SUNDAY 9TH JANUARY 2022

Wike Urges Police to Arrest Crude Oil Thieves in Rivers Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt To end the environmental menace occasioned by black soot in Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike, has tasked the state police command to collaborate with other security

agencies, council chairmen and traditional rulers to arrest those involved in crude oil theft for prosecution.

The governor said the illegal bunkering and artisanal refining leading to black soot in the environment was endangering the health of residents of the

state.

Wike gave the charge at a dinner and award night for officers of the Rivers State Police Command, held at the Police Officers Mess, Port Harcourt.

Represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Emeka Woke,

the governor declared that the state government had resolved to tackle those involved in crude oil theft and refining.

Wike stated that the state government was willing to provide the police and other security agencies all that would be required to dislodge and

end the activities of artisanal refiners in the state.

According to the governor, "the state is prepared to fight them more than ever before."

He narrated that since the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Friday Eboka assumed duties last year, Rivers State has

witnessed peace and improved policing.

"Little wonder the crime index in the state has reduced drastically. We thought we are the only people witnessing it, but with the award you got Continued on page 6

NERC Rakes N938.5m from Importers of Generating Sets, Others... Page 5 Sunday 9 January, 2022 Vol 27. No 9770

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APC Govs Hold Crucial Meeting Today on Future of Party Buni-led committee meets Tuesday To submit convention schedule to Buhari this week

Chuks Okocha in Abuja Following the uncertainty over the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has tentatively

been scheduled for February, a crucial meeting of the governors elected under the platform of the party will hold today to decide whether the exercise will hold or be postponed.

President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the National Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the APC headed

by Governor Mai Mala Buni

of Yobe State to immediately prepare the timetable for the national convention.

The Buni-led committee will meet on Tuesday to prepare a schedule for the convention,

which will be submitted to the president this week.

Also, amid the alleged claim that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has zoned its 2023 presidential ticket to the northern

part of the country, the main opposition party yesterday restated that it had not zoned the ticket to any zone.

Continued on page 5

Outraged by Zamfara Massacre, Buhari Vows to Hunt Down Terrorists Northern govs back deployment of Super Tucano Jets against bandits Military invades terrorists’ market in Borno, kills three fighters FG seeks divine intervention to end security challenges

Chuks Okocha, Kinglsey Nwezeh in Abuja and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Following the massacre of over 200 people by bandits in some parts of Zamfara State, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday vowed to hunt down and eliminate terrorists, including those who committed the mass killings in the state.

This came as governors of the 19 northern states of the federation have however lauded the federal government for approving the deployment of the newly acquired Super Tucano fighter jets to rout the bandits in some parts of the country.

The governors equally commended the government for declaring bandits as terrorists.

Also, in a fierce encounter, troops of 5 Brigade, Sector 3 Joint Task Force (JTF) of the Operation Hadin Kai in the North-east have killed three terrorists in a market in Damasak, Borno State.

Continued on page 8

JOY OF FATHERHOOD… L-R: Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN); bride, Fatima Zahra Adamu; Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan; and Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, at the wedding fathia of the minister's daughter in Azare, Bauchi State…yesterday

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10TH YEAR REMEMBRANCE… L-R: President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Mrs. Comfort Olu-Eyitayo; Wife of the late Adebajo Babington-Ashaye, Dr. Funmi Adebajo Babington-Ashaye; Akarigbo of Remoland, Ogun State, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi; former Minister of Industry/former President, LCCI, Mrs. Nike Akande; and a member of ICAN Council, Mrs. Uma-Onyemenam Njum, at the 10th year memorial anniversary church service in honour of Adebajo Babington-Ashaye, held at All Saints’ Church, Yaba, Lagos...yesterday

NERC Rakes N938.5m from Importers of Generating Sets, Others Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) generated approximately N938.5 million from fees collected from importers of generators and other internal revenue sources from June 2020 to June 2021, an analysis of the data for the four quarters provided by the industry regulator, has shown.

NERC had in 2013 introduced a N25,000 charge per unit of 100KVA generator imported into the country in its guidelines for obtaining clearance certificate for the importation of generating sets and related matters.

It also fixed a charge of N3,500 per unit of between 25kva and 100kva generators imported into the country, while generators between 5kva and 25kva attract a charge of N1,000 per unit.

Furthermore, it resolved to begin the collection of N250 per unit of between 2.5kva and 5kva, while between 0.45 Kva and 2.5 Kva generators attract a charge of N150 per unit.

The amount collected by NERC is exclusive of duties and other taxes paid by the importers in the country.

Nigeria still relies largely on generating sets to power its over $400 billion economy.

The Lagos State government had in October 2021 revealed that as a result of the country’s inefficient and over-centralised electricity supply system, residents of the state alone, generated over 4,500MW daily through the use of generators.

Details of the financial position of the NERC showed that in the second quarter (Q2) of 2021, the IGR from fees arising from the importation of generator sets , licence processing and licencing fee was N431 million.

A breakdown of the amount showed that N20.23 million was generated in April, N160.79 million in May and N250.25 million in June of that year.

Furthermore, in the first quarter of 2021, NERC raked in N126.53 million, broken down into N50.80 million, N28.13 million and N47.60 million in January, February and March, respectively.

An analysis of the last six months of 2020 showed that in the third quarter of 2020, covering July, August and September, the industry regulator made N276.31 million from the same sources,

segmented into N71.10 million, N111.11 million and N94.10 million, in the three months.

Similarly, in the last three months of 2020, NERC raked in N104.88 million from import fee imposed on the sale of generating sets, among others.

However, the total operating levy received from market charges were N4.868 billion for Q2,2021 and N5.061 billion for Q1,2021.

Total revenue for the period was N5.299 billion and N5.18 billion respectively, with personnel cost gulping N1 billion and N1.88 billion respectively.

Before then, in the last six months of 2020, operating levy was N2.64 billion for Q3 and N2.19 billion for Q2, with personnel cost standing at N843 million and N1.17 billion for the two quarters.

But the commission's total expenditure profile for the period was N6.1 billion shared into N1.6, N1.0 billion, N2.0 billion and N1.44 billion for the period spanning June 2020 to June 2021.

“During the quarter under review (Q2,2021), the total revenue realized by the commission was N5.30 billion, about 2.12 per cent higher than the N5.19

billion revenue realised in the preceding quarter.

“There was a 230 per cent rise in other internally generated revenue while the operating levy (i.e., market charges) recorded a decline of 3.75 per cent.

“The higher revenue recorded in 2021/Q2 was partly due to the recovery of outstanding licencing fees and the fund released from the statutory budget for capital project.

“During the same period, the total (capital and recurrent) expenditure of the commission stood at N1.44 billion which is lower than the N2.01 billion

incurred during the first quarter of 2021,” NERC stated.

For Q3, 2020, it pointed out that the total revenue that accrued to the commission was N2.93 billion, representing an increase of 31 per cent from the revenue recorded in the second quarter and a decrease of 10 per cent from the revenues recorded in the first quarter.

“Notwithstanding the improvement in revenues, the commission’s expenditure declined to N1.05 billion in the quarter from N1.36 billion in the second quarter and N1.94billion in the first quarter.

“Similarly, liabilities also declined to N123 million from N218 million in the preceding quarter. The observed decline in expenditure was due largely to the reduction in operating activities of the commission as a result of the Covid-19 movement restriction imposed by the government,” it stated.

As for the summary of the commission's revenue and expenditure during the third and fourth quarters of 2020, it stated that the total revenue realised by the commission N1 .95 billion, about 33.35 per

APC GOVS HOLD CRUCIAL MEETING TODAY ON FUTURE OF PARTY While some leaders of the APC such as the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu had urged Buni’s committee to postpone the National Convention to enable the conclusion of the nationwide reconciliation, others, including the DirectorGeneral of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman, had written the party leadership, insisting that shifting the convention would destroy the party.

With Buhari’s directive that the Buni-led committee should submit clear details of the convention, the committee will meet on Tuesday to prepare the timetable and submit it to the president before Friday.

Today’s meeting of the governors, THISDAY learnt, will set the stage for the emergence of the presidential candidate of the party, the party’s national chairman and the gubernatorial candidates in the states.

A source close to the APC governors told THISDAY yesterday that the governors were divided on the issue of holding the convention next month.

According to him, some of the governors wanted the exercise to hold next month to ensure that reconciliations that may arise after the convention are fully addressed before next year’s general election.

“Some APC governors are of the view that there is enough time to give 21 days’ notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and hold the convention in February 2022.

"But other governors argue that the exercise should be

postponed because there are crises in the states and the state executives are yet to be inaugurated. These governors are of the view that all the crises should be resolved before the convention,” he explained.

The source acknowledged that there are over 80 factions of the APC within the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to the source, "we have crises in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Kwara, Kano, Lagos, Ogun, Zamfara and other states."

He further disclosed that the Ogun State chapter alone has three factions.

"The crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the party is mainly between the group loyal to Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and the faction led by Governor Dapo Abiodun which enjoys the confidence of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

"The third group in the state is loyal to former governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba, which isn’t affiliated yet to any of the two mainstream groupings. Lagos State chapter has five factions.

“The Ekiti State chapter of the party is also embroiled in factional crisis but the matter has become sub-judice, considering that the faction loyal to APC National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, is already in court, against the mainstream faction, loyal to Governor Kayode Fayemi.

"There are factions in Zamfara State led by former Governor Yari and Senator Marafa on one side and the governor, Mr. Matawalle Bello on the other side.

"We have a factional crisis in Delta and Anambra States.

We also have many pending court cases and some governors believe that all these should be addressed before the National Convention,” he explained.

He further disclosed that following President Buhari’s directive, the Buni-led committee will meet on Tuesday to prepare the timeline for the convention as requested by the president.

"If the draft timetable is easily acceptable, a National Executive Committee (NEC) would be summoned and the zoning arrangement would be settled,” the source added.

He explained that the publicity, venue, accreditation finance and other committees would easily be addressed, adding that "all these depend on the outcome of the two meetings on Sunday (today) and Tuesday.”

We Have Not Zoned Presidential Ticket, PDP Tells Aliyu, Others Meanwhile, following the alleged claim that the PDP has zoned its 2023 presidential ticket to the northern part of the country, the main opposition party yesterday restated that it had not zoned the ticket to any zone.

A former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu was quoted as telling the members of the Atiku Support Organisation on Friday that the PDP had zoned its presidential ticket to the northern part of the country.

Aliyu had reportedly told the

members of the organisation who visited him in Minna that he was confident of the success of the group, stressing that the party’s decision was a result of the requests of members.

But in a swift reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, in a statement issued yesterday, completely debunked the claims.

In the statement titled, ‘2023: We Have Not Zoned Our Presidential Ticket –PDP,’ the party said: "Its attention has been drawn to comments and speculations from certain individuals claiming that our party has zoned its presidential ticket to a particular part of the country.

"This is completely misleading as it does not in any way represent the position of our party.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP emphatically and unequivocally states that it has not zoned its presidential ticket to any part of the country.

"The PDP is a political party founded on democratic principles and every action of the party, including zoning, is based on extensive consultations, discussions and consideration of all the issues as well as the various tendencies and interests across the nation, with the main objective of ensuring that the unity, peaceful co-existence and development of our nation are reinforced and promoted.

"The PDP, therefore, urges Nigerians, our teeming members and supporters to completely disregard the unfounded zoning claims as being peddled. Our party also cautions those behind

the claims to desist forthwith.

"The PDP thanks Nigerians across the board for the overwhelming interest they have in our party as their sure platform to rescue and rebuild our nation from misrule and urges them to remain united and focused as we join forces for the task ahead,” the statement

by Olugunagba explained.

Many northern governors and the 17 southern governors had thrown their weight behind the clamour for power shift to the southern part of the country in 2023 to ensure justice and fair play.

Some of the northern governors include Professor Babagana Zulum (Borno); Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina); Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Samuel Ortom (Benu) and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), among others.

The southern governors under the leadership of the Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, had also, irrespective of political affiliation, given a strong position that power “must move to the South in 2023.”

Since 1999 when democracy returned under this dispensation, former President Olusegun Obasanjo governed from (19992007); the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (2007 – 2010); former President Goodluck Jonathan (2010-2015); and President Muhammadu Buhari (2015-2023).

With the north completing eight years in 2023, it is expected that power will shift to the south.

However, some politicians from the north are working hard to retain power beyond 2023.

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PROJECT INSPECTION… L-R: Ogun State Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Jagunmolu Akande Omoniyi; Governor Dapo Abiodun; and the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, during the inspection of Gateway City Gate in Abeokuta…yesterday

Family Alleges Negligence as Another Boarding Student Dies in Anambra David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka As controversy continues to trail the death of a boarding student of Dowen College, Lagos, Sylvester Oromoni, another boarding house

student of St. Michael’s Boys College, Ozubulu, Anambra State, Master Chimdalu Onyekwuluje has reportedly died.

Onyekwuluje, a JSS 2 student of the school, aged 11 was

said to have died as a result of negligence on the part of the school management, who allegedly refused to call his parents to pick him up after he took ill.

It was a pitiful sight at Uzoakwa, Ihiala, Anambra State, where the deceased boy was buried as family members and neighbours wailed when the child was interred in his family

Three Nigerians Among Eight Suspected Pirates Freed in Denmark Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Three suspected Nigerian pirates who were arrested after surviving heavy gunfire from a Danish frigate last November have been freed by the authorities in the country.

The three were among eight suspects who allegedly attacked a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Guinea last year, killing four people, while one was seriously wounded.

The fourth, who was injured and had his leg amputated appeared in court in Copenhagen at the weekend, where he was charged with the attempted manslaughter of Danish soldiers.

However, the three other suspected Nigerian pirates picked up by a Danish frigate at the same time and who faced the same charges were freed after Denmark said it failed to find a country in the region to take them.

The three, who had been detained aboard the frigate Esbern Snare in the Gulf of Guinea, were put to sea in a small dinghy, an inflatable rubber boat, with enough food and fuel

for them to reach safely to shore, after the charges against them were withdrawn.

"They have no relation to Denmark, and the crime they have been charged with was committed far from Denmark.

They simply do not belong here, and that's why I think it's the right thing to do," Danish Justice Minister, Nick Haekkerup, said in a statement.

The frigate, which deployed off West Africa in October, intervened in an alleged attack on a commercial vessel the following month, killing the four pirates and taking another four suspects on board the frigate.

According to the Danish Armed Forces, Denmark has since failed to find a country in the region to agree to take the four, a Reuters report indicated.

The fourth surviving suspect, who was taken to a hospital in Ghana was later brought to Denmark for prosecution because he could not safely be released at sea due to his medical condition.

The suspect pleaded not guilty to attempted manslaughter of Danish soldiers. His lawyer Birgitte Skjodt was reported

as telling broadcaster TV2 that she asked for the charges against her client to be withdrawn, as was done for the other three suspects.

Prosecutor Karen Moestrup Jensen for Denmark's Special Crime Unit (SCU) said the investigation into the incident would continue.

Denmark deployed the frigate to the Gulf of Guinea to protect shipping amid heightened security risks from pirates last year October.

The waters have been a piracy hotspot for years, but incidents have decreased since national authorities stepped up security efforts aided by foreign naval ships.

During their capture, the armed had stated: "No Danish soldiers were injured, but five pirates were shot. Four of the pirates died. One was injured."

The authorities in Denmark stressed that the Danish forces fired warning shots, and the pirates immediately fired back.

"The Danish soldiers acted in self-defence and returned fire," the statement said.

At the time, Danish Prime

Minister Mette Frederiksen told a news conference that the soldiers' intervention had "probably prevented concrete pirate attacks against vessels in the region."

The head of the federation of Danish ship owners, Anne Steffensen, praised the intervention, saying that: "The presence of Danish soldiers is absolutely necessary and, even if this appears harsh, piracy has a price."

After the shooting, the pirate ship sank and the eight pirates were brought aboard the frigate, where a seriously injured one of their number was treated, the statement added.

The Danish navy had said they spotted a fast-moving vessel carrying eight suspected pirates near a number of commercial ships.

The incident took place in international waters,25 to 30 nautical miles south of Nigeria’s territorial boundary, a spokesman noted, saying that the motorboat, spotted by a helicopter deployed by the frigate, was carrying equipment associated with piracy, including ladders.

compound.

The parents of the deceased, Prince Cornelius and Ogochukwu Onyekwuluije who spoke to journalists during the burial of their son said even when the student’s health had deteriorated, the school management insisted that he must remain in school to finish his examinations before he would be released, saying the decision was the reason for his death.

The student had reportedly died on December 17, 2021, nine days after he was picked up by the parents from St. Michael’s Boys College.

This was after a cousin to the deceased borrowed a phone to alert the parents that the boy was ill and that the school management was not ready to release him until he finished his exams.

Onyekwuluje said: “My son, Bright Chidalu Onyekwuluje died out of negligence on the part of the school. He was sick, and they refused to tell us. It was my son’s cousin that borrowed a phone to call his mother to inform us to come and pick Bright that he was dying.

“He told us he has been the one backing him from the school hostel to the classroom every day, to sit for exams.

“Even after the call, I reached the guardian of my son, but he lied to me that the boy was okay and that it was nothing serious.

I insisted on coming from Port Harcourt, Rivers State where I live to pick him, and they insisted it was nothing serious.

“When I insisted I must see him, I was surprised the boy looked so bad that he was already

dying. I asked the guardian if this was the boy he said was alright, but he did not answer.

Now I have lost my only son,” he cried.

However, the principal of St Michael’s Boys College, Rev. Fr. Romanus Ike Muoma, has denied that the school management delayed the release of the student to his parents.

Muoma who spoke to THISDAY in his office during a visit, said: “The boy was seen here in school moving about with other students, days before his father came. What we have here (college) is not an auxiliary nurse, but a qualified nurse from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, and we pay heavily for his services.

“The boy was diagnosed with malaria, and was immediately put on treatment, and afterwards, he was okay. When it was found that the boy was ill again, it was the guardian that called the parents to come and take him.”

When told that the deceased’s cousin who had called the parent to alert them of the illness was punished by the school for doing so, Muoma said the boy was only made to kneel for some minutes, saying it was against the rule for students to call parents, as calls are only made from a central point by the management.

Onyekwuluje’s family has however indicated its interest to pursue justice for their son.

Mr Ben Onyekwuluje, elder brother of the deceased boy’s father, said a petition had been sent to the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba, insisting that the family would stop at nothing until justice is served.

patrol vehicles fitted with modern gadgets from the State government. This gesture alone enhanced visibility policing in the state.

"Recall too, when we lost men to miscreants in sometimes April 2021, the governor did not allow us to suffer alone.

He wiped the tears of the deceased families with a total sum N220 million, which means each family received the sum of N20 million.

"Recall the #ENDSARS saga.

At the end of that saga, which led to the burning down of police stations and vehicles

across the nation, the state governor did not abandon us to work under the trees.

Rather, the governor constructed a storey building each for the Area Command, Oyigbo and the Divisional Police in Oyigbo."

The recipients of the Rivers State Police Command 2021 awards are: G.I.A Godstime Nwuju, best traffic officer; Inspector Winfrey Ini Akpan, best controller; CSP Bako Aghashim, best DPO; CSP Grace Wonwu, best female DPO; and the best visiting tactical team leader went to CSP Adamu.

WIKE URGES POLICE TO ARREST CRUDE OIL THIEVES IN RIVERS from the wife of the Inspector General of Police, it is an eloquent testimony that what we are seeing as a state, is also being observed from all the nation."

The governor said policing in Rivers State has improved remarkably because the management of the Nigeria Police Force at the Force Headquarters and the State Command, respectively distanced themselves from politics.

"As a state, we will continue to support the security agencies in the state. Our support for

security agencies is not only centered on Police Force. We are also extending similar gesture to the Navy, Air force and others.

"For us, we believe the primary function of any responsible government is to protect life and property. So, we have no option than to continue to support in providing logistics and everything that can make the security agencies in the State to function very well.

"Because we believe that if our people are safe and the life here is peaceful, there will be increase in economics activities

and the Internally Generated Revenue will also go up."

Wike commended the CP for discharging his duties professionally.

He, however, announced N1million reward for each of the recipients of the Rivers State Police Command award and N10 million to the command for organising the event.

Speaking, Commissioner of Police, Eboka explained that 2021 was a remarkable year for the command because Rivers State emerged as one of the most peaceful state in Nigeria.

He thanked Almighty God

for his grace and Inspector General of Police for choosing Rivers State as the venue for the launching of South-South Operation Restore Peace.

According to him, "this came with the deployment of special forces with sophisticated equipment as well as combat helicopter to the state".

He commended Governor Wike for being very phenomenal in the attainment of peace and security in the state.

"Since my assumption of office, the command has received more than 50

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Osinbajo: Ethnicity, Religion Can’t Separate Nigeria Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday expressed faith in the indivisibility of Nigeria, insisting that ethnicity, religion or class would not separate Nigeria.

He made this remark during a courtesy visit to the palace of Umar Farouk, Emir of Katagum, Umar Farouk shortly after attending wedding of Fatima Adamu, daughter of Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education, in Azare, Bauchi State.

Osinbajo observed that that the roll-call of guests at the wedding “is evidence of Nigeria’s indivisibility regardless of ethnicity, religion and class.”

At Farouk’s palace, the vice-president said: “This is one occasion where you will find that our country is truly a united country and that nothing can separate this country, not ethnicity or religion or class.

“There is nothing that can separate this country.

In fact, this is excellent evidence of the fact that this country is united.”

He commended the Emir of Katagum for ensuring unity among everyone residing in the emirate, noting that Katagum Emirate “is a place where your Royal Highness has continuously demonstrated the willingness to accommodate people from all parts of the country.”

He also commended the education minister for believing in a united country and also building bridges across party and religious

lines to affirm his belief.

“Every one of us is here because of our personal relationship with you, this is the way leadership should be,” the vice president explained.

Alongside the vice president,

the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu also graced the wedding, which held at Azare, the headquarters of Katagum Emirate.

Among others, Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed; Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum; Yobe State Governor, Mallam Mai Mala Buni; Plateau State Governor,

Senator Simon Lalong and Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Badaru Abubakar, attended the wedding.

The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Mallam Isa Pantami;

Minister of Information and Culture; Alhaji Lai Muhammed; Minister of State for Education, Prof. Emeka Nwajioba and top government functionaries equally graced the ceremony.

EXECUTIVE VISITOR… L-R: Wife of the General Overseer, The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, Mrs. Joy Muoka; General Overseer, Pastor Lazarus Muoka; and Bayelsa State ETOP UKUTT Governor, Mr. Duoye Diri, at the church’s annual convention in Lagos…yesterday

OUTRAGED BY ZAMFARA MASSACRE, BUHARI VOWS TO SMOKE OUT TERRORISTS The federal government has however stated that the fight against insecurity and other challenges would need divine intervention.

The terrorists had on Tuesday and Wednesday attacked Rafin Danya, Barayar Zaki, Rafin Gero and Kurfa villages in Anka and Bukkuyum local government areas (LGAs) in the state.

They were said to be fleeing from Zamfara State as a result of ongoing military operations, when they invaded the villages and killed over 200 people.

Reacting to the incident, President Buhari yesterday vowed to hunt down and eliminate terrorists in the country.

He said the ongoing offensive against criminals would get more intense.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the president, who was outraged by the mindless massacre, described the Zamfara killings as an act of desperation by a routed band of criminals currently under heavy military attack.

The president assured Nigerians, especially those living in communities that have recently suffered terrorist attacks, that banditry would soon be history.

Buhari said: “The latest attack on innocent people by the bandits is an act of desperation by mass murderers, now under relentless pressure from our military forces who are well equipped to effectively confront these enemies of humanity.

“In keeping with my commitment to tackle the monster of terrorism head on, let me reassure these besieged communities and other Nigerians that this government will not abandon them to their fate

because we are more than ever determined to get rid of these outlaws.

“These criminals will be history because we are not going to relent in our current military operations to get rid of these thugs who have been terrorising innocent people.

“We are fiercely determined to smoke out and destroy these outlaws who have no regard for the sanctity of life.”

The president sympathised with the survivors and families of the victims.

“The Army and the Air Force are working together to get rid of these callous criminals as they acquire more equipment to track down and eliminate criminal gangs that are subjecting innocent people to the reign of terror, including illegal imposition of taxes on the communities under siege,” the statement added.

Northern Govs Back Deployment of Super Tucano Jets against Bandits Meanwhile, the governors of the 19 northern states of the federation have lauded the federal government for approving the deployment of the newly acquired Super Tucano fighter jets to rout the bandits in some parts of the country.

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, who is also the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, made the commendation when he addressed State House correspondents after a closeddoor meeting with President Buhari in Abuja at the weekend.

He expressed the happiness of the Northern states over the recent declaration of bandits as

terrorists by the government.

He said: “Well, in terms of security, we are already beginning to see progress on some of the issues we raised with the president last year; you recall that we have been very eager to see the use of the Tucano helicopters so that we can have massive engagement with all the bandits.

“Part of the problem was also the status of the bandits and already, you can see that the Nigerian government has declared them as a terrorist group.

“So, the military is now going to do full engagement and we are also getting prepared in the North for such actions.

“That is what we are expecting so if we are going to take action, let it be massive and such that will ensure that within the first quarter of this year, people will have hope of their security and peaceful living in all parts of the North.”

The governor stressed the need for drastic measures against the bandits and other criminals, saying such actions had become imperative to ensure a conducive environment for farmers to boost food production across the states.

“We are expecting this action before the next rainy season.

You recall we mentioned that we are an agrarian society so, we want our people to go back to farm and, in most cases, it is this insecurity that is keeping them away from the farms,” he added.

He reiterated that the governors would continue to collaborate with traditional rulers and local vigilantes to safeguard their domains.

Meanwhile, troops of 5 Brigade, Sector 3 Joint Task Force (JTF) of Operation Hadin Kai

have killed three terrorists in a market in Damasak, Borno State.

A statement issued yesterday by the Nigerian Army said troops clashed with the terrorists in an illegal market operated by the terrorists in Gallo Malawari Village.

The statement signed by Army Spokesman, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, said three fighters of the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) were neutralised in the market during a gun duel.

"Troops, while consolidating on their dogged push to deplete Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province Terrorists (ISWAP) in Borno State, recorded a decisive victory against the terrorists in Damask on Friday, January 7, 2022.

"The gallant troops, while conducting clearance operations, code-named Operation Dominance I, came in contact with the terrorists at an illegal market operated by the terrorists in Gallo Malawari Village", it said.

"In the fierce encounter, three BH/ISWAP terrorists were neutralised, while others, bowing to superior firepower retreated in disarray," it said.

The statement further stated that troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, a truck, two motorcycles, four empty magazines and rounds of 7.62mm ammunition among others.

FG Seeks Divine Intervention to End Security Challenges In a related development, the federal government has said that the fight against insecurity and other challenges would need divine intervention.

The Minister of State for

Agriculture, Mr. Mustapha Babai, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the National Prayer Session for Nigeria, organised yesterday by the Kano State Government, said the current administration has been up and doing to overcome the security challenges bedevilling the country.

According to him, the federal government had not rested on its oars in supporting security personnel with needed equipment and welfare in a bid to bring the insecurity to an end.

"Despite the support, there is a need to seek divine intervention for the Almighty to bring an end to the challenges."

He also commended the Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, for taking the giant spiritual commitment towards making Nigeria peaceful.

"I am very happy with this initiative. Indeed Ganduje is doing well in securing Kano and in giving his quota to achieving peace in the country at large.

"No doubt, Nigeria is facing security challenges and we are doing our best to support the security personnel. That does not mean we should not seek divine intervention. This prayer session is part of the interventions and I commend the state governor for this," he said.

Also in his remarks, Ganduje thanked President Buhari for his efforts to ensure Kano remains peaceful by deploying security agents to secure the state.

Saraki Condemns Killing of over 200 in Zamfara In another development, former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has condemned

the carnage perpetrated by terrorists in Zamfara State, where over 200 people were massacred.

Saraki disclosed that during the #SaveBagega lead poisoning crisis in 2013, he visited the people of Anka Local Government Area of the state, where he met a determined and resilient community that worked hard to build a buoyant local economy.

He lamented that the same vibrant community has become a place of carnage and called for long-lasting solutions to the security challenges in the country.

“My heart goes out to the families and communities that have experienced the tragic loss and injury of loved ones, the destruction of their property, and the interruption of their livelihoods.

“Today, as we all mourn these terrible attacks in both Anka and Bukkuyum LGAs in Zamfara State, we owe the families and all other affected communities across the nation a brighter future.

“In January 2013, during the #SaveBagega lead poisoning crisis, I spent some time with the people of Anka LGA, Zamfara.

There I met a determined and resilient community that worked hard to build a buoyant local economy.

“Today, that same vibrant community has become a place of carnage. My heart is heavy, and truly there's anger too because we cannot continue like this. We must find long-lasting solutions to this insecurity. We will In sha Allah.

“I believe that this brighter future is possible because I have experienced first-hand the desire and enthusiasm that the people in Anka, Bukkuyum, and other similar communities have shown for a better life and a more secure future,” Saraki explained.

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EDITORIAL

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

AS AFCON BEGINS IN CAMEROON… It’s time again for players to show themselves while entertaining the world

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s the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON) kicks off today in Cameroon with 24 countries featuring at the biggest football show piece on the continent, the tournament highlights how football remains a powerful and unifying force.

Held biannually since inception in 1957, AfCON has been used to celebrate the continent while offering a purely African content to what is universally recognised as the ‘beautiful game’. We therefore hope that this tournament, like the previous ones, will offer quality entertainment and that at the end, the best side will win.

However, this tournament is coming amid disruptions by COVID-19 which has led to loss of jobs across all sectors and forced many nations into lockdown mode since the spike in the pandemic in December 2019. But authorities on the continent have also shown resilience by insisting on going ahead with the event in the face of postponement, uncertainties and worries about cancellation arising from backlash from European clubs hesitant to release players out of The special place concern of AfCON in the for injuries and international COVID-19.

Players football calendar from 16 of the 20 Premier is quite unique.

League team The tournament are involved at the tournapredates the Euroment, with Leeds Championship and is only United, Newreputed for yielding castle United, Norwich City the stage to some of and Spurs not the best players that represented.

And there has ply their trade all over been a controversy about the world to exhibit the release of these players, their talent especially from England. With African players being asked whether they would like to represent their countries, former Arsenal striker, Ian Wright and Crystal Palace manager, Patrick Vieira

Letters to the Editor

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ladimir Putin was a KGB officer when the Berlin Wall fell and his greatest wish was to couple back the Soviet Union. Little wonder he strategically positioned himself in politics and he was noted for his loyalty when he served in Saint Petersburg.

Now Putin is doing everything possible to gain the world, to be a world power. For Putin, it’s no longer about Ukraine, South Osse-

have called on footballing authorities in Europe to show more respect for the continent and the tournament. "If it was the Euros or any other tournament, I don't think there would be any kind of conversation like this," said Nigerian international, William Troost-Ekong, who plays for the English premiership club, Watford, echoing the position of Ian Wright. "That would be ludicrous."

It is remarkable that the tournament is holding at last. Originally, it was due to be staged in 2019 but was moved to Egypt because Cameroon was deemed not ready with the necessary infrastructure. Then, it was scheduled to start in June 2021 but subsequently brought forward to January to avoid Cameroon's rainy season.

The tournament was then delayed to 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The special place of AfCON in the international football calendar is quite unique. The tournament predates the Euro-Championship and is reputed for yielding the stage to some of the best players that ply their trade all over the world to exhibit their talent. It is expected that today’s opening fixture between the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and the Stallions of Burkina Faso at the Olembe Stadium, Yaounde will produce the sparks and give football fans across the world an insight of what to expect in the next four weeks.

S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN DEPUTY EDITORS FESTUS AKANBI, EJIOFOR ALIKE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

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igeria is one of the six nations tipped to win the tournament. The Super Eagles will clash with the Mo Sallah-led Pharaohs of Egypt in the battle of the heavyweights on Tuesday in Garoua in their first match in Group D. This tournament also marks the 19th time Nigeria will be making appearance since the 1963 debut in Ghana. Nigeria also boasts of impressive record in the tournament having emerged champions on three different occasions: 1980, 1994 and 2013. The Super Eagles of Nigeria also finished second in 1984, 1988, 1990 and 2000 while they have finished third on eight different times, an accomplishment that remains a tournament benchmark.

While we implore the Super Eagles to make our country proud at the tournament, it is noteworthy that of all affiliated members of international football association that participate in all FIFA and CAF organised tournaments, our country is always the object of ridicule before, during and after most tournaments because of the way the NFF and Sports Ministry conduct their affairs.

In the management of travels, accommodation and match bonus, everything must be done to avert another emblem of shame this time. For the players, the greatest honour is to defend their national flag on behalf of millions of compatriots.

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (950- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

RUSSIA: TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT tia and Abkhazia. It is also about a free reign in Africa. His exploitation started in Central African Republic and now he is making incursions into Mali.

It has to be noted, Russia doesn’t have a time frame. Once they get it, they are in. I am irritated at his involvement in Mali because Mali is close to Nigeria. I hope we don’t start employing Russia mercenaries to fight banditry, I hope that will not rupture the spleen of Nigeria.

Why I am unsettled about Russia, despite the talks about fighting terrorism? Let’s not forget the Cold War never ended and Africa might just be a brewing ground.

Hopefully, we pray Africa continues to brew coffee and not dry Siberian vodka.

The emergence of the Wagner group, which is making incursions into Africa and which Putin has used as party planners for his friends is shocking. We all

saw the terrible role they played in CAR and is believed to be owned

by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman with close links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

I have always predicted that new wars fought will be through proxies, and those proxies will be military contractors and now it is happening on African soil.

In times like this, Africa must solve its own problems; we cannot forget the days of ECOMOG in a hurry, but now we look so weak to set up a force to

solve our problems. Why can’t we find a force like ECOMOG? We need to think deeply about the geopolitical implications of Russia on African soil and are we truly ready to face long term consequences? Above all, Africa must unite, as we start the Nations Cup. Africa is divided with Morocco fighting Algeria and Cameroon dealing with separatist challenges.

Let unity be our watch world, Africa must Unite.

– Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail.com

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾JANUARY 9, 2022

OPINION THE OLUBADAN AND THE OTHER IBADAN ‘OBAS’ There is only one crowned and paramount Oba in Ibadan, writes Olawale Oluwade “The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.”

- William Shakespeare, in Julius Caesar.

In my opinion, so is the good.

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ow, that’s a fitting preamble to this intervention. Former Governor Abiola Ajimobi (late) of Oyo State, evidently did some good deeds in the eight years he presided over the affairs of the state, from 2011-2019. However, and in a case of self-inflicted tragedy of epic proportions, he committed a couple of strategic and unpardonable blunders by which his era will forever be defined and tainted.

The chief of these fatal blunders is the Obaship imbroglio he deliberately orchestrated in cahoots with his minions in his government and elements within the Olubadan-in-Council (OIC) intended to whittle and erode the influence, majesty and glory of Ibadan’s supreme monarch, the Olubadan throne.

This he did, out of nothing but sheer hatred and spite for then Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji (late).

Initially, he was rebuffed by the members of the OIC and in unison threatened legal action. But as is normal with human beings, all but one reversed course and supported the emperor Governor in his dastardly shenanigan. That lone man of unblemished honor and integrity is former governor, High Chief Rasheed A. Ladoja.

What I find most stupefying in the entire saga is the case of then Otun Olubadan and by law and custom of the Olubadan selection process established since 1957, High Chief Lekan Balogun, the natural next in line to the exalted throne, for reasons best known to only him, and perhaps, Ajimobi, buckled and supported the process of becoming an “Oba” of a mere fiefdom rather than wait his turn to assume the Olubadan throne.

Let me put this in proper perspective. Oyo State has 33 local governments. Of these, Ibadan, the capital city, has 11 LGAs, and expectedly, these are by far, the political and economic jewels in the state’s glorious crown. Furthermore, Ibadan occupies a pride of place in the hearts of true Yoruba people.

Why? It was the old capital of then western region where the revered Premier, Chief Obafemi Awolowo presided. It equally boasts of many firsts; largest city in Nigeria, by geographical area and third most populous after Lagos and Kano. It is, indeed, the second largest city in Africa next only to Cairo in Egypt. It has the first university in Nigeria, the University of Ibadan (1948), first TV station in Africa, first skyscraper in

Africa, etc. The economy of this region rivaled or far exceeded those of Malaysia, Singapore and several others at the time.

In my case, although a proud Egba man by heritage, but born at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, raised and schooled from primary to secondary in the city in my critical formative years and my father’s house (now family house) situate there, I am unapologetically, deeply emotionally involved.

So, here’s my point. The Ajimobi instigated Obaship crisis has since become enmeshed in a convoluted legal and political fireworks. It’s also become protracted and complicated by the demise of the immediate Olubadan, Ajimobi’s main protagonist, who joined his ancestors a few days ago. In essence, there’s a vacant throne to be filled but then, by who? A brief recap of the current situation is important here.

When the trial court in Ibadan ruled in favor of the Olubadan by quashing Ajimobi’s infantile “Obaship” creation, Lekan Balogun and the others, in their respective capacities and official designations as “Obas” appealed to the Appellate court which, based on a technicality of law, reversed the decision of the high court and ordered a retrial. Enter Governor Seyi Makinde in 2019.

He initiated a peace deal or out of court settlement. After this was completed and “Settlement Terms” reached by all parties, “Oba” Lekan Balogun and his co-Obas rejected same and instead instituted a fresh trial at the high court. This is the prevailing status quo.

Consequently, with the Olubadan stool now vacant, is “Oba” Lekan Balogun, still the natural, legal and seamless, successor to this? Put this way, the man who’s claiming succession rights to the vacant throne is also an “Oba”. So, “can a “Oba” become an Oba?” Let me rephrase that; “Can a “Oba” wearing a crown vie to be crowned another “Oba”, with another crown?” (Watch Chief Lekan Balogun here in his own words https://youtu.be/ KAj9k861M6Q) Yoruba elders say; “A o ri iru eyi ri, afi ng deru ba oloro ni.”

That is, “Oh, we’ve not seen this before, is a statement made to scare those involved.” I think in this case, there’s actually no exaggeration. Why? Can anyone in any jurisdiction, within or

Can anyone in any jurisdiction, within or outside Yoruba land, kindly state for the records and posterity, where a crowned Oba is aspiring to be crowned Oba of another vacant royal stool?

outside Yoruba land, kindly state for the records and posterity, where a crowned Oba is aspiring to be crowned Oba of another vacant royal stool?

Now, this piece isn’t written so any could learn really.

Powerful men (including women and those aspiring to be like them) are usually prone to the destructive forces inherent within the human psyche or particular destiny; Pride. Anger.

Hatred. Jealousy. Envy. Covetousness. Ambition. Lust. Gluttony. Revelry. And so on…

Thus, it appears the same forces that propel men to power and wealth, eventually, and especially, when not effectively mastered, transmute to be their Achilles heel. Therefore, it is often common to see a man who was humble before getting power who is now as proud as a peacock in mating season.

Likewise, the one who could fast for months on end before being elevated, now can’t endure hunger.

Abiola Ajimobi was a classic tragic hero. He sought power repeatedly and eventually, the gods favored him. Yet, he became intoxicated and inebriated with it. The megalomaniac who was the undisputed “constituted authority.”

The emperor who in a fit of uncontrolled rage, ordered the demolition of the house and business premises of a physically challenged “political enemy” regardless of judicial injunction to the contrary! (His second diabolical error in my view!)

He goaded the gods and powers that be. He tempted fate. He dared the spirits of Ibadan ancestors. And he paid dearly for his folly! In his mind and that of his orchestra of sycophants, he’s got it all covered! After all, he was a sitting governor and he would install his successor as governor who would ensure his perfidious will was preserved. Then, he would proceed to the NASS as Senator and wield more power and influence from Abuja. On and on the permutations went in their warped but puny minds.

But alas, men still haven’t realized or failed to accept that; “there is a God Who rules in the affairs of men…” in this, Mama Peace, Dame Patience Jonathan, was spot on; “There is God oooo”, she cried! If only men truly understand how eternally profound this statement is.

Now, the task before Governor Seyi Makinde is quite straightforward. He needs to demand from the rebel “Obas” dubiously parading themselves as OIC, the following nonnegotiable conditions; – Olawale, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

A COUNTRY THAT ARMS KILLERS Kene Obiezu writes that those arming the terrorists in Nigeria should be exposed

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n a country where security personnel are neither sufficiently remunerated nor adequately armed to protect the tax payer, it is bemusedly ironical that small arms and ammunition in staggering numbers unaccountably float into the arms of those who kill Nigerians.

Two reports about arms in Nigeria`s season of insecurity recently jarred the bones of Nigerians leaking in the process an inexorable link between stray firearms and insecurity.

The first report rose from the Nigeria Police itself which said that between January and December 2021, it recovered no less than 1,889 weapons and 52,577 rounds of live ammunition from those who had no business having them. According to the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, CP Frank Mba, the recovered weapons included general purpose machine guns, rocket-propelled grenade, variants of Avtomat Kalashnikov, with the popular ones being AK- 47 and AK-49, and some locally-fabricated weapons.

If the report from the Nigeria Police was not chilling enough, the Auditor General of the Federation had more apocalyptic revelations coming for Nigerians. In a report referenced AuGF/ AR.2019/02 dated September 15,2021 and addressed to the Clerk to the National Assembly, the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation (OAuGF) disclosed that about 178,459 different types of arms and ammunition disappeared from the Nigeria Police armoury in 2019, without any trace or formal report on their whereabouts. Of the figure, 88,078 were AK-47 rifles and 3,907 assorted rifles and pistols from different formations nationwide.

These could not be accounted for as of January 2020.

In a country of diarrheal data, the alarmed can be sure that the number of arms and ammunition missing from the Nigeria Police armoury in the period in question was north of the figures from the office of the Auditor General. It raises the question of where the weapons are.

The Nigeria Police Force has said that there are in the country factories where these small arms are manufactured. In other words, they are businesses run by people. Invariably, those who run these factories of fatalities are merchants of deaths, vampire bats who suck the blood of Nigerians. It begs the question if the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria whose business it is to

manufacture arms and ammunition for Nigeria now competes with killers who set up rival factories and smile to the bank regularly. Again, it is the Police that is firmly in the eye of the storm. A Police Force unable to properly police the country that pays it is now losing arms to faceless, nameless and numberless killers.

The Presidency has alluded to the influx of weapons from countries where the rule of law has since taken a leave with chaos reigning supreme. If a sea of weapons indeed flows out from lawless countries like Libya where the environments breed killers masquerading as freedom fighters under weasellike characters, has the Giant of Africa become so stripped of strength that mushrooming mice now pull it all over the place?

At the end of guns, existential questions are being asked of a country beloved even by the gods. Bizarrely, a royal country makes its throne on a keg of gunpower. A country of unerring marksmen is now in danger of pulling the trigger on itself. Yet, some people profit with the chaos chewing up the country`s Northwest and Northeast at the hands of terrorists servicing the multiple streams of their incomes.

It was always going to be a nightmare of cyclopean proportions if Nigeria was to slide into the epic insecurity consuming African countries like Somalia, Mali and Libya to mention but a few. Insecurity in the Giant of Africa was always going to pose a gigantic problem not only to the citizens of the country or West Africa but Africa as a whole.

Today, Nigeria`s worst fears are being realized with many of the triggers pulled on Nigerians coming from within the country or otherwise being the macabre cross-border merchandise of those for whom blood profiteering is a billion-naira business. Meanwhile, insecurity continues to pound a once towering country into ruins. In Northwest Nigeria, bandits run free and wild, terrifying communities, amplifying agony and multiplying their millions.

In Northeast Nigeria, Boko Haram and ISWAP continue their malignant campaign of death, blazing a trail of blood, bile and bombed buildings. Women and girls have especially known persecution, marched to the precipice by those who mouth the name of a benevolent God in vain.

Those who annihilate Nigerian communities do not do so with their bare hands. Because their cowardice is inherent, no sooner would they attack communities than they would be overrun by residents many of whom have been hardened by the difficulties of rural life. Those who annihilate entire communities are often well armed. Many times, they wield arms superior to what Nigeria`s security forces boast. There have also been allegations, many of them credible, of how some members of Nigeria`s security forces sell arms to those who hunt Nigerians. When Nigeria`s security forces come under attack, arms and ammunition are seized.

Undoubtedly, it is time Nigerians knew those who arm, those who disarm those who should protect Nigerians.

Who are those who put into the hands of killers the guns which silence innocent children? Who are those who supply killers the mortar bombs that shell communities and plunge families into perpetual grief? Who are those who provide the weapons which panic even livestock while their owners flee to preserve life and limb?

Nigerians have a troubled relationship with the Police.

If anything, the leaks which allow arms disappear with no trace from the armoury of the Police are about to aggravate a severely strained relationship.

Why arms will disappear with no trace and without heads rolling remains a troubling question. But things cannot continue like this. As with the war against corruption, the war against insecurity demands inviolable accountability. Terror cannot be fought terror in the dark. Terror thrives in darkness.

To uproot it, it has to be brought into light. Bringing it into light invariably means exposing those who arm terrorists in Nigeria. Until this is done, the war against terror will remain clouded by a mist of collusion and complicity.

A lot of in-house cleaning also has to be done within Nigeria`s security forces. In the Igbo country, it is the house mice that tells the bush mice where the fish in the house is.

Nigeria must hurry before Armageddon is upon it like the pangs of childbirth.

Keneobiezu@gmail.com

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾JANUARY 9, 2022

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LETTERS

ENDING NIGERIA’S WAR IN THE NORTH EAST

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nyone who has read Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, or listened to its audio derivative would have met that unmistakable axiom in its early chapters. Because I cannot regurgitate the phrases word for word, I will just paraphrase. It says: if an Emperor were to give a command to his general, and that general is unable to carry out that command without good reason, you should blame the Emperor. But if it is obvious that the emperor gave a command in clear and in unmistakable terms, but the general failed with the execution of that command, the only way to make sure that sloppy execution of the emperor’s commands do not become a recurring decimal would be the execution of the General.

Quickly, two issues that seemingly beseech to be interrogated arising from the modus operandi of Nigeria’s war in the North East include the

following: one, in spite of being hyped as a compact fighting force during fracases in Sierra Leone and Liberia, together with sterling contributions at UN Peace Keeping missions around the world, Nigeria seems to have failed miserably to prosecute its own war.

Two, from inception of the ‘insurgency’ in the North East (wrongfully so termed), Nigeria has spent billions of naira, with most of it being frittered away or out rightly pilfered allegedly by the Generals prosecuting the war in the North East. Is it that the emperor, that is President Muhammadu Buhari, Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces, is giving the right orders but that his generals are not carrying out his orders? Is it that the emperor is giving the wrong orders but that his generals are unwilling or unable to carry out those wrong orders?

For most people, the issues go beyond issues related to the Emperor’s orders and how they are

carried out. While some cite issues related to the devastating outcome that would arise from a blanket bombardment of the perceived base and stronghold of Nigeria’s internal antagonists, others have opined that military exigencies alone in themselves cannot and shouldn’t always be the

silver-bullet for resolution of conflicts and tension.

Just perhaps to illustrate the above point, we must visit a 2004 incident involving a terrorist attack in Russia, known today as the Beslan school massacre. It involved the abduction of over a thousand people (777

A PLEA FOR TEACHERS "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."

- Matthew 5:7.

"For the one who does not practice mercy will have his judgement without mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement." - James 2:13. lease, this is a humble appeal directed to the concerned authorities, requesting that at least some form of consideration be shown to some competent and quality teachers, who would otherwise be referred to as “unqualified,” going strictly by their non-possession of the N.C.E/B.Ed./PGDE or other education-related qualifications, as well as their status of registration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (T.R.C.N).

Going by this policy on possession of only education-related qualifications by all schoolteachers, some pertinent questions arise in the minds of many, especially those who are likely to be affected by it.

Such questions include: Would someone who currently work as a Subject Teacher in a primary or secondary school, for example, and who studied a course related to the subject he teaches, but only at the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree level, be required to forfeit his/her current teaching position, to be replaced by someone else who has an N.C.E, B.Ed., PGDE, or other education-related qualification in that subject area?

Would people currently working as Assistant Teachers/Classroom Assistants/ Teaching Assistants also be required to possess the

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education-related qualifications currently required of all schoolteachers?

Also, considering the high rate of unemployment in the country currently, will the removal of teachers from classrooms on the grounds that they do not possess education-related qualifications, not cause the already high level of unemployment in the country to rise? If this directive is enforced, many who entered into the teaching profession as ‘apprentices,’ by learning on the job, and who have, over the years, made significant progress in the teaching profession, who have become competent and quality teachers, and who have also developed a strong passion for the teaching profession, would be forced to exit the profession that they have come to love, with probably little or no alternative employment opportunities or sources of livelihood.

In addition, with regard to the effect of unemployment on people, psychologists find that among today’s unemployed, psychiatric and psychological problems are increasing, as well as emotional instability, frustration, progressive apathy, and loss of self-respect. When a person with children to care for loses a job, it is a terrible personal tragedy. The world has collapsed around them.

Security has evaporated.

Today, in fact, some experts note the emergence of an “anticipatory anxiety” related to the possibility of losing one’s job. This anxiety can seriously affect family relations and can have even more tragic results, as recent suicides of unemployed persons

may indicate. Furthermore, the difficulty of breaking into the labour market is among the probable causes of violence and social alienation of young people.

It should also be noted that many other factors contribute towards the low quality and falling standard of the educational system apart from the inadequate qualifications of some schoolteachers. These other factors include: the poor remuneration of teachers, the absence of functional and well-equipped libraries in many public and private schools across the country, absence of modern teaching facilities, etc. In addition, the attitude of the students themselves, towards the success of their own education, also plays an important role, and should not be taken for granted.

For example, with regard to libraries, due to the absence of functional and well-equipped school libraries in many public and private schools across the country, students and teachers are ill-equipped with adequate educational materials and resources that could greatly contribute towards the improvement of the quality of teaching and learning in such schools.

In view of the above, some steps that could be considered as an alternative to the instant removal of “unqualified” or rather, incompetent teachers from the classrooms, in my humble opinion/suggestion, could include the other option of administering competence-based tests for these supposedly “unqualified” teachers, regardless of the educational qualifications they currently possess.

This can help to ascertain their level of competence

as schoolteachers, and then, for those who are found competent, trying to make a provision for them to remain in the teaching profession, especially if their current employers can express a degree of satisfaction with their performance on the job so far, and can attest to their competence and quality.

Another option could be stipulating other alternative requirements for them, rather than instantly removing them from the classroom or requiring that they go back to school to obtain the required education-related qualifications, especially as they must already have had many years of experience on the job, as well as other equivalent, though not education-related qualifications.

Yet another option could be that these teachers be provided with adequate training and development opportunities perhaps within the schools where they currently work, that will expose them to more advanced/improved methods of performing their duties as schoolteachers, and help them update their skills and competence level. This would be more preferable than requesting that they go back to school to obtain an education-related qualification such as the NCE, B.Ed or PGDE, etc, especially as they must already have spent many years in school to obtain a B.Sc, B.Eng, or B.A, before eventually securing a job as a schoolteacher. This new requirement can cause them to lose their jobs as teachers – entirely removing them from an occupation that they have come to love and for which they have developed a strong passion.

were children according to Wikipedia) and it lasted three days. In spite of entreaties, the terrorists held onto the children and their teachers without food and water while the stalemate lasted. And therefore, Vladimir Putin gave the order for soldiers to storm that school, and take on the terrorists. The incident left 333 people and 186 of the children dead. The result was that even though the incidence established Putin as the undisputed Russian strongman, and a nononsense Emperor who would not blink before executing any one of his Generals unwilling to or unable to follow order to kill children, teachers and terrorists, it left a permanent scar on the conscience of Russians.

Recent news indicate that Governor El-Rufai of Kaduna State favours the Putin alternative. He was recently quoted to have said that the surest way to bring the war in the North East to an end would be a total and sweeping bombardment of the Sambisa Forest, famous as base for Nigeria’s antagonists, that is, irrespective of the collateral damage that could arise from such Putinical action.

El-Rufai comes across as one not shy to take tough decisions. Prior to being governor, he was Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, where he supervised the demolition of all property encroaching on the Abuja Master plan. Therefore, the suggestion from El-Rufai to the federal government, to bombard the Sambisa forest, and ‘send the terrorists to heaven’ does not come as a surprise – as a matter of fact, many Nigerians have called for this quick-fix solution.

But what comes as a surprise – and especially from El-Rufai is that, first as governor, he once allegedly paid ‘bandits’ ransom. How come he is today proposing sweeping bombardment of an enclave purportedly harbouring Nigeria’s enemies?

Such position –as held by the Kaduna State governor – led

Adolf Hitler to bombard London from September 1940 – 11 May 1941.

Rather than weaken their resolve and break them, the British drew strength from Churchilian rhetoric and bravado, and together with her allies went on to defeat Germany in the long run.

Nigeria only recently took delivery of specialized fighter jets from the US. The key word here is ‘specialised’, to mean that these implements are well suited for the kind of insecurity situation Nigeria currently faces. And in my discussions with Geospatial Technology Users, they have told me that employing geospatial tools like Geographic Information System (GIS), Google Earth Pro, and the likes, activities on any location on earth can be monitored and changes over time on any one location as far back as 1972 can be examined.

With these tools, the activities and location of the ‘insurgents’ in Sambisa forest can be monitored and determined. All they say Nigeria needs to do is take certain coefficients based on topography, human activity and a reading – just the same thing Barack Obama and Donald Trump did with the targeted eliminations of perceived or verified enemies of their country.

After that duo did that, the world experience significant reduction, either with the imagery associated with the ISIS or with the bravado with which they took on interests and capacities related to the US. I believe Nigeria can do the same – take specific readings or coefficients – and thereafter send in the specialised jet fighters – and this case the recently acquired Tucano Jets or drones – and thereafter Nigeria would likely experience true ‘containment’ or a ‘degradation’ of the activities of ‘insurgents’.

An outright bombardment of Sambisa Forest as a military option against these ‘insurgents’ may be cutting our nostrils to spite our face.

– Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku is publisher, WADONOR…cultural voice of Nigeria

JUST THE FACTS PLEASE

T

he nature of Pluto might change again as some scientists want it returned to its planetary status. Really it doesn't matter that much whether it is a planet or not but let's not vote on it.

Now as a retired science teacher I can remember teaching the scientific method which was based on observation and experimentation but never voting. Pluto was voted out by a count of 237 votes in

favour, 157 against although many people had left before the discussion and vote. What worries science teachers and probably most scientists is that people can establish a 'fact' by voting on the matter.

Perhaps we should vote on whether the Earth is flat or not, it won't be 0% for flat as some people do believe that the earth is flat or at least say they do.

Science must be based on fact!

– Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 9, 2022

BUSINESS Quest for Capital Buffers Raises Prospect of Mergers, Acquisition in Tier-II Banks

Editor: Festus Akanbi

08038588469 Email:festus.akanbi@thisdaylive.com

Ordinarily, the year 2022 was expected to have brought a new dawn in business and economic climate. However, the reality of economic challenges, accentuated by the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic has put a heavy burden on banks, like any other business. As these Ànancial institutions move to upscale their operations and beef up their cash reserves in line with the emerging realities, analysts believe the year will witness a Áurry of activities including capital raising, mergers and acquisitions especially among the Tier-2 and Tier 3 banks, reports Festus Akanbi

A

sbusinessesreturntotheirpreDecember 2021 momentum tomorrow,oneissuethatwill set the tone for discussion among business leaders and Ànancial sector regulators is the outlook for the nation’s banking industry in 2022.

Financial sector analysts had raised the prospect of increased pressure on banks amidst a cocktail of challenges, chief among which are the unfavourable economic climate and the falling value of the naira this year, all made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic.

7hese two factors, it is feared, will aͿect the capacity of banks to perform their intermediatory role in the overall economy. Analysts, therefore, foresee banks, especially the Tier 2 and Tier 3 ones, opting for various means of improving their capital positions.

Like, in other climes, business and economic activities are just recovering from the shock of the Covid-19 pandemic. :hatever conÀdence that was built by the initial curtailment of the pandemic is on the verge of being eroded by the emergence of the Omicron variant of Covid and the seeming state of helplessness among members of the international community. It is therefore untrue that the economy has returned to the pre-Covid era.

Consequently, the attendant erosion in the value of the local currency and the biting shortage of foreign exchange, especially the dollars isputting more pressure on business and the economy.

Capital Adequacy Analysts believed the scenario painted above has underscored the vulnerability of banks in one way or the other. For instance, they posited that banks are likely to see an increase in their risk-weighted asset values, and, as a result, a reduction in their capital adequacy ratios, majorly because of the projected increase in default rates as a result of the pandemic.

According to Managing Director/Chief Executive, First Bank Nigeria Limited, Mr Adesola Adeduntan, the issuance of guidelines by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to banks for the implementation of Basel III, on September 2, 2021, was aimed at making available to the Nigerian banks the global regulatory framework that addresses banks’ capital adequacy, stress testing, and market liquidity risk.

Adeduntan believed the Basel III standard will prevent banks from taking excessive risks that can negatively impact the players and the economy. He said, “the implementation of Basel III will have signiÀcant implications for capital requirement – there will be a higher minimum CAR requirement for players in the industry. However, the apex bank has engaged and deÀned a road map to ensure that operators in the banking industry meet and surpass the higher capital requirements.”

Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) sets standards for banks by weighingtheir risk against their capital. In other words, these standards analyse the capacity of a bank or Ànancial institution to respond to credit, market, and operational risks, as well as to pay its liabilities. Abank with a good CAR has a lower risk of becoming insolvent because it has su΀cient capital to mitigate potential losses.

CBN Headquarters, Abuja

Mergers and Acquisitions in Banks Market watchers said the regulation is expected to see banks beef up their capital. The market has witnessed a Áurry of activities by some banks in their quest to improve their liquidity positions.

Already, Wema Bank has received the approval of its shareholders at a court-ordered meeting for the scheme of arrangement to reconstruct its shares. The bank has shares in issue of over 38 billion units, and the shareholders consented to a reconstruction of one share for every three held.

According to the bank’s Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Mr Ademola Adebisi, with this approval of shareholders, the bank will begin the rights issuance to raise its capital base to over N100 billion. This, he said, gives the bank the room to increase its Ànancial intermediation and further scale up its business.

Also in recent times, we have seen some of the commercial bank’s issue Eurobond to strengthen their Ànancial position.

The First Bank MD said he wouldn’t rule out mergers and acquisitions in banks to reÁect the current realities.

He said, “Despite being well-capitalised, the implementation of Basel III would reduce the capital headroom of operators and banks would have to resort to various strategies to strengthen their capital positions to drive credit and business growth. These strategies may include mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as Basel III policy implementation takes eͿect to strengthen their capital positions as the policy requires higher capital requirements/enhanced capital cushions. Nonetheless, I believe Nigerian banks are well-positioned to withstand regulatory headwinds whilst driving growth.”

In their estimation, analysts with Renaissance Capital Limited (RenCap), international research and the Ànancial advisory company said with Basel III policy, some of Nigeria’s tier-2 and tier-3

banks might opt for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to strengthen their capital positions.

The Director, Frontier/ Sub-Saharan Africa Banks and Fintech, Renaissance Capital, Mr Adesoji Solanke explained: “There’s room for M&Aand we think it would be between tier-two and tier-three banks because now they’re even much smaller in the grand scheme of things.”

The same views were shared by analysts at Afrinvest (West)Africa Limited, who assured that the adoption of Basel III would also strengthen Nigerian banks’ stressed capital level, improve capital quality (as risk levels are reduced with the exposure restriction) and maintain a strong liquidity position.

They explained that the adoption of Base III requires Nigerian banks to strengthen their current capital adequacy, liquidity, and leverage positions.

Capital Bu;er “Accordingly, banks are required to hold a capital conservation buͿer of 1.0 per cent in addition to the minimum Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of 15.0 per cent (international) and 10.0 per cent (national) with an additional one per cent of common equity capital for higher loss absorbency for Domestic Systemically Important Banks (DSIBs), inthe form of common equity capital.”

Despite these challenges, Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Financial Derivatives Limited, Mr Bismarck Rewane ruled out the possibility of an increase in banks’ capital base by the CBN. He said, while some banks may on their own volition decide to raisetheir capital base, the apex bank is unlikely going to direct banks to shore up their capital this year.

He believed what needs to be done is for the CBN to adjust banks’ capital adequacy ratio to accommodate the underlining challenges

in banks.

However, in an interview with THISDAY, Group Director, Cordros Capital Limited, Mr Olufemi Ademola believed banks will place more energy on how to improve their capital adequacy position instead of concentrating on raising additional share capital.

He said, “ The argument for raising the capital base of banks due to the falling value of the Naira is a worn-out argument by analysts.

Since 201 when the country faced its Àrst serious exchange crisis in recent times, analysts have argued in favour of raising the minimum capital base of banks in line with the dollar exchange rate. They argued that the N25 billion minimum capital introduced in 2005 was an equivalent of about $200m at the time. Hence, if we apply the current exchange rate, banks would need a minimum capital of N70-75 billion to operate.

While a number of the banks in the top tiers would meet the requirement, if imposed, several smaller banks may need to recapitalise.

“However, some analysts also argued that the general raising of banks’ capital base may not be optimal. Rather, they suggested the requirement of an increase in capital based on the level of risks being taken by each bank. They argued that asking a small bank with low-risk assets to capitalise to a minimum capital base like the other big banks may result in a waste of resources and an increase in risk-taking by the banks to make returns on the additional investment.

Whereas a big bank may require more capital than the required minimum due to a large number of risk assets in its portfolio.”

The Cordros Capital o΀cial, however, believed in the validity of the argument in favour of an adjustment to capital adequacy ratio.

According to him, “Some of the systemically important banks reported capital adequacy ratios that are lower than the required threshold.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 9, 2022

ECONOMY

Doyin Salami: A President’s Last-Ditch (;ort to Rescue (conomy The choice of Dr Adedoyin Salami as the National Economic Adviser, at the twilight of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, has been described as one of the president’s last-ditch eͿorts to bequeath a sound economy to his successor despite the unpleasant economic outlook for the year, reports Festus Akanbi

I

n the game of football, the competence of a good coach is not easily rubbished by initial setbacks in the Àeld of play.

Experience has shown that a coach who knows his onions is usually not in a hurry as he assesses the performance of his team in the Àrst half, their mistakes, the strength and weaknesses of the opposing team before he reaches for his playmaker whose duty it is to put into play all the pep talks, observation and strategies to change the course of the match.

In such cases, a playmaker is usually the one to be saddled with the responsibility of not only to rescue the team from defeat but also to exploring the weaknesses of the opponent in a bid to snatch victory.

With barely one and a half years to vacate the seat of power for a successor whose fate would be decided at the general election in April next year, President Muhammadu Buhari, seems to be telling Nigerians with the appointment of Dr Adedoyin Salami, as the National Economic Adviser, that hope is not lost and that the economy can still be given the Ànal push.

Nigeria, just like other members of the international community has had its full share of the global economic crisis. Analysts believed as electioneering campaigns start this year, the reality is the government will begin to wind down with its far-reaching consequences on governance.

By picking Salami to steer the course of his economic policy in what has been described as the injury time, analysts believed the president is bent on giving hope to Nigerians that the economy will not suͿer.

Even the statement from the presidency announcing his appointment was unambiguous about expectations from the new National Economic Adviser.

“As a chief economic adviser to the President, Salami is expected to address all issues on the domestic economy and present views on them to the President; closely monitor national and international developments, trends and develop appropriate policy responses; develop and recommend to the President national economic policies to foster macro-economic stability, promote growth, create jobs, and eradicate poverty, among others,” the Presidency said.

According to the statement, he has a 1989 doctorate in Economics from the Queen Mary College, 8niversity of London.

“He is Managing Director and Head Markets Practice at KAINOS Edge Consulting Limited, and member of the Adjunct Faculty at the Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, where he recently attained the rank of senior fellow/associate professor,” it added.

Immediate Priorities Key economic activities to watch out for in 2022 include electioneering, removal of subsidies, and Áoatation of the Naira.

While analysts see inÁation moderating in 2022, they expect the CBN to remain accommodative. However, external pressures could result in rate hikes. Fiscal metrics could improve in 2022 on the back of a recovery in oil revenue. However, economy watchers hold a diͿering view on subsidies considering the electoral season. On the external scene, they expect

Salami

deprecation in both the o΀cial and parallel markets. They maintained that recoveries in the oil sector and maximisation of the e-Naira could help keep the parallel market in check.

They described the choice of the Adedoyin as a masterstroke given his romance with this administration from inception. The thinking is that having undertaken some assignments under this administration, the Lagos Business School lecturer has all it takes to unleash those theoretical economic thoughts he espouses in his many writings and public lectures.

Perhaps, one of the Àrst assignments for the new Economic Adviser is to assist the administration to navigate through the issue of fuel subsidy removal. Salami is one of the leading economists opposed to the subsidy arrangement given the obscene corruption that has continued to trail subsidy arrangement under successive administrations. To people like Salami, the unprecedented level of corruption associated with the subsidy regime, coupled with the pressure the arrangement is bringing to bear in the nation’s foreign exchange market have made fuel subsidy a drainpipe to the Nigerian economy.

However, as reasonable as the argument against the fuel subsidy regime is, the organised labour has threatened to confront the federal government should it go ahead with the removal. The labour argues that

the attendant hike in prices of petrol will bring untold hardships to Nigerian workers. Already, the Nigerian Labour Congress is threatening to lead the Nigerian workers in a nationwide protest.

It is therefore expected that Salami will be able to coordinate the government’s action in a way to stave oͿ labour unrest especially at this crucial period.

The new National Adviser is an apostle of development of the Small and Medium Enterprises and one expects him to come up with policies to boost the SMEs sector considering the rising rate of unemployment in the country.

His Background Adedoyin is the Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Economic Advisory Council is tasked with the responsibility of advising the president on matters relating to economic growth, economic policy, and Àscal analysis.

Adedoyin is a doctoral degree graduate of Queen Mary College, University of London. His research interests include issues in corporate long-term Ànancial management; macroeconomic policy; corporate competitiveness and risk management; and characteristics of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

He was a member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank

of Nigeria and the Federal Government’s Economic Management Team. He is also an executive director of the UK-based African Business Research Ltd. In addition to teaching, Dr Salami consults for multiple organisations. His consulting activities include assignments for the Department for International Development (DFID), World Bank, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

His involvement with Public Policy Making started in 2009 with his appointment by the late President Yar-Adua as a member of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Economic Management Team.

In 2010, he was appointed to the membership of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria and retired from the MPC in 2017 after completing two terms. Adedoyin also served as Vice-Chair (under the leadership of Alhaji Ahmed Joda) of the Transition Committee for President Muhammadu Buhari. A member of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Advisory Group for Sub-Saharan Africa (AGSA), he is also a member of the Board of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and had the privilege of being Co-Chair of the Central Organising Committee for the Nigerian Economic Summit in 2009.

Adedoyin has written extensively on the Nigerian economy. And he currently sits on the boards of the African Business Research Limited, First World Communities, and Diamond Pension Fund Custodian.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 9, 2022

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TAXATION

Manufacturers Fret Over ‘Sugar Tax’ As reactions continue to trail last week’s introduction of excise duty of N10/ litre on non-alcoholic, carbonated and sweetened beverages by the federal government, Adedayo Adejobi captures the fear of manufacturers that the new tax may drive some of them out of business

Carbonated-drinks

W

iththeintroductionof the N10/litre excise duty on carbonated drinks, the pallet of Nigerians used to À]]y drinks will go sour, whilst manufacturers will be forced to increase the retail price, thus,dipping a hole in the already tight pockets of the groaning consumers.

Although in 2019, the Minister of Finance, =ainab Ahmed, had prepared the minds of Nigerians for a possible introduction of excise duty on carbonated drinks. Similarly, Comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), HameedAli, in 2020 also hinted at the collection of excise duty on imported soft drinks. Riding on the back of the new ¶Sugar Tax’ in section 17, and the 2021 Finance Act, both agencies of the federal government are set to raise excise duties and revenues from the carbonated drinks sector.

Taxation is a Àscal instrument in the hand of any government and Nigeria is not an exception. The implication, therefore, is that such an instrument could be used primarily as a tool to raise funds for the government.

Aside from the objective of raising revenue, it could also serve the purpose of encouraging or discouraging consumption of certain commodities such as tobacco, imported brands etc.

According to the government’s explanation, the tax was introduced due to health considerations. Therefore, it was called the “Sugar Tax”.

The minister opined that carbonated drink is the main source of sugar consumption hence the need to introduce the N10 tax on every bottle of carbonated drinks.

According to a Ànancial advisory expert and Executive Director, DataPro Limited, Mr Oladele Adeoye, ¶’The Àrst implication of this tothe producers will be the attendant confusion as to what volume of carbonated drinks will the tax cover. Carbon-

ated drinks can be bottled in diͿerent si]es ranging from 33cl to 1 litre. Will the N10 tax be applied equally? What happens to taxation principles that tax burden should be borne equally regardless of class? Will I be paying N10 for consuming 33cl and the other guy is paying the same amount for consuming 0cl?”

Members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS), in a joint press conference last December advised the federal government against the increase which it said would further frustrate the manufacturers’ eͿort at supporting the revival of the economy.

MAN Fumes Reacting to the development, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and economic experts have warned that a new tax imposed on carbonated drinks would be counter-productive.

MAN had commissioned a report titled ‘key considerations against excise on non-alcoholic beverages’, projected that the government might collect N81bn revenue from excise duty on carbonated drinks between 2022 and 2025, but lose N197bn within the same period from other taxes, such as Value Added Tax (VAT) and Company Income Tax from the manufacturers of soft drinks.

The report added that introducing excise duty would cause the beverage sub-sector of the food and beverage industry to lose up to N1.9tn in sales revenue between 2022 -2025, due to the imposition of the new taxes with simultaneous adverse eͿects on jobs and supply chain businesses.

Managing Partner, Stransact Partners, a Lagos-based independent audit, tax, and advisory Àrm, Mr Eben Joels said, ‘‘It becomes di΀cult to raise money through income sources and so the government

has moved to tax expenditure which is a dangerous route. If the federal government invests in increasing the income tax pool, straightening and harmonising state and federal revenue approach to taxing business- that is where the money is. The money is in taxing incorporations and not individuals especially in a period like this. What are Nigerians gaining from this? Have they looked at other tax options? Can the FG collect its Federal income tax, or on behalf of the state?

These are areas the government can explore.’’

When THSDAY contacted the Director-General, MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, he also a΀rmed the content of the report saying, “the introduction of excise duty of N10/litre on non-alcoholic, carbonated and sweetened beverages, despite its potential overwhelming negative impact is rather unfortunate. The excise duty tax would aͿect the sub-sector, which has contributed signiÀcantly to the economy and taxes, despite the debilitating eͿects of naira devaluation, the inadequacy of forex, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The government’s revenue aspirations introducing this excise might not be realised in the long run.’’

He also noted that ‘‘government is estimated to generate an excise tax of N81bn between 2022-2025 from the group.

This will not be su΀cient to compensate the corresponding government’s revenue losses in other taxes from the group. The move might lead to employee salary reduction, retrenchment, and general increase in prices of goods, thus putting the products out of the reach of the poor segments.’’

According to the Minister of Finance, ‘’Some analysts have always considered our projections unrealistic, but we have

always insisted on the potentials that exist to grow independent revenues.’’

Meanwhile, some experts have argued that the revenue accruing to the federal government of Nigeria from taxation over the years has remained grossly insu΀cient to meet the expanding social and public spending requirements in the country. It is instructive to note that, the tax system is grossly ine΀cient as it is characterised by tax evasion, avoidance and record falsiÀcations, which have led to consistent low tax revenue inÁow. Gross ine΀ciency and leakages have hampered the amount of revenue realised from tax sources over the years, which has been aͿecting the economy negatively.

Expressing grave concerns over the eͿects of the development on the manufacturing sector, the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader at PwC, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, said, “I will be more concerned about sectors like manufacturing because their cost is rising and they are not able to increase their selling prices because the purchasing power is low.’’

“If you impose a tax, because they want to survive, they have to cut down on employment and Ànd a way to survive. In terms of inÁation, when you impose maybe an excise tax, if the sector is able to pass it on to customers, it would be higher selling prices, leading to inÁation.

“But if the products are very elastic, and you are afraid of losing the market, then you bear the costs and your margins will be low.

If your margin is low, it means what you pay in company income tax will be less, and your shareholders will get less in dividends, aͿecting their own purchasing power as well. So, taxes, sometimes, have unintended consequences, which policymakers must always consider.”

Nigeria’s Organised Private Sector has also called out federal government that it would not accept the 10 per cent increase slammed on carbonated drinks as it would lead to the collapse of the sector and create massive job losses.

The two unions in the sector, the Food Beverage and Tobacco Senior StaͿAssociation (FOBTOB) and the National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) said they are mobilising their organs’ meetings to take appropriate action on government new decisions.

The unions said though they may not preempt the organs, the reaction may be in form of protests and total strike with the support of the trade centres like the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) that had earlier kicked against it.

President of FOBTOB, Jimoh Oyibo, said ‘‘the union has initially planned a protest but was advised against it by the employer’s body which thought that dialogue with the government would yield more positive action.’’

Lamenting on the increase among others would cause an increase in the cost of the products, lead to a reduction in the purchasing power of the masses, massive job losses, reduction in production capacity, and total closure of the companies.

“Government did not give a deep thought to the aftermath eͿect, we would not relax, we are likely going to protest or go on strike and show our displeasure to the supervising ministry, the Ministry of labour and employment.

In its reaction, NUFBTE said the action was counterproductive and tantamount to the government’s insensitivity to the plight of the Manufacturers who are presently Ànding it di΀cult to operate in the country.

The General Secretary of the union, Mike Olanrewaju, said the union will study the situation and react appropriately.

“This is the government’s insensitivity to the plight of Nigerian workers, it will cost nothing less than 2,000 to 3,000 direct job loss within a week as the companies would be forced to reduce production or not produce at all. We are not going to keep quiet, the NLC is being carried along, the leadership of the union will ponder on it to know the next line of action,” he said.

According to Adeoye ‘‘On the positives, it is no longer a news item that the Federal Government of Nigeria has revenue challenges. The year 2022 budget came with a deÀcit of N trillion. The government needs money wherever it could be found. As a country, we have consistently relied on debt.

World Bank and other domestic stakeholders have expressed concern on the capacity to service those debts. Therefore, any avenue to generate additional funding is a positive one for the government.’’

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 9, 2022

ENERGY

Power Supply: Situating Buhari’s Lamentation With time fast running out on the Muhammadu Buhari administration, Nigeria has a chance to remove all the bottlenecks in the electricity supply industry this year, Emmanuel Addeh writes

T

he Nigerian power sector is so problematic that a former Minister of Power, Zainab Kuchi, was once quoted as telling a South African delegation that evil spirits were preventing the country from achieving sustainable electricity supply.

At the time, whether literally or Àguratively, Kuchi recommended that all hands must be on deck to collectively exorcise the demons in the sector. “We must resolve to jointly exorcise the evil spirit behind this darkness,” she said.

But that was almost a decade ago. Time has passed, billions of dollars have gone down the drain, presidents and ministers have come and gone,promises have been made and broken. Yet in Nigeria, one thing has remained as clear as daylight: darkness.

The problems are already well known: gas shortages, unsustainable non-market driven tariͿs, weak transmission and distribution infrastructure, value chain misalignment, among several others.

To be fair, some steps have been taken in the past to catapult the country to an electricity su΀cient one, but the more things change, the more they remain the same, it would seem.

These eͿorts in the past culminated in the “privatisation” of the sector in 2013, but yet in an irony of sorts, the government still controls, to a large extent many critical levers of the sector, including tariͿs.

All it needs to do every time it wants to wield its powers is to simply leverage on its 60 per cent ownership of the Generation Companies (Gencos), its 40 per cent equity in the Distribution Companies (Discos) and 100 per cent ownership of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

At the last count, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has spent nearly N1.5 trillion in its intermittent interventions in the industry under the current administration.

Yet, that amount is meagre compared to the humongous sums spent by previous administrations. But the results just won’t come.

Passing the Buck Nigeria’s almost seemingly insurmountable electricity problem did not start under Buhari.

However, almost seven years into his government, the president still regales Nigerians with how when crude oil sold for $100, his predecessors failed to do anything about the power challenge. Well, under the current government, the commodity has sold for over $85. Indeed, the president took the blame game a notch higher last Wednesday during an interview when he, without mentioning names, said the major problem with the sector was foundational.

Again, he took a swipe at the administration before his, accusing it of mortgaging the sector by selling oͿ the country’s power assets to its cronies who neither had the Ànancial muscles nor the technical know-how to revamp the sector.

According to him, Nigerians are facing epileptic power supply because those who bought the various electricity distribution companies got them based on political favouritism and geopolitical consideration rather than on merit.

He argued that those who bought the Discos were not electrical engineers nor did they have the Ànancial muscle, and thus, could not understand the intricacies of the power system in the country.

“The owners of Discos bought them based on geopolitical zones rather than merit. The people that own them, who are they? They are not electrical engineers, they don’t have money, it is just a political favour.

“To remove a system and reintroduce one is no joke. Luckily, we have the TCN and that is the transmission. If we can get our technology right, we will cut the cost on transmission and the likelihood of sabotaging the lines and so on,” he maintained.

Perhaps, the president was right. After all,

A power transmission station

Yola Disco was returned to the government after years of non-performance and recently Abuja Disco was handed over to new owners for its inability to meet its obligations to its creditors.

But Buhari has also had close to seven years to Àx whatever he thought was wrong with the privatisation exercise which took place before he assumed o΀ce.

President Should Act, Not Lament But a group, the All Electricity Consumers Protection Forum (AECPF) feels that the president’s displeasure, rather than lead to lamentation, should spur him to action.

For instance, the group advised the president to scrap Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and move its responsibilities to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) National Coordinator of the group, Adeola Samuel-Ilori, said that the buck stops at the table of the president who should demonstrate su΀cient political will to rejig the sector in the national interest.

“Our advice to the president is to scrap NERC for not living up to its responsibilities of regulating the industry.

“The government should put the sector under the supervision of the FCCPC which had in recent times shown that it had what required to protect the interest of Nigerians.

“If we have a regulator that cannot only bark but can bite, all the stakeholders in the electricity value-chain, especially the Discos, will sit up,” the group argued.

According to him, for several years, the Discos have ignored NERC’s directives without sanctions, which tend to encourage impunity in the sector.

NERC’s order on capping of estimated billing, for instance, has also been obeyed in the breach by some Discos without sanctions, compelling the group to approach the court for reprieve.

In addition, he listed the constant Áouting of the Meter Assets Providers (MAP) scheme which stipulates 10 days for customers to be metered after making payment, as another regulation that is routinely Áouted by the power distributors.

He was right. Indeed, a third point would be the non-implementation of one of the guidelines in the recent service-based

tariͿ regime, which mandates the Discos to downgrade customers’ tariͿ band if the Discos fail to supply a certain number of hours of electricity. Over a year later, the rule has never been executed.

Time Running out But...

With roughly 4,500MW for Nigeria’s 200,000 million people, it’s obvious that solving the power supply quagmire in the country has rarely been scratched. What makes it even worse is that getting anything thing done under the present government in less than 17 months, looks like a tall order.

The argument is that if virtually zero improvements have been achieved in about seven years, the chances of having a last-minute miracle may be a pipe dream.

While completing power generation plants before the exit date may still be possible, the methodical execution of the Siemens deal remains a viable pathway to improving the country’s supply remarkably in the short term.

With the noise that heralded the signing of the deal with Siemens AG of Germany in 2020, it was expected that some low hanging fruits would immediately be harvested.

However, enthusiasm for the project appears to have long waned.

In brief, the agreement seeks to remove the bottlenecks hindering the inability of the country to take the possible 13,000MW available in the country to customers’ homes within months. The current transmission is roughly 4500MW. Aside from the upgrading of 105 power substations and the construction of 70 new ones, under the deal about 3,765 distribution transformers will be installed and 5,109 km distribution lines will be built thereby boosting supply.

With timelines already missed, in phase one, 7GW was expected to be achieved between when the deal was signed and the end of 2021, with the upgrading of transmission and distribution of the TCN and Discos, expected to contribute an additional 2gw.

For phase two, the government said that 11gw will be achieved between 2021-2023, with full use of existing generation and lastmile distribution capacity, while phase three will see the achievement of 25gw between 2023-2025 with appropriate upgrades and expansion in generation, transmission and

distribution.

The deal also involves Siemens’ support for the regulator, the NERC, towards improving metering in the electricity industry in the country.

The programme, touted to be a gamechanger, has not seen any practical work since it was contracted, raising concerns about whether like the rest, it has gone with the wind.

Government Raises Hope Although nothing appears to have been done, the government has said that the scheme is on track, dismissing insinuations that the deal had failed.

Speaking recently, Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, who spoke at a workshop organised by the Power Correspondents Association of Nigeria (PCAN), in Abuja, noted that the project remains fully on course.

Aliyu, who was represented by the Minister of State, Power, Mr. Goddy Jedy-Agba, stressed that the project has the capacity to expand Nigeria’s electricity supply system.

He reiterated that the initiative would improve access to aͿordable, e΀cient and reliable electricity and provide support for industrial and economic growth in the country.

The minister also explained that the government was currently evaluating the procurement process and was conÀdent that a positive outcome will emerge, saying that the project had reached an advanced stage of activities in line with the Siemens project implementation plan.

However, he argued that sustainable growth in the power sector can only be achieved by adding renewable sources to the energy mix, noting that today, 80 per cent of Nigeria’s energy comes from gas-Àred plants.

What Legacy?

The Buhari administration took over the government with high hopes that within a short time, Nigerians will begin to see changes in every area of their lives, reliable power supply not excluded.

But close to seven years after he took the mantle of leadership, that hope appears to be forlorn.

What legacy will the president leave behind?

More light or more darkness than he met in 2015?

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WEEKLY PULL-OUT

9.1.2022

H

Kunle Dina Cosmopolitan in looks, inventive and dogged in his approach to business, Kunle Dina is an ambitious yet selfless interior designer with an appetite for creating breathtaking luxury kitchens for his clients. Dina is the Founder and CEO of Luca Visage Limited, a world-class luxury interior finishing company providing interior design, planning and procurement for his clients. The suave luxury man who once traversed the corporate world first as a banker and later Accenture Group told Funke Olaode his natural progression from corporate into the world of luxury

e is a corporate businessman with eyes for details and he has been constantly tagged the undisputed King of Luxury Kitchens with a magic wand to create a world class luxury interior.

Kunle Dina is the face behind Luca Visage Limited. His success story is tied to utilising one’s network to step up.

First, he was part of Accenture Group with tentacles across the West African countries leaving behind trails of achievements before launching his own company. To say Dina is an exceptionally devoted and diligent individual will be an understatement as he generally works effectively towards every task at hand.

Walking into his expansive office in the highbrow Lekki area of Lagos, his magnificent building which houses his many exploits and crafts in interior decoration is breathtaking. It is the headquarters of Luca Visage- a go-to for celebrities who desire to have luxury kitchen in their homes. The sparkling chandeliers complemented the artistic works neatly displayed on the balcony that leads to his cozy office on the left wing of the gigantic building. Classical music oozed from hidden speakers while the mild fragrance rented the air, creating a spectacular ambience in that classy corporate office.

Dressed in a bespoke cream suit, Dina cut the image of a suave businessman.

He parades kitchens from world class brands. For instance, his company deals with Italian brands such as Scavolini, his flagship brand with over 40 designs. It comes in different features such as glass, mat, steel and so on. Under it you’d find Baccarat, Giugiaro (a designer of luxury cars such as Ferrari), Libera, Madeleine.

Here, it is fully customizable to the client’s style and preference. Walking through the maze of those kitchen fittings was like having a home-within-a-home; befitting for queens, kings, emperors and elites.

A virile, creative mind, Dina’s progression into the design world was natural. After 12 years working for top local and global corporations, he acquired a rare grounding in execution structure and discipline which, combined with his natural flair for style and detail, has earned him a unique MO. This MO has become the hallmark of all Luca Visage projects, form the classic, to the avant-garde.

Prior to founding Luca Visage, Dina was, at first, a corporate banker at the former Universal Trust Bank, Head Office and then, a Strategy and Business Architecture, Corporate Performance Management and Supply Chain Executive at Accenture. He was, in addition, an Instructor and Training Administrator in the Professional Management Education Unit of Accenture (which was Andersen Consulting). He was a Teaching and Research Fellow at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, where he obtained his Master’s Degree. This was after holding a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Lagos State. He has participated in numerous business, design and construction courses, conferences and exhibitions all over the world.

Dina had been schooled in the arts of money making, discipline and integrity through his lineage. His parents were successful entrepreneurs and his maternal

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

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾JANUARY 9, 2022

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COVER

My Creative Intuitions and Natural Gifts Help My Foray into Luxury grandfather was one of the wealthiest men of his generation. Dina learnt through them the values of discipline, resilience, hard work, interpersonal relationships, reputation and most importantly, integrity.

Recalling what ignited his entrepreneurial spirit in him, he said: “My Dad was the late Asiwaju of Epe. He was a Mechanical Engineer, trained in the United Kingdom and Japan. He was the Chief Engineer for the Governor’s Office of the Old Western Region, a position which he also held in Ogun State for many more years after the formation of states. He was reputed for his strong principles, his professionalism, work ethics, integrity and human relations. He was also known as a bridge-builder and sophisticated “social-animal” - the life of a party, as his friends fondly referred to him.

“My mum was born into the Quadri Sebiotimo family of Ijebu Ode. My grandfather (her dad) owned the famous Sebiotimo Printing Press and Sebiotimo Bookstores. He was one of the wealthiest industrialists and merchants of his time in Ijebu Ode. He was renowned for his fashion sense and fleet of cars, which was a rarity at the time,’’ he recounted.

His mother grew up on trading trips to Lagos with her own father and having all the money tied to her waist, under her dress, as a young teenage girl.

He continued: “After completing her education at the Paris Institute of Fashion on Oxford Street, London in the sixties, she operated a fashion house in Ibadan for a few years upon my parents’ return to Nigeria before becoming a school teacher and then, a home-maker. My parents later started a Spare Parts importation business after their retirement, the local trading component of which she essentially ran. My mum is an accomplished artist and designer and I am confident that my artistic and design inclinations emanated from her.”

These traits essentially provided the solid foundation and the building block for the individual and the business personality that Dina has become today.

Apart from imbibing the values of integrity, Dina, a native of Epe in Lagos State attests to the fact that being born and raised in the ancient city of Ibadan played a critical role in his life.

He grew up in Ibadan-his place of birth- with his parents. Sadly, his father passed away about 10 years ago.

Memories of his birthplace somewhere in Agodi, GRA, Ibadan are very vivid in his mind and often come up in conversations with persons of similar background.

“I was having the same conversation with a client after we closed a deal and we started talking and we realised that we were both from Ibadan. And we then started understanding how it was so easy for us to interact.”

Although Ibadan seems like a laid back environment to grow up in, it was value-oriented as he would later point out.

“People are very content, very selfrespecting, very dignified and there wasn’t always an inordinate exhibition of wealth even though most wealthy people are there, you wouldn’t know.

We had a lot of friends who didn’t know how wealthy their fathers were until they went to university and they joined clubs. They have a club party in the house and somebody will say, ‘so your daddy is wealthy.’ Even the guy doesn’t know because there is a bit of what I will call class and taste, and all of that. That is the way we grew up and that sort of formed my perspective in terms of disposition towards wealth, towards behaviour and towards attitude, social relations, interacting

with people, respecting your word, your contract, all those sort of things.”

Narrating his journey from the corporate world to luxury trade, he observed that despite many offers from corporate and public sectors, he had to listen to himself.

“I decided I wanted to go into enterprise to pursue something that is more natural to me; something that I believe that I was inherently suited to do exceptionally better than the average person. And that was the design. And it’s design coming from my creative intuitions, coming from the natural gifts that I believe that I had in my ability to understand design concepts, virtual things relating to beauty, lights, colours and so on. But the other advantage that I had in addition to having those natural design intuitions has been the ropes of discipline which came from my business background working for banks and working for Accenture. Being an economist by training, I can then take all that natural gifts and be able to execute to specification within timeline, within budget and so on which is something a lot of artistic people learn.

I went into design from the construction and the interior design perspective.”

Since he launched, Dina hasn’t disappointed himself with landmark successes such as handling several projects in about five countries. “We have done projects in lighting, projects involving tiles or slabs. On one of those occasions, we supplied 42 containers and then turnkey.

Turnkey meaning everything required in the building. So that is our B2B division, and then we have a B2C, business to consumer, where we deal with individual customers at the retail level. And in that space we represent some international brands. For example, Scavolini which has been the number one Italian kitchen company for 35 years now.

So within Scavolini, for example, we have kitchens, bathrooms and so on. The kitchen is our flagship operation in that space. So, that is what we do essentially.”

Incidentally, Dina is a self-taught designer who is also very artistic.

“I can paint your portrait to look exactly like you. I am also a writer actually, but that is on the side, I have a completely different personality from my writing. In addition to being self-taught, I have attended design trade, conferences and exhibitions all over the world, virtually all the continents of the world. Some of the times I do up to 12 to 15 trips per year, just soaking up what is there, what is relevant and reading all the books.

I am working on projects with some of the best minds when it comes to design both locally and internationally. That has put me in a position where I think I eventually learnt informally what I probably would have learnt formally in an institution.”

A very talented, focused and team player, Dina as the final custodian of the vision at Luca Visage believes he should stand as a shining example for his team. Primarily, he gives that inspiration in terms of what exactly the company represents. He also gives direction in terms of where their standards are, what the clients expect, who the client is, what they have promised them and what they deliver to them.

“On a day-to-day basis, it is usually just making sure that people do what they are assigned to do. In many cases, I mean that is not necessary, because people are well aware of their responsibilities and they are

Dina

exceptionally inspired. At the same time, someone has to oversee and ensure, test and check and make sure that things are going according to plan. But more importantly what I enjoy doing the most is spending time with our extremely sophisticated, extremely discerning clients, ensuring that they have the correct experience because we are not only selling products, we are selling an experience.”

Dina believes as a businessman, there will always be challenges as “the most intuitive thing to do is go to investment banking, asset management consulting.

Those challenges were there and then people trying to understand whether or not you are really just doing this in an opportunistic way or if you are actually committed. But I think ultimately the way we have surmounted those challenges was in our delivery. It is in our definition of the client requirement and our ability to meet those.”

How has Dina’s experience as a corporate man helped his journey as his own boss, you may ask? With a tone of conviction, he replied softly, “Very much so, very much. When we started this conversation I told you that many people who go into luxury are people of style, people of class, they have tracks and many of them are creative. But some of the time with that comes an absence of discipline

and structure. There is a difference between creativity and structure. Creativity is free, but structure is rigid.

“I have been lucky by virtue of my previous experiences to have been able to forge my creativity through the fires of structure and discipline and the ability to execute within the time frame, to execute according to specifications, to work within a budget. So, all of that has helped me and obviously my company, to be able to operate in a much disciplined structure in terms of meeting our customers’ needs.

Of course, there are also key aspects like human resource management, finance management or just understanding the requirements in all those places. All of those come from my experience in the corporate world and a strictly business background.”

Luxury items don’t come cheap but Dina said there is space for everyone in his company. “We are affordable,’’ he insisted. “Mind you, affordability is relative to value. Value is the most paramount aspect. I say price is only relevant when someone does not know what you want to acquire or they are not committed to what they want to acquire. Like the saying goes, quality is what remains long after price has been forgotten. Once you are getting quality, price becomes essentially irrelevant.”

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GLITZ FOCUS

Top Celebrity Live Bands that Will Rock 2022 An integral part of Nigerian parties is live bands. From familiar covers to roofraising performances, they leave a refreshing taste on their diverse audience.

With attention to their collective resilience, Adedayo Adejobi reviews the top live bands to rock Nigeria’s rich event circle in 2022 Shuga Band (Akinloye Tofowomo)

N

o matter how big the crowd is, Nigeria’s creme de la creme readily recognise the cool and polished Akiin Shuga and his band on stage, even in the dark. His shows are unpredictable, wild, consistent, and uniquely energetic. His foray into music has kept him atop the ladder as Nigeria’s most pivotal live musical band.

Despite the cancellations and anxiety over the new strain of Covid-19 and government regulations on large gatherings, the Shuga band took advantage of the situation to create three unique service offerings and packages with their darling Covid compact package showing adaptability in the face of the global pandemic.

The band also adhered strictly to the six-metre mark spacing during performances. 2021 saw the band play quite a handful of Nigeria’s premium destination weddings across the United Kingdom and Morocco. With a water-tight strategic team run by professionals trained at Harvard and Berkeley College of Music, the band surpassed its monthly event projection from April to December, seeing the total average event hitting the roof by 25%.

This success is likely to be replicated in 2022.

Faith Band (Ayo Ajekigbe)

Akinloye Tofowomo-Shuga

Veentage Band-Babades Emokiniovo

Ayo Ajekigbe- Faith Band

Godbless Ubiebifayen- Eboni Band

For Elijah Odiakose, passion for music precedes him. When he left Benin in 2015 and relocated to Lagos to set up his band, he knew what he wanted out of life. Seven years later, his band has grown; floated an entertainment company with a focus on music and events. Last year, Elijah staged a soiree to reward his loyal band members and management team. With his debut music album done and dusted, he would this year, release two videos before July.

Call her the disruptor in the space and you wouldn’t be wrong. She plays select premium gigs. Her network is shivery, huge and impressive.

Intelligent, fierce, stylish, and simple are attributes that define Maryanne Ogunnaike, a criminally underrated vocal powerhouse. While women in music have been outnumbered by their male counterparts in the past, Maryanne’s phenomenal presence on the scene makes it easy to look forward to the rise of other women in the music industry. With her theatrical live performances, she has silenced critics with her fiery brand of music.

Leaving her lofty corporate career, her passion speaks to the power of focus, rising prominence, and significant success within a short time. Her disruptive tinge makes her the band to watch out for this year.

The Icon Band (Ludare Olateju)

Seun Bankole- SB Live Band

Sharp-Band-Anesi

Not many people in his space do Juju the way he does it. He has brought style, class and a great deal of panache to what was hitherto termed local music. With his refined sound and exciting branding, Ludare is the face of the new generation of Juju music. 2021 saw him honour the legacy of his late father, the great Juju music Icon Emperor Wale Olateju, Sabada King, by completing a brand new music studio called 16 Octave at Ipaja. Looking at his professional pedigree in advertising and communication across the world’s biggest agencies and brand; and his musical heritage, he sure lives well to the billing, the enviable life of a Corporate Executive in the weekday at the office and a charmer propagating Juju music on stage by the weekend. Through his laser vision, he is extending his reach to a wider audience this year.

The Coded Vibes BandAdebiyi Olanrewaju

Eboni Band (Godbless Ubeibifayen)

Maryane Omolabake OGUNNAIKE- Zigma Band Cool Ice Band- Odiakose Oluwaseun Elija

SB Live (Seun Bankole)

This high-spirited singer, keyboardist, and band owner, Seun Bankole, is the reigning toast of the old and young party lovers. His gait, signature dreadlocks, vocal deftness and energy set him apart from the younger generation.

With his fame pushing past the shores of Nigeria, he’s become known for his long- tours across 12 states in the United States of America, London, and the tax-free Havens. He also

In the days of yore, Anesi Ivharue made history and good fortunes as the toast of the high and mighty, shakers and movers of this country and even beyond. Having witnessed many mass exoduses of his musicians, the scars of that betrayal remain with him. Little wonder, he was filled with joy when the same team which left him abruptly eight years ago, dissolved on grounds of unhonoured agreements. In some quarters, he is believed to be the mastermind behind the dissolution, as the long-drawn battle between Anesi and his former band member who is now a major competition hasn’t been resolved, even after attempts by concerned stakeholders to resolve the impasse. For what it’s worth, Anesi and the Sharp band have devised a strategy to revamp the band, their music and more importantly keep their heads above the waters. With fresh female vocals, he is looking into the new year with optimism.

Zigma Band (Maryanne Ogunnaike)

Ayo Ajekigbe’s band name suits aptly as it reflects the band’s velocity, craft and passion. In appearance, their signature white Dashiki, and Abeji Aja stands them out in the crowd. Judging by the enormity of work he puts in and the experience he brings to bear, Ajekigbe has no doubt stepped up his billing, clearly showing the full understanding of his weight in the social circle and the value he offers. In the heat of the pandemic, he revamped his ultra-modern Ikoyi studio facility.

2022 will see him achieving more feats.

2021 was not just an eventful year for Eboni singer, Godbless Ubeibifayen. It was a year marked with breakthroughs as the band’s leader acquired some of the latest sound equipment.

Since he made Lagos his base, fortune continues to smile on him. The father of three has also put some structure to his operations. The focused humour merchant has been a consistent and hard-working musician, raking in mouth-watering figures in billing and patronage. With bated breath, the live band scene awaits Godbless Ubeibifayen grand surprise in the new year.

Sharp Band (Anesi Ivharue)

Cool Ice Band (Elijah Odiakose)

Veentage Band (Desmond Emokiniovo)

April 2021 dealt a huge blow to Desmond Emokiniovo. Not only did he lose his wife and partner in the business, Ejiro, the founding team members comprising three major lead singers and four instrumentalists left the Veentage band abruptly allegedly on the grounds that he didn’t honour the equal ownership agreement they had before leaving the once huge and highly successful Sharp band. The mass exodus was said to have been allegedly orchestrated by a former band leader who then went ahead to set up a now-parallel, but struggling-to-survive band known as Elixir. Like a phoenix, the tough and resilient Desmond bounced back stronger weeks after the musicians left him. He has since rejigged his operations and business model to mitigate further risks and has gotten on with playing A-List gigs, giving Nigerian elites great performances and value for money too. In 2022, the modern live band crooner is poised to surpass last year’s records.

upgraded his new studio with a live streaming component. The Mushin-bred singer’s story is one of grace and a great dose of hard work meets luck.

Getting better at honing his craft, he believes he hasn’t scratched the surface yet.

Oludare Olateju

Adebiyi Olanrewaju Coded Vibes Band

This very young and inspiring showcase is a band to watch out for in the live band space this year. Adebiyi’ Olanrewaju and the Coded Vibes Band. After over a decade of experience as a music producer and performing as a bass guitarist to notable musicians like the delectable stallion, Onyeka Onwenu, Tosin Martins, Bouqui, Reekado Banks, Di’ja and Dr Sid amongst others, he set up the Coded Vibes band in seven years to create a unique sound. The Coded Vibes Band is blessed with amazing singers and experienced musicians, presently performs alongside Nigeria’s Afrohouse queen Niniola, for all live events. Being a youthful band its energy is contagious. 2021 was a defining moment for the band. Leveraging the power of the internet, Covid-19 pandemic, social media and the bands unique strength of performing classics, Adebiyi Olanrewaju and the Coded Vibes Band began their virtual show tagged ‘old Skool Affairs’ which has over time gathered a huge following. The network engineer turned musician who is passionate about youth development has vowed to take on the music space this year. Watch out!!!

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HighLife

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

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

Mike Adenuga: The Guru with a Heart of Gold

Danu

The Other Side of Nasiru Danu Angels fly because they take themselves lightly. They do not think too much of themselves, so does the polo buff, Nasiru Danu. Nasiru wears his badge of temperance and humility in the shape of a subtly hued bowtie thus affirming that he isn’t what many of his disparagers make him to be.

Contrary to misconceptions about his character, Nasiru, according to sources close to him, is actually a modest, compassionate, accommodating and understanding man.

His only shortcoming if at all it could be considered ‘shortcoming’ is his lack of tolerance for sycophancy, bribery or any form of corruption.

It is often said that too much money destroys character, corrupts virtue, dishevels morals and feeds the vanities of its random possessors. Thus, too many possessors of the legal tender have been found to lose their humanity and souls to its enthralling caprices and vile. But Nasiru is remarkably different.

Nasiru who is very close to the corridors of power and influence is immune to the wiles and ravages of money. Unlike too many of his peers that have fallen to money’s devious charms, he is invulnerable to its terrifying charms. Despite his wealth and stature, he hardly believed himself capable of feats otherwise unachievable if he were of modest means. The top business magnate and politician who lives a life of modesty does not subscribe to the usual vanities that eventually consumes his fellow deep pockets in the circuits of the filthy rich.

His generosity exceeds the bounds and understanding of human reason, according to sources close to him.

Beneficiaries of Danu’s generosity enthuse about his large heart and capacity for compassion.

The number of philanthropists in Nigeria is in the thousands. Because the Nigerian society is tightly held together by familial ties, tribal relations, or something just as important, individuals great and small are always willing to share their possessions. However, some of these individuals, like Dr Mike Adenuga, have made a habit of this practice.

For Adenuga, charity is second nature.

This has been evidenced time and again with the billionaire’s unyielding endeavour to see people around him and far away live a good, wholesome, and joyful life. In many ways, the guru has managed to accomplish this, impaling the accompanying conditions of penury on the spears of his benevolence.

When people talk about Adenuga, the conversations often centre around his extensive network of thriving businesses. This is understandable. Adenuga stands at the peak of his trade; for some a model of watertight resolve and strength of mind. However, the philanthropy of Adenuga is something that is often set aside until

the discussion has reached its logical end.

In truth, Adenuga is acknowledged by many to be a leading humanitarian, benefactor of the underprivileged and champion of people whose voices have been hushed due to the circumstances of convoluted life.

But Adenuga, humble to a fault as he is, keeps his intentions to make the world a happier, more level-pegging place under wraps. This is why conversations about him often centre around his businesses, particularly his telecom company Globacom. Even so, the investment genius has a heart of gold, one that beats for those downtrodden, downcast, or down on their luck.

Having recorded a series of remarkable firsts in the highly competitive world of local and international commerce, there are no more worlds for Adenuga to conquer. He depicts the image of a modern General of Commerce.

Adenuga covets no vanities thus unlike many other multi-billionaires, he demands no free verses, heroic couplets or ornamental rhymes to glorify his personage as a man.

Pillars of High Society Celebrate Akogun Alapini at 70

Alapini

Leading Nigerian economist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Tony Elumelu, has continued to keep the bar of youth empowerment attainments out of the reach of his peers. The visionary continues to inspire and energise, driving young people everywhere to dream great dreams, build the entire African economy with mind and mettle, and erect a lasting legacy for the present generation. The Elumelu way is the onwards and upwards way, the progressive march of the truly ingenious.

In the last three years, Elumelu has ridden on the might of his momentum to drive home, literally, the manifestation of his Africapitalism dream. Through his foundation, the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Elumelu has time and again thrown his weight behind African youths. In this regard, one could argue that Elumelu conceived greatness in the minds and lives of some of these youths while thrusting it upon others.

The latest report with Elumelu’s markings has it that his foundation has begun accepting applications for the 2022 TEF Entrepreneurship

Time transcends all things. That’s what the old philosophers of Greece believed. Considering how time puts the life and accomplishments of individuals into perspective, we can give these philosophers their much-deserved kudos. In the meantime, spectacularly impressive persons— like Aare Akogun Tunji Alapini—who have managed to reach the age of 70 should also be celebrated.

A few days ago, January 2, to be precise, the pillars of Nigeria’s high society made a point to celebrate Aare Alapini, cheering him on as he clocked 70. Not holding even a bit back, these prestigious personalities praised Alapini for his many contributions to the Nigerian society, especially with regards to law enforcement and the adjustment of the perspective that had hitherto been thrust on the Nigerian Police.

The event organised to honour the former Assistant Inspector General of Police was held

Tony Elumelu’s Way

Elumelu

Adenuga

at the Civic Center, Victoria Island, Lagos.

With the wife of the celebrant, Ibipo having decorated the event centre, the dignitaries — including the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo — that were on ground felt completely at ease.

Thus, the celebrations were true in their entirety, with the family members and friends of Aare Alapini swinging from one end of the dance floor to another in jollity.

Aare Alapini is one of the handful of dedicated individuals who have helped to redefine the blasé picture that many Nigerians have of police officers.

During his time as the AIG, Alapini made sure to raise the bar on police-tocivilian interactions, the resolution of disputes, neatness, and stateliness among officers, and several other aspects of the occupation that render civil service as a noble calling.

Thus, at 70, the pillars of high society took their hats off to Aare Alapini for his disciplinarian ways, uncompromising temperament, visionary momentum, and breadth of experience.

Programme. This time, it is expected that more young people from all 54 African countries will giddy up as they get on Elumelu’s very fastpaced—and very balanced—wagon of economic and social transformation.

Keeping with the typical provisions of the TEF program, every enterprising African youth is eligible for full-on empowerment. To the informed, this empowerment is a multi-layered package, with tangible possibilities of getting a $5000 seed capital, mentorship, business management training, and much more at the end of the day. Be that as it may, 2022’s edition is expected to exponentially exceed the past years’.

The 2021 TEF edition ended with Elumelu dishing out a total of $24.75 million to 5,000 promising entrepreneurs from all over Africa.

Not to mention the matchless mentorship opportunities and training, the seed capital alone turned out to be a launching pad for each of the beneficiaries. As they (the beneficiaries) promised, Elumelu’s vision and goodwill will not be wasted.

Fresh Start as Nnamdi Okonkwo Resumes at FBN Holding These are great times for both Nnamdi Okonkwo and First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Holdings Plc. For both parties, 2022 represents a period in time that may be constituted as a fresh start after many grand accomplishments, drama, and every other element of the financial corridor that makes it such an exciting ecosystem. From recent reports, Okonkwo has finally sat himself down on the chair designated for the Group MD at FBN Holdings.

There is no doubt that 2021 was a year of many twists and turns. For most people, Okonkwo included, it was a year of preparations and possibilities. For those who kept abreast of the goings-on in the top shelves of Nigerian society, Okonkwo had bowed out of Fidelity Bank, and— as at the beginning of 2020—had very little to do with the corporate world.

Nevertheless, the tail-end of 2021 was quite eventful for Okonkwo, thanks to the persisting investigations conducted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Although

the EFCC was rumoured to have extended multiple invitations to Okonkwo, the bone of contention was not Okonkwo himself, but the past dealings he had.

Then there is First Bank, the institution that has now gotten Okonkwo to participate in the decision-making of its executive board as GMD. The bank did not enjoy as low a profile as Okonkwo did almost all year round. In fact, there were two major series of events that nearly toppled the pristine image that the bank has cultivated all these years: the incident of an almost coup d’état, and the class of wealthy titans over who had the larger individually-owned stake.

In both cases, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had to intervene, but they have long been settled.

Nevertheless, shadows of the old tensions remain.

Consequently, for both Okonkwo and FBN Holdings, 2022 is a great year to take deep breaths, reach new frontiers, and establish new records. Considering Okonkwo’s knack for all

Okonkwo

three of these things, it shouldn’t be long before tidings of his outstanding performance spread at home and abroad.

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HIGHLIFE Even when it seems as if the entire world is within our grasp, life still finds ways to take the wind out of our sails.

Nobody but Senator Iyiola Omisore and the whole Omisore clan know the pain they feel at the moment due to the loss of the Olu of Ayepe-Olode, Oba Olajide Omisore. However, alongside a multitude of similarly bereaved individuals and families in the river of time, the Omisores can declare, “Death, be not proud!”

Well-meaning individuals from within and outside Osun State are sending condolence messages to the Omisore dynasty, bemoaning the loss of the king who passed on at the age of 90.

Even though the stately monarch lived to see the outstanding successes of his progeny, especially the former Deputy Governor and Osun East Senator, the Olu’s demise is still a sore spot in the hearts of the Omisores and people of Ayepe-Olode.

Another point that should be made regarding the now-late Omisore patriarch is that he at least participated in a grand celebration with relatives and friends before his passing. It was Senator

Omisore’s Father Dies Few Months After Elaborate 90th Birthday

Late Oba Omisore.

Omisore who invited Nigeria’s high society to Ayepe-Olode a few months ago.

Omisore played the gracious host while these notable personalities venerated and celebrated his father, and took turns

wowing the general public with their show of fidelity towards what the Olu represented.

Indeed, the birthday celebration was the cynosure of editorial interest during the entire week it was scheduled to hold, as was the case a week later. So, all through the high-octane birthday party, the Olu had nothing to do but smile at the deferential juniors, impressed at how far he had come since first commanding the vassalage of the Ayepe-Olode people in 2009. Who knew that that would be the last time the Omisore royal patriarch would bless the public with his royal presence.

Time moves on and few things remain the same. All the same, the bereaved must insist—with the English poet, John Donne—that Death be not proud!

…… Senator Iyiola Omisore Senator Iyiola Omisore has a far-reaching reputation. Political analysts and sentiment critics have called Omisore the Nigerian equivalent of Arnold Schwarzenegger (also known as Commando), as well as the male adaptation of Mother Teresa. For Omisore who is an all-out businessman and politician, these titles are flattering, to say the least.

Nevertheless, flattery is effective when there is an element of truth, and this is the case for the former senator of Osun East.

2022 has begun as a year of hope and confident expectation for more than 100 patients who have been stranded at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals (OAUTHC), Ile Ife. Like an angel breezing past, Senator Omisore visited this lot a few days ago and decided to reveal the side of him that earned him the maleMother-Teresa title.

From what was gathered, Omisore

intended to visit the hospital, since it is located in his hometown, to see what’s going on. Upon getting there, he decided to help the patients. This he did by offsetting the bills of over 100 patients and giving gift packs to others who were a little over 400. Omisore informed these patients that these presents were his New Year’s gift to them.

The patients in question, as well as their families, were full of praise and gratitude at Omisore’s grand gesture. And as the former Osun State Deputy Governor toured the OAUTHC facility alongside highranking administrative staff, these fortunate patients did not hold back on expressing their appreciation with rounds of applause.

Omisore’s act of goodwill has repositioned him in the hearts of the Osun people. Whether or not he has any ambition to serve them as governor in the future is not the point.

Sen. Omisore.

Augustine Jay-Jay Okocha and Wife Celebrate 24th Wedding

Jay-Jay Okocha and wife

In today’s world of ‘marry quickly and get a divorce at the first sign of trouble,’ there are still some marriages that are inspiring. That of football legend, Augustine ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha, and his wife, Nkechi, is one of such marriages. In a way, Okocha’s characteristic ardour for the game of football comes across in his wedding vows to Nkechi. Therefore, 24 years after their wedding ceremony, Okocha and Nkechi (like Okocha and football) remain inseparable.

A few days ago, Okocha shared some family photos on social media to mark the 24th wedding anniversary with his wife, Nkechi. The photos, which had Okocha and Nkechi posing with their two children, were breezy, so one could almost reach out and—with both palms—harvest a dose of happiness from the photographs. Then again, every family snapshot of the former Super Eagles player sort of demands such reactions, so this is nothing new.

For those who are unaware, Okocha’s marriage to Nkechi is one of the best things about

the illustrious attacking midfielder. As such, since their wedding in 1997, a lot of people inside and outside of Nigeria have paid quite a bit of attention to Nkechi. Moreover, the Nkechi in question has a dashing figure and a transcendent temperament, so this interest in how she got Okocha to fall for her has remained strong through the years.

It has to be said that although Okocha and Nkechi have been married for 24 years and have two children, their union has not been all roses and wine. This is not on account of anything they did, other than being outstanding individuals, but as a result of several attempts of character assassination.

Thus, both of them have had to endure the strain that many celebrities are familiar with, often spending long vacations away from home to shun the steadfastness of overzealous rumourmongers.

Even so, Okocha and Nkechi continue to hold strong.

How Florence Ajimobi Became the Most Powerful Female Politician in Oyo Circumstances have always had a way of forcing people into positions they never dared to dream of. In Oyo State, this is the prevalent narrative. The immediate past First Lady of Oyo and widow of the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Florence Ajimobi, is one of such people who are the main characters in such a narrative. Since the former Oyo Governor passed on, Florence has been on the cusp of transforming into something far more fundamental to the Oyo agenda. It has now happened.

To understand how Florence climbed from a pupa of diplomatic dialogue into a full-fledged political character, one must start from the influence of her late husband and his estimable grasp of politics. Ajimobi was a leader as few have ever known. He had experience on his side, as well as a charisma that easily helped him convert rivals into comrades. But he passed on, leaving a gap that is practically impossible to fill.

Ajimobi

Enter his wife, Florence.

Being an ardent follower of her husband’s political life, Florence soon became the centre of attention in many political circles in the state. This was especially the case for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Given her intelligence and personal connections, it did not take long for Florence to begin linking this person with that person, unwittingly—as some analysts have reported—playing the role of a veteran political character.

The factions within the Oyo APC rumoured to be fighting for supremacy soon chose sides: some on the right hand of Florence, and others on the left.

Although these factions had contrary opinions of the former First Lady, she was able to manage some very prominent individuals on either side and draw them to herself. Or so insiders have explained.

Ararume

What’s Next for Ifeanyi Ararume?

Change as the only thing that doesn’t change is a cliché of clichés.

However, there is no better way to describe the sudden rise and equally sudden fall than is the contrasting appointments of Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Ararume. On September 19, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Senator Ararume as the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited. It has been approximately five months since that time, but Ararume has already been replaced with someone else.

The narrative of Ararume remains one of the first political mysteries of 2022. Being one of the leading political flag-bearers from Imo State, Ararume has that magnetic presence—like two or three other prominent Imo State politicians— that seems to draw in controversy and trouble like an old landlady.

What happened that the Presidency assessed as unquestionably important to swap the Isiebu-born native for some other individual?

There are speculations but nothing concrete at the moment.

Still, it is possible to observe Ararume’s past political adventures, punch in the numbers, and make some predictions regarding his next step. Then again, this analysis is nothing special considering that any well-informed passerby at a newspaper stand can realize the same.

In truth, Ararume has something of a many-edged reputation among the political elite of Nigeria’s society. These folks have hinted at Ararume’s rumoured refusal to stick to one political ideology. They say that he will sing—like a certain prominent political person—the praises of whoever grants him a higher position than the one he currently holds. Whether this is true or otherwise is a matter of conjecture. What is fact is that Ararume has indeed walked the lengths of the Nigerian political line, many times at the forefront, with his ambition fully rendered on his televised or street-campaigning face.

Was it for this rumoured fault that President Buhari dropped Senator Ararume? Will he once again jump on the gubernatorial wagon to seize the Imo State number one mantle? The latter just might be the case, as insiders have already reported that Ararume is gearing up to face his old rival, Imo Governor Hope Uzodinma.

In other news, the fact that the president abandoned him for someone else, especially in an economy-sensitive organization like the NNPC, does not pinch Ararume much. Better days are ahead, after all—or so the optimists say.

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Gov Babajide Sanwo-Olu: The Reality TV Star Our Governor is a TV Star in the mold of the Kardashians. His TV presence is remarkable and you never miss it.

Scurrying around the metropolis and catching people driving one way on live TV and doing so many gubernatorial things all over the place with his make-up artists and TV crew complete.

Who is to blame him especially at these times of social media where everybody is a reporter and everybody is telling stories? Is it not better as a governor to carry your own team and tell your own story before they come and be saying you are pointing finger all over the place?

That is how the next episode was to be shot at Magodo. Those ones have been having sleepless nights as a result of a detachment of hungry and angry-looking policemen suddenly appearing in their estate.

For two weeks they have been stationed there, not having their baths and masturbating to release tension from the boredom of watching rich Yoruba men drive cars they will never drive in their lifetimes all in the name of being on standby to demolish beautiful Yoruba mansions.

That is how the people of Magodo, being tired of sleeping with their wives with one eye at the door hoping the wrecking balls will not commence now took to the gates to protest.

I have never seen this one before. The ‘enemy’ was already inside the estate and we now faced the main gates and locked them with the hungry looking policemen inside.

Anyways, this caught the attention of our reality TV Star Governor who said, ‘Oya, it’s time for

Super Jide to fly in and make a rescue.’

He moved in, bringing along his recently promoted but humbled Commissioner of Police who tried to hide under one big transparent face shield hoping that the Magodo Brooks people will not recognise him.

Remember, that one had just shot his own skit some few days ago. So, to avoid any embarrassment, he tucked in the apology letter from cowardly BOT Chairman in his back pocket and stood there very quietly behind “RMD’’ as he struggled for good TV ratings.

Jide did well. I always love him in that space.

The TV was sending live feeds all over the world and his confidence grew by the minute.

Everybody calm down, he said. Wondering if the make-up was well done. The last time, they didn’t quite get it. He didn’t like the way he looked when he was speaking to the woman who was trying to justify driving one way.

Anyways this was Magodo, he had just saved the place from being turned into a huge IDP camp so he must enjoy the moment.

He spoke glowingly and passionately; he was the best Governor ever. Who is Jagaban or Babakekere or that Big head Ambode? He was the man.

The next minute, he called the CSP of police.

“Who is your Oga and how many of you are here?’ he asked?

The CSP look at him funny. Wait o. Something is wrong here. Nobody told Oga Jide that this was not LASTMA. Wahala on live TV. This ‘goro’ munching idiot wants to embarrass us on live TV.

He tried a second time – ‘I say call your oga and tell him you are infront of His Excellency or else I will knock you’ The police that did not go to Police College and as such not understanding the superiority of civil force over him and his oga responded, ‘Look, I don’t know who you are and you cannot be talking to an officer like this because you wear brown Guinea brocade.’

Yepa, Jide screamed. His make-up drooping from his face. He turned and whispered to the AG – kila ma tishe bayi, bobo mallam nyi fe embarrass wa.’ (loosely translates ‘What are we to do now? This mallam is bent on embarrassing us.’

AG with Bowtie wey no like trouble say ‘Oga let’s enter staff bus and make call’.

‘Malami, why is your man embarrassing me like this na. You know this loudmouth Duke of Shomolu is inside this Magodo and that one will start yabbing me anyhow. I don’t like this o’ Malami responded, ‘My brother Jide, don’t vex. You know this IG get as he be. Leave am I will sort it. Jide responded, ‘Oya better sort it out o, you know I know where to catch you’.

He now turns to the camera man, ‘Can we delete the thing? That one says no sir, it was live and has gone out but don’t worry, let’s go to LASU tomorrow and sing some Aluta songs again with the student Union People and this Magodo episode will be forgotten.

Jide screamed, ‘Brilliant. Oya, what will I wear……Lol.

OLUBADAN: AN ENDURING LEGACY For those of you who do not know, let me say it here again. I have a very strong affinity for Ibadan; that is the town I first got an ‘isho’ from beautiful Toyin while at the University of Ibadan. My love for Ibadan didn’t just end there but continued straight to Bodija where I met and married the immortally beautiful but now late Mena Joseph Edgar.

Ibadan especially Bodija is my third home so I am an interested party.

So, when the news of the demise of the highly respected Olubadan reached me, I dropped all I was doing to pay my homage. I was near a sweet bowl of Afang looking to tasting it in preparation for the official visit of my friend and brother – Yemi Odusanya, a director at Keystone Bank – I stood up in a minute of silence and ended it with a quick prayer for the repose of his soul.

The next thing I did was to rush to the list of possible successors to see where

my brother Biodun Kola Diaisi was nestled. His road far sha. I saw his name at number six. I just smile. Imagine if Biodun was Olubadan, my suffering in this Nigeria don end o.

Anyways, Ibadan remains a very important city. Home to an enduring traditional stool, a bastion of culture and the seat of postmodern academic and institutional structures that has kept its influence through the years.

The seamless way in which a successor was announced going further to strengthen its position as a major centre of socio-political influence.

Let me wish my in-laws well as they peacefully and seamlessly transition from one era to a new one. God bless Ibadan and God bless the new Olubadan and Biodun my brother, you can still come for the afang but come with palm wine so we can toast to the health of our new Olubadan. Beautiful people.

Governor Wike: Please Stop This This man sha like to look for trouble.

Shebi he wants me to stop visiting Port Harcourt. The only real tourist attraction

and the activity that used to make a lot of people brave the insecurity and covid to fly in on the weekends, he now wants to carry that his croaky voice to scatter it now o.

He suddenly wakes up one morning to ban nightclubs and sex workers. If you see the way the sex worker own is paining me, you will think I am the father of the industry.

Wike thinks because he is in his second term, he can be putting his finger in our collective eyes. No wonder the President of the Sex Workers Association of Nigeria one Ms. Amaka Enemo has taken him to task by asking him if their matter was his real problem. She asked if he had sorted the other major issues like insecurity and the rest before he will now come and be disturbing them with this busybody type thing.

I think there is something wrong with Wike, sex and hotels. Remember, when he went and brought down a whole hotel during Covid pandemic and now this.

For me, the best way to fight this one is for Ms. Amaka to do like AMCON

and get all her members to threaten to release the list of all of their customers and you will see how Wike will start giving them bursary awards and oil blocs.

Mbok laugh wan kill me.

Late Olubadan

Salami

Fasua

Sanwo-Olu

DOYIN SALAMI: I AM CONFUSED I saw the announcement. They say they have appointed my erudite lecturer, Professor or is it Dr. Doyin Salami the President’s Chief Economic Adviser.

Please correct me if I am wrong o. I thought he was already in that position with jerry curl superstar, Bismark Rewane and Governor- elect Charles Soludo.

Well, whatever the case, they have made the appointment and work has started. Bro, this thing I am sure will be very hard because I am not seeing the kind of advice you will give daddy at this late hour that will turn anything around. But what can we do,

Sani

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LOUD WHISPERS enjoy the ride, do the things you like doing -postulating on TV, get powerful invites to speak at glamourous events and just generally enjoy the star status until it’s over. Abi, what else can we do as Adviser to people who don’t even understand why we have a forex situation and are still talking about cattle grazing routes when people are going to space to make love? God is in control.

MUDI DRAGS RMD TO ACCRA If I say this thing is not paining me, I am lying. This Mudi is not to be trusted. Last year, I was at this world respected fashion event in Accra. It was me, Mudi, RMD, Kelechi Amadi Obi and super influential journalist, Azuka Ogunjiuba.

That is how last month Mudi called me that I should prepare for this one o. Also organised by KOD and also pulling designers from as far afield as Morocco, South Africa, Togo, Nigeria and the host country, Ghana.

It was billed to honour our own RMD with a legendary award

DR. TOPE FASUA: BREAKS THE INTERNET I love words and I die for a beautifully written prose. I have some favourite columnists and essayists. Let me mention a few- Segun Adeniyi is a master. His flow is asymmetrical and he just delivers with the ease of well-made butter. Dele Momodu is another king.

I don’t agree with his self-adulation and his politics most of the time but he writes beautifully. My oga Simon Kolawole is another master. His writings are usually laced with facts and the logic will just be beating you to submission.

In the past, people like Ndaeyo Uko, Dele Giwa and Chiji Emuchay brought me up as a skinny naked boy in Shomolu standing on the street and reading my Weekend Concord and Guardian while my contemporaries were busy in the gutter trying to catch tadpole.

Tope Fasua is a renaissance king. He is different and has done to intellectual writing what Andre Bocelli did to classical music. He simplified it and made it accessible to a larger audience.

Yes, Tope has made deep pseudo academic writing accessible to even the bus conductor.

For some time now he has been contributing to my online platformthealvinreport.com. The Alvin report is a serious portal that takes essays from over 40 PhD holders and other experts on the economy, impact, finance and leadership.

Tope is king. His article on the biggest ‘Armed robbery about to happen’ went virile and reached over 200,000 people triggering responses from all over the world. He has followed that up with another hit, ‘Do your children a favourdie poor’.

Mbok, as I write, that one has crossed the 10,000-readership mark in less than 24 hours. Why is he such a powerful writer you may want to ask?

This former presidential candidate writes from the position of fervent love for his country. He is punchy, fearless and mad.

He uses his total control of the English language to simplify his arguments without losing its essence as he drops bombs after bombs.

Reading Tope is like devouring a wellmade bowl of Afang. The sanguine taste rolling down your tongue before slowly engaging your throat on its way down to nestle ever so sweetly in your bowels.

Whenever I read Tope, I feel fulfilled.

I smile and just go to bed with a huge the rubbish the APC had done all over smile. Well done bro, just had to do this the state. That was classic, a well-timed for you. You deserve more. blow with a powerful alignment with the broom which is a symbol of the SHEHU SANI: A SWEET SLAP ruling party.

If there is anything I enjoy much more Mbok, come and see the clap back. than a pot of you know what, it is a Wonu was a marvel kai. He said, beautiful clap back. Our politicians are ‘Governance was for serious minded the best in the world. If you see the way people and not for jobless bloggers. they yab themselves, you will just be Kaiiiiiii, that is what in Shomolu we call wondering at their brilliance. The choice – babanla Isho. of words, the timing and the platform of Laugh almost kill me. This man finish use are all so deliberately deployed to Senator o and it is true. That is how ensure maximum effect. senator will be on social media and The best recently is the one between talking and talking. The other day, he my brother the afro-haired Senator sent us a picture of himself in a hotel Shehu Sani and the APC spokesman in room complaining that his wife was Kaduna – Salisu Wosunu. asking him who took the picture. Kai. Senator Sani had fired the first shot.

Wosonu didn’t end there, seeing that In announcing his candidacy for Senator was reeling from the blast, sent governorship under PDP, he had said in the killer punch. He went in for the that if elected, he would sweep away kill, reeling out the achievements of his

for his contribution to African Entertainment. RMD was to also walk the runway for Mudi exactly as he did last year.

That is how, Mudi no pick my call again o. I call this Warri man tire; the phone will not answer. The next thing I start to see pictures of the events. The pictures were so beautiful especially as Mudi’s pieces took the spotlight.

The thing is still paining me o.

That is why when he came for my mother’s memorial, I just look am, instruct that if anybody serve the skinny man my Afang- I will release their nude picture.

Imagine!

called my sister, my madam and six of my side chicks.

As I write the deluge is still going on.

Accountants all over the country are ‘attacking’ me o just for one vacant position that they are not even qualified for. An investment banker especially in such a technical and specialised area cannot be an accountant. Yes, they can work together but na totally different thing.

So, I started asking around why there was so much pressure on me from these professionals. What I found out was eye opening. Technology has taken them out. So many apps that are doing their work rendering their services almost obsolete.

So, the traditional services provided by the accountant is really no longer required in the dynamic work place that is technology driven today.

The need to rework their training, reengage their industry and realign with the present and immediate future requirements is very critical and imperative.

All that credit and debit, punching calculator and keeping accounts, wearing big black suit and long tie and going to the bank need to change o.

Not only accountants, almost all professions now will just have to realign themselves if not they will be pushed to redundancy – yes, Lawyers with your black gowns na una I dey refer to.

Scary.

ALIBABA: A BEFITTING START January 1st every year meets a lot of people at the Eko Hotel with Alibaba.

His show is the one that always opens the year and this year he did noble. With a strong medical theme in honor of our medical frontline workers, this year’s show was simply magical.

He gave out awards to all the isolation centres, gave respect to the Lagos State Commissioner of Health who was there and got all performers to dress like medical workers and all complied except loud mouth AY, who just had to wear his new dress which had his face on it.

I had fun. Falz was magical; Faze was superlative. The comedians especially Kenny Blaq were on point and the food was good.

Well done bro.

Mudi

RMD

principal Nasir El-Rufai naming the just completed waterworks and the over 255 primary health centres. Na wa.

My advice to senator is to calm down, retreat, go strategise and come back again. He should not try to come back immediately o, he will be too weak to put up a good fight.

Wosonu don win this one.

ICAN/ANAN: IN A VERY BAD PLACE That is how I put up an advert that I was looking to hire an investment banker in the Corporate Finance and Advisory part of my business and almost 600 accountants applied o.

My people, fear catch me. The calls just kept coming – hi, my name is Sani Abacha and I am an accountantmy people, they disturb me o: texts, WhatsApp messages, emails. They

TAYO OBISANYA, HAPPYBIRTHDAYSIR Chief Tayo Obisanya or Tayo Suleja like we call him is celebrating his 72nd birthday. To say Baba Mushin is my number one fan is an understatement.

He reads me on all of my platforms, comments and calls to discuss the issues raised. He too will be sending me his own posts and we will be shouting and celebrating together.

The other day, he called that one of his friends after reading this column bought me champagne that I should come and collect. He sent me the picture of the drink but I could not go because I was in Uyo, so I sent for the wine.

Daddy is such a likeable personality.

His sense of humour is out of this world. He says he loves journalists and has close friends who are very important columnists including Femi Adeshina and the likes.

He says, I deserve to be on his roll call of important columnists, I don’t agree with him but he insists and makes it a point to forward all of my posts to the masters.

Funny enough, we have never met even though he lives at Mushin which is just next door to me.

Happy birthday daddy and say me hello to mummy and I hope things are still happening in the other room, if not I will send you Friska tea. Kai, you go shout daddy. Have fun and wishing you God’s protection.

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Real Estate Giant, Sijibomi Ogundele’s Secret Mission

A Myriad of Troubles for Ooni’s Wife, Queen Silekunola Naomi

Oba Ogunwusi and wife, Queen Naomi

Ogundele

According to William Arthur, the four steps to achievements are: “Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively.

Pursue persistently.”

This quote seems to be the abiding belief of Sijibomi Ogundele, boss of a leading real estate and construction firm, Sujimoto.

Undoubtedly, this is not fulsome praise, if you consider the fact that he is the creative mind behind so many luxury buildings across the country.

His secret to success, however, is his belief in the above quote.

While others shut down and went on break for the yuletide, the very intelligent construction giant was busy re-strategising with the sole aim of remaining the leader in the sector.

The quintessential real estate merchant is determined to dominate the scene for a long time to come.

His company is adjudged the fastest growing real estate firm in the country owing to his resilience.

He has continued to back his projection with visible, convincing and laudable facts: this is evident in the number of projects he has so far handled since he ventured into the business.

A few years into the sector, his accomplishments have surpassed many others who had been in the industry long before him.

A man gifted with the Midas touch, Ogundele is showing no signs of slowing down at all.

“His mission in 2022 and beyond is to rub shoulders with other world-class real estate giants across the globe. He is building an intimidating profile that will be difficult for anyone to beat in this part of the world. He is not resting on his oars until he achieves this with a steely resolve to further transform and revamp the nation’s real estate sector to compete with the rest of the world, in terms of quality, affordability and luxury homes,” a source disclosed.

It was also hinted that his new building Sujimoto’s Lucrezia De Medici (Maisonettes and Penthouses) at Banana Island is expected to be delivered this year.

No doubt, the architectural sensation is redefining luxury buildings in Nigeria.

In October 2018, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, had shut up naysayers, who had made him a butt of criticisms over his seemingly prolonged single status, following the breakup of his marriage to Zaynab OtitiObanor, otherwise known as Olori Wuraola.

Though the first-class monarch had been romantically linked with many ladies following his crashed marriage to Olori Wuraola, none of them was reportedly good enough for him.

At the time, many had also thought that the handsome monarch had probably shut his heart against love. But he would later prove that he understood the import of the Yoruba saying that “there is no respect for a king without a queen in the palace.”And before the eyes of his critics, news broke that he was marrying another beauty in the person of Silekunola Moronke Naomi Oluwaseyi.

To further give vent to his joy, the revered monarch proudly announced the good news via his Instagram page about 24 hours after he celebrated his 44th birthday, with copious pictures of the 25-year-old beauty who had captured his heart, amidst cheers.

“I waited patiently upon the Almighty, the Exactly a year ago today, Chief Kessington Adebutu, famously called Baba Ijebu, lost one of his wives, Rosemary Adebutu. The Edo Stateborn socialite had developed a severe cold and malaria symptom and was rushed to St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, where she was brought into the highbrow facility dead before any help could reach her.

Days before she breathed her last, she had been livelier and very upbeat until she fell ill and died Saturday, January 9, 2021.

Today, the mother of one would be remembered as her only child, Magistrate Temitope Adebutu, and the entire Adebutu Dynasty will hold a memorial celebration in her honour. It was gathered that the first year memorial thanksgiving will be held at The Church of the Assumption, Falomo, Ikoyi, and will be followed by a reception at Habour Point in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event is expected to be attended by top personalities from all walks of life.

As a mark of respect for the memory of her late mother, Temitope showcased her poetic side, as she penned some powerful and emotional words, saying, “Dearest Mummy, if anyone ever told me that I could survive the whole of 365 days

King of kings; He eventually did it in the midst of many trials. Silekunola, Moronke, Naomi; the greatest Arsenal you can apply on this highly revered throne with many rules and regulations in the midst of undiluted tradition, heritage and culture is the “Fear of God in You”, which is the beginning of your wisdom on this throne of Oduduwa. You are welcome home my beautiful and adorable queen,” he had written.

When the Akure-based prophetess came into the picture, many had wondered how a professed prophetess would cope with the tradition and cultural proceedings required of her in the House of Oduduwa. But almost immediately, she blended well, as she was loved by all and sundry within the palace because of her meek and respectful nature.

Ooni’s joy knew no bounds when she gave the Ooni of Ife a crown prince, his first son named Tadenikawo. This, quite expectedly, further cemented their relationship, and the Ooni ensured that she never lacked anything.

The King reportedly empowered her family financially and got them a beautiful apartment in Akure, Ondo State.

It was also gathered that while Olori

One Year After, Adebutu Remembers Late Wife

Late Adebutu.

without the beauty of your eyes, the sound of your voice, vivaciousness of your personality and warmth of your love, I would have held such a person in contempt of court!“But we serve an unquestionable God, who does as

Silekunola was away for her evangelical work, everything was taken care of.

However, it was disquieting weeks back when she released an epistle on her verified Instagram account, disclosing that she had relinquished her role as an Olori to the youthful Ife monarch. The lengthy message came as a shock to many. But it didn’t come as a shock to some, most especially after her conspicuous absence from the palace on her hubby’s sixth coronation anniversary last December.

Many days after taking a voluntary exit from the palace, a reliable palace source revealed that “she regrets posting the messages on the social media, calling off her union to the king rather than addressing the issues personally with the king.

“After the incident, she was heavily reprimanded by her mother, whom many thought orchestrated her exit from the palace.

She is looking for a way to manage the crisis.

Those who used to flock around her have deserted her, as she is now facing reality.

“She, in the company of her family members, had made attempts to visit the king, who was in Lagos for the three-day music concert held at Muson Centre. She has placed several calls to people to help her beg her former husband, but those she called didn’t respond well. “Many who should have come to her aid are staying away from the issue, as they find it demeaning for an Olori to bridge protocols and throw the house in a bad light. Everybody we called to help plead on her behalf refused vehemently, including palace chiefs. Those close to the king are distancing themselves from that reconciliation move.”

According to the Ile-Ife tradition, the Olori is not only married to the king, but she is also married and accountable to the people of Ife. “The reason she is still being allowed to hover around is because of Prince,” the source added.

It was also gathered that all the aides and security details attached to her have been withdrawn and she is running from pillar to post to make sure she regains her home.

Although the king is still keeping mum over the issue, the reconciliation meeting is still ongoing.

He pleases because He is an Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent being and the Ruler of the Universe and to Him belong all Power and Glory and Adoration forevermore.

“To say I miss you dearly is stating the obvious, especially our banters, usually followed by gregarious laughter, as though we were sisters but with your ability to always strike a balance and remind me that you bore me from your loins. Guess what? Your beneficiaries at the markets miss you, ever speaking of your generosity. So also, the guards at the banks, at the church, whom you more often than not always showed kindness to, no matter how small.

“I find consolation however in Christ and His word in Romans 14: 7-9. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

For to this end, Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. Continue to rest in the Bosom of the Lord, My Dearest Rosy Baby, Aka Mummy, Sister, Lover, Friend.”

Businessman Ifeanyi Ubah Remains Undeterred No doubt, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, Chairman, Capital Oil, is generous to a fault.

This top player in the nation’s oil and gas sector and politician also has a large heart.

Besides, he is unapologetically committed to the uplift of his community, while also helping the course of humanity.

A politician, Ubah suffered a defeat during the November 2021 Anambra State governorship election, as he lost to the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof. Charles Soludo.

Despite this distasteful experience at the polls, Ubah has shown that the milk of kindness still runs in his veins.

Society Watch recently gathered that the billionaire businessman, rather than being deterred, has shown an uncommon spirit of sportsmanship by not turning his back against his people. Many who know him say he eschews politics with bitterness.

Interestingly, unlike many others, the well-loved businessman is back doing what he knows how to do best: service to humanity.

Proof of his generosity was glimpsed during the festive season when he donated food items as well as money worth several million to the people of his constituency and beyond.

Ubah

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

9.1.2022

ON THE RHYMES AND SENSIBILITIES OF A CAREER WOMAN

Marilyn Maduka, whose debut collection of poems was launched late last year in Lagos, seems primed to become the literary community’s next big thing. This is because the corporate world’s top player, who divides her time between her public life and family, has had a long experience in creative writing, she tells Okechukwu Uwaezuoke

A

qualitative gathering, that unmistakably bears the hallmark of a successful Lagos cultural evening, had enthusiastically welcomed the arrival of Marilyn Maduka’s The Bridge to Where I Come From. This, of course, should have been enough to buoy the conÀdence – and hopes – any budding, albeit promising, writer for a future lustrous literary career. Yet, a lurking undercurrent of trepidation might have somewhat bridled the optimism of the organisers of that Friday, November 26 evening’s event at the African Artist’s Foundation’s premises in Victoria Island.

For this, after all, was Maduka’s debut poetry collection.

Even so, the happily married mother of three – two boys and a girl – has always written poetry from as far back she could remember.

And that has been for almost three decades now. “As a child, I was deemed to be quite secretive and sometimes introverted,” she recalls.

“However, writing was an art form that allowed me to express myself as well as my observations of the world around me – most often in secrecy. I started writing more seriously during my secondary school days. And the rest, as they say, is history.”

It had taken her a relatively short time – less than four months actually – to compile the poems in the recently-published book. “It was as if, once I made the decision, the book got impatient to get out into the world and put me under pressure to release it.”

As for the title she eventually chose for the debut poetry collection, she had Àrst toyed with several possibilities, one of which was a title See-you-later-Alligator-1 by Lasisi Babatunde like Peppered Periwinkles. A title eventually emerged itself from a coalescing of the titles of two poems she wasn’t ‘into poetry’, read my in the collection – “The Bridge” and book and afterwards said she had “Where I Come From” – as well as discovered poetry as her new hobby.” from the second stanza of the book’s Indeed, there are many reasons dedication, which reads: “And to my why The Bridge to Where I Come dad and mum/ Thank you for being From would, so to speak, make the bridges/ Through which I have anyone fall in love with poetry. One discovered/ Where I come from.” of them is the poet’s unaͿected and Since the book’s publication and its unobtrusive use of language in the successful launch, it had risen to the expression of her life’s credo. In this number one position in Amazon’s collection, which is segmented into New Release in African Poetry seven thematic subheads, she lurches before eventually dropping oͿ from from waxing lyrical to sometimes that spot. Maduka, who hopes that waxing philosophical and nostalgic it would someday be a bestseller, is in the cadence of deeply inspiring gratiÀed by its “incredibly encourag- words. This could be why the book’s ing” reception so far. “My collection editor, Dr Odeworitse Eyeoyibo has been consistently referred to deems her “voice” to be “sometimes in very glowing language with and somewhat quaint, archaic and words like ‘captivating’, ‘inspiring’, anachronistic. Decidedly King James‘beautiful’, ‘must-read’ and even ‘a ian and Shakespearean.” page-turner’ Someone, who said Egged on by the breathtaking

Marilyn Maduka

simplicity of her lines, a reader is able to wend his way through a whole gamut of human emotions, feeling both the joys and sorrows of the poet, her mirth and laments with her and joins her in a reverential acknowledgement of the Eternal One. In one of the poems, titled “Moonlight Magic” – which is classiÀed under the subheading “Nature”, although it could have also Àtted into the subheading “Worship” – for instance, the reader muses with her as the following words cascade into his consciousness: “In the silence of the night/ I hear the moon whisper/ A soft tune that brings delight/ To the lonely midnight star.” This is before resuming with the more reverential concluding words: “And my soul exults in wonder/ My heart beats ever louder/ Awe-Àlled, I dare not ponder/ Save to attest;/ How great Thou Art ” Even as a well-accomplished career woman with intimidating credentials, Maduka’s spirituality, which has been a big inÁuence in her poems, holds a special place in her heart.

Of course, she also acknowledges the inÁuences of the happenings and people around her. “In terms of poetic inÁuences, I would say that, above all others, Maya Angelou is certainly a poet, whose work I have deeply enjoyed and been inspired by over the years,” she intimates.

Before her current position as the People Director for West Africa at Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB-InBev), she had previously worked for such multinational companies as KPMG Professional Services, where she had kicked off her career as a management consultant, before assuming different human resources duties in MTN Nigeria and Unilever Nigeria Plc. Yet, behind her public persona lurks a creative soul, whose sensibilities finds expression in other art forms besides writing. “I truly enjoy writing whenever time permits,” she says. On her possible next publication, she is yet sure about the next format it would take. Perhaps, another collection of poetry wouldn’t be a bad idea. Or, it could even be short stories. And she does not rule out the possibility of writing “a hardcore book on human resources”.

Back to the recently-launched poetry collection, she is intent on getting it out there. “I am currently doing some micro publicity through friends and family as well as the social media,” she says. “Some readers have said ‘the world needs this book’. So, I don’t want to be [held] responsible for not getting the word out to the world ”

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 9, 2022

ARTS & REVIEW\\ENCOUNTER

SEARCHING FOR PURPOSE IN THE TIMES OF A PANDEMIC Yinka Olatunbosun

A

kintunde Blazee, otherwise known as Captain Blazee, is a strong member of the Freedom Park family – a growing cultural community on Lagos Island.

As the Executive Creative Director, Conscious Vibes Africa, Blazee has been a committed artist to consciousness music, championing the reggae revival movement with the monthly series of reggae music concert at the former colonial prison yard. The concert series, Conscious Vibes had paraded some of the Ànest reggae musicians in Africa such as Dr. King Cobra, Marimba, Benzman and, of course, the late Ras Kimono.

Although he is best known for his music, Captain Blazee also boasts of insanely fascinating pieces in his eclectic collection of textile art and designs.

Called TaiDaiAfrica, the textile art brand name is afro-styled after tie-and-dye. While walking through the display of his collection at the Freedom Park, anyone would be enamoured by the varied expressions of artistry from one of the uncelebrated artists in the music scene.

Within the few minutes he spared for the conversation, he revealed that he had a strong music ancestry that was only known to him about a year ago. The musician who hailed from Ondo made a shuddering discovery that was both emotional and expository.

“I just discovered my biological father in 2020,” he began, reaching out to grab a chair that was within arm’s reach. “I have always seen it in the movies, you know, like one of those stories. I asked my mother who Ibidapo Akinbobola was.

Anyway, I found out that it was my father and he never had any other child. It was a long story. I discovered him and some weeks later, he died. It is a pity that we couldn’t see twice before he died.

I saw him only once.”

His pleasant smile seemed to have perfectly masked the underlying emotions. His father was a great musician, who had performed alongside legendary juju musicians such as King Sunny Ade and Sir Shina Peters.

“I have been doing music for over 25 years and I didn’t know I had a strong musical ancestry,” he explained. “That alone is an inspiration to me. I have a family now- my wife, a son and two daughters. My dad was estranged. No one was with him for many years till his death. He took to drugs but his family members tried to help him.”

The mixed feelings beneath that secrecy that could have unlocked his history could not be hidden this time. But there is no doubt that he was gratiÀed to have known the truth about his ancestry before his father died.

“The house my father lived in was almost collapsing and no one could live with him,” he resumed. “He was leaving there until I discovered him. He was a very brilliant guitarist.

I also play guitar and I never learnt to play it from anyone. I also learnt that my grandfather was a carpenter who made musical instrument for Anglican church. I did not know all these until recently because my mother hid those from me.”

There is only one probable reason for that: a need to protect her son. While Blazee’s mother could shield him from his father, she couldn’t take away the musical blood Áowing in his veins.

“I have been recording songs for more than 18 years. I have done more than 50 songs both released and unreleased. I lived in Ibadan for about seven years. The family relocated to Ondo but I left Ondo and returned to Ibadan and from there, I came to Lagos. My father died just a few weeks after we met.”

He didn’t start his music career with reggae. He was at Àrst a studio rat, composing lyrics, hanging around musicians while learning to play

Captain Blazee instruments. His proliÀcacy with songwriting was a problem for his producer.

“When I started writing, my producer would tell me to cut a song into three tracks. I could have three to Àve pages written for a song because I had so much to say. And I love to write.”

And that was how he found his voice in reggae music, a genre that promotes emancipation of the human spirit. Drawing inÁuences from the Jamaican reggae musician, Peter Tosh and the South African reggae icon, Lucky Dube, his music became a reÁection of his conscious persona.

“Reggae used to be number one in the 80s.

Floating Buka was the gathering of reggae community on the island,” he recounted.

Floating Buka was a club in a ship along Marina and a cultural signpost for many reggae artists of the period.

“We used to see Ras Kimono – who was said to be a DJ at Àrst. But the system got polluted and could not stand the message of reggae music.

Now, people don’t want too much message.

They just want to dance. But then if you call a reggae fest in Lagos today, you would be shocked at the caliber of people that would show up especially when you play the kind of song that they can sing along with. Most of the time when I perform, I do covers from Bob Marley, Ras Kimono and the likes but along the line I was losing out on my own tune. I was not sending my own messages out there. I believe that reggae music will come up again because no system lasts forever.”

His recent songs include “Life of A Showman” as well as a collaborative track with rapper and former member of Remedies, a pioneering Afropop group in Nigeria, Eedris Abdulkareem titled “Too Long”. The song references socio-realities in Nigeria such as corruption, national debt, impunity. It was released on the 60th Independence Day for Nigeria. He joined the community of artists to protest during the EndSARS movement against police brutality and bad governance.

When the pandemic struck, he began to rethink his music career. Live music venues had been closed indeÀnitely and even when they were reopened, low turnout of audience was rife.

“Initially, I didn’t make textile art a preoccupation until Covid-19 came on board. Every man must survive,” he said.

His TaiDaiAfrica brand has deals on everyday wears and accessories including laptop bags and footwear.

DISCOURSE

MOTHER TONGUE, A TOOL FOR CULTURAL AWAKENESS Grace Tolu Dogara

W

hat does mother tongue mean?

The term "mother tongue" refers to a person's native language — that is, a language learned from birth. It is also called a Àrst language, dominant language, home language, and native tongue (although these terms are not necessarily synonymous).

Mother tongue is a general term for the language of the childhood home, learned ‘at one's mother's knee’, often used synonymously with NATIVE LANGUAGE. Mother tongue pertains to the language that you speak since you were young.

It is your native language.

When you use the term mother tongue, you refer to the language a person learns from birth. It is the language one was initially exposed to and the Àrst language learnt. However, it also means the speaker’s home and dominant language, not only from acquisition but also from its importance and the speaker’s ability to fully learn its communicative and linguistic features.

In language translation terms, it means that the translator is highly capable of translating the text into one’s dominant and primary language.

What is the diͿerence between the mother tongue and the Àrst language?

Technically, there is no diͿerence between Àrst language and mother tongue, as they both pertain to the native language a person speaks.

But if you are talking about contexts, you can say that the mother tongue is the language that the person’s ethnic group speaks, which may not be a person’s Àrst language.

When you refer to a person’s Àrst language, it could be a mother tongue, but it could also be the language of choice when the speaker is bilingual or multilingual. Often, the child learns the

language that their parents and other caretakers speak. This is a natural language acquisition because it is the only language that the child hears since birth.

In a bilingual household where the parents teach their children to learn their mother tongue simultaneously, which will be their Àrst language. It becomes a choice of which language the child is most comfortable with and Áuent in speaking, despite speaking two languages.

Although the implication is usually clear, there is no necessary connection between a child's use of language and the language of its mother: some children learn the language of a nurse or nanny Àrst; a mother may talk to her child in a language not originally her own.

Use of the Term 'Mother Tongue' The general usage of the term 'mother tongue'... denotes not only the language one learns from one's mother, but also the speaker's dominant and home language; i.e. not only the Àrst language according to the time of acquisition, but the Àrst with regard to its importance and the speaker's ability to master its linguistic and communicative aspects. For example, if a school advertises that all its teachers are native speakers of English, we would most likely complain if we later learned that although the teachers do have some vague childhood memories of the time when they talked to their mothers in English, they, however, grew up in some non-Englishspeaking country and are Áuent in a second language only. Similarly, in translation theory, the claim that one should translate only into one's mother tongue is in fact a claim that one should only translate into one's Àrst and dominant language.

"The vagueness of this term has led some researchers to claim...that diͿerent connotative meanings of the term 'mother tongue' vary according to the intended usage of the word and that diͿerences in understanding the

term can have far-reaching and often political consequences."

Culture and Mother Tongue This is the language community of the mother tongue, the language spoken in a region, which enables the process of enculturation, the growing of an individual into a particular system of linguistic perception of the world and participation in the centuries-old history of linguistic production.

"Cultural power can...backÀre when the choices of those who embrace American-ness in language, accent, dress, or choice of entertainment stir resentment in those who do not. Even if the world celebrates International Mother Language Day held on February 21 each year for cultural diversity and language awareness, there is no denying the fact that minority languages are dying more rapidly. Many factors contribute to this, including globalization, modernization and the blending of international culture.

UNESCO said that, on average, one language disappears every two weeks. A disappearance of a language is the disappearance of an entire intellectual and cultural heritage. According to the 2020 edition of Ethnologue, 2,926 languages are currently endangered, and UNESCO estimates that about 90% of languages worldwide may disappear by 2050.

Besides being a communication device, languages are of cultural signiÀcance, and their disappearance means losing unique traditions and knowledge, heritage, and ancestral memories.

It is a way to raise awareness about the language in diͿerent areas. A civilization’s foundation is language, which binds people together. It is all right to learn other languages, but it is vital to use your national language whenever possible.

Why is language heritage important to a country?

Language identiÀes a culture’s ethnic iden-

tity; thus, the development, preservation, and research of culture are linked to learning a nation’s language code. Language is the way to represent the formation and expression of a nation’s culture.

Language is a vital factor in a nation’s development. It is the carrier of a country’s intangible heritage, as it shows the nation’s ethno-cultural, mythological, and psychological experiences and ideas.

Aside from the currency, Áag, name or geographical boundary, the national language makes a country unique and respectable. Language is the indicator of the country’s national identity and a part of a person’s heritage or a nation.

You can only have a deeper access to a community if you can speak and understand its language. A person has to be Áuent in a language to understand the community’s cultural aspects and nuances. When you are Áuent in a country’s national language, it makes it easier for the country’s citizens to accept you.

Maintaining the languages of ethnic and cultural groups is critical for the preservation of cultural heritage and identity. Using one's mother-tongue at home makes it easier for children to be comfortable with their own cultural identity International Mother Language Day is celebrated every year on February 21 since 1990, after the declaration by the United Nations to recognize the sacriÀces of people who lost their life for the sake of their mother-tongue in Bangladesh. To every one of us, mother language is one of the most precious gifts that we have in our lives.

Each and every language spoken throughout the globe represents a unique and distinct cultural heritage, melodious songs, colorful environment, tasty food and a healthy society to live in, where people express their feelings and emotions without any hesitation.

Dogara writes from National Museum, Minna

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 9, 2022

CICERO

Editor: Ejiofor Alike SMS: 08066066268 email:ejiofor.alike@thisdaylive.com

IN THE ARENA

Will FG Crush the ‘New Terrorists’?

Over a month after a Federal High Court in Abuja declared bandits as terrorists, the federal government last week gave life to the judgment by gazetting the order, sparking hope of a conclusive offensive and ending speculations of alleged hidden agenda, Louis Achi writes

S

aint Augustine, the Algerian-Roman philosophertheologian who lighted the candle of Christianity in pagan Roman Empire once questioned: “What are kingdoms without justice? They are just gangs of bandits.”

Banditry, an exasperating, criminal social malady, which has evolved from the old fashioned robbery, kidnap-for-ransom, among others, to vicious murder, demographic disruptions and swatting of fighter aircraft from the Nigerian skies like flies has finally forced a definitive, offensive stance from the federal government.

Ruling on an ex parte motion filed by the federal government, Justice Taiwo Taiwo a the Federal High Court in Abuja had on November 25, 2021, declared bandits anywhere in the country as terrorists stating that such groups as Yan Bindiga (Hausa word for gunmen) and Yan Ta’adda (Hausa word for terrorists) are nothing other than terrorists.

But the federal government curiously footdragged, in contrast to its swift reactions to previous similar court orders, for almost six weeks before it gave effect last week to the court directive by announcing it has gazetted the order.

A document released by spokesman of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), Dr. Umar Gwandu, last Wednesday, showed that the AGF’s office had gazetted the court order. The document titled: ‘Terrorism (Prevention) Proscription Order Notice, 2021’ is contained in Volume 108 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette.

It read in part: “Notice is hereby given that by the Order of the Federal High Court Abuja, in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1370/2021 dated 25th November, 2021 as per the schedule to this Notice, the Activities of Yan Bindiga Group, Yan Ta’adda Group and other similar group in Nigeria are declared to be terrorism and illegal in any part of Nigeria, especially in the North West and North-Central Regions of Nigeria and are proscribed,

CDS, General Lucky Irabor

pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011.

“Consequently the general public is hereby warned that any person or group of persons participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intentions or otherwise of the groups referred to in paragraph 1 of this Notice will be violating the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 and liable to prosecution.”

Malami had in a statement following the November 25, 2021 court order promised but failed to comply until last week. The rather puzzling scenario pushed some critical stakeholders and even statesmen into making unflattering comparisons to the speed with which a similar order proscribing the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) was swiftly gazetted under 24 hours.

The AGF had speedily gazetted IPOB’s designation as terrorists on the same day that Justice Abdu Kafarati gave the order on September 20, 2017. Similarly, in the case of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, led by Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the AGF swiftly gazetted the proscription order four days

after the court gave the order on July 26, 2019.

Before last week’s compliance by the AGF in gazetting the court order which declared bandits as terrorists, human rights lawyer, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), warned that Malami should quickly do the needful before members of the public began to misread his intentions, observing that without the gazette, the court order would not be as effective as it should. The senior lawyer further held that delaying the proscription of bandits would continue to embolden them, noting they had become more vicious in their attacks in recent times.

His words: “He (AGF) should act so that the people would not begin to read meaning into the actions of the government. We need to treat everybody with universal and equal application of law so that we do not begin to accuse the government of having preference for one group against another.”

With the gazetting of the court declaration of bandits as terrorists, much of the feelings of uncertainty about the whether the central government nursed a hidden agenda have probably been put to rest. Now, Nigerians ex-

pect a total war against the ‘new terrorists’.

At press time, states in the North-West geopolitical zone including Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto and Kaduna have been seared with bloody banditry.

Despicable marauding activities of the bandits have also penetrated the North-central Nigeria and other zones in the country.

Hundreds of innocent persons have fallen to their blood-thirsty predation. They have kidnapped and injured hundreds including schoolchildren, with some still in their captivity.

In another significant development that should firm up the offensive against the new terrorists, the federal government said last week that it had obtained clearance to deploy the Super Tucano fighter aircraft purchased from the United States against the bandits (now terrorists) ravaging the country, particularly in the North-west and North-central states. The AGF Malami revealed this clarifying that the gazette of the clearance was ongoing.

It could be recalled that last year, the federal government took delivery of the fighter jets after many months of delay. However, the US at the time had not given a blank cheque to Nigeria on the use of the fighter jets. The US floated a monthly schedule to monitor the deployment of the jets, the battlegrounds and the purpose of the deployment. Some US officers have been coming to Nigeria to evaluate the use of the jets in line with the terms of sale.

However, Malami, in an interview on Good Morning Nigeria, a breakfast show on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) last week, said the federal government had secured the clearance after assuring America that it would be used according to international best practices, stating the gazette of the usage of the Super Tucano aircraft was in progress.

Against the background of gazetting the court-sanctioned order on bandits, the emerging consensus is that in the coming weeks and months, the searing and bitter narrative of marauding bandits would be fundamentally changed to give Nigerians hope.

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

Electoral Bill: Is There a Conspiracy?

Lawan

There’s one incontrovertible truth about President Muhammadu Buhari’s rejection of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill and it is the fact that you can hardly fault his grounds for withholding assent, especially, as it concerns direct primaries imposed on political parties by the National Assembly.

Even the most unlikely of President Buhari’s critics, Reverend Father Mathew Kukah, a few days back, admitted that the president was right by withholding assent.The freewill to mode of selection of candidates in an election is purely a political party’s affair and not what anyone should impose on them under the guise of electoral reform. It’s democratic for the parties to so decide.

But, much as Buhari was right on this one issue, there are several other sections in the bill that the country cannot afford to die with the rejection of

direct primaries.This is why the legislature must not let Buhari’s withholding of assent mark the death of the entire bill.There’s nothing difficult in reviewing the contentious sections and sending it back in collective interest for the president to sign.

It is important to note that the opposition already has a detestable feeling about the entire process up until its rejection by the president.They claimed it was all a plan, adding that the real target was the clause that dealt with electronic transmission of result. But because it’s hard to frontally challenge that, the conspiracy was hatched around direct primaries just to have the entire bill killed.

The Rivers State Governor, NyesomWike, said as much.

Even more embarrassing are the Civil Society Organisations that had since been appealing to the president to assent to the bill and even expressed

disappointment when Buhari withheld assent, only to start identifying cross-referencing errors after. So, all the while that they were pushing for Buhari to sign it, they did not critically look at the bill to identify the errors?The president’s refusal to assent to the bill might as well be a blessing in disguise.

Except there’s a conspiracy, as truly pointed out by the opposition and some other interested parties, the National Assembly must not let the whole of the entire bill die just, because Buhari withheld assent over direct primaries. It’s important to learn from the 2006 experience, when the Ken Nnamani Senate leadership threw out an entire amendment to the constitution on account of alleged third term by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.That experience is worthy of note and shouldn’t go to waste at this material time.

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BRIEFINGNOTES

The Place of Tofa in History Last Monday, prominent Nigerians mourned the passage of Alhaji Bashir Tofa, who had shocked many when at 45, he emerged the candidate of the major political party in the country, National Republican Convention, in the 1993 presidential election, Vanessa Obioha writes

H

istory will always remember Bashir Tofa, as the National Republican Convention (NRC) candidate who contested in the 1993 presidential election, adjudged to be the freest and fairest election ever conducted in Nigeria.

Tofa died on Monday, January 3 at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) after a brief illness, and was immediately buried according to Islamic rites. He was aged 74.

The deceased was more than just the opponent of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in that controversial election.

He was a statesman, reputed for speaking up for the country and suggesting ideas through which some of the crises affecting Nigeria could be tackled. For instance, in 2019, he spoke against the zoning of the presidency in the upcoming 2023 elections, stating that it was a futile effort that would not promote national unity.

“I have never supported the rotational presidency for the simple fact that it is an idea that will never promote unity amongst Nigerians. It is a very divisive and myopic formula. What Nigeria needs is a Nigerian President, not a sectional or zonal president, who is there simply because he/she is from a particular zone or region of the country. For zones to be clamouring for presidency as a do-or-die affair during each election cycle, is certainly one major factor for the utter disunity we experience in these difficult times.

Rotational presidency is utterly undemocratic and unfair to qualified people who have ambitions to lead their country but won’t be availed with the opportunity because they are from the wrong zone at that material time. The shouts of ‘it must be our turn’ from one or two zones, and ‘no, it is not’, are the consequence of a rotational presidency, which are very inimical to the unity of this country,” he reportedly said.

A promoter of national unity, Tofa had constantly referred to his thoughts expressed in his 1986 book ‘In Search of Unity,’ which was never published. In that book, he argued that for the country to move forward, there must be a national roundtable where each ethnic group would lay out their wants and conditions to live together. “But therein, lies the fundamental question: What if the group wants a separation as seen protested today by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB),” he said.

Tofa concluded that a negotiation directed towards restructuring Nigeria was still relevant.

Given the rising insecurity that marked early 2021, Tofa had also condemned ethnic conflagration on an online publication.

“If any Nigerian will not be allowed to live

Late Tofa freely and conduct his/her life and business in any part of the country without being disturbed or molested or even killed, then no one should be allowed to settle and prosper anywhere else. If that were to be the case, then, we have no country. That is how serious it is. And that is what our enemies’ desire,” he was quoted as saying.

Tofa, alongside former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, and other northern leaders, created a non-partisan organisation tagged A ‘ buja Roundtable’, which was to lead engagement with the federal government on the rising security challenges facing the region.

Born June 20, 1947, Tofa’s foray into politics began in 1976 when he was elected the councillor of Dawakin Tofa LGA in Kano. By then, he had completed his primary education at Shahuci Junior

Primary and City Senior Primary School; and his college education at Provincial College, Kano as well as a stint with the Royal Exchange Insurance company, where he worked from 1967 to 1968. He later attended the City of London College for further studies.

In 1977, he was elected a member of the Constituent Assembly. During the Nigerian Second Republic, Tofa was at various times the secretary of the Kano chapter of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). He later became the party’s national financial secretary and was a national member of the Green Revolution National Committee.

During the Third Republic, he was part of the Liberal Movement which metamorphosed to Liberal Convention when it was not registered as a political party.

Tofa joined NRC in 1990. In 1993, when the Babangida administration introduced

the Option A4 system, Tofa was elected the presidential candidate of NRC representing Kano.

During the party primaries, he defeated Pere Ajunwa, Joe Nwodo and Dalhatu Tafida to clinch the NRC presidential ticket. At the time, he was an ally of Halilu Akilu, the security chief at the time. His running mate in the election was Sylvester Ugoh, a former governor of the now-defunct Central Bank of Biafra. Both were members of the defunct NPN. Whether Tofa considered Abiola a strong contender at the time or not, his faith in his victory was unwavering even as early results showed that Abiola was leading in 19 states while he was leading in 11.

However, there were reports that he nearly conceded to his opponent before Babangida annulled the election.

As the clamour for the recognition of June 12 grew in subsequent years, President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018 declared the day as the new Democracy Day which was formerly observed on May 29. Buhari had also conferred the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Abiola. Reacting to the news, Tofa expressed reservations, writing in a statement that “while I do not begrudge the president his power to bestow favour on whomsoever he pleases, it is also important, especially for history, for all actions from the highest authority in the country to be based on fair play and law. Needless to say, being one of the two presidential candidates in that election does not in any way define me or my achievements in life; it was not even the most important one.”

Indeed, Tofa’s life went beyond the political walls. As a businessman, he was chairman of International Petro-Energy Company (IPEC) and Abba Othman and Sons Limited. He was also involved as a board member in Impex Ventures, Century Merchant Bank and General Metal Products Limited.

A part of his life that was rarely glimpsed in public was his literary flair. He was one of the promoters of his indigenous language Hausa, having written more than five books in his native language.

Beyond his active involvement in politics and the business world, Tofa was a consummate writer, publisher and general perfectionist.

As a writer, Tofa’s articles on the socioeconomic and political development of Nigeria appeared in the then major national newspapers in the 1970s, including New Nigerian, Daily Times, Nigerian Tribune, The Sketch, and the vernacular tabloid, Gaskiya Tafi Kwabo.

Beyond his journalistic interventions, he was a wordsmith extraordinaire who authored several books and short stories on contemporary issues in both English and Hausa languages.

NOTES FOR FILE

Magodo Fiasco and Genuine Leadership

Sanwo-Olu

A lot of was last week said about the engagement between the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the residents/ property owners in Magodo Phase II Estate and a certain Chief Superintendent of Police, who was sent from Abuja to lead the supposed execution/enforcement of the Supreme Court Judgment on the embattled plots of land.

A majority had argued that the governor should not necessarily have visited Magodo but worked behind the scenes. This line of thought is at its best funny. How do they want the governor to sleep when his roof is on fire? Will any leader honestly do that?

Refer to the “invasion” of Magodo by

mean-looking, gun-wielding police officers in large numbers, who laid siege to the estate on December 21, creating chaos in the area and fear among the landlords and residents.

It took the intervention of the governor for those police officers to stand down the following day. He did not have to visit Magodo before the situation was brought under control. He had continued to engage with the law enforcers in Abuja over the matter up till last Tuesday morning when another round of crisis occurred.

This time, the governor could not and would not sit back in his office and watch some persons disturb the peace that is

being enjoyed in his state to be threatened.

At the end of the day, did his presence not yield result? Has the matter not been resolved and tension calmed? Is that not leadership?

It is really sad for those who shared the above opinions especially those who feel strongly about the governor’s engagement with the police officer. To them, Nigerians are not used to civil engagements between elected officials, who are usually Lords and their citizens. The governor simply did well for disappointing them, and living up to his promise to continue to engage the citizens, who he considers as the major stakeholders in his bid to take Lagos to her Eldorado.

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Endless Controversies over APC’s National Convention Following the ongoing campaign for the postponement of the National Convention of the All ProgressivesCongressslatedforFebruary,Adedayo Akinwale x-raystheendlesscontroversies surrounding the planned exercise

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hen the February date tentatively slated for the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was announced, party members and stakeholders thought the coast was finally clear for the ruling party to brace the odds and prepare for the election of new national officers of the party.

It was a public knowledge that following the consultations between APC governors and President Muhammadu Buhari, the February date was agreed for the convention.The Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, had announced this on November 22, 2021, immediately after a meeting with President Buhari.

Following the announcement, the whole issue around whether the convention would hold next month was therefore put to rest. Expectedly, the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) under the leadership of the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni was vested with the responsibility of implementing the decisions as regards the planned exercise.

Kalu’s Strange Call for Postponement However, few weeks after the February date was agreed, the former Governor of Abia and the Chief Whip of the Senate , Senator Orji Uzor Kalu called on the Caretaker Committee to consider postponing the national convention. Orji in a letter dated December 13, 2021 and addressed to the Buni also suggested that the presidential primary and the convention of the party be conducted the same day.

The lawmaker pointed out that some states were embroiled in crises with multiple factions, saying it was important to put into consideration the consequences of these factions during and after elections. He warned that holding the convention in February without sorting out the minor disagreements that arose during the ward and state congresses would lead to implosion.

Kalu added: “It is important that we collectively save the party from implosion due to the numerous court cases across the states. It is also important that you reconsider the date due to the confusions with regards to the zoning of offices. It is important to first postpone the convention with all peace and reconciliation machineries fully put in place.The issue of zoning should be properly handled with even representation across the six geopolitical zones.”

Party’s Reaction But despite Kalu’s clamour for postponement, the Caretaker Committee stood its ground and resolved to set up sub-committees on budgeting and other relevant structures for the February exercise.

The National Secretary of the party, Senator John Akpanudoedehe disclosed this at the end of 18th regular meeting of the Caretaker Committee held at the National secretariat of the party in Abuja.The party added that the party would engage critical stakeholders on issues that affect Nigerians.

Moreso, the party in its new year message to Nigerians also assured all party members and indeed Nigerians that it was poised and ready to meet up with the tasks ahead in 2022, particularly the conduct of a rancour-free convention.

Stakeholders Kick Opposing Kalu’s call for a postponement, the Director General of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman, had in a letter dated December 16, 2020, which was addressed to Buni warned that the Yobe State governor would be strengthening political opposition if he refused to hold the party’s convention in February.

Buni He said postponing the party’s convention would jeopardise the party’s chances in the 2023 elections.

Also, in an open letter to APC leaders, titled, “Plausibility of February 2022 APC Convention”, issued last Monday, Lukman had reiterated that It was difficult to excuse the Caretaker Committee from the ongoing campaign to postpone the national convention of the party.

He said the Buni committee had done an excellent job since its emergence in June 2020 by bringing down tension within the party.

Lukman, however, warned that all the good works of Buni were about to be destroyed once it yielded to the temptation of staying longer than February 2022.

The director-general said there should be no need to be doubtful about whether the ruling party would be having its convention in February 2022 or not. He pointed out that members and the general public had been put on notice that relevant committees would be set up, stressing that the major gap was that no date or details of Committees, their membership and terms of reference, were given.

The party chieftain noted that because of the gap, the public speculation was strong that the convention may not hold in February, saying it was worrisome that speculations about the convention were allowed to create strong doubts as to when it would hold.

Lukman argued that the suggestion made by Kalu would mean possible extension of the tenure of the CECPC by another six months.To him, it was very difficult to understand the logic of such a recommendation. Going by the recommendation he said, the committee would be saddled with the additional responsibility of organising all party primaries for all positions for the 2023 elections.

He was of the view that anyone

campaigning for ‘presidential primary and election of National Working Committee members’ to hold ‘on the same day and venue’ simply want a situation whereby any possible dispute around presidential primary would submerge the emergence of the new leaders of the party.

Lukman pointed out that the only reason why some leaders, including the members of committee, were attracted to the campaign for postponement was the deceptive belief that any candidate who emerged, whether elected or imposed on the party would win the 2023 elections, stressing that, “this is a big lie!.”

In the same vein, some APC chairmanship aspirants, as well as Concerned APC Stakeholders had also kicked against the call for the postponement of the national convention of the party.The stakeholders argued that the postponement of the party’s convention was unacceptable.

One of the chairmanship aspirants, Mallam Saliu Mustapha argued that postponing the convention would create more problems within the party. Mustapha who spoke through his media aide, Mr. Dapo Okubanjo said it was doubtful that anyone who meant well for APC would back such a call.

He said: “What Kalu said is unacceptable and is unnecessary because it could create more problems for the party. Aside from us, every other aspirant is stepping up their bid for the position based on President Buhari’s endorsement of February for the convention. So, it is doubtful that anyone who means well for APC will back that position.

Kalu may have his personal reasons but it will be difficult to agree to that move.”

Meanwhile, a group that called itself Concerned APC Stakeholders had warned that the leadership of the ruling party must do everything to hold the party’s national convention in February.

The Spokesman of the group, Abdullahi Dauda, had in a statement issued, said

Kalu was not a member of the party when it was formed and had no right to say convention should not be held. It called on President Buhari to call the Buni committee to order, saying it would resist any attempt to postpone the convention.

The stakeholders further argued that Kalu would fall back to the PDP if the court gave judgment against the actions of Buni-led caretaker in the future while the foundation members of the party would have nowhere to go.

To resolve the confusion surrounding the February date, the APC governors and party stakeholders were scheduled to meet in Abuja today, Sunday, January 9.

The meeting of the governors is expected to settle for a feasible date for the national convention and thereafter meet party stakeholders before meeting with the President.

The reassurance given by the Caretaker Committee of the party that it was poised to organise a rancour-free convention has not stopped the rumoured extension of the Committee’s tenure.

Buhari Warns against Unity While speaking last Thursday during an interview aired by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), President Buhari warned the leadership of the party of what may happen if they fail to close ranks to project the party ahead of the 2023 general election. He said without unity of purpose among the leaders and other party members, APC might lose to the opposition.

Buhari gave the warning to the leaders of his party while answering a question on the disagreement within the APC leadership, which was believed to be threatening the anticipated national convention of the party, earlier scheduled for this February.

The président also assured that those defecting from the opposition parties to APC, with corruption charges hanging over their heads, would have their day in the court of law. He foreclosed the possibility of anyone in the party foisting leadership on members.

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CICERO/REPORT

Makinde

Balogun

Ladoja

Olubadan: All Eyes on Makinde Kemi Olaitan writes on controversy over the selection of High Chief Lekan Balogun, as the next Olubadan of Ibadanland

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ith the demise of Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland, last Sunday at the age of 93 years, the natural successor and next-in-line to the throne based on Ibadan tradition, is the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Mashood Lekan Balogun.

The Olubadan (meaning Lord of Ibadan) is the royal title of the Oba of Ibadanland, a largely symbolic role. It was founded in the 16th century, but the present Yoruba people only took control around 1820 and by 1850, they had established their unusual succession principle.

However, the succession principle is quite different compared with other traditional Yoruba rulers in that it alternates between two lines of Otun (Chiefs) and Balogun (warriors). It usually takes decades to groom an Olubadan for the stool through stages of chieftaincy promotion.

The implication is that just about any male born title-holder of the metropolitan centre is a potential king.Therefore, Olubadans are appointed on rotational basis to occupy the stool on the death of a monarch while the next to Olubadan and most senior on both lines are the Otun Olubadan and Balogun.

However, a strange succession crisis has hit the ancient city, following the passage of Oba Adetunji, no thanks to the crisis over the elevation of Ibadan High Chiefs to crown-wearing Obas by the administration of the former governor of the state, the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi in 2017. A former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr. Michael Lana, in a letter dated January 3, urged Governor Seyi Makinde, not approve the appointment of High Chief Balogun as the next Olubadan if selected by the Olubadan-In-Council.

Lana, who is counsel to Osi-Olubadan of Ibadanland and former governor of the state, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, in the suit against the elevation of the High Chiefs, said since Balogun had been elevated to

an Oba and received a crown, he should not be installed as Olubadan.

He warned Makinde against what he described as the ‘dangers’ of approving Balogun as the next Olubadan.

Ladoja, who ranks next to Balogun on the Olubadan line to the throne, was the only High Chief who did not receive a beaded crown as Oba and had challenged the elevation in court and won.

But Balogun, along with other elevated High Chiefs challenged the judgment in a pending suit.

The former Attorney General in the letter, reminded the governor that except Balogun withdraws his suit challenging the nullification of their elevation, he is not entitled to the throne of Olubadan.

He argued that nowhere in the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration was it stated that an already beaded crownwearing Oba can be enthroned for the second time as the Olubadan.

He stressed further that approving Balogun while still holding on to the title of an Oba, may create the ground for legal battles, which are alien to the Olubadan throne. Many thus believe that should Balogun be disqualified, Ladoja may be the next Olubadan as he is next-in-line on the Olubadan line.

However, the members of the Olubadan-in-Council led by Balogun with the exception of Ladoja, had declared at a meeting that they would follow the tradition in naming the next Olubadan, regardless of their elevation to Obas.

These kingmakers subsequently announced their endorsement of Balogun as the next Olubadan.

The High Chiefs in a letter through their solicitors, K Eleja (SAN), Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN) and Adekunle Sobaloju, faulted the letter by Lana, stating that it was not a true representation of the law and facts.

According to the senior lawyers, Lana goofed by saying that the governor should not be in a haste to appoint

Balogun as the next Olubadan.

They argued that the law as regards ascension to the Olubadan stool is the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and the subsequent decisions of the government, noting that the rights of the High Chiefs in line to the ascension to the vacant stool of the Olubadan of Ibadan is guaranteed and cannot be eroded by a conferment of rights to wear beaded crown as High Chiefs of Ibadanland.

They maintained that it is on record that none of the High Chiefs was at any point in time appointed or installed as Olubadan of Ibadanland or vested with the rights to wear beaded crown as Olubadan of Ibadanland. The High Chiefs in the letter dated January 4 and copied the state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, described Lana’s conclusion as self-serving, unfounded and a gross misconception of the purport of the restructuring of the Ibadan chieftaincy order by Ajimobi’s administration.

But the members of the Olubadanin-Council had at a press conference on last Wednesday declared their endorsement and approval of the nomination of High Chief Balogun, as the new Olubadan. The Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, while speaking on behalf of the council, denied insinuations of legal tussle on the succession to the Olubadan throne, urging people to desist from carrying rumor which can truncate peaceful co-existence in Ibadanland.

He also cautioned those politicising the crowning of Balogun, as the next Olubadan to desist from the act, warning that such antics would not take them anywhere.

According to him, the members of the council, who are the Kingmakers had met and resolved that Balogun is next in line and would ascend the throne of Olubadan.

He also debunked insinuations relating to the health of the Olubadan-elect,

describing all the negative media reports as nothing to worry about.

“Either we have been crowned before or not, that is irrelevant; they should not bring politics into the tradition of Ibadan.

Twelve Chiefs constitute the Olubadan in council, including the Iyalode of Ibadanland, 10 of us have endorsed Lekan Balogun; there is no judgment stopping him from becoming the next Olubadan of Ibadanland,” he explained.

Out of the 11 members of the Olubadanin-Council that met and endorsed the nomination of Balogun as the successor to the Olubadan throne, only Ladoja was absent. Many believe that his absence suggested a crack in the council.

But not long after, news broke that the former governor had also endorsed the selection of Balogun. Many were relieved by the development within and outside Ibadanland.

But that respite would not last long as Ladoja emerged on Friday to deny making any statement to the effect that he’s in support of Balogun’s selection.

He said: “In my comment, I did not say High Chief Lekan Balogun will be the next Olubadan or not. I said and quote me, ‘Otun Olubadan, traditionally is the next heir to the throne of Olubadan, but in this regard I’m not talking about the nomination of Lekan Balogun. There was no time, I said I backed his nomination or not. Please, only report what I said and don’t quote me out of context.

“My explanation should not be misconstrued to mean I’m in support of his nomination as the next Olubadan or not.”

The former governor’s latest stance has further compounded the confusion rocking the selection process of the next Olubadan.

It was gathered that the unfolding drama is actually meant for the eyes and ears of Governor Seyi Makinde whose consent or dissent will determine the fate of Balogun in the coming days.

Will Makinde promptly assent to Balogun’s selection and end all arguments?

Or will he delay assent and allow the uncertainty and speculations to linger?

SUNDAY JANUARY 9, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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

NEWS

SECURITY ON THEIR MINDS… L-R: Enugu State Governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; State Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Hon. Augustine Nnamani; and the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, during the security meeting between the governor and stakeholders of Eha-Amufu Community in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of the state…yesterday

Workers Shun NLC Strike Directive in Seven States, Opt for Negotiation Ejiofor Alike in Lagos, Bassey Inyang in Calabar, George Okoh in Makurdi, Wole Ayodele in Jalingo, Wale Ibrahim in Lokoja and Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia The organised labour in Zamfara, Abia, Benue, Imo, Taraba, Cross River and Kogi states have shunned the directive by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to commence strike in protest against the non-payment of N30,000 minimum wage by the seven states, THISDAY has learnt.

In line with the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of NLC, the National President of the union, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, had in his New Year message, directed the workers in the seven states to commence industrial actions against their state governments for failure to implement the new national minimum wage and pension.

“Apart from refusing to fully implement the national minimum wage and consequential salary increase, the state governments have also been promoting clandestine and rogue labour leaders unknown to the labour movement,” Wabba had reportedly alleged.

In line with the directives of the NEC meeting, Wabba had asked the affected state councils to commence industrial actions against their state governments.

THISDAY’s investigation, however, revealed that the workers in the affected states have ignored the directive and opted to continue negotiation with their governors.

The Benue State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Godwin Anya, told THISDAY that workers in the state would embark on strike action as directed by the national body of the union. According to Anya, the state NLC was not among the union affected by the directive because the state government has partially implemented the

minimum wage for some categories of workers.

Anya added that negotiation was ongoing with the state government to achieve full implementation of minimum wage in the state.

"As you are aware, the state has fully implemented and is paying workers from level one to six the new minimum wage; the only issue we have is that of level seven and above," he said.

Anya also stated that the state government had made an offer of increment in salary, which was below the 30,000 requested but was turned down by labour.

"We are back on the negotiation table and we are hopeful that the state government will fully pay the 30,000 minimum wage and there will be no reason to embark on strike,” he insisted.

The state government also told THISDAY that it was still negotiating with labour and had no misunderstanding with the union.

The Press Secretary to the Benue State Governor, Mr Nathaniel Ikyur, said the state was not aware of any planned strike action by labour.

According to him, the state has a good working relationship with the workers.

In Taraba State, it was also gathered that while the workers were favourably disposed to embark on strike, the leadership of the union was dragging its foot on the issue.

Speaking to THISDAY on phone, the Chairman of NLC in the state, Comrade Peter Jediel disclosed that the union was still holding meetings with the state government on the issue.

He, however, stated that the outcome of the meetings would determine the next line of action to be taken.

“We are still holding meetings with the state government. They have approached us and we are still discussing," he said.

However, an official of the

union who craved anonymity, told THISDAY that since the death of the former NLC chairman in the state, Comrade Peter Gambo, in July 2021, the current chairman was yet to call a congress meeting to fashion a way forward on the issue.

In Cross River State, the workers have also opted to negotiate with the state government on the issue, instead of embarking on strike as directed by the NLC. Chairman of the state chapter of the NLC, Comrade Ben Ukpekpi, told THISDAY at the weekend that the leaders of the congress in the state would meet next week to deliberate and decide on the issue.

The state NLC chairman explained that the meeting would be the first step towards arriving at a decision that would be communicated to the state government on the lingering issue of non-payment of the N30,000 minimum wage to workers in the state.

He said a declaration of strike would not be made immediately and haphazardly, adding that the NLC would follow due process in calling out workers for a strike if a strike becomes inevitable.

"After meeting next week, we will communicate our position in writing to the state government. It is based on the response of the government that we will know what to do next. But, definitely the meeting next week will not declare a strike," the NLC chairman said.

Asked if the state government on their own have reached out to the congress after the directive was made, Ukpepki said the proper process was for the workers to communicate to their employers in writing and then expect a response, which will guide the final decision of the congress on the issue.

In Kogi State, the workers are also negotiating with the state government to avert

strike action.

The state Vice Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Meliga Obaka, however, told THISDAY that the union would mobilise all the civil servants to commence an indefinite strike in strict compliance with the directive if the state government fails to implement the minimum wage in full.

He argued that the national minimum wage was a product of law, adding that justice must be seen done to enable everyone to be beneficiary.

Obaka explained that the state government had set up a committee for the implementation in the state in February 2020, adding that the advent of the COVID -19 pandemic had stalled the subsequent meeting between the state government and the organised labour.

He pointed out that the state government and the labour congress returned to the negotiation table late last year, but there was no concrete agreement between the two parties as the state government was allegedly trying to shift the post in the middle of the game.

"Kogi State Government instituted a committee on February 14, 2020. We have met severally and broken into technical committees before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For a whole year, we could not meet. The committee resumed work late in 2021 and the technical committee submitted their various reports to the whole house, although there was no agreement because the state government position and the position of the organised labour differ.

“We however agreed that the reports of the committee should be sent to the state Governor, Yahaya Bello for approval, but up till now, nothing had been done.

"The new year message of the national president directed

Kogi and other six states to commence the strike. As far as we are concerned, we have no option but to put our heads together and kick-start the arrangement for the commencement of the strike, if the state government is still adamant in implementing the minimum wage," he added.

Chairman of the Abia State Council of the NLC, Comrade Eze Idima, declined to comment on the NLC’s directive to go on the strike until after the meeting of the state labour leadership.

When asked when the proposed meeting would take place, he said "any time next week".

The officials of the union also declined to comment on the issue when contacted in Zamfara State.

In Imo State, the state government was accused by the workers, who spoke of the record, of sponsoring hoodlums to remove the authentic leadership of the union led by Comrade Austin Chilakpu to install the current compromised leadership.

N1bn Solar Streetlights Contracts Fully Executed in Adamawa, Presidency Clarifies Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs) has refuted claims that the N1 billion contracts for the installation of solar streetlights in Adamawa State were not executed.

OSSAP-SDGs Head, Communications Unit, Rotimi Ajayi, in a statement at the weekend denied insinuations that the contracts were not carried out as stated in the contract terms.

He stated that contrary to the fake news by the publication, the contract was fully and duly executed with strict adherence to due process and for the benefit of the good people of Adamawa.

The statement reads, "the attention of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, OSSAPSDGs has been drawn to a story published by an online platform and regurgitated word for word without independent verification of the facts contain

therein by some other online publications on alleged award of N1billion contracts for the installation of solar streetlights in Adamawa State. Indeed, when the reporter contacted the Office, the project and media officers volunteered to take him on a physical inspection of the projects and their locations.

But he claimed that he was busy and will not be able to go on the inspection, perhaps because he had already made up his mind on carrying out a hatchet job.

"On his request, the Office forwarded about 150 pictures of the completely installed streetlights and their locations to him. But the publication would rather choose to attribute the streetlights to a certain serving Senator without necessary verifications. The Office therefore regards the report as a hatchet job and a very malicious attempt to rubbish the good image of the Office. The publication and its reporter obviously set out for mischief and blackmail against the noble tenets of journalism in the way they have handled this report.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 9, 2022

INTERNATIONAL Professor Bolaji Akinwande Akinyemi at 80: Revisiting Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Without Grandeur

P

rofessor Bolaji Akinwande Akinyemi, a Commander of the Federal Republic, attained eighty years of age on Tuesday, 4th January 2022. He was born to Mr. and Mrs. Aje Akinyemi on 4th January 1942 at the Wesley Gate Hospital, Ilesha, Osun State. He was exposed quite early to international life and affairs for two main reasons. First, he was born to an educationist father who was a Principal of the Ilesha Grammar School.

The father was an Awoist who had a great commitment to education as an instrument of national and international development.

A second factor which is derived from the first reason is the development of a newspaper reading habit which enabled him to come across an advertisement placed by the Embassy of the United States in 1961. The advert asked for essay entries and then Mr. Bolaji Akinwande Akinyemi of the notable Christ School, Ado Ekiti, applied and was among the successful applicants who were each given a prize of 3-month visit to the United States with all the expenses borne by the US government. Professor Akinyemi visited the US from January to April 1962 and had the opportunity of not only meeting with other international students, but also the opportunity of speaking directly with the US President, John F. Kennedy.

The international students met with President Kennedy who gave his address and bade the students goodbye.

But Professor Akinyemi consciously or otherwise said, ‘Mr. President’, and President Kennedy not only heard him but also waited to hear him. As quoted by Crispin Yomi Ogunseye, former Deputy Director of Administration at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, Professor Akinyemi said: ‘I made a fool of myself, and I said Mr. President!

Coming from a culture where you don’t even talk to your parents unless they talk to you, so with the most powerful man in the world, I did not expect him to acknowledge but surprisingly, he stopped and turned to hear what I had to say, but I simply said, nothing sir. So, he just smiled, waved and left.’

This was one of the foundations of the international life to which Professor Akinyemi was introduced at the age of about 20, and which apparently prompted him to seek his university education at the Temple University in 1963-1964 and at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts in 1964-1966. He later moved to the United Kingdom for further educational experience. But what remains critical to his university education is the strong secondary school foundation he had at the Igbobi College, Yaba, from 1955 to 1959 and at the Christ School, Ado Ekiti, in 1960-1962. This explains in part why he is a foreign policy critical thinker.

Bolaji Akinyemi and Foreign Policy General (Senator) Sanda Ike Nwachukwu, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, gave an overview of what Professor Akinyemi stands for in his foreword to an edited book by Bola A. Akinterinwa, and entitled Nigeria and the World: A Bolaji Akinyemi Revisited (Lagos: NIIA, 2012, 388 pp). He said that the book was ‘a collection of very vibrant, well-informed and insightful academic articles that seek to vindicate the poetic and metaphorical perception of Professor A. Bolaji Akinyemi as a truth spoken before its time.’

More important, General Nwachukwu said the book confirmed the ‘enduring nature of some of Akinyemi’s policies, some of which now seem very prophetic. It is in this vindication of the fact that Professor Akinyemi acted wholly in the national interest, even when considered iconoclastic by some critics, that the book has effectively established the former Foreign Minister as the truth spoken before its time. A very robust example in this regard is the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) that Professor Akinyemi established under a volley of visceral criticisms, but which has now become one of the flagships of Nigeria’s foreign policy.’ Explained differently, Professor Akinyemi thinks and foresees in the national interest. He lives in the future and thinks extraordinarily about making perceived impossibilities possible. General Nwachukwu cannot be more correct, and this can be illustrated by Professor Akinyemi’s active engagements in the conduct and management of international affairs, at three complementary levels: in his capacity as Director General of the NIIA from 1975 to 1983; as Minister of External Affairs from 1985 to 1987; and at the level of his ‘thru MYeyes with Prof. Bolaji Akinwande

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Akinyemi since about two years now.

At the level of the NIIA, he differentiated between the quest for love and respect for Nigeria. In his eyes, what is needed is not love for Nigeria, but respect, for Nigeria. He made this distinction in his Farewell to Policy (NIIA Lecture Series, No. 35, p.16) and noted: ‘although God knows that, given our behaviour at home and abroad, it will take a miracle for anyone to love Nigerians. Africans are not going to love us. What we should aim for, is respect, not love. Every government in this country has been trying, except that interlude between 1975 and 1979, to earn love from Africans rather than respect. The love we won’t get, the respect we can earn.’

To struggle for respect for Nigeria is quite interesting from the perspective of his being the son of a Christian father and he too being a staunch Christian. Christianism preaches love first. If this is so, to what extent is love applicable in political governance and during warfare? Should respect come first or vice versa? God to wives to respect their husbands while husbands are required to love their wives. In this case, respect and love are to go pari passu. But without any whiff of doubt, the quest for survival at any time cannot but subject love to respect in international relations meaning that Professor Akinyemi is right. His many foreign policy initiatives lend credence to this observation.

He introduced the use of dialogue as basis of foreign policy enquiry and formulation in four complementary ways: first, as a technical dialogue, which should not be ordinarily seen as an exchange of messages or interpersonal talks. Professor Ogaba Oche, relying on the explications of the Russian philosopher Mikhail Bakhtin’s and Martin Buber’s theories of dialogue, has it that technical dialogue is genuine and has the goal of achieving an objective understanding. It is not simply a dialogue in which there is an exchange of words or messages to communicate something or to learn something. As Professor Oche put it, Dialogue in its technical sense, ‘is unique because it evolves through a process and particular quality

And true enough, Professor Ibrahim Gambari’s foreign policy concentricism, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji’s constructive and beneficial concentricism, and Chief Ojo Maduekwe’s citizen diplomacy are undoubtedly good foundational manifestations for Nigeria’s greatness. However, the policies are only operational in design focus. They are not consciously articulated to achieve foreign policy greatness, or military leadership and respectable national identity for Nigeria as wanted by Professor Akinyemi who wants Nigeria to have a Black Bomb and become a nuclear power. He wants Nigeria to play an active part in the conduct and management of global affairs by particularly advocating the employment of the brightest brains into strategic national institutions. He introduced the Technical Aid Corps to reflect that Nigeria is truly a giant and a great power in the making. He insisted on prior consultation with Nigeria when Muammar Gaddafi of Libya aggressed the United States and expected Nigeria’s support. This was an expression of quest for greatness. Why should Gaddafi propose to be the President of the United States of Africa and Nigeria should provide the Defence Minister? On a serious note, Nigeria should be great in international relations. The idea of the Concert of Medium Powers should be revisited and reconceptualized. So should the Consultation Doctrine. We agree with Professor Akinyemi that Nigeria should first be respected before being loved internationally. Respect without love is better than loving without respect. Happy 80th birthday anniversary Professor.

of communication whereby parties achieve a connection.

This connection between participants allows for each party to potentially change the other or be changed by the other.’

Put differently, ‘as a technique for policy formulation, dialogue relies on the connection forged between participants and the information exchanged…’

The three others are Ambassadors Forum, academic institutional dialogue series and publication of dialogue series, all of which are manifestations of the technicality of the dialogue. The Ambassadors’ Forum is basically a conversation between an invited extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador accredited to Nigeria, on the one hand, and NIIA’s Research Fellows and invited scholars from universities and invited retired Nigerian ambassadors. The conversations are generally not covered by the media to allow for frank talks. The dialogue allows the invited ambassador to project his country well and the NIIA fellows and other scholars were free to ask questions about the foreign policy attitudinal disposition of his country, especially in terms of how Nigeria’s foreign policy interest might be affected.

Regarding academic institutional dialogues, they involve discussions on commonly identified international questions and generally took place within the framework of signed cooperation agreements. The NIIA had collaboration with the Chatham House in the United Kingdom, Council on Foreign Relations in the United States, for examples. Bilateral and multilateral issues are addressed during such research seminars and exchange of ideas. The outcomes of such conversations were published under the NIIA Dialogue Series.

At times, some of the critical questions are alco considered for publication in the Nigerian Forum, which was also introduced

by Professor Akinyemi and patterned after that of the Chatham House.

In his capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs, that is, before his attainment of 80 years of age, he came up with the Consultation Doctrine at the Foreign Policy Conference in 1986, the Concert of Media Power, and the Technical Aid Corps in 1987. He dreamt of greatness for Nigeria for which he is not liked at home and abroad and this is one major reason it has been very difficult for Nigeria to develop. This is also why politico-economic governance of Nigeria has been largely predicated on untruths and dishonesty of purpose. Political governance hates patriotism, dint of hard work, and critical thinking for which Professor Akinyemi is noted for.

Consequently, greatness has not been an issue in Nigeria’s development calculations. But true enough, Professor Akinyemi not only wants to greaten Nigeria in various ramifications, but also wants the greatness fast-tracked through Consultation Doctrine to guide Nigeria’s foreign policy. Any Nigerian support for any African country must be a resultant from prior consultations with the Government of Nigeria. The same is true for his consideration in 1987 of the Black Bomb, that is, for Nigeria to become a nuclear power. The logic that also informed the suggestion of a Concert of Medium Powers which name was later changed to ‘The Lagos Forum’ because of the international controversies it generated, is not different.

The big powers saw the Concert of Medium Powers as a threat to them and therefore did what was possible to get Professor Akinyemi removed as Foreign Minister (for details, see Bola A. Akinterinwa, “The Lagos Forum and the Medium Powers Debate,” International Problems, Society, and Politics (The Israeli Institute for the Study of International Affairs, IISIA, University of Tel Aviv, Israel), XXVIII 52 (1-2), Spring 1989, pp. 57-68).

Because Professor Akinyemi also suggested that access to some strategic institutions, and particularly to the diplomatic service and intelligence agencies, should be limited to the first-class brains as it is the case in the great power countries, the Foreign Service Officers unnecessarily became his enemy.

Even before Professor Akinyemi advocated the policy, the Foreign Ministry used to accommodate only the very bright people. Why there should be hostility to the factor of special merit is very thought-provoking. Today, the Foreign Ministry is a dumping ground for wounded graduates, cross-posted civil servants with experiences that only bastardized the art of diplomacy and undermined the national interest. Professor Akinyemi’s establishment of the Technical Aid Corps in 1987 has remained a major source of foreign policy inspiration, and instrument of making Nigeria great.

As regards his ‘thru MYeyes with Prof. Bolaji Akinwande programme, it is a ‘Cutting Edge Commentary on International events’, initially held virtually every Thursday at 7 p.m. but later changed to 8 pm Nigerian time for reasons of technical force majeure. The audience is limited to invited top foreign policy experts. The discussion focuses on major international developments in the previous one week and lasts for one hour. What is noteworthy is that the programme is not a direct, but indirect, dialogue between Professor Akinyemi and the participants. The programme underscores public enlightenment and the perspectives of Professor Akinyemi.

The participants can chat and when questions of public interest are raised, the moderator, Akin Akinyemi, requests an explanation from Professor Akinyemi.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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ENGAGEMENTS

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 9, 2022

with ChidiAmuta e-mail:chidi.amuta@gmail.com

The Staying Power of Mrs. Jonathan

V

ery few Nigerians remember any quotable utterances by former President Goodluck Jonathan. A self confessed introvert, the man was more preoccupied with finding enough confidence to fill a job whosescopeclearlyoverwhelmedhim.Amanwho hardly found shoes to wear till rather suddenly found himself struggling to fit into the oversized shoesofAfrica’smostpowerfulpresidency.Some think he was merely in office but not in power. A minoritythinkshewasinbothbutwasperennially lost as to where exactly he found himself. The consensus is that he had neither an agenda of power nor a mission in office.

Mr. Jonathan’s and his handlers were content with him saying ordinary things in too many pedestrian words. His speeches read more like apprentice campus seminar papers than lofty presidential pronouncements. Power without rhetoric or memorable elocution is the tragedy of accidentalleadershipandunplannedascendancy.

On the contrary, Mrs. Jonathan has endured in the minds of Nigerians in unforgettable words. Somehow, the ‘patience’ in her first name complemented the ‘good luck’ in her husband’s name and rather fortuitous emergence. She has emerged, seven years after leaving Aso Rock, as a very memorable voice that appeals to the people on the streets and boardrooms out of the seat of power. Her words still resonate. Her unvarnished and unwashed witticism spices up light conversation among the high and mighty as well as the lowly and common.

In a strange way, I have heard many ordinary non-political Nigerians express a hunger for the ‘return’ of Patience Jonathan in some format but notnecessarilyasFirstLadyofanyenclaveknown to geography. Not even the delectable glamour of a Mrs. Aisha Buhari has lessened this nostalgia and lingering appeal of Patience Jonathan, a First Lady who has retained the uncanny and uncom- Mrs. Jonathan mon ability to make us all laugh at ourselves as a society. A return to Goodluck Jonathan beyond media scene have been profusely garnished the ritual of professional peace missionary or with Mrs. Jonathan’s memorable interjections. envoy of the incumbent president does not look Her authoritative matronly voice, her scant like an object of much interest. It is a dream path attention to the niceties of grammar, syntax littered with fields of mines and shrapnel. or lexicon have produced a language and an In her Aso Rock days, Mrs. Jonathan was stubidiom that belong neither to the street nor the bornly natural in her tenacious clutching to very high station of stately elegance. Sometimes, simple convictions. She left her audience of more it is a fluid amalgam of pidgin and tolerable polished men and women to worry about the English. At other times, it is a series of direct niceties of grammar and syntax. She blasted her transliterations from some Nigerian native grammar as natural cannons and cobbled her tongue into a tolerably strenuous dialect of syntax with the natural ease of an Aba mobile English. tailor: little measurement, ready made to fit all Mrs.Jonathan’sinterjectionsincomedyskits sizes and shapes and for all occasions.The result serve as irresistible adornments. Now and was a tapestry of expression with an uneasy again,bitsandpiecesfromhermanywellmeanseduction that was hard to ignore but could fit ing but simplistic interjections are inserted either beast or beauty. The remarkable point as moral rectifiers. She is available to hector in her natural spontaneity was that she was the numerous foibles and serial foolishness confident in her natural convictions. This is an of a half literate society of street urchins, innocent Ijaw woman “on whose nature, nurture roadside pundits. All manner of bus stop and cannot stick”. street market pundits of diverse theologies Because she came across in her authentic fall back on her moralistic entreaties in that natural hew, she has managed to remain more unmistakable matronly voice. Comedy skit memorable than most of her predecessors. No makers quickly invoke and incorporate the one remembers Flora Azikiwe for anything she kindred interjections of comedians like the said except for her beauty, ladylike carriage and late Sam Loco Efe, Chinwetelu Agu, ‘Akin and fashion flourish. Few recall Lady Aguiyi Ironsi as Paw Paw’ to beef up the comic spice with the her tenure was too short lived. Similarly, hardly authoritarian finality of a Patience Jonathan any one can recall anything that Maryam Abacha, in amazement: “Chai… Na so una be?”

Stella Obasanjo orTurai Yar’Adua said while their In societies with a fairer sense of intellectual spouses held sway. The only other memorable propriety and property rights, Mrs. Jonathan First Lady we have had was perhaps Maryam should by now be laughing to the bank with Babangida, not for anything memorable she said bulging royalty accounts. More accomplished but for the topicality of her pet Better Life for comedy script writers should have officially Rural Women Programme because it touched invited her to act major roles. But instead, all the lives and realities of a forgotten segment manner of comic scavengers and intellectual of our society. Her natural beauty earned her vultures have been busy cannibalizing her the silent admiration of the menfolk as well her originality. Her iconic statements, utterfellow middle class women. ances and unforgettable interjections are Otherwise, within the over decorated pagbeing voraciously plagiarized, misshapen eant of Nigeria’s First Ladies, Mrs. Jonathan or mischievously trivialized for commercial occupies a pride of place and has become the purposes. But those who have made fortunes most memorable occupant of that office on acfrom her originality and altruistic sense of plain count of her linguistic freshness and unintended unintended humour are yet to render their comic ingenuity. She was not exactly a ‘lady’ in accountstothisauthenticmarketplacegenius. the sense of the refinement and elegance that IthinkthetimehascomeforMr.LaiMohammed sophisticated high education and classy social to descend on these comic skit plagiarists exposure would confer. Let us not forget that to pay up or justifiably proceed to jail on the she too was a graduate of one of our universities. orders of Mr. Abubakar Malami. The grounds Some media have even conferred a “Ph.D” on this aresimple:intellectualpropertyinfringements naturally gifted and unusual Nigerian woman. and sundry violations. Intellectual property In the last seven years or more, comic skits and thieves will definitely look better in prison sundry comedy strips in Nigeria’s prolific social uniform than in their current robes of afflu-

ence funded with the proceeds of victims like Mrs. Jonathan. I think Mr. Lai Mohammed and Attorney General Malami will fare much better houndingintellectualpropertyscavengersand comedy skit thieves than innocent journalists and social media influencers and youth right advocates whom Mr. Buhari’s media Hisbah are so fond of terrorizing. Jokes apart, the Nigerian social media industry, especially the skit comedians, owe Mrs. Jonathan troves of cash in arrears for their prolific abuses and massive thievery of her originality.

We need to understand the profitability of comedy in our society today. In fact, a casual stroll in places like Lekki or even Banana Island inLagoswillcompelanewenlightenmentonthe matter. I hear some of the most breathtaking and eye popping architectural marvels in these places belong to comedians.The profitability of comedy in today’s Nigeria remains a controversial matter. Some say that our society today is like English Restoration society (from 1660-1700), a patently unserious era. It is an era in which clowns became heroes and gossip was the major preoccupation of the entire society. Trivia replaced substance in the conduct of state. The media was awash with gossip. The tabloid became the most popular staple of an indolent and cavalier society. People were better entertained by caricaturing the foibles of the high and mighty.

It was the clandestine prostitution, the endless concupiscence, the casual swapping of wives and mistresses and the petty gossips that went with them which fed common conversation in pubs and clubs. Society’s hunger for entertainment was fed on this constant diet of scandals and small talk.The comedians had a field day. Restoration comedy emerged as a distinct genre of English literature.

In Nigeria, a case is being made for comedy fromanotherangle.Someinsistthatthebattles of daily living are too gruesome that something needs to lighten our mood. A constant dose of comic relief is what is keeping many Nigerians alive. The horror and terror in our daily lives have created a market and a social necessity for comedy. People prefer to watch comedy or play comic skits on their phones than listen to yet another presidential drawl or gubernatorial gibberish.

It is only fair that those who have made it their business to make us laugh in these bad

times should be richly rewarded. It is demand, supply and profit, the standard fare of a free racket (market?) economy. A good comic skit can make you forget that you are broke until the landlord comes calling for arrears of rent or the school calls you to say that junior’s tuition payments are still in arrears!

So,letusgiveuntoourcomedianstheirdue.And in that fold, Mrs. Jonathan has by default become a voice of endless social relief. She is variously quoted, often mangled and distorted but hard to ignore. Her spontaneous outbursts of simplistic innocencetouchthedepthsofhumourofordinary folk in the bus stations and vegetable markets.

Her expressions of concern for the excesses of politicians as well as concern for the welfare of her fellow womenfolk. Yet no one can ignore the timeless hilarity of her statements.

The strength of Mrs. Jonathan’s verbal legacy lies in the fact that she intended her hilarious outbursts as serious commentaries on contemporary matters. But to ordinary folk, they came across as the unschooled verbal assaults of a common woman in an uncommonly high place of power. In a sense, ordinary women came to see Patience Jonathan as their ambassador in Aso Rock. She spoke to them and for them in a language that was authentically theirs. But to the elite, she was a demeaning departure from the common run of schooled elegance and cultural sophistication.Somehow,herutterancesacquired a gravity of humour that lightened the weight of social and political disquiet unleashed by her husband’s rather rudderless prefecture.

With the benefit of hindsight and as a matter of important public observation, Mrs. Jonathan’s abiding legacy is in drawing our attention to the deficit of communication in our official language.

Our leaders speak to us like textbooks. They present the facts that concern us in a format that communicates only to an esoteric cult of the highly educated. They speak above our heads about the things that concern us. They do not speak to us directly; a sad distinction between our politicians and those of the older democracies of the United States and the United Kingdom. In Mrs. Jonathan, therefore, we find a rough hewn mediator of this divide between government and people, an attempt to remedy the broken bridge of political communication and social language.

Shehasthereforegivento theNigerianpublica rhetoric that reconnects the high and the low, the officialandtheinformal,thestreetandtheboardroom. It is of course our pompous pretension to high education and cultural sophistication that has made us laugh off the likes of Mrs. Jonathan as cranks and comic prodigals. In reality, she is a realist with a pragmatic sense of social and political language.

Somehow,Mrs.Jonathanhasacquiredacertain permanent contemporary relevance. She can become our collective voice in the grueling and often gruesome realities of our present days.

When we sense that too many people are being killed by bandits in Zamfara and Kaduna, we have reason to take helpless solace in Mrs. Jonathan’s spontaneous outburst of our helplessness: “Chai!

Chai!! Chai!!!” If Mr. Lai Mohammed becomes too loquacious in his often groundless defenses of Mr. Buhari’s bad job approval rating, we can summon Mrs. Jonathan to intervene and caution the Minister: “Will you keep quiet ” Whenourpresentrealityofinsecuritybecomes too sordid and bloody for the ordinary person to understand how Nigeria became so lawless and bloody, we have a right to invoke Mrs. Jonathan to openly exclaim our helplessness in unison: “Dia Ris God o!!”

When the girls of Chibok high school were abducted, Boko Haram was in its infancy. The blood letting by the terrorists and insurgents was still minimal. Yet Mrs. Jonathan was able to see a future of more blood letting to exclaim in protest to the terrorists and their influencers: “The blood you are ‘sharing’ (shedding!) in Borno …will come to touch all of us o!”. At that time, it was strange to Mrs. Jonathan that the local government officials and other government officials from Borno state should be so indifferent as to turn out in such low numbers during their visit to the Villa to report the Chibok incident to her. In outrage and desperate unbelief, Mrs. JonathanaskedtheBornoofficialsinattendance: “Na only you Waka come?”

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

69

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾JANUARY 9, 2022

NEWS

News Editor: Gboyega Akinsanmi E-mail: gboyega.akinsanmi@thisdaylive.com,08152359253

Lagos to Seal Schools over Failure to Resume on January 4 Ejiofor Alike

The Lagos State Government yesterday vowed to seal schools that failed to comply with the stipulated academic calendar in the state.

The government added that the names of schools that failed to comply with the directive of the state’s Ministry of Education that private and public schools should resume on January 4 was being compiled, saying disciplinary actions would be taken” forthwith.

The Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Abiola Seriki-Ayeni revealed this plan in a statement issued yesterday.

The statement was titled:

‘LASG Frowns at Non-Compliance With Academic Calendar

By Some Schools’.

Seriki-Ayeni reiterated that part of the mandate of her office was to develop a harmonised school calendar in conjunction with stakeholders in the education sector and ensure compliance, stressing that the monitoring exercise embarked upon by the officials of the agency was to appraise the level of compliance with the resumption date, students’ presence and COVID-19 safety protocols.

She explained that some schools disobeyed the directive, adding that the 2021/2022 harmonised school calendar was developed in conjunction with stakeholders in June 2021

to ensure uniformity in the education system.

She said the agreement was communicated to all schools and associations to ensure equal educational standards and learning systems.

“During our recent exercise to monitor the level of compliance with Tuesday 4th January, 2022 resumption date, we observed that the level of compliance was low. We are going to seal the schools that have not adhered to the academic calendar with ‘Notice of Non-Compliance’ stickers and issue letters of

invitation to the Administrators to visit our office in Alausa where further disciplinary actions will be taken,” Seriki-Ayeni was quoted as saying.

She emphasised the need for all schools, public and private, to comply with the academic calendar in order to ensure that an equal system of learning in all schools in Lagos State is achieved.

She charged school owners to communicate effectively with parents to prepare their wards early for resumption, stressing that it takes an entire term to

prepare for an upcoming term.

The government had in a statement insisted that public and private schools in the state will resume on January 4, 2023 to begin the second term of the 2021/2022 academic session.

The statement had urged administrators to step up safety in schools,’ the commissioner directed school administrators to ensure that exposure of students to danger within the school premises are neutralised, while ensuring that all potential danger outside the walls of the

schools is escalated to appropriate safety and enforcement agencies through stipulated channels.

It had said: “It is necessary to devise appropriate strategies to advance teachers/students interaction to gain insight and expose negative tendencies before they metamorphose into unfortunate situations.

“Adequate monitoring, especially as it affects boarding school students, should be instituted to prevent the incidence of bullying and all other vices on school premises.”

After Six Months in Captivity, 30 Kebbi FGC Students, Teacher Regain Freedom Ismail Adebayo in Birnin Kebbi Thirty students and a teacher of the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri in Kebbi State kidnapped by the bandits have regained their freedom.

The students had been in captivity since June last year after their school was attacked by the bandits.

They arrived Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State capital yesterday after they were released by their abductors.

A statement by the media aide to Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Malam Yahaya Sarki said they would undergo medical screening and other

supports before they would be re-united with their families.

It would be recalled that 30 of the students were released in October, last year and brought to Birnin Kebbi to be reunited with their families .This is in addition to some them that were earlier released to their parents having escaped from the bandits hideouts.

The state government in the statement commended security agencies in the state and those who had helped in securing their release.

It also congratulated and applauded the effort of President Muhammadu Buhari for the release of the FGC students.

Lagos Nurses Begin Warning Strike Monday The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Lagos State, has declared a three-day warning strike from January 9 to 12 to demand better working conditions from the state government.

The chairman of the chapter, Julius Awojide revealed this plan in a statement he issued after an emergency congress in Lagos yesterday, lamenting government’s insensitivity to the plight of nurses in the state.

Awojide said the council decided “to embark on the warning strike after careful consideration to call the attention of the government to the severity of the situation and to get them to address the issues promptly.

“We engaged the government on several occasions on the issues without the desired pace of outcome. In our

estimation, the Lagos government is yet to fully come to terms with how incredibly challenging the situation in the health sector has been for our members especially in the last two years.”

Awojide reiterated that the warning strike was necessary to inform the government that nurses would no longer be overworked, undervalued and underpaid without any consequences.

He said that the association took stock of the challenges faced by the nursing profession, as well as other pending issues before the State Government at its State Executive Council meeting, held on December 29, 2021.

The chairmand asserted that the issues discussed continued to cause great suffering to their members, and by extension to the public.

Zainab, Marwa’s First Wife, Dies at 66 Zainab, the first wife of Buba Marwa, chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), is dead.

A statement by the family said Zainab died in the early hours of Saturday after a brief illness.

The nature of the illness was not made known by the family.

Zainab Marwa, a native of Imo state, was 66 years old.

She left behind her four children: Abubakar, Mohamed, Mariam and Zainab, and 10 grandchildren as well as her siblings and aged mother.

Throughout her life, she

advocated for the advancement of women and the girl-child.

The family will announce a burial plan at a later date, according to the statement.

Mrs. Marwa

FOR THE LOVE OF PILGRIMS …

L-R: Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Yakubu Pam; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Chairman, Lagos State Christian Pilgrim Welfare Board (LSCPWB), Rev. Akinpelu Johnson; and Board Secretary, (LSCPWB), Mrs. Yetunde Gbafe, during a courtesy visit at the Lagos House, Marina... weekend

Return Nigeria to Regionalism Before 2023 Elections, OPC Tells Buhari Segun James The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) at the weekend urged President Muhammadu Buhari to return Nigeria to regionalism before the 2023 general election.

OPC, a Yoruba nationalist organisation, made this demand in a communique issued at the end of its first meeting held at Oodua House, Lagos on Friday.

The communique was signed by

its General Secretary, Mr Babajide Tanimowo.

In its communique, OPC urged Buhari to use the remaining months of his eight-year administration to solve the problem associated with rising insecurity, as well as the dwindling fortunes of the country.

The communique read in part: “This is the most critical moment of Buhari’s administration, where he needs to be honest with himself, especially, on issues of insecurity and

the failing structure of this country.

“Whether you call it restructuring or regionalism, certain decisions must be made in order to save Nigeria from this misdirection. That is why it is key and expedient for Buhari to return Nigeria to regionalism before the 2023 elections.”

The group, which warned initiators of a purported mega accord of 57 socio-cultural groups and organisations backing pro restructuring southwest

presidency, insisted that OPC under the leadership of Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams was not in accord with any group.

It said: “We have made our position known in the media that we are not in any accord with any group for any reasons, however, we will not take it lightly with any individual or group that uses OPC’s name for political purposes as the 2023 elections draw nearer.”

Nigeria Needs Fayemi in 2023, Says Ex-Minister Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

As the race to the 2023 presidency gathers momentum, a former Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, has said Nigeria needs the service of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi to salvage the country.

Adesiyan canvassed support for Fayemi at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in

Ado Ekiti yesterday, when a governorship aspirant in Ekiti, Chief Demola Popoola declared his aspiration at the weekend.

Describing Fayemi as a good leader, Adesiyan appealed to Popoola to build on the legacy being the governor would leave behind if he eventually wins the poll. He said: “Let me say this clearly, in Nigeria

today, I have not seen any governor that is better than Fayemi. That is why Nigeria needs the incumbent governor in 2023 to reposition our nation”.

While addressing the party leaders, Popoola said the party “stands a good chance of winning the 2022 governorship election if it conducts a free, fair and credible primary on January 22.”

Popoola averred that the only thing he solicited from the party “is allowing a level playing ground during the primary,” describing this as the best way to have an easy ride in the June 18 poll.

Popoola expressed confidence in the ability of the party leaders to exhibit unbiased dispositions and act as true umpires in the primary.

NDDC to Complete More Abandoned Projects in 2022 Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has asked youths and other stakeholders to expect the completion of more abandoned projects within the region in the New Year.

NDDC Interim Administrator, Dr. Effiong Akwa said this in a virtual meeting with hundreds

of stakeholders from the nine states of the Niger Delta and the Diaspora.

At the meeting, Akwa said the NDDC under the supervision of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio would complete abandoned power projects, hostels among others.

Akwa, represented at the meeting by his Special Ad-

viser on Youths and Sports, Udengs Eradiri, particularly harped on the completion of the transmission substation in Okitipupa area of Ondo State.

He said when completed, the transmission station would provide power to over 2000 communities across six local government areas of Ondo State.

Akwa explained that efforts would be made to finish another power transmission line in Ikot

Abasi area of Akwa Ibom State.

He said more hostels would be completed in line with the mandate given to the commission by President Muhammadu Buhari to finish abandoned people-oriented projects and put them to use.

The NDDC boss said the commission would make efforts to complete the abandoned hostels at the NigerDeltaUniversity (NDU), Bayelsa State.

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NEWSXTRA Ekweremadu: Political Solution in Nnamdi Kanu’s Case Still Possible A former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu at the weekend disclosed that the federal government “has not ruled out political solution concerning the case of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.”

Ekweremadu made this disclosure in an interview with Dream FM, Enugu, insisting that he did not think Buhari ruled out a political solution to Kanu’s case.

Kanu, currently in the custody of the Department of State

Services (DSS), is standing trial for alleged terrorism and treason.

Consequently, some Igbo leaders had visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja, seeking Kanu’s release unconditionally.

Buhari had however said an unconditional release of the IPOB leader runs contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers between the Executive and Judiciary.

Buhari had, in a recent interview with Channels TV, said Kanu should defend

himself in court for peddling false information about his regime while he was overseas.

At the session, the senator said political solution in Nnamdi Kanu’s matter “is still very feasible. I also watched the Channels Television interview. I do not think Mr. President ruled out a political solution.

“In fact, I would have been surprised if he said he would just release Nnamdi Kanu because there is independence of every arm of government, including the judiciary. There are procedures.

“I recall that it was exactly Mr President’s response when I led a delegation of the South-East Caucus of the Senate to see him on the Nnamdi Kanu issue in November 2016.

“But ultimately we kept reaching out and dialoguing until we had a political solution, which resulted in the judiciary granting Mazi Nnamdi Kanu a bail because ultimately, everything will come to the judiciary because every arm of government is independent.

“We will keep working on a

political solution, nevertheless.

We will keep engaging the government, just as we will continue to appeal to our youth and people to ensure the stability and prosperity of our region.”

He said a feedback “is expected from the federal government concerning the political solution being pursued. In line with the political solution, which the South-east Caucus of the National Assembly is quietly pursuing, I led a delegation of some

Igbo leaders like the Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; Secretary-General, Amb. Okey Emuchay; and Bishop of the Methodist Church of Nigeria and Co-Chair Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace, Bishop Sunday Onuoha.

“As usual, I deliberately did not want to make it public because it is a quiet service we are rendering to Ndigbo and the nation. But the DSS eventually made it public in one of their statements.

Nasarawa Exceeds 50% COVID-19 Vaccination Target Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

The Nasarawa State Government yesterday said it exceeded the 50 per cent COVID-19 vaccination benchmark set by the federal government.

The federal government had set a 50 per cent benchmark for the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to be covered during the nationwide mass vaccination campaign against the pandemic.

However, the Programme Manager, Routine Immunisation Coordination Centre of the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare DevelopmentAgency (NSPHDA), Ayuba Ismaila Oko, disclosed this at a one-day media engagement meeting on mass vaccination for COVID-19 in Nasarawa State held in Lafia.

The programme manager

added that the state had exceeded the federal government’s 50 per cent benchmark.

He said the agency “has so far vaccinated 51.35 per cent persons since the flag-off of the mass vaccination campaign by the federal government in the state.

“The difference between us (Nasarawa) and other states is 8.31 per cent, which means we are rated first among the states that are doing well in terms of COVID-19 vaccination, because we were able to mobilise very well.”

The programme manager of the routine immunisation coordination centre of NSPHDA continued that the agency was able to vaccinate about 695,006 persons against the COVID-19 pandemic in the state during the mass vaccination campaign.

Lagos Hands over Glover Hall to Olu Jacobs Kayode Tokede The Lagos State Government has handed over the management of Glover Memorial Hall to Lufodo, a theatre and film producing company founded by Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva recently.

Built-in 1887, Glover Memorial Hall (GMH) is a heritage building for theatre and performing arts in Lagos.

After a rigorous bidding process for the concession to manage GMH, Lufodo won and on Thursday, Commissioner of Tourism, Arts & Culture Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf along with the Permanent Secretary Princess

Adenike Adedoyin-Ajayi and Director of Theatre, Mr Odusote handed over the management of the Hall to Lufodo.

Speaking at the event, Silva thanked the state government for their trust in Lufodo and assured them that their trust has not and will not be misplaced.

Ifeoma Monye, a partner at Ciuci Consulting, said the handover “is symbolic and shows that Lagos State is interested in the development of the performing arts industry.”

With more public-private partnerships, according to Monye, there is no limit to the growth that the great state and nation will experience.

Foundation Partners FMCGs on Orphanage Challenge African Women Foundation for Nation Building (WINBAFRICA) has partnered Rite Food Limited, Unilever Plc, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Sumal Foods Limited and Goodlife Magik to donate food items, drinks, comfort and essential items to support orphanages in the country.

In a statement by its President, Dr. Bukola Jaiyesimi, the foundation said it had donated relief items to Sola Olagunju Foundation, Ibadan; Bab-Es-Salam Home, Lagos; Daughters of Charity, Lagos and Vigilant Heart Charitable Society Orphanage, Lagos.

According to the statement, WINBAFRICA Orphanage

Challenge is one of projects in the new normal where orphanages and destitute are provided with food, comfort and essentials items.

The statement said WINBAFRICA “is present in five African countries from Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, South Africa and Ethiopia, with a mandate to transform the African society by supporting women to play significant roles in nation building.”

The statement added that the foundation “is creating avenues for identifying, raising and supporting women leaders to come together to brainstorm on issues affecting their well-being and generating practical and achievable solutions.

RE-UNION OF OLD STUDENTS …

L-R: Managing Director, Expand Press Limited, Mr. Femi Oluwalana; Managing Director, DigitalJewels Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Adedoyin Odunfa; GP at British NHS, Mrs. Yewande Ogunyoye; Human Resources Director, Trithel International Consulting, Mrs. Bawo Ikomi; General Manager, E-Purse Systems Ltd, Mr. Soji Oluwole; Managing Partner, Adigun Ogunseitan and Company, Mrs. Morenike Obi-Farinde; Managing Director, Juris Consult, Mrs. Funke Oluwole; Essex Revenue Officer, Epping, Yetunde Banjoko; and Managing Director, Makarios Realtors, Mr. Abayomi Nash at the 50th alumni reunion of Fountain Heights School, Surulere, Lagos...recently

FG Cautions Plateau Govt against Sealing Filling Stations Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The federal government yesterday warned the Plateau State Government against arbitrary sealing of filling stations within the state, noting that it “is not within its mandate to do so.”

It added that under the law, it is the only Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority

(NMDPRA) that has the mandate to license and monitor activities of petrol stations in the country The Operations Controller of NMDPRA, Jos Field Office, Ahmadu Fagge gave this warning at the weekend.

Faggae debunked the claim by the state government that petrol “is being hoarded by filling stations in the state. The product is not available. The

efforts are being intensified to make it available.”

He assured motorists that the scarcity was as the result of non-availability, not hoarding.

He said: “We know there is no hoarding in the state. But there is unavailability of the product because of the spike of commuters during festive season.

“People are passing through the state. We envisaged this in

the past three weeks. That is why we have been on surveillance each day to see that no one hoards the product.

“There is an issue which was raised by the state government about sealing of stations. That is not within their mandate. The NMDPRA has the mandate to license stations and to monitor them in the country.

Omotola Laments Reluctance of Banks to Fund Real Estate Projects Segun James

The Group Managing Director, CFL Group, Mr. Lai Omotola, has lamented the refusal of commercial banks to fund real estate projects, blaming it on the uncertain nature of the business.

Omotola, currently running a foremost infrastructure development company, has lamented that most police stations are inundated with land ownership disputes despite the directive of the Inspector-General that police cannot determine land

ownership matters.

He expressed this concern at a session with journalists recently, noting that doing business in the federation could be quite challenging despite all the opportunities.

Concerned about funding of businesses, Omotola explained that almost all the banks shy away from funding real estate, citing uncertain nature of the business and harsh business environment as the major challenges responsible for it.

He said: “You secure

funding from the bank and you are unable to move to site for month or during construction you encounter land disputes. These are the factors affecting bank funding.”

He lamented undue interference of police in land ownership matters, noting that most cases in police divisions “are now land matters despite the Inspector General’s directive that police can not determine land ownership, but these cases still find there way into

police station under various disguise.

“The judiciary is the final arbiter in land dispute and sometime may take a long time. In recent time, however, we have seen the judiciary dispense land matters with speed and this should be encouraged.

“Finally, it is important that in 2021, we completed our prime Triangle Business Place at Lekki. We have also commenced construction of the Alade market after 11 years,” Omotola explained.

Group Charts Eight Priority Areas for Equitable Post-pandemic World Centre for Health Sciences Training, Research and Development (CHESTRAD), a nongovernment and not-for-profit organisation, has charted eight priority areas to be focused on in the next three years for engagement as part of the post COVID-19 pandemic recovery strategy.

The advocacy initiative under the new strategic plan places priority on “equity, inclusion, and solidarity” with focus on primary health care (PHC) through expansion of partnerships; especially with the private sector to expand resource base for growth and sustainability.

The strategic plan hopes to

consolidate partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders including citizens and duty bearers to demand and entrench equitable access to health delivery and effective response to public health emergencies in the global south.

Unveiling the plan in a statement, CHESTRAD Global

President, Dr. Lola Dare, promised her organisation’s readiness to forge ahead with the “new strategic plan with Great Expectations that COVID19 build back investments will thoughtfully re-imagine the inter-dependence required to end the pandemic and to achieve global health development goals in Africa”.

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Avoiding Armageddon in Magodo

L

est I forget, I have been living in the Magodo Residential Scheme II, fancifully called “Magodo GRA” by residents, for 20 years: first as a tenant and now as a homeowner. One day in 2012, I got home and saw a letter hanging on my gate. It was written by a retired Supreme Court judge who said he was a legal adviser to one family.

He said the Supreme Court had ruled in favour of the family concerning Magodo and that my land now belonged to his client. I called the lawyer who had helped me handle the paper work, including the Governor’s Consent. If it was the usual troubles associated with “omo onile” (land speculators), I would understand. This was different and disturbing.

I later sent an SMS to Mr Babatunde Fashola, then governor of Lagos state. I drew his attention to the troubling development and asked if he was aware of the letters being circulated. As it is customary of him, he immediately called me, said he was aware and took time to explain the facts of the case. Efforts were being made to resolve all the issues, he said. I then went to sleep. But sometime in 2017, when Mr Akinwunmi Ambode was governor, drama ensued as lawyers representing Chief Adebayo Adeyiga and other litigants came to “enforce” the Supreme Court judgment, having secured a “warrant of possession” from the Lagos state chief judge.

Everything went quiet again until December 21, 2021 when the residential area was invaded by 200 policemen sent from Abuja by Mr Usman Alkali Baba, the inspector-general of police, with the full backing of Mallam Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation. They came with a bulldozer and spray paints and started marking houses for “possession”. I felt something was not right. Can they possess fully built plots, housing probably 4,000 families, just like that?

Where in the world would private individuals start bulldozing hundreds of houses? What about the thousands of people who live there? I know things are low in Nigeria, but didn’t think they had gone that low.

It was after the invasion that I began to develop deeper interest in the history of the matter. I came up with some findings. One, in 1969, two years after Lagos state was created by Gen Yakubu Gowon, the fledgling state government, under Brig-Gen Mobolaji Johnson, acquired a large expanse of land covering Ojota, Ketu, Magodo, Agidingbi and Omole. The government, thereafter, developed some parts and left others idle and — as it is typical of us in Nigeria — land speculators took ownership, parcelling and selling the plots as they liked. This went on until 1984 when the military governor of Lagos state, Group Captain Gbolahan Mudashiru, moved to repossess the encroached areas.

Two, Shangisha was one of those repossessed. The government, as it is also typical of the military, began to demolish the structures. Legally, government would say this was right by claiming they were illegal occupants. But there was a human angle: these were people’s properties. Families were displaced. The original landowners, I was told, had been compensated by the government but the landlords whose houses were demolished were not.

They formed the Shangisha Landlords Association (notice they didn’t say “landowners”) to lobby for their own compensation on humanitarian grounds. Luckily, the government budged and started allocating land to some.

Three, new military governors came on board.

Mudashiru was succeeded by Navy Captain Mike Akhigbe in 1986, followed by Col Raji Rasaki in 1988. Rasaki, you may recall, was the no-nonsense “akson” governor who demolished Marako shanties.

The Rasaki administration stopped negotiating with the Shangisha landlords. Adeyiga and others

Malami thereafter went to court. Again, as it is typical of us in Nigeria, government did not pay diligent attention to the case. In December 1993, the court ruled that the landlords be given “preferential plots” in the Magodo Shangisha scheme. By then, there were still enough plots to compensate them but the government decided to file an appeal.

Four, the state lost the appeal in 2001. It appealed again and lost at the Supreme Court in 2012.

The apex court upheld the order of “mandatory injunction” made by the trial court in 1988 that the state government “shall forthwith allocate 549 plots to the plaintiffs in the said Shangisha village scheme”. With legal options exhausted, the Fashola administration started negotiating with the judgment creditors. It said Magodo plots had been fully allocated and offered them “preferential plots” elsewhere. Other creditors, such as the families of Yemi Ogunshola, Jelili Yaya and Adeleke Adefala, accepted the offer. Adeyiga and others, however, did not accept the offer and insisted on Magodo.

Five, I understand that because the Ambode administration did not progress with the negotiations, the litigants sought, and got, a writ of possession from the chief judge of Lagos state on March 16, 2017. That was what they came to execute in Magodo that year. Some armistice was reached there and then but the danger remained hanging.

The state government, in the meantime, filed an appeal against the writ. That appeal is pending. In December 2020, the state also filed an application for interlocutory injunction before the Court of Appeal to stop Adeyiga and others from executing the writ. Again, this is pending. This was the state of play before the December 21, 2021 invasion.

I will now make my comments and observations on the dispute based on the information I have, some of which I cannot make public for now. I admit that my knowledge of law is highly limited.

I also admit that being an interested party, I am susceptible to bias. As the Yoruba would say, who would a fly take sides with but the man who has an open sore? But I am convinced that some things are common sense, and some things have also been well established in law and should be sufficient guide for us, irrespective of my bias. My aim, at the end of the day, is to see how all the parties can face the reality and work out amicable ways by which the dispute can be resolved once and for all.

Here we go. The court declared in 1993 that members of the Shangisha Landlords Association “whose lands and/or buildings at Shangisha village were demolished by the Lagos State Government

during the period of June 1984 to May 1985 are entitled to the first-choice preferential treatment by the Lagos State Government before any other person(s) in the allocation or re-allocation of plots in Shangisha village”. For one, the judgment is very clear: the litigants were to be allocated plots. The court did not say they should take over already allocated plots, allocate plots to themselves or seize existing properties. In fact, the court did not award any compensation for the demolished structures.

Unfortunately, the government said there were no more plots to be allocated in the Magodo scheme by the time the litigation was exhausted in 2012.

This was a major issue. The rational way forward, in my view, was an out-of-court resolution. Some litigants accepted alternative plots in other schemes but Adeyiga and others insisted that there were still plots in Magodo which government officials were allocating to themselves. If I am not mistaken, this may be the real reason Adeyiga and others are angry. They probably saw many empty plots that were still being allocated and doubted the sincerity of the government. When trust breaks down, it could be hard to repair.

Two, I would say since the writ the creditors are trying to execute has been challenged in court, they should not have brought bulldozers, police and thugs to Magodo. Judges always say parties to a lawsuit should not take an irreversible action while a court process is on. Three, by the Sheriffs and Civil Processes Act, a writ is enforced only by the office of the deputy sheriff of the state high court. There is no role for the Supreme Court, IGP or the AGF. The deputy sheriff only writes to the commissioner of police, not the IGP, for security back-up. Another option for the creditors, if the judgment is not being obeyed, is to initiate contempt proceedings against state government.

Meanwhile, it is a major shame that Malami would go beyond his brief and ask the IGP to send police to enforce a court judgment that is clearly not under his jurisdiction, going by the Sheriffs and Civil Processes Act. More so, the writ is being challenged in court. Can you imagine P&ID getting the AG of the UK to enforce the $10bn award against Nigeria while we are still in court?

Can you imagine UK freezing Nigeria’s accounts in British banks and seizing our oil vessels on the high seas to enforce the award? That is exactly what Malami is trying to do in Magodo — while fighting against the same thing in the UK. But is it not Malami, President Buhari’s almighty AGF? He can do and undo.

I have read some funny comments by interlopers who know nothing about the matter. One even called the litigants “Magodo Landlords Association” and went on to spew fluent gibberish. It is being painted as the rich oppressing the poor. Or something like David vs Goliath. That would hold water if the original land owners were not compensated.

Rather, it is the landlords who bought land from landowners that want their own compensation.

Most of them have accepted what they were offered in other residential schemes. Adeyiga and others are within their rights to reject what they were offered. It is an economic decision. Magodo surely has more value than Badagry and Ikorodu.

Above all, we need an amicable resolution.

Sincerity and common sense are critical at this stage. I commend Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for de-escalating the tension. I commend the Shangisha landlords for returning to the negotiation table.

Magodo residents remain apprehensive. They are not a party to the suit. They did legitimate business with the government. They desire a reasonable resolution. May I repeat, though, that the court only ordered the “allocation of preferential plots” to the aggrieved landlords. The court did not say they should allocate plots to themselves or take over already allocated plots by resorting to self-help.

This is a very significant fact of the judgment.

And Four Other Things…

ZAMFARA KILLINGS Spare a thought for the hapless and helpless people of Zamfara state who have been at the mercy of vicious gunmen without let or hinderance. Since 2014, Zamfara residents have been experiencing regular, even routine, massacres without any hope of deliverance in sight. The last five years have been particularly intense. Between Wednesday and Thursday last week, hundreds of residents were massacred again in Bukkuyum and Anka by gunmen on bikes. This wouldn’t make media headlines because there are no “Fulani jihadists” to blame it on and it wouldn’t fit the political agenda of some people, but these are human beings like you and me whose lives are being wasted daily. Distressing.

MOURNING OROMONI I sympathise with the Oromoni family. The controversy that has been trailing the death of their 12-year-old son, Sylvester, at the Dowen College, Lagos, can only worsen their grief. There was a case of bullying, by all accounts, which might have led to the boy’s death. Sylvester, his parents said, alleged that he was fed with a chemical by the bullies. An autopsy established “chemical intoxication”. But the Lagos state department of public prosecution (DPP) says no case was established against the suspects and that Sylvester died of natural causes. The family is so distraught. Let us now hope that the Lagos coroner’s inquest, commencing soon, will finally establish the whole truth. Justice.

STORM IN A TEACUP Is there anything we cannot turn into a crisis in Nigeria? When Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Olubadan of Ibadan, died last week, one thing that looked as sure as night and day was that he would be succeeded by the Otun Olubadan, Senator Lekan Balogun. The Olubadan succession line is probably the most predictable in Nigeria: there is a clear hierarchy and the natural successor is always known at any point in time. The politicisation of the institution by the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the former governor of Oyo state, led to some legal tussles, but nobody is expecting any drama to upturn the tradition.

Well, the litigants are trying. Still nobody expects a dramatic turn. Sorted.

FOOD CRISIS Nigerians, poor Nigerians, are feeling the full weight of food inflation with the continued rise in prices of foodstuff. This is worrisome.

In the Maslow hierarchy of needs, food is first. Food poverty is getting worse with this trend, and the urban poor are the worst hit for a number of factors — chief of which is the fact that food is cheaper in rural areas, where subsistence farming is prevalent.

Government must consider emergency measures to improve supply and cage the price. It would appear the pandemic is not helping matters. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global food prices hit the highest level in over a decade last year. Scary.

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