, following FEC approval, that all the MDAs comply with the mandatory Employees’ Compensation contributions,” Allagoa said.

As part of efforts to ensure occupational safety and health of workers in line with the ILO Convention

C155, the Managing Director said that NSITF’s plan for 2024, was to reduce workplace accident, with an expected 1,344 inspections and trainings. According to her, this is to reduce risk at work, promote a healthy workforce and enhance national productivity.

“Our plan is to conduct 1,344 workplace inspections and accident prevention trainings, at an average of two exercises in a month from our 56 branches,” she added.

On the poverty reduction component of the mandate of the NSITF, Allagoa pledged that the agency would tap areas of the ILO Convention 102 on old age benefits, unemployment and family benefits, saying that timelines have been set for the expansion of the agency’s corporate social responsibility programmes on skills acquisition and empowerment. According to her, the fund is optimistic of championing the poverty reduction mantra of the President Tinubu's 8-Point Agenda.

With regard to staff welfare, Allagoa said the NSITF had commenced the payment of N35,000 wage award approved by Federal government.

She also said that the management had reviewed the staff conditions of service and is implementing the new consolidated salary structure.

Allagoa, however, said that NSITF was still grappling with challenges impeding the fulfillment of NSITF mandate.

Otti Affirms Resolve to Increase Workers' Salaries Regrets inability to clear inherited pension arrears

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The governor of Abia State, Mr. Alex Otti, has affirmed his earlier promise to effect upward review on salaries of employees of Abia government to reflect the "economic realities of the time."

He stated this in his new year broadcast to the state yesterday, saying that work on the implementation of the pay raise had reached "the final stages."

In the New year message he entitled, "A journey of great expectations," Otti Urged the people of Abia to keep alive their hope for greater and better things to come from his government.

He said 2024 would be a year

for consolidation on the "modest accomplishments" so far recorded by his administration over the past seven months.

Otti, noted that his administration has not been found wanting in working hard to fulfill his campaign promises in order to give the people a new lease of life in good governance.

He stated that his administration has already recorded "modest achievements" in several sectors of the economy, citing improved security, and road infrastructure.

Other listed achievements include regular payment of salaries, reinvigoration of the health sector, effective urban management, support to the economically vulnerable.

However, he regretted that he

was unable to fulfill his promise to clear the huge pension arrears inherited from the past administration.

He had put a timeline to offset the arrears before the end of 2023, but was unable to fulfil it.

"It is unfortunate to report that a few challenges have conspired to ensure that we are unable to keep this promise," he said.

According to him, the initial estimated cost of paying the pension arrears doubled after a digital verification of pensioners was conducted to ascertain the number on payroll.

Otti, urged the pensioners to exercise patience, assuring them that every hurdle would be cleared to ensure that the arrears were paid

off before the end of the first quarter of 2023.

To ensure that this renewed promise was kept, the governor stated that, "if required, we may go back to the House of Assembly for necessary approval to ensure that this payment is effected."

The Abia governor said he would stick to, "our general approach as a government (which) is to create the right environment to support the success of the businesses in ways that job creation."

He, therefore announced plans to set up an international body of advisers known as Abia Global Economic Advisory Board (GEAB), composed of accomplished internationally recognised experts from across the globe.

TUESDAY JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

7

8

TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

During watch night service...

L-R: Ogun State Governor; Prince Dapo Abiodun; his wife, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun; Head of Service, Mr Kolawole Fagbohun and the Deputy Chief of Staff to the governor, Dr Oluwatoyin Taiwo, during the watch night service held at the Cathedral Church of St Peter, Ake, Abeokuta, Ogun State to usher in the year 2024.

Steel Development Ministry to Design Roadmap for Sector in Q1, 2024 Seeks increase in levies on imported steel

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The Minister of Steel Development, Shuaib Audu, yesterday said that a roadmap for the resuscitation of the steel industry in Nigeria will be designed in the first quarter of 2024.

The roadmap, Audu said, will be a five-year plan for Nigeria’s steel sector revival and a three-year plan for the Ajaokuta steel plant.

This was even as he said that the goal of the ministry is to create over 500,000 jobs for Nigerians within an operational steel industry before the end of President Bola Tinubu’s “second term in office.”

He opined that the goal was already being realised with close to 200 youths already engaged in the steel industry across the country in his first four months in office, assuring that more will be done in that regard.

The ministers, in his New Year message, stated that at the heart of Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda is the revitalisation of the steel sector in the country.

"At the core of the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ is the revitalisation of the steel industry in Nigeria, which prompted the creation of the ministry of steel development

by Mr. President in August 2023 with a core mandate.

"2024 presents a new and unique opportunity for the industrialisation of Nigeria and the revival of our

steel industry, with steps already being taken towards achieving these goals across the country.

"International investors have shown firm commitments to invest billions of dollars in developing Nigeria’s steel industry

"The ministry of steel development is working assiduously to create a favourable operating environment for investors, both local and foreign," Audu added.

Audu further said that government levies also needed to be

increased on importation of steel into the country as measures to ensure import substitution, amongst other positive measures are put in place.

He said: "A lot of work needs to be done to revive a challenging and ailing industry, and by

the special grace of God, we will rise to the occasion in delivering the president’s vision for the steel industry in Nigeria."

He also thanked the president for giving him the opportunity to serve Nigeria.

Self-reliance: Bello Admonishes Youths to Embrace Entrepreneurship, Skill Devt Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has passionately encouraged the youth to immerse themselves in skill acquisition and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of not solely relying on traditional academic qualifications.

The governor issued this call during a thorough inspection of the Fashion Shared Facility, an integral component of the National Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Clinics for Viable Enterprises in Okene, during the festive season.

The governor who was accompanied by the governor-elect, Ahmed Usman Ododo, was guided through the cutting-edge facility by the Chairperson of the Kogi Enterprise Development Agency (KEDA), Honorable Rekiya Onaivo Sani.

The facility, boasting stateof-the-art fashion machines of

New Year: NACCIMA President Felicitates Nigerians, Preaches Hope The National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dele Oye, has felicitated Nigerians on the celebration of the New Year, urging citizens to continue to have faith in the country despite the myriad of socioeconomic challenges.

Oye, in a statement, charged Nigerians to remain resilient and committed towards making positive changes in the country.

He said:“ As we usher in the new year 2024, I bring you a message of hope and optimism.

“Despite the economic challenges we face as a nation, we must continue to have faith in our great nation Nigeria and our collective abilities to push on and overcome

and building new plants following President Tinubu’s efforts to secure investments for the steel industry in Nigeria at gatherings of World Political and Business Leaders, including the recently held G20 summit in Delhi, India.

the obstacles and challenges we face.

“I am confident that we can all work together towards a brighter future for our businesses, our communities, and our entire nation.”

According to him, Nigeria should focus on developing the key sectors of the economy, including agriculture, mining, and industry.

“Through diversification, innovation, and collaboration, we can build a stronger and more resilient economy that benefits all Nigerians.

“I urge each and every one of us to remain committed to making positive changes in our country.

Together, we can achieve great things and make 2024 a year of progress, prosperity, and peace,” he added.

diverse grades was meticulously examined by Governor Yahaya Bello who affirmed its potential to significantly alleviate youth unemployment in the state once commissioned.

He implored the state's youth to seize the initiative provided by federal and state governments, embracing entrepreneurial skills for self-reliance.

Governor Bello lauded the management and staff of the facility for their commendable efforts in the installation, equipping, and maintenance of this forward-looking establishment.

During the visit, Honorable Sani, Chairperson of KEDA, provided detailed insights into the facility, disclosing that it houses over 180 diverse grades of fashion machines. Notable among them is the sophisticated 4 Head Monogram Machine, a computerized marvel designed for direct photo embroidery.

His words: "With a 12-inch touch screen computer supporting

20 languages and a vast memory of 200,000,000 stitches matched with 200 patterns, this machine promises versatility and precision.”

Sani elaborated on its capabilities, citing applications such as embroidery, printing of initials, and suitability for cap, tubular, t-shirt, and flat embroidery. The machine boasts automatic thread

break detection, automatic thread trimming, a 270° wide cap frame, and other accessories.

Envisioning the inauguration of the Kogi Fashion Industry, Sani highlighted the plethora of business opportunities and value chains that this facility would offer.

She emphasized that one need

not be a tailor or directly involved in the garment-making industry to explore the remarkable business prospects presented by this facility.

It stands poised to unlock a myriad of opportunities for entrepreneurs and industry enthusiasts alike including jobs creation, investment drives and other opportunity.

AbdulRazaq Calls for Support to Promote Sustainable Development in Kwara Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Kwara State Governor and Chairman Nigeria's Governors Forum(NGF) AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has called on the people of the state to continue to work with the present administration in order to promote sustainable development.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye, AbdulRazaq commended the people

for always acting out the epithet of being “the state of harmony.”

The governor assured that the government will continue to deliver on its core mandate of ensuring safety of lives and property, maintaining law and order, and providing basic amenities and infrastructure within available resources.

He also called for more positive energy and constructive engagement of various agencies of government

and representatives of the people for better service delivery.

The governor called on Nigerians to support government’s reforms, including the ones embarked upon

by President Bola Tinubu.

He said that the objective is to build a more resilient economy that gives everyone a fair shot at life and urges the people to be the ideal Nigerian or global citizen they would like to see or relate with in every space.

Oluremi Tinubu: FG Committed to Reforming Health Delivery Celebrates first baby delivered in FCT in 2024

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has expressed optimism that the federal government was committed to reforming health delivery process across the country.

Speaking yesterday, at the National Hospital, Abuja where she welcomed the First baby of the year 2024, in the Federal Capital Territory, the First Lady appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to join forces with governments to adopt hospitals and wards to improve the healthcare delivery in the country as government alone cannot do it.

According to her, expectant mothers must prioritise their health and seek to know their HIV/AIDS status, saying this would enable them prevent mother to child transmission of the disease and help the mothers to stay healthy.

Her words: “I urge nursing mothers to take adequate care of their babies, ensure that they are immunised as and when due, practice exclusive breastfeeding and provide them with adequate nutritious and healthy weaning food for their brain development.

“Expectant mothers should always take antenatal and postnatal care

seriously, maintain basic hygiene at home, space their births, register their babies with the National Population Commission and make efforts to enroll them in school at the appropriate age."

She noted that her foundation, the Renewed Hope Initiatve (RHI) was working in collaboration with the UNICEF to see that all births in Nigeria were registered in order to ensure the rights and protection of all children.

Apart from visiting the FCT first Baby of the year, Boluwatife Johnson who was born at 12.03am, Mrs. Tinubu also visited other babies

just born in the hospital, bearing gifts in the course of which she came across a set of conjoined twins.

After speaking with the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, the First Lady expressed the willingness of her pet project, the RHI, to lend a helping hand to facilitate the surgery to separate the twins.

Responding, the Chief Medical Director, Prof Mohammed Raji Mahmood, while expressing the appreciation of the hospital for the gesture, seized the opportunity to appeal for more help to sustain the legacy of the hospital.

9

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024

nine

Atiku: FG’s Commitment to Eliminate Security Threat Will Stem Attacks in Nigeria Mutfwang declares one week mourning

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has said the determination by the federal government to eliminate security threat through arrest and prosecution, could help stem the tide of attacks across the country.

Similarly, the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has announced a week of mourning from January 1st to January 8th, 2024 in honour of those killed in the Christmas Eve attacks across Bokkos, Mangu, and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of the state.

Atiku, who spoke against the backdrop of the recent killings in Plateau, however, called for tougher action by the government in terms of prompt and proactive measures.

He said those attacks could be

stemmed only when the government shows utmost determination to eliminate the threats by expanding the security architecture in the country and fast-tracking the arrest and prosecution of those involved in such dastardly acts to serve as a deterrent.

According to a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibeh, Atiku expressed concern about the frequency of the barbaric attacks on innocent people by outlaws, noting that under no circumstances should murderous criminal groups be allowed to take life without immediate consequences from the government.

He said the rate at which innocent people were being massacred in Plateau, Kaduna, Zamfara and other areas plagued by insecurity, was embarrassing, explaining that, "only prompt and decisive action by the government can halt this

madness."

The former vice-president observed that the calls for multi-level policing stemmed from the growing frustration with the government's seeming helplessness to crush these outlaws.

“The spate of these attacks is also a sad testimonial to decadence in the judiciary, because a situation where criminals are set free by the court without diligent trials is capable of dampening the morale of law enforcement officers and other security agencies,” he said.

Atiku warned that abandoning the people to their fate in the face of existential threats was not an option because protecting the lives and property of the citizens was a primary responsibility of governments anywhere in the world.

The statement noted that but for his absence, the former vice-president

would have visited Plateau to emphasise with the people of the affected communities.

He, however, prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased, stressing that no resource should be spared in taking care of the maimed and displaced.

Meanwhile, in a statewide broadcast, Mutfwang, has directed that flags should be flown at half-mast and urged citizens to engage in intense prayers for divine interventions against those perpetrating violence in the state.

He specifically appealed to Muslim and Christian leaders to dedicate Friday 5th and Sunday 7th January 2024 respectively for special prayers.

He described the attacks as premeditated and coordinated acts of criminality, insurgency, and terrorism, emphasising the need to address them as such.

Refuting the traditional narrative of Farmer-Herder clashes, he unequivocally labeled the incidents as genocide.

The governor acknowledged the resilience of Plateau citizens in the face of adversity and expressed confidence that 2024 would bring hope and opportunities in reflection of the inner strength of the people.

He highlighted some of his administration’s achievements since assumption of office, to include efforts to revamp security, clear salary backlogs, and payments of gratuity, death benefits, and pension arrears.

He also announced a fuel subsidy of N10,000 per month for workers from September 2023 to March 2024, pending a federal wage review.

Mutfwang provided updates on the progress of revamping the railway track from Bukuru to Jos, expressing optimism about its commencement

Atiku by the end of January 2024.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for the prompt response and relief efforts over the security challenges that confronted the state.

The governor expressed hope that Plateau would become a global destination, drawing parallels with the transformation of Rwanda after years of internal conflicts.

Tinubu Signs N28.7tn Budget, Elated By N100bn Approved for School Feeding Nationwide

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu yesterday, signed the 2024 appropriation Bill into law in line with avowed commitment to maintaining a timeous, predictable and efficient budget cycle. He expressed joy with the N100bn approved for school feeding nationwide.

The signing came 35 days after the President submitted a N27.5 trillion 2024 budget proposal to the joint sitting of the National Assembly on November 29, 2023, for approval.

The President assented to the bill at the State House, shortly after returning to Abuja, after an 11-day stay in Lagos to observe the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Speaking at the signing of the

bill, Tinubu recalled that, "When I presented the budget on November 29, 2023, I presented N27.5 trillion and I called for expeditious treatment of the budget, the review, the passing, the debate and all that.

"Today (yesterday) we have a budget of N28.7 trillion with an increase of N1.2 trillion over the proposal that I submitted. I thank the National Assembly for this prompt review adjustment and auditing necessary. This is evidence and a great testament to the excellent relationship between the executive and the legislature. We should keep it up.

"In my address then, I remarked that the budget is a budget of renewed hope. It is anchored on reducing the deficit and increasing

capital expenditure particularly in our priority areas. The Approved 2024 budget that we just approved achieve both objectives.

“It contains a very good increase in the capital side, a reduction in recurrent expenditure and it brought down the deficit from 6.11 per cent to 3.88 per cent. That, to me, is an achievement."

He assured Nigerians that the implementation of the budget would be efficiently pursued and vigorously monitored, adding: "All the institutional mechanisms shall be held to account in ensuring diligent implementation."

According to him: "All MDA’s have been directed to take responsibility and provide monthly Budget Performance Reports to the

PDP Knocks Budget, Says It's Harvest of Deceit, Empty Claims

right-thinking Nigerians are appalled by the hollowness of the New Year address.

In a statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party said Nigerians were dismayed, as Tinubu took to rhetoric and failed to address the critical issues of insecurity, decayed infrastructure, comatose manufacturing and productive sectors, crushing 28 per cent inflation rate, continuing plunge of the Naira, unemployment, poverty and economic hardship occasioned by the reckless, ill-advised and insensitive policies and programmes of his administration.

According to the statement, "President Tinubu failed to address the vexatious issue of incompetence, insensitivity, massive profligacy, unbridled treasury-looting inherent in his administration, which have put our nation in dire straits.

"More distressing is that President Tinubu had no words in his New Year address for the Christmas eve genocidal massacre of over 200 Nigerians by terrorists in Plateau State and the murder of over 5,000 citizens in Plateau and other states of the federation under his watch since May 29, 2023. What manner of a president?”

PDP said it was an unpardonable assault on the sensibility of Nigerians for Tinubu to assert, “Everything I have done in office, every decision I have taken and every trip I have undertaken outside the shores of our land, since I assumed office on 29 May 2023, have been done in the best interest of our country.

"On the contrary, all decisions and actions of the Tinubu presidency, including the approval of increase in the pump price of fuel from N167 to over N700 per litre, devaluation of the naira with the consequential high costs and hardship, skewing of the 2024 budget in favour of luxury appetite of the presidency and APC leaders without concrete policies to revive the economy and create jobs, the wasteful foreign trips with political cronies and failure to address the mindless killings across

the nation cannot be said to be in the interest of our country.

"Furthermore, the undermining of the constitution and institutions of democracy, including attempts to emasculate the National Assembly, and compromising of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through the appointment of APC card-carrying members as Resident Electoral Commissioners cannot be in the interest of the nation.”

PDP said Tinubu’s claims that his actions and policies, with their calamitous consequences, were in the interest of the country further confirmed that this administration was deliberately subjecting Nigerians to hardship as a way to suppress them to surrender to totalitarianism.

The statement said, "Also, in stating that ‘from the boardrooms at Broad Street in Lagos to the main-streets of Kano and Nembe Creeks in Bayelsa, I hear the groans of Nigerians who work hard every day to provide for themselves and their families,’ Tinubu admitted that his administration had plunged Nigerians into pain, anguish and misery.

"President Tinubu ought to have used the opportunity presented by the New Year to apologise to Nigerians and marshal out steps to address our national challenges, including those responsible for the exiting of multinational manufacturing companies and other businesses from our country."

LP, in its own reaction by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said, "If anything, the speech conveyed to Nigerians the high level of hypocrisy, deceit and lack of empathy, which has become the guiding principle of the All Progressives Congress administration, which Tinubu leads.

“It is depressing to note that the president and his handlers didn’t deem it fit to include a word of comfort for the families of over 200 persons killed by terrorists during the Christmas Eve massacre in Plateau State. What a shame!"

The opposition party said the

president’s helplessness in the face of his glaring failure to address the critical issues of insecurity, decayed infrastructure, collapse of the manufacturing and productive sectors, inflation and the Naira to Dollar exchange rate, which was spiralling out of control, was written all over his New Year speech.

It also said there was no word in the address on the alleged massive looting of the country’s resources by Tinubu’s appointees and leaders of his party in various sectors.

LP said in the statement, "How does his ill-advised decision on fuel subsidy removal without a plan to ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians translate into an action taken in the national interest?

Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, which in turn shall ensure the veracity of such. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy shall hold regular reviews with the Economic Management Team and, in addition, I shall chair periodic Economic Coordination Council meetings."

The top priorities of the 2024 budget of N28.7 trillion are defence and internal security, job creation, macro-economic stability, improved investment environment, human capital development, poverty reduction, and social security.

The President emphasised that his commitment to enhance investment promotion while creating a rules-based society that favours no individual over the law begins with important reforms in the Nigerian judiciary, the funding for which was captured in the 2024 Appropriation Act. "Funding the judiciary is a major element in our effort to support a just, rules-based society. Statutory transfer to the Judiciary has been increased from 165 billion naira to 342 billion naira," the President said.

Tinubu also expressed happiness about the N100 billion approved by the National Assembly for the feeding of school children across the nation.

His words: "While we take power and steel and other projects, one of the priority areas we just passed is the N100 billion provision for the feeding of school children. That is a stimulant that will encourage our school attendance and others.

“I've been meeting with local

governments at sub-national levels so that we can collaborate and jointly bring an all-inclusive program that will help."

Some of the key estimates are capital expenditure - N10 trillion; recurrent expenditure - N8.8 trillion; debt service -N8.2 trillion, and statutory transfers, N1.7 trillion.

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abbas, were present at the signing ceremony.

Other senior government officials present at the brief ceremony included Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, and National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Answering reporters' questions after the signing ceremony, Edun, said implementation of the budget would be given top priority, adding that the budget was focused on growing the economy.

"The next in line now is implementation. The N28.8 trillion budget has been signed into law by Mr. President so it's immediate implementation and it's a very hopeful budget, one that will really inspire Nigerians and encourage those who are investors to come out and invest and even those who rely on government, such as school children and the education sector, they have a lot to benefit.

"But overall, the change in this budget is that it is focused on growing the economy. The capital

expenditure is larger than the recurrent expenditure; over N10 trillion is going to be the capital expenditure, while recurrent is just about N8.8 trillion. I think that shows the direction of travel, it shows that we can expect an economy rejuvenated, re-galvanised and set for growth.

"On the issue of financing, usually our budget will try to plan sometimes we'll have critical issues when it comes to the issue of financial shortfalls here. And there, as coordinating minister, looking at what you see on the table for this project," he added.

Asked how government would get the finances to fund the budget, the Minister said government at the centre would be relying more on revenue and less on external borrowing to fund the 2024 Appropriation Act. According to him: "The first thing to say is that it's a lower budget deficit, so it's a lower financing requirement and in fact, as a percentage of GDP, the budget deficit is down from 6.1 per cent to 3.8 per cent "So we're relying less on borrowing and more on revenue and I think you have to take the two together.

I think we're very optimistic about the improvements in revenue that will take place.

"We are all ready, even from tomorrow, applying technology and the digitalisation to ensure that the revenue that should come to government from all sources, including from government-owned enterprises, comes into the consolidated revenue fund and on the other side, we are Continued on page 21

Adelabu: FG Working Out Cost-reflective Electricity Tariff Implementation Programme

of his ministry’s commitment to prioritising electricity supply in the country in line with what he termed President Bola Tinubu's electricity turnaround agenda in his New Year message.

According to him, the ministry, agencies and Distribution Companies (Discos) worked tirelessly during the yuletide to enhance power supply while also acknowledging positive improvements.

Adelabu noted that in recognising the critical role of electricity in economic growth, the initial three months of his assumption of office focused on diagnosis, stakeholder consultation, and strategy formulation.

With a well-documented implementation plan now in place, he added that it is now time to take decisive action.

“Our primary focus is enhancing distribution and transmission infrastructure to minimise technical and commercial losses. The lack of liquidity continues to be a significant challenge in the electricity market.

“We are currently reviewing the implementation process of a costreflective tariff, while government will continue to subsidise power supply to those that are vulnerable in our society,” he added.

On the metering challenge, the minister stated that closing the gap remains imperative, explaining that there are ongoing initiatives, including World Bank programmes and the Presidential Metering Initiatives, which are expected to gain momentum soon.

The ministry, Adelabu said, will intervene in distribution infrastructure, supplying transformers to communities without burdening citizens financially.

Besides, he pointed out that rural electrification would remain a priority, with plans for solar-powered mini/micro grids and street lights while collaborating closely with Discos and state electricity boards in efforts to align with local needs.

Continuing, he said that in order to improve the transmission infrastructure, the Presidential Power Initiative, otherwise known as the Siemens Project has now been reactivated to strengthen the national grid, and minimise technical losses.

“We will also be implementing the Eastern and Western super grid projects to strengthen the grid and increase electricity supply to demand centres in the country.

“The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) will be reconstituted in the short term, separating trans-

mission services from system and market operations in the first quarter of this year.

“In the medium to long-term the transmission grid will be separated into regional grids to enable effective management.

“Generating at installed capacity is a goal for government-owned plants, while private companies are encouraged to invest further. Off-grid and distributed generation, utilising renewables, will be a focal point, solar PV plants, small hydro plants, and wind farms will be strategically deployed,” Adelabu stated.

On power theft, the minister said tackling power theft and vandalism remain very paramount.

“This national responsibility requires joint efforts to protect our assets. The ministry has informed the National Security Adviser (NSA) of recorded cases, and collective action is essential to eliminate these setbacks,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has said that with the expected full coming on stream of the Port Harcourt and the Dangote refineries, Nigeria was in the era of self-sufficiency in petroleum products refining.

In an X post yesterday, the

minister in his New Year message, described as a milestone achievement, the mechanical completion of the Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC), marking a significant step towards domestic crude refining. “ In reflection, I commend our resilience in navigating the challenges of 2023 while our nation underwent crucial changes and our collective efforts have reshaped the oil sector, paving the way for a prosperous future.

“In the coming months, we anticipate the commencement of operations at PHRC followed by the finalisation of Warri and Kaduna refineries, which signals a renewed era of self-sufficiency in energy production.

“Our engagement with stakeholders and strategic policy implementations have instilled confidence, attracting vital investments. As we embark on this transformative journey, I assure you that 2024 holds promise for economic growth and increased opportunities.

“In unity, let us embark on this journey of Renewed Hope under the administration of President Tinubu because together, we shall witness a prosperous year filled with accomplishments and shared successes,” he said.

10

TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

OGUN WELCOMES NEW YEAR BABY...

R-L: Ogun State First Lady, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, carrying the first baby of the year in the state while the mother of the baby, Mrs. Rhoda Ochiefijie and wife of the Ogun State Speaker House of Assembly, Mrs. Bolanle Oluomo, watches at the Ogun State Hospital in Ota, yesterday

Alake: 163,878 Nigerians Enjoyed FG’s Transportation Rebate in 10 Days Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

The chairman of the committee on the implementation of the end-of-year transportation subsidy programme recently announced by the federal government, Dele Alake, has described the programme as a huge success, saying that it has so far benefited over 160,000 passengers across the country.

Alake, who is also the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, made this known in a progress

report yesterday in Abuja.

Alake said the programme, which was approved by President Bola Tinubu on December 19, 2023, provided free transportation on the routes of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and 50 per cent subsidy on transport fares for passengers travelling on 30 routes .

He added that the routes were serviced by bus operators under their umbrella association, the Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON).

The minister said that the programme was a demonstration of the president's empathy and love for the Nigerian people, who are culturally and emotionally committed to travelling to their home towns at the end of the year.

According to him, the programme was also aimed at easing the financial burden of the citizens, who are facing some economic challenges due to the global pandemic and other internal factors.

He said the committee took some

remedial measures to address some identified gaps in the execution of the programme, such as adding two more routes, engaging other bus-owning stakeholders, such as the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the state-owned transport companies, and the Private Transport Operators Association (PTONA), and collaborating and sensitising Nigerians through the press and other media platforms.

He said the programme recorded impressive results, as between

Mbaise Diaspora Proposes Specialist Hospital, Community-owned CCTV Tony Icheku in Owerri

Nigerians of Mbaise descent from Imo State, resident in the United States of America, USA plan to up the stakes in its $5 million Annual Medical outreach by building a Specialist Hospital either in Mbaise, Imo East Senatorial district or in Owerri, the State capital.

In an exclusive interview with THISDAY in Obizi, Ezinihiitte Mbaise LGA, the National President of Mbaise USA, Chief Sonny O. S Echendu said the association is of the view that it's over $5 million spent annually in medical outreach programme in Mbaise could have enhanced value for the people if there is a permanent health care centre which they could access as the need arises.

"Mbaise USA, having reviewed its annual Medical Outreach, where it flies in specialists for surgeries, general medicine and other healthcare needs is working towards building a Specialist Hospital either in Mbaise or Owerri, the State capital. Beyond providing for the people's healthcare needs, the facility would also be used as a research centre for medical educational institutions", Echendu said According to him, the association also annually empowers 60 Mbaise women who were each given N200,000 per person either to recapitalise their business or as

a take-off capital for petty trading.

Echendu, an alumni of the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA also expressed concerns about the insecurity challenge in the state and country which he described as complex, dynamic and fluid.

He prescribed for Imo State a community-based policing comprising various state governors, LGA chairpersons, Traditional Rulers, President-Generals of Town Unions/ Association and Village heads.

Echendu proffered that in the three LGAs of Mbaise, the Mbaise USA Association are proposing to install CCTVs, control centres with rapid response squad to minimise insecurity in the area which in recent times have been scenes of violent killings. He said the association is closely studying models where the system have been effective and would clone such in the LGAs. In his analysis of the situation, the former Armoured Corp Commander in the Nigerian Army traced the issue beyond guns and ammunitions, noting that youth unemployment are also part of the challenge.

He added that if kidnapping is perceived as a lucrative crime, it also holds attraction for criminals.

He nonetheless noted that whether the insecurity is sponsored or not, there is need to separate, segment and isolate each factor responsible for insecurity in the country, thus his description of the insecurity chal-

lenge as a complex phenomenon.

Accordingly, he tasked the various state governors, LGA chairperson, traditional rulers and village heads to put on their thinking caps towards resolving the challenge.

He also suggested that politicians and political parties should not be totally exonerated from the insecurity challenge and said

they should be closely monitored to determine their role or otherwise in the insecurity issues bedeviling the country Echendu was speaking after the double events of thanksgiving and remembrance service for his late parents, Pa Humphrey and Mama Grace Echendu which held at St Andrews Anglican Church, Obizi.

December 21 and December 31, 2023, the NRC conveyed 71,000 passengers, while buses operating under the auspices of ALBON carried 77,122 passengers.

The minister also revealed that 652 "bus trips originating travels" from Oshodi interchange in Lagos carried 15,766.

"Between December 21 and December 31, 2023, figures available show that the NRC conveyed 71,000 passengers, while buses operating under the auspices of ALBON carried 77, 122 passengers, and 652 bus trips originating travels from Oshodi Interchange in Lagos carried 15,766.

“This means no fewer than 163, 878 passengers benefitted from the presidential yuletide transportation subsidy in the first 10 days of the programme.

"Secondly, while train-bound passengers enjoyed total free service, road travellers paid only 50 per cent of the fares. The subsidies depended on the fares ranging from a saving of N21,500 on a Lagos-Abuja road trip fare of N43,000 and N15,000 on a Lagos –Onisha bus fare of N30,000," Alake said.

He appealed for cooperation from the passengers and the bus companies to manage the return of passengers from their respective

locations back to their bases till Thursday, January 4, 2024, as the programme is still ongoing.

On the overall assessment of the scheme so far, Alake enthused that it had been a huge success, emphasising that the transportation rebate was a demonstration of the level love Tinubu has for Nigerians.

"The programme has been a huge success. It is a vivid expression of the resonant leadership driven by emotional intelligence. The yuletide transportation programme sought to meet the mass of Nigerians at their point of need," said the minister.

On the arrangement for the return leg of the trip by travellers, Alake also urged them to initiate their return journey as early as possible to secure seats on the coaches and buses, and appealed to all the bus companies involved to demonstrate faith, integrity and patriotism by applying the 50 per cent subsidy and making enough vehicles available.

The minister added that the committee would continue to monitor compliance and intervene whenever and wherever necessary, and assured that the appropriate government security agencies had been properly briefed to ensure the free embarkation and disembarkation of passengers at the parks.

FG Keys into Deputy Speaker's Peace Project, Vows to End Insecurity in S'East Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The federal government has expressed its firm commitment to put an end to the insecurity problems plaguing the Southeast geopolitical zone arising from separatist agitations.

This commitment was expressed at the weekend by both the executive and legislative arms of the federal government during the grand civic election, thanksgiving and homecoming of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu in Bende, Abia State.

The occasion also featured the formal unveiling of the Peace in the Southeast Project(PISE-P) peace

project was initiated by Hon. Kalu in order to dissipate the cloud of insecurity hanging in the Southeast.

At the event, federal authorities, Southeast political leaders, leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, as well as traditional institutions and religious leaders were all united in the quest for lasting peace in the zone.

While the Presidency pledged that it would deploy every resources, kinetic and non-kinetic, to restore peace in the Southeast, the National Assembly leadership assured that every needed legislative backup would be provided.

Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said that Mr. President was "concerned about

the extensive economic devastation inflicted by non-state actors on this beautiful region since we took office".

In his speech entitled "Why We Are All Umunna," (which translates to why we are all brothers), apparently to underscore the deep feelings of Mr. President about the reign of insecurity in Nigeria's retinal zone.

“The problem we are here to solve as a community, as an Umunna, is a creation of self-serving criminals who do not represent the interests of Ndigbo and Nigerians," he said.

According to him, Mr. President understands the situation "better than all of us" hence in the spirit of democracy "he has never held any group accountable for the infractions of law-breaking individuals who

identify as their members".

The VP assured Ndigbo that Tinubu "is determined to utilize all available resources to ensure that the peace we’re establishing in this region is not cosmetic".

But he was quick to point out that the federal government "can't guarantee" the much needed peace "unless all of us see through the falsehoods and propaganda that have become weapons against our unity.”

Taking a jab at the separatist agitation, which is largely blamed for the insecurity in the Southeast, Shettima insisted the agitators were on self-serving mission with the backing of “forces exploiting the situation for dangerous political agenda”.

TUESDAY JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

13

12

TUESDAY JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

13

14

T H I S D AY • TUESday JANUARY 2, 2024

politics

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com (08033025611 SMS ONLY)

Ondo 2024: Aiyedatiwa Shops for D’Governor as Political Permutations Change Fidelis David reports that the demise of the former governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his replacement by Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa is bound to change the political permutations in the state ahead of the 2024 gubernatorial election in the sunshine state.

Y

ear 2023 was a rollercoaster and quite rough for the people of Ondo State, coupled with the global economic headwinds which were of tsunami proportions making short shrift of earnings and further eroding the standard of living for millions.

Thanks to goodness! The year has ended but, undoubtedly, it had its share of big political stories, particularly in the sunshine state of Ondo and Nigeria as a whole.

Sunset for Akeredolu For the people of the coastal state, it was a year that will be remembered for a very long time because it was a year of political imbroglio, turbulence, calculations, decisions.

The news of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s death is still fresh in the memories of Nigerians. It sent shock waves to the entire country after it was confirmed that the ex-governor, who had a protracted battle with prostate cancer, died in Germany, where he had been receiving treatment, at the age of 67.

Aketi, as he was fondly called by friends and admirers, was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and former Attorney General of Ondo State, and a second-term governor who also served as the Chairman of the South West Governor’s Forum before his death.

He was elected Governor of Ondo State on the Platform of the All Progressives Congress in November 2016 and re-elected in 2020 and he was the Attorney General of Ondo State from 1997-1999 and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1998 as well as, the President of Nigeria Bar Association from 2008 to 2010.

Many people see Akeredolu as not just a political figure but a visionary leader and a beacon of hope. However, the flood of encomiums that has so far greeted the passage of Akeredolu is an obvious and convincing testimony to the fact that his life was colourfully signposted with indelible accomplishments in all spheres of life.

New Dawn for Aiyedatiwa Like his name, Lucky, luck and destiny have bestowed on him the office of the governor of Ondo state. Less than 24 hours after the death of Akeredolu, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was sworn in as the seventh civilian governor of the state, apparently, with death having appeared to have finally settled the scores between him and his late boss, Akeredolu.

He’s expected to complete the remaining tenure of Akeredolu which will end on February 23, 2025.

So, as the number one citizen of the state and leader of APC in the state, he will now oversee preparations for next year’s governorship election.

Ondo, alongside Edo, Bayelsa, Kogi Anambra, Osun, Ekiti and Imo, are among the eight Nigerian states whose governorship elections are held outside the cycle of the general elections due to the outcomes of previous litigations.

The electoral body had in September, 2023 announced that the Governorship election will hold on Saturday, 16th November 2024 while party primaries will hold from 6th – 27th April 2024 as provided in Section 178 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

Besides, INEC said the submission of the list of nominated candidates via the online portal will start at 9.00am on 29th April 2024 and close at 6.00pm on 20th May 2024.

Now, going by the “unwritten” zoning

Aiyedatiwa

arrangement in the state, late Akeredolu’s successor is expected to emerge from the south senatorial district where Aiyedatiwa hails from and there are other people from the same zone who have shown interest.

They include the state Commissioner for Finance, Wale Akinterinwa; the Secretary to the state Government (SSG), Mrs Oladunni Odu; business mogul and the incumbent Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Jimoh Ibrahim; a governorship candidate in the state during the 2012 and 2016 gubernatorial elections, Olusola Oke; the Executive Director (Engineering and Technical Services) at Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, Ifeoluwa Olusola Oyedele; APC National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Isaac Kekemeke, amongst others.

Political analysts believe that the emergence of Aiyedatiwa as the new governor will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences on the upcoming elections and the dynamics that will lead to the

emergence of the party’s standard bearer have also changed.

In other words, they believe that with Aiyedatiwa assuming office as the governor, he will be in the best position to sway the ticket in his favour, except he doesn’t know his way.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in the state who does want his name in print said “Aiyedatiwa had served as a member representing the state on the board of Niger/Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) and even before this, he has held various positions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

So, I can boldly say that the governor is not a stranger in the politics of Ondo State.

“Just imagine his humility and humbleness, many Nigerians do not know that till date, Aiyedatiwa lives at his private residence in Akure and rides his personal vehicle to run government activities. When he was deputy governor, the residence vacated by his predecessor was taken over

by Akeredolu’s son, Babajide”, he added.

Besides, prior to the rift between late Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa, the former had openly said Aiyedatiwa will take up the reins of governance from him, a declaration which many people believe triggered the

It was, however, gathered that those eyeing the deputy governorship seat include cabinet members who stood by him while he was battling with attempt to impeach him by the state House of Assembly. Those being touted for the number two position are the Chief of Staff to Akeredolu, Chief Olugbenga Ale; the Commissioner for Energy, Mr. Rasaq Obe and Special Adviser on MDG,Mrs. Bunmi Ademosu; whom the wife of the former governor, Betty Akeredolu, had accused of giving concoctions to her husband when he was ill. Others include former federal lawmaker, Hon Alade Mayokun; Olumuyiwa Adu and a former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in the state, Omowunmi Olatunji-Ohwovoriole, among others.

hatred for Aiyedatiwa by those who were eyeing the governorship seat.

On February 24, 2021, Akeredolu, during his inauguration for second term at the International Culture and Event Center in Akure, openly said: “The name we give our children or the name we bear at times matters a lot. You (Aiyedatiwa) have been loyal and consistent. You are worthy of this position (deputy governor), and I want to thank you for being considered to complete this journey with us.

“I have a maximum of four years; maybe you can proceed from there. It is for me now to calm down and for you to grow. I must come down for him to grow. I have done my own a little bit; I must congratulate you.”

Aiyedatiwa Shops for Deputy Meanwhile, it was reliably gathered that Aiyedatiwa had began to shop for a deputy governor. A source said the governor might pick one of the cabinet members, adding that Aiyedatiwa had been holding meetings with political stakeholders in and outside the state in his search for a suitable and loyal deputy governor.

It was, however, gathered that those eyeing the deputy governorship seat include cabinet members who stood by him while he was battling with attempt to impeach him by the state House of Assembly. Those being touted for the number two position are the Chief of Staff to Akeredolu, Chief Olugbenga Ale; the Commissioner for Energy, Mr. Rasaq Obe and Special Adviser on MDG,Mrs. Bunmi Ademosu; whom the wife of the former governor, Betty Akeredolu, had accused of giving concoctions to her husband when he was ill.

Others include former federal lawmaker, Hon Alade Mayokun; Olumuyiwa Adu and a former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in the state, Omowunmi Olatunji-Ohwovoriole, among others.

By and large, with the tension and agitation arising from various quarters occasioned by the lingering political crisis in the state haven been doused following the death of Akeredolu, 2024 might be more intriguing while ambition, alignment, realignment and betrayal might take over the political atmosphere of the sunshine state.

LAWYER TUeSday, jANUARY 2, 2024

A TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

weekly pullout

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, CON, SAN, GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE (2017 - 2023)

Adieu Aketi, the Courageous Legal and Political Juggernaut

II

TueSday, JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

In this edition

R E Y LAW TU eS day, ja

NUaRy 2, 20

24

A

TRU

T H & RE A S

ON

llout weekly pu

TRU

T H & RE A S

Requirement(s) for Court to Countenance CTC of Public Document

ON

i OdUNayO OlUwaROTiM OR OF aRakUNRiN SaN, GOVeRN N, CO U, Ol akeRed ) (2017 - 2023 ONdO STaTe

Page IV

Stakeholders Call for Multifaceted Approach in Advancing Women's Rights

s u o e g a r u o C e h t , i Adieu Aket t u a n r e g g u J l a c i t Legal and Poli deji adeleke OyeTOla Ni Mai Mala BU

Page V

Asset Recovery: Lawyers Urged to Stop Thinking as Lawyers, Jonathan Huth Page V

Quotable ‘We are One Nigeria. But, to bring Policemen from the West which is predominantly Yoruba and take them to Sokoto, where do they know in Sokoto? They won't even understand the terrain.’ - Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, CON, SAN, Immediate Past Governor of Ondo State

lawyer

UNIBEN Pioneer Law Class Celebrates Edosomwan, SAN Page V

onikepo braithwaite: editor, jude igbanoI: deputy editor, peter taiwo, steve aya: reporters

III The advocate

T H I S D AY • TueSday, JANUARY 2, 2024

Hopes, Disappointments and Expectations

H

Expectations for 2024 appy New Year to you all. 2023 was another ‘Annus Horribilis’, in terms of the ‘next level’ of financial hardship Nigerians experienced, amongst other gloominess like insecurity. I seize this opportunity to express my condolences to the people of Plateau State, on the death of hundreds and the destruction of property, resulting from an attack on Christmas Eve; and to the people of Wusa, Taraba State on a similar attack last week. Hopefully, this year will be better.

I don’t think there’s any need for me to list my expectations for 2024, because it will simply be a regurgitation of last year’s list. I believe we all know what we want - good and responsible governance, security, curbing of corruption to a minimal level (realistically, it may not be capable of being totally eradicated), improvement in the economy, healthcare, education, better opportunities and employment for young Nigerians, a reordering or adjustment in the remuneration system of Nigerian workers, that is, for the deserving like the low income Nigerian workers, judicial officers, medical workers to better remunerated, while the undeserving who receive unjustifiable salaries and allowances, receive their fair remuneration, which will obviously mean a pay cut!

It makes no sense for majority of Nigerians to be paid less than a living wage, while a few privileged ones are overpaid. It is unconstitutional. See Section 16(2) (c) & (d) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended in 2023)(the Constitution).

Many are also looking forward to a restructured Nigeria, complete with true federalism, as opposed to the unitary system we are running now, and hopefully, a referendum and the drawing of a new Constitution of the people by the people for the people, to replace the 1999 Military Constitution.

As we begin 2024, I think that being a fairly new Government, the Tinubu administration should or would have spent the festive season deciding on its goals and focus, and strategising on how to achieve them, especially after many of the key members of the administration just returned from the Climate Conference in Dubai. Not being blind, they obviously saw how oil money, focus, vision and integrity has transformed Dubai in 20 years. If Dubai was like Nigeria, would Government Officials, the Nigerian elite and Nigerians generally, love travelling there?

I think not. Not having been welcome in Dubai for quite a while now, many Nigerians seized the opportunity on the guise of attending the Climate Conference, to be on the Government’s entourage, just to be able to visit Dubai. Someone told me that he was pretty sure that out of the 1400 Nigerians that purportedly went for the Conference, probably 1300 know nothing about climate change!

We expect that in 2024, this administration will stop the wasteful spending that has become the hallmark of successive Nigerian Governments, and which we really cannot afford. 200 million Nigerians cannot be continuously told to tighten their belts and make sacrifices, while Government remains on a spending spree, lavishing money on luxuries and unnecessary things.

About a year or two ago, I saw a video on social media, in which the main actor said that when our so-called leaders who travel abroad rather regularly say they are travelling, one would imagine that they travel to the village and not Dubai, USA, London, even Rwanda here in Africa, the irony being that, instead of coming back to replicate the positive things that they enjoy in those places, so that their home country can be equally developed and comfortable, they are content to leave Nigeria poor and backward, while they loot the country blind to acquire properties etc in those same countries that they love to visit. I fail to understand it. I thought charity begins at home!

And, by the way, Corruption is one of the worst killers of progress and development; it needs to be tackled head on.

And, to tell the truth, the Tinubu administration doesn’t have to search far in terms of how Nigeria should be, as these goals are clearly stated in Chapter II of the Constitution. Once these goals are met, or well on the way to being met, Nigeria will be a better place. What is the essence of ‘democracy’ without democratic dividends? Or that 20 years after the military left in 1999, Nigerians are worse off today than we were then? Nigerians have reposed confidence in President Bola Tinubu and his ‘Renewed Hope’ Agenda to change this negative narrative, and we are optimistic that we will not be disappointed.

Deficiencies in the Justice Sector As for we Nigerian Lawyers, our priority should be the revamping and development of our administration of justice sector, so that we can meet global best practices.

Enough of some of Lawyers breaching the Rules of Professional Conduct with gusto and aplomb, and facing no consequences. Enough of the opaque manner in which judicial officers are appointed, resulting in some judicial officers who do not quite meet the mark sitting on the Bench; enough of judicial officers turning the law on its head, and giving perverse judgements,

is high and concluding that the patient has malaria, when it could be something else. There are blood tests readily available, which can accurately pinpoint the presence or otherwise of malaria parasites in a matter of minutes, or other ailments which could cause an elevated body temperature! Why continue with guessing games as if we are in the 19th Century, when we have accurate ways of ascertaining these things, which we are all aware of?!

onikepo braithwaite onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive. com onikepob@yahoo.com

The

Advocate “But, when we project this culture of improvisation into sectors like the medical and justice sectors, it is more dangerous.

More often than not, in the medical sector, it may lead to the deaths of patients, while in the justice sector, it may lead to injustice” as a result of incompetence, compromise and descending into the arena, instead of remaining impartial; enough of the allegations of corruption trailing Senior Lawyers and the Judiciary; Lawyers going on forum shopping sprees, and Judges encouraging them to do so, by hearing such matters and delivering conflicting decisions. Gone are the days when going by the facts of a case, Lawyers could predict the outcome of a case based on law and judicial precedent.

In 2024, we must embrace science and technology not just in the justice sector, but, generally- for one, we could use technology to man our porous borders. Enough of judicial officers still writing in longhand, as a result of which litigation is slowed down; clumsy or nonexistent investigation by law enforcement agencies. How long are we going to continue doing things in the justice sector, as if we are still in the dark ages? We definitely have a deficiency of science and technology, in our processes. We all know that, in Nigeria, we have a culture of improvisation - in Yoruba, they say “Madam, a le work è!” - “Madam, we can work it”; it is a phrase common to Carpenters, Electricians, Mechanics etc. But, when we project this culture of improvisation into sectors like the medical and justice sectors, it is more dangerous. More often than not, in the medical sector, it may lead to the deaths of patients, while in the justice sector, it may lead to injustice.

While other countries have moved beyond the old methods of investigation - extracting confessions from suspects under duress, convictions based on solely on conjecture and circumstantial evidence, unreliable eyewitness testimony, with the advent of technology and accurate scientific methods of investigation and detection, Nigeria has remained in a time warp and refused to move with the times. Interviews of suspects are never video recorded, and so-called ‘confessional statements’ are mostly not taken in the presence of Counsel (see Section 9(3) of the Criminal

Law of Lagos State 2015)(CLLS)) - which would make for accuracy, and totally eliminate the avoidable trial-within-trial culture.

The other day, I watched the story of a criminal case in which an American man spent 16 years in prison having been convicted for a rape he didn’t commit, because the victim herself identified him as the perpetrator. With the advent of DNA, he was exonerated when the semen sample obtained from the victim at the time when such testing was still in the trial stages, but was still preserved, was tested all those years later, and the sample turned out to belong to someone else and not him! Victim/eyewitness testimony, is not always true or accurate, and circumstantial evidence can also be just as unreliable. I have even watched cases in true life crime series, in which suspects who were subsequently exonerated by DNA testing initially confessed to crimes they didn’t commit, because they were nervous, or afraid after being arrested, or were simply worn down or threatened by the Police to confess.

Has anyone ever wondered why every suspect arrested, has a confessional statement?! See the Anti-Torture Act 2017 (ATA).

Nigeria is still operating in the pre-DNA testing days, as if this technology doesn’t exist. It’s like saying that we will only use the fixed landline telephones of the pre-1990s, and be restricted to receiving only audio calls when we are at fixed locations that have landline telephones, when technology has advanced to GSM on which we can receive audio and video calls anywhere, by means of WhatsApp, FaceTime etc.

Our courts still seem to improvise and use the “extra-judicial” so-called confessional statements made at Police Stations, mostly not validly taken from suspects/extracted by torture and should be inadmissible (see Section 4 of the ATA), coupled with the testimony of victims, as their own proof beyond reasonable doubt! In 2023! It is as preposterous as a Doctor touching a patient’s forehead, observing that the temperature

Onikepo Braithwaite and Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, CON, SAN. Aketi, may the flights of angels sing thee to thy rest, Amen. È sun re o.

X v Y: An Example of a Regressive Legal System The other day, I was reading a judgement in the case of a Defendant (Y) who was convicted of the offence of defiling a minor, sexual assault and rape. I discovered that the ‘proof beyond reasonable doubt’ in the verdict of the court, was the usual extra-judicial confessional statement which appeared not to be validly taken from Y and was retracted by Y as soon as he was released on bail, as well as the testimony of the Victim (X) and the prosecution witnesses who never witnessed the alleged incident. By virtue of Section 135(1) of the Evidence Act 2011 (EA), the burden of proof in criminal proceedings is proof beyond reasonable doubt. It is trite law however, that proof beyond reasonable doubt does not mean proof beyond a shadow of doubt or proof to the hilt - see the case of Udo v State (2006) LPELR-3298 (SC) per Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, JSC (later CJN). But, surely, proof beyond reasonable doubt cannot be “he said, she said” - my word against yours; if I’m a bit more dramatic, the Judge will believe me over you?

I think not. Let me explain.

Firstly, in reading the judgement, I discovered that the medical report which was tendered as evidence, had no bearing on the case, as X was examined by a Doctor several months after her alleged rape. In fact, X and Y had not been in the same vicinity for months, and the medical report clearly stated that it was based on the alleged rape of X the day before the medical test was conducted. In fact, the judgement stated that the medical report did not link Y to the alleged crime. Though I’m not saying that Y or all suspects are always innocent, I doubt if Y could have been convicted on the same set of facts in USA today, where when a person alleges rape, the victim is taken to the hospital as soon as possible (preferably without cleaning themselves up), so that a rape kit is taken - extraction of semen sample of the perpetrator; examination of the body of the victim to extract third party DNA; clothes worn during the attack etc are also useful. Though in Ogunbayo v State (2007) LPELR-2323(SC) the Supreme Court held inter alia that, in a charge of rape, a Defendant can be convicted on the uncorroborated evidence of the prosecutrix; and it was also held that one of the ways to deduce corroborative evidence is by circumstantial or medical evidence, my contention is that, in this day and age, we should be relying more on medical evidence derived from the accuracy of technology, and gearing our legal system towards taking advantage of innovations that will actually provide proof beyond reasonable doubt in as many cases as possible, ensuring that justice is done, instead of wasting our time on guess work when we no longer need to do so.

Secondly, there was no shred of evidence adduced to prove that X was below the age of 18. In a case of defilement, proof of the victim’s age is crucial, as it forms the basis of the case for defilement, seeing as the Child Rights Act 2003 (CRA) provides that a child is one below the age of 18, and a child is not capable of giving consent. In the case of the defilement of a seven year old child, it would be obvious to the naked eye that such a child cannot be 18, but, in the case of defilement of a 16 year old child, it is not quite as easy to determine, as a 16 year old is probably as physically developed as an 18 year old. It is trite law that, he who alleges must prove - see Section 131(1) of the Evidence Act 2011 and Maihaja v Gaidam (2017) LPELR-42474(SC) per Ejembi Eko, JSC. In the case of X, who the Prosecution alleged was 16-17 at the time of the alleged rape, nothing was tendered to prove her age - no birth certificate, no school report with her age on it. X simply said she was in a certain class, in a certain year. I submit that being in a class in particular year, cannot be the basis of an accurate representation of one’s age. It can only be, at best, a guide or guess as to the age a person should be. This certainly doesn’t discharge the required burden of proof.

Conclusion My point is that, the Tinubu administration must not just resolve to move Nigeria forward, but, be seen to be doing so. This is our expectation for 2024.

Nigerians want progress and development, not hardship, promises, motivational speaking and business as usual. As for our justice sector, it also needs to move forward as well, in terms of including science and technology into our processes to meet global best practices and for better justice delivery, transparent and merit based appointment of judicial officers, and above all, an injection of sanity and stability into our legal system, so that the public confidence which has been somewhat eroded, can be restored.

IV law report

TueSday, JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

Requirement(s)forCourttoCountenanceCTCofPublicDocument Facts The Appellant participated in the primary election of the 2nd Respondent conducted on 26th May, 2022 to select its Gubernatorial candidate for Jigawa State for the 2023 General Elections. The party adopted the indirect method of selection, as provided for in Section 84(1), (2) and (5) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The 1st Respondent was declared the winner, having scored 1,220 votes while the Appellant came 3rd with 13 votes. Being dissatisfied with the outcome of the primary election, the Appellant instituted an action at the Federal High Court seeking inter alia, a determination of whether the 1st Respondent was validly nominated on the 27th May, 2022 as the Candidate of the 2nd Respondent for the 2023.

The Respondents filed applications challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit, principally on the ground that the Appellant’s complaints relate to the emergence of 827 ward delegates at the 2nd Respondent’s Congress held on 17th May, 2022 and their alleged disenfranchisement is a pre-primary matter which is not justiciable. They also challenged the locus standi of the Appellant, to institute the action on behalf of the said delegates who were not parties to the suit. The trial Judge upheld the objections of the Respondents, and the Originating Summons was accordingly struck out. The court nonetheless considered the Appellant’s case on its merits and dismissed same, on the ground that the Appellant failed to prove his claims.

Dissatisfied, the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal, which court set aside part of the judgement wherein the trial court held that the Appellant lacked locus standi to institute the action. The appellate court held that the issue of disenfranchisement of the alleged 827 delegates was not the only complaint made by the Appellant, and that in so far as he participated in the primary election and had a complaint alleging non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the 2nd Respondent’s electoral regulations and guidelines as regards the time for conducting the Governorship primaries, he had the locus to ventilate his grievance. On its merit, the court dismissed the appeal.

The Appellant filed a further appeal to the Supreme Court. The 1st and 2nd Respondent also filed Crossappeals.

Issues for Determination The Supreme Court adopted the two issues for determination raised by the Appellant in determining the appeal to wit: 1. Whether the Court of Appeal was wrong in holding that the Appellant did not prove the complaint of breach of Article 26 (e) - (i) of the 2nd Respondent’s Guidelines for Nomination of Candidates for 2023 General Election/as it pertains to the issue of noncompliance with the date and time of the conduct of the Gubernatorial primary election, regard being had to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

2. Whether the lower court was wrong in dismissing the Appellant’s claim that those who voted at the primary election in issue were not eligible delegates duly elected in line with the extant laws and guidelines of the 2nd and 3rd Respondent, regard being had to Section 84(9) of the Electoral Act 2022 and the 2nd Respondent’s Notice for the conduct of the Special Ward Congresses.

Arguments Arguing the appeal, counsel for the Appellant contended that the 2nd Respondent surreptitiously changed the date of the primary election without notice to the aspirants and INEC, thereby constituting non-compliance with Article 26 (e)-(i) of the 2nd Respondent’s Guidelines for Nomination of Candidates for 2023 election and the Electoral Act 2022. That the Governorship primary election was fixed for 26th May, 2022 as shown in Exhibit FAA9A, Exhibit FAA 35B, while pursuant to the Guidelines (Exhibit FAA6) particularly Article 29 thereof, the primary was to commence at 9am and conclude by 2pm. That by the result of the election as shown in Exhibit FAA9A and Exhibit FAA l0, the election in fact, held on 27th May, 2022. He submitted that the conduct of the primary election on 27th - 28th May, 2022 amounts to a flagrant breach of Article 26(e) and (i) of the 2nd Respondent’s guidelines which require accreditation to be done between 9am to 12 noon and voting to commence immediately accreditation ends and continue till 2pm. He referred to the decision of the Supreme Court in UBA v MOGHALU (2022) LPELR- 57876(SC) to submit that the courts below

Honourable Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 13th day of January, 2023 Before Their Lordships Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun Uwani Musa Abba Aji Mohammed Lawal Garba Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa Adamu Jauro Justices, Supreme Court SC/CV/1453/2022 Between HON. FAROUK ADAMU ALIYU APPELLANT And 1. UMAR A. NAMADI 2. ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) 3. INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC)

RESPONDENTS

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, JSC) ought to have upheld his contention that time for conducting the primary election was unlawfully adjusted by the primary election committee without authorisation, and ought to have held that he was entitled to the reliefs sought.

Counsel argued further that the lower court erred in invoking Section 124 of the Evidence Act, and taking judicial notice of the National Conventions of the political parties for the purpose of selecting their Presidential candidates, wherein voting commenced very late and continued through the night till the following morning.

He contended that the court raised the issue suo motu without hearing parties and therefore, breached the Appellant’s right to fair hearing.

He contended that the 2nd Respondent failed to give at least 21 days’ notice of the proposed conduct of the primary elections to the 3rd Respondent, as stipulated in Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act. Counsel applied Section 15(2) (a) of the Interpretation Act to argue that, in calculating the period, the day on which the event occurs must be excluded and therefore 6th May, 2022 to 26th May, 2022 is a period of 20 days. He submitted that, it is the date of delivery of the document that is relevant for the computation of time.

“….before a court can place reliance on a certified true copy of a public document, certain requirements must be met, one of which is that necessary payment for the certification must have been made”

Responding, counsel for the 1st Respondent relied on UMEAKUNA v UMEAKUNA (2019) 14 NWLR (PT. 1691) 61 at 82-83 to argue that there are circumstances where the word “shall” can be interpreted to convey an obligation, while in certain circumstances it may be interpreted as being permissive and carrying the same meaning as the word “may”.

He submitted that a community reading of Article 26 of the 2nd Respondent’s guidelines reveals some discretion granted to conduct the exercise beyond the stipulated time, where there is good and reasonable ground for doing so. He argued that the 1st Respondent was able to demonstrate vide his affidavit evidence that the conduct of the primary commenced on 26th May, 2022 as scheduled in the notice communicated to the 3rd Respondent, but was concluded on 27th May, 2022 due to the fact that the Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly Primary Elections were also held on the same day. He also noted that it is not in dispute that the Appellant and his agents were present at the venue of the exercise throughout, and until the results were declared by the returning officer.

On the alleged breach of the Appellant’s right to fair hearing, counsel submitted that by Section 124(3) of the Evidence Act, the need to afford a party an opportunity to address the court on a notorious fact, is as the court deems necessary.

On computation of time for the notice given to INEC, counsel argued that due to the sui generis nature of election related matters, where time is of the essence, the provision of the Interpretation Act is not applicable. Time as stipulated in the Electoral Act, Practice Directions and the 1999 Constitution, as amended, is from the day of the act and the date on which the event occurs is not excluded.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Resolving the first issue and the points contained therein, the Supreme Court noted that the first point to be resolved is whether indeed, the 2nd

Respondent changed the date of the primary election from 26th May, 2022 to 27th May, 2022 without giving the requisite notice to the 3rd Respondent.

The Appellant’s Exhibit showed that the primary was conducted on the 27th to 28th May, 2022, while both the 2nd Respondent and the 3rd Respondent tendered the same Exhibit to show that the primaries held on 26th to 27th May, 2022 from 9pm to 6am; thus, the onus is on the Appellant to establish the truth of his assertions. Regarding the issue of denial of fair hearing, the Apex Court stated that the contention of the Appellant about the lower court raising the issue of certification of Exhibit FAA 36 suo motu without affording the parties a hearing on the issue, is misconceived. Relying on Sections 104, 105 and 146(1) of the Evidence Act, 2011, Their Lordships held that before a court can place reliance on a certified true copy of a public document, certain requirements must be met, one of which is that necessary payment for the certification must have been made. The court agreed with counsel for the Respondents that, admissibility of a document and the weight to be attached to it are two different things. The function of an appellate court is primarily to determine whether a decision appealed against is right or wrong. and not necessarily whether the reasons for the decision are right or wrong. Given the foregoing, the court held that the Court of Appeal was right in refusing to accord Exhibit FAA 36 and by extension, Exhibit FAA 378 any probative value.

On submissions regarding interpretation of Article 26(e) to (i) of the 2nd Respondent’s guidelines as having an element of discretion and not being strictly mandatory, the Supreme Court held that in the interpretation of statutes words must be given their natural and ordinary meaning unless it would lead to absurdity. A careful examination of sub-paragraphs (e) and (g) of Article 26 reveals some qualification to the period stipulated for accreditation and voting. By sub-paragraph (e), accreditation should commence by 8am and be concluded by 12noon. However, the inclusion of the words “or whenever accreditation ends” in sub-paragraph (g) appears to take cognisance of the fact that accreditation may not end by 12noon, and that anyone already on the queue by that time must be accredited. It is a correct statement of law that generally, when the word “shall” is used in a statute, it is interpreted to be mandatory.

However, whether it is used in a mandatory or directory sense depends on the context in which it is used.

On whether the lower courts are bound by the decision in UBA v MOGHALU (Supra), the Supreme Court relied on its decision in UNION OF INDIA v DHANWANTI DEVI (1996) 6 SCC 44, to the effect that in determining if a decision qualifies as precedent, a Judge must chisel out the reason or rationale for a particular decision, and not just pick a sentence here and there.

The court is required to ascertain the reason or principle, upon which the court based its decision. In effect, a case is only an authority for what it decides and nothing more. Where the facts of the earlier case differ from the facts of the latter case, the decision in the former cannot serve as precedent in the latter case. It follows that MOGHALU’S CASE is not the same as the instant case.

The Supreme Court further reiterated that, election related matters are sui generis and time sensitive.

Judicial pronouncements are to the effect that the Interpretation Act is not applicable, with regard to the computation of time. The court agreed with the holding of the lower courts that election matters are time bound and it cannot be the intention of the legislature that not only the initial notice, but every notice of rescheduling must be given at least 21 days before the date fixed for the particular election. Such an interpretation would lead to absurdity. The court thereby, resolved the first issue against the Appellant.

Resolving the second issue for determination, Their Lordships pointed out that the Appellant in his Originating Summons sought declaratory reliefs from the trial court and therefore, had the burden of proving his entitlement to those reliefs.

On the Cross Appeal, the Supreme Court held that, having resolved the main appeal against the Appellant, the Cross-appeals challenging the Appellant’s locus standi to institute the action at the trial court have become academic and are hereby struck out.

Appeal Dismissed; Cross-Appeal Struck out.

Representation Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN & Ors. for the Appellant/ Cross-Respondent.

Prince L.O. Fagbemi, SAN & Ors. for the 1st Respondent/Cross-Appellant.

Y.C. Maikyau, SAN & Ors. for the 2nd Respondent/ Cross-Appellant.

Dr Hassan M. Liman, SAN & Ors. for the 3rd Respondent/Cross-Respondent.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

V

TueSday, JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

L-R: Managing Partner, Punuka, Mrs Elizabeth Idigbe; Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN; Prof Konyin Ajayi, SAN; Honouree, Chief Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan, SAN and former Minister of Works & Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN

L-R: Mr Babajide Ogundipe; Mr Jonathan Huth; Dr Daniel Idibia; Chairman of the occasion, Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN; Hadiza Rimi (ICPC); Mr Adebayo FIDA Abuja Branch Chairperson, Chibuzo Adeniyi (EFCC) and Ebelechukwu Enedah at a workshop organised by AGAAfrica in collaboration with the Christopher University, Mowe, Ogun State Maureen Nwosu

Stakeholders Call for Multifaceted Approach in Advancing Women's Rights Alex Enumah in Abuja

A cross-section of women have called for the adoption of a multifaceted approach, in the pursuit and advancement of their rights. Besides, the women have called for the promotion of national machineries and policies, that eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and the girl child.

They spoke in Abuja, at the opening of the 2023 Law Week of the Abuja Branch of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).

In her Keynote Address, rights activist, Mrs Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, called for stronger collaboration with governmental and nongovernmental organisations, as well as traditional and religious leaders in the promotion of women's rights.

Ladipo-Sanusi who lamented that not much has been realised regarding the protection of women's rights, noted that with effective public awareness and collaboration, traditional and religious leaders can help promote women's participation in politics.

While calling the strengthening of agencies that promote women's rights, she warned women against oppressing and working against their fellow women. She further warned against the use of young girls as house helps, pointing out that, “if you do, you are cutting short their lives”.

Also speaking, a former lawmaker in the Benue State House of Assembly and former Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Hon Ngunan Adingi, appealed to parents, especially mothers, to reconsider the ways they raise their children, especially the male children, as that goes a long way in determining how they treat the female gender in future.

While observing that, “a lot of women don't know that the gender equality right is for their benefit”, Adingi sought for more empowerment of women especially in the rural communities.

In her welcome remarks, the Chairperson of FIDA (Nigeria) Abuja Branch, Maureen Chibuzor Nwosu, urged critical stakeholders to beam the searchlight on

Immediate Past Ekiti AttorneyGeneral Pays Tribute to Aketi On hearing the news of the death of the Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, CON, SAN (fondly called Aketi), which sad event occurred last Wednesday, December 27, 2023, this is what the immediate past AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice of Ekiti State had to say about Aketi: “I find this excerpt from Barack Obama’s eulogy of Ted Kennedy comforting at this moment of grief: “We cannot know for certain how long we have here. We cannot foresee the trials or misfortunes, that will test us along the way.

We cannot know God’s plan for us. What we can do, is to live out our lives as best we can with purpose, and love, and joy. We can use

each day to show those who are closest to us how much we care about them, and treat others with the kindness and respect that we wish for ourselves. We can learn from our mistakes, and grow from our failures. And, we can strive at all costs to make a better world, so that someday, if we are blessed with the chance to look back on our time here, we can know that we spent it well; that we made a difference; that our fleeting presence had a lasting impact on the lives of other human beings.”

This is how Oluwarotimi Akeredolu lived. This is his legacy.

We carry on.

May God Bless Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and may he rest in eternal peace.

national machineries that promote the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. She also charged women to set goals and targets in which these machineries can work to their benefit, and institutionalise women's

interests in all areas and sectors of policy at all levels.

Chairperson of the Law Week Committee, Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, urged women to retrospect on the traditional, social, legislative, legal, political and other

mechanisms relating to women's rights.

“Are there gaps that militate against the true advancement of women's rights in Nigeria? What progressive developmental steps are expedient to remedy

the gaps, if any? Whose role is it to bridge these gaps, and when, she queried.”

The theme of the Law Week was: “A 2023 Reflection on Institutional Mechanisms for Advancing Women's Rights in Nigeria”.

Asset Recovery: Lawyers Urged to Stop Thinking as Lawyers, Jonathan Huth Lawyers have been advised to stop thinking as Lawyers and think as businessmen or women, while handling briefs that have to do with asset recovery and return trajectory because of the high cost of litigation.

This advise was given by Mr Jonathan Huth while delivering a Keynote Address at a two-day workshop organised by the Attorney General Alliance (AGA AFRICA) in collaboration with the Christopher University, Mowe in Ogun State.

Speaking under the theme: “Unexplained Wealth in the Global South - Examining the Asset Recovery and Return Trajectory”, the former United State of America Civil Prosecutor stated that asset recovery experts must be involved in the process of recovering assets stolen from either government or corporations right from the

start, and therefore, Lawyers in the matter must think as business people and not Lawyers, because only then will they feel what their clients are feeling.

He further stated that client/government with such problems must come to the Lawyer with business problems, expecting to have creative solutions. Therefore, Lawyers must have a good knowledge of the brief, what the law says about the matter, and have a clear idea of how to handle the matter.

Also speaking at the workshop, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Mr Ola Olukoyede, who was represented by the Head of the Abuja Zonal Office of the Commission, Mr Adebayo Adeniyi said that the topic for the workshop was well selected, given that unexplained wealth is a major problem

in the anti-corruption war, which is in Section 7 of the EFCC Act. He then called on the Federal Government to sign into law the Unexplained Wealth Order Act, as it would give more impetus to the current anti-corruption war.

The ICPC Chairman who was also represented by the Head of Lagos Operations, Hadiza Rimi, called for the proper handling and accounting of all proceeds of crime, especially those collected from corrupt public officers, as this will go a long way in creating public confidence and encourage more whistleblowers to come out.

Mr Babajide Oladipo Ogundipe, while speaking suggested that the Government should have a public-private agreement in the prosecution of corrupt individuals whose wealth cannot be accounted

for, since most of these people have money to get the best Lawyers. He also suggested the non-conviction process as a way to recover Unexplained Wealth, which in most cases are proceeds of corruption.

Dr Anthony Idigbe, SAN, on his part, stated that Lawyers must defend their client, but at the same time, own themselves and the truth. He said that while defending their client, Lawyers should also report to the authority any crime about to be committed by their client, while seeking the best deals for the client.

Speaking earlier, the ViceChancellor of Christopher University, Prof Oyelana Olatunji Afolabi, said that the aim of the collaboration with AGA-Africa is to bring together people to chart new courses in the anti-corruption war, by exposing the antics of Unexplained Wealth.

UNIBEN Pioneer Law Class Celebrates Edosomwan, SAN It was a gathering of who is who within the law profession, when the pioneer Law Class of the University of Benin celebrated one of their own in Lagos.

The gathering was in celebration of Chief Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan’s conferment of a Doctor of Law (LLD), Honoris Causa degree by the University of Benin, which took place on the 25th of November 2023.

Speaking at the event, former Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, described Chief Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan, SAN, as his true brother from another Mother, who very well deserves the award and

recognition. He said that as a young man and student at the University of Benin, his stay at the University campus was made worthwhile because of Edosomwan, SAN, who stood by him all the way.

“It is to his credit that he finds time to look for me, at all times. We are brothers from different mother's, but we are brothers indeed’’.

Fashola then thanked the pioneer Law Class, for celebrating his brother in a very befitting way.

Speaking at the event, Dr Anthony Idigbe, SAN, described Edosomwan, SAN, as a moving force in the legal circle whose legacies are there for all to see. “The wealth you

will leave for your children will only depend on how well the system you left behind is run, and this man has invested well in the future’’.

Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN, described Edosomwan, SAN, as someone with whom they grew closer as they started as young Lawyers together.

I did not attend Uniben, but I met him when we started as young Lawyers together, and he is one person with whom we have grown closer over the years’’, as he prays for more blessings.

While Kemi Pinheiro, SAN and former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onibanjo,

SAN, both celebrated the contributions of Edosomwan, SAN, to the legal profession and described the award as well deserved.

Speaking early, the Chairman of the occasion, Pastor Fummi Ayo Odugbesan, welcomed everyone in attendance, while describing Edosomwan, SAN, as the Chairman and Leader of the pioneer Law Class of the University of Benin. She recalled that he was the first member of the class to be elevated to the position of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and how he encouraged all of them in the class to push for it, “and the result is there for all to see’’, she said.

VI tribute ‘I Mourn My Fearless Brother, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN’: President Tinubu t is a difficult task to have to pen a tribute, and sing a dirge for a departing soul.

It is a more difficult job in our African culture, when one is compelled to do so for a younger person. Here I am, with the difficult job of singing a dirge for Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, my beloved brother, confidant, political soulmate and Governor of Ondo State.

I cannot fairly capture in words, Rotimi’s towering figure and his human essence. Rotimi was a man who moved our nation towards equity, fairness and justice, in his strident advocacy against every form of injustice in our country through the instrumentality of the law as a Senior Advocate, Attorney-General of his beloved State, as President of the Nigerian Bar Association and Governor of Ondo State.

In a challenging moment of our statehood, when marauding agents of darkness spread their tentacles across our country, Rotimi was a strong voice in the wilderness calling us to rethink our security architecture, so we can have a more secure nation. His unrelenting advocacy, led to the birth of the local Police in the South West.

Rotimi was a man of ideas and action.

While he was with us, he taught us the power of action and service. In Ondo State where he had the honour to serve as the Governor in the last six years, he served his people with absolute loyalty, dedication and forthrightness. His footprints dot the entire landscape in the hundreds of kilometres of roads he built, the many schools he built, and healthcare facilities that he provided.

During the dark hours when marauding agents of darkness visited the State and killed defenceless citizens, where 40 worshippers in the Catholic Church of Owo were killed on June 5, 2022, Rotimi’s leadership qualities as a true Statesman and compassionate leader, radiated brightly to the world. He was the Mourner-in-Chief who guided his people through an agonising period. Today, I Mourn a fighter and fearless defender of truth and the masses.

My personal journey with Rotimi, started as joint members of the progressive family.

We fought many battles together to restore progressive governance in the South West, Edo State and Nigeria as a whole. During this uncertain period, Rotimi was resolute and unflinching. He showed uncommon courage as member of our legal team in our battles to reclaim our stolen mandates in Ekiti, Ondo, Edo and Osun States. A gallant Lawyer, and one of the finest of the legal profession. I beckoned on him to contest for the Governorship position of Ondo State in 2012. Even though he didn't make it in his first attempt, his enthusiasm and determination to serve his people never diminished. He eventually made it to the Alagbaka Government House in his second attempt in the 2016 election.

Since he was sworn-in in February 2017, he has served the people with devotion.

Rotimi has played his role well, but his demise was untimely. We will never see the likes of him again. Let me tell the people of Ondo State that, “I am grieving with you”.

We will honour Rotimi's memory, and make sure his legacy of service is never forgotten.

In my grief and sadness, I have telephoned his wife, Betty, and Acting Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa to commiserate with them, and

TueSday, JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

I

Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN

President Tinubu and NBA Presidents Pay Tribute to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN

The Nigerian legal community, the people of Ondo State, and indeed, Nigeria, witnessed the passage of the 24th President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and two-time Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, CON, SAN, fondly called Aketi, who joined the saints triumphant in the early hours of Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at the age of 67. Aketi has certainly left his footprints firmly on the sands of time, both in his service to the NBA and the legal profession, and to his State. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, HE Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR and the current and Past Presidents of the NBA pay glowing tribute to this Legal Titan. Aketi, may the flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. Amen. urge them to take heart over this national tragedy.

Governor Akeredolu was not just a friend, ally and associate, he was a brother and soulmate.

His death is a blow to our governing APC and the progressive family, as we are diminished by it.

I hope that his successor, Aiyedatiwa, will hold steadfast to the vision of governance left by this towering political leader.

His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria It is with a heavy heart that I pay tribute to His Excellency, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, CON, SAN (Aketi), the Governor of Ondo State and Past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), whose transition took place on 27 December, 2023, after protracted ill-health.

His Excellency was called to the Bar in 1978, and had served the NBA in several capacities. He variously served as Secretary and Vice Chair of Ibadan Branch, and

"In a challenging moment of our statehood, when marauding agents of darkness spread their tentacles across our country, Rotimi was a strong voice in the wilderness calling us to rethink our security architecture, so we can have a more secure nation"

went on to become the 24th President of the Association from 2008 to 2010 – one of the most influential and courageous Presidents ever to lead the NBA. The late learned Senior Advocate also served the nation in various other capacities at different times, one of which was as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice from 1997 to 1999 and later as two-term Governor from 2017 till his demise.

Aketi, as he was popularly called, was in our lexicon a true Bar man, who firmly believed in the ability of the legal profession to make a difference in our society. It was this belief that led him into politics resulting in his being elected twice as Governor of Ondo State.

Aketi will mostly be remembered for his forthrightness and down-to-earth perspectives, especially on matters of national importance.

He will be positively remembered for his several contributions to the growth and development of Ondo State, and the entire region. As Governor, Aketi was at the forefront of the establishment of the regional security network, Amotekun, to address security concerns in the Western region. So far, the network has been

effective in stemming the tide of terrorism, armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry, etc., within the region and currently stands as a model for other regions to emulate. For his contributions to the progress of Nigeria, he was recognised by the Federal Government and conferred with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in October 2022. There is no denying that the learned Senior Advocate left indelible footprints in the sands of time.

I commiserate with the entire Akeredolu clan, particularly his wife, Betty, and children, on this very painful loss. I also extend my condolences to the Ondo State Executive Committee, and the entire people of Ondo State. Aketi’s departure is our collective loss.

My prayer is that God Almighty will comfort the hearts of all members of his family, his colleagues, and friends.

May the peace of God which is beyond human understanding, protect our hearts and minds through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN, President of the NBA The news of Aketi’s death is indeed, very sad news. He was an excellent President of the NBA, and even now, as Governor of Ondo State, he excelled in his role, in the development of his State and addressing national issues like spearheading the eradication of Open Grazing, advocating for State Police and the Restructuring of Nigeria into a true Federation. These are the things that Nigeria needs now. He was also in the forefront of the establishment of the South West Security Outfit, Amotekun. Aketi was a man of integrity who promoted the rule of law, and spoke

VII

TueSday, JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

tribute President Tinubu and NBA Presidents Pay Tribute to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN Cont'd from page VI

the truth at all times. Adieu Aketi.

He will be sadly missed by members of the NBA, and by those of us who knew him. May his great soul rest in perfect peace, and may God comfort his wife, children, family and the people of Ondo of State. Amen.

Dame Priscilla Kuye, 17th President of the NBA It was very sad and very painful, for me to hear about the demise of my Learned Brother Silk, His Excellency, Chief Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, CON, SAN, who was until his death, the Governor of Ondo State of Nigeria.

AKETI, as we called him, and I first met in the year 1974 as undergraduates studying Law at the University of Ife, now known as and called Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. We graduated together in 1977, and attended the Nigerian Law School (NLS) in Lagos together, where we were called to the Bar in 1978.

Our NLS Class/Set of 1978 is indisputably the most accomplished Set of the Law School, with more Senior Advocates of Nigeria by proportion, than any other Class/Set of the NLS. At the celebration the 40th Anniversary of our Call to the Bar in 2018, we had produced four Presidents of the Nigerian Bar Association, namely yours truly O.C.J. Okocha, OFR, SAN, Chief Bayo, CON, SAN, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, OON, SAN and Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, CON, SAN. We had also produced seven Justices of the Supreme Court, including the Honourable Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON, who was at the time, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, such that Honourable Justice Kashim Zannah, Chief Judge of Borno State, who delivered the Anniversary Lecture, stated that our 1978 Set could constitute a Full Court of the Apex Court, with the ability to change the Law in Nigeria.

We were later to adopt as our name, the Diamond Class/Set of the NLS, and Aketi, who later also adopted the title Arakunrin, was a great Bar Activist, and had previously served as the Publicity Secretary of the NBA in the Administration of Chief Mrs Priscilla Kuye, as the 17th NBA President.

H.E. Chief Akeredolu’s death is a great loss to the NBA, Ondo State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He will be sorely missed.

Sincere condolences to his dear wife, H.E. Betty A k e re d o l u , who he met when he was serving as a Youth Corpsman (NYSC) in Enugu, Enugu State in the 1978/1979 Service Year, and their children and grandchildren.

I pray God to grant Diamond Akeredolu’s soul eternal rest in peace. Amen! and Amen!

O.C.J. Okocha, OFR, SAN, JP, DSSRS, the 19th/Millennium President of the NBA Rotimi Akeredolu that I knew, and who I worked with as Counsel in a couple of topical cases, who also was a close friend and one of my successors in office as President of the NBA, was a Lawyer to the core, very dynamic and pragmatic, though at times, on the impatient side. He was a humanist, kind hearted, very forbearing, jovial, peace loving and religious.

Despite holding the high office of Governor

of a State, he was eagerly looking f o r ward to the day he would return to his law office to resume duties as a practicing Lawyer. In and out of court, as well as throughout his stint in politics, he was not given to suffering fools for long; he would say it as it was, not minding whose ox was gored, always ready and prepared to take responsibility for his actions. My greatest surprise was that he lasted that long in Nigerian politics, as he was not used to deceit and hero worshipping.

May his pragmatic and friendly soul, find an eternal repose in the bosom of the Lord.

Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN, 20th President of the NBA Though Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu had been ill for some time, I was saddened by the news his passing.

Aketi as we, his Law School classmates fondly called him, was a great Statesman whose legacies will live after him, for a very long time to come.

He was very brave, courageous and forthright in all his dealings. He affected the lives of the citizens of Ondo State and his friends alike positively.

His sense of humour was legendary.

Above all, he was a consummate and quintessential Lawyer and Bar man, through and through.

He will be sorely missed. I commiserate with his wife, children, family members and the people of Ondo State over this sad loss.

May his soul rest in peace.

Chief Bayo O j o , CON, SAN, former Attorn e y General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; 21st President of the NBA The passing of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, was especially hard on me, given our extremely close working relationship as my immediate successor as President of the NBA, and our continuing personal relationship.

We all will remember Aketi, as we fondly called him, for his passion and forthrightness, and sometimes very strong views on issues. He will be very greatly missed. We pray that his wife, Betty, will draw strength from the Almighty God, to bear this great loss. May Aketi’s memory be a blessing to all who knew him, Amen.

Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, 23rd President of the NBA Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN: A Tribute to a Legal Icon I received with great shock, the news of the passing of my senior brother and good friend, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, fondly known to many of us as “Aketi Baba”, after a protracted illness, in the course of his tour of duty as Governor of Ondo State.

Aketi Baba was a fearless, feisty yet amiable, God fearing and compassionate gentleman. Firm in his beliefs, and resolute in his convictions. He spoke his mind always, and always

spoke truth to power. He was a hardworking and brilliant Lawyer, a committed rights activist, a firm believer in the rule of law and a consummate Bar man. He Served the Nigerian Bar Association [NBA] well. He distinguished himself as NBA General Secretary; and when he aspired to be President of the NBA, he was elected unopposed in 2008, a rare feat in the annals of NBA history. This was clearly a vindication of his sterling qualities and dedication to service of the NBA and its mantra...rule of law.

His foray into national politics elicited mixed reactions, given his principled and disciplined disposition. That he was able to make a success in his foray into politics was not a surprise, as I knew him as a dogged fighter who would conquer all before him, notwithstanding the challenges.

He successfully completed his first term in office, and was re-elected for a 2nd term.

I believe, all considered, history will be fair to him regarding his tour of duty as Governor of Ondo State.

Aketi Baba was always an achiever!

He reached the top of his career as a Lawyer, with the attainment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria [SAN]. He arrived at the apex of service to the NBA, as President between 2008 and 2010. In Politics, he peaked and attained the top status of a two-time Governor of Ondo State. Certainly, he was a successful and fulfilled man. I believe that all of us, who met and knew Aketi Baba, are proud of his lofty achievements in life.

I extend my heartfelt condolences to his amiable wife Betty, his loving children and his entire Family. I pray that God will comfort, protect and guide you all as you deal with this loss. Please, take solace in the knowledge that Aketi Baba will remain in the minds of so many he touched positively in his lifetime.

I also extend my condolences to the people of Ondo State; to the entire legal profession, his primary constituency, and to our Country Nigeria, whom he served till his last breath.

Aketi Baba is certainly irreplaceable, and we will all miss him dearly. Adieu my senior brother and good friend, Aketi Baba.

Requiescat in pace!

Augustine O. Alegeh, CON, SAN FCIArb [UK], 27th President of the NBA I am deeply saddened by the loss of one of our outstanding leaders of the Nigerian Legal Profession, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN fondly called Aketi.

M r Akeredolu had a very distinguished l e g a l c a r e e r, culminating in his leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association as its 24th President. He led the NBA as a dedicated progressive professional.

He initiated many progressive reforms, and spoke forthrightly on the burning issues of the day. He stood up as a defender

of human rights in the country, and offered constructive policy suggestions on behalf of the Bar. When he ventured into politics, he remained in touch with the Bar and always remained accessible. I recall my several visits to Ondo when I campaigned for the Presidency of the Bar. During each visit, and subsequently, when I became President, Aketi would warmly welcome me to his residence and exchange views on the burning issues affecting the legal profession and the country at large.

Aketi will be sorely missed. His death comes at a difficult time for Nigeria, when his wisdom and progressive ideas would have been much needed. He fought many brave battles including the one that he finally succumbed to, but indeed, his contributions will remain indelible.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, the people of Ondo State and indeed, all Nigerians who continue to search for courageous ethical leaders like Aketi. We pray for the repose of his soul.

A.B. Mahmoud, OON, SAN, 28th President of the NBA With profound grief, I mourn the passing of my dear friend, elder brother, distinguished predecessor, and the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, affectionately called Aketi. We have indeed lost a giant of the legal profession, an unwavering beacon of justice, and a patriotic Statesman. Aketi's outstanding legal career spanned over four illustrious decades.

As a Lawyer, he was brilliant and courageous, and impacted the legal landscape in Nigeria significantly.

During his tenure as the 24th President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) from 2008–2010, he left an indelible mark on the NBA with his bold reforms and advocacy. Despite his busy schedule as the Governor of Ondo State, Aketi remained committed to the NBA, and also continued to work assiduously for the transformation of the administration of the justice system. My engagements with him revealed a genuine human being - a man truly committed to fundamental human rights and social progress. He embodied and personified the highest ethics and values of the Bar - an advocate for justice, a defender of rights, and a true social engineer.

Aketi's departure leaves an unfillable void in Nigeria's legal community. However, I find solace in the fact that he lived a life of purpose, service, and sacrifice for the greater good.

The outpouring of tributes from across Nigeria, is a testament to his outstanding legacy that transcended ethnic, religious, and political lines.

My deepest condolences to his beloved wife, Arabinrin Betty, their children and grandchildren, his Partners and Staff at the law firm of Olujinmi & Akeredolu, and the good people of Ondo State. I pray for God's strength and comfort, as you bear this monumental loss.

Farewell Aketi! You were an extraordinary Lawyer, leader, and human being. We will sorely miss your larger-than-life presence, but your exemplary life will remain an inspiration.

As we grieve, we also celebrate the privilege of your friendship and your towering legacy.

Olumide Osaigbivo Akpata, 30th President of the NBA

"He was also in the forefront of the establishment of the South West Security Outfit, Amotekun"

VIII coVER

TueSday, JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, CON, SAN

Adieu Aketi, the Courageous Legal and Political Juggernaut

Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, CON, SAN (July 21, 1956 - December 27, 2023), Governor of Ondo State (February 24, 2017 - December 27, 2023), stood like a colossus over the Nigerian legal and political landscape for many years. You couldn’t help noticing his build, gait, snow-white beard and suave mannerisms. His sterling legal practice in the City of Ibadan in partnership with the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN was not only pacesetting, but a reference point and inspiration to young Lawyers. His astuteness in legal practice and fastidious Bar activities saw him holding various offices at Branch level, and eventually emerging as the 24th President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in 2008, an office he held with candour and integrity till 2010. Returning to legal practice, Aketi’s eyes on the political terrain in his home State Ondo, saw him venture into the murky waters of party politics. After his initial loss at the Governorship polls in 2012, he eventually travailed and emerged as Governor of the State by winning the election in 2016. He was re-elected in 2020, and his tenure as Governor was not only epochal, he had a lot of dreams to take his State to enviable heights in development, and to a great extent he achieved a considerable amount of his goals. His demise therefore, is a huge loss to the legal community, Ondo State and the Owo people. In this Special Edition, Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi reproduce verbatim, Aketi's last interview in THISDAY LAWYER in 2017, as the issues he raised in this interview remain germane, even today

Y

our Excellency, you have always been a very active Bar Man. Now, you are the first NBA President to become a Governor. Yet, with your busy schedule, you are still able to make time for the Annual General Conference. What is it about being a Bar Man? Let me say this. I think having read law, and I was called to the Bar, I just stuck with Bar activities. People who are close to me will tell you that, all Aketi does is through the Bar. From

when I was two years at the Bar, I have always attended NBA meetings.

I was called to the Bar in 1983, and by 1984, when I was barely six months at the Bar, I was campaign manager for a President of the NBA Aspirant, the late Chief Ladapo.

We were there at Durbar Hotel, Lagos. We campaigned against Chief Bola Ajibola and we were defeated. I ran back to Ibadan to find out what went wrong, and we discovered that we didn’t have enough support from our Lawyers at Ibadan.

“I remember when I was going to run for the Presidency of the Bar, I said to God and He is my witness, 'all I want is to be President of the Bar. If I win, that is all. Give me nothing else'.… I did not want to be Governor…. I had asked God that I wanted to be NBA President and God had acceded to my request”

Thereafter, in 1986, I ran for the office of Secretary, NBA Ibadan Branch and they brought out so many other Lawyers to run against me. I won that election.

Since then, there has been no looking back. I was Secretary, from there I became National Publicity Secretary, I became Vice Chairman, Chairman of the Branch, and eventually President of the NBA. Other than football, sometimes I go to stadium to watch matches, I don’t engage in any other activities. I don’t belong to any society or group, I just go for the Bar. As I grew older, I joined Nucleus Club in Owo, so that I could be part of my Owo people.

I remember when I was going to run for the Presidency of the Bar, I said to God and He is my witness, 'all I want is to be President of the Bar. If I win, that is all. Give me nothing else'. That was all I needed, and when I won, that was more than sufficient for me. I never really desired to be anything else.

I remember when my friends came to seek my consent for me to be Governor, and I told them I did not want to be Governor.

I explained to them that, I had asked God that I wanted to be NBA President and God had acceded to my request. But, they went on and on and said 'you don’t determine for God what He wants to make you. You

just allow yourself to be a tool in His hands.’

So, for me, all I have and ever wanted, was to be NBA President. Every other thing, has just been mere ambition. The Bar has always been the main thing for me.

Many have argued that in most of the political parties in Nigeria, there is little or no internal democracy. That candidates are just foisted on the parties by Party Stalwarts and Godfathers. Even in your case, it seemed that some Party Stalwarts had their own favourite candidate for the Governorship election. How do we change that narrative?

You are right, and I agree with you, that internal democracy within the political parties is something that is hard. But, by and by, some of us have forced our way through. We believe in it, and we will continue to fight for it and ensure that things go our way. That is the only way we can lay claim to our legitimacy as a candidate.

Let me give you an example. When there was the party primaries that saw President Buhari emerge as candidate, there certainly was internal democracy at work. But, when you talk about influence, as long as those who are expected to vote are allowed to vote, but if they decide to sell their votes, so be it. There is nothing you can do about that. If money played a part, so be it. But, you knew those who under the law are qualified to vote went ahead and exercised

TueSday, JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

Adieu Aketi, the Courageous Legal and Political Juggernaut their plebiscite, that is what matters.

We have had this over and over. An example is my own case. Yes, our leader preferred one or two other candidates. I made it clear that they were entitled to it. Nobody can deny any leader his choice. But, the moment you make a choice, you have become partisan, and you can no longer lay claim to leadership for that purpose. For other purposes, maybe yes. For the purpose of that election, there is nothing like leader any longer, because you have descended into the arena and have decided to play politics.

Whatever comes out of it, whatever mud that comes out from it, will splash on you. It’s like going to the poolside, and say you don’t want water to splash on you. What do you expect will splash on you? Its like going to the stadium where they are playing a football match, and you saying you don’t want to hear shouting.

What else do they do at such places?

If you descend into the arena and decide to be partisan, let us be fair to ourselves, then you cannot say you are leader too, for that purpose.

I have always argued that point. Our problem is that, we have not yet come to a point where we agree that the party is supreme. There is bound to be justice. There has to be justice. In politics, everybody doesn’t have to support you, but when you go to the grassroots and you get their support and win, we must then come together and make progress.

You have fought so many legal battles to emerge as Executive Governor of Ondo State and litigation is still ongoing, including the dismissal of your appeal by the Court of Appeal over the issue of service of court processes by substituted means by one of your opponents, Abraham. This litigation no doubt, may have impacted negatively on governance in Ondo State. How have you coped with this situation and its attendant distraction?

I am not in the least distracted. What I believe could distract you as an elected Governor, is when your election is being challenged at the Election Tribunal, and it is moving from the Tribunal to the Court of Appeal and then to the Supreme Court. That could be a source of distraction.

But, the litigation we have in place now, yes the Plaintiff, the complainant is entitled to his own belief. This is a pre-election matter. What we are trying to do is to say, 'let's find a way to have this matter resolved, since we belong to the same party'.There is nothing to it.

But, as expected, we will take it to the highest level, the Supreme Court. But, where we are now is on the issue of service. If as a Lawyer I am distracted by such things, it means I never knew my onions. It means I never practiced law before. I am not too sure that even a law student, would be distracted by such things. He or she, knows that when you even conclude all the issues of service, you revert to the substantive matters. We have not yet got to the substantive issues. The issue we are contesting, is a very preliminary issue and one of basic jurisprudence.

We all know that service is fundamental. We contended that I do not live in Abuja. So, a court cannot order substituted service and say 'go and serve on APC Secretariat'. When I am alive? And they know where I live!! They know I am the Governor of Ondo State, and that I can be served in Ondo State. Even before I became Governor, they knew where I lived. When I was contesting, they knew my house. Both of us contested. So, why substituted service on me, through APC Secretariat in Abuja? That is the simple question, and the Supreme Court will determine it for us.

If they say it is good service, no problem. I am a Lawyer. We will go back to commence the trial.

Yes, we know that under the rules, there is provision for substituted service. But, under what condition do you effect it? What is the prescription?

How do you apply it? If we don’t challenge it now, everybody will take it for granted that, 'I can go and serve somebody anywhere'.

To my surprise, a few things that they raised in court looked very novel to me. One of the Judges said I have an office in Abuja, but, do I reside in Abuja? That my law firm has an office in Abuja, does not mean that I reside there. I man the Ibadan office of Rotimi Akeredolu & Co, my partner mans the Abuja office. But, even if you want to effect substituted service, why not serve that office, rather than APC Secretariat in Abuja?

The agitations about restructuring. What

IX cover

Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, CON, SAN

is it about restructuring? What do we really need? Is it restructuring or good governance? Do we really need to restructure?

We need both. You can’t even restructure, if you don’t have good governance. If you restructure without good governance, it amounts to nothing. And if you have good governance without restructuring, you will achieve nothing. I do not believe in separation, now or tomorrow.

I say in all honesty, that there is nothing wrong with sitting down on a roundtable as we are siting here now, to discuss about Nigeria. Don’t let the polity heat up, so much that what comes out of it, you may not be able to handle. The issue is very simple. Is there any society that is static? What we had yesterday, might not obtain today. So, many things we had in our Constitution yesterday, are not in our basic interest today. Can we sit down to amend it? Simple!

So, restructuring to me is just about, lets sit down and look at where we are, where we are going and how we intend to get there. Can we still remain in the same vehicle? Can we, in this day and age, be driving a Peugeot 404 Car? Can we get into a better-shaped vehicle? Maybe a Mercedes Benz Maybach? So that, we can get to our destination in comfort.

Some people talk about federalism, and the cacophony and hate speech is just too much. They are just causing confusion. They themselves, are not even coordinated. It’s not about hate speeches, it’s not about separation. The idea for me is, are we not in a position, having run a Constitution for over 16 years, to now take stock? Then, we can make amendments where there is the need.

Look at the issue of State Police. Everybody has been shouting about it. People talk about local governments. Is a local government a federating unit of the Federal Government?

If it is not, what do we do about it? These are the things, that I believe we should be talking to ourselves about. We cannot shy away from discussing our way forward.

At the Bar Conference, you gave your opinion about State Police. Some believe that if there is State Police, the Governors will abuse it and use it against their opponents. Be that as it may, why are

“We need both.You can’t even restructure, if you don’t have good governance. If you restructure without good governance, it amounts to nothing. And if you have good governance without restructuring, you will achieve nothing”

you in support of State Police?

Let us begin with the issue of whether there will be abuse or not. You and I are Lawyers, and we hear people talk about exparte orders. Assuming you want to sell my house and I believe its my house, will it be wrong for me to approach the court to get an exparte injunction to restrain you?No. That is the use of exparte. But, there could be an abuse of it. That is where we are. It is the same thing with State Police. We must look at its use, and not its abuse. I am not saying it cannot be abused. Just like the Federal Government can abuse the use of the Nigeria Police that we have now. It has happened before, in the case of Dr Chris Ngige when he was Governor, there was total abuse. The Police that guard his house were withdrawn, because somebody was in charge.

I am not saying that State Governors won't abuse State Police, if it is created, but its use should be the primary focus. Can we continue to have this amorphous command in Abuja, that we spread over these 36 States we call Nigeria? Its not working! This is why we need the State Police. So that the majority of them will be moved to their States, and they will know their terrains.

We are One Nigeria. But, to bring Policemen from the West which is predominantly Yoruba and take them to Sokoto, where do they know in Sokoto? They won't even understand the terrain. They would not even be able to enter most households, because many of their women are in purdah. They don’t belong. So, if some criminal goes and hides somewhere where there are women, they will not be able to enter there. There is a problem.

Yes, we have insecurity and we have to combat crime. But, let me tell you this, we already have State Police existing in different names and guises. In the whole of the North, there is State Police. They have Hisbah, which they use to enforce Sharia. So, we already have State Police by other names. Why don’t we just allow it? That is my position.

Your decision in the first few days of your administration to dissolve Local Government Councils and replace them with Caretaker Committees, drew the ire of a wide section of the polity and many believe it was politically motivated.

What was the reason for the dissolution?

What are your next steps to ensure that normalcy returns to that tier of government in Ondo State?

Let me make this correction. I did not dissolve local government councils. At the time I came into office, I was not even aware that there was a pending action in court. So, they had an action filed by one political party, PRP, challenging the local government elections. It was at the High Court. The decision of the High Court was that PRP having not been allowed to participate in that election, that the election was null and void.

The matter was pending and the court found in favour of PRP and nullified the election, and that effectively dissolved the

local governments. With that there was a vacuum.

Whether the court was right or wrong, is a totally different thing. That would be for the Court of Appeal to decide. They might probably go from there to the Supreme Court, for a final decision.

So, it was not me who dissolved local government councils. Following the court order, I came in and put in place Caretaker Committees.

I wouldn’t dissolve local governments. I never did that, until the court’s decision. Before then, I was having meetings with them, even as most of them were members of PDP. We even tried to woo them to our party, and if they had come to our party, some of them would have continued to be there. In fact, some of them in the House of Assembly came to our party. So, that was my own trajectory.

But, going forward, I believe that we must have proper elections. What has delayed that, is that I need to put in place the Ondo State Electoral Commission. I need to get everybody ready politically, because at a point in time, we didn’t have the majority in the House of Assembly. But now that we have that required majority, we will conduct elections into the local governments soon.

As we all know, Ondo State is very rich in minerals and natural resources. Since that is on the Exclusive Legislative List, how do you intend to take your State to the next level in terms of economic development?

How do you intend to harness the resources of your State to the benefit of your people, the way the structure is now?

Thank you. You are right, we have vast mineral resources in Ondo State. Yes, God has blessed us. There are areas of our resources that we will need the cooperation of the Federal Government, and we are getting it.

Whether we want to have licences either for bitumen or other resources, we have the cooperation of the Federal Government. The Federal Government under President Buhari has done a lot, not only in cooperating with Ondo State, but with other States. He has done a lot. In my view, that is also what restructuring is all about.

However, a number of investors have had problems coming to us, because of bottlenecks.

Bureaucracy has affected and hampered some of our investors from coming to us. Our infrastructure too. The issue of roads, not many investors would want to ply that road, and embark on a journey that they don’t know when they will return. But, thank God, that problem has now been solved, the journey can now be made in less than 30 minutes by air. Air Peace now has regular flights to Akure, and I am pleasantly surprised that the aircraft is doing over 85% on each flight.

So, now that we have cut the journey short, I know a lot of investors will come. We have a Bill which was passed a few weeks ago. We call it ONDIPA, Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency. It’s supposed to be a one-stop shop for investment. This will make the investors come, and there is ease of doing business in Ondo State now.

For example, if I have a company that is interested in drilling Ondo oil or bitumen, cont'd on page X

X

TueSday, JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

cover

Adieu Aketi, the Courageous Legal and Political Juggernaut cont'd from page IX

you have one of largest deposits of bitumen, how would I go about doing that?

If you come in, there are rounds. There are bidding rounds. We meet with the Minister and say 'these companies have qualified through the bidding rounds, and they are serious'. So, licences would be given to them, and where we have such companies with licences, we try to interest them in areas that we already have licences, we partner with them. If it is in areas that the State already has licences and we don’t have the money, we partner with such companies.

They come around and we facilitate things for them, and they go about their business in the State. In the area of oil, oil blocks are a totally different kettle of fish.

If individuals in Nigeria have oil blocks, do you not think that States should also own oil blocks too, at least those in which is oil is located?

We have. Ondo State Government has oil blocks. Its just that, it’s somehow bogged down with litigation now. But, you see, in matters of oil, it is not what any State can put its head in alone. You need all the technical, financial know-how to work together. Even the bonuses alone, is not what a State can handle alone.

Most people believe the APC has failed the country. Where we had one tuber of yam under Jonathan selling for about N300, it now sells for between N1,200 and N1,500 and people have had to change from yam to sweet potato, which is more affordable.

Many are saying that the change the APC government promised, is a change for the worse and that the government is not even feeling the pulse of the people. People are starving. That, two years down the line, there is no point in blaming the Jonathan administration any more.

Well, I don’t agree with you. It all depends.

We look at things from different prisms. If you look at things from the prism of the farmer, you will know that they believe in this change, because they are smiling all the way to the bank.

A number of farmers who are Muslims, go and look at the records. There was a sharp increase in the number of them who went for the Hajj Pilgrimage this year, because money has come to them. So, they love the change and they are happy. Look at Cocoa. Cocoa farmers in Ondo State today are the richest, and they are all happy because they have money now, and it is this change that has brought about that.

When you talk about food, you made reference to yam. But, today, we have rice that used to sell for about N18,000 per bag now being sold for N12,000 per bag. There are areas where there have been improvements.

What has caused the issue of increase in the cost of yams, to my understanding is that we are trying export, when we do not have the capacity to meet up with our daily domestic consumption. People are interested in getting foreign earnings. But, now that its there, nothing can stop it. I am sure that by next year, the prices will drop because many people would have ventured into planting more yams, and it will be in abundance.

That is why rice is everywhere now, because everybody has gone into rice cultivation and the Government is interested in it. I have Molege in Ondo State, and you need to drive through that area. You see trailers loading yams, on every market day. I asked where they were taking them to, and they said Lagos.

So, APC as a party has done well, and the people of Nigeria should be grateful to the party for coming into government. We must not forget the fact that, in this same country, before the advent of APC in 2015, the rot was terrible and the stench could be perceived everywhere. I am one of those who agrees with my party Chairman, Chief Odigie Oyegun, that if President Muhammadu Buhari had not come, Nigeria would have sunk deeper. I am not sure if Nigeria would have still been existing by now. Look at the amount of money that is being recovered!

Look at the number of houses that are being forfeited!

But, we are not feeling the impact of what they are recovering. Because its one thing to recover and it’s a different thing for the people feel the impact of what is being recovered.

I remember that I attended a lecture that

Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, CON, SAN

former US Secretary Madeleine Albright gave when she visited Nigeria; she said that a lot of countries in Africa shout about democracy, but the people need to see the dividends of democracy. So, people want to see the benefits of this change. Maybe the farmers in Ondo are happy, but the majority of Nigerians are depressed.

I do agree with you. I am not saying some Nigerians are not depressed. I am not even saying that, the depressed Nigerians are not in majority. I am not disputing that fact. But, I am saying that where you want to have gold, you must be prepared to make that sacrifice. If you want to have this change, it is like making an omelette. You cannot, but break the egg. So, when you have to break the egg, in doing that, you have to wait.

This is what is happening. The APC Government has inherited this rot, and nobody knew the extent of rot that was in the system. Everybody was shocked at what we met. It was the same, when I was running in the Governorship election.

I made promises, but by the time I got in, and faced with realities, there are many things I cannot do. The reality on ground, is always different from what your perception is. What we perceived was 'it will be ok, it's just a little stealing here and there'. But, by the time we resumed office, look at what we met!

Talking about farmers, our farmers today are making money. Look at the school feeding programme where children are fed for free, our farmers also benefit from it. A lot of good things are happening, but, maybe because of things that we have done differently. Why do I say so? When we look at things at times, you want to do some things to satisfy the generality of the people, whilst you are cleaning up the Augean’s stable; the people must be your focus.

I do agree that the people are not happy.

We are in a recession, and when you don’t have the money what do you do? The recession is global, its not only in Nigeria. Even if the APC had cushioned it better. If it had been otherwise, it could have been worse.

Your own constituency, the legal profession, do you have a role to play with all these issues of judicial corruption and specifically, in relation to your own Ondo State?

In relation to Ondo State Judiciary, I have a special role to play. There is no running away from that. My ambition is to build that institution, insulate it from partisanship,

“In relation to Ondo State Judiciary, I have a special role to play. There is no running away from that. My ambition is to build that institution, insulate it from partisanship, politics and to make it strong”

politics and to make it strong. Luckily for us, we have a Chief Judge whom we can put a lot of trust in, because we know her pedigree.

With that, I look forward to working with her to revamp the Judiciary, insulate it from partisanship and make it independent.

I have said to people, that I have been Attorney-General of my State before, and I would be with my Governor who was military.

And I can remember a number of instances where the Governor would say 'how can this Judge be doing this?' I would say to him 'the Judge is simply doing his job'. I would tell him that my own work, is to go on appeal and try that judgement at the Appellate Court.

He would say 'no, no! we should sack them!'

There were always such threats. In fact, there was a function which I attended, and the Governor was also there, and I had to address the Judges. I told them that, the Judiciary is the only constant arm of Government. The Legislature, at times would not exist. The Executive, at times would be military. Minus the fact that the Judiciary will remain, it is only Lawyers that can be there. That is why I have always said, that we are privileged in our profession.

Except for those who came back with ‘Bade Layo’ which is BL, there is no way you will become a Lawyer without going through the University.

All of us are graduates now. Every Judge is a graduate. So, we are privileged.

But, you can have School Certificate and be Governor. Anybody can be a Legislator, even with Primary Six. If we had had committed people, there wouldn’t be anybody throwing any stones at us. Judges were the only ones, even under the military era, that nobody could sack.

Even right now, as Executive Governor, I cannot just wake up and say that a Judge is sacked. Its just not possible. It has to follow a process. Even when that process is followed, the NJC still has to decide whether that Judge should be removed.

So, our Judges are secure job wise. I'm not quite sure how many openings are there now, but we will have some nominations, and we will ensure that only the best will be selected to fill the Ondo State Judiciary vacancies, through a thorough selection process, so that we can have people who are worth their salt in our Judiciary.

How about remuneration? Some have said that the remuneration of Judges is rather poor and that this could be the basis for corruption.

I am sure those who are talking about this remuneration, are probably those who were not around when Judges were earning a pittance.

The remuneration of Judge is not poor. Those who today commit these offences, could not be because of poor remuneration. We have tried. The Federal Government has tried, and the NJC has tried to make sure that Judges earn above what obtains around them. There is no civil servant today, who earns up to the salary of a Judge.

You cannot live outside your society.

What if you compare their income to those of Lawmakers?

A lawmaker? No! which of the lawmakers?

National Assembly Members No! We just cannot make that comparison. Must a Judge live like a lawmaker? Must a Judge live like a Senior Advocate of Nigeria? No! There are ways of lives of Judges. Today, you see a Judge who wants to give his daughter’s hand in marriage and would throw a party like a

Senior Advocate of Nigeria. It doesn’t make sense!

You want to do things, do it with moderation, so that people will know that they are coming to a Judge’s party. They will know that when they get to a Judge's function, they will not be given anything more than a bottle of Coca-cola. Those who cannot come, let them not come. That is the only way.

We must learn to do things in moderation. Your child can be rich and may decide to throw lavish parties, but for a judge to want to live the affluent life of a legislator, it won't be right.

If you have a choice of picking the three things that you would amend in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, what would they be?

What comes readily to my mind is, I would look at Section 214(1) of the Constitution which provides for the Police, and I would amend it. I know that it provides for one Nigeria Police Force, and no other Police. I would make sure something is done about that.

That is one. Two, I will look at our fiscal policy.

Whether it is popular, or needs to be rejigged. We cannot continue this way.

Number three would be a controversial one.

That is that, I would take local governments out of the Constitution!

Why? I believe that the federating units of this country are the States, and that the States should determine the number of local governments that they want to have. But, these ones, we put in the Constitution as listed local governments, so that if Lagos State wants to create new local governments, the Supreme Court said its inchoate until the Constitution is amended. That is just not right! Their hands should not be tied.

States should be allowed to determine, the number of local governments they want to have.

It shouldn’t be a federal matter, except we do not accept that the federating units should be States.

I don’t accept the argument, that it would be abused. Where we copied this from, the States are the federating units. So, the number you want to have in your State is left to you. These are some of the things I would look at, if given the opportunity.

Epilogue Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN has passed on, but, his enduring legacies will live on after him. He is on record to have been the architect and brain behind Amotekun, the security outfit which has recorded appreciable success in ameliorating the hitherto unbridled activities of bandits, herdsmen and kidnappers in the Western Region of Nigeria. Amongst other laudable initiatives of Aketi, include being a serious proponent of true federalism, including State Police, making Ondo State a cocoa producing hub of Africa, with a view to producing chocolates. He is also on record to have proposed the commercial cultivation of cannabis for medicinal use.

There is no gainsaying the fact that Aketi was an enigma, a rare gem who lived ahead of his time. May his soul rest in peace. Amen

02.1.2024 XI

XII

TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024 • THISDAY

INTER VIEW

Kayode Fayemi:

Worried I Knew Nothing About the Sector, I Wasn’t Going to Accept My Ministerial Job Former Governor of Ekiti State and one time Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, is currently taking a break from active political engagements. At the moment a Visiting Professor at the African Leadership Centre in the School of Global Affairs, King’s College, London, Fayemi discloses to Olawale Olaleye what life has been like in a little over a year that he’s been out of office. He also shares some of his experiences while in office. Excerpts: You’ve been out of office for some time now and you appear to be observing a well-deserved break. How has life been treating you?

I’ve been out of public office for the last fourteen months. October 2022 was when I left office. I seamlessly transitioned into campaign mode when I left office.

Between October 2022 and March 2023, when our presidential candidate eventually became the president-elect, it was an intense period of political activity and as you know, subsequently after that, I took up a position as a Visiting Professor at the African Leadership Centre in the School of Global Affairs in my old university, King’s College, London.

I ought to have taken that position in October 2022, but I asked that it be deferred because of the campaign that we had to undergo.

I didn’t go to King’s College till April 2023, immediately after the victory of our party in the election and that’s pretty much what I’ve been doing. Teaching, mentoring our fellows, undertaking research, engaging in a range of international activities because I still represent the Forum of Regions of Africa, which is an intergovernmental forum of subsovereign leaders on the continent, and preparing for the establishment of my ‘Think and Do’ Policy Institute, which you’re going to learn more about in the future.

Given that you’re still pretty much young and energetic, is this break of yours by choice or circumstantial?

It’s been almost 17 years of intense activity since I left as Director of Centre for Democracy and Development in December 2005, to the campaign for gubernatorial race in Ekiti, which eventually culminated in the election of April 2007 and the battle that I had to wage to reclaim my mandate between April 2007 election and October 2010, 42 months after, when I eventually became governor in Ekiti state.

October 2010 to October 2014 was my first term

in office and the loss of the election in 2014 did not really stop me from active engagement. I became intensely involved in the formation of the All Progressives Congress as the head of the coalition of progressive Governors that played an active role in that process and then headed the presidential primaries in Teslim Balogun stadium that produced our candidate for that election – Muhammadu Buhari.

From then to my role as a minister after President Buhari won the election; my decision to resign and go back to Ekiti in 2018 and victory in that election, service in office, exit in October 2022, the succession of my SSG into office. So, it is time to sit back and engage in other activities and it is also important to demonstrate the importance of what is often known as “the revolving door” in politics and public service,which basically gives a sense that you have an alternative address.

You clearly belong to the academia, but was it any difficult returning to this community after your sojourn in politics?

When most people leave public office in the United Kingdom, in the United States,

they either go back into the academia to impart knowledge to reflect on the practical dimensions of those theories that other professors, who have not been privileged to be in office, teach their students or to business utilising their network in the private sector.

They don’t just sit and do nothing. They write about their time in office so that the next generation can learn from their experience. Of course, I’m combining both writing about my time in the office and teaching younger graduates about the lessons I have learned in public office that they can benefit from.

But I’m still involved in politics, particularly in my state but if my leader in the state (Governor Biodun Oyebanji) does not ask me for specific advice on governance, I don’t get involved.

Ekiti just got 80 million dollars for the knowledge zone that I started while in office. That was a process initiated in 2019,when I went with a delegation to the African Development Bank but it did not culminate into substantive support until 2023, but that is the benefit of also having someone, who is committed to continuing what was started and ready to follow through on the

What do I know about the ministry? It was not even about being a dry or juicy ministry.

I was not prepared to mess myself up, after coming this far. I thought the Ministry should go to a subject matter expert. So, I decided I wasn’t going to take it

state development plan.

Just like he has done with other things, he’s just commissioned the Independent Power Project that I started in 2020. That was supposed to have been ready before I left office but Covid and other unforeseen issues got in the way.

I have seen myself as a prime beneficiary of a government that continued with the philosophy and the vision of our development plan. Having a 30-year development plan that the new governor is just continuing to implement seamlessly partly because he was SSG and he was privy to all the things that I did while in office, has been a major benefit to us.

I just came back from COP 28. In my capacity as president of the Forum of African Regions, which was the position I stepped into when I was the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum.

With respect to Kings College, I was part of those who were involved in the inauguration of the African Leadership Centre, when it started. I left the same institution 30 years ago with a PhD, so it’s a return home for me.

In my years in the academia, I was always an activist. As a student, I was involved in the anti-apartheid struggle, in thestruggle against military dictatorship, particularly Abacha, and the June 12 annulment crisis.

A lot of the people I dealt with in my 20s were leading lights of the nationalist movement: Chief Anthony Enahoro, Professor Wole Soyinka, Chief John Oyegun, and even the current president of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,was with us in exile at the time. So, I wasn’t just a greenhorn coming from the cloistered world of academia into politics; I was also an activist and I transitioned almost seamlessly with the help of more experienced hands.

When I was Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development, it was more a bridge building institution between academia and public policy

XIII

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024

INTERVIEW

In Politics, People Don’t Forget Slights, They Forget Favours providing ideas, offering policy directions for many governments and intergovernmental bodies on the African continent.

For example, I was involved in many of the activities that took place in the early years of the Obasanjo administration on human rights violations, on security sector reform, on constitutionalism, on the Millenium Development Goals to mention a few. I was a technical adviser on the human rights violations investigation panel – the Oputa Commission.

I was a member of the Millenium Development Goal Steering Committee at the time, I was a member of the Security and Defence Policy Committee under the Obasanjo administration, I was a member of the steering committee of New Partnership for African Development, even though I was not in any elected position.

But, in all of these, I was involved because I was a backroom operator in many ways to the Obasanjo government and he (the former President) encouraged it, because he also wanted young people with ideas around. That assisted my entry into politics. By the time I came into politics, I was really not an unknown quantity, even if I was not an active partisan.

I did not pursue an ambition when I came into politics. I was invited to come and run for Governor in my state by former Governor ‘Niyi Adebayo, who was no longer keen on running for second term and wanted somebody, who could continue with progressive politics that he pioneered in his time as the first elected governor of the state, even though you could say I was an outsider in Ekiti politics and many insiders were interested, including his deputy at the time. Again, as a backroom operator, I had been involved with development partners in support of his administration. So, there were a number of factors that worked in my favour.

What would you consider the challenges that set you apart in office?

Politics is not an academic exercise, two plus four is never six in politics. In the classroom, that’s what you get, but in politics, it’s not like that.

There are always extenuating circumstances. You are always blindsided by the things you haven’t fully considered because in politics people often never forget a slight. They may forget a favour but never a slight.

For me, there were challenges with my coming into the race. I was an unknown outsider.

When I came in, we had people who went and formed an association of indigenous politicians just to paint a picture of this rank outsider, this rookie Tokunbo politician, who wanted to take what they thought belonged to them. I was able to overcome that with humility, with my family name and also a very clear cut story, not denying the fact that I went out of Ekiti after secondary school but acknowledging to the elders in the party that, that’s what they’ve always prayed for all their children, to do well, be successful and bring the proceeds of their success abroad back to the homebase. It is true I went away but was never far removed from Ekiti.

It was tough because the two governors before me were also seen as outsiders who came home and of course, it was a good campaign rhetoric for the other party. Unfortunately, for them, Governor Oni might have been better rooted in Ekiti than I was at the time, but he also went to work with Rank Xerox in Kenya. So, he can’t accuse me of being a foreigner in my state. In fairness, he was not one of those weaponising the fact that I’d been away from Ekiti. Ironically, that’s one of the ways my successor was branded.

Many of our supporters bought into the Oyebanji candidature because they saw him as Tiwan Tiwa (our own). In the end, what I think set me apart was that even if people saw me as aloof and detached, they believed I served the state well and concentrated on preparing the state for the future with our signature projects like the Ekiti Knowledge Zone, the Agro Cargo Airport, the Independent Power Project and the Special Agriculture Processing Zone without neglecting those things that were important to them now like payment of civil servants, free education and healthcare and community empowerment.

What were those things that prepared you for politics, coming from academia?

The struggle and the campaign for Governorship was intense but the court battle was tougher. I believe I was also helped by the fact that I had an academic background. We approached the court battle scientifically and clinically. We brought in forensic experts, the first time in the history of election petition in Nigeria. And the main credit for that should go to Asiwaju Tinubu, who led the court battle from the front in all our states and our astute lawyers.

But my activist background also helped us.

We were on the streets of Ekiti 24/7 and adopted many strategies to keep the spirits of our people from flagging. I think that also prepared me for office because in the three years we were in court, Ekiti was probably the only state where the opposition played the active role of a shadow

that many people in public office don’t want to do intangibles. It is often difficult to get people to do that, which would improve human capital which is the greatest asset that I believe our country possesses.

There was also the challenge of having a civil service that shared your vision and ideals. Bringing them up to speed and building their capacity and improving their work environment is always seen in a different light. I recall when I asked teachers in my state to undertake a Teachers Development Needs Assessment, which became a big challenge.

I also recall when I introduced an integrated biometric payroll system, the trade unions opposed it and would rather continue with the manual payroll system. So, sometimes having one’s eyes trained on the future of the state is not often welcome by our people. Yet, leadership should be forward-looking and focused on what is in the best interest of the people in the long run, and not on populism.

There is such a sense of entitlement that does not acknowledge the real developmental effort and that is why they get cheated by charlatans who have nothing to offer because they can play the game in a way that the majority suffer government. Every time the government released a budget and read the budget in the assembly, we would release an alternative budget for the state and advertise it in The Nation newspapers, which was popular in Ekiti, highlighting our own priorities.

We had a unique assembly. There were 26 members; 13 from our side and 13 from the Peoples Democratic Party side, so the government was shaky until we removed it and so Governor Oni was put on his toes permanently for those 42 months.

He tried to focus on some developmental projects but never saw any to completion. He was clearly distracted by the stolen mandate.

We were declared in Ilorin at 1pm on October 15th, 2010. I was sworn in at 10 am on October 16th without any preparation and governance started.

We were of course helped by all the preparation we had before hand. We were in too much of a hurry to ensure people-oriented development. Much more in a hurry than the citizens, who supported us, as it turned out.

This was the government that pioneered social security benefits that have now become a standard, where we were paying N5,000 to every qualified indigent elderly person,who had no means of either child support or extended family support of any sort. For the eight years I was in office, with the limited resources available to Ekiti, every child went to school for free and we paid WAEC and Jamb fees for every qualified student.

We also provided free healthcare for the vulnerable segments of our population – children under 5, pregnant women, the elderly and people living with disabilities. Some conservatives accused me that we were the ones who created a sense of entitlement and made parents irresponsible because they felt the government was doing everything

for them. I don’t think it’s a valid complaint because many who could afford it still sent their kids to fee paying private schools and many still patronised private hospitals.

I have always operated as a social democrat, ideologically,and I believe the government has a responsibility to lift the weak and vulnerable in society and that’s what informed everything we did in office. Even then, it became clear to me that no matter how much you put into government in our clime, enduring change is always incremental; it’s never revolutionary or immediately visible. While the people may appreciate your strides, the most significant strides like human capital development hardly gets the accolades they deserve. And unlike infrastructure development or ephemeral stomach infrastructure, which gets disproportionate attention, improving the health, education and poverty indices don’t.

As I said, people may not remember a favour but they always remember a slight. The only thing that gives me joy these days is that I run into people, even in London, where I spend time, who walk up to me to express gratitude for being a beneficiary of one programme or the other when I was in office. One young man came to me at Heathrow Airport and said, “I’m a beneficiary of yours, sir, and I asked how did that happen since I’ve never met the young man.

And he said, your government sent me to school and you paid my WAEC registration fees and you also gave me my first laptop computer. I later studied computer science in the university and I now work with Google”. I was very thrilled that day. And this has happened to me on numerous occasions.

In Nigeria, when things are not physical, we don’t remember and that is why you will see

What would you say challenged you the most in office?

The greatest challenge is the sustainability of the programmes. In 2014, Governor Fayose came and he wasn’t interested in many of the things that we did and he just left them exactly the same way he found them. That was how I met them when I returned in 2018. In a lot of cases, the damage had been done.

For example, Ekiti was a leading state in school enrollment in Nigeria as of 2014, when I left. When I came back, so many had dropped out simply because Governor Fayose did not continue my free education programme and he did not continue my free WAEC payment programme.

It was when I came back that we started the struggle again and the enrollment jumped when the free education programme started again. By the time I left office in 2022, Ekiti has become the state with the least number of out of school children, in the lowest five states with multi dimensional poverty and the state with the highest life expectancy.

So, improving the quality of life, which was my priority was significantly addressed but it is still work-in-progress.

Again in 2010, when I came, I said the airport was not my priority, I wanted to focus on human capital development. But my priority will rather be how to fix the Ado-Akure road. In 2012, I set up a viability appraisal committee headed by Chief Afe Babalola, on the airport. They produced a report that justified the need for an airport and I said we’ll work on it but then I got thrown out in 2014.

Governor Fayose promised to do it, but it wasn’t really his priority too, even though he tried to do it but ran into some challenges.

When I came back in 2018, we started again. It was one of the projects I presented to the African Development Bank. We started the airport in November 2019 and Covid started in March 2020 and almost two years of government were gone but we persisted even with our limited resources. We finished the runway and terminal building and had the first test flight before I left office and now the airport is almost ready with the control tower, power house and fire station ready but the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) still has a few things that they’ve asked the state to complete, particularly on navigational aids for the runway and the control tower in order to get full certification. I believe the airport will be fully functional in a few months.

What was it like being a minister and was it true that your ministry was just another wilderness of sort?

Before I became a minister, I was Director of Policy for the presidential campaign and also worked in the transition committee, so I had a comprehensive view of what was going on in the Jonathan administration, but I wasn’t prepared to go to the ministry I was assigned to.

When I was announced as the Minister for Solid Minerals, I must confess, I was surprised. I honestly thought I was going to be Minister of Foreign Affairs, an area in which I was a frontline adviser for President Buhari during the period leading up to the election and before Ministers were announced.

In fact, I was with President Buhari on his last assignment at the United Nations before the ministerial list was released on the day we returned from the United Nations. I got home after we were sworn in and portfolios assigned and told my wife and our leader, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, that I was going to inform President Buhari that I couldn’t take the appointment. What do I know about the ministry?

It was not even about being a dry or juicy ministry.

I was not prepared to mess myself up, after coming this far. I thought the Ministry should go to a subject matter expert. So, I decided I wasn’t going to take it.

But Otunba said, no, that would be selfish and that I must put our people into my consideration. I must take it. He added: “Kayode, your strength is in managing people and resources, and you are going to take it and make a statement. Having managed a whole state, you can manage anything.” And my wife aligned with him. But I was still not convinced but at least they stopped me from going to tell President Buhari I was opting out of the cabinet.

Continues online

XIV

T H I S D AY • TUESday JANUARY 2, 2024

FEatures

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email: chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 07010510430

Insecurity in S'East: Security Agents Policing to Punish

David-Chyddy Eleke, who recently made a return trip from Awka to Enugu, reports that the number of checkpoints on the roads and the traffic gridlock they cause commuters and travellers looks like a deliberate attempt to punish the region and turn it to cash cow

Gridlock caused by one of the checkpoints

R

ecently, this reporter took a return trip from Awka to Enugu and back, through the Enugu-Onitsha expressway and experienced first hand the plight of commuters on the road.

The journey started from Aroma junction in Awka, through Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, down to Amansea, before exiting Anambra.

But it was a surprise that at such a short stretch of road, which was less than four kilometres, this reporter encountered a Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) checkpoint, a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) checkpoint, a navy checkpoint, a mobile police checkpoint and more, before exiting into Enugu State, which didn't have less.

Physical count showed that there are at least 20 checkpoints of various security agencies, operating from Awka to Enugu, through the expressway, which is about 50 kilometers. This leave drivers with their legs constantly on the brake pedal as the number leaves at least one checkpoint in every two kilometers made.

Though the high number of security checks could be attributed to the high insecurity in the South east, but above that, this reporter however noticed that the number of checkpoints is not the problem, but the attitude of the security men at the various checkpoints, who have turned them into money making venture.

For example, during the return journey, at around Oji River, this reporter encountered a huge traffic at a checkpoint manned by mobile police operatives, but despite being cleared, the huge traffic ahead continued until is was ascertained that this was as a result of traffic caused by an army checkpoint ahead, which over flowed down to another checkpoint. This is evidence of how near the checkpoints are to each other.

Commuters who spoke to THISDAY decried the frustration they face on the road everyday. While some decried the confidence with which

the security operatives block the roads and return to their cubicles, leaving errand boys to attend to motorists, other complained about the monetary extortion, while others were more concerned about the pain they inflict on travellers.

Mr Kelechi Okoro is a driver with Eastern Mass Transit, a transport company that majorly plies routes around the Southeast. His complaint was about the difficulty drivers face to move around the zone because of heavy presence of military and police operatives.

"I'm still surprised why the governors of Enugu and Anambra State have not addressed this problem military and police operatives are causing on our roads. How can you have all these checkpoints just from Awka to Enugu?

"What is most worrisome is that these people are not doing anything related to security.

They just block the road and cause traffic jam everywhere.

They only remember to search you if the boys working for them ask you to give money and you refuse. Sometimes, they just sit down under the

shade, while those local boys harass drivers and park anyone who refuses to give money.

"My greatest unhappiness is about those boys. Because they are running errands for military men, if they look at you and feel you are not obeying them, they just park you. Very saucy people."

For Mr Celestine Ugwunnwa, a passenger in Okoro's bus, he is more concerned that as uncomfortable and hot as the bus is, the driver can never be able to speed up, to ease the discomfort of the passengers, as he has to keep applying brakes from one checkpoint to another.

"It is true that there is insecurity, but is this the best way to police the zone? Do we have to be punished so hard, before we can be policed?

See how they just block the road.

They are not conducting any check, so long as they get money from their errand boys who are working for them. The only time they come out is when those boys report to them that a driver refuses to give money, or when they hear the sound of siren, showing that a big man is coming.

This is too bad."

A staff of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, who spoke to THISDAY, but didn't give his permission for his name to appear in print said: "You

It is true that there is insecurity, but is this the best way to police the zone? Do we have to be punished so hard, before we can be policed? See how they just block the road. They are not conducting any check, so long as they get money from their errand boys who are working for them. The only time they come out is when those boys report to them that a driver refuses to give money, or when they hear the sound of siren, showing that a big man is coming. This is too bad

people who are journalists, you need to write about the trouble we face to get to the office every day.

"Just from Awka to Unizik in Agu Awka, you meet Civil Defense, road safety, police and Navy. You people should ask what business Navy has on our roads? Those navy people you see at Stanel Filling Station are people who were enlisted to guard that property, but instead of guarding the business place, they block the road and collect money from motorists. Is that how to provide security?

In December 2022, Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim had a major clash with military personnel at a roadblock at Amansea, an Anambra community that shares common border with Enugu State. Ibezim saw a long traffic of vehicles held at the checkpoint. The traffic was those of holiday makers, who were coming home from various places for the Christmas celebration. He immediately ordered the dismantling of the roadblocks and opening of the road for free flow of traffic. The incident which happened during the yuletide quickly eased off traffic for home-going holiday makers to continue their journey, but shortly after, the checkpoint resurfaced, and the operatives became even more daring.

As the yuletide commences, many believe that with the penchant of Igbo people to come home for Christmas, this period may just be another boom for security operatives who man checkpoints across the South East.

There are several questions as to the efficacy of the security tactics adopted by security agents in tackling the insecurity in the South East, and just as Celestine Ugwunnwa, a passenger questioned, it is believed that there should be a better way to tackle the insecurity in the South east, other than roadblocks, which can be seen as policing to punish.

The spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu could not be reached as at the time of filing this report.

T H I S D AY TUESDAY JANUARY 2, 2024 XV TR

UT H

& RE A S O

Tuesday January 2, 2024 Vol 27. No 10490

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

WAITING FOR THE RED LINE

The Ikeja flyover will further ease traffic in the Lagos metropolis, writes JAMES AGBEKOREDE

See page XVI

WIGS OR BULLETS IN CONGO ELECTIONS 2023

OKELLO OCULI writes that like Nigeria, the outcome of the elections in Congo may be determined by the courts

See page XVI EDITORIAL

FERTILITY MEDICINE AND REGULATION

18

1

The Igwes represent the best example of what it means to make a real difference in the lives of others, writes CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU

JULIANA AND VINCENT IGWE: POTY 2023 In the last week of August 2002, Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in south-west Nigeria, hosted the annual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). At the conference, the Association inaugurated Chief Wole Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as its 20th president.

One of the participants in that conference was Barnabas Igwe, then Chair of the Branch of the NBA in Onitsha, a popular commercial city in Anambra State. Mr. Igwe attended the conference with his wife, Abigail. At the time, Onitsha and much of Anambra State was in thrall at the exploits of the “Bakassi Boys”, a murderous militia which, according to Human Rights Watch, “legitimized murder and terror.”

Following the end of military rule and the onset of elected civilian government, much of south-east Nigeria was overrun by crime and insecurity. The trading communities of Aba and Onitsha initially welcomed the intervention of what was touted as a crimebusting militia.

Quickly, in Anambra, the state government adopted a law to legalize the militia, provided it with money and then turned it into a violent machine “to intimidate and kill opponents”, whether real or imagined. Ironically, the governor of Anambra State at the time was Chinwoke Mbadinuju, himself a senior lawyer.

One of these perceived opponents of the governor was Barnabas Igwe. His crime was that as chairman of the leading branch of the NBA in the state, he had, shortly before travelling for the conference in Ibadan, criticized the resort of the state government to lawlessness in the form of the Bakassi Boys and also called for “the governor's resignation due to the failure to pay government workers for several months.” For these crimes, known agents of the state government called to threaten Barnabas Igwe that he was a marked man.

The day after returning from the conference in Ibadan, on 1 September 2002, members of the militia dragged Barnabas and Abigail Igwe out of their car on Oraifite Street in Onitsha, “attacked them with machetes and shot them several times, then ran them over with their vehicle.” The assailants took nothing from their victims, all but ruling out the possibility that this was an armed robbery incident gone awry. Abigail reportedly died at the location from her injuries.

Passers-by rushed Barnabas to the hospital where doctors battled unsuccessfully for over six hours to save his life. Before he died, however, Barnabas did speak with his elder and only surviving brother about what transpired.

This kind of murder was a state crime but the real culprits in this case were themselves in charge of the machinery of the State which should have ensured accountability. Instead, they turned that machinery into one for granting themselves impunity. The case stood no chance.

Abigail and Barnabas Igwe were young parents. At the time of their tragic assassination, they had three young children. The youngest, Somadina, was barely six years old, born in 1996. His elder brother, Chijindu, and elder sister, Nnenna, were not yet through primary school.

This assassination was naturally the first major crisis of the tenure of Wole Olanipekun as president of the NBA but this was not the first high profile assassination of a figure in the legal profession that the NBA had to deal with. The previous December, his predecessor confronted the assassination of the then Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Bola Ige, himself also a SAN. Following the assassination of Abigail and Barnabas Igwe, the Association issued the obligatory and practised statement denouncing the killings and calling for the perpetrators to be brought to book. As president of the NBA, Chief Olanipekun went further to announce the establishment of a N25 million trust fund to support the education of the three children that Abigail and Barnabas Igwe left behind.

So credulous were the family that when the then governor of neighbouring Imo State, Achike Udenwa, gave them the sum of four hundred thousand Naira, they transferred the money to the NBA in the belief that it would be administered as part of the announced trust fund for the children.

Although he had established his practice and then made good in Onitsha, Barnabas Igwe actually came from Atta, a community in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State.

He was one of only two brothers from their father. His elder brother, Vincent, was a trader in Onitsha whose values easily proved to be more cultured and more durable than those of the Nigerian Bar Association.

Vincent Igwe was a first son brought up with an ingrained sense of duty and service.

When his father feared that the burdens of educating his two sons were too much for his limited finances, Vincent gave up on his own educational aspirations in favour of his younger brother, Barnabas, opting instead for the famous Igbo venture apprenticeship system of Igba Boy. As the administration of Shehu Shagari was about to declare austerity in 1980, Vincent ventured into trading as his own principal in Onitsha. His first duty as his own boss was to

put his younger brother, Barnabas, through university. By 1984, Barnabas had graduated from university and in 1985, Vincent saw him through the Nigerian Law School, taking pride in the enrolment of his brother as a lawyer.

In those days, long before the All Progressives Congress (APC) came to power and chose to retrench it, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was compulsory for university graduates. Barnabas did his NYSC in Jos, Plateau State and desired to start his professional life there but his elder brother invited him down to Onitsha where he eventually established his practice and prospered.

When Barnabas was assassinated, an inconsolable Vincent Igwe and his wife, Juliana, inherited the care of his two young nephews and niece without complaint, doubling the size of their children instantly from three to six. Besides raising these children, they also had to take responsibility for funding the investigation into and prosecution of the suspects in the killing of Barnabas and Abigail, fielding lots of death threats of their own in the process. The NBA had vanished from the scene without courtesy or notice and the state government outsourced the prosecution in order not to finance it.

Where was the N25 million NBA Trust Fund, the reader would ask? Well, the answer is it mostly existed in the imagination of the Association. In the end, the family even had to recover as a debt the N400,000 from the Imo State Government which it had handed over to the Association. More than a decade after the killing, an embarrassed Okey Wali, SAN, as the 26th president of the NBA at the beginning of 2013 refunded the money to the family.

This couple, Juliana and Vincent Igwe, the former a trader and the latter a teacher, raised Chijindu, Nnenna, and Somadina as their own. Providence rewarded their steadfastness and the memory of Barnabas and Abigail.

In 2023, Somadina was called to the Nigerian Bar. He is presently undertaking his NYSC somewhere in north-central Nigeria. A young man of extraordinary poise, he proposes to resume the family vocation of legal practice in the city where the assassination of his parents tragically punctuated it 21 years ago. His elder brother, Chijindu, already preceded him to the legal profession and is making a quiet name for himself around south-east Nigeria.

Nnenna has also graduated with a first degree and is building her career and family too.

Orphaned in circumstances that would have destroyed most and abandoned by the professional association in the service of which of their parents were killed, the trajectory of these three children of Abigail and Barnabas Igwe was made possible by the selflessness of Juliana and Vincent Igwe. Justifiably, the children look upon the couple as Mum and Dad. A lawyer and a teacher, Odinkalu can be reached at chidi.odinkalu@tufts.edu

T H I S D AY

3 XVI

TUESDAY JANUARY 2, 2024

The Ikeja flyover will further ease traffic in the Lagos metropolis, writes JAMES AGBEKOREDE

WAITING FOR THE RED LINE Slowly, the building blocks of the Red Line of the Lagos Metro are falling into place. Last week, Kwara State governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, had the honour of inaugurating the 620m Ikeja Flyover which runs above the rail tracks hosting the Red Line of the Lagos Metro at Ikeja. The bridge is the latest in overhead passes across the red line route of the Lagos Metro system.

Handled by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), the Ikeja Flyover was one of the T-shape overpasses planned to eliminate pedestrian and vehicular interference on the tracks.

What I particularly love about the Ikeja flyover is the imagination which went into conceptualising and building it. With its design, traffic from Obafemi Awolowo Way pours into the Lagos Abeokuta Expressway at Ikeja while the bridge also allows in vehicles exiting the Lagos Abeokuta Expressway into Awolowo Way in Ikeja. Hitherto, it was a level railway crossing leading into residential streets that vehicles passed. But congestion was rife as that portion of Ikeja and indeed Lagos had grown in population beyond that infrastructure. Till the railway crossing was finally blocked sometime last year, it represented chaos as vehicles crammed the narrow streets. It was also a scene of some train crashing into vehicles and killing people. But this bridge has eliminated that scare.

Also, the creation of the bridge has eased the traffic congestion characteristic of adjoining Oba Akran Avenue. For months after the railway crossing at the tip of Balogun Street, Anifowoshe Area, was closed, passing through Oba Akran Avenue leading towards Agege and Ogba, especially after the close of work was a bumper-to-bumper ride. But like magic, motorists who used that road only as a diversion found a better route via the Ikeja flyover. The flyover has indeed eased the traffic situation around Ikeja. It was a similar experience regarding vehicular traffic at the completion of the Yaba Flyover and Oyingbo Flyover. The Mushin Flyover is expected to be finished by February 2024 and hopefully, it would also yield a good story, traffic-wise. Though Lagosians bore the pains of difficult movement during the construction of the bridges, now, many are full of smiles and enjoy the relief the bridges have brought. All’s well that ends well.

While it was about 40 years ago that the dream of a Lagos metro was truncated by the then military administration of General Muhammadu Buhari, it is still nice that the reality is now the case.

Abdulrazaq captured this mood when he noted that the project alluded to the saying that “development is a process, and not a destination.”

According to the Kwara State governor, Lagos is an ideal model for other states in the country to emulate.

“Lagos has been a beneficiary of a bold and progressive vision built around people’s welfare," Abdulrazaq said.

"Particularly worthy of note is policy consistency and progression in governance. Successive administrations in Lagos have built on one another’s successes and projects that strengthen the State’s economic growth.

“This is adding to the legacy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I believe Lagos’ example is worth emulating around the country for faster socioeconomic growth, regardless of political affiliation and individual differences. Development agenda should be people-focused as it is being done in Lagos.”

Also speaking at the inauguration, the Lagos State governor and host of the event, Babajide SanwoOlu, reiterated his administration's commitment to improving the transportation situation in Lagos,

the most densely populated Nigerian state.

“When we came on board, we gave our words on the implementation of two rail lines, which are the LRMT Blue and Red lines," said Sanwo-Olu. "In the last four and a half years of our administration, we have prioritised the implementation of an integrated transportation system under the Traffic Management and Transportation pillar of our THEMES+ Agenda.

“We have delivered life-enhancing transport infrastructure which is making life easier for the average Lagosian. The first phase of the Blue Line is already in operation, giving a lot of relief to those using its corridor of operations. The flyover infrastructure we are commissioning today is one of the five overpass bridges we planned for the Red Line alignment, which is a precursor to the commencement of passenger operations.”

The 37km Red Line from Agbado to Oyingbo has eight stations at Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba and Oyingbo. But most importantly is the fact that the Red Line would commence operation soon, solidifying a new era of public transportation in Lagos as the Blue Line is currently in operation. In fact, Governor SanwoOlu said that by the first quarter of 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would inaugurate the Red Line which would see about 500, 000 passengers ride the train daily.

Aside from the flyover for the rail tracks, it is noteworthy that the Opebi Link Road too is nearing completion. On the bridge across the Odo Iya Alaro, one can see the bridge snaking out from Opebi across the swamp, offering a way, a balm, for motorists that hitherto was non-existent.

The bridge promises to eliminate the traffic snarl that axis was notorious for. Surely, motorists who ply that axis would be looking forward to its completion.

It was also nice hearing Sanwo-Olu's plans of introducing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses in the state as a means of ameliorating the increased fares occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal. He said that in the new year, Lagos would roll out 50 electric buses for passenger operations in a pilot phase. And in the first quarter of 2024, the state would take delivery of additional 100 units of CNG-buses from the federal government to be deployed on defined routes and promised to raise the fleet to about 1,000 buses before the end of 2024.

“We remain committed to delivering a transport system that is safe, sustainable, integrated, seamless and with the potential to drive the socio-economic growth and development of Lagos and the country,” Sanwo-Olu said. These investments in transportation are surely commendable giving that governance is about taking care of everything even when resources are limited. Hence, in prioritising which sector gets what, the government performs a balancing act in order to get the optimum utility and satisfaction of citizens.

Agbekorede writes from Lagos

OKELLO OCULI writes that like Nigeria, the outcome of the elections in Congo may be determined by the courts

WIGS OR BULLETS IN CONGO ELECTIONS 2023

Social Media could claim that Nigeria’s lawyers and election tribunal judges are scrambling for payment in gold bars by candidates who have lost elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A total of 18 candidates must miss the presidency while over 500 seats are contested for.

In 1960 Belgian intelligence operatives encouraged hundreds of candidates from each ethnic group to stop a nation-wide victory by Patrice Lumumba’s party. The British had been overwhelmed by Mahatma Ghandi and Kwame Nkrumah riding triumphant in India and Ghana, respectively.

Colonial officials would not be beaten again.

Lumumba also committed the crime of threatening to invite military support from communist Soviet Union (USSR) while Euro-American companies were hungry for his country’s numerous natural resources.

Professor Cheik Anta Diop affirmed that American military agents hauled away soil from a hill known to contain uranium ore to ensure that it would never fall to communist

USSR. In the eve of the 2023 elections, incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi took his country into membership of the East African Community, consisting of Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan and Kenya.

This created the second country after South Africa to have borders on both the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. For France this was another deep wound to ‘’Francophone’’ colonial fraternity.

Belgian intervention against Lumumba winning a national electoral mandate, was followed by inciting a military mutiny; a plunge into secession by mineral-rich Katanga Province; the assassination of Lumumba and the ascendancy of Joseph Desire Mobutu onto a ladder for a military presidency over the whole country.

From 1965 to 1997 Mobutu struggled to build a united nation. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, his former Euro-American supporters used troops from Uganda and Rwanda to support Laurent Kabila to defeat and drive him into death in exile.

The ritual of promoting military conflict in Congo to enable outside interests to exploit the country’s resources, was resumed and continued unto the 2023 elections.

A United Nations Committee reported that over 385 multinational companies were supplying military weapons to militias inside the country in exchange for resources ranging from coffee, uranium, cobalt, wood to gold without being answerable to the national government. By 2020, over 121 groups were terrorising communities in mineral-rich villages in Ituri, North Kivu,

South Kivu and Katanga region.

Candidate Martin Fayulu (whom the Catholic Church claimed to have won the 2018 election with a landslide), urged his supporters to ‘’no longer accept someone stealing their victory’’. The 19 candidates for the presidency demonstrated on the streets of Kinshasa and called for a new election. European Union diplomats were bitter for not being permitted to use satellite technology inside the country for monitoring voting.

In 1960, the election was contested by a triumvirate of: Patrice Lumumba (from hinterland Batetela people); Joseph Kasavubu (representing the ethnic nationalism of the Bakongo around the capital Kinshasa and the coastal boundaries of Ancient Congo Kingdom), and Joseph Tshombe from copper-rich Katanga province.

Lumumba as a trade union leader from among Post Office employees, had a wide territorial experience. Kasavubu was ethnic-based and located in the far west of a vast country. Tshombe was promoted by expatriate interests who were associated with racist European immigrants in Southern Africa who were afraid of losing their privileges to African nationalism.

In the 2023 elections, similar conflictual pulls were at play. Moise Fayulu, a rich businessman has his base in Kinshasa; Dennis Mukwege (winner of 2018 Nobel Peace Prize) and Felix Tshisekedi are from the hinterland, while Moise Katumbi is from Katanga’s mineral wealth business class. Tshisekedi has the advantage of inheriting the legacy of a nationally celebrated father who challenged the dictatorship of Mobutu.

Katumbi harvested supporters of four persons who withdrew from the contest in his favour, including Matata PonyoMapon who served as prime minister from 2012 to 2016. Tshisekedi may have earned supporters of three withdrawals in his favour. Mukwege enjoyed the sunshine of national pride for winning a valued laurel; as well as claims that he took refuge in Sweden to escape possible assassination by killers directed from Rwanda Hunters for ‘election gold’ from Nigeria’s legal mafia may find resorting to guns and bullets more attractive to Congo’s politicians repeatedly accused of hiring militias for ‘’blood minerals’’.

Pressure on Nigeria’s diplomats in Kinshasa may yield a culture of reliance on courts. With a rich legacy of luring clients to pour huge fees into dead election petitions, Nigeria’s legal diamond hunters could benefit from appeals by NOLLYWOOD’s movies and Fela’s music to invade Congo with ‘legal engineering’ of ‘election waste materials’.

Morbid fears by Euro-American companies of Russia’s Putin voting in Congo’s election (if losers turn to violence), could yield vital allies for a Nigerian legal industry inside Congo’s courts.

Oculi writes from Abuja

15

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

D E C E M B E R

S & P INDEX

2 9 , 2 0 2 3

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

19.12%

INDEX LEVEL

611.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.07%

N795.28/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

16.25%

1-DAY

0.03%

YEAR TO DATE

0.48%

*AS AT MONDAY, JULY 24, 2023

3-MONTH

15.75%

MONTH-TO-DATE

-0.7%

Nigerians to Pay Between N111 to N215 Per Kilowatt with Planned Cost-reflective Electricity Tariff Regime

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja If government decides to approve the payment of cost-reflective tariffs this year, Nigerians will shell out between N111 and N215 per kilowatt hour (Kwh) of electricity as against the current N56.57 to N65.99 being spent on the same quantity of power.

A document analysing the 2024 “Business as Usual” scenario for the sector in 2024, also indicated that government will then also need to withdraw the current subsidy on power paid operators, which is expected to hit N1.65 trillion by the end of this year.

While there were rumours that

by January 1, 2024, the federal government may approve a raise in tariffs, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has now shut down the insinuations, saying it was not aware of such a decision.

The minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, at a recent function in Abuja in November, stressed that President Bola Tinubu halted the implementation of a hike in electricity tariff since the impact of the petrol subsidy removal was already becoming unbearable for Nigerians.

“Tariffs should have been raised months back, but Mr President said until we are able to achieve regular

and incremental power supply we can’t touch the tariff.

“For political reasons and empathy, you cannot cause additional burden on Nigerians. We just had the removal of the fuel subsidy, we are talking about the exchange rate skyrocketing, galloping inflation and so many others things that bring hardship to the people.

Z“Mr President is trying to relieve this hardship through various forms of palliatives. So it is not politically expedient and reasonable to now implement a tariff that is more like dumping the existing tariff,” the minister argued.

But the report from NERC

breaking down what the tariff regime would look like this year, further showed that for every month in 2024, the federal government will pay a subsidy of N137.97 billion if the “business as usual” scenario prevails.

When eventually the federal government and NERC give the go-ahead, Yola Distribution Company (Disco) customers will pay the highest amount per kilowatt of electricity of N215.64, followed

by Jos with N136.64 and Kaduna with N131.41. Currently, Yola, Jos and Kaduna Discos’ customers pay N65.99, N60.61 and N57.45 respectively.

The three will be closely trailed

by Kano, Ibadan and Enugu Discos whose customers will spend N126.58, N126.06 and N125.85 as against the current N58.82, N62.48 and N59.04 to buy a kilowatt hour of power.

Port Harcourt customers will pay N125.77 as against the current N61.40, Benin will pay N125.19, Abuja Disco customers will shell out N122.82 while Ikeja and Eko electricity customers will pay N112.30 and N111.60.

According to the analysis by NERC, Port Harcourt currently collects N61.40, Benin collects N60.06 while Abuja, Ikeja and Eko

customers pay N63.34, N56.57 and N59.49 respectively.

But if the government’s projected subsidy of N1.65 trillion on electricity is sustained in 2024, Ikeja Disco will get the highest reimbursement or subsidy of N239.41 billion for the year, followed by Abuja Disco with N221.59 billion.

Of the 11 power distributors in the country, Eko will get N187. 69 billion subsidy payment, Ibadan will get N182.72 billion, while Benin will be paid N150.09 billion during the year if the status quo remains.

NOTE: The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Record Global Petrol Consumption Defies IEA’s Forecast Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Global petrol consumption hit a record 26.9 million Barrels Per Day (bpd) this year, exceeding the 2019 peak and defying estimates that the last pre-pandemic year was the time when gasoline demand worldwide would peak.

The IEA, which has been strongly advocating for a faster energy transition for years, had predicted just this year that 2019 was the peak demand for the product globally.

According to oilprice.com, back in June, in its Oil 2023 annual report, the IEA said that: “Growth is set to reverse

after 2023 for gasoline and after 2026 for transport fuels overall.”

It added: “Gasoline demand will be disproportionately impacted as Electric Vehicles (EVs) progressively replace vehicles with Internal Combustion Engines (ICE).

“This means that the fuel is likely to exhibit the earliest and

FOOD

most pronounced peak in demand.

Usage will never return to 2019 levels and the post-pandemic peak could come as early as 2023.

Following a brief plateau, the decline is forecast to accelerate from 2026 onwards.”

However, the IEA’s latest figures not only show that 2019 wasn’t the peak demand year for global petrol

COMMODITIES

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

RICE

100KG

ABUJA

N35,000 – N45,000

SORGHUM

50KG

OYO

50KG

PLATEAU (JOS)

PRICE

consumption, but that demand in both 2023 and 2024 would surpass the pre-pandemic levels.

Per the latest data reported by Bloomberg’s Blas, gasoline demand globally is set to further rise next year, to top 27 million bpd.

In the June report, the IEA predicted that, “Following a brief plateau, the decline is forecast to

accelerate from 2026 onwards, with 2028 demand 900 kb/d below that of 2019.”

The IEA also famously said earlier this year that global demand for all three fossil fuels – oil, natural gas, and coal – is set to peak before 2030, which undermines the case for increasing investment in fossil fuels.

T O D AY

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

100KG JIGAWA

N30,000

BEANS

N35,000 – N45,000

BENUE

N32,000

MAIDU GURI

N22,000 – N30,000

100KG

50KG BAG

N32,500 – N42,000

100KG

KADUNA

N32,000

100KG LAGOS

N36,000

50KG

KWARA N24,000–N27,000

50KG

ENUGU

N24,000

100KG

KANO

N35,000

50KG

LAGOS

N35,000 – N45,000

50KG

LAGOS

N26,000

50KG

RIVERS N36,500 – N46,500

DELTA

N36,000

DELTA

N35,000

100KG

100KG

50KG

SOKOTO

N60,000 – N70,000

100KG

ABIA

N36,000

100KG

ABIA

N35,700

SIZE

16

TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

AGRICULTURE

2023: Year of Sluggish Growth for Agric Sector Nigeria’s agricultural sector has immense potentials for growth and development, but it is still being plagued by myriads of challenges. Gilbert Ekugbe takes a look at how the food sector fared in 2023

D

espite contributing 23 per cent of real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as of December 2023, the agricultural sector recorded an abysmal growth of 1.9 per cent in three quarters of 2023. The sector continued to face mounting challenges as food prices skyrocketed pushing more Nigerians into abject hunger and poverty. Many Nigerians lamented over the high cost of food in the midst of diminishing disposable incomes.

According to a 2023 report by the World Food Programme (WFP), nearly 25 million Nigerians are at high risk of food insecurity between June and August 2023. It also highlighted that 4.4 million people in the North Eastern part of Nigeria are food insecure while 37 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line.

Nigeria’s agricultural sector. According to reports, in the second quarter of 2023, investments in the sector fell by 83 per cent to $10 million. Conflicts and insecurity, particularly in the northern part of the country disrupted farming activities and led to displacement which affected food production and distribution.

Many stakeholders in the sector expressed their dismay in Nigeria’s security apparatus, calling on the federal government to upgrade the nation’s security architecture to attract both local and foreign investments into the sector.

AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK

FOOD INFLATION

The year was also characterised by food inflation as Nigeria experienced its highest food inflation rate in October, reaching 31.52 per cent. The increase was attributed to rising prices of various food items, including bread, oil and fat, potatoes, yam, fish, fruit, meat, vegetables, and dairy products.

The food inflation is so stern that the United Nations (UN) estimated that 25 million people in Nigeria, or about 15 per cent of the total population, are currently experiencing food insecurity with experts expressing concerns that the situation would worsen if food inflation continues to be on the rise.

NAIRA SCARCITY

The naira scarcity significantly impacted the agricultural sector, particularly affecting food production and farmers.

Rural farmers struggled to access cash due to the naira scarcity, which affected their ability to purchase agricultural inputs, pay for transportation, and engage in other farming activities. The scarcity of naira also led to a drop in the production of food, as farmers

found it difficult to buy agricultural inputs and maintain their farming activities. Poultry farmers experienced significant losses due to the naira scarcity, as they were unable to sell their products at the desired prices The naira scarcity worsened the challenges faced by Nigerian farmers even after the aftermath of the 2022 floods and the ongoing insecurity in northern part of the country as a result of the farmers-herders crisis.

The scarcity of naira contributed to food insecurity and has been identified as a key factor

in the food crisis in Nigeria, with millions of Nigerians struggling to access food on a daily basis. It also exacerbated an already difficult situation for farmers, leading to significant economic challenges and food insecurity.

INSECURITY IN FOOD PRODUCING STATES

The level of insecurity in food producing states in the country continued to affect farmers’ productivity and outputs. Insecurity also played a huge part in the decline of investments in

During the course of the year, the federal government lamented that Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu, killed about 3.4 million birds across the country and is currently spreading in various poultry nationwide.

The disease caused supply and demand shocks in the poultry industry, leading to a decrease in the production and consumption of chicken and eggs.

AI also posed a threat to food security and has had substantial economic implications, with outbreaks and spread causing serious threats to the poultry industry, food security, and livelihoods of people who rely on the poultry sector.

The disease has recurred in Nigeria since 2006, with new strains continuing to appear, and has led to the loss of millions of birds and significant economic costs.

Since then, the Nigerian government, in collaboration with the Federal Department of Veterinary Services and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has been taking measures to prevent the spread of avian flu which include surveillance and control, training workshops, emergency preparedness and response plan, quarantine measures and depopulation and biosecurity measures.

NOTE: The story continues online on

www.thisdaylive.com

National Reward Program: A Stitch in Time Jones Udemba

T

hese are not the best of times for Nigerians. For Individuals, organizations and businesses, it has probably been challenging.

Despite the current difficulties, many Nigerians continue to demonstrate resilience, resourcefulness, and a determination to overcome these challenges.

Addressing these challenges will require comprehensive efforts from both the government and private sector. The current administration of President Bola Tinubu has already started on a good note with reforms to unlock growth and maximize opportunities.

Collaborative efforts between the government and the private sector are often seen as crucial for sustainable development, economic growth, and societal advancement in countries like Nigeria.

These collaborative efforts, along with strategic initiatives can pave the way for a brighter future for Nigeria and its people.

A recent conversation by Chief Lai Labode, CEO of CashToken Rewards Africa, on Arise Television on the strategic importance of National Rewards programme caught my attention and I decided to dig deeper on this discourse and the initiative. I will be the first to admit the trust deficit that exist between the government and its people and will tread with caution until the full implementation of the initiative, which I hope will happen soon.

However, listening through the conversation, I am optimistic of the far reaching benefit of the initiative to the Federal Government, Businesses and Consumers. Already the governments of Ondo and Lagos have keyed into similar

initiatives on a subnational level by introducing Reward programmes – Eko Token Sunshine Token.

It has been successful so far with many lives transformed and testimonials abound.

It would be interesting to see the National Rewards program play out on the national level and experience the inherent benefits it brings on a much larger scale.

So far what we know is that the program is coming as a policy of the Federal Government, through the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and in partnership with CashToken Rewards Africa, a Nigerian RewardTech company which pioneered instant cash rewards for consumers five years ago.

This policy is a unique national reward system that is designed to build an unprecedented tripod relationship involving the government, businesses in the country and all Nigerian consumers in a win-win situation that would benefit businesses, consumers and the government.

It is a marriage of enterprise and social inclusion that is going to help grow businesses and, by extension, the nation’s economy, bring about wealth redistribution through cash reward for every routine purchase made by consumers and widen the tax net to put more money into government coffers for the much needed development of the critical sectors of the national life.

The uniqueness of this program lies in the fact that it is not the run-of-the-mill sales promotion in which consumers are expected to purchase a product or service to

FOOD NAME OF COMMODITY

PALM OIL

stand a chance of winning various one-off prizes that may range from cash to vehicles, houses, household items, expense-paid trips, etc, usually after a raffle draw that may produce a handful of winners from hundreds of thousands of participants. It is a reward system like no other; one in which every business in Nigeria can key in, and is designed to reward consumers by directly putting money in their hands as a result of business patronage.

The benefits of the National Reward Program are quite enormous, and as a matter of fact, too tempting to ignore, as it affects the members of the tripartite relationship, namely, businesses, consumers and the government, positively. It gives consumers instant and potentially life changing cash rewards for every purchase they make across different businesses and services, which are automatically registered in their reward wallets linked to all businesses.

Shedding more light on the programme, Chief Labode stated that beyond the instant cash rewards, consumers will receive tickets that qualify them for the weekly National Consumer Draw in which they stand a chance to win between N5000 and N100 million.

It is estimated that the program would put an annual income of between N2.6 trillion and N5.2 trillion in the hands of Nigerian consumers – for doing nothing other than engaging in their normal, day-to-day purchases. The program is not a charity, nor is it a form of gambling, as a consumer must make purchases and meet reward thresholds of participating businesses.

COMMODITIES

PRICE

The reward program would redefine consumer loyalty through greater patronage of a product that changes the lives of consumers. This increase in patronage, if replicated by hundreds of thousands of other consumers across the country, is bound to lead to an exponential growth of the business whose product enjoys such patronage. With increase in business fortunes comes the possibility of paying more tax to the government.

The National Reward Program is also poised to open a new stream of an estimated revenue of between N568 billion to N1.2 trillion annually for the Federal Government, through contribution of a portion of the revenue. This is in addition to creating about 500, 000 jobs annually through a structure that would have agencies and strategic partners in all the 774,000 local government areas in the country.

At successful implementation, the program is going to bring about an unprecedented public emotional equity for the government. Putting cash directly in the hands of consumers in a way that benefits the entire economy is a strategic direction the government hopes and should make to drive growth and I hope it will seize the opportunity to fully implement this program.

A few years ago, Nigerians were rated as the happiest people on earth. It was a survey many found quite paradoxical because it was difficult to understand how people who were economically challenged could be the happiest people on the planet. Now, the National Reward Program has the potential to make that assessment correct, if not in its entirety, at least through a significant increase in the National Happiness Index.

• Udemba lives in Lagos

T O D AY

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

LOCATION

PRICE

GROUNDNUT

100KG KANO

N20,500

ONIONS

100KG

IBADAN

N60,000

MAIZE

100KG

OYO

N10,000

N24,000 – N35,000

100KG BENUE

N27,000

100KG KANO

N30,000

100KG ENUGU

N16,500

25CL IBADAN N22,000 — N35,000

100KG LAGOS

N32,000

100KG BENUE

N65,000

100KG DELTA

N14,000

100KG PLATEAU

N45,000

100KG

ABIA

N11,000

100KG DELTA

N50,000

50KG

LAGOS

N9,000

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N35000 25CL

PH

25CL

IMO

N24,000 – N36,500

25CL

EDO

N20,000 – N35,000

25CL ABUJA N25,500 – N35,000

100KG DELTA

N34,000

100KG

ABIA

N27,000

100KG LAGOS

N60,000

100KG KANO

N9,400

100KG ENUGU

N23 000

100KG ENUGU

N45,000

50KG

N6,000

BENUE

17

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024

BUSINESSWORLD

INDUSTRY

2023: Year of Daunting Fiscal, Monetary Policies for Industrialists Although fiscal and monetary policies are among the major tools to strengthen a country’s industrial sector, Dike Onwuamaeze writes that they constituted major setbacks to Nigeria industrial growth in 2023

2

023 was a year Nigerian industrialists would remember with a scare. The reason for this is not farfetched. It was a year that pronouncements from the fiscal and monetary authorities in the country created serious hiccups that altered the fortunes of Nigerian industrialists in varying negative degrees.

Right from the first day of 2023, the Nigerian economy was reeling under the serve impact of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) policy to redesign the Naira, which is Nigeria’s local currency. The purported reasons for this ill-fated gamble included the need to address hoarding of banknotes by the public, guard against currency counterfeiting, align the country’s currency management with global best practice, curb insecurity and promote price stability, financial inclusion and a cashless economy.

But its implementation turned out a nightmare for the entire Nigerian population because of the severe shortage of cash it caused. Commenting on the impact of the currency redesign on the economy, the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) said in its February 2023 report titled, “Naira Redesign Policy: Caught in the Web,” that took a toll on Nigerian economy, which suffered from a significant decline in the volume and value of cash in circulation.

The NESG said: “To beat the Jan 31, 2023, deadline for the old notes, people rushed to banks to deposit these notes. As of mid-December 2022, only 500 million pieces of redesigned notes estimated at N390.3 billion had been made available by the CBN. Meanwhile, the redesigned notes should amount to N2.9 trillion in circulation to match the currency absorbed from circulation. This resulted in a shortfall of N2.5 trillion, translating into an 86 percent decline in total currency in circulation in three months.”

The impact of the cash crunch on the manufacturing sector was summed up in the “2023 Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Half Yearly Review of the Economy.” The review said that unsold inventory off finished products in the manufacturing sector saw a significant increase to N271.96 billion during the first half of 2023, as compared to N187.08 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2022.

“This indicates a substantial rise of N84.88 billion or 45.4 percent over this timeframe,” the report said, adding that, “this increase in inventory can be attributed to a weakened purchasing power of the consumers,

brought about by diminishing real household income resulting from the ongoing escalation of inflationary pressures, compounded by the scarcity of Naira in the first quarter of the year and the aftermath of the subsidy removal.”

The review further stated that capacity utilisation in the manufacturing sector in the first half of 2023, year-on-year, declined to 56.5 percent from 57.9 per cent recorded in the corresponding half of 2022. This indicated a reduction of 1.4 percentage points in the last year. It said that the Nigerian economic environment was clouded by election activities in second half of 2022 resulting in uncertainties in the economy.

“This coupled with the immediate impact of the Naira redesign policy which was announced in October of 2022 and required that economic agents including manufacturers thread with caution. The dampening effects on the manufacturers’ confidence hence reflected in the manufacturing sector’s indicators including the capacity utilisation in the period,” the review said.

Other policy pronouncements that rocked the

industrial sector were President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to remove petrol subsidies and his directives to the CBN to unify the country’s official exchange market and commence a reform that would align it with market determined rates. These policies with farfetched implications were delivered during his presidential inaugural address without adequate consultations that would have think through their potential effects on the economy.

What industrialists experienced as a result of these policy shifts was aptly stated by the Chief Executive Officer of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. John Musunga. According to him, Guinness Nigeria was cruising home to present a profitable financial statement to its shareholders when President Tinubu, in his presidential inaugural address on May 29, unilaterally made a statement that had serious implications for businesses in the country.

Musunga said: “When the President Tinubu announced new policies that resulted in currency devaluation, we were carrying huge foreign exchange exposure that we have to revalue,

which removed us from very healthy profit position that we were going to report in June. If that announcement had been made on July 1, we would have made quite a bit of profit. But because it was made on May 29 and our year closes in June, we made N19 billion loss because of that revaluation.

“We do not want to carry forward that kind of exposure whereby we increase our foreign exchange exposure in our balance sheet and in our profit and loss account.”

Apart from Guinness, manufacturing firms like the Dangote Groups, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, and others that had foreign exchange exposures found their fortunes considerably altered to their own disadvantage.

The corollary was that some manufacturing firms, especially the multinational organisations, began to press the exit button from Nigeria few months after the presidential directives. These included the Procter and Gamble and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a British multinational pharmaceutical company that announced plans to exit Nigeria, after 51 years of operation in Nigeria.

The GSK Nigeria Plc said in an official statement signed by its company secretary, Mr. Frederick Ichekwai: “In our published Q2 results we disclosed that the GSK UK Group has informed GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc of its strategic intent to cease commercialisation of its prescription medicines and vaccines in Nigeria through the GSK local operating companies and transition to a third-party direct distribution model for its pharmaceutical products.

“The Haleon Group has also separately informed the board of its intent to terminate its distribution agreement in the coming months and to appoint a third-party distributor in Nigeria for the supply of its consumer healthcare products.”

“The Board of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc has concluded that there is no alternative but to cease operations.

“Today we are briefing our employees whom we will treat fairly, respectfully and with care, meeting all applicable legal and consultation requirements,” the company said.

NOTE: The story continues online on

www.thisdaylive.com

2023: Mixed Bag for Nigeria’s Oil, Power Sectors Although many issues remained unresolved in the Nigerian oil, gas and power sectors in the outgone year, there were some flashes of light in certain areas, including the removal of subsidy by the federal government, writes Emmanuel Addeh.

T

here were high hopes for the oil and gas industry when Nigeria stepped into 2023, but it would appear that many of the fruits that were expected to follow the ongoing reforms in the sector, especially with the advent of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), failed to materialise during the year.

For Nigeria’s long underperforming power sector, the story did not markedly change for the better.

The country still continued to struggle to supply its 200 million population with just 4,000mw while self-purchased generating sets supplied over 40,000mw per day, a development described as an anomaly.

National power grid collapses were still a thing during the year under review, while incessant blackouts neither reduced nor were they eliminated in 2023. The gas-to-power problem continued to persist, while attacks on major power infrastructure were unabatingly present.

For the country’s oil, gas and power sectors, here are a number of issues that shaped the year.

OPEC QUOTA DEFICIT CONTINUED

Still, in the year under review, Nigeria failed to meet its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) oil production quota.

Although there were improvements, for instance coming from roughly 900,000 bpd in September 2022 to 1.25 million bpd in the November 2023 output data released recently, Nigeria was still far from meeting its 1.74 million bpd target.

In fact, the disagreement between OPEC and Nigeria on the slashing of the country’s production from 1.74 million bpd in 2023 to 1.38 million bpd for 2024 remained one of the highlights of the year.

Eventually raised to 1.5 million bpd for 2024 by OPEC, it’s unclear how Nigeria, which has a budget oil benchmark of 1.78 million bpd for the year will meet the projected target, having agreed to stick with the OPEC allocation unlike Angola that has exited the producers’ group for same reason.

FIGHT AGAINST OIL THEFT

Majorly, during the year, Nigeria continued to blame

its inability to ramp up oil production significantly and meet its OPEC quota on massive stealing of oil and sabotage of critical national assets in the Niger Delta.

In 2023, the ongoing ‘fight’ against oil thieves and pipelines vandals continued, with no clear victories and no definite timeline as to when the fight is expected to end.

Nigeria remains arguably the only resource-rich country globally facing the issue of oil theft and vandalism in the scale it is happening in the country.

The authorities continue to regale Nigerians about how many illegal refineries were bombed or seized every week and how many illegal tapping points were discovered.

But if the bottom line was to meet OPEC production or raise output significantly, the efforts did not yield the expected results in the outgone year.

WAITING FOR MARGINAL FIELD WINNERS

In 2021, the federal government announced that it had concluded the marginal oilfield bid round meant to boost Nigeria’s crude oil production.

The federal government thereafter said it was expecting most of the marginal fields, which investors bid for in the concluded bid round, to achieve first oil starting from mid 2022.

Two years later, it is unclear if any of the over 50 bid winners has found first oil. The programme has been bogged down by several complaints from the bid winners.

Government has now said that going forward, subsequent bid rounds will be more focused on developing Nigeria’s oil fields, rather than the sole focus on huge signature bonuses, which operators have said hobbled their forecasts.

PIA: STILL AWAITING RESULTS

The PIA was primarily meant to debottleneck the oil and gas industry and attract the much-needed investment in the sector.

The law, seen as one of the most audacious attempts to overhaul the petroleum sector in

Nigeria in a long time, seeks to provide legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the industry.

But results from the landmark passage of the law in 2021 appear to be stifled. Investors are still not coming in droves as expected and operators keep complaining about rough edges in the Act while international oil companies continue to divest their operations from Nigeria.

FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL

In the downstream, unarguably the biggest issue in 2023 was the removal of petrol subsidy

by President Bola Tinubu on May 29. While very much needed at the time, many Nigerians believe that the aftermath wasn’t well managed by the government.

The payments on subsidy, which had been described as opaque and corrupt by previous administrations and indeed the current one, was gulping roughly N4 trillion per year and weighing heavily on Nigeria’s finances.

With Tinubu’s famous “petrol subsidy is gone” pronouncement during his inauguration, the price of the critical product has risen by over 200 per cent in the last six months from about N195 nationally to between N600 and N700 currently.

The decision has consequently contributed in raising inflation to 28.2 per cent, impacting the prices of food stuff, transportation and energy costs.

There are insinuations that the federal government is still paying some form of subsidy on petrol, even though this has been refuted by the Nigerian government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).

HOPE FOR IN-COUNTRY REFINING

Although no refinery in the country is currently refining a drop of petrol, 2023 saw the ‘mechanical completion’ of the first phase of the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt crude oil refinery.

What that implied was that the fixing of

the refinery’s equipment and systems had been completed while the actual production from the 60,000 bpd facility is still being awaited.

Earlier in May, the 650,000 bpd Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Limited was inaugurated by former President Muhammadu Buhari, even though it was yet to begin actual production as of December 2023.

However, there is real hope now that give or take, the Port Harcourt refinery and the Dangote asset which received its first 1 million barrels of Agbami crude grade from the Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (STASCO) on December 8, will begin to run from Q1 , 2024.

THE CNG INITIATIVE

To ameliorate the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy, the federal government said it was backing the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative floated by the Muhammadu Buhari administration, but this time with sufficient action.

The government assured that it would ensure mass deployment of CNG vehicles in all states for public transportation.

“The new CNG conversion kits will start coming in very soon as all hands are on deck to fast-track the usually lengthy procurement process,” Tinubu said during one of his speeches.

On October 27, 2023, the initiative was officially inaugurated, with some CNG-powered buses handed over to the state house.

Chairman of the steering committee of the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI), Zacch Adedeji, said state governments had indicated investment interest in the CNG buses, with several states eventually rolling out the initiative.

It’s still early days yet and the current efforts seem like a drop in the ocean, but the coming months and years will show if it will be all talk, no action like the previous administration before this, or whether Nigerians will begin to have alternatives to the use of petrol-powered vehicles.

NOTE: The story continues online on

www.thisdaylive.com

18 4

T H I S D AY

TUESDAY JANUARY 2, 2024

EDITORIAL

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

I

FERTILITY MEDICINE AND REGULATION Regulation on assisted reproductive techniques should be strengthened

to meet the demands of this growing industry; a f there is one area of healthcare in Nigeria loophole that has now been exploited by quacks that has not enjoyed robust regulation, it is and even some otherwise known fertility clinics. the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Recently, the Managing Director, Nordica Fertility branch. It has for long been overlooked by Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi raised the alarm about governments and experts in the field who, the excesses due to lack of regulation in the branch in fact, should set standards and checkmate of science. "More than 60 per cent of people offering activities of practitioners of this branch of science.

IVF service in the country do not have the facilities From human egg harvesting, in-vitro fertilisation but due to the perceived financial benefits and itself, up to advertorials on ART success rates, patronage, doctors and health workers who know many practitioners in Nigeria are having a field little or nothing about IVF have continued to take day without much monitoring; all at the expense of advantage of couples in need by offering services. patients who crave for these all-important public I am calling for the strengthening of regulations in and social health services. this area of medicine," he said.

According to reports, some fertility clinics in A Bill for the establishment of a Nigerian Assisted the country are harvesting eggs of young girls in Reproduction Authority exchange for money. In to regulate this practice many cases, underage was presented before victims are coerced Laws and policies are not being developed fast enough to meet the the National Assembly into trading their eggs and read for the second monthly even though demands of this growing industry; a loophole that has now been time on 2nd May 2012. the World Health It was referred to the exploited by quacks and even some otherwise known fertility clinics Organisation (WHO) Committees on Health has said no one female and Justice at the time. It should have her eggs is almost 10 years now, harvested more than T H I S D AY and it is yet to be passed into law. Although some twice a year. The health body has also stated that EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU practitioners kicked against the bill at the time, DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE egg harvesting, just like blood donation, must not MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO saying it was a 'copy and paste' from East Africa, be traded for financial gains.

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU the onus is on the legislators and the stakeholders There are several other reports of substandard CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI to remodel the bill. But nothing has been done services to couples seeking in-vitro fertilisation with EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN so far. Safe for Lagos which has passed a law on THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE some not only disappointed with failed outcomes IVF, the remaining 35 states are yet to enact any but end up having serious health concerns relating legislation to regulate fertility medicine. to their procedures. Others have had to pay huge Although some practitioners in Nigeria amounts so they can get young, and in many have formed the Association for Fertility and cases, underage girls, to carry their unborn babies.

T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D Reproductive Health (AFRH) to produce ethical EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA Some buy these babies under the arrangement of guidelines that would govern the practice of GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, fraudulent ART centres. All these orchestrated by ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI assisted conception in the country, they cannot otherwise trusted fertility clinics in the country.

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, enforce these guidelines. Legislations from It is estimated that at least one in four Nigerian ANTHONY OGEDENGBE the National Assembly and the states houses couples will have one or more forms of fertility DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI of assembly are therefore required to properly SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH issues. Pressure from the Nigerian society on regulate the sector. In the Nigerian society, fertility ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI childbearing pushes a chunk of these couples to seek CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI is not just about health, it is a serious social issue artificial reproductive assistance. However, laws DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO that requires every attention it deserves. and policies are not being developed fast enough TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 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 (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS AS BANDITS RELOCATE TO TARABA AND THE PLATEAU

Recently, the media have been awash with the news of bandits’ daring attacks in Taraba and Plateau States. On November 24, 2023, it was reported that gunmen in their numbers attacked and killed 20 people in the Yangtu Development Area of the Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba State. On the early hours of December 19th, 2023, gunmen attacked Pupule community in Yorro Local Government Area of the same Taraba State, kidnapped Umaru Nyala, the chief of Yorro chiefdom, and abducted 22 other people. The Taraba State police command and other security operatives killed over 50 bandits terrorising villages along the corridor of Bali Local Government Area on November 28, 2023. However, on December 27, 2023, a group of bandits stormed the Gondon Maliki weekly market in Taraba State, kidnapped scores of people, and carted away food and wares using motorcycles.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, while condemning the gruesome murder of over 100 people on the Plateau, said, the bandits seemed to be ahead of the government.

To be fair to all the Nigerian security operatives, they’ve

done an excellent job in the Northwest’s states of Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina. These states have witnessed a visible improvement in security, and the Abuja-Kaduna highway is secured while the Niger axis is a little bit silent.

It appears that the military and other security onslaught on the bandits and other terrorists have killed many of their leaders, and they have dispersed to the northeast axis and some parts of the plateau. Why did the bandits settle in these areas, especially the northern parts of Taraba State—Yorro, Lau, Jalingo, and Ardo Kola local government areas? Is it due to its topography, location or economy? Taraba State is among the poorest states in Nigeria but rich in agriculture and forestry. Probably the bandits found solace in Taraba due to its uniqueness in geography and agricultural activities. Furthermore, the Cameroonian mountains, which stretch almost the entire northern and southern parts of Taraba, linking the state with the River Niger, will certainly provide a hiding place for criminals.

The state, federal, and local communities should work together; collaboration is key to security management. For example, at its 8th and 9th meetings held in Maiduguri, the

Borno State capital, on September 9th, 2023, and in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, on November 24th and 25th, 2023, the Northeast Governors’ Forum expressed its concern about the new dimension of banditry in Bauchi, Gombe, and Taraba States as a result of the concerted efforts of the military on neutralising the bandits from other parts of the country. The governors called on the federal government to intervene and promised to work with and support all security agencies.

Managing security in a vast country like Nigeria with inadequate modern technology is difficult, and our security operatives cannot be everywhere at the same time. So what is the solution?

The reinvigoration of the kinetic and non-kiinetic security approaches by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has resulted in many successes and breakthroughs; however, more intelligence gathering is needed; community engagement and direct communication with the bandits should be employed.

Zayyad I. Muhammad, Abuja

19

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024

NEWS

Working and learning visit of Oyo delegation to Lagos...

L-R: The Inspector General and Permanent Secretary, Education Zone 3,Oyo State, Elder Binuyo Lawrence Adelani; Lagos State Commissioner for Ministry of Tertiary Education (MTE), Tolani Sule; Permanent Secretary,Oyo State Ministry of Education ,Science and Technology,Mr Olusanjo Adeniyi Joel; and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Tertiary Education, Mr Adeniran Kasali, during a working and learning visit of the Oyo State delegation to the Lagos State Ministry of Tertiary Education in Alausa, Lagos ... recently

Fubara to Rivers People: Don't Be Frightened, We’re Winners ‘What they want is this red biro, but it is still with me’

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has told the people of the state not to be frightened or disheartened by the political crisis in the state.

Fubara stressed that nothing could distract him from the delivery of quality governance.

The governor made the assertions at a crossover church service at St Paul's Archdeaconry Parish in Opobo Town in Opobo/Nkoro

Local Government Area, on the eve of New Year.

He said he was not pretentious about his commitment to providing quality leadership, even though those fighting his administration wanted to dampen the spirit of the Rivers people and forcefully truncate the pace of development, saying they have failed.

Fubara stated, "What they want is this red biro, but it is still with me. We are the winners because we

are still signing with the red biro.

As long as we are signing with the red biro, development will continue in Rivers State."

Fubara declared that nothing would stop his administration from getting to its destination because its foundation was laid solidly in God who alone could supply the grace to complete the journey.

The governor said there was already a designed development agenda and a level of progress

Plan International Lauds Bauchi Govt for Signing of Child Rights Act in Law Ugo Aliogo

Plan International Nigeria has lauded the Bauchi State House of Assembly and the governor for the passing and assent to the child rights law.

In a statement signed by the Communications Advisor, Plan International Nigeria, Yunus Abdulhamid, Plan International said the state governor, Bala Mohammed last week signed the state’s 2024 budget into law and announced his assent to the child rights bill passed by the state’s lawmakers.

The statement also noted that this marks an important milestone towards the protection of children and girls’ rights in Bauchi being the last of the 36 states in Nigeria to domesticate the child rights law passed in 2005 by the then government of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Country Director of Plan International Nigeria, Charles Usie, commended the lawmakers and the governor for their resolve to ensure that children in Bauchi State are protected by law and for living up to their commitment to pass the bill and ultimately signed into law.

“We are excited at the passing of the Child Rights Bill in Bauchi State and we believe it’s the beginning of a refreshing journey for children and girls in the state to live a life free of stagnation, deprivation, and abuse.

“Every child deserves protection from abuse and freedom to pursue a better future not only by their

parents and caregivers but more so that of the state.”

Usie further called on the state government, development and implementing partners, and relevant stakeholders to develop an implementing framework that will aid the application of the new laws to have a practical effect on the lives of children in the state.

He also called on the state government to take further the commitment to child rights in the state by showing political will and determination for its implementation through budgetary provision.

The statement remarked that

Plan International Nigeria has been present in Bauchi since 2016, implementing projects on maternal and menstrual health, supporting the state in the development of critical policies for the advancement of children and women’s rights.

The statement added: “In November 2023, Plan International Nigeria hosted the Bauchi State lawmakers in Abuja for a three-day orientation on the child rights bill which was then pending passage.

At the event, the lawmakers committed to an accelerated hearing and passage before the end of 2023.”

determined for Rivers State in 2024, stressing that he would not relent in working for the good of the state.

He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the fatherly role he played when he intervened to try to restore peace

Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has stated that making the Carnival Calabar International Festival a bigger platform remains one of his campaign promises.

In a statement issued by Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Ogbeche, the governor, gave the assurance, while flagging-off the main event of the 2023 Carnival Calabar International Festival, where seven competing bands gave scintillating performances in competition for prizes.

Quoting the governor, Ogbeche said, “This is one of our campaign promises that we are definitely going to bring carnival back and on a bigger platform. What you have seen is the tip of the iceberg

because we are going to move it to the next level.”

Commending sponsors for their immense support, the governor lauded tourists, visitors, and other fun seekers for gracing Calabar with their presence and savouring the spectacle.

The statement further explained that Calas Vegas Band, which is under the tutelage of former Minister of Culture and Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke, at the end of the show at the main bowl of the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, clinched the coveted top position of N10m of the N55million on offer.

The statement revealed that Passion 4, the festival's most successful band, placed second, while Seagull Band settled for the third position.

The statement remarked that the

does not succeed in Rivers State, he will not succeed as a president.

"So, as a state, we will continue to give him every support. We are not pretenders. Our support is genuine and it is to uplift his programmes.

Our sacrifices are part of the support."

Kano Emir's Son Joins Oba of Benin in Crossover Service to 2024 Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Oba of Benin, Omo N' Oba N' Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, CFR, last year, attended a crossover service into 2024, with Prince Isah Ado-Bayero, son of the Kano Emir, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero, marking a relink with the Christian Gregorian Calendar.

He observed Gregorian Calendar year at the Holy Aruosa Cathedral in Benin City, where he earlier celebrated the traditional Igue festival Thanksgiving service on Sunday December 31, 2023.

It is the first time in history, no Oba of Benin since Benin monarchy began Centuries ago, to join a crossover service.

The service, which was conducted in Edo Language, has been

Gov. Otu Promises Bigger Carnival Calabar Ugo Aliogo

in Rivers State.

The governor said about Tinubu, "Like I keep saying, it takes a responsible man to be a father. He acted like a father. On our part, we will continue to give him all the necessary support because if he

Carnival Calabar was a display of innovation, theatre, ingenuity, culture, exhibition and interpretation of societal issues, as well as proffering of solutions.

According to the statement, “Other competing bands in the carnival parade include Bayside Band, Diamond Band, Freedom Band, Master Blaster Band, Passion 4 Band and Seagull Band.

“In the Children Carnival Category, Passion 4 emerged winners, Seagull Band came second, while Calas Vegas came third.

“Odukpani Local Government Area came first, Akpabuyo second and Calabar South third. For the Cultural Festival, Akwa Ibom State came first, Ebonyi State second, while Edo and Ondo States both came third in the States Category.”

instituted by Oba Ewuare II who may now be observing the tradition at the end of annual Igue festival, according to the Benin Calendar.

However, the presence of the Muslim, that observed the annual hijrah Calendar, amazed worshippers in Holy Aruosa church also known as the Edo National church at the end of Igue festival.

Oba Ewuare II Queens and his Quadruplets he had with Oloi Aisosa Ewuare II, attended the service where they had their

moments of fun in the church.

The presiding Priest of Holy Aruosa Cathedral, Ohen-Osa Igbinoghodua Edebiri led the marathon prayer session that ushered worshippers into the new year.

This was after Ohen-Osa Edibiri delivered a homily that dwelt on Godliness during the service, which afforded worshippers the opportunity to present their requests to God in prayers, with great expectations.

Uzodimma Appoints Anyanwu Second Term Inauguration C'ttee Chairman Tony Icheku in Owerri Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has appointed a former Senator, Chris Anyanwu, the Chairman of his 2nd term inauguration committee.

The governor will be sworn in for a second term on January 15, 2024 While speaking at the New Year Church Service/Thanksgiving at his home Church, St Rose of Lima Ozuh Omuma in Oru-East Local Government Area of Imo State on January 1, 2024, he declared that his first term performance would be a child's play when compared to what would happen in the next four years.

He added that 2024 would be a year of action and prosperity for Imo people in particular and Nigeria in general.

Wishing the congregation happy

New Year, Uzodimma assured them that "the days of yearning and lamentations are over," and used the opportunity to advice Imo people to come together to fashion ways as well as proffer solutions to their collective problems.

Uzodimma, who regretted that the global events of last year were not friendly, noted that the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rescue the Nigerian economy would help to change the ugly narrative of the past.

He said, soon, Nigerians would be happy, maintaining that "all over the world the initial effects of such reforms are always painful."

Uzodimma sympathised with the people on the realities of the time and announced that he has received large quantity of rice as part of the palliative measures for the Southeast, with Imo State inclusive.

20

TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Presenting Triangle News Magazine to the Minister...

Publisher Triangle News International/Media Consultant to Minister of Interior, Femi Salako, presenting the Triangle News Magazine to the minister, Hon. Olubunmi Ojo in the latter's office in Abuja, recently

Abure: Supreme Court Has Rested Issues of Faction in LP Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure,has said issues bordering on factions in the party had been laid to rest by the judgement of the Supreme Court, which emphatically stated that a dissident group led by a former Deputy National Chairman, Lamidi Apapa, lacked the locus to act on

behalf of the party, including to throw up candidates for election.

Abure also clarified that while a Federal High Court in Benin and the Court of Appeal had since delivered judgements, which recognised him as the substantive national chairman of the party, the interim order by an FCT High Court, which Apapa and his cohorts had been relying on, no longer had life after seven

days based on Order 43, rule 3, sub rule 2 of the civil procedure rules.

Labour Party's National Chairman, who spoke to journalists yesterday in response to some issues raised by a former member of the party, Abayomi Arabambi, in his recent interview with the Channels Television maintained that the interim order by the FCT High Court which has since expired

was not and could not be superior to judgements delivered by both Appeal and High courts.

While making clarifications between the cases in Federal High Court Abuja and all the matters presided over in Benin High Court and the Court of Appeal, Abure said all the cases were one and the same, and that they were the same subject matter and that his

purported suspension by Ward 3 in Uromi was the root of both cases.

Abure said while the FCT High Court was an interim order, the case in Benin had been decided and had gone to the Court of Appeal in Benin, where the court decided that all purported suspension and actions taken therefrom, actions being on such suspension, had been declared null and void and

Israel to Pull Some Troops from Gaza as War Enters New Phase Israel is withdrawing some forces from Gaza to shift to more targeted operations against Hamas, and is partially returning reservists to civilian life to help the economy as the war looks set to last well into the new year, an Israeli official said.

The official said toppling the Islamist faction remained an objective of the offensive in the Palestinian enclave, and that some of the five brigades withdrawn will prepare for a possible flare-up of a second front against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Asked by reporters about a troop reduction, Israel's military spokesperson said two reservist brigades would be released this week.

Since launching the war in retaliation for the cross-border Hamas rampage of October 7, Israeli officials have said they would wage it in three main stages. The first was intense shelling to clear access routes for ground forces and encourage civilians to evacuate. The second was the invasion that began on October 27.

With tanks and troops having now overrun much of the Gaza Strip, largely asserting control despite Palestinian gunmen continuing their ambushes from hidden tunnels and bunkers, the military is moving to the third stage, said the official, who could not be named in print given the sensitivity of the issue.

"This will take six months at least, and involve intense mopping-up missions against the terrorists. No one is talking about doves of peace being flown from Shajaia," the official told Reuters, referring to a Gaza district ravaged by fighting.

In addition to the 1,200 people killed on October 7, Hamas took some 240 hostage. Israel is also determined to recover the 129 still held in Gaza. Qatari- and Egyptian-mediated truce efforts have raised the prospect of some

of them being freed.

The shift appeared to correspond to pressure from Israel's top ally, the United States, to review tactics and do more to protect non-combatants.

Israel initially drafted 300,000 reservists - some 10 per cent to 15 per cent of its workforce - for what looks set to be its longest-ever war. Government sources have said between 200,000 and 250,000 reservists were still mobilised and absent from jobs or studies.

Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the deployment of reservists would be crafted "in a way that it can be refreshed, the Israeli economy can function, families who are waiting

for their loved ones can return to their routines."

Local media have reported that several military divisions were deployed throughout Gaza.

The official added that some of the troops pulled out of Gaza in the south would be prepared for rotation to the northern border with Lebanon, where Hezbollah has been exchanging fire with Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians.

Israel has warned that, if Hezbollah does not back down, a full-on Lebanon war looms. Both Hamas and Hezbollah are backed by Iran, whose militant allies in Syria, Iraq and Yemen have also been carrying out longer-range attacks against

Israel.

"The situation on the Lebanese front will not be allowed to continue.

This coming six-month period is a critical moment," the official said, adding that Israel would convey a similar message to a U.S. envoy conducting shuttle missions to Beirut.

In Gaza, the Israel-Hamas war has inflicted unprecedented devastation, with the health ministry reporting almost 22,000 fatalities, many of them civilian. Israel says it has killed more than 8,000 Palestinian fighters - suggesting that, by its own accounting, Hamas retains core personnel. Pre-war Israeli assessment were that the group had around 30,000 fighters.

The Israeli military announced on Saturday it was sending some reservists home as part of what top commander Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi has deemed a "reconfiguration" of forces.

"From the first moments of this war, we said it would take long," Halevi told troops on Tuesday.

"Will we ultimately be able to say there are no more foes around the State of Israel? I think that is overly ambitious. But we will deliver a different security situation - safe and, as much as possible, stable too."

Israel has listed 174 soldiers many of them reservists - as killed in Gaza fighting and nine on the Lebanese border.

the suspension nullified.

The national chairman of the party said this was affirmed by the Court of Appeal in Benin which stated that all those who purportedly suspended him and any subsequent action taken thereto are all meddlesome interloper.

He cited Order 43, rule 3, sub rule 2 of the civil procedure rules, which provided that, "An order of injunction made upon an application exparte shall abate after 7 days. That Sub rule 3 also provides that such an interim order can be extended upon application by the parties.

"If we single out the case in FCT, the case in FCT was an interim order and based on the rules of the FCT High Court, that court order no longer has life after seven day.

In the instance case, it has lapsed except it is extended or renewed and it is not to our knowledge that it is renewed.

"You must also note that FCT High Court itself by Justice Muazu has stayed the proceedings and the order since their appeal has been entered in the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal has equally also stayed the order and the proceedings in the FCT High Court pending the hearing and determination of a matter at the Court of Appeal.”

Oyebanji Assures Ekiti Residents of Stable Economy, Enhanced Security in 2024 Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has assured citizens of the state and Nigerians generally that the nation will witness economic stability in 2024.

The governor also expressed optimism that Ekiti state will witness what he called "massive improvement in security, infrastructure and government services than we have ever seen." He urged the people to be optimistic for a better and more prosperous year.

Addressing the people of Ekiti state in his New Year state-wide broadcast, Oyebanji promised to consolidate on the gains achieved by his administration in its first year in office and expand the scope of development for the benefit of the

Ekiti people.

In the address, which was titled: "Consolidating on the Shared Prosperity Agenda," Oyebanji said Ekiti had experienced what he described as a "giant lift in the last one year" and stressed the readiness of his administration to boost the standard of living of the people of the state with investment in the key sectors.

He disclosed that 2024 will see the development of Ado Ekiti Central Business District, while the Ekiti Cultural Centre will be constructed to meet the aspiration to create the enabling environment for the development of artistic and cultural industry for the people.

The state’s chief executive further revealed that 2024 will also witness the commencement of the construction of an indoor sports complex to support

sports development in the state.

Amid the prevailing economic challenges, the Ekiti helmsman assured Nigerians of a stronger economy, predicating his optimism on a strong belief that the macroeconomic policies of the national economy will begin to yield positive results.

He said: "We are very hopeful that the economic outlook of the nation will be stable and some of the macroeconomic policies will begin to yield the desired results.

“We are very optimistic that 2024 will be a year of positive economic resurgent for the country."

Assuring the people of a better Ekiti in 2024, he said the state was going to witness massive improvement in security, infrastructure and government services than ever witnessed.

"As a government, we understand the socio-economic importance of agriculture and trade to the total economic profile of our state.

"Agriculture and trade remain the mainstay of our economy contributing about 80 per cent to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

We are addressing critical challenges associated with poor yield, access to credit, land clearing, among others to make the sector more attractive.

"The ministry of agriculture and food security in conjunction with the ministry of investment, trade and industry are working on a programme that will solve some of these challenges.

"They are currently talking to the stakeholders, including traditional rulers on the implementation of cluster farming arrangement that

will guarantee access to resources and market. Our target is that by the end of this year, our farmers will have become richer and prosperous than they have ever been," he said.

The governor restated his commitment to the prompt payment of salaries and pension, assuring that his administration will work harder to double up on the liquidation of the outstanding gratuity obligation to senior citizens.

He lauded Ekiti workers for their cooperation, dedication and understanding since the beginning of his administration acknowledging that although things are tough, with the hyperinflation that the economy has witnessed in the course of the last year, but everything possible would be done to accord their welfare a priority.

21

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024

NEWS

Workshop on Unexplained Wealth in the Global South...

L-R: H.O.D, Private & Public Law, Christopher University, Dr. Daniel Idibia; Zonal Commander, EFCC Abuja Commission, Mr. Adebayo Adenine; Partner, Howard University, Mr. Jonathan Huth; Hadiza Rimi of ICPC; Speaker, M. Babajide Ogundipe; and Chairman of the occasion, Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN, during a two-day workshop organised by the Attorney General Alliance Africa and the university on PHOTO: KOLAWOLE ALLI. Unexplained Wealth in the Global South at Christopher University, Mowe, Ogun State…recently

In New Year Message, Yusuf Pledges to Engage Youth, Women By our Correspondents The Kano State Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf in company with his deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, and other top government functionaries ushered in the new year and pledged to engage the youth and women population.

Addressing a mammoth crowd at Mahaha Sports complex in the metropolis, Yusuf said 2023 must be reckoned with as the people of Kano voted for NNPP to pilot the affairs of the state, acknowledging the contribution of youth and women during the election period.

He was however optimistic that, 2024 would be of massive physical and human development projects with direct bearing on the lives of people of the state and in tandem with the commitment to spread the dividends of democracy in the nooks and crannies of Kano.

He added that his administration would complete structures at the Mahaha Sports complex to serve as a center of entertainment, and social and religious gatherings apart from sporting activities which was the primary focus of the complex.

Diri Pledges More Devt in Second Term Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has assured people of the state of more development projects in his second term in office, which commences on February 14.

Diri made the pledge in his New Year message aired on Yenagoa-based radio stations on Monday.

Re-affirming his commitment to the overall development of the state, he expressed appreciation to the people for their support last year and in his first tenure.

He said going forward, his administration would actively engage communities irrespective of political choices in order to achieve collective aspirations.

Recounting some of the achievements in various sectors such as education, health, human capital development, Infrastructure, security among others, Diri promised not to rest on his laurels.

Bello Reels Off Achievements in Past 8 Yrs The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya

Bello, has felicitated with the people of the state for making it to the new year, using the opportunity to reel off his achievements.

Contained in a new year message, the governor urged the people to rejoice and collectively thank the Almighty for life, the most precious gift of all.

“The past year presented many challenges, true, but it also gave us major triumphs, both of which make up the fabric of existence. It was a year that tested the mettle of individuals, peoples and nations, confronting us with all forms of challenges, but also presenting us with manifold opportunities. For Nigeria, and especially our beloved state, Kogi, "I will only say that the past 12 months testified to our resilience and fortitude. Our battles and victories reflect, not our wisdom or strength, but the mercy and help that the Almighty God, to Whom be all glory, bestowed upon us.

"On the 27th of January, 2024 we will mark the conclusion of the 8th year of our audacious journey in the New Direction Administration in Kogi State. By the grace of God, all people of goodwill can testify that we made each successive year to

bring forth fruits that signify our brutal commitment to the progress of Kogi State.”

Barau Empowers Kano Residents with 60 Cars The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, has distributed 60 Sharon cars to the people of the state.

This was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, in Abuja, yesterday.

The statement explained that the gesture was part of his efforts to sustain his resolve to empower the people of Kano and its environs.

Thousands of constituents, sup-

capital expenditure and reducing recurrent deficit, it’s going to be implemented.

"He was very clear with the warning to all ministries, departments and agencies that everyone will earn his own pay, in terms of generating revenue and implementing the budget as passed into law.

So this is a game changer.

"Equally, to follow up from where the Coordinating Minister left it, is to acknowledge that this is a budget that has increased spending in our priority areas; Human Capital Development, Education, Health and Infrastructure, from Works, Power, Housing, Water Resources, as well as Innovation, Digital Economy, Creative Economy, Science and Technology. Humanitarian spending has also gone up.”

Responding to claims that the budget was done in a hurry, Bagudu said "There's nothing like in a hurry.

This shows that people are on their toes. Mr. President had experience as a member of the National Assembly, he had the experience as a state governor and then luckily for us as a country, now he’s sitting atop

the affairs as the President.

"Equally, many members of his team; the Vice President, Chief of Staff, SGF, many ministers, the First Lady of the Federation, so there has been a build-up of relationship between the National Assembly and the Executive as it ought to be.

"Committees are supposed to be working, it’s not when you are passing budget that committees should know the priorities of the relevant sectors. Mr. President, ever since he was sworn in, left no one in doubt that look, I want you to respect institutions; as ministers, respect National Assembly. They work well with the committees.

"The oversight is respected, we welcome interrogation, he said so publicly. So even before the budget process started full-stream, there was good understanding about what the challenges are, what the priorities are, and therefore it's easy to come to conclusion as to what we should do, and that's what we have done.

"Mr. President equally directed that he recognises the separation of powers; Judiciary, National Assembly, that's why there's a

Fintiri: Our Strength Lies in Our Unity Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has saidthe strength of the state, and indeed the nation lied in itsunity.

"Together, we have faced challenges and conquered, emerging stronger. Our government with great zest has strived to deliver needed

services to its people within available resources in the state," he said He said his state has achieved tremendous milestones in infrastructure development, healthcare, education, security, human capital development and Agriculture in the past one year According to him, this milestone was attained with the cooperation of the citizens and the foundation laid for a more prosperous state by his government.

"Our journey to this victory faced obstacles, but your resilience prevailed. You maintained peace amid provocation, showcasing restraint and civility. Even amidst adversity during the election process, you upheld decorum. For this, I’m immensely grateful," he said.

Nigeria Grassroots Community Leader Oyekoya, Awarded MBE for Outstanding Services to Community Ugo Aliogo

In recognition of his tireless commitment and service to his community, Alfred Oyekoya has been honoured with Member of

Tinubu Signs N28.7tn Budget, Elated By N100bn Approved for School Feeding Nationwide bringing order to government borrowing, so Ways and Means is being eliminated by taking the funding that is required from the market, as opposed to from printing of money by the central bank.

"That, in a nutshell, is what is happening on the financing side.

We are very optimistic that not only will this budget be funded adequately, but it will be funded on a timely basis as well.

Also speaking to newsmen, Bagudu, said the budget was a game changer that increased spending in priority areas like education, health and infrastructure.

He said: "This is a budget that has been developed, that came out of recognition of all the planning tools that are available and are our priorities, the Renewed Hope Agenda, the eight priority areas of Mr. President, and the clarity

by Mr. President, that budgeting should reflect our priorities and should be implemented and Mr. President captured it today in his speech, this budget is not only what it is, in terms of ambition, and in terms of reducing deficit, increasing

porters and well-wishers, according to the statement, witnessed the distribution of the vehicles at the Meena Events Centre, Kano State.

The beneficiaries of the gesture, it further explained, cut across all strata in the state including traders, farmers, civil servants and politicians, among others.

significant increase in funding to the Judiciary because just like the national defense spending, he wants to ensure that all the three arms of government are well funded, so that they can complement each other and deliver on the budget commitments."

On his part, Akpabio, told reporters that the National Assembly would ensure strict implementation of the 2024 federal budget.

According to him: "Ours is to ensure that we make sure that we monitor what goes on to ensure that yes, indeed, it is wanting to do a budget is another thing for the budget to be fully implemented.

"We will make sure that if there is need that we also undertake joint monitoring of the implementation of the budget to ensure that yes, nobody can tell us one thing in the green chambers or nothing in the red chambers. We will make sure that we monitor very well.

“The President has also assured us that he has passed the marching orders so that ours is to make sure that we do our job oversight, oversight, oversight, oversight."

the British Empire (MBE) in the King’s New Year’s Honours List.

In a statement, it was noted that Alfred who was recently named by The Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales as among Wales' top 100 changemakers, is the Director of BMHS (BAME Mental Health Support), and he expressed his gratitude, stating, “I am really pleased and deeply appreciative of the honour. I dedicate the Award to God, my family, and the amazing team at BMHS.” The statement also remarked that with a distinguished career spanning voluntary, public, and private sectors, Alfred has continually championed positive change.

The statement also noted that Oyekoya’s culturally relevant approach involves not only addressing stigmas but also building resilience in community groups.

The statement remarked that the initiative has positioned BMHS as a trusted organization for minority ethnics in Wales, working collaboratively with several organizations to address health inequalities.

According to the statement, “Alfred's steadfast advocacy to address structural discrimination

within regulatory frameworks particularly within the context of mental health support is a defining feature of his distinguished career. His unique insights are drawn from diverse experiences across international, commercial, and public sectors.

His expertise includes strategic advisory services and an astute understanding of the needs of grassroots communities and cultural relevant interventions.

“In his various roles, including being the Treasurer at the Book Council of Wales and other board positions, Alfred has developed into a critical thinker, adeptly striking a balance between providing supports and exercising scrutiny to ensure the practice of sound governance.

“In his voluntary role as one of the Poverty Truth Commissioner with Swansea Local Authority, he collaborates with diverse group of individuals to amplify the voices and experiences of those affected by poverty. He regularly consults with Welsh Government and other national panels.

“The New Year Honours list recognises the achievements and service of people across the UK, from all walks of life.

The 2024 New Year Honours list is published in The Gazette.”

22

TUESday january 2, 2024 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

EMPOWERING THE WIDOWS…

L-R: Community Leader, Makoko Yaba Side, Chief Victor Kpanke; Pastor, Greater Height Baptist Church, Isheri, Rev. Olakunle Sunday; Founder, January Twenty-Seven International Foundation, Mrs. Doyinsola FemiOlaiya, and Executive Coordinator, Ajoke Ayisat Foundation, Mrs. Foluke Ademokun, at the January Twenty-Seven International Foundation’s Widows’ Empowerment Programme in Lagos... recently ETOP UKUTT

Police Confirm Abduction of Passengers in Cross River The Police operatives in Cross River have confirmed the abduction of some passengers around Nde 3 Corners Akparabong Junction in Ikom Local Government Area of the state.

The passengers, who were on a transit, were said to have been ambushed by gunmen who shot at their vehicles, injuring three while unspecified number was taken

away by the gunmen.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Irene Ugbo, who gave the confirmation, however, declined to give details of the attack, but said the incident occurred on Sunday.

Ugbo said efforts were on to secure the release of the abducted passengers and also ensure no repeat of the incident in the area.

A resident of the community,

Wike: We ‘ll Bolster FCT Devt in 2024 Olawale Ajimotokan inAbuja

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has assured residents of commitment to implementing robust policies and initiatives that will bolster the development of the FCT and ensure that it continues to thrive as a model of excellence in all ramifications in year 2024.

He made the assurance in the 2024 New Year message to the residents of the territory.

He said over the past few months, the FCT administration had made significant strides in various sectors, propelled by a

Mr James Ese, said the three injured persons were rushed to an undisclosed hospital for medical attention.

While alleging herdsmen to be responsible for the almost daily attack on the road, he called on security agencies to be alive to their

responsibilities. “We want the police to rise up to the challenge and end this menace to passengers in the last three weeks”

Stay Peaceful, We ‘ll Focus on Devt in 2024, Oborevwori Assures Deltans

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has assured the people of the state in his New Year message that his administration will remain focused on sustainable development of the state through the instrumentality of his M.O.R.E

commitment to excellence and innovation.

The minister said the efforts had been directed towards enhancing infrastructure, ensuring effective urban planning, bolstering The President of Christian healthcare facilities, improving Association of Nigeria (CAN), education, and creating an enabling Archbishop Daniel Okoh, has environment for businesses to urged Nigerians to remain united, thrive. peaceful and be committed to Wike said the successes recorded building a prosperous nation. in 2023 under the leadership of Okoh ,who made the call in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a New Year message in Abuja and the promises inherent in the yesterday , urged all Nigerians Renewed Hope Agenda will serve as a blue print as they implement their development agenda for the Benjamin Nworie FCT.

governance blueprint.

He thanked the people for their demonstrable support and encouragement since the inception of his administration, noting that such attitude would enable the government to do more.

The governor urged the people to continue to remain united, focused, prayerful, and peaceful

as they stepped into 2024.

In a statement issued in Asaba by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, the governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to sustainable development through quality and enhanced service delivery, expressing confidence that God would intervene in the

affairs of the state for good this year.

While admitting that 2023 was quite a challenging year, Oborevwori noted that the year was also “very eventful”, as God enabled his administration to make significant achievements in the past seven months.

CAN President Tasks Nigerians on Nation Building to refuse to be discouraged in the face of adversities.

“Instead, we must come together and remain resolute in our commitment to building a united, peaceful, and prosperous nation.

“It is in our togetherness that we find the strength to withstand

the trials that beset us. In unity, there is hope, resilience, and the power to rebuild.

“Let us embrace our diversity and allow it to be the bedrock upon which we build a stronger, more harmonious nation,” he said.

The cleric said that Nigerians

should look up to the year with a renewed sense of purpose and an unwavering commitment to fostering a better future for the country.

“Let us draw strength from our faith, our shared values, and our collective resolve to surmount the obstacles that confront us.

I’m Confident of Victory in Ebonyi Senatorial Bye Election, Says PDP Aspirant

aspirant for Ebonyi South New Year: Taraba Gov Pardons 31 Inmates An Senatorial seat in the forthcoming Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba yesterday pardoned 31 inmates in the state as part of activities to commemorate the 2024 New Year celebration.

He announced the pardon in a state-wide broadcast marking the new year in Jalingo.

He underscored the state government’s commitment to give deserving individuals a second chance, saying: “in the spirit of renewal and progress, I am pleased to announce that, in the exercise of my prerogative of power, we shall be granting clemency to 31 deserving inmates.

“This decision reflects our commitment to justice, compassion,

Ese said that the Akparabong Junction had become a nightmare for motorists and commuters in the last three weeks.

and the transformative power of rehabilitation.”

While acknowledging the prevalent security challenges affecting citizens in the state, the governor pledged to intensify efforts in the upcoming months to create safer environment for all residents.

He added: “Addressing the security challenges that have touched the lives of some of our citizens is a constitutional responsibility that we will take seriously in the coming months of the year.

“We will double our efforts to make Taraba safer for all. Together, we shall overcome the challenges and ensure that our state thrives in peace and harmony.”

bye election under the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Silas Onu, has expressed confident that his competence and popularity in the state would secure victory

for him.

Briefing journalists in Abakaliki, the former PDP’s chairman in Ebonyi said that his motivation for vying for the position is to provide services to his people.

He lamented that the zone has been badly represented in the

past and he has come to offer a better alternative to the people.

“I am not bragging but I will beat any candidate they bring whether from Onicha or Ohaozara. I know the work I am putting into this project. I am connecting with the people, the voters. I am not planning

rigging; I am not planning to write results.

“The motivation for running is service to the people. Our people have been badly represented for many years and I do think that our people deserve better.

Representation is not about Christmas largesse.

Akwa Ibom Directs Audit of Ìbom Power Plant Okon Bassey inUyo

Akwa Ibom State Government has directed an operational audit of the Ibom Power Plant in òrder to reposition it to yield the expected dividends for people.

The State Governor, Mr Umo Eno disclosed while speaking of his

activities for the past seven months in office during broadcast to mark the new year.

Government, he said “believe strongly that with adequate power, our entrepreneurs in the state can do better and our economy will be better for it.”

To maintain the peace and

safeguard the status as one of the safest states in Nigeria, he said the state government had created a full-fledged Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways manned by a retired general of the Nigerian Army.

“Two weeks ago, we successfully launched the Ibom Community

Watch programme with 550 watchers commissioned for Uyo Local Government Area.

“The objective of this programme is to raise a well trained team that will protect government assets across our communities and assist in the gathering of intelligence for our security agents. “

Delta Lawmaker Recommits to Isoko Devt, Appoints Umukoro Media Aid

member representing empowerment, jobs creation and In the letter of appointment recognition of your track record Isoko South Constituency 1 in generally cater to the welfare dated December 31, 2023, in political engagement and CIoDN Mourns Former President, Ijewere The Delta State House of Assembly, of the Isoko people. lawmaker said: “I write to leadership skills, more importantly

Sunday Okobi

The Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria (CIoDN) has expressed sadness over the death of its past President, Mr. Emmanuel Itoya Ijewere.

The group announced that Ijewere passed away in the early hours of December 29, 2023 at the age of 77.

Ijewere was the sixth president of the Institute from 1999 to 2001.

The group in a statement issued and made available to THISDAY yesterday by its Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Bamidele Alimi,

stated that during his tenure as president, “Ijewere improved the corporate visibility of the Institute putting it on a deserving pedestal as the premier membership organisation in Nigeria. It was under his leadership that the headquarters of the Institute moved to Ikoyi in Lagos, where it is still located till today.

“Ijewere was one of Nigeria’s most prominent businessmen, who had a wide range of interests and experience in banking, finance, and agriculture.

He was also a past president of ICAN and the Nigerian Red Cross.

Honourable Obowomano Bino Owhede, has restated his commitment to the development of Isoko nation by pushing for legislations that will ensure good infrastructure, youth

And as part of efforts to communicate his activities to the people and ensure good feedback, Honourable Bino has appointed Mr. Maxwell Oghenero Umukoro as media assistant.

convey your appointment as media assistant to the honourable member representing Isoko South Constituency 1, with effect from January 2024.

The appointment is in

the success your recorded in the last general election. It is hoped that you will bring your wealth of experience and expertise in executing your functions to the best of your abilities.”

Former Guber Candidate Faults Celebrating January 1 as New Year Day Kemi OlaitaninIbadan

The Chief Priest of Eledumare Ministry, Chief Owolabi Salis, has criticised celebrating January 1 as New Year day, saying it has an English origin.

Salis, who was the gubernatorial

candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Lagos State in 2019, in a statement made available in Ibadan, Oyo State, said it is idolism, and whoever worships idols, stones, woods or human beings submits his or her soul to it.

According to him, all the major religions claimed to be directed by one God who is consistent but they all have different calendars, including new year, with different rules and so on.

He said: “One will allow you eat pork, another will condemned

that you should not. One will direct that you should not work on Sunday, Saturday or Friday, another will direct that you work on Sunday, Saturday or Friday.

We do not know the one that is right, and they all claim to come from one God who is consistent.”

23

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024

TUESdaysports

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

2024: A BusyYear Ahead for Nigeria Sports

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Year 2024 crept in with fanfare at midnight. It signified end of 2023, a year in which Nigerian sports recorded a mixed bag of fortunes.

As it has become the trend in the last decade and half, the female gender brought more laurels than their male counterparts. There is nothing in the horizon to show that this development will change in this brand new 2024.

Apart from the qualification of the Super Eagles for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations kicking off in barely 12 days time in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, the D’Tigress and the Super Falcons shown brightest in the country’s sports.

D’Tigress won the 2023 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championship for a record fourth time in a row.

They defeated Senegal 84-74 in Kigali, Rwanda to etch their names in Nigerian basketball hall of fame.

Nigeria became the second country after Senegal (1974 to 1981), to have won the championship four times uninterrupted. It was D’Tigress sixth title while their American-based Coach, Rena Wakama, became the first lady to win the competition since its inception in 1966.

The Super Falcons who managed to qualify from the WAFCON in Morocco, took the world by storm at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Down Under! Playing in a tough group that had hosts Australia and Olympic champions Canada, the nine-time African champions survived the odds to set up a Last -16 clash with England. They dragged the Lionesses into extra time before going out gallantly to the admiration of all football aficionados. Falcons were duly honored by President Bola Tinubu at the Villa in Abuja.

Nigeria’s consolation despite not winning any treasure of note in football was however the crowning of Victor Osimhen as African Footballer of The Year, while Asisat Oshoala, winning the African Women’s Footballer of the Year for the six time and Chiamaka Nnadozie winning the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award at the CAF Awards which held in Morocco last month. Osimhen led SSC Napoli to their third Italian League title first time in 33 years, scoring 26 goals to get the Scudetto in the bag.

In track and field, after earning a 12.12secs World Record a year earlier at the Athletics World Championships in Oregon, USA, all eyes were on Golden Girl, Tobi Amusan, to build on her feat in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Worlds in Budapest, Hungary.

However, for three whereabouts failures, Amusan’s smooth sail ran into troubled waters. As expected, Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), provisionally slammed her with a ban for the three missed dope tests within 12-months.

Although Amusan was cleared

by CAS to defend her title at Budapest, the psychological effect on the Nigerian speedster, had done enough damage to slow down her progression to the Worlds.

She missed the podium!

Sadly, Nigeria’s biggest male hope in sprint, Divine Oduduru was handed a six-year ban for breaching two anti-doping rules.

The athlete got a four-year ban for the possession of prohibited

Ese Brume (left) and Tobi Amusan are Team Nigeria’s leading stars expected to bear the burden of returning from Paris 2024 Olympic Games with medals. substances and the attempted use of a prohibited substance and an additional two years for “aggravating circumstances”. He was also ordered to pay $3000 to the World Athletics for its expenses regarding the case.

Another female sprint star, Grace Nwokocha similarly fell under the hammer of AIU for similar dope infractions. Nwokocha, got a three-year ban for using prohibited substances. According to AIU, Nwokocha admitted to violating World Athletics (WA) anti-doping rules. She also accepted the penalty for the breach.

It therefore was against this backdrop of our best legs caught in dope misdemeanor that Nigeria was unable to build on the successes recorded at our best ever outing in Oregon. Budapest turned out a nightmare.

Nigeria failed to win any medals and struggled mightily in their respective events and only made just two finals.

Despite the ups and downs in the just ended year, Nigerians as usual, have renewed their hopes for a better 2024. This is the year of the Olympic Games in Paris.

The 33rd Olympic Summer Games will capture the world's attention in July and August. Nigerians will be looking forward to recreating the feats at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. After Atlanta, Team Nigeria

has not been able to match words with performance. Beijing 2008 was fair after which we went to sleep, picking one or two bronze medals here and there with nothing to show for London 2012. Another lonely bronze conjured by Samson Siasia’s wards in Rio 2016 was the saving face for that team. The last outing in Tokyo, China in a Covid-19 era also saw Blessing Oborududu winning a silver in the women’s 69kg wrestling category with Ese Brume leaping to a bronze in the women’s long jump.

New Sports Minister, John Owan Enoh, has shown character of a man with a mission at the Sports Ministry. He’s determined to change the narrative for Nigerian sports. His several moves to ensure early preparations for Team Nigeria ahead of the Olympic Games in Paris means, if he succeeds with adequate funding for the team, there is likelihood of another ‘bumper harvest’ in this outing in France in the summer.

2024 is also the year of our mini Olympic in Nigeria. It is the year that the. National Sports Festival will hold in Ogun State. This is the second time that Ogun will be hosting after the 2006 edition generally acclaimed a successful edition. The Bukola Olopade led LOC has been working assiduously behind closed doors so as to surpass the benchmark set by

Delta State.

Of course, in some of the lesser sports like Badminton, players in the country will be looking forward to the 2024 edition of the Ikoyi Club National Badminton Classics that made a return in 2023 after 24 years in the cooler.

At the continental and global level, Nigeria’s Super Eagles will be amongst nations to battle for the AFCON title in Côte d’Ivoire between 13 January to 11 February.

It will be tough time for teams in the European leagues with large African players in their fold.

Nottingham Forest and Fulham will be most hit in the English Premier League. Whiling Super Eagles may not wear the tag of favorites, they proved in 2013 that in African football, never say never, until the final final.

For tennis buffs around the world, it is that time early in the year to stay glued to televisions to watch Novak Djokovic, 36, kick off his hunt for a 25th Grand Slam title between January 14 and 18 at Australian Open. Will he succeed in extending his lead over his main rival, Rafael Nadal, who will return to action after almost a year.

The Spaniard's return is still uncertain in what promises to be a spectacular 2024 season with the likes of Alcaraz, Sinner and Medvedev on the rise.

In addition to tennis and a

promising season, football will feature the two best continental tournaments. Euro 2024, to be held in Germany, and the Copa America (this time with all three American sub-continents represented). Both tournaments are likely to be the last major tournaments for the megastars of the 21st century, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

February highlights include the World Aquatics Championships in Doha and the LVIII Super Bowl on 11 February. The NBA All-Star Game takes place in the United States is scheduled for mid February while the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow is in March.

In the first half of the year, qualifying events for Paris 2024 took place around the world, with football in January and women's basketball in February.

The quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League will provide special moments and the Copa Libertadores kicks off in South America.

May continues with pre-Olympic events such as table tennis and the Roland Garros tournament will take place in France from 20 May to 9 June.

Towards the end of the month, the focus shifts to Ireland for the Europa League final and to Spain for the Women's Champions League final.

June sees the men's Champions League final at Wembley, while FIFA international friendlies will take place from 3-11 June and the NBA Finals also kick off.

The Euro 2024 starts in Germany on 14 June and lasts exactly one month. Some of the best football action in the world will also take place in the United States, with eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and global legend, Lionel Messi.

July kicks off with events at the cathedral of world tennis, Wimbledon, where the world's best tennis players will be on South London soil from 1-14 July. The month will also see intense basketball battles for four Olympic berths, almost an unofficial Olympic group stage, with giants and historic teams vying for qualification.

Spain, Italy, Lithuania, Slovenia, Puerto Rico and Brazil will all be battling it out for a place in the world's premier basketball tournament.

At the end of the month, as mentioned, the 33rd Olympic Summer Games of the modern era will begin in Paris. The third Games in the French capital's history will take place from 6 to 11 August and, according to IOC estimates, will be watched by more than three billion people around the world, including those who will be following Tokyo 2020 (which will take place in 2021).

TR

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N400

MISSILE

PDP to President Tinubu

“It is obvious that the non-payment of the December salary critically needed by the workers, including our gallant security operatives at this period...Is it not provocative that while President Tinubu is busy partying and luxuriating with APC leaders, workers who are putting in their time and energy in the service of the nation are left with nothing to feed and celebrate with their families and loved ones?” --PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, condemns FG’s failure to pay December salaries to workers before the yuletide.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

2024: Looking Forward I

t is a new year, a new month, a new day, and fittingly, this is the right moment to look backwards and to the future. One of the major planks of received wisdom is that the past is linked to the present and both offer indications about the future and that is precisely where we are at this moment, that Janus moment of transition, the very significance of the new month. January is named after the Roman God, Janus, who has two faces, and a set of four eyes looking in two different directions.

And so, let us begin by looking back at the year 2023 with domestic lenses.

For me, four things stood out in Nigeria in 2023.

The first is the fact that it was the year of Nigeria’s seventh general elections since the return to democracy in 1999, and thus represented a major test for the democratic process in the country. It was a test for the electoral framework, and the institutions in charge of the management of the electoral process; the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties, the security agencies, the judiciary, and the civil society, including the media.

Expectations were particularly high among Nigerians in the lead up to the elections, especially with much hope invested in the review of the Electoral Act 2010, which birthed the Electoral Act 2022.

The new Act was different in many significant parts, such as Section 3(3) which requires that electoral funds should be released at least a year before the next election date, Section 29(1) which provides that party primaries and submission of candidates be done at least 180 days before the election date; Sections 47 and 50 which provide legal backing for the use of technology for voter accreditation and electronic transmission of results; Section 54(2) on the rights of persons with disability in need of special care to vote and be voted for; Section 62 which gives legal backing for INEC to maintain an electronic register of votes, Section 65 which says INEC can review results declared by any returning officer under duress within seven days. Other new aspects of Electoral Act 2022 can be found in Sections 8(5), 27, 29(5), 34, 84(12), 88 (2-7) and 94. These amendments generated so much excitement that at least one retired Resident Electoral Commissioner made media rounds proclaiming with prophetic candour that the new Act would be a “a game changer”, and that the introduction of the Bi-Modal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Report Viewing Portal (IREV) were technological measures that would prove to be stronger than the Titanic, that is “unsinkable.” Elections were held on February 25 (Presidential and National Assembly), March 11 (gubernatorial and state Houses of Assembly) and November 11, viz the off-cycle Gubernatorial elections in three states- Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa. Long before the November 11 elections, our enthusiastic promoter of the new Electoral Act had quietly vanished from the media space. He wisely removed himself, because Electoral Act 2022 did not change the game, and the introduction of technology failed in a manner worse than the Titanic.

The usual factors that had always abbreviated the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process proved resilient: there was violence across the states, the exploitation of religion and ethnicity, attempts at voter manipulation, suppression, vote buying by political actors, the rhetoric of hate, open disregard for the peace accords midwifed by General Abdusalam Abubakar’s National Peace Committee, late arrival of voting materials, poor co-ordination between INEC and other agencies involved in election management. INEC mismanaged the technology that it promised, swelling controversies about integrity and accountability. INEC’s excuse was “technological glitches. The people regarded this as an excuse for manipulation. Voter apathy was rife - for the Presidential election, voter turnout was 27%, about the lowest since 1999. The declared winner of the Presidential election, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won with 8.8 million votes, representing less than 10% of the record 93

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu million Nigerians who registered to vote. In terms of outcome, women representation in elective office was also poor. Many Nigerians however would further remember four things in the 2023 electoral process: Tinubu’s campaign slogan – “Emilokan” (it is my turn), the Obidient Movement which proved to be resilient, the dis-embowelling of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and what turned out to be the much-criticised, controversial role of the judiciary.

Nigerians are entering a new year with the hangover of the electoral experience of 2023.

The second stand-out issue of 2023 was the poor state of the economy. The statistics as collated and published by the National Bureau of Statistics and other agencies, including The World Bank largely confirmed how Nigeria in 2023 was a victim of stagflation, and multidimensional poverty. In the first half of 2023, GDP growth was 2.4%, rising to about 2.8% by the end of the second half. In June 2023, inflation rate was 22.79%, by November 2023, it was already 28.22% compared to 21,34% in December 2022. Food inflation was a major problem: 32.84% as of November 2023, following an increasing trend year on year. The heterodox policies adopted by the Federal Government did not help the people. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s wrong-headed introduction of new Naira notes of N200, N500, and N1, 000 resulted in cash scarcity, the scarcity of everything else and hardship. The government complained about poor revenue, the people groaned. Fuel price was N191 per litre in December 2022. On May 29, 2023, President Tinubu on the day of his inauguration as President announced that “fuel subsidy has been removed… it is gone”. This spontaneous declaration further compounded the people’s woes, driving the cost of petrol per litre to N626. Salaries have not been increased. More jobs have not been created.

The government says its plan is to obey the law, the Petroleum Industry Act (2021) which the Buhari administration failed to implement in full as the law requires. The Tinubu administration also argues that the removal of fuel subsidy will curb inefficiency and corruption and generate more revenue for the government. Many economists attest to the fact more money has been saved as a result of subsidy removal, hence the sharp increase in federal allocations to the states. But how has this impacted on the people?

What the people see is the conspicuous consumption by their elected representatives at both national and sub-national levels, while the people wallow in abject poverty. The Tinubu administration also harmonized the foreign exchange rate, but the naira has continued

on a downward spiral against the dollar, even when the dollar is in a weak state. Budget 2024 has been pegged at N800/$1 whereas on December 17, 2023, the CBN announced a new exchange rate of N951/$1, and by December 2023, the parallel market rate was N1,233/$1. Capital importation in 2023 was low, with 27 states of the Federation getting zero FDI. Many companies have left Nigeria – GSK, P&G, Sanofi, Unilever, Bolt Food, Sanofi, Jumia due to a poor operating environment.

The irony is that since the assumption of office, President Tinubu has been very active wooing investors from all over the world to come to the Nigerian market. His key economic managers – Minister of Finance, Wale Edun and CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso have been most emphatic in reminding Nigerians that the Buhari administration left Nigeria in a miserable economic state. The country’s public debt stock for example was N49, 85 trillion in Q1 2023, by the end of Q2, it had risen to N87.38 trillion indicating a growth rate 75.27% on a quarter-on-quarter basis. Yet, in the 2024 budget, Nigeria is planning to borrow more! The economic crisis that Nigeria faces was driven home on Friday, December 29, when as President Tinubu’s long and conspicuous convoy made its way to the Lagos Central Mosque, the hapless people of Lagos kept shouting: “Ebi n pa wa oh” (We are hungry!). It was a telling moment, underscoring the rich-poor social gap in Nigeria.

The third issue is the insecurity in the land. Nigerians had voted for General Muhammadu Buhari with the firm belief that he being a military general and a war hero would be able to take the war to the bandits, insurgents and terrorists making life impossible in many parts of the country: terrorism in the North East, insurgency in the North Central, crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, illegal mining in the North West, kidnapping and agitations in the South East and South West. Buhari’s spokespersons including those who went about with the specious title of Buharists kept selling the lie that the government had decimated terrorists. The truth is that the Buhari administration left the country in a worse state security-wise than it met it. As events unfolded, the year came to an end with attacks on over 50 communities in Plateau state Local Government Areas of Bokkos, Mangu and Barkin Ladi on Christmas eve and on Christmas Day and after. It was reported that about 200 people were killed, over 300 were injured, over 10, 000 were displaced, becoming refugees in their own country.

There have also been reports of attacks in Zamfara and Taraba states. For more than two decades, Nigerians have not been able to enjoy the full benefits of Section 14 (2b) of the 1999 Constitution which says that “the purpose of government shall be the security and welfare of the people”. The sad thing is that for decades, the Nigerians government set up so many judicial commissions of inquiry on the crisis on the Plateau beginning with Justice Fiberesima Commission, 1994, Justice Niki Tobi 2001, Justice Bola Ajibola, 2009, the Justice Disu Commission and the Sankey Commission. There have also been similar interventions such as the Presidential Peace Initiative Committee on Plateau State, 2004, the Plateau Peace Conference 2004, the Plateau Peace Conference, 2004 and the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Jos Crisis. What happened to the findings and recommendations? Why has nothing changed? Why is the situation deteriorating? The Jos Council of Traditional rulers had to cancel the celebration of Christmas 2023 in Plateau. State. The people entered the new year on a note of grief and sadness.

Their grief was compounded by the strange explanation by the Defence Headquarters that it indeed received over 30 distress calls before and during the carnage, but the troops could not intervene because the terrain was difficult. The same terrain where criminals operated freely for hours and days?

The Inspector General of Police has since deployed a team led by a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) to investigate what happened. Medicine after death! The strangest of all was the Commander of Operation Safe Haven, having the temerity to tell the grieving people

of Plateau state that it was the devil’s handiwork, and that the situation could have been worse, the military was overwhelmed. Thus, “Operation Safe Haven” has not been able to provide any safety in Plateau state, and to see that a military General would be so dumb as to blame the Devil points to the height of insensitivity.

The fourth major issue in 2023 is the lack of trust and confidence in the government by the people of Nigeria. The people are alienated from those who govern them and the reason is not far to seek. At a time, the government of the day has been calling on the people as “heirs of the commonwealth” to make sacrifices and work together with government to move the country forward, people are miffed to see people in government not willing to make any sacrifice. President Tinubu has promised the people “Renewed Hope” but he is running the most bloated government since 1999. The National Assembly has increased Budget 2024 with N1.2 trillion bringing the new total to N28.7 trillion. The lawmakers are obviously more interested in their own perks and privileges. Two per cent of the budget is ear-marked for education in a country where there are over 20.1 million children out of school. The allocation for sports development is a paltry N31.24 billion – 0.11% of the Budget. Meanwhile, the lawmakers have earmarked N12.12 billion as take-off grant for the National Assembly library complex, and N3 billion for library books – a library that they have no intention of visiting; books that they may never read! They also want to build a car park with N3 billion. Nigerians have every reason to be angry.

Leadership should be about service not self-interest, pursued with unbridled greed.

It is just as well that the President has acknowledged the people’s pains. In his New Year broadcast, he said inter alia: “I am well aware that for some time now the conversations and debates have centred on the rising cost of living, high inflation which is now above 28% and the unacceptable high under-employment rate. From the board rooms at Broad Street in Lagos to the main streets of Kano and Nembe creeks in Bayelsa, I hear the groans of Nigerians who work hard every day to provide for themselves and their families. I am not oblivious to the expressed and sometimes unexpressed frustrations of my fellow citizens. I know for a fact that some of our compatriots are even asking if this is how our administration wants to renew their hope.” It is good to know that the President knows what the people are going through. It is important for him to know that as they enter a new year, the people also have high expectations, meeting those expectations should be the government’s priority in 2024 to bridge the gap of alienation and rebuild trust and confidence.

The people want the high cost of living reduced.

The President must remember the people’s chorus on his way to the Central Mosque in Lagos (“Ebi n pa wa”). Governments at all levels must address the scourge of food inflation. Every step must be taken to create an enabling environment for businesses to flourish, and for the economy to become productive.

The government must also tackle high corruption, not by harassing people but by setting up processes and mechanisms to check it. The report of the CBN independent investigator must not be swept under the carpet. The investigator may have gone beyond his brief by making specific recommendations- that task should have been left to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation or a committee set up for that purpose. Nonetheless, government must take a look at the findings. The conversation about electoral reform, constitutional amendments is already on-going. The National Assembly must be encouraged to embark on that task very early, far ahead of the next round of general elections. The professional political class and civil society must act as opposition and play their part as true “heirs of the commonwealth”. Government must step up the war against insecurity. The New Year has started.

Time waits for no one.

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. Email: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. Telephone Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085, 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com