SUNDAY 14TH JANUARY 2024

CBN Decongests Head Office, Relocates Departments to Lagos Banking supervision, consumer protection, payment system management departments, others affected James Emejo in Abuja The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is set to transfer some of its departments from Abuja to Lagos State, according to an internal memo sighted by THISDAY yesterday.

According to the memo, the departments affected include Banking Supervision; Other Financial Institutions Supervision; Consumer Protection; Payment System Management, and Financial Policy Regulations.

The move, THISDAY learnt, is to decongest the apex bank’s head office.

THISDAY gathered that some staff members of the bank have reportedly resisted the transfer, claiming that it is motivated by

sectional bias.

However, an official of the CBN who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the transfer of some departments to Lagos is for the safety of the members of staff and their increased productivity.

“If a company with over 500 members of staff in its head office normally sends about 200 of them to go and work in other states and return to the head office, it will be more economical for the company and safer for the affected members

of staff for the company to relocate them fully to go and work in those states. It will also enhance their productivity,” the official explained.

The official added that only a few Continued on page 5

Dangote Refinery: Our Diesel, Aviation Fuel will Hit Market This Month… Page 6 Sunday, January 14, 2024 Vol 28. No 10504

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Tinubu, Shettima Didn’t Interfere in Supreme Court Judgment on Kano Election, Say Yusuf, Kwankwaso Time shall tell if I will join president’s govt, former gov clarifies Verdict has upheld principles of fairness, NNPP insists Chuks Okocha, Juliet Akoje in Abuja and Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano The presidential candidate of the New

Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general election, Senator Rabiu Musa, and the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf have

clarified that President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima had no hand in the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the victory

of the governor in the last general election.

This is as the NNPP said the verdict of the apex court confirming

Yusuf’s election reflects the court’s Tinubu or anyone else on the outcome commitment to fairness.

While Kwankwaso said he did not Continued on page 5 reach an agreement with President

Supreme Court Judgments Fuel Crisis of Confidence in Appeal Court Odinkalu urges president of Appeal Court to resign Other senior lawyers ask NJC to discipline justices involved in miscarriage of justice Plateau govt urged to go to Supreme Court to seek justice for sacked lawmakers Assembly speaker declares Appeal Court-ordered APC members illegitimate Alex Enumah in Abuja and Wale Igbintade in Lagos The Friday judgments of the Supreme Court which overturned the verdicts of the Court of Appeal on the Governorship election petitions cases in Plateau, Kano and Zamfara states have sparked a crisis of confidence in the appellate court, THISDAY has learnt.

Delivering the judgments, the apex court had berated some justices of the appellate court over the quality of their judgments in the governorship election petitions brought before them.

More intriguing, it was learnt, was the Plateau State governorship petition case, which has caused outrage among some senior lawyers who

lamented that the 11 national and state assembly members sacked by the appellate court’s decisions have no judicial remedy.

Outraged by the wrongful verdicts of the Court of Appeal, a former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu has called on the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem to resign her position.

While some lawyers have asked the National Judicial Council (NJC) to sanction the judges involved in the miscarriage of justices, others advised the Plateau State government to approach the Supreme Court to Continued on page 5

Afreximbank Confirms Release of $2.25bn of IN HONOUR OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD… President Kashim Shettima (left), and the President General of Jam’iyyatu Ansariddeen and 14th Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi, at the Crude Oil Prepayment Loan to Nigeria... Page8 Vice special prayer organised by the Jam'iyyatu Ansariddeen Attijaniyya of Nigeria in honour of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad in Lagos…yesterday

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JANUARY 14, 2024 • T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

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NEWS

Nigeria Clears Additional Backlog of January Crude Oil Cargoes NUPRC seeks collaboration to mitigate methane emissions Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Nigeria is making headway in finding customers for its January cargoes, with 10 to 12 cargoes left, out of an estimated 20 earlier in the week, a trader has told Reuters.

This is coming as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has said that Nigeria is poised to receive substantial support in its endeavour to mitigate methane emissions originating from the oil and gas sector.

However, at this stage of the trading cycle, this is still a considerable overhang, given the fact that there are February-loading cargoes also still on offer, while the country’s

March programme is expected in the coming weeks, the report said.

Premiums for Nigerian crude oil have begun to fall, as competition from Saudi Arabia heats up.

Offers for the grade Qua Iboe are in the range of dated Brent plus $1.5 a barrel for January loading, while the same grade is being offered at dated Brent plus $1 a barrel for February loading, another trader added.

Also, the report added that only about 10 cargoes of Angola’s February-loading cargoes are left, out of the 32 scheduled for loading, a trader said earlier this week. Angola’s March programme is expected to emerge next week.

Also, a new report by Deloitte has

projected that energy trends estimate global oil prices will be stuck at low levels for the next couple of years.

The analysis predicts an average West Texas Intermediate (WTI) price — typically regarded as the benchmark for crude oil — of $72 US per barrel this year.

That depression in price is because of cuts from major producers, record production in the United States and slowing growth in demand, according to the report.

Oil prices are at their lowest in two years, with prices hovering around 2021 levels.

"We do have a lot of production out there, and money spent by energy companies in 2023 is bringing lots

of volumes out there, and maybe we're a little bit more resource and supply-heavy than we were last year," said a partner at Deloitte, Andrew Botterill, who leads the energy and chemicals file.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) recently decided to cut 2.2 million barrels a day in the first quarter of 2024.

Demand is forecast to increase by about 1 million barrels per day in 2024, compared with 1.6 million last year, per analysis by the US Energy Information Administration.

"It's the pendulum of this energy industry. When prices are high, money is spent. And then, of course, when those volumes come

on, things will soften a little bit. So I think this is a little to be expected from where we were," he stressed.

Deloitte forecasts the average WTI price will remain low through 2026 before rebounding slightly in the years leading up to 2030 — however, prices still aren't expected to climb over $80 a barrel.

While lower oil prices may leave the province readjusting its budget, Botterill said consumers can do a version of the same exercise.

Meanwhile, the NUPRC has said that Nigeria is poised to receive substantial support in its endeavour to mitigate methane emissions originating from the oil and gas sector.

Stressing that this will be partly achieved through a collaboration between the country and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, it stated that the partnership signifies a significant step towards addressing environmental challenges associated with the energy industry.

The industry regulator added that methane, a potent greenhouse gas, has been a growing concern globally, and the partnership was tailored to bolster Nigeria’s initiatives in curbing its impact on climate change.

“As a prime regulator in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, the NUPRC is set to leverage the expertise and resources of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.

TINUBU, SHETTIMA DIDN’T INTERFERE IN SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT ON KANO ELECTION, SAY YUSUF, KWANKWASO of the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Kano State governorship election, Governor Yusuf also clarified that President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima did not interfere in the legal battle, despite stiff pressure from those he described as some disgruntled elements.

Kwankwaso has also clarified that time shall tell if he will join Tinubu’s administration.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the Director of Public Enlightenment in Kano Government House, Aliyu Yusuf, the governor stated this on Friday while briefing journalists at the premises of the Supreme Court in Abuja shortly after the apex court’s judgement that reversed his sack.

The statement added that the governor noted with pleasure how the duo of Tinubu and Shettima never involved themselves in the matter.

The visibly elated governor also extended hands of friendship to his

major opponent on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna and his followers to join hands with his government towards the development of the state.

The statement reads: “According to Governor Abba, as a true democrat and progressive, I call on my opponent and his supporters to join hands with me in the crusade of developing our dear state Kano for the betterment of its teaming citizens.

“People of Kano need leaders with vision, passion, zeal, and commitment to initiating projects, policies and programmes that have a direct bearing on their lives in all facets and across nooks and crannies of the state.

“Alhaji Abba Kabir thanked Almighty Allah, the most exalted for the victory, commending the people of Kano for their support, steadfastness, prayers, sacrifices and

CBN DECONGESTS HEAD OFFICE, RELOCATES DEPARTMENTS TO LAGOS

brevity in affirming what they have elected as well as the Supreme Court Judges for upholding the glory of the Judiciary.

“He also appreciated NNPP leaders at all levels particularly the world leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso for his guidance and support during the trying period.

“The governor noted with pleasure how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his deputy, Kashim Shettima didn’t interfere in the apex court judgment despite stiff pressure from disgruntled quarters”.

Meanwhile, Kwankwaso has also clarified that he did not reach an agreement with President Tinubu or anyone else concerning the outcome of the Supreme Court’s verdict.

Kwankwaso stated this while responding to the claims that he had reached an agreement with Tinubu before the judgment.

The Supreme Court had on Friday affirmed Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the NNPP as the duly elected governor of Kano State after a series of litigations.

departments of the apex bank were affected by the transfer.

He stated that the move is also aimed at cutting costs and ensuring their safety.

According to the memo, the departments affected by the relocation approved by the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso include Banking Supervision; Other Financial Institutions Supervision; Consumer Protection Department; Payment System Management Department and the Financial Policy Regulations Department.

Speaking further on the plan, the CBN official noted that most of the bank’s headquarters are in Lagos.

According to him, the CBN usually sends members of staff of the affected departments from Abuja to work in Lagos for a duration of up to one or two months before they return to the head office.

“It is not safe for them to be on the road all the time and it is also not cost-efficient for the bank.

Anybody who is asked to leave his or her comfort zone will feel the initial discomfort and complain.

So, it is natural that some of the affected workers are complaining,” the official added.

He also noted that the Abuja head office was designed for 3, 000 members of staff, adding that the staff strength at the head office has hit 4, 000.

“The facility managers have already warned of the implication; the security of staff is also at stake with the increased number because it overwhelms the managers,” the official said.

Part of the internal memo reads: “This is to notify all staff members at the CBN Head Office that we have initiated a decongestion plan designed to optimise the operational environment of the bank.

“This initiative aims to ensure compliance with building safety standards and enhance the efficient utilisation of our office space.

seek justice for the sacked lawmakers.

A panel of the Court of Appeal led

by Justice Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu, had in a unanimous decision in November 2023 ruled that Governor Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State was not validly sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because the party had no structure in the state.

The appellate court therefore nullified his election and declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Nentawe Yilwadta as the governor of the state.

The Court of Appeal also nullified the victories of 11 candidates of the PDP who were elected into the state and National Assembly on the same grounds of alleged invalid nomination.

However, while the Supreme Court on Friday overturned the judgment of the Appeal Court on the governorship election and affirmed the victory of Governor Muftwang, the sacked state and federal lawmakers cannot take their appeals to the Supreme Court based on the electoral laws which terminate their appeals at the Court of Appeal.

Justice Emmanuel Agim who read the Supreme Court’s lead judgment, noted that the APC’s contention that Governor Muftwang was not qualified to contest the election because of non-compliance with the electoral law was faulty.

Justice Agim said: “We have held in a plethora of cases that the sponsorship of a candidate for election is an internal affair of a political party. The Court of Appeal lacks the jurisdiction to determine the validity of the candidacy of the PDP. Yilwatda of the APC has no right to challenge the emergence of Governor Mutfwang as a ticket-holder of the PDP.” Apparently referring to the sacked lawmakers, Justice Inyang Okoro who headed the apex court’s five-member panel, in his consenting decision, said: “My only worry is that a lot of people have suffered as a result

“This action is necessitated by several factors, including the need to align the bank’s structure with its functions and objectives, redistribute skills to ensure a more even geographical spread of talent and comply with building regulations, as indicated by repeated warnings from the Facility Manager, and the findings and recommendations of the Committee on Decongestion of the CBN Head Office.

“The action plan focuses on optimising the utilisation of other bank’s premises. With this plan, 1,533 staff will be moved to other CBN facilities within Abuja, Lagos and understaffed branches.

“Our current occupancy level of 4,233 significantly exceeds the optimal capacity of 2,700 designed for the Head Office building. This overcrowding poses several critical challenges: “Safety Concerns: The building’s infrastructure was designed for a specific number of occupants.

Exceeding this capacity has raised safety concerns, increased health and accident risks – and hinders efficient emergency evacuation.

“Reduced Efficiency: Crowded workspaces are negatively impacting productivity and collaboration.

Additionally, overstretched facilities have led to increased maintenance costs.

“Structural Integrity: The building’s integrity can be compromised by exceeding its designed capacity.”

The memo further said the decongestion would also improve the apex bank’s operational and workflow efficiency.

“Strategic alignment: The decision to redistribute departments and staff is rooted in a strategic approach to align the structure of the bank with its functions and objectives.

Certain departments may be better suited to operate in proximity to financial institutions’ head offices, which are predominantly located in Lagos. This strategic alignment ensures optimal collaboration and efficiency,” the memo stated.

Speaking with BBC Hausa, Kwankwaso said: “What happened at the Supreme Court is a lesson for all of us. I know that I mean well to everyone. Throughout the period, I have not done anything to anyone. And anybody would reap what he sows. To the best of my knowledge, I have not reached an agreement with anybody.

“All I know is that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is my contemporary.

I joined politics at the same time as him in the SDP (Social Democratic Party). Then he was a senator and I was serving as the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives. In 1999, he was my colleague as the governor of Lagos State.

“We founded the APC together and we participated fully in the struggles which followed up. People should know that a lie has a short life. Despite the machinations those people staged, the judges have done what is right.

“There is no problem. They have their party; we have our own. We will work together where necessary. On the issue of joining

the government, only time can tell.”

Kwankwaso also said he would not lord it over Kano State governor, noting that he could only advise him.

He said: “Kabir Yusuf is the governor. We can only advise. Even if he were a biological son, I can’t rule over him. I have given him advice even before the government came in. There are thousands of people like me. I can’t do it alone. When a governor or a president does well, the credit goes to him. If he does otherwise, the blame is directed at him.

“People misunderstand this.

When I was a governor, I would pick suggestions kept by people even in dustbins. The same is true on radio stations and newspapers.

For everything has an appointed time. Those who succeed should be allowed to prove their worth.

“There were errors with the previous judgment, but the Supreme Court undid what the lower courts did. If it were in other climes, those who delivered the judgments in the lower courts would quit their jobs.”

Supreme Court Has Upheld Principles of Fairness, NNPP Insists

Meanwhile, the NNPP asserted that the Supreme Court’s verdict confirming Yusuf’s election reflects the court’s commitment to fairness.

Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, the Acting National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Kawu Ali, praised the bravery, courage, and meticulous nature of the apex court Justices for overturning the removal of the governor.

Kawu said the verdict affirmed the victory of NNPP and their candidate in the March 18, 2023 election as the authentic, duly elected, governor of Kano State.

He held out an olive branch to the All Progressives Congress, (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition parties in the state, adding that as a party, it does not believe in taking revenge.

Kawu described the NNPP as a party for the future and for 2027, saying, “to be frank with you, we know what APC stands for in Kano.

The NNPP has a different ideology from other parties. We don’t fight or undermine others unlike what they do.

SUPREME COURT JUDGMENTS FUEL CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE IN APPEAL COURT of the Court of Appeal’s decision. It was absolutely wrong. The appeal is allowed.”

Reacting to the development in separate interviews with THISDAY, yesterday, some senior lawyers lamented the absence of a remedy for 11 lawmakers unjustly sacked by the Court of Appeal.

In his reaction, the former Chairman of the NHRC, Professor Odinkalu has called on the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Dongban-Mensem to resign her position.

He described the case of Plateau State as extraordinary and a willful miscarriage of justice which requires extraordinary measures.

Odinkalu accused the President of the Court of Appeal of being either totally irresponsible or comprehensively corrupt, adding that she had no place in a credible judiciary.

On whether the affected candidates should demand a judicial review, he said: "Well, judicial review, strictly speaking, is a term of art that is inapplicable in this case. It applies to the review of administrative action or actions of lower courts. You don't have judicial review of the decision of a final court which the Court of Appeal is in parliamentary election disputes.

"However, it is possible for the court to review its own decision in exceptional cases. The scale of the wilful miscarriage in Plateau State is extraordinary. It calls for extraordinary measures. I personally believe that the current President of the Court of Appeal who is from Plateau State is complicit in the injustice. She comes from the same LGA - Shendam - as the immediate past governor whom they have now installed as Senator for Plateau Central. I would go as far as to say she has been privy to everything that happened in these Court of Appeal violations.

"But there is a way for her to

show she is not: She can constitute a different panel of the Court of Appeal to hear applications for review of the decisions. That is the least she can do,” he added.

Commenting on the issue, a Professor of Constitutional Law, Edoba Omoregie (SAN), who described the Court of Appeal’s judgment as judicial rascality, said the appellate court was final and could not be reversed.

According to him, if the Court of Appeal had not displayed 'judicial rascality,' which manifested in their unacceptable failure to follow previous Supreme Court decisions, the victories of those lawmakers would not have been nullified.

He said: "The Court of Appeal decision cannot be reversed, unfortunately. This is because the court is the final forum in such matters.

"The bigger issue raised by the entire scenario relates to the problem of judicial rascality being displayed by the Court of Appeal and the lower courts or tribunals which manifest in their unacceptable failure to follow previous Supreme Court decisions such as in Jegede v. APC. Lower courts are obliged to follow previous decisions of the Supreme Court in similar circumstances. In the particular issue at stake, those previous decisions had made it categorically clear that matters of the nomination of candidates by political parties are internal affairs of political parties outside the concern of other political parties.

“The only remedy open now is for the legislature to consider legislative action to right the wrong. This can only be by fresh legislation which will be effective in the next election cycle," he added.

Speaking on the issue, Reverend John Baiyeshea (SAN) described the appellate court’s judgments which sacked the lawmakers as quite unfortunate.

"This is one of the ugly scenarios in our Nigerian system and one of the irreversible errors in our legal/ administration of justice. It is obvious now that with the judgment of the Supreme Court affirming the election of the Governor of that state (who was removed by the Court of Appeal for the same reasons that the National Assembly members were removed), the Court of Appeal's judgment is a complete travesty of justice to those National Assembly members," he said.

Baiyeshea, while noting that the governor was lucky because he had his case reviewed by the apex court, regretted that the injustice done to the lawmakers is permanent and irreversible.

"There is no remedy for them now for this monumental travesty of justice to them. Our legal system should not at our present state of development, present citizens with such helpless situations where there is no remedy for such a brutal wrong done to its citizens.

"This is why those who have the privilege of presiding over the affairs of others to determine their fate should be very careful not to abuse such privilege.

“It is quite sad that before our eyes, the representatives the people of Plateau State voted for have been replaced by those 'selected' by the Court of Appeal. Democracy has been obliterated, bastardised and the people shortchanged.

He urged the National Assembly and other stakeholders to amend the Constitution and other laws to remedy this anomaly to avoid future recurrence.

On his part, a former Chairman of the Abuja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Moses Ebute (SAN), while also sympathising with the lawmakers stated that the Court of Appeal "being a final court, its decision cannot be appealed against.

Continued on page 6

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NEWS

JOY OF PARENTHOOD… L-R: Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Rev. Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi; Mother of the Bride, Olori Adekunbi Runsewe; Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC)/Father of the Bride, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe; and former Lagos State Commissioner forTourism, Arts and Culture, Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, during the traditional wedding ceremony of Runsewe’s daughter,Temitope, at Ikeja...weekend KOLAWOLEALLI

Dangote Refinery: Our Diesel, Aviation Fuel will Hit Market This Month Hails Tinubu for support, visionary leadership Marketers await refinery’s price list

Peter Uzoho Dangote Refinery has assured Nigerians that its refined products, specifically diesel and aviation fuel, will be available in the market this month.

The company, which made the promise while announcing that production had started, promised to meet domestic demands.

This is coming as petroleum products marketers are eagerly awaiting the release of the Dangote Refinery’s product price list.

The company has also hailed President Bola Tinubu for his support of the company and his visionary

leadership.

The announcement is coming on the heels of the successful delivery of about six million barrels of crude oil to the 650,000 barrels-per-day plant in the past few weeks.

Dangote Group’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Anthony Chiejina, said in a statement, “The refinery started production after receiving six million barrels of crude oil from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited”.

It was gathered on Friday that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery commenced production with the refining of diesel and aviation fuel.

In a statement at the weekend in

Lagos, Chiejina quoted the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, to have elatedly thanked President Tinubu for his support, encouragement and thoughtful advice towards the actualisation of the project.

Dangote also thanked the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Nigerians for their support and belief in the historic project.

According to him, “We thank

President Tinubu for his support and for making our dream come true.

“This production, as witnessed today, would not have been possible without his visionary leadership and prompt attention to detail.

“His intervention at various stages cleared all impediments, thereby accelerating the actualisation of the project.

“We also thank the NNPCL, NUPRC and NMDPRA for their support.

“These organisations have been our dependable partners in this historic journey.

“We also thank Nigerians for their belief and support in this project,”

Rivers Crisis: We Have Fulfilled Our Part of Peace Accord, Says Wike

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday said that his political camp in Rivers State had fulfilled its part of the peace accord initiated by President Bola Tinubu and endorsed by all the parties involved in the political crisis in the state.

Wike, a former Rivers State governor, spoke when he visited

the Oba of Ogbaland in the Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, His Royal Highness Eze Nnam Obi III. The minister told the king that he was disposed to peace in the state and would not disappoint the monarch.

He said: “We accepted whatever decision Mr. President has taken and we have on our own fulfilled every condition given by Mr. President because I told you I

will not let you down.

“It is just to let you know that your request of making sure there is peace in the state of which you asked Mr. President to intervene, we have accepted.

“And I want you to use this opportunity to continue to pray for Mr. President for God to continue to give him wisdom to pilot the affairs of this nation” The former governor said: “If there is peace in the states, it will

help peace in Nigeria. So, I will urge you and your council to continue to pray for Mr. President for God to continue to give him the wisdom to pilot the affairs of the country.”

Wike was accompanied by the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri; his predecessor, Chief Timipre Sylva; Felix Obuah, Senator Sam Anyanwu, Senator Barinada Mpigi, and Chief Victor Giadom.

SUPREME COURT JUDGMENTS FUEL CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE IN APPEAL COURT It is final and binding not minding the latest decision of the Supreme Court in the governorship appeal in respect of Plateau State''.

He observed that the latest decision of the apex court was consistent with all of its earlier or previous decisions on who has the locus standi to challenge the outcome of a party primary or nomination of a candidate of a political party.

"Unfortunately, the Court of Appeal defiantly refused to follow the decision of the Supreme Court and thereby visited grave injustice on other PDP candidates involved in national and state legislative houses election in Plateau State.

"More worrisome, surprising and embarrassing is the fact that the same Court of Appeal had held and pronounced in the Presidential Election Petitions that whoever is not a member of a political party or is not an aspirant in the primary election of a political party, cannot challenge the nomination of a candidate of another party. How and why it didn’t follow its own decision leaves much to be

desired.

"In a plethora of judicial authorities, the Supreme Court had held that a refusal to follow its decision as the apex court of the land on similar issues by a lower court amounted to judicial rascality. I say no more.”

Similarly, Mr. Dayo Akinlaja (SAN) noted that "there is nothing that can be done about that. Since their cases have terminated at the Court of Appeal, it is the end of the road for them".

He pointed out that there is no room for a review or an appeal on their cases.

"As it were, the people concerned would have to bear their fates with equanimity. There has been a fait accompli here," he added.

But for Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), the fate of the Plateau State’s lawmakers is similar to a situation where the law under which a person is convicted is subsequently pronounced unconstitutional.

"Will the convict continue to remain in jail or will he be set free? There are two schools of thought on the issue.

Perhaps the affected parties should consult widely on the pronouncements of my noble Lord Okoro JSC against the finality of the Court of Appeal's judgment in the state and National Assembly seats."

In his comments, Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), who commended the Supreme Court for deepening democracy in Nigeria, said: "Regarding the options open to those who lost their legislative seats on account of the judgments of the Court of Appeal, sitting in Jos, I think that it must be recognised that the Court of Appeal is the final court for the determination of that level of electoral disputes in Nigeria. There is no clear legal or constitutional basis for them to seek judicial review of those judgments in any manner that will not create a bad precedent in our jurisprudence.”

Plateau Assembly Speaker Declares Appeal Court- ordered APC Members Illegitimate

Meanwhile, based on the Supreme Court’s nullification of the sacking of Governor Mutfwang by the Court of Appeal, the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Gabriel Dewan, has declared that he will not grant recognition for 16 Court of Appeal-ordered APC members, stressing that he would only recognise eight members of the house out of the 24 lawmakers.

While speaking to journalists in Jos, Dewan took a swipe at the decisions of the Court of Appeal that nullified the election of PDP members and gave their seats to APC members.

Declaring the 16 opposition APC members persona non grata outrightly, Dewan declared: “As it stands now, only eight members are recognised in the assembly.”

It would be recalled that Dewan, the sole member of the Young Peoples Party (YPP-Pankshin North), assumed the role of speaker in the he at of the Appeal Court sacking of the 16 members elected on the platform of the PDP.

he said.

Dangote said: “We have started the production of diesel and aviation fuel, and the products will be in the market before the end of the month.

“This is a big day for Nigeria.

We are delighted to have reached this significant milestone.

“This is an important achievement for our country as it demonstrates our ability to develop and deliver large capital projects.

“This is a game changer for our country, and I am very fulfilled with the actualisation of this project.

“The refinery has so far received six million barrels of crude oil at its two SPMs located 25 kilometres from the shore.

“The first crude delivery was done on Dec. 12, 2023, and the 6th cargo was delivered on Jan. 8, 2024,” he added.

He said that the refinery can load 2,900 trucks a day at its truck-loading gantries.

He added that the products from the refinery will conform to Euro V

specifications.

Dangote boss said that the refinery design complies with the World Bank, US EPA, European emission norms, and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) emission/effluent norms. State-of-the-art technology Meanwhile, THISDAY gathered that marketers are eagerly awaiting the release of the Dangote Refinery products’ price list.

The National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Abubakar Maigandi, expressed the association’s eagerness to obtain the list yesterday.

He said the intention is to promptly present the list to its members.

He said: “We want to know Dangote petroleum products prices.

We will request it so that we can give it to our members.”

Maigandi also revealed the intention of the association’s executive members to follow up on the request for product allocation from the refinery.

Tinubu Sets up Six-man Special Presidential Panel on Social Investment Programmes Wale Edun to chair the panel Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a six-man Special Presidential Panel, which will be chaired by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun.

The setting up of the panel, according to a statement issued yesterday by presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, was sequel to President Tinubu's six-week's suspension of the four programmes under the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA).

Other members of the Special Presidential Panel, which is made up of ministers representing strategic sectors that will ensure a multi-disciplinary approach to the reform effort, are Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; Minister of Information and National Orientation; Minister

of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and Minister of State for Youth.

The special panel is tasked with immediately undertaking a comprehensive review and audit of existing financial frameworks and policy guidelines of the social investment programmes with a view to implementing a total re-engineering of the financial architecture of the programmes with detailed modification to procedures guiding the programmes' implementation moving forward.

President Tinubu anticipates that the panel would validate the confidence reposed in it by winning back all lost public confidence in the vital programmes over the years by ushering in a new era of operation based on open and accountable governance frameworks that will prove impervious to abuse and incompetence for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households across our nation.

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PROMOTING PHILANTHROPY… L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Wema Bank, Mr. Moruf Oseni; Founder of Sambo Foundation, His Royal Highness Samuel Sambo; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite; Governor of Delta State, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori; Chairperson, Nigeria Philanthropy Office, Thelma Ekiyor-Solanke; and Vice President Kashim Shettima, at the inauguration of the Local Committee of the National Philanthropic Office, at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja...weekend

Afreximbank Confirms Release of $2.25bn of Crude Oil Prepayment Loan to Nigeria Says $1.05bn balance to be ready soon Festus Akanbi The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has confirmed an initial disbursement of $2.25 billion out of the $3.3 billion crude oil prepayment facility recently approved for Nigeria.

Though the federal government received the $2.25 billion foreign exchange (FX) facility since last December, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, had while speaking on ARISE News Channel, stated that it was in the position of Afreximbank to announce the disbursement at

the appropriate time.

The long-awaited credit support seeks to ameliorate the acute FX shortage in the country which has constrained economic activities and doused investors’ confidence.

Also earlier in December, President Bola Tinubu had assured Nigerians of the commitment of his administration to resolve the FX backlogs through the injection of funds into the market United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) acted as the Local Arranger and Onshore Account Bank for the transaction, which is

Adenuga Bounces Back as Fortune Rises to $7.4bn Ejiofor Alike Globacom Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Jr., has regained his earlier position as Nigeria’s second-richest man as his fortune is now reported to be worth $7.4 billion, according to the latest valuation report by Forbes.

His networth was reported to have fallen to $3.6 billion in June 2023 The astronomical rise in his wealth can be attributed to Forbes’ recent reassessment of the valuation of his mobile phone network, Globacom.

Adenuga founded the network, which currently stands as the second-largest telecom service provider in Nigeria.

He had for some time been rated behind Abdul Samad Rabiu who was rated as the second richest man in Nigeria.

However, with Forbes reevaluations, he now stands as the second-richest person in Nigeria, trailing only behind Aliko Dangote.

Adenuga’s net worth was reported to have fallen to $3.6 billion in June 2023 before bouncing back. The decline, from the initial $6.3 billion recorded in January last year, according to Forbes, was influenced by multiple factors.

The unification of the naira in June was said to have adversely affected his net worth, coupled with the performance downturn of his stake in Conoil.

The Chairman of Conoil and

founder of Globacom, according to Nairametrics, had experienced fluctuations in his net worth over the years, with it reaching $7.3 billion in 2022 and attaining its pinnacle at an impressive $10 billion in 2015.

Adenuga remains committed to philanthropy, consistently contributing to society through generous donations.

An exemplary illustration of his charitable endeavours is the annual commitment of the Mike Adenuga Foundation, which allocates nearly $20.5 million in scholarships and aid to support students.

The foundation extends its support by awarding scholarships to female students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. studies in various locations, including Africa, the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, China, Japan, Indonesia, and India.

In 2011, demonstrating his commitment to societal well-being, the Nigerian tycoon donated N500 million to aid flood victims in Bayelsa State.

Furthermore, in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Adenuga contributed a substantial N1.5 billion towards efforts to combat the virus.

His generosity extends beyond health and education, as evidenced by a $250,000 donation to Nigeria’s football team, the Super Eagles, showcasing a multifaceted commitment to making a positive impact in various spheres of society.

being sponsored by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

It is expected to ease the foreign exchange illiquidity and stabilise the Nigerian currency market.

A statement by Afreximbank posted on its website yesterday announced that an initial disbursement of $2.25 million has been made. A second tranche of $1.05 billion is expected to be disbursed subsequently.

The statement explained that the five-year facility carries a margin of six per cent per annum above the three-month secured overnight financing rate (SOFR).

“The transaction structure has an embedded price balance mechanism where 90 per cent of all excess cash from the sale of the committed barrels (after debt service) will be released to the borrower, while the balance of 10 per cent will be used to repay the facility, effectively shortening the final maturity of the facility and freeing cash flow from future pledged cargoes for use by Nigeria,” the statement explained.

The initial participating lenders are Afreximbank; Gunvor

International BV, a Genevabased multinational energy and commodities trading company, and Sahara Energy Resources Limited, an African-owned, leading international energy and infrastructure conglomerate.

Afreximbank said in the statement that its extensive structuring and technical experience in arranging similar complex oil and gas financing facilities in Angola, the Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Chad Egypt, and Cote d’Ivoire. Ghana and others were brought to bear in the successful closure of the facility, despite a very challenging environment.

“The Bank acted as Sole Mandated Lead Arranger, Technical and Modelling Bank, Bookrunner, Facility Agent, Offshore Account Bank, Intercreditor Agent and Collateral Agent,” the statement added.

The landmark financing is described as the largest syndicated loan ever raised

by Nigeria in the international market and one of the largest syndicated transactions in Africa in recent years.

The groundbreaking transaction is said to represent

a significant vote of confidence in Nigeria and Africa.

The transaction is seen as a significant further step in unleashing Nigeria’s economic potential.

This landmark financing is said to be Nigeria's largest crude oil prepayment facility and one of the largest syndicated loans raised in Africa in 2023.

Speaking on the deal, Afreximbank’s President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Prof. Benedict Oramah, explained that “this facility further demonstrates the bank’s commitment to supporting African economies, when such assistance is most needed. Afreximbank stands by its member countries in good and difficult times. The disbursement of the initial $2.25 billion under the facility will support Nigeria’s long-term economic stability, ease access to import financing for raw materials and essential goods, and support industrialisation and trade development efforts.

We are pleased that despite the typical year-end pressures, our partners and investors committed the funds required in record time.

We thank them for their support”.

On his part, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mr. Mele Kolo Kyari, noted that “the proceeds of the facility have been made available to the Federal Republic of Nigeria as one of the strategies to improve macro-economic stability. The participation of global, international and regional syndication firms is a further testament to the lending market’s appetite for financing sponsored

by NNPCL and signifies solid market confidence in Nigeria.”

Also speaking on the landmark deal, the Group Managing Director/CEO of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Oliver Alawuba said “UBA is delighted to participate in this transaction, which demonstrates once again UBA’s commitment to providing necessary interventions and solutions towards addressing economic issues in Nigeria and across Africa. UBA has a track record of structuring and participating in significant resource-based transactions, leveraging its global network and dollar balance sheet. Similar transactions include the DRC deal, Kenyan deal, Senegal SAR Orion deal with Afreximbank.”

Oshiomhole: With Subsidy Removal, Tinubu Ended ‘Overnight Billionaires' in Oil and Gas Sector Sylvester Idowu in Warri Former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has restated that with the removal of subsidy on petrol, President Bola Tinubu ended “overnight billionaires in the oil and gas sector”.

He noted that some youths with foresight were now taking dvantage of the opportunities created with the elimination of the petrol subsidy to invest and genuinely help build the nation's economy.

Oshiomhole, who spoke at the weekend in Warri, Delta State, while inaugurating A&E Mega Filling Station owned by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Itsekiri leader, Chief Ayiri Emami, said "Now with the withdrawal of subsidy, you either work, sell and

prosper or you don't work and perish. This is the level playing field President Tinubu has created by the policy", he said.

Inaugurating the mega fuel facility, Oshiomhole said it would effectively put “an end to a system where having a connection in the oil and gas sector could instantly transform someone into a billionaire, solely through favour, connections, and occasionally political bias."

The federal lawmaker commended Emami for putting so much investment into the facility which he said would create employment for the teeming youths in Delta State.

Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by the state Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Vincent Oyibode, was full of praises to the Chairman of A&E Oil and Gas, Emami for boosting the economy of

the state with his investment.

Chairman of Warri South Local Government, Dr. Michael Tidi said the establishment of the retail outlet is an indication that the government of Oborevwori is working for businesses to thrive in the state.

On his part, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of A&E Oil and Gas, Emami, assured consumers of getting value for their money, adding that "At A&E, we don't manipulate our pumps. It's what you pay for that you get".

Earlier, Oshiomhole and his entourage, accompanied

by Emami, had toured the multibillion-naira A&E tank farm facility located in Ifie community, which the federal lawmaker said “a lot of courage and foresight” went into the establishment in such a swampy area.

“Nigerians have never sat

down to ask themselves how come the Lebanese, the Indians are coming in droves to find jobs here. Nigerians are not seeing the opportunities in Nigeria. Let’s not cry; go for opportunities,” Oshiomhole added.

Emani told Oshiomhole that though the petrol subsidy removal is laudable as it makes the business “competitive,” he however appealed to President Tinubu to tackle the “bottlenecks” in the policy.

Noting that Warri business owners are “suffering” due to impediments at the port, which he said, President Tinubu and Governor Oborevwori are aware of, the APC chieftain re-echoed calls for the dredging of the Escravos bar to allow bigger ships passage into Warri port.

He added that it would reduce the cost of the product in the state.

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DIVIDENDS OF PETROL SUBSIDY REMOVAL… L-R: Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr. Michael Tidi; Representative of Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori; and Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Mr. Vincent Oyibode; member representing Warri South, Warri South West Federal Constituency, Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer A&E Oil and Gas, Chief Ayiri Emami and former Governor Edo State/ lawmaker representing Edo North senatorial zone, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, during the inauguration of A&E Mega Station in Warri, Delta State...weekend SYLVESTER IDOWU

Shettima: Tinubu 'll Protect People's Rights Irrespective of Religious, Ethnic Leanings Applauds efforts to promote peaceful coexistence among different faiths Sanusi canvasses support for Tinubu in his bid to develop Nigeria Deji Elumoye in Abuja Vice President Kashim Shettima has given an assurance that the rights of all Nigerians, regardless of their religious and ethnic beliefs, will be protected under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

This is just as President General of Jam’iyyatu Ansariddeen (Attijjaniyya) and14th Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, implored Nigerians to support Tinubu’s administration to move the country forward.

The vice president has also emphasised the importance of inclusivity and respect for religious freedom in a nation with a population of over 200 million

people divided along religious and ethnic lines.

Shettima, who spoke in Lagos yesterday during a special prayer organised by the Jam'iyyatu Ansariddeen Attijaniyya of Nigeria in honour of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, assured the gathering that President Tinubu is committed to protecting the rights and freedom of all Nigerians, regardless of their beliefs.

“The teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) serve as a compass guiding us through the complexities of a multicultural world.

He left us a template to manage a diverse society fairly. He taught us ways to build peace and resolve conflicts through dialogue, through

kindness and tolerance,” he stated.

Delivering his keynote address on the theme: ‘Searching for a Compass in a Multicultural World,” the vice president expressed gratitude to the Secretary General of the Tijjaniyya International and President of the Jam'iyyatu Ansariddeen Attijaniyya for their exemplary guidance and dedication to preserving moral values.

He called for accountability in deeds and actions, urging all individuals to uphold the Prophet's message of fairness and inclusivity in their daily interactions.

"The teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) offer a beacon of light, navigating the complexities of our multicultural

world," Shettima noted, adding that the Holy Prophet left behind "a roadmap for managing diversity with fairness, building peace through dialogue, and resolving conflicts with kindness and tolerance."

Speaking on the challenges faced by the nation, Shettima acknowledged the burden of trust bestowed on President Tinubu by the Nigerian people.

He called for reflection and prayer for the President and other leaders, urging all citizens to remember their purpose in a world filled with trials and distractions.

The vice president expressed deep appreciation for the special prayer session held by the Jam'iyyatu Ansariddeen Attijaniyya, where the

Quran was recited 4,444 times for Nigeria and its leader.

"In our diverse nation, it is our duty to ensure every Nigerian can practice their religion freely without fear or discrimination.

We extend a hand of friendship to the Jam'iyyatu Ansariddeen Attijaniyya, commending your efforts in promoting peaceful coexistence among different religious communities," Shettima said.

The Vice President called for collective action, stressing the need to build a nation with the bricks of compassion, justice and fairness.

He implored Nigerians to join hands in the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood in fulfilling the nation's obligations to its people and embracing the Prophet's timeless teachings.

Speaking earlier, President

General of Jam’iyyatu Ansariddeen (Attijjaniyya), Sanusi, implored Nigerians to support Tinubu’s administration to move the country forward.

The Khalifa of Tijjaniyya in Nigeria called on politicians, the business community, religious scholars and traditional rulers to focus on Project Nigeria and work towards rebuilding the nation.

"We are aware that you have taken over this country in a very difficult time, and at this time all Nigerians need to come behind you to end politics and face governance and move Nigeria forward.

"Every year on this occasion we try to complete at least 4,444 recitations of the Qur'an, with the sole intention of praying for the peace and stability of our country, for the protection of our leaders and our people.

Female Soldier Cries out over Alleged Abuse

by Senior Officers, Army Probes Allegations FAAN Arrests Five Suspects Who Kingsley Nweze in Abuja A female soldier identified as Ruth Ogunleye has cried out and accused some senior officers of the Nigerian Army of abuse and maltreatment.

Ogunleye claimed that some superiors, whom she identified as Col. IB Abdulkareem, Col. GS Ogor, and Brig. Gen. IB Solebo made her life unbearable.

Reacting, the Nigerian Army promised to investigate the allegations of the female soldier.

Sharing her experience on TikTok via her handle @ Ogunleyeruthsavage1, she claimed that Col. Abdulkareem had made repeated attempts to assault her.

Ogunleye also alleged that the senior officer administered injections against her will, forcefully ejected her from her residence, and kept her in a psychiatric hospital for several months.

She added that the officer has hindered her career advancement by denying her promotion courses because she allegedly rejected his advances.

Ogunleye said: “In 2022, I was posted to Cantonment Medical

Centre, Ojo, where I met Col IB Abdulkareem who requested sex from me and I refused. Ever since then, this man has been my nightmare in the Army, threatening to dismiss me each time.

“He comes to my room to inject me in my apartment; send some boys to my house. If I’m lying; I have all the evidence. I have evidence against him and I have witnesses.

“He also stigmatised me that I have a mental illness. Each time I try to expose him or each time any senior person or any senior officer tries to intervene, he will tell them I have a mental illness.

“He (froze) my account for one year. February last year till date, no salary.”

“Anytime he feels like he wants to embarrass me, he asks some soldiers to beat me. After beating me up, they will inject me. He will ask one Funke Ayeni, she is a female soldier, and he will ask her to set me up. She will set me up, inject me and they will go and throw me somewhere. At the end of the day, this Brig. Gen. IB Solebo and some of those senior colonels, they will come to that place, they will be videoing

me,” she added.

She appealed to Nigerians for support.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has promised to investigate Ogunleye’s allegations.

In a statement, the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Nwachukwu Onyema said the investigation was to ascertain the extent of her claims.

But despite her claim that she had explored the laid-down official military channels to seek redress to no avail, Onyema still slammed her, claiming that she did not seek redress, according to the laid-down procedure.

The statement read: “The Nigerian Army has been inundated with audiovisuals making the rounds on social media of the unprofessional conduct of a female soldier in mufti who claimed to have been maltreated by some senior officers.

“It is instructive to state that, considering the gravity of the allegations, NA, as a disciplined force, will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

“It is crucial to point out that contrary to the claims made in the video, the soldier in question

has not exhausted the laid-down procedure for seeking redress in the NA. This is aside from Human Rights and Gender Desks established in Army Headquarters and across NA formations, where complaints about human rights and gender issues are also entertained.

“The NA remains a professional force that self-regulates and conducts its activities in adherence to established rules and ethics while upholding the highest standards of discipline amongst personnel. We, therefore, encourage all personnel to always utilise the established channels for addressing grievances and concerns as a member of a noble and disciplined force.”

Onyema said that appropriate actions would be taken in line with the findings of the investigation.

“We assure the general public that the NA as an institution is committed to upholding the integrity and morals of its personnel and as such, appropriate actions will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.

“We urge the public to allow the investigative process to take its course.”

Breached Security at Lagos Airport

Chinedu Eze In continuation of its war against insecurity at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has arrested five suspects who illegally accessed the airport premises.

According to FAAN, the arrest was carried out by the special security operatives it deployed to man porous areas at the airport.

In a statement signed by FAAN’s new Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, the agency said the arrested men breached security to engage themselves in illicit activities at the airport.

“The Joint Monitoring Task Force (JMTF) of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Friday, January 12, 2024, mobilised and carried out a raid of the Joint Users Hydrant Installation (JUHI) Canal and the International Access Road Bridge at about 1638hrs (4:38 pm). The exercise

yielded fruit with the arrest of five suspects. It is lamentable to note the gradual transformation of the JUHI Canal into a potential hideout for criminals. Shanties have been erected by miscreants in near NAHCO Bridge (located at the Cargo terminal area of the airport),” Orah explained.

She disclosed that the raid had brought about the dismantling of these shanties by the JMTF and subsequent arrest of five miscreants.

According to her, the five men have been handed over to the Aviation Security Crime Investigation and Intelligence Unit (CIIU) for further interrogation and necessary action.

“FAAN is using this medium to warn the general public that any encroachment into the airport environment shall not be tolerated, and anyone who has no business at the airport should please stay away. The authority shall deal with anyone caught carrying out any act of vandalism or touting at the airports,” she added.

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PAYING FINAL RESPECT… L-R: President, Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru; Non-Executive Director at NPL Advisors, Seni Williams; Chairman, Table 3, Metropolitan Club, Mr. Allan Davies; Chairman, Fish Valley Investment and Properties Limited, Omo Oba Muyiwa Osho; Son of the deceased, Jide Martins Jr; and his wife, Atolagbe, during the final burial reception for the late founder of Bemil Security Nigeria Company, Omo’ba Olajide Abayomi Martins in Lagos...weekend Abiodun Ajala

Plateau, Kano APC Governorship Candidates Concede Defeat to PDP, NNPP Lalong congratulates Mutfwang Seriki Adinoyi in Jos The governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau and Kano states, Dr. Nentawe Goshwe, and Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, respectively, have conceded defeat to Governors Caleb Mutfwang and Abba Kabir Yusuf, following the judgments of the Supreme Court on Friday.

This is just as a former governor of Plateau State, Senator Simon Lalong has also congratulated Governor Mutfwang on his victory.

A mammoth crowd thronged the Yakubu Gowon Airport to receive Governor Mutfwang who returned to the state yesterday afternoon.

In a statement issued yesterday, Goshwe said: “While I congratulate my elder brother, His Excellency, Caleb Mutfwang, I must appreciate and commend the peaceful and calm disposition of our supporters. I still

appeal to the citizens of Plateau and our numerous well-wishers to ensure we keep the peace of our state. Let us collectively work toward a secure, united, and prosperous Plateau of our dreams because our resolve to build a cohesive and peaceful community is non-negotiable.”

In a separate statement, Lalong also congratulated Mutfwang on his victory, saying the final decision of the apex court provides the opportunity for him and all politicians to work for a united, prosperous, and inclusive Plateau.

He said that the verdict of the Supreme Court means an end to litigation and time for governance which the governor should now utilise to concentrate and deliver to the people of the state.

He urged Governor Mutfwang to embrace all sections of the state in delivering good governance and dividends of democracy to the people.

The member representing

National Assembly Postpones Resumption Till January 30 The National Assembly will now resume plenary on January 30 instead of January 23, 2024, THISDAY has learnt.

The Clerk to the House of Representatives, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, made this known in a terse message seen by in Abuja yesterday.

The Senate and House of Representatives had earlier fixed their resumption for Tuesday January 23, 2024.

Danzaria in an announcement addressed to all Honourable Members of the House of Representatives, said the new resumption date will be Tuesday,

January 30, 2024.

The short message titled: “Announcement” and signed

by Danzaria reads: “I am directed inform Hon Members that the resumption date for both Senate and House of Representatives has been shifted upwards from Tuesday, 23rd January, 2024 (earlier announced) to Tuesday, 30th January, 2024 at 11:00am prompt. All inconveniences are regretted.”

The Senate and House of Representatives had delayed their Yuletide recess to enable them consider and pass the 2024 budget.

Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam in the House of Representatives, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi has also described the Supreme Court judgment as an end to the 2023 governorship election legal tussle between the APC and PDP in the state.“It is on this premise that I wholeheartedly extend

my sincerest felicitations to the Governor, His Excellency Mr. Caleb Mutfwang, on his victory at the Supreme Court and wish him a prosperous tenure, as he braces up to better the lots of Plateau people who entrusted him with their mandates.”

On his part, the APC gov-

ernorship candidate in Kano State, Gawuna, while reacting to the apex court’s decision, acknowledged it as God’s will, emphasising his acceptance based on the belief that God’s decisions are flawless.

He said: “This judgment by the Supreme Court is God’s

decision, and we accept it. As we prayed, we asked that if it was good for us, He should grant us from His bounty, and if not, He should replace it with something better. We are confident that God has answered our prayers. He is All-Wise. We are grateful to Allah, the Almighty.”

Rewane to FG: Use Investment-led Strategy to Achieve Growth, Macroeconomic Stability Dike Onwuamaeze An eminent economist and Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC), Mr. Bismarck Rewane, has identified investment-led growth strategy as the most effective option for Nigeria’s economic growth.

Rewane stated this in his presentation at a recent board strategy retreat titled: ‘Economic Outlook 2024: Investment Opportunities and Risks,’ held in Lagos where he stated that “Nigeria needs an investment-led strategy” to drive its economic growth rather than relying on consumption, export and

government-led strategies.

He said the federal government could attract more investment by increasing interest rates to build investors’ confidence because “over the years, the gap between the rate of inflation and interest rates has been wide.”

He argued that while the average inflation rate was 16.5 per cent, the average effective interest rate for Treasury Bills and stock market return remained at 8.13 per cent and 8.67 per cent, respectively even though the maximum lending rate and microfinance lending rate were 29 per cent and 36 per cent, respectively.

Rewane pointed out that the

effect has been low investor confidence in the economy.

“Investment is dependent on the level of confidence in the economy. Investor confidence in Nigeria is low, primarily due to low sovereign credibility and poor foreign exchange market structure,” he said.

This low confidence, according to him, is exemplified by the share of portfolio investments in the Nigerian equity market where the foreign investors’ component of the market has dropped by 5.45 from 16.67 per cent in 2022 to 11.22 per cent in 2023.

He highlighted that low investment and low productivity are

two sides of the same coin since low investment would lead to low capital formation, which would result in low productivity and low income in the economy.

Rewane declared that “no savings” would mean “no investment” and invariably “no growth” in the economy.

He said: “Countries with low savings are known for low investment and constrained growth.”

He argued that savings mobilised from households, businesses and governments could be deployed to create private and public investments, which would lead to increased domestic production for local consumption and exports.

Edun: Fixing Nigerian Roads Will Help Lower Inflation Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has said that fixing Nigeria’s many dilapidated roads will eventually help lower the country’s biting inflation.

Speaking during an inspection of the Abuja-Kaduna-

Zaria-Kano highway, alongside the Minister of Works, Mr. David Umahi, Edun stated that when agricultural produce are transported on good roads, prices will fall and the current 28.2 per cent inflation rate will be lowered.

He assured of the commitment of the federal government in the timely funding of the

project in line with the agreed milestones, according to a statement from the Special Adviser on Media to the works minister, Uchenna Orji.

Edun noted that having been mandated by President Bola Tinubu, they were on the location to ascertain the commitment of the contractor handling the project and to support

them, to as soon as possible, complete the reconstruction of the road.

The finance minister described the works sector as one of the most strategic sectors that will add value to the economic development agenda of the president, saying it would always be given priority attention.

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

Investors Shift Attention to Penny Stocks As the domestic stock market maintained its positive momentum in early 2024, Kayode Tokede and Esther Oluku examine some penny stocks investors can key into and what makes these stocks attractive as prices of large-medium capitalised companies hit roof-top

I

nvestors on the stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) in 2023 gained an average 45.9 cent return and N13 trillion in market capitalisation.

The market in 2023 beat the LQÁDWLRQ UDWH SHU FHQW DV of November 2023) as the investors, most especially foreign investors keyed into undervalued stocks to boost their position following the Federal Government’s foreign H[FKDQJH XQLÀFDWLRQ DQG UHPRYDO RI VXEVLG\ on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or fuel.

Also, of the 13 companies whose shares DSSUHFLDWHG RQ WKH ÁRRU RI WKH 1LJHULDQ 6WRFN Exchange, on Wednesday last week, six penny stocks quoted companies were listed among the top gainers leaving the seven other gainers to medium and large capital stocks.

As investors grapple to keep their capital DÁRDW DPLGVW DQ DOO WLPH KLJK LQÁDWLRQ UDWH RI SHU FHQW WKH 1LJHULDQ VWRFN H[FKDQJH KDV posted a steady rise in the competitiveness of penny stocks in recent months.

Analysts noted that the recent delivery by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of some outstanding matured foreign exchange forwards in some banks provided more support to the stock market “as investors continue to assess opportunities that may open up in a post-foreign exchange backlog environment”.

The stock market growth in 2023 was inÁXHQFHG E\ JDLQV UHFRUGHG LQ ODUJH PHGLXP capitalised stocks including Airtel Africa Plc, Dangote Cement Plc, MTN Nigeria Communication Plc, BUA Cement Plc, BUA Foods Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Geregu Power Plc, among others.

Although most of these companies beat WKH LQÁDWLRQ UDWH LQ WKHLU VWRFN SULFH VLJQLÀFDQWO\ DSSUHFLDWHG PDNLQJ LW GL΀FXOW for prospective investors to buy or increase their holdings in some of these companies.

For illustration, the stock price of Airtel $IULFD FORVHG LQ DW 1 SHU VKDUH gaining 15.4 cent from N 1,635.00 per share it opened for trading. An investor with N50,000 can only buy an estimated 26.5 units of Airtel ZKHQ WKH SULFH ZDV WUDGLQJ DW 1 SHU share as of December 29, 2023.

The current price of Airtel Africa as of January 10, 2024, has increased to N2,000 which means investors with N50,000 can only buy an estimated 25 units of the telecommunication company aside from commissions. $OVR WUDGLQJ DW 1 DQG 1 SHU share as of January 10, 2024, investors with 1 FDQ RQO\ EX\ DQG units of MTN Nigeria Communication and Guaranty Trust Holding Company respectively, excluding commissions.

lie ahead.

Some of these penny stocks appreciated E\ RYHU SHU FHQW LQ DQG EHIRUH QRZ these companies’ average price was hovering around N5-10 per share on the Exchange.

Interestingly, most of these companies over the years have failed in dividend payout to investors.

However, analysts believe that these penny stocks can provide good returns on investment due to their potential for share price appreciation in the medium term.

Typical Penny Stocks on NGX

Investors who invested in Transcorp Hotels Plc, Chams Holding Company Plc and CWG Plc, among others witnessed stock price appreciation in 2023; with price gain that ranged IURP SHU FHQW WR SHU FHQW These companies emerged as best-performing stocks in 2023 as investors demand soar.

For instance, Transcorp Hotels posted the highest capital appreciation as the share price jumped from N6.25 in 2022 to close at 1 RQ WKH ODVW WUDGLQJ GD\ RI DQ increase of 1022.9 per cent. Transcorp Hotels is the hospitality subsidiary of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (TRANSCORP). ,WV PDUNHW FDSLWDOLVDWLRQ URVH WR 1 Penny Stocks to the Rescue The stock market momentum has instilled billion at the last trading day of 2023. With optimism for a potentially bullish market a share price appreciation of 1022.9 per in 2024, fueled by the NGX All-Share index cent, Transcorp Hotels emerged the bestperforming stock on the NGX in 2023.

FURVVLQJ EDVLV SRLQWV Chams Holdings sustained its stellar perWith the quantum of holding small units, some percentage of retail investors have opted IRUPDQFH LQ DV WKH IURQWOLQH ÀQDQFLDO to take a position in some penny stocks as technology company’s share price rose by another means to invest in listed small- SHU FHQW IURP 1 DW WKH EHJLQQLQJ capitalised stocks quoted on the Exchange. RI WR FORVH DW 1 Chams HoldCo migrated from a loss of $V GHÀQHG SHQQ\ VWRFNV UHIHU WR VKDUHV LQ companies with a low price and low trading 1 PLOOLRQ LQ WKH WKLUG TXDUWHU HQGHG volume. Because these markets have low September 30, 2022, to N255.1 million in the third quarter of 2023. liquidity, there is also high volatility.

In a recent media interview, the Company’s It’s crucial to remind investors that investing involves inherent risks, and careful consider- Group Managing Director, Mrs Mayowa ation is essential before making any decisions. Olaniyan, attributed the performance to By understanding promising sectors, the gains from the ongoing transformaconducting diligent research, and employing tion in the entire group, which comprises prudent risk management strategies, investors ChamsSwitch, ChamsAccess, CardCentre, can navigate the exciting opportunities that and ChamsMobile, its subsidiaries.

The third best price gainer in the review period was CWG Plc, whose share price rose from N0.92 at the start of 2023, to N3.96 per unit at the end of the trading day in 2023, an increase RI SHU FHQW 7KH UHSRUWHG 1 PLOOLRQ SURÀW in Q3 2023 from N432.06 million in Q3 2022 impacted CWG stock price appreciation in 2023.

Other companies that made the league of the top 10 were: Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (TRANSCORP) SHU FHQW 056 2LO 3OF SHU cent; Northern Nigeria Floor Mills 3OF SHU FHQW -DSDXO *ROG DQG 9HQWXUHV SHU FHQW ,NHMD +RWHOV SHU FHQW )71 &RFRD 3URFHVVLQJ SHU FHQW DQG ,QÀQLW\ 7UXVW 0RUWJDJH %DQN SHU FHQW Outside the top 10 performing stocks in 2023, an investigation by THISDAY revealed that Fidelity Bank Plc appreciated by 149.42 per cent, FCMB Group appreciated by SHU FHQW IURP 1 SHU VKDUH LW RSHQHG IRU WUDGLQJ IURP 1 SHU share, while Jaiz Bank rose by 111 per cent to N1.94 per share from N0.92 per share it closed for trading in 2022.

2WKHU QRWDEOH VWRFNV ZLWK D VLJQLÀFDQW LQFUHDVH DERYH WKH LQÁDWLRQ UDWH are AXAMansard Insurance which JDLQHG SHU FHQW $,,&2 ,QVXUDQFH 36 per cent and Abbey Mortgage Bank which increased by 31 per cent to N2.22 per share as of December 29, 2023.

is positive, the tendency is for investors to move from stocks where their prices are very high-almost reaching their peak to other sectors where the prices of stocks are still relatively low and take a position.

“This behaviour echoes the market boom witnessed about two decades ago, where investors actively explored diverse sectors DQG DVWXWH SOD\HUV LGHQWLÀHG YDOXH LQ SHQQ\ stocks. Numerous such stocks experienced VLJQLÀFDQW SULFH VXUJHV HYHQ ZLWKRXW VWURQJ fundamentals.

“What we are witnessing is almost equivalent to when there was a market boom about two decades ago. The tenets then were that investors are just roaming around the different sectors of the market -from one stock to another.

“The astute investors then anchored on penny stocks. And many of these penny stocks moved from 50 kobo to N20.00 without any fundamentals.”

He emphasised the need for investors to carefully analyse and reach out to their stockbrokers when the need arises.

He also advised investors to prioritise due diligence and focus on identifying penny stocks with strong underlying fundamentals and growth potential.

“The good thing about investing in stocks LV WKDW LW LV D ZLQ ZLQ DͿDLU WKHUH LV VDIHW\ RI capital because it is a regulated environment.

Investors should look at penny stocks like AIICO Insurance, AXA-Mansard, Jaiz Bank, and Chams as stocks that will do well in 2024,” he added.

The Executive Vice Chairman of Highcap SeCapital Market Operators’ curities Limited, Mr. David Adonri explained Views that due to the prevailing sustained positive 7KH &KLHI ([HFXWLYH 2΀FHU RI PRPHQWXP DFURVV WKH VWRFN PDUNHW ÀQGLQJ Wyoming Capital and Partners, penny stocks with solid fundamentals has Mr. Tajudeen Olayinka explained become a challenging task. that investors tend to rotate out of He emphasised that investors prioritising overvalued stocks nearing their peaks VDIHW\ OLTXLGLW\ DQG SURÀWDELOLW\ RI WKHLU and seek opportunities in sectors with investments can achieve their diverse investrelatively lower prices as the stock ment objectives through stocks, regardless market continues to appreciate. of their capitalisation status—be it highly According to him, “When the market capitalised or low-cap.

16

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANAURY 14, 2024

BUSINESS LAW

A section of the Lagos waterway

With Supreme Court’s Ruling on Waterways, Lagos Loses Big Money Spinner Last week’s judgment of the Supreme Court upholding the powers of the federal government to exercise control over the inland waterways must have sent a signal to the Lagos State Government that excessive drive for revenue through tax and levies have limitations, writes Alex Enumah

E

xcessive and multiple taxation by the Lagos State Government and some of its touts last week made the state lose its share of control of the inland waterways to the federal government when the Supreme Court held that it was the sole responsibility of the central government to impose levies, and issue licences to operators

in the industry.

Before then, for 15 years, the state government had exercised control over the waterways through levying and licensing of operators in the sector, the way it has been doing in other areas.

Under the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) law which came into force in 2008, the state government had raked in billions of naira from operators in the sector.

But delivering judgment in a suit concerning the dispute, the Supreme Court said it was unlawful for state governments to seek to control the country’s inland waterways.

In the lead judgment written by Justice Okoro, who also led the seven-member panel, the apex court held that existing laws confer exclusive control of activities in the inland waterways on the federal government through its agencies, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) and no other tier of government.

Faced with a multiplicity of charges by both federal and the Lagos government agencies, the incorporated trustees of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transportation of Nigeria (ATBOWTN) and the incorporated trustees of the Dredgers AsVRFLDWLRQ RI 1LJHULD '$1 ÀOHG D VXLW DW WKH )HGHUDO +LJK &RXUW Lagos to seek an end to such in 2012.

7KH SODLQWLͿV SUD\HG WKH FRXUW WR GHWHUPLQH ZKLFK WLHU RI JRYernment was empowered by law to license and levy business operators on the nation’s inland waterways.

Ruling on the case, the judge, Justice John Tsoho, said the federal government agencies – NIWA and NIMASA – are the proper and lawful agencies with authority in matters relating to the commercial activities of ATBOWTN and DAN, who are involved in water tourism, water transportation and sand dredging within the national inland waterways.

Justice Tsoho restrained the LASWAand the state Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructural Development from further seeking WR FRQWURO WKH FRPPHUFLDO DFWLYLWLHV RI WKH SODLQWLͿV ² $7%2:71 and DAN. +RZHYHU -XVWLFH 7VRKR·V GHFLVLRQ ZDV QXOOLÀHG E\ WKH &RXUW RI $SSHDO LQ LWV -XO\ MXGJHPHQW RQ WKH DSSHDO ÀOHG E\ WKH state governor and three others.

The Court ofAppeal held that the inland waterways within Lagos State were not captured by the National Inland Waterways Act, are within the legislative competence of the state’s legislature, and

that Lagos could collect taxes/levies on businesses on waterways which start and terminate in the state.

Based on the Court of Appeal judgement, Justice Saliu Saidu of WKH )HGHUDO +LJK &RXUW LQ /DJRV VHTXHO WR D VXLW ZLWK UHIHUHQFH QXPEHU )+& / &6 ÀOHG E\ (ZHQOD )LVKHUPHQ &RRSHUDtive Society Limited, Afenifere Fish Sellers Better-Life Igbokusu, Eti-Osa Fishermen Cooperative Society Limited, Kolawole Giwa Balogun, and Folani Oladipupo Sikiru, suing for themselves and RQ EHKDOI RI DOO ÀVKHUPHQ ZRPHQ DQG ÀVK VHOOHUV LQ (WL 2VD /RFDO *RYHUQPHQW $UHD RI WKH VWDWH LQ D΀UPHG WKH SRZHU RI WKH state government to legislate and control the inland waterways within the territory of the state.

7KH SODLQWLͿV KDG ÀOHG WKH VXLW DVNLQJ WKDW 1,:$ EH GHFODUHG DV the body statutorily empowered to manage, control and regulate land interest within 100 meters of all declared Federal Waterways in Nigeria, and that the license on the right of way granted to them

by NIWA is valid and subsisting.

7KH\ DOVR FRQWHQGHG E\ WKH SODLQWLͿV WKDW DQ\ OLFHQVH JUDQWHG by the state government over the declared federal waterways in particular, Peninsular of Lagos Lagoon was ultra vires, illegal and RI QR HͿHFW ZKDWVRHYHU In his judgment, Justice Saidu held that NIWA lacked the constitutional power to regulate inland waterways within the state, DQG WKHUHE\ GHFODUHG DOO OLFHQFHV JUDQWHG WR WKH SODLQWLͿV DV QXOO DQG YRLG +H GLVPLVVHG WKH FODLPV RI WKH SODLQWLͿV DQG KHOG WKDW VDPH FRQÁLFWHG ZLWK WKH SURYLVLRQ RI WKH FRQVWLWXWLRQ The court held that to determine the extent of the power of NIWA to regulate inland waterways, recourse must be made to WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ RI WKH )HGHUDO 5HSXEOLF RI 1LJHULD &)51 7KH FRXUW FRQVLGHUHG ,WHPV DQG RI WKH ([FOXVLYH /HJLVODWLYH List of CFRN and held that “Inland Waterways was not one of the items over which the National Assembly was given power to legislate and the NationalAssembly did not designate the Peninsular of Lagos Lagoon as an International Waterway.

6SHFLÀFDOO\ WKH FRXUW DJUHHG ZLWK WKH VXEPLVVLRQV FDQYDVVHG LQ IDYRXU RI WKH QG DQG UG GHIHQGDQWV *RYHUQRU RI /DJRV 6WDWH and Lagos State government) that: “The state government has the authority to legislate over Inland Waterways within its territory; the state government possesses the power to grant permits and collect fees as this is a residual matter and that NIWA has no constitutional power to regulate Inland Waterways within Lagos State.” In arriving at the decision, Justice Saidu relied on the recent Court of Appeal decision in the case of LASWA & Ors vs. NIWA 2UV DGGLQJ WKDW WKH SODLQWLͿV IDLOHG WR HVWDEOLVK WKH LGHQWLW\ RI the land claimed. ´1,:$ KDV QR SRZHU WR JUDQW WKH VDLG OLFHQFH WR WKH SODLQWLͿV LQ WKH ÀUVW SODFH $V VXFK WKH SODLQWLͿV KDYH QR LQWHUHVW ZKDWVRHYHU in the land,” Justice Saidu ruled.

This made NIWA and three others challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision at the Supreme Court, which on January 5 judgment UHYHUVHG WKH GHFLVLRQ RI WKH ORZHU FRXUW DQG D΀UPHG WKH 0DUFK MXGJPHQW E\ -XVWLFH 7VRKR RI WKH )HGHUDO +LJK &RXUW The appellants – NIWA, NMSSA, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, and the Minister of Transport – listed the Lagos State Waterways, the state’s Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, the Attorney-General, the Governor of Lagos State, the incorporated trustees of theAssociation of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transportation of Nigeria, among others, as respondents.

They contended that the activities of LASWAcreated by the state government, through the enactment of LASWA Law No. 14 of /$6:$ E\ WKH VWDWH·V +RXVH RI $VVHPEO\ WR UHJXODWH develop and manage all aspects of the waterways in Lagos State were unconstitutional.

Deciding the appeal, the Supreme Court agreed with the appellant’s lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi, who is now the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), that NIWA is the only statutory agency vested with the responsibility of levying, imposing, and charging rates of utilisation along the declared waters of the NIWA. The lead decision of the Supreme Court, which was prepared by Justice Okoro but read in open court on his behalf by Emmanuel $JLP FODULÀHG WKDW WKH )HGHUDO :DWHUZD\V DJHQF\ LV WKH ULJKWIXO and legal agency of government with the “powers to exclusively manage, direct and control all activities on the navigable waters and its right of way throughout the country for inland navigation, SXUVXDQW WR 6HFWLRQV DQG RI 1,:$ $FW µ Justice Okoro upheld Fagbemi’s argument that the activities of WKH /DJRV 6WDWH JRYHUQPHQW DQG LWV DJHQFLHV FRQVWLWXWHG D ÁDJUDQW usurpation and an illegal encroachment on the statutory functions RI 1,:$ +H QRWHG WKDW WKH ZDWHUZD\V RI /DJRV 6WDWH DPRQJ RWKHUV in Nigeria, fall under the Exclusive Legislative List set out in Part 1 of the Second Schedule to the Nigerian constitution.

The apex court added that it is only the federal government, through the NationalAssembly, that can validly legislate on Maritime Shipping and Navigation, saying the power to legislate on any subject in the Exclusive Legislative List does not reside with the state government.

It agreed that the existing laws do not favour the state government’s contention on resource control, but that political stakeholders, including the legislature, could work on ways to amend the law to address the concerns raised by Lagos and others on the issue.

While state governments have always been in contention with the federal government over resource control, especially petroleum resources and mining of other mineral resources, the constitution confers exclusive control of these resources on the central government, the extant judgment by the Supreme Court on the control of waterways has added to the list.

17

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 14, 2023

BUSINESS PERSONALITY Otedola: The Billionaire that Keeps Giving In the realm of philanthropy, few names shine as brightly as Femi Otedola’s, casting a benevolent glow across the landscape of Nigeria. In this report, Festus Akanbi delves into the impactful gestures of Otedola, a serial investor and a visionary philanthropist whose unwavering commitment has become a cornerstone in the nation’s pursuit of social betterment

I

n an age, when reality has constantly exposed the government’s lack of capacity to meet the needs of the people fully , it is becoming the norm for the D΁XHQW LQ VRFLHW\ WR VWHS IRUZDUG to bridge the gap between the government’s capacity and the needs of the people.

There is no doubt that Nigeria is blessed with quite some men of means who have always rallied around to do the needful in WHUPV RI SKLODQWKURSLF LQWHUYHQWLRQ WR ÀOO the vacuum created by the government’s limited resources to deal with emerging challenges from time to time.

One of such highly placed Nigerians is the billionaire investor and Chairman of Geregu Power Plc, Mr. Femi Otedola, who last week gained another round of media attention through his N1 billion donation to improve the security situation in Lagos.

It has been proven beyond doubt that Otedola’s philanthropic endeavours in Nigeria stand as a beacon of compassion and societal responsibility.

With unwavering dedication, he has leveraged his wealth to make a profound impact on the lives of countless Nigerians.

Otedola’s philanthropy extends across various sectors, from healthcare and HGXFDWLRQ WR SRYHUW\ DOOHYLDWLRQ +LV Ànancial contributions have facilitated the construction of schools, and hospitals, and the provision of scholarships, fostering a tangible and lasting positive change.

Otedola’s commitment to social betterPHQW WUDQVFHQGV PHUH FKDULW\ LW UHÁHFWV a deep-rooted belief in the transformative power of targeted benevolence, inspiring others to join in the noble pursuit of uplifting communities and fostering sustainable development.

Giving an insight into what encourages him to give, Otedola once said, “God has been so kind, the only way I can show my gratitude to Him is to use my resources to support those who are underprivileged.

This I intend to do for the rest of my life. In a ZRUOG IXOO RI FRQÁLFWV GLVHDVHV FDODPLWLHV and inequality, we all need to show the milk of human kindness, to reach out and comfort the sick and give a helping hand to the weak.”

Otedola

Funding Academic Excellence

With a culture of giving, Otedola in October 2023, announced a donation of N1 million each to 750 students of Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, Lagos State. He announced the gesture at his investiture as the university’s second Chancellor and the ÀIWK FRQYRFDWLRQ RI WKH XQLYHUVLW\ The N750 million scholarship donation according to him was in commemoration of his appointment as the Chancellor of the Support for Public Safety In a landmark move for public safety in university and “in recognition of the harsh Lagos, Otedola, represented by his daughter economic situation” in Nigeria.

Otedola succeeded John Aniagwu, who Tolani Otedola, donated a hefty sum of N1 billion to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund had been Chancellor from the inception of (LSSTF) last week. The donation was not the university in 2015. +H VSHFLÀHG WKDW WKH VFKRODUVKLS ZDV WR WKH ÀUVW DFFRUGLQJ WR LQIRUPDWLRQ JDWKHUHG each of the 500 returning students of the from the fund.

Otedola has always been supporting the university and the 200 new students for VHFXULW\ LQLWLDWLYHV ZLWK UHJXODU ÀQDQFLDO the 2023/2024 academic session.

“I hope this donation assists the plight of support, a development which is said to have earned him the distinction of being WKH SDUHQWV RI RXU VWXGHQWV LQ WKLV GL΀FXOW the top individual contributor to the Fund. time,” he said.

He emphasised that the aim of the donaOn behalf of her father, Tolani expressed delight that over the years, the Fund had WLRQ ZDV QRW MXVW WR SURYLGH ÀQDQFLDO UHOLHI continued to live up to its mandate and but to encourage academic excellence and had remained relevant in the security national development.

In addition to the student scholarships, architecture of the state.

In his acceptance remarks, Governor Otedola also announced further contribuSanwo-Olu noted that the donation was tions to Augustine University.

He pledged N140 million for the furnish“very important” and would serve as a testimonial for others to also come in, ing of the recently completed Engineering stressing that security was everybody’s faculty building and another N110 million for the installation of street lights around the business.

“We feel encouraged to continue to do campus and a new standby generating set.

This brings his total donation to N1 bilwhat we have been doing, setting the right business and economic environment for lion, aside from his earlier committed N2 residents as a government. Last December, billion for the construction of the Faculty coming into the new year, was, perhaps of Engineering four years ago.

“I pledged as I have always been comthe most active movement of the Diaspora population in terms of tourist engagement mitted to the development and economic empowerment of our youth through quality and socio-economic activities.”

education,” he said.

“I did not dream then that I would be appointed Chancellor of the University. Now that I am Chancellor I intend to work with WKH XQLYHUVLW\ VWDͿ WR HQVXUH WKDW the university and especially the Engineering Faculty become the centre of excellence in Nigeria.”

Funding Government’s Intervention Programmes

Otedola, like his other highnet-worth friends, is no stranger to philanthropy. However, what sets him apart is the sheer scale of his magnanimity. In November 2019, Otedola donated N5 billion (approximately $14 million) through his daughter, DJ Cuppy’s Foundation, the largest individual charitable donation in Nigeria’s history. This generous contribution was intended to support various intervention programmes aimed at assisting needy children in the Boko Haram-ravaged North-east region of Nigeria. The charity focused on improving the welfare of Nigeria’s vulnerable and marginalised children, emphasising early childhood education and healthcare, among numerous other initiatives.

A major investor in many of the high-performing conglomerates in Nigeria, Otedola is still listed as the largest shareholder of FBN Holdings. The company, in its latest report, listed Otedola as the largest shareholder with a stake above ÀYH SHU FHQW Directly, he holds 40,033,982 units of FBN Holdings shares,

which is 0.11 per cent, and indirectly, he holds 1,989,342,376 units which is 5.54 per cent of the lender’s shareholding as of September 2023.

Otedola is a man of extraordinary wealth, but even more extraordinary is his selfHͿDFLQJ QDWXUH 'HVSLWH FRPPDQGLQJ D stupendous fortune, he prefers to be addressed simply as “Mister,” shunning the grand titles that society often bestows upon the wealthy elite. His actions demonstrate a fundamental truth: giving is not merely an act of charity; it is a testament to the transformative power of philanthropy. +RZHYHU WKH LQÁXHQFH RI JLYLQJ UHDFKHV IDU EH\RQG WKRVH ZKR GLUHFWO\ EHQHÀW IURP LW DV LW VLJQLÀFDQWO\ HQULFKHV WKH OLYHV RI the givers themselves.

Indeed, he is a luminary in the realm of benevolence and he graces the landscape of Nigeria with a generosity that rivals the lush blooms of a vibrant garden.

His philanthropic gestures have cast ripples of transformative impact across Nigeria like stones of compassion dropped into the pond of societal well-being. His benevolence has erected educational institutions, providing not just structures of bricks but pillars of hope for countless aspiring minds. The echoes of his generosity reverberate in the corridors of healthcare, where hospitals stand as sanctuaries of healing, uplifting communities with improved medical facilities.

Otedola’s commitment to poverty alleviation resonates in initiatives that empower the disenfranchised, sowing seeds of economic resilience. His philanthropy, akin to a gentle yet powerful wind, has touched the lives of many, fostering a legacy that goes beyond ÀQDQFLDO FRQWULEXWLRQV HPERG\LQJ WKH spirit of positive change in the hearts of the Nigerian people.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 14, 2023

18

INTERVIEW FEMI SONEYE:

NNPCL is Prepared to Guarantee Nigeria’s Energy Security Amidst the current anxiety over the ongoing rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Femi Soneye, in this interview with Peter Uzoho, says the refinery will begin operation immediately after the current testing of the facility is concluded. He also speaks on other burning issues. Excerpts:

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5HÀQHU\ KDV EHHQ FRPSOHWHG .LQGO\ SURYLGH DQ XSGDWH RQ WKDW In a month-long documentary series, NNPC Ltd has meticulously showcased WKH SURJUHVV RI 3+ 5HÀQHU\ 23+5 UHKDbilitation, emphasising completed works, equipment installation, and mechanical completion.

2I VLJQLÀFDQW QRWH LV WKH UHKDELOLWDWLRQ of the 60,000 BPSD OPHR, with the NNPC D΀UPLQJ WKDW WKH PHFKDQLFDO FRPSOHWLRQ phase would be concluded by December 2023, a testament to the company’s dedication to its commitment to the Nigerian people. That happened.

The current phase involves rigorous testLQJ OHDN FKHFNV OLQH EORZLQJ GU\LQJ ÁXVKing, steam out, and equipment calibration before the introduction of hydrocarbons.

These meticulous checks align with global best practices and are deemed essential SUHUHTXLVLWHV IRU WKH UHÀQLQJ SURFHVV Emphasising safety protocols, the testing for air in the lines is underscored as vital to prevent potential explosions, adhering to the highest international standards.

iven the ongoing rehabilitation of reÀQHULHV WHOO XV DERXW WKH HͿRUWV RI 113& DQG RWKHU RLO ÀUPV to protect pipelines and tackle oil theft

in Nigeria.

The security and maintenance of our product and crude transfer pipelines to WHUPLQDOV DQG UHÀQHULHV ZLOO IDOO XQGHU WKH purview of Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) concessionaires. This strategic arrangement aims to mitigate third-party incursions and sabotage, ensuring the integrity of the pipelines.

We have also enhanced the security architecture by working with all branches of the Military, from the Navy to the Army and the Air Force, police, DSS, and the NSCDC. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited is also actively combating oil theft in Nigeria through FROODERUDWLYH HͿRUWV ZLWK SULYDWH VHFXULW\ ÀUPV DQG RLO SURGXFLQJ FRPPXQLWLHV This strategic partnership aims to enhance surveillance and security measures to curb illicit activities. By engaging local communities and leveraging private security expertise, NNPC reinforces its commitment to safeguarding national resources and preventing unauthorised activities in the oil sector.

$UH WKHUH RQJRLQJ H;RUWV WR UHKDELOLWDWH SLSHOLQHV DQG RWKHU DVVHWV WR HQKDQFH WKH GLVWULEXWLRQ RI SHWUROHXP SURGXFWV nationwide?

The Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC), a subsidiary of NNPC Limited, is actively engaged in the rehabilitation of pipelines and storage terminals across the country. In 2021, the *URXS &KLHI ([HFXWLYH 2΀FHU RI 113& emphasised the adoption of the BOT model for this initiative.

The competent project companies would be selected through an open competitive bidding process. The chosen BOT FRQWUDFWRU ZLOO EH UHVSRQVLEOH IRU ÀQDQFing the project, operating it, and, after recovering the investment and achieving WKH WDUJHWHG SURÀW WUDQVIHUULQJ WKH DVVHW back to NNPC/NPSC. Revenue for the BOT contractor’s recovery and returns ZLOO EH JHQHUDWHG WKURXJK WDULͿV GXULQJ the asset’s operation.

136& LV FXUUHQWO\ LQ WKH ÀQDO VWDJHV RI concluding contractual arrangements with the BOT Concessionaires. The implementation and execution of these contracts are DQWLFLSDWHG WR VLJQLÀFDQWO\ LPSURYH WKH reliable distribution of petroleum products nationwide. :LWK YDQGDOLVP DQG RLO WKHIW GR \RX WKLQN 1LJHULD FDQ VWLOO PHHW LWV WDUJHW" What I can tell you is that the NNPCL has been involved in various initiatives to increase oil and gas production in

Soneye

LNG market. The Floating LNG MoU was signed by the Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, on behalf of NNPC Ltd and Mr Kai Xu, Managing Director of Wison Ltd, on behalf of his company. Both parties agreed to work together to chart a roadmap for the project development that will lead to an investment decision.

Similarly, the Small-Scale LNG (SSLNG) Project agreement was signed by the Managing Director, of NNPC Trading Ltd., Mr. Lawal Sade, on behalf of NNPC Prime LNG Ltd. while Mr Abhinav Modi, Managing Director of SDP Services Ltd., signed on behalf of his company.

The SSLNG Project, which will be located at Ajaokuta in Kogi State, Central Nigeria, will ensure &RXOG \RX WDNH XV WKURXJK VRPH RI WKH WKH H΀FLHQW VXSSO\ RI /1* WR WKH 0HPRUDQGXP RI 8QGHUVWDQGLQJ 0R8 Autogas/Compressed Natural Gas \RX KDYH ZLWK VRPH FRPSDQLHV" (CNG) and industrial/commercial Also, NNPC Prime LNG Ltd, an arm customers nationwide. The LNG of NNPC Trading Ltd., signed a Supply, Project is expected to be operational Installation and Commissioning Agree- by December 2024. ment with SDP Services, an independent oil and gas company, for a 421-tonne per 5HDFWLRQV DUH WUDLOLQJ WKH DQday LNG project targeting the domestic QRXQFHPHQW WKDW WKH 3RUW +DUFRXUW

1LJHULD 7KHVH HͿRUWV W\SLFDOO\ LQFOXGH collaborations with international oil companies, investment in exploration and drilling activities, and implementing WHFKQRORJ\ XSJUDGHV WR HQKDQFH H΀FLHQF\ We are also investing in new assets and enhancing idle ones. ,Q LWV HͿRUWV WR IXUWKHU ERRVW QDWXUDO JDV utilisation in the country and enhance Nigeria’s gas revenue, apart from crude, NNPCL signed two major agreements to deliver LNG to the domestic gas market and the international LNG market. During two separate signing ceremonies held on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (also known as COP28), NNPCL. signed an MoU with Wison Heavy Industry Co. Ltd, a Chinese company, for WKH GHYHORSPHQW RI ÁRDWLQJ /1* SURMHFWV in Nigeria, targeting the international LNG market.

:KDW DUH WKH SODQV WR HQVXUH WKDW WKH :DUUL 5HÀQHU\ FRPHV EDFN WR OLIH" Simultaneously, I’m glad to inform you WKDW SURJUHVV LV QRWHG DW WKH :DUUL UHÀQHU\ nearing its mechanical completion phase.

Despite the eagerness to complete the project, NNPC Ltd, as a global energy company, prioritises the thorough execution of all necessary checks and testing, reinforcing LWV FRPPLWPHQW WR UHÀQHU\ H[FHOOHQFH RQ a global scale.

We recognise the historical distrust reVXOWLQJ IURP \HDUV RI UHÀQHU\ QHJOHFW ZH want to assure Nigerians that, this time, our commitment is genuine. We are fully prepared to guarantee energy security for our nation.

The major blessing is the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Unlike what used to happen in the past where continuity RI SURMHFWV VXͿHUHG PLVKDSV DV D UHVXOW RI D new government jettisoning pre-awarded contracts, our President has kept faith. When he took over, he did not order work to stop.

Rather, he encouraged us to get going and deliver. He is committed to ensuring that WKH UHÀQHU\ LV GHOLYHUHG VR WKDW 1LJHULDQV FDQ EHQHÀW IURP WKH KXPRQJRXV RXWFRPHV it would generate. Then we also have to understand that my boss, Mele Kyari is a man who knows what he is doing and the fact that last Christmas season did not witness scarcity of products demonstrates the type of results you achieve when you have a President and a GCEO who are operating from the same page. The NNPCL GCEO is FRPPLWWHG WR 1LJHULD·V HQHUJ\ VX΀FLHQF\ and he has the buy-in of President Tinubu.

Because of the need to ensure that Nigerians enjoy better dividends of democracy, the GCEO continues to explore all avenues to make sure that those troubling issues of the past do not come up again. In the end, it is all about making Nigerians happier.

Sunday 14 January, 2024

T H I S D AY Vol MONDAY MARCH 14, 2022 27. No 10497

OPI NION

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

CNN AND BOBBY WINE ON DEMOCRACY OKELLO OCULI urges the African Union to develop capacity for building profiles of postelection relations in Uganda

119

CHRIS GYANG contends that the Supreme Court has restored, even if slightly, the confidence of the common man in the judiciary

A SUPREME VERDICT: A VINDICATION OF SORTS

S See Page 20

REVISITING KALU’S SOUTH EAST PEACE INITIATIVE

The Peace Project is not inclusive, argues CHEKWUBE NZOMIWU

See Page 20

EDITORIAL 2023 GENERAL ELECTION AND JUSTICE PERVERSION

See Page 45

cenes of jubilation have been reported across Plateau State.

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20

T H I S D AY SUNDAY JANUARY 14, 2024

CNN AND BOBBY WINE ON DEMOCRACY

REVISITING KALU’S SOUTH EAST PEACE INITIATIVE

O

W

OKELLO OCULI urges the African Union to develop capacity for building profiles of post-election relations in Uganda

n 8th January, 2024, CNN broadcast Christiane Amanpour’s interview with Bobby Wine, Uganda’s currently leading Opposition politician. A key item in their dialogue was the issue of electoral democracy in Uganda. The matter coincided with President Joe Biden’s vote-hunting speech to African-American voters in South Carolina.

Bobby Wine as a politician from Buganda Kingdom, carries heavy historical burdens, including: Frederick Lugard’s colonial investing in, and QXUWXULQJ FRQÁLFW ZLWKLQ %XJDQGD DQG its relations with other peoples in the ‘’Protectorate.’’

A major element in this investment was granting large tracts of land to ‘’chiefs’’ he appointed. This arrangement violated the role of leaders of clans in land management.

Because these ‘’Mailo Land’’ chiefs could not recruit local labour, Britain hired labour from German-Belgian colonies of RUANDA-URUNDI and parts of Western Uganda.

Resentment of ‘’Mailo Land’’ by Buganda was expressed in contempt for imported labourers. British media consistently printed larger photographs of the ‘’KABAKA’’(King) of Buganda, compared to smaller picture of the OMUGABE (of Ankole), ‘’OMUKAMA’’ of Toro and BunyoroKitara, and the KYABAZINGA (of Busoga). This manipulation of symbols of authority reinforced the disdain for labourers from that region.

This nurtured faultline was EULHÁ\ GLVUXSWHG ZKHQ .$%$.$ MUTESA was deported to England as punishment for opposing a plan to create an East African Federation consisting of Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda. The spectre of European immigrants owning vast tracts of land in the other two colonies was regarded with horror. Support for Kabaka Mutesa became nationwide.

This coincided with Joe Kiwanuka launching ‘’UGANDA NATIONAL CONGRESS’’ political party. %ULWLVK RIÀFLDOV UHYHUVHG WKHLU SROLF\ thrust into vigorously promoting LVRODWLRQLVP DPRQJ 0XWHVD·V RIÀFLDOV The impact of Ghana’s independence in 1957 was countered by BUGANDA demanding secession from Uganda.

Britain had anchored Buganda’s exceptionalism on establishing large numbers of Primary and Secondary Schools in the Kingdom. MAKERERE University College was also located in Buganda.

This historical drama is the stage on which Yoweri Museveni and Bobby Wine have fought their political boxing matches. As a student of FRANZ FANON, Museveni is likely to see violence as a tool for building selfFRQÀGHQFH DPRQJ KLVWRULFDO YLFWLPV of social contempt. He also travelled to zones in Mozambique ‘’liberated’’ through guerrilla war by the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO), from Portuguese colonial troops. His Zimbabwean professor: Nathan Shamuyarira, arranged that visit by a group of undergraduates.

Studying Political Science at the University of Dar es Salaam, offered 0XVHYHQL VHYHUDO HFRORJLFDO EHQHÀWV The country was led by Mwalimu Nyerere, a political philosopher from a small ethnic group located in one of the least developed regions of the country;

who used the power of thought and speeches to build an anti-colonial political party which was so popular that it won all seats in the country’s ÀUVW SDUOLDPHQW Tanzania was also the watering pond for leaders of liberation movements from Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. As EULOOLDQW VWXGHQW ZLWK D ÀUH RI KDWUHG IRU his own country’s ruler, Milton Obote – for abolishing monarchies in Uganda – Museveni ingested their experiences of using the gun for winning power.

Nyerere was also a friend of Mao Zedong - leaders of 22 years of liberation in China who proclaimed that ‘’POWER COMES FROM THE BARREL OF THE GUN’’.

Idi Amin Dada, King of Scotland, applied Mao’s doctrine in 1971 when 0XVHYHQL ZDV DQ ,QWHOOLJHQFH 2IÀFHU LQ 3UHVLGHQW 2ERWH·V 2IÀFH (LJKW \HDUV later, he allied with Tanzania’s troops using barrels of guns to drive Idi Amin into exile and death in Saudi Arabia.

Bobby Wine was not a participant in this Long Trek for Power.

When I travelled to Rwanda in 2012 (to do a study for the United Economic Commission for Africa), I listened to frustrations of journalists working for private newspapers. They presented the dilemma of choosing between President Kagame’s priority in social engineering a post-genocide country and the prospect of an electoral campaign in which raw wounds of FRQÁLFW FRXOG EH WRUQ RSHQ E\ +XWX politicians to win votes.

A winner-take-all electoral format is as exclusivist as ‘’ power comes from the barrel of guns’’. Expecting those carrying wounds from wars of ‘’liberation’’ to accept being shut out of power is illusory.

The African Union should develop FDSDFLW\ IRU EXLOGLQJ SURÀOHV RI SRVW election relations which for Uganda, would guarantee power to Bobby Wine but shared with Museveni’s successors. <RZHUL 0XVHYHQL KDV WZR FRQÁLFWLQJ legacies to work with. His Ankole roots had an ethnic aristocracy dominating communities of peasant farmers. His undergraduate environment was Nyerere’s political genius rooted in multi-ethnic, multi-religious mass popularity; and aspirations for building a Socialist society. When Nyerere retired lines of citizens wept along the route out of Dar es Salaam.

Those committed to establishing democratic politics in Uganda should help in reconciling these two legacies.

Prof Oculi writes from Abuja

The Peace Project is not inclusive, argues CHEKWUBE NZOMIWU

hile I support every genuine effort to stem the alarming wave of insecurity in the South East geo-political zone, I have strong reservations about the peace initiative, championed by the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu. The peace initiative tagged “Peace in South East Project (PISE-P), was unveiled last December by the Vice President of Nigeria, Sen. Kashim Shettima, at a widely attended ceremony in Kalu’s home town, Bende in Abia State. The unveiling of the project doubled as a grand reception/homecoming for the Deputy Speaker.

PISE-P aims at promoting the use of nonkinetic approach in tackling the security challenges in the South East, as well as facilitating reconciliation among communities and individuals affected by past conflicts. Dignitaries at the colourful launch of the project include the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President, Barau Jubrin, National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje; Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Gilbert Ibezim.

Beyond the razzmatazz of the launch, the project bears more telltale signs of an attempt

by Hon. Kalu to gain political relevance, than an honest effort to address the security challenges bedeviling the South East region. From my observation, it was poorly conceived, under resourced and scruffily put together. Why did I say so?

First, the title “Peace in South East Project” suggests that the region, dominated by the Igbo ethnic group, is at war. If that was what the initiators of PISE-P meant, I have some posers for them. If the South East is at war, who is the enemy? Are we fighting with the Nigerian State or are we fighting among ourselves? What are we fighting over?

While we wait for the promoters of this project to respond to these posers, I don’t think it is correct to say that the South East is at war because of the prevalence of insecurity in the region. Insecurity is a national malaise and not peculiar to only one region. There is Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, banditry in the North West and parts of North Central, and farmer-herder’s conflict across Northern Nigeria and even some parts of Southern Nigeria.

For instance, on the eve of Christmas, nearly 200 people were massacred in some communities in Bokkos local government area of Plateau State. A few days after, bandits returned to Abuja-Kaduna highway and abducted no fewer than 80 travelers. We have not forgotten the massacre of innocent worshippers in a Catholic Church in Ondo State, South West, Nigeria, in 2022.

Hence, I feel disappointed when political leaders from the South East (Hon. Kalu inclusive) blame the widespread insecurity in the region on the activities of secessionist agitators. If truth be told, the region was a hotbed for armed robbery and kidnapping before the arrival of the Unknown Gunmen, linked to the activities of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and their militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). The activities of this proscribed group, including the Monday sit-athome- order, merely heightened the insecurity in the region.

I remember that way back in 2013 when Peter Obi was the Chairman of South East Governors Forum, insecurity dominated the agenda of meetings of the forum. Have ZH IRUJRWWHQ WKH (]X 5LYHU ÁRDWLQJ FRUSVHV saga that occurred during the Obi era? Prior to this period, insecurity brought about the deployment of Bakassi boys in Onitsha and Aba, the commercial hubs of the region.

The root causes of insecurity in the South East are not different from that of the other troubled regions of the country.

They include bad governance, incompetent leadership, corruption, illiteracy, poverty, youth

unemployment, environmental degradation, poor policing, human rights abuses and social injustice. Hence, any effort to tackle in insecurity whether in the South East or any other region, should holistically consider these causative factors. It should not be a serendipitous (chance) affair.

Also, I noticed the absence of synergy with other critical stakeholders in the conception, resourcing and execution of the PISE-P project. Insecurity cannot be tackled by what the Igbos call “Ike Otu Onye” (one man’s power). Igbos believe in the concept of “Igwebuike,” meaning that there is strength in numbers. From all indications, Governor Uzodimma and the Obi of Onitsha merely attended the launch of the project in Kanu’s Bende hometown as guests and not because they were involved from onset. The Deputy Speaker ought to have fully involved all the five governors and his colleagues in the National Assembly from the region, Ohaneze Ndigbo, traditional rulers, religious leaders, Igbo intelligentsia and other critical stakeholders in the project.

He should have taken a cue from Ohaneze Ndigbo, which at the last Imeobi Day in Enugu, inaugurated a committee on Employment and Skill Acquisition as part of its determination to use non-kinetic approach to end the menace of insecurity in the region.

The membership of the committee comprises politicians of different party affiliations, seasoned technocrats and distinguished academics. The representatives of the Ministries of Education from the five states of the region were included in the committee.

The choice of Kalu’s hometown for the launch further questions the motive of the initiators of the project. I think it would have been more strategic to hold such an event in Enugu, which is historically the capital of the South East region, being the capital of the old Eastern Region and the defunct East Central States. It is not a coincidence that Enugu hosts the secretariats and meetings of the South East Governors Forum and Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Frankly speaking, I don’t see how conferring traditional title on the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, will end the insecurity in the South East. Borno State, Shettima’s home state is still battling with insurgency. If Hon. Kalu is sincerely concerned about ending insecurity in the zone, he ought to have looked beyond the glitziness and start doing what needs to be done.

In the 1960s, the World Bank rated Eastern Nigeria among the fastest growing economies in the world, alongside the Asian Tigers like Singapore, Taiwan and Bangladesh.

In those days, substantial large-scale industrialisation occurred in the UHJLRQ ZKLFK HVWDEOLVKHG WKH ÀUVW WUXO\ indigenous university, the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). Many of these industries, substantially owned by government, employed the skilled manpower produced from UNN. Nzomiwu, a development communicator and political scientist, writes from Awka, Anambra State

45

T H I S D AY SUNDAY JANUARY 14, 2024

EDITORIAL

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

2023 GENERAL ELECTION AND JUSTICE PERVERSION T h e a p ex c o u r t r u l i n g s ra i s e d d i s t u r b i n g q u e s t i o n s a b o u t t h e i n t e g r i t y o f j u d g m e n t s by s o m e c o u r t s

E

lection is a process. It begins with the registration of voters and ends with the judicial adjudication over disputes. In between, aggrieved politicians have the option to take their case to the election petition tribunal and go on appeal for IXUWKHU UHVROXWLRQ $QG LI VWLOO GLVVDWLVÀHG WKH\ could move further up to the Supreme Court, as in presidential and governorship matters. That way, our inclination for rules and laws will tower over recourse to self-help and violence, making our society a more peaceful and stable one for citizens and foreigners alike.

As provided for by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act (2022), many aggrieved politicians ZKR ZHUH GLVVDWLVÀHG ZLWK WKH RXWFRPHV RI WKH 2023 general election had laid their petitions before the various election petition tribunals. In many instances, the returns made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were upheld by the tribunals. In a few states, the results were upturned. Same happened at the appellate level. At the end, result of the presidential election was affirmed by the Supreme Court, and so have the results of the governorship elections in all the states concluded thus far.

We hope that as we progress in our efforts to deepen the democratic content in the polity, this recourse to the law would become the norm.

However, last Friday’s judgments by the apex court have also raised serious questions about the integrity of judgments delivered by the Court of Appeal. In some cases, the rules of procedure of our courts were thrown overboard to subvert the will of the electorate. For instance, many elected members of the States and National Assembly had their elections nullified on pre-election matters on which the Supreme Court had laid a firm precedent. And they have no remedy.

Mostly affected are Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in Plateau State, although there are also such cases across the country.

For inexplicable reasons, different panels of appeal court justices not only disregarded precedents

but also, in many cases, contradicted their own judgments. Even more sordid, the Kano State appellate tribunal was affirming and nullifying the gubernatorial election at the same time.

While reversing the judgment that sacked Governor Caleb Muftwang of the PDP, the apex court had harsh words for the appeal court justices as well as the lawyers who argued the case. In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the panel held that the APC and its candidate, Mr. Nentawe Goshwe, lacked the locus standi to challenge Muftwang’s candidacy, going by the provision of section 84(18) of the Electoral Act. “The whole case is a thorough abuse of the court process,” the apex court held. “The legal profession should wake up or it will render itself irrelevant in the eyes of the people with this type of judgment from the Appeal Court,” Justice Agim warned.

Refusal to follow precedent, as highlighted by the Supreme Court, amounts to a violation of code of conduct for judicial officers. All the Court of Appeal Justices involved in the Plateau State tribunal case should be investigated. It is the only way victims of such judicial recklessness can have some sort of justice.

Since the essence of judicial interventions in election matters is to promote democratic culture and strengthen the confidence of the people in the rule of law, we should be concerned when Judges turn the law upside down in a milieu where many politicians contest elections where they stand little or no chance and then wait at the gate of tribunals and courts for ‘victory.’

This growing pattern by which those who seek power now prefer judicial ambush to campaigning for votes should concern all critical stakeholders. In societies where politics is played according to the rules, the resort to the courts after every election is often minimal.

Now that the process has been concluded it is important to undertake a frank review of the electoral law, regulations, and processes. That is the only way we can make the necessary adjustments to improve the quality of elections and deepen our democracy.

Refusal to follow precedent, as highlighted by the Supreme Court, amounts to a violation of code of conduct for judicial officers 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 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, 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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LETTERS

A VICIOUS COCKTAIL IN KANO

Celebratory gears preceded the January 12 judgment of the Supreme Court which confirmed Abba Kabir Yusuf as the Governor of the Kano State. The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state which had won the round of litigation at the Court of Appeal had distributed celebration clothes to its members. There were also prayers and fasting as well as curses and cheers.

Before the judgment, the people of Kano State saw it all.

There was a mammoth electoral upset, an unsparing demolition job and unexpected judicial interventions. Everything that could happen to a people happened in Kano between the period of March 18, 2023 and January 12, 2024.

The incumbent Abba Yusuf Kabir had been sacked by the Kano State Election Petition Tribunal which was at pains to stress the insecurity it felt as it worked in one of Nigeria’s most politically volatile states.

On Friday, January 12, the Supreme Court set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had affirmed the verdict of the Election Petition Tribunal.

Even before the election was held on March 18, Nigeria had long refined its reputation as a country where mountains are molded out of molehills. Repeated elections have remained a riotous struggle in a country where getting the basics right is almost impossible. The entire system seems at once polluted by the presence of perverts and their perversions.

Key institutions of government have been caught up in this malaise. As these institutions have badly struggled, Nigerians have lost hope and touch with reality, as is clearly seen in the lives of some people who call the ancient city of Kano home.

For many years, Kano, one of Nigeria’s most iconic cities, has been a battleground for interests at once parochial and popular. The state has spawned its fair share of leaders in different fields

who have attracted local and global attention.

Some of Nigeria’s most iconic and eccentric politicians have come from the state which is recorded as Nigeria’s most populous with all the strategic implications it has for democracy, which is a game of numbers.

During the last election, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) reinvigorated by the presence of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, its presidential candidate and former Governor of the State, swept to victory at the SUHVLGHQWLDO SROOV ,W ZDV QR ÁXNH $ ODQGVOLGH victory followed at the Governorship polls until the APC approached the Election Petition Tribunal, which rolled back the victory.

In a season in which the Nigerian judiciary is the subject of backbreaking scrutiny amidst the failure of politicians to live above board, and the incompetence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it is the court that would once again have the final say on

who becomes the governor of Kano State. It is a situation that can only be described as tragic for democracy.

As events unfolded in a state which has quickly become one of Nigeria’s most treacherous political terrains, fingers pointed wildly at Umar Ganduje, the immediate past Governor of the state who now serves as the National chairman of the APC. He was said to be behind the string of judicial defeats suffered by the NNPP. As the NNPP coasted to victory in the March 18 polls, Ganduje maintained a pregnant silence.

Even when he watched the government’s demolition job target structures erected by his administration, he maintained a stony silence, as if he had a couple of decisive cards to play.

There were prayers in the state since the dispute over the Governorship polls went to the Supreme Court.

Ike Willie-Nwobu ikewilly9@gmail.com

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GLITZ ENTERTAINMENT

Have You Unlocked/Locked Your Music Playlist in a Bottle?

Stories by Vanessa Obioha Last year, music streaming service Spotify uncorked a whimsical and interactive gem - the ability to lock your favourite songs in a time capsule. Not a few jumped on it, exploring the future nostalgia (thanks Dua Lipa) that came with such a feature.

Imagine locking your musical vibes in a gumball machine, a bottle, a jean pocket, a lunchbox, or even a teddy bear for an entire year. Now, this year’s options have elevated the creative storage game with a wheelie bin, a snow globe, a rice cooker, a flip phone, and yes, a bird’s nest. Quirky, right?

Next, listeners are asked to select three songs to begin the playlist adventure. But here’s the twist— the playlist adventure is shaped by curated prompts. For instance, you can be asked to select a song that reminds you of your favourite person, or a song you need to hear live this year.

In my case, I chose the live performance of Flavour’s ‘Big Baller,’ (it’s my current music obsession).

The prompts make the task fun, ranging from the peculiar to the romantically whimsical to even the future. I particularly liked the prompt about a song that one can play for aliens when they visit the Earth. Oh, another favourite was “a song you’re going to kiss someone to this year,” (curly toes anyone?). Then there is the prompt about a song your great-grandkids will be

confused by. I definitely chose ‘Divano’ by the French new-age musical band Era, the group that brought us ‘Ameno’ which had a terrific comeback three years ago, thanks to Goya Menor’s remix. I can imagine the look on their faces when they see me swooning to a song whose lyrics are basically indecipherable.

These prompts make Spotify’s Playlist in a Bottle unique, and not just another mixtape. Of course, one can always play their favourite songs by searching for them or by curating a playlist. With Spotify’s Playlist in a Bottle, however, memories are captured in musical notes, making it a melodic time capsule.

If I decide ‘Peru’ by Fireboy DML is my ode to my favourite person, unlocking it next year becomes a cherished moment, a flashback to the decision I made in the past.

As Spotify’s Managing Director for SubSaharan Africa, Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy puts it, it allows listeners to “connect with their musical selves from the past.”

Now that last year’s playlist pioneers have unlocked their auditory treasures, the musical adventure is open for a revisit. And for those who missed the initial voyage, good news – the interactive feature is back until January 31, 2024. Just remember, you can only lock your music once, so choose those songs wisely to rekindle the musical notes of your past self.

In a Fusion of Dance, Food, and Music, Kaffy Unveils Newly Signed Act, Oduwa

Kaffy and Oduwa

Iyke Bede Recently, multi-award-winning dancer Kafayat Shafau, renowned as Kaffy, brought together a discerning audience composed of music executives, music lovers, and critics to experience the musical odyssey of a newly discovered talent, Osagioduwa Malkin, better known as Oduwa, signed to her management company, Kaffy Kreative Agency (KKA) The intimate evening, which convened guests atop the EbonyLife Place, Victoria Island, Lagos, served as a narrative into the growth trajectory of Oduwa, tracing his creative strength as far back as when he jumped on royalty-free beats for fun, to recording to the works of amateur producers to perfect his songwriting capabilities, down to his recent collaboration with more established ones who helped flesh out his creative vision to capture mainstream attention.

The listening party, themed ‘Oduwa Cafe,’ placed guests in the umpire’s seat from where they critiqued each work using a grading system while providing recommendations to help Oduwa further distil his sound for his upcoming debut extended play (EP).

With the over twenty-five songs split between the evening’s various meal courses, the listening sessions quickly transformed into a melodious, gastronomical experience.

Having met Kaffy on a flight from Atlanta in December of 2023, their artiste-manager relationship kick-started, with Kaffy admitting she was drawn to Oduwa’s mindset and approach to making music

that has a positive impact like those of his musical influences: 2Baba, Faze, Blackface, Sound Sultan, and The Cavemen.

“At KKA, Oduwa is one of the structures that we are going to be putting in place. So, that there will be many more Oduwas, many more talented creatives are going to be birthed from this,” a passionate Kaffy said during the sessions.

She added, “One thing the African creative industry needs is process and structure. There are principles to everything in life and there are ways and steps to follow. There are people to mentor, there are people to seek advice from, and there is a journey towards each success, I want to implement it because Africa is now; Africa is global. We cannot let another person tell our story or groomourtalents.”

“Myearformusicisdiverse,Ilistenfromafrobeatsto housemusictohiphoptoSouthAfricanamapiano.Ilove goodsounds.Musiccomesrelativelyeasyformetowrite.

OnceIcanfeelthebeat,itjustpours.Iamsomeonewhohas lotsofrange,andthat’s coming from my experience, my background,” said Oduwa, describing his creative process This union of exquisite dining, electrifying music, and vibrant dance components left the audience yearning for an encore of ‘Made for Me,’ ‘Found Love,’ and ‘Omotushun.’

Also, seasoned comedian Ali Baba, music executive Bankuli, and renowned rapper Eedris Abdulkareem shared their overall impressions on specific songs, while also offering valuable insights on navigating the industry.

Spotify’s Playlist in a Bottle

Rita Dominic Promotes Healthy Living in New Ambassadorial Role Renowned actress and film producer, Rita Dominic-Anosike, welcomes the new year with an ambassadorial partnership with Miyen Foods, the creators of Nuden Poundo. The unveiling ceremony, held in Lagos, marked Dominic-Anosike as the ambassador for this organic swallow, aligning with the shared goal of promoting healthier nutrition choices for Nigerians.

Introduced to the market a year ago, Nuden Poundo addresses rising health concerns such as high blood pressure and diabetes. In response, it offers a nutritional alternative without compromising the enjoyment of our favourite meals. Certified as a superior option to traditional swallows, it boasts organically sourced ingredients, including whole grains, seeds, root vegetables, and psyllium husk, providing essential vitamins and minerals for the body’s well-being.

“Nuden Poundo is produced in Montana, U.S. where we have a certified FDA organic factory,” said Olanrewaju Adebowale, a representative of Miyen Foods. “There are no genetically modified ingredients. From production to distribution, the process is very organic. We have received positive feedback from people who have tried it and the demand for it has increased significantly.” Speaking on the choice of Dominic-Anosike as the brand ambassador, Adebowale emphasized that she perfectly embodies the kind of personality fitting for representing the brand.

The stylish actress known for her timeless elegance also shared her perspective on Nuden Poundo, highlighting its health benefits.

“I love my Nigerian food. I love my swallows. In fact, Swallows are actually my best. However, I don’t get to eat them all the time because I have to stay fit as a filmmaker and actress,” she said.

“But I felt really nice after trying it,” she noted. “I didn’t have to worry about working out or burning calories like I would with other swallows. It felt light. I like the taste and it is easy to make. This influenced my decision to work with the brand.”

As a champion of healthy living, Dominic-Anosike expressed her joy in associating with a brand committed to promoting wellness and making nutritious choices accessible to a broader audience.

Dominic-Anosike (right) and Adebowale

SUNDAY JANUARY 14, 2024 • T H I S D AY

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A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

14.1.2024

BABATUNDE IRUKERA The People’s Advocate For most of his career, Babatunde Irukera has been devoted to safeguarding marginalised individuals, whether practising immigration law in the United States or advocating for people’s rights in Nigeria. As the former CEO and Executive Vice Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, he’s acknowledged for reshaping the agency into a dynamic regulatory body. In an encounter with Vanessa Obioha, Irukera discusses his transformative leadership at the agency, before being relieved of his duties by the president EDITED BY: VANESSA OBIOHA/vanessa.obioha@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 14, 2024

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COVER

My personal passion for taking the FCCPC job was to represent vulnerable people

T

he day after the news broke that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) imposed a staggering $110 million fine on British American Tobacco Nigeria Limited for violating its Act amidst health and safety offences, the former executive vice chairman of the commission, Babatunde Irukera walked into ARISE NEWS Channel’s premises to talk about the landmark penalty.

The news grabbed major headlines that morning, with many commending Irukera’s audacious moves in persuading the company to concede to the formidable fine rather than engaging in a legal battle.

Yet Irukera remained unassuming as he ascended the staircase in a grey outfit.

Not a hint of ostentation surrounded him; instead, he emanated a compelling sense of purpose. As questions flowed from the interviewer, he projected an image of a man entrusted with a vital mandate— to safeguard the interests of Nigerian consumers.

His words resonated with sincerity as he emphasized the paramount importance he places on the protection of consumers. At that moment, Irukera stood as a steadfast guardian, unwavering in his commitment to the people he served.

Indeed he is; given the number of cases he has fought to ensure that the Nigerian consumer is protected and treated fairly. On multiple occasions, he has strongly opposed the notion that Nigerian consumers only understand aggressive language. For instance, when Erisco Foods Limited allegedly arrested a dissatisfied consumer for her negative review of one of their products, Irukera and his team swiftly intervened, securing the consumer’s release.

His impact extended beyond individual cases. Through his decisive actions, Nigeria witnessed an impressive 80% reduction in harassment and defamatory messages from Digital Money Lenders (DMLs), commonly known as loan apps.

In fact, he had set his sights on implementing a regulatory framework promoting responsible borrowing and lending for both individuals and corporations. However, the plans abruptly halted when he was dismissed

by President Bola Tinubu on Monday, January 8, concluding his five-year tenure at the helm of the commission.

The news sent shockwaves through Nigeria, resonating not only among citizens but also with the FCCPC staff.

The outpouring of praise from those who had witnessed Irukera’s transformative leadership during his tenure underscored the impact he had on the landscape of consumer protection.

In 2017, Irukera was appointed Director General of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) by the federal government. He maintained that position until December 2019 when the CPC transitioned to FCCPC and he was named the CEO and executive vice chairman of the commission.

Under Irukera’s stewardship, the commission underwent a remarkable transformation. Evolving from a mere mention on paper, it emerged as a dynamic regulatory body with a ubiquitous presence across various media platforms, including social media. The website received a much-needed revamp, and a call to action resonated with consumers, encouraging them to voice their concerns.

This shift manifested in a substantial increase in consumer engagement. Where the commission previously received a negligible number of complaints annually, under Irukera’s leadership, about 1,000 complaints flooded in monthly. He noted that this figure represented a month where consumers were, on the whole, content—an indication of the enhanced accessibility and responsiveness brought about during his tenure.

Beyond consumer protection, he was

Irukera

a staunch advocate for fostering fair competition in the market. His focus included the removal of entry barriers for young entrepreneurs, reflecting a commitment to creating an environment where emerging talents could thrive and contribute to a more dynamic marketplace.

“The government needs to remove bottlenecks in terms of distribution and making technology accessible and affordable to SMEs. It also needs to police the market for the people and not against them.”

Irukera’s passion for his role was palpable as we drove to another location in Ikoyi. He revealed that his typical day kicked off at 5 am, consistently arriving at the office before most of his staff. Notably, he is often the last to leave.

“On a good day, I leave the office by 10 pm. But on a very busy day, it can extend to midnight,” he said.

The last days of 2023 were a flurry of activities for him and his team.

Their year-end assessment revealed a substantial Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N56 billion for 2023.

Remarkably, 90 per cent of this revenue stemmed from penalties imposed on non-compliant companies and businesses. The former FCCPC boss however based his scorecard on these KPIs: “My KPI is market impact. How much better are consumers treated now? How much more responsible

are companies now? How many more complaints are we receiving in terms of consumers, are they becoming nondiscriminatory and discerning and more active to complain? How many of these complaints have we resolved?”

Despite the impressive scorecard, Irukera expressed a vision for a future where resolving complaints would not be a key performance indicator. He envisioned the FCCPC evolving into a secondary mechanism for addressing consumer concerns.

“Businesses should be the primary place to resolve consumer complaints.

If people come to me before they go to the company, it’s a systemic failure,” he said.

Navigating the delicate balance of protecting consumers, Irukera found himself often subjected to attacks. He attributed them to a trust deficiency in government as well as sensationalism.

A case in point is that of Erisco Foods where he endured insults and derogatory names from both the company owner and loyal consumers.

Despite the challenges, he accepted that such criticisms were part and parcel of the territory he occupied.

His impact on the commission did not go unnoticed. Last year, Leadership Newspaper named FCCPC the Government Agency of the Year while the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria named it the Regulator of the Year.

Therefore, his departure from

the agency triggered a public outcry, with human rights activist Femi Falana emphasizing that Irukera deserves commendation for his role in transforming the agency.

“You do not dismiss somebody who has not committed an offence or has not been found wanting. This is a man who has done well for the country. He did what no regulatory agency has done for the country,” said Falana.

He further argued that the government’s use of ‘dismissal’ was libellous, and despite the presidency’s correction to term it as a ‘relief of duties,’ debates persist over whether the president can unilaterally remove the FCCPC boss or if Senate approval is required for such action.

Irukera has always lived a life of service to marginalised people. It is ingrained in his nature, reflecting a core aspect of his character dedicated to making a positive impact.

“My personal passion for taking the FCCPC job is to represent vulnerable people. I don’t like exploitation,” he said. “It’s an aggravation when I see it happening to people.”

Starting his career as a lawyer in a merchant bank, Irukera recalled how he felt a sense of envy towards colleagues practising law, despite his own financial comfort.

“Back then, I was not satisfied with my job at the bank. I felt a lawyer in the bank was just a clerk. I should be in the field fighting for the rights of people.”

Irukera spent most of his career representing vulnerable people in significant human rights violation cases.

From his time in the U.S. where he practiced immigration law, to Nigeria where he represented the Nigerian government in the case against the American pharmaceutical company Pfizer.

Following the outbreak of meningitis in Nigeria in 1996, the company allegedly used the epidemic to test a new unapproved drug. About 200 children, who were at least three months old and younger than 18, were selected for the trial.

However, there were concerns about the timing of the clinical trial and how the patients were treated. It wasn’t until 2007 that the country filed a lawsuit against Pfizer. The lawsuit contained 85 charges, including fraud and deceit, fraudulent concealment, and conspiracy to commit an actionable wrong.

His dedication to the case underscored his passion for defending victims of human rights violations.

With FCCPC, Irukera believed that it was his demonstrated interest in protecting the vulnerable in society that fetched him the role.

This act of service also spurred him to enter the race for Kogi governorship in 2019, although he no longer harbours such ambitions.

Public service, he revealed, runs in his family. His father was a public servant while his mother was a schoolteacher. His sisters also have careers in public service.

However, one key figure encouraged him to pursue a life of public service: former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

He described him as a professional and personal mentor.

“It was Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who fundamentally encouraged and nudged me to go into public service.”

Standing well over six feet, Irukera’s towering stature becomes apparent only when you stand in close proximity. His athletic background includes playing basketball in his youth and being a competitive badminton player. Despite not pursuing his love for sports professionally, his enduring athleticism remains a notable aspect of his persona.

As he exited the commission, Irukera took to X to express his profound gratitude to Nigerians.

“Grateful for the opportunity to have served the incredibly vibrant and loyal Nigerian citizens/consumers. They deserve a better deal.

“I leave behind a strong institutional advocate in the FCCPC, and an outstanding team of soldiers who work there daily for the cause of fair markets.”

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HighLife Mele Kyari: A Patriot Full of Guts, Vision at 59

Kyari

Every human being is remembered for the things they said or did in their lifetime. For individuals like Mele Kyari whose lives have been spent in the service of others, the acclaim accompanying their accomplishments will always overshadow others. This is why at 59, Kyari is considered the light of the petroleum sector in Nigeria.

Kyari, the Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), is 59. The birthday celebration of the Borno State native eclipsed that of his predecessors in the oil and gas sector, demonstrating his uniqueness as one of the most accomplished of these corporate ancillaries.

Many dignitaries sent birthday messages to Kyari, both privately and publicly. Among these, President Bola Tinubu celebrated Kyari’s activeness and proactiveness, admitting that his systematic approach to problem-solving renders him an invaluable asset to Nigeria.

These words capture the essence of Kyari’s work at NNPC, although they do little justice to the man’s heartfelt motivation to serve his country and countrymen.

Kyari had the privilege to study Geology and Earth Science from the University of Maiduguri. That knowledge served as the launching pad to get him involved in NNPC, reinforcing his status as a crude oil marketer with the domain grasp of a geologist.

Kyari has served his time in many crude oil-related positions. He used to be the Group General Manager of NNPC’s Crude Oil Marketing Division. Then, in 2018, he took up the position of Nigeria’s National Representative in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

In his current status as NNPC’s number one boss, Kyari has not abandoned his original intentions to be a trustworthy public servant to his people.

At 59, Kyari is doing well for himself. He is crafting himself into an example of public service, unmoved by the blade of greed hanging over the heads of all in wealth-fertile positions.

In a week of thunderous reverberations, President Bola Tinubu showcased his strategic prowess, leaving no stone unturned as he meticulously purged the corridors of power. A maestro of calculated moves, he proved that in his realm, no one is above the law, and the echoes of his decisions reached far and wide.

The crescendo began with the suspension of Halima Shehu, ousted from her role as National Coordinator of NSIPA amid allegations of embezzling a jawdropping N44 billion. The air crackled as he summoned the EFCC to investigate, sending shockwaves through the echelons of power.

The drama did not stop there. Tinubu orchestrated a symphony of justice, demanding answers from the immediate past Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, on allegations of a staggering N37.1 billion laundered during her tenure. No corner of malfeasance remained unexplored as the president pursued accountability without fear or favor.

Enter the current Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu. Like a hawk spotting its prey, Tinubu honed in on a payment of N585 million from ministry funds into a private account and hit her with the suspension hammer. She was ordered to make herself available at the EFCC who, under the new dispensation, have made a habit of unraveling corruption scandals with surgical precision. As you read this, her fate hangs in the balance, a dramatic turn of events that underscored the president’s commitment to ridding the system of corruption, regardless of rank or stature.

But the crescendo reached a thunderous peak when Tinubu, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, dismantled the boards of Union Bank, Keystone Bank, and

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

How President Tinubu Unleashed Tentacles and the Nation Trembled

Tinubu

Polaris Bank. The CBN’s statement, akin to a proclamation of divine justice, cited noncompliance, corporate governance failures, and threats to financial stability as grounds for the sweeping action. As the dust settled, the imagery was clear – Tinubu, a modern-day colossus, reshaping the financial landscape with an unwavering commitment to a robust and sound system.

The week concluded with the comparatively tame removal of Alexander Okoh, director-general of the Bureau of

Public Enterprises and Babatunde Irukera, his counterpart at the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

Both were victims of a restructuring drive, per presidential sources. Though not tied to any corruption scandal or financial misappropriation allegations, the sudden exits of two titans of consumer protectionismstillsentshockwavesthroughoutthepolity.

As Tinubu’s roaring week leaves the nation breathless, the denizens of the corridors of power are on tenterhooks, bracing for the next seismic wave of change.

AFCON Broadcast Rights: Adewunmi Ogunsanya Does His Magic Again

Ogunsanya

In a remarkable display of strategic prowess, Adewunmi Ogunsanya, the visionary Chairman of MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd, has once again steered the ship of DStv and GOtv towards victory

in the unpredictable waters of public sentiment. The recent twist in the AFCON broadcast saga stands as a testament to his ability to sense the pulse of Nigerians and deftly navigate the changing winds of public opinion.

The announcement that MultiChoice initially would not be broadcasting the African Cup of Nations on its SuperSport channels sent shockwaves through the football-loving nation. However, like a seasoned captain adjusting sails in turbulent seas, Ogunsanya swiftly course-corrected.

In a surprising U-turn, DStv, via its official handle, declared that it would indeed be transmitting all 52 AFCON matches on Supersports.

This about-face not only showcases Ogunsanya’s ability to reassess decisions in light of public sentiment but also reaffirms MultiChoice’s commitment to providing unparalleled entertainment and sports coverage to its vast audience. The company’s pledge to ensure football fans across Africa enjoy unrivaled access to prestigious competitions remains unwavering The agility demonstrated by Ogunsanya and the MultiChoice team underscores

why they stand as the dominant player in the Nigerian broadcasting and entertainment space. The never-ending battle for the hearts and minds of football watchers took a compelling turn as the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) announced it would be transmitting all 52 AFCON matches.

The revelation that a formidable player like NTA was entering the fray likely fuelled MultiChoice’s swift response. In a dynamic show of competition, Ogunsanya’s magic worked not only to secure the broadcasting rights but to reaffirm DStv’s standing as the go-to platform for quality content. The galvanising effect of the NTA’s announcement serves as a reminder that, in the realm of football broadcasting, the battle extends beyond the pitch to the living rooms and hearts of avid fans.

As the AFCON tournament kicks off, it’s clear that under Ogunsanya’s leadership, MultiChoice has not only secured the broadcasting rights but also scored a goal in the hearts of Nigerian football enthusiasts. The magic of Adewunmi Ogunsanya once again prevails, reminding everyone why MultiChoice remains a beacon of innovation and responsiveness in the dynamic realm of broadcasting and entertainment.

Things Fall Apart between Aiyedatiwa, SSG, and Other Cabinet Members A nickname is typically earned through past incidents, carrying a unique story or memory. This seemed not to apply to Nigerian states. If it did, Ondo State, being the Sunshine State, would not witness so many schisms between top officials like the governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and his cabinet members.

Things continue to heat up in Ondo, thanks to the many factions that emerged after the untimely passing of the former governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

With Akeredolu’s deputy, Aiyedatiwa, now in control, some of the voices that were subservient during Akeredolu’s time have turned harsh and rasping, causing trouble for the new governor.

Presently, it is reported that even Akeredolu’s

official burial ceremony has turned into a cause for debate and power/authority tussles. This only goes to show the breadth of conflict and fury brimming just under the surface among the state government’s cabinet members.

The main root of the current dissension is allegedly the list of individuals in the burial planning committee. Supposedly, Aiyedatiwa left out certain people who believed themselves to have the right to chair the committee or, at least, be members.

Among these individuals, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Princess Oladunni Odu, is the most prominent.

Based on reports, Odu rushed towards Aiyedatiwa’s office upon learning he had

excluded her from the burial planning committee.

Several influential people had to get involved before calming her.

Although some people consider Odu’s alleged actions to be rooted in her close relationship with the late Akeredolu, others insist that she is trying to protect her interest. She reportedly played a significant role in the impeachment attempt on Aiyedatiwa a few months ago. Odu is also rumoured to be interested in the governorship seat and supposedly unhappy that Aiyedatiwa occupies this position now.

At this rate, peace may be far away from Aiyedatiwa, and the good people of Ondo who are caught in the middle of the power tussle.

Indeed, things are falling apart in the Sunshine State.

Aiyedatiwa

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HIGHLIFE

Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu: Stunning Portrait of Lagos First Lady at 57

Sanwo-Olu

Not all women possess the characteristic of having a motherly heart. Some, recognising the duty of this position, put themselves under serious pressure and take up concerns that others might consider unnecessary. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, First Lady of Lagos State and wife of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is

such a woman. At 57, she ticks all the boxes on compassionate administration.

The dedication of Governor Sanwo-Olu to the people of Lagos is indisputable. Yet, compared to the single-mindedness of Ibijoke, her husband might as well stand behind her.

Many first ladies have learnt to give their all to their people by associating with her, not to mention her devotion to the interests of the common people, earning her nationwide renown.

Her birthday celebration this year was not very different from last year’s, except that there is even greater hope from those who benefitted from her presence. Still radiant, cordial, and affected by the goings-on in the lives of others, Ibijoke captivated the hearts of guests.

One must remember that Lady Ibijoke’s charm does not come from her exercise of power, nor the fact that she is a professional

medical practitioner. Instead, it comes from her involvement in the advocacy for women and children, as well as senior citizens in Lagos.

She has many of such advocacy programmes and initiatives currently in play that cannot be summarised in a few words.

Among these are the Boy Child Initiative for improving the welfare of boys, Community Sensitisation and Empowerment, Lagos Exams Support, Senior Citizens Support, School Infrastructure Project, advocacy against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), and War Against Drug Abuse, to name a few.

Ultimately, Ibijoke deserves 57 loud rounds of cheers for every year she has lived.

Despite the few years spent as Lagos First Lady, she has left strong impressions in the hearts of Lagosians everywhere.

Tale of Spoilt Rice Trails House of Representatives Member If anyone thinks that wonders will ever end, they should visit Nigeria and hang around for a tale from the moonlights of politics. For example, there is the story of how members of a constituency decided to throw the individual representing them at the House of Representatives under a moving train.

Such wondrous stories only come wrapped in swaddling clothes of politics.

In the tale of the House of Representatives member bearing the heat of his constituents’ displeasure, Honourable Prince Jimi Odimayo is the main character. Representing Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constitu ency of Ondo State, Odimayo is currently wearing a helpless expression at the tales being told by his people.

The narrative simply holds that Odimayo distributed spoiled and poisonous bags of rice to his constituents. Following his supposedly reckless action, he is deemed as inconsiderate and insensitive, no more worthy of the

governorship mantle he is seeking than the House of Reps position he is currently holding.

No one knows how it all started, except that some individuals claiming to be from his constituency went online to ‘expose’ Odimayo for distributing spoiled rice to them. According to them, Odimayo’s rice, packaged and delivered in bags branded with his smiling face, contained stones, almost unhealthy for consumption.

In his response, Odimayo asked the public to ignore such complaints which he said had political undertone. He explained that the rice had been vetted before being packaged and distributed to his constituents. But he also expressed his willingness to discuss the matter with stakeholders so as to settle the issue once and for all.

Odimayo’s rice is supposed to be part of the palliative package approved by President Bola Tinubu. It is part of the rumoured N100 million given to House of Representatives members to relieve the economic hardship of their constituents.

The World of Obinna Chidoka at 50

Odimayo

Soludo Renews War with Senator Ifeanyi Ubah

Soludo

Lebanese-American writer, Kahlil Gibran, said that “passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.” This has

been proven time and again in the corridors of power. However, these repetitions are not enough for some people, including Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo. If they had, he wouldn’t take up the proverbial sword against his old rival, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, would he?

Things are starting to heat up in Anambra over the recent actions of the governor, Soludo. According to reports, Soludo recently suspended Igwe Damian Ezeani, the traditional ruler of Neni in Anaocha Local Government Area.

Soludo’s reason for this suspension is that Igwe Ezeani conferred a chieftaincy title on Ubah despite lacking the authority to do so.

Before now, anyone would have assumed that a conferred chieftaincy title was the business of the conferrer and the conferred. But Soludo has educated the public on this, showing that the code of conduct for traditional rulers in Anambra does not permit conferment outside the

domain of the conferrer.

In other words, Igwe Ezeani cannot lawfully confer a chieftaincy title on Ubah without permission from the traditional monarch of Nnewi, where Ubah hails from. But can Nnewi’s traditional monarch permit any such conferment without Soludo’s permission? This question has been tactically ignored.

At this point, it looks like Soludo intends to shake the tables of the state against the senator representing Anambra South senatorial zone. They are old rivals and not unused to each other’s tactics. Yet, it looks like Soludo is set on putting new dry wood on top of a fire that is just about to die out.

Some think that Soludo is within his rights to suspend the traditional monarch of Neni indefinitely. Others think that Soludo is overdoing it just to slight Ubah. Nobody knows what Ubah thinks yet, although, drawing from past incidents, this will change soon.

Lifestyle King, Dino Melaye Celebrates 50th Birthday in Dubai Age can be quickly forgotten in the face of bustle. In the past decade, few individuals have been able to climb past the lifestyle king, Senator Dino Melaye, in terms of constant activity and attention. If he had not celebrated his birthday in Dubai a few days ago with his characteristic lavishness, who would have believed that he is only 50 years old?

Melaye has shown that he is not willing to be thrust out of conversations yet. This time, his reappearance is as legitimate as it can be. Perhaps recognizing that Lagos or Abuja or his eulogised Lokoja would be unable to bear the weight of the celebrations, Melaye got his friends and family to accompany him to Dubai where wine cups clinked and intoxicated pleasantries were exchanged.

According to reports, seasoned presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar,

was among the A-list guests in Dubai to celebrate the Kogi West senator. Seeing how deep their friendship is, it was not all that surprising that Atiku would step out of his Dubai crib to bump fists with Melaye.

At 50, Melaye has done a lot of things.

Considered to be one of the ballsiest individuals to serve as a Nigerian senator, Melaye sits on the fence on everything.

Today the lord of controversies, and tomorrow the baron of graciousness, the man’s tumbling personas have never failed to impress and perplex. Of all that he has presented to the public, which persona is true and accurate? Maybe all of them?

After losing in the 2023 gubernatorial election in Kogi, Melaye was evidently pained, losing his calm many times. But this birthday celebration has shown that those days of dark and dreary clouds are over. The time has come to return to his cheerful and unconcerned self.

Chidoka

Atiku and Dino

For the average person, the starting point is important and holds significance for how far they can go.

But for one as glory-bound as Obinna Chidoka, all that matters is a strong conviction. It is no wonder that at the age of 50 Chidoka is raising waves all over the world with his grasp of legislation and the representation of the common people.

Chidoka, the honourable member of the House of Representatives for Idemili North and Idemili South Federal Constituency of Anambra State, recently turned 50. Having achieved so much during his time in the legislative boardroom, the Obosi indigene continues to stand as a lighthouse for those in the younger generation.

Chidoka came into legislative business at the age of 33. Considered the youngest in that era, he was unashamed and unreserved, sponsoring bills and motions. In the 6th Assembly, especially, which was his first term as a member of the House of Reps, Chidoka’s commitment won him the admiration of all.

Chidoka shined the brightest in the 8th Assembly. First, he was the Chairman of the House Committee on Environment and Habitat. In that capacity, he shook the nation into awareness of environmental conservation and preservation.

He was also a member of the House Committee on Aviation, Constituency Outreach, Industry, Petroleum (Downstream), Youth and Social Development, Culture and Tourism, and Local Content.

To think that Chidoka came so far despite starting with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Lagos and barely into his 30s. Such an impressive gait to greatness is enough to get his name into golden books.

At 50, Chidoka is not done being the quintessential leader of the younger legislative generation. There are more things to conquer, more initiatives to set into motion, and more splendour to uncover for all that follow him.

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Bettagate: I Disagree With Femi Pedro

Pedro

Femi Pedro is someone I love personally and as such, I will tread very carefully in this piece. I read more than seven times the treatise credited to him on “ugly Betty”. I am sure, as he wrote, he too would have been careful picking his words and after, must have called his madam to also go through, then he will now read for another 12 times and then send to his lawyer, friends and also ask his pastor before finally releasing it.

You see the line between friendship and loyalty in things like this can be very hazy. Professor Wole Soyinka is facing the same with Agunloye, his buddy. Agunloye was remanded for his involvement in a huge power scam and the great old Prof has come out to pull in the late Bola Ige in the matter, claiming that Agunloye may not be safe in the

gulag. Prof, no worry, nothing go do am. He is in good hands, don’t worry, God will keep him alive to help us unravel this thing.

So, my dear very handsome Otunba now pens a beautiful letter that is fit for the stage. If this was not a tragedy for our country, I would have asked his permission to produce this his script for a befitting stage performance titled “Ugly Betty.”

But no, this is a serious issue with very serious national ramifications. This person broke so many boxes — as we can see from reports — that her case needs to and must be used as a mirror case to serve as a deterrent for future miscreants.

No sir, we cannot forgive this one. There are so many all

over the place. In fact, like they say, “Nigeria is a crime scene,” so this one that we have “catched”, we must follow it to its logical conclusions.

Sighting her work during campaigns and all of that only just explains the very idiotic sense of entitlement that must have led to all of these.Sir, we will not mentor, condone or forgive this beautiful woman. We will slam her with the books, while protecting her rights to fair hearing, fair representations and all of that, but yes, we must unravel all of these and bring all those who worked with her to book.

Yes, she must be our shining light and an epitome of how not to be a public officer. She has gained immortality and we must revere her for that.

So Otunba, kindly stay clear, “e no concern you.” Thank you.

OLUBUNMI TUNJI-OJO: HOW NOT TO BE A FRIEND When this scandal broke, I wrote a piece on social media and titled it “Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo: And Humpty Dumpty Fell Again.” In the piece, I hammered on loyalty. I talked about the TV interview, where he fought so strenuously and very woefully to remove himself from the mess.

The kernel of my talk was loyalty.

That interview was the lowest any person, talkless of any person of that stature could ever go. He fought so hard to push a narrative of “it’s not me o.”

As I watched, I began to ask myself what kind of a man this is. Is this a man? Is this somebody… Oh my God, this one is worse than Judas Iscariot o. As he waved one paper and shouted, “See the CTC, I have resigned o, I have left since 2019, I am not there o, I don’t know anything about it o, it’s my wife o,” and then he was asked, “are you still a shareholder?” And he said yes. That was it for me.

I just stood up and walked into the

kitchen to look for leftover afang to satiate myself since the Duchess is doing 40 days fasting, and you all know the implications of that on activities in the other room which makes me cranky and irritable.

No be this “puff puff” cheeked Tunji-Ojo own be my problem, but seriously, where do they get these kinds of people and give them public office? You see, we have lost hope in seeking leaders of integrity, that one don die since Awo died. But at least, character should not be a difficult trait in leadership, especially at these times where it is looking like a free for all.

This Tunji-Ojo person didn’t show any character at all in that interview.

There was really no need for it since there was no way he could totally extricate himself from the mess.

Resigning since 2019 and remaining a shareholder doesn’t mean anything.

What he should have been fighting for at that time was to prove if the company performed, based on the contract. But that one will be looking like a camel passing through the

periwinkle in my afang. Instead, “he go hang himself on the throne of – it wasn’t me.”

He is very lucky sef, because if Duchess were that his wife, he would be running around Ajegunle looking for native doctor that would help with the pain on his scrotums from the bad kick he would have gotten. Na wa.

Annette who was off to school and who I am hoping will come back not only with a degree but with an oyibo husband because me I don tire for this third world citizenship.

Anyways, there was Mr. Adeola looking very sprite and handsome in his brown chino pants and sneakers.

I walked up to him and said, “Good evening, sir. I am the Duke of Shomolu and how are you?” He responded and said he remembered me.

Me, the marketer wey no dey miss opportunity, I said, “I am looking for money for “Fajuyi” and he said, “Oya call me,” which I did and he performed.

Well, Mr. Adeola is 70 years old now after pioneering a banking revolution that continues to make us proud.

He and his brother Tayo berthed the monumental GTBank and didn’t stop at that. They worked with the Obasanjo administration to reform the pension industry which is today holding assets with values in the trillions.

These are the kinds of Nigerians that

Tunji-Ojo

Adeola

FOLA ADEOLA: AN ICON OF OUR TIME I have met Mr. Adeola just twice in my life, but his story and reputation stick with me like glue. It was at Chief Emeka Anyaoku’s birthday party at the Metropolitan Club one time like that. My egbon, Shex, was the one who had said, “let me take you to Fola.” We walked the room and ended up at his table and he made the introductions and he smiled at me and shook my hands.

Shex asked him if he could give me his numbers, and he said yes, and I got his number.

The second time was at the international airport. I had gone to see off my beautiful daughter

Akindele

Tiwa Savage

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should continually be celebrated.

Real life icons that must be heralded.

This is why I am wishing him a happy birthday and much more fulfilment in a very colourful life.

Kai, I wish I was friends with the Akwa Ibom Governor so I can ask him to kindly name the new N32billion church after Fola Adeola.

Kai. A ‘TRIBE’ CALLED FUNKE AKINDELE Ok, let’s resume the debate. At the announcement of her political ambitions over Lagos, she was quoted to have said that she had about 20 million followers on social media and that she would push them into the polling units and take over Lagos.

Now at this point, the Governor of Lagos State, her main contender had less than 500,000 and a lot of misguided analysts had started singing the farewell song for Jide.

I remember vividly, asking very succinctly, her strategy to convert these numbers to votes. She answered the question with her very woeful performances on the soap box. Her understanding of the issues was at best pedestrian, her delivery was strained and it was very clear that politics wasn’t for her.

Her 20 million followers just stayed put and waited for her to return back to her natural habitat. She has now done that and with alacrity, destroyed all records in the space.

Her new movie, ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ as at the time of writing this piece, has crossed by very far the N1 billion mark in gate takings. I am hearing that it has even hit the N2 billion mark but cannot verify as I write so — make we stick to the N1 billion mark.

Funke has been able to immortalise a career that sits on “idiocy.” The slapstick routine that has been pushed by such notables like Baba Sala, Baba Suwe, Aluwe and the rest have pushed her to movie heights that we can only just imagine.

It is noteworthy that on the top 10 movie table, she holds top three positions. Funke has found the formula and is milking it to the hilt.

The first authentic movie billionaire?

Well done my sister, well done, you have done noble. Mbok those “witches” that advised you to join politics, I hope you have burnt their bras for they didn’t mean you well at all.

Congrats once again my sister, and also congrats to Nigerians for showing the world that we indeed do have a very huge and deep market, that if well propositioned, can give us the much-needed elixir to renew true hope in our nation. I am happy, very happy sef.

TIWA SAVAGE, DAVIDO: IMMATURITY AT LARGE During the week, super sexy songstress, Tiwa Savage, filed a petition against super successful mega star, Davido. She alleged in the same petition to the police that Davido was after her and should anything untoward happen to her, that he should be held responsible While we were still struggling to grapple with the matter, Tiwa’s ex hubby, one Mr. Balogun jumped into the fray threatening to “deal” with Davido for slighting the mother of his son.

Now social media provides a veritable platform for all sorts of nuisance value and nothing can be this representative of it than this

FEMI OTEDOLA: THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL STRIKES AGAIN You people may not know the meaning of the name I always call gentleman Otedola: Scarlet Pimpernel.

Even me, I don’t know the meaning.

It’s just that anytime I see Mr. Otedola or hear about him, the name comes to my head.

Anyways, that was how Dr. Balogun’s Lagos State Security Trust Fund organised a town hall meeting and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had announced that Mr. Otedola has promised to make his own donation at a later date and that we all should hold our breath.

The bomb came during the week and it was a massive bomb. It was N1 billion for the security of Lagos. This was massive as it took over the airwaves, drowning all other stories.

Mr. Otedola is by far the most strategic philanthropist around. His donations

make maximum impact without the fanfare of the others. He drops some very huge sums periodically without so much noise and you will now be seeing the way the funds will begin to impact the system.

The LSSTF is a joint structure by the Lagos State Government and Corporate Nigeria aimed at supporting security in Lagos. Working very closely with the police, it has been able to very well support and engage it, especially in areas like equipment, welfare and strategy.

Mr. Otedola’s donation, I am very well sure, will go a long way to deepen its engagement with the police and by extension, better secure Lagos. You see why I call him Scarlet Pimpernel, even though “I no know” the meaning.

Thanks.

Otedola

matter. So, someone post a picture of himself and his new wife and newborn babies and the next minute another person comes out to say- ohhh you have abandoned my own daughter with you and the next person says-ohhh I stand by her and you now say – ohh you are stupid for standing by her and the next minute tax payers are drawn into the matter.

Police that are struggling with the increased cases of kidnapping in Lagos and a surging crime rate and still reeling from the slap Seun Kuti gave one of its very

prominent members will now leave all that one to be pursuing Tiwa who next week will be somewhere measuring the size of her bum?

We should begin to see all this noise for what it is – nuisance value and a quest for ratings and “like” as they call it. The police should be too busy to entertain such musings and must call in both parties very quickly and sort them out within five minutes so that they can face more pressing issues.

It is not the Tiwa and Davido problem that should take police time. People that will still, by next

week, be hanging out together and getting drunk together or be doing whatever it is they do that makes them feel high with themselves.

The one that even shocks me the most is that one who was kicked out, is the one now shouting – ohhhhhhh, I will fight you for messing up the mother of my son.

These things just make me laugh.

WHY I WON’T LISTEN TO DOYIN SALAMI The Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce of which I am a major member has asked us to come and pay to listen to Dr. Doyin Salami — the very brilliant economic expert who advised the Buhari administration — speak on the economy.

I don’t know about the rest of you but me, I cannot pay N10,000 to go and listen to a man who advised that kind of government with the disastrous consequences that we are still grappling with.

You guys know me very well, I made my position very very clear on the matter to those concerned. I asked very succinctly if dem no see another person apart from this oga and at this time?

As expected they came back at me o. Ohhh, you cannot throw away 30 years of work that the man has contributed. He was merely an adviser and they didn’t take his advice and as such you cannot blame him o.

My people, it’s this playing to the gallery that is killing us in this country. Even if the NBCC people can’t see it right, even you the Dr, Salami, you cannot say “abeg let me rest this time.”

A government that has redefined profligacy? A government whose report card is smeared with the red of crass failure and you are now being paraded as the economic adviser of that same regime and being asked to come and tell us your outlook.

Mbok, which outlook can I ask that you didn’t see during your time in the sun? Please, hiding under all that, “I was just an adviser” doesn’t hold any water because I didn’t hear you shout at the time that they were not listening, nor did I see you resign in protest as inflation was bursting the roof and Nigerians were losing their jobs in their millions.

Please, you people should leave me because if I come there, the question I will ask you ehnn, you will beat me.

Leave us o, let’s cry our cry.

SUICIDE ON HER MIND Did you see the report of the young banker who took her life in Ikorodu?

She apparently was said to have locked herself in the toilet and drank a pesticide after leaving a suicide note.

I read the note, and in it she apologised to her loved ones and complained seriously about her figures and asked God for forgiveness.

Let me do the one that concerns me.

The figures. As a former banker, I can connect with what must have driven her to suicide - Her figures.

You see as a banker, your figures drive you. It can make or break you and like in this case, can kill you. You are given horrendous targets and hounded with an almost maniacal fervour that some like this girl break.

Others develop serious health complications and other such social dislocations.

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Pastor TB Joshua: What Manner of Man?

Emmanuel-King

Adron Homes Boss, Adetola EmmanuelKing’s Selling Point Adetola Emmanuel-King, the Group Managing Director of one of the leading real estate in Nigeria, Adron Homes, can be described as a phenomenon in the nation’s real estate.

If you have the opportunity to ask anyone who knows a little about real estate and properties, you will most likely be told that the Ogun Stateborn real estate merchant holds aces in the industry.

Very brainy and confident, he is believed to hold the magic wand that turns the sector around. It is, therefore, not surprising that he has risen to an enviable height in the industry. His Adron Homes and Properties is fast becoming the company to beat in the real estate world.

A decade ago, when he came into the sector and thumped his chest to turn it around, many naysayers sneered at him, thinking his entrance would end up fruitless. But like one of his philosophies in life “All things are possible if you believe”, he is not only living up to the philosophy, he has recreated his own story.

Emmanuel-King has set a precedence that would take others in the sector to meet. His ingenuity and innovations have set him far apart from his contemporaries. He has grown to become one of Nigeria’s leading lights in the affordable real estate sector after building over 10,000 units of homes across the country, with several estates littered across the country.

The brand is notable for its unique selling point, which is a flexible payment plan that gives customers the leverage to gradually build a home, most especially lowincome earners.

The property firm has invested in every part of the country with its cheap and affordable homes such as Treasure Park and Gardens, Washington Park and Gardens, Rehoboth Park and Gardens, Imperial Park and Gardens, among several others scattered around the country.

During his lifetime, the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), the Pastor Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, popularly known as TB Joshua, fought many battles. He was called different names, and even rejected by his ‘brethren’ in Christendom.

To them, he was a wolf in sheep’s skin. His miracles, which ultimately dragged many to his church and put Ikotun, Lagos, where his church is located, on the world map, were fake.

Despite Joshua‘s exploit, the Christian bodies in Nigeria — the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) — never accepted him. Joshua was simply an exorcist or a charmer.

Daily, newspaper pages were filled with stories of one attack or another from fellow pastors who never saw anything good in him.

Notably was his clash with the founder of Household of God, Reverend Chris Okotie.

The funky pastor once described Joshua as the vicar of the devil on earth.

Senior men of God like Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of Nigeria (RCCG), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Bishop David Oyedepo and many others refused to acknowledge him as one of them.

As reported then, Adeboye, in 2009, said he would never go to Joshua’s church to minister.

Also, Oritsejafor, the then President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN and Christian Association of Nigeria chairman, said the body would not admit Joshua into its fold because they were not convinced that he was a child of God. Oritsdjafor explained that before Joshua could even qualify to be a PFN member, he

should reveal who tutored him as a pastor in the first place.

In September 2014, the guest house of the church collapsed, killing more than 100 people, most of them foreigners who were in Nigeria to attend his services.

While authorities say the building collapsed because of structural defects, TB Joshua insisted the building was blown up by a small plane that he claimed flew over it shortly before it crashed.

Yet, Joshua rose above all the condemnations and tribulations to become widely known across Africa and Latin America.

His large social media presence with 3,500,000 fans on Facebook and 1,000,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel, Emmanuel TV, was the result of concerted efforts in the face of serious challenges.Joshua was awarded various accolades, notably receiving the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by the Nigerian government in 2008.

As of 2011, according to Forbes, Joshua was Nigeria’s third-richest pastor, although the claim was immediately denied in a statement by the church.

His church, the SCOAN is described as “Nigeria’s biggest tourist attraction” and “the most visited destination by religious tourists in West Africa,” with thousands of foreigners flocking to attend the church’s weekly services.

But while many had hoped that the Ondo State-born pastor who died three years ago would rest peacefully, it seems he is rolling in his grave as many of his alleged atrocities have been unearthed by the BBC Africa in a threepart documentary titled: ‘Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua.’ The documentary exposed the late man of God’s alleged instances of abuse,

Late TB Joshua

harassment, rape, fake and staged miracles.

Since the release of the documentary some described as head-shaking, and has set tongues wagging, his fans and admirers have come to his defence, claiming it was a plot to tarnish his hardearned reputation.

Temitope Adebutu-Obasanjo Pens Tribute to Late Mum “Love is stronger than death even though it can’t stop death from happening, but no matter how hard death tries, it can’t separate people from love. It can’t take away our memories either. In the end, life is stronger than death.”

This quote by an unknown author captures the current mood in the family home of the Adebutus. When Chief Kessington Adebutu, famously called Baba Ijebu, lost his wife, Princess Rosemary Adebutu, three years ago, the entire family was heartbroken.

But the deceased’s only daughter, Temitope Adebutu-Obasanjo, was worse hit. She was distraught and inconsolable. It was the worst moment of her life. She was, however, consoled by the fact that her mother lived a fulfilled life.

She found consolation 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.”

Three years down the lane, AdebutuObasanjo has continually proven how

much she missed her dear mother.

And last Tuesday, the lady who is also a magistrate, showcased her poetic side when she penned an emotional tribute in a newspaper advert for the remembrance of the Ibusa, Delta Stateborn princess.

She wrote: “As we mark the 3rd year of your call to eternal glory today, I continually thank God Almighty for the grace of His Sustenance, Provision, Protection and Guidance towards me and your entire family.

“I can proudly say that your legacy is enriched with each passing day and that you definitely left your footprints in the sands of time, making the World better simply by passing through it.

“I miss you sorely and deeply with each passing day, weeks, months and years but remain comforted that you are in a better place, free from the strife and labour of this earthly terrain, shining down at me and all your loved ones.”

“Princess Rosemary Obiageli Dacosta Adebutu continues to rest in God’s bosom, beloved mother-in-amillion.”

Adebutu-Obasanjo

Former Senate President, Iyorchia Ayu’s Daughter Marries Former Senate President and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, has carved a niche for himself as a political giant since his foray into politics over four decades ago. He has maintained his high-flying political career for years as a senator, and minister under General Sani Abacha and President Olusegun Obasanjo before his unceremonious exit as Chairman of PDP last year.

The Gboko, Benue-born politician and academician held sway as chairman of PDP but was forced to leave after several outcries by the integrity group, led by former Governor of Rivers State and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, over his partisanship during the PDP presidential

primaries, during which he labelled Senator Waziri Aminu Tambuwal the hero of the convention that produced Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential Flag bearers amidst several allegations of financial mismanagement among others.

After the political imbroglio, the third republic senate president recoiled into his shell; keeping away from politics to face other personal stuff.

However, there is good news coming from the household of the political gladiator.

Society Watch gathered that yesterday, Saturday, January 13, the former Minister of Internal Affairs gave out the hand of his daughter Wanger Mbalumun in marriage to her heartthrob Oluwagbotemi Olugbenga.

As gathered by Society Watch, the event that started Tuesday with a traditional wedding, was well attended by the movers and shakers of society.

Ayu

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

14. 1. 2024

For Layiwola, It’s Time to Chart New Courses

On a leave of absence from the University of Lagos, Peju Layiwola’s museum experience takes her to a logical next level at Iowa University, writes Okechukwu Uwaezuoke

I

ndeed, not many among the art cognoscenti may have noticed: Peju Layiwola, one of Nigeria’s frontline female artists and art history professor at the University of Lagos’ Department of Creative $UWV KDV VOLSSHG RͿ WKH EXVWOLQJ ORFDO DUW VFHQH·V UDGDU %XW WKHQ ZKR EHLQJ familiar with her captivatingly lively social media footprint, which could have made it KDUG LI QRW LPSRVVLEOH WR WUDFN KHU VKLIW WR new research interests, would have had the VOLJKWHVW KLQW DERXW KHU SK\VLFDO DEVHQFH" That the artist, who not too long ago headed the Creative Arts Department at the University of Lagos, is now a Mellon Curatorial Fellow at the Stanley Museum of Art at the University of Iowa in the US, ZKHUH VKH ZLOO GR FROODERUDWLYH UHVHDUFK RQ the museum’s African collection, is a logical QH[W VWHS WR KHU OXVWURXV FDUHHU ERWK DV D VWXGLR DQG DV DQ DFDGHPLF DUWLVW 6SHDNLQJ RI WKLV Andrew Mellon Foundation-funded project, it will focus on uncovering the provenance DQG UHODWHG KLVWRULHV RI $IULFDQ REMHFWV IURP contested regions and historical periods. “It LV D GLͿHUHQW VRUW RI ZRUN IURP P\ URXWLQH LQ the last 22 years,” she explains. “Yet it is very PXFK FRQQHFWHG WR WKH ZRUN , KDYH FDUULHG RXW RQ H[SURSULDWHG $IULFDQ REMHFWV WDNHQ during colonial conquests in various parts of Africa, particularly in relation to the Benin Bronzes since 2003.”

5HJDUGLQJ WKH WDVN DW KDQG HYHU\WKLQJ WKXV IDU DSSHDUV WR EH SURFHHGLQJ VPRRWKO\ For example, she characterises the curatorial The mounting of Professor Layiwola's mural project at the University of Lagos XQLW DW WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI ,RZD DV ´RQH ELJ IDPLO\ µ DQG VKH LV WKULOOHG WR EH ZHOFRPHG WKHUH 6KH DOVR ORRNV IRUZDUG WR KHU UHVHDUFK /D\LZROD·V 3K' VXSHUYLVRU DW ,EDGDQ LQWHUHVW LQ WKLV ´FRUGLDO VSDFH µ ZKLFK ERUGHUV WKH ODWH 3URIHVVRU &RUQHOLXV $GHSHJED RQ IDPLOLDULVLQJ KHUVHOI ZLWK WKH EHVW SUDFWLFHV he taught at Iowa University, where in managing colonial loot. She continues, he served as a PhD advisor to Cory ´,W LV FUXFLDO WKDW \RX DUH VXUURXQGHG E\ Gunchlach, who now continues his SHRSOH ZKR YDOXH DQG ZDQW WR EH DURXQG extraordinary legacy. you.” Most Iowans are friendly individuals.

Roy, with a successful university It is common to encounter someone on the FDUHHU DQG FRQWULEXWLRQV WR WKH 6WDQOH\ street who extends a cordial hello.

0XVHXP FROOHFWLRQ UHFHLYHG D QRWDEOH $V IRU WKH WDVN DKHDG PHDQZKLOH HYHU\UHFRPPHQGDWLRQ IURP 6LHEHU ZKR WKLQJ VHHPV VR IDU WR EH JRLQJ VZLPPLQJO\ KDG KLV GHEXW H[KLELWLRQ DW WKH ,RZD ZHOO 6KH IRU LQVWDQFH ZD[HV ÀUHG XS DERXW 0HPRULDO 8QLRQ EXLOGLQJ LQ EHLQJ ZHOO UHFHLYHG DW WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI ,RZD 1R GRXEW /D\LZROD LV WKRURXJKO\ ZKRVH FXUDWRULDO XQLW VKH GHVFULEHV DV ´RQH enjoying her experience at the instituELJ IDPLO\ µ ZKLOH ORRNLQJ IRUZDUG WR KHU WLRQ NQRZQ IRU SLRQHHULQJ WKH ÀUVW research interest in this “cordial space” MFA programme in the US. She is ERUGHULQJ RQ DFTXDLQWLQJ KHUVHOI ZLWK WKH HVSHFLDOO\ GHOLJKWHG WR SDVV E\ FDSWLEHVW SUDFWLFHV LQ KDQGOLQJ FRORQLDO ORRW ´,W LV YDWLQJ DUWZRUNV OLNH 1QHQQD 2NRUH·V LPSRUWDQW WKDW \RX DUH VXUURXQGHG E\ SHRSOH installation, titled “Spirit Dance,” and a ZKR DSSUHFLDWH \RX DQG ZDQW WR EH DURXQG YLEUDQW PXUDO E\ 1LJHULDQ DUWLVW 2GLOH you,” she adds. “Iowans are largely warm 2GLWD DV VKH PDNHV KHU ZD\ WR WKH R΀FH Professor Layiwola beside an installation by SHRSOH ,W LV QRW XQXVXDO WR ÀQG VRPHRQH lift each day, she says.

Nnenna Okore greeting you warmly along the street.”

2I FRXUVH WKLV LVQ·W KHU ÀUVW WLPH 7KH PXVHXP HVWDEOLVKHG LQ QRZ ZRUNLQJ DW D PXVHXP 6KH ZDV QDPHG UHVLGHV LQ D QHZ EXLOGLQJ WKDW RSHQHG LQ a Tyson Scholar at the Crystal Bridges promoting appreciation for the diverse and UHSODFLQJ WKH ROG RQH GHYDVWDWHG E\ 0XVHXP LQ %HQWRQYLOOH $UNDQVDV YLEUDQW $IULFDQ FXOWXUHV ,WV HͿRUWV H[WHQG QRW DQ ,RZD ÁRRG \HDUV HDUOLHU ,W KRXVHV D EDFN LQ 7KDW WXUQHG RXW WR EH RQO\ WR WKH XQLYHUVLW\ FRPPXQLW\ EXW DOVR WR UHPDUNDEOH DQG GLYHUVH FROOHFWLRQ RI $IULFDQ a really great opportunity for her. WKH EURDGHU SXEOLF LQ /DJRV WUXO\ IRVWHULQJ DUW HQFRPSDVVLQJ ZRUNV GDWLQJ EDFN 7KLV ZDV EHFDXVH LW SURYLGHG KHU a deep understanding of the rich cultural WR WKH V 7KH FROOHFWLRQ FRPELQHV FRQwith deep insights into the internal heritage of Africa.

WULEXWLRQV IURP 5R\ 6LHEHU DQG &KULVWRSKHU operations of American institutions, Meanwhile, at the University of Lagos, 5R\ 6LHEHU D GULYLQJ IRUFH LQ LQWURGXFLQJ particularly those related to funding ZKHUH VKH KDV DOUHDG\ ZRUNHG IRU \HDUV African art to the US, initially studied art at and maintenance.

VKH UHPDLQV D PHPEHU RI WKH DFDGHPLF VWDͿ ,RZD 8QLYHUVLW\ EHIRUH VSHFLDOLVLQJ LQ DUW %DFN LQ 1LJHULD VKH LV FXUUHQWO\ HYHQ ZKLOH RQ OHDYH RI DEVHQFH 1RWDEO\ VKH history at Indiana University. In the course VHUYLQJ RQ WKH VXSHUYLVRU\ ERDUG RI KDV EHHQ DZDUGHG WKUHH UHVHDUFK JUDQWV E\ RI KLV FDUHHU KH VXSHUYLVHG VXFK QRWDEOH the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, the university since 2008 to conduct her inDUWLVWV DV &RUQHOLXV $GHSHJED %DEDWXQGH which is located within the Pan-Atlantic novative scholarly and artistic endeavours’. In Lawal, Emmanuel Odita, Dele Jegede, and University in Lagos. This esteemed UHFRJQLWLRQ RI KHU RXWVWDQGLQJ FRQWULEXWLRQV &KULVWRSKHU 5R\ GXULQJ WKHLU 3K' 6SHDNLQJ university museum is dedicated to the she was honoured with the esteemed Faculty RI 5R\ ZKR XVHG WR EH D YHU\ JRRG IULHQG RI VSOHQGLG WDVN RI UDLVLQJ DZDUHQHVV DQG of Arts Distinguished Scholar’s Award in

2007 and also secured a nomination for the renowned Best Lecturer in Creative Arts EDVHG RQ VWXGHQW HYDOXDWLRQV While she was acting head of her departPHQW LQ VKH UHYLHZHG LWV FXUULFXOXP $V VXEVWDQWLYH KHDG RI GHSDUWPHQW WKH GHSDUWPHQW DFKLHYHG UHPDUNDEOH VXFFHVV in securing various grants during her tenure. A major donor was Prince Yemisi Shyllon, Nigeria’s esteemed art collector, ZKR JUDFLRXVO\ GRQDWHG D VLJQLÀFDQW VXP RI PLOOLRQ QDLUD WR IDFLOLWDWH DUW ZRUNVKRSV over a period of three years. Moreover, the GHSDUWPHQW UHFHLYHG VXEVWDQWLDO IXQGLQJ from Ashluxury, a prominent street fashLRQ EUDQG WR EHQHÀW LWV YLVXDO XQLW 7KHQ WKHUH ZDV WKH ,VUDHOL DPEDVVDGRU ZKR DOVR played a pivotal role in promoting friendVKLS WKURXJK DUW E\ LQLWLDWLQJ D FROODERUDWLYH painting project, titled “Art of Friendship,” EHWZHHQ KHU DQG WKH WDOHQWHG ,VUDHOL DUWLVW (OOD 6DGRYVN\ )XUWKHUPRUH WKH H[FLWLQJ DOOLDQFH EHWZHHQ WKH GHSDUWPHQW DQG WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI )LQH $UWV +DPEXUJ EURXJKW forth new dimensions of internationalisaWLRQ ,Q WKH GHSDUWPHQW DOVR KRVWHG WKH LQWHUQDWLRQDO PRGHO 1DRPL &DPSEHOO WKXV IRVWHULQJ YDOXDEOH FRQQHFWLRQV DQG FXOWXUDO H[FKDQJH $GGLWLRQDOO\ D FROODERUDWLRQ ZLWK %UHWW &RRN D VNLOOHG FRPPXQLW\ DUWLVW EDVHG LQ %HUNHOH\ &DOLIRUQLD DV SDUW RI WKH +LODU\ Smartpower grant programme showcased the department’s commitment to engaging ZLWK GLYHUVH DUWLVWLF LQÁXHQFHV IURP WKH 86 DQG EH\RQG %H\RQG DOO WKHVH KHU HQYLDEOH WUDFN UHFRUG HDUQHG WKURXJK KHU H[KLELWLRQV ZLWKLQ DQG outside Nigeria stands her in good stead IRU SURMHFWV OLNH ,RZD 8QLYHUVLW\·V PXVHXP project.

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

56

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 14, 2023

ARTS & REVIEW\\POT POURRI

A Thumbs Up for Oppenheimer Segun Ade-Martins

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Great Expectations as CORA Library & Resource Centre Opens Today in Lagos Yinka Olatunbosun

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57

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 14, 2023

CICERO

Editor: Ejiofor Alike SMS: 08066066268 email:ejiofor.alike@thisdaylive.com

IN THE ARENA

Gombe Gov’s Misguided Ultimatum to Farmers A recent ultimatum given by Governor Muhammadu Yahaya of Gombe State for farmers in the state to harvest their crops before the end of January 2024 to enable herdsmen to graze their cattle on farmlands without inhibition may have explained the impunity and lawlessness of the pastoralists who erroneously believe it is their constitutional right to have equal access to farmlands with farmers and landowners in other parts of the country, Ejiofor Alike reports

A

s part of what he considered as genuine efforts to reduce the perennial clashes between farmers and herders, the Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, recently told farmers in the state to hasten their harvests to enable herders to graze their cattle on farmlands without inhibition.

Before the governor’s order, the state government had issued a directive to farmers to harvest their produce before the end of January 2024 in order to reduce the perennial farmer-herder clashes.

The state government also outlawed the burning of remnants on the farmlands, saying it would serve as food for cattle.

By this directive, there is strong indication that the Gombe State Government controls the use of farmlands and their ownership in the state and not individuals and families, unlike in southern Nigeria where lands are owned and controlled by individuals and families except in special cases where the government acquires land for public use.

It is only a state government that controls the use of farmlands and allocates them to whoever it wants that can give an ultimatum to farmers on when to harvest crops, otherwise farmers in southern states have exclusive rights on the use of their lands that are not acquired by the government.

However, what has become obvious is that herdsmen who overrun farmlands in the southern parts of the country with their cattle and kill farmers who resist their attempts to graze on their crops are emboldened by this kind of ultimatum because they lack the awareness to understand the differences in land ownership between the north and the south.

It is unthinkable for any southern governor or state government to give an ultimatum to farmers in a state on when to harvest their crops because farmlands and crops are treasures that are guarded jealously by their owners.

Goat or pig farmers in the south, who allow their animals to roam freely on people’s farmlands and graze on crops are committing serious offences punishable by law.

The farmers in most states in the south have exclusive rights on the use of their lands and are not under any obligation or compulsion to make their lands available for open grazing even when the lands are fallow.

However, the situation appears to be different in Gombe State where the state government decides when farmers and herders should have access to farmlands.

Speaking recently at Gombe Emir’s Ground, during the flag-off of the second phase of palliatives distribution to 90,000 underprivileged residents, Governor Yahaya urged farmers to keep to the January harvest deadline to forestall farmerherder clashes.

He said: “For those yet to harvest, they should do so urgently before the end of this month, which is the date fixed for us to allow cattle rearers access to the farmlands; by then farmers would finish their harvest and every farm produce would reach its destination.”

Though the state government had earlier restricted migrating herders from coming into the state to forestall herder-farmer clashes, it had also insisted that farmers should harvest their crops at “the appropriate time” and also desist

from burning the remnants on their farmlands after harvest to enable cattle rearers feed their animals.

It is curious that instead of outlawing the primitive open grazing in the 21st Century and adopting ranching as a state policy, Governor Yahaya chose to give farmers and herders equal access to farmlands.

Though it is within the constitutional right of the state government to make legislations on land, given that the Land Use Act vests such powers on state governments, the state government’s directive may have dire consequences in other states.

With the position of the Gombe State Government, the perennial clashes between herders and farmers in the state will not only persist, migrating herders from the state will also lay claim to equal ownership of lands in other states, particularly the middle belt and the southern states, where such equal or joint ownership doesn’t exist.

While the clashes between the herders and the farmers will persist in the state because both parties are not enlightened enough to stick religiously to the state government’s rules, clashes will also persist in other states where the herders will migrate to and lay claim to equal access to

farmlands with the farmers, who constitutionally own the lands.

Apart from the destruction of their crops by the herdsmen, the farmers in the state have been facing increasing cases of theft of farm produce.

While some farmers chose to sleep on their farms to keep vigil, others pay between N30,000 and N50,000 monthly to vigilantes to safeguard their farms.

Investigation by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Billiri, Yamaltu-Deba, Kaltungo, Nafada, Kwami and Akko local government areas (LGAs) of the state had revealed that farmers keep 24hour vigilance over their yet-to-be harvested crops.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Mahid Abubakar, had told NAN that such a complaint had not been received at the command.

Abubakar advised farmers in the state to cultivate the attitude of reporting such cases.

“If we receive such reports, we will know how to provide adequate security.

“What you don’t know you can’t act on; I am just hearing this from you but if we have a formal complaint from the affected farmers, we will take measures,” he reportedly said.

It is obvious that the police are already overwhelmed and overstretched by the herdsmen crisis and do not have sufficient manpower to handle cases of theft of farm produce.

To curb the clashes between the herders and farmers in the state, Governor Yahaya should adopt ranching as a state policy and stop encouraging the primitive system of open grazing, which cannot provide a lasting solution to the clashes.

Governor Yahaya’s misguided ultimatum to the farmers in the state gives the herdsmen migrating to the south the false impression that they have equal rights with farmers over lands and this impression emboldens them to destroy farmlands and kill farmers who resist the invasion of their farms.

The Global Terrorism Index had in 2015 named the herdsmen as the fourth deadliest known terrorist group operating in Nigeria and parts of the Central African Republic (CAR).

Governor Yahaya should encourage ranching in the interest of both the herders and the farmers.

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

Bwala’s Character Deficit Stinks!

Uzodimma

Bwala

Much of the time, Nigeria’s zero ideological politics is discussed almost dismissively as though it is her native character trait, cast in pure concrete.

This rather warped but venal argument is often canvassed in such a manner that it consciously excuses integrity deficit and goes ahead to slap despicable conducts on the wrist.

Unfortunately, the relationship between ideological politics and the individual’s integrity as well as sound values nay upbringing is neither blurry nor requires the help of a hairsplitter to determine.

The name Daniel Bwala should ring a bell, even though it projects more negativities. He was in the ruling APC in the build-up to the 2023 general election before parting ways with the party, because he thought the preference of then candidate Bola

Tinubu for a Muslim-Muslim ticket was against the spirit of the Nigeria of his dream. You’d almost believe his pseudo patriotism.

Bwala didn’t quit peacefully. He left in his trail, damning verdicts – at different times – on the candidate, his chances in the election and what his presidency would look like if elected. He went on to join Tinubu’s archrival, Atiku Abubukar of the PDP, and the fireworks continued, ferociously.

Although the Atiku camp suspected he was not genuine, they accepted him nevertheless.

He daily fired destructive salvos at the Tinubu camp. At the breaking of new day, he treated Nigerians to the disaster that awaited them should Tinubu win the election. He still didn’t stop there.

He sustained his debilitating attacks even after Tinubu’s victory, and tarried till the Supreme Court

pronounced him winner of the election.

But last Wednesday, the story changed, albeit shamefully, when an obviously starving Bwala with decrepit character traits and non-existent integrity, coupled with zero honour, returned to Tinubu, pledged loyalty to his government and hinted of plans to return to the APC he once called names – many of them resentful. What do you expect? For a man with no alternative address, hunger was an everyday guest at his home.

While there’s the need to keep interrogating the basis for the nation’s poor ideological politics in relation to how the individual is built or wired for collective good, it is yet to be seen what values a man, who is propelled by evident hunger and sheer survival, would bring to an already lurching government. Fingers crossed!

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 14, 2023

BRIEFINGNOTES As Betta Edu’s Fate Hangs in the Balance Ejiofor Alike reports that the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu and her investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, despite her influential position in the All Progressives Congress and her closeness to the key actors in the administration of President Bola Tinubu has sent strong signals that there may be no sacred cow in the present administration’s fight against corruption

T

he suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, was not just an ordinary minister but a powerful leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who wielded considerable influence among the key actors in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

As the National Women Leader of the party, the suspended minister was visible in all the presidential campaign rallies of the APC where she played strategic roles.

With her powerful influence among the party leaders, it was not surprising that a last-minute attempt to clip her wings and deny her a prominent position in Tinubu’s administration by APC women leaders failed woefully.

Apparently uncomfortable with her towering influence, which many believed would earn her a strategic position in the then yet-to-be appointed Tinubu’s cabinet, some APC women leaders under the aegis of ‘Elected Female National APC Officers and Zonal Women Leaders’ had in July passed a vote-of-no-confidence on her for allegedly abusing her office.

Their rejection of Edu, who was believed to be a ministerial hopeful, was contained in a petition written to President Tinubu.

The petitioners had accused her of sidelining them and arranging some fake women leaders to meet with the president during a courtesy visit In their petition, they wrote, “Without deviating from the essence of this subject, it is pertinent we express our total displeasure and concern over the misrepresentation and self-aggrandisement of the National Woman Leader, Dr. Beta Edu during her visit to the Presidential Villa on the 13th of July 2023.

“We were totally unaware of her presidential visit and no due information, nor notification were given to us the women she claimed to represent during her visit. It is disheartening that Dr. Beta Edu could label her visit to Mr President to be the representation of national stakeholders and zonal women leaders even without them knowing and not in attendance during the visit.”

The APC women alleged that throughout the electioneering campaign, Edu worked in isolation without synergy with other national women officials of the party and the zonal women leaders.

They also alleged that most women paraded during her July 13 visit to the president were mostly fake leaders.

“We hereby reject the leadership of Dr. Betta Edu and unanimously pass a vote of no confidence on her and whatever she represents.” the petitioners stated.

The petition, signed by nine women leaders from

Edu the six geopolitical zones, was also sent to the then National Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, among others.

The women who signed the petition included APC Deputy National Treasurer, Omorede Osifo; National Ex-Officio (South-west), Olubunmi Oriniowo; National Ex-Officio (North-Central), Oluwatoyin Opawoye; Zonal Women leader (North-central), Princess Zahra Audu; Zonal Women leader (South-west), Mrs Yetunde Adesanya and Zonal Women leader (South-east), Mimi Diyiokeh.

Others were the Zonal Women Leader (North-east), Zainab Alman; Zonal Women leader (South-south), Mrs. Cynthia Princewill; Zonal Women leader (North-west), Hajia Hadiza Shagari.

But despite the credibility of the petitioners, Edu was nominated and confirmed as minister overseeing a supposedly strategic ministry, which many Nigerians believe is a scam created by the immediate past administration.

However, at the moment of her glory in the ministry, Edu ran into trouble while distributing the largesse entrusted in her care without recourse to accountability and due process.

Her journey to suspension began early this month when she instigated the removal of the National Coordinator and Chief Executive of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Mrs. Halima Shehu, by President Tinubu over a multi-billion naira fraud.

Though Edu claimed she was exposing corruption, those who live in a glass house, they say, should not throw stones.

Many were not surprised few days later when a leaked memo written by her, requesting the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, to pay over N585 million for the implementation of grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states, to the personal account of the Project Accountant for Grants to Vulnerable

Groups (GVG), Mrs. Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola, surfaced online.

Reacting to the controversy generated by the leaked memo, the Special Adviser to the minister, Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair, had in a statement, insisted that “Oniyelu Bridget is the Project Accountant for GVG from the Department of Finance and it is legal in civil service for a staff, the project accountant to be paid and use same funds legally and retire same with all receipts and evidence after project or programme is completed.”

While her media handlers and spin doctors were trying to pool the wool over the eyes of Nigerians, claiming that her case was another case of corruption fighting back, the AGF, Madein, in her reaction, exposed all their mischievous claims.

The AGF, not only faulted the suspended minister’s request to her office, clarifying that her office does not make payments for projects and programmes on behalf of MDAs, she also clarified that no bulk payment is supposed to be made to an individual’s account in the name of the project accountant, contrary to Edu’s claim that it was legal for Oniyelu Bridget to be paid the money as the Project Accountant for GVG. Apparently unaware that the AGF had nailed her, Edu, in a statement posted on her Facebook page, insisted that the fraud allegation against her was baseless and an alleged attempt by mischief makers to undermine her ministry’s effort to fight corruption.

In a separate message posted on X, she denied any wrongdoing, saying plans to tarnish her reputation will fail.

A statement issued last Sunday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosing that President Tinubu had ordered a probe into the allegation was seen as an attempt by the Presidency to bury the matter under the carpet in view of the influence she wielded in the ruling party and Tinubu’s administration.

However, the overwhelming evidence against her and public outcry were believed to have prompted President Tinubu to suspend her last Monday.

But President Tinubu, not only suspended her, he also directed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, to investigate all financial transactions involving her ministry.

With the fall of Betta Edu and President Tinubu’s directive to the EFCC, the president has sent strong signals to his close allies that there may be no sacred cow in his administration’s fight against corruption.

However, whether or not the president is genuinely committed to sustaining this effort will be revealed by the events of the next few months. For now Edu is sitting in limbo.

NOTES FOR FILE

What Tunji-Ojo Has Not Told Nigerians

Tunji-Ojo

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi TunjiOjo, has denied involvement in the N438.1 million consultancy contract between his New Planet Project Limited and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

President Bola Tinubu had on Monday suspended the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister, Dr. Betta Edu. He also directed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, to investigate all financial transactions involving the ministry.

Edu came under criticism after a leaked memo on December 20, 2023, revealed that sherequestedtheAccountant-Generalofthe Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer N585million to a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget, who the ministry

claimed currently serves as the Project Accountant, Grants forVulnerable Groups.

It was also alleged that Edu paid N438.1million consultancy contract to New Planet Project Limited linked to Tunji-Ojo. But reacting, Tunji-Ojo while appearing on a television programme, revealed that he founded the company 10 years ago, but resigned from directorship in 2019 when he contested for House of Representatives.

The Interior minister, who described the report as shocking, said he is just a shareholder in the company who is not involved in the day-to-day running of the company.

Tunji-Ojo stated that he resigned as a director of his company in February 2019.

However,hewassilentonhisshareholder

status at the company. A director can be distinct from a shareholder. You don’t have to be a director to be a shareholder of a company and vice versa. So, if Betta Edu’s ministry paid a certain sum into his company’s account, won’t he still be a beneficiary of the profits of the company where he remains a shareholder? Should he not have placed his shares in trust or relinquished them as is expected of public office holders who had business interests before their appointments?

It would be really difficult for him to convince Nigeriansthatitwasnotduetohisinfluencethatthecompany got the contract, given his perceived closeness to the suspended minister and his membership of the federal cabinet. How can he convince the people that the bidding process was transparent? How can he convince Nigerians that as a serving minister he did not influence the award of contracts to a company he founded by the administration he is serving?

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 14, 2023

59

CICERO/ISSUE

Supreme Court Verdict and the Injustice to Plateau PDP Legislators Following the Friday’s judgment of the Supreme Court reaffirming that Election Petitions Tribunals and Court of Appeal have no jurisdiction to entertain pre-election matters, Seriki Adinoyi writes on the need for the judgments that sacked federal and state lawmakers in Plateau State over pre-election issues to be reviewed in the interest of justice

I

t is no longer news that the Supreme Court on Friday overturned the decision of the Court of Appeal which sacked Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State.

Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared the winner of the governorship election that was held on March 18, 2023, after he polled a total of 525,299 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Dr. Nentawe Yilwadta of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who got 481,370 votes.

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Plateau State had also affirmed the election of the governor. But in a curious twist, a panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu, in a unanimous decision in November 2023 ruled that Muftwang was not validly sponsored by the PDP because the party has no structure. The court therefore nullified his election and declared the candidate of the APC, Yilwatda as the governor of the state.

In what seemed like a grand plot by the Court of Appeal to return the state to the APC, the appellate court also nullified the victories of nearly all the candidates of the PDP that were elected into the state and National Assembly on the same ground of alleged invalid nomination, which was obviously a pre-election matter.

Expectedly, the PDP and legal experts had cried foul and described the judgment as a miscarriage of justice, not only on the grounds that the matter was a pre-election matter, which falls outside the jurisdiction of the Election Petition Tribunal but also because the party truly has a valid and solid structure. The PDP went further to argue that by its constitution, candidates are nominated by the National Working Committee (NWC), and not the State Working Committee (SWC), insisting that on that ground, its candidates were validly nominated. It also said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored its congresses and affirmed that they were duly conducted.

The PDP alleged that the Court of Appeal might have been compromised, and warned that such was dangerous for Nigeria’s nascent democracy.

The decision of the Court of Appeal prompted Muftwang to approach the Supreme Court. The apex court did not surprise legal experts when Justice Emmanuel Agim who read the lead judgment, noted that the APC’s contention that the appellant was not qualified to contest the election because of non-compliance with the electoral law was faulty.

Justice Agim said: “We have held in a plethora of cases that the sponsorship of a candidate for election is an internal affair of a political party. The Court of Appeal lacks the jurisdiction to determine the validity of the candidacy of the PDP. Yilwatda of the APC has no right to challenge the emergence of Governor Mutfwang as a ticket-holder of the PDP.” He said that the Court of Appeal had anchored its decision sacking the governor on the alleged failure of the PDP to comply with an order of the Plateau State High Court to conduct fresh congresses before holding primary elections for nomination of its candidates for the 2023 general election. The apex court held that the order of the High Court had nothing to do with the party’s power to conduct primaries for the Plateau PDP as it did to nominate Mutfwang as its candidate for the governorship election.

Justice Agim ruled that despite that, there is evidence showing that the order of the Plateau State High Court was complied with by the party.

“Can the tribunal and the Court of Appeal determine the validity of the nomination of a candidate?” he queried.

Justice Agim declared that, “The order of the High Court of Plateau State had nothing to do with the power of NEC of the PDP; it is a jurisdictional matter.”

He said that for these reasons, “this appeal is allowed.

The judgment of the Court of Appeal is set aside, inclusive of the orders made therein. The judgment of the tribunal is restored. The election of the governor is further restored.”

In his consenting decision, Justice Inyang Okoro who headed the five-member panel, said: “My only worry is that a lot of people have suffered as a result of the Court of Appeal’s decision. It was absolutely wrong.

Governor Mutfwang

Justice Dongban-Mensem

Justice Ariwoola

The appeal is allowed.”

Justice Okoro was apparently referring to the state and federal legislators sacked by the Court of Appeal in a similar miscarriage of justice.

Also consenting, Justice Helen Ogunwunmiju, said: “It was very wrong for the Court of Appeal to go into the issue of party congresses. To make matters worse, the party challenging the issue is another political party.”

She added that the Court of Appeal made a fundamental error by shifting the burden of proof on Governor Mutfwang.

Justice Adamu Jauro also agreed with the judgment.

The apex court’s judgment caused a sporadic excitement in Jos, the state capital, as the entire state marched on the streets of Jos to celebrate the victory of the governor.

The people literally shut down Jos, the state capital as commercial vehicles and motorcycles abandoned their duty posts to join the convoys of PDP supporters in driving around the city in jubilation.

But the big question is: What now happens to other candidates of the PDP who had suffered a miscarriage of justice in the hands of the Court of Appeal, but who do not have the opportunity to take their appeals to the Supreme Court?

The PDP national and state assembly members in the state fall into this category. For instance, Senator Napoleon Bali’s victory was nullified and handed freely to Senator Simon Lalong on a platter of gold; the former Senate Minority Leader, Simon Mwadkon’s victory was annulled and the senatorial zone ordered to go back for another election.

Hon Beni Lar, Musa Bagos, Musa Agah, and many others were also affected by the miscarriage of justice of the Court of Appeal on the ground of invalid nomination Reacting to the victory of the PDP and discussing the way forward, a former governor of the state, Senator Jonah Jang, in a statement signed by his media consultant, Mr. Clinton Garuba, said: “As sad as it is, the damage that has been done to Plateau by the miscarriage of justice at the Court of Appeal is of great proportion because the kind of judgments that were delivered by the court have robbed the people of their rightful representation both at the state and the National Assembly. But all hope is not lost.

“The good people of Plateau State through the government of Plateau State and the PDP have already petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) to review all the judgments involving Plateau State that were delivered by the Court of Appeal which effectively stopped those that have been elected into the national and the state of assemblies from representing their constituencies.

“We thank Plateau people for their vigilance; for trooping out in their hundreds and thousands in condemnation and resistance after the miscarriage of justice by the Court of Appeal. They all came out to lend their voice against the injustice. We salute your resilience.

“With the Supreme Court’s judgment, it has become an abnormality for them to remain as legislators when they could not win elections at the poll; this should not be allowed to stand. The authorities must give back to the people their true representatives and restore their mandate.”

He, however, thanked the justices of the Supreme Court “for upholding the Rule of Law, thereby affirming the long-held belief that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man.

“We thank them for not allowing themselves to be manipulated because we are aware that the same forces of darkness, in their usual manner, had wanted to thwart the mandate of the people, plunge the state into disarray, and set us years backwards.”

Also speaking on the nullified elections of member of the national and state assemblies elected on the platform of the PDP over same issues that were thrown out by the Supreme Court, Governor Mutfwang said: “We have just crossed the bridge and when we settle down to savour this victory, we will know what to do.”

He, however thanked their lordships at the Supreme Court for restoring confidence in the judiciary, and President Bola Tinubu for showing himself as a true democrat and not allowing the political space to become intoxicated.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 14, 2023

INTERNATIONAL

Diplomacy of Funeral Ceremonies: The Historiography of Tributes to Ambassador Omotayo Ogunsulire

“F

uneral Diplomacy à la Nduka Obaigbena: The Challenge of a Citizen Diplomacy-Driven New Nigeria” was the title of this column on 11 September, 2022. In the column, we noted that, in the eyes of the US Legal. com, ‘funeral diplomacy refers to the conference held by world leaders when they assemble together to pay their homage to a deceased international figure’ We also traced its genesis to the Feast of the Dead, which the Algonkians of the Upper Great Lakes of Canada in the 17th Century celebrated.

Without whiff of doubt, every given stratum of society has its own mania of burying its people. States as units of analysis in international relations also have their specific mania of honouring the dead and burying them. In other words, the diplomacy of funeral ceremonies varies according to traditions and individuals. The style of Nduka Obaigbena was grandiose in design, international in scope, and cultural in participation.

Funeral diplomacy is of particular interest as an instrument of analysis in the determination of behavior of political actors in international relations, especially in terms of testimonies often given as primary sources. When different people perceive a dead person the same way, one truth can be easily identified about the deceased. In this regard, the testimonies cannot but go beyond sentimental evaluation. It is particularly from this perspective that the funeral ceremonies of Ambassador Omotayo Ogunsulire, the Bobajiro of Ondo Kingdom, are quite interesting in terms of foreign policy implications and lessons for the future growth and development of Nigeria.

In understanding the personality of Ambassador Ogunsulire, the sermon delivered by the Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Ondo, Anglican Communion, Rt. Reverend Dr. Stephen Adeniran Oni, (PhD), on Friday, 11th January, 2024 at The Cathedral Church of Saint Stephen, OkeAluko, Ondo City, cannot be enough. He underscored the uselessness of vanity upon vanity, the meaninglessness of not being available to assist in Ondo Community development and not quickly accepting Jesus Christ as a permanent source of hope for the better. He extolled the roles of Ambassador Ogunsulire to the delight of the congregation and called on everyone to accept the Lord, Jesus Christ. And true enough, I enjoyed the sermon.

Most interesting were the several issues raised for further academic reflections.

Historiography of the Tributes The tributes were of three categories: those contributed by the family, especially children, uncles, nieces, grandchildren, which are all very-thought provoking; those from ambassadorial colleagues and government, and those of distant observers and well-wishers.

The renditions of Club ’75, currently presided over by Dr. Seyi Roberts were inspiring and encouraging. It was revealed in the church that theAnthem of the Club was composed byAmbassador Ogunsulire. The tributes of the Ondo Boys High School (OBHS), the alma mater of Ambassador Ogunsulire recalled the solidity of education received by Ambassador Ogunsulire during his time. The old and young alumnae and alums of OBHS, led by Mr. Majeed Akinkuolie, and assisted by the executive members of the youths under the headship of the Senior Boy of the school, gave befitting tributes.

However, a quick glimpse at the published tributes in the Order of Funeral Service, clearly shows that the deceased was more than extraordinary. In the eyes of Kolade Ogunsulire, Ambassador Ogunsulire’s son, two words repeatedly used to describe his father were ‘integrity and humility.’ Yinka Ogunsulire, a daughter of the deceased, said her father was ‘a truly remarkable man,’ who ‘loved Eja Agbabu, hotbread rolls, croissants, kippers, Marmite and Horlicks,’ and who also had ‘an incredible memory.’ Ronke Ogunsulire recalled how her father would call and sing Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You” in the family. The distant observation by Daryn is noteworthy: ‘in fact, you were kind and attentive to people of all walks of life, never talked about

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Ogunsulire your achievements and were always willing to eagerly listen to what other people had to say. There is so much we can all learn from your way of being.’

While many tributes noted that the deceased was really a quintessential and an impeccable ambassador, one of his grandchildren, Iyimofe, looked at life after death in the same mania as the wife of Ambassador Ogunsulire, Soba. In the words of Mrs. Soba Ogunsulire, ‘adieu, my beloved husband, until we meet again.

Meet again, we surely will, for I am holding you to your promise to seek me out in the afterlife. I know how tenacious you can be.’

This tribute is very profound in implications.

Belief in meeting again is also belief in life after death. The writings of Lobsang Drapper abound in this case. Second, Mrs. Ogunsulire also strongly believes in the tenacity of her husband and particularly as a person who kept his words. Thirdly and more significantly, she sent a message through her tribute to the deceased not to forget his promise to seek her out in the life beyond.

In other words, if there will be another opportunity for remarriage in the kingdom of God, the Ambassador should look for her old Soba. Marriage on earth and marriage in heaven, Why not?

Iyimofe made her tribute more of an anger and strong belief that the demise of her grandfather will not separate her from the deceased. As she put it, ‘it hurts me you’ve left, and I really wish that you could have been here when I finally make it big in life.

“

What is noteworthy here is that the 14th Emir of Kano, His Highness, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi, CON, noted that his father and Ambassador Ogunsulire received training at Oxford before being attached to the British High Commisions and Embassies before independence. In the eyes of the Emir, ‘Ambassador Ogunsulire was the undisputed Africa expert. He spent the bulk of his career in African countries and was Director Africa Affairs at a time when he crafted a foreign policy in which Africa was the centre-piece.’ Different perceptions of Ambassador Ogunsulire but one common agreement: he is indeed extraordinary. The only surviving disciple of the first generation of diplomatic disciples, Chief Phillip Asiodu, told us about Ambassador Ogunsulire’s private life: he was ‘always a very amiable and fine gentleman. He was very devoted to friends. He was always an excellent company full of wit and good humour…

Adieu great Nigerian, very distinguished diplomat and technocrat and dear friend, Ambassador Omotayo Ogunsulire…’ I hereby join Chief Asiodu in saying adieu and also availing myself of this opportunity to ask the Super Perm Sec to give Nigeria’s diplomatic scholars the benefit of his memoirs

But I know you’ll watch from heaven.’ Again, this tribute is very thought-provoking. Iyimofe knows for sure that better days are still coming, to borrow the words of Jimmy Cliff, that sooner or later she would make it big in life, meaning she would be very successful in life, She wants the deceased to be alive by then to witness. In her thinking, she believes that nothing would prevent her grandfather from still observing from heaven. But who says that Iyimofe is wrong?

At both the diplomatic and governmental levels, the tributes can be more scholarly in analysis. The first tribute was that of General. Dr. Yakubu Gowon, GCFR, alias, ‘Go On With One Nigeria,’ former Head of state and Commander-in-Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria. The tribute was titled, ‘The LateAmbassador Omotayo Ogunsulire: The 11th Apostle Bows Out.’ Three issues were noteworthy in the tribute: the goodness in the diplomatic career of the deceased, the status of Ambassador Ogunsulire as a diplomatic disciple; and General Gowon’s prayers to the people of Nigeria.

As regards the goodness ofAmbassador Ogunsulire’s diplomatic career, General Gowon first said Nigeria was blessed as a nation with the Nigerian citizenship of the deceased. General Gowon put it this way: ‘there is no way one would recall the sterling career of the recently deceasedAmbassador Omotayo Ogunsulire and not admit that Nigeria is truly a blessed nation with some of the most brilliant and proudly patriotic citizens anyone can find in any part of the world.’ This is another way of saying that Ambassador Ogunsulire was one of the most brilliant and proudly patriotic citizens of Nigeria.

Perhaps more touchingly, General Gowon also had it that he had acquaintance with Ambassador Ogunsulire before he became Head of State and that the deceased was ‘among the twelve outstanding and deeply conscientious career diplomats recruited into our nation’s Foreign Service before independence.

They demonstrated exceptional brilliance that justified their being nicknamed the 12 Apostles within the country’s international relations circles.

Eventually when General Gowon became the Head of State in 1966 and he got more opportunities to know better the deceased, ‘the 30-month Civil War made me appreciate him more as he demonstrated exceptional patriotism and loyalty to the cause of the Federal Government. He gave very good reports and his brilliance in projecting Nigeria in Francophone Africa helped my administration to weather the storm,’ General Gowon admitted.

This was a firsthand attestation that can be relied on in foreign policy inquiries.

On the issue of status of Ambassador Ogunsulire as a disciple, General Gowon gave two impressions that may require further inquiry. From the title of his tribute, ‘the lateAmbassador Omotayo Ogunsulire: The ‘11thApostle Bows Out,’ General Gowon said in paragraph 6 of the tribute, that ‘on November 20, 2033,Ambassador Ogunsulire, at age 93, became the 11th “Apostle” to pass on to eternal glory, leaving just one standing, Chief Phillips Asiodu…’

The first meaning is made clear with the point that only one of the 12 Apostles is still living, thus implying that, Ambassador Ogunsulire is the eleventh disciple to die or that ten people had died before him. However, this assumption is challenged by the title of the tribute which says that 11th Apostle bows out.

This sub-title gives the impression of position in the discipleship. Interrogatively put, was Ambassador Ogunsulire in the order of precedence the eleventh in number? In the forthcoming memoirs of the deceased, Ambassador Ogunsulire discussed extensively the making and membership of the Apostles but did not indicate his own position. Probably the sagacious Super Permanent Secretary, Chief PhillipsAsiodu, can still make further pronouncement on this matter before he too bows out at a later date more convenient for Nigeria.

Finally, on Gowon’s prayers, he asked ‘God to grant eternal rest to the soul of Ambassador Omotayo Ogunsulire. May his good works remain evergreen.’ Very good prayer. However The goodness of Ambassador Ogunsulire’s good works remaining evergreen is both largely dependent on the Federal Government, the descendants of the deceased, and on the 44th Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Adesimbo Victor Aderenle Ademefun Kiladejo, the Jilo III. The Federal Government can find a way of immortalizing all the 12 Apostles, living or dead. The children can do the same, by particularly ensuring the completion of the memoirs of their father. The role of the Osemawe cannot also be different, especially that the deceased was also one of his traditional chiefs. The establishment of an Ogunsulire Centre for Cultural Diplomacy in Ondo cannot be out of place.

Historiography and Diplomacy GeneralGowonendedhistributewitharequestthathissympathy be accepted, that is, ‘please accept our condolences.’ The request did not go with the use of ‘please accept the assurances of…’ This means that there is nothing diplomatic about his condolences.

When the assurances of high regards or other sentiments are expressed in notes verbales, the extent of sincerity of purpose cannot be guaranteed because inter-communications between and among diplomatic missions follow a standard format. Thus, the expression of acceptance of condolences by General Gowon is devoid of any insinuations in this case of funeral ceremonies.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANAURY 14, 2024

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PERSPECTIVE

Why Betta Edu May Survive EFCC Probe Tajudeen Suleiman

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f judges were easily swayed the way members of the public are, no one will go to court, and the concept of justice would be markedly different from what it is today.

The public behaves like a mob. It is always ready to bark and bite, to punish and shame elected or public officials for any alleged crime, whether proven or unproven. The public believes any allegation against public officials must be true. You can’t blame the public, especially in Nigeria, for being hostile to public officials. Years of misgovernance have led to deep mistrust of government officials and government activities and programmes.

President Bola Tinubu had last Monday suspended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Betta Edu, following widespread anger over an alleged N585 million scandal This was after a memo surfaced where she directed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer N585 million to a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget, who the ministry claimed currently serves as the Project Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

The Media Assistant to the Minister, Rasheed Olanrewaju, said in a statement that it was legal within the civil service for such payments to be made into private accounts of staff members, especially project account But the public did not buy the alibi and called for her sack. But Tinubu ordered her suspension and asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate all financial transactions involving her ministry.

Coming shortly after the suspension of Halima Shehu as National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme for alleged diversion of N44.8 billion, the Betta Edu action provoked outrage. Everyone, including this writer, wanted her head! Her ministry’s response to the grave allegations was pathetic. The public outrage was grave. Most of the commentaries were uncontrolled.

But in the virulent storm of public anger, I found the reaction of a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro, more circumspect. Pedro, a politician that must be familiar with the slippery terrain of government bureaucracy, expressed pity for Betta Edu and suggested that she is a victim of civil service conspiracy.

Pedro, who revealed that he got close to the suspended minister in 2022 when she was a candidate for the All Progressive Party’s Women Leader, described Betta Edu in superlative terms. He said: “She exuded confidence, was articulate, knew what she wanted, and appeared focused, determined, and ambitious,” he said.

Pedro further described Betta Edu as a “promising bright star” who could have served Nigeria in higher capacities. And that is where Pedro felt pity-that a shining star was about to be dimmed. Pedro felt she was set up, and she fell for it.

“I feel really sorry for her for the mess she finds herself in,’ Pedro stated.

“I hope and pray that at the end of the day, she would have learned a hard lesson on how to conduct herself as a public officer and navigate the banana peels in the corridors of power.”

Betta Edu is no doubt a vibrant and bold young lady and could have

Betta Edu

overreached herself. At 35 and finding herself in such a position of power, she allowed youth and naivety to stand in her way. The response of her ministry to the allegation is evidence that she did not get the right mentorship. Justifying payment of N585 million of public funds into a private account as a legal and common practice in the civil service was disingenuous. It portrays the suspended minister as weither ignorant and fraudulent.

This was probably why Pedro pleaded with youths interested in public service not to be discouraged by Betta Edu’s experience. It must be truly scary, especially for an outsider, to work for change in such a duplicitous environment.

Betta Edu’s critics appeared to ignore her claim that she is a victim of a sponsored attack for exposing an alleged N44.8bn fraud in the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

While it’s quite plausible that she was set up for the fall, the memo she raised for the payment of N585 million into a private account makes her liable.

This is also the position of Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who pointed out in a statement during the week that her memo showed that there was “an attempt to commit a felony,” His argument is that there is no legal justification for the diversion of the said money since the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs had collated the individual bank accounts of all the vulnerable people the money was meant for.

But the pertinent question is: Was the money paid into the designated private

account? Did Betta Edu follow the advice of the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, who suggested the appropriate steps to be taken? Or did Betta Edu go ahead to pay the N585.18 million into a private account?

We don’t have the answers yet.

What we saw was the memo written for the release of the money. The answers would surely be provided by the EFCC by the time the anti-graft agency concludes its investigation.

But it’s a principle of law that an accuse is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Investigations may reveal facts hidden to the public on what actually transpired at Beta Edu’s ministry. That is why Nigerians must wait for the full details of Betta Edu’s alleged malfeasance before condemning her.

The Progressive Governors Forum was spot on when it advised the public to wait until the probe was conclusive. After a meeting of the governors, Chairman of the Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, said Betta Edu is facing an allegation for which she’s not guilty until proven otherwise.

He said: “It is after the investigation is completed and the report made available to

the government, that the government will now take the final decision. So, we should not be in a hurry and don’t allow any sickness like anxiety cirrhosis.”

Betta Edu had nothing in her past to suggest she’s corrupt or has propensity for graft. Besides her ravishing beauty, she’s is cerebral. A medical doctor with a resume that must be the envy of her contemporaries. She was chairman of the Cross River State COVID-19 Task Force, later Commissioner for Health and National Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum. She was the woman leader of the ruling APC until her appointment as minister.

Those who believe she’s a victim of conspiracy, including persons like Pedro, would hope that the EFCC investigation would clear her and restore her integrity. Betta Edu would surely be making the same prayers, no matter how innocent she thinks she is. Investigations, whether judicial or journalistic, are capable of yielding new facts and opening hidden closets.

Betta Edu may be lucky if the clothes in the wardrobe are not dirty and stinking. Those close to her say she’s confident the investigation would clear her of any wrongdoing. If she’s right, then we may see her back at her office.

But if she’s wrong, poets would sing the dirge of a fallen star!

Suleiman is the Managing Editor of The Whistler Newspapers (www. thewhistler.ng)

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANAURY 14, 2024

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with ChidiAmuta e-mail:chidi.amuta@gmail.com

ENGAGEMENTS

The Age of Appearance

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n the new world, we differ decisively from our children. We read and reflect; they see instant images and decide or judge based on appearances and move on. We are coming from the age of ideas nurtured by the culture of print. We are conditioned by a habit of reading, study and reflection before careful and patient judgment. The people of today live in the age of images created and dispersed by the internet.

Their world is an avalanche of images that become an appearance instantly put in every hand all over the world.

Today’s people have no time for lengthy information, prolonged arguments, deep reflections and convoluted abstract speculations. They see the world as a parade of images packaged to wear an appearance that must be grasped at a glance. They have limited attention span. It is not beyond a few words, maybe a paragraph at most. They decide instantly and pronounce judgment in a hurry and move on to the next slide of images and appearances. The trending appearances do not last; they expire quickly only to be replaced by even trendier ones.

Their approval or condemnation is instant and unsparing. You are either a villain or hero, a saint or damned sinner destined for hellish incineration or heavenly bliss and adoration.They click ‘like’ or insert thumbs down emoji or simply press ‘delete’ on their phone and there you go.

In their world, you either trend or vanish from reckoning. If you trend for a good cause in their estimation, you could in one instant graduate from broke and broken to a multi billionaire in just a flash without knowing exactly why fortune smiled at you. In the internet age of appearance, you become rich without knowing exactly why or intending to be so. Forget the excessive sweat and heavy lifting of the old ‘luggage’ economy in which you needed to dig, excavate, place order, clear and forward stuff, sell it to needy people and wait to be paid. This is not the world in which you need to build a factory, produce something , haul it all over the place and wait for returns.

The images that drive the new economy have a light footprint. Images become appearances.

Appearance becomes money delivered by ghosts into your phone by a bank App. If you are the favourite of the people now called the Gen Z or the mob called netizens, you can do no wrong. Do not ask them why. The answer is in the question and vice versa. You do not argue with any type of fanatics especially the ones with no defined faith. They either love or despise on the basis of images and appearances floating on the web. Please show me a 15 year old clutching a hard copy newspaper on the streets these days. I can hardly find any.

But you probably have a multitude of 12 year olds in your neighbourhood clutching multiple cell phones made in ‘China, Vietnam or Alaba!

The age of rigorous reasoning is dead; long live the tribe of viral things.

I have lived mostly a life of reading and writing. Over 45 years clutching a pen or tapping away at a key board. What I write ranges from the esoteric academic to the easy journalistic mass material. It depends on the target audience.

Similarly, my target audience ranges from the cultic professional academic to the street side bantering crowd. In all of it, our relevance as writers depends on those who read us and get influenced by us.

Most of our so -called serious readers have either died or lost interest in the things that bother us. The age of reflection, logic and reason is fast disappearing. We live in the age of snap shots, of fleeting images that hardly endure.

Reality is a set of fleeting images that congeal into appearances. Catch it or it vanishes forever.

Take a closer look and the image you swore was real is merely an appearance constantly altered by technology. Make-up artists, touch- up Apps, filters determine what we eventually see. We no longer know which appearance is real or original or which is fake as in ‘fake news’. Perhaps everything is fake or make belief in the end.

Technology has converted us old school writers into what my friend Ayi Kwei Armah, the Ghanaian writer, calls ‘communicators doomed to silence’!

We write, we scream, we preach. But there is hardly a listener out there. Every week, some readers react to my weekly columns but most end up with the question: “But who is listening?”

People now know that words alone cannot change their sordid reality. Their oppressors, the new

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Tijani African politicians, have developed a thick skin. If you criticize them too much, they hire their own battery of internet hacks to invade the cyber space with their praise songs.

It used to be said that “the pen is mightier than the sword”. On going to meet an outstanding African general who was also the president of his country, he stepped forward and on shaking my hands exclaimed: ”the pen is mightier than the sword!”. I quickly retorted: “Only when the sword is sheathed, sir!” He smiled and offered me a seat in his office. But these days, the pen is dead in every sense. Long live the keyboard.

There is no longer any pen to rival the sword!

What use is a pen or even a sword in the age of wars that will be directed by AI? Artificial Intelligence will write the next scripts. Computer algorithms will target the new enemies, map the battlefield and launch the next attacks.

In Gaza, AI is being applied to identify who is Hamas! Those targeted include children and hospital patients!

Statesmen as war leaders will soon go out of business. Our young tech smart kids will rule the world from the control decks of computers without uttering a word. Already, smart tech savvy American 17-year old kids in the deserts of Nevada are the real commanders of the drone wars against terrorists in the mountains of Afghanistan and the bad precincts of the Middle East.They track the enemy from several thousand miles away and strike them down with unimaginable precision.

These days, no one has time for us old school writers and pundits. Even our immediate families, the ones that should be our captive audience, conveniently -and politely- ignore us. Among my children, only the eldest two find time to read my opinion essays when I draw their attention to them. ‘Thanks Dad, I’ll get back to that later!” Of course, they hardly ever revert. It is either they have no time for us and our lengthy prose or we are actually writing irrelevant rubbish.

The younger the kids are, the more indifferent they tend to be to the things that trouble us.

Our preferred solutions are too complex and convoluted. They want the fastest most straightforward solutions. “Sorry Dad, can you make this a bit simpler?”

The older peopleouttherewhoencounter us for the first time in public - airports, hotel lobbies, restaurants-scream aloud: ‘ Oh!, you in life and blood at last? I have known you by reputation.’ What reputation? A lifetime spent screaming at generations of deaf politicians in words that sound more empty with the passage of time? Anyway, they request to take a selfie with you grinning like a lost raccoon.

You now know that you have become a virtual museum piece, something soon to become mostly of antique value!

The younger children are frightened of reading. They have to be compelled, threatened and cajolled to read even their school texts. When they do, they are in a hurry to get it over with so that they can return to the more urgent world of video games, Instagram, Tik Tok, Snap Chat, Facebook and social media in general.

They are more in tune with the lives and foibles of the global celebrity universe where they feed mostly on images and appearances.

For them, news must not exceed the headline and first sentence or a short paragraph. Relevant information is what can be contained on the screen of their cell phones and absorbed at a glance on the cell phone screen. Anything longer is an infliction, an atrocity that messes with their mental health! Forget lengthy news reports, features, opinion articles, informed logical discourse etc. Forget blockbuster new books. Few will read them. That is why someone said the best place to hide a scandal in Nigeria is inside a book! It may never be found!

Luckily, higher education all over the world is still dependent on books- digital, audio or virtual. Books must be read for

knowledge to be acquired, used or transmitted.

I always tell my college age children: If you want that fancy Ivy League degree, I will pay for it but you have to sit down and read the damned books and write those term papers with titles that are not so savvy or sexy!

Perhaps it is the fear of reading books and the study that goes with reading them that has produced the new epidemic of fake degrees and microwave certificates on sale at Igbosere and Oshodi or next door in Benin and Togo. Just pay and you have graduated!You can rent a chorister’s garment as academic gown and clutch an old newspapers rolled into a scroll as certificate.

Perfect photo opportunity to be posted online: another Nollywood actor honoured with a doctorate degree! Distinguished Senator now a proud honorary doctor of letters and business! This is the age of appearances after all!

The new world has been shaped by technology to zoom in and zoom out of fleeting images and the appearance of things previously imagined: celebrity life style, designer toilet tissue, fast expensive cars, designer fads, terror strikes, all manner of sensational things. Imagine how things like thieving politicians on their way to jail can trend. In a world ruled by images and appearances, the more different and shocking the image, the better. Bisexual and trans sexual extremes, boys in braids, in skirts and bedecked in ear rings, nose rings and pierced everything! Girls sounding like big boys from hormone therapy overdose and sex change procedures executed by quack surgeons in Dubai.

What we are witnessing is the trauma of the shift from print to the visual culture of images.

When the printing press emerged, it replaced the oral story teller with the silence of the book and the printed word. Those who could read in those days were revered as magicians, people with the incredible capacity to glance at printed pages and decipher meaning from there. They were held in awe. In my village, the few men who were literate enough to read letters from relations living far away in the cities were mini deities. How could a mere mortal look at a piece of paper and tell you what your son in far away Lagos wanted done in my bush village?

Now images have replaced the word. The appeal of images is more emotional than rational.

The age of images and appearances converts the citizenry into ‘followers’ and ‘influencers’, into netizens and less of citizens, not leaders or thinkers . The participants and netizens of the internet image age hardly aspire to any depth let alone leadership. They are just a faceless, valueless cheer leading mass, a Greek chorus with neither heart and soul nor tangible presence but difficult to ignore. The Athenian chorus at least felt something, knew something and believed in something. They shouted down bad kings and hailed gladiators. Our new internet mob also fell kings and despots if they ‘appear’ bad for democracy as mob rule. Mr. President, follow your own lane and don’t disturb our peace.

We are busy surfing the web, browsing the world of images and appearances!

The social media age also believes in something. The illusions in the images that rule their world are the realities they swear by. They have now popularized many things including a new ailment called Mental Health.

If you hire a youth or someone who is actually lazy and you insist on normal working hours and rigorous office ethics, they revolt and if you insist on discipline, they accuse you of messing with their Mental Health. They could quit working only to return home to the long suffering parents, to do nothing except feast on yet more images and appearances on the omnipresent screens and monitors around the house. We live in a world where the modern upper middle class living space is a hall of screens and mirrors: cell phone screens which are also cameras in every hand, television screens in every room, computer screens, prying CCTV cameras and monitors everywhere! In these smart homes, we virtually live in George Orwell’s ‘1984’, a world of eternal self inflicted surveillance: ‘Big Brother is Watching You!’ If our present is a world ruled by images and appearance, the future is perhaps a world of universal illusions because these images and appearances are mostly unreal. It is and it is not! Everything looks like everything else.

Everything that appears like something will become nothing eventually.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 14, 2023

SUNDAYSPORTS

63

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Eagles Focused on First Three Points Today, Says Ahmed Musa Duro Ikhazuagbe

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Supreme Court to Appeal Court “My only worry is that a lot of people have suffered as a result of this grossly fraudulent and monumentally pervasive judgments by the Court of Appeal” – Justice Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court lamenting the miscarriage of justice by the Court of Appeal which led to the sack of federal and state legislators in Plateau State.

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SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

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And Four The Audacity of Impunity Other Things…

L

et me guess: because there was a widespread belief that President Bola Tinubu would run a corrupt, laissez-faire administration, some of his appointees decided to hit the ground running by spending public funds with impunity and audacity — and gleefully spitting on due process. There is corruption and there is impunity. And then, there is audacity. From the very beginning, we started hearing salacious stories, or allegations, of bags of dollars being dragged into and out of the offices of powerful government officials; lobbyists and aspiring political appointees spreading goodies around for “facilitation”; and an undisguised sleaze in the 2024 budgetary process at every stage.

In the multitude of alleged infractions, Dr Betta Edu (hereinafter referred to as “Betta” in exercise of my poetic rights) has suddenly jumped to the front of the queue. She has been accused of all sorts within the four months she spent as minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation before her suspension. I am not here to judge her — I should know Betta than declare her guilty when a court of law has not done so — but I do know for sure that many things were wrong with the way she ran her ministry. I do not need to travel far in search of evidence. Some things that have come to light in the last few days are self-evident. In fact, her response to the allegations were self-indicting.

If I want to be kind to her, I would say she was naïve. But from what we know about her person — partly thanks to Tik Tok — naivety should not be the first word that comes to mind. If there is a naivety component, it is insignificant. For someone who was once a commissioner in Cross River state, we cannot successfully argue that she was inexperienced in public service affairs. I have always observed this “in your face” public posturing about her, something like “you can’t touch me” — as you would expect of someone who possesses not just money and power but also a cocksure assurance that she can do anything and get away with it. She clearly did not manage herself well.

To start with, how can a minister initiate and send a memo directly to the accountant general of the federation to make payments? Minister? What does the permanent secretary, the chief accounting officer of the ministry, do for a living? How can a minister ask the accountant general to pay N585 million into the private account of a “project accountant” — regardless of a subsisting circular banning such practices? Most curiously, how come the payment was still made despite the accountant general rejecting the request and declaring it as a violation of the rules? The Nigerian system is broken, we know, but you still want to assume that some things should never happen.

Because Betta was hyperactive and always at the centre of things, we could be tempted to regard everything she did as part of her wiring. But, no, I would not fall for that bait. My sense is that she knew what she was doing. I am inclined to think that she believed she could do and undo because of her powerful connections. She first insisted that due process was followed. While she was trying to pull the wool over our eyes, it emerged that she had also approved flight tickets to Kogi state, where there is no airport. At this stage, Betta’s resistance started getting weaker and weaker. I don’t know what happened next but Tinubu swiftly decided to suspend her, and the EFCC is now on her matter.

There are many things to unpack in the Betta saga.

Some of the issues I have identified so far relate to due process, suspected fraud, potential conflict of interest, and possible corruption. In my own way of thinking, I am seeing beyond Betta. I am seeing a rotten, broken system that enables infractions.

Many of Tinubu’s ministers, I am told, do not give a hoot about due process. They relocated to Abuja with the impunity and audacity from their states.

Some are not on good terms with their permanent secretaries and are sidelining them in running their

Betta Edu ministries. They will soon discover that the federal civil service can be brutal and unforgiving. Betta is the first casualty.

In order to bypass due process and undermine bureaucratic processes, some ministers reportedly go directly to the president to complain about being “held back” by the system. The story they tell Tinubu, according to insiders, is that the perm secs are a clog — rather being than a cog — in the wheel of progress. “Mr President, these permanent secretaries are trying to frustrate your Renewed Hope agenda,” they would whisper to him. Some worried perm secs decided to step back, knowing that the “gra gra” would end in tears sooner or later. Even when we all know that the Nigerian civil service does not cover itself in glory, there is definitely a reason that processes were put in place.

If the processes are cumbersome and tiresome (there is a reason modern-day bureaucracy is globally criticised for “red tapism” — literally the colour of the tapes used to wrap official files and stack them away), the sensible and legitimate thing to do is to seek a reform. There is no doubt that we need to review the decision-making and operational processes of the civil service for greater efficiency. If I were Tinubu, I would seize this opportunity to initiate a reform. Even then, the processes of spending public money should never be left to somebody’s whims. Transparency and accountability are principles that should guide civil servants and political appointees at all times, no matter the reform.

In addition to the issue of due process, that a minister would approve flight tickets from Abuja to Lokoja which does not have an airport also exposes a lot about the civil service. If the monies were disbursed, that would be fraud. I do not for one minute believe that Betta benefited from this, but she signed off on it, so she cannot possibly escape culpability. It is also very common in the civil service for people to claim allowances for non-existence trips and unofficial travels — or prolong out-of-station trips in order to collect bulky duty tour allowances (DTAs). This is a way of “taking care” of the junior officers who do not have access to the billions their bosses toy with.

It is fraud still.

As an aside, I think it is also important to review the measly and unrealistic allowances we give civil servants when they travel out of their primary place of work. How can we pay N20,000 per day for DTA for a trip to Lagos? Can N20,000 get a decent hotel

room, much less cover feeding and local transport?

Giving a government official money that cannot pay for a room even in bug-infested hotels leads to temptation to increase the number of days for official trips or include air tickets and airport taxis to places without airports. It is a realistic need — not essentially to make civil servants happy. I know many honest civil servants who would rather not travel than be put in such positions.

Oh, I almost forgot. Planet Projects Ltd, a company co-founded by Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior and who happens to be Betta’s bosom friend, got a lovely N438 million consultancy contract from the humanitarian ministry. To his credit, he has strenuously maintained that he resigned as a director of the company in 2019 when he was elected into the house of reps. Therefore, he is no longer a director. No law bans a minister from owning shares in a company. His wife, a co-founder, remains a shareholder of Planet Projects. Tunji-Ojo remains a shareholder too. And Betta remains his bosom friend. There is no law banning two ministers from being friends.

But is it right for Betta to award a contract to a company related to her minister friend? Some would say as long as the job is executed, no crime has been committed. That is not my area of interest.

I am more concerned about the position of the rules or regulations. Can a company related to a serving minister get a contract from the federal government, even if it is a different ministry, department or agency? In 2012, Prof Barth Nnaji was forced to resign as minister of power because a company linked to him was cleared to participate in the privatisation of government-owned power generation and distribution entities despite having put his shares in his wife’s trust. I was sorry to see him go.

Now, these are real-life, not hypothetical, issues.

This is not a Betta matter. Should the company founded by a political office holder fold up or cease to do business because he or she has accepted a public position? I would say no. The typical practice is to put the company in a blind trust, meaning the public officer does not know anything whatsoever about how the company is run — including how it sources business. In Nigeria, though, blind trust is a joke. I would, thus, suggest that we create certain conditions to ensure more transparency.

In addition to the beneficial ownership register, certain disclosures on interested parties — including politically exposed ones — should be public.

I, for one, would suggest that a company related to a federal government appointee should not get federal jobs for the duration of their stay in office.

If the company was already doing business with government before the appointment, it would now be left for full disclosure to be made to the public.

Of course, I am not that daft: I know that all these things are excellent only on paper. Nigerians know how to subvert a system any day, anytime, anywhere.

No matter how water-tight the rules are, we will always creatively undermine them. But this is my point: let the rules be clear so that nobody will say they didn’t know when they have to face the music. There is no perfect crime.

While it is good to review laws and rules, the real challenge is consistent enforcement. Consequence management will be key to containing both the impunity and the audacity. We can batter Betta all we want — but what we really need is a fundamental re-engineering of the way we run government business. Tinubu has a golden opportunity to tear up the popular script about him and change the narrative. Will there be a Betta opportunity for him? This is also an opportunity for Tinubu to swiftly rid his cabinet of dead-wood. All presidents are presented with this window of opportunity, but how many strike while the iron is hot? You do not get a second opportunity to make a first impression.

FLY, EAGLES I was lamenting in a sports WhatsApp group last week that why would I have to watch the Super Eagles on grainy pictures on NTA at a time we are about to win our fourth Afcon?

My friends came after me, asking me to perish the thought that Nigeria could win it. Actually, all indications are that we are not in good shape going into Afcon. There are genuine worries about the known weaknesses in the team, the coaching crew and, crucially, the administrators. I always have an explanation — that Nigeria wins things in spite of, not because of, the administrators. Never mind. I still wish the Super Eagles a successful outing in Cote d’Ivoire. Nigerians badly need something to cheer them up. Goal.

LAW AND ORDER The army has arrested the soldier seen in a viral video criticising Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, according to Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, chief of army staff. The soldier was defending his colleague who was arrested for biking against traffic on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. It is good that the army has reacted this way so that the impression is not created that it condones the indiscipline of driving against one way as well as the insolence of insulting the governor for acting within his powers. However, the bigger issue remains how to re-orientate the security agencies on the need to respect the rules and the laws of the land. This re-orientation should be a priority, in my view. Essential.

RIP ISA GUSAU Sometime last year, Mallam Isa Gusau, media adviser to Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state, told me he had been ill for a while and had even done a surgery in India in December 2022. I was shocked. We had maintained constant communication and there was no sign at all that he was down, or that he had been sending me messages from his sick bed. I saluted him for his steadfastness and ruggedness. Sadly, I woke up on Friday to learn that he died on Thursday. He had gone back to India for further treatment and still kept working from his deathbed. His last message to me was on Christmas Day. Well, Isa has gone ahead of the rest of us. May God comfort his loved ones. Painful.

NO COMMENT I thought the viral catchphrase, “No gree for anybody”, was fun. The original idea, if I’m not mistaken, is for you to stand your ground or not give up until you achieve your goal. It is now feared the slogan may get out of hand, with people being told not to “gree for anybody” even when they are in the wrong. That was how the police got involved, warning that it is capable of plunging Nigeria into a crisis of “monumental proportions”. But while we were still arguing if they were being too dramatic, the defence headquarters adopted the slogan, saying: “Make Nigerians no gree for terrorists this year.

You see something, you say something and we assure them of doing something.” Sorted.

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