SUNDAY 31TH JANUARY 2021

N'Assembly Moves to Alter Electoral Timetable in New Amendment INEC may announce dates, calls for nominations in Feb 2022 Electronic transmission of results on the cards as legislature drops proposed child-wives’ voting rights

Chuks Okocha in Abuja The National Assembly has moved to alter the current timing and schedules for

the conduct of primaries by political parties in the on-going constitution amendment process. If carried through, parties may be required to

submit the names of their candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) one year before a general election, THISDAY

has learnt.

Accordingly, all registered political parties may have to submit names of their candidates for the 2023 general

election between February and March next year.

The proposed model is patterned after the Ghanaian electoral system to ensure that

all pre-election litigations are concluded before the elections in 2023 and the subsequent Continued on page 8

How White & Case Advised TNOG Oil on Acquisition of OML 17… Page 5 Sunday 31 January, 2021 Vol 25. No 9429

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Bandits Abduct 26 in Kaduna as 246 Suspected Terrorists Surrender in Borno John Shiklam in Kaduna and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri Gunmen yesterday abducted about 26 people along the Kaduna-Kachia road and Kugo village, in Chikun Local

Government Area of Kaduna State. While 21 of the victims were, reportedly, kidnaped along the Kaduna-Kachia road, five women were abducted at Kugo village, near Godani Railway Station, Chikun Local Government Area, on their

way to the farm. Both incidents occurred Friday.

However, in Borno State, about 246 suspected Boko Haram members, reportedly, laid down their arms and surrendered as part of the current efforts at ceasefire.

The counsellor representing Zonkwa ward in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of the state, Luka Bako, was among those abducted along the Kaduna-Kachia road, but he miraculously escaped.

Speaking in a telephone

interview with THISDAY, Saturday, Bako said he was travelling from Zonkwa to Kaduna in a Sharon commercial bus when the bandits struck. He said the incident occurred on Friday around 5pm after Doka village,

Kajuru Local Government Area.

According to him, “We were travelling in a Sharon commercial bus from Zonkwa to Kaduna. We were eight in Continued on page 5

Stop Harassing My Govt, Buhari Urges Nigerian Elites Says critics are not interested in competence, flags off APC membership revalidation exercise Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Nigerian elite to stop harassing his government with their unfounded criticisms, noting that their ratings have never been competence-based.

Buhari spoke yesterday in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State, while hosting the APC governors after revalidating his party membership.

The president, who accused the Nigerian elite of constantly harassing his government since assuming office five and a half years ago, however, said his

administration's books would always be open for public scrutiny, as the government has nothing to hide.

He regretted that despite glaring successes recorded by his administration in the face of dwindling revenues, the Nigerian elite still saw nothing good in the government.

“Nigerian elites are not interested in rating the competence, but they are interested in harassing us, despite all the efforts we are making," he said.

He pleaded with the elite Continued on page 9

Hadiza Bala-Usman Begins Second Term as MD of NPA... Page 24

FLAGGING OFF APC MEMBERSHIP REVALIDATION EXERCISE...

President Buhari revalidating his membership status of the All Progressives Congress in Daura, Katsina State...yesterday

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How White & Case Advised TNOG Oil on Acquisition of OML 17 UK law firm names Nigerian, Deji Adegoke partner

Obinna Chima Global law firm, White & Case LLP, has disclosed that it advised Trans Niger Oil and Gas Limited (TNOG), a related company of Heirs Holdings Oil & Gas Limited and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp), on the highly innovative acquisition financing of a 45 per cent participating interest in OML 17 and related assets from the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, Total E&P Nigeria Limited and ENI. TNOG Oil and Gas Limited, now has sole operatorship of the asset.

This is just as White & Case has announced the promotion of Deji Adegoke, one of its officials, who played a key role in the transaction to the position of a Partner in its Global Project Development and Finance Practice.

Based in London, Adegoke acts for lenders, sponsors and borrowers in project finance transactions, reserve-based lending, corporate acquisition financing across the oil and gas, mining, infrastructure and telecommunication sectors.

Adegoke has also confirmed the development in a telephone chat with THISDAY yesterday.

“My law firm advised TNOG in connection with the raising of the financing for the acquisition of the 45 per cent interest in OML 17. We assisted TNOG in negotiating with the lenders and we advised them from start to finish.

“The team at TNOG was really excellent and the team was led by Sam Nwanze and the transaction really showed what Nigerian indigenous companies can achieve and we are really confident that TNOG is going to be a fantastic integrated energy company,” he said.

According to him, the successful execution of the deal also contributed to his recent promotion, saying his firm was dedicated to Nigeria.

“We have worked for many

years advising oil and gas companies in Nigeria, the NNPC, and others. So, we have a long history in Nigeria and I guess my promotion was also a sign of the commitment that the firm has for Nigeria and Africa generally. The transaction shows the potential of the African market.

"This financing structure will set a new benchmark for future emerging markets financings – the combination of a convertible facility has no precedent in the African market. Borrowers will continue to look to use these forms of credit diverse financing structures in order to attract as broad a lending group as possible.

Adegoke These structures are sector agnostic and can be applied to infrastructure projects just as easily as oil & gas,” Adegoke added.

A statement from the firm quoted White & Case Partner, Jason Kerr, who led the firm's deal team to have said, "The assets are strategically important for these sponsors in achieving their objective of being a key integrated energy provider in the Nigerian market.

"Our cross-practice team on this unique transaction showcased the experience we have in Nigeria and the capabilities our clients rely on for complex first-of-kind financings in the oil & gas sector and emerging markets."

Furthermore, it stated that the acquisition by the sponsors of the strategic onshore assets was a continuance of the

international oil companies’ (IOCs) divestment process that had been taking place, particularly in Nigeria, over the past few years, adding that it illustrates the confidence Nigerian investors and international financiers have in the market.

“The highly innovative financing is supported by a broad lending group of international and regional commercial banks, strategic industry investors, investment funds and international financial institutions and illustrates the broad appeal of the assets and the financing structure put forward by the sponsors.

“The total financing is in excess of $1 billion and the

borrowers have the ability to increase the commitments across the entire capital structure from time to time, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions,” the statement added.

Members of the White & Case team, which advised on the transaction included Kerr, Adegoke, Ben Wilkinson, Mukund Dhar, Ingrid York, Richard Pogrel and Kamran Ahmad (all London), counsel Tallat Hussain and Catherine Andrews (both London) and Nathaniel Crowley (Hong Kong), and associates Hashim Eltumi, Ana Louise O'Sullivan, Phillan Amin, Lauren Vallender, Amy Watts and Bruna Beloso (all London).

MARITAL BLISS...

L-R: Aide-de-Camp to the Bayelsa State Governor, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Michael Zuokumor; his bride, Sophia; Governor Douye Diri and his wife, Dr. Gloria, at the couple's marriage solemnisation at the King of Glory Chapel, Government House, Yenagoa...yesterday

BANDITS ABDUCT 26 IN KADUNA AS 246 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS SURRENDER IN BORNO the bus. As we approached the mango plantation after Doka, we saw two people in military camouflage carrying AK47 riffles standing on the road.

“Initially, we thought they were soldiers, but when we got closer we realised that their dressing was not complete. But it was too late for us to turn back.

“They stopped us and asked us where we were coming from and where we were going. They asked the driver to open the booth of the vehicle. As the driver went to open the booth, they ordered the eight of us in the bus to come down. Four other vehicles carrying passengers were also stopped. They ordered everybody into the bush. As we entered the bush, other bandits came out from their hideouts to guide us into the bush.

“A driver that carried passengers from Jos and i miraculously escaped.”

Bako said based on his

calculation, 21 people might have been abducted.

“I am not certain,” he stated. “They could be more or less. But based on my calculation, 21 people were abducted.” He said he had since reported the incident to the Kajuru Divisional Police Station.

At Kugo village, five women were also abducted on their way to the farm on Friday. A resident of the village said by telephone that the women were going to harvest yam.

When contacted, spokesman of the Kaduna State police command, Mohammed Jalige, said he was not aware of the incident along the Kaduna-Kachia road, but promised to do his findings and get back.

At the time of filing this report, he was yet to respond..

Meanwhile, security agencies have captured three suspected bandits and rescued two kidnap victims. This was disclosed in a statement by

the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan yesterday.

According to the statement, “Troops under the auspices of Operation Thunder Strike rescued two kidnapped women, close to Gadanin Gwari, Gwagwada District of Chikun Local Government Area.”

Aruwan said operational feedback to the state government indicated “the women were suddenly abducted as they made their way to their farm.”

He said, “The troops on patrol tracked down the criminals and engaged them in a firefight, forcing them to abandon their captives and run for their lives. After securing the women, the troops pursued the bandits, destroying many bandit camps along the way.”

The statement said the bandits were eventually trapped in Gajina settlement in Chikun Local Government Area, adding that three

suspected “kidnappers were apprehended and are now in custody, while the rescued women have returned to their homes.”

The statement also explained that police personnel rescued two persons, who were abducted at Kurmin Idon axis along KadunaKachia Road in Kajuru Local Government Area.

The commissioner said, “Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed his satisfaction with the reports, and commended the troops and personnel for their pro-active efforts in rescuing the victims and arresting the three bandits.

“He tasked them to ensure detailed investigations, and prosecution of the arrested culprits. Vigorous patrols will continue in the general area.”

In Borno, one of the leaders of the Civilian JTF, a security support group, Baba Shehu Abdul-Gani, who spoke to THISDAY, confirmed that the 246 militants surrendered at different towns in the state.

He said they surrendered to both the Army and members of his group.

“Two days ago, 100 members of Boko Haram surrendered in Bama, another 100 in Gwoza and 46 in Ngala” Abdul-Gani said, noting that all the 246 have been handed to the Army.

On the Chibok girls, who were said to have escaped from captivity after they were kidnapped, Abdul-Gani said he did not have any information to that effect.

General Officer Commanding, 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Brig. Gen. Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim, said some insurgents and their wives had equally surrendered to them.

He said, “As GOC of 7 Division, I have no information of any escaped Chibok girls and I should know if any. But we are still pressing on, they will come out. However, some Boko haram criminals and

their wives are surrendering.

Some of the criminals and their families came out from Bank junction general area and are being investigated.”

When contacted about the case of the reported fresh escape at Chibok, the spokesman of Borno State Governor (Prof. Babagana Zulum, said there was “no official information yet from our end.” He noted, “The military normally handles Chibok girls issue.

They present them to the presidency.”

When THISDAY further contacted the spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Col. Sagir Musa, said it was directed to the Defence Headquarters, because issues like that were handled by Defence, not the military.

A message sent to the spokesman of the Defence Headquarters, Maj. Gen. John Enenche asking about the escape of the Chibok girls was not replied to at the time of filing this report.

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NEWS

Lukman: Why FG May Continue to Suffer Unfair Accusations Advises APC leaders against lethargic attitude to restructuring

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government might continue to suffer unfair accusations of ethnicity based on wrong perceptions if it failed to begin the process of strengthening governance institutions as suggested in the recommendations of the party’s committee on true federalism.

The Director General of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman, who made this proposal, warned that the government would continue to subject its leaders to such ridicules, failing to do the needful.

According to him, the APC leaders needed to overcome their current lethargic disposition to initiatives for true federalism or restructuring of the country.

In a statement issued Saturday and titled: 'Nigeria’s Volatile Politics and the APC Report on True Federalism', Lukman said if care was not taken, no matter the achievement of APC leaders, public recognition of the tenure of the leaders might be dictated by perceptive judgments of poor performance based largely on bad management of ethnic relations.

The APC chieftain stressed that the inability to address issues of ethnic tension in the country has continued to inflame all manner of political crises.

He said this was coupled with widespread systematic weakening of governance institutions in the country especially, on matters of guaranteeing the security of lives and property of Nigerians, issues of role of political leaders in addressing the challenge became a major political issue.

The DG emphasised that the problem of insurgency in the North East and the spate of suicide bombings by Boko Haram terrorists between 2010 and 2015 compounded the task of managing ethnic relations,

thereby creating serious security challenge in the country.

He explained that before 2015, the Boko Haram insurgents were controlling most parts of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States, adding that weak response and excessive politicisation of national security challenges under the Jonathan administration, including the false accusation that opposition politicians were sponsoring Boko Haram, lower the approval rating of the Jonathan administration in the country, which significantly contributed to its defeat in 2015.

He therefore reiterated that recommended governance

reform initiatives contained in the report of the APC Committee on true federalism present a big window of opportunity for the nation and APC leaders in particular to develop the capacity to manage the country's volatile politics laden with ethnic and religious influences.

He said to be able to manage the country's volatile politics there was a need to strengthen its governance institutions.

His words: "Inability to proceed to initiate processes of strengthening governance institutions in the country as contained in the recommendations of

APC Committee on True Federalism will continue to subject our leaders to often unfair accusations of ethnicity based on wrong perceptions.

"And if care is not taken, no matter the achievement of our leaders, public recognition of the tenure of our leaders may be dictated by perceptive judgments of poor performance based largely on bad management of ethnic relations.

"Therefore, all APC leaders have a responsibility now to protect the achievements of APC leaders and governments especially, the federal government and President

Buhari. APC leaders need to overcome the current lethargic attitude against initiatives for true federalism or restructuring.

"Although, no matter what any political leader is able to concede, there will always be the strong presence of political demands by ethnic groups, it is important to appeal to our leaders to consider the bigger picture, which is about responding to national challenges and strengthening the capacity of governance institutions in the country to serve Nigerians."

Lukman further expressed optimism that the recommendations

contained in the report of the APC committee on true federalism have the potentials to strengthen the capacity of government institutions at all levels to respond to most of our security challenges, for instance.

He stressed that most of the recommendations would elicit wide range of disagreements from many groups and interests across the country, while a debate to consider them would raise hopes and almost everyone would most likely find something appealing as much as there would be cases of strong objections to some of the recommendations.

DULY COMPLIANT...

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (right), being applauded by Minister of State in the Ministry, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu (middle) as he receives the Certificate of Compliance for the Highway Development Management Initiative (HDMI) from the Ag. Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr. Michael Ohiani (left), at the ministry's headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja...Friday

N'ASSEMBLY MOVES TO ALTER ELECTORAL TIMETABLE IN NEW AMENDMENT ones.

The National Assembly is also mulling the option of electronic transfer of results, but it has dropped the proposal to grant child wives, who are not up 18 years, the right to vote, as was suggested by some members.

INEC had complained at different times about the burden pre-electoral litigations placed on it in election management.

A source said the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Reforms cited the Bill to Repeal the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and Enact the Electoral Act, 2021.

The source said, “Under section 178(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 25(7) and (8) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), election into the office of a state governor shall hold not earlier than 150 days and

not later than 30 days before the election. This shall be amended to reflect the new dates of 360 days thereof.”

The source said with the amendments of the relevant sections of the Electoral Act, it follows that the 1999 Constitution currently under review would be amended to reflect the new changes.

The source stated, "If the Electoral Act of 2010 is amended, it equally follows that the 1999 Constitution shall be amended as well, as the Electoral Act shall remain inconsequential and irrelevant until there is a constitution amendment to that effect.”

A former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, while confirming these developments said, "Timelines for the conduct of the presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and State Houses of Assembly elections will

change in favour of early primaries if the proposals by the Joint Technical Committee on the Electoral Act and the Joint National Assembly Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly and signed into law by the President."

A former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, while confirming these developments said, "Timelines for the conduct of the presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and State Houses of Assembly elections will change in favour of early primaries if the proposals by the Joint Technical Committee on the Electoral Act and the Joint National Assembly Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are passed by the two chambers of the National

Assembly and signed into law by the President."

According to him, the essence was to allow INEC ample time to prepare for elections and for Nigerians to sufficiently know and interrogate the candidates.

He said this was an improvement on other timelines for electoral processes, which the National Assembly had experimented with in previous amendments and found them very helpful in improving the electoral system.

“Our Electoral Act has been a work-in-progress. In 2008, we started the process that would give Nigerians the best possible electoral process.

That gave birth to the 2010 Electoral Act, which has been in operation since then.

"Now, we intend to improve further on our Electoral Act in a number of areas. One of the major problems we have with our Electoral Act is the

issue of timing and time lines.

“We have tried to deal with those issues in terms of the time frame within which to file and conclude pre-election cases and election petitions.

“We have tried to deal with how the election petitions will be concluded within sufficient time and then the highest courts to deal with different matters probably arising from National or State Assembly elections, which must end at the Court of Appeal and the presidential and governorship litigations, which must end at the supreme court “Now, we are looking at some other timelines. We discovered that one of the major problems INEC faces is the issue of time within which to conduct a very credible election, because under the current Electoral Act, the parties are required to send the name of their candidates within 60 days, which is just two months to the elections.

This puts INEC under severe pressure and most times, you see a mix up. You see materials meant for Sokoto sent to Rivers State and vice versa.

“In doing this, we are going for the best examples and we believe this will work for us.

In Ghana, for instance, the primaries for candidates take place between a year and a year and six months.

The party in power usually conducts its primaries a year to the presidential election.

“The party out of power conducts their primary a year and six months before the election. This gives the election management body sufficient time to process the candidates, prepare the materials, and then get ready for the elections. And if there are pre-election issues, they are determined before the election. But it is not so in Nigeria,” he explained.

Continued on page 9

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Buhari Appoints New ADC as Abubakar Proceeds on Promotion Course

Deji Elumoye

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed a new Aide-DeCamp in the person of Lt. Col. YM Dodo, a development, which emerged Saturday.

With this, however, Buhari made a significant change in his personal security architecture.

His appointment, it gathered, followed the exit of the former ADC, Col. ML Abubakar, who has gone for a promotion course.

A source that revealed this insisted that contrary to insinuations, Abubakar was not sacked but exited the position to attend the course that is required for him to go to his next rank of a one-star

general.

Abubakar has held one of the most difficult but influential positions in the country as the closest aide to the president since May 2015, when he was appointed.

As the Commander-in-Chief’s top personal security aide, it was his primary duty to ensure the personal protection of the president at all times. Indeed, he was expected to give his life where necessary for the protection of the president being the country’s number one citizen.

As such, he at all times kept vigil over the president and was about the first and last person to go to bed and rise from bed.

He maintained a presence around the president to the extent of standing at his back ensuring that the president has his back covered in any eventuality.

In that position, he also carried out personal duties of the president including holding his mobile phones, carrying notes and other personal effects and medicines that the president might require from time to time.

The new ADC, it was gathered, was the Academy Adjutant at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna State.

The course Abubakar is attending in Santiago Chile is a prerequisite for his next promotion to the rank of

Brigadier-General in the last quarter of 2021 and posting outside the shores of the country as a Defence Attache/Adviser in keeping with the customs and tradition of recognising Officers that served as AideDe- Camp to the President and concluded tour of duty without any blemish.

Abubakar, who will by the end of February, be the longest serving ADC to a civilian president (having served in that position for almost six years), and the second longest serving ADC in the history of Armed Forces of Nigeria after late Colonel Walbe who served General Yakubu Gowon for nine years.

The office of the ADC to the

President statutorily provides security and protects the President and his family in conjunction with other security agencies. Customarily, the ADC attends to the personal needs of the president and other matters regarding his functions as the Head of State of the Armed Forces and the well-being of his family.

Officers who are to be nominated to be ADC to the President, must be loyal, of high morale standard, impeccable character, courage, knowledgeable as well as high level of integrity.

Abubakar, is a tested and experienced commander, trained and disciplined Instructor, Security manager and a talented

Investigator.

The President had stated in Abubakar’s 2020 Annual Performance Evaluation Report, that the officer is disciplined, highly committed and loyal officer, sociable and amiable to his superiors and subordinates alike.

The C-in-C highly recommended Col Abubakar for promotion to the rank of Brigadier-General when due in October 2021 accordingly. Buhari had stated: "Congratulations Col Abubakar for a meritorious and a successful tour of National Duty as Aide-De-Camp to the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria. It was indeed a privilege."

Uduaghan, Pondi, Mulade, Onuesoke, Tidi Console Okowa over Father’s Death Sylvester Idowu in Warri Immediate past Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has joined several others to condole with his successor, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, over the passing of his father, Pa Arthur Okowa, saying his death was "quite a surprise" to him.

Uduaghan, in a statement personally signed and issued on Friday night, said Governor Okowa's father lived a life full of achievements and enduring legacies.

He recalled that Pa Okowa displayed "sharp mind" during

their days in the defunct Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM).

Commiserating with Governor Okowa and his family members, Uduaghan urged them to take solace in the fact the deceased lived a fulfilled life and impacted society especially, his immediate surrounding positively.

In his condolence message, member, representing Burutu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Julius Pondi noted that fathers anywhere in the World are rare gifts, and noted that

Nigerians would surely miss him.

The federal lawmaker, in statement said, "I wish to on behalf of the good and God-fearing people of Burutu federal constituency condole with His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa over the demise of his father, Chief Arthur Okorie Okowa.

"I understand how dearly he must have been to the first family of Delta State and how badly they must miss him.

Fathers are gifts to children and good fathers like Chief Arthur are precious gifts to not just their immediate families

but to nations", he said.

Also, National Coordinator of Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) Chief Sheriff Mulade, in a condolence letter, prayed God to grant the Governor and his family the strength and fortitude to bear the loss.

Quoting from John chapter 5, verses 28 and 29, Mulade, who is the Ibe-sorimowei of Gbaramatu kingdom, enjoined Governor Okowa to take solace in the fact that his father lived an exemplary and Godly life and therefore has the hope of resurrecting into eternal life.

Former Governorship aspirant in the state, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, in his condolence message, described the deceased as a patriotic, passionate and detribalised elder statesman, who built bridges for the unity, peace, progress and development across all board despite ethnic differences.

He explained that as a loving father, the late Pa Okowa never related with the junior ones as sons but as friends despite his well-advanced age adding, "I can attest that he was a good man".

Immediate past Chairman of Warri South Local Government area, Dr. Michael Tidi, in a statement also said the state had lost a great man, whose contributions to the growth and development of Delta and Nigeria could "be described as inspirational and worthy of emulation."

To Governor Okowa and family, he said, "We share in your sorrow and pains at this period and we pray God will grant you and the entire family the courage to bear the loss even as we pray for the repose of the soul of your departed father".

budget. We can tell them what we have received, and how it was spent.

“We are always ready to make the balance sheet available for all Nigerians and the National Assembly.

We have nothing to hide.”

Buhari said his administration had given more attention to agriculture in order to diversify and strengthen the economy.

He thanked Morocco for supporting Nigeria's move to produce fertilisers in the country.

He said, “We are still grateful to Morocco for the support they gave us in producing fertiliser in the country. We have 42 companies producing fertiliser in six geopolitical zones.”

In another breath, Buhari has told APC members across the country to go out en masse to revalidate their membership and put

down strong roots among the people, warning that there would be “no more crowning from Abuja downward”.

Elaborating on the essence of the APC registration and revalidation exercise, Buhari charged the Caretaker Committee members to ensure the return of the party to the people by applying the bottom-up approach to politics.

Buhari stated: “No more crowning from Abuja downward. Let the people know this and appreciate it that they are in charge of their constituencies and they are in charge of the party.

“Without any incentive, they must come out and defend the party at any level so that we – you and the party – will feel secure and comfortable, because the old time of putting hands in the pocket is over, because the money is no longer

available.”

The president said the appointment of the Yobe State Governor, Mai MalaBuni, as Chairman of the APC National Caretaker Committee was in order, because the governor had served as the party's secretary for a long time and was quite knowledgeable about the challenges facing APC. Responding to the president, Buni thanked the governors and other party stalwarts for attending the meeting. He told the president that the party was proud of his achievements, and reiterated the mandate given to the caretaker committee by the APC National Executive Committee to re-energise the party bottom-up.

The caretaker chairman said his committee had embarked on the reconciliation of APC aggrieved members across the country before the revalidation exercise.

by saying that you don’t just conduct the elections through electronic means, but importantly you also need to transmit it through electronic means, because most of the troubles we have with our elections happen between the polling booth and where they do the collation. So, this can be bypassed by using the electronic means of transmission.

“I was in Edo election and where electronic transmission of results was used and it worked. They simply uploaded the results from the polling booth straight to

the INEC website and people could have access to it and could monitor the election as the results were coming in.

“But it wasn’t in any part of the Electoral Act or the constitution. So, we intend to bring it into the electoral act and hoping that our colleagues will also accept that and pass it into law”.

Ekweremadu reassured Nigerians of the National Assembly’s commitment to a better electoral management, stressing: “We are prepared to lay a better legislative structure that will ensure a proper electoral system”.

STOP HARASSING MY GOVT, BUHARI URGES NIGERIAN ELITES to be fair in their assessment of his performance by taking cognizance of the state of the country's finances, when he was inaugurated in May 2015.

According to the president, “The problem is that I will like, especially, the elites to, please, be reflective. When we came, where we were, the resources available from then and the condition of the infrastructure.

“I was contrived to go over it several times to tell Nigerians that between 1999 and 2014, let them check with the NNPC, let them check with the Governor of Central Bank. The daily production was 2.4 million barrels per day and the average cost was a hundred American dollars per barrel.

“So, for these years, daily Nigeria would earn having 2.4 million times 100 dollars everyday. But look at the condition of infrastructure; you know this better than

I do. I know I went to every local government of the country in my three consecutive attempts to become the president.”

The president elaborated on the conditions he met on the ground in 2015.

“You know the road more than I do,” he said, adding, “You know the condition of the rail. The railway was dead. Now look at it everywhere we go, what did they do with all these monies?

“When we took over in this administration, production went down to about half a million barrels per day, the price collapsed. We had to do what is called a bailout, wherever we got the money from. Upon all the money from 1999 to 2014, we have to give you money from the centre to pay salaries.”

The president urged the APC governors to go to their constituencies and make effort

to convince the elites to give his administration the respect it deserves, insisting that the government is working hard with limited resources.

According to a release

by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari also assured Nigerians of full and transparent implementation of the 2021 budget.

He appreciated the National Assembly for meticulous consideration of the budget before its passage.

The president said the budget captured some of the visions of the administration, and all efforts would be made to ensure its effective implementation.

He stated: “We have directed all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to follow what is in the budget so that we can get the National Assembly to easily support the next

N'ASSEMBLY MOVES TO ALTER ELECTORAL TIMETABLE IN NEW AMENDMENT He noted that the Joint Committees believe that it would be good for the electoral system if INEC called for nominations 360 days to an election and if political parties submitted the list of their candidates not later than six months to any election.

“So, what we have tried to do now is to propose to our colleagues sufficient timelines for these things to take place.

We are hoping that if they accept our proposal, the primaries will take place much earlier in the 2023 elections than used to be

the case. If they accept our proposal, the candidates will emerge and be sent to INEC not less than 180 days before the elections. So, that means that sometime in July this year, the candidates would all have been sent to INEC. “But remember that the primaries cannot take place, unless INEC fixes dates for the elections. So, we are now proposing that INEC should call for the elections not later 360 days before the election. This means that about February next year, INEC would have proposed dates for the election and

primaries would start.

“So, we are hoping that primaries will start early, candidates will emerge and be known early. Then INEC will process them and Nigerians will interrogate them. And if there are preelection maters, they will be determined possibly before the elections”, he explained.

The Senator, who also steered the electoral reforms that birthed financial and administrative autonomies currently enjoyed by INEC as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution in 2010, added that the Joint

Technical Committee on the Repeal of the Electoral Act 2010 and the Joint National Assembly Committee on INEC were also working assiduously to ensure the use of technology in conducting elections.

“In 2015, as I mentioned earlier, we amended the Electoral Act to give the INEC an option to use electronic means. They have not really tried that, but I heard they intend to try it in the Anambra election.

“But in the one we are currently working on, we want to take a step further

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JANUARY 31, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

EDITORIAL

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

TASK BEFORE THE NEW SERVICE CHIEFS The service chiefs must restore confidence in the troops and rekindle their sense of purpose

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or more than two years, President Muhammadu Buhari ignored the call by many stakeholders, including the National Assembly, that he should ease out his service chiefs who had all passed their retirement age and whose efforts, by his own admission, “were not good enough”. Last Tuesday, the president finally acted by appointing new service chiefs. The officers, Major General Lucky Irabor, (Chief of Defence Staff), Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Auwal Gambo, (Chief of Naval Staff) and Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao (Chief of Air Staff) Irabor and his must understand men must deploy that to whom much all the necessary is given, much is instruments and expected. resources to restore In the past few months, the confidence in the Northeastern states troops. These, of Borno, Yobe and accompanied with Adamawa have synergy among the been under frequent chiefs, and better attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents coordination of and their more vicious intelligence, will variant, Islamic State make a difference West Africa Province (ISWAP). Some local governments reportedly had fallen back into the hands of the brutal sect. The hitherto quiet Northwest has become a haven for bandits and extreme Islamists.

Niger State in the North Central is increasingly being infiltrated by the extreme insurgents. The entire country is awash with guns – many in the wrong hands and the country is under persistent threats.

The new service chiefs, in effect, means a renewal of hope, that things would change for the better. They are all tested generals. Yet expertise is not sufficient.

To succeed in their assignment, they must address the welfare of the fighting troops. While military service is a national sacrifice, it is not a suicide mission. Not giving soldiers the tools to fight and dismissing them when they complain is not only unfair, it is unjust.

Every counter-insurgency war is first a psychological operation. The troops on the battlefield must themselves be motivated and in fact ‘drunken’ adherents

Letters to the Editor

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and advocates of the national spirit. When the source of troop morale in any war is reportedly in short supply or missing, there is a problem. In the current phase of the war against insurgency, food and other welfare items are reportedly sometime rationed, besides issues of outstanding payments and entitlements to families of fallen officers and men. This is not to mention guns and ammunition vital for the successful prosecution of any war. Therefore, all old weaknesses must be remedied and new strengths added to the fighting force. Irabor and his men must deploy all the necessary instruments and resources to restore confidence in the troops.

These, accompanied with synergy among the chiefs, and better coordination of intelligence, will make a difference.

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S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS OLAWALE OLALEYE, TOBI SONIYI MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

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hile we believe that the capacity for havoc by Boko Haram has been degraded by the military, it is also true that the policy put in place to win the war is not working and is draining the military and political authorities of the goodwill of most Nigerians.

Part of the reason is that many of the officers and men in the frontlines are not properly psyched to do their job. Which then explains why, for almost two years now, the insurgents have, through daring raids, attacks and seizures, put a lie to the much-touted view that the war against insurgency is ‘technically over’. In fact, Boko Haram and terror affiliates have exacerbated their asymmetrical warfare and executed successful attacks, invaded and overrun military bases, and in the process killed hundreds of civilians and military personnel.

Meanwhile, the release in 2015 of the sum of $20 million to the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) so as to facilitate the logistics of the war has not yielded much results. Nor has the several regional strategy sessions aimed at urging the international community to sign-in to the plan aimed at uniting efforts of the neighbouring countries in tackling the Boko Haram menace. The failure of the Chad Republic to deploy troops to its own borders as agreed to by the MNJTF has created a weak link in the overall strategy to rein-in the insurgents. Nigeria needs to renew its commitment by giving more attention to the coordination of all international efforts towards winning the war.

All said, we believe the war against the insurgents is winnable. All that may be required is for the military to not only sustain the tempo of attacks but also to continually devise new strategies that will put them ahead of the plans of the terrorists. This is the task before Major General Irabor and his men. We wish them success in their new assignment.

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

ANAMBRA POLL AND THE ELECTORAL ACT

he moment the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the timetable for the 2021 Anambra Governorship Elections, one would think the National Assembly would at least show more readiness to resume from its recess and get to work to speed-up the passage of a new electoral act. Thus the news that the National Assembly has postponed resumption from January 26thto February 9th, 2021 is not cheering as far as the electoral amendment is concerned.

The National Assembly had initially promised to ensure passage of a new Electoral Act to regulate the conduct of federal, state and area council elections and other related matters in December, 2020. However, this did not happen as the legislators understandably prioritized the passage of the 2021

budget even though there was ample time to consider an equally important legislation.

On 9th December 2020, the Joint National Assembly Committee on INEC held a public hearing to repeal the electoral amendment act 2010, and enact a new act for the commission to regulate conduct of elections. The public hearing was indeed a very vital step towards improving Nigeria’s electoral legal framework and thereby giving Nigerians an electoral law that will serve the good of everyone. The array of recommendations provided

by Civil Society Organisations, groups and other stakeholders do not just go a long way to show the magnitude of loopholes in Nigeria’s electoral system, but the urgency needed to fix the system.

Civil Society Organisations like Yiaga Africa, Centre for Liberty, NESSACTION, Situation

Room, amongst others, submitted memoranda with various recommendations. Some of the recommendations have to do with the independence of INEC, deployment of technology for elections, establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission, inclusion of women, youth and persons with disabilities. Other important recommendations have to do with diaspora voting and voting by internally displaced persons, limitation of candidates’ nomination fees, and criteria and limitation of election expenses.

Establishment of an electoral offences commission will not just ensure effective prosecution of electoral offenders but also ease the commission of some of its burden that hasn’t enabled them function effectively. Recommendations on limitation of spending is also aimed to enable young people to

participate in the process. Legalizing indeed political parties will no doubt electronics could potentially enhance need ample time to adjust to any new the integrity of elections and citizens’ legislation that will impact on the participation as it will address some political party primaries. logistical challenges plaguing elections in Nigerians looked forward to the Nigeria. passage with optimism as the Senate As a matter of fact, the Chairman of President, Ahmed Lawan has reiterated INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, that the aim of the ninth assembly during a citizens’ town hall on electoral is to achieve all the targets set in the reform declared that the commission legislative agenda and the Electoral will adopt electronic voting for the Amendment bill is part of it. AccordNovember Anambra Governorship ing to him, there is nothing more elections. The deployment of the INEC important to any country than electing Result Viewing (IREV) during the Edo its leaders in a very free, transparent and Ondo Governorship election shows and accountable manner. But, with the effort to automated voting system, resumption of plenary now February however it needs a legal back up to fully 6th and the need to consolidate all implement. recommendations received from While the Anambra Governorship the public hearing, the March 2021 election is coming up in November, deadline for the passage of the electoral activities leading up to the elections act may just be under scrutiny. commence as early as June where –Moshood Isah is the Media political parties must conduct primaries Officer of Yiaga Africa. or democratically nominate candidates for the elections. The commission and Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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NEWS

Acting News Editor ÌÙãÏÑË ÕÓØÝËØ×Ó E-mail: ÑÌÙãÏÑ˲ËÕÓØÝËØ×Ó̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙט͸΀͹ͽͺͻͽ΁ͺͽͻ ̙Ý×Ý ÙØÖã̚

COVID-19: Death Cases Rise by 34% in Two Months

NCDC partners states to prevent fatalities Ekiti to sanction hospitals violating guidelines

The number of deaths resulting from COVID-19 complication rose from 1173 on November 29, 2020 to 1578 on January 31, 2021, official statistics analysed

by THISDAY have revealed.

In cumulative, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) statistics, the death cases between November 29 and January 31, represents about 34.5% increase within a period of two months.

Since Nigeria recorded first COVID-19 death on March 23, 2020, as shown in the NCDC statistics, the death cases rose to 1,173 in November 29, 2020; 1,180 in December 6, 2020; 1,197 in December 13, 2020; 1,221 in December 20, 2020 and 1,254 in December 27, 2020.

Unlike the previous year, NCDC’s statistics revealed that the pandemic had killed 1,311 as at January 3; rising to 1,358 in January 10, 1,435 in January 17; 1504 in January 24 and 1577 in January 31.

Between December 27 and January 31 alone, the statistics revealed an unprecedented increase in death cases and accounted for 25.84% COVID-19 fatalities, perhaps the highest death record since March 2020.

The death cases increased by 0.59% between November 29, 2020 and December 6, 2020; 1.19% between December 6, 2020 and December 13, 2020; 2% between December 13, 2020 and December 20, 2020 and 2.7% between December 20 and December

27, 2020.

From December 27, 2020, the death cases rose by 4.54% in January 3; 3.58% in January 10; 5.96% in January 17; 4.8% in January 24 and 4.94% in January 31.

Given these statistics, the NCDC yesterday said that it had started working extremely hard to prevent rising casualties resulting from covid-19 pandemic.

The Director General of the NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu gave the assurance in view of Friday’s highest single day death toll from the infection.

According to him, the situation is a very tragic one which demands serious commitment by every Nigerian to stop a reoccurrence.

Speaking with THISDAY yesterday, Ihekweazu said NCDC would continue working with states to quickly identify and prevent further spread of the disease.

He described the 27 deaths recorded on Friday “as a stark reminder of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last six weeks, our surveillance system has continued to record a consistent increase in cases, including severe cases.

“Every death recorded is a tragic occurrence and our health workers are working extremely hard to prevent these. Everything we think and do in terms of the response, is focused on trying to save lives.

“The fact remains that most people remain susceptible to this virus. We will continue working with states to quickly identify and prevent further spread of the disease.

“In addition, the Federal Ministry of Health and NCDC recently published

a patient’s handbook on management of mild COVID-19 cases at home. The goal is to enable states and treatment centres to provide optimal care to severe cases, who are at higher risk of death.

“Critically, we ask Nigerians to take responsibility to limit transmission of the virus. We all have a role to play in protecting each other and our country. Please avoid large gatherings, always wear a face mask, wash your hands regularly.”

In a bid to curtail the spread of the lethal disease and reduce the number of casualties, the Ekiti State Government yesterday ordered both private and public hospitals in the state

to perform mandatory Covid 19 tests on all patients with manifesting fever, cough and catarrh symptoms.

A statement by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, explained that the move is part of efforts to curtail the spread of the virus in the State.

According to him, the symptoms of the current wave of Covid-19 is similar to some other known and common diseases such as malaria and respiratory tract infection adding that it may also be asymptomatic.

“I hereby instruct all health facilities in the state to contact their respective Local Government Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (LGDSNO) for

The resolution was taken at a stakeholders’ meeting chaired by FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Bello and attended by the Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, the National Incidence Manager of the political, traditional, and religious leaders as well as heads of the various security agencies in the FCT. It reiterated the need to ensure the effective use of the mobile court system for trial of corporate and individual offenders.

Additionally, there will be increased public education and community engagement and massive awareness campaigns across the six Area Councils of the FCT to further sensitise members of the public on COVID-19.

While all public and private schools are to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the regulations, it was also resolved that affordable face masks be provided for members of the public.

Bello said that even though the FCT “is regarded as a coronavirus epicentre, the administration has been successful in its response to the disease and assured of the FCTA’s preparedness to fight the second wave through the cooperation of all the stakeholders across the Territory.”

He added that the Task Force on COVID-19 guidelines enforcement would be re-invigorated to ensure that enforcement cascades down to the community and grassroots level while reminding the security agencies that enforcement of COVID-19 guidelines must be implemented as a presidential directive.

modalities to conduct the test on their patients”.

He solicited the support of all stakeholders towards warding off the virus, emphasizing the need for the general public to cooperate with healthcare providers to achieve the desired goal.

Filani also warned that the State Government would not hesitate to sanction any hospital that fails to comply with the government’s directive.

Likewise, the Federal Capital Territory Administration yesterday threatened to sanction corporate organisations that err and violate the COVID-19 Health Protection Regulation recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Gboyega Akinsanmi, Olawale Ajimotokan, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Victor Olakitan in Ekiti

FG to Grant N20, 000 to 125,000 Rural Women Each

Promises to sustain N5000 monthly transfers to 1m indigent citizens Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta At least, 125,000 rural women will benefit from the grant for rural women project and symbolic disbursement aimed at supporting each beneficiary with a sum of N20, 000, the federal government has disclosed.

The apex government, also, pledged that it would sustain its conditional cash transfer programme through which it had been supporting at least one million indigent people with N5,000 each monthly.

The Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Mrs. Sadiya Farouk disclosed the initiative at the unveiling of the grant for rural women project and symbolic disbursement in Abeokuta, the Ogun State

capital yesterday.

Conceived in 2020, the initiative is one of the social interventions, which the federal government initiated under its National Social Investment Programme aimed at alleviating suffering among the indigent and the vulnerable.

In Ogun State alone, about 3,500 women drawn from the three senatorial districts in the state were each given N20,000 in cash with an assurance that 125,000 women would benefit from the initiative across the federation.

At the unveiling yesterday, the minister explained the grant for rural women programme, which according to her, was first introduced in 2020 to sustain

the social inclusion agenda of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Farouk, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Humanitarian Affairs Ministry, Mr. Bashir Alkali, said the initiative was consistent with the vision of the federal government to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.

She said: “It is designed to provide a one-off grant to some of the poorest and most vulnerable women in rural and peri-urban areas of the country.

“A cash grant of N20,000 will be disbursed to about 125,000 poor women across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory,” she further

disclosed.

She justified the programme on the ground that the federal government purposely designed the social investment initiative “to protect the poor against economic shocks and raise them above the poverty line.”

Farouk said since 2016, the government’s social investment programme had impacted positively on the lives of the poor, disclosing that over 12 million households had benefited from the NSIP interventions in the last five years.

She said: “This included payment of a monthly Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) of N5,00 to one million indigent Nigerians,

to protect them against economic shocks and elevate them out of poverty.

“Also, 1,092,405 micro and small business owners accessed loans to boost productivity, increase income and reduce poverty under the Government Enterprise Enhancement Programme (GEEP).

“The N-Power programme provided temporary income-generating opportunities for 500,000 unemployed youths while 8,612,457 primary 1-3 pupils in public schools currently are receiving one meal per day under the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme”.

Also at the unveiling, Ogun State Governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun said the

programme was in line with the social welfare programmes designed for the less-privileged, especially in the wake of the outbreak of the COVID-19.

Abiodun, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele, noted that the grant “is not just about putting cash in the women’s pockets, but improving their wellbeing.”

The governor also disclosed that his administration had since embarked on the rehabilitation of dilapidated public schools and market stalls.

Abiodun added that over 10,000 youths are currently undergoing skill acquisition programmes, aimed at taking them out of the labour market.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 31, 2021

OPINION

BIDEN’S LIKELY POLICY ORIENTATION TOWARD AFRICA There are many opportunities waiting for the United States to seize in its renewed cooperation with Africa, argue Ejeviome Eloho Otobo and Oseloka H. Obaze

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he inauguration of the Biden administration has generated much global interest. Its implications for Africa are highly anticipated. It helps, therefore, to examine United States’ current national context, the views of its leaders on Africa, and the recent history of Africa-United States relations. The Biden administration has come to power at one of the most fraught national moments in recent U.S. history.

The US has an exploding COVID-19 crisis accounting for about 20 percent of global COVID deaths and 25 percent of all COVID infections. The resulting impact on unemployment and income inequality has been devastating. The U.S. recently witnessed a mob attack on the Congress, one of the major pillars of its constitutional democracy. There is also the issue of racial injustice that the new administration must grapple with.

This combination of domestic challenges could adversely impact US disposition toward Africa, but will not constrain its commitment to reassert its global leadership role. Indeed, as a presidential candidate Biden made clear, in his article published in the March/April 2020 edition of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. “will rebuild confidence in our leadership, and mobilise our country and allies to rapidly meet new challenges.” Among those challenges, he listed strengthening democracy around the world, with particular focus on three priorities: fighting corruption; defending against authoritarianism; and advancing human rights. He also indicated that the US will “need to do more to integrate our friends in Latin America and Africa into the broader network of democracies and to seize opportunities for cooperation in those regions.”

These concerns were echoed by Antony Blinken, Secretary of State and members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee during Blinken’s recent confirmation hearings. In addition, some members of the Committee expressed deep concern about the backsliding on democracy in Uganda and Ethiopia and the deteriorating political situation in Cameroon.

Lessons from history provide some useful guide on what African countries can expect from the Biden administration. In the last quarter century, United States policy towards Africa has centered on three main policy areas: conflict management, including combating terrorism; economic assistance through a variety of instruments; and humanitarian medical support. To help combat terrorism in Africa, U.S. deployed military assets in the region, including in Somalia and a few Sahel countries

wracked by terrorist violence. Three important economic initiatives have stood out: the enactment of Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in 2000, which offered improved market access for African exports into USA; Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) aimed at helping countries that perform well on governance; and U.S. Power Initiative aimed at doubling electricity for sub-Saharan Africa, supported by U.S. government and private sector contribution. The humanitarian medical initiatives consisted of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which many African countries were major beneficiaries, and United States dispatched a huge contingent of troops, policy experts and health officials to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea to support these countries response efforts on Ebola disease.

The past is often a prologue to the future. Africa faces a combination of persisting challenges from the past and a daunting array of new problems. The consolidation of democracy in Africa identified by President Biden in his Foreign Affairs article is a prime example of a persisting challenge. The mob attack on the Congress will likely make a few political leaders in Africa to question the moral authority of the Biden administration to “lecture” Africa on the virtues of democracy. They would be wrong because, as Biden said in his inaugural address, “democracy prevailed.” The lesson from that experience should inform U.S. democracy initiatives in Africa to strengthen institutional resilience to better respond to challenges to democratic

U.S. support for Africa should transcend the promotion of democracy, and include actions on a range of economic-related issues, in particular support for Africa Continental Free Trade Area; renewal of AGOA –which is set to expire in 2025; support for combating COVID in Africa...

constitutional order, in addition to advancing the cause of the human rights of the citizens. But a United States policy towards Africa that focuses predominantly on democracy will elicit derision by segments of the elite and dissatisfaction by citizens who long for improvements in their livelihoods.

Africa’s needs are varied and huge. Hence, U.S. support for Africa should transcend the promotion of democracy, and include actions on a range of economicrelated issues, in particular support for Africa Continental Free Trade Area; renewal of AGOA –which is set to expire in 2025; support for combating COVID in Africa, in particular through the COVAX arrangement that U.S. has now joined; and a strong commitment to supporting Africa in its economic transformation. The past few years have witnessed a bi-partisan concern on China’s growing influence in Africa. The Biden administration will be making a big mistake to perceive China’s role in Africa through the prism of malevolent intent akin to the former Soviet Union during the Cold War. China’s economic influence in Africa has grown largely because it has shown greater commitment than the U.S. in supporting the region’s economic transformation by assisting in building infrastructure; establishing model economic and industrial zones; and nurturing the relationship by the periodic convening of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). China has convened a meeting of FOCAC on triennial basis since 2000 and met at Heads of State level since 2006. By contrast, U.S. convened the first and only U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit in 2014.

Not long ago, the fear was that the U.S. reduced aid to Africa and increased military footprint in Africa might translate to U.S. power in Africa being felt more in its military presence than in development support. Today, the likely combination of reduction in aid and draw down of military support to combating terrorism in Africa will lead to diminished U.S. overall assistance for security and development. Inevitably, U.S. will apply hard power and soft power as its strategic interests warrant. Yet there are many opportunities waiting for the United States to seize in its renewed cooperation with Africa.

------------------------––Otobo is a Non-Resident Senior Expert at the Global Governance Institute, Brussels and ––Obaze is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Selonnes Consult in Awka.

Oyinlola: An Officer And Statesman Sina Ogunbambo pays tribute to Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former governor of Lagos State, at age 70

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part from his scholarly activities at Odo - Otin Grammar School, Okuku, in the 60's, the young Prince Olagunsoye Adedapo Oyinlola was more of a hunter. Usually in the midst of friends on a hunting expedition, he will aim at a bird on a tree and hit the target with just a single shot from his catapult. The confidence in his shooting prowess and his love for military uniform gingered him to join the Nigerian Army in 1969 rather than accept his admission to Ahmadu Bello University as an undergraduate after successfully completing his West African School Certificate examination in 1968.

His eagerness and admiration for this disciplined profession further propelled him to join as a Private, rather than as an officer, as he possessed the requisite qualification. Once pencilled down as a batman for Brigadier General Raji Rasaki rtd. due to his usual appearance in well-starched and properly ironed khaki uniform, this legal practitioner who became an orphan at the age of nine, through dint of hard work, determination, brilliance and good luck, rose to become a Brigadier General (rtd.) in Nigerian Army and the Governor of Lagos and Osun States. His last political office was National Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Born on February 3, 1951 to Oba Moses Oyewole Oyinlola (the famous Olokuku of Okuku and a member of defunct Western Region House of Chiefs in the Parliament) and Olori Comfort Ololade Oyinlola, the charming prince had his elementary and secondary education at Okuku, proceeded to Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Command and Staff College, Jaji, University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile - Ife) for a diploma in International Relations in 1979, University of Madras, India for M.Sc degree in 1988, Buckingham University in United

Kingdom in 2003 for LL.B degree in 2003 and Nigerian Law School, Abuja for BL 2012 post degree qualification and call to bar.

Oyinlola's professionalism in the army was brought to the fore between December 1992 and September 1993 as the Contigent Commander and the Commanding Officer of the 245 Reconnaissance (RECCE) batallion made up of 39 officers and 621 soldiers. This was a United Nations Operation Restore Hope (UNiSOM) in Somalia, when the nation broke out in a destructive flame of an ethnic war.

The Mogadishu airport was then a smouldering asphaltic wasteland of decomposing bodies strewn with unspent cartridges, bombed - out vehicles and a thousand shards of innumerable items. Col Oyinlola (as he then was) had a dangerous mission of cleansing the airport and salvaging it from wandering tribes of outlaws. In the face of guerilla warfare, anonymous enemy and cannonades being hurled from everywhere, he accomplished the mission with almost negligible casualty. In the words of Col Tony Nyiam rtd. "Oyinlola's-led Nigerian troops achieved what the Americans troops could not".

As the Military Administrator of Lagos State from December 10, 1993 to August 22, 1996, he did a lot of trouble shooting to bring peace to the state as this was the peak of antagonism by the civilians towards General Sani Abacha's regime after the annulment of June 12, 1992 Presidential election that Basorun Moshood Abiola Abiola won. Despite this tense atmosphere, Oyinlola built several schools, general hospitals and housing estate in Lagos State. The Opebi link bridge and road, with Lagos House Governor's Lodge at Abuja were some of the legacies he left behind. He also introduced the

security outfit "Operation Sweep" to combat armed robbery.

As democratically elected Governor, he was in charge of Osun State from 29th May, 2003 to 26th November 2010. His accomplishments this time around deserves a tome for publication. However, the highlights are building of Osun State University, establishing government-owned mining company Livingspring Mining Corporation (with 11 mining sites in Nigeria), commencement of Livingspring Free trade zone to diversify the economy and building of Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding.

There was also industrial harmony and prompt payment of workers’ salaries throughout his tenure.

Blessed with a good wife, Omolola and four lovely children and grandchildren, Oyinlola is a study in human relations. He is ever humble and well-cultured.

His sense of humour is superb and former Nigerian Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.) once told this writer at an interview session that it was the humour and then brilliance of Oyinlola that brought them close.

Oyinlola's compassion and accommodation (especially for the masses) was what brought him to politics and the study of law. He is determined to render more of free services to the under-priviledged and oppressed through the rule of law. His life is that of meritorious service to God and humanity.

As the bubbling "young man" who also has passion for golf joins the septuagenarian club on Wednesday, February 3, 2016, I wish this refined officer, gentleman and accomplished statesman, a happy birthday.

––Ogunbambo, a journalist, was Oyinlola's Chief Press Secretary in Lagos State.

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LETTERS

STRENGTHENING THE PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

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he Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was founded in 1978 as an educational trade union to act as a collective pressure group on behalf of all public universities.

This was in the heady days of the 1970’s when trade unions had enormous powers and held governments to ransom.

We recall that it was the unions in the United Kingdom that brought down Edward Heath’s government in 1974.

Strikes have been a constant feature of ASUU, accounting for about 30 percent of their total existence being lost to strikes which have greatly eroded the value of Nigerian education. A typical Nigerian student spends about six to seven years for a four-year course. Most public school students know when they commence their studies but are clueless as to when they will graduate due to no fault of theirs due to the strikes.

No Nigerian public university is among the top 1000 in the world or even among the top 20 on the African continent. These educational institutions have been taken to the Dark Ages where ignorance was rife. Intellectualism is on the brink of annihilation as many students simply don’t care about using education as a vehicle for change. How many students have a robust reading culture in Nigeria?

How many can engage in an

I

Adamu-Adamu, Minister of Education

intelligent discourse on critical issues affecting the society and offering solutions for them?

I recall my undergraduate days at the University of Lagos over a decade ago when Nigeria’s leading Business Newspaper, BusinessDay sold its hardcover price to the students for N50. In a class of about 200, only three students bought the paper and we were seen as weird for even purchasing it.

The latest strike commenced in March 2020 and lasted for about 10 months. As usual it was over unpaid allowances and this time around it was

about the N40 billion that the government owed the academic community for some years.ASUU also opposed the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System used in settling workers’ salaries by the FG and instead, developed the University Transparency and Accountability Solution which is currently undergoing test-run by the National Information Technology Development Agency.

The strikes have driven the best brains out of the academia to the comforting arms of North America, Europe

and Asia. South Africa is even attracting our academic talents.

Literary critics cum academic giants like the late Professor Harry Garuba and Professor Kole Omotosho found succour there.

The second eleven as well as all manner of hustlers have tragically been attracted to the Ivory Tower which has been one of the factors largely responsible for its decline.

How many public school academics engage in research?

The global pandemic saw academics from the world’s leading universities working in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies to produce a vaccine in record time. Ours were left in the cold as they were busy bargaining with the clueless government for more remuneration for work not done. While other universities all over the globe are engaged in virtual learning so as not to lose any second in the academic calendar, our academics are not even in tune with this new era of learning. How many Nigerian academics in public universities are able to attract grants to their institutions? How many publish their papers in international journals? How many present papers abroad?

How many do Sabbatical leave in reputable universities abroad? How many attract foreign students and academics to reflect diversity and inclusiveness? The rot no thanks to the frequent strikes

A PROFESSOR’S A MBIGUITY

n the public-pinion segment of the Blueprint newspaper of Tuesday 26th January 2021, an imam of the of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja)masjid, a professor, thus an “imamprofessor,” sent in a piece dripping with cynical sarcastic vitriol.

This professor made it known he hails from Isheyin in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State and his broadside against Gov. Seyi Makinde for “abdicating” his responsibilities to ensure that Oyo State remains in a state of peace is in line with popular opinions of the Southwest at the moment. The people of the Southwest region of Nigeria believe that the “vacuum of leadership” created by a vacillating Makinde was quickly filled by the citizenactivist (a “non-state actor,” a term now in popular use) known as Sunday “Igboho” Adeyemo. In this respect Mr. Adeyemo is being lionised as a “hero” of the Yoruba folks for standing toe-to-toe against killer Fulani folks and ordering them out of the Yoruba domain.

Now, Sunday Igboho is a veritable “Jagaban Yorubawa” (jagaba being a verb term meaning “to lead” in the Hausa language whereas this verb in its noun form denoting a “leader” is “jagaban Yoruba-

wa,” meaning “the one who leads the Yoruba folks”). At Oke-Ogun, Sunday Igboho is a “warrior.”

Now, why did the UniAbuja imam-professor refer to Mr. Adeyemo as Makinde’s “political dog?” That was not a fair descriptor for a man whose bravado has ensured that rural Yoruba folks can sleep in peace these past few days. Whilst continuing his unforgiving lash of Gov. Makinde, the UniAbuja imam-professor mentioned that Sunday Igboho was forced by circumstance to chase “some people” away from their enclave, obviously to the wild adulation of the hapless citizens of the Ibarapa-Oke-Ogun area: this imam-professor ought not to be this dis-circumspect; is he not pleased with Sunday Igboho? The people of Ibarapa-Oke-Ogun faced existential threats in the shape of murderous foreign Fulani kidnapper-hordes who pillage and rape as “fringe benefits;” these are real and identifiable entities, not just “some people.” This professor, being a religious imam or mullah, is facing reality-conflict of the kind, “should I label my ‘brotherbelievers’ bad and have ‘unbelievers’ laugh at us?”

This should not be the case at all because, over there at the Southwest, unlike here at the North,

Christians and Muslims have integrated in wonderful fashion. You don’t get this state of affair in many places in the world. Sunday Igboho has even been an inspiration for the Kukahbasher, Prof. Ishaq Akintola. One month ago, Prof.

Akintola came down hard on His Lordship Rt. Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto over Bishop Kukah’s Christmas Day homily, spewing uncharitable invectives in the direction of His Lordship. (Maybe it has never occurred to Prof.

Akintola that the “system” he chose to speak for is indebted to the Catholic Church for “stealing” a titular designation from the Church; the progressive top-echelon hierarchy of the Church is in this format, “‘His Lordship’ for diocesan bishop, ‘His Grace’ for a metropolitan bishop, ‘His Eminence’ for a cardinal, ‘His Holiness’ for the pope.”

It should bother Prof.

Akintola that the honorific “His Eminence” belongs squarely in the Roman Catholic Church and it is his duty as a “prof.” to “educate” the Ummah about this fact. In a similar vein, the academic community of which Prof. Akintola is proud to associate with owes its wonderful administrative structure to the Anglican Church

because the academia has wholesomely adopted this Church’s positions of “chancellor” and its vice, “registrar,” “legal secretary,” “dean,” “sub-dean,” etc.

The Methodist Church has bequeathed society with its “prelate et al.” designations).

It is amazing to note at this juncture that Prof.

Akintola was critical of the Presidency when it was reported that a notice was out to arrest Sunday Igboho and it is on record that Prof. Akintola advised the Presidency to “arrest killer herdsmen instead.”

Bishop Kukah spoke against the entrenchment of a Northern nepotistic system as well as against the menace of “killer herdsmen.”

Y’see, Prof. Akintola, one month is a long time to deny the truth! Wonderful about-turn in just one month!! Sunday Igboho is a “seismic force,” an “earthquake” that shook the Presidency to its senses to realise that when Yoruba militia gets in synch with IPOB, the political heat thus generated will melt the wax-foundation of the country called Nigeria. This “earthquake” just helped sack our service chiefs.

––Sunday Adole Jonah, Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State.

is highly worrisome.

When former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher came to power in 1979, she accurately read the signs of the times in the world’s transition from the industrial to the information age and responded adequately. She reckoned that the government had no business in running businesses and it would be best left in the hands of the private sector. She did the unthinkable by breaking the back of the unions which once held Number 10 Downing Street to ransom and shifted the British economy from manufacturing to services which has attracted companies into the British Isles from all over the globe.

It is high time that the Nigerian government toed the same line as a gargantuan interventionist measure to rescue our battered universities. It should completely hands-off the running of these institutions and transfer them to private individuals who will better run them. The world’s leading universities are not run by the government. Most of them – Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, etc., were founded by religious institutions. The likes of Stanford, Vanderbilt, etc., were founded by wealthy individuals. They have huge endowment funds sourced via alumni contributions, tuition fees, grants, donations, etc., which is invested and managed by professional fund managers. These funds run into billions of dollars and are even more than the Gross Domestic Product of some

countries. They are weaned off government dependence and are not forced to disrupt their academic calendar due to any form of strike.

Quality education anywhere in the world is expensive and the age-long aphorism that ‘If you think education is expensive try ignorance comes to play here.’

The role of the government should be in ensuring that there is the enabling environment for the creation of scholarships, financial aid, students loans which will greatly cushion the effect of the costly tuition fees and ensure that indigent but bright students can have quality education.

Nigerians will recall how chaotic services in the telecommunications sector were in the pre-GSM era. It was so bad that former Senate President, David Mark said that telephones were not for the poor when he was the Minister for Communication under the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida.

Telephone owners lived in fear of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) who were street tyrants as they disconnected telephone lines at will. Today, NITEL is defunct as they have been pushed out of the market by MTN, Airtel, Globacom and 9Mobile through fierce competition and the superiority of market forces. Their GSM arm, MTEL has long been rendered redundant. That is the beauty of a private sector-led and driven economy.

––Tony Ademiluyi, Lagos

Nigerians Must Be United

T

he recent hoopla about kidnapping, banditry and all that has happened across the nation calls for sober reflection by Nigerians. I say this because Nigerians should learn to see beyond the divide and rule gimmick of politicians.

The back and forth narrative about herdsmen and eviction and the direct politicization of it should show Nigerians that politicians are the greatest agents of national polarization.

It is sad that we have started this nefarious dance of political interests over national interests and we don’t care who is affected.

The Nigerian political class should remember that the will of the Nigerian people is more than any personal ambition.

It should be stated that the same embers than fanned the “wetie” riots in the 1960s in the Western region has started again. All of the talk about sectionalism is a build up to 2023. It is sad that the ruling class have started their games and they don’t care if Nigerians lose their lives.

I ask, why polarize an already polarized nation

in the bid to hold on to power? But I remember that ambition is like a metastatic cancer, it does not stop until the organ is destroyed. It is sad that our ruling class have not focused on the challenges bedeviling us as a nation. All they are concerned about is power - power at the expense of suffering Nigerians living in abject poverty; power at the expense of infrastructure and betterment of the citizenry. It is sad these political class get richer why the people get poorer.

It is time for Nigerians to stand united and not fall for the political game of division and violence. We must not fight ourselves over the politicians, because the politicians don’t fight themselves they are one with their interests. We must stand united as Nigerians to demand good governance at all times. Let us stop this beating drums of war. It is the political class that always benefits: they have another passport, they can run. We have nowhere to run to, this is the only country we have and we must build it and make it work.

––Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@icloud.com.

16

SUNDAY JANUARY 31, 2021 •T H I S D AY

17

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 31, 2021

BUSINESS As PIB Faces Fresh Hurdles…

Editor: Kunle Aderinokun

08033204315, 08111813084 Email:kunle.aderinoku@thisdaylive.com

After over two decades in the works, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), arguably the piece of legislation with the most tortuous journey in the nation’s history, is again faced with what looks like new impediments. With all the parties, seemingly sticking to their old rigid positions during a two-day public hearing at the National Assembly during the week, it’s uncertain who will blink Àrst or whether there will be a middle ground in the next few months. In this report, Emmanuel Addeh wonders if the bill, one that has been described as pivotal to the long-term overall survival of the oil and gas industry, will survive the turbulence this time or be Ànally conÀned to the dustbin of history

O

n September 28, 2020, PresidentMuhammadu Buhari, like some of his predecessors, sent the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to the National Assembly for consideration. But that would not be the Àrst time the most talked about bill would get to the level of the executive and the legislature in the country. Indeed, it had been a long time coming.

Many persons with vast knowledge of the industry and its workings believe that unless national interest is allowed to supersede personal and vested interests, the bill will continue to be in the cooler.

So complicated is the issue that Senate President Ahmed Lawan recently said that some “demons” were behind its non-passage, promising to put them to shame once and for all.

Brief History An oͿshoot of the Oil and *as Sector 5eform Implementation &ommittee (O*I&), which was inaugurated on 24April 2000 under the chairmanship of 'r. 5ilwanu Lukman, who was then the Presidential Adviser on Petroleum and Energy, the original body was charged with the task of making recommendations for a far-reaching restructuring of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

At the time, the recommendations of O*I& included a proposal to separate the commercial institutions within the industry from the regulatory institutions. Seven years later, the government introduced the National Oil and *as Policy and further reconstituted O*I& to make recommendations towards the emergence of a new institutional framework to govern the operations of the oil and gas industry.

That framework was also expected to oversee the emergence of a new national oil company, new regulatory bodies and a new national directorate, for a more eͿective policy formulation for the industry.

In 2008, the discussions that ensued on ways to strengthen the O*I& produced the Lukman 5eport which recommended a new regulatory and institutional framework that, when implemented, would guarantee greater transparency and accountability Eventually, this report formed the basis of the Àrst PIB that was submitted in 2008 as an Executive Bill under the Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Since then the bill has hit several roadblocks as vested interests attempt to get their full slices.

Having undergone numerous revisions and divisive debates, on the 18th of July 2012, the then President *oodluck Jonathan presented a new version of the PIB to the seventh session of the national assembly for consideration and enactment, further throwing it into the front burner of national discourse.

WhyNigeriaNeedsComprehensiveIndustry Law The proponents of the PIB say that the aim is to strengthen the governing institutions, establish a strong regulatory framework, ensure transparency and accountability as well as promote exploration and exploitation of oil resources.

Buhari

It also seeks to safeguard the long term macroeconomic stability of the country, reform the extractive industry institutional framework, provide better clarity for Nigeria and its partners, entrenching a domestic gas to power market as well as increasing oil and gas production whilst protecting the environment.

The PIB has undergone some evolution, including a split which was done during the 8th national assembly, following the inability of stakeholders to agree on certain clauses.

They included the Petroleum Industry *overnance Bill (PI*B), Petroleum Industry Administration Bill (PIAB), Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill (PIFB) and Petroleum Host Community Bill (PHCB).

The PI*B was approved by the national assembly, but it couldn’t sail through the presidential assent and was thereafter returned to the legislature for further work.

In the main, the latest version of the bill which has now returned as a whole, seeks to replace the Nigeria National Petroleum Commission (NNPC) with NNPC Limited, create separate regulatory authorities for upstream, midstream and downstream operations as well as reduce the royalty from 10 per cent to 7.5 per cent for oͿshore Àelds producing not more than 15,000 barrels per day.

Added to that, it is also meant to increase the benchmark threshold of crude oil price for charging royalty from $35 per barrel to $50 per barrel

and make gas Áaring penalties non-tax deductible in order to discourage the phenomenon.

In the course of its evolution, the bill has also eͿected changes to what host communities are entitled to and their obligations, which has been a main source of discord in the proposed law.

Opposition from Big Guns Aside the host communities which have kicked against certain provisions of the bill, oil majors in the industry have also expressed dissatisfaction with some of the clauses in the proposed legislation.

At the national assembly hearing organised by the Joint Committee on Petroleum Upstream, 'ownstream and *as, during the week, the Oil Producing Trade Section (OPTS) expressed some discontent over some provisions of the proposed law.

Chairman of OPTS, Mike Sangster, who made his presentations on behalf of Total, Chevron, Exxon Mobil and Shell companies, complained that the PIB does not have a favourable environment for future deep-water investments and for the launching of new projects.

He proposed that to ensure investors are encouraged to Ànance deep-water projects, the PIB should grant deep-water oil projects a full royalty relief during the Àrst Àve years of production or a graduated royalty scheme as detailed in their submission.

He also proposed that PIB should remove

Hydrocarbon Tax considering that companies will still be subject to Company Income Tax (CIT), noting that the bill does not address the key challenges facing gas development in Nigeria, such as inadequate midstream infrastructure, regulated gas pricing, huge and long outstanding debts.

The group called for the provision of a clear path for transitioning to free market-based pricing, remove additional compliance conditions on domestic gas delivery obligations as a precondition for export gas supply and allow pre-existing contracts and agreements to run their course Sangster said: “OPTS recognises the government’s right to change laws. However, to maintain Nigeria’s reputation amongst investors, it is important for the PIB to explicitly preserve base businesses and rights for existing Joint Venture licenses and leases and Production Sharing Contracts, which form the basis for future growth.

“Operators should be allowed to retain the entirety of their lease areas and new terms should apply only to new contracts, licenses and leases.”

The oil giants also called for a savings provision to allow post-conversion continuity of activities undertaken by a single legal entity, instead of being segregated as independent companies.

In addition they sought the harmonisation of taxes into a single tax system and allow for consolidated Àling and tax reporting and also to harmonise tax practices and ensure capital allow-

18

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 31, 2021

BUSINESS As PIB Faces Fresh Hurdles… ances and allowable deductions are consistent with existing tax legislations.

Angry Host Communities Insist on 10% Equity In the course of the two-day public hearing, some angry host communities’ representatives, claimed that the proposed law as it concerns them, was designed to further enslave them and create further confusion in the region and expose the communities to environmental degradation and untold hardship.

Some of them accused the national assembly of not allowing a fair and adequate opportunity for vulnerable stakeholders in the region to have a say in the legislative processes towards passing the PIB, saying that they were denied the opportunity to speak. At a point during the sessions, there were exchange of ÀsticuͿs after heated arguments.

But one of the representatives of the communities, the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, (HOSTCOM) which made a representation during the event, insisted on 10 per cent equity shareholding from oil companies.

While threatening that only then would they guarantee the security of the area if the said fund is given, Chief Benjamin Tamaranebi, noted that the host communities have been relegated to the background.

HOSTCOM maintained that it is imperative that the communities get the 10 percent as provided for during late President Yar’Adua in order to enable the people participate fully through the protection of infrastructure and oil installation.

The group vehemently rejected the percentage for host communities from oil companies pegged at 2.5 per cent in the new bill, saying that the 10 per cent oͿered in the bill considered during the 7th Assembly should be retained. ” Imagine a provision that was put at 10 per cent during the 7th Assembly , reduced to 5 per cent during the 8th Assembly and now further reduced to 2.5 per cent in the new bill for consideration and approval by the present 9th Assembly.

“After 60 years of marginalisation and bearing the brunt of the negative impacts of exploration and exploitation. Today, some states have started discovering and enjoying their natural resources but the producing states and HostCom are not envious of them therefore our position is sacrosanct.

“It will be very absurd and economically very illogical to deprive HostCom the right to equity shareholding in both the establishment of the NNPC Limited, the Commission, the Authority and the Boards,” the host communities said.

As for the gas Áare penalty funds, the communities insisted that they who are the direct recipient of the negative eͿects are the ones to receive the proceeds from the gas Áare penalty.

They noted that if Nigeria must divest or privatise the oil and gas assets, then the host communities must have the right of Àrst refusal before they open up the sale or bid to other Nigerians “because the oil and gas in Nigeria, indeed, belongs to the producing states and host communities in the Àrst place.”

Petroleum Ministry, NNPC Take Stand At the National Assembly, the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, said the PIB needed to be passed as soon as possible to attract signiÀcant investment into the sector.

“This industry does not tolerate uncertainties.

When we started the journey to PIB in the year 2000, through the oil and gas reform committee that was the beginning of the interruption of uncertainties in the industry.

“And since 2000 until this moment, that the industry has not seen signiÀcant investment except one particular area, production sharing which we still have challenges because of the Àscal uncertainties.

“This industry refused to develop from 2000 till today. We haven’t seen signiÀcant development in this industry since 2000 and the reason is very clear. The three attempts to make this legislation work have not succeed, but every time you have such situation you have uncertainties.

“We will not Ànd other investors coming as long as we remain a very high cost environment, a very uncertain Àscal environment and with other associated issues that come with it.

“Passing the PIB so that we become more competitive, compared to where we were 20 years ago will bring us back to reality. That reality

Lawan

Sylva

Kyari

is to take advantage of the resources that we have today to enable us develop the midstream which is what is lacking today.

In the same vein, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, said when passed, the PIB will essentially overhaul the legal and regulatory framework of the Nigerian petroleum industry and clarify the rules of engagement for the monetisation of the country’s valuable hydrocarbon resources.

“This day has been anticipated for a very long time given the chequered history of the various attempt to pass the bill and has been made possible by the eͿort of the diͿerent stakeholders within the executive and legislature who have worked with patriotic and selÁess ]eal to make this happen.

“The journey to improve a viable and investment-friendly regulatory framework for the Nigerian petroleum industry has been on for the past 20 years and has been characterised by all sorts of challenges that have prevented that journey from reaching the desired destination till date.

“That notwithstanding, the necessity for reform of the Nigeria petroleum industry to make it conform to the current realities to proper position it for the challenges of the future has made it imperative for the eͿort to pass the bill to be sustained and Ànalised.

“Indeed the world has changed signiÀcantly since the Àrst eͿort of reform was made in the year 2000 to pass the PIB. The Nigerian petroleum industry faces challenges arising not from the domestic environment but from the wider international environment.

“The volatility of global crude prices which crashed into negativity into territory at the height of Covid-19, the proliferation of country’s funding hydrocarbons and make it seem available for exploitation have also impacted on demand for crude as well as the revenue and proÀts accrual “The above scenario underscores the urgency that necessitates the passing of the PIB which overhauls the legal and regulatory framework of the Nigerian petroleum industry and clariÀes the rules of engagement for the monetisation of our valuable hydrocarbon resources,” he argued.

of the generality of the country.

The serving professor at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal studies (NIALS), argued that the rest of the world was leaving Nigeria behind, noting that with increasing attention to renewable sources of energy, the country’s oil asset was fast losing value.

Lawan, the President of the Senate, had said: “PIB is like a demon. People both within and outside the country are ready to work against it as they have been doing for the past 14 years, but the 9th Senate and by extension, 9th National Assembly, will defeat the demon with the current bill before both chambers.”

But Omorogbe maintained that although Lawan didn’t mention names, he was perhaps talking about vested interests, including even within the national assembly.

“There are huge vested interests and it’s these vested interests that have militated against the passage of the bill for a long time. We have been on this for about 20 year, from when the Àrst oil and gas sector implementation committee was created by President Olusegun Obasanjo at the time.

“We worked on the oil and gas policy. We continued until 2006, then when the new president, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua came in, the Oil and Gas Sector Implementation Committee was reconstituted. It was given the mandate to push the reform. I was part of the 2008 OGIC. “And I got in and I found out that there were huge interests and a lot of the interests were internal interests that time militating against its passage. The senate president did not tell us what the demons are or what their names are or where they are located, but my strong guess is that it is the same interests concentrated in Nigeria.

“Some are external that are working against the passage of the deal. We are still waiting for the passage, forgetting that that the passage of that law is the beginning of reforms not the end,” the professor noted.

She argued that the bill was doable, but that “if there are clauses there that we cannot live with, we can try to amend these clauses or work with them in some way.”

“But to have an industry that is so important to us, being operated under obsolete laws that cannot assist the people of Nigeria is just untenable. These interests are not for Nigeria, otherwise the bill would have been passed by now.

“This is because the ultimate intent of reform is that the beneÀts should go to Nigerians and not to private pockets or any organisation. It is to cut out wastage, cut out opaque practices and to ensure we actually beneÀt. A lot of the interests are personal and they are institutional interest and that is the main problem,” she noted.

She advocated the passing of the law as a whole, rather than in parts, saying that many implementation challenges will arise if passed in bits and pieces.

“We just need to pass something and move on while people still have some interest in oil.Among the groups with diͿerent interests are persons in the national assembly and even persons in the national assembly from diͿerent blocks, holding diͿerent positions.

“We need to confront all these demons, knowing that if we Àght too much over a particular cake, we could end up destroying it and then have nothing,” Omorogbe said.

Between Demons and Vested Interests Indeed, there’s no gainsaying the fact that some persons and groups are wont to pursue their personal interests far above the national interest. If anything, the senate president who should know better, has already admitted that there are demons that do not want the bill to become law.

A former Secretary and Legal Adviser to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Prof.Yinka Omorogbe, puts it succinctly in a recent interview.

Omorogbe, who traced the origin of the bill and her role , maintained that it was being delayed due to various vested interests within and outside the country. The professor of energy law and former Dean, faculty of law, University of Ibadan, declared that the journey of the bill which commenced about 20 years ago had been tortuous because many of the decision makers were putting their stakes above that

Lawan, Gbajabiamila Assure Nigerians But despite all the grandstanding and setbacks, Senate President, Lawan and his counterpart at the House of Representatives, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, have assured Nigerians of the passage of the bill in the second quarter of this year.

Lawan stated that the passage of the bill will ensure that Nigerians beneÀt optimally from crude oil production and sale of fossil fuel reserves.

He pointed out that the National Assembly in its consideration of the piece of legislation would ensure that the bill when passed into law, guarantees improved revenue earnings for the country. ‘’Let me say this, we will pass this bill not without ensuring that it is a bill that satisÀes certain conditions. Nigeria is blessed with these resources, we want Nigeria to beneÀt optimally from them. In fact, we are in a hurry because we have lost so many years of beneÀts that we could have had,’’ he said.

He noted that the non-passage of the PIB had been a major drag on the industry over the years, signiÀcantly limiting its ability to attract both local and foreign capital at a time when many other countries are scrambling to exploit their oil and gas resources. ‘’The mere knowledge that the nation’s oil industry is still being governed by laws enacted more than 50 years ago is ludicrous and extremely disappointing,” he stated.

Also, Gbajabiamila expressed disappointment with the inability of successive administrations in the country to ensure the passage of the PIB into law. He said it was di΀cult to explain why the bill did not pass despite collective interest by all for the passage of the bill, stating that the oil sector is underperforming due to lack of a legislative framework to guide the sector.

“It is disappointing and frankly di΀cult to explain how successive governments have failed to deliver on the promise of reform despite this broad agreement.

“For a long time, we have known that this critical national industry underperforms its potential and our national expectations. For the most part, we all agree on the need for legislative action to make improvements through statutory and regulatory reform.

“We are not oblivious to the fact of many contending interests in this sector. These contentions do not need to result in conÁict, especially whenweknowtheobjectiveofnationalprosperity beneÀts us all.

“Therefore, the process of engaging with stakeholders will continue beyond this public hearing to accommodate the diversity of interests and ensure all critical views form part of the deliberations that inform the Ànal legislation,” he stated.

Will the lawmakers deliver this time? Will the president give his assent? Can the stakeholders arrive at a common ground on the contentious issues? The next few months will tell.

19

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 31, 2021

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Emefiele

Rewane

Uwaleke

The Naira and Economic Prospects Nigeria must rein in its foreign exchange management policy to incentivise foreign investors and boost recovery of the economy, writes James Emejo

T

he local currency to a large extent measures the health of an economy and provides critical guide for both foreign and local investors on where to plough their resources for optimal beneÀts.

Nigeria, which is currently in an economic recession - the second in a row - needs massive capital Áows to return the economy on the path of growth amidst vulnerability in the oil market as well as urgent need to diversify its economic base, particularly in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But, a handful of adverse factors currently tend to slow progress - insecurity, lack of infrastructure, policy inconsistency, bureaucracy and liquidity challenges in foreign exchange and exchange rate among others. If anything, the country’s inability to attract foreign capital in recent times had partly been blamed on insecurity and unsatisfactory forex regime.

In recent past, many analysts and rating agencies believed the Naira is overvalued and called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Áoat the currency in order to Ànd its true value.

Many had also opposed the operation of multiple windows in forex management preferring a single window and that the market be left to the forces of demand and supply.

Ideally, analysts are of divergent views that the Naira needed to be weakened at the present instance for the country to woo investors and target growth while others are of the opinion that the currency should be strengthened at the moment.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the total value of capital importation into the country fell drastically to $1.29 billion in the second quarter of the year (42 2020), compared to $5.85 billion in the preceding quarter, representing a contraction of 78 per cent compared to 41 and 79 per cent compared to 42 2019.

Amidst the need to reÁate the economy, analysts believed introducing some Áexibility in the forex regime is critical.

Global Chief Economist, Renaissance Capital, Mr. Charles Robertson believes the Naira is overvalued had pushed for cheaper currency amidst high fertility rate in the country.

Robertson, who delivered a keynote address at a web conference on “The Naira in 2021: Optimising Choices for Growth” which was organised by Arbiterz Media Limited, in partnership with Cordros Capital, had argued that Nigeria is currently faced with dearth of savings which is a critical tool for investment.

He linked this to her growing population which is made possible by high fertility rate and absence of birth control mechanisms.

According to him, “The more children you have, the fewer saving you have. Lower fertility countries such as Morocco, where it is an average of two kids per woman have lots of savings, big banking systems, and low interest rates. However, high fertility countries such as Nigeria, Congo,Angola and Burundi, are where you have high interest rates, not too much birth controls and many unorthodox policies.”

He said with the current exchange rate, “It is hard to see what could trigger interest from foreign investors at Nigeria”.

Chief Executive, Financial Derivatives Company, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, however supported a competitive devaluation of the currency by allowing it to Áoat and Ànd its value adding though that a stronger currency will not necessarily guarantee strong economy.

He said, “Economic patriotism means a strong Naira means a strong economy - false, fallacy as a matter of fact, competitive devaluation helps you put yourself stronger.

“The Àrst and which government has accepted is that a strong Naira does not mean a strong economy but a strong economy will lead to a strong Naira. Therefore, we’re going to see a shift towards a more market-determined Naira.

“With policies that are not predictable you are going to be to paying N475-N480/$ and if that continues moving in that direction.”

Rewane said implementing relevant market reforms will lead to convergence and Áexibility in rates, “where the rates move upwards and downwards and everybody can build on to the accepted mentality that the exchange rate is not Àxed.

“Let’s adjust the rate and accept Áexible rates rather than rationing foreign exchange.”

Also, speaking during the webinar Head, SSA Equity Sales, Stanbic IBTC, Mr. Akinbamidele Akintola, said foreign investors were still worried about their ability to repatriate their funds adding that “frankly either people are staying in the queues to get their monies out or exploring other avenues like new gold to take their money out.

He added that for Àxed stock...”but we are not seeing fresh capital”.

Also speaking in separate interviews with THISDAY, analysts further outlines the merits and demerits of currency devaluation at this particular point in time.

Former Director General, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr. Chijioke

Ekechukwu, a weak Naira will lead to high inÁation and poor standard of living, a situation that could further compound poverty level and aid criminality.

He said, “It therefore depends on what government wants to achieve, either being people-oriented or government-oriented.”

Ekechukwu, on the other hand, pointed out that, “Much as a weak local currency always shows an indication of weak economy, a weak Naira over other currencies has its own merits and beneÀts to the country.

“Firstly, it provides and makes available more revenue for government as it gets higher Naira value for crude oil sold or other revenues denominated in foreign currency. So, more funds will be available to fund the budget.

“Secondly, there will emerge more exporters than importers and this leads to a more favourable balance of trade and payment. Thirdly, foreign direct investment Àgures will rise and more jobs will be created.”

On his part, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Credent Investment Managers Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Shelleng, said a cheaper currency would have beneÀted the country, if it were to be a net exporter.

“Unfortunately, we don’t produce enough in Nigeria for the cheaper Naira to encourage more international trade,” he said.

According to him, a cheaper Naira would only be good for the economy if we were net exporters. “It would encourage more foreign trade. This is similar to what China does. They deliberately ensure the Yuan stays devalued in order to encourage more foreign trade.

“If anything, a cheaper Naira allows foreign investors to pick up depressed Nigerian assets for cheaper and this is not necessarily good for the economy. It crowds out local investors from being competitive.”

Shelleng further explained that, “A weaker Naira also means the cost of importing goods and materials also increases. This invariably leads to cost-push inÁation as higher production costs are passed on to the consumer. In the long run however, it may discourage importation and encourage more local production.

“A stronger Naira would certainly be a good indication that the economy is getting better.

Local investors would be able to compete better against foreign capital. This would undoubtedly lead to greater development and reduce volatility from capital Áight during economic downturns.

“Ultimately, the focus by the CBN has to be on stabilisation of the Naira. The volatile nature of

the naira and the constant threat of devaluation is more damaging to the economy. AuniÀcation of the various exchange rates and an adjustment of the rate to reÁect market realities may provide short-term inconveniences, but would certainly be better in the longer term.”

Similarly, President, Capital MarketAcademics of Nigeria, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, said a weak naira potentially worsens the inÁationary pressure given the import-dependent nature of our economy adding that “This is also capable of adversely aͿecting output and rolling back eͿorts at economic recovery.”

He pointed out that argument that a weak naira will make exports cheaper and so boost exports as well as attract foreign direct investments and improve balance of payments holds true under certain conditions that are not yet present in the country.

“The Àrst is that the country’s export base is still shallow coupled with structural and administrative issues which continue to hinder exports.

“The second point to note is that FDI inÁow is not just a function of the exchange rate, but also depends on a number of factors such as the ease of doing business, state of infrastructure, enabling laws, security and so on.”

Uwaleke said, “Virtually every sector of the economy is blaming the exchange rate for high cost of goods and services. Only recently, the government announced waiver of VAT on airline tickets as a means of reducing air fares, but the operators are saying the major cause of exorbitant fares is the exchange rate.

“You can imagine the impact of a high exchange rate on the prices of petroleum products which are mostly imported as well as essential raw materials needed for production by Àrms.

“Don’t forget also that this year’s budget of federal and state governments have been based on an exchange rate of N379 per dollar.

A weakened naira relative to the dollar will increase the cost of executing capital projects most of which have dollar components.”

Uwaleke stated that, “against this backdrop, both the Àscal and monetary authorities should join hands in 2021 to ensure that the export base is diversiÀed, the PIB is passed into law and becomes operational to attract investments especially in the downstream petroleum sector so the country stops importing fuel, insecurity is tackled and the infrastructure component of the 2021 budget is implemented.

“The CBN, in particular, should sustain its demand management strategy while pursuing the issue of Exchange rates uniÀcation at a gradual pace.”

20

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 31, 2021

BUSINESS/ENERGY

Finally, Supreme Court Ready for Abebe, Statoil Breach of contract disputes are often quickly settled out-of-courts before they get to judgments.

But since the one involving Inducon Nigeria Limited and the Norwegian oil Àrm, Statoil Nigeria Limited (now Equinox Nigeria Limited), deÀed all settlement mechanisms and meandered its way to the Supreme Court, parties are looking forward to a sound judgment that would serve as a reference point in many years to come, Davidson Iriekpen writes

T

he Supreme Court has set Friday, February 5, 2021 to deliver judgment on a breach of contract dispute that could potentially be a reference point in resolving similar disputes in the country in the nearest future.

The appeal, which has been pending in the apex court since 2012, was Àled by a Norwegian oil Àrm, Statoil Nigeria Limited (now Equinox Nigerian Limited), against the decisions of the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal both in Lagos which awarded judgments to an indigenous company, Inducon Nigeria Limited and its promoter, Dr. John Abebe in 2010 and 2012 respectively.

The substantive suit started when the indigenous company, Inducon and its promoter, Abebe Àled an action against Statoil at the Federal High Court in Lagos, contending that in April 1990, he was informed by British Petroleum (BP) that it was interested in pursuing opportunities in the Nigerian oil industry together with its partner, Statoil of Stavanger, Norway with whom it had entered into an alliance agreement. According to him, the alliance, as it was represented to him, would present the Àrst ever opportunity for Statoil, then an indigenous Norwegian company, to operate outside its home base, Norway, and to venture into West Africa, among others.

In his statement of claim, Abebe, the promoter of Inducon, argued that at all material times, he was told that BP and Statoil would be equal partners on a 50:50 basis in the alliance and that although the alliance would not be set up as a separate legal personality, the two companies would operate as one.

He added that he was also instrumental to ensuring that the production sharing contracts for the blocks were signed with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). The businessman said much of the achievements the two companies made in Nigeria then were due to his extensive contacts in government and the oil and gas sector. He argued that Statoil was granted those blocks because of the policy of indigenous participation and transfer of technology in the oil industry and that since Statoil entered Nigeria as a result of that policy, it denied that the policy existed and has failed to live up to its undertaking to encourage the promotion of indigenous participation in the Nigerian oil industry.

Even the witnesses from the DPR and others corroborated Abebe’s statement of claim.

But in its defence, Statoil described Abebe’s claims as unfounded, adding he and his company were retained by the company throughout most of the 1990s and that the contract had long been terminated.

It stated that the role of the businessman was to oͿer advice and assistance in connection with its business in Nigeria and that for a period, he had a seat on the board of Statoil’s Nigerian subsidiary until the alliance it had BP was dissolved in 1999.

Statoil wondered that if there was actually an oral agreement as claimed by Abebe,

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad

why did he not use his position as the vice-chairman of the oil Àrm from 1991 to 1997 to regularise it? He stated that from the plaintiͿs’ own evidence, there was no conceivable evidence to show that there was an agreement between them.

In his judgment, Justice Charles Archibong a΀rmed Abebe’s submissions and held that there was indeed an agreement between him, BP and Statoil contrary to the claim of the oil Àrm, which must be honoured.

It held that there was indeed an agreement between him, BP and Statoil contrary to the claim of the oil Àrm, which must be honoured, adding that it was clear that there were short-term, intermediate-term and long-term remunerations in connection with the contractual agreement, resulting to the ceding of the 1.5 per cent of the oil blocks to the plaintiͿs.

In resolving the question of whether there was enforceable agreement in law between the plaintiͿs and the defendant, the court held that though it appears that there was no written agreement, BP and by extension, Statoil engaged the plaintiͿ as partner and thereby took up the commitment of BP to the defendant.

Justice Archibong then ordered Statoil to pay Abebe and his company, 1.5per cent net proÀt interest accruable to it from the three oil blocks allocated to them for bringing the Àrm to Nigeria to explore oil resources.

DissatisÀed with the judgment, Statoil headed to the Court of Appeal which in 2012, dismissed its appeal and upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court.

In a unanimous decision, the panel of the justices held that it would amount to an injustice if Abebe and his company were not paid the amount for bringing the oil company to the country. In the lead judgment, Justice Helen Ogunwumiju held that Statoil’s appeal lacked merit and consequently dismissed it. She faulted the argument of Statoil and its counsel that judgment of the lower court was against the weight of evidence adduced.

Relying on various submissions of the judge of the lower court, Justice Ogunwumiju held that the arguments of the appellant was no of value. She held that since there was an alliance between British Petroleum (BP) and Statoil and Abebe, because BP later divested and left the country does not mean that the agreement reached with the businessman had died. She added that since Statoil became a beneÀciary of the crude oil exploitation, it means that it inherited the agreement.

Part of the judgments of both court were restraining orders barring the international oil company from repatriating its funds pending the determination of the case.

Still not satisÀed, Statoil proceeded to the Supreme Court with an appeal.

THISDAY investigation revealed that after the Norwegian oil Àrm Àled its appeal,

some International Oil Companies (IOCs), sensing that the case could potentially aͿect their operations in Nigeria if the apex court rules in favour of Inducon, on many occasions sought to resolve the case out-of-court but were rebuͿed. It was also learnt that after a careful study of the judgments of the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal, one of the lawyers in the Norwegian company’s legal team had called on the company to engage Abebe in an out-of-court settlement but the company refused to explore the option deeper after the paltry oͿer it made to the respondents failed.

However, there was a turning point in the case while it was still pending at the Supreme Court as Inducon and Abebe in 2016 raised the alarm, alleging that Statoil was violating court orders and two extant laws of Nigeria, by moving out of the country $4.1billion in four years. They consequently Àled a motion on June 13, 2016 at the court, asking the international oil Àrm to bring back to Nigeria the $4.1billion illegally repatriated out of the country in Áagrant disregard to the provisions of Section 11 of the Pre-shipment Inspection of Exports Act and Section 19 of the Foreign Exchange Act and the extant non-repatriation order of the Federal High Court as conÀrmed by the Court of Appeal.

Startled with the development, Statoil Àled an interlocutory application seeking to introduce new evidence in the case but was turned down. In deciding the application in April 2018, the Supreme Court in a unanimous decision, described the interlocutory appeal as frivolous and an abuse of court process. The panel of justices held that the fresh evidence which Statoil sought to present were available to it during the proceedings at the trial court but did not exercise due diligence to produce them. They consequently, awarded cost of N500,000 against the Norwegian oil Àrm for wasting the time of the court with a frivolous application.

Apparently startled by the developments especially when the allegation of reparation of funds coincided with when the federal government Àned MTN Nigeria for similar oͿence, Statoil immediately called for a meeting of both parties to Ànd an out-of-court settlement. When the meeting broke down, Statoil petitioned the Vice President on the alleged forgery and the VP directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to look into the matter. Not even a petition to the Attorney General of the Federation and the O΀ce of the Vice-President as a whistleblower on the $4.1 billion issue changed anything.

While there were divided opinions as to the appropriateness of that action, in its characteristic manner of always not carefully investigating cases, the antigraft agency Àled charges against the whistleblower at the Lagos High Court.

Those who have been following the case, see the action of the Norwegian oil Àrm as an attempt to muzzle an indigenous company and deprive it of its rights. They, therefore, urged the Supreme Court to carefully examine the case and come up with a sound judgment that would lay the matter to rest once and for all.

21

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 31, 2021

BUSINESS INTERVIEW GREG OGBEIFUN

Onne is Now a Mortuary of Ships Chief Greg Ogbeifun is the former President, Ship Owners Association of Nigeria and Chairman/Chief Executive O΀cer, Starz Investments Company Limited. In an interview with Chris Paul, he speaks about the sorry state of the shipping industry in Nigeria how the crash in oil prices globally and COVID-19 pandemic are killing oͿ Nigerian Shipping investments, with Onne as the mortuary, where they are buried. With the coming Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCTA), Ogbeifun is saddened that Nigerian Maritime sector may be missing in action. Government policies and stiÁing of Nigerian players in the sector, literally breaks his heart. How do they compete against their foreign counterpart? He would wonder. His personal experience, illustrates the tragic plight of his colleagues in the business.

A

s you know the economy was heading to a tailspin when the COVID-19 pandemic hit us. Now, with the second wave coming hard on economies, how is the Maritime industry managing itself at this time?

It has been with extreme di΀culty, understandably so, the Maritime industry is not alone in the eͿect of the pandemic virtually every economy and government. as well, have felt the eͿect of the pandemic. The Àrst thing is to protect the human beings, who are the workforce in the sector. The Seafarers are the most hit because they have to live in a conÀned environment of the ship and so they are all vulnerable to the virus if one person is infected. That is something to contend with therefore the Àrst thing to ensure is that before the Crew is sent on board is that they certiÀed free of the infection. If you look at our own Shipping sector, particularly upstream of the industry, working with the Oil and Gas the peculiar type of boats and ships we use, we now have to quarantine the Crew for seven days. After which they are tested and if found negative they are sent on board.

Where they are found positive, we bring in the NCDC to take them to the respective centres for treatment.

So, what that means is that you are keeping Crew for seven days who are not working, but you have to pay them and that extra cost is borne by the ship owner. You don’t have a palliative arrangement in place whereby, that extra cost is recognised by the client and compensated. So, that is a burden on every ship owner. Then when the Crew come oͿ the ship as well, we have to test them before we allow them to go home. If they are negative, they are allowed to go home and if they are positive they are taken to the isolations centres to be treated before they are allowed to go home.

Now, you may ask how can a crew that went on board to work, negative, return from the ship, positive? You Ànd that they interact with the client’s personnel on the rigs or on the platforms, the FPSOs and the like. Our sector is extremely vulnerable to the eͿect of the pandemic. But it has obviously been doing business in our sector, higher than normal, which is not being recognised. In other climes, there are so many types of initiative that governments come up with, to mitigate against such situations to enable oͿ-takers to continue to operate and provide the services they render to the economy.

I have talked about the upstream I believe the downstream also has its challenges as long as they are in a conÀned environment, their journey on and oͿ the ship, for example the Coastal Tankers, where they are also exposed to the pandemic. Like the rest of the world, we are trying to reduce our risk level while at the same time working to protect

Greg Ogbeifun

ourselves, in compliance to the protocol approved by the appropriate agency.

Have you interfaced with government on the need to intervene in mitigating this extra cost and the impact on your business and the bottom line? For instance, governments in other countries, as you have rightly said, have you gone the extra mile to give concessions as in the over 30% given in Port Dues by the Singaporean government to its Shippers and over $ 110 million pumped in to protect the Freight Service in Australia. Have you considered drawing government’s attention to this?

Because we are in a pandemic era and this cost is not going away anytime soon.

You are very correct. The answer is that I

have thought about the fact that the government should be engaged and such engagement should be by the organised sector of the industry. For instance, the Ship Owners Association is one platform that should come together to engage the appropriate organ of government whichever that may be. I believe it is a good point you have made.

Without such an engagement, we cannot expect manna to come down. I will reach appropriate persons in the association to see if they can initiate this move because like you rightly said coronavirus is not going away in a hurry« and that means some of the challenges people are living with are not temporary therefore, we need to Ànd a way to ensure it doesn’t kill us all completely. Or, kill the business.

The Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCTA) is meeting us in a pandemic era and at a point the Nigerian economy, especially in the Maritime sector, is having issues that require urgent attention.

So, how is the sector preparing to meet what would end up creating a continental ÁRRGJDWH HFRQRP\" Hmmmmmm « That is a very strong one. It saddens my heart as an individual that such a wonderful opportunity being created by the African Free Trade agreement we are going to eͿectively beneÀt from it, from the Maritime perspective. The free trade operations will deÀnitely leverage the transportation of goods between countries either by road, air and majorly by sea. Some of us have been in the vanguard of talking, long time ago, about the need for the country to re-establish global trade opportunities for ourselves Global trade access global trading ships.

Since the episode of the Nigerian National Shipping Line in 1995, it is a matter for regret that we have not, as a nation, made the most eͿort to see how a Nigerian Áeet (whether it is private, whether it is public or even public private partnership), Áying Nigerian Áag is parked out there. A country of over 200 million people with huge imports and exports daily, we do not have our own ships participating in the movement of our national goods. It is terribly sad So, we now have a free trade opportunity whereby if we have to move our goods to other countries by sea, we have to go and chatter bus. This is the trend and every time, I just shudder and shake my head. What a shame What a pity What are we losing? So much As at the time the national shipping line was in operation, we had 29 global-seas worthy ships trending globally. You can imagine the number of Nigerian seafarers that were involved in that experience. You can imagine the job creation, the economic beneÀts and so forth.

We have lost all that as a nation And we have not purpose in our hearts and let’s do something about it Am I excited about the Africa free trade opportunity? Of course, I am. But I weep that we would stand by and watch other nations move our goods with their own ships, on our behalf. So, how do we deal with it? It is never too late to get it right.

Now, you may be aware that my 70th birthday is coming up next month and there were all sorts of activities that were lined up, which I have now postponed now because of the COVID. But one activity that is still going to take place is the virtual symposium, which is coming up on the 5th of February and the theme of that symposium (which is why I insisted it should go on, even as virtual) is the issue of re-establishing a Nigerian Shipping Fleet trading globally.

That is how important I take the issue of the re-establishment of a national shipping line for Nigeria.

22

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 31, 2021

BUSINESS/MONEY

Access Bank Realigns for Growth, Digs Deeper into Global Market Recently, Access Bank Plc engaged its investors on its ambitious plans to further cement its hold on Nigerian, African and global markets at a period when other Nigerian players are still grappling with the challenges of COVID-19 on business and economy. In this report, Festus Akanbi examines the plans laid before investors and Ànance industry operators

I

t is indeed a tough time for all the sectors of the economy globally.

In Nigeria, it is tougher for service providers, who have to endure the growing customers’ frustration amidst a biting economic recession.

And for the Nigerian banks, and other providers of essential customer-driven products and services, the pressure is in many folds, no thanks to the devastating eͿects of COVID-19 which are forcing government and private sector operators to keep adjusting their plans and processes.

In the Nigerian banking industry, it is like a fresh beginning as operators are forced not only to safeguard the lives of their workforce and customers, but also to comply with all the safety protocols issued by the Nigerian authorities.

Even if the frequency of customer tra΀c into the banking halls are seriously curtailed, it does not reÁect in the volume of tasks and processes taking place in the banks every day.

As events continue to unfold, a number of operators in the Nigerian banking industry have succeeded in reshaping their institutions in such a way that will not only to make them relevant in the emerging scheme of things in the Nigerian industry, but to also make their impacts felt in other parts of theAfrican continent and beyond.

To these group of banks, it is time to fully explore all the available opportunities that will guarantee good returns on investment.

Industry analysts believe that as thoughts turn to a world beyond the immediate crisis, a strong banking sector will be needed for a strong banking environment that will emerge post-COVID era. They therefore argued that it’s necessary for banks to continue playing a signiÀcant role in shaping the recovery and helping their customers rebuild their Ànancial security and business health.

Access Bank Investors Engagement Forum This was the message the board and management of Access Bank Plc, one of the front runners in the Nigerian banking industry, pushed before its current and prospective investors at the bank’s Investors’ Engagement Forum penultimate Tuesday.

The bank, which has kick-started its robust re-organisation process, has cleverly studied emerging business opportunities in Nigeria and Africa, where it already has heavy presence. It also plans to make the best of other promising regions of the world.

According to the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, the bank is best positioned to maximise the opportunities, given its signiÀcant traction in Nigeria.

A conÀdent Wigwe told investors that Access Bank’s strategy is supported by the bank’s experience and presence in key international markets, which enable the bank to diversify its earnings away from the volatile operating environments in Africa; Orchestrate operations as a global payments gateway; Manage its risk and exposures to soft currencies and enhance its proÀtability without excess risk.

He explained that Access Bank’s outside Africa subsidiaries will be anchored out of Access Bank UK. Opting HoldCo Structure for Better EfÀFLHQF\ Having identiÀed the immense opportunity in playing at the global stage, the bank felt the next thing to do was to transit to a more formidable structure. “We will therefore re-organise to capture these opportunities by transitioning to a HoldCo structure. Through this re-organisation, we will create new product revenues without taking additional risk for the enterprise, ensure diversiÀcation of earnings, and support outside

with a targeted focus and approach, supported by key enablers.”

The focus, according to him is to “become an aggregator in Africa by 1) building a global payments gateway, 2) oͿering holistic trade Ànance support and 3) oͿering correspondent banking.”

The bank therefore plans to focus on key markets to support regional trade by targeting new opportunity markets and positioning the Access Bank as a trade and payments gateway to the world.

The bank also plans to transform payments and remittances using cheap FX from international remittances to feed trade, leveraging Access Africa connections to wallets and payment platforms.

Wigwe

of Africa expansion,” Wigwe said.

The HoldCo will include,Access Bank Group, Payments Business, Consumer Lending and Agency Banking and an Insurance Brokerage.

Wigwe explained that the scope of Access Bank Group will consist of Nigeria, Africa and International subsidiaries.

Venturing into Insurance Business The bank’s board, having seen a growing potential in the Nigerian insurance industry did not hesitate in approving the plan to venture in that industry.

As opportunity for increased capacity and assurance of high proÀt margin beckons in the insurance industry, Access Bank is poised to register its presence in a big way.

Wigwe told investors that the insurance subsidiary will adopt a dynamic and creative approach to deliver value-added services focused to meet customer insurance needs.

Already, Bancassurance Access Bank is in partnership with Coronation Insurance to oͿer insurance products to theAccess Bank’s customers. He disclosed that Access Bank-Coronation Insurance bancassurance is already available in Nigeria and Ghana.

“Access Insurance Brokerage would adopt a dynamic and creative approach to provide a value-added insurance broking services focused to meeting customers’ insurance protection needs,” Wigwe said.

He said the bank is poised to take advantage of its presence in other African countries by capturing from the insurance industry of the host countries.

The Spread Nigeria International Access Bank Group will include Access Bank Sierra Leone, Access Bank Gambia, Access Bank Kenya, Access Bank Zambia and Access Bank Rwanda.

Others include, Access Bank South Africa, Access Bank Mozambique, Access Bank D.R. Congo, Access Bank UK, Access Bank Lebanon, Access Bank China, Access Bank India, Access Bank Ghana, Access Bank U.A.E, and Access PFC Diamond Finance B.V. Access Bank.

Justifying the rising appetite for the market on the African continent, Wigwe said, “Our Africa expansion strategy is deliberate and disciplined,

Economies of Scale Wigwe told shareholders, investors and stockbrokers that Access Bank will approach target scale in countries of presence, targeting an impactful presence, reaping economies of scale, and leveraging digital and access to cheap funding sources. The bank also plans to diversify risk and earnings, taking advantage of the expansion strategy to diversify its earnings and risk—that said, Nigeria will remain its largest market.

To this end, the banks will build on partnerships, modelling expansion strategy on partnerships with Ànancial investors, DFIs, etc. and providing strategic support to protect and grow partners’ value.

The bank’s chief said the Africa Franchise will be complemented with strategic global locations anchored out of the Access Bank UK subsidiary.

Tapping from Gains of AfCTA By design, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) was due to commence on January 1, 2021. AfCTA is intended to accelerate intra-African trade and boosting Africa’s trading position in the global market by strengthening Africa’s common voice and policy space in global trade negotiations. The AfCFTA lowers trade barriers and promotes regional economic integration.

It was the profound necessity for modern and e΀cient banking services needed for smooth borderless trade activities under AfCTA model that the board and management of Access Bank seek to explore.

According to Wigwe, Across Africa, there is an opportunity for Access Bank to expand to high-potential markets, leveraging the beneÀts of AfCFTA. He said that Africa presents a market opportunity of over 1.3bn people. It is only a bank, which has su΀ciently proved its capabilities at all fronts at home that can oͿer its service to a continent with such a large population.

The board of the bank are not oblivious to the fact that for such a humongous number of potential customers to be targeted, its digital operation has to be adopted.

The bank said it wants to be the clear-cut digital leader in Africa. Consequently, it has begun the process of digitising customer journeys, digitising products, digitising marketing and sales and digitising customer engagement.

The bank also plans data management and deepening data architecture. It is working to put data governance in place.

Already, it’s in the process of digitising subsidiaries. It is also embarking on clear operating model technology deployments. &RQVLVWHQW *URZWK 7UDMHFWRU\ Access Bank has been consistent with its growth trajectory. For instance, its gross earnings were put at N592.8billion in its nine months result in 2020, a 15 per cent rise from its 2019 performance, where it posted N513.6billion in nine months.

Similarly, its operating income rose by 29 per cent, having declared N397.7billion in its Àrst nine months in 2020 as against N307.9billion in the corresponding period of 2019. Access Bank recorded a proÀt before tax of N116.6billion in its nine months result in 2020, a 16 per cent rise from its 2019 Àgure of N100.8billion, while its proÀt after tax was put at N102.3billion, whereas it posted a PAT of N88.4billion in the same period of 2019, a 16 per cent increase.

Wigwe said the bank has focused on generating sustainable revenue across all income lines.

The Managing Director explained that the revenue Àgures for 9M 2019 reÁect revenue of Access Bank 3 –month standalone and 6-month period as a combined entity, whereas 9M 2020 revenue Àgures reÁect revenue for the combined entity for the 9-month period.

0RUH WR 2;HU Wigwe promised that the bank has more to oͿer through expansive retail banking growth and increased velocity of transactions; prioritising margin growth through e΀ciencies and by optimising value chain of wholesale banking and customers payments.

He explained that despite investment in organic and inorganic growth in the past, the bank has improved its capital ratios, given optimum capital structure (tier 1 and tier 2), adding that emphasis will continue to be on capital retention and strengthening the bank’s capital position.

Having laid its plan before the stakeholders, the time has come for the board and management of the bank to move into actions. Analysts said the bank has what it takes to put smile on the faces of its investors and customers as it enters the stage of implementation of this ambitious plan.

Profitability N’million Gross Earnings Net Interest Income Operating Income Operating Expenses Impairment Charges ProÀt Before Tax ProÀt After Tax

9M 2020 592,787 196,274 397,735 (246,872) (34,240) 116,623 102,300

9M 20191 513,656 210,218 307,963 (196,550) (10,611) 100,802 88,438

% 15 (7) 29 26 223 16 16

23

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 31, 2021

BUSINESS/FOCUS

Defogging the Access Bank, Seplat Debt Recovery Tango The enervating process and long-drawn legal eͿorts by the Access Bank Plc which ‘merged’ with Diamond Bank Plc, to recover an outstanding $86m loan to SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company’s associated entity draws attention to seemingly contrived pitfalls in subsisting loan recovery templates which endangers depositors’ funds and society, writes Louis Achi

I

t could be recalled that on Wednesday, December 02, 2020, the Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc corporate headquarters at 16A Temple Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, was closed to business based on a court order which authorised a receiver/ manager, Messrs Kunle Ogunba & Co to enforce an ex parte motion requesting that Access Bank Plc take over SEPLAT’s headquarters. A related ruling by Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Lagos, had set the ball rolling.

The issue centred on a dispute betweenAccess Bank and Cardinal Drilling Nigeria Ltd, an entity associated with SEPLAT, over a loan taken from Diamond Bank Plc (since acquired by Access Bank Plc) for which the latter has been unable to fully repay in line with the original terms of the facility. The Access Bank had inherited the assets and liabilities of Diamond Bank Plc in 2019, following a merger of the two banking institutions forming one of the largest banking entities in West Africa.

SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company, founded in 2009, is an indigenous upstream exploration and production oil and gas company listed on both the London and Nigerian stock exchanges with a strategic focus in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. With a particular eye to exploiting divestment opportunities from the incumbent major IOC’s portfolios it also has almost ten subsidiary entities. SEPLAT’s chairman is Anambra State-born Dr. ABC Orjiako, an orthopaedic and trauma surgeon and billionaire business mogul.

In its court Àling, Access Bank Àrmly held that SEPLAT and Cardinal Drilling Services had close ties, stating that “SEPLAT is a sister company to Cardinal, jointly promoted by Orjiakor who is the alter ego of the two companies”. More, it stated that “SEPLAT is in fact the ‘real debtor’ while Cardinal is merely a ‘vehicle smokescreen’ for the purposes of the subtle obtainment of credit facilities by SEPLAT”.

But in a letter to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on the matter, the upstream Oil and Gas Company insisted that SEPLAT was not a shareholder in Cardinal Drilling Company and therefore was not liable for its debt obligations.

In its preliminary objections in court, it had also towed this line of defence.

Another twist came last week when the Lagos Division Court of Appeal suspended an order of Mareva injunction, which froze the accounts of an oil Àrm – Seplat Petroleum Development Company - over the $85.8million legacy debt.

The Appellate Court overturned the decision of Justice RilwanAikawa of a Federal High Court in Lagos, which granted the Mareva injunction on November 23 last year, in a suit Àled byAccess Bank against SEPLAT over the debt.

In its ruling delivered by Justice Joseph Ikyegh (presiding), supported by Justice UmaruAbubakar Sadiq and Justice BayeroAbdullahi-Mahmud, the appeal court held that there was substance in the appellant’s application adding that the mareva injunction granted by the lower court could cause irreparable damage to the operations of the appellant’s businesses.

Justice Ikyegh held that the fear entertained by Access Bank that lifting the order would amount to treating substantive issues at interlocutory stage was unfounded and not based on facts.

The court, however, ordered the oil Àrm to provide a bank guarantee in the sum of $20 million with a reputable bank in the name of the Chief Registrar of the court.

Backstory…

In 2012, Cardinal Drilling Services Limited applied for and obtained a credit facility ($150 million) from Diamond Bank Plc (now acquired

ABC Orjiako

Herbert Wiwge

by Access Bank in a quasi-merger) to buy CDS Rigs 101, 201, 202 and 203. The loan was secured by a Àxed and Áoating Debenture over Cardinal’s assets (the “Debenture”). The Cardinal Rigs were used to provide drilling services to SEPLAT. CDS 101 and 201 were used to execute SEPLAT’s 2019 work programme and all four (4) Rigs were critical to SEPLAT’s future drilling plans and to shareholder returns by way of improved revenues and possible dividends.

Going forward, Cardinal Drilling was unable to service the outstanding part of the loan facility, provoking Access Bank Plc, which absorbed all the assets and liabilities of the old Diamond Bank Plc, to pursue recovery of the loan amount outstanding and accrued interests which is estimated at approx. US$86m.

Access Bank Plc has since gone to court to enforce its rights and it would appear that the entangled relationship between SEPLAT Plc and Cardinal Drilling, suggesting strong ties between both entities makes the separation of the entities a di΀cult task; and it would be up to the courts to establish same or otherwise.

However, SEPLAT is emphatic that it neither borrowed from Access Bank nor guaranteed any Access Bank loans for Cardinal. Astatement signed by SEPLAT’s Company Secretary and General Counsel, Mrs. Edith Onwuchekwa, stated: “We understand that Cardinal Drilling has outstanding loan obligations toAccess Bank.

However, SEPLAT is neither a shareholder in Cardinal Drilling nor has outstanding loan obligations or guarantees to Access Bank and did not at any time make any commitments or guarantees in respect of Cardinal Drilling’s loan obligations to Access Bank.”

According to some sources, all SEPLAT did and in good faith was to support the discussions between Cardinal Drilling and Access Bank towards the settlement of the debt owing to business relationship. This is what any other responsible corporate entity could have done.

Some tendencies sympathetic to SEPLAT ChairmanABC Orjiako have argued that allegations that SEPLAT Chairman is the promoter of Cardinal Drilling does not hold water either. But they apparently shot themselves in the foot when they concede that Austin Avuru (the immediate CEO of SEPLAT), Orjiako (Seplat’s Chairman), and their international partners jointly have about $45 million equity in Cardinal Drilling Services.

Wayward Debtors…

The SEPLAT Plc, Cardinal Drilling Nigeria and Access Bank debt dispute is fundamentally a case study in how banks become the nemesis of borrowers where proper housekeeping had not been done by the borrower and the borrower’s corporate governance oversight may have been lax.

Nigerian banks have been inundated with wayward debtors and it would appear that subsisting recovery templates are unable to cope, especially in periods where recessionary stresses or unforeseen events like the COVID-19 pandemic result in disruptions to corporate cash Áows.

Posers…

Diamond Bank, a mid-tier rival entity to Access Bank then had struggled since 2016 to bolster its capital following huge loan losses worsened by a weak economy which forced the bank to sell its foreign subsidiaries. U.S. private equity Àrm Carlyle owned a 17.75 per cent stake in Diamond Bank which it bought for $147 million in 2014 when the bank was trading at 0.6 times book value as against 0.15 times when it began struggling.

At its peak, defunct Diamond bank was an iconic entity for South-Easterners – with good reason. It evoked memories of African Continental Bank (ACB) of yore. That one of the key forces that cavalierly undermined it and quickened its demise is another entity owned by a South-Easterner is simply galling, especially to folks from that zone.

Sources close to Orjiako however disputes this claim, stating he and his associates invested over $30 million in Diamond Bank in 2006 during banking capitalisation. Whether or not this is true remains to be seen.

But what can be deduced from the current controversy of bad debt is that had Diamond Bank been fully repaid the balance $86million loan to Cardinal Drilling Services which it deployed for SEPLAT’s beneÀt, the bank would certainly have survived longer.

In Nigeria, it has become the quirky convention to celebrate ‘big men’ as successful business men. They source loans with little or no plans of repayment. Untidy governance practices in many banks facilitate these immoral trends.

Worse, often they exploit court processes to subvert repayment of loans. Depositors are often

left holding the short end of the stick. Without any clear consequences, impunity walks on four legs.

Going forward, while matter(s) related to the core debt issue under analysis are already before the court and may not be ventilated, some correlated points must of necessity not escape pungent analysis. The matter of unruly debtors enlisting the media or even courts to drown substantive corporate governance issues critical to societal, regulatory growth and risk management are clearly unacceptable.

The challenge of recovery of non-performing loans (NPL’s) in Nigerian banks is clearly becoming a weighty matter and of mounting concern both to depositors and the embattled banking sector.

TheAccess Bank Plc and SEPLAT Plc/Cardinal Drilling Nigeria current debt tango provides a crucial window to query the processes in place for a fair resolution of NPLs in order to improve credit administration and debt recovery practices in Nigeria and safeguard depositors’ funds.

SEPLAT’s argument, expressed in its press statement, is premised on its position that it has no relationship with Cardinal Drilling Nigeria.

But a cursory look at publicly available information and listed entity disclosures, without an attempt to lift the legal corporate veil, reveals some important facts.

Cardinal Drilling indicated on its website the fact that it was mid-wifed by SEPLAT Plc viz: “The above innovative commercial arrangement of SEPLAT mid-wiÀng CARDINALDRILLING Nigeria Limited enabled CARDINAL DRILLING Nigeria funding to be realized as Maurel & Prom through CARDINAL DRILLING SAS will contribute 40%.”

SEPLAT Plc has consistently disclosed in both its interim and annual reports that Cardinal Drilling is a related party. These facts signiÀcantly contradict the substance of SEPLAT’s press statement.

Should corporate organisations be permitted to acknowledge without responsibility or hide behind nebulous links with related corporate and individual third parties? This certainly will morph into a major hazard to good corporate governance and undermine accountability.

The question SEPLAT is not answering is who was the beneÀciary of the loan? What is increasingly clear from the arrangement, is that Cardinal Drilling was used to take the loan in order to insulate SEPLAT from direct liability even though the ultimate beneÀciary of the facility was SEPLAT. There is no disputing the fact that there is a clear connection between the two companies.

To follow a revitalised and forward-facing credit administration process assumes greater bank customer engagement and better preapproval assessment and monitoring. The new loan framework must of necessity follow a diͿerent algorithm. It will be crucial to do pre-lending forensics on the borrowing entity.

This could help in shaping the terms of the loans and deÀne the appropriate loan structure.

Going forward and to relax investor nerves, the management of SEPLAT Plc will certainly need to clarify the precise ‘related party’ relationship between SEPLAT Plc and Cardinal Drilling Nigeria for its investors on both the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE); It will also need to clarify which interested parties are common to both entities and at what levels this begins and stops and propose a corporate governance covenant that creates an arms-length relationship between SEPLAT Plc and Cardinal Drilling Nigeria recusing SEPLAT from transactional obligations involving Cardinal Drilling Nigeria.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͻ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹

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HADIZA BALA-USMAN A Rousing Presidential Endorsement of Nigeria’s Amazon Driving Bold Port Reforms The call on the Nigerian government to demonstrate policy clarity, adhere to the rule of law, enforce contracts, remove bottlenecks around project execution and retain foreign direct investment, had fallen on deaf ears until the appointment of Hadiza Bala-Usman as the managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority. Since she assumed o΀ce, Bala-Usman has embarked on bold reforms. Her recent re-appointment for another Àve years means Nigeria’s desire to be the hub in West Africa will be achieved, writes Eromosele Abiodun

R

ecently,PresidentMuhammadu Buhari re-appointed Hadiza Bala-Usman as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for another tenure of Àve years.

Astatement by Buhari’s media aide, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the president also approved the reconstitution of the non-executive board of the NPA, with Mr. EmmanuelAdesoye (from South-west) as chairman.

Other members of the board are Prince Ekenyem Nwafor-Orizu (South-east), Mr. Akinwunmi Ricketts (South-south), Mr. Ghazali Mijinyawa (North-east), Mr. Mustapha Dutse (North-west), and Mr. Abdulwahab Adesina (North-central).

There is no gainsaying that Bala-Usman’s re-appointment is a presidential endorsement of her reforms and a bold testament of her laudable achievements. When she was Àrst appointed, many in the industry wondered if she had what it takes to run an institution like the NPA. But a few months into her appointment, she beat the odds in unique ways. She became a terror to the “untouchables” who took advantage of past weak management of NPA to rip Nigeria oͿ with dubious contracts that were never executed.

Before Bala-Usman assumed o΀ce, Southeastern ports were as good as dead: drafts were shallow and monies approved for dredging ended up in the pockets of politicians. A few months into her appointment, Bala-Usman instituted a monthly stakeholders’ meeting in the region, visiting the ports on a monthly basis.

Customs agents plying their trade on that axis described Onne port in Rivers State as the best in cargo handling in the country. Warri port, has been dredged and vessels are calling at the port, it is the same with Port Harcourt and Calabar ports. In Lagos, terminal operators described as untouchable and failed to invest in cargo handling equipment saw the handwriting on the wall and invested massively.

Landmark achievements of Bala-Usman include the cancellation of INTELS’ monopoly on oil and gas cargo, ensured that INTELS is fully compliant to Treasury SingleAccount (TSA) on Service Boat revenue collection, terminating the JV with Calabar Channel Management and Niger Global Limited for non-compliance to due process and requesting a refund of $15 million payment made to the company for lack of evidence of dredging claimed to have been done. Others are a confrontation with DAPMA over insisting that payment on harbour dues for vessels importing PMS are made in line with the guideline for rates of products sourced from the West African coast and those from outside the coast, a revenue of N13 billion was made in 2019 following the directive of full compliance, taking over management and board control of Agura Hotel through restoring of NPA’s majority shareholding.

There was the termination of BUA Terminal over non-adherence to development plan on reconstructing quays which were to have been done 90 days following the concession in 2006 but were not done nine years later in 2016 at which point the concession was cancelled, cancelation of the Secure Anchorage Area. An anchorage managed by private company-providing security at a cost to vessels calling at the Lagos ports.

Beating the Odds Last year was one of the most challenging for humankind in living memory. It is a year

MD NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman

everything that could go wrong went wrong as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world: businesses, governments, and large corporations reeled in pains revenue losses, and human lives.

Despite the challenges, the NPAstood out among other government agencies. From the beginning of the year until the end, the agency on a monthly basis recorded outstanding performances that ba΁ed industry stakeholders.

Prominent among its achievements were the berthing of one of the biggest gearless Maerskline vessels at Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT), Onne in Rivers State, N1 trillion revenue, partnership with a private Àrm to deploy N7 billion electronic call-up system to end Apapa tra΀c and suspension of all applicable terminal storage fees on consignments, also known as demurrage, for an initial period of 21 days during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The achievements did not happen by accident.

In her maiden press brieÀng on the assumption of o΀ce in July 2016, Bala-Usman promised that the new management would strive for enhanced operational e΀ciency for improved revenue generation and inÁows into the national treasury.

“We will listen to our customers, importers and exporters and other agencies working in the ports to improve on our service delivery to the nation. Anything less than the world class services is simply not acceptable.

“Attaining such height is the mission to which

we can all subscribe to. As a team leader, I have come to add my best eͿorts to yours so that we can collectively achieve results for our industry,” she had said.

The new management, she revealed, would prioritise investments in primary equipment and infrastructure and services with a commitment to fulÀlling NPA’s concession agreement to hasten clearance of imports and exports from the ports.

Collectively, Bala-Usman had assured, the hard work of the agency’s staͿ could position NPAas a modern organisation, to function as a regulator.

She added, “Everyone at the NPA has a role in promoting best practices in upholding good governance, standards and delivering quality services. We would jointly work hard with integrity and zero-tolerance for corruption.

As the new management settles, we would be listening to your concerns and suggestions as we navigate the best options for eͿectively discharging the NPA’s mandate.”

Gearless Vessel Berthing The NPAin the Àrst quarter of 2020 announced the successful berthing of one of the biggest gearless Maerskline vessels, calling at Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT), Onne in Rivers State, Nigeria. The Maerskline Stardelhorn vessel with a length of 300 metres, the width of 48 metres is the biggest ever container vessel to arrive at any Nigerian ports. It was received at the Onne. The

vessel, which has a capacity of 9,971 (TEUs) is a Áagship from Singapore. It was a testament to Bala-Usman’s determination to ensure that eastern ports remain attractive to shippers.

The Port Manager, Alhasssan Ismaila Abubakar, “I give kudos to the NPA’s MD. She made this achievement possible. This is the Àrst time such a gigantic container vessel is calling at any Nigerian ports.”

Demurrage Suspension Following an appeal by stakeholders in the maritime industry and in line with global best practice, the NPAdirected all terminal operators to suspend demurrage for an initial period of 21 days. The NPA noted that the gesture was in recognition of the pressure that the COVID-19 pandemic imposes on businesses and the responsibility imposed on the authority to relieve this burden on its customers.

The NPA in a statement issued by its General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Adams Jatto, added that the measure was part of its bid to attain the objective of the federal government’s Ease of Doing Business Policy.

This is just as the agency donated Agura Hotels, Abuja, as an isolation centre for COVID-19.

“This is a social responsibility initiative aimed at supporting eͿorts of the federal government to contain the spread of the virus in Nigeria. The authority encourages all Nigerians to follow

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͻ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹

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A Rousing Presidential Endorsement of Nigeria’s Amazon Driving Bold Port Reforms all advisories issued by the National Centre for Disease Control and be conÀdent that Nigeria shall overcome,” it said.

Improved Revenue Generation The NPAalso improved its revenue generation despite COVID-19, towards the end of the third quarter of 20202, generating revenue of N1.02 trillion in the space of three years. An analysis of the results showed that in 2016, the NPA’s revenue went up to N182.42 billion against the N173.447 billion generated in 2015. The revenue surge continued in 2017 when the authority generated a total of N259.99 billion, marking about a 42 percent increase compared to 2016.

In 2018, the revenue hit N282.42 billion while 2019’s peaked at around N300 billion, making it the highest in the organisation’s history, thus increasing its contribution to the Consolidated Revenue Fund Account since the Amazon took over in 2016. In 2014, the NPAcontributed N18.5 billion to the CRF, compared to 2013 when it contributed N13.1 billion; it was N23.8 billion in 2016, compared to N18 billion in 2015.

In 2017, NPA declared a total revenue of N299.56 billion. The 2017 revenue, which exceeded the previous year’s by 84.65 percent, was the highest generated by the agency in Àve years.

The Àgure was made up of revenues from trafÀc, harbours, administration, and other sources amounting to N136.04 billion, N66.80 billion, N86.06 billion, and N10.75 billion, respectively.

In 2020, NPA announced revenue of N67.19 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2019, representing 24.8 percent of the N270.56 billion earned in 12 months ending December 31, 2018. The agency’s Ànancial proÀle (unaudited) Lagos Port showing revenue and remittances to the CRF obtained by THISDAY revealed that the NPA raked in the amount via operating revenue from ship dues.

The documents further revealed that NPA while other revenue and investment income, which forms a bulk of its revenue have yet to had advertised the dredging for bidding, but be available for the period under review. Also, the process was abandoned, while the contract analysis of the agency’s six years’ revenue and worth over N26 billion was awarded to Niger remittances to CRF between 2013 and 2018 Global Engineering Company through the joint showed quantum leap in revenue and remit- venture agreement. Early last year, the NPA tances despite the downturn in ship and cargo notiÀed the Nigerian Navy of its decision to tra΀c as a result of certain federal government’s dismantle the Secure Anchorage Area, operated on behalf of the navy by a private company, OMSL policies discouraging importation.

Limited, citing concerns of threat to national security and the cost of doing business at the Early Days On assumption of o΀ce, Bala-Usman dis- country’s seaport.

NPAinsisted that the security of the country’s covered that dredging of waterways to ensure smooth Áow of shipping tra΀c through various waterways was the statutory responsibility of water channels into Nigerian seaports became the Nigerian Maritime Administration and a drain pipe but lucrative business for a few Safety Agency (NIMASA), Marine Police, corrupt o΀cials in the agency and contractors. and the navy. A Secure Anchorage Area is an A case in point involved the dredging of three area outside the Lagos port that the navy, with water channels for which the NPA spent $3 bil- a private company, deÀned as a secure place lion (N1.09 trillion) between 2006 and 2011, for where vessels can anchor safely from the threat questionable jobs allegedly done and invoiced. of pirate attack.

Following the revelation, courts in Switzerland End of Monopoly convicted a Swiss company over a $20 million If there is any company that stakeholders dredging bribery scam, which named three top former o΀cials of the NPA as being involved believe was untouchable, it was INTELS Nigeria in the deal. In addition, there was the payment Limited. INTELS is a leading integrated logistics of $13 million for the dredging of the Calabar and facilities services provider in the maritime channel, which some petitioners alleged was and oil and gas logistics sectors of the economy.

All that changed when the reform-minded Balaquestionable.

The contract for the maintenance of the Calabar Usman came on board. The company did not channel was eventually terminated by the NPA, go down without a Àght.

It took Bala-Usman considerable time to get following rifts over the questionable $13 million invoice and another $21 million invoice, which INTELS to comply with TSA due to litigation. the Calabar Channels Management (CCM) had However, after about two years of bickering, lodged for further payment. The scandal also the controversial boats pilotage monitoring and involved a former senator, now a governor, from supervision agreement with INTELS Nigeria the South-East, who chaired one of the senate Limited expired last year June. The NPA had in a letter dated March 29, 2019, addressed to committees.

In the Swiss court, the Swiss company was the INTELS’ managing director, revoked the sentenced to a Àne of one million Swiss Francs contract, citing Article 8 (C) of its agreement and asked to refund 36 million Swiss Francs being with INTELS, dated February 11, 2011.

“We refer to the agreement dated 11th February, illegal proÀt after it was indicted for making illicit payments to a former NPA managing 2011 and 24th August, 2018 between the NPA director; former acting MD and an ex-executive and INTELS Nigeria Limited for the monitoring director as well as a former executive assistant and supervision of oil industry-related activito then-President Goodluck Jonathan’s special ties in the compulsory pilotage districts of the authority (service boat operator). adviser on Technical Matters.

“The NPA (the principal) hereby serves on According to reports, former top o΀cials of NPA, between 2006 and 2011 allegedly received you INTELS Nigeria Limited, (the Managing $2.6 million in kickbacks. A status document on agent) notice of termination in line with article the contract presented by Bala-Usman showed 8 (C) of its agreement with INTELS, dated 11th that after failing to dredge the channel, Global February, 2011, which said notice shall expire Engineering was seeking payment of about three months from the date of this notice of $22 million as a balance for the contract. The termination,” the letter had stated.

In a letter dated March 27, 2019, addressed to contract about N26 billion. The NPAsaid the joint venture agreement with Global Engineering on Bala-Usman, NPA’s Executive Director, Finance the dredging of the Calabar channel was wrong, and Administration, Mohammed Bello-Koko, adding that the consultant clearly advised against had accused INTELS of non-compliance with the establishment of a channel management the presidential directive and circular on implecompany for the Calabar Navigation Channel mentation of Treasury Single Account (TSA) at that time. This was because the volume of and Article 4.1 of the executed supplemental ship tra΀c was low and did not justify a joint agreement by refusing to remit the sum of venture agreement, which is normally funded $145,849,309.33 being outstanding service boat

revenue generated from November 1, 2017 to October 31, 2018.

ability and eliminate extortion and improve ease of doing business.

Ending Apapa Gridlock If there is an achievement that will go down in history for Bala-Usman, it will be Ànding a solution to the intractable Apapa gridlock.

All things being equal, the Apapa nightmare will soon be a thing of the past. After several months of meticulous planning, the NPA will next month deploy an electronic call-up system aimed at ending the protracted gridlock.

The eͿort, which will be Ànanced by a private company, Trucks Transit Parks Limited under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement with the NPA will cost N7 billion to deploy.

Sources at the NPA told THISDAY that when fully operational, the electronic call-up system will save Nigeria N140 billion weekly and another $10 billion from the annual loss of agro-products.

“The company presented a business case for regulated truck tra΀c regime, which shows that the system will save the country N140 billion weekly economic loss, 40 percent of businesses that have left Apapa, will return, there will be an end to seven to 14 days cargo reception delay; consequent damage to perishable export products and reverse the $10 billion annual loss of agro products,” a source said.

The Managing Director of Trucks Transit Parks Limited, Jama Onwubuariri, told THISDAY that the eͿort will transform Apapa and the port city will thrive again, stating, “Our company, Trucks Transit Parks Limited (TTP) has partnered NPAto provide solutions to the truck tra΀c challenges in Nigeria. TTP aims to decongest Apapa, improve tra΀c Áow and ultimately facilitate the e΀ciency and productivity of the ports. TTP will do this through the use of technology.

“Our operation is based on an electronic call-up system called, Ëtz, through which trucks’ movements will be scheduled from the originating points of the trucks to a park, then to a holding bay/pre-gate and then programmed in batches (on a Àrst-come-Àrst-served basis) to access the ports. Thus, all trucks are expected to remain within approved parks until they are scheduled to access the ports or are moving from one park to another.”

Continuing, he noted, “Therefore, law enforcement agents have been set up to enforce compliance and tow or Àne oͿending trucks/ truckers. Hence, an electronic call-up system that will drive the check-in and check-out of trucks from each location has been put in place to achieve this. In addition to batching and scheduling of trucks movement, TTP would also oͿer add-on or ancillary services such as truck wash, tyre change, truck service, accommodation, etc at designated parks.”

He pointed out that the main objectives of the company’s operations are to improve ports e΀ciency, decongest tra΀c, improve tra΀c Áow within Apapa logistics ring, improve account-

Stakeholders Endorse Reappointment Meanwhile, stakeholders have welcomed Bala-Usman’s re-appointment and urged her to continue the reforms. While commending Buhari for throwing his weight behind her, they called on the NPAboss to build port infrastructure and make the ports more responsive and competitive.

In an interview with THISDAY, the President of Ship Owners’ Forum, Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi, said, “She has set a huge standard in the industry and one other thing is that she is ready to learn as well as share her time. What is important is to groom and mentor the younger one and people that will take over from her when she lives.

“Also, she should ensure in this new term, she opened the eastern portal end congestion in the seaport as well as the tra΀c gridlock, which has been another challenge in the last few years. She should ensure she achieves the call-up system because that is long overdue.

The jetties and quay apron needed to be rehabilitated because they are collapsing.”

On his part, President, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed CustomsAgents (NCMDLCA), the umbrella body of customs agents in Nigeria, Mr. LuckyAmiwero, applauding Bala-Usman’s re-appointment said, “She has done well and deserves commendation.

But we have a lot of problems that are militating against the port industry. The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) has commenced. How are our ports going to fare? We want her to do more to make the port active and responsive because what we have now is too expensive.

“For now, the NPA does not have a deÀned role because when you look at the three components of the port, regulations, port operations, and landlord, they are supposed to be technical operators. They should focus on building the port in her new tenure. We are losing our cargo. The port’s access roads are not in good shape.

“She must focus on trying to build a new port system and focus on the technical aspect like dredging. They (NPA) are providers of services so they should focus on providing the services to make the port better.”

Also commenting on the re-appointment and latest developments in the industry, President of Importers Association of Lagos, Jonathan Nichol, noted, “She has served well and deserved a tenure extension.

We congratulate and wish her a successful tenure. Her position carries enormous responsibility especially at this time that the Nigerian ports need a face-lift in terms of collapsed infrastructures; the reduction of port charges; reverting to the original status as terminal operators since the Port and Harbour Bill failed.”

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 31, 2021

BUSINESS INTERVIEW AKPAN EKPO

:K\ $I&)7$ :RQ·W 2;HU )UHH 7UDGH Akpan Ekpo, a professor of Economics and Policy, University of Uyo and Chairman, Foundation for Economic Research and Training (FERT), says Nigerians can look forward with hope following the African Continental Free Trade Agreement’s implementation, which kicked oͿ on January 1, 2021, but he expressed some concerns. Ekpo, who is also the immediate director general of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, acknowledges that Nigeria is not ready for the AfCFTA implementation.

Ekpo gives his reasons among other issues, in this interview with %D\R $NLQOR\H

D

R \RX WKLQN WKLV LV WKH ULJKW WLPH IRU 1LJHULD WR KDYH LPSOHPHQWHG WKH WUDGH DJUHHPHQW WKH $IULFDQ &RQWLQHQWDO )UHH 7UDGH $JUHHPHQW LQ WKH IDFH RI DQ HFRQRPLF UHFHVVLRQ GHHSHQLQJ SRYHUW\ DQG WKH &29,' SDQGHPLF" There is nothing wrong with implementing the AfCFTA even in a recession because if properly executed, growth would increase thus assisting the economy to exit the recession. The main issue is to take advantage of the no tariͿs, quotas advantages to produce and export to other African countries.

Economic growth ought to help reduce poverty though it may take a very long time. I do not subscribe to trickle-down economics. Economic growth is not economic development. It depends on how the growth is distributed. The risk is that the implementation of the AfCFTA may widen inequality because the average Nigerian may not be able to beneÀt from the advantages of so-called free trade.

+RZ FDQ 1LJHULDQV ERWK LQ LQIRUPDO DQG IRUPDO VHFWRUV EHQHÀW IURP $I&)7$" For Nigeria to beneÀt, the domestic economy must be ready. Do we have a near 24-hour supply of electricity?

How is the country’s health infrastructure? Has the country built the needed human capital? How robust is the country’s legal framework for doing business? Has the government guaranteed the patent and copyrights of Nigerians? How prepared and e΀cient is our Customs at the borders? How far is the country’s diversiÀcation agenda?

How strong is the country’s civil and public service? If the answers to the above questions are in the a΀rmative, then the country is almost ready. :KDW VSHFLÀFDOO\ GR \RX WKLQN 1LJHULDQV VKRXOG ORRN IRUZDUG WR LQ LQ HFRQRPLF WHUPV" For 2021, the government should aggressively implement already grafted programmes to enable the economy to exit the recession. The projects in the Sustainability Plan, for example, should be implemented like yesterday.

The social investment programme is crucial in 2021. The programmes to enhance agriculture, ICT and the building of railways, roads, quality health and quality education at all levels should form priority in 2021. Above, addressing the security challenge is essential; without proper and adequate security, economic performance would remain a tall order.

7KH $IULFDQ &RQWLQHQWDO )UHH 7UDGH $JUHHPHQW $I&)7$ LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ WRRN H;HFW RQ -DQXDU\ ,V WKHUH DQ\WKLQJ LQ LW IRU RUGLQDU\ 1LJHULDQV HVSHFLDOO\ WKRVH LQ WKH LQIRUPDO VHFWRU" Yes, ordinary Nigerians would beneÀt in the long run from the prevalence of diverse goods and services.

The informal sector would be able to buy and sell articles from other African countries and therefore enhance its contribution to employment. The formal sector through competition would improve the quality of their products.

In addition, the formal sector would become innovative by producing and exporting goods to other African countries taking advantage of the free trade area arrangements. :KDW LV \RXU WKRXJKW RQ WKH UHDGLQHVV RI WKH FRXQWU\ LQ WKH LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI DQG SDUWLFLSDWLRQ LQ $I&)7$" I do not think the country is ready.

To beneÀt from any free trade arrangement, the domestic economy must be resilient to shocks, build relevant infrastructure, show signs of industrialisation, and alter the structure of the economy from consumption to production. There is a need to put in place and implement policies that would enable the economy to beneÀt from the global value chain. Let me say that on paper, some of the points I have raised are in place; the challenge is how to harmonize the policies and provide strategies on how best to implement the same for the beneÀt of the economy.

'R \RX VHH WKH 1LJHULDQ JRYHUQPHQW·V ZLOOLQJQHVV WR LPSOHPHQW WKH

6KRXOG WKH QDWLRQ H[SHFW PRUH IRUHLJQ LQYHVWPHQWV WKLV \HDU" It is di΀cult to predict if there would be more foreign investment when there are security challenges.

(NSR

WUDGH DJUHHPHQW DV PRUH RI D SROLWLFDO VWDWHPHQW WKDQ DQ HFRQRPLF RQH" The willingness to implement is both political and economic. Nigeria’s role in Africa cannot be over-emphasized. It is the largest economy in terms of GDP and market space hence any matter bordering on the unity and future of the continent, she must be part of it. Let us not forget that there have been several protocols on the political and economic future of the continent – the Lagos Plan of Action, the Abuja declaration, the recent agenda 2063, among others.

However, for the AFCFTA, the delay of government in my view resulted in the loss of high-proÀle jobs as well as the location of the secretariat. If the

headquarters is in Nigeria, there would be immense advantages. The country’s participation is also economic because there are beneÀts. The implementation is both political and economic.

,W LV VDLG WKDW $I&)7$ ZLOO R;HU IUHH WUDGH :LOO LW DOVR R;HU ¶IDLU WUDGH·" There is no free trade in practice.

What is required is fair trade. The fear is that developed countries may take advantage of the free trade area and produce for re-export. For example, goods from developed countries may be sent to neighbouring countries for packaging and re-exporting the same to Nigeria.How are we prepared to check such a situation?

'R \RX VHH WKH PDQXIDFWXULQJ VHFWRU ULVLQJ DJDLQ" ,I \HV ZK\ GLG \RX VD\ VR" The manufacturing sector has over the years never contributed more than 10 percent to GDP. The sector should contribute at least 25 percent to GDP to say it is making progress. Without industrialisation, the manufacturing sub-sector cannot make progress. What the economy does is assemble, package, and bottle. This is not manufacturing in the proper sense. However, the economy has the potential to manufacture or add value.

The government needs to encourage the private sector through incentives, individuals who are innovative, fund research institutions, etc., to drive the industrialisation process. For example, take the current vaccine production, the country has qualiÀed scientists if properly empowered can develop Nigerian vaccines. China has developed its own; Brazil has developed its own, etc.

27

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 31, 2021

BUSINESS INTERVIEW SHERIFFDEEN TELLA

FG Should Encourage Private Sector to Participate in AfCFTA

SheriͿdeen Tella, a professor of Economics at the Olabisi Onabanjo University shares with Bayo Akinloye his views on African Continental Free Trade Agreement as it aͿects the informal and formal sector of the Nigerian economy

W

hat’s your thought on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)?

African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a major project of the African Union Plan – Agenda 2063 and likely be the largest free trade area in the world, if measured by the membership, which is put at 55 countries and 1.3 billion people. This represents a huge market for any African or foreign country and Nigerian businesses, irrespective of the scale of operation, can beneÀt greatly from the market if we have tradeable goods.

The larger the size of the market in terms of population and income the better for member countries. Most African countries are, however, in the low-income bracket which can serve as a limitation to maximising the beneÀts derivable from a large free trade area as provided by AfCFTA. Notwithstanding, the combined income plus attraction from other regional countries and free trade areas to participate in the market can grow the market.

subsequent increase in labour incomes. So, what more is required in recession than employment generation to earn income and lift people out of poverty? Government itself will be able to get more income tax from workers which will improve its revenue.

Will you say Nigeria is ready for AfCFTA? The government has signed the agreement and the next thing is to encourage the private sector to participate in the scheme.

It is a largely private-sector scheme, not government and I am sure our private sector is already looking at the project to key into it. I read about Dangote Company already has a plan for the AfCFTA. Many other companies could be silently working on this too.

Do you see the Nigerian government’s willingness to implement the trade agreement?

It took some time before the Nigerian government signed the agreement and one would think that they have thought it through before signing. The duty of the government is to provide an enabling environment by minimising the period of approval of documents or reducing ,V WKHUH DQ\ EHQHÀW IRU WKH 1LJHULDQ bureaucracy in processing documents to informal sector? facilitate participation by the private sector.

A lot of beneÀts, but not in the format of With the high level of corruption in the public individualism that they operate currently. If service and generally, the country may not they can be organized into production and be able to take initial full advantage oͿered consumer cooperatives, as existed in the by the free trade programme. The Minister past. DeÀnitely, with AfCFTA, there will be for Industry Trade and Investment (Adeniyi an improvement in the quality and quantity Adebayo), has to be on top of his job to see of their outputs for competitiveness as well to the success of the scheme. It is high time as organized marketing of their products we started measuring the success or failure which can be undertaken by a government of ministers by independently recording agency. All those adire producers in Ogun achievements of ministerial programmes.

State (Nigeria), for example, will have a In that case, progressive moves for o΀cers ready market under AfCFTA. in the respective ministries, departments, and agencies will be based on achievements What about the formal sector? rather than whom you know.

There are beneÀts to the formal sector too, given the level of resilience they go through :LOO $I&)7$ R;HU ¶IDLU WUDGH·" with our infrastructural deÀciencies. The Initially, it may not oͿer fair trade as free trade area does not open avenues for large economies on the continent might buying and selling only but also for the take advantage of the smaller ones at the establishment of production arms or units beginning but as time goes on and the smaller in other countries with much fewer di΀cul- countries see the situation of the competities. Medium- and large-scale companies tion as a challenge, some of them will try like Leoplsast, Elizade, Innoson, Dangote, to catch up by concentrating on products and ceramic industries will Ànd it easy to where they have comparative advantages. enter into African markets as the Àrst step Though Nigeria is a large economy with towards becoming greater multinational experienced private-sector participants, it companies. may be di΀cult to beneÀt greatly if there is no adequate support from the government Should Nigeria be implementing the such as creating a bureaucratic bottleneck trade agreement during this period of eco- or just a lack of interest because of ‘free’ oil nomic recession and deepening poverty? money. We cannot blame anybody for our The existence of the free trade area failure given our economic and political challenges producers to be competitive, position on the continent. that is, producing good quality outputs; innovative and expansive. The participants How can Nigeria’s formal and informal see the bigger market as an opportunity to VHFWRUV EHQHÀW IURP $I&)7$" produce more and capture a large proporThere ought to be a sectoral national plan tion of the market with attendance growing involving the government and the private incomes. The larger the quantity of the goods sector on how to tackle challenges and take produced, the lower the unit cost. That is advantages oͿered by AfCFTA since the what free market areas provide and what signing of the agreement. I doubt if we have producers want to take advantage of. The such a plan since we do not even have a implication is that the expansion of the national development plan In the absence businesses means expansion in employ- of such preparation, the Ministry of Industry ment opportunities for the people and the Trade and Investment should set up, without

Tella

delay, a committee comprising of the public and private sectors (representative of formal and informal sectors) as well as legal professionals, academics in the area of trade and consultants to work out a blueprint for some Àve-year medium-term plan on AfCFTA. This will serve as the immediate working paper before Ànally preparing a long-term plan that will be integrated into a national plan. This medium-term plan on AfCFTA is not for the public sector committee or the private sector committee alone but should be worked out together rather than engage in learning by doing.

Should the country expect more foreign investments this year?

Not really, unless we are able to tackle successfully, the issue of insecurity of life and property. More important, investors want to know where to key into our national plan and there is no plan to show this. So, investment is likely to remain in the traditional area of oil and gas because of the importance of these products to their economies.

What should Nigeria watch out for as an economic banana peel?

The information (communication) technol:KDW VSHFLÀFDOO\ VKRXOG 1LJHULD ORRN ogy sub-sector is growing and capable of a big leap this year, except that we do not forward to in 2021, in economic terms?

It is di΀cult to predict for an economy like have the energy infrastructure to promote Nigeria with no national plan but depends and support it. Result-oriented investments largely on vicissitudes of the international in the energy sector can assist in taking advantage of the global growth of the ICT economic activities.

The economy is not based on growing sector.

Secondly, if there are agricultural reforms domestic revenue base but on national and international borrowing plans. Even when such that production goes beyond rice we talk about improving domestic revenue, revolution to wider annual and cash crops it is about increasing taxes on products and as well as Àsheries and animal husbandry personal incomes and tariͿs cum duties as with drastic fall in activities of armed banwell as removing subsidy where it exists; not dits, Boko Haram, kidnappers, and Fulani about how much output growth is expected headsmen with good weather, the sector can from the diͿerent types of industries, growth play a major role in economic renaissance. in agriculture of diͿerent crops over and Do you see the manufacturing sector above what was produced last year; and reduction in unemployment. One can, rising again?

It is possible, but not for now. There is no therefore, say that if the world economies improve in terms of general output and plan on the ground to support any positivity demand for oil, despite new waves of on this. Actually, the implementation of COVID-19, the Nigerian economy will AfCFTA can worsen the case if some other grow by some margins. It is expected that African countries are able to provide the the world will be able to cope better with required infrastructure (power and good the pandemic this year than in 2020, so we transportation network) and other conducive expect some growth and consequently slow atmospheres like reduced bureaucracy, low growth out of the recession by the second incidence of corruption, and national plan within the context of African Agenda 2063 or third quarter. to attract our industries.

˜ ˾ JANUARY 31, 2021

28

MARKET NEWS

Zenith Bank’s Board Approves 2020 Financial Results, Final Dividend Goddy Egene

Zenith Bank Plc has approved the audited consolidated and separate financial statements

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

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

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

for the year ended December 31, 2020 and the payment of a final dividend, subject to the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 28Jan-2021, unless otherwise stated .

approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

In a notification to the Nigerian

Stock Exchange (NSE), Zenith Bank said the exchange and investing public would be

informed once the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is received.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.32% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.54 3.69 -0.40% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 0.61% Anchoria Equity Fund 140.96 141.43 5.12% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.23 1.23 -8.13% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 19.22 19.79 5.95% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 404.27 416.46 0.98% ARM Ethical Fund 35.82 36.90 6.26% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.21 1.22 -0.51% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.09 1.10 -2.43% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 0.69% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.12 2.12 -21.17% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.29 2.34 39.14% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.90% Paramount Equity Fund 17.16 17.49 7.34% Women's Investment Fund 138.61 140.24 4.17% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.27% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 135.25 136.20 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 108.45 108.45 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.44% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.21 1.22 0.67% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.58 1.58 0.06% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,363.75 1,365.32 -1.49% FBN Balanced Fund 190.72 192.18 1.62% FBN Halal Fund 110.95 110.98 -0.52% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.07% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 123.09 123.46 1.23% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 123.23 123.60 1.22% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 158.54 160.85 4.87% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.18% Legacy Debt Fund 3.88 3.88 6.22% Legacy Equity Fund 1.61 1.65 42.45% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.14 1.14 5.44% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,962.23 4,016.20 5.52% Coral Income Fund 3,321.36 3,321.36 1.69% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 2.96% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.81% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 130.26 130.79 20.82%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.19% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.89 2.96 0.17% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 155.84 156.37 0.30% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.46 1.48 1.38% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,130.27 1,130.27 0.66% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.65 1.68 7.11% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.32 12.43 9.66% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 1.50% PACAM Equity Fund 1.68 1.70 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.80 111.34 SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 136.56 139.42 11.23% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.01 1.01 0.53% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 2.18% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.28% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 3.39% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 0.34% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 1.42% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.28% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 0.88% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.23 1.23 0.41% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 111.38 111.38 0.27% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.62 12.76 6.48% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.94 14.07 14.14% Zenith Income Fund 24.11 24.11 0.56% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.88%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

120.97

0.19%

52.50

0.19%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.49 130.03 102.26

13.59 130.03 104.19

2.02% 6.81% 2.92%

Union Homes REIT

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

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.34

4.38

14.18%

Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund

6.08

6.16

6.76%

Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund

18.32 1.00 20.73

18.42 1.00 20.93

11.79% 0.97% 1.02%

189.85

191.85

-14.54%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.05

13.11%

Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund

Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

31.1.2021

LAGOS BOAT CLUB’S HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS

BY LANRE ALFRED

“W

hen brothers fight to the death, a stranger inherits their estate.”

These immortal words of the globally celebrated author, late Chinua Achebe, should be printed in bold letters and placed as a signpost at the Lagos Boat Club entrance. Why? No time is more auspicious than now to sensitise some club members about the imminent danger their activities portend for the esteemed club.

It is because things are no longer at ease at the Lagos Motor Boat Club, Ikoyi, where high profile members have been polarised and are currently throwing pot-shots at one another over issues that arose from its last elections.

Beneath the facade of serenity, harmony, and exclusivity that hovers over the Lagos Motor Boat Club, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, there is a smouldering fire that is threatening to consume the club, its legacy, and members. A members’ only boat club founded on January 23, 1950, the Lagos Motor Boat Club is recognised as one of Nigeria’s most prestigious clubs. Housed in a white colonial-era building on the bustling Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, and boasting a view of the serene lagoon where the rich and famous yachts are moored, bobbing up and down, the club has members from some of Lagos’ most prominent families. Suffice to say that the membership is exclusive and privileged.

The Hierarchy

Awogboro

Demola Akinrele

Different membership categories include “reciprocal, honorary, overseas, up-country, corporate, and founder members.”

To be an ordinary member, a statement from the club states, “Any person being the sole owner of a boat shall be eligible for ordinary membership. A sole owner shall include a person who has the exclusive use of a boat owned by his employer or company and who can produce a letter acceptable to the committee confirming this, provided that where the boat is in the ownership of either the employer or the company, the privileges of membership and use of the club shall not extend to the employer, the company or any other employees of the company.”

A ‘committee runs the club,’ members elected in a fair election while a commodore is the club’s titular head. The current commodore is Ladi Ani-Mumuney while his Vice is Jide Balogun. The immediate past commodore is Dr. Dapo Majekodunmi whose reported inability to exert leadership at the appropriate time worsened the club’s prevailing animosity. There is also a board of trustees; members of who are viewed as the club’s patriarchs and its symbols of order, discipline, and authority.

The principal criterion for being admitted into the BoT is to be an ex-commodore, but it is also not automatic. Ladi Ajose-Adeogun, an ex-commodore, aspired to be a Trustee; as did Jide Coker, a duty officer on the existing committee but Dr. Charles Hammond eventually won. Hammond was never a Commodore, another factor that stoked the embers of discord and disharmony.

Origin of the Crisis

Eyimofe Atake

Ogunbanjo

A detailed statement by Demola Akinrele, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a senior member of the club, traced the origin of the crisis to 2020, stating.

He explained, “I had discussions with Femi Fowora, Folabi Balogun, and Ladi Ajose Adeogun – all former commodores – to suggest improvements on the operations of the club. The discussions included the upcoming 2020 elections of new officers, various aspects of club activities, and the infusion of fresh faces to energise the committee of the club. Views were varied, but

ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

54

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

COVER

Lagos Boat Club’s House of Commotion the debate was robust and positive.

“I expressed a view that Mr. Jide Coker, a duty officer on the existing committee, should be challenged in the elections as I felt he had ideas on certain aspects of the club’s operations which I considered unorthodox. I shared my view with his proposers, the Ogunbanjo brothers, to obviate any sense of hostility or rancour. Subsequently, persuaded him not to offer himself for re-election. He later changed his mind and put himself back on the ballot – as he is entitled to – and the club commenced activities for a robust election.”

Akinrele said the texture and temperature of the election became hotter because of the proposition to Coker, which was misconstrued and, therefore, fuelled sympathy towards him. Things went south when Dapo Oshinusi who contested against Ani-Mummuney for the post of commodore, went to report the state of tension in the club to a Trustee (Prince Francis. O Awogboro) imploring him to intervene to achieve a more congenial electoral atmosphere.

“He identified Ladi Ajose-Adeogun and me as the alleged arrow-heads of the warring factions. The trustee called us, with the Commodore present, to a meeting, disclosed that the invitation was at the instance of Dapo Oshinusi, and asked us to explain the reasons for the escalated temperature in the club. We reiterated the history of the campaign and the name of Jide Coker. He listened, and suggested that Jide Coker be directed by the commodore not to run in the 2020 elections,” Akinrele said.

To the consternation of trustee Awogboro, Dr. Lanre Towry-Coker and Senator Tokunbo Ogunbanjo, both Trustees, went ahead to put Coker’s name on the board, which he proceeded to cross off and appended his signature to it. It did not go down well with his supporters who wrote to the committee and requested that the person that struck out Coker’s name should be disciplined.

It would set off a chain of reactions now threatening the very existence of the club.

On the legality of Awogboro’s action to unilaterally strike out a candidate’s name, Akinrele stated, “The Trustee properly intervened under rule 10 because he was invoked by a member to deal with a matter which was affecting the club. Even though it was not a matter initially referred to the committee’s trustee, it was adopted and ratified by the committee through the involvement of the commodore at the meeting leading to the decision and subsequent communication to Mr. Jide Coker of the directive of the trustee. The other is that the trustee’s determination under this order is only advisory and should not extend to curtailing the right of a member to stand for election.”

The AGM

A few weeks to the club’s annual general meeting held November 5, 2020, Senator Ogunbanjo had written a letter to the committee wherein he reportedly referred to Trustee Awogoboro, an 82-year-old man, as a vandal, because he struck out Coker’s name from the board.

During the AGM proper, Ogunbanjo reportedly read out a speech which in the committee’s opinion was considered injurious to the image of the club.

Akinrinle lampooned Ogunbanjo for his indiscretion and queried, “Why would a Trustee of the Polo Club nominate a candidate in defiance of the direction of the Trustee of the Boat Club and thereby provoke a chain of events that ultimately leads to his indefinite suspension?”

Eyimofe Atake (a Senior Advocate of Nigeria) and the club’s trustee, described Ogunbanjo’s speech as indecorous and unbecoming and full of affronts and insults to the trustee. Indeed, things degenerated at the AGM with Atake accusing Ogunbanjo of almost getting physical with him for questioning why he would disrespect trustee Awogboro by referring to him as a vandal.

He recalled, “Toks (Ogunbanjo) did not stop there, he came on the floor of the AGM ostensibly to respond to the commodore’s report, but instead, he went on a wild extravaganza of insulting the trustee. He used several insulting proverbs directed at the trustee first

on the subject – if serious – to the convening of a private meeting with the relevant parties and the trustee. That would have far more practical value than the memo, which to me is a diatribe that is destitute of beneficial outcomes.”

Akinrele surmised that the crisis has shown that the club still needs the elders in positions of authority. Ogunbanjo must reconcile with the trustee in a meaningful manner and would resolve all related issues.

“The path to resolution is simple, in my opinion, and we must follow it. We are a club of sea-farers, and it is our nature that our passions ignite in the path of our collective voyage.

However, that should not derogate from the essential bond that binds us – the bond against a common peril- the sea. It is why we instinctively stop to help any boat in distress on our nautical journeys irrespective of identity. In the same spirit, I, therefore, enjoin us to proceed to a resolution on this issue so that we can reflect on the incident in hindsight as a comedy of errors and not be haunted by it as a tragedy of judgment,” Akinrele concluded.

Uncouth Senator: Ogunbanjo’s Diatribes Against Octogenarian Awogboro

Mumuney

saying it in Yoruba to make the point poignant and upsetting. He translated it to English for nonYoruba and expatriates to understand.”

Atake also said that one of the things he recalled Ogunbanjo saying was that “if an elder misbehaved, you strip him of his agbada and cap.” Sources said that while reading his speech at the AGM, Atake was heckled and jeered by a group purportedly led by Yinka Akinkungbe and Ajose-Adeogun.

According to confidential sources at the AGM, the trustee also reportedly approached Dr. Majekodunmi as the commodore and pointedly accused him of not protecting him (Trustee) enough from the unleashed barrage of attacks on him.

“That Dapo as Commodore gave the floor at an AGM to an ‘ordinary member’ and his group to use as a means to spit up yellow bile in the face of his trustee will be remembered for a long time to come. History, no doubt, will be hostile to Dr. Dapo Majekodunmi. That he allowed it to happen immediately after his commodore’s report when it was not on the agenda of the meeting, and not at the point of ‘Any Other Business’ shows there was a grand plan that had been hatched before the AGM to disrupt it,” Atake stated.

Akinkugbe’s Memo

While a copy of the memo has not been obtained as at the time of filing this report, Atake’s response addressed to Akinkugbe quoted it copiously, as did Akinrele’s.

“Your letter accuses several people of various conduct including Trustee, Prince Francis Awogboro and the club’s committee. I am sure the committee may feel obliged to respond to you as your letter is full of lies on the facts, pertinacious and perverse in its reasoning, and lack of judgment. It was unreservedly ill-advised to write that letter and circulate it to a group of people that do not now include Boat Club members only,” Atake wrote, promising to look into the defamatory aspects of the letter. He accused Akinkugbe of belonging to a group in the club that is driven from behind-the-scenes by Ladi Ajose-Adeogun because “Ladi has not the guts to rear his head, but he is the elephant in the room.”

Explaining further, Atake said, “He is the obnoxious and sinful genius who steered things from behind leading to the most unfortunate, calamitous, awkward and adverse events that we find ourselves in at the Lagos Motor Boat Club.”

Atake contended that Rule (19) B of the club rules and by-laws state that only ‘founder members’ and ‘ordinary members’ shall be eligible for the office of trustee. Besides, “there is no category of membership anywhere in the rules called ‘ex-commodores’ who, incidentally are no longer officers of the club but are ‘ordinary members’ who by that fact are in the running for the office of trustee like any other member.”

Therefore, he wondered why AjoseAdeogun believes it is his inalienable, incontrovertible, and indisputable right to have been appointed the next trustee since that office is only open to ex-commodores of which he is the most senior in line.

Atake stated, “His antipathy, repulsion, repugnance, and abhorrence that Dr. Charles Hammond’s name was put forward instead of his, infuriated him with mad anger to the extent that he is prepared to see the institution collapse.

“While men of good ambition aspire for career, professional or business success and toil hard for that purpose, is it not astonishing that one man’s aspiration at all cost is to be a trustee of the Lagos Motor Boat Club on the false premise that it is his inalienable right as the most senior excommodore?

“As an ex-commodore, he should have restrained and curtailed your group from behaving in the way they did, but he chose not to, for his selfish, self-seeking, overwhelming, uncontrollable, and prodigious ambition.

“I have been highly disillusioned, disenchanted and upset that a man who has held high office within the club – who overpoweringly aspires to be a trustee of the club will attempt to be a part of the group of persons who would want to rock and destroy the foundation of the Office of Trusteeship of the club.”

Further, Atake accused Akinkugbe of repeatedly admitting that some facts were unknown to him.

He wondered, “If you are not aware of certain facts or they are unknown to you, why make perverse conclusions based on facts that you are not aware of or that are unknown to you?”

He denied Akinkugbe’s claims that he displayed disruptive behaviour when he tried to defend trustee Awogboro. Atake said that video evidence of happenings at the AGM should be made available to lend credence to his position.

He also maintained that he was the one that was almost physically attacked when making his speech when he attempted to define the word ‘vandal’ as contained in Ogunbanjo’s disputatious letter.

Describing Akinkungbe as intelligent and articulate, Akinrele said that in this matter, however, “He has shown a propensity to a misjudgment on situational ethics in my opinion. First, the decision to publish a memo to members in a manner he has done is likely symbolic. He seeks a resolution to the issue without first availing himself of all the facts. His memo is more likely to ignite than defuse, and it would have been wise had he directed his energy

Senator Tokunbo Ogunbanjo, a trustee member, has been variously fingered as the one behind the conflagration that now threatens to raze the club. Ogunbanjo, who represented the Ogun East Senatorial District from 2003 to 2007 in the Senate, has been said to have punctured the club’s sedate atmosphere and caused the tranquillity to vaporise as palpable hostility now looms thickly in the air.

He reportedly queried the authority of Trustee, Francis Awogboro, when the latter struck out the name of Jide Coker. Besides this, he initiated a memo employing diatribes against Trustee Awogboro, an octogenarian, which was leaked to quarters considered external to the club.

In November, at the club’s AGM, Atake accused Ogunbanjo of making a “scurrilous speech that was unquestionably, incontestably and incontrovertibly an affront to the trustee and his authority.”

He further said Ogunbanjo went on a wild extravaganza of insulting Awogboro and heaping several insulting proverbs on him. Atake, who wondered why Ogunbanjo, 64, would be openly rude to the 82-year-old Awogoboro, recalled the former saying that “if an elder misbehaved, you strip him of his agbada and cap.” In an attempt to defend the trustee from Ogunbanjo’s alleged assault, Atake also accused Ogunbanjo of charging at him but was restrained by Demola Akinrele, SAN. Awogboro did not leave anything to chance as he petitioned the secretary of the club.

He wrote: “I wish to draw your attention to the night of the AGM on November 5, 2020, whereby Senator Tokunbo Ogunbanjo in a speech unprecedented at the AGM insulted and disparaged me and the office of a Trustee in view of members, management, and the staff.

“As a Yoruba man and an elder, to hear a Yoruba man young enough to be my son uttering a proverb that amounts to disrobing me of my dignity and disgracing me publicly.

He assaulted the foundation of my person, my culture, and my role in the club as a trustee. I was only restrained by the Almighty God in His wisdom from intemperate action.

“His allegations and comments on the office of the trustee are grave and undermine our club as an institution, as well as bring the affairs of the club to disrepute; I must state that as the custodian of this great club I must defend it and protect it to the best of my ability.

“I presume the meeting was recorded and the details of his speech can therefore be recalled. I hereby respectfully request an immediate investigation of this incident, and that a hearing be conducted by the committee.”

After hearing his side of the story, the club proceeded to suspend Senator Ogunbanjo indefinitely.

The club noted, “On the preponderance of the evidence put before us, we find your conduct at 2020 Annual General Meeting, and complaint by Prince F.O Awogboro has put the club into disrepute and prejudicial to the common purpose of the club.

Accordingly, in line with the provisions of rule 8 of our club rules, the committee has decided to suspend you indefinitely from the Lagos Motor Club, with immediate effect.”

For now, polarised club members are on tenterhooks as their otherwise preferred drinks, and other forms of entertainment have become insipid.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

55

GLITZ PERSONALITY

BELLA DISU

Footprints of an Emerging Corporate Titan Despite being the offspring of fame and fortune, Bella Adenuga-Disu, one of the daughters of Dr. Mike Adenuga, the multibillionaire chairman of telecommunications giant, Globacom, is expertly negotiating her way through a universe that has not always made space for women, charting her own course and fearlessly taking up a conspicuous space for herself. Inadvertently, the power and pull of her entrepreneurship attainments may be making space for a new generation of young women who are willing to interrogate their fears and achieve greatness, writes LANRE ALFRED

W

ithout much ado, Bella Adenuga-Disu epitomizes the saying that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

The daughter of Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr, whose entrepreneurial ingenuity and vision gifted Africa Globacom - to bridge the communication

gap in the continent, portray and project Nigerians and Africans in good light and spur them to achieve their dreams - Bella is gradually inching her way to the pantheon of global corporate titans, making history every hour to which she industriously adds page after page, volume after volume as if nature were holding up a monument to her exploits.

On January 1, 2021, Bella was appointed

as the chairman of the Board of Directors of Abumet Nigeria Ltd, a full-service aluminium and glass solutions provider with 30 years’ experience delivering innovative high-quality aluminium and glass products and services within the Nigerian building construction sector. She replaced Dr. Bamanga Tukur, who faithfully served as the chairman and founding father of Abumet.

In an Instagram post, she wrote, “I am deeply honoured at the responsibility to lead this great company to new frontiers. Taking up this baton is easier because of the foundation laid by our outgoing board chair, Alhaji (Dr.) Bamanga Tukur CON. I look forward to a successful and impactful tenure with the executive management and my fellow directors.”

Bella will chair Abumet Nigeria Limited, which considers itself the reliable partner of choice for aluminium and glass products in Nigeria with its state-of-theart factory in Abuja and strong partnerships with leading global suppliers and systems manufacturers.

If being a genius is genetic, then, it is no surprise that Bella has stepped fully into her father’s high-flying entrepreneurial shoes. Bella is blessed with beauty and her father’s razorsharp intellect. Really, it is hard not to love her. She is the kind of daughter every father prays for: brilliant and business savvy. Yes, genius becomes the gene of the Adenuga clan. It seeps from one generation to the other, like the expensive but subtle fragrance worn by kings and coveted by minions living too close to royalty.

Being the daughter of a billionaire is enough fame already. But Adenuga Jnr’s daughters are not moulded like other billionaire’s offspring.

They are decent and respectful. Bella knows how to hold her ground, tame business rivals, and avoid distractions capable of impeding the smooth roll of her exploits in every field of endeavour. Even as a billionaire’s daughter, Bella keeps a low profile and avoids any form of scandal that can jeopardize her name and that of her family. She is one young lady who has matured more than her age.

You could be forgiven for imagining that she was shepherded by her father who persistently counselled her that where strength fails, boldness at least will deserve praise. Hence, her inexorable dash for the summit of achievement in her business endeavors.

Bella is unusual. She exudes the savvy of the ancients, the type of spunk that spurred medieval Amazons to dare and surpass exploits that were the exclusive preserve of men. She glows from the inside out; every brilliant shade of her persona, from her enthralling felinity to her assertiveness, conveys a sphinx-like allure. The woman is a fire starter no doubt; a stunning equivalent of a contemporary superwoman: posh and intelligent.

A renowned icon of female power on the business realm, Bella is a star, a pioneer, and a workhorse with monumental focus.

These towering traits have led in no small measure to her speedy rise up the entrepreneurial ladder of commerce and acclaim. Her meteoric rise, according to a lot of her friends and business associates, is actually worthy of her exertions and diligence in her patient, steady march along the path of ambition and entrepreneurship.

She was a precocious 14-year-old

when she was admitted into the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She has been at Globacom since 2004. Despite her father’s wealth and high profile job, she has a good head over her shoulders, shuns silverspoon affectations, and even before her marriage in 2010, never dabbled in the debauchery prevalent among her peers.

Bella, indeed, has put in the works and has earned everybody’s respect and love for her work ethic and effortless people skills.

Indeed, she has evolved from a shy young lady learning the ropes in her father’s company into the shot-caller at Globacom as the executive vice-chairman.

Globacom is the flagship brand in the Adenuga billion-dollar empire and Bella is the face.

In her role as the executive vicechairman, she has been representing her father across the globe, at international business meetings, interacting with global political and business leaders. Just recently, she was at the Africa CEO Forum holding in Kigali, Rwanda, where she was pictured in the same row with several African presidents. She later visited the Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, in his office, stating, “I commend President Kagame for his exemplary leadership and for the tremendous success Rwanda has achieved under him. Like President Kagame, I have no doubt that greater integration will lead to continental growth and a more prosperous Africa. Globacom is committed to Africa’s economic renaissance.”

Her utmost ambition, she disclosed in an interview, is to overtake MTN. One of the ways she hopes to achieve that is a deal she signed on behalf of Globacom with Vocalcom, a company that will harvest complaints made on social media about network issues in real-time and push the information to the appropriate department to fix.

“Now, that channel will feed directly into the call centre,” she said.

There is no gainsaying Bella exemplifies a totally modern yet timeless construct of audaciousness and femininity which manifests as a blend of dashing individuality, genius, and noble pedigree.

Yes, she is reputed to have inherited her dad’s back-breaking work ethic, saying, “We exchange work text messages at 3 am.” No wonder she was honoured recently with the ‘Chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres’ (the Order of Arts and Letters) usually given by the French government to recognize eminent artists and writers, and people who have contributed significantly to furthering the arts in France and throughout the world.

The award is given at three levels: Commandeur (Commander), Officier (Officer), Chevalier (Knight). Bella got the Chevalier (Knight), which comes with a medallion worn on ribbon on the left breast, for having shown an abiding commitment to important social issues and her “significant contribution to the enrichment of the French cultural inheritance.”

Aside from Globacom and Abumet, Bella is also a director at construction giant, Julius Berger Plc, where Adenuga has a controlling stake. She also owns CobbleStone Properties & Estates Limited, a property development, and marketing company, which has a robust portfolio of residential and commercial properties in Nigeria, handled and oversaw from conception to execution of the Mike Adenuga Alliance Française Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The latter project was inaugurated by the French President, Emmanuel Macron who commended Adenuga’s love for the arts and investment in the centre, and Bella’s endearing enterprise. The company, in 2019, unveiled a 10-storey high rise called, ‘Sisi Paris’ comprising 18 units of luxury serviced apartments; nine threebedroom apartments with a two-room BQ and nine four-bedroom apartments. It also has an expansive three-bedroom penthouse with a two-room BQ. Paris is the name of her daughter.

COVER 2 A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

31.01.2021

NOLLYWOOD’S NEW SHERLOCK HOLMES For two years, filmmaker Chioma Onyenwe investigated one of the biggest fraud cases in Nigeria. The result of that research is creatively packaged in a new podcast series. Vanessa Obioha explores the filmmaker’s new endeavour ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

57

COVER 2

Nollywood’s New Sherlock Holmes

L

ast year was going to be a time filmmaker Chioma Onyenwe travelled the most. Her itinerary was meticulously planned.

Friends living in selected cities and countries were notified of her intended visit. Then the coronavirus pandemic happened and her travel dreams returned to a wishful state.

The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) — where she serves as the artistic director — which would have provided her with an opportunity to mingle and connect with friends was also cancelled. She had to halt the city tour of her ‘August Meeting’ play as well. With nowhere to go, Onyenwe longed for the pre-COVID-19 era where the human touch was not a scarce commodity.

Depression nearly kicked in at the initial stage but somehow, she survived it. On the flip side, the shutdown availed her the opportunity to work on a true crime story she’s been working on for two years.

It is the famed story of the Japanese banker, Nelson Sakaguchi, who worked as a director at Brazil’s Banco Noroeste. Sakaguchi was supposedly defrauded by a group of Nigerians in the late 1990s of $242 million. The mastermind behind the advance fee fraud was Emmanuel Nwude; his accomplices included the late Christian Anajemba and his wife, Amaka. The fraud case is ranked the third largest in banking history and was one of the first few cases handled by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) when it was established and headed by Nuhu Ribadu.

Telling such a story required Onyenwe to get her facts right. Like the famed fictional detective character, Sherlock Holmes, the founder of Raconteur Productions approached her project with clinical precision. Extensive research was carried out, court documents retrieved, calls made, visits paid including a trip to Nwude’s house whom she said opened the doors to his house without reservation. He was the only key subject whose voice was included in the final production.

“I couldn’t get Amaka to speak to me but everything we re-enacted was her statement from the case,” she explained.

The outcome of her research is a creatively packaged true-crime podcast series titled, ‘23419,’ a portmanteau of Nigeria’s dialling code +234 and fraud popularly known as 419 in local parlance.

“All rise!”

That’s the familiar court order that opens the series. The sounds and moods draw the listener in instantly.

From the courtroom drama to the interviews, each dramatisation takes the listener on a journey into the lives of the Nwudes, Sagakuchis, and the Anajembas, and be warned, nothing is ever as it seems. About 12 voice actors from Nigeria, Brazil, the US, and India featured in the series. A team also worked with her to get the right sounds and graphics.

Onyenwe served as the narrator. Her tone is semi-formal. There are some instances when she adopts a serious tone, particularly when she is reeling out facts. Other times, she assumes a playful tenor, injecting a good dosage of humour. For instance, in the third episode on Nwude, she opened by telling her audience that she really interviewed her subject, as if clearing all doubts.

A sense of her humour was noted when she described her work as creative nonfiction.

“I don’t want anybody to sue me,” she chuckled. Ninety per cent of the production was factual.

With just three episodes, each concentrated on the key subjects: Sakaguchi, Amaka Anajemba, and

ONYENWE

Nwude, ‘23419’ is a riveting tale that will keep you on the edge from start to finish. The narrative is creatively woven to entertain and educate the audience. It is an ideal project for television but Onyenwe settled for a podcast instead. It wasn’t intentional.

“Ideally, I would have loved to tell the story as a docu-series, whether re-enacted or true life. But my money was not complete,” she laughed. “To tell the story properly for television will require me to travel to Brazil.

This was like a low-cost way to register the idea and have the story out because I have been working on the story for a while.”

Apart from the pecuniary challenges, Onyenwe who is known for her intriguing storylines and formats wanted to experiment with the sound medium.

“I also wanted to change the sound.

I noticed we don’t really focus on sound in our films here so it was a good exercise for me to tell a story with only sound.”

Her experiment was not in vain.

The feedback she received so far is laudatory. It reminded not a few of the good old days of radio dramas such as the popular, ‘Straight from the Heart’

drama, on Ray Power FM. “It just shows that oral storytelling is our original format. It helps stories fly. I remember listening to quite a few growing up. And the first podcast I listened to was actually a true-crime story,” she explained.

In recent times, podcasting has become popular in Nigeria. Quite many individuals and media organisations are tapping into the audio medium to spread their message to a wider audience. More so, the global podcast market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 27.5 percent from 2020 to 2027 to reach $60.50 billion by 2027. Apple podcast is a leader in the market and as of December 2020, the platform hosted about 1.68 million podcasts.

‘23419’ is however available on Anchor.

Onyenwe’s new venture speaks volumes of her versatility. She is the first Nigerian filmmaker to produce a short web series titled, ‘Goddammit It’s Monday,’ in 2012.

Her portfolio includes short films, TV series, feature-length films, and stage productions.

She hinted on working on a new feature film, this time, a book adaptation. Last year, she was among a selected group of filmmakers that participated in Creative Producer Indaba. The graduate of Economics started her foray into the film industry in 2010, long before she met the convener of AFRIFF, Chioma Ude, but most people usually attribute her trajectory in the make-believe world to Ude. “I have warned people to stop calling me small Chioma,” she said jokingly.

On a serious note, she delved into the film world due to the industry’s structure’s deficiency.

Detailing the way she approaches her story, Onyenwe disclosed that her story ideas can often be told through a particular medium.

“Take, for instance, the ‘August Meeting’ about the Aba Women Riot was an idea that could only be on stage. I couldn’t see it as anything else. When you are on stage it’s very urgent. It’s not subtle and I wanted that call-to-action. I wanted people to be annoyed. Remember it was the year that the #MeToo movement started. The idea that feminism is an oyibo thing got me thinking big we don’t know our history,” she paused before quickly adding that “maybe I also like history. I like researching and reading and feel we need to start teaching history more. What I do is research and present it in a palatable format for people to watch and make their research.”

For ‘23419’, she listened to a lot of true crime stories. It baffled her that there is a paucity of true crime stories in the film space, considering that Nigerians consume such stories with gusto.

“Most Nigerian women watch Discovery ID on DStv. There are many true crime stories out there. A good example is the Hushpuppi story. If we are not careful, Hollywood will write that story and tell it for us which ought not to be.

We should be able to tell our stories and show that Nigerians are not only criminals.”

As the pandemic has affected film production and distribution as well as film festivals, Onyenwe is interested to see if one of the biggest global film festivals, Cannes will go online.

“People have to understand that film is just a by-product of film festivals.

They are not the reason people go to festivals. People go to festivals to network primarily. The pandemic affected that a lot. Of course, there are many Zoom calls and sessions but you don’t really feel the connection with the person. It’s good there is an opportunity to have film festivals online, at least, one gets a wider audience and gets sales fast.”

In Onyenwe’s view, the storylines explored in Nollywood are okay but what is worrying is that they are not enough.

She argued that there is a high demand for content and filmmakers need to tell more stories that are not limited and collaborate more with other African filmmakers.

Though her travel plans are yet to be revisited, Onyenwe is happy that she can share information and knowledge in the meantime, and that includes playing the Nollywood true crime detective.

58

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

HighLife History Maker Otunba Olasubomi Balogun

Balogun

R

enowned philanthropist and Founder of FCMB Group, Otunba Olasubomi Balogun, has rattled the board with his latest gesture: the donation of a world-class health centre for the treatment and care of children in Ogun State.

It is no news that Otunba Balogun started off a health care facility project in Ijebu-Ode with the intention to provide health care services to residents of the town, local government area, and Ogun State in general. Otunba Tunwase National Paediatric Centre (OTNPC), is reportedly valued at more than 5 billion and caters especially to the care of children. What is news is that Otunba Balogun has handed over this multibillion-naira centre to the management of the University of Ibadan (UI) and the University College Hospital (UCH).

Raising the bar on charity donations, the representative of Otunba Balogun (FCMB Group Chief Executive, Ladi Balogun) at the handover ceremony (January 19, 2021) explained that the FCMB founder was inspired to take up the responsibility for children’s health care after interacting with Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti (now late), a former minister of Health.

Ladi Balogun noted that this interchange sharpened Otunba’s resolve to raise the standards of children’s health.

Ladi Balogun further explained that having OTNPC under the management of UI and UCH is Otunba Balogun’s idea for advancing his objective of bridging the gap between sick and suffering children, and the level of health care that is supposed to be available to them.

Thus, counting on the prestige and pedigrees of UI and UCH, they are the best choice for the centre.

The administrators of UI and UCH praised the gesture of Otunba Subomi Balogun, noting his several other philanthropic donations in times past.

They commended the FCMB founder’s unrelenting ambition to revolutionise the health care system and suggested that he has already accomplished this to a commendable degree.

Nearing his 87th year, Otunba Subomi Balogun is a legend of banking and philanthropy. This latest gesture, however, is in a league of its own.

with KAYODE ALFRED ͮͶͯ​ͯʹ͵ͳͷͶͮ͵˜ E-mail: kayflex2@yahoo.com

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

Corporate Amazon, Nimi Akinkugbe, Flying High It is a new dawn at various Nigerian embassies around the world, with the recent appointment of career and noncareer ambassadors. The celebration is doubly so as this batch of high-ranking diplomats is especially eye-catching.

Opunimi Akinkugbe, the appointed ambassador to Greece, is a case in point.

The ambassadorial appointment of Opunimi ‘Nimi’ Akinkugbe has been well received across Nigeria’s demographic groups. As a corporate Amazon with a farreaching net of influence and an innumerable fan base to boot, Akinkugbe’s relations in Greece will serve as more than just the discharge of ambassadorial duties.

Although a businessperson through and through, Akinkugbe’s forte extends beyond the daily perusal of predictive charts and board meetings. With her education (a Bachelor ’s Degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and an MBA from Lagos Business

Akinkugbe

School), Akinkugbe has made a name for herself in the banking sector especially.

Her trail-blazing career began at Stanbic IBTC Bank, where she served as general manager and head, Private Client Services; at Barclays Bank, she served as regional director for West Africa and heading the Wealth and Investment Management Division, as well as being the chief country officer for Nigeria. Her banking career spanned over 20 years and culminated in perfecting her celebrated consulting proficiency.

Akinkugbe is not at her peak yet, but she has managed to push herself onto the dais of renown, as a bestselling author (The A-Z of Personal Finance), an advocate of personal financial literacy Advocate, CEO of Bestman Games Limited, adept pianist, and a lot of many other things to many people and industries. There is no debating Akinkugbe’s merit or her many patriotic gestures. Thus, that she will bring pride and bearing to her office as an ambassador to Greece is a foregone issue.

As Senator Hosea Ayoola Agboola Becomes De facto Governor in Oyo State Maybe ancient Chinese people got it right: before absolute power, all else (schemes, titles, rumours, etc.) collapse. Maybe this is the substance of the matter in Oyo State, where the governor’s right-hand person, Senator Hosea Ayoola Agboola (also known as Halleluyah) is supposed to be omnipotent in the Pacesetter state.

The good people of Oyo are fortunate with respect to their government: Governor Seyi Makinde is one of the youngest state administrators at present (also the youngest Oyo State governor so far) but is likely the most progressive and self-aware. Thus, it is rumoured that Makinde’s roundtable persons are all very capable and able to satisfactorily perform his gubernatorial role in his absence. It is also rumoured that Senator Hosea ‘Hallelujah’ Agboola is happy to do that—perform Makinde’s gubernatorial duties in his presence.

According to reports, so solid is the trust that Makinde extends to Agboola that the latter is able to do whatever he wants in

the state. Reports claim that Agboola has essentially tilted the political landscape of Oyo so that nobody gets any appreciable thing done without consulting him. Some say that this ‘Agboola licence’ is beginning to trump the authority of his benefactor, Governor Makinde; others say everything is in a deliberate order.

There is no denying that Agboola has worked (and is working) to rally support for Makinde. In the early days of the Makinde’s gubernatorial aspiration, Agboola was amongst the handful that did much of the groundwork. His own net of influence is sturdy and far-reaching, which is how he is able to snip top positions (such as the head of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), or Ekiti PDP caretaker chairman).

Not long after their 2019 gubernatorial win, there was some rumoured friction between Governor Makinde and the Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan. There are reports which fingered Agboola as playing a lead role in that rumoured fiasco, and more to come (especially in the appointments of

Agboola

people into prominent roles). Thus, Agboola is supposed to be a more trusted advisor than the deputy governor—which is why the rumour that Agboola is becoming a more trusted ‘governor’ is not altogether strange.

Inspiring Mileage of Amaju Pinnick

Pinnick

This year may be a period of new heights for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)’s President, Amaju Pinnick.

After pressing to dominate the politics of football on the African continent, Pinnick has finally been given the go-ahead to start oiling his engines for a possible sturdy position at the global level.

The NFF was the first to

deliver the good news that the highest decision-making body in the world of football, FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association), has screened Pinnick and found him qualified for a seat on its council.

Although Pinnick has only been cleared as eligible for a position in the council, this is refreshing news.

At the moment, Pinnick is a potential candidate, a potential FIFA council member, the equivalent of true nobility in the world of soccer. The actual election has been scheduled for March 12, 2021, at the Congress of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), in Rabat, Morocco.

Only those in on recent developments know that Pinnick’s foresight is as commendable as his skyhigh ambition. Recall that he was supposed to vie for the CAF presidency, a position he

might have won without much struggle. However, for reasons best known to him, Pinnick decided to support South African Patrice Motsepe instead.

There is no denying that being a member of the 37-person FIFA council is an honour that few can aspire to. Thus, Pinnick has come a very long way, from chairing the Delta State Football Association, to being NFF president, president of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), and first vice president of CAF. The trail of the 50-year-old Pinnick is worth tracing. It is one thing to master the soccer field of 21 other footballers; it is something else to build a stout career on the politics of the game, exceeding local and national and continental bounds, and reaching into the global pan of boiling oil. There is no doubt that Pinnick has to up his game, but this he is able to do.

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HIGHLIFE

Atiku Abubakar: A Tale of Wives Love and marriage are not for the faint of heart. This is doubly true in an age of rising divorce rates, irreconcilable differences, and every other curious variable in the marital institution. Perhaps, wealth and prestige allow one to escape the vicious reality; perhaps — considering recent news from the Atiku household — they do not.

Talebearers have reported that notable presidential aspirant and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has divorced one of his wives, Jamilah Jennifer Douglas, breaking off a union that was the envy of many.

Furthermore, harmonising with his transcendental life-goes-on bearing, Atiku has moved on to more fertile fields in the form of a finer belle from Morocco.

By all accounts, Atiku Abubakar is a bridge between an older, genteel generation and the newer tech-scient era. In speech and communication, interests and passion, Atiku is up to the minute and even a bit ahead — which is why the tale of divorce (a core characteristic of this present time) are not altogether shocking.

Secondly, it wasn’t so long ago that Atiku was rumoured to divorce another wife, Fatima Shettima. During that period, the man reportedly borrowed the shoulders of Jennifer

Douglas to shed a few tears, even though he allegedly initiated the divorce. Then, it was reported that Atiku left Fatima in a plush and wellfurnished apartment in Lagos; now it is reported that the Turaki of Adamawa has left Jennifer Douglas to her London residence.

Of course, at this moment, the Moroccan wife has spent about three years in Atiku’s household and has borne him a son (who is already two years old). So, the alleged divorce of Jennifer Douglas may be unrelated to the new wife—or maybe not.

Atiku Abubakar is a Muslim, and that allows him to have four wives, as long as he can take care of them.

The Turakin Adamawa has declared his goal to expand the line of the Abubakar, with his wives as his sisters.

So far, there are about six women who have publicly borne his name (and 29 children): Titilayo Albert in 1971, Ladi Yakubu in 1979, Princess Rukaiyatu Mustafa in 1983, Fatima Shettima in 1986, Jennifer Douglas sometime after, and the Morrocan lady in 2017.

However, Atiku divorced Ladi Yakubu much earlier, which ushered in Jennifer Douglas, and now Douglas might be out of the picture, giving room for Lady Morocco — a total of four wives.

As an aside, all the three major ethnic groups are well represented in

Yari in the Eye of the Storm

T Abubakar

Atiku’s house, and now a foreigner — which covers international relations. That’s a presidential personality for you. That’s Atiku.

Apostle Suleman: Allegations of Adultery and Tales of the Press Nigerian televangelist and the Senior Pastor and General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International (OFM), Apostle Johnson Suleman, has been cast in a new allegation of adultery and the abuse of his pastoral office. Contrary to the last episode, it isn’t the woman who is accusing the clergyman, but her former husband.

The allegation of infidelity on the part of Apostle Suleman rattled bloggers’ space and gossip columns nearing the end of January, 2021. The accuser, one Pastor Mike Davids alleged that another clergy, a Pastor Faith Edeko of Home of Elevation (a branch of OFM), was involved in extramarital affairs with Apostle Suleman. So biting was Davids’ accusation that several gossip columns began to research older similar accusations, hoping to find skeletons in the accused’s cupboard.

Interestingly, it was not Apostle Suleman that responded to the accuser with wrath, but Suleman’s alleged accomplice, Pastor Faith Edeko. Edeko upended the board with the revelation that Pastor Davids is her former husband, and that his accusations are the results of his disgruntlement.

Suleman

Edeko, via a video clip, noted that there is a world of difference between her former husband, Davids, and Apostle Suleman: the former is supposedly a no-good troublemaker who abandoned and legally separated from her, whereas the latter is her benefactor.

Edeko denied any instance of a romantic entanglement between her and Suleman, noting that the latter is a father and mentor.

Pastor Edeko further pointed out that her former husband is a drunkard, and drew from his earlier statement that he met her as a virgin to further lambast him. Said Edeko, “I stayed with this man (Suleman)...as a virgin, and he didn’t deflower me. So, the best time to sleep with me was when I was married?” She ultimately wrote everything off as bad press selling fast and ended her defence there.

Apostle Suleman is no stranger to such allegations. Not so long ago, one Stephanie Otobo accused him of keeping her on the side (i.e., having an amorous relationship with her outside marriage). Perhaps dull to such accusations, the only response the clergyman has given is to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who reportedly ordered a probe into the allegations. He too described the whole gig as “bad press that sells fast” and ended it all there.

But do such matters really end? Time will tell.

Perfect Goodbye! Mike Adenuga‘s Sister, Afolasade Akande, Dies on 80th Birthday

Akande

Sometimes, the best way to measure the value of human life is at the moment of death, at that brief interval between

awareness and sleep, where it suddenly dawns upon the mind that those left behind will remember one for good. Chief Mrs. Afolasade Akande passed on to glory on her 80th birthday, fully aware that she will be remembered for good.

The life of Madam (for she never quite became an old and wrinkled ‘Mama’) Folasade Akande (formerly Folasade Adenuga) was one of grace and beauty, and the continuation of a prestigious lineage.

Born to Pa Michael Agbolade Adenuga Sr. and Mama Juliana Oyindamola as number two among their five children, Madam Folasade inherited philanthropic — and disciplined — aspects of her father and the business genius of her mother. These traits were somewhat unevenly distributed among the Adenuga children (the late Mrs. E. O. Osunsade, Otunba Demola Adenuga, Otunba Yetunde Adegbola, and Dr. Michael Adenuga), and each got something to be forever remembered for.

It is notable that Madam Folasade passed away on a day of joy, a day many people started with gratitude in their hearts for the happy woman.

Her younger brother, the renowned businessman, Michael Adenuga, would likely have coloured the town in celebratory pink, in honour of a woman that greatly influenced him.

Unaware that she was about to breathe her last, Mike Adenuga had written a long note to celebrate her. He recalled tales of their distant past, a time when their mother still shouldered the burdens of their lives and happiness even though she didn’t need to; a time when his sister, Madam Folasade, imitated that same gentle grace, never hard to please, and yet a no-nonsense person.

There is no doubt that Madam Afolasade Akande was loved, or that she will be greatly missed, or that her memory will still bring smiles on the face of her beloveds five or ten years from now. This is the result of a life well-lived.

hhings are not looking good for former Governor of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari.

The new decade appears to have begun with the name of the 52-year-old on a summoning bowl, even as allegations of money laundering are piling up against him.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on January 26, 2021, approved a move to separate Yari from funds that are suspected to have resulted from some kind of laundering and financial misconduct. Thus, Yari’s accounts with Zenith and Polaris banks will no longer be accessible to him, joining the grave of resources seized from similar episodes of the alleged theft.

According to reports, Yari’s current situation follows from a suit filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The antigraft agency suspects Yari of obtaining the $669,248 (about 255 million) through fraudulent means. The funds in question are currently slashed across Zenith and Polaris bank accounts, allegedly under Yari’s name and those of his companies.

The struggle between the ICPC and the former governor began sometime in 2019, with the ICPC asking Yari to provide reasons why the federal government shouldn’t seize the fund. ICPC reportedly insisted that Yari had used his companies — Kayatawa Nigeria Ltd. and B. T. Oil & Gas Nigeria Ltd. — to siphon funds from the Zamfara State treasury.

Probably based on the rationale presented by the ICPC, the court allowed for a temporary forfeiture of the funds in Yari’s possession, also inviting him to defend his case.

Against the ICPC’s move, Yari stated that there hadn’t been a fair hearing; that he was wealthy long before becoming a governor.

The court countered with the fact that his company’s bank accounts had grown from zero to $301,319 (about 155 million) at the end of his tenure. Besides, 350 million had been transferred to Yari by a top official of the state—what about that?

All in all, the ordered forfeiture of Abdulaziz Yari’s Zenith and Polaris bank accounts might be the first move in a series.

Yari

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Sunday Igboho – The Shame of a People I watched very carefully the drama. The man had appeared with his tribal marks and had issued a seven-day ultimatum to all the Fulani in his ‘kingdom’ from the Seriki down to the last one of them including the one whose job was to pack the cow dung to leave. Failure which they will be at the receiving end of his wrath. He instantly became a hero.

The people have really suffered, even me here in Shomolu have felt their pain. The kidnapping, the murder, the heinous crime that the people of the South West have endured were just too much and it has taken this near-literate man to rise up and say ENOUGH. Now here is the problem, we are a cowardly people. 200million cowards who do nothing but run around in circles, confusing ourselves and fighting amongst

each other instead of forging a united front in tackling our issues.

We know where the problem is oh but we would rather be labelling it, ethicizing it and pushing ourselves into a frenzy of uselessness while the problem persists. So today it is the Fulanization that is the problem.

The Fulani are the ones who have come from Futa Jallon to rape our wives and pillage our farmlands and as such they must be dealt with. This wholesale labelling of a tribe because of the idiocy of a tiny minority in the tribe is the bane of our development. The whole country has been seized

by INSECURITY. Our problem is not Fulaniiiiiiiiii our Problem is LEADERSHIP. Simple. If we do not realize that, we will continue to suffer the degradation that is the lot of all Nigerians from Sokoto to the delta and from the

west to the East. Which part of the country is safe today? Which part of the country is not suffering from violence? Are there no Fulani in Katsina and Kaduna? Are their Governors not Fulani? Why is banditry the order of the day in those places? Abi is it the Yoruba farmers that are being beheaded in the North East? Is it herdsmen that are doing ritual killing in Shomolu or is it Fulani that are blowing up pipelines in Escravos? What we have is a group of villains taking advantage of the vacuum created by what we have in leadership to cause havoc and violence. To pillage, to kill, to maim, to rape and instead of us to react in a united cohesive version we are there labelling it and saying it is Fulani. Mbok, what is fulanization? What rubbish is that? Please let’s do the right thing for once. Thank you.

NEW SERVICE CHIEFS – A WIN FOR OPTICS These ones will not do anything o.

They don’t even look like they can fight. The Navy one is so short me I am even wondering if he can see above the steering of a ship sef. But wetin concern me? The most important thing is that at least daddy has listened and has made changes and there is some small relief. Truth is that, this is but a cosmetic attempt at engaging the matter. If anybody is looking at these four as I am looking at their picture and expecting something different, then you have to go wash your head or gaggle with TCP. The way it is, even if you bring Arnold Schwarzenegger – I no sabi spell him name abeg or Gen Schwarzkopf come, Boko go still beat am. The whole structure has to be overhauled from top to bottom. Command structure, war strategy, weaponization, attitude, morale, welfare and all that. It has to be totally upended and rebuilt failure which na the same thing we go find ourselves six months from now. These ones will just be wearing uniform and be issuing press statements. The President is perfectly positioned to better understand what is needed

to revamp the Armed Forces being a retired general who has served. He has to buckle down and take direct interest in ensuring that the Armed Forces are turned into a modern-day institution complete with the discipline and professionalism that come with it and not the Oshodi market fighting force that is the bane of many tomato traders today. Please sir, with all honesty I plead, do not just change the Service Chiefs and go and carry toot pick and put your leg up, please please directly involve yourself in the total overhaul of the whole system inside out. If that will be your legacy so be it. I know you can do it. DO IT. People are dying.

Akeredolu

New Service Chiefs

ROTIMI AKEREDOLU – PAPER TIGER Oga tried to behave out of character by going the activist mode. He gave an ultimatum to some people to leave his forest. I just laugh. This one na dance na. No be even better dance sef, na kurukere dance. How will he enforce the ban, the Commissioner of Police does not report to him, the Army does not report to him? Will he take guguru defence and his maiguards to enter the forest? This is why some people are calling for restructuring. Me I don’t support that but, in this case, I just continue with my afang instead of taking this threat seriously. But that is not my matter today; it was the memorandum that was released after his meetings with some governors and others who came to engage him on the matter. Someone dropped it on the Duke Summit and because I was less

Igboho

busy I say make I read am. I swear if I had seen Mr Akeredolu immediately after, I would have shaved his beards.

If my 12-year-old daughter Zara came home with that kind of report, I would have knocked her head and asked for my money back from the school. I have never seen such an opaque and empty document aimed at addressing a serious issue like the one. The thing just be like handout they used to give us in Political Science class in Unilag that used to make me fail. Na wa.

KOLA KARIM – A BEFITTING SON OF IBADAN So my brother Abiola Aloba sends me a newsfeed that my other brother the great Kola Karim is to receive a traditional title in Ibadan. They call it the Agbaoye of Ibadan, a title they say was last held by the highly respected late Chief Harry Akande. My people, I used to know that this my brother was well ‘resourced’ until I read his profile from what Aloba sent to me. I shock o. This na the man that I will just be whatsapping anyhow and he too will be replying me anyhow. Last time I saw him was when he drove me to go meet the Emir Sanusi on VI when he had just been sent on ‘transfer’. So immediately I got the link from Aloba I forwarded to him to confirm before I react. He confirmed and I said, ‘well done sir’.

Now Ibadan is a place very close to my heart. My Erelu who just passed was born and bred in Ibadan, I went to University in Ibadan, the first woman who ever cheated on me is from

Ibadan and I learnt how to eat fufu in Ibadan. Maybe the Olubadan should also consider giving me a small title same time with Chief Karim so that I won’t spend money, we go just do am together. I will have to reach my other friend Chief Biodun Kola - Diasi (bobo) to see what he can do o. I have not seen that one now for over ten years when I went to his office to market him. He no give me deposit o, but we chop boli and epa for him office. Anyways, sorry for the digression, Chief Karim well done and God bless you as you receive this well-deserved honour. I wish you well.

COVID 19 – THE RETURN OF MOLUE DRUG SELLERS For those of us who went to secondary School in Lagos in the 80s you will know what I am about to talk about.

When you enter Molue from Onipanu to CMS, the drug peddlers will stand up and greet you and in good English begin to show you wonder drugs that could cure anything from infertility to HIV. He will sell and sell and sell and people will be buying with no diagnosis. They will just be buying.

It seems that the drug peddlers have come back but this time in white coat.

Karim

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LOUD WHISPERS Since this Covid has refused to go away, every Nigerian now has a solution.

Nothing I have not heard – from ginger, to garlic to orange peel, to making love from the back so that the lady will not cough into your face. Everything goes. But the one that is reigning now is the wonder drug IVERMECTIN. Everybody from Professors to Igbo traders in Sandgross market and meat sellers in Shomolu are swearing by it. People are offering different doses and are taking it and sending all sorts of messages online as to its efficacy.

Some say we should take seven at a go. Other say we should do 4 and as expected the price has gone up from the N2,500 it used to retail for to about N75,000 in some places. They have said I should take o and I have been asking if it will affect my erection.

Because at 51 this is my peak period o, I cannot because of Covid go and quench my fire. Of what use will life be if I am looking at something I cannot react or be doing Indomie man? Mbok the prospect of Covid cannot make me go and risk my erection o. Everybody says it will not affect my erection and they are taking.

Are you minding them, if the thing kill their ‘baba’ will they come and tell me? I am still waiting for Health Minister to talk on am before I take o. I have bought but I am afraid to use. I just dey look the thing with one eye. Till the Health Minister or any person of competent authority talk we will continue to inhale Aboniki balm and keep safe distance from people. But keeping safe distance from some ‘yellow things’ is hard o.

Health minister talk na before I enter trouble o.

CHIEF NNIA NWODO – KINDLY HAVE A SEAT You know you have to be careful when addressing elders otherwise, they could use early morning mouth and curse you and in this time of covid-19 where will you see Shiloh to go and remove the curse? This is why I will not say, ‘Sir common go and sit down’ but will say, ‘Sir, kindly do take a seat’. He has just thanked the President for snubbing the East in his present appointment of Service Chiefs. You see, when we are praying for meritocracy and professionalism in these things, others are still carrying old fashion ‘na my turn’ and be causing confusion in the land. There were only four positions to be filled. There are six geographical regions and Chief Nwodo wants us to go and carry the Igbo man who may just be at the next army checkpoint and make Service Chief so that there will be balancing. But do you blame him? NO because every other tribal warlord in his shoes will say the exact same thing if they woke up in the morning and found out that their latest herdsman tribesman or their Sunday Igboho didn’t make the list. Na the same crap they will be spewing. God help us.

TONYE COLE – POINTING THE WAY Strong corporate titan and new breed politician the great, Sir Tonye Cole sent for me. I said, oya and we met up somewhere in Ikoyi and he ordered strong sandwich for me. I ate o. But then matter-of- factly, he told me of the need for a new wave of issue, Nigerian youths should form themselves into a block, farm themselves into the two parties and save this country. I agreed. Makes a lot of sense. You see the forces controlling our destiny are too entrenched. Not only in the physical structures but also in the narrative and the control they

in the saddle who will rule with merit and not along the shallow prisms of tribalism and pre-20th century methodologies. Tonye I am ready, 60 million of us are ready, show us the way. LEADDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!

Nwodo

Cole

have over our minds and matter. So according to him, trying to set up new structures taking on them frontally will be an attempt at catching the wind.

But something he said struck me. He said, ‘We have two election cycles to achieve this change. Two election cycles failure which our generation would have truly failed the country. I agreed again. Me I am 50 and cannot just be sitting on the side and be writing this

column and be arguing and debating on whatsapp when time and things are going by. In 10 years, I will be sixty and it’s over. Yet we know the things to do and how to go about it to kick out all this Nebuchadnezzars and Pharisees who have held us to ransom forever.

It is time we stood up and be very serious with key strategies in aligning and realigning so that by 2027 we have a modernist, a Tony Blair-type figure

PASTOR WALE OKE’S GOD KILLED THE LECTURER?

The story is all over the place that the well-respected man of God is claiming that ‘his’ God killed a lecturer who wanted to sleep with his daughter before giving her a pass mark. According to reports that I have seen, the randy lecturer who obviously have not been listening or is not close to his other colleagues who got exposed by BBC wanted to ‘shine the Pastor ‘s daughter’s kongo’ before he gave her a pass mark. All pleadings from the girl that she carried anointing did not move the lecherous lecturer who was only interested in one thing. So after failing many times, she went to her father who says that once he stands to pray, that is it o. Immediately he was told the story, he stood and said My God, I command you kill this person. And ‘his’ God killed the person in two weeks. ‘His’ God not only killed the lecturer but also killed another innocent girl who obviously did not see anything wrong in opening her legs for the lecturer and got hit by stray bullet for her services. Well this Pastor Oke’s God is mean o. He no dey even

Oke

give second chance to repent, he no dey give appeal, na straight judgment. Once Pastor instruct am, he no go even listen, he no go ask question, he go just slam – kill, end of story. Me I dey fear this kind God o. Where is the Christianity in all these? Didn’t Jesus pray for the thief on the cross? So lecturer who cannot control his lust na death be the punishment?

Well sha, na for everybody to respect themselves and stay in one place o and no find Pastor Oke trouble because we don’t know the next instruction he will give ‘his’ God. I thought Jesus came to die for our sins and as such the grace covenant was proclaimed so that sinners will be given the opportunity to repent and live better lives. Well, wetin concern me, me I can never use mark to threaten Pastor Oke daughter, I will toast her and she will willingly come and be my fourth wife and at that point no matter the instruction, ‘his’ God will respect himself and stay one place. An eye for an eye? I sincerely hope this story is not true sha. But the video I hear is trending.

GABRIEL OGBECHIE – BUT WHY? This is my Oga o. That is how he chatted me up one early morning to extend his condolences on the passing of my mother, the Honorable Mrs Inyang Sampson Edgar. You know me na, I now used the opportunity to talk business since the daddy is obviously very difficult to catch. I say, ‘Lord, I have sent you the Board papers (he invested in my Investment Banking firm) and you have not responded.

The man of God replied with a bombshell, ’Edgar I did not invest expecting a return o. I had written off the investment and only did that because I like you. Your mind is not in Investment Banking but in media and entertainment and you are doing so well, I am proud of you’. I weak. I was naked. I jump out of the bed and stand and look mirror in confusion. Who am I, I asked myself. Gabriel has just confused me. Who am I as I look my handsome face in the mirror. But before the answer came, I noticed that my legs were skinnier than normal o. kai, this diet don make me look like Bitrus for Cock Crow at Dawn. Kai, I skinny o. No wonder na only Yoruba women dey look me now, Igbo and Calabar girls wey like meat no worry about me. But that na devil wanting to distract me for question Gabriel ask. So I send a broadcast on the matter to my 10,000 people on whatsapp and most of them agree with Gabriel that my heart was no longer in investment banking. I weak o. This was an epiphany, an eye opener but I no gree, I still they argue. So since then, I have been going to the office regularly, my staff sef surprise, dem know know say na me want prove Gabriel wrong. Any which way, I still thank my lord and brother for na true love make am talk that thing. Respect.

ARTHUR EZE – LET’S CALM DOWN I am hearing of some stories revolving around this mercurial Nigerian, his relations and his political opponents. I am not sure of the details since all I am getting are like gists from some very funny sources. The story sounds quite interesting though hence my interest. So I will dig deeper and when I get the authentic story, I will analyze and give you guys. Till then, keep the pants on and stay safe.

CHARIS – THE CHARISMATIC ONE I just want to say a huge helloooo to this lovely lady in faraway Cyprus.

It would be her birthday very soon and since I no get money or visa or vaccine, all I can do is to use this medium to send an advanced happy birthday message to you. Your seriousness and focus especially at this time when young ones your age are only interested in slaying and plastic surgery continue to impress me.

Your deep engagement with your studies and the clarity with which you are using to mould your life is quite impressive, hence this my decision to hail you on this page as a source of inspiration and encouragement. Well Done my dear and God bless you.

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

Oando Boss, Wale Tinubu’s Entrepreneurial Skill

Akin-Olugbade

Prince Bolu Akin-Olugbade Goes Home February 4

T

he passing of notable socialite, Aare (Dr.) Bolusanmi Adegboyega AkinOlugbade a few days ago seems to confirm the saying that “money can’t bribe death; so be humble.”

Indeed, if death had demanded money, the deceased, who was unarguably Africa’s best collector of Rolls Royces, would have offered it without blinking an eye.

But the respected businessman succumbed to the vice-like grip of the proverbial grim reaper on January 13, after a failed bout with the dreaded coronavirus. The shocking news of his passing had hit many, especially his family and friends, like a heavy blow.

Since he exited this mother earth, their hearts have been indescribably heavy, just as tears have ceaselessly cascaded down their faces. But his loved ones are comforted with the fact that he lived a fulfilled life and impacted humanity positively.

Already, preparations are in top gear to give the Abeokuta, Ogun Stateborn businessman a befitting burial on February 4, in Lagos. The late AkinOlugbade had a solid pedigree, as the son of legendary Chief Babatunde O. Akin-Olugbade, then Balogun of Owu and the Ekerin of Egbaland.

The history of modern-day Egbaland can never be complete without the late B.O. Akin Olugbade, whose footprints are everywhere in the state. If there was an Egba man who stood toe-to-toe with former President Olusegun Obasanjo - even as a top military officer - it was the late B.O. Akin-Olugbade.

They were from the same Owu clan, but the two illustrious sons never saw eye to eye during Akin-Olugbade’s lifetime - he was said to have beaten Obasanjo to the title of ‘Balogun Owu,’ one of the most revered chieftaincy titles in Owu. But Obasanjo reportedly got the Balogun title only after AkinOlugbade had passed on.

Like his father, Bolu was very handsome, stylish, bullish, and traditional. He was the Aare Ona kakanfo of Owu kingdom, the generalissimo or field marshal of the Owu-Egba kingdom. Though a second-generation wealth creator, cosmopolitan and debonair AkinOlugbade is a perfect blend of inherited riches and self-acquired fortune.

Inventive and dogged, the suave blueblood was said to have created his world of grandeur. And till he breathed his last, he single-handedly expanded his interest into various business sectors such as property development, construction, manufacturing, logistics, distribution, maritime and offshore services, and investment banking.

With almost a dozen luxury homes in ritzy areas in various countries’ capitals across the world, his Aare Ona kakanfo Palace in Abeokuta, Ogun State is out of this world in grandeur and decor. His exceptional love for Rolls Royce began in 1984 when he bought his first one by himself from the profit he made from a good venture.

If you ask the average Nigerian businessman to share his or her experience in 2020, he or she will like to inundate you with some bitter-sweet tales.

Indeed, you may not doubt him or her considering the inclement business climate under which many entrepreneurs around the world operated in 2020 owing largely to the outbreak of COVID-19.

In spite of this doleful experience forced on many as a result of the pandemic, 2020 ended on a happy note for Jubril Adewale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc. This should not come as a surprise to anyone who has been following his inspiring story with abiding interest.

Over the years, he has sailed untroubled in the entrepreneurial ocean, navigating numerous business boats with the grace and nous of a veteran captain. Those that say

money making is an art and that the trained lawyer is a maestro in the field, appear to be right.

He has also succeeded in engraving his name in the hearts of the company’s shareholders with his business wizardry.

While many who have worked with him in the past confirmed that he is a go-getter, it is also a fact that his clear vision has given Oando an edge over its competitors, thereby making it one of the leading oil firms not only in Nigeria but also in Africa. Think of one man who was born under the proverbial lucky star, his name will crop up.

Popularly known as ‘King of African Oil,’ he is constantly in the limelight. Over the years, his success stories in the oil and gas industry have earned him a pride of place not only in Nigeria but beyond. One of the often-repeated jokes whenever his name comes up in any discussion among his business associates is that Tinubu talks business with ease.

Tinubu

Bella Adenuga-Disu Soaring Higher

Adenuga-Disu

Naturally, one of the things that give parents great satisfaction in life is to see their children excel in life.

For Dr. Mike Adenuga, Chairman, Globacom Nigeria, there is no gainsaying the fact

that he feels a sense of fulfilment, particularly as his beautiful daughter, Bella Disu, keeps soaring higher in life.

When you meet brainy Disu, you are likely to come up with a lot of conjectures. This is because her impressive career growth and achievements do not betray her age.

A few days ago, Disu was appointed as the chairman of the board of directors of Abumet Nigeria, effective January 1, 2021. The firm, a subsidiary of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, is a leading solutions provider for the planning, processing, and installation of aluminium and glass products, from single standard windows to sophisticated facades and large-

scale design masterpieces.

Disu, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Science in Leadership from the Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts USA, replaces Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who recently resigned from the board.

Bella, also a member of the Chartered Institute of Management of Nigeria (MNIM) and the Institute of Directors of Nigeria (MIOD), is currently the executive vice-chairman of Globacom Limited, Chief Executive Officer of Cobblestone Properties & Estates Limited, a Director on the Board of Mike Adenuga Centre and a Director on the board of Julius Berger Nigeria plc.

Wesco Lotto Boss, Wale Osinubi, in Double Celebration Barely four weeks into 2021, Wesco Lotto and Bet boss, Wale Osinubi, has begun to revel in celebrations.

The popular Lotto merchant kicked off the year on a great note, when he first celebrated his birthday, and then, a few days after, the amiable businessman welcomed a bundle of joy.

Though many had foreseen her comeback on the political scene, what could not be determined immediately were the finer details of her moves.

In 2007, Senator Grace Folasade Bent made history when she defeated many of her opponents in the senatorial election to represent Adamawa South, the largest senatorial district in the state, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). With this, she became the first female senator in the northeast geopolitical region of Nigeria and also the first female senator based on marital affiliation to be elected into the Senate from northern Nigeria (her husband Jackson Bent is an indigene of Adamawa State) and she is the first Nigerian to systematically analyse inter-ethnic marriages in her ground-breaking book, Inter-Ethnic Marriages In Nigeria: Beacon Of National Unity.’

But when the Ilesa, Osun State-born politician failed to secure the party ticket in 2011, her fans could not wait to see her return to politics, where she has impacted positively on the lives of people in her

In celebration of the memorable day, a modest bash with COVID-19 protocols duly enforced was organised. Also, he held a lowkey but classy naming ceremony for his new bundle of joy from his adorable wife, Mariam. As always, he was joined in the double celebration by his friends and family members.

Osinubi

Senator Grace Folasade Bent’s New Move

Bent

constituency. A source informed Society Watch that after wide consultations, Bent

has now made her intention known to go back to the Senate come 2023. She is said to be receiving the blessings of the powers that be and the masses, who have missed out on good representation at the Senate.

“It has dawned on the people of her constituency that they need her. She is a good politician with a human face and a good grassroots person,’’ a source stated.

Before her election into the Senate, Bent was a political adviser to the then-PDP National Chairman, Audu Ogbeh. Apart from being a strong advocate of inter-tribal marriage, the elegant lady, who is the author of Women in Inter-Ethnic Marriages in Nigeria, is at the forefront of women’s participation in government. Bent, cut her teeth in politics at the University of Calabar, where she was actively involved in students’ unionism.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

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FOCUS ByTunde Ipinmisho

T

he setting was in numerous countries across three continents and, at each location, it was simply breath-taking.

It was a non physical gathering of a distinguished group of personalities made possible by cutting edge information and communication technology which linked participants in Africa, the United States of America and Europe. It was real time; it was hitch free.

The participants at the celebration made possible by Zoom included a first class Nigerian traditional ruler, at least three university professors, Pastors, top civil servants and other eminent professionals in Nigeria and the Diaspora. They had assembled to join Taiye Lambo and Kehinde Lambo-Aderiye to mark their golden jubilee.

The twins are the first children of the former Minister of Health, Professor Eyitayo Lambo, and his wife, Dr. (Mrs) Esther Olufunmilayo Lambo (nee Aragbaiye). They were born on January 23, 1971 at Abegbe Memorial Hospital, Oremeji, Mokola, Ibadan.

So, when they hit the landmark age of 50 years last week, parents, relations, friends and associates spared nothing to give them a memorable golden jubilee celebration. A live gospel music band and five pastors (two from Abuja, one from Lagos, one from Canada and one from the United States of America) were on hand to give it the needed Christian ambience.

The Atlanta (Georgia,USA) home of Taiye and his wife, Adebunmi, and the Chatham (Kent, England) home of Kehinde and Yinka Aderiye were decorated with colourful buntings which proclaimed for all the Zoom participants to see the purpose of the gathering: Taiye and Kennie at 50.

On hand to add the hue of royalty to the celebration was no less a personality than the Olowo of Owo, Ondo State, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye, a first class traditional ruler who is a first cousin to Dr. (Mrs.) Lambo and her youngest brother, Mr. Oluwadare Aragbaiye, the Ondo State Government Head of Service.

More than 100 personalities, many of who were meeting one another for the first time or had not seen each other for several years, had been brought together in cyberspace at this unique golden jubilee of the twins, who themselves are now the parents of wonderful boys and girls.

And although the celebration was non-physical, the attendees could not help but have the feeling that something great was happening. Three generations of the Lambos, which Professor Lambo often refers to as the Lambo Clan, were on hand to celebrate two of theirs. Although most of the members of the clan were in Atlanta, every family celebrated in its own home. Professor Lambo and his wife, who are holidaying in Atlanta, were also in their vacation home, participating in the event.

The master of ceremony, Mr. Bidemi Omokore, who took charge of the show from his London apartment, had invited the Abuja musician, RevySax, to open the show with soullifting gospel music and that moment signaled to the guests that they were in for a great outing.

Not a few of them, particularly the women, were seen intermittently on their feet, as the show progressed, dancing to the pulsating music from the Nigerian capital.

The opening prayer was taken by Professor (Rev) Olutola Kehinde Peters, who was in Canada but shielded from the nasty winter snow outside his home. Professor Peters is a long time spiritual mentor of the Lambos, right from his days as the Pastor of UMCA Theological Seminary Chapel in Ilorin, Kwara State. That relationship and close association with the Lambos came into play in the choice of his prayer points for the celebrants.

When it was time to speak, Taiye, a cyber security expert and consultant with his wife, Adebunmi, by his side, made it known that he had not celebrated any birthday other than his 10th Year. He noted that he did not look good in the photographs of the occasion “due to petty sibling rivalry”. He said he was particularly glad to celebrate their golden jubilee because it was an occasion of thanksgiving to God for pulling Kehinde off “the valley of the shadows of death”.

Taiye expressed appreciation to God for keeping them and making them see that day. For their parents, he also had a lot of thanks to offer for their love and for pouring into them, the values that made them to be who they turned out to be.

Taiye also thanked their siblings and friends from far and wide for their love and support over the years.

For their parents who, with satisfaction written all over their faces and who were participating in the event, he had some assurances. He pledged that they would continue to uphold their treasured values and virtues.

Recalling his knack for breaking and fixing things in his first decade in life, Taiye said he had decided to use his talents and skills for good, instead of bad. He also showered kind words on his wife,

Pomp Across Three Continents as Lambo Twins Come of Age

Taiye Lambo and Kehinde Lambo-Aderiye

Adebunmi, and children, who he said put in much work to make the event the success it was.

For Kehinde, she said she had only gratitude to God for sparing her life to witness their golden jubilee. She recalled that she, in 2013, had a gory encounter with gun-totting robbers in her residence in Lagos from which she narrowly escaped death.

In 2018, she said she was diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo a major surgery to remove the tumor and also had some post-operation cancer treatments. The following year, she said she was again diagnosed with cancer and had to go through the required cancer treatments.

Kehinde, a Management Accountant, said it was her faith in God that helped her to pull through those tough periods of her life. She thanked God for how he made her “amazing parents” to be great role models and for how they had always supported her for the past 50 years.

When she took her own turn, Dr. (Mrs.) Lambo, the matriarch of the clan, expressed thanks to her late parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Aragbaiye, her husband, children, siblings and other family members.

She recalled the traumatic labour and delivery of the twins in Ibadan half a century ago as well as the ensuing blindness for three days and a disastrous post natal fainting spell.

The past 50 years, she said had been a period of passing through waters, rivers, fires and victories all the way. She admonished the twins to hold on to their faith in God as well as to love and obey Him. She also urged them to obey all constituted authorities because it was God who ordained them. Dr. (Mrs.) Lambo also enjoined her twins to choose their friends wisely, differentiating between destiny helpers and destiny destroyers, as well as to pursue holiness and righteousness.

On his part, Professor Lambo thanked God for giving him the wife of his dream and for seeing her through the first pregnancy and prolonged labour. He also expressed appreciation to God for keeping him and his wife alive to witness the golden jubilee of their twins.

While praising God for seeing them through the first half of their lives’ journey and helping them to overcome the various challenges that had come their way, he reminded them that at 50, they were now old enough to know themselves real good but were still young enough to make things happen. While they are still too young to retire, he

urged them to have a sense of urgency to be more intentional to find and fulfill their lives’ purposes. He urged them to be more confident and immune to the judgment of others of them as well as to make more conscious decisions because they now had the experience and trust in themselves more than before.

According to Professor Lambo, at 50, the twins still had enough time to re-invent themselves if they so desired. He then gave them a 14 point charge for them to: be more intentional about their lives than before; make the development and implementation of their 15 – 30 year strategic life plan a priority; strengthen their relationship with God on a daily basis; listen more to what God is saying rather than telling Him or asking Him for things most of the time; pay more attention to helping others and giving back to the society and to support the work of God as much as they can.

Professor Lambo also charged them to: carefully and prayerfully prepare for the time all their children would go their own ways; make good health their priority; purse something like a hobby, preferably with their spouses, that would give them fun, pleasure and joy; save more for the rainy day and live simple lives; be intentional in managing their reactions to stress; keep learning and developing themselves every day; continue to hold high the Lambo family’s values of faith in God, humility, contentment, generosity, hard work, perseverance, honesty and integrity as well as to diversify their income earning sources without outstretching themselves.

Then, it was the turn of the nuclear families of the celebrants to pour out their hearts in love. Taiye’s wife, Adebunmi, recalled that when she and her husband first met, they had no inkling of what was ahead. “All we knew was that we were in love and we just had to be together”, she said. Attributing their success so far to God’s mercies, grace and love, she said they once again had reason to rejoice. She expressed appreciation to her husband for loving God with all his heart and for building the family on the solid rock of Christ. Adebunmi also praised her husband for his humanitarian

work, k and d for f being b i a thought th ht lleader d in i the th field fi ld off cyber security. She also expressed her thanks to her father and mother in-law “for giving me a fine man to marry”.

Similar thoughts also echoed from Chatham where Yinka, the husband of Kehinde, also thanked his wife for always being by his side and for always loving, supporting, caring and protecting him and their children. Describing her as their family’s super-woman, Yinka thanked Kehinde for being the kindest and most vibrant woman they knew. He had prayers for her and Taiye, “an amazing person with a big heart”, that God would spare their lives to have many more of such celebrations.

Introducing her mum to the cross continental guests earlier, Damilola Aderiye said she stood out with two qualities of excellent time management and problem solving skills, the former she took from “Grandpa Lambo” and the latter she inherited from “Grandma Lambo”.

From their Atlanta home, Valerie, Taiye’s daughter described her father as an incredible leader, mentor, friend, husband and an amazing father.

The Olowo of Owo, right from his palace in the ancient Yoruba city of Owo, poured blessings on the twins and wished them long and happy lives.

Similar prayers were also offered by the former Vice Chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Professor Afolabi Soyode, and his wife as well as the Head of Service of Ondo State Government, Mr. Oluwadare Aragbaiye.

Then master of ceremony, at a point in the proceedings, summoned Revysax to the band stand once again and directed the twins and their spouses to the dance floor. It was not for long as the audience clapped for them. Then it was time to cut the birthday cakes, one in Chatham and the other in Atlanta. Supported by their spouses, they cut the cakes to the admiration of guests and were rewarded with a round of applause across the various countries represented in the gathering.

Throughout the celebration and although they tried to keep a low profile, the other members of the “Lambo Clan”, Mrs. Oludolapo Oluwatosin Famakinwa, a supply chain management expert and her husband as well as Dr. (Mrs.) Abimbola Abidemi Lambo – Ogundimu, a public health specialist with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) headquarters, Atlanta, Georgia, loomed large as they intermittently and through the chat channel on Zoom welcomed guests and expressed their thanks.

It was indeed a night of many prayers, prayers and more prayers. Pastor Dominic Ehikhuemen, formerly of Family Worship Centre, Abuja but now residing in the United States and Pastor Wilson Adegbe Akubo, also of Family Worship Centre, Abuja took turns to pronounce the blessings of God on the celebrants. Pastor Akin Romeo Akinwande gave a very powerful charge to the celebrants before praying for them, their families and parents.

Then it was closing time and the turn of the man Professor Lambo calls his “Senior Pastor”, Dr. (Rev.) Babajide Olowodola of Four Square Gospel Church, Asokoro, Abuja, to pray for them as guests await the next celebration in another half a century. Rev. Olowodola, having served as Special Assistant to Professor Lambo in his days as Health Minister, left nothing behind in his arsenal of prayers to wish them well.

Soon, it was 9:30pm in Abuja and three and a half hours since the programme started. Guests in their chats spoke of having had an exhilarating time as they, one by one, left the group. To many, it was yet another Lambo exclusive.

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JA ͻ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͯ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

INTERNATIONAL Falsus in Uno, Falsus in Omnibus: The Definienda and Scenarios of Nigeria’s Second Civil War

F

alsus in Uno, Falsus in Omnibus is the Latin expression for ‘false in one, false in everything.’ The foundation of political governance in Nigeria, since the time of her independence on October 1, 1960, has been largely predicated on falsehood.

This is why the superstructure built on it has been tainted with false in everything. This is also why indiscipline and corruption, which was first identified by Professor J.S. Cookey in his Political Bureau Report of 1987, was considered the bane of the Nigerian society since 1967, that is, only seven years of Nigeria’s sovereign existence. Corruption is galloping in Nigeria and has been scientificised in approach and institutionalised in manifestation, to the extent that every attempt to combat any fresh act of indiscipline and corruption necessarily also generates new methods of deeper corruption engendering.

It is therefore not surprising that a British Prime Minister, David Cameron, described Nigeria and Afghanistan, on May 11, 2016 as ‘fantastically corrupt.’

More interestingly, it is the factor of falsehood in the governance of Nigeria, and particularly the acquiescence of political chicanery as a fashion in political life, that not only makes Nigeria fantastically corrupt, but also explains why it has become very difficult to build a true and united nation-state from the multi-ethnic states of Nigeria of today. In this regard, if the Transparency International perceives Nigeria as the second most corrupt country in West Africa in its most recent corruption barometer and the 149th out of a total of 180 countries surveyed, it simply means that Nigeria is only better than thirty countries in the whole world or less corrupt than only thirty countries in the global corruption perception index.

And perhaps most interestingly, but disturbingly, it is this same factor of falsehood and dishonesty of purpose that clearly points to the making of a second civil war in Nigeria. Many seasoned observers believe that no country engages in a civil war two times and survives in the spirit of another legal principle, ‘ne bis in idem,’ that is,, ‘’not twice in the same thing.’

But unfortunately, however, with the many cases of unending kidnappings, enforced disappearances, herdsmen-farmers saga, etc, there can be no disputing the fact that a second civil war is in the making in Nigeria, the definienda and scenarios of which are hereinafter discussed.

Fulanisation

There are three main definienda of Nigeria’s second war in the making: fear of the unknown, Fulanisation; reckless political chicanery in the governance of Nigeria; and reactive public recourse to legitimate self-defense and self-help. The fear of possible Fulanisation is prompted by the criminal activities of some Nigerian and foreign herders who happen to be Fulani by ethnic origin. The Fulani herders not only kill mercilessly, rape girls, pregnant women and kidnapped women with reckless abandon, but are hardly brought to justice by those specifically charged with the responsibility of maintenance of law and order in Nigeria.

The Fulani herders often recklessly trespassed on titled farm lands in the wrong belief that there is terra nullius (land without title) in Nigeria and that they have the right, and, of course, every right of establishment in any part of the country, but forgetting that the right of establishment, either on the basis of the controversial 1999 Constitution of Nigeria or the plurilateral and supranational agreements done by Nigeria, like the ECOWAS Agreement on Free Movement of Goods and Services and the Protocol on Rights of Establishment of Community Citizens, are all subject to the prevailing law of the host communities. Besides, the herders often criminally forget that the practice of federalism in Nigeria does not in any way give the Federal Government the right to override the rights of the constitutive States of Nigeria. The herders were and are strongly, but wrongly, strengthened by the fact of political remissness and acquiescence of the Federal Government which sees every act of criminality but says and does nothing.

In fact, in the eyes of the general public, the Federal Government is, by keeping quiet, by not showing any keen interest in prosecuting any suspected and arrested Fulani herder, and by always showing nonchalant attitude towards public complaints, President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) is consciously aiding and abetting one ethnic domination of another. In this particular case, former military Head of State and two-time President of the Federal

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e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Buhari Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, is on record to have observed that PMB appears to have a Fulanisation agenda.

But whether or not Chief Obasanjo’s observation has any credibility, PMB and his administration has not openly addressed the observation in terms of preventing the general public from believing in the postulation. The general public, in spite of the silence of PMB over the matter, strongly believes in a possible Fulanisation agenda and the reasons cannot be far-fetched. First, the Fulani herders now carry more sophisticated weapons, modern AK-47 guns when grazing. Peaceful grazing to which the people of Nigeria have been used has been militarised and become very aggressive.

Second, and true in this regard, various published complaints against the Fulani herders by the people have shown that policemen bother less about such complaints; that arrested suspects were often released within 24 hours of their arrest to the chagrin of the complainants; and that notable people often come to intercede for the suspects, in spite of knowing well that the suspects had committed crimes. Thus, Nigeria is visibly a country of conscious lawlessness and systemic crisis of contradictions.

In the eyes of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the problem is not simply Fulanisation in terms of territorial occupation per se, but something like an ‘enslavement’ or Fulani hegemony that underscores a supremacist agenda, and against which Chief Awolowo fought tooth and nail, but to no avail before he passed on. The situation also compelled him to note that sooner or later, the time would come when the Yoruba nation would be compelled to learn how to defend and sustain their survival in Nigeria. It appears the time has come to recognise that the long Yoruba patience has now reached its crescendo in the continuum of tolerance.

In fact, PMB has been directly and indirectly accused of having a Fulanisation agenda with the nature of questions being raised in the public: why is it that there was no destabilising mésentente between the Fulanis and their host communities in the South West before 2015. Why were the Fulanis not belligerent before 2015?

Why is it that it was in 2015, when PMB first came to power, that the environmental conditionings of the relationship suddenly changed? Why has the relationship been deepening? These are

some the issues and questions raised by many observers and particularly by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a veteran patriot, when he was the Special Guest at the THISDAY Live panel discussions on The Arise Television last week Sunday.

Third, different postulations have also been advanced, beginning with the Boko Haram insurrection. The Boko Haramists want to Islamise Nigeria and they launched their first offensive in the North Eastern part of Nigeria. Wherever they captured, they quickly established their Muslim Caliphate and installed their national flags. The Nigerian military responded by carrying their counter-battle to the doorsteps of the Boko Haramists. They won the battles technically, but not the war. Who will win the war is still best imagined because the war is not stricto sensu civil. It is not a war between two disputing communities in Nigeria. It is a manifestation of the Islamic struggle against western civilisation to which Nigeria is simply playing host. Boko Haram is the local chapter of al Qaeda international, implying that fighting the Boko Haram is also fighting al Qaeda.

It is useful to recall what the late Muammar Gaddafi prescribed as the only solution to the problem: No enduring peace until Nigeria is divided into Muslim North and Christian South. But what really informed this prescription? Why is it that the Boko Haram insurgency has not been weakened by their technical defeat or by the strengthening of the Nigerian military? Will the change of Service Chiefs mean anything, especially that there are many Boko Haram sympathisers even in the government, a fact that former President Goodluck Jonathan publicly acknowledged when he was in power?

In fact, PMB changed his Service Chiefs on Tuesday, January 26 and told them the following day that Nigeria was in a state of emergency and that all the Service Chiefs should be patriotic and serve the country with diligence. In the congratulatory words of PMB, ‘there’s nothing I can tell you about the Service, because you are in it. I was also in it, and I will pray for you. I also assure you that whatever I can do as Commander-in-chief, will be done, so that the people will appreciate your efforts.’

This message, as good and encouraging as it may appear to be, is most unfortunate. It gives impression that PMB, as Commanderin-Chief, had not given the required support to the immediate past Service Chiefs. It gives the impression that PMB had also not prayed for the Service Chiefs that had left. If PMB prayed for them, questions must be raised as to why the prayer had not been answered and sanctioned with divine success or defeat of the enemy. And more interestingly, why should PMB be more concerned about the public appreciation of the success of the new Service Chiefs and not about his own public appreciation, after all, he is the Commander-in-Chief?

Whatever is the case, after the change of guards, The Punch of January 29, 2021 reported that kidnappers and gunmen still held sway, not only abducting 75 people, and wedding guests in Niger and Taraba, but also killing 18 people. According to the Punch report, not less than 50 persons were abducted on Thursday, January 28 in the Bassa community in the Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) of the State, while 9 people were killed in the Faskari LGAof Katsina State. Additionally, 25 youth coming back from a wedding party were similarly abducted along Wukari-Takum road. In the same vein, 4 persons, including 2 brothers, were killed by bandits in three different LGAof Kaduna, and 5 others in the Warri South LGA. The point being made here is the omnipresent character of banditry, kidnapping, killing of innocent lives in Nigeria, or to put it grosso modo, of insecurity in various parts of Nigeria. This is not to mention the deadly threats of the first and second variants of COVID-19. This situation simply implies that Nigerians are now permanently living under different fears, especially under Boko Haramism and the prescription of disintegration of Nigeria into Muslim North and Christian South as the only solution to enduring peace in Nigeria. The nagging issue here, however, is that the Fulani herdsmen publicly confessed in 2014 their membership of the Boko Haram (vide the Daily Independent of August 23, 2014).

Fighting Boko Haram is also fighting al Qaeda international that is multi-dimensionally funded and wickedly terroristic. In this regard, the Daily Independent has it that the Nigerian Fulani militants were adjudged to be the deadliest terror group in the global terrorism index in the world after the Boko Haram, the ISIS, and al Shabab

The first hypothetical scenario is that the hostile international environmental conditionings will Political Chicanery Asecond definienda is the reckless political chicanery in the continue to exist and the Fulani herders will be compelled to move from the north to the South for greener pastures. The Southerners are most likely to continue to resist the destruction of governance of Nigeria. The political elite behave as if they are above the law. PMB once argued that Nigeria’s national their farm lands.This will prompt a situation of order and counter order amounting to disorder. always security interest takes pre-eminence before the rule of law. And Second, seeking greener pastures in the South raises the issue of Islamisation and Fulanisation true enough, many times, governments in Nigeria only accept to agenda which is most likely to be also resisted. Third, there will be much pressure on PMB to respect the rule of law when it is convenient to do so. For instance, find accommodation for the Fulani herders who do not have any titled land. No more free land politicians do live lavishly and are generally portrayed as another anywhere. State governors have competence over land under their jurisdiction. Consequently, god to be worshipped by all.Avideo of the armoured car of the of Rivers State, reported to have been purchased at a cost one easy way to douse the tension and prevent a recourse to another civil war cannot be by Governor of N495 million is a good point of illustration at this juncture: the manu militari policy by which the influx of Fulani herders into the country is encouraged to the public is complaining about a government that does not produce detriment of national security.And more significantly, there is no better option than accepting to toothpick or tissue paper and about a State plagued by mounting restructure and allowing for true federalism to take shape. A war planned for is quite different unemployment and massive joblessness. Probably having an from a war imposed by force majeure. PMB’s attitude to national questions appears to be killing armoured car is not really the relevant issue.

Nigeria softly Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

31.01.2021

BUT, THAT’S NO WAY TO SAY GOODBYE, MIKE…

Cover continued on Page 66

Omoighe

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 31, 2021

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ARTS & REVIEW\\TRIBUTE

BUT, THAT’S NO WAY TO SAY GOODBYE, MIKE...

Nothing forewarned Mike Omoighe’s associates about his imminent passage at the early hours of Sunday, January 24. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke relieves his recent interventions in the local art scene.

A

sense of detachment – or was it numbness?

– was definitely not the rational reaction that early Sunday, January 24 morning’s WhatsApp message – announcing that “Mike Omoighe passed on yesterday” – should have elicited.

But then, not even words, or even emotions, could lend themselves to coherent expression under the circumstances. Just silence – of words, of thoughts and of emotions – reigned…

Strangely, it felt as though someone had pressed the pause button on these gross material forms of expressions. For, credible stock phrases of condolence suddenly took flight, refusing to adhere to the dictates of this apparent non sequitur. Then, resignation to its inevitability began to assert itself.

Omoighe, a Yaba College of Technology’s School of Art, Design and Printing lecturer until his passage on Saturday, January 23, once matter-of-factly proclaimed: “Artists work… till the last day when they drop the body.” This during an online interview while the activities swirling around his 60th birthday were revving up.

Well, how self-fulfilling! At 62, the artist could not have been contemplating retirement from his studio practice. Art, he had disclosed in that interview, had been the theme song of his life.

Having a father, who was a sculptor, an uncle who was a photographer and another who was an architect did not only ensure his growing up in an artistic environment, but also convinced him that the purpose of his earthly existence had a lot to do with art.

It was years later that he would begin his real formal training in art as a secondary school student at St Gregory’s College in Obalende, Lagos, where he was tutored by the visual arts legend Bruce Onobrakpeya. Onobrakpeya’s contemporary and Zaria Art Society comrade, Yusuf Grillo, took over the mentorship baton when Omoighe enrolled at the Yaba College of Technology, where he eventually obtained a national diploma in 1978.

Besides Grillo, who was then the Head of the Art Department, he was also taught by other lecturers like Kolade Oshinowo, Paul Igboanugo, Vivian Osemwegie and YAG Lawal, among others.

To Onobrakpeya, Grillo, Oshinowo, Igbanugo and Ademola Adejumo, he said, he owed a lot of influences. “I have learnt a lot as I was also teaching other beautiful souls,” he added, alluding to his students at the tertiary institutions. “I learnt so much from my students, colleagues and the enabling environment provided

by Yaba College of Technology Lagos. Hence, my students influenced me as I may have influenced them too.”

Omoighe also trained at the Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, where he graduated with a higher national diploma in 1980 and subsequently at the University of Lagos for a certificate in polytechnic management in 1987 as well as at the University of Ibadan, where he obtained a Master’s degree in visual arts communication.

In between his academic responsibilities and his studio practice, he had been seeking a happy medium since 1986 till he gave up the ghost on Sunday, January 24. The late chief lecturer at the Yaba College of Technology had, among other things, been a member of its Academic Board, the head of the tertiary institu-

improvement was art administration, which in his opinion “puts a few artists up and [leaves] the rest in abject poverty. When they die of boredom and hunger, the art administrators go for the art and make them museum pieces.”

Nonetheless, the Edo State-born artist held the view that the existing art administration befitted the people’s consciousness and seemed comfortable with the way things were progressing without structure, adding that the art scene would grow someday.

For the records, Omoighe might not have declared himself a committed artist. Yet, he was politically conscious enough to find a lot of things wrong with the society, which he expressed in his art. On the controversy that swirled around the former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration’s public art projects, he said they were trending because they were done at all. If they were not done, there wouldn’t have been anything to talk about. Then, he wondered about some of the mural paintings that he alleged were washed away after one rainy season and were not eliciting as much comments. This, he thought, was because they were not portraits of notable figures. “My only worry is that it is public funds that are being used for the statues,” he lamented. “People are yet to grow up to the stage when they will be bold enough to hold their leaders accountable. If the works were done with sincerity, I’m sure it would have been a different matter. The I-don’t-care attitude of both the contractors and Lagos State Government is very worrisome.”

The Return of Oneze, the Return of the Soft Dance Steps by Mike Omoighe, Omoighe still had a lot of good things to say 2015 about the local art scene despite the controversies.

He was full of praises for the annual ArtX and the Lagos Biennial, tion’s fine arts department, the Dean of the School of Art, Design and Printing, later the Dean, Student Affairs and, subsequently, the which he hailed for breathing “hope and optimism” into the art scene, adding that they were major catalysts for the creative mind director of the tertiary institution’s Academic Planning Unit. and the entire art community.”

He, of course, had to pay his dues before getting this far. “Life…

Still on his political views, he owed them to the “June 12” riots, itself is a major challenge,” he said during that interview. This which apparently roused from his initial apolitical disposition. explained why he titled his first solo exhibition (at the National The events that trailed the annulment of that 1993 presidential Arts Theatre, Lagos) in 1982 Growth and Fear. election, believed to have been won by the late businessman As an art critic, he held the reins as the AICA (International AsMoshood Kasimawo Abiola, left indelible impressions in his consociation of Art Critics) president at a time when the association’s sciousness. He recalled the curfew that was imposed in Lagos as Nigerian chapter was dormant. Already as far back as sometime well as the armoured tanks that rolled into the streets, as bonfires in 1980, he curated the first NYSC artists show in the Ondo State and protests added to the pandemonium. capital, Akure. “Curatorial works weren’t even known by most Some of these impressions, which he called “visual narratives” people then.” and reinforced his belief that artists, as humans, are not immune Even as Omoighe had acknowledged the progress (which he to politics, were evident in the works featured at an exhibition he called a geometrical leap) the local art scene had made over the held the National Gallery of Art in 2005 and a more recent one he years, he believed that there was still much room for improveheld at The Wheatbaker Hotel exhibition in Ikoyi, Lagos. ment. One of such areas that he believed was in dire need of

FILM

CITATION: FLAWED BUTTHE BEST OF KUNLE AFOLAYAN’S RECENT FILMS MOVIES Oris Aigbokhaevbolo

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he last time I wrote about Kunle Afolayan’s movies, I lamented his decline from the heady days of The Figurine to the rather piss-poor Tribunal.

I am happy to report some good news: his new film Citation is an improvement on Tribunal and even Mokalik. The bad news is that Citation never comes close to Figurine.

In the new film, Moremi, a postgrad student, and Professor N’Dyare, her lecturer, offer differing accounts of a sexual incident at their school’s senate’s hearing. It’s the classic he says, she says. Well, except that Afolayan, working with Tunde Babalola’s script, and using flashbacks, tells how they arrive at the university’s senate hearing entirely from Moremi’s point of view.

This, of course, takes out some suspense from the proceedings. The viewer is entirely reliant on the filmmaker’s supposedly objective point of view but that point of view is skewered from the start.

A scene from the movie This could be a political choice as in today’s climate we are required to “believe women”. In Citation that requirement is presented as “dramatise a woman’s account only”. As with the real world, the danger here is the tendency to ignore a plausible ambiguity. That might not be a bad notion in real life but in the movies, it is fatal. Ambiguity enriches narratives.

It is the viewer’s luck that the character the

dramatisation tries to demonise is played by Jimmy Jean-Louis. He injects charm into the highly-decorated academic N’Dyare and makes you believe there’s a chance that his nemesis might be wrong about what transpired between man and student.

Clearly, the film is riding on the problem of sexual harassment as exhumed and placed in the mainstream by the famous BBC documentary on sexual abuse in Nigerian universities. The politics and the more dramatised female point of view are the same.

With the BBC documentary, the audience knew the investigative reporter was playing a character. The same is true of newcomer Temi Otedola, who never lets us forget she’s acting and not very well, too.

To be fair to her, the choice of a newcomer in a role as central as Moremi’s is puzzling. If it was a show of faith, the performance doesn’t quite bear it out. In scene after scene, Otedola

does not dispel the feeling that she shouldn’t be carrying such a weight this early in a career she might be considering. She does have a good scene walking with Jean-Louis at a beach and a decent one flirting with her boyfriend Koyejo (Gabriel Afolayan) in a narrow walkway but mostly one is aware she isn’t “there” yet.

Not that she is helped by the screenplay, which for some reason never really shows Koyejo and Moremi do anything other than hold hands. They never kiss, which is a surprise because Moremi appears to be a studious but worldly postgraduate student: she has been places, speaks French, and doesn’t appear to have a religious hang-up. She does have a sheen of innocence but as anyone who has been in a university knows, looks have no real bearing on the sexual behaviour of young people. As a result of this unlikely chasteness, one never really believes she has anything romantic truly going on with the supposed boyfriend. And as Moremi is in almost every scene, to watch Citation is to watch Otedola not quite succeed at being Moremi or being Koyejo’s girlfriend.

–––Aigbokhaevbolo writes from Lagos Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 31, 2021

CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

Fixing the Herdsmen Menace Without stern consequences for their bloody, criminal rampage debatably suggestive of an agenda beyond environmental triggers, rogue herdsmen seize Southern and Middle Belt forests and farmlands. Louis Achi looks at the issues and espouses the urgency in fixing them once and for all

C

ould the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo have spoken from some arcane knowledge unavailable to other multifarious ethnic nationalities that constitute Nigeria? He had proclaimed that all lands in Nigeria belong to the Fulani ethnic nationality. He had also called for retaliation against any attacks against herders. Bodejo’s position was apparently emboldened by a hurried statement from the presidency.

His words: “All the lands in this country belong to the Fulani, but we don’t have any business to do with land if it doesn’t have areas for grazing. If the land doesn’t have cow food, we won’t have any business with it. If the place is good for grazing, we don’t need anybody’s permission to go there.”

In effect, any blade of grassy bovine delicacy or chewable economic crop cannot escape the enthusiastic moo and digestion by the hoofed invaders. The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore is a second-league cattle-herding cartel in Nigeria.

However, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association (MACBAN), a much older sister cattle herders’ body disowned Bodejo’s imperious proclamations and condemned the call credited to the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, which urged herders to defend themselves against attacks by Herdsmen on duty from this offensive by shockingly weaponised herdsmen speak ethnic militia in the southern region.

The MACBAN national secretary, Baba Usman, told newsmen to a failing state or specific non-salutary agenda.

Largely in the Middle Belt, South-south, South-east and Southin Abuja that his organisation was shocked to read media western forests and contiguous territory, kidnap for ransom, reports that a leader of Kautal Hore had asked Fulani herders banditry, brutal killings, rape, deliberate destruction of property to retaliate any attack or attempt to restrict them in southern and extensive population displacement have scaled up. In all Nigeria. According to Usman, “We totally condemn it, because these, the security agencies are either incapable or unwilling to it is dangerous to the peace of the country. Nigerians should not rein in the spreading terror with allegations of complicity daily see us as agents of destabilization.” mounting.

Meanwhile, some 48 hours ago, the venerable Sultan of Strangely, a key concern of the current administration, Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III waded into the seemingly supported by a laid-back national parliament is festering Fulani conundrum. Noted the Islamic religious leader, while Fulani may dominate the kidnapping cartel in the country, how best to stop progressive states and regions from birthing security structures that will neutralise the current bloody terror they do it in collaboration with people from other ethnic groups. and safeguard their people. Coyly quoting the constitution has The Sultan spoke last Friday in Abuja, at a meeting convened become a staple diet. to discuss and seek solutions to the on-going challenges facing But history has proven on many occasions that the display of Fulani herdsmen in the country especially, in the wake of the real leadership can set the ball rolling and force the conclusion of recent crisis in the Southwest.

The Sultan, who chairs the Board of Trustees of the MACBAN important matters that have been dragging.

This was exactly what happened, when Governor Rotimi said there are Fulani that engaged in criminality like there are Akeredolu of Ondo State, fed to the teeth and citing intelligence people of other tribes and ethnic groups that also engaged in that some herders were about to unleash more extreme violence different acts of criminalities, hence it is wrong to generalise the in the state, recently issued an ultimatum to herders, mostly crime perpetrated by individuals. of the Fulani tribe, to vacate the state’s forest reserves within “We are going to approach the President to talk to our West one week. He received the immediate backing of not only the African neighbours, where we have Fulanis like Senegal, Niger Southwest region but three other regions and other important Republic Guinea and Mali, to help us, because most of these political figures. bandits cross from neighbouring countries, conducted their At press time, despite the knee jerk responses from the criminal act and run back,” the Sultan said for good measure. presidency largely backing the Fulani herdsmen, considerable Just how much light have been generated in the nightmarish compliance has set. There has been a flurry of meetings between darkness of herdsmen depredations in Nigeria by these key various stakeholders, curious visits to a rattled Aso Rock, huffing Northern stakeholders is debatable. But clearly inescapable here and puffing by some stakeholders with unraveling presumpis the fact that the mounting intensity, boldness and body count

tions.

A major enabler of the bloody impunity playing out is the lack of stern consequences for criminals, who breach the law. Even invaders from Mars must obey Nigerian laws. Many allege that because the president is Fulani, then, the Fulani have the licence to run riot. Though it must not be forgotten that there are many law-abiding Cattle-herding Fulani, who have spent all their lives in the South, living and interacting peacefully with Southerners.

Despite contrived constitutional hurdles, Akerodolu’s bold move sent a clear signal that the intolerable situation cannot continue in his state. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the content of his ultimatum was carefully couched but predictably misinterpreted by forces that appear to be calling the shots.

Some of the unfolding fallouts from Akerodolu’s ultimatum include even the splitting of the Nigerian media along NorthSouth fissures. Besides roping in the Nigerian governors’ Forum (NGF), the drama has also put the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the spot.

Back from his sojourn abroad, Tinubu has kept mum from reacting to the herdsmen crisis in his home region, for reasons allegedly linked to his 2023 presidential ambition.

When Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was president, the Oduduwa People’s Congress (OPC), which began as a Yoruba sociocultural interest group soon morphed into a violent group intimidating many especially, the non-Yoruba in the Southwest. If they had assumed that their man was president, they were dead wrong.

Obasanjo issued a shoot-on-sight order and still believes that it was the right leadership position to adopt. It was his duty to rein in the OPC or risk a general breakdown of law and order. That’s leadership without fear or favour.

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

T Dr. Kayode Fayemi, NGF Chairman and Ekiti Governor

NGF’s Misplaced Priority

he Nigerian Governors Forum, last week, met with members of the Miyetti Allah group following the eviction notice issued them by some parts of Southwest in view of the nefarious activities of some criminal herders.

However, whilst there’s nothing wrong with the NGF meeting the association to report the criminal elements amongst them and find a last solutions to their criminalities, the question that has been left unanswered is: where does that leave the victims and their families?

The likely interpretation of that decision,

which of course had gained attention in some quarters, was how the governors thought that ignoring the victims of the herdsmen’s attacks and their family could actually engender altruistic peace in communities where these people co-exist?

Not only do the herdsmen boast a feeling of importance, they carry on with some sense of superiority over other ethnic nationalities and atop that, get away with the vilest of offences. In what context, therefore, do the governors think placing the criminals above their victims would heal wounds? They definitely didn’t get this right, no matter how much mileage they might have recorded from it.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 31, 2021

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BRIEFINGNOTES Sunday Igboho: Diary of a Civilian Infanteer From all indications, the failure of state provides the platform for the likes of Sunday Igboho, writes Shola Oyeyipo

I

f not until recently, Chief Adeniyi Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho was little known in the South-west, but after he lent himself to protecting the Yoruba nation from the untamed invading killer herders terrorizing parts of Nigeria, he has become a household name.

The people of the West are elated that in the absence of adequate protection by security agencies, one of their own is taking up the challenge of telling the killers “enough is enough.” He gave the Fulani killer herdsmen a quit notice in Yorubaland.

Those in the corridor of power and some Yoruba All Progressives Congress (APC) politicians particularly, those aspiring to participate in national politics come 2023 do not share his fast-growing heroic sentiment among the people of the South-west.

But for the intervention of some other prominent Yoruba leaders, President Muhammadu Buhari had already tasked the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu to arrest Igboho. The president’s Special Adviser on Political Matter, Senator Babafemi Ojodu tactically described him as paid a political thug.

But far and away from the federal government and the Ojudu narratives about Igboho, some of the leading media organisation, both foreign and local, now call him Yoruba right activist, Yoruba freedom fighter, champion of the Yoruba race and all other similar names. Apart from that, the social media is agog with eulogies for him from across the southern region.

Former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode said, “Chief Sunday Igboho, the man of the moment! God bless and be with you aburo! “(Meaning bless you, younger brother). And on twitter, the likes of Mr. Kayode Ogundamisi wrote that he is, “Our defense minister”. To Ndubisi Nkumeh, he is a “brave man”. These views are shared by a large majority of people who feel his position against the killer herdsmen is long overdue.

Therefore, a recent write-up by an Ekiti State journalist-turned politician, Ojudu, where he told a story of how their political godfather in the APC and former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu bought Igboho over during an election in 2009 in his state, and emphasised that he was a thug, apparently to de-market him, holds no water. This is because the young man is largely believed to be fighting the course of the people, not just Yoruba but the entire Nigeria.

In this current situation, it’s Ojudu’s word against Igboho’s, claiming Ojudu was the lair! Why? Nigerians are tired of the clueless disposition of the Buhari administration to tackling the wanton waste of lives and property by criminal Fulani herdsmen.

Not only that, the fact that all the security agencies seem to have given the killers the right to continue their heinous crimes without being brought to book is both annoying and frightening to a lot of Nigerians.

After narrating how Igboho and ‘his band of thugs’ were paid and persuaded out of Ekiti and how he learned thuggery from the late strongman of Ibadan politics, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, Ojudu said: “This was my encounter with Sunday Adeyemo alias Sunday Igboho, lately crowned a hero in Yoruba land, by the reign of terror by herders and bandits. He has that occasional conscience you can appeal to.

“Let those who can rein in the herders do so and make the forests and highways safe again. Let farmers be able to carry out their occupation without fear of kidnap, murder and rape. Let us find a modern and permanent solution to this issue of itinerant herding that pitches a group of Nigerians against the other. Let us not ethnicise criminality. A criminal is a criminal and a crime is a crime whether perpetrated by Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, Junkun, Bachama or Ibariba.”

He noted further that, “We should do everything possible to stave off this crisis and stop beating the drums of war before it reaches a crescendo,” and the question for him is, who is beating the drumbeats of war? Is it Igboho or the herdsmen?

ways to the farm and we said we want to defend our people, but some people are saying we don’t have the right to do so.”

This is the course Igboho is fighting and therefore, for the information of Ojudu, his bosses and his sympathisers, people in western Nigeria have idolised the man he is trying to deride, because he is seen as helping to stave off the killers, who have operated with crass impunity and are being pampered by the Buhari government.

While he enjoys the support of notable Yoruba leaders, practically all the people in the Southwest support his resolve to ensure that the unchecked criminal activities of the herdsmen come to an end, because they have concluded that this government is not committed to doing that.

Ifeoluwa Egbetade wrote on twitter that: “The government, both at federal and state levels, have failed us on security matters and the bitter truth at this juncture is that people are ready to follow and support whoever is ready to fill the vacuum – whether it’s constitutionally backed or not”, adding: “I stand with Sunday Igboho.”

Onye Nkuzi also said: “People like Sunday Igboho will continue to emerge, because Abuja has made a quality decision to ignore a security crisis.” And Kelvin Odanz, on his part, was of the view that, “If Buhari has been arresting and prosecuting rogue herdsmen and the various camera-loving spokespersons, who give legitimacy to their criminal activities, groups like ESN and Sunday Igboho won’t rise up to fill Igboho the security vacuum with their own agenda,” Then what has the Ekiti politician to say about the lackluster attributing it to “failure of leadership.” attitudes of the Nigerian security agencies to apprehending the killer Perhaps Olatunde Glasses’ description of the situation was more herdsmen? All over the country, where these killers have operated, apt. He said: “Sunday Igboho: Difficult to condemn but dangerous it has been easier for the security agencies to arrest the people to endorse,” and that is because the Buhari administration has left defending themselves than the killers. the people with no other choice.

There is no point belabouring readers with a timeline of Fulani Before now, there were only scanty information about Igboho’s herdsmen attacks across the country. Every part of the country is personality except the mention of his name in some songs, but currently under siege, and people of the south have insisted that available information has it that he gained respect among politicians these merchants of death, kidnapping and rapes should not spread and those who knew him because he is believed to possess some their tentacles to their region to no avail. Now farmers are afraid to metaphysical powers, he allegedly inherited from his forefathers and go to their farms and women too are scared to travel the roads for God. fear of herdsmen in the Southwest.

Love him or hate him, Sunday Adeyemo, is the name on every Igboho gave the herders ultimatum to leave the Ibarapa and Oke lip for the all-important role he is playing in helping to galvanise Ogun areas of the Oyo State and the reason he gave for that was Yoruba in the fight against the rampaging killer herdsmen. the incessant attacks on the people.

Born on October 10, 1972, he got his alias from the name of He said: “Our people are no longer safe in their own land. On the his hometown, Igboho in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State. He first came to contrary, Yoruba people do not engage in such atrocious things. You prominence for the roles he played in the Ife-Modakeke communal cannot see a Yoruba man going about killing people in Kano. In the crisis of 1997, where he got the name ‘Akoni Oodua’ translated as North, they can behead a Yoruba man for slapping a Hausa/Fulani ‘Hero of Yoruba.’ He lived his early life in Modakeke, Osun State let alone destroying their farmlands. You will recall the case of ‘Oko before relocating to Oyo State. He was a motorcycle mechanic and Oloyun’ (a popular herbal medicine practitioner) who was killed later went into car sales. He is the founder of Adeson Car Sales during a visit to his country house.

International Concept Limited “He was killed at Igbo Ora. Government said they would He is known to have had a particularly good relationship with unravel the facts behind his killing but till now, the matter has not former Oyo State governor, Lam Adesina. They were said to have been unraveled. That killing would clock up a year this month. met on an occasion, when he was fighting for the right of some Another illustrious son, Dr. Fatai Aborode, returned from overseas people at a petroleum filling station. He was later to work with and cultivated a farmland in Igangan engaging about 300 people to former governor Rasheed Ladoja and has since maintained a cordial work on it. relationship with some of the Southwest governors.

“His farm was plundered by cattle, he reported to the Seriki Irrespective of whatever Igboho has been before, today he Fulan and some days later, herdsmen kidnapped him, tied him represents the collective aspiration of the Yoruba race for a and butchered him. Nothing has been done and no one has been better deal in Nigeria. He is the voice of the people saying, arrested in connection with his killing. They rape women on their “no to killer herdsmen”.

NOTES FOR FILE

Ojudu and the Wages of ‘Lies’

Ojudu

Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs in the office of the Vice President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, in the week, gaffed and blemished his many years of professional career on account of needless and avoidable political animosity.

In a piece that was no less attention seeking and titled: “The Sunday Igboho I knew”, but whose main intent was to dis the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and tell the story of his ascension to power ‘in a manner no one had done before with some startling facts’, he shot himself in the head, blemished his career and dragged some people along with him. In his rebuttal Igboho outrightly called Ojodu a liar: “Femi Ojudu is a liar. He is out to defame me… Ojodu mentioned Ahmed Tinubu in the piece, you can go and ask Tinubu about the election. I have only worked for two people; the late Lamidi Adesina and Rashidi Ladoja. I have never worked for Adedibu,” he said.

Igboho stated further; “Adedibu died in 2008 and Ojudu said the

same Adedibu asked me to go to Ekiti in 2009. You can see he is a liar.

Politicians are trying to penetrate the Yoruba struggle. You can kill the messenger but you cannot kill the message.

“I don’t know any Ojudu and if he is sure that I met him in a hotel, let him swear by the life of his children.”

With a timing that wasn’t just wrong and poor but suicidal, Ojudu has since become the butt of jokes in all quarters of interaction. The development has so reduced him that Sunday Igboho had taken to all the platforms available to vent his anger and disappointment.

There’s no doubting the fact that backlash hit Ojudu so bad. It was bad enough that he had to exit a few platforms, following the unceasing bashing from members. Unfortunately, this own goal might have canceled him out in the 2023 equation. He’s only paid for his unashamed lies and attacks on Fayemi in the most devastating manner. Hope he learns from this, ultimately.

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Oyinlola: A Soldier’s Soldier Is 70 Seventy years next Wednesday, February 3, life has been kind to a former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party and later, Chairman of the National Identity Management Company, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who spent his productive years serving his fatherland in the Nigerian Army. Yinka Kolawole writes

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ne of the very few people in this country, who have been fortunate to rule two states at different times, is Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a prince of Okuku, Osun State. He was a Military Administrator of Lagos State from December 1993 to August 1996.

Nine years after leaving Lagos, he was sworn in as the elected governor of Osun State on May 29, 2003 and remained on the seat till November 26, 2010. He later became the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party and later, Chairman of the National Identity Management Company (NIMC).

Born on Saturday, February 3, 1951 in Okuku, Odo Otin Local Government Area of Osun State into the royal Oyinlola family, Oyinlola carries with him a blue blood.

His father, the late Oba Moses Oyewole Oyinlola, was the Olukuku of Okuku between 1934 and 1960.

An orphan at age nine, Oyinlola’s mother, Olori Comfort Ololade Oyinlola, died in 1959, when he was barely eight years old while his father died a year later. He was, consequently raised by his older siblings.

His Education Trajectory Oyinlola completed his primary education in 1963 at St. Michael’s Primary School, Okuku, after sojourning three other schools due to the changing hands from one guardian to the other. Thereafter, he proceeded to Odo-Otin Grammar School, Okuku, where he obtained the West African School Certificate in 1968. Oyinlola attended the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where he bagged a Diploma in International Relations in 1979.

He later proceeded to the University of Madras, India, where he graduated with an M. Sc. Degree in Defence Studies in 1988. In 1999, Oyinlola also attended the University of Ibadan, where he bagged a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies, and the Buckingham University, United Kingdom where he graduated in law in 2003. He later attended the Nigerian Law School, Abuja, where he was called to the Nigerian Bar.

A Journey to the Military Oyinlola enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1969 as a Private Soldier and was posted to the Signals Corps. He later attended the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, as a participant in the Short Service Course Two and was commissioned as an officer in 1971 into the Armoured Corps of the Nigerian Army at age 20.

Other military institutions he attended included the Nigerian Army School of Education, Ilorin in 1973 for French, English/Current Affairs Course.

He was at the 5e Regiment de Chasseurs, Periguex, France in 1974 and specialized in AML 60 and 90. He attended the NAAC School Ibadan in 1974. It was young officers course.

Also, he was at the Royal Armoured Corps Centre, Britain, 1975 for Troop Leaders Armoured Course. He was at the School of Armour Pakistan, 1977 for Communications Instructors Course.

In 1979, he attended the Command and Staff College, Jaji for Junior Division Staff Course, before proceeding to the US Army Armour School, in 1981 for Armoured Officer Advanced Course.

Again, he was at the Command and Staff College, Jaji, between 1982 and 1983 for CSC course 5; US Army Institute of Personnel and Resource Management USA 1984 Adjutant General Officer Advanced Course; US Army Institute of Personnel and Resource Management, USA 1984 Military Personnel Officer Course.

He had a stint at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India from 1987 to 1988 for comparative staff College, and of course, the National War College, Abuja between 1997 and 1998 for NWC Course 6.

Oyinlola had a fulfilling career in the military. He served as a Directing Staff at the Command and Staff College, Jaji and meritoriously in various other capacities as Troop Leader, Squadron Leader, Battalion Commander, Brigade Commander and Acting General Officer Commanding.

As a patriotic officer of the Nigerian Army, between 1983 and 1993, Oyinlola participated in five military/ peace-keeping operations in the Lake Chad area, and later in Chad, and was the Commander of the Nigerian Contingent to the United Nations Peace-Keeping Mission in Somalia in 1993.

He performed all his combat and command functions so well that even, the Commander of the American contingent in Somalia, General Wilhelm in a rare letter to him admitted how “honoured” the Americans were “fighting shoulder to shoulder with a professional force like Oyinlola”

Oyinlola His patriotism, successes, humility and level-headedness, saw him being appointed the military administrator of Lagos State, a position he held from December 1993 till August 1996. He bowed out of Military Service as a Brigadier-General in June 1999.

As military administrator of Lagos State, Oyinlola’s primary duty was to ensure peace and safety of lives and property of the people of the state. It is to his credit that despite the volatility of Lagos post-annulment of the June 12 1993 election, he achieved peace by sheer combination of military diplomacy, discipline and native intelligence.

He never had to fire a shot. That was evident at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission headed by the late jurist, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, where Nigerians listened to testimonies and accusations from all manners of people against public officers, who served in the military governments. No one mentioned Oyinlola’s name in connection with any wrongdoing throughout the sittings of that panel.

He was the first in the country to establish a special joint military/police security outfit, which he code-named OPERATION SWEEP, which he launched on May 15, 1995 to combat spiraling insecurity in Lagos. Not only that all his successors in Lagos had kept to that security initiative, all other states in the country also copied it under one code-name or the other.

On physical infrastructure, Oyinlola’s administration in Lagos built roads, bridges and markets across the state. Enduring examples of the efforts of that period are link roads and bridges across canals, which he designed to solve the intractable traffic jams in the mainland part of Lagos.

He started this initiative with the Opebi link bridge and adjoining roads. Oyinlola did many more in other sectors including the epochal appointment of Justice Roseline Omotosho as the first female Chief Judge in the history of the Nigerian judiciary.

By the time he exited office on November 26, 2010, his government had connected 87 towns and villages to the national electricity grid through his comprehensive rural electrification programme just as his government provided potable water to several communities.

On education, the credit of Home Grown School Feeding programme, which other states are copying today goes to Oyinlola, who sustained the programme for about six years in Osun State with his successor continuing, where he stopped. He built several thousands of classrooms and provided free education including bursary and free textbooks to primary and secondary school students. He did many more.

The Osun State government, under his leadership promoted Culture and Tourism, which grew rapidly during his tenure. His government achieved the listing of Osun Grove as a World Heritage Site. He was the prime architect of the First Global Conference of Black Nationalities, a Colloquium on Slavery, Slave Trade and Its Consequences, which were held in Osun State from 23-27 August, 2010 and the establishment of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding in Osogbo by UNESCO. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of humanity, Oyinlola was in April 2004, conferred with honourary Doctorate in Civil Laws by the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso and a Doctor of Letters Degree of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State in 2006.

Prince Oyinlola also bagged a Doctor of Laws Degree (Honoris Causa) from the prestigious Buckingham University, United Kingdom, in February 2007. Similarly, the Osun State University honoured him in 2010 with a Doctor of Laws degree while Lead City University, Ibadan followed suit in December 2010 with the award of honourary Doctorate in Civil Laws on Oyinlola and Fountain University, Osogbo in 2016. He is also a Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management.

Oyinlola the Politician

His Leadership at the NIMC

As governor of Osun state, Oyinlola’s greatest achievement was the enthronement of lasting peace between Ife and Modakeke peoples, who had been at war for over 100 years. He was able to achieve that feat because of his sincerity of purpose that won him the trust and confidence of all sides in the age-long conflict.

Also, as Osun State governor, Oyinlola established and built many of the structures that are there today in the campuses of Osun State University, which UNESCO within the first two years of its existence described as a model.

Today, that university has trained thousands of globally respected graduates and has in its employment, over 850 employees, who earn their living there.

More on other physical infrastructure, Oyinlola constructed the second Osun bridge in Osogbo and dualised the two most important roads that lead into the state capital from Ibadan end. He also constructed across the state over 2,000 kilometers of urban and rural roads.

On Thursday, September 21, 2017, Oyinlola was inaugurated as Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), following his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mrs. Habiba Lawal, inaugurated the 9-man board.

Represented on the board are the Military, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, other government agencies as well as the private sector.

On January 31, 2018, he was part of the launch of “Coalition for Nigeria” a political movement to check the failings of APC. However, on Thursday, May 10, 2018, Oyinlola resigned from his position as Chairman of NIMC, citing “a greater political engagement...” He is presently the President of the Nigerian golf Federation and a chieftain of the PDP.

Oyinlola the Administrator

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Buhari in Katsina for APC’s registration

APC Registration and the Fate of a Ruling Party Barring any unforeseen circumstances, President Muhammadu Buhari will this week in Jos, Plateau State, officially kick off the All Progressives Congress membership validation. But this one exercise will either make or mar the ruling party as the country journeys towards 2023, writes Chuks Okocha

L

ast week, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) took it upon itself to train officials that would superintend the revalidation of its members. It was like a cat and mouse game before the party’s stakeholders agreed to the process. This is because of the suspicion that certain interests were out to hijack the process at the expense of the

others.

The revalidation exercise is very important in many ways as it gives strength to any group that has more members in the nomination of candidates for the main election. Depending on the procedures to be adopted – direct or indirect primary elections. The group within the party that has more members will certainly have an advantage in subsequent party elections.

This is like the training that precedes a game of football. All the players will ensure that the training goes well to enable them win the match. In this circumstance, it is the duty of stakeholders that they have more members, who are registered to the advantage of their course.

All this is targeted towards the general election due in 2023. The stakes are high, undoubtedly. For governors and other members of the party with presidential ambitions, it is in their political interest that they get more of their members to register in this all-important exercise beginning this week.

However, the noise around the revalidation membership exercise would be loudest in the south, because of the belief that the presidential ticket of the APC has been zoned to the region. The battle for supremacy, therefore, is to ensure that the more members in kitty will serve a purpose during the various primary exercises. Starting from the Southwest, the revalidation exercise is expected to be a keen exercise.

The reason for this is not far fetched. There are at least three members said to be nursing a presidential ambition. The former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu is one.

Also, in constant mention is the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who is equally the chairman of the governors’ forum. Then, of course, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, is deemed to be in the race.

These three are expected to use their strengths to ensure that more of their supporters revalidate their membership of the party.

Starting from Ekiti State, both Fayemi and Tinubu will fight it out. In anticipation of this exercise, the stage has already been set for crisis. This is because the party in the state is already polarised in the state. The foot soldiers are already set for battle. Senator Femi Ojudu and the governor’s team are already in an epic battle.

To ensure fairness, the National Caretaker Committee headed by the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, was alleged to have ensured that the seven-man committees were fairly constituted.

In Lagos State, which is home state of Tinubu, the seven-man committee is allegedly balanced to all interests. Though the governor is carried along, some other stakeholders were said not to have shown considerable interest in the exercise for obvious reasons.

Thus, there is some kind of disquiet in the Lagos State chapter of the APC over the forthcoming membership registration exercise in the state, which may foretell a bad omen for the party.

In Lagos, the exercise is coming amidst lingering internal crisis with a group led by a former vice-chairman of the party, Fouad Oki, challenging the leadership of the state APC. The Oki-led group has vowed to also effect leadership change in Lagos APC and weaken Tinubu’s hold on Lagos APC. He recently granted an interview, saying he was ready to deliver an all-inclusive and credible register to the party in the state, noting that the existing register was fake, and could not stand the test of time.

He also commenced a local government sensitization tour to educate prospective members on the forthcoming membership registration. THISDAY learnt that Oki’s activities had already begun to unsettle the APC

leadership in the state.

With the membership registration approaching, there is anxiety and tension over plan by the Oki-led group to conduct a parallel exercise, which many fear could further polarise the party and complicate matters.

This development, it was gathered, triggered moves by some party chieftains to cause a postponement of the membership registration exercise in view of the unresolved crises in the party.

Oki told journalists, penultimate week, that the proposed membership registration would enable party supporters, who were not sure of where their loyalty lied to join the party.

He also vowed to effect a change in the political leadership of the state beginning with having a credible register different from the one used by the Tunde Balogun-led APC. The party chieftain is also one of the backers of Mr. AbdulAzeez Adediran, a governorship aspirant and founder of the ‘Lagos4Lagos Movement’, which has also challenged Tinubu’s leadership in the state.

A party member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “The membership registration is already generating tension in the party, because of the threat of a parallel exercise. This is why some stakeholders are already calling for a postponement, because of the crisis it may generate with many issues unresolved.

“Don’t forget a member of the House of Representatives from Lagos, James Faleke, has called for the postponement citing COVID-19 but there is really more to it,” he explained.

Also, speaking with reporters, one of the party elders and member of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision making organ of APC, Chief Olorunfunmi Basorun, said there was no cause for alarm over the threat of parallel congresses.

According to him, the factional members “are only chasing shadows,” adding that what was happening within the party was a competition, which is part of democracy and ultimately, the majority would win.

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“I look around here in Ikorodu division; I don’t know who their members are. When the time comes, we would know whoever has the larger members,” he said.

In Ogun State, the home state of Vice President Osinbajo, he has to contend with three other principal stakeholders and they are Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Governor Dapo Abiodun and former governor Olusegun Osoba. Like in Ekiti and Lagos States, membership of the seven-man committees in the two states, were not badly constituted, party sources claimed.

But in other states of the Southwest like Osun and Ondo States, where there’s not much at stake among the governors than a passive interest, the governors decide who will get an upper hand. But in Osun State, Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, who is said to be a relation of Tinubu, pundits believe might sway the revalidation exercise in Tinubu’s advantage Ditto in Oyo and Ondo States.

However, there are speculations that the Southwest governors of APC could swing their support for Governor Fayemi of Ekiti State. This is depending on the body language of the President, who might be disposed to a Christian successor.

In the Southeast, where there are presidential contenders in the persons of Senators Rochas Okorocha, Orji Uzor Kalu, Minister Ogbonnaya Onu and Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, the revalidation exercise would be battle royale.

Each of the stakeholders will fight to ensure that they have an upper hand in their home states. In Imo State for example, Okorocha and Governor Hope Uzodinma might take their battle for political supremacy a step further.

The exercise will settle once and for all, who will control the members preparatory to a congress that would follow thereafter. Will Uzodinma allow Okorocha have an upper hand? This is yet to be seen. But, if that happens, then, Okorocha should bid farewell to his presidential ambition or focus on his mega party to actualise his presidential interest.

Whatever happens will dictate whether the former governor will continue to be a member of the party that he has predicted its collapse sometime ago. Will the revalidation hasten the process of the collapse of the ruling party? Only time will tell.

In Abia, Senator Kalu might likely have a field day.

He is sure to carry the day. He is the leader of the APC in the state. But that might not be the case in Ebonyi

State, where it is being said that Governor Umahi has either a presidential ambition or vice presidential intention as the case may be.

Whatever is the case, the governor has to contend with Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology.

Before Umahi’s defection from the PDP to APC, Onu had held sway as the leader of the party.

The big question now is, will the two chieftains unite and subsume their ambitions to building the party in Ebonyi State or they’ll allow ambition to tear the party apart? Again, the events of the next few months will decide.

In Anambra and Enugu States, the party has no governor, but there is a member of the Federal Executive Council. In Enugu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and the Director General of the Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu will have to settle their lingering supremacy battle.

Anambra State is the traditional state of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), but the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige and Chief Arthur Eze, are members of the APC. Both will settle their quest for supremacy with the exercise. This has become necessary in view of the forthcoming governorship election in the state. Ngige and Eze supporting two different aspirants to emerge as the governorship candidate.

The more members they have, the better for the number of delegates for the primary election. In the Southeast, because of the peculiar nature of their politics, the noise from the battle for supremacy would be quite loud.

Then comes the South-south. Here, two states stand out: Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. This is basically because of the cult of personalities involved, who would like to undo each other. In the Rivers State, there is the feud between the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and his erstwhile friend, Senator Maginus Abe. They will finally use the opportunity of the exercise to settle their rivalry.

Already, court cases have commenced, both for and against. It would certainly be an interesting battle for both. It might turn out like Anambra and Imo States.

Then comes the Akwa Ibom State, which will reenact the battle of supremacy between Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Minister of Niger Delta and Akpan Udouhehehe, National Secretary of the APC caretaker committee.

Recall that the caretaker scribe had an epic battle

with Akpabio, when he was a minister of state in the FCT and all that led to his being dropped as a minister.

Perhaps, history has a way of repeating itself. Both of them were in the PDP before and fate has brought them together to APC. So, who would have an upper hand in the exercise?

This exercise, interesting as it may be, would help decide many long political feuds. Again, time will tell.

Cross River State, indeed would hold no political attraction. It might go down as one of the most peaceful states during the revalidation of membership exercise.

Senators John Enoh and a former senate leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba could put their differences back and build APC in the state.

In Delta, the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo Agege and his associates in the state like the former speaker of the House of Assembly, Victor Ochei would try to build the party. The ball is in the court of Omo Agege to build or spoil the party, more so due to his governorship aspiration. The odds are in his favour to have an upper hand in the state, as the governorship election seems to favour his Delta central. All the three senatorial zones have all taken a shot at the governorship of the state. It is going to be much easier and peaceful as not many members of the APC are contending the seat with him.

Up north, there might not be much attraction and noise making as nothing big as the presidency is at stake. This is because of the said gentlemanly agreement to allow the south produce the next presidential candidate of the party.

The APC governors of the states in the north are in control. Though the exercise has thrown up the former chairmen of Buhari’s erstwhile party, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). The moribund group could suddenly wake up to seek to exert influence.

But not much has been heard of them after their initial meeting n Abuja. However, what might throw up the only challenge in the north is the jostle for a presidential running mate, which might be conceded to the north once the presidency goes to the south.

On the whole, the revalidation exercise for the APC is such that would stress the party, because it means a lot to many stakeholders with aspirations in 2023. It could be the tsunami that might decimate the party.

However, if the APC survives the heat from the exercise, then, it would outlive President Buhari, contrary to predictions that the party would go into oblivion after the Buhari administration. That fate, however, is in the belly of time.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 31, 2021

FROMTHECOURT

With the pressure mounted by the National Judicial Council and Nigerian Bar Association on the Cross River State Government to confirm Justice Akon Ikpeme as the substantive chief judge of the state paying off, stakeholders are demanding same for Gombe State in order not to leave the judiciary at the whims and caprices of governors, writes Davidson Iriekpen

A

fter rejecting her twice, the Cross River State House of Assembly on Thursday finally backtracked and confirmed Justice Akon Ikpeme as the substantive chief judge of the state. The confirmation took place following a motion moved by the House Leader, Peter Odey, and seconded by Whip, Okon Ephraim, representing Calabar South 1.

The confirmation followed a request by Governor Ben Ayade dated January 20,2021, with Ref: SSG/S/300/VOL. XVIX/550, and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Tina Agbor Banku.

The letter read in part: “In the exercise of the powers conferred on His Excellency, Professor Ben Ayade, Governor of Cross River State by Section 271(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), I am directed to forward the name of Hon. Justice Akon Bassey Ikpeme for confirmation by the Honourable House as Chief Judge of Cross River State in the State Public Service.

“The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to request Mr. Speaker and Honorable Members to please grant the consequential confirmation of the nominee for formal appointment as Chief Judge of Cross River State in the State Public Service.”

Unlike on two previous occasions, the lawmakers during plenary wasted no time in overwhelmingly granting the request from the governor to make Justice Ikpeme the substantive chief judge of the state as soon as the letter was read on the floor of the assembly by the Clerk, Bassey Ekpenyong.

Even though the state government and assembly did not give any reason why they allowed the confirmation after rejecting her twice, the assembly Speaker, Eteng Williams, said: “The Assembly just did its job. We got new facts.

We got documents that we needed. We’ve done our own findings.”

According to him, what the lawmakers had done was to stabilise the judiciary, noting that the Chief Judge is expected to discharge her duty without fear or favour and that she should be fair.

Odey, who moved the motion for Ikpeme’s confirmation said, “It was the decision of the House at that time not to confirm her. And it is the decision of the House of Assembly to confirm her today. The House has done the needful and that chapter is now behind us. I wish Cross River judiciary well.”

“It was a unanimous decision, we didn’t give room for voting,” Efa Esua, the member representing Calabar Municipality State Constituency, stated.

When asked why the House made a U-turn on the matter, the lawmaker simply said, “It means that the first time we didn’t do it right. So, having seen that there was an error, we needed to correct it”.

The state had been without a substantive chief judge since November 28, 2019, when Justice Michael Edem retired.

Twice the assembly disqualified Justice Ikpeme, the most senior judge in the state, who ought to have been appointed into the position in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution and legal tradition allegedly, because of her family ties with neighbouring Akwa Ibom State.

Justice Ikpeme is of Akwa Ibom parentage. She was born in Calabar, Cross River, when Akwa Ibom was a part of Cross River. She is married to a man from Cross River, and has been working for decades as a judicial officer, including being a director of public prosecution, and a judge in Cross River.

Akwa Ibom was created out of Cross River on September 23, 1987, by the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida.

Governor Ben Ayade had reportedly manipulated a previous confirmation hearing by the House against Justice Ikpeme.

The governor had recommended Justice Ikpeme to the assembly on the last day of her three-month in acting capacity but in what many believed was rather a political intrigue, the assembly refused to confirm her.

In a swift reaction, the governor swore in the second in rank of seniority Justice Maurice Eneji, who acted for the first three months and got a second three months after the assembly rejected the second recommendation for Justice Ikpeme to be confirmed.

Justice Eneji’s second and non-renewable tenure in acting capacity ended in September 2020 and the state was without a head of judiciary either in acting or substantive capacity for over one month and some days.

Ayade, however, swore in the third in the rank of seniority; Justice Eyo Effiom Ita in acting capacity for another three months, which elapsed this January 21, 2021.

But THISDAY investigation revealed that the state government was left with no option but to confirm Justice Ikpeme, because the National Judicial Council (NJC) had

Justice-Ikpeme remained dogged that it would not recommend any person for the substantive position of Chief Judge other than Justice Ikpeme.

It was also gathered that the NJC had refused to extend the tenure of Justice Eyo Effiom-Ita whose acting period ended on Monday, January 18, 2021, thus setting the stage for Ikpeme’s confirmation.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and other organisations were unrelenting as they continued to mount vigorous campaigns against the governor and the NJC. Justice Ikpeme was born in the old Cross River State. She had all her education in the state. In fact, her father was a Permanent Secretary in the old Cross River State and retired there. In 1987, the state was split into two – Cross River State and Akwa Ibom State – and by virtue of her father being Akwa Ibom State, her state of origin changed.

She is, however, married to an indigene of Cross River State and blessed with children. She started her career with the Cross River State Ministry of Justice and rose to the position of Director of Public Prosecution and further appointed a judge in the state.

She has served meritoriously and despite several challenges along the way has accomplished and received a commendation from the former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa for her immense contribution towards achieving a sustainable and independent democracy in Nigeria.

To the knowledge of the state’s apparatchik, Justice Ikpeme had, consistently entered her State of Origin as Cross River State and not Akwa Ibom State, in all relevant records, by virtue of her marriage to a bona fide Cross Riverian.

With the retirement of the former Chief Judge, Justice Michael Edem last December, as the most senior judge in the state High Court, in compliance with Section 271 (1) of the Constitution, which states that “the Governor of the State shall make the appointment of a person to the office of Chief Judge of a State on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council subject to confirmation of the appointment by the House of Assembly of the state.”

However, following political undercurrents and intrigues, the state assembly rejected her confirmation as substantive chief judge of the state on the grounds that she was not from the state by birth although married to a Cross River man and the fact that she would constitute a security risk to the state.

Though the initial non-confirmation of the Justice Ikpeme was blamed on the state assembly, many people knew it was Governor Ayade that was behind the plot. Knowing the overwhelming influence governors have on their state assemblies, many analysts knew that if the governor did not support the move, the lawmakers would not have had the effrontery to reject NJC’s nominee.

Analysts are still at a loss as to why the state was against Justice Ikpeme. The 1999 Constitution does not emphasise indigeneship. Instead, the constitution talks about citizenship of Nigeria, making one to wonder where Cross River State derives the authority to reject Justice Ikpeme on the grounds of ethnicity.

This is why analysts have commended the NJC for standing up to the state government for rejecting Justice Ikpeme.

They stated that but for the NJC, governors would have long destroyed the judiciary same way they have destroyed institutions and other arms of government in their states.

“For me, I thank God that the NJC was able to muster the courage to stand up to the Cross River State and force it to backtrack. I have always been saying it that but for the NJC, governors would have long destroyed the judiciary in their states. They always want the judiciary to do their bidding.

“What have we not witnessed in this country? We have seen a situation where a governor wanted to appoint his wife who is a judge at the Federal High Court a Chief Judge of his state. We have also seen a governor, who wanted to bring a junior judge from the Lagos State High Court to be Chief Judge in Osun State.

“We have equally seen a governor, who wanted to make the fifth highest ranking judge the chief judge of the state.

Of course we have seen governors who wanted to make the Presidents of the state Customary Courts of Appeal chief judges – an action that is clearly unconstitutional,” said a lawyer who did not want her name in print.

Like Cross River State, the NBA, FIDA and other organisations are urging the NJC to maintain the same momentum of pressure on the Gombe State Government, which has denied Justice Beatrice Lazarus Iliya the position of substantive Chief Justice of the state, because she is a Christian and a woman.

“We just call on these organisations to mount same pressure on Gombe State, because it would be dangerous if we leave the judiciary at the whims and caprices of state governors. It would make us to totally lose hope,” said Etim Marcus, a social affairs commentator.

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JA ͻ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

PERSPECTIVE Herding and the Drumbeats of War The current ethno-security crisis threatens the nation’s unity and co-existence and must be addressed without delays, writes Semiu Okanlawon

O

nce again, Nigeria is tottering at the precipice.

The last time I felt this way was 1993 after the annulment of the June 12 presidential election and an implosion hung precariously in the polity after the mandate of the late Moshood Abiola was annulled. The events that followed, fed and sustained in very dangerous narratives till the very end of the military rule, portended nothing at that time other than a break up of the entity called Nigeria.

Those who were old enough to witness the commencement of the Nigerian civil war in 1967 say that the drumbeats of war they heard then sound similar to what they hear now. Let’s be hopeful there can be a rethink, one strong enough to pull back the strings and save Africa’s most populous nation the stress of disintegration.

Hours before setting out to write this, I had a lengthy conversation with a notable Nigerian leader, now an octogenarian, who I placed so much trust in his ability to speak the truth to power at the right places. My proposal was for him to immediately initiate a meeting of like-minds that would culminate in an equally urgent meeting of heads across Nigeria with a view to dousing the tension that hangs so palpable in the air with an odious smell of pains, tears and blood.

Sadly, he felt disillusioned. Unable to dismiss my suggestions yet, he was however saddened by the fact that not long ago, he initiated a similar meeting at the highest place, where he called attention to the imminent confusion across the land if decisive actions were not taken to mend fences and set in motion a chain of actions that would preempt what appeared a clear and present danger.

A troubled federation that we have been, there has not been a time since the end of the military rule in 1999 that Nigeria came so close to being this cacophonous, distrustful of one another and ready to pounce on themselves than the last one month. Every second now looks like the terrible moment that the conflagration could be ignited, the end of which no one can predict.

In the midst of growing feelings of insecurity in the seemingly ‘peaceful’ south-west region of Nigeria, a sudden surge in cases of kidnapping, killings, rituals and other forms of crimes have led to increased mutual suspicion and the outcome is the dangerous ethnic profiling of criminals behind the spate of attacks in their various dimensions.

A near total failure of the country’s security architecture has resulted in a catastrophic rise in and popularity of self-defence mechanism that promises to lead Nigeria nowhere except her Rwanda. A friend once said that Nigerian leaders don’t see a problem until it explodes on their faces.

That precisely is my thinking on the sudden emergence of Sunday Adeyemo (Sunday Igboho) a man who knew his limits

Buhari even in the world of alleged political brigandage. Three months ago, Aare Ona Kakanfo, Gani Adams raised the alarm on the influx of undesirable elements in their various looks into the South-West of Nigeria through Oke-Ogun/Ibarapa axis of the Southwest.

Well, in the characteristic lazy and lackadaisical responses to threats, what I call a feeble attempt was made by a few security organisations to make some show of force pretending to root out the criminals lurking in the forests of Ibarapa, Igboora and other belly of the Oke-Ogun.

Sadly, since Adam raised the alarm, not a bit were the Czars of mayhem, kingpins of kidnapping and mentors of marauders in that part of the Southwest shaken. How else, do you explain this? A head of an ethnic group, known to have become established authority in negotiating release of kidnapped locales in the community that hosts him!

That, till this moment, was the undisputed profile of the Seriki

WORLD OF SCIENCE

Fulani of Igangan, Saliu Abdulkadir. Speaking with locales, stories abound of how you dare not even approach the residence of Abdulkadir without passing through at least three ‘check-points’ manned by his own goons. This was the ‘lions den’ that the late Dr. Fatai Aborode, reportedly visited to make a report of his destroyed 600 acres of farms last year before he met his brutal end.

I won’t fall into the error of ethnic profiling of crimes that has become a relished pastime for Nigerians and unfortunately fuelled by media (online and conventional) narratives. Thus, the Seriki Fulani of Igangan to me is as guilty as any other Yoruba unconscionable character or an Igbo kidnap kingpin operating in Abia and collecting his ransom in Akure. Criminals are criminals.

Last year, I travelled along the Abeokuta-Igboora-Eruwa Road.

Between Abeokuta and Eruwa, one of those in my company was saddled with the responsibility of counting the number of security checkpoints. Arriving Eruwa, a journey of about 50 minutes from Abeokuta, we had counted 23 security posts.

But then, this raised in me a greater fear of insecurity as I wondered the degree of insecurity that had commanded this level of proliferations. I compared this scenario to some 15 years ago when I frequently travelled the same route even in the dead of the night all alone and when perhaps I encountered only one police checkpoint on the way or in some cases none at all.

Today, who is that fellow who travels across Nigerian roads without entertaining the phobia of the road devils? We have suffered untold reductions in the quality of every aspect of our lives.

I monitored the meeting held in Igangan in the aftermath of the hoopla raised by Igboho when residents had a field day to open up before the delegation from the Inspector General of Police. What were clearly in the air were the efforts of the community to bring their plights to the knowledge of the authorities in both the state and the federal levels. No help came!

Igboho may be unlettered. But his revolutionary braving of odds to bring the plights of his people cannot be dismissed. You may dig deep to say his antecedents are not too enviable, but he may have succeeded in emerging as a champion of the oppressed, a record that will be hard to erase. If Oyo State and indeed the whole of the Southwest is finally rid of the marauders, it will be hard to tell the tale without ample mention.

Igboho, put in a sad context of the Nigerian situation, represents one of the millions of the unorthodox, non-state actors that have been pushed to the walls to come up with unorthodox solutions.

Every recognizable community in Nigeria today has an Igboho in its midst and the community look up more to them than even our funded security personnel.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

with Kofo Babalola twitter: @KofoBabalola

Design Through The Lens of A Mechanical Engineer

S

cientists often believe that the world was created by accident as it was the Big Bang Theory and the chance of atoms in the air colliding together that brought us into existence. The luck of the powerful force of nature brought billions of atoms in the sky to form planet Earth.

Despite the detail and intrinsic nature of planet Earth and the whole universe, they still believe it was down to random chance. That the universe, including the world we live in, was created carefully crafted with a high design intent level. It is not by chance that we are all here on planet Earth, believed to be the only inhabited planet in our whole universe.

It is not by chance that we are crafted with the precision that we can’t live without oxygen and water. Our bodies are carefully constructed and engineered to enable us to move in a manner that is best suited to us. Every bone structure within us is constructed to work seamlessly together to create a natural movement and could not be achieved without design. Our bodies are the product of a design that was carefully drawn out by our maker.

Design acts as the building block in bringing a product into reality. It serves as the brain-storming process that allows us to visualise our imaginations unto a piece of paper and a computer screen so we can see if our ideas can fit together like the pieces in a puzzle. There are a plethora of tools put in place to help creators to create. As the world develops at a fast pace, we have seen the transition of work being done by hand to the mouse’s clicking that acts as a peripheral, connecting the user to the computer’s inside world. There is now the option of building structures in how it may appear in the real world. To explore structures in the three-dimensional domain, as we can see the length and breadth

and depth of these structures, we can seamlessly go through the design stages of the project.

It is Computer-Aided Design, which has the acronym CAD that is often used by mechanical engineers. It is crucial in design as it bridges the gaps that may exist as what we could not do on paper can now be done on this device. The never-ending excruciating process of drafting that engineers had to go through in the 16th and 17th-century became a far-off memory as soon as Patrick J Hanratty came into the picture in 1961.

His CAD development has helped the design process beyond measure, as it diminished the tediousness of design. Engineers no longer have to go through the repetitive nature of trial and error as there are inbuilt features that have been developed to replace the sketching that was once done by hand.

It has dramatically lessened the engineer’s labour as we see these tools on the screen doing the difficult task of generating the drawings, one click at a time, to paint out the picture of the design hidden behind their eyes. The artistic nature of making a design by hand has transitioned into a landscape where there is a more significant outcome from doing the bare minimum.

There is less effort needed to create the same outcome as when we perform the sketches by hand. It is safe to say that without the introduction of computer-aided design, there will be a limit to what an engineer can do.

This is seen as we live when there is so much being created and innovated in such a short space of time because of the tools like CAD that have acted as fuel in propelling us forward. With software like CAD, we can go beyond our limits of design, breaking boundaries to form designs that have never been seen before, which forms the basis of the products that will solve our world’s problems.

There is a domino effect seen as when these design tools are made for engineers to use; we can explore the hidden spaces of the design we create, make bigger and better inventions.

There is a lot more that will be done in the world of design as when we thought we had crossed the bridge of elevating how we designed by introducing CAD in 1961, many altered versions of this design tool like Fusion 360 came right behind it. There is always someone that thinks more could be done. There is always the lingering question of whether we could merge the two worlds of the inside of the computer and the outside?

This is the concept of virtual reality that allows us to experience the computer’s three-dimensional world. It will enable us to experiment with our designs as we can see, feel and touch it before it is manufactured in the factory and give us more opportunities to make changes to our design even before it goes through the manufacturing process. It is surprising that just when we think that all the possible design tools have been created, few think otherwise and are working quietly behind closed doors to advance the existing innovations further.

The world’s foundation was created by a master engineer who made such a creation without the tools now at our disposal.

Imagine what our world will look like as human intelligence continues to grow at an accelerating pace. As we continue to evolve, the future of what we will be able to design and create will be limitless. It is scary, to say the least, as we show no sign of slowing down or even wanting to slow down our engines.

We keep looking for new things to develop as what we have presented to us is never enough. There will come the point when we have exhausted all our ideas and resources to create anything new, and there will be nothing left for us to find to help us create, marking the end of creation.

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JANUARY 31, 202ͯ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

with RenoOmokri THE ALTERNATIVE Without Igbo Unity, There Can’t Be Igbo Presidency

H

ow did the Southwest get the Presidency in 1999? It was because they were united as a people after the death of Chief MKO Abiola, in saying that if justice was not done to them, they would leave Nigeria.

There were absolutely no dissenting voices. And the most liberal and nationalistic Yoruba man, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was quoted as saying ‘I believe in unity, but I do not believe in unity at all cost.’

The military regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar was stunned. The North panicked. The rest of the country looked on helplessly.

Every attempt at breaching the resolve of the Southwest was frustrated. Fringe sycophants who tried to voice out their Northern masters’ opinions were publicly beaten to a pulp by Yoruba youths.

Those who were tempted by the crumbs from the powers that be, learnt their lessons from the mistakes of those less fortunate men.

And it was because of this resolve that the military elite of the North took a corporate decision that the power that shifted to the Southwest on June 12, 1993, must be actualised on May 29, 1999, if Nigeria must remain as one corporate entity.

And why did the Southwest retain power in 2003? It was for a similar reason. President Obasanjo won that election fair and square. There was no way General Buhari could have defeated him. Let us consider the facts.

In 2003, the Southwest produced one major candidate (then President Obasanjo). The North produced one major candidate (General Buhari).

But the Southeast had multiple major candidates (Ojukwu, Nwobodo, Kalu, Ike Nwachukwu, etc) Throughout the ages, power has always been taken. It is NEVER given. Nobody will give the Igbo the Presidency. Only Igbo unity can bring about Igbo Presidency! And as of 2021, there is nothing like Igbo unity.

I counsel the Igbo to study Genesis 11:6: “God said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them!”

Let us study another current event and how the Igbo can learn from it.

On November 8, 2020, the Kano State Hisbah Board destroyed alcoholic beverages worth hundreds of millions of naira. These were overwhelmingly the properties of people of Southeastern origin.

At various other occasions, the same Kano State Hisbah Board has destroyed hotels and other businesses owned, mostly by people of Southeastern origin, even though Kano receives more than 5 billion from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, as VAT proceeds from alcoholic beverages.

Obviously, Kano wants the money from alcohol but does not want the selling of alcohol. If you open the dictionary to word hypocrisy, you should see the Kano State Hisbah Board.

I expected an outcry from the Southeast. I expected Ohana’eze Ndi’Igbo to scream blue murder.

I expected Southeastern Governors to fume. I expected the Igbo intelligentsia to apply media pressure. But all my expectations came to nought.

Nothing was done. Nothing was said.

Fast forward to January 2021, and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state gave an ultimatum to unregistered herdsmen occupying forest reserves in Ondo state to either register with the state government or quit the forest reserves.

Within 24 hours, there were coordinated reactions. First, the Presidency bared its fangs, and called Akeredolu’s legal order, unconstitutional!

You can imagine.

Next came the Northern Elders Forum, with a fire-breathing statement. They described Akeredolu’s statement as “shocking”, and insisted that he was “demonising” herdsmen.

Finally, this socio-cultural body had the audacity to tell herdsmen to “ignore” a state government’s legal orders.

Not yet done, the North unleashed the Arewa Consultative Forum, which added to the salvo in defence of herdsmen by calling on Akeredolu to rescind his legal order on herdsmen.

And won’t you know it, the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, came out guns a-blazing, and claiming that ““All the lands in this country belong to the Fulani.”

No one ever told me that. And the Fulani certainly do not own my ancestral lands!

Obiozor, Ohaneze-Ndigbo President However, the point of all this is that the great hue and cry from the North forced the Southwest Governors to call for a meeting with Miyetti Allah to resolve the unnecessary impasse.

But what is my point?

Do the leaders of the Southeast see how Northern leaders made serious noise for herdsmen, and how their noise instigated a meeting between Southwest Governors and Miyetti Allah?

That is how they should have shouted when Kano Hisbah destroyed Igbo people’s hotels on the excuse that they sold alcohol. People can only do to you what you tolerate.

The Yoruba and the North are more united under a central leadership than the Igbo. And that is why power shifts between the North and the Southwest like a relay race.

The Igbo man is probably the most intelligent Black African. Check out WAEC/NECO results. The top states are always either Anambra or Imo. If you do not respect the Igbo, consider that without government assistance, Alaba Electronic Market generates $4 billion annual sales, according to renowned American economic journalist, Robert Neuwirth, who spent months embedded with Alaba traders. When you add Onitsha and Aba Markets, the total comes to $6.5 billion. Add Ladipo Spare Parts Market, and it jumps to $8 billion.

Without oil, Nigeria’s Federal Government cannot generate what the Igbo are generating without government. What do we learn from this? The Igbo can survive without Nigeria’s government, but Nigeria’s government cannot survive without oil.

In reality, who is better off?

But even as the Igbo man is such an economic genius, he is sadly lacking in centralised leadership.

An Anambra man named Ebele, may refuse to work with an Imo man named Ebere. The Igbo are all too often unwilling to surrender individual interests for group interests, and this inability dissipates their political and economic influence. And until they learn to work with their brother, even if they do not like him, they will continue to serve others who have that ability.

Look at their treatment at the hand of President Muhammadu Buhari. As long as they have such Quislings like Hope Uzodinma, Orji Kalu, David Umahi, and Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, no one will take them seriously as a political force. It is too easy to use an Igbo man to frustrate another Igbo man’s rise.

Look at how Governor Obiano of Anambra, who was installed as Governor by Peter Obi, turned around to work against the same Peter Obi, and the Southeast, by mobilising against the Peoples Demo-

cratic Party during the 2019 Presidential election, simply because he no longer likes Peter Obi, his immediate predecessor.

The Igbo must learn that you do not have to like people to work with them. Elephants and birds do not like each other. They need each other. An elephant cannot scratch its back. So birds scratch it for him and eat in the process. The Igbo must scratch their brother’s back all the way to the Presidency.

Do the Igbo think that the Hausa like the Fulani? I grew up partly in the North, and I can tell you (and I am sure many Igbo know this), that the Hausa do not like the Fulani and often vice versa.

There is nothing like Hausa-Fulani. You are either Hausa, or Fulani. The term Hausa-Fulani came about due to the One North policy of the late Ahmadu Bello, which saw the Hausa and the Fulani work together for the North’s interest.

Within the North, they compete with each other.

But outside the North, they complete each other.

Within the North, none would back down for the other. Outside the North, they watch each other’s back.

This is the opposite of divide and rule. This unites and dominates. That I do not like you, does not mean I cannot work with you to achieve my end goal.

And we see this in Scripture.

In 1 Corinthians 5:5, Paul said: “Hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.”

Paul used Satan to achieve the work of saving a man from himself so that his eternal spirit would not be destroyed.

This is a lesson to the Igbo that the devil you know is better than the angel you do not know.

Let me conclude by summarising one of my earlier points. We now know, courtesy of Robert Neuwirth, that the Igbo in Alaba Market generate $4 billion annually (N 2 trillion).

Think about that for a minute. 10,000 Igbo generate more internal revenue than the 19 Northern states combined. To put this in perspective, note that the Kaduna state government generated N44 billion IGR last year and was celebrated by the Northern Governors’ Forum.

If Igbo can unite politically, the way they unite economically, they will not need to beg anybody for Igbo Presidency. It would be theirs.

They can raise billions of dollars for the right candidate. They can afford to have a polling agent in each of the 120,000 polling units in Nigeria (something that the PDP could not achieve in 2019, due to costs). They can outspend anybody. The day the Igbo wake up to their power, they will stop begging for power and start taking it!

To those Igbo who say they do not need political power, I counsel you to research the competition between Ibeto cement and Dangote cement. Lack of political power destroyed Ibeto. Access to political power promoted Dangote to the extent that Nigeria’s borders were opened for him and closed to everyone else. No amount of money is enough if you have no political power!

With one stroke of the pen, the man with political power can eradicate your economic power. He can ban your businesses. He can overtax your sector.

He can deny you airports, seaports, and security.

Do not be blinded by money. After God, it is government. Why do you think that despite all their hard work and ingenuity, no Igbo is amongst the 10 richest Africans, according to Forbes?

The late Head of State, General Sani Abacha used his political power to give General TY Danjuma an oil bloc. Danjuma sold it for $1.5 billion.

Folorunsho Alakija was awarded an oil bloc by government, today she‘s the world’s richest Black woman.

Igbo need political power because as Aristotle said, man, by nature, is a political animal. #RenosDarts What did Igbo people do to #Buhari? * No Igbo heading any of the 3 arms of government * No Igbo heading any of the 3 military branches * No Igbo in the National Security Council * No Igbo heading any of the intelligence agencies * No Igbo heading any security or paramilitary agency Are Igbo people supposed to be grateful because Buhari made an Igbo his Personal Assistant on photography? Is taking photographs the only thing the Igbo are good for in Buhari’s government?

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JANUARY 31, 2021

with ChidiAmuta e-mail:chidi.amuta@gmail.com

ENGAGEMENTS

Rumblings Along the Western By-Pass

O

ndo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, seems every inch an unlikely candidate for rascally adventurism. A man who wears his grey beards naturally without a pretension to the delicacy of incessant grooming can be trusted to govern and decide freely and fairly in matters that concern everyone. Add to this his illustrious legal background and you can be fairly certain that public policy under him will carry the imprints of his learned profession and professorial outlook.

Therefore, when a few days ago he handed down a seven-day “quit notice” to Fulani cattle settlers occupying Ondo State government forest reserves, quite a few political antennae went up.

The presidency hurriedly fired the first cautionary salvo. Its contention was that the Governor’s quit notice to the herdsmen and settlers breached the Nigerian constitution which guarantees to every Nigerian citizen the right to live, work and ply their legitimate trade in any and every part of the federation.

For the presidency, a governor as the protector and guardian of every citizen of his state has no right to order any set of citizens to leave the state let alone threatening them with the possibility of eviction.

What may have escaped the author’s of the presidency statement on the Ondo state matter is of course the converse truism in the constitution that the governor is the chief security officer of his state. To that extent, he retains the prerogative of determining what constitutes a threat to the peace and security of the state and is therefore legally empowered to take whatever measures he may deem fit to ensure the peace, security and order of the state. The right of abode of citizens does not override the responsibility of state governors to maintain security and orderly peace nor does it alleviate the burden of the criminal justice system to punish crime.

On its part, the Ondo state government retorted that the Fulani and herder settlers in question have allowed themselves to become a source of insecurity in the state. In addition, the locations occupied by the herdsmen happen to be mostly government owned forest reserves which require the explicit authority and permission of the governor to be occupied by any set of citizens. The constitutionally guaranteed right of abode does not confer a right to occupy public or private property illegally. Therefore, we are torn between the constitutional right of Nigerians to reside and work anywhere in the federation, the obligation of state governors to guarantee the security of their states and the legal requirement that right of occupancy of government property should be in compliance with specific authority and express permits.

But we are not in the terrain of a legal tussle between settler Fulani herdsmen and the government of either Ondo state or indeed any other state in the federation. We are instead confronted with a larger national security problem which has enlarged in the last five to six years. It is the frequent friction between settler farming communities and migrant herders in various locations in the country. This existential friction has been aggravated by frequent reported involvement of Fulani herdsmen in acts of open criminality ranging from kidnapping to murder, rape and transactional abductions. The face off in Ondo State resonates with echoes of these novel but familiar feature of Nigeria’s altered state of national security.

Spontaneously, the face off in Ondo state quickly spiraled into an ethnic friction between the larger Yoruba nation of the South West and the largely Fulani settlers and migrant herders in the entire region. Houses were burnt and property destroyed.

Since then, matters have escalated to the extent of threatening the security of the region. This fact has raised anxiety levels in various parts of the country. The concerted responses have been varied.

In the South West in particular, the threat of the Fulani criminal herders has been received with a rather concerted pan-Yoruba ethnic reflex of collective self preservation and regional security. On the scale of violent criminality, the Fulani roving gangs rank rather highly in terms of fire power, tactical efficiency and logistical co-ordination.

It would be recalled that as part of a regional security arrangement to protect the South West from the excesses of violent and criminal Fulani herdsmen, the states in the region enacted legislation for the establishment of the security outfit, Amotekun, as a state funded para- military vigilante empowered to combat acts of insecurity in the region.

Understandably therefore, the Ondo state Fulani “quit notice” saga had a potential of spreading and into a regional headache and potential national nightmare. Oyo state, the historic epicenter of political activism in the South West, quickly ignited in mob solidarity with another ‘quit notice’, this time issued by a folk catalyst of Yoruba youth activism. A certain Sunday Igboho, acclaimed Yoruba nationalist folk hero, youth crowd catalyst, mob contractor and galvanizer of rough followership quickly mobilized mammoth crowds of angry unemployed youth and miscreants against the menace of Fulani criminal herdsmen in parts of the state. The state governor was politically immobilized and a bit confused.

In a nation currently riven by powerful divisive pressures, the response from other factions in the new normal were predictable. Threats of angry reprisals came from the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a motley assembly of fundamental-

Akeredolu ist hot heads, militant jihadists and political power opportunists.

This merely stoked the firestorm of incendiary rhetoric and solidarity around Mr. Igboho and his mammoth followership.

The pro-Biafran separatist movement, IPOB, quickly joined the rhetorical fray by voicing incendiary support for the Yoruba youth movement and warning the Oyo state police command to mind the thorns.

A cascade of events and responses followed. The outgoing Inspector General of Police, Mr. Adamu initially ordered the arrest of Mr. Igboho for disturbing the peace and issuing an illegal quit notice to fellow citizens. The major pan Yoruba cultural and ethno national groupings voiced their support for the anti-Fulani rhetoric of the angry youth and state regional state governments.

Significant Yoruba leaders and elders like former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Wole Soyinka and sundry traditional rulers insisted that the Fulani settlers and herdsmen must exhibit responsible citizenship if they must remain in the South West to ply their cattle trade. Clearly, between a primordial sense of collective self preservation and the rights of settler groups backed by the fiat of officialdom, one side needed to blink.

Happily, a certain degree of political common sense and statesmanship has kicked in to douse a frightening descent into something with an ugly name. President Buhari has met with affected governors of the South West and some traditional rulers.

An imminent worsening of Buhari’s insecurity nightmare has hopefully been postponed. But the governors have insisted that all herdsmen in their domains should register to ply their trade. The police has sensibly desisted from the usual arrests of suspected mob leaders including the feisty Sunday Igboho.

But the skirmish over the Ondo state Fulani quit notice has laid bare the outlines of the new atmosphere of hate and intemperate rhetoric that now defines Nigeria’s diversity and has mortally injured our extant tradition of harmonious inter communal relations.

Somehow, in this brief encounter between the Ondo state government and its Fulani citizens and the responses to it, a number of the issues that assail Nigeria’s current insecurity and national future have been openly spelt out.

Through this incident, the roving tragedy of recent nationwide insecurity has served notice in a wrong place. It is an elementary truism in national security that every nation has its peculiar ecology of trouble and violent crisis. Bad spots and fault terrains exist in every nation space. Some regions and precincts are simply more prone to the recurrence of nasty history and violent outcomes. The South West region of Nigeria has an uncanny long distinction of being an unfriendly terrain for trouble makers. Here, a high level of political libertarianism and populist democracy ensures that matters of a political nature could quickly degenerate into fiery exchanges and violent eruptions.

Nigerian history is replete with instances of what happens when trouble happens along Nigeria’s Western by-pass. The list is impressive: the Western Nigeria crises of 1964 that presaged the civil war, the July1966 assassination of General Ironsi in Ibadan that quickened the march to war, the Agbekoya hunters uprising of 1968-69, the Second Republic Akin Omoboriowo political mayhem in Ondo in 1993, the 1992/93 pro-June 12 demonstrations, the Lekki Toll Gate ENDSARS protests in 2020 etc. The South West has a way of signaling major pathways of change in Nigeria. This is not accidental. It is the by-pass to and from Lagos. Fortuitously also, the road to Lagos is the road to Nigeria. Shut off that by-pass and there may be no more Nigeria.

Any government in Abuja would ignore rumblings along the Western by-pass at great political cost.

The effort of the Ondo State government to rid its forest reserves of dangerous herders and settlers should not be reduced to our usual ethnic arithmetic. There is a serious strategic consideration in allowing patches of territory in any of our

states to become an ungoverned space where organization and groups could grow into monster enclaves that could threaten national security. This is precisely how Boko Haram grew into the monster that has returned to haunt the nation. When they were routed by the Borno state government following the death, in detention, of their original leader, Mr. Mohammed Yusuf, Boko Haram adherents fled to and settled in Sambisa forest, a vast ungoverned space.

For years, the area became a space in which they established training facilities, ferried in arms and ammunition and gradually grew the idea of a dangerous caliphate while reaching out to international jihadist movements. By the time, the group became a perceivable threat to the government, it was almost too late.

The monster that was allowed to breed and grow in Sambisa forest has been haunting the nation for over a decade and still counting.

The specific topicality of the Fulani as a factor in our national history and security was never more prominent than now. The peaceful herdsmen of yesteryears have given way to a new variant. The escort of cattle has recently become a vehicle for the transportation of terror by young Fulani herdsmen wielding military grade weaponry and fully equipped with sophisticated global positioning gear. Their pattern of spread and operational formations across the country do not seem to be accidental or dictated by the familiar business of escorting cattle to markets.

The routine garnering of huge ransom from kidnap victims by these itinerant foot soldiers could tempt some to speculate that this could be a funding strategy for something bigger.

The growing impression that the Fulani criminal gangs may be enjoying official protection and enablement under the Buhari presidency is by no means a glowing tribute to this administration. Acts like quick presidency official statements in matters that concern the Fulani in particular help to reinforce this feeling of selective enablement.

Similarly, untidy political skirmishes such as the ill -fated establishment of the RUGA settlements or the vicious promotion of the defunct Water Resources Bill at the National Assembly do not help those intent on defending the Fulani. Such antics have only raised the level of suspicion among the rest of Nigerians.

These political pranks make it more difficult to promote the legitimate interests and entitlements of the Fulani as Nigerian citizens.

The current atmosphere has created a potential for the isolation of the Fulani as targets of permanent suspicion and even hate by other groups in the country. In a nation that is still predominantly tribal in its reflexes, the excesses of the Fulani could create an anti Fulani solidarity among other nationalities.

This would be a sad outcome of the Buhari presidency. With a tiny modern elite, with no specific spatial territorial patrimony and without substantial tangible economic holdings, the current leadership of the Fulani nation could be preparing their follows for long term irreparable collective damage.

Another significant worrisome feature of our new reality that the Ondo state matter has raised is the rise and influence of mob influencers in national affairs. When the Fulani quit notice saga spread to Oyo state, the presence of Mr. Sunday Igboho raised more security concerns. As a Yoruba folk champion, Mr. Igboho probably had more spontaneous mob following than Governor Makinde could ever dream of. He is not alone in the country.

In the South East, I wager that Mr. Namdi Kanu and his IPOB mob probably have more followership than all the governors in the region. The South South region has its Tompolos and Asari Dokubos as mob influencers with considerable followership.

These elements appeal primarily to ethnic and regional sentiments of unemployed youth and the army of thugs from among the mammoth crowds of poor Nigerians. These individual mob leaders now constitute an unofficial tier of underground and illicit sovereignty that cannot be ignored in any realistic estimate of either our democratic future or even national security.

In all of this, what we are witnessing is the danger of a divisive governance strategy by the current federal administration. At no time has the challenge of managing a large diverse nation been more pronounced in Nigeria than now. It is a measure of how bad things have gotten in the country that nearly every issue, every political appointment and every act of violent insecurity is now given an ethnic or regional interpretation. Significantly, nearly every incident of violent insecurity wears the outlook of an insurrection, a veritable challenge to the dwindling might of the federal authority.

The recent threats in the South West are not about the Yorubas or the South West region alone. It is about Nigeria and its future as a coherent nation united by faith in our original ideals. The bonds of trust and community that held the nation together for decades have been tasked to breaking point. Dire economic conditions and the consequences of a debilitating pandemic have only worsened a bad situation. In ordinary circumstances, these uncertainties put added pressure on the faith of the citizenry in the ability of government to act as a universal guarantor of citizen welfare and national order. The requisite roll back from the current precipice should be a combination of remedies.

Fix insecurity. Reduce inequality. Mend the broken fences of communal trust. Restore trust and confidence in the ability and impartiality of government. Above all else, re-unite the nation.

It is too late now to ask Mr. Buhari to make our lives any better.

But at least his administration should restore the cohesion of the nation to at least where they found us in 2015.

76

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JANUARY 31, 2021

CICERO/INTERVIEW

Sawo-Olu:I’m Committed to Building a Better Lagos ˾ ÏÍÙØÎ ËàÏ ËÝ ÒÙáØ ÞÒËÞ Ï ËØØÙÞ ËÕÏ ÞÒÓÝ ËØÎÏ×ÓÍ ÐÙÜ ÜËØÞÏÎ Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in this interview Channels Television speaks on the lessons learnt from the ENDSARS protests and the battle to curtail the spread of COVID-19. Excerpts :

T

here is this saying that if you can recover from COVID-19, then you can handle anything and come out victorious. Having recovered as a starter, is that how you feel that you can take on anything and come out victorious?

It is not about the way one feels because COVID-19 presented itself differently for different patients. I certainly would be the first to say to you that it was a different experience even in my family; the way my wife reacted is different from the way I reacted and likewise few of my staff reactions were different too but coming out of COVID gives a clear indication that we need to take things very seriously because the way in which each and every one of us react to it are very different. I would say my own was a mild moderate case, others were just asymptomatic and some people were very severe. But if you think coming out of COVID I can handle everything and anything, I would certainly not agree with you but I will give it a good shot.

I certainly also have to continue to lead from the front as the incident commander in the state. So what it requires is to continue to show leadership and to continue to tell our people that they have to take responsibility but the government will indeed do its very best at all times to ensure that it keeps all of its citizens safe. And for us doing that means that all the requirements that we need to do as a government like scaling up the treatment, provision of facilities and equipment required, we would do everything to ensure the safety of our citizens. For me, I am certainly not going to back down. We are not shying away from our responsibilities and we will continue to encourage our frontline health workers who are usually in the eye of the storm, who are the real heroes in all the attempts to flatten the curve and come out of this very difficult second wave that we are currently seeing.

Last year, after COVID-19 lockdown and EndSARS protest, we saw a lot of people losing trust in government and I am sure you have been getting feelers from people out there. If you were to speak to that person who seems to have lost trust in government, what will you be telling them?

If you don’t learn from what has happened yesterday, you probably don’t have a tomorrow. So for me personally, it is not really to dwell so much in the past, learn from the past but have a conversation going forward; have a plan, have an agenda that you can take forward. So, what I would say to a whole lot of my youths citizens and everyone is to say that as a government and person, we have learnt so much from 2020. We have learnt from a pandemic that has never ravaged the world in 100 years and which has Lagos at its epicenter. We had protests that we have never seen in this part of the country before and the aftermath of it, as a government we have learnt from it. We have seen all the bites and conversation coming out of it and we are saying transparently that, let all of us together take it forward and build a better society for ourselves. How else can we do it? We don’t have anywhere to go to; we don’t have any other country, we don’t have any other state. So, it is in our individual and collective interest, that will build things for ourselves and future; that is what I will say and that is the encouragement that I want to leave with all of us. And I kept saying this; for me as a person, as long as I have this mandate, I will not shy away from ensuring that I give hope to my fellow citizens. And we will take all learning and lessons forward and build a better and stronger future for ourselves.

Talking about COVID-19, you are the incident commander for Lagos which has over 40,000 out of the national 120,000 cases.That is clearly a huge burden on you. Last year April, you formally announce that face masks are now compulsory in the public places in Lagos and failure to use face mask in public will attract penalties. Is the enforcement still going on?

Just to put the figure right, we have actually crossed 44,000 cases as we speak (as at Sunday). But to also put in proper context, the current figure is coming out of a test of about 280,000 that we have done in the state, which is more than half of what is done nationally. So, that has given us the positivity of about 16 per cent.

But in terms of compliance and enforcement, when we brought out those rules in April/May last year, people still didn’t have the level of understanding they have today; they still believe that it was something that was foreign and it is something far from us but right now, almost everybody understand and sees that it is real, especially the second wave. After the first wave slowed down, this second wave has shown us that we cannot take this pandemic for granted. In terms of level of compliance, I will not say that a lot of our citizens are complying but if you come to any of our offices and public buildings, the enforcement is there. You cannot enter my office, our secretariat in Alausa or any of our government building without wearing a face mask. And if we can do that, all it takes is for everybody to take responsibility. If all the Managing Directors in the banking sector say to their staff and customers that you cannot enter their facilities if you are not wearing a face mask; if every manufacturing company, church and mosque say the same thing, if we all take responsibility and issue out the same thing, then you we will see a 99 per cent compliance. It is not about government bringing out police and chasing people that are not wearing it, it is about ensuring we understand that it is role sharing. All of us have a role to play and everybody just needs to play his or her part of the role. As a media

Sanwo-Olu practitioner, you (interviewer) have a responsibility to also help us communicate and tell our citizens that it is about them; it is about their loved ones. It is not just that Sanwo-Olu wants you to just put up a mask on your face; it is because of what the medicine and health practitioners are telling us, that it is the only way we can reduce transmission and that is the right thing for all of us to do.

Are you saying that failure to wear face mask is no more attracting sanctions and penalties as you said in April last year?

What is in essence of a sanction if we cannot enforce it? If I don’t have police that can arrest every single person that flouts the law. We have made a few people examples and that is why we went to the night clubs, churches and other places to make some people examples. We have prosecuted those people that we made examples and we are hoping that people can learn from that. The whole idea for enforcement is not that we want to catch every single person; we just want to make a case and make a few people examples. Once you have those examples, people need to learn from it. When I say people should stop taking one-way, maybe 10 other vehicles will flout the law and will not get caught but for the two or three offenders that get caught, we will ensure that they face the full wrath of the law. That is what we are talking about. It sends signal to the seven or eight other ones that have been lucky to say that I shouldn’t do this again. That is what enforcement is all about.

We have seen events and parties being organised and people are asking why the Government needed to wait till after those events take place before enforcing the COVID-19 protocols. How about you ensuring that before any event is hosted, people sort out permit issue, so that we can avert a possible transmission that may arise from the event?

This is exactly what we have done. We have permit, clearance and certificates that were issued to every event centre and the protocols are well stated before the clearance was given. I have got letters written to me by owners of these event centres appealing and requesting that they are sorry and that they didn’t know their customers were going to flout the rules. And I said no, we gave you the protocols and all the things you should comply with but you flout it. They have left the premises but it remains shut. So, we really cannot police every of the single 5,000 event centres that we have, but what we have done is that, we have issued them certificates. And if you are law-abiding, we have issued the protocols for you. We have told you the number of people that must be on a table. What should be the spacing of every table that you have and it is just a very simple thing for people to comply with. How many officers do I have in the Lagos State Safety Commission? I

have like a thousand of them, how will they be able to go round and cover 5,000 event centres? What we are saying in essence is that, people need to understand and know that we are in an era where people need to take responsibility for themselves and their loved ones. Of what benefit is it when you go to a social gathering; either you are infecting people or you leave your house or leave the event and start infecting people in your own houses that were not even part of the social event. I think it is just carelessness and recklessness on the part of people that get involved in that. We have made a few examples and some of those places we have shut them down and they will shut down for a while.

You recently made a statement, asking people who have malaria symptoms to go for COVID-19 test and there are a lot of responses and debates on that particular statement.

Let us also talk about home care, which makes infected people to get treatment at home. How is the State Government monitoring home care in such a way to prevent further transmission?

We have a home-care pack that we give to them and in the pack, all of the medications are there. But beyond that, we also follow up with what we call EkoTELEMED call centre by which healthcare professionals call home care patients on a daily basis.

The number is 08000EKOMED. Health professionals are on the other side of the call centres in which they are dialing you, monitoring and asking you questions. In the home-care pack we give out, you have your hand sanitizers, face masks and temperature gauge. The professionals will call and ask you all necessary questions, such as “What is your temperature today? How are you feeling with the medication you are using? Are you still able to isolate in your house, home or wherever you are?” And if they realise that maybe your symptoms are not getting improved or your condition needs to be escalated, they will make arrangement to come and pick you up and that is kind of things that has been happening.

Lagos has over 44,000 cases and that show the magnitude of how many people who need to be vaccinated in a State with a population of about 20 million. I know that governors recently met under aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and there were some discussions about vaccine deployment or purchase. Seeing the peculiar position which Lagos has, as the epicentre of this virus, are you planning to purchase vaccines outside of the NGF’s plan and the PresidentialTask Force (PTF) on COVID-19?

We are having conversations on this at different levels. We actually want the Federal Government to take the lead. As a sovereign, they have all the protocols and contacts to make that happen and we are conversing.

(See concluding Interview on www.thisdaylive.com)

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

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NEWSXTRA Dismissal of Pregnant Police Constable Discriminatory, Right Groups Insist 6D\ DFWLRQ YLRODWHV VHFWLRQ RI &RQVWLWXWLRQ 0 FKDOOHQJLQJ FRQWURYHUVLDO VHFWLRQ LQ FRXUW Gboyega Akinsanmi and Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Women rights groups nationwide yesterday asked the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu to reverse the dismissal of pregnant police constable, Miss Omolola Olajide unconditionally, describing the decision of the Nigeria Police as discriminatory.

The groups argued that the decision of the police brazenly contradict the provisions on nondiscrimination on the basis of sex according to Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution.

In separate conversations with THISDAY, Global Rights, Invictus Africa, Girl Child Africa, Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA) and Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion (GRIP), among others, faulted Omolola’s dismissal on the points of law yesterday.

The Ekiti State Police Commissioner, Mr. Babatunde Mobayo, had defended the dismissal of Omolola, who got pregnant in alleged flagrant violation of the Police Rules and Regulation.

Omolola, who was serving in the Iye Ekiti Police Division in Ilejemeje Local Government Area until the unfortunate incident, was dismissed last week by police authority, for getting pregnant barely a year after graduating from the police academy.

The police commissioner had claimed that the pregnant policewoman violated section 127

of the police regulation, which according to him, recommended serious punitive measures against flouters.

Contrary to the position held by the police, Executive Director, Global Rights, Mrs Abiodun Baiyewu said the dismissal of the police officer due to her pregnancy out of wedlock “is highly discriminatory and that Section 127 of the Police Regulation needs to be challenged in court and struck out.”

Baiyewu, also, observed that several laws and policies in Nigeria had made no pretence about being discriminatory and contravene the constitutionally guaranteed right of equality before the law.

Until recently, according to the executive director, the Nigerian Immigration Service required married women to obtain their husband’s consent when applying for a new passport, no such requirement was stipulated for men or unmarried women.

She said: “Though not often applied, the Federal Civil Service Regulations also discriminate against unwed mothers, denying them maternity leave!

Pregnancy out of wedlock is not a disease and the marital status of a pregnant woman cannot constitute a crime.

“An unwed police officer can discharge her duties just as well as her wed pregnant colleague!

Please note that the law does not punish male police officers who have children out of wedlock.”

She urged the IGP “to save the police force from further needless

Globacom Commences NIN Enrolment at Retail Shops Globacom, a Nigerian multinational telecommunications company, at the weekend disclosed that it had begun the registration of people for the National Identification Number (NIN) at several of its retail outlets across the country.

This was revealed in a statement

by Glo Corporate Communications Office on Friday, saying arrangements are being concluded for retail outlets that are not live yet for NIN enrolment to also begin soon The statement said the telecom giant started NIN enrolment in its retail outlets in different parts of the federation following the decision of the Nigerian Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to grant it approval licence to commence NIN enrolment for people who are yet to register.

The statement said the company had already deployed devices aligned with NIMC standards and has commenced the exercise in several Gloworld outlets, add-

ing that arrangements are being concluded for retail outlets that are not live yet for NIN enrolment to also begin soon.

The company explained that Globacom subscribers who already have their NIN but are yet to link them with their mobile numbers can do so by simply texting their NIN to 109.

Alternatively, the statement said the subscribers “may dial *109# to submit their NIN. Customers can also call 109 to update their NIN via voice call.

“Globacom subscribers with additional enquiries are equally encouraged to contact any of its customer contact channels or visit the company website.

Globacom restated its commitment to ensuring that customers have uninterrupted experience on its network as well as its support for the government’s efforts to create a secure and sustainable industry.

Ugwuanyi Constitutes Water Corporation Board Enugu State Governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has approved the constitution of the Board of the State Water Corporation with Engr. Innocent O. Diyoke as Chairman.

The approval for the constitution of the water corporation board was contained in a statement by the

Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya.

Other members of the board, according to the statement, are Engr.

Sam Ugwuanyi, Engr. Chibuzo Luke Aka, Engr. (Mrs.) Chinwe Mbah, Engr. Eugene Okwu and Mr. Nonso Nnamani.

embarrassment. the force also owes Omolola an apology for the discrimination and embarrassment she has been subjected to.

“The decision to have a child is private, and must always be respected by all. Enough of the hypocrisy!,” she explained.

For founder, Invictus Africa/Girl Child Africa, Mrs. Bukola Shonibare, Omolola’s dismissal from the Nigeria Police is yet another example of how some legal provisions in Nigeria repress and derogate women’s rights and freedoms, despite commitment to the SDGs. Shonibare, also, lamented that

laws that required a woman “to obtain permission before getting married, control when she can get married, restrict her from getting pregnant at given periods, are nothing but discriminatory, suppressive, and unconstitutional.”

She argued that the provisions of the Police Regulations, 1968 and new Police Act, 2020 contravened Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, and are inconsistent with Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which to such extent of inconsistency, void.

She said these discriminatory provisions “are laid out in the

Police Regulations of 1968.

While the new Police Act, 2020 repealed the old one of 1943; the regulations are still being used.

There is a difference between the Police Act and the Nigeria Police Regulations.

“While the former provides the framework for the operations of the Nigeria Police in carrying out its mandate, the latter, which was made pursuant to Section 46 of the Police Act, particularly subsection (b) in relation the instant case, permits the President to make regulations on the recommendations of the Police Service

Commission with respect to … dismissal and disciplinary control of officers.”

Shonibare, therefore, observed that efforts “are ongoing to amend the Police Regulations through the Police Act (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which has only passed second reading.

“One of the regulations being proposed for amendment is Regulation 127 which states “an unmarried woman police officer who becomes pregnant shall be discharged from the force, and shall not be re-enlisted except with the approval of the Inspector-General.

COMMITTED TO SOCIAL CONTRACT. . .

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Special Adviser on Housing, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka; Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai and his Information & Strategy counterpart, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso at the inauguration of LagosHOMS, Lekki Phase II ... recently

PAPS Asks EFCC, ICPC to Probe Yari over N288 Billion Zamfara Fund Tobi Soniyi The Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development (PAPS) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to seek explanation from a former Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz on how he spent N288.4 billion belonging to the state.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, Chairman of PAPS Dr Sani Abdulahi Shinkafi accused Yari of leaving the state in huge indebtedness.

He also said that the court order of a Federal High Court Abuja

which ordered final forfeiture of various amounts estimated at about N700 million linked to the former governor, had vindicated the group’s call for the prosecution of the former governor.

ICPC had claimed that the funds were kept in accounts in two new generation banks allegedly by Yari, using two companies – Kayatawa Nigeria Limited and B.T. Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.

Similarly, Shinkafi appealed to the anti-graft agencies to invite the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Abdulahi Shinkafi, to explain his claim that the Zamfara State government under Yari spent the sum of N35 billion on procurement of security equipment as well as relief

materials for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.

“We demand that the commissions invite the former SSG to come and substantiate the claim that the State Government spent N35 Billion on the purchase of relief materials.

“This investigation has become expedient following the claims by former Governor Abdulaziz Yari that his administration left no debts or liabilities for the new administration under Bello Matawalle.

“It is on record that in all the 14 Local Government Areas in Zamfara State which were attacked by armed bandits there is no single IDP camp

established by the state government not to talk of the purchase of relief materials for the camps.

“We therefore demand that the commission should investigate all the contracts documents, books of account, cash books, banks statements in banks, loans and advances, local and international loans incomes and expenditures.

“All monies received from the Federal Allocation Accounts Committee (FAAC) and Local government joint accounts, UBEC, SDG, Federal Feeding funds, VAT, Ecological and Stabilisation funds, two tranches of bailout funds, two tranches of Paris and London clubs refund funds, TETfund, excess crude oil funds, and others.”

You Can’t Use Court to Win Anambra Guber Poll, PDP Tells David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anambra State, yesterday condemned Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma for boasting that he would use known and unknown forces to win the next governorship election in Anambra for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP said that the people of Anambra State would not allow

Uzodinma to use the court to take over the state the way he did in Imo State.

The Chairman of Anambra PDP, Mr Ndubuisi Nwobu replied the Imo State governor in Awka, the Anambra State capital yesterday while receiving a governorship aspirant of the party, Mr Chris Azubogu.

Uzodinma had, at a reconciliation meeting of the South East APC in Akwa last Monday, boasted that the November 6 governorship

election in Anambra State is a mustwin for APC and boasted that the party would mobilize forces, both known and unknown, to ensure the victory of the party.

But Nwobu warned Uzodinma “not to bring such unguarded utterances to Anambra again,” noting that Anambra “is not Imo, where Uzodinma became governor through the Supreme Court.”

He said the ruling APC “is crumbling at the national level.

Someone is coming to Anambra, saying he will use seen and unseen forces to take over Anambra.

Someone should go and warn the Supreme Court governor in Imo State that Anambra is not Imo. “He may be banking on using the court. But we must let him understand that the people he knows in high places, Anambra people also know them. This is not the state where he can come to make such statements,” Nwobu warned.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

NEWSXTRA NDLEA Seizes Cocaine, Heroin Worth N30bn at Lagos Airport in One Week Gboyega Akinsanmi At least, cocaine worth over N30 billion was seized at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos in one week, senior officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have disclosed.

Just before the seizure, the new Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa had pledged to dismantle drug trafficking cartels across Nigeria, warning those in the illicit deal to desist from it.

Senior officials of the agency, who privately spoke with THISDAY at the weekend, gave account of hard drugs that were seized and drug dealers that were arrested just after President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Marwa as NDLEA’s chief.

Buhari had appointed Marwa, a former military administrator of Lagos and Borno states, as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

In a private conversation with THISDAY, an NDLEA official said said one of the seized parcels, weighing 26.840 kilograms of cocaine “is the biggest single seized from an individual in the past 15 years.

“On January 27, at about 1320hours, during the inward

clearance of Ethiopian Airline passengers at the E-arrival hall of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, a female passenger by name Onyejegbu Ifesinachi Jennifer, 33 years, who arrived Nigeria from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Addis Ababa, was intercepted

by NDLEA operatives.

“As a standard operating procedure, all passengers to and from high risk countries are always profiled using passengers’ manifest. It happened that the above-named suspect was targeted.

“Consequently, she was taken to NDLEA office at the Airport, where her bags were searched thoroughly, and in the process, whitish powdery substances were found concealed inside 16 pieces of duvet contained in her two travel bags.

“Field test was conducted on the recovered substances and proved positive for Cocaine and weighed 26.850kilograms.

The suspect, who is a hair stylist and based in Brazil was interviewed and she confessed to have agreed to smuggle the hard drug for the sum of N2,000,000 only.

“Although she refused to disclose the names of her associates, she mentioned that she was asked to hand over the

Olujimi’s Faction Heads to Supreme Court to Take over Ekiti PDP Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Senator representing Ekiti South, Mrs Biodun Olujimi yesterday rejected the decision of the Court of Appeal that recognised the state’s former governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose’s faction.

Consequently, Olujimi’s loyalists vowed to approach the Supreme Court to determine whether the conduct of the PDP ward congress in Ekiti by the National Working Committee (NWC) was in line with the PDP Constitution.

The Publicity Secretary, Mr. Sanya Adesua disclosed this plan in Ado Ekiti yesterday after an exhaustive deliberation on the judgement of

the appellate court.

After losing at a Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Olujimi’s faction had approached the appellate court, asking it to dismiss the conduct of the PDP ward congress in Ekiti by the National Working Committee (NWC).

In its judgement, however, the appellate court upheld the decision of the trial court holding that the case was not justiciable on the ground that it was a matter that emanated from intra-party affairs.

The court had frowned at the suit on the ground that the issue of congress “is an internal issue of the PDP and that once the national body headed by Chief Uche Secondus had recognised a group, that no court could reverse such.”

Rights Group Commends Dutch Court on Shell Liability for Oil Spill in N’Delta Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN) has lauded the judgement of the Netherlands Court of Appeal that held Shell Petroleum Development Company liable for oil spills across Nigeria’s coastal communities of the Niger Delta and consequently ordered it (Shell) to pay compensation for the spills which polluted rivers, fishponds and farmlands that thousands of local farmers and fishermen in the oil-rich region farm and fish.

In 2008, four Nigerian farmers from Ikot Ada Udo, Oruma and Goi in the Niger Delta supported by the Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria and sister organisation: Milieu Defensie/Friends of the Earth, Netherlands, sued Shell for oil pollution in the three Niger

Delta villages.

Amongst others, the farmers demanded that Shell clean up the oil spills; pay compensation for the damages caused; and improve the maintenance of its pipelines and installations to prevent future spills.

In a statement in Benin, yesterday, Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Dr Godwin Ojo, described the outcome of the case which had dragged in the appeal court for over 13 years as a landmark judgment which the organisation is very proud of.

He said the judgement showed that the days of oil companies in Nigeria, particularly Shell criminalising local communities and framing them up for sabotage of crude oil pipelines were over, just as he added that the judgment has “further shown the environmental liability of parent companies for the conduct of their foreign subsidiaries.”

drugs to another person. The street value of this singular seizure is put at over N21 billion.”

“The official further disclosed that the development came on the heels of a similar one recorded two days earlier at the airport, precisely on January 25, 2021 when a red left-over luggage was declared to the NDLEA operatives as a left over at the E- arrival hall after the

inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian airline.

“Based on information on the luggage tag, the luggage arrived Nigeria from Sao Paulo, Brazil, a destination classified as high-risk country going by records and trends of arrest and seizures.

“Subsequently, the bag was transferred to the NDLEA ‘Legal Seat’ being the administrative office

at the passenger terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, for detention.

“While this was going on, the NDLEA Commander at the MMIA, Ahmadu Garba received an intelligence report of a purported plan to clear a consignment containing hard drugs through the Lagos airport. Coincidentally, the details sent matched the bag

earlier detained by the operatives at the Lagos airport.”

Another NDLEA official explained how an undercover agent was contacted by one Abubakar Aliyu. Guided by the operation and investigation unit, he said the undercover agent successfully lured the said Abubakar Aliyu into the cargo terminal of the airport where he was arrested.

REWARD FOR EXCELLENCE . . .

Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat presenting received the overall winner of the 18th Spelling Bee Competition & One Day Governor in Lagos, Miss Ajala Gloria of Lafiaji Senior High School, Lagos Island during a visit to the deputy governor at the RoundHouse, Alausa ...

Friday

Ubah, Anambra Progressives Initiate Project to Create 25, 000 Jobs Tobi Soniyi The lawmaker representing Anambra South, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and the Anambra Progressives Development Union (APDU) have kick-started a move to create over 25,000 jobs for unemployed youths in the state with the launch of an industrial park in Eziama, Amichi in Nnewi South Local Government Area (LGA).

The initiative, which includes an Inland Bonded Terminal, the promoters said, would address youth restiveness in the district.

At the ground breaking and foundation laying ceremony of the project yesterday, the people of Amichi welcomed the project with jubilation.

The residents could not hold back their joy as the APDU kicked off the construction of the proposed Industrial City and Inland/Bonded terminal in the area.

The union, which is convened

by Ubah, gathered in the community for the ground breaking and foundation laying ceremony of the project as they moved to trigger the economic revival of the state through industrialisation and assimilation of the teeming jobless youths.

The union is a group of prominent citizens convened by Ubah to contribute towards the development of various sectors of the Anambra economy.

The group, which has over three hundred and ninety billionaires

as members has, so far, within a period of ten months, constructed two ultramodern medical and isolation centres at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (Permanent Site) Nnewi-Oraifite and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Both facilities have been commissioned and handed over to the managements of both institutions respectively.

Members of the union also used the opportunity to reassure the community and Anambrarians in general that they would never relent in their commitment to better their welfare and develop various sectors of the economy.

Speaking at the epic event, the group’s convener, Ubah thanked

the progressives for their uncommon drive which he said would not only go a long way in attracting various developmental projects to the community but also attract over twenty five thousand jobs to the communities in Anambra State, in particular and, by extension, the entire South East region.

The Senator further said that the project, which is first of its kind in the South East would promote their wellbeing and empower the people.

He also revealed that the industrial city would have standard residential quarters/dormitories for the staff and workers in order to maintain a good standard of living and increase the expected output of the workforce.

Court Appoints Ubani as Trustee for Civil Service Union Tobi Soniyi The President of the National Industrial Court, (NIC) Justice B.B. Kanyip has appointed Mr Monday Ubani as public trustee to manage the affairs of the Nigeria Civil Service Union.

Ubani’s appointment followed a protracted legal tussle between members of the union which culminated in a judgment delivered by the NIC. The letter appointing Ubani as trustee of the union reads: “Pursuant to Section 19(c) of the National Industrial Court Act, 2006; Order 59 of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (Civil Procedure) Rule, 2017 and the Order contained in the judgement delivered on 25th October, 2019,

by His Lordship Hon. Justice Sanusi Kada, in the above subject matter suit, I hereby appoint you, Monday O. Ubani, Esq., as the Public Trustee for the Nigeria Civil Service union (hereinafter referred to as the “Union”} for an initial period of three(3) months, effective from the date of your acceptance of the appointment on the following terms: To oversee and superintend the running of the administration and finances of the Union.

To convene National Delegates conference of the National Civil Service Union and organize election to elect new executive members in the with the constitution of the Union.

To render an account of your activities within the above specified

period in a report to be forwarded to the court immediately after the expiration of the tenure.

To forward a copy of the report to the Honourable Minister of Labour.”

The letter stated that Ubani would be eligible for reappointment for another three months in the event that he was unable to conclude his assignment within the three month period stated above.

The letter further read: “In this event, you shall be required to provide satisfactory reasons why you may be so re-appointed.

“Please note that you are only eligible for re-appointment for another term of three months and not more.

“Your remuneration with respect to the appointment shall be the same amount as payable to the General

Secretary of the Union.”

Ubani is expected to forward an acceptance letter to the office of the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja to confirm that the above terms are acceptable to him.

Some members of the union said they welcomed Ubani’s appointment saying that it would rescue the union from those who were hell bent on destroying it.

The union has employees across the state who are owed salaries following the delay in executing the judgment of the court.

Two members of the union’s executive, Benson Ekasa and Menele Ziadam Nzidee had filed a suit at the NIC to ensure that the union was run in accordance with its constitution.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JANUARY 31, 2021

SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

2020 OLYMPICS

Ogwumike, Akhator, Ezinne, 13 Others Hit D’Tigress Camp in Atlanta Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report

T

he Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has invited 16 players to Atlanta for a 10-day training camp as preparation commences for the 2020 Olympics Games in Tokyo.

Training camp to be held at FairÀeld Inn & Suites, Atlanta is scheduled to start today Sunday, 31st of January and end on Monday, 8th, of February.

The list is headlined by centre, Elizabeth Williams who plays for Atlanta Dreams in the WNBA and 26th overall draft pick, Erica Ogwumike, Minnesota Lynx who are part of the Àve new faces joining the team.

Nicole Enabosi will have another chance to be a part of the team after missing out of the 2018 FIBA World Cup in Spain due to injury she suͿered while with the team.

Forward, Amy Okonkwo with Club Deportivo Zamarat, Spain has also been invited alongside Oderah Chidom, with Tsmoki-Minsk BC of Bulgaria as well as Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpannah with Pallacanestro Vigarano of Italy.

Most Valuable Player of the 2020 Afrobasket, Ezinne Kalu who plays for Landerneau BB makes a return to the team with Promise Amukamara (Charnay BB) and Evelyn Akhator (Flammes Carolo) all based in France.

Team captain, Adaora Elonu (Uni Girona CB) will lead the Spanish legion

Nigeria’s D’Tigress are returning to camp in America today to begin preparations ahead of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan next summer

which has Elo Edeferioka (Celta de Vigo Baloncesto) and Atonye Nyingifa (Ensino Lugo Club de Baloncesto) Coach Otis Hughley also handed

an invitation to Sarah Ogoke, Sarah Imovbioh (Basketball Club NamurCapital, Belgium), 20-year old guard, Elizabeth Balogun with Louisville

Eberechi Eze Adds to Wolves Woes Crystal Palace midÀelder Eberechi Eze continued his excellent debut season in the Premier League and added to Wolves’ troubles with the only goal at Selhurst Park.

The £19.5m signing from QPR settled a poor game with a thumping Ànish, his third league goal since making the step up last summer In a match of few chances, Willian Jose - in his Àrst start for Wolves since joining on loan from Real Sociedad - was twice denied by Palace keeper Vicente Guaita.

Wilfried Zaha almost made it 2-0 when he hit the crossbar on the counter-attack.

The win lifted Palace above Wolves, who dropped to 14th in the table and are without a win in eight league games.

This was a timely win for Roy Hodgson’s side, who had taken one point from their previous three league games since beating She΀eld United on 2 January.

Eze also scored in that game and the 22-year-old continues to be one of the big success stories of the season at Palace.

After Jordan Ayew had rolled the ball into his path, Eze drilled past Rui Patricio to inject some much-needed life into a match which had been a dreadful spectacle.

Michy Batshuayi and Nathaniel Clyne both went close but the Àrst half ended with neither

PREMIER LEAGUE Jesus Consolidates Man City’s Lead at the Summit

Eberechi Eze (right) savouring his winning goal against Wolves...yesterday

keeper having to make a save.

Hodgson, who made six changes and left new signing Jean-Philippe Mateta on the bench, will hope his side can kick on after avenging their FA Cup defeat by Wolves this month.

Having seen Palace concede seven goals in two

games, Hodgson made three changes to his back line from the 3-2 midweek home defeat by West Ham and was rewarded with a welcome clean sheet.

Wolves were hoping to build on a hard-earned point at Chelsea in midweek but instead ended up going backwards at Selhurst Park.

Levante Humble Real Madrid to Leave them Seven Points Adrift of Summit Real Madrid remain seven points behind La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid after their 10-men were beaten by Levante.

Real had defender Eder Militao sent-oͿ after nine minutes but they took the lead soon after through Marco Asensio.

Jose Luis Morales levelled for Levante and Roger Marti scored the winner with 12 minutes remaining to make amends for his earlier penalty miss.

Leaders Atletico, who have played two games fewer than Zinedine Zidane’s side, face Cadiz this afternoon. Real boss Zidane returned to the sidelines

Cardinals as well as Kosovo Superleague side, KB Bashkimi new signing and four time FIBA Afrobasket winner, Aisha Balarabe.

having missed his side’s 4-1 win over Alaves last weekend after testing positive for coronavirus.

He chose to partner Militao with Raphael Varane at centre-back in the continued absence of injured captain Sergio Ramos, but the pairing lasted less than 10 minutes.

Militao was initially shown a yellow card for tripping Sergio Leon outside the penalty area, before a VAR review upgraded his punishment for denying a goalscoring opportunity.

Real appeared untroubled by that set-back as Asensio Ànished from Toni Kroos’ excellent through-

ball, but Levante captain Morales’ Àrst-time strike from Jorge Miramon’s cross made it level before half-time.

Marti looked to have squandered the chance to win the match when Thibaut Courtois saved his spot-kick, until he punished Real following a corner with a powerful, low shot.

It was a Àrst defeat in 10 La Liga matches for defending champions Real, but they have lost three of their last four games in all competitions including their shock Copa del Rey exit to thirddivision Alcoyano.

Gabriel Jesus’ ninth-minute goal yesterday was enough to earn Manchester City a 12th successive win and consolidate their position as Premier League leaders at the expense of bottom club She΀eld United.

It was not a vintage City performance. Aside from Jesus’ close-range strike from a Ferran Torres cross, an instinctive header from Bernardo Silva, created by a stray Oliver Norwood header, was their only eͿort on target untilAaron Ramsdale denied Oleksandr Zinchenko and then Aymeric Laporte from the corner that followed.

Ramsdale also kept out an injury-time Jesus shot. But the Blues’ defensive strength was again on show. Pep Guardiola’s side have now kept Àve clean sheets in a row in the Premier League and an impressive 11 out of 13.

It was certainly far too strong for a visiting team who never looked like emulating their victory at Manchester United three days ago and remain rooted to the foot of the table, 10 points adrift of fourth-bottom Brighton.

And for Guardiola it was a staggering 500th win of a managerial career of 673 games.

It has been a strange season so far for Gabriel Jesus. Given Sergio Aguero has been missing virtually all season, the Brazilian should have been the focal point of City’s attack.

But Jesus suͿered a thigh injury at Wolves in the opening game of the season, then missed a gameagainstSouthamptonwithatoothproblem before returning a positive coronavirus test at Christmas.

The stop-start nature of his season has prevented Jesus getting the Áow of games he needs to make the scoring contribution Guardiola would have hoped for after goals in both his Àrst two league matches of the season and nothing in the nine that followed.

Sunday January 31, 2021

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“From 1999 to 2014, our country produced 2.1million barrels of oil and a barrel was over 100 dollars at some point. The economy was so much in a terrible state after we came in that we had to give bailout to states so that salaries and pensions can be paid. Now, we have a more stable polity” – President Muhammadu Buhari speaking in Daura, Katsina State, while hosting Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, some governors and party members of the APC at his country-home.

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The ‘Somalisation’ of Nigeria

T

he quit notice served on the Fulani community in Igangan, Oyo state, by a non-state actor, Chief Sunday Igboho, is a timely reminder that Nigeria is at the risk of becoming a failed state. In my previous article, I argued that no private individual should have such powers in a modern nationstate. But with unending raping, kidnapping and killing — and with the Nigerian state unable or unwilling to bring the criminals to justice and protect its citizens — Igangan people cried out to Igboho, a “youth leader” who works for politicians during elections, for help. They have more faith in Igboho than the Nigerian state. He swiftly asked the Fulani to quit. We are playing with fire.

The basic definition of “state” places emphasis on “one organised territory” under “one government”. In some ways, Nigeria now has many governments. The state is losing its sovereignty in parts of the country, with the vast ungoverned spaces falling under the control of violent non-state actors. Max Webber, the German intellectual, defined “state” as a polity that maintains a “monopoly on the legitimate use of violence”. When an individual or a group of individuals assumes the power to “legitimately” use violence to enforce what it sees as law and order, the state is going down. Its sovereignty is being eroded. If this goes unchecked, the state can only get weaker.

In 2008, Professor Phil Williams, who teaches at the University of Pittsburgh, identified five categories of violent non-state actors. In his article titled “Violent Non-state Actors and National and International Security”, Williams listed them as: (1) warlords (2) militias (3) insurgents (4) terrorist organisations and (5) criminal organisations and gangs. We can be in denial for as long as it pleases us, but several developments in recent years, since at least 2008, are loosening the nation’s integrity — and things promise to be worse in the years ahead. The Nigerian now takes orders not only from government officials but also from private individuals who have unilaterally assumed state powers.

Nigeria is evidently inching towards what international crisis experts would term “Somalisation” — what you and I would call a state of lawlessness “where anything goes”.

At a point, Somalia was virtually finished as a sovereign political entity. Although Somalis are almost entirely of one religion, one sect, one ethnic group and have similar physical looks, the country has been decimated and controlled by gangs, terrorists, pirates and militias in the last 30 years. Somalia, classed as the most culturally homogenous country in Africa, had no functioning central government and was controlled by clan warlords for over 20 years.

The Al Shabbab terrorist group is an offshoot of the anarchy.

As things stand today, the Nigerian government is losing control of parts of its territory to Boko Haram insurgents, who are operating mainly in the north-east and collecting tributes from Nigerian citizens; bandits, who are collecting taxes and tributes from farmers in the north-west; kidnappers, who control some forests in the south-west and north-west and extort ransoms and sex from their victims; warlords and militants in the Niger Delta, who routinely attack pipelines and steal crude oil; pirates, who operate on the high seas and hijack ships; and a separatist movement in the south-east frequently clashing with the police and military in its campaign for secession.

Why is the Nigerian state losing its territorial authority, such that warlords, militias, insurgents,

Buhari terrorist organisations and criminal gangs have become so entrenched that they are unleashing lawlessness on some parts? Why are non-state actors, such as Igboho, increasingly taking control of ungoverned spaces and making a hero of themselves in the process? What is encouraging and sustaining the rise of nonstate actors all over the country? These are the questions we should be asking ourselves if we are to avoid total state collapse and take back the country from those undermining our sovereignty. Unfortunately, we would rather be emotional than logical.

The pervasive insecurity is a major, major warning signal. This is the fundamental point: security agencies have been damaged by corruption and incompetence — and that automatically compromises the safety of the nation and its citizens. Convicted criminals are recruited into security agencies, as President Olusegun Obasanjo publicly lamented when he was in power. What then do you expect? Corrupt security officials are allegedly involved in kidnapping and banditry, either directly or as accomplices. We have read reports of some police officers renting guns to criminals. Rogues in security uniform are worse than the criminals they are chasing. Insecurity is inevitable.

Also, there has been a series of perennial complaints of underfunding and poor equipment.

Even if the agencies are devoid of criminals and accomplices, how much can they achieve when there is no sufficient modern equipment and funding for them to enforce law and order?

How much efficiency do you expect from an agency where officers have to fuel operational vehicles, feed detainees and transport suspects to courts from their own pockets? That is a broken system. Even the bravest and the most honest of them will find it difficult to stay above board.

It is frustrating. Yet we expect to be protected from bandits, kidnappers and armed robbers.

We plant potato and plan to reap yam.

Politicians are also undermining the powers of the state. Even if the police have the best personnel, excellent equipment and very good funding, we are still at the mercy of a kill-or-be-killed political culture that breeds thugs whom we now call “youth leaders”. The conventional wisdom in Nigeria’s political circles is that if you control the motor parks, you control the thugs; if you control the thugs, you control the ballot boxes; if you control the ballot boxes, you control state resources; if you control the resources, you control the polity. Elections into NURTW, which the

politicians use to control the ballots boxes, are usually deadly. They are agents of politicians, protected by the police.

Senator Femi Ojudu, a presidential aide, recently wrote an unintended exposé on the relationship between politicians and thugs.

He knows the names of all the thugs in the south-west who make or mar elections! He mentioned Ade Basket in Akure, Fada Geri in Ondo, and Sunday Igboho in Oyo. I was told about one Kunle Poly who was briefly, and secretly, released from prison to organise his boys for the Osun governorship poll in 2018.

Politicians nurture violent non-state actors by financing criminal gangs and undermining the police and the state. That is one of the reasons why our security system is compromised at all levels. And we expect to be safe when we are moulding insecurity.

Elsewhere, Boko Haram took advantage of ungoverned spaces to launch sustained assaults on the Nigerian state. There had been no government presence in many northern territories for decades. Not only are our borders porous, even the manned spaces are nothing but checkpoints for the security agencies to extract bribes and facilitate illegal trade. Nigeria has been largely defenceless for decades. Meanwhile, many of those who ended up in Boko Haram were political thugs called “ECOMOG Boys” who became jobless after elections. We have been reaping the reward of poor governance and crippling poverty, now mixed with religious extremism and ethnic nationalism.

The Nigerian situation is very disturbing.

As I noted previously, insecurity by itself is bad enough. When we now layer it with ethnic tensions, it is doubly dangerous. One major complication is the rising wave of ethnic nationalism, which has led to the jumbling-up of issues. The truth, all said and done, is that no Nigerian is safe, no matter the tongue, religion and region. Armed robbers, bandits, kidnappers, bandits, insurgents and terrorists are somalising Nigeria and making life difficult for millions of Nigerians. Our collective agenda should be how to address the issues around safety and security. Sadly, the ethnic nationalists have seen a wonderful opportunity to politick.

I am not saying Buhari should not be criticised for not moving decisively against the criminal herders. That is far from my point. The president tends to have this attitude of “God knows I didn’t ask the herdsmen to kidnap or kill anybody”; while that may be true, it won’t solve the problem.

In the last one week, he has made a number of positive moves, apparently in response to public criticism. He needs to do more. I want to believe tension has been de-escalated for now, although the war mongers are still all over the media doing their thing. The urgent task for Nigerian leaders at all levels is to collectively tackle the insecurity in the country so that Somalia will not happen to us.

Finally, as citizens, I think we have — probably unknowingly — given authority to criminal gangs by endorsing the activities of these violent non-state actors. We are enjoying it now because it suits our ethnic and religious sentiments. But they are going to turn on us one day because our interests will not always align. Many Niger Delta militants were also bred by politicians for elections but they became Frankenstein’s monsters. More so, if Igboho can ask the entire Fulani to leave Igangan because of some criminal herders, what stops someone else from ordering all Yoruba to leave Jos because some taxis, usually driven by Yoruba people, are used for kidnapping? Point to ponder.

And Four Other Things…

NEW THINGS There was jubilation across Nigeria on Tuesday when President Muhammadu Buhari finally replaced the service chiefs.

The agitations for their removal have been on for a while, with Buhari asked to “inject fresh blood” into the war on terror and insecurity across the land. I have nothing against changing the service chiefs — in fact, I was in the “fresh blood” camp — but I hate to burst the bubble: we have been changing service chiefs since like forever but we are not getting more secure. It tells us there is something deeper we are yet to address. But in Nigeria, we like new presidents, new governors, new ministers and new service chiefs. It always excites us.

Watching.

RESOURCE KUNG-FU The spectacular physical combat between representatives of oil and gas host communities at the National Assembly on Thursday told me something: the proposed break-up of Nigeria may look very pretty on paper, but in reality, it does not promise to lead to paradise — contrary to what we often read on Twitter. They were there to discuss common interests on the petroleum industry bill (PIB). If they could not agree to disagree at that elementary level, you have to wonder how they would handle more challenging matters around nationhood when they become a country. I suspect they would start bombing each other as it happens in many underdeveloped oil regions. Worrisome.

CORRUPTION PERCEPTION Nigeria has scored its lowest marks in the Transparency International corruption perception index (CPI) since 2015, scoring 25/100. That was a horrible performance.

I was not surprised that the PDP gleefully seized the opportunity to hit hard at Buhari and the APC government — that was exactly what APC and Lai Mohammed used to do to PDP-led administrations some years ago.

But we need to be clear about something: CPI is measured using “perceived levels of public sector corruption”. In other words, as I have always argued, it is not only corruption at the federal level that is being measured; states and councils are also part of the picture. It is the public sector. Understood?

CROSS CITIZEN After being rejected twice because she is not “originally” from Cross River, Justice Akon Ikpeme was finally confirmed as the state chief judge on Thursday. I was so happy.

I don’t even know her and she doesn’t know me, but I was glad because this is another major statement in promoting citizenship rights in Nigeria, well above “state of origin”.

She was born and bred in Cross River, schooled in Cross River, practised her law in Cross River, is married to a man from Cross River and all her children are Cross Riverians — but her own parents were from Akwa Ibom. I understand the politics of scarcity, ladies and gentlemen, but some things should align with common sense. Progress.

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